THURSDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2021

FG: Cause of Nembe Oil Spill Yet to be Determined Warns against speculation Denies loss of 200,000 barrels of oil, Sylva-led delegation visits communities Halliburton confirms engagement by Aiteo Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie in Lagos and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Three weeks after a pipeline explosion in Nembe, Bayelsa State, which led to oil spillage across 45 communities in the

state, the federal government, yesterday, said it was yet to establish the cause of the eruption. It frowned on speculations

that the explosion might be an act of sabotage.

The federal government also denied reports that the

country lost over 200,000 barrels of oil to the spillage, which had not been contained since the explosion on November 1.

Director General/Chief Executive Officer, National Oil Continued on page 40

Infrastructure, Education Top Sanwo-Olu's N1.39trn 2022 Budget for Lagos... Page 5 Thursday 25 November, 2021 Vol 26. No 9726. Price: N250

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Ayiri Arraigned for Allegedly Stealing Olu of Warri’s Crowns worth N2bn Sylvester Idowu in Warri

SARO BUILDING RESILIENCE...

L-R: Founder/MD, Custodian Investments Plc, Wole Oshin; Independent Non-Executive Director, Saroafrica International, Obi Ibekwe; Group MD, Saroafrica International, Rasheed Sarumi; MD, Maersk Nigeria, Lara Lana and MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, during Saro's 30th anniversary event in Lagos... recently

The deposed Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Ayirimi Emami, was yesterday arraigned at a Warri Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged stealing of two royal crowns worth N2 billion belonging to Warri Kingdom.

Continued on page 40

Nigeria'll Survive Its Challenges, Despite Escalating Grievances, Says Fitch Predicts 2.8% GDP growth for next year Insists rising population, high unemployment, competition for diminishing resources exacerbating concerns Obinna Chima Notwithstanding threats posed by the Islamist insurgency in the north, clashes between Fulani herdsmen and pastoralists in the Middle Belt region as well as growing unrest in the South which have

continued to threaten the country’s existence, Nigeria will survive its challenges over the next decade even though they would weigh on its economic growth by deterring investment and impeding private Continued on page 40

NLC Rejects Proposed Fuel Price Hike... Page 41

IPPG'S COURTESY VISIT TO KYARI...

Chairman, Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and Waltersmith Group, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa (left), and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, during IPPG's courtesy visit to NNPC at NNPC Towers, Abuja... recently

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

NEWS

A VISIT TO SITE OF COLLAPSED IKOYI BUILDING...

L-R: Ex-Governor of Kano State, Senator Kabiru Gaya; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Masari, during a visit to the site of the collapsed building at Gerrard Road, Ikoyi... yesterday

Infrastructure, Education Top SanwoOlu's N1.39trn 2022 Budget for Lagos Activates 30-year development plan Segun James Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State presented a N1.388 trillion Appropriation Bill for 2022 to the House of Assembly yesterday, earmarking a whopping 59 per cent of the budget to capital expenditure in order to service key growth areas, consolidate the recovery of the state’s economy, and positively transform livelihoods.

Sanwo-Olu said the state would be spending N325 billion to deliver vital infrastructure projects in key sectors to energise and expand the growth of the state’s economy.

The budget proposal, christened, “Budget of Consolidation,” would be the last full-year fiscal plan of the state before the next general election.

The key areas of growth identified by the governor included works and infrastructure, waterfront infrastructure development, agriculture, transportation, energy and mineral resources, tourism, entertainment and creative industry, commerce and industry, and wealth creation and employment.

The human capital development drive of the Sanwo-Olu administration was projected to take a leap in 2022, with a combined allocation of 21.24 per cent in the total expenditure to education and health.

Sanwo-Olu said the coming year presented an opportunity for the state government to consolidate on progress recorded by his administration, while leveraging investment in-flow, partnership, and business-friendly policies to maximally translate his achievements into noticeable positive impact in the lives of residents.

About N823.4 billion, representing 59 per cent of the 2022 budget, was earmarked for capital expenditure.

Recurrent expenditure, representing 41 per cent, was proposed at N565 billion, which included personnel cost, overhead, and debt servicing.

The governor noted that his administration had clearly articulated its vision in governance through the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda in the last two years, adding that the state is now looking towards the future with the activation of the implementation of a 30-year

development plan (2021-2051), which replaced the 13-year growth plan developed in 2012.

He said, “Year 2022 budget is the next step on our journey to true and sustainable greatness in Lagos. The challenging environment requires that we focus our interventions on areas of greatest social impact and achieving the greatest good for the greatest number in the shortest possible time. Next year is an excellent opportunity for us to consolidate on what we have done so far, and ensure that every effort, investment inflow, partnership, business policy is translating maximally into noticeable positive impact in the lives of our people.

“It is in this light that we are presenting the Year 2022 Budget of Consolidation with a size of N1,388,285,459,990.51. This financial proposal is presented with a sense of duty and absolute commitment to the transformation of Lagos to a preferred global destination for residence, commerce, and investment.

“The budget projects to see a continuing but gradual recovery to growth in economic activity as the global economy cautiously recovers from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”

Of the total proposed expenditure, N1.135 trillion would accrue from Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) and federal transfers, while deficit financing of N253 billion would be sourced from external and domestic loans, and bonds projected to be within the state’s fiscal sustainability parameters.

The state also earmarked an aggregate of N137.64 billion, representing 9.92 per cent of the 2022 budget, for the funding of green investment in environment, social protection, housing and community amenities.

On security, the governor explained that the state’s continued investment in the sector had produced positive results, stressing that more allocation would be channelled into security in 2022 to make Lagos safer for living, working, and investment.

Despite the global economic downturn, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had seen more construction machinery deployed to deliver new infrastructure in the areas of roads, rail, housing, health, education, and

waterways.

He said, “There has been significant progress on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit projects, which include both the 27-kilometre Blue line that will run from Okokomaiko to Marina, and the 32-kilometre Red line that will run from Agbado to Oyigbo and eventually to Marina.

“These rails, when completed, will deliver a combined 32.5 million people every month on their respective routes, reducing travel time by over 250 per cent, increasing the productivity and quality of life of our people.

“The Red line will come with eight new modern train stations, 10 new overpasses and 13 pedestrian

bridges. These ambitious projects are expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2022.”

The outgoing year’s budget, Sanwo-Olu said, performed “remarkably well”, despite the challenges encountered by the state. He stated that the expenditure performance at the third quarter of 2021 rose to 80 per cent.

The governor said the need to stabilise the state’s economy led to the adoption of far-reaching cost saving measures, including restructuring of local borrowings to reduce overall debt service obligations on Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said, “The state government has successfully

restructured all existing loan facilities, translating into a reduction in interest rates from an average of 18 per cent to about 12.75 per cent.

This year, Fitch, a reputable international rating agency, upgraded the rating of Lagos from AA+ to AAA, reflecting Lagos’ capacity to service its financial obligations, compared with national and international peers, as well as its resilient operating performance during the pandemic.”

The governor thanked Lagosians for supporting and standing by his administration in the past two years. He said there were more challenges ahead, and urged residents to join hands with him

in delivering his programmes for the common good. He assured that the pace of governance would be amplified in the coming years.

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, praised the governor for the “outstanding performance” of the 2021 budget, especially in infrastructural renewal and wealth creation among others.

Obasa promised a speedy and meticulous vetting of the 2022 budget proposal. He said the progress under the Sanwo-Olu administration was commendable, but urged the executive arm to look inward and devise other methods of improving the state’s IGR beyond the current sources.

Ahmed: N5,000 Transport Grant for Vulnerable Nigerians to Last One year Senate: No such provision in 2022 appropriation bill Flays secret recruitment in civil service Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, yesterday shed more light on the proposed N5,000 monthly transportation grant the federal government plans to give poor Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidy by June next year.

According to the minister, who spoke to newsmen after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, the allowance would last for a duration of 12 months.

But the Senate yesterday faulted the move by the government, saying the 2022 appropriation bill under consideration by the legislature does not make provision for the N5, 000 monthly transportation stipend for 40 million Nigerians being contemplated by the federal government next year.

Speaking further, Ahmed explained: “How long will this intervention last? Okay, six months to 12 months. And we're saying the committee is still working. So, we'll know on Monday, how long, how much and then the procedure on

a state by state basis".

She also justified the basis for the transport allowance saying: “Government is providing the support and support is to augment what the families already have.

We wish we can do more. But we're also limited in terms of the maximum of what government can afford. But there nothing's stopping the states to add more than the N5,000 that is going to come from the federation.

“So, some states might decide to do more where they can afford it.

The federal government right now is just looking, under this committee looking at N5000 per month.”

Ahmed, whilr speaking on the third quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2021 figures released last Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics, emphasised that the numbers showed an improvement from the contraction that the nation witnessed in 2020.

She, however, stressed that the effect of the present administration's economic growth would not be felt until GDP growth surpasses population growth rate.

On why economic growth recorded does not impact Nigerians,

Ahmed said: “Let me say that, again, the Nigerian economy is growing. And right now we witnessed, four consecutive quarters of GDP growth. We also said that we aspire to continue to push this growth to the point where the growth supersedes the growth in our population, because that's the time that people will actually feel the benefits.

“So, we're pushing the bar at the third quarter of 2021. The average annual growth is now 3.3 per cent.

Our population growth is roughly about 3.2 per cent. So, we still need to do a lot more for people to feel this. But the fact that the service sector is not in positive territory, it also means that people will actually begin to feel the difference, because it is the service sector that has the first direct impact on people.

“The Q3 GDP report indicates that the oil sector's contribution to the GDP today stands at 7.49 per cent while the non-oil sector contribution to the GDP stands at 2.51 per cent. This indicates that the Nigerian economy is truly diversified.”

Also speaking, Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, said he

presented a memo to the cabinet for approval for the award of contract for the provision of training logistics, operational equipment and maintenance support for government equipment and personnel, under the Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution Infrastructure in Nigeria.

He explained: “This is also what we call the Deep Blue Project.

That's the project that the president launched some months ago, around May or June.

“The contract was awarded at N6,347,967,644.21, inclusive of 7.5% VAT for a period of two years.

It's also important to say that the cabinet was briefed that there's huge improvement in the security on our waterways now and we hope that it will continue as we progress.”

Before the commencement of the council meeting, President Buhari led cabinet members to wish his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari a happy 77th birthday celebration.

This followed an announcement to that effect by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Continued on page 10

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NEWS

Commiserating WITH dangote for his loss...

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (left) and Founder/President of Dangote Group of Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote when the Governor paid a condolence visit to the business mogul, at the corporate headquarters of his company in Lagos over the demise of his brother, Sani Dangote who died recently

National Carrier, Nigeria Air, to Commence Operations April 2022 FG, Nigerians own 51 equity shares, to generate 70,000 jobs

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The national carrier, Nigeria Air, is set to begin flight operations

by April 2022. The new official airline would have 51 per cent of its equity shares owned by the Nigerian government and people, with foreign partners having the remaining 49 per cent.

The venture is expected to generate 70,000 jobs.

These were disclosed to newsmen yesterday by Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, at the end of the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

Sirika explained that in the new national carrier, the federal government will have five percent equity shares, Nigerian entrepreneurs 46 per cent equity shares, while the expected international strategic partners would have 49 equity shares.

Sirika stressed that FEC had

given approval for the new national carrier. He said over 400,000 Nigerians participated in choosing the name, which was launched in 2018.

According to him, "Today (Wednesday) in Council, civil aviation presented two memoranda.

One of the memos is approval of the outline business case for the establishment of the national carrier and this is the sixth time the memorandum appeared before Council. The sixth time, we got lucky to be passed by Council.

"The structure of the proposed airline: government will be owning not more than five per cent. So five per cent is the maximum equity that government will take, then 46 per cent will be owned by Nigerian entrepreneurs. So, if you add that, it’s 51 per cent.

“It is 51 per cent majority shareholding by Nigerians and then 49 per cent will be held by strategic equity partner or partners that will be sourced during the procurement phase, which is the

next phase.

"This airline, if started, and within the first few years will generate about 70,000 jobs. These 70,000 jobs are higher than the total number of civil servants that we have in the country. Its importance had been well discussed so, I'll not go back to it. You had discussed it separately also on various fora as to the need for it.”

Sirika noted African Union’s agenda 2063 on the integration of the continent in terms of trade, and another flagship project, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

"Now, the only way, the quickest way that you can integrate Africa is by air, because if you want to interconnect all the 54 nations of Africa, via rail or road, or waterways, which is even impossible, the quantum of money that you need to do all of these, the time it will take to develop this infrastructure, as well as the maintenance cost, is almost prohibitive,” he said.

The minister further said, "The

name is Nigerian Air, which, of course, if you remember back in time, this was subject to national debate and 400,000 people participated, chose the name, the colour, the logo, everything and it was produced that time. It was launched also in Farnborough as far back as 2018.

"So, the business case is a public document. It will be on our website, you can download it and we can give you copies. This airline will pick up and start, by God's grace, in or before April 2022."

The minister added that FEC also approved another memo for the award of contract for the provision of Automated Civil Aviation Regulatory Equipment, including software support and training, which will be located at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

He stated, "In summary, this is a software that will allow all of the activities of civil aviation regulation to be done electronically on one platform, including payments, fol-

Ahmed: N5, 000 Transport Grant for Vulnerable Nigerians to Last One year Mustapha of Gambari’s birthday.

President Buhari congratulated Gambari on the attainment of age 77, and jocularly said “you are still going strong, congratulations!”

Senate: No Provision for N5, 000 Transport Allowance in 2022 Budget

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday declared that the 2022 appropriation bill does not make provision for N5,000 monthly transportation stipend for 40 million Nigerians being contemplated by federal fovernment next year.

Speaking with newsmen after submission of its Committee budget proposal, Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance , Senator Olamilekan Adeola said there was no provision for N5000 monthly for 40 million Nigerians for transportation allowance in the 2022 proposed budget currently before the National Assembly.

He added that before the Executive could embark on such intervention the proposal must come to National Assembly because it

was going to cost N2.4 trillion.

He wondered what criteria to be used to determine the beneficiaries of the transportation allowance.

According to him, "I don't want to go into details, if there is something like that a document needs to come to National Assembly and how do they want to identify the identity of the beneficiaries, this is not provided for in 2022 budget proposal which is N2.4 trillion.

"For us we still believe it is a fake news because this budget we are considering contains subsidy and if we are passing a budget with subsidy in the fiscal document, we can't speak because that is the document that is currently before us.

"The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning was quoted as saying that 40 million Nigerians will be paid N5000 as transportation allowance, in lieu of the fuel subsidy.

I don't want to go into details for now.

"I believe that if such proposal is to come to pass, a document to that effect must be sent to National Assembly for us to see how feasible this is and how do we identify the

40 million Nigerians that are going to benefit from this process.

“There are still a lot of issues to be deliberated upon and looked into if eventually this will come to pass and how do we raise this money to pay these 40 million Nigerians because I know that even the revenue being raised and monies that are coming in from this so called oil and other sources of revenue to the federal government.

"So, this is not provided for already in the 2022 budget. We don't have anywhere in the budget where 40 million Nigerians will collect N5000 monthly as transportation allowance totaling N2.4 trillion.

"I know that there must be a budgetary provision for this for us (National Assembly) to consider.

That is why I said it is still a news out there until it is formally come to the National Assembly for either a virement to the budget or reordering of the budget. For now, I still want to take it as a rumour until, it is formally presented before the National Assembly."

Also, the Senate yesterday flayed alleged secret employment ongoing in the civil service despite claims

that the federal government had placed embargo on job placement.

It’s Committee on Federal Character and Inter- Governmental Affairs, however, stressed that government should as a matter of urgency ensure recruitment of eligible Nigerians into public service.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Danjuma La'ah, who spoke while submitting the report of the committee to the Senate Appropriation Committee challenged the federal government to come out with evidence on job embargo while standing his ground that top civil servants engaged in secret job placement.

According to him: "Many people are being secretly employed but those in charge are claiming that there is embargo on employment.

“I don't know where they got that from. We have been asking them.

The president has not opened his mouth to say that there is embargo on employment.

"There is no embargo anywhere but some of the officials of government are so myopic that they decide to take advantage of the situation."

low ups on personnel licensing, the medicals, the economic regulation of airlines, safety regulation of airlines and all other businesses within the envelope of civil aviation will be monitored by this single software.

"It is called ‘the truth machine’ in quotation in Europe, because all of the truth of regulation of civilisation will appear on this platform, it’s an extremely important software

that the world has now come to terms with.

"The contract was given to Messrs Arif Investment Nigeria Limited, who are representatives of Empik GmbH. This Empik are the creators of this software, one of its kind in the world, at the sum of N1,492,520,325, which will be including 7.5 per cent VAT and completion period of six months.”

FG Unveils New 10-year Electronic Passport Facility in London Michael Olugbode in Abuja

issuance across all centres.

The Minister of Interior Mr. Rauf Aregbesola yesterday in London, unveiled a new facility that would offer 10-year validity passports to Nigerians.

A statement yesterday, by the Assistant Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Public Relations, Amos Okpu, explained that with the facility launched on Tuesday, eligible applicants now have access to a variety of options available on the enhanced e-Passport categories.

He said the options included: the five-year, 32-page Passport category; the five-year, 64-page category and the ten- year, 64page category.

Speaking at the event, the Minister stated that the enhanced e-passport was a great improvement from the standard e-Passport introduced in 2007.

The enhanced e-Passport has more sophisticated security features making it one of the most secured passports in the world, he added.

According to him, the enhanced e-Passport, “comes in polycarbonate data page and with this, Nigeria is at the highest level of Passport security and integrity in the world.”

He assured of government’s readiness to continue to provide passports to eligible applicants without stress and within a reasonable period noting that efforts are being made to resolve all the problems associated with Passport administration and

The minister revealed that the Nigeria Immigration Service has issued a total of 2.7 million passports to Nigerians in the past two years including the deployment of over 600,000 booklets, this year alone to address rising demand for the document.

He thanked the officials of the High Commission for their commitment to quality service delivery and urged for a deepened engagement with the diaspora population.

In his remarks, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration Service, Isah Idris, affirmed the commitment of the Service to meet the rising demands for Passport services in London and advised prospective applicants to visit the Service’s official website (immigration.gov. ng) to apply and pay for the Passport category of their choice.

He enjoined those who have complaints to use available complaints channels to resolve any issues assuring that his officers are professionals and would continue to deliver excellent services to our citizens.

The event was attended by the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, the Minister of Interior, the acting Comptroller General of Immigration, senior officials of the High Commission, a cross section of Nigerians in the United Kingdom and members of the diplomatic community.

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NEWS

INSPECTING DAMAGE CAUSED BY NEMBE OIL SPILL...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and Member House of Representatives representing Brass/Nembe Constituency, Hon. Israel Adi, during an inspection of Aiteo Spill Site, in Basambri, Bayelsa State … yesterday

EU, Partners Mobilise against Sexual, Gender-based Violence Tambuwal Signs child protection bill on underage marriage

Michael Olugbode in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The European Union (EU) and its partners are stepping up efforts to mobilise action towards fast-tracking the prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence offenders as well as guaranteeing access to justice and remedies for victims of sexual assault.

Similarly, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Monday, signed the Child Protection Bill into law, even though some stakeholders were of the opinions

that there were more critical issues to be addressed.

A statement on Wednesday, claimed that, top on the EU priority list was the creation in Nigeria of a special court for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases, which would be a key highlight of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against SGBV, starting today, Thursday, November 25.

The statement said through its Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, implemented by the British Council, and the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, the

Sultan, Jega, Fayemi, Other Eminent Nigerians Set for National Unity Summit Sunday Okobi A national socio-political group in Nigeria, the National Prosperity Movement (NPM) has expressed commitment to provide a platform for illustrious Nigerians from all walks of life and representatives of diverse interests and groups to have a meaningful conversation on the themes of peace, unity, equity and nation-building through its upcoming National Unity Summit in Abuja.

The summit, according to the Director, Research & Strategy, NPM, Julius Ogunro, which would take place in Abuja, on December 1, 2021, would also provide new perspectives to the issues of equity, inclusion and economic prosperity for Nigerians, “and in the end, stimulate the process of national healing, understanding and progress.”

According to a statement yesterday, dignitaries expected at the august event include elder statesman and retired military General, IBM Haruna, who is to chair of the event; Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Simon Lalong; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and

Governor Sani Bello of Niger State.

Others are the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar; former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, who will deliver the keynote address, and Prof.

Doyin Salami, chairman of the Presidential Economic Council.

The Director-General of the NPM, Hon Ahmad Sajoh was quoted to have said: ‘’We believe that we can have a productive dialogue about these emotive issues in a rational manner, devoid of the counter-accusations that have lately characterised national conversations, and yet arrive at the need for unity and belief in the future prospect of our country.’’

He added: “This summit, with the theme: ‘The Imperative of Unity’, is expedient at this time when there is increasing irredentism and hate-crimes across the country, which appear to be fanned by rising intolerance, nepotism, and mutual suspicion across the nation's social and political space. ‘’We cannot have too much of dialogue when peace and national interests are at stake.

We can begin the process of healing and national reconciliation by understanding our fears and concerns, and then work towards addressing these issues in a calm and rational manner.”

world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls, the EU has been at the forefront of the campaign to stem SGBV and bring succour and justice to victims.

Last year, President Buhari and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum declared SGBV national emergency.

However, the statement revealed that during the 16 Days of Activism, victims of sexual assault would receive free legal and psychological counselling under a joint effort

by RoLAC, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary and the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, would lend her support for the establishment of special SGBV courts during the seventh Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) Network Conference coming up at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel today.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Attorney

General and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Women Affairs, and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will all participate in this Conference.

The statement said since Nigeria’s first SARC was established in Lagos in 2013, the number has grown to 32, spread across 19 states of the the country and the FCT. “Since 2016, the EU has spent over N1 billion on the SARCs. As of June 2021, the SARCs had assisted over 21,000 survivors of sexual assault. They offered immediate medical emergency and counselling, in addition to supporting victims to access the legal system. Over 70 per cent of the clients of the SARCs are young people under the age of 18. Clearly, this number does not properly represent the scale of sexual assault in Nigeria.

“To underscore the importance of reporting and quality data collection in the fight against SGVB, the Spotlight Initiative is launching a report spotlighting 16 facts about

SGBV, co-signed by the EU, the UN and the Nigerian government.

Despite positive developments in awareness-raising, service provision and data collection, much more needs to be done to address the recognised data gaps.”

Meanwhile, from Sokoto, although the Child Right Protection Bill defined a child as a person below the age of 18 and sought to protect them from abuses, the new law still did not protect certain underaged persons from being married off.

Fielding questions from stakeholders at the sensitisation workshop organised by United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Ministry of Justice, Women and Children Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Suleiman Usman,(SAN) said the law was silent on marriage age of a girl child.

He added that at least, before a girl could be given out for marriage, she might have acquired ordinary certificate, that is, secondary school

equivalent.

Usman disclosed that the new law has 205 sections and that the emergence of the law would end the prevalence of child abuse in the state.

He maintained that the law covered key aspects of the lives of a child and adolescents, and that the rights were divided into "survival rights, development rights, participation rights and protection rights".

The commissioner said the Sharia would take precedents of any matter in the new law concerning a Muslim child against the religious law, adding that in the new law, a child has right to education and that the Almajiri Islamic schools had been modeled after Podzol Indonesia model, having a curriculum developed for it.

Earlier, Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa, said as the coordinating ministry, it would beam its touch light on the violators of the law.

Afrinvest Foresees 15% Growth for Banking Sector in 2022, Cautions FG on Debt Nume Ekeghe

Analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited have projected that the Nigerian banking sector which has remained resilient amidst the pandemic would grow by 15 per cent next year.

In the same vein, the research and investment company has called for more banks to merge in the sector, noting that the tier one banks - Access Bank, Zenith Bank, GTBank, First Bank, United Bank for Africa - presently control approximately 70 per cent of banking activities.

The Deputy Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Victor Ndukauba, said this yesterday, while unveiling the Lagos-based firm’s 2021 Nigerian Banking Sector Report titled, ‘Resilience Amidst Endemic and Pandemic Constraints.’

Speaking on the banking sector and its outlook, he said: “The banking sector saw a dip

in 2018, obviously following a cut back by banks, who are trying to contain the operation from the effect of the recession of 2016, that sort of spilled over into 2017. But otherwise, it's been growth consistently.

“Tier-one banks accounting for a sizable portion of the total assets. From what we estimate for year 2021, we think includes that nearly N25 trillion loans, up 24 per cent on last year's numbers, and we expect a further 10.3 per cent growth into 2022.

“Also, the total industry deposits, we can see that we've gone from N17.8 trillion in 2016, and expect to close 2021 at N46 trillion and with a projection of 8.4 per cent growth will take us to about N50 trillion by the end of 2022.

“Again, consistent with the other two metrics, you see that the tier one banks continue to control a significant portion of the industry, business and you know, balance sheet.”

He added: “So, I guess what has to be said clearly is that there is some value to consolidation and scale clearly, because when we look at shareholders’ funds, which is essentially the value that has been created by these banks for shareholders over time, you can see that again, tier one banks continue to be the dominant force here nearly 70 per cent of the industry in value creation.”

Also, Ndukauba, in his presentation noted that the current rate at which the federal government was borrowing was not sustainable. He noted that the federal government’s borrowing had tripled by five times in the past five years since the beginning of this administration.

He said: “Revenues have underperformed by these 30 per cent, the income from oil and gas has worsen, at 44 per cent, non-oil income is up slightly at four and a half percent, while independent revenues up 10 per cent and

government owned enterprises down nearly 62 per cent. So on the revenue side, clearly, there is a challenge. We're not tracking what was planned or expected.

“So, in order to keep up with the significant ramp up in spending, the government has had to obviously do a lot more in terms of borrowings, as well as something here that is captured as ways and means which is effectively the central bank providing liquidity in the form of lending or just a stopgap measure to help plug water the shortfalls.

“And what we can see clearly is that we have a rising debt situation.

So aggregate debt N16.8 trillion as of 2016, but between then, and now we're almost at three times that level, with a total of nearly N48 trillion.”

He noted that the debt service ratio which also grew from 45 per cent in 2016, to 83 per cent, was unsustainable.

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COMMENT

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

2023: WHY NOT BALA MOHAMMED? Taiwo Oyekola Oyerinde canvasses the candidacy of Bala Mohammed in the Presidential election

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f we are looking for a nation that is in dire need of redemption, from self-imposed degeneracy, Nigeria is archetypical of such a country. For, despite the divergence of opinion in virtually every aspect of life, Nigerians agree on, at least, two fundamental facts: the first that, the country is in a huge mess which, as I alluded to in my opening sentence, is self-inflicted; the second is that, almost everyone agrees that Nigeria’s woes are a product of leadership.

The first problem did not happen upon us: though blessed with innumerable human and material resources; though protected from such grotesque natural disasters as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, wildfires of the Californian genre; though spared the anguish of a nerve-wracking decolonisation war and though blessed with peers that provided the competitive platform for national ascendancy, Nigeria has become a by-word for poverty, insecurity, strife, hopelessness and terrorism.

Could this sordid state of affairs have been averted? Why, despite the passion, patriotism and commitment of the country’s founding fathers did Nigeria unhinge from the vision of a country where though, tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood it stood? Why did empathy flee so much so that today, in marked contrast with the pledge that the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, retired workers including ex-servicemen and women, are allowed to die in queues while waiting for their paltry pensions and gratuities? Where is the promise of a great nation that characterises every campaign promise and every party manifesto? Where is the egalitarian society that the leaders always promised the people and the hope that they could live in secure boundaries and their property, however, defined, protected?

Views differ on the panacea to the crisis of survival confronting Nigeria. From advocates of restructuring to promoters of selfdetermination, underlying every point of view is the undeniable rejection of a system that appears, one way or the other, to evoke an ingrained feeling of INJUSTICE, among all the constituent units of the country. It may sound anachronistic but what is not deniable is that, among every group, including those who are seen as oppressors, there is a certain feeling of INSECURITY; if the truth must be told, trust has never been a strong factor in Nigeria’s quest for nationhood. And that is at the heart of the matter.

The beauty of democracy is that every election provides a unique opportunity for the electorate to determine the direction in which it wants the country to go. That is what makes 2023 very unique. In some sense, it can be regarded as Nigeria’s appointment with destiny. Though some wonder if Nigeria could get to 2023 as one geopolitical entity, my take is that, through continuing dialogue and compromises, it is possible and eminently desirable to keep the ship of state afloat while looking for a leader with the requite qualities not only to pull the country from the brink but who could muster the courage to push a unifying agenda.

What are those qualities? Ironically, President Buhari has provided the first quality needed to shake off the political inertia that is the bugbear of national life presently. On a visit to South Africa some years ago, he lamented that he wished he had been younger; to be able to cope with the burden and challenge of leadership in Nigeria. What was he saying?

Nigeria needs a young vibrant leader with the physical and mental energies to withstand the rigours of the moment.

Unquestionably, Nigeria needs an experienced organiser, someone with a track record of service, particularly in the public sector. Why the public sector? The reason is obvious: most of the governance, develop-

IT WAS AT THE FCT THAT BALA MOHAMMED DEMONSTRATED HIS ASTUTE DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT SKILLS THAT HELPED TO FORGE A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THE VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS; AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH THE PEOPLE TO DATE.

mental and political issues that call for urgent remediation are domesticated in the public, not the private sector. At this critical watershed in the country’s history, it will be suicidal to entrust her leadership in the hands of a rookie. When the United States entrusted its leadership in the hands of Barack Obama, they did so, confident that given the structured nature of the society, anchored on very strong institutions, there was the assurance that nothing would go wrong. But in our case, Nigeria’s next leader, after Buhari, should be somebody with a basic knowledge of law-making, civil service experience, executive branch exposure and some political engagement.

But that is not all. Nigeria needs a leader, not a ruler, a statesman, not a politician, perhaps more of a statesman than a politician! While the ruler is ruled by vertical idiosyncrasies, the leader is ruled by horizontal passions; while the leader sees himself as the head of a team, a first among equals, the ruler, like Louis 1V of France, sees himself as the state whose word is the law. While the leader is driven by the Constitution, the ruler is often driven by his self-conceit. The leader tends to INCLUDE every stakeholder in one basket; the ruler tends to EXCLUDE perceived opponents or enemies from the collective patrimony. Therefore, as 2023 looms on the horizon, Nigerians must make a conscious effort to install a leadership whose abiding passion is to create an ownership template for all the stakeholders that constitute the Nigeria project. These stakeholders are the various ethnic groups, the religious and faith systems, the young, the old no matter the gender and other proclivities. This, I must say, is the minimum desideratum for restoring a modicum of sense of nation.

But who, among our politicians, can provide such leadership? Such a person ought to possess demonstrable nationalist credentials. In recent history, I can recall one Nigerian who rose above every parochial consideration, including the prospect of a frightening political backlash, to stand with the Constitution, to insist that for the sake of equity, national unity and constitutionalism, Nigeria must do the right thing.

This takes us back to those frightening moments when, bothering on political brinksmanship of the highest order, some politicians sought ways of stopping Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, from taking over the mantle of leadership, from the sick and incapacitated President Umaru Musa Yar’Ardua. The country perched precariously on the edge of a cliff. As the dark clouds of destabilisation gathered, Senator Bala Mohammed pulled a political masterstroke when he moved the Doctrine of Necessity Motion that paved the way to the emergence of President Jonathan. The rest, as they say, is history. But the implications should not be lost on us.

If Bala Mohammed and fellow patriots had not insisted that it was wrong to deny Jonathan his constitutional right because he came from the South-South, if they had decided to roughshod the people of the Niger-Delta, who knows if there would have been a country called Nigeria today? Talk about statesmanship: the ability to be driven by a sublime vision of the country’s future as against the narrow temporal benefits anchored on personal gains or narrow ethnic interests.

In the face of the growing polarisation that has accentuated distrust, anger and tension, it is my candid view that Nigeria needs a person with the nationalist credentials of Bala Mohammed, to rescue the country and people from a catastrophic implosion.

Prince Oyerinde is of the Iresa-Adu Royal House, Ogbomosho

NPA: A REFORMER AT WORK

There is a new order of efficiency and competitiveness at the ports, writes Jackson Olali

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t has taken Mohammed Bello Koko, the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), just six months to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s confidence in him. And it took him even far less time, barely two hours, to convince the House of Representatives that he’s the right man for the job. Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Habours recently, Koko cut the image of a maritime Czar, displaying deeper insight into the workings of ports regulation, management and administration in the global maritime matrix. Appointed in May, 2021, albeit in acting capacity, he simply rolled up his sleeve.

As an industry technocrat, he knew the weak points, understands the dialectics of ports administration and the imperativeness of the NPA as one of the strong pillars for effective diversification of the economy, the dream of President Buhari.

But despite operating in acting capacity, Koko has carried on with transformational zeal and clinical empiricism of a nifty surgeon. First, he effected a shift in the psyche of the staff through a retreat. If anything, the retreat achieved a fundamental purpose. It weaned many of the staff of the mentality of ‘government workers.’ He demanded more from his team to position the authority towards greater efficiency, safety and accountability. He outlined several strategies that would help him and his team place the NPA on a solid pedestal that would help them do more and build capacity for greater market share.

He listed his strategies to include infrastructural renewal and expansion, introduction of barge operations, automation of truck transit through the electronic call-up system and improvement in

the sources of revenue and collection, plugging income leakages, and reducing overhead costs. He also sounded intent to eliminate unwholesome monopolistic conducts within the value chain as well as formulation and implementation of policies aimed to incentivise patronage of the Eastern ports. Overall, he rallied his team to birth a new order of efficiency and competitiveness.

Knowing that the nation relies on the NPA as a redoubtable anchor in the quest to expand the economy through divestment from oil and gas, he reeled out a fresh set of targets and creed of excellence which include, abiding by the spirit and letter of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and Fiscal Responsibility Act, compliance with international best practices and elimination of red tape. To achieve this, he offered to help boost workers’ morale through capacity building, welfare, among others.

And just six months after, Koko’s action plan seems to be paying off in what is now referred to as ‘six months of exceeding expectation.’ The statistics paint the picture most succinctly. Revenue has jumped.

Operational expenses have declined, a clear evidence of fiscal prudence; and contributions to the national treasury have gone up within the Koko-era.

Not even the negative global impact of Covid-19 pandemic on global trade and supply chain logistics could hold down the NPA as it raised its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by 120 percent between January and September 2021. Such leap in a season of lockdown and restrictions means it could have been more bullish in IGR if there were no lockdowns.

A breakdown of the performance shows that the new management has successfully cut operating

expenses by 20 percent of its budget for this year in line with the Buhari government policy of cutting costs. As at the end of September 2021, the NPA earned N256.28 billion in IGR as against the expected N214.65 billion (approved estimate was N271.70bn) for the same period, representing a performance of 120% or 95% of its total annual budget for 2021.

Further breakdown shows that operating expenses, as at the end of September 2021, stood at N55.10 billion as against the budgeted figure of N65.49 billion.

This include funds spent on employees’ benefits, pension costs, towage services, supplies, repairs and maintenance and other administrative overheads. This shows a savings of N10.39bn or 85% performance of the approved budget of N87.32bn.

Remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) has been one area many MDAs failed. While some have been known to remit irregularly, some don’t even bother to remit against Executive directives and pleas from the National Assembly.

In adherence to this and in compliance with the provisions of the Finance Act 2020, the Authority has remitted the sum of N62.66bn to the CRF for the year 2021 as of October 31, 20221.

Going by the strides already achieved in revenue collection, it is projected that the Authority will exceed its 2021 revenue target and the projected transfer to the CRF for the year 2021 which is expected to be over N80bn. And should this happen, it would be the highest in the history of the Authority, meaning that in just six months Koko is already on the path of history.

It’s no rocket science. It’s leadership at work.

Where there is effective leadership, there is vision.

Beyond the vision, there is the will to actualise the

vision. It’s obvious that Koko’s banking experience has helped him undertake critical cost-effective analysis of operations in this all-important authority.

It’s usually the lot of persons who migrate from the private to public sector. They come well-heeled in the nuances of strategic service delivery. They know how to communicate their vision to their team. They are adept with managing the figures to maintain a healthy bottom line. Koko is in this class of corporate voyagers who were directly head-hunted from the private sector ecosystem with all its efficiency into the public sector space. He practices what he preaches; that every staff must earn his or her pay; that public service is not where you reap without sowing but a place to impact on the nation by your little positive actions in whichever station you find yourself.

In a period of dire economic constraints for the nation when President Buhari has tasked non-oil sectors and their operators to double their efforts to achieve genuine backward integration, grow their internally-generated revenue profile, ramp up exports and reduce imports of certain goods especially those which can easily be produced at home, the likes of Koko have in the spirit of Buharinomics become game-changers, acting as buffers against the global low economic tide. It’s for their sake that the nation has recorded modest economic growth these past months against all odds and against the projections of international rating agencies and even the Bretton Woods institutions. Koko’s first six months at NPA raises a flag of hope that the glass is not half empty but half full. A genuine reformer is on duty, and it shows.

Olali wrote from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

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EDITORIAL GAS EXPLOSIONS AND SAFETY MEASURES Much more must be done to enhance safety at gas stations

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scrapped Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that motorists should desist from using mobile phones while refuelling at filling stations, many still do it. To worsen matters, some attendants themselves use phone while discharging petrol into vehicles. Other artisans who work with gas and petrol also do so. Yet, answering calls besides any explosive material is dangerous; which is why people are usually advised to switch off their phones at the gas station. But because many disobey this simple rule, we keep experiencing deaths resulting from gas explosions.

o reduce the increasing regularity of gas explosions and the attendant dangers to lives and property in Nigeria, it is important to step up advocacy on the danger of using mobile phones whenever they are within the vicinity of gas facilities.

We also urge the relevant authorities to conduct regular drills in markets and other public buildings on safety measures regarding the commodity. That is the only way we will not continue to harvest tragic but avoidable deaths in the country.

Following the recent gas explosion in Lagos which claimed no fewer than five lives with scores of people injured, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odunmosu, explained the carelessness that sparked the fire. “It is completely avoidable, human negligence led to it,” Odumosu said in what has become a familiar story that should concern the authorities.

“From what I have ANSWERING CALLS seen there, from BESIDES ANY EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL IS DANGEROUS; what I have heard, the thing blew off WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE ARE USUALLY ADVISED TO (when) someone was trying to refill SWITCH OFF THEIR PHONES the gas cylinder as AT THE GAS STATION well as making a phone call.”

What is particularly worrisome is that many of the deaths arising from gas handling are preventable. For instance, when in 2015 a cylinder exploded at the Plateau State Water Board treatment plant leaving eight people dead, it was discovered that the fatalities were recorded because residents around the area inhaled the poisonous gas which enveloped the entire neighbourhood. There are also cases of illegal gas refilling plants domiciled in highly inflammable areas. So, both ignorance and greed play a big role in many of the tragic occurrences in a milieu where regulation is weak.

Despite repeated warnings by the recently

Letters to the Editor

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

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

t is therefore clear that much more must be done to ensure that those who handle gas always abide by safety procedures. The relevant authorities need to organise sensitisation programmes to all gas retail outlets on how to operate their business with minimal risk to themselves and the general public. What is particularly concerning about the incessant domestic gas explosions is that they occur amid intense campaigns on the need for Nigerians to drop kerosene for gas as a cheaper and cleaner means of cooking. In recent times, fatal explosions had been reported in Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Jigawa States, killing dozens of people. In an incident that is typical of the carelessness often associated with many homes, a female domestic help in Epe, Lagos, turned on the gas and left to chat outside. By the time she returned to light up the gas, the kitchen was suffused with chemical.

The resultant fire and explosion consumed her and many neighbours.

That gas has progressively become the source of death and bodily injuries for users and innocent bystanders is what should worry critical stakeholders, especially within the oil and gas sector. In recent years, hundreds of lives have been lost to this problem with businesses and property worth billions destroyed. Yet, nothing concrete has come out from any of the investigations into these tragedies.

We must handle a problem of this magnitude with some seriousness.

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

DAVIDO AND THE TEST OF LEADERSHIP Continued from backpage

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o, despite his personal and family wealth, there are many things Davido could do with what, to many of us, is a jumbo amount of money. But he chose to respect the people who contributed to make him happy on his birthday by yielding the entire sum to those who need it more than him. And he added his own contribution of N50 million. He also did it in a transparent and accountable way. And for that, he taught a significant lesson in leadership.

Like most celebrities for whom there is no place to hide, I am aware that Davido has his failings, and we have many self-righteous people in Nigeria who point them out. But they miss the point. Despite his social status, what Davido did is not too dissimilar from that of Mrs Ngozi Onuegbusi who refused gratification during the last election in Anambra State. She needed the N5,000 offered to purchase her vote. But she also had a choice to make. She could have rationalized taking the money with the usual excuse—’everybody is doing it’. She chose to be different by rising above the poverty of spirit that afflicts many in our country, including those in big public offices who behave

like scavengers. Without any expectation of a future reward, she refused to sell her vote. Now, she is richer for that choice with the N1 million cash reward from Governor Willie Obiano.

This less-travelled road is also enormously rewarding for Davido, and I am not talking about the media attention his philanthropic gesture has generated globally. Or the way it will advance his music career.

In the world in which we live today, according to Indian writer, Tharini Sridharan, selflessness is no longer just about charity, it is also uplifting. “Ironic as it may sound, selflessness is now an essential survival skill, a skill that relieves, heals and inspires,” Sridharan wrote and Davido perfectly understands that because, as many attest, he is by nature a generous person. “So, the next time you’re out saving the world, it wouldn’t hurt to remember—that the world is, in fact, saving you right back.”

In an era when leadership is exercised more through influence than coercive methods, those who inspire commitment to noble ideals are far more important than those who demand compliance to what they might not even believe in. And the former is more impactful. When Davido sent out the first tweet with his account details, I commented in a small chat

group: ‘Alagbari l’oga mugun’ (a popular Yoruba slang to depict how smart people make money off their ignorant peers). But as I followed the story, I saw things differently. Those who contributed money to Davido, despite knowing he is far richer than them, were making their own statement too. Last night, I joined that company by adding my own token of N25,000. And whenever Davido makes such a call again on his birthday in the years to come, he can be sure I will be among those to honour him with my contribution. That is because he has proved himself worthy. He understands accountability, transparency, and the essence of public trust.

At the end, Davido’s example stands out for a generation increasingly notorious for selfish showiness, garish ostentation and throwing tantrums, especially on social media. He chose a worthy cause over the transient enjoyment of a Rolls Royce! To corrupt officialdom for whom enough (looted public funds) is never enough, here is a young man of 29 tossing away N250 million to a cause higher than his personal interest. And to the rest of us, Davido has pointed in the direction of the enduring values that uplift a society. It will serve us to pay attention.

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

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POLITICS

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

Orji: What Has Pius Anyim Contributed to Inspire Him to Run for Presidency?

Mr. Uchenna Orji Ebonyi State Information Commissioner tells Udora Orizu that Governor David Umahi’s interest in the presidency cannot be threatened by the quest for the same office by his kinsman, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim

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here was a recent report in the social media that appeared to unsettle Governor David Umahi and caused his admirers some concern. What really happened?

The social media post credited to our Governor is fallacious and fabricated and mischievously orchestrated to blackmail a high rising reputation and track record of the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency David Umahi. Let it be known that the matter has been addressed, that the Governor never at any time before, during or immediately afer, commented anything in that regard. That has been debunked by the necessary authorities. We are not surprised by that fabrication because that has been the trend in recent times. Knowing fully well that the Governor has done exceedingly well, anywhere you go they are talking about the Governor of Ebonyi state. For those who think they are playing politics , that the only way to cast aspersions on the name, reputations and track record of the Governor is by sponsoring fake news that he said what he didn’t say. We wish them well, members of the public are aware of the truth and we want to charge every member of the public to beware of these kind of people.

We are aware that they are not stopping. But by the power of God, there’s no way all those their orchestrations will in anyway be anything negative on the side of our government.

The result in Anambra, did it surprise you? You can see that in the South-east we have two APC states, Ebonyi and Imo states. One would have thought that the two governors would rally round Andy Uba to close the gap and now have APC win three states. What went wrong?

For me it is a question of the will of the people of Anambra State. Everybody will do their best, political parties will try to do everything within their reach to maneuver but at the end of the day one party will win and in this case APGA has won in Anambra state. For us we wish them well we believe in the credibility of Professor Chukwuma Soludo even though he’s not a member of APC, we wish him well. We can only charge him to know that South-east has a lot at stake in ensuring the security, peace of our nation. We need to do our beat in getting all the leaders to speak in one voice. The south east governors forum, under his Excellency, Chief David Umahi have been doing a lot in galvanizing the support, solidarity and conscience of the people of the south east in ensuring that we get all and sundry within the nation to appreciate the need to concede presidency to the south east. Apart from that, even the yearnings of those who profess IPOB needs to be addressed. This is the doings of the leaders in the South-east and so all there’s for us to have peace, to be properly positioned in the helm of affairs of the nation, as governors in the South-east we need to be together in this, all hands need to be on deck in achieving this.

You talked about peace and security. At a point it seemed that this election wasn’t going to hold , but at the last minute IPOB reviewed its sit-at-home order, with prevalence of peace which made it possible for election to hold, how can we build on this in the South-east as a whole going forward?

The issue of violence, destruction of lives and properties in the south east. Has been a very serious concern to everyone. I think with the way and manner the election was held in anambra state, there was minimal case of attack, I think it goes to show that there’s hope.

It showed that process of engagement which the South-east leaders started will help a lot.

So I will encourage further engagement processes with the traditional rulers and all and sundry, to talk to the agitators to ensure that they lay down their arms to see how we can move forward and engage constructively on

systematic. Started in 2015, laid foundations even invited Mr. President to commission some of the projects. Today we have a lot of projects that has been completed, we have got a lot of projects that has made Ebonyi a reference point, a flagship of excellence. For instance, among the 36 states of the federation, Ebonyi ranked first, in network of roads apart from Lagos and Abuja, Ebonyi state has got 13 flyovers getting to 14 making it the highest after Lagos and Abuja, Ebonyi state has got a shopping mall that’s said to be the biggest in Africa, it has got a brand new government house that’s much more beautiful than any other state owed government house in Nigeria. Ebonyi has got an emerging international airport, the construction is going smoothly and it’s part of what we expect Mr President to see and appreciate. I think that the coming of the President will help let the whole world know what the Governor has done. He will commission these projects for them to be put into use by the people of Ebonyi state.

Do you have a date in mind?

The Governor will speak on this.

Orji

a round table because it’s better to jaw jaw than to war war. JP Clark said that all are casualties of war, so but I believe there’s a sign of hope based on what happened in Anambra election. Hope in the sense that IPOB people are not bandits or terrorists after all, they have a mission, agitation, leadership, people they can talk to. It goes to show that if continue to talk to IPOB people, they will listen to the voice of reason and peace. We have to continue to engage them in this manner. They’ve shown responsiveness in anambra election. I think Ultimately we will get them to appreciate the need to ensure peace in the south east. The Governors of South-east are doing their best . I can say that all that is needed is for those agitating to really come to a round table and submit whatever is the cause of the agitations, whatever is the issue, to the leaders to see how it can be addressed.

In terms of security, what’s the very first thing you expect soludo to do

as a Governor As Governor of Anambra state, it’s expected that Professor Soludo will have synergise with the leaders of South-east, the governors forum, provide his own positive thoughts, not cheap thoughts on how to bring about peace in the South-east. He’s expected to provide job opportunities to ensure that there’s robust development in Anambra state. Job opportunities that will be available to the common masses.

Anambra is very sensitive, a state where our fore fathers, the likes of Nnamdi Azikiwe came from, it’s expected that he will rise beyond ethnic sentiments, cheap popularity to ensure that we maintain one nation where there’s love and peace. For him to speak together with other leaders to ensure that South-east is made to have opportunity of producing the next President.

Recently, the Governor mentioned that he will begin commissioning projects in the state, when will he start that?

Our Governor is very methodical,

I believe there’s a sign of hope based on what happened in Anambra election. Hope in the sense that IPOB people are not bandits or terrorists after all, they have a mission, agitation, leadership, people they can talk to. It goes to show that if continue to talk to IPOB people, they will listen to the voice of reason and peace. We have to continue to engage them in this manner. They’ve shown responsiveness in Anambra election. I think Ultimately we will get them to appreciate the need to ensure peace in the south east. The Governors of South-east are doing their best . I can say that all that is needed is for those agitating to really come to a round table and submit whatever is the cause of the agitations, whatever is the issue, to the leaders to see how it can be addressed

On the presidency in 2023, recently the North said it is ready to negotiate. This provides a very strong opportunity for your Governor to come forward, however Ohaneze called on all the South-east men and women who have interest to contest for 2023 presidency to come forward, the only person who has come forward so far is Anyim Pius Anyim former Senate President and he happens to come from same state with your governor, do you think that his declaration will diminish your governor’s ambition?

Let me say that Nigerians are getting wiser, and democracy can only be said to be thriving if we do things differently at this point in our history. I tell you we need to look at the track records, the performance indices of every leader.

Whether in the past or immediate, it’s very critical. Without sounding rude I want to say that the whole of Ebonyi state if we are looking at what leaders have done you cannot see a single trace of what former Senate President, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation did for Ebonyi state let alone South-east. I don’t want to talk about issues of complicity and conspiracy that under development of Southeast by those who held positions at the national level. Let me say that the people of South-east knows who is a performer they know who can make all the difference. All we need is to show the entire Nigeria that the best can come from South-east. And if you look at what has been done in Ebonyi state within the short time in the history of governance, you can be sure that if you are looking at who will transform Nigeria , Ebonyi state Governor will provide all the leadership. I can tell you that whether or not he has shown interest, the people of Ebonyi and South-east are praying for him. And when the chips are down, God will hear our prayers and bring him out. This man, when we had issues in Ebonyi, we had no development or infrastructure for 19 good years, God raised him for us, he started by bringing him onboard as state party chairman, he became a Deputy Governor consecutively and when he became, he became one of the best hands of his boss. To the extent his boss promised him that he was going to be a Governor after him, before enemies stepped in. But eventually God crowned him and he became the first Deputy Governor in history to become governor when the establishment said no. As it is he has shown that he can be the best in any position he’s given. If he has the opportunity he will make a great difference in the whole of Nigeria.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021

POLITICS

Emelumba: South-east Governors Initiated Ebube Agu Vanessa Obioha was among a group of journalists who interviewed the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo State, Declan Emelumba that believes that Governor Hope Uzodinma is working assiduously to restore peace and democracy in the state

I

nsecurity tension in Imo is gradually winding down. How did the governor achieve this?

We can say that peace has returned to Imo State, relative peace. You know, before now, we’ve had this bombardment of unknown gunmen, banditry and so on and so forth. Because it was almost alarming, like every week you will see one story or the other about daredevil attacks on police stations, human beings, etc. But the government took it as a challenge. It was a big challenge and he took it head-on. Like he would always say, through the cooperation of the President and the security agencies. The people were fazed also to confront them head-on and by the grace of God, you have been able to stop them. At least from continuing with their relentless attack and breach of security in the state. The thing was heightened when they attacked the correctional centre in Owerri and released about 1800 inmates. These are criminals who were either in prison or awaiting trial or whatever.

So they went back to society and increased the number of criminals who were prowling the streets. And so the thing became so much but the governor was determined and did not sleep. So as we talk today, Imo is relatively peaceful. Business has returned, nightlife has returned, normal activities have returned. So people can sleep now with their eyes closed and snore if they want to, but that is not to say that we will hear occasional incidents here and there, because maybe tomorrow, you will hear somebody was killed somewhere. These are normal. There’s no society that is crime free but what we’re saying is that abnormal situation where people could not barely move about their businesses out of fear, and frequently you hear about well organised attacks, all those ones have stopped. Imo is relatively peaceful. Like I said, the credit goes to the Governor’s determination, the assistance of the President of the country, and the cooperation of all the security agencies. The synergy they show helped in abating the crime to a very reasonable extent.

At the height of the unknown gunmen issue, the media heard that the government invited the military including the Air Force, and some places in Imo land which had never experienced bombs were now attacked by the Air Force. Can you react to that?

On inviting the army, I want to say that if you are in government, and the lives and property of the people are threatened... Before now, the Orsu axis, every day, people were harassed, women were raped. It was like a lawless society by people, a band of criminals who were harassing the society. And, you know, a lot of things were happening. And it was the same people who were saying that the government is looking helplessly while people are being killed. I remember what triggered all these things. It was the opposition, who planted something false, propaganda in social media that the government had given reserved land for Ruga, for Hausa people in Orlu and herdsmen were already there preparing the place. So these young men who said they’re about to protect the interest of Igbos, you know, were enraged by that and they came to Orlu, looking for a non-existent place, and in the process, virtually law and order broke down in Orlu. This was the root of what the opposition planted. And of course, it would be very irresponsible of a government to now watch helplessly and this continues to happen.

The police were overwhelmed because they couldn’t really contain it because these were armed people. At that time they were targeting the police. Anywhere they saw police on the checkpoint, they shot at them, they were killing them. The police even had to run away, left their stations. So it was becoming anarchy in that area, and the government had no choice than to do everything that was possible to bring back order and sanity and it included strengthening security which was brought in by the soldiers. Now the point is that they were brought to restore order, not to make life more miserable for the people, but the same people who triggered insecurity in the area just to

like anybody taking their land for Ruga. So it’s false.

The governor has not attended any of the Southern Governors meetings. Out of the three or four, he sent the deputy governor. Why is that? Ishe avoiding the SGF? What is Imo’s stance on open-grazing?

First of all, the governor was not avoiding the SGF meeting at all. I don’t know what amounts to avoiding it but I know that the government is made up of the governor’s cabinet. On Saturday, the governor sent me to represent him at a function about Imo people.

Can somebody now interpret it as the governor avoiding Imo people?

Well, if he is consistent.

No, what is consistent is that he has sent his deputy thrice to the SGF meeting twice. The first time he sent his deputy because he wasn’t around. The second one wasn’t around, he doesn’t have to kill himself in order to impress you. If he has serious engagement, particularly outside the state, he doesn’t have to impress anybody. I think that when the deputy governor is seated in a meeting for the governor, the communique signed by the Southern governors, Imo State was represented. If he was not at that meeting at all, then we can argue. In fact, there were cases when some states did not send anybody at all and nobody had crucified them. It is the one that we have the deputy governor sitting in for the government of Imo State. Must he be the person that goes there physically?

Emelumba

make the government look helpless. And even when the government seemed to be wasting time they were saying there’s no security. The same people because they were now sad that security has been restored through applying this strengthening security precinct are the people who are now saying that he brought the army to kill them. I keep asking who are the people that these soldiers have killed like the isolated cases or accidental discharge but who are the people. They won’t tell you. They will just say that he brought the army to kill their people but they will not tell you that the same army restored peace in the area. So it’s just you know, trying to make sure that there is nothing you do. All they want is to continue to cause confusion. And when you talk about the Air Force, saying that the air force has burnt more than during the war, we are in the social media age. I don’t know how many times, if it was that frequent, as they claimed, I can assure you that this people out of their desperation to prove their point would have been able to capture some images that they would have sent where the Air Force were bombing. I can’t remember seeing an Air Force going to bomb a place but there are one or two occasions when there was surveillance to determine where criminals were around the axis of Orsu

and Ihiala in Anambra, and those areas.

There was a video about the gunshots and all that I can tell you there was a time that there was a video that went viral that the Imo State House of Assembly was on fire. And they sent that video of a house burning actually but it was a video of a building burning in Ghana. So you can go to the internet and get false planes, with guns and whatever. What is the evidence that it was in Orlu?

What about the land grabbing in Oguta?

The governor has made it clear that there is nothing like Ruga. The government has plans to bring some integrated farm settlements, you know, for the people which are being co-sponsored by the federal government. The people who are always looking for what to say against the government said it was Ruga.

We have even gone to address the people and clear the air and they are satisfied that this thing has nothing to do with Ruga. What is this Ruga? How is it going to happen? You can’t take people’s land without defining what you are going to do with it. Of course, the people will resist and I think the people right now are satisfied that there is no plan, nothing

On Ihedioha saying he still has his eyes on governorship, that he is going to drive Uzodinma away. I want to tell you that Ihedioha has never won an election in Imo State before, at least, governorship. He lost to Rochas in 2015 and in 2019, he had what they call negotiated victory. He never won. He had always won only in the three local governments in Mbaise. And he never won the spread. There’s a book that’s written

by Willie Amadi on how the thing happened, where Tony Chukwu was begging Malami and others that they know this man doesn’t have spread but let us not have a crisis

But if others make the sacrifice, it is expected he should do the same.

But sometimes expectations don’t match realities. He is granted the right to order his priorities. If he has something... I know that on one of those occasions, he had a meeting with Mr President where he was trying to negotiate something for the state. It was a scheduled meeting and impossible for him to cancel it. I think it would have been an issue if he didn’t send anyone at all. At any rate, the SGF is not a statutory body, so I don’t know why we should break our heads if the Governor doesn’t attend.

Their objectives and what they are pursuing is resonating with the people of the South It is resonating with the people of the South and that is why we are always there in the meeting. We are always there. Obiano did not send anybody. Remember, this Governor initiated and hosted the South-east Governors meeting in Imo. It was there that Ebube Agu was born. So if he could take those initiatives and then it’s not convenient for him to attend the SGF meeting, even if it’s three times, you shouldn’t crucify him for that. The things you are saying resonate with the people, the South-east governors, does it make us resonate with them? South-east is part of SGF. What I’m saying is that he is on the same page with the Southern Governors, and that’s why he has made sure that at each point, Imo is highly represented by no other person than the deputy governor who stands in for Governor in his absence, so I don’t think that sends any wrong signal at all.

Then on open grazing, incidentally, Imo State already had a law on open grazing before the Southern Governors resolution.

That law was in 2006. I was a member of the House who passed the law. So what the governor said was that, we already have a law on open grazing, so that is what the other states are trying to actually do. And that law says that you cannot graze your cattle in some restricted areas, private residential areas, commercial areas or some other designated areas. So we already have that law. He doesn’t always pay to play to the gallery. So if the Southern Governors now said we should do the same law that we already had in 2006 So we should abrogate that one and do another one.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͳ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

George Okoroma: Taking ACEN to Greater Heights Recently, the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Vanessa Obioha encountered the President, Engineer George Okoroma who shared some of the milestones of the association while giving a peep into his career trajectory

T

he year the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) was founded was the same year Mr. George Okoroma began his secondary school education. As a young man in 1971, Okoroma was unsure of which career path he would pursue. But one thing was certain though, his calling was in the sciences.

He realised this in Santa Maria High School, Omoku, Rivers State, where he eventually became the President of the Science Society of the school. Even though his interest was in the sciences, Okoroma was equally good in creative arts. He disclosed that he was the Chief cartoonist in the school.

But his passion for sciences could not be easily overwhelmed. Back then, he was very much interested in science about the moon, and at one time, contemplated studying electronic engineering or medicine but after a horrifying discussion about the dissection of a cadaver during a class, Okoroma discarded his medical aspiration swiftly.

Interestingly, he later gained admission to study medicine at the University of Benin, but he opted out.

However, a chance meeting with a professor he admired nudged him towards civil engineering. Today, he sits at the helm of many companies including Gambeta Groupe Limited.

Sitting in his hotel room after arriving from Abuja with his wife, Okoroma exuded elatedness that he is the President of ACEN today.

"I feel great, elated and humbled. I mean how else can one be happy." he enthused.

"It is more of God's divine grace that in the history of ACEN, a young man who entered secondary school in 1971, who never knew where he is going to be or what the future looks like. And I never knew that I was going to study sciences anyway, and today I am the president of the association."

Okoroma was crowned president of the association in February 2020. Shortly after that, many countries began to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But for his foresight, he was able to prepare members for the uncertain times ahead.

As part of his objectives for his tenure, he ensured that ACEN — an association of registered professional consulting engineering firms in Nigeria and a member of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) — had a functioning website.

"I had very tall dreams when I came in but the pandemic happened. Nevertheless, one of the things I did is the backbone of the survival of ACEN today. I had in mind that I was going to revive our websites, not knowing that we're going to end up with everything being done on the internet and ICT. Today, the ACEN website is one of the best websites. We built an e-library in the system as well. So all of our communication was done through the internet.

"Also, we were able to succeed as an organisation, meeting all our engagements: business evenings EGM and AGM, and even our training."

He added that the association is very keen on peer review to enable them to stay up to the latest technology as well as award Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points to member firms.

"The idea is that we need to develop our people on a regular basis," he explained.

The association currently has 400 registered firms which is still a far cry for a country with over 200 million people.

"That's one of the things that I think I wish we would have been better than that.

Because South Africa, for instance, has a population of 60 million and then the number of firms is over 600. Now compare that to a country like Nigeria with over 200 million people."

G.C. Okoroma

Okoroma attributes low patronage of local consulting engineers by the government as responsible for that.

One of the key goals of ACEN is to promote indigenous consulting engineers in infrastructure development in the country. This objective is at the heart of Okoroma who as a young man starting out in the field faced a similar challenge.

But due to his doggedness, he was able to prove to the company that he could deliver as much as the foreign consulting engineers but more importantly, that his right as an engineer would not be denied.

"That is why we are advocating as ACEN that the indigenous consulting engineers should be given the right place in infrastructure development in our nation."

To Okoroma, engineering is life. It is found in every facet of human existence.

From roads, fashion, to the medical field, engineering, he said, is involved

He continued: "In fairness to the government, they came up with the Nigerian Local Content Law in 2010 and then in 2018 the Presidential Executive Order 5. We all appreciate that but the issue is implementation and enforcement. There's no implementation, the government should be intentional with what they are doing.

"If you come up with a policy, we appreciate that. In fact, in this country, we have a lot of policies in place, but implementation and enforcement become a challenge. Now in the ministry, departments and agencies of government, how many of the agencies are actually implementing this to the core? And unfortunately for us, we haven't gotten to that understanding that engineering is development. No nation can develop without engineering."

To Okoroma, engineering is life.

It is found in every facet of human existence. From roads, fashion, to the medical field, engineering, he said, is involved.

"The essence of engineering is to improve humanity. What engineers do is look at where the challenges are, and see how they can improve the life of humanity...When you have more consulting engineering firms engaged by the government, then you will have development.

"So it has to be intentional because all nations that have survived and grown in development including China and Japan have a link to engineering. If you remember years back, when you

talk about Chinese products, nobody will touch it but the Chinese deliberately started improving on the quality and to a large extent, including Japanese. Today, most industries or factories are in Japan and China. There's now a competition between China and America.

"What we need to do is a change of mind.

So our people should patronise the Nigerian consulting firms. The government should deliberately ask the ministries, departments, and agencies of the government to support the indigenous consulting firms.

"A situation where you go to the ministry and they start asking why do we need to have a consultant is to me, an aberration because you need quality and advice; you reach out to them, but because you don't want to spend money, you cut corners and that's why we have quackery everywhere."

He emphasized that the association frowns heavily on such practice and is guided by ethics to ensure that the best practice is obtained from member firms.

For Okoroma, engineering is a lifelong study because of technological advancements.

For instance, he said that due to the ongoing climate change campaign to reduce carbon emissions that FIDIC is planning to train engineers on how to have less carbon print in their designs.

The engineer from Rivers may have assumed office during the pandemic but his tenure will be remembered for giving the association a facelift as well as being the first president of ACEN to serve a two-year tenure in the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), even as he prepares to pass on the baton of leadership.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

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

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IATF Raises Nigeria’s Hope on African Trade, Closes with Business Deals Worth $36bn

Emma Okonji The second Intra Africa Trade Fair (IATF 2021), which took place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa, has raised the hope on stronger bilateral trade between Nigeria and other African countries, just as it closed with business deals worth $36 billion, the organisers have said.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his speech during the opening ceremony of the second Intra African Trade Fair 2021, assured the organisers that Nigeria would take

advantage of the Intra Africa Trade Fair to boost its trade relationship with other African countries, with a view to improving Nigeria’s exports.

“Let me assure you that Nigeria has come to Durban in full force to actively participate in this very important trade fair and take full advantage of all the opportunities it provides, ”Buhari told the audience.

Presenting the preliminary report at the close of the IATF 2021 in Durban, the Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra African Trade Initiative, Mrs. Kanayo

Awani, reported that 11,828 people attended the event physically, while over 27,000 did so virtually via the IATF Virtual platform, which streamed the event live and offered other features that replicated the physical trade fair, bringing the total number of participants to about 39,000. Participants at IATF 2021 came from 128 countries around the world, Nigeria inclusive.

While explaining that business deals were still going on and that some of the deals already closed were still being compiled, Awani disclosed that the deals concluded

as of November 21, 2021 amounted to $36 billion, exceeding the $32 billion mark set at IATF 2018.

Awani also announced that against a target of 1,100 exhibitors as set out in the key performance indicators unveiled in 2019 on the background of the lessons learnt from the first IATF in Cairo, Egypt in 2018, IATF 2021 saw 1,161 exhibitors including 838 companies from 59 Countries of which 46 came from Africa, showcase their goods and services, in what was recognized as a massively successful event.

At the forum, up to four countryday were organised, dedicated to South Africa, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. The number of participants at the country-day celebration doubled the number that featured in the inaugural Cairo 2018 event, according to the organisers.

Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF Advisory Council, described IATF as a movement towards an economically reliable Africa.

Obasanjo complimented the

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah.

Durban, it was gathered, had only four months to prepare for the event, whose opening ceremony was graced with the presence of seven Heads of State and Government, including President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, President Lazarus Chakwere of Malawi, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Continued on page 26

Report: Nigeria’s Export Trade to Hit $112bn by 2030 Dike Onwuamaeze New research by Standard Chartered Bank has projected that Nigeria’s export trade would hit $112 billion in 2030 and would be recording a Year-on-Year (YoY) increase of 9.7 per cent, while India, Indonesia, and Mainland China would be the major opportunity corridors that would spike Nigeria’s participation in global trade.

The research, which is titled,

“Future of Trade 2030: Trends and Markets to Watch,” also projected that the global exports trade would grow from $17.4 trillion to $29.7trillion between 2021 and 2030 and would be driven largely by 13 markets.

These markets, which were listed in alphabetical order, are Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Mainland China, and Malaysia. Others are Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirate (UAE), and Vietnam.

The report stated that, “global trade is set to grow by 70 per cent over the by 2030 next decade, with a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable practices.”

It added that Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East would have the largest share of rising stars and hyper-growth markets of the future.

It added, “Asia, Africa, and the Middle East will see a ramp-up in investment flows, with 82 per cent of respondents saying they are

considering new production locations in these regions in the next five to 10 years, supporting the trend towards rebalancing to emerging markets and greater risk diversification of supply chains.”

The research also stated that global trade would be reshaped by five key trends, which are the wider adoption of sustainable and fair-trade practices; “a push for more inclusive participation; greater risk diversification; more digitisation and

a rebalancing towards high-growth emerging markets. Almost 90 per cent of the corporate leaders surveyed agreed that these trends will shape the future of trade and will form part of their five to 10-year cross-border expansion strategies.”

The report, which was commissioned by Standard Chartered and prepared by PwC Singapore, analysed historical trade data and projections until 2030, as well as insights from a survey of more than

500 C-suite and senior leaders in global companies.

The report stated that Nigeria’s future growth would be driven by its current and future investments in its digital and physical infrastructure, and improvements in its business environment.

It said: “Driven by its Industrial Revolution Plan and National Digital Economy Policy (2020-2030), Continued on page 27

D ATAA SA SATATW W D AY,N OAVUEGM US MM A RAKREKTE TD ATA E DENDENSEDSAY, B TE R1 12,4 2 , 022012 1 ONNDDSS FFGGNN BBO DESCRIPTION 11.668 FGNSB 9.091 FGNSB 15-AUG-2021 11-DEC-2021 10.301 FGNSB 13.402 16-AUG-2021 12-DEC-2021 11.150 FGNSB 7.144 FGNSB 11-SEP-2021 15-JAN-2022 12.364 FGNSB 13.125 12-SEP-2021 16-JAN-2022 12.175 FGNSB 16.39 27-JAN10-OCT-2021 2022

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MREPCP CPXIV XXXI NBRP 2513-AUG-21 NOV-21 UNCPCP CPIA III2627PARP AUG-21 NOV-21 VAAGCP CPIB I 27PARP 26AUG-21 NOV-21 TTNG CP CP IV II 31DUFL 30AUG-21 NOV-21 SIBP CP MREP CPI 2-SEPXXXIV 21 30-NOV-21

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

A BOOST FOR EDUCATION…

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan; Chairman, NB Plc, Chief Kolawole Jamodu; Former Managing Director, NB Plc, Elder Felix Ohiwerei; Board Chairman of The Nigerian Breweries Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund and Managing Director, NB Plc, Mr. Hans Essaadi; Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, Prof.

Juan Elegido and Company Secretary/Legal Director, NB Plc, Uaboi Agbebaku during the official commissioning of Felix Ohiwerei Building, School of Science and Technology PHOTO: SUNDAY ADIGUN named after Elder Felix Ohiwerei, former NB Managing Director, held at the University campus in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos… yesterday

Sanwo-Olu Urges NCS to Develop Indigenous Software Solutions to Address Nigeria’s Specific Challenges Emma Okonji The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has challenged members of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), to develop indigenous software applications that can reduce cost of governance and address challenges that are peculiar to Nigerians.

The governor who gave the advice in Lagos during the 2021 National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA), organised recently by NCS, said the call became necessary, in order to reduce the huge cost incurred by government in servicing and renewing foreign software licences that runs in most government agencies.

Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, said Lagos State spent about 6 per cent of its annual budget in servicing and renewal of foreign software licences used across the state ministries and agencies.

He therefore called for collaboration between the Lagos State government and the software developers in NCS, with a view to developing indigenous software that could address the issues of governance and other specific challenges that are peculiar to Lagos and Nigeria as a nation.

He spoke about the initiative of the state government to transform

Lagos into a smart city, using technology, adding that the state is already using the open source initiative to drive the Lagos Smart City project across the state.

According to him, the difference between developed and developing countries is technology and the rule of law, which is a subset of technology.

“Lagos government will continue to depend on technology to drive governance and to bring development to the people of Lagos State. The

smart city initiative of the state will further help Lagos State government in transforming the economy of the state into a digital economy. The ongoing metropolitan fibre optic cable project in the state, that will connect schools, government agencies and organisations with fast speed internet, will help complement the smart city project of the state. The project will boost e-commerce in the state and also enhance job creation among youths and adults in the state. Lagos State has set

aside N250 million Research and Innovation Fund to drive technology development in the state.

“The state is however overburdened with huge cost in servicing and renewing foreign software licences. The state is currently spending about 6 per cent of its annual budget in servicing and renewing foreign software licences.

We will therefore collaborate with NCS to develop indigenous software applications that will help address

our specific challenges, including challenges of governance,” SanwoOlu said.

President of NCS, Prof. Adesina Sodiya, in his welcome address, said: “This year’s NITMA will surely provide a strong indication of our commitment to celebrating talents and highlighting the creativity, excellence, vision and dedication of individuals and organisations within the Information Technology (IT) industry and community,” Sodiya said.

He announced that the Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, has continued to fund the yearly NCS Scholarship Fund to support 35 students studying Computer Science and IT-related courses in Nigerian tertiary institutions, since 2015. “The scholarship recipients have been promised automatic employment in any of Jim Ovia’s organisations, provided such beneficiaries graduated with a minimum of second class upper division in their course of study,” Sodiya further said.

Experts: Desire to Boost Investors’ Confidence Giving Rise to Arbitration in Major Economies Raheem Akingbolu Considering the cost implications to businesses, experts and practitioners in the Alternative Dispute Resolution System (ADRs) have advocated arbitration as a prominent method of dispute resolution. They have also pointed out that the appetite for such resolutions has given rise to arbitration in major economies.

According to the Chairman, 2021 Annual Conference Planning Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb), Oladipo Opeseyi, SAN the right ethical conduct is becoming even more important than ever in

ensuring fair and effective outcome.

Opeseyi who declared the conference open in Lagos, said recourse to arbitration is on the rise as a prominent method of dispute resolution.

This, he added, will maintain the integrity of the system as well as confidence of the public in the process.

Speaking at the event, the Lagos State Government said it has intensified efforts to make the state a hub for arbitration processes both internationally and domestically.

According to the state government, this will guarantee investors that their investments are

safe and guided by the rule of law and by doing so, boost investment and investor’s confidence.

“Unlike litigation, arbitration presents a new frontier in today’s evolving world and this represents the future which Lagos State said it has embraced and as theme of the Conference shows, we are in the new normal which shows that potential technology is not destructive to the rule of law but an enabler to increase access to justice, “the state government stated.

The conference, which was held for the first time in the history of the institute, as a hybrid conference, was themed: Disruption and The

New Normal in Arbitration/ ADR- A Way Forward.

The conference focused on providing a forum for users, experts and practitioners in arbitration and other ADRs across sectors in the African Continent and beyond, to discuss, share knowledge and proffer solutions from the aftermath of COVID 19 disruptions.

While the impact of COVID-19 is felt differently among nations, the experts submitted that the consequential effect on arbitration and other forms of ADR remains a thing of great concern.

The presentations therefore showed that practitioners must continue to evolve ways of

surmounting them and move the arbitration practice forward, despite the limitations.

Also speaking at the conference, the incoming President and Chairman of Governing Council of the institute, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, admitted that while the Covid 19 social distancing world has brought virtual meetings to the fore for many businesses and government organs including courts, the arbitration community and the ADR community in general is better equipped to take the stage and lead in the resolution of issues between disputing parties who are confined to their rooms because of the ban on international travels.

NCC Moves to Revitalise Telecom Special Numbering Service Segment Emma Okonji Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is taking a decisive regulatory move to ensure sustainability, profitability and fair competition in the Special Numbering Service (SNS) segment of the nation’s telecommunications sector.

The move informed the decision of the Commission to hold a Stakeholders’ Forum on the ‘Determination of Call Termination Rate for Special Numbering Service

Providers in Nigeria.

The forum, which held at the NCC’s Head Office in Abuja recently, was attended by representatives of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Special Numbering Service (SNS) providers and other stakeholders who participated actively in the discussions.

Addressing the gathering, the Director, Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at NCC, Yetunde Akinloye, said the meeting was convened following the extensive

work of a committee set up by the Commission to look into the issues and complaints emanating from the SNS segment of the telecoms market. A key concern according to her, was the perception of high cost of delivering services to end-users in the SNS segment.

According to Akinloye “This meeting is convened to discuss issues pertaining to the special numbering services (SNS) segment of the Nigerian telecommunications market. Statutorily, the NCC is the custodian and manager of the

toll-free and non-toll-free numbers licenses, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

She explained that owing to the scarce and finite nature of the numbers in the sector, the NCC, as the regulator, was under obligation to ensure the utilisation of the numbers by the licensees in a way that delivers value to the final consumers and ensures sustainability of the industry.

According to her, based on this, the NCC set up a committee to do a thorough review of the market segment; research similar markets in

other jurisdiction for benchmarking; and determine the appropriate call termination rates, through proper investigation, consultation and stakeholder engagements.

Also speaking during the meeting, Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, NCC, Bako Wakil, decried the situation where the SNS segment of the market has not been fully maximised because of the cost elements involved.

Wakil however said if cost could be reduced, there would be greater benefits from economies of scale.

IATF RAISES NIGERIA’S HOPE ON AFRICAN TRADE, CLOSES WITH BUSINESS DEALS WORTH $36BN President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, Hon. Hussein Mwinyi of Zanzibar and the Rwandan Prime Minister, Hon. Edouard Ngirente, all whose presence Chief Obasanjo described as “proof of commitment to the IATF at the highest level.”

The the third IATF in 2023, is scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area

(AfCFTA) Secretariat, the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2021) took place in Durban from 15 to 21 November 2021.

According to the organisers, IATF 2021 provided a platform to promote trade under the AfCFTA. It brought together continental and

global buyers and sellers, and enabled stakeholders to share trade, investment and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and the economic integration of the continent.

In addition to establishing business-to-business and businessto-government exchange platforms for business deals and advisory services, IATF 2021 also focused on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programmes.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS & MARKETING

Appraising Air-conditioning Market in Nigeria Raheem Akingbolu writes on the competition in Nigeria’s cooling and air-conditioning market and how the peculiarity of the country’s weather appears to be putting the players on their toes.

R

eports indicate that some air conditioners are not suitable for the Nigerian environment and hence could constitute health hazards or even cause accidents. For this reason, it is important for electronic companies and manufacturers to consider the type of gas they install in their air conditioners.

For instance, some air conditioners that have R22 gases may pose danger to the environment. Beyond emitting dangerous gas to the environment, they are also susceptible to explosions when exposed to certain conditions.

Most recently, the production of R22 for use in air conditioning and refrigeration systems was said to have been prohibited in Canada effective January 1, 2020.

Previous scientific studies confirm that while R22 was inexpensive to produce and favoured by most heating, ventilator, and air conditioning, HVAC, installers, it is identified as one of many substances contributing to the depletion of the Earth’s ozone. On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, REFCOM had reported various concerns over several air conditioning related explosions even in Nigeria. This calls for more care in the production and use of air conditioners in Nigeria and across the world.

Consequently, some experts argue that while it is vital for air conditioners and indeed all other home appliances to possess energy-saving technology, a cross-section of the world population is equally concerned about their impact on the global environment. This has led to debates on global warming and ozone depletion - demanding for social responses and legislative measures which must have far-reaching environmental impacts and other implications for air-conditioning and associated industries. In most climes, a lot of efforts are being made for air-conditioning and refrigeration technologies to be part of the solutions for mitigating global warming, and reduction of harmful gas emissions. It should also be noted that globally, environmental protection is increasingly being inculcated into the goal of most responsible manufacturers.

This underscores the importance of the recent launch

by Royal Electronics, a foremost electronics and home appliances manufacturing company based in Dubai that unveiled the Royal Signature Split-Unit air conditioner in the Nigerian market. The introduction of this product, which is solely distributed in the Nigerian market by SIMS Nigeria Limited is to upgrade the air-cooling technology to march and surpass the existing standard.

The technology used for the manufacture of the Royal Signature split unit air conditioner is innovative and disruptive aimed at offering the market something fresh,

delightful and beneficial.

The launch, described by industry watchers as ‘moving the frontiers of cooling technology,’ was witnessed by stakeholders and dignitaries including Chief David Ifezulike, Chairman, Nestle Nigeria, and his wife Ngozi Ifezulike; Royal Signature brand Ambassador, Nollywood star, Chioma Chukwuka and Chief Simeon Eyisi, Chairman SIMS Nigeria Limited. Others present at the event were Barr.

Bernadette Eyisi, Executive Director Human Capital Development; Mr. Fab Uzor, Executive Director, Corporate Services; Ike Eyisi, Executive Director, Operations; Arthur Ozoigbo, Executive Director, Sales & Marketing; Prakash Prasad, National Service Manager; and Media executives.

Speaking at the ceremonial unveiling session, Chief David Ifezulike, who chaired the event, commended the SIMS management for introducing unique innovations from the Royal Electronic brand shelf. Royal Signature AC brand is one in a series of innovative and groundbreaking technology based brands in the world. According to him, this is a follow up to the winning brands streak that include Royal TV range, Gas Cookers, Refrigeration solutions, Kitchen appliances, power solutions, and others.

Chief Ifezulike emphasized the unique selling propositions of Royal Signature, which include the benefits of low energy consumption, reduced cost of maintenance, and normal usage even when the voltage fluctuates. He emphasized that these features have become great vehicles to demonstrate brand innovation, differentiation, and consumer insight.

Commenting further, he predicted that corporate Nigeria would patronise the product massively as the quality is top-notch, with a clear capacity to deliver consumer satisfaction comprehensively.

The Chairman, SIMs Nigeria Limited, Chief Simeon Eyisi, spoke about the new product. “I don’t have any iota of doubt about The Royal Signature. I believe the product will be a market leader within a short time - because its features are unique and incomparable,” he stressed with confidence. It is clear that his organisation has remained technologically-inclined, and have left no stone unturned in promoting and distributing mind-blowing home appliances like Royal Signature Air Conditioner. With the current level of advancement in technology awareness and information, consumers are beginning to demand more from household devices to elevate their current standard of living The Royal Signature AC, loaded with brand

benefits and features, is poised to capture the attention of technology-savvy and cost-conscious Nigerian consumers. Apart from the persistent poor power supply and electrical outages that have become a source of concern for all stakeholders and consumers, the issue of consistent rise in the cost of power has all combined to effectively limit the full utilization of air-conditioners in Nigeria. The Royal Signature AC comes with full options with so many unique benefits. As an inverter AC, it offers high energy-saving capability and its mirror-finish with Wi-Fi facilities are the very first of their kind in Nigeria. It comes in 1HP, 1.5HP and 2.0HP capacities and it is also fitted with R32 gas, which is presently the safest and the most environment-friendly AC gas in the world.

Commenting on the organization’s passion for environmental compliance Prakash Prasad, National Service Manager, said: “In developing our products we always pay serious attention to the Nigerian climate, so we knew we should design a product that will not affect the ozone layer. That is why our researchers ensured we use a gas that does not harm the ozone layer in any way. We use gas that enhances energy efficiency in terms of operation; and saves energy so that there is less burden on the consumer in terms of electric bill payment.” He further explained that Nigerian consumers need appliances like Royal Signature AC that would not only withstand the low power voltage, but will save them some money through lower energy utilization.

“Our organization has shown that environmental protection is top on their minds and that all their products including the new AC brand are designed with the protection and safety of the Nigerian environment as peak priority”.

Executive Director, Corporate Services, Fab Uzor, throws more light on the issue of environmental protection. According to him, “Royal Signature AC has eco-friendly low-density gas. The brand also has the latest air filtration technology, where it filters the internal air in the house and brings in fresh air into homes that makes it healthy for the occupant of the environment, which other brands don’t have. Again, one of the value additions is that this is the first air conditioner in Nigeria to have what we call the R32 gas. Most times, you hear that due to power surge the air conditioner blew up. This cannot happen with R32 because it is a non-explosive gas. That is the difference when we talk about health and environmental friendliness.

Others will tell you their gas is eco-friendly, but they don’t have R32, which is the highest standard. I know there is R410, which is what others call eco-friendly gas, but there is also the R32 which is used mainly by those in the oil energy sector where safety is paramount.

We have decided to extend the usage of this uniquely healthy gas to anyone who will use Royal Signature AC in their homes; so even when there is power surge, the air conditioner compressor will trip off because this is a non-explosive gas. That is the difference between R410, R32 and R22 gases”.

Still on his organization’s passion for environmental compliance, Mr. Uzor took time to give details of the sustainability policy that governs his organization’s activities. This, he explains, reveals why SIMS Nigeria limited is effectively at the forefront in the drive to build a more environmentally friendly business setting. He promised that consumers will continue to witness a plethora of innovative and forward-thinking products from the stables of Royal Electronics and distributed in Nigeria by SIMS Nigeria Ltd - as they consistently churn out products with top-notch technology and multiple capabilities that will keep their brands permanently in the minds of consumers.

The capacity of Royal Signature Air conditioners to function effectively even with low voltage has taken the ‘Battle against Heat to a New Level.’ Most Nigerians know that heat can become quite unbearable, especially during the dry season. This explains why many commentators genuinely believe that putting air conditioners in homes in this part of the world cannot be considered a luxury. Regrettably, most citizens’ capacity to use this home appliance is really limited, no thanks to the epileptic electric power supply. Only a few who can afford high-capacity generators are the ones enjoying the comfort of air-conditioners in their home.

However, the capacity of Royal Signature to function at low voltage is great news to many consumers as this is likely going to “democratise” the use of air conditioners across the hinterlands in Nigeria in the long term. Mr. Uzor explained that the magic in the Royal Signature is its capacity to remain stable despite fluctuation and its huge voltage range, which is between 130 and 285.

During the launch of Royal Signature AC, some experts involved in the research and production of the new AC brand shared other special features that make the new air conditioner a game-changer. In the words of Ike Eyisi, Executive Director, Operations “this product has the feature of a wi-fi control system. The Wi-fi feature of the Signature is not limited in function, it has full options, with unlimited functions,” he stated.

REPORT: NIGERIA’S EXPORT TRADE TO HIT $112BN BY 2030 Nigeria has shifted its focus towards promoting digital transformation, financial inclusion, and physical infrastructure development with a series of billion-dollar projects.

These efforts are forecasted to facilitate Nigeria’s plans for economic diversification and non-petroleum growth.”

It also acknowledged improvements in the country’s business environment as, “Nigeria is actively nurturing its industrial sector through an array of tax and tariff breaks as well as reduced red tape and protectionist measures. It is working to streamline its trade

procedures, lower trade-related costs, and reduce border delays. The government also offers a wide range of incentives, such as unrestricted profit repatriation, to attract FDI.” The report said that metals and minerals would be primary exports from Nigeria while agriculture and food exports would be expected to grow its future trade corridors.

It said: “India, Indonesia, and Mainland China will be the key corridors for Nigeria from 2020 to 2030. The rebound in global growth, as well as growing energy demand in Asia, will spur demand for crude petroleum. Nigeria has the largest

natural gas reserves in Africa and ranks ninth globally in proven gas reserves. With the ongoing reforms to increase the role of gas in the energy mix, Asia Pacific LNG demand is expected to remain strong, driving Nigeria’s future exports growth.

“Cocoa beans, sesame seeds, and cassava are Nigeria’s key agricultural exports. Nigeria is the world’s fourth-largest cocoa bean exporter and the largest cassava producer. Growing global demand for sesame seeds, underpinned by its positioning as a healthy product, and demand for ethanol and other cassava byproducts present strong

export growth potential. Nigeria’s agriculture export share is small but expected to grow as Nigeria has prioritised agricultural development for its economic growth.”

Executive Director, Corporate Commercial and Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered Nigeria, Mr. Korede Adenowo, said: “The predicted doubling of global trade offers strong evidence that globalisation is still working, despite recent dislocation. In addition to the growth of intra-regional trade pathways, the corridors of the future will still cut across continents.

“Against this backdrop, we

continue to focus on making globalisation work for more markets and businesses, ranging from micro to multinational, and drive a more sustainable and inclusive model for global trade. This includes growing our range of sustainable finance solutions to help our corporate clients implement sustainable and fair-trade practices across their supply chains.”

The report averred that Globalisation would drive the next decade of growth and affirmed that “growth corridors of the future would not just be intraregional, they would also be global spanning Africa-East

Asia; ASEAN-South Asia; East AsiaEurope; East Asia- Middle East; East Asia-Europe; South Asia-US.” The Standard Chartered’s CEO Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Europe and America, Mr. Simon Cooper, said: “Globalisation is not dead. On the contrary, it is very much alive, with global trade predicted to grow by 70 per cent to almost $30 trillion by the end of this decade. That’s the headline from our new research based on the analysis of trade data and a survey of more than 500 C-suite and senior leaders in global companies.”

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Ehimuan: Google Will Cut Internet Cost by 21% with Subsea Cable The Director, Google West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan, speaks about the many benefits that Nigeria stands to gain from Google’s regional investments such as the $1 billion investment plan to drive technology innovation, the $50 million African Investment Fund for startups, and its investment in Equiano subsea cable that is expected to go live next year, which will increase internet speed by 5 times its current speed and reduce internet cost by 16-21 per cent in the Nigerian market. Emma Okonji presents the excerpts: What is your view about technology growth in Africa, Nigerian inclusive and what are the plans of Google to enhance technology growth across Africa? am excited about the level of technology advancement across the African continent, particularly in Nigeria.

Technology is going to be a huge contributor to economic growth of nations, and it will promote digital economy. Part of Google’s vision is to grow the digital landscape and Google understands the enormous talents and potential that exist in the Africa environment.

We know that technology can be an incredible enabler to enhance the opportunities that exit in Africa, and that is the reason Google is investing heavily to drive technology growth in Africa. We have announced several investment plans for Africa, which Nigeria will benefit from.

Information Technology (IT) has continued to drive Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). What is your view about economic diversification and the shift from oil dependency to a technology driven economy for Nigeria?

As a technology person, I have been very passionate about economic diversification of nations, especially nations across Africa. It is very obvious in this digital age that economies need to diversify and depend less on oil and more on technology innovation. Technology provides opportunity to stimulate exports. For instance, YouTube is a platform that accommodates lots of Nigerian creative contents for export. From the YouTube platform, which is technology driven, people can share their contents with the rest of the world and people are making money from exporting their contents via YouTube. This is just one example of a technology driven initiative that is boosting individuals and economies. Also, a lot is going on in the entrepreneurship space, where people are innovating and developing solutions to address specific challenges and they are making money from such solutions.

I

At the Google for Africa event, Google made specific announcements concerning its investments that will support technology growth in Africa. What are some of these investment plans and how will Nigeria benefit from them?

Google for Africa was another milestone for us in all our works and investments in the African environment, which necessitated the $1 billion investment announcement we made earlier for a period of five years.

In the area of access, we are investing in undersea cable called the Equiano subsea cable, that is designed to enhance speed of broadband connectivity across the regions, where internet connectivity is still growing, with an attendant cost issue.

We expect that once the Equiano subsea cable is live, it will help to increase internet speed by 5 times its current speed, and also contribute to the reduction in cost of internet by 16-21 per cent in the Nigerian market, thus making internet more affordable for the average users in Nigeria. We equally expect that internet penetration in Nigeria will grow by seven per cent, by the time the Equiano subsea cable comes alive.

Google is also working with telecoms operators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on device affordability, that will further deepen internet penetration in Nigeria and in other African countries.

Another area of investment for Google, is our support for startups. Google has also invested in tech entrepreneurs, like Flutterwave, PayStack, KudaBank among others and we think it will really help with job creation in the country and in the overall economic growth of the country. It is about using technology to provide solutions to local challenges in healthcare, e-commerce, telecommunications, banking and finance, including agriculture and manufacturing, among others. Google has a long-standing programme to develop and support early stage technology startups, which addresses our Google4Startups Accelerator programme.

Google has over 80 startups that we empowered through the accelerator programme.

Google had announced $1 billion regional investment plan to drive technology innovation in Africa in the next five years. What fraction of this amount will be invested in Nigeria and which of the sectors will benefit from the investment plan?

Great question, I must say. In terms of sharing formula for the announced investment plans, Nigeria stands a better position to benefit immensely from the $1 billion investment plan, even though I cannot put a figure as to what each country across the region will be getting. For instance, Google is investing in the Equiano subsea cable that will run through South Africa, Namibia, and Nigeria, and connect the African continent with Europe. So for this kind of project, which Google is heavily committed to, it will be difficult to allot a specific kind of fund to any of the African countries that are benefitting from the project. So a number of our initiatives are in that nature. To address your question about the sector of the economy that will benefit from the Google investment plan, I can boldly tell you that Google, through the investment initiative, will be investing in access to technology solutions among startups, agriculture, health, manufacturing, among others.

Google recently announced the African Investment Fund (AIF), which is a $50 million fund that Google is investing in startups. Our Google4Startups initiative, has touched at least 80 startups across the regions. The reason why Google in investing this much in startups, is because we see that startups are already contributing immensely to regional economy growth, and we are convinced that they will create jobs and stimulate viability for all interested players because of the opportunities that they are creating.

When all these are in place, demand will increase. It is the desire of Google to see more home-grown indigenous companies becoming global players. We know that Nigeria has the talent to make this happen and so we are very keen at Google to ensue that the African dream comes through. Another area of investment for Google, is in our Black Founders Fund, which Google announced recently,

Ehimuan which is a $3 million fund and we have positive responses to accessing the fund. We have several local organisations that have accessed the fund and they benefitted immensely from the fund.

What are the criteria for accessing the $10 million Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) fund that Google also announced?

Following the CoVID-19 pandemic that ravaged economies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were badly hit. So the $10 million investment fund is one of our economic recovery plans, designed to help SMEs recover from the adverse effect of the pandemic. The criteria for accessing the fund is quite broad and it is focused on small businesses that have specific areas of needs that require financial support to keep their businesses running and to grow to the next level. Google will be sharing a lot of detailed information in the next few months on how SMEs can access the fund.

What is the timeline for the berthing of Equiano subsea cable, which Google is investing in, and how will the cable complement other subsea cables that have berthed on the shores of Nigeria to further boost internet connectivity in the country?

Google is very excited about the Equiano subsea cable, whose initiative started a while ago. Currently work is in advance stage and we are expecting the cable to be live in the second quarter of next year.

The truth is that huge infrastructure project like subsea cable project, has tenure that is usually quite long and we started this initiative about a couple of years ago and we are gradually coming to the point where the cable can go live. So hopefully, by 2022, the Equiano subsea cable will be live in Nigeria, providing increased internet speed and connectivity, thus creating additional jobs for Nigerians and for other neighbouring countries where the cable will pass through.

Going by the experience of subsea cables that have berthed on the shores of Nigeria, broadband capacities from those cables are centred around cities closer to the shores like Lagos. How will the broadband capacity from Equiano subsea cable be transmitted to the hinterland to address last-mile delivery issues?

Last-mile connectivity is key to enable cities in the hinterlands get connected to high speed broadband.

To address this issue, Google will be working with multiple players like telecoms operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), including state governments and other industry stakeholders. We have successfully partnered with specific players in the past and we

are still open to collaboration. A few years ago, we launched Google Station, which currently provides internet access in high traffic areas, and this kind of investment will be ongoing to ensure that the last-mile connectivity issues are addressed, and make more people have internet access at affordable cost.

The good thing about all of these is that Google is solving specific challenges, reducing internet cost and giving internet access to more people. So a lot of opportunities will come when Equiano becomes active in Nigeria.

What is your view about the strategy of Nigerian government going all out looking for foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria’s technology space, and what is the best way to attract foreign investments?

I think it will be delicate to talk about Nigerian government strategy to woo foreign investors to invest in Nigeria. Google is in Nigeria, and it is investing heavily in Nigeria and in other African countries.

Foreign investors will come if they see the need and if the business environment is friendly enough and safe to do business. The truth of the matter is that every government around the world goes out to woo foreign investors, and Nigerian government strategy to woo foreign investors is not out of place.

The most important thing for government, is to create the enabling environment where businesses, both local and foreign can thrive.

Google has been in Nigeria for quite some years now, and it has grown to become a household name in Nigeria. How will you describe Google’s collaboration with the federal government, especially in projects that will drive the Nigerian economy?

So Google is open to collaboration with stakeholders, including federal, state and local governments in Nigeria. For us at Google, government is a very important stakeholder to our kind of business, and we have had some successful collaboration with the federal government of Nigeria. We have collaborated with government on our digital skills initiative where we are training 10 million people and we have had partnerships with different arms of government. In Nigeria, Google has collaborated with the office of the Vice President of Nigeria, including the office of the Senior Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals.

With Google Station, we have had collaborations with the public sector and organisations to roll out infrastructure to specific locations. We have been involved with different committees set up by government to help with policy advocacy for the country.

How will you describe the direct impact of Google initiatives on the Nigerian economy?

The impact is huge, and I will mention some of them. If you put together the large number of people that Google is impacting in Nigeria, then you will be able to calculate the impact on the Nigerian economy. In addition to the 10 million people that Google is training on digital skills, Google is also assisting in developers’ skills training programme, and we have trained over 15,000 developers till date in Nigeria, training them to become certified engineers in Google’s Web, Android and Cloud Technologies. We recently offered scholarships to 33,000 people from a pool of 120,000 applicants, and the bulk of the beneficiaries are Nigerians. Google has invested so much in startups and entrepreneurs who are making great in-roads in technology development. Google has through its Google.org initiative, committed $40 million to support Nigerians. Google has also, through its Google News Initiative programme, given grants to Nigerian media organisations in the last two years to enhance quality reporting and innovation among journalists.

Google gave over 15 media organisations in Nigeria, a COVID-19 relief grant during the heat of the pandemic, when economies were locked down. Google has also supported and showcased Nigerian artists though the Google YouTube. In March this year, Google launched a collection called Eko for Show, designed to showcase the Nigerian culture, food and heritage to the wider world.

Nigeria will be Launching 5G network by next year. What Impact will the Equiano subsea cable, which Google has invested so much in, have on the planned 5G network rollout in Nigeria?

Equiano will be an enabler and its rollout in Nigeria will complement the planned 5G network rollout in Nigeria.

It will lead to increased broadband access and also reduce cost of internet in Nigeria.

What is the impact of COVID-19 on Google business in Nigeria and how have businesses been surviving after the pandemic?

The impact of COVID-19 on global businesses, including businesses in Nigeria, was devastating, but that led us to a new normal, where technology is driving almost everything. So for businesses to survive the negative impact of the pandemic, they must innovate, have online presence and embrace new technologies.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I am the Director for Google in West Africa. I was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 power women in Africa, by the London Business School as one of 30 people changing the world and I featured in the BBC Africa Power Women series, and on CNN Innovate Africa.

With over 25 years experience primarily in Technology, Oil and Gas, and New Media industries across Europe, Middle East and Africa, I am a thought leader, and a leading voice on Innovation, Transformation, and Leadership. I have received numerous awards for outstanding contribution to the digital landscape in Africa. Under my leadership, the Google team made a significant impact on local content development, infrastructure deployment, and digital capacity building.

I hold an Executive MBA from the London Business School, a Postgraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge; and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I am also an Executive Coach and a member of the Forbes Coaches Council. I am an author and recently I published the book called 30 Days of Excellence, which is a book on leadership and personal effectiveness guide.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Nigerian Construction Firms Seek FG Protection from Chinese Contractors Dike Onwuamaeze Nigerian construction firms have called on the federal government to protect their business from unfavourable competition with Chinese and other foreign construction companies by launching policies that would grant them access to funding and human capacity development.

The Managing Director of Dutum Company Limited, Mr. Temitope Runsewe, made the call at the sidelines of the ongoing West Africa Property Investment (WAPI) summit with the theme “Property Market Redefined,” which was held in Lagos between November 23 and November 24, 2021.

Runsewe said that enhancing the capacity of local construction firms in Nigeria would boost the country’s GDP and stem capital flight in the economy.

He said: “We are saying that Nigerian local construction companies

are competing for most of the time against the government of China.

These Chinese companies show up with cheap funds from China and will tell our governments that they do not need any money from them to start a construction project. They will say to our government just show us the projects and we will mobilise ourselves and start constructing. This is extremely tempting and most of our government officials just fall for that at the detriment of building local capacity.

“If we continue like that in the next 50 years we will have the Chinese doing barely everything in this country. So, it is important that the indigenous construction company should enjoy the support of the Nigerian governments so that we can grow. This support is providing us platforms, giving us opportunities, and providing funding that can make us compete. These foreign companies come to Nigeria with cheap funding at zero or one per

ITU Harps on New Standards to Drive Digital Agriculture Emma Okonji The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), that drives global innovation in ICTs, has said the next wave of technological progress to sustain the world’s fast-growing global population will capitalise on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the precision and sustainability of farming techniques.

AI, IoT, connected services and autonomous systems, together enable farmers to make decisions at the level of a single square metre or individual plant or animal, rather than entire fields or all livestock.

This precision allows well-informed interventions that ultimately improve agricultural sustainability by helping farmers produce more with less.

A new International Telecommunication Union Focus Group dedicated to ‘AI and IoT for digital agriculture’, said it would examine emerging cyberphysical systems as groundwork for standardisation to stimulate their deployment for agriculture worldwide.

ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, said: “The projection that our planet will host 9.7 billion people by 2050 necessitates significant technological progress to sustain so many lives.

“This new focus group is the

beginning of a global drive to ensure equitable access to the new capabilities emerging in agriculture with advances in digital technology.”

The focus group is expected to work in close collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which mobilizes international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.

Under the group’s purview will be new capabilities to discern complex patterns from a growing volume of agricultural and geospatial data; improve the acquisition, handling, and analysis of these data; enable effective decision-making; and guide interventions to optimize agricultural production processes.

Chief Information Officer and Director of FAO’s Digitalisation and Informatics Division, Dejan Jakovljevic, said: “New digital capabilities offer us a unique and immediate opportunity to transform food systems and accelerate impact towards zero hunger. The new focus group will significantly contribute towards these efforts, bringing together AI and IoT as key enablers behind new capabilities for digital agriculture.”

The envisaged study aims to support global progress in areas such as precision farming, predictive analytics for smart farming, the optimization of cultivable acreage, remote cattle monitoring and management, agricultural robotics, and greenhouse automation.

Cloud Energy Opens Spread Payment Plan for Solar Products

Emma Okonji

Cloud Energy Limited, has launched the Cloud Energy Green Promo, with a spread payment plan, designed to create unprecedented and permanent access to solar energy.

Unveiled at a recent virtual meeting for resellers, energy stakeholders and the media, the Green Promo lays out an easy to buy and easy to own plan for solar products.

Managing Director, Cloud Energy, Theophilus Nweke, in his opening remarks, said that the Zoom meeting was triggered by the growing fact that there is no option to solar energy in the face of dwindling supply and rising cost of electricity. The Cloud Energy Green Promo, he said, was

designed as a robust effort to solve the issue of costs that is the main problem of solar acquisition and ownership.

According to Nweke, buying solar systems even got more complicated with rising inflation and unpredictable foreign currency exchange rates.

Nweke further said: “No country can develop without an innovative private sector. Cloud Energy and its international partners put together the Cloud Energy Green Fund to take away the stress of purchase from the consumer. The choice of the solar products is the consumer’s but the Green Fund pays and allows the consumer to spread the payment in pocket friendly instalments – spread up to 12 months.

cent while we, as local construction service providers, cannot get the funds, or when we do we are getting them at 30 per cent. You can see that we struggling to compete. ” Speaking in the same vein, the

Chief Executive Officer of Purple, Mr. Olaide Agboola, said that the local construction firms are demanding policies that would grant them access to funding.

Agboola said: “This funding

should be private sector-led but backed with government’s support.

We are living in an environment where we know what happens to government funding. So, what we asking for is not to go and raise

another set of public debt for the real estate. What government needs to do is to issue guarantees to qualified players in the real estate sector that will allow them to raise cheaper funding from the private sector.”

DESERVING AWARD…

L-R: Founder, Zigzag Nation, Mr. Obafemi Giwa-Amu, presenting the Pacesetters Award to the General Manager, Legal and Regulatory, Smile Communications, Mr. Kola Fayemi, at the telecommunications revolution in Nigeria @ 20 summit hosted by Compact Communications Ltd in Lagos… recently

Black Friday: Shoprite Announces Groundbreaking Deals Through Final Weekend of November Shoprite, Nigeria’s premier retailer, has yesterday announced a recordbreaking line-up of deals as part of its annual Black Friday sales.

In a statement, Shoprite said the deals which will run in all 25 stores across Nigeria from Friday, November 26, 2021 to Sunday, November 28, 2021 will see it offer its valued customers discounts across various leading brands.

“Along with the mouth-watering promotions, Shoprite stores will also be rewarding randomly selected shoppers with “Golden Vouchers” every day over the course of the weekend with all their Black Friday purchases fully paid for.

“Additionally, customers will also have a chance to get their hands on Shoprite’s Black Friday hampers.

These hampers each contain a choice

selection of handpicked products that have been designed to make sure that they contain something for everyone, “it stated.

Remarking on the imminent in-store activities, Chairman of Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, Shoprite, Tayo Amusan, said: “The Black Friday Sales will be a great opportunity for customers to get their hands on quality products at great

prices. COVID-19 has proven difficult for many over the past twenty four months, and Shoprite’s Black Friday weekend will be a welcome breath of fresh air for many. As a fully Nigerian-owned enterprise, we are fully committed to our customers across Nigeria and are focused on providing them with an assortment of their favourite brands and great prices.”

ISPON Recognises Winner of Simeon Agu Prize for Software Entrepreneur Emma Okonji The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), has recognised the winner of this year’s annual Simeon Agu Prize for Software Entrepreneur.

The winner, Mr. David Aboluwarin Olaoluwa, who runs a training website where young Nigerians are trained on software development and coding, was presented with a cheque of N250,000 as the winning prize, by the President of ISPON, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu.

Established in 2012 in collaboration with the family of Late Simeon Agu, the pioneer President of ISPON, the prize is meant to keep alive the memories of Simeon Agu for his contributions to the software profession and industry in Nigeria.

Speaking during the prize presentation, Mba-Uzoukwu. said: “The award is targeted at software startups to recognise their entrepreneurship as they build a fledgling software business. In the selection of winner in the competition

for this year, ISPON looked at the work done by startups from September 2020 – September 2021, before selecting the winner, based on the criteria for selection, which include: Idea, Impact, Business Model Innovation and Funding.

The panel of judges shortlisted three finalists who were later voted for by the general public. A combination of number of votes garnered as well as points scored from the technical review of the startup by the judges, largely determine the winner, Mba-Uzoukwu

said.

Neptune Software Group, the sponsors of the annual award, is the software company, established by the late Simeon Agu. Managing Director, Neptune Software Group, Mr. David Majomi, who represented the family of Simeon Agu at the prize presentation, said Neptune Software Group still maintained its operations in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, India, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom, even after the demise of Simeon Agu some years ago.

Experts Restates Commitment to Tech Support in Nigeria Emma Okonji Technology support service company, Tek Experts, has restated its commitment to technology support for Nigeria, just as it recently hit a milestone of over 1,800 employees in Nigeria, making it the largest market of its operations globally.

This milestone was announced during a media parley in Lagos as part of efforts to communicate the essence of the relatively new niche of tech support in the industry.

The recognition as the largest market globally is a direct result of the company’s strategic business opportunities as the largest tech support firm in Nigeria and its increased focus on talent investments.

It also underscores the increasing interest in digital technology and IT support services while ensuring sustained development.

Speaking on the milestone, the Managing Director for Africa, Tek Experts and Elev8, Lars Johannisson, explained that having Nigeria as its

largest market of operations globally is a testament to the company’s commitment to developing the tech support sector in Nigeria and Africa whilst nurturing talents in the country through the help of its sister company, Elev8.

“We recognise that tech support is instrumental in driving our customers’ brand and overall customer experience. We are uniquely positioned to help companies leverage the existing investments they make in customer support to drive product

adoption, increase renewal rates, and ultimately top-line revenue growth.

Many of the services we offer to our customers require technical expertise and we invest very heavily in digital skilling and employee development, growing a skilled workforce for the ICT industry. At Tek Experts, we offer both a place to develop IT skills and a place to leverage those skills with job opportunities supporting some of the most cutting-edge technology for the biggest global brands,” Johannisson said.

Appzone to Unveil Africa’s Blockchain Payment Infrastructure Emma Okonji Appzone Group, sub-Saharan Africa’s leading Fintech software company, has concluded arrangements to unveil Africa’s Blockchain Payment Infrastructure platform for payment processing.

The payment-processing platform called Zone will be unveiled at a forum in Lagos next month,

where it will play host to captains of industry and leaders from the payment, finance and technology.

Developed by Appzone Switch, a subsidiary of Appzone Group, Zone forms the foundation of Appzone’s plans to build out Africa’s first decentralized payment network, which will allow interbank transactions to be processed directly between banks without the

involvement of any intermediary.

Speaking about the event, the CEO of Appzone Switch, Mr. Uche Elendu, said: ‘’We are happy to officially unveil Zone as a decentralized blockchain based payment infrastructure that enables real-time settlement of fiat transactions, both in-country and out-country, while enabling the retail distribution of stable

digital currencies including Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in Africa. Because of the impact that the innovation will have on the payment and finance landscape in Africa, we are bringing together industry leaders across the payment, technology, and finance industries to see firsthand how the Zone platform is positioned to power a truly cashless society.’’

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 25, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Chiemelie Ezeobi ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Unsafe Abortion: The Real Pandemic

Study Results by Performance Monitoring Action in 2014, with updated dissemination by Lagos State in March 2021, revealed that 6000 Nigerian women die from unsafe abortion-related complications every 12 months. Ayodeji Ake reports

“M

y mother must not know, she will develop high blood pressure” she said unhappily. Those were the words of Beauty, a 25-yearold damsel who resides in a small apartment with her mother and seven siblings in one of the rural areas in the federal capital territory, Abuja.

She was cold when she narrated how she discovered her first pregnancy five years ago after her secondary education, seeking admission into the higher institution.

Her ex-boyfriend wasn’t ready and she wasn’t as well. She was scared to tell her mother because she is the first child out of eight children and her mother has been the only one fending for the family after a divorce with her father years ago.

Her mother was happy she already completed her secondary education so she can start working to assist the family financially.

“When I was 20 years old, I was in a relationship and I discovered I was pregnant. I was scared, I couldn’t share with anyone and my mother must not know. My friend gave me some advice and she told me about a particular drug. I browsed it and saw the drug. I read about it then I visited a pharmacy to get the drug. At that point I wasn’t worried nor scared because I didn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy.

“I experienced cramps for hours and later it went down and I felt pain no more. I took a very strong anti-bacteria drug to prevent infection.

I knew it was a very big risk, but I was just bothered about what people would say and I didn’t want any trouble” she said.

Beauty had an unsafe abortion that would have claimed her life because she didn’t want to disappoint her parent. She is one of the Nigerian women in their childbearing years that has an abortion, adding up to about two million abortion annually.

“Abortion is an important public health and health equity issue. More than six out of 10 abortions in Nigeria are unsafe, involving nonrecommended methods from non-clinical sources, with disadvantaged women most likely to have an unsafe abortion. Disadvantaged women are also more likely to report difficulty-accessing care and receive poor- quality care.

“More than half of women, 56 per cent, who reported an abortion said they experienced a potential complication, with young, uneducated, poor, and rural women most likely to experience negative outcomes that require further treatment.”

A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oluwarotimi Ireti Akinola, noted that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. He added that unsafe abortion in Lagos State according to the 2018 report, contributes 11.3 per cent of maternal mortality.

Speaking in the same vein of the consequences of unsafe abortion, Akinola, said unsafe abortion may cause miscarriage and infections that may damage some vital organs in the body.

“Worldwide, about 20 million unsafe abortion takes place. Above 50 per cent of terminated pregnancies that take place are unsafe. Unsafe simply means that the person performing the abortion lacks the skill or performing it in an environment below the minimum required medical standard or both. Personally as a doctor, if I should perform an abortion in an environment that is less than minimal, then it becomes unsafe.

“Unsafe abortion means an abortion not done properly. If it’s not done properly, they may get infected which may result in immediate complication and physical damage to surrounding organs which may cause her bleeding and may lead to death.

“If they don’t die but get infected, the Infection may cause blockage of the fallopian tubes which in this case the person will be unable to conceive and suffer from infertility.

“It may damage the womb that the person may get pregnant and it will continue to drop, which is miscarriage. So there are so many things that could happen simply because of unsafe abortion. Infections could lead to death after which it has been spread to the pelvic organs, into the blood and other vital organs and we start wondering what may cause the death of such person not knowing it unsafe abortion. Unsafe abortion contributed, in Lagos, 11.3 per cent of maternal mortality from the report released in 2018, and 12.9 per cent globally of maternal mortality.

Fast forward 5 years and Beauty started living her dream. Beauty is now a 400 level biology student. She has been working and supporting the family financially and with the little money she gets. She is also running a part time education program in one of the universities in Nigeria.

But she is pregnant again “It happened unexpectedly and my boyfriend rejected the pregnancy because he is not financially buoyant” she said in a cracked voice.

“My boyfriend and I have been having a lot of issues and he has not been talking to me. He said I should get rid of it. I am not happy with him because he said some things to me I don’t like. I feel there are better ways we can both resolve this, not him making me feel it all my fault. It’s so frustrating. I have been feeling pain and not feeling too well. I wish I can make making him realise that I’m not stupid. I’m planning to report him to his elder sister. I’m still carrying the pregnancy and I’m over five weeks gone.

He already gave me ten thousand naira to abort the pregnancy.

Her voice shakes: “I don’t know what to do at the moment, I’m confused. I stay with my family. My mother and seven siblings, which is why I’m having a rethink of the whole issue because I have a lot of responsibilities on me. Since my dad left us, myself and my mum have been shouldering the responsibilities of the family” she said.

She is not ready to be a mother, not interested in keeping the pregnancy. Memories of the previous abortion five years ago build so much fear in her and now stuck in between keeping the pregnancy or not. Would she keep the pregnancy and put more financial burden on her already weak mother who is still catering for seven children, or abort the pregnancy and risk her life? She asked herself repeatedly.

When asked how her mother remained unaware of the pregnancy, she said she only sees her mother on Sundays. “I go to work every day so we both get home late at night is why she is yet to notice anything. Often,

I act like I am okay but I know I have a lot going on with me” she said.

The realities of unsafe abortion Thousands of Nigerian women die needlessly from unsafe abortion that could# be prevented. Abortion facts and figures 2021 by SAFE ENGAGE, revealed that every year one out of 20 Nigerian women in their childbearing years (15-49) has an abortion, adding up to about two million abortions annually. More than three in five abortions in Nigeria are unsafe which can lead to a range of health complications and even death for women.

According to report, since the research in 2014, Nigeria record 6000 deaths relating to unsafe abortion related complications every year.Using simple arithmetic until today’s date means that Nigeria has lost over 36,000 women and if no swift intervention, by the end of 2021, 42,000 deaths will be recorded.

According to the Co-Principal Investigator, PMA 2020 Study, Dr. Funmi Olaolorun, noted that in most states in Nigeria, abortion is only legal to save a woman’s life. Added that many women turn to abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies outside of the narrow circumstances for which abortion can legally be obtained.

“The most recent abortion incidence estimates indicate there were 33 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age in 2012, thus it is a common health event. Given access to safe abortion is legally restrictive, the majority of these abortions were considered unsafe.

“From a public health perspective, we are most concerned about unsafe abortions because they can lead to life threatening complications.

The maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria is high, with estimates ranging from 545 to 841.

“Using estimates for the proportion of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion, we estimate there are approximately 6,000 unsafe abortion related deaths annually in Nigeria.

“Understanding the characteristics of women experiencing unintended pregnancies and subsequent unsafe abortion, along with their decision-making process and abortion experiences, can inform family planning, safe abortion, and post-abortion care programs and policies in order to better meet the reproductive health needs of these women moving forward” she said.

Despite legal restrictions Olaolorun, stated that a lot of Nigerian women are not aware of safe abortion which could be in form of drugs that must be recommended by a doctor or through surgical means.

“Most women don’t know safe abortion methods or sources and instead rely on convenient options that are private but put women at risk.

“Post Abortion Care (PAC) service availability is poor among primary care facilities, which serve the majority of the population; less than half of these facilities reported providing any PAC services.

Disadvantaged women who are most at risk of using unsafe abortion methods and

experiencing complications are also least likely to be able to access PAC to treat potential abortion complications she said.

In her recommendations, she noted the need for legal expansion for safe abortion and provision of availability of quality and voluntary contraceptives services.

“Improve access to PAC by increasing the availability of basic PAC at public primary health care facilities. This can be achieved through provider training and provision of necessary commodities like manual vacuum aspirator kits and misoprostol.

“Ensure that safe abortion services are available to the full extent of the law in a given state. This can also be achieved through provider training and provision of necessary commodities like manual vacuum aspirator kits and mifepristone and misoprostol.

“Expand legal indications for safe abortion beyond situations in which the woman’s life is at risk “Increase availability of quality, voluntary contraceptive services throughout the healthcare system to prevent unintended pregnancies” she said.

The Law/Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act Abortion is criminalised in many countries because of the attachment to religion, culture and customs.

In Nigeria, abortion is illegal and carries a jail term between 3 and 14 years imprisonment unless it is performed to save the life of a pregnant woman (this is a qualification which permits abortion on medical ground). Few cases are brought to the court on account of abortion.

The Criminal Code (CC) operating in Southern Nigeria and the Penal Code (PC) in Northern part of Nigeria provides for the criminalisation of Abortion.

Sections 228, 229 and 230 of the CC States: Any woman who with intent to procure her own miscarriage unlawfully administers to herself any poison or other noxious thing or any person who assists her in doing the same is liable to imprisonment for a period ranging from three to fourteen years.

The issue of abortion strides reproductive health and rights, bodily integrity and the right to privacy. The decision in Roe v. Wade in the US opened the flood gate for challenge of Abortion laws in many states.

The VAPP act of 2015 which has already been adopted by 13 states of the federation including the federal capital territory Abuja, designed to seek legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls, which Lagos state, one of the most populous state in Nigeria with high prevalence of mortal mortality is yet to adopt.

Although, recently, in commemoration with of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month, the Lagos state government signed the law establishing the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency which also includes Sex Offenders Registers.

The Executive Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that: “Any form of sexual violence is strongly abhorred by the state, and as individual. And it will not be tolerated nor accepted in any way, shape or form. Therefore, signing this law is a testament of what we stand for and stand against”.

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 25, 2021

33

NEWS

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Open Defecation: UNICEF’ Builds 7,728 Toilet Facilities in North-east MALE INFERTILITY (Part 3 ) ˾ Ý ͻͺϱ ÓØ ÙÌÏ ÏØÑËÑÏ ÓØ ÙÚÏØ ÎÏÐÏÍËÞÓÙØ Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Michael Olugbode ÓØ Maiduguri United Nations Children Fund, (UNICEF) has said that 7,728 toilet facilities were constructed for various communities in the North-east zone of the country between 2018 to date under its campaign against open defecation.

As part of a long term target plan to eradicate open defecation and other environmental sanitation problems in Nigerian cities by the 2025, UNICEF said an estimated $5.3 billion (or N1.9 trillion) will be required.

In his presentation at a Media Orientation Programme to commemorate the 2021 World Toilet Day in Maiduguri, Borno State, last week Thursday, UNICEF Officer-in-Charge of Maiduguri Field Office, Dr. Clement Adams, said: “Since 2018, UNICEF has supported state governments in the north-east with the construction and rehabilitation of 4,752 and 2,976 toilets respectively across IDP camps and communities. “ About 200 sites have been supported with hand pump boreholes while 126,690 nonfood items have been distributed to displaced and vulnerable families”.

He expressed worry that 46 per cent of Nigeria’s population still engage in open defecation, with about 16 per cent of the population in Borno State and 32 per cent of the population in Yobe State involved in the distasteful act.

Apart from its health implications, Adams said that ending open defecation will help to protect the dignity of women and girls and also reduce the incidence of gender-based violence.

He said that at least 46 million Nigerians lack access to toilets and the protection they confer against diseases and possible deaths.

Adams however said across the country, at least 46 million Nigerians still lack access to toilets and the protection they confer against diseases and possible deaths.

“With about 16 per cent of the population in Borno State and 32 per cent of the population in Yobe state still practicing open defecation, all stakeholders must review existing mechanisms with a view to improving access to toilets, reduce disease outbreaks and tackle malnutrition in conflictaffected children,” he said.

The main objective of the UNICEF’s intervention, is to promote access to toilets, increasing the number of open defecation free communities in north-east Nigeria and improving the health and wellbeing of children.

Adams also said that achieving open defecation free society will promote the wellbeing of the workforce and contribute to the reduction of stunting in children.

Against the background of the federal government’s resolve to make the country open defecation free through the nationwide Clean Nigeria Campaign, Adams said it’s im-

portant that all states subscribe to the mission to become open defecation free by 2025.

He said states should take practical steps towards ending open defecation by constructing more toilets and water sources especially among the most vulnerable population whether in camps or host communities.

“Schools, markets and other public places must not be left out even as we promote behavioural change among the people.

“National and state budgets must reflect the importance of toilets and water sources to the health of children and workforce. We must prioritise investments in physical and human resources and scale up existing programmes targeting expansion of toilet and water services.

“We must put our money where our mouth is. It is more cost-effective to construct more toilets for conflict-affected people than to treat endiess flares of cholera outbreaks with unnecessary mortalities. inability to access toilets is costly. It robs children of their health.

“When people die of cholera complications, children are sadly stripped of parental care and the most basic protection,” he said.

Adams pledged that UNICEF will continue to work with state governments and agencies in the north-east to promote the wellbeing of conflict-affected people and safeguard the rights of conflict-affected children to life and good health.

On her part, the UNICEF WASH Manager in Maiduguri, Mamita Bora Thakkar said UNICEF has built capacities of state departments and local government areas to deliver safe and sustainable WASH services to communities and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The UNICEF Officer while giving update on intervention activities, said that the UN agency had supported Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States to undertake rapid response to cholera outbreaks.

The UNICEF Programme Officer however said that the solution does not lie with just construction of toilets, but that there must be emphasis on safe and regular disposal of toilet substances and refuse bins to ensure clean environment.

Also she identified behavioral change as an issue that more campaign should be targeted at, especially among students and teenagers so that they can imbibe a good hygiene culture.

She said federal and state governments will need to trpple their current yearly spendings on sanitation programme and efforts targeted at ending open defecation.

She also called for behavioral change especially at the younger age, adding that there is need to start inculcating good hygiene practices among school pupils and within communities achieve the desired goal.

Thakkar spoke of the need to ensure access to clean water in households, schools and market places.

According to her, implementation of of a national campaign

and transformational sanitation promotion agenda to end open defecation should be the focus of the federal government.

Thakkar also urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on WASH campaign with states developing their own WASH action plan to realize the objective.

“About $5.3 billion (N1.9 trillion) will be required to achieve an end to open defecation in the country and address sanitation problems in the country,” she said.

Thakkar said that UNICEF has supported state governments in the North-east zone of the country with the construction and rehabilitation of 4,752 and 2,976 toilets respectively across IDP camps and communities.

Earlier, the General Manager, :PCF TUBUF 3VSBM 8BUFS 4VQQMZ and Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Liman Baba said that presently 159 communities have been certified to be Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the Yobe while 107,000 Persons are leaving in ODF certified communities.

Baba said the agency has embarked on construction of latrines and water facilities in schools and Health Centers, adding that 3,593 safely managed latrines are now in place.

On the whole Baba said that 428 communities now have access to basic sanitation facilities across the state.

According to him, 30,081 persons have joined in using safely managed latrines.

“There are ongiong construction of 60 compartments VIP Latrines in Schools of Fune and Geidam Local Government Areaa with water facilities connection,” he said.

Speaking in similar vein, #PSOP TUBUF 368"4" .BOBHFS Mohammed Musa Aliyu listed some of the achievements made by the state in tackling the problem of open defecation.

He said his agency has trained 2600 youths on advocacy against open defecation who have now been deployed to the rural areas to sensitize the people practices that will open defecation in their neighbourhood.

“We have also supported market associations in carrying out the campaign against open defecation in the markets.

“The state government has also been taking steps to maintain our Wash facilities in our communities and drilling of bore holes in various rural communities,” he said According to Aliyu, UNICEF has also been supporting government’s effort in ensuring reticulation of the water facilities to reach the rural communities.

He further said the state government is currently providing water to the various IDP camps and making efforts to resettle displaced persons at the IDP camps back to their communities where they can live normal life.

“Borno State government has also approved the rehabilitation of over 300 bore holes in the state. Additional three mega water facilities is also being constructed along other solar energy operated water boreholes,” he said.

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n past editions, we have been discussing on Male Infertility, explaining their causes and diagnosis. This week, we will conclude with the treatments and preventive measures of Male Infertility.

TREATMENT Often times, the exact cause of infertility may be unknown but one should still visit the fertility clinic so as to plan a treatment option that may lead to conception.

Treatments options for male infertility include: 1. Treating infections: Antibiotic may be administered to treat an infection in the male reproductive tract but this does not always restore sperm functions.

2. Hormone treatments and medications: Hormone medications may be recommended in situations where the blood test reveals low or high levels of testosterone, FSH and LH. 3. Conventional In-Vitro Fertilization (cIVF): This basically involves collecting sperm through normal ejaculation for analysis. If the sperm counts are less than 20 million but with progressive motility, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be carried out.

In-vitro fertilization involves the fertilization of the female eggs and male sperm outside the body in a laboratory setting with an environment that mimics the physical characteristics of the body.

Once, the eggs are fertilized by the sperm forming an embryo, the embryo is then placed back in the uterus of the woman.

4. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): This treatment is suitable for men with very low sperm count and poor motility after conventional IVF treatments with no fertilization. This technique involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg by using a delicate hollow needle to immobilize the sperm and then carefully injecting it into the cytoplasm of the mature egg for fertilization.

5. Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA): This technique is suggested to men with no sperm in their ejaculate. It is done by retrieving sperm directly from the testis or epididymis using a long thin needle to extract sperm cells from the testicles. Sperm may be produced at a normal rate but a blockage within the testes prevents the sperm cells from the ejaculate. This could be due to abnormalities or vasectomy (male form of contraception). Prophylactic antibiotic is usually given after this procedure.

6. Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE): This is a more invasive procedure used when the ejaculate produced contains no sperm cells. It involves a surgical procedure to carefully dissect a small part of testicular tissue in the scrotum under anesthesia. A microscope is then used to assess the tissue for mature mobile sperm cells that may be used for fertilization. Medications such as Vitamin E, Fish oil, Ibuprofen or Aspirin should be avoided for at least a week before procedure so as to avoid blood clotting. Patients

are advised to abstain from sexual activity after the procedure.

7. Donor Sperm: This is the anonymous use of sperm from donors to fertilize the egg.

Sperm donation is a voluntary act which is usually compensated. Sperm donors are young, healthy males screened for infectious diseases before accepted. The donor with the most similar phenotypical characteristics to the patient such as blood type, height, eye or hair colour would be selected.

PREVENTION The following may be practiced in order to prevent male infertility. These include: r -JNJU PS BCTUBJO GSPN BMDPIPM r 3FEVDF PS RVJU TNPLJOH r "CTUBJO GSPN JMMJDJU ESVHT r .BJOUBJO B IFBMUIZ XFJHIU r "WPJE WBTFDUPNZ NBMF DPOUSBDFQUJPO

when trying to conceive. r "WPJE UIJOHT UIBU NBZ MFBE UP QSPMPOHFE heat of the testicles such as hot bath or long distance driving. r 3FEVDF TUSFTT CZ HPJOH PO WBDBUJPO PS having proper rest and sleep. r "WPJE FYQPTVSF UP QFTUJDJEFT IFBWZ metals and other toxins.

WHEN TREATMENT DOESN’T WORK Finding out that you may be infertile is often a stressful and depressing experience. There is still a common but incorrect belief that infertility is a woman’s problem so men are often unprepared when they are told that there is an issue with their sperm.

In rare cases, male infertility issues may be beyond treatment making it impossible for a man to have a child. In such occasions, some couples may decide to adopt a child or a pet, and in some cases opt for happy childlessness living while still hopeful for a miracle.

CONCLUSION The most common cause of infertility in men lies in problems that affect the functions of the testicles. Other causes may arise from hormone imbalances or blockages in the reproductive organs.

Studies suggest that the cause of male infertility in 50% of cases is usually unknown.

Male infertility may cause psychological, social and emotional distress on the couple as well as their families. This disease can also affect a man’s sense of masculinity, sexuality and potency. It is normal to have an emotional reaction to infertility.

Talking with a doctor, a therapist or counsellor can often help with negative feelings.

Stigmas associated with infertility arising from religious and cultural beliefs should be recognized and proper orientation should be given so as to not allow these stigmas become a barrier to treatment.

Couples trying to conceive for twelve months or more without success are advised to visit their gynaecologist /fertility doctor to determine the next line of management towards achieving their dream of successful parenthood.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 25, 2021

NEWS

AWB to Launch Global Safety Initiative In Workplace The African Women on Board (AWB) has concluded all arrangements to lead Nigerian public and private organisations to launch global Safety in the Workplace Initiative.

The event is billed to take place on Friday 26th November, 2021, at The Wings Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos where AWB will host stakeholders and also unveil the organisation’s new global Safety in the Workplace initiative.

Staged in partnership with the Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Association of Company Secretaries and Legal Advisers (ACSLA), and leading Law firms and private sector organisations, the event will feature a number of highprofile speakers from the worlds of business, law and politics.

Some of the Speakers include:

Prof. Ayo Atsenuwa – DVC UniLag, H.E. Amb. Mary Beth Leonard – US Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe – Chairman, MTN Nigeria and Mr. Asue Ighodalo – Chairman, NESG amongst others.

Commenting, Nkiru Balonwu, Founder and Co-Chair of African Women on Board said “We are delighted to welcome such a distinguished line-up of stakeholders from the Nigerian public and private sectors to speak at this important event. Most adults spend most of their waking lives at work, but for women in particular, these environments all too often become challenging ones. Issues such as bullying, sexual harassment, emotional and financial abuse, and broader inequality have not gone away”.

Introducing the initiative, Dr.

Balonwu said “Our new Safety in the Workplace initiative has been specifically designed to facilitate real systems change from the ground up, reshaping traditional working environments to become places that accommodate growth and encourage women to realise their full potential. It’s important also to note that while this is a Nigeria-led initiative, the issue of workplace violence against women remains prominent around the world and must be tackled in a joined-up way across society.”

Ms. Yinka Edu of Udoma Udoma and Bello Osagie (UUBO) commended the timing of the initiative which her organisation is pleased to support.

Ms Edu said “It is significant that AWB is leading the response to Gender-Based Violence during the Commemoration of the 2021

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which has the important theme, End Femicide.”

Also Mr. Rotimi Olusola of Guinness Nigeria PLC/ACSLA said, “I see a strong entry point for catalysing and creating a safe workplace for women to ascend, unhindered by Gender-Based Violence, to the peak of their professions through systems change supported by Company Secretaries and HR professionals”.

AWB Chairperson, Prof Chioma Agomo added, “I am quite convinced that we are going in the right direction together with the right partners, using a replicable strategy to create safer workplaces globally - educational institutions, Law firms, professional bodies and the private sector.”

According to the organisers

some keynotes and panel discussions will include: Gender Equity and the Future of Work, to be presented by H.E. Amb. Mary Beth Leonard; Laying the Foundation: Educational Institutions and Safety in the World of Work by Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa; Safety in Educational Institutions: Taking the Lead, Learnings from the Faculty of Law UniLag by Prof. Ige Bolodekun; Safety in the (Legal) Workplace: A View from Ghana

by Diana Asonaba Dapaah and Safety in the [Legal] Workplace: Learnings from the IBA by Sara Carnegie.

Others are: “Safety in the (Legal) Workplace: The Role of Educational Institutions & Professional Bodies in Laying the Foundation” by Prof.

Ayodele Atsenuwa (UniLag); Chinyere Okorocha (Jackson, Etti

& Edu, NBA Women Forum); Yemi Candide-Johnson (Strachan Partners) and Prof. Chioma Agomo (African Women on Board) and “Reimagining Work: Young Lawyers as Catalysts for Change/ Change Agents” to be delivered

by Oyinkansola Fawehinmi (Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Ltd); Edidiong Umoh (Law Student, UniLag); Ifeoma Solanke (Strachan Partners) and Adedunmade Onibokun (Legalnaija/Adedunmade Onibokun & Co).

AWB, A Nigerian-founded global non-profit organisation is dedicated to advancing the cause of African and diaspora women around the world.

The organisation’s new programme, Safety in the (Legal) Workplace, has been designed to facilitate systems change directly on the ground.

Eboh Needs N13M for Kidney Transplant For three years, Sebastien Eboh has been down with Chronic Kidney Failure. Although he had undergone transplant, it failed after a short period.

At the moment he needs 25,000 dollars (N13million) for a kidney transplant.

So for now, he has been undergoing Dialysis for two years where the family spends an average of N60,000 every week on Dialysis and its associated costs.

According to the family,

until a kidney transplant is achieved, he will continue with Dialysis.

They however lamented that the cost was too burdensome and overwhelming for the family While he can be reached on 08166755978, his account details are: Name: Eboh Sebastine Onyero.

Bank: Polaris Bank PLC Account no. : 1120508345.

L-R: Chairman, Sevikay International Limited, Olowolade Julius; Actress Iyabo Ojo and Manufacturer, Dessoi Flour, Paulin Adjagbodjou, during the official launch and unveiling of Dessoi Flour in Lagos, recently

50,000 Residents Enroll in Nasarawa Health Insurance Scheme Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË Over 50,000 residents of Nasarawa State have so far been enrolled in the Nasarawa State Health Insurance Agency (NASHIA).

Executive Secretary of the NASHIA, Dr. Gaza Gwamna, disclosed this while giving an update of the agency’s programme at a news briefing in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

However, the NASHIA executive secretary explained that due to delay by the state ministry of finance to commence deduction from salaries and entitlements of civil servants and pensioners of the state to fund the programme, only the informal sector had commenced accessing health care services under the scheme.

THISDAY gathered that the organised labour in the state had recently agreed that monthly deductions of three per cent of

workers’ basic salaries and one per cent of pensioners’ benefits should commence without delay and be remitted to the agency to enable these categories of persons access health services courtesy of the state health insurance scheme.

But, the executive secretary noted that those so far enrolled under the informal sector to benefit from the programme were mostly the vulnerable; especially almajiri children, orphans and the aged whose bills had been funded by the state government and private organisations.

Gwamna, while commending the organised labour in the state for keying into the programme, pointed out that civil servants and pensioners would commence accessing health care services under the agency as soon as deductions were made from their wages to fund the programme.

One Woman Organises Free Breast Cancer Screening For Women

Fertility Expert Recommends Freezing Eggs for Women Above 30

Ayodeji Ake

Rebecca Ejifoma

Sterling Bank, through its One Woman proposition, recently organised a free breast cancer screening and education event for women in Lekki area of Lagos as a way of giving back to its host community.

Speaking at the event recently, Group Head, Products and Proposition with Sterling Bank, Gbenga Adegoke said the bank is partnering Quality and Selfless Empowerment Foundation (QSE), owned by Olori (Queen) Sekinat Elegushi because health is one the five sectors of the Nigerian economy that Sterling Bank is focusing investments in under its HEARTS of Sterling, adding that the other sectors are education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation. He said the bank through the programme is targeting women who do not have access to quality healthcare and they are also creating enlightenment regarding cancer, remarking that they also want the opportunity to render banking services to the unbanked community by granting them loans among others.

Also speaking, the Head of One Woman proposition at Sterling Bank, Mrs. Ifunaya Ugboko said

the bank decided on breast cancer at this time for its health outreach because October is a month that has been set aside to create sustained awareness on cancer and cancer related ailments. She noted that breast cancer claims numerous lives annually, adding that the dreaded disease happens to be the most common type of cancer in women across different races and ethnicity.

She disclosed that the outreach was targeted at women in general and members of trade associations in a specific region as well as women above 18 years in a bid to increase awareness for the One Woman proposition.

She explained that Sterling Bank had launched the One Woman proposition in 2017 to commemorate the International Women’s Day in Nigeria with the theme: “Be Bold for Change.”

“The significant number of women in Nigeria’s population also made it imperative to deliberately focus on the needs of women to ensure sustainable economic development and growth,” she said.

According to her, Sterling Bank believes that the case for targeting women is simple because women are the more excluded gender.

A renowned fertility expert and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, has urged unmarried ladies in their early 30s to consider freezing their eggs in order to sustain quality of eggs.

The expert made this recommendation during a visual conference with newsmen in Lagos on the topic: “Fertility After 40 Years”.

He expressed worries that while a woman who is age 30 has about 20 to 25 per cent chance to conceive, it is about five per cent chance in women who are over 40 years having chromosomally abnormal babies.

Ajayi emphasised: “When we talk about down syndrome and chromosomal abnormality, they are mostly associated with women over 40.

“For instance, a woman aged 30 has one in 385 chances of having a chromosomally abnormal baby. But it is about 21 in 66 chances with a woman who is aged 40.”

He, therefore, cautioned against women who wait until after age 40 to have children, saying that it is better to try to conceive as

early as possible as she can raise a family.

While clarifying that not all women will experience this, he acknowledged the possibility of a woman in her 40s to conceive naturally but 50 per cent of them won’t succeed.

His words: “The chance of chromosomal abnormalities is higher. Also, about 50 per cent of these women will lose their pregnancy, because they are considered to be a high risk pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia, diabetes, hypertension, and placenta accident among others.”

He implored unmarried women in their 30s to think about freezing her eggs long before getting to the stage where she would use donor eggs.

“Eggs frozen will still be viable at any time she wants to use them. The oldest eggs frozen were 17 years and it was still viable at the time they were used,” says Ajayi.

Ajayi questioned: “If you wait till you are 35 years old to conceive, the quality of your eggs will drop. While you want to be financially and morally stable before having children, who will you spend the money on if you can’t have children?”

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 25, 2021

FEATURES

National Summit to Consolidate Fight against COVID-19, Prevent 4th Wave Tajudeen Kareem

H

ealth authorities in Nigeria are collaborating to host a National Summit on COVID-19 to highlight the continued challenge of the pandemic and how to tackle it amid fears of a fourth wave globally.

Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee, PSC, on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha said the summit to evaluate the national response efforts and strengthen global health security will hold for three days, December 6-8, 2021 in Abuja. Specifically, the forum is expected to provide a platform for participants to reflect on the challenges, missed opportunities and find a way forward in building a sustainable health promotion, health safety and health security system for the country.

The Summit theme is: “Review, reposition and push through the last mile to end COVID-19 pandemic and build back better, resilient health system.”

Official statistics state that Nigeria recorded 213,000 confirmed cases of COVID. Of these, 205,000 made a full recovery, while 2,960 Nigerians – parents, siblings, close relatives, colleagues and neighbours died. It translates to a case fatality rate of 1.39%.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire disclosed that Nigeria had tested 3.9 million (3, 392, 457) persons, of which 213, 147 were confirmed positive for COVID-19. Active cases are 4,447 and patients discharged to date are 205,732. Most patients (67%) on admission in isolation wards have co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and other non-communicable diseases, which are known determinants of the severity of COVID-19 illness.

National Incident Manager on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Muhammed described the upcoming national COVID-19 summit as apt and will provide a platform to reflect on the recorded successes in addressing the pandemic as well as analyse the current situation in the country. Expected participants include all critical stakeholders cutting across government agencies, states and the National Assembly. Also listed are development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, research institutions and the academia.

They would assist the PSC review and chart a better course for the nation.

Whereas, Nigeria’s experience indicates a positive correlation between the number of arriving passengers and COVID-19 cases in the country, it is imperative for Nigerians to be more conscious and cautious, exercise more safety measures and be more vigilant to protect themselves and their families from the pandemic. Indeed, Dr Muhammed has stressed that COVID-19 is not over and warned that a possible fourth wave could happen.

“Last year, we saw how the entire wave started.

From April, May and June, we had our first wave;

by November, December to January, we had our second wave, and by July, August up to October, we had the third wave of COVID-19.

“We must make sure that we improve our level of vaccination, and it begins at the individual level, household level, and the community. We, therefore, urge Nigerians to take these seriously.

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is to prevent it from happening; and science has shown that people who are vaccinated are highly unlikely to come down with severe disease or even to die from the disease.

“We need to improve on our observation of the social measures. Even if we are vaccinated, we still need to continue to observe the social distance measures and continue to wear our face masks,” Muhammed warned.

Enter Mass Vaccination Nigeria has commenced a mass vaccination drive for citizens while a Vaccine Mandate for federal civil servants begins from 1 December 2021.

Expect to see vaccination sites in a public facility near you. These include health care centres, clinics, hospitals, schools, markets, motor parks and other populated areas.

Also listed are universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, vocational institutions, stadiums, town squares and shopping malls, going by the mandate of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA which is targeting to vaccinate at least 50% of eligible Nigerians by the end of January 2022.

Mustapha said the measures mirror global developments. The PSC is already engaging with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to push through the mass vaccination programme and mandate for Nigerians.

On compulsory vaccination for Nigerians, Mustapha said: “Let me remind Nigerians that the Vaccine Mandate Policy has become a global phenomenon and Nigeria is not an exception. All Federal Government employees are therefore reminded that December 1, 2021 remains the deadline for all to show evidence

Boss Mustapha of being vaccinated or a PCR negative test result done 72 hours before being allowed into their offices.

“I therefore urge all public servants that are yet to be vaccinated to take advantage of this mass vaccination to receive their vaccines in order to protect themselves and their loved ones. Remember, no one is protected until we are all protected”.

Dr Ehanire emphasises why mass vaccination is critical. “The most potent tool so far, to save lives, remains complete vaccination in prescribed intervals, which has gone without incident around the world for so long now that nobody should be having doubts about it anymore.

His argument: “The vaccines we use are trusted. All citizens should drop their hesitancy and take the vaccines. It is now commonplace in many foreign countries that citizens need proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, cinemas, night clubs and even to board aircraft on international flights.

This trend is intensifying worldwide and will, no doubt, begin to take root in Nigeria in due course. I will not be surprised if Nigerian domestic airlines start to demand vaccination cards before boarding. Nobody should be left behind in vaccination, lest they face an embarrassing situation.”

He has also reiterated government’s desire to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus and gain the desired herd immunity quickly.

While listing Nigeria as a high performer in

total Covid-19 response, including vaccine roll out, the minister warned against complacency, advising that all hands must be on deck considering a population size estimated at 214 million people.

“We must speed up current vaccination rate across the whole country; we must work harder and faster than others, just to get the same result. It is critical that we reach all the eligible persons in good time,” said Dr Ehanire.

He disclosed that no fewer than 5,985,049 persons have been vaccinated with the first dose, while 3,336,866 have received second dose of coronavirus vaccines. The country is targeting 111,776,503 people to achieve herd immunity.

“It is in the light of this that the Presidential Steering Committee, the Federal Ministry of Health and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency reviewed the vaccine delivery strategy and decided to start the next phase of the National Vaccine Deployment Plan and set up mass vaccination sites,” the minister disclosed.

“Our aim is to have vaccinated 55 million residents of Nigeria by the end of January, 2022, which is 50% of our target population.

We have enough vaccines and assurance of flow of high quality vaccines from many sources to be certain that we can sustain the campaign to meet the deadline we have set for ourselves.

“The Ministry of Health plans to maintain

More than any other disease in recent history, COVID-19 has generated protracted global economic downturns and social inconveniences that impact developing countries, including Nigeria. It will be difficult to recover from all of these adversities if we do not take aggressive measures to control COVID-19 in the shortest possible time

that energy and strive for herd immunity, which we had calculated to be by vaccinating at least 70% of our eligible population. Our preference is to exceed that target, because lessons we learn from observing developments in other countries, is that we need to aim higher than 70%, to be more assured of protecting the health of most Nigerians,” said Dr Ehanire.

He asked all policy makers and influencers to support the national mobilisation effort. Listed are state governors, council chairmen, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and the media. He also reiterated the safety and effectiveness of all vaccines even as he assured of government’s commitment to “providing safe and efficacious Covid-19 vaccines and dispensing them backed with accountability and transparency.”

“All vaccines are tagged and tracked by NAFDAC to ensure that quality and potency is maintained in the supply chain. No vaccine is allowed to any vaccination site except authenticated and with safety verification. We do not compromise safety and standards,” he said.

Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib said the overall population of eligible persons targeted for COVID-19 vaccination to enable the country to reach herd immunity against the disease is 111 million (111,776,503).

“We have all come to agree that COVID-19 exists and is fatal. Some of us have lost our friends, family members and colleagues to COVID-19. This pandemic has remained a formidable obstacle to the smooth conduct of our businesses, education and personal living. More than any other disease in recent history, COVID-19 has generated protracted global economic downturns and social inconveniences that impact developing countries, including Nigeria.

“It will be difficult to recover from all of these adversities if we do not take aggressive measures to control COVID-19 in the shortest possible time. For this reason, NPHCDA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, has initiated the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign. The idea of a mass vaccination campaign is to quickly increase the number of the fully vaccinated eligible populations in Nigeria, thereby rapidly moving towards achieving herd immunity and creating an enabling environment for economic recovery and a return to social normalcy in the country,” said Dr Shuaib. t,BSFFN XSPUF JO GSPN "CVKB

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ NOVEMBER 25, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG Urges Investors to Take Advantage of Capital Market Master Plan Initiatives Kayode Tokede The federal government has urged investors in the capital market to take advantage of initiatives introduced in the market aimed primarily at strengthening the market and accelerating development.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed stated this at the enlightenment workshop/ Investor clinic session with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and its agencies in Abuja.

Represented by Director Home Finance, Mr. Stephen Okon, she said the enlightenment program

is in line with the commissions’ Capital Market Master Plan and urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to reflect and review the challenges faced by investors with a view of actualizing the objectives of the plan in the remaining few years.

She said: “It is worthy to know that the SEC marked out a 10-year plan for development of the Nigerian capital market.

The objective is to device strategies for the development of the Nigerian capital market in key areas such as investor protection and integration, professionalism and product innovation and for the expansion of the capital markets role in Nigeria’s economy.

“The SEC deemed it fit to host members of staff of the ministry of finance, budget and national planning and agencies under the ministry in a capital market training procession and workshop with investors.”

In his opening address, Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda said the event which is organised by SEC in collaboration with the Financial Literacy Technical Committee (FLTC) is an annual event coordinated by IOSCO, which it mandates securities regulators globally to commemorate in their respective jurisdictions for the promotion of investor education and protection.

NAICOM, Pedabo MullTransitioning to IFRS 17 as Stakeholders List Challenges Bennet Oghifo Ahead of the 2023 date of transitioning to International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 17, stakeholders in Nigeria have called on government to address prevailing bottlenecks to ensure smooth implementation.

The call was made in Lagos at a Thought Leadership Breakfast Session organised by Pedabo Audit Services and chair by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) At the event, tagged, “An Insight into the New IFRS 17

and its Impact on the Insurance Business,” stakeholders raised concerns over the loopholes in Nigeria’s approach, stressing that the approach has many implementations for the country, especially the insurance sector.

While the event was declared opened by Albert Folorunsho, Managing Consultant, Pedabo and monitored virtually by journalists, experts at the event said while the efforts being made by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) were laudable, there are concerns and implications that the country must

pay attention to.

NAICOM’s Director of Supervision, Barineka Thompson, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas noted that there was no going back on the implementation of the standard on January 1, 2023.

Managing Partner at Pedabo, Ajibade Fashina noted that with concerns over data related challenges and other issues that may arise from the implementation of the IFRS 17, there was need for auditors to understand the task ahead.

Access Bank Tackles Congestion Challenge in Lagos School with Renovated Classrooms Peter Uzoho Access Bank Plc has handed over a block of three classrooms it newly renovated to Olorunfunmi Senior Grammar School, Idimu, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The project is aimed at addressing the problem of overcrowding of students in classrooms where about 160 students contend with space in a classroom with attendant negative impacts on their health and academics.

The project, which is the phase one of a three-phased Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project being carried out by the Digital and Centralised Operations Group of Access Bank was inaugurated

yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Group Head, Digital and Centralised Operations Division, Access Bank, Mrs Ukachi Osas-Airen, said the intervention was the bank’s way of showing its value for its customers, potential customers and the larger society.

She said, “It’s always a good thing to give back. You will never run dry when you give. So, this is just our own way of saying thank you as a bank. It’s our way of showing the value that Access Bank has for our customers, our potential customers and the society at large. And certainly, for us as a bank, we believe in sustainable business practices and this is one sure way of giving

back to the environment and the communities we serve.”

In her remarks, the Chairman, CSR Planning Committee of the Digital and Centralised Operations Group, Access Bank, Lynda Anyanwu, said the bank identified the school as a beneficiary of the bank’s magnanimity.

She explained that Access Bank has an employee volunteering programme where the staff give back to the society and try to make a good impact in the environment they operate in.

Anyanwu assured that the bank would be returning to the school next year to start the second phase of the threephased project.

IPAN Holds 29th MCD Workshop The Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria’s (IPAN) has said that it will hold its 29th Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCDP) workshop at the Raw Materials and Development Council in Abuja According to the organisers, the workshop is aimed at how to improve the quality of made-inNigerian products in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA).

The event is themed, “African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA):The Crucial Role of Quality Assurance of Products,” has Mr. Francis Anatogu, the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on Public Sector Matters and Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA as Keynote Speaker.

The chairperson is the Secretary to the State Government, Kogi State, Dr. Folasade Arike Ayoade, a Fellow of the institut; the Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sunnunu, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Care Services while the Chief Host is Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora.

In a statement, IPAN’s Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Aliyu Angara, said the workshop would examine issues such as: Quality Assurance of Food & Agro-allied Products; Quality Assurance of Pharmaceuticals and Herbal Products, in relations to AfCFTA and feature a panel discussion on AfCFTA: The Role of IPAN/ Public Analysts in Removal of Technical Barriers. He added that it would also discuss issues

such as elimination of technical barriers to trade within Africa and non-compliance to sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, which lead to product rejections in most African countries and that it targets over 250 participants comprising manufacturers, exporters, importers, product regulators, laboratory owners, and small and medium scale enterprises, among others He added that panellists were being drawn from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Nigeria Export Promotions Council (NEPC), Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) and Society of Testing Laboratories of Nigeria (SoTLAN). Another event slated for the workshop is the induction of new members.

L-R: Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos State, Architect Abiodun Faluyi, General Secretary, Architect Moniba Odunlami, Chairman, Architect David Majekodunmi, Past Chairman, Abimbola Ajayi, Group Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria PLC, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, Assistant General Secretary, NIA, Architect Adaku Osuagwu and General Manager Vitapur Nigeria Limited, Mr Yemi Mofikoya at facilities tour of Vitapur Plant by NIA Members in Lagos recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͳ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FCMB Group Reports N13.80bn Profit in Nine Months Kayode Tokede FCMB Group Plc has reported N13.80billion profit in its nine months ended September 30, 2021 unaudited result and accounts.

The results on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) showed 0.71 per cent decline in profit from N13.90 billion in prior nine months ended September, 30, 2020.

From the profit & loss fig-

ures, the group reported Gross revenue of N149.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, a 2.1 per cent increase from N146.43 billion reported for prior period.

The Group report a decline in Net Interest Margin to 6.9 per cent from 7.6 per cent year on year, led to a four per cent year on year drop in net interest income from N68.1 billion, as at nine months of 2020, to N65.4 billion for nine months of 2021.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

Also, it reported a noninterest income of N31.7 billion for the nine months ended September 2021, an increase of 17.3per cent N27 billion for the same period prior year.

According to the financial institution: “Digital Banking Fees increased by 50per cent Year-on Year, as we migrate more customers to our alternate channels.”

Operating expenses rose 11per cent to N73.2 billion in

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the nine months of 2021, largely due to increased regulatory costs which accounted for 44per cent of total cost growth.

In addition to profit & loss figures, FCMG Group reported Net impairment loss on financial assets decreased by 39.4per cent to N8.1 billion, for the nine months ended September 2021, from N13.3 billion for the same period prior year.

“However, we also recognized a modification loss of

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

N3.2billion on restructured facilities during the quarter,” the bank explained in a statement to investors.

From the group financial position, Loans and advances grew by 22 per cent to N967.6 billion as at September 2021, while Customer deposits rose by 18per cent to N1.4 trillion as at September 30, 2021.

On this, Total assets increased by 19 per cent to N2.42 trillion as at Sep 2021

O F

from N2.06trillion it reported in full year ended December 31, 2020.

FCMB Group is the holding company for First City Monument Bank Limited, Credit Direct Limited, FCMB (UK) Limited, FCMB Microfinance Bank Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, CSL Stockbrokers Limited, FCMB Pensions Limited, FCMB Asset Management Limited and FCMB Trustees Limited.

2 4 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021• T H I S DAY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust): is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 23Nov-2021, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 166.60 168.05 2.92% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 319.18 319.18 -16.31% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 101.18 102.23 -8.46% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.54% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.32 3.38 -3.80% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.74% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.16 140.91 4.62% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -13.93% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.57 21.19 13.44% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 455.38 469.11 13.74% ARM Ethical Fund 39.72 40.92 17.82% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -2.04% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 0.99 -5.73% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.56% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.44 107.44 5.63% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,055.68 1,055.68 5.57% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.03 2.03 -4.04% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.22 2.27 3.06% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.03 1.03 4.91% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.09% Paramount Equity Fund 17.33 17.64 8.33% Women's Investment Fund 141.02 142.62 5.95% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.70% Cordros Milestone Fund 133.00 133.84 13.31% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 109.95 109.95 5.45% CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.58% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.35% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,165.45 1,188.87 1.43% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.72% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.04 1.04 3.25% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.16 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,375.85 FBN Balanced Fund 174.14 FBN Halal Fund 114.59 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

121.88 149.69 Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.74 1.20

1.11 10.41% 104.16 4.11% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,375.85 175.42 114.59 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.44% 4.42% 9.24% 8.91%

121.88 4.00% 151.71 13.20% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 3.99 1.77 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 7.10% 3.14% 14.11% 5.71%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A 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 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,150.40 1,150.40 7.82% 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 11.83 11.90 13.06% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.09% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.09 101.10 7.51% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.78% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.62 13.08% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.06 11.08 -8.93% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.49% PACAM Equity Fund 1.46 1.47 -7.74% PACAM EuroBond Fund 111.84 114.05 1.98% 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 133.66 135.96 11.99% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.07 1.07 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,392.63 3,420.95 5.51% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 234.76 234.76 4.41% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.27 1.29 8.47% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 311.05 311.05 5.56% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 239.69 243.32 9.84% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.73% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 11,100.55 11,261.60 5.79% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 4.83% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.48 116.48 4.86% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 105.49 105.49 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 4.92% United Capital Bond Fund 1.94 1.94 6.09% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.95 15.64% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.05% United Capital Eurobond Fund 121.60 121.60 6.21% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 6.48% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 6.94% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.08 13.15 10.04% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.58 14.67 19.19% Zenith Income Fund 24.74 24.74 3.09% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.14%

REITS

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.20

10.62% 7.24%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.28 131.15 104.95 17.73 21.68

14.38 134.40 107.25 17.83 21.78

7.97% 9.06% 5.78% -0.88% 17.68%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.90 5.55 18.05 1.00 21.81 157.60

4.00 5.65 18.25 1.00 22.01 159.60

4.17% -2.27% 11.38% 6.62% 6.27% -15.10%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

FORTY NIGERIA WILL SURVIVE ITS CHALLENGES, DESPITE ESCALATING GRIEVANCES, SAYS FITCH consumption, the Fitch Solutions Group, an affiliate of global ratings agency, Fitch, has stated.

The UK-based organisation stated this in a report titled, “Nigeria Country Risk Report – Q1- 2022,” which also included a 10-year forecast to 2030, obtained yesterday.

“Rising population levels, high unemployment and competition for diminishing resources in a period of slower economic growth will exacerbate ethnic and religious grievances in Nigeria over the next decade, and the country will continue to face security challenges on three major fronts.

“Our core view is that the Nigerian state will survive these interlocking challenges, although

they will weigh on growth by deterring investment and impeding private consumption.

There is a downside risk, however, that ethno-religious divides will eventually lead to the break-up of the state. The next several years will be a major test for Nigeria, as the slow recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic deepens poverty and further erodes the government's ability to provide public goods. A weakened state may struggle to unite the diverse country, which has Africa's largest population.

“Nigeria already faces three clear security threats: the Islamist insurgency in the north, clashes between Fulani herdsmen and pastoralists in the Middle Belt

region, and growing unrest in the south. Even so, our core view remains that the federal republic will still exist at the end of the decade. Democracy will become increasingly entrenched, and social unrest, while likely to increase, will remain contained to the sub-regional level,” it predicted.

The report predicted that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would grow by a modest 2.1 per cent in 2021, after contracting by an estimated 1.9 per cent; and accelerate to 2.8 per cent in 2022 on the back of stronger household spending, and increases in fixed investment and oil exports.

In addition, Fitch, in the report, disclosed that it had revised its forecast for Nigeria’s 2021 budget

deficit to 4.8 per cent of GDP, from 4.2 per cent, following the publication of official data indicating weaker federal government revenue than it had previously anticipated. It anticipated that the country’s current account deficit would narrow slightly to 1.9 per cent of GDP in 2022, largely as a result of a further narrowing of the trade deficit.

Furthermore, the research firm predicted that in 2022, strengthening economic growth would provide the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) room to shift its focus to containing inflation and hiking the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 100 basis points to 12.50 per cent.

It expressed doubt over the abil-

FG: CAUSE OF NEMBE OIL SPILL YET TO BE DETERMINED Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Idris Musa, who spoke yesterday on the “Morning Show,” a programme monitored on ARISE NEWS Channel, said no one has been able to access the wellhead to determine what exactly happened.

A delegation sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to assess the oil spill at the Santa Barbara, South-west oilfield yesterday promised to ensure speedy redress of the situation.

Similarly, Halliburton Co., one of the world’s largest oil services companies, confirmed that one of its units had been hired to help seal a wellhead that had been spewing its contents for several weeks in the Niger Delta.

Musa said the rescue teams on ground had so far recovered 4,105 barrels of oil since the Nembe oil spill began.

According to him, “It is absolutely wrong and preposterous for people to make false speculations over the oil spillage in Nembe communities of Bayelsa State. As I speak, nobody has been able to reach the oil wellhead, where the flow is coming from.

“The best that was achieved by the joint investigation teams was to get close to the source, but nobody has been able to reach the actual source of the flow. It is only when the team will be able to reach the source that they can determine the possible cause of the oil spill.

It is only when they get to the source of the leakage that they will know whether the leakage was caused by broken pipe or corrosive pipe or loosed nuts.”

He insisted that the cause of the oil spill could only be verified by facts and not by speculations and simulations.

“So the cause of the oil spill is unknown at the moment, until a time when we are able to get to the source, which is the actual oil wellhead from where the leakage is coming from,” Musa said.

Musa also said, “One can only estimate the volume of oil that can be produced from any given oil wellhead when such oil wellhead is active and operational, but it is not possible to estimate the volume of loss of oil from an oil well, when there is leakage.

“It is wrong for people to use simulation method to determine loss of oil from a leaked oil well. We must talk about facts.

“The truth of the matter is that the oil wellhead has been abandoned for years and cannot therefore be compared to oil wellhead that is active and operational.

“It is wrong to project that 200,000 barrels of oil have been lost since November 1, 2021, when the spill started.

From the on-going recovery process, about 4, 105 barrels of oil have been recovered as

at Tuesday this week, which is based on eight hours working time on a daily basis since the spill started, but that is not to say that was the total oil that spilled so far.”

He further said, “It is not the responsibility of NOSDRA to regulate abandoned oil wellheads, because it is under the regulation of the Nigerian Offstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The commission had a number of times, planned to decommission abandoned oil wells, but they still surface.”

He, however, said the concern of government now was not the volume of oil loss, but the communities that the oil spill was affecting.

“Government is aware that the rivers and streams where the oil is flowing into will likely affect the lives of the living creatures in the rivers and streams, including the trees, and the rivers and streams are sources of livelihood for the community,” Musa added.

Reacting to claims that NOSDRA had not been in control of the area since the oil spill started on November 1, Musa said, “I want to correct the erroneous notion that NOSDRA has been incapacitated and has not done anything since the oil spillage on November 1, 2021. When the oil spill started, it was immediately reported and NOSDRA has been on the matter right from the onset.

“The Nembe oil spill is a different one from what had been happening in the past, because the initial joint investigation team that visited the scene, which NOSDRA was part of, could not access the oil well from where the spill is coming from, because of the magnitude of the force of the flow of oil, which has stretched out into several communities in the state.”

Musa said the first thing NOSDRA did was to ask the oil company to begin oil recovery process, since the oil spill could not be stopped immediately. He said it was later discovered that Nigerian engineers could not stop the oil spillage, which compelled government to contact international oil companies to come and help stop the flow. He added that it took some process and time, which caused some delay in addressing the situation.

Going forward, Musa said Nigeria needed to develop local human capacity that could handle such disaster.

He stated, “The reason is to avoid delay in addressing future occurrence. For instance, the international oil experts that were contacted came and surveyed the area and returned back to analyse their findings. They just returned, and this has caused a lot of delay in stopping the oil

leakage. With the return of the oil exploration experts, operations to stop the oil flow from its source started yesterday and by the time it is addressed, we will begin the remediation and recovery processes.”

FG’s Delegation Visits Bayelsa Oil Spill Site, Pledges Redress

A federal government delegation led by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, which visited communities affected by the spillage, told the people of Nembe that the president was seriously concerned about the leak and had instructed relevant government agencies to take appropriate actions to bring the situation under control.

During the on-the-spot assessment, which was meant to get a first-hand account of the magnitude of the spillage that occurred at an Aiteo Eastern Exploration Company (AEEPCO) facility in the area, Sylva lamented the incessant degradation of the Niger Delta environment.

The minister was joined on the inspection by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr Gbenga Komolafe; the traditional ruler of Opu-Nembe Kingdom, His Royal Highness King Biobelemoye Josiah; and House of Representatives member representing Brass/Nembe Constituency, Mr. Israel Adi. Sylva said, “Mr President is very concerned about the spill, that is why he sent me to come and have on the spot assessment of the situation. He feels the pains of the people and wants urgent steps taken to address the problem.”

The minister noted that the spill was a serious environmental concern that needed urgent measures to contain, noting that the government would do all within its powers to tackle the environmental problem.

“So much damage has been done to the environment in the Niger Delta and the government is very much concerned about this situation and would not allow further degradation of the environment, that why the government will take urgent measures to tackle the situation,” he said.

He disclosed that the relevant agencies had already been deployed in the area to tackle the oil spill adding, “We will need to bring in support to help us clean up the spill.”

Addressing the Basambri community after inspecting the spill site, Sylva said it was important for him to come to see things for himself to ensure that there was no problem between the oil company and

the community.

He conveyed the president’s regrets over the spill and noted, “President Buhari will ensure that the situation is immediately remediated.”

Addressing the community, Komolafe said they were in Basambri on the instructions of the president to see things for themselves. He noted that as regulators in the upstream sector of the economy, the commission would ensure that operators operate within acceptable international standards that will impact positively on the lives of the people in the oil producing communities.

Aiteo on November 5 reported a major oil leak from its Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, in Nembe.

Aiteo acquired the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 following the 2015 divestment by Shell.

The well was acquired for $2.4 billion and consists of the 97km Nembe Creek trunk line, which evacuates crude from onshore oil wells within the oil bloc and other operators to Bonny Export Terminal.

Aiteo, in a statement signed by its Media Contact, Mr Matthew Ndiana, explained that aside urgent possible technical responses to contain the leak, it had sought the collaboration of Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA), which had since mobilised to site.

While pointing out that the company had deployed its internal resources to reinforce containment and recovery efforts, Aiteo said that “well killing” assessment site visit had been carried out to evaluate the assets and earmark the resources required to bring the effusion under control.

Halliburton Unit Confirms Engagement

by Aiteo

Meanwhile, Halliburton, the Houston-based firm’s Boots & Coots unit, has been called in by independent producer Aiteo Eastern E&P Co., to contain the leak from a non-producing well in the southern Bayelsa State, a spokeswoman confirmed to Bloomberg by email yesterday.

Oil has been leaking “under high pressure” since November 1, according to a statement yesterday, by Nigerian advocacy group, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), which visited the site on Sunday.

The rupture on the field located in mangrove forests has been releasing crude into the surrounding river, and fumes into the air.

The field produced about 27,000 barrels per day in 2020, according to information published by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The output, which had dropped to about 9,500 barrels a day by July, is transported via a pipeline to Shell’s Bonny export terminal.

ity of the Nigerian government to implement major economic reforms ahead of the 2023 general election, saying campaigns ahead of political parties’ election primaries would be the focus of attention between now and 2022.

The federal government had disclosed a plan to remove subsidy on petrol, which had been described as a major drain and waste on the economy, by May next year. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) recommended the removal of the controversial fuel subsidy, even as the World Bank and some other institutions had warned about the dire consequence of retaining the policy.

But Fitch, in the report, pointed out that, “Campaigning ahead of party primaries will shift political attention away from reforms in fourth quarter of 2021 and 2022.”

It noted that although the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had made notable progress in 2021, particularly as regards simplifying the exchange rate regime and passing landmark oil sector reforms, further significant progress was unlikely this quarter and in 2022.

This is because politicians from the two major political parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – would focus on campaigning and mobilising support ahead of their primary elections, likely to be held in the second half of 2022, the report said.

The Fitch report stated, “In this context, progress on politically unpopular reforms, such the reduction of fuel and electricity subsidies, is unlikely in the coming quarters, and the resulting continued pressure on public finances will contribute to Nigeria posting large fiscal deficits in 2021 and 2022 (we forecast deficits of 4.8% and 4.5% of GDP respectively).

“Reflecting this, we have lowered the ‘policy-making process’ component score in our Short-Term Political Risk Index from 56.7 to 53.3 (scores out of 100; lower score indicates higher risk).”

Fitch Solutions further anticipated that campaigning ahead of Nigeria’s presidential election in 2023 would dominate the political agenda in 2022.

Buhari would step down in 2023, as required by the Nigerian constitution, which limits presidents to two terms in office.

Fitch stated in the report, “In the coming quarters, we expect potential candidates from the two main parties - the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and

the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - and their supporters to ramp up preparations to secure their party’s respective nominations for president and vice-president.

“Several major figures are already actively campaigning, although most have not officially declared their intention to run.

“For the APC, these include former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu and current Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while front-runners for the PDP include former president of the senate Bukola Saraki, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar.”

Fitch also predicted that sub-national tensions would grow as political leaders seek to champion the interests of their core supporters with a view to strengthening their political positions. It noted that under Nigeria’s long-standing custom of alternating between presidents from the predominantly Muslim North and the largely Christian South, a practice known locally as “zoning”, the candidates both parties would choose to contest the presidency ought to come from one of Nigeria’s southern states given that Buhari is a Muslim northerner.

However, in late September an association of governors of northern states rejected the practice, claiming (according to media reports) that it contradicts the constitution.

The Fitch report said this position by the northern governors would likely exacerbate rifts with southern political leaders from both parties who believe that it would be their turn to control the presidency.

Adding to these tensions is a growing row over the rights of states to collect and retain funds from Value Added Tax (VAT), the report noted.

It said, “While wealthier southern states, notably Lagos and Rivers states, have introduced legislation to enable state-level agencies to collect and manage VAT revenue rather than the Federal Inland Revenue Service, this move has been fiercely opposed by the federal government and several northern states.

“The latter generally are poorer and would potentially see a fall in their VAT revenue, which under the current system effectively leads to southern states cross-subsidising northern ones.

“The stand-off has resulted in a lengthy legal dispute, and we expect that deteriorating relations between northern and southern political leaders will hamper coordination on key programmes, including rolling out the next phases of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response.”

AYIRI ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING OLU OF WARRI’S CROWNS WORTH N2BN According to the charge sheet with No: MW/178 C/ 2021, Emami, along with others now at large, allegedly committed the offence about 11.30 pm on March 30 this year in the house of the Olu of Warri.

The charge read, "That you Chief Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on 30th of March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Warri Palace, Warri did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit, Burglary and Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.

"That you Chief Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on 30th of March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Warri Palace, Warri, in Warri in Warri Magisterial District, with intent to commit a felony broke into a dwelling house of the Olu of Warri and thereby committed an Offence Punishable Under Section 411 of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.

"That you Ayirimi Emami (m) and others now at large on the 30th March, 2021 at about 11:30 pm at Olu of Palace, Warri, in Warri Magisterial District did

steal two crowns valued at Two Billion Naira, properties of Itsekiri Kingdom and thereby committed an Offence Punishable Under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C21 Vol. 1, Laws of Delta 2006.

Emami pleaded not guilty to the three charges.

Lead counsel to the accused, Mr. Emmanuel Uti, urged the court to grant his client bail, and said the accused was willing and ready to appear in court any time he was called to appear.

Similarly, police prosecuting counsel, SP Sunday Irabor, said the discretion of granting bail lied within the court. He, however, called for a stringent bail condition, stressing that the sureties must be reliable.

Mr. Fabius Jemide Atie held watching brief on behalf of Olu of Warri Palace.

Chief Magistrate Diejomaoh granted the accused bail with two sureties and N2 million each.

The sureties, she ruled, must be on Grade Level 15 in the civil service and they must provide their passports and body photographs as well as National means of identification.

The case was adjourned till January 19, 2022 for hearing.

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THURSDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

TINUBU VISITS TANKO YAKASSAI...

All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (left), and former Parliamentary Liaison Officer to former President Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, when Asiwaju Tinubu called on the statesman in his residence in Abuja ...yesterday.

NLC Rejects Proposed Fuel Price Hike Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged comment by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kyari that the price of petrol could jump as high as N320 and N340 from February 2022.

In a statement yesterday by NLC President Ayuba Wabba, the congress said the proposal

by Kyari which he said was consequent on the plans by the federal government to remove subsidy on petrol was rejected.

Wabba said the union would maintain its rejection of deregulation so long as it was based on an import-driven model.

"The response of the Nigeria Labour Congress is that what we are hearing is the conversation of the federal government with neo-liberal international monetary institutions. The conversation between the government and the people of Nigeria especially workers under the auspices of the trade union movement on the matter of fuel subsidy was adjourned sine die so many months ago.

"We wish to reiterate our

persuasion that the only benefit of deregulation based on import driven model is that Nigerian consumers will infinitely continue to pay high prices for refined petroleum products.

"Given the nationwide panic that has trailed the disclosure of the monologue within the corridors of government and foreign interests, the Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to posit that it continues to maintain its rejection of deregulation based on import driven model," he said.

Wabba said that the situation would definitely be compounded by the astronomical devaluation of the naira.

He said the NLC believes that it would be difficult to convince Nigerian workers why the country was the only country among the OPEC member countries that cannot produce its own refined petroleum products and was thus adopting the neo-liberal import production model of refined petroleum products.

Wabba also said that any attempt to compare the price of petrol in Nigeria to other countries would be set on a faulty premise as it would be akin to comparing apples to mangoes.

"The contemplation by gov-

ernment to increase the price of petrol by more than 200 per cent is a perfect recipe for an aggravated pile of hyper-inflation and astronomical increase in the price of goods and services.

"This will open a wide door to unintended social consequences such as degeneration of the current insecurity crises and possibly citizens’ revolt. This is not an outcome that any sane Nigeria wishes for," he said.

He said that federal government should consider some of the viable options which NLC feels can help.

The options suggested by NLC includes; insulating the domestic consumers from the market pressure brought about by the free fall of the Naira by making arrangement with contiguous refineries not far from Nigeria to swap crude oil with refined petroleum products; accelerating work on the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s four major refineries which are all currently operating at near zero installed capacity; and establishing empirical data on the quantity of refined petroleum products consumed daily by Nigerians.

"It is unfortunate that this record remains a myth and a huge crater

for all manner of official sleaze and leakages in the downstream petroleum sub-sector of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry," he said.

In addition, the NLC president said the argument that the complete surrender of the price of petrol to market forces would normalize the curve of demand and supply was wrong, given the current market realities with cooking gas, diesel and kerosene.

"The truth is that these commodities which Nigeria can easily produce have been priced out of the reach of most Nigerian families with majority of our people resorting to tree felling and charcoal for their energy needs.

"Finally, we wish to warn that the bait by government to pay 40 million Nigerians N5000 as palliative to cushion the effect of astronomical increase in the price of petrol is comical, to say the least.

“The total amount involved in this queer initiative is far more than the money government claims to spend currently on fuel subsidy. Apart from our concerns on the transparency of the disbursement given previous experiences with such schemes, we are wondering if government is

Insecurity: Presidential Panel Seeks House’s Support for Defence, Armed Forces Reforms Udora Orizu in Abuja The Presidential Implementation and Advisory Committee for the reform of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Nigeria, assigned to tackle the present trend of insecurity in the country, has called for the support of the House of Representatives to achieve the task before it.

Chairman of the panel, Alwari Kazir, a retired Army Major General, made the call at an advocacy visit to the House Security Committees, headed by Chairman of Defence Committee, Hon. Babajimi Benson.

He said the visit was to inform lawmakers of what it has done so far and to solicit their support and wise counsel towards assisting the Committee to successfully implement some of the key recommendations that would affect the structure, roles,

functions and management of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the ministry of defence.

According to him, the way Nigerian Armed Forces were organised, trained, equipped and managed by the defence ministry was based on the need to confront conventional threats and not the emerging security challenges, hence, the reform of the country's defence and security architecture was imperative.

His words: "Today, in effect, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Nigeria need to be properly organised, structured, manned with the required mix of military and civilian personnel as is the global best practice in almost all countries, especially, developed countries. Reforming the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Nigeria will also ensure that we have Armed Forces that are affordable for the national economy

while sufficient in size, structure, training and equipment to respond effectively to both conventional and asymmetric warfare.

"The need to re-position the Armed Forces of Nigeria to meet its national and international obligations, particularly, at this time when a myriad of security challenges are confronting our country is apt and timely.

“It is in the consequences of the foregoing that the Minister of Defence provided a memo to the President informing him of the need to carry out a comprehensive reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“Sequel to the approval of the CinC, the minister set up the reform committee, which sat for three months and submitted its report with far reaching recommendations. It is our belief that that report has reached the Chairman of the House committee

on Defence."

In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, lamented the myriad of security challenges plaguing the country, which have heightened the despair, pain and hardship experienced by the people, stressing that nobody was safe anymore.

While expressing House’s concerns about reforms in the defence sector, the lawmaker also said the House was worried about alleged human rights abuses both within and outside the Armed Forces.

He said it was in view of this that the House was currently amending the Armed Forces Act to, among other things, establish the Armed Forces Human Rights Unit, to ensure the protection of rights of civilians, while also ensuring the reprimand of members of the Armed Forces, who violate these rights.

not trying to rob Nigerians to pay Nigerians? Why pay me N5000 and then subject me to perpetual suffering?

"Clearly, government thoughts on the so-called removal of fuel subsidy is cloudy and appears to be a “penny wise-pound foolish” gamble.

"It is clear that the palliative offered by government will not cure the cancer that will befall the

mass of our people who suffer the double jeopardy of hype-inflation while their salaries remain fixed.

"As we had done several times, we call on the federal government to consider various options that can help Nigeria navigate out of the quagmire constructed by the failure of successive governments to embrace developmental governance and accountable leadership.”

NEDC Wants Increase in VAT Allocation Share, Ecological Fund from 3% to 5%

Deji Elumoye and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The North East Development Commission (NEDC), has canvassed for increase in its allocation from Value Added Tax (VAT) and Ecological Fund from three per cent to five per cent.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali, made the call Wednesday during the Commission’s first consultative meeting with the North East Caucus of the National Assembly on the North-East Stabilization and Development Masterplan (NESDMP) Project, in Abuja.

The NEDC presently gets three per cent of VAT and Ecological Fund for its activities but the commission said the amount was grossly inadequate to develop the area.

Established in October 2017, the NEDC received a total budgetary allocation of N46,171,690,315 in the 2021 budget.

On the challenges confronting the intervention agency, Alkali said, “In terms of challenges, some are technical, while others are operational. As at today, with the support of some of your colleagues both in the National Assembly and the Executive, we are able to surmount these challenges and now we have access to the Value Added Tax and the Ecological Fund.

“But as they say, as you cross one challenge, another challenge might come up. The recent challenge is the agitation against how to distribute the VAT fund among the component states. If anything adverse happens to the status quo now, the Commis-

sion will be affected, because the Value Added Tax is one of the major sources of revenue that can be able to sustain the implementation of the master plan when it is ready.

“Our other cry is that we want the ratio to be increased from three per cent to five per cent, because at the end of the day, the quantum of amount we are going to look for is far in excess of what the VAT will provide.

So, our demand is to see how the ratio can be increased.”

Lead consultant to NEDC on the NESDMP, Dr. Mohammed Ahmad, also said the Commission would require over $9.6billion for the development of the North East region based on the assessment of the World Bank, European Union and the United Nations on amount required to fix infrastructural needs of the geopolitical zone as at 2016.

“There is no doubt about this.

The budgetary provision will not be sufficient to address the challenges. In 2016, the World Bank, European Union and the United Nations did a rapid assessment of infrastructure damage in the Northeast and they came out with about $9.6billion of which about $6billion is in Borno State.

“So, even if we come up with this figure today, which was a figure as at 2016, I am not sure we have the internal resources,” Ahmad said.

Earlier, Chairman of the North East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Danjuma Goje, said the interaction was to enable your caucus receive briefing from the commission on its activities, and also allow members of the caucus to make required input.

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THURSDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

2022 BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR CITY OF EXCELLENCE...

L-R: Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun; Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; his wife, Falilat and other members of the Assembly, during the presentation of the Y2022 Budget Estimates at the House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday

Afenifere Faults FG’s Planned Extradition of Igboho, Kicks against Fuel Price Hike Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, said the intensified effort of the federal government to extradite Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise known as Sunday Igboho from Benin Republic, wss a clear indication

that it was not totally committed to genuinely tackling the challenges thrown up by those agitating for self-determination in the country.

The group also described the plan to increase prices of fuel as "another indication of how insensitive the present administration is as far as the welfare of Nigerians is concerned".

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said were government sincere with its recent declaration of wanting to settle the agitators' issues politically, it would not be treading the path of extradition.

Afenifere maintained that rather than insist on extradition,

the federal government should obey the verdict given by a High Court in Ibadan on September 17, 2021, by paying the sum of N20.5 billion as ordered instead of going on an appeal.

It contended that if the federal government genuinely wanted to solve the problems thrown up by self-determination agitations,

House C’ttee Accuses Police, DSS, Others of Rights Violations During COVID-19 Lockdown Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Chairman, House of Representatives committee on public petitions, Hon. Jerry Alagbaso, yesterday, accused security agencies in the country of human rights violations during the COVID-19 lockdown.

He said the police, followed by other state actors like state COVID-19 taskforces and the Nigerian Army, were among the top violators of human rights as contained in the documented report by the National Human Rights Commission.

Alagbaso also said the Department of State Services, DSS and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, were indicted for violating human rights while enforcing the pandemic rules and regulations.

Alagbaso spoke at an experience sharing session on the "Administrative Injustice Arising from COVID-19" organised by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the European Union (EU).

According to Alagbaso, the violations ranged from arbitrary arrests and detention of citizens, even those who had cogent reasons to go about their official duties during the COVID19 lockdown period.

Apart from harassment and illegal detention of journalists by security agencies, Alagbaso said there were also several instances of illegal arrests and detention of ordinary citizens and others, who were pushed by hunger in search of food and sources of income.

“At the Commitee on Human Rights Abuses, we have handled cases of concerning administrative injustices. And at our investigative Hearings, the committee's position as regards the violation of human rights is always made clear to the heads of the security agencies and we have always pointed out the dangers in the abuse of human rights. Another issue is that of extra-judicial killings,” he said.

Alagbaso said the National Human Rights Commission documented more than 11 extrajudicial killings between April and May 2020, committed by the security agents while enforcing the COVID19 lockdown.

In their report, the commission said they caused several deaths while the civil defence corps and state taskforces situated in Abia State for COVID19 enforcement were responsible for others.

He said the Human Rights Commission report showed that out of the 11 documented deaths, four were recorded in Abia State, Delta State recorded two, while

Niger, Jigawa, Lagos, Anambra and Rivers States recorded one each.

"The report also stated that during the COVID19 lockdown, the Police accounted for 29.6 per cent of the total violations, followed by individuals and non-state actors and gender-based violence, which accounted for 18.3 per cent.

"The report pointed out that the various taskforces on

the enforcement of COVID19 regulations across the country accounted for 10.5 per cent of the cases, while the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp accounted for 7.7 per cent and 1.9 percent respectively of the violation. The Department of the State Security Services, DSS also accounted for 1 per cent of the total cases of violations," he said.

"it should obey the judgements already given in favour of the agitators and convene meetings with leaders of the ethnic nationalities particularly those from the South East and South West, where Nnamdi Kanu and Igboho came from.”

Afenifere stated further that solicitors for the agitators and interested stakeholders should be present at the meetings, adding that such meetings should be convened without delay.

On the plan to get a litre of motor fuel to sell for between N320 and N350 in 2022, the group said the plan if carried out might plunge the country into an avoidable social, economic and industrial crisis.

According to him, the resultant effect might snowball into a very serious logjam as the ignited labour crises might adversely affect the political trajectory of the country, and therefore called on the government to rescind its decision on the planned price

increase.

Afenifere said Nigerians have reasons to no longer trust the government on the tokens it promised to provide as palliatives to cushion the effect of the price increase, hinging the mistrust on similar promises made in the past but not kept.

"Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, talked about the reactivation of the four petroleum refineries along with the coming on stream of the ones being built by private investors. Why is government unwilling to wait for the refineries to start full production before removing the phantom fuel subsidy?

"Fuel subsidy mantra has been on for a long time. It has been proven to be an avenue to siphon public fund. But then, government should stop using it as an excuse to inflict pains on the people. It should fix the refineries, ensure that they are in full swing production before talking about fuel price of any sort," the statement stated.

We'll Show Nigerians That PDP is Different, Says Makinde Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, declared that with a new leadership soon to take over the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was hopeful that the party would begin to take actions that would show Nigerians that it was different and ready to work for Nigerians' best interest.

Makinde, who said elective office holders on PDP’s platform must show that the party was ready to engender good governance at all levels, added that there was a connection between the performance of elective office holders and the high level of voter apathy in the country.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Makinde, who chaired one

of the sessions at the retreat for newly-elected PDP Officers, in Abuja, urged the party to end voter apathy by mobilising women and youths, who represented critical segments of the voting population.

According to the governor, the PDP must address the issue of voter apathy ahead of the 2023 general election, as the results of the 2015 and 2019 presidential election showed that less than 30 million voters participated in each of the elections, whereas, the number of registered voters was just below 85 million.

He, however, stated that in order to address the issue of youth and women participation in politics, the party must deal with the issue of elective office holders breaching the trust and confidence of voters.

He said: "I would like you to bear in mind, each time the speakers mention youth, that Nigeria has a population of about 78 million persons, who fall between the ages of 16 and 40 and when they say women, we should be thinking in terms of about 100 million persons.

"So, in total, we are discussing a population of about 120 to 140million.

"I have decided to lead with this information because as politicians, we are interested in numbers. The 2015 presidential election was won and lost with a voting population of less than 30 million. In 2019, the figures were similar – less than 30 million people voted. In both cases, the total number of registered voters was just below 85 million.

"From these numbers, we can clearly see that we have an election participation problem. First, those eligible to register are not registering to vote. Second, over 60 per cent of those who register, shun the elections.

"So, looking towards 2023, one of the key issues that we need to address is voter apathy and we cannot effectively address youth participation in Nigerian politics and mobilising youth and women in Nigerian politics while ignoring the reason behind this apathy.

"If we are being honest, we will agree that the failure of the political class to make itself relevant to the voting population is chiefly responsible for voter apathy. We over-promise and under deliver and the citizens pay the price.”

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Clark Challenges Buhari to Implement APC Report on Restructuring Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to convoke a meeting of representatives of Nigeria to deliberate on the report submitted by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai-led committee set up by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on restructuring.

Briefing newsmen at his Asokoro, Abuja residence yesterday, the former federal commissioner of information claimed that the National Assembly spends on the Average N1 billion annually on a futile effort to review the country’s constitution.

While lamenting that the situation of the country has worsened with President Buhari not ready to listen, he stressed that the call for restructuring is not anti-Buhari but for equity, fairness and justice.

According to him, restructuring was part of the President’s campaign manifesto in 2011 when

he contested for the presidency.

He therefore, was of the view that if the APC cannot implement its own committee’s recommendations, it means that it

lacks the necessary capacity under President Buhari.

Clark, who is also the leader of the Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), while noting that

no part of the country will remain slaves to the other, warned that unless the injustice perceived by parts of the country is addressed, the issue of the Indigenous People

of Biafra (IPOB) and other agitators will be a child’s play.

He said: “The statement of both the former chairman of APC, His Excellency, John Oyegun and

El-Rufai himself. El-Rufai was blaming the National Assembly, because they have the power to make law, they have the power to constitute a constitution.”

WORLD AIDS DAY…

L-R: National Programme Officer, UNAIDS, Mr. Temitope Fadiya; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Monsurat Adeleke and State Team Lead, SHARP Task Order, Dr. Mabel Ikpeme at the media briefing on the activities to mark the World AIDS Day in Lagos yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Lawmakers Urge Service Falana Berates Lai Mohammed over Comments on EndSARS Report Chiefs to End Incessant Killings on Highways Wale Igbintade

Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives at plenary yesterday urged the Service Chiefs to bring to an end, the incessant attacks and kidnapping of Nigerians by bandits on the highways by bandits.

The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba (APC-Nasarawa).

Moving the motion, Nalaraba said there was need to curtail the recent upsurge of attacks on Nigerian roads particularly the Kaduna-Abuja road.

He recalled that last Sunday, at about 2 p.m. there was an attack on the road and many travelers were kidnapped and in the process a former governorship aspirant was killed among other Nigerians.

He also recalled that an unspecified number of Nigerians were abducted and

their vehicles destroyed on Monday, November 22nd and Tuesday 23rd of November by bandits on the same highway.

These bandits, according to him have continued to block roads to enable them carry out their planned attacks, adding that these attacks have caused a lot of panic in the hearts of Nigerians plying that road.

In his submission, Hon. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) recalled that in 2019, the federal government invested $1billion on security without recourse to the National Assembly.

He said in 2020, cases were made for security and lots of monies were appropriated for it yet many lives were being lost unannounced.

According to him, if Nigerians could not freely move to Kaduna up to Kano and to other northern states where food is produced, there was no need for lawmakers to be sitting in the chambers.

FG: 80% of Deaths from COVID-19 Caused by Lack of Vaccination Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has said that it has evidence to show that more than 80 per cent of the deaths recorded from COVID-19 infection in recent times were those who did not take the vaccine jab.

Speaking at sensitisation meeting with the leadership of the National Association Nigerian Students, the Executive Director of the National Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said that COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the country have proven to be safe and efficacious, adding that six million Nigerians have been vaccinated without any adverse effect.

Shuaib said that evidence before the agency showed that most of the deaths resulting from COVID-19 infection were caused

by non vaccination.

“Over 80 per cent of those have died due to COVID-19 were those who were not vaccinated. What the data is showing us is that over 80 per cent of those people who have died of COVID-19 in Nigeria were those who were unvaccinated. Breaking this down, it means that eight out 10 who becomes sick with COVID-19 could die because they were unvaccinated. So, we have proof that COVID-19 vaccines actually work, adding that all the insinuations that anyone who takes the vaccine will fall down and die are false and should be discontenanced,” he said.

He described the meeting with the NANS leadership as an exceptional opportunity to partner with the youths of the country that are referred to as the future generation.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN has described the comments of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on the leaked report of the Lagos State #EndSARS Panel as an insult on Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and a display of executive rascality.

Falana, in a statement issued yesterday, accused the minister of overruling the President by

rejecting the report of the Lagos Panel on behalf of the federal government.

According to the fiery lawyer, the federal government is not competent to reject the report of Justice Okuwobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

He said: “On November 18, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari held a meeting in Abuja with Mr. Anthony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State.

During the meeting, President Buhari said that the state

governments in the country would have to take steps on the reports of their panels, before the federal government acts on the recommendations.

“In particular, the President said: “We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”

He added that in utter display of executive rascality,

the minister overruled the President by rejecting the report of the Lagos panel on behalf of the federal government by not waiting “for the reaction of the states.”

Falana added: “As if that was not enough the minister decided to insult the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu by rejecting the report of the Judicial Commission instituted by him under the Tribunal of Enquiry Law of Lagos State.

Niger State Links Persistent Insecurity to Huge Landmass Laleye Dipo in Minna The Secretary to the Niger State Government(SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, has said that insecurity has persisted in the state despite government efforts because of the large land mass which he puts at 10 per cent of the total land mass of the country.

Matane also noted that 70 per cent of the state not policed by a police force that has only 8,000 officers and men.

The SSG gave these figures in Minna on Tuesday when he addressed newsmen on the security situation in the state and why government’s efforts have not yielded the desired positive results saying in remote communities communication are absent making incursions by bandits easy.

According to him, the police and other security agencies are not properly equipped with manpower and materials to the extent that by the time

information got to them about the operation of bandits the criminals would have fled to safety before they (security) can mobilize to the scene.

The top government official said to beef up the equipment of the police and also assist the security agencies and local vigilantes in the performance of their duties as well as partly fund Joint Security Operations and Special Operations among others, government over the last two years spent a whooping N3

billion, which did not include investment in local vigilance groups by local governments.

He added that part of the money was also committed to the rehabilitation of seven Armored Personal Carriers APC property of the police but lamented that insurgents have demobilized these APC. “They are no longer working, you can see some of them riddled with bullets from Rockets Propelled Grenades RPG shot by the bandits”.

Secondary School Students Attack, Injure DPO in Ogun James Sowole in Abeokuta

Rampaging students of two secondary schools in Asero area of Abeokuta, Ogun yesterday attacked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), for Obantoko Division, Alimeke Ignatius.

It was gathered that the students were from Egba Comprehensive High School and Asero High School, all in Abeokuta South Local Government area.

A source said the police officers were attacked during a fight between students of the two

schools and when the DPO led his men to quell the crisis It was further gathered that the students, who hauled stones and other missiles at themselves blocked the main road, causing tension among the residents of the area.

Alimeke and some of his men who raced to the scene of the incident to maintain law and order were allegedly injured by the students.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed

the incident.

Oyeyemi said: “Students of Egba Comprehensive High School and Asero High School were engaged in a fight and the police from the Obantoko station were called to take charge of the situation.The DPO was hit by stones. The students were throwing stones and other objects at themselves during the fight,” When asked if any arrest was made, Oyeyemi retorted, “We cannot arrest the students because they are minors. We can only detain and counsel them,

after which they will be released.”

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has condemned the attack, describing it as “uncivilised and unwarranted”.

The state Chairman of PCRC, Samson Kunle Popoola, in a statement signed by his media aide, Babatunde Odeyemi, lamented the public disorder by secondary school students in the state, saying “if this is not quickly checked, it may portray a great danger for the future of this country.”

Collapsed Ikoyi Building: North-west Govs Visit Site, Condole with Sanwo-Olu Segun James North-west governors yesterday paid a condolence visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the Gerrard Road, Ikoyi building collapse incident, which killed over 40 persons a few weeks ago.

The Governors of the Northwest goo-political zone represented

by Governors Abdullah Ganduje

of Kano and Aminu Masari of Katsina also sympathised with the people of the State and families of those who died in the unfortunate incident.

The governors commended Sanwo-Olu for setting up a Tribunal of Inquiry into the collapsed building, saying that Lagos cannot avoid the building of high-rise structures due to

inadequate land.

According to Masari, “we are here representing governors of North West to physically come to condole with his Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, families of the deceased and the entire Lagos community on the unfortunate incident that has happened.

“We pray to God that this kind of thing will not happen

again. On behalf of the people of North West, accept our sincere condolences and sympathy.

“We cannot escape high rise buildings in Lagos but we must ensure that it does not cost lives and properties of people.

“We are happy that the Governor of Lagos State has instituted an inquiry tribunal that will unravel what happened here.”

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Population Outgrowing Economy Dangerous, Okowa Warns

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday warned that the Nigeria’s population is gradually out striping the country’s economic growth.

Okowa made this remark at the PDP retreat for members of the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC).

He said that the latest statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics that showed that the economy grew at 2.8 percent per annum when compared to the population rate at 3.5 percent is worrisome.

According to the Delta State governor: “It is true that by 2050, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world, but to what extent is the country taking advantage of population growth.

“Are our youths productive or are we as a nation breeding a bunch of criminals,” while tasking the incoming PDP National Executive to research on how the party should benefit from the growing population in the country.

He also asked the PDP come out with a policy look at the

viability of a state police as crimes is daily on the increase.

Okowa said: “What is the viability of a state police. What are the issues that would motivate

a police man or woman to be loyal to the extent of putting his life on the life in the course of duty.”

Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon.

Ndudi Elumelu, has called on leaders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to commence articulation of economic recovery strategies that will lead to single

digit or at democratically takes over governance come 2023.

The minority leader, who described the PDP as a government in waiting, insisted

that such rapid economic recovery is achievable under the right leadership direction which only the PDP could offer under the prevailing circumstance.

GAS EXPANSION ON THEIR MINDS…

L-R: Technical Adviser Downstream to Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Dr Ishaku Abner; Senior Technical Adviser, Gas Development, Mr. Justice Derefaka; Chairman, National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Dr Mohammed Ibrahim; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission(NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts, NUPRC, Mr Hassan Gambo, Head Corporate Services,NUPRC, Alhaji Ibrahim Ciroma, during NGEP’s courtesy visit to Komolafe in Abuja…recently

‘Charting of Rivers Niger/ Police Arrest Five Suspected Kidnappers in Ogun Benue will Reactivate Economic Activities’ James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ibrahim Oyewale inLokoja

The recent commencement of hydrographic survey and charting of the lower rivers of the Niger and Benue have been considered parts of efforts to reactivate economic activities on the nation’s inland waterways.

According to the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral SB Gambo, the initiative, which has been in pipe line in past ten years, was put together by the Nigerian Navy and the National Inland Waterways Authority, in partnership with Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM).

Gambo, who disclosed this while speaking at the flag-off in Julius Berger Jetty, Ajaokuta in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State, stated that the project was a welcome development with a view to expanding commercial activities along the coastal lines in

the country and also help in the areas of the security of mariners and other stakeholders.

He explained that the Department of Hydrographic of Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the experts from the National Inland waterways would carry out the technical aspects of the survey, charting and mapping of the lower rivers of Niger and Benue.

He said rivers were natural and important part of socio-economic parts of Nigeria, noting that the rivers were the economic enablers of the British Colonialist over 100 years ago.

Further, he lamented that Nigeria has not been able to put these natural resources into proper use, because there was lack of survey, charting and mapping, stressing these would open up the country’s import and export to outside world.

Operatives of the Ogun State Command of Nigeria Police , have arrested five members of a suspected kidnap syndicate, terrorizing Obada Oko and its environs in Ewekoro Local Government area of the state The suspects according to the statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, are Aliu Manya, Usman Abubakar, Abayomi Olayiwola, Nasiru Muhammad and Bello

Usman.

He said the suspects were arrested following were arrested, following an information received by policemen attached to Obada oko Divisional Headquarters that the men were sighted on two motorcycle inside forest at Eleja area of Obada oko at about 8:00pm He said, “Upon the information, the DPO, Obada Oko Division, Tijani Muhammed, quickly mobilised his men and in conjunction with other stakeholders like so safe corps,

hunters and local vigilante, stormed the forest where the five suspects were apprehended.

“We recovered from them illicit drugs such as packs of tramadol, weeds suspected to be Indian hemp, three cutlasses, eskay and two motorcycles with registration number MEK 504 VC and ODE 423 VC as well as cash sum of seventy three thousand naira.

“While the investigation was going on, a kidnap victim who was earlier kidnapped and released came forward to

identify the suspects as those that kidnapped him.

“His brother, who took ransom money to them also identified two amongst the suspects as those who collected the money from him for the release of his brother.”

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the transfer of the suspects to anti kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.

FG Grooming Youths for National Leadership Role, Says Osinbajo Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the present administration is grooming and positioning young people to take up leadership roles through a number of programmes.

The vice president, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan

stated this at the 2021 Annual Directors’ Conference of the Institute of Directors, held in Abuja.

Osinbajo said the Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme (LEAD-P) being implemented through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation was to identify and train 100 middle Level officers on grade Level

10-14 within the public service annually and enhance their leadership potentials.

Other leadership development programmes, he added, is the Build Your Brand (BYB) initiative which is a leadership development programme designed for young business leaders.

The NextGen Leaders Programme, he added, is an

inter-Generational mentoring and networking programme that mobilises and connects youth with structured support system from committed adults to remove impediments to their growth while the youth also support teenagers who are about to become youth.

The two initiatives are being driven by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Kingmakers Justify Selection of Monarch in Osun Community Kukah Urges Govt to Harness Yinka the government, religious leaders Obaara ruling house, Gboleru induced to select Akadir from Kolawole in Osogbo as well as the security personnel, ruling house and Adeyemi Obaara ruling house.

Youth’s Potential Meanwhile, Concerned Ikirun As crisis engulfed the selection was done in a transparent manner. ruling house.

Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah, has charged government at all levels to create the enabling environment to effectively harness the potential of the teeming young population for nation building.

Bishop Kukah gave this charge yesterday while delivering a keynote address during a public presentation on the role of Nigerian youths in nation building at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

He said it was imperative to guarantee the fundamental rights of people to freely express themselves, to associate and protest peacefully without any form of harassment and

molestation.

The respected clergyman said every young man would want the platform to come to fruition made available to him, insisting that every generation would have its dreams and visions and it is the responsibility of the state is to make sure that they create a conducive environment around which people can freely express themselves.

In his paper presentation, the CEO of Nafinji and knowledge Consulting, Mr. Mike Magaji, said that youths should not lose hope in the country but be creative.

Magaji advised the youths to positively channel their energies to opportunities embedded in digital technology to equip themselves and for the growth of the nation.

of a candidate for the throne of Akinrun of Ikirun land in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, the kingmakers have said that the process and procedures were clear enough.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference addressed by the kingmakers, the high -chief of the community, Chief Elemon Bamidele Onifade, said during the selection process, which was witnessed by the representative of

He said 21aspirants obtained forms and Yunus Olalekan Akadir from Obaara ruling house was chosen and as well voted for in the presence of other aspirants.

He remarked that all kingmakers witnessed the exercise, noting that Chief Essa of Ikirun, Chief Lawal Adetoyese Kareem led other kingmakers to the selection venue.

Three ruling houses are involved in the contest, namely:

Onifade explained that people of the community as well as the youths canvassed for youth inclusiveness in becoming the monarch of the town in other to foster good progress and development of the community.

He equally remarked that the community wanted somebody that will bring development to the town this time around.

He denied insinuations making round that the kingmakers were

Youths, in a statement signed

by Olawale Oluwafemi in the community yesterday expressed displeasure over the controversial surrounding the the selection of the monarch.

“Ikirun has a strong historical background with its central location and notable indigenes that have excelled in various spheres of life such as the armed forces, academia, health, business, among other legitimate sector.”

EFCC Places Governor Obiano on Watchlist Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Ahead of the March 16, 2022, change of baton in Anambra State, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has placed the outgoing Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, on a watchlist.

In a letter to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service dated November 15, 2021 and sighted

by THISDAY, the commission requested the service to place the governor on watchlist and inform it anytime he would be travelling out of the country

from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit.

It was not clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on watchlist.

But competent sources said the move was an indication that the agency may have been

discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he plans to escape after he hands over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo.

Sitting governors in Nigeria have immunity from criminal prosecution while in office

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NEWS XTRA

Jega Blames National Assembly for Slow Pace of Restructuring Process Fidelis David in Akure A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega has faulted the executive and legislative arms of the Federal Government, saying they are not serious in making the restructuring of the country a reality as the two arms of the government have been treating the process with levity.

The former INEC chairman, however, said there is a need for the country to embark on short-term restructuring before the general election in 2023 to address some of the challenges facing the nation.

Jega stated this at the 2021 public lecture he delivered at the Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State on Tuesday evening. The lecture was titled, ‘ Towards stabilizing the Nigeria federation.’

He said: “ In the present circumstances, as necessary and desirable as restructuring is, a number of challenges would have to be overcome to successfully bring it about.

First, passion has been inflamed and allowed to circumscribe the discourses of restructuring, resulting in the emergence of

hardened antagonistic positions, which if allowed to persist, would make reconciliation and consensus building very difficult indeed, if not impossible”

According to him , there seem to be lack of political will on the part of those who are at the helm of affairs in the nation’s executive and legislative arms of government.

“The perceptions of exclusion, marginalisation and exploitation are so deepseated that they nurture and deepen divisions, polarisation and illogical if not irrational

agitations by extremist groups. In the circumstances, conversation, debate and dialogue are, if at all, conducted at cross purposes, obstructive of accommodation of differing

opinions and the pursuit of a rational and logical process of consensus-building and bringing about desirable restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

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Nigerians Mourn as Activist, Ekiti Police Arrests Dismissed Cop, Housewife Tony Uranta, Passes On for Alleged Kidnapping, Robbery Sunday Okobi

Activist, social critic, and the Executive Secretary, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Tony Uranta, is died. He died after a long battle with ill-health.

Sources closed to the deceased said Uranta died after a serious battle with an undisclosed ailment.

A statement issued by his family said: “We announce the passage of Tony Uranta (TIU) at 1:32 pm. this (yesterday) afternoon.

“Tony has gone home to rest after a long medical battle. He fought a good fight while he was here, but we believe God needs him now to continue from the other side, and to perhaps conquer on his strong belief in justice, equity, peace and unity for Nigeria. Burial will be announced by family later.”

Meanwhile, fellow activists, Prof. Pat Utomi, Olisa Agbakoba, Olawale Okunniyi, and others under the Pro National Conference Organisations and Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), on behalf of the Nigerian Civil Society Movement have mourned his demise.

The group eulogised “Uranta’s various contributions towards the advocacy for constitutional restructuring of Nigeria amid stiff resistance from those who benefit from jaundice and corruptive political structure of Nigeria.”

In a joint statement signed by the Director-General of the NIM, who is also spokesperson of PRONACO, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, the group recalled his contributions to national conferences, especially the 2014 National Confab, even as they promised to immortalise his legacy.

However, the shocking news of his death was also shared by his associate and labour activist, Denja Yacub, and veteran Nollywood actress, Regina Askia, on their social media handles yesterday.

“Our ranks have been depleted again! A good friend and great patriot of inestimable essence, Comrade Tony Uranta has gone

home. soft-spoken, great mobiliser, a highly committed pro-democracy activist, a passionate advocate of good governance he was. This is very painful and a great loss. May his soul rest well in eternal peace!

May God provide his family all they require to cope with his eternal absence,” Yacub said.

Also, Askia wrote on Facebook: “The Lion sleeps! Good night to a great man, a champion for equity and justice. Thank you for your excellent service to the Nigerian nation.”

Also, On-Air personality, Jimi Disu, who announced the death of Uranta on social media platforms yesterday, wrote: “Just I had thought I had had enough deaths, I heard Tony Uranta had passed away! I’m speechless.”

Uranta had suffered a partial stroke last year. He made the disclosure in a post on his social media handle obtained by CKN News.

In 2019, Uranta said he had been ill for over five months semi-comatose and paralysed in First Cardiologists Clinic, Ikoyi, Lagos, and expressed optimism that he would walk again.

Urana was a member of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Niger Delta; executive secretary, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the executive secretary of the Nigeria National Summit Group (NNSG).

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a dismissed policeman, Mr. Ayo Samuel, in connection with alleged cases of kidnappings and robberies that had been perpetrated in the state and environs in recent time.

The police also nabbed a housewife, Ms. Sule Nana, for allegedly planning to dupe her

husband of the sum of N50,000 by faking her own kidnap.

Parading the dismissed cop yesterday among other kidnap suspects in Ado Ekiti, the State’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Tunde Mobayo, said that Samuel has confessed to be a member of kidnapping gang that had participated in different kidnappings and robberies in the state.

On the woman who faked her

own abduction, the police boss, said the suspect was arrested by the police, after intensive investigation.

Mobayo, who was represented by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said that the RRS operatives on November 20, 2021, got a distress call from one Nana that she was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Ifaki-Oye-Ekiti Road, alongside

other passengers.

He said: “She called her husband that the kidnappers were demanding a sum of N50,000 as ransom before she could be released. The RRS operatives in their incesyifation combed the bush along Ifaki/ Oye-Ekiti before it was later discovered that Nana kidnapped herself to get money from her relatives. She has confessed to the commission of the crime.”

Host Community Drags NLNG to Court over N20bn Compensation Blessing Ibunge in PortHarcourt Host community of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in Bonny, Rivers State, has dragged the oil compamy to a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, seeking the firm to pay them N20billion proceeds accruing to the people of the people as allegedly agreed with them.

The community, Founding and Aboriginal Royal Houses of Bonny Kingdom, also included in the suit; Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, as well as the Rivers State Ministry of Chietaincy Affairs, among others.

In the motion before Justice Phoebe Ayua, the community

stated that the defendants have allegedly refused to pay the said accrude proceeds for the community people.

At the mention of the case in court on Tuesday, counsel for the Bonny community, Ikpe Imeh, said he filed an application seeking the leave of the court to serve all parties in the matter through substituted means.

Reacting on thhe application, counsel for NLNG in the matter, Elechi Sunday, challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit and urged the court to hear their expartee motion first before hearing the applicants motion.

Sunday also stressed that he was not opposing the motion as sought by the claimants lawyer but that his expertee

Senate Moves against Importation of Fake Goods Dike Onwuamaeze A bill seeking to prohibit the importation of fake goods into Nigeria yesterday scaled second reading in the Senate.

Such fake goods targeted by the bill are unauthorised or illegally manufactured, reproduced, altered or distributed products associated with abuse of recognised intellectual property

right, such as trademark, patents, design or copyright in goods.

Among fake goods to be prohibited are counterfeited and pirated currencies, apparel, consumer electronics, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals, foods and drinks and chemicals among others.

The bill tagged “Counterfeit Goods Bill 2021” was sponsored

by Senator Ibikunle Amosun

(APC, Ogun Central).

Leading debate on the principles of the bill, Amosun, was quoted in a statement to have said the bill which was read for the first time on Tuesday, 6th July, 2021, was a 26-Clause legislative proposal.

According to him, it provides for the prohibition of manufacturing, production, possession, and distribution of

counterfeit goods.

“It simplifies the process of laying complaints by persons interested in protected goods that are counterfeited and provides an enhanced enforcement capacity.

“The bill also provides for administration of criminal investigation; and seeks to make prosecution a lot less cumbersome so as to provide effective control of counterfeit goods in the country.

FMN Assures Stakeholders on Merger with Honeywell Flour Mills

Uranta

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) yesterday assured its stakeholders that the recent announcement by the group to assume majority shareholder status of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP) , was made after carrying out necessary due diligence and obtaining appropriate legal guidance.

The company said in a

statement that its agreement with HFMP is not in breach of any subsisting Order of Court in matters relating to any third party, saying this assurance became necessary in view of the publication captioned “Ecobonk Warns against Acquisition of Honeywell Flour Plc, Alleges Company Facing Winding Up

Proceedings”.

“Stakeholders are therefore urged to maintain their trust in FMN’s management, whose actions are guided by global best practices, as we work diligently to maintain the Group’s sterling reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading and oldest agro-allied companies.

FMN had on Monday

disclosed that it had reached an agreement for the proposed combination of FMN through its affiliates and HFMP, for a total enterprise value of N80 billion. It is expected that this combination will create a more resilient national champion in the Nigerian food industry, ensuring long-term job creation and preservation.

THURSDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

46

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ethiopia’s Olympic Heroes Gebrselassie, Lilesa Ready to Go to War Ethiopian Olympic heroes Haile

Benzema Gets One-year Suspended Jail Term for Blackmail

Gebrselassie and Feyisa Lilesa have said that they are ready to go to the front line in the war against rebel forces.

Their announcement comes after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he would go to the front to lead the war.

Tigrayan rebels announced they are advancing towards the capital Addis Ababa.

The UK has urged its nationals to leave Ethiopia immediately, saying the fighting may move closer to Addis Ababa in the coming days.

The rebels earlier this week said that they had taken control of Shewa Robit, a town about 225km (140 miles) north-east of Addis Ababa. There is no independent confirmation of the claim.

Communication Minister, Legese Tulu, said the military has had "many successes" since Mr Abiy's decision to lead the battle, and victory was "so close".

Karim Benzema Benzema...found found guilty of blackmail and handed one year suspended jail term France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been found guilty of conspiring to blackmail a fellow French footballer with a sex tape.

A judge handed Benzema a oneyear suspended jail term and ordered him to pay a €75,000 ($84,000) fine.

Benzema, 33, was one of five

people put on trial last month over an attempt to extort Frenchman Mathieu Valbuena.

The scandal has stunned the football community in France and both players lost their national team places.

The case dates back to June 2015, when the two footballers were at

a French training camp.

At the camp, Benzema put pressure on Valbuena to pay off the blackmailers, whom he had conspired with to act as an intermediary, prosecutors said.

Benzema has always denied the allegations and insisted he was only trying to help Valbuena get rid of

the compromising video.

Benzema has since returned to the France team and played for Real Madrid last night when they took on FC Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Champions League.

Benzema was not present in court in Versailles for the verdict, nor was Valbuena, who plays for

Greek club Olympiakos.

Since being called back by France manager Didier Deschamps, Benzema has been in prolific form, scoring nine times in 13 games for his country. He's also scored 10 goals this season for his club, Real Madrid, who are yet to comment on the verdict.

Rangers Manager to Make Changes against Sparta Prague Tonight Giovanni van Bronckhorst has said that there will "definitely" be some changes to the Rangers team as he takes charge for the first time against Sparta Prague.

The Dutchman watched from the stand as Rangers lost to Hibernian in Sunday's Scottish

EUROPA LEAGUE League Cup semi-final.

Victory by a margin of two goals or more today would secure the Ibrox side a place in the Europa League knockout

rounds.

"We were not happy with the result or the goals conceded," said the manager.

"We have to be much more focused and compact in the defensive side of the match. It is important in Europe to be solid

at the back.

"You will see a team in a system I like to play and how I feel is best to play against Prague. You will definitely see some changes."

Filip Helander remains injured for Rangers while fellow defender Jack Simpson and striker Jermain Defoe are not available for European matches.

Sparta's 1-0 win on matchday two, if anything, flattered Rangers, who were second best until late in the match. That gave the Prague side a foothold in Group A after their opening draw with Brondby.

However, successive defeats

by group winners Lyon allowed Rangers to draw level on points with Pavel Vrba's side. And, after a weekend 4-0 loss to Slovacko, Sparta are fourth in their domestic league.

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst said: "It is a very short time with the players but they can already sense what I want to change.

"The way we have to prepare physically and mentally, you cannot do everything in two days but step-by-step the players will learn the style of play. They look fresh and sharp, we are well prepared and go for a good result."

TODAY Europa League Brondby v Lyon Rangers v Spa’Prague Monaco v Sociedad PSV v Sturm Graz Leicester v Legia Frankfurt v Antwerp Olympiakos v Fenerbahce Galatasaray v Marseille Lokomotiv v Lazio Midtjylland v Braga Zvezda v Ludogorets Leverkusen v Celtic Betis v Ferencvaros Di’Zagreb v Genk Rapid Wien v West Ham

Europa Conference Roma v Zorya M’Haifa v U’Berlin Mura v Tottenham

Nigeria’s Oshodi Elected ITTF ExecutiveVice President

Nigerian internationals, Leon Balogun (centre) and Joe Aribo (right) will be in action today as Scottish giants, Rangers FC take on Sparta Prague in the Europa League group fixture

Sponsor Promises Goodies for Finalists The sponsor of the ongoing Delta State Principals' Cup football competition, Zenith Bank, has promised that loads of goodies will be given out to the finalists of the annual event.

The competition is a developmental football competition organised for all secondary schools in the state.

It is the 5th edition in which Delta State in partnership with Zenith Bank have been putting smiles on the faces of young lads eager to exhibit their raw talents to the world.

ZENITH/DELTA PRINCIPALS’ CUP The Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, has promised that all the last four teams will be rewarded with various gift items as part of the final day activities.

“We are very committed to developmental programmes in various ways. For sports, we believe in our catch-them-young initiatives of which the Delta Principals’ Cup is one of them.

“I congratulate all the finalists for

the 2021 event and to show that they are all winners, all of them will go home with attractive gift items on final day,” Onyeagwu said.

Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, will host the final match on Tuesday November 30between defending champions, School of Commerce and Osadenis Mixed School. Alaka Grammar School, Ozoro and Ovwor Mixed Secondary School will clash in the Third Place match.

Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi has been elected as the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held yesterday in Houston, Texas, United States of America.

Oshodi polled 116 out of the 136 votes cast at the election to emerge winner among the 14 candidates that vied for the office of the Executive Vice Presidents.

Oshodi is the second Nigerian to be elected to the world body after Segun George and he will serve along seven other Executive Vice Presidents elected at the AGM. Sweden’s Petra Sorling became the first woman to be elected as President of ITTF. She clinched the office of the 95-year-old international federation unopposed having been nominated by the Swedish Table Tennis Association and accepted by all the 226-member association across the world.

Egypt’s Alaa Meshref was reelected into the Executive

Committee (EC) of ITTF. It is the first time Africa will have two representatives in the EC. Other elected Vice Presidents include; Graham SYMONS (AUS), Alaor AZEVEDO (BRA), LIU Guoliang (CHN), Roland NATRAN (HUN), Masahiro MAEHARA (JPN) and Khalil AL-MOHANNADI (QAT) The new president of the ITTF and the eight elected Vice

Presidents will join the ITTF Athletes Commission Chair Zoran Primorac of Croatia and IOC Member Ryu Seungmin of Korea Republic to form the complete ITTF Executive Committee (EC).

Earlier this year, Oshodi was elected as the Deputy President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF). He is an engineer and a lawyer.

Wahid Enitan Oshodi...elected as ITTF Executive Vice President

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THURSDAY, ͺͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Napoli Surgeon Warns against Rushing Osimhen Back to Action

Femi Solaja

Dr Gianpaolo Tartaro, the top Italian doctor who performed the successful surgery on Victor Osimhen on Tuesday has warned against rushing the Napoli and Nigerian international back to action to avoid complications.

The Super Eagles forward injured his cheekbone and eye socket during a Sunday Italian topflight fixture with AC Milan and was promptly operated 24 hours later.

Tartaro and the other doctors that operated on Osimhen have insisted that the 22-year-old lad should be under observations for the next six weeks. The earlier the doctors think that Osimhen can be back to top level Football is after 90 days.

However, speculations were rife in Italy that Napoli chasing a third Scudetto in the club’s history is not likely to be able to wait that long and may rush him back wearing a face mask. Nigerian football authorities are equally looking forward to getting their talisman fit for the AFCON scheduled to begin on January 9 in Cameroon.

But in an interview with Tuttonapoli.net yesterday, Tartaro was vehement in restating his earlier position of no football for Osimhen in 90 days.

“I am told Victor (Osimhen), a special boy. His surgery was not a normal operation but abit complicated.”

He said with Osimhen’s kind of injury, “He can not be involved in real training contact. He will not be able to do it for eight to nine weeks. It is impossible to think that he will go to African Cup (AFCON).

His face they came out distorted by the impact of that clash with AC Milan’s Skriniar.

Dr Tartaro stressed further: “I don't know how he will respond to the fear of playing: how he throws himself and how he fights on the pitch. These are all arguments that we make as fans, but after a fracture, the psychological aspect matters a lot. It was really unfortunate, because he had a weird fracture, but a real one is facial trauma.”

He dismissed the idea of a preventive face mask for Osimhen.

“We are already thinking too far ahead of the possibility of wearing face mask but it is too soon. I am still thinking about the points and everything that will happen next.

“He's a great guy, 22 years old.

We forget that he is only 22 years old and he is a kid.”

Dr Tartaro admitted that the surgery was a complicated and difficult one.

“It was an extremely complicated and difficult operation, even the tissues, muscles, nerves and arteries and everything above the skull were compressed and from the image on the TV, we could see that he couldn’t open the eyes because the eyeballs pushed out the cheekbone going in, narrowing the orbital cavity.

The surgeon believes after the surgery begins the real process of his recovery.

“Recovery times? Now the real game for Victor begins. We only did the warm-up with the intervention.

Now the second phase begins. A lot depends on him and his body. I don't have a crystal ball and I can't know when he will recover.

“As a Napoli fan, I would love him play tomorrow morning to win the Scudetto, but unfortunately it won't be like that,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the management of Napoli confirmed yesterday that it has no intentions of going into January transfer market for a stop-gap striker in place of Osimhen.

"The Nigerian, as already happened in the past season, ends his second calendar year at Napoli in a decidedly unlucky way. A team that had found it attacking terminal (9 goals of the season) will now have to change something in its way of playing and being unpredictable against the opponents.

“At the moment there are no transactions on the market. Because the budgets do not allow it and because in any case the squad, especially in attack, provides alternatives that other contenders for the Scudetto do not have,” Coach Luciano Spalletti was quoted by the Tuttonapoli.net as saying yesterday.

Champions League Results Club Brugge 0-5 Leipzig Man City 2-1 PSG Atletico 0-1 AC Milan Liverpool 2-0 Porto Besiktas 1-2 Ajax Sporting CP 3-1 Dortmund Inter 2-0 Shakhtar Sherrif 0-3 Real Madrid

Victor Moses (on top) and his teammates celebrating their 2-1 victory over Napoli...yesterday

EUROPA Spa’ Moscow 2-1 Napoli

Victor Moses Records Fourth Assist as Spartak Moscow Leapfrog Napoli Former Nigerian international, Victor Moses, contributed an assist as Spartak Moscow boosted their hopes of reaching the Europa League knockout stages after two goals from striker Aleksandr Sobolev helped the Russian team to a 2-1 home win over Napoli.

Moses’ cross from the flank was netted by Sobolev in the 28th minutes for Spartak’s second goal.

Sobolev earlier got the curtain raiser in the third minutes to give the Russian team hopes of making it to the knock out phase from the Group C standing.

It was Moses’ fourth assist in five games in this season’s Europa

EUROPA LEAGUE League for Spartak.

Spartak now top the group on seven points from five games, above Napoli on a better head-to-head record as they completed the double over the Serie A leaders having beaten them 3-2 in the reverse fixture.

Third-placed Legia Warsaw have six points from four games, one more than Leicester City ahead of their visit to the English side tonight.

Spartak’s goalkeeper Aleksandr Selikhov denied Napoli with three superb stops.

Selikhov thwarted Eljif Elmas with a double save from close range and pawed away Piotr Zielinski's shot on the turn, having also kept out a fierce Dries Mertens effort early in the second half.

The keeper was however powerless in the 64th minute when Elmas beat him with a downward header from six metres after Andrea Petagna chipped a perfect cross into the midfielder.

Livewire Elmas came close to grabbing a 90th-minute equaliser for Napoli but Selikhov again came out on top as he clawed out his shot, with Spartak hanging on in stoppage time.

Lagos SWAN Cup Draw Holds Today The Press Conference and draw ceremony for the 2021 Lagos SWAN Cup will take place today at the Secretariat of the association inside the National Stadium complex by 10:00am.

According to the SWAN Week Committee Chairman, Femi Solaja, the committee has perfected all plans for an

unforgettable SWAN Cup. "We are ready for another edition of the Lagos SWAN Cup after weeks of intensive planning. We will have some of our sponsors on ground where they will tell us what they have for this edition,” he noted.

Ten teams have already registered for the weeklong

football event with 7 people set to participate in the scrabble event.

14 members entered for table tennis with exciting prizes up for grabs.

"We need to thank our Exco for the unflinching support to ensure that we organise a hitchfree SWAN Cup, Dinner and Awards Night for our members."

Thursday, November 25, 2021

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Lai Mohammed to Lagos EndSARS Panel The man whose evidence (that he counted 11 bodies in a military van where he was left for dead before he escaped) was found to be crucial by the panel never testified in person. Rather, the video of his ‘testimony’ was played by someone else. It did not occur to the panel to query the veracity of the testimony of a man who said he was shot and presumed dead but still had time to count dead bodies inside a supposedly dark van at night!” —Information and Culture Minister dismissing the leaked report

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Davido and the Test of Leadership O ne of the more interesting short stories in the Bible can be found in 2 Samuel chapter 23. Bethlehem had fallen into the hands of Israel’s mortal enemies, the Philistines. King David had fled the city when he said in the presence of his loyal aides, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!” Nothing in the story suggested that David was thirsty or that drinkable water was not available nearby. It was simply his craving for something out of reach in a moment of self-indulgence. But it was enough for three of his men to fight their way through the ranks of the Philistines to access that Bethlehem well water.

The circumstances might be different but there is a way in which we can draw a parallel between that story and what popular artiste, Davido (real name, David Adeleke) did last week Wednesday.

To mark his 29th birthday, Davido posted a bank account number to which he asked friends to donate. Perhaps to demonstrate, like his Biblical namesake, that it was a want rather than a need, the musician said his goal was to raise N100 million to clear his Rolls Royce from the port. And he was indulged. From celebrities who credited the account with millions of Naira to people on the street who sent in between N1,000 and N5,000, a deluge of donations followed. Within 48 hours, the account had swelled to N200 million. And with that, Davido had a choice to make.

Four options were available to him. One, he could spend the entire amount anyway he wanted and regardless of whatever anybody may say, he could rationalize that decision. Two, Davido could donate a portion of the money to charity and pocket the

Davido remainder. Three, Davido could do ‘give-away’ on Twitter—a move that would be tremendously hailed by the unreflective social media mob. If, for instance, he had decided to play with N50 million, that would be enough for Davido to create

a digital stampede for weeks given the way some people beg for crumbs on that platform. The last option of course was for Davido to give the entire money away to a worthy cause and do it in a transparent manner.

This now brings me back to the story of King David. When the three men brought the water to him from the Bethlehem well, he decided it was too sacred to drink. “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” he said as he poured the water to the ground as a sacrifice. A Bible scholar wrote that if King David had just taken a swig of that water, it would amount to despising these three loyal aides and the sacrifice they had made. So, he chose to reciprocate by honouring them in return.

Now, let’s come back to Davido. When this whole idea started, according to the artiste, it was simply meant for fun. But he was humbled by the response. I am delighted that Davido had enough sense of awareness to see the bigger picture the moment millions began rolling in. To rebuild this society, we need those in critical positions in various sectors of our national life to understand that nothing edifies more than the positive impact we create by selfless acts. The message is simple: We need to focus less on ourselves and our immediate environment and pay more attention to those who could use our help.

Since Davido is a successful musician from a wealthy family, we may be tempted to think that N200 million is not a big deal to him. But it is. There is a saying about money that nobody ever has enough. I once listened to an interesting discourse on that from the Chair of Metis Capital

Partners, Mr Keem Belo-Osagie—he called it ‘the shifting goalpost’. While we can have contentment, which is not dependent on the size of our bank account, we can never have enough money. Even Bill Gates welcomes donations from Warren Buffet for his Foundation!

NOTE: Piece concluded on page 15

Waziri Adio’s Memoir Before Waziri Adio arrived the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in 2016 as Executive Secretary, he had practised journalism at TEMPO and THISDAY, spent the 2001/2002 academic session at Harvard as a Nieman Fellow, served as special adviser to Senate President (Adolphous Wabara), worked as communication specialist at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), returned to Harvard in 2008/2009 for a master’s degree in public policy/public administration at the Kennedy School of Government before establishing his own magazine, Metropole. The totality of that experience and exposure reflected in Waziri’s stellar stewardship at NEITI and in his memoir, ‘The Arc of the Possible’, which will be released to the public next Wednesday, 1st December and presented to the public on 11th December in Abuja. The book is both insightful and sobering with several lessons for many of our young people who may want to seek a career in the Nigerian public space, for those currently serving in government, and for all those interested about improved governance in Nigeria.

Justice Mary Odili and the Invaders A

few years ago, at a public function in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Supreme Court Justice (Mrs) Mary Odili took the seat directly in front of mine. When she noticed me, she asked, “What are you doing here?” I jokingly replied that I had been sent from Abuja to be her ADC. She laughed but if I thought that was the end of the matter, then I was wrong. The moment the event ended, Justice Odili turned back and handed me her handbag saying, “since you have appointed yourself my ADC, you have to do the job.

Now, follow me.” From that moment, I was compelled to escort her around and to everybody she met, she would first introduce me, “meet Olusegun Adeniyi, my new ADC.” That day, she practically ‘detained’ me for more than an hour before I could extricate myself but not before we exchanged contacts.

Following her ordeal in the hands of those now identified as rogue security personnel, professional blackmailers, and spiritual merchants on the night of 29th October, I visited Justice Odili the next morning. And she had apparently not lost her sense of humour because she welcomed me by asking why I ‘abdicated my responsibility’ as her ADC when ‘unknown gunmen’ invaded her residence the previous night. Then, she shared her experience. Aside the fact that the invasion was well timed for when she would be alone at home, it became obvious that had she not been able to call top

government officials who denied involvement and were the security people around the house not been very alert, the outcome could have been tragically different.

Exactly two weeks ago today, 14 suspects allegedly involved in that invasion were paraded by the police. They included Lawrence Ajodo, a fake Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who claimed to be a consultant to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and others representing banking, law, journalism, law enforcement and the religious industry.

These fortune hunters, including others still at large, were reportedly tipped off about a large sum of money in foreign currencies at the residence of Justice Odili. Eventually they ran out of luck.

Meanwhile, the matter is far more serious than it is being taken by the federal government. The implication is that anybody can organize a band of criminals and then use the instrumentality of the law to invade the residence of a high official of state in Nigeria. Of course, the AGF has denied involvement by dismissing Ajodo’s claim, and I don’t doubt him. But given that there is hardly any scandal involving perversion of law and order in Nigeria today without a Malami mention, the AGF must begin to ask himself the Mario Balotelli question: ‘Why always me?’

It is instructive that a chief magistrate would

give the controversial order before rescinding it on pretext that he was misled. But it would not be the first time that institutions of state would be misused by senior government officials and collaborators to subvert the system. In August 2003, the then Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State (current Labour Minister) was abducted right in his office by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), the late Raphael Ige, whose services were procured by a politician with strong connection to the presidential villa at the time. Also involved in that sordid drama were rogue judges and corrupt security personnel.

The main concern now is the way we sweep matters under the carpet in Nigeria. Less than a month after the illegal raid on Justice Odili’s residence, we no longer hear anything about the case nor are there any indications of the promised prosecution of those arrested. But this is also typical. In situations like this, there is usually a drama of investigation to lull the people into forgetfulness in a nation where citizens are ever quick to move on and collective amnesia is a national disease.

In an uncharacteristic strong statement in the aftermath of the invasion, the Supreme Court expressed alarm over “the unwarranted and despicable raid on the official residence of one of our senior Justices…in a Gestapo manner.” The attack, according to the apex court, “depicted a gory picture of war by

some armed persons suspected to be security operatives representing different agencies of government who seemed to have come to kill and maim their target under the guise of undertaking a search whose warrant was questionable and baseless.”

Then the court concluded: “Though there have emerged discordant tunes from the various security agencies that allegedly participated in the dastardly act, we are not lying low on this dehumanizing treatment meted out to one of our own. We have commenced a full-scale independent investigation to unravel the true masquerades behind the mystery as well as the real motives behind the whole incident.”

Whatever may be the outcome of that investigation, as well as the one instituted by the police, there is a significant lesson we can take from this tragic episode. The Standard Operating Procedure for our security agencies needs to change. Their personnel should stop operating at night like a gang of bandits. If they need to invite anybody for questioning or raid an apartment, such must be done during the day and in a civil manner. That way, people would have no doubts as to who they are dealing with when confronted by night marauders masquerading as law enforcers.

That is also the only way to deal with this vexatious situation in which rogue politicians use their positions as instrument of extortion and blackmail to our collective shame.

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