TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER 2020

COVID-19: NMA Urges Strict Enforcement of NCDC Protocols Experts predict more cases during Yuletide PTF seeks six-week closure of fct social centres

Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), yesterday urged the federal government to enforce strict compliance

with non-medical protocols in combating the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NMA President, Prof.

Innocent Ujah, who spoke with THISDAY against the background of the onset of the

second wave of the pandemic in the country said steps must be taken to break the chain of community transmission of the virus for the country to combat the resurgence of the virus.

Ujah listed the non-medical advisories to include the wearing of face masks, frequent washing of hands, using hand sanitiser and keeping social distancing.

A renowned virologist, Prof.

Oyewale Tomori, however, blamed the discountenancing of health advisories by many Nigerians for the virus' resurgence.

Ahead of the Yuletide, the World Health Organisation

(WHO) and Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have issued travel advisories urging people to avoid nonessential travels, especially the Continued on page 10

Deregulation of Petrol Price Irreversible, Says FG... Page 8 Tuesday 15 December, 2020 Vol 25. No 9381. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

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Military Contractor Offers to Help Army Subdue Boko Haram

Says intelligence, right equipment, training of security forces needed to crush insurgency

Kingsley Nwezeh and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A South African military

contracting company, Conella Services Ltd., engaged by President Goodluck Jonathan administration to contain the

Boko Haram insurgency in 2014, yesterday expressed its readiness to return to the country, if asked to by

the federal government, to finish the job of routing the deadly sect.

The military contractor

told ARISE NEWS Channel that although as a sovereign nation, Nigeria could decide whether to allow negotiations,

which will pave the way for its returning to the country, it is Continued on page 10

Soyinka: Kidnapping, Slap on President’s Face, Katsina Opens Talks with Abductors Masari briefs Buhari in Daura Insecurity getting worse, laments Sultan One killed, 19 kidnapped in Niger

Omololu Ogunmade, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari was put on the spot yesterday as leaders of opinion, including Nobel laureate, Prof.

Wole Soyinka, and Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, expressed deep concerns about the worsening security situation in the country.

While Soyinka said the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Kankara, Katsina State at the time Buhari was in neighbouring Daura on a private visit to the state was a dirty slap across the president’s face, the sultan lamented that insecurity is worsening across the nation.

The two weighty comments came as the presidency

reported progress on efforts to rescue the schoolchildren, saying their abductors had made contact with the state government that had begun talks with them.

Although various numbers of the abductees were being bandied about, Governor Aminu Masari said on Sunday that 333 pupils, out of the 839 student population as of the time of the incident, were yet to be accounted for.

The governor travelled to Daura yesterday to update the president on the rescue efforts.

However, within two days of the kidnapping of the pupils, another set of gunmen struck at two communities of Ogu and Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Continued on page 10

Electoral College Elects Biden US President... Page 36

GLOBAL GENDER AWARD...

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen (left), and Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, during the presentation of United Nations-inspired 'He-for-She' award to the governor for his leading roles in mainstreaming gender inclusion in government in Nigeria in Ilorin…yesterday

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PAGE TEN COVID-19: NMA URGES STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF NCDC PROTOCOLS usual rush by Nigerians, both Christians and non-Christians, during the season.

According to these authorities in the health sector, it will be safer for people to reduce their movement and alternatively ensure that they keep strictly to the protocol of wearing facemask when outside and ensuring social distancing at a public gathering.

After months of dropping infection data, Nigeria, in the last two weeks, started witnessing an uptick in COVID-19 confirmed cases, signalling another national health emergency.

Although authorities and experts in the health sector had warned of the possibility of Nigeria going into the second wave of COVID-19, no one actually predicted that it would come this year.

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases started December 1 when the total number of confirmed cases jumped to 281 from 145 and 82 cases the two previous days.

Since then, the figures of confirmed cases have been on the rise and between the first and second week of December, the number has gone up to 675 new cases as of December 10.

Comparatively, the present situation matched the figure recorded on July 1, when the country hit the highest daily infection rate of 790.

According to data from the NCDC, confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen by 5,618 from November 30 to December 13.

As at Sunday, the country recorded 418 cases but the drop was attributed to the usual low testing rate witnessed during weekends.

In terms of overall statistics, the country has recorded 69,255 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as at week 49 and 1,180 fatalities within the same period.

To show how fast the virus is spreading, the Nigerian Army last week suspended the annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja following reports that the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Johnson Irefin, died from COVID-19 complications.

It issued a statement on Sunday that 26 senior officers had so far tested positive for COVID-19 out of 417 who had contact with Irefin.

Even the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, on Sunday admitted that some members of his household have tested positive for the virus.

Already, the PTF has recommended a six-week closure of event centres in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to curb the spread of the virus.

Besides, two governors, Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State and Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, went into isolation over fears of the virus, with Sanwo-Olu testing positive for COVID-19.

However, Ujah told THISDAY that the current spike in COVID-19 infection was largely predictable.

He said: "It was predicted and it was expected that everyone should be prepared for it. If it was happening in other climes, other countries we will expect that it will also come to Nigeria. That is why we are preaching, appealing and advocating strict compliance with NCDC protocols."

On whether the country is prepared for the new wave of COVID-19 infectious, Ujah said: "I think the issue is about being ready in terms of medical facilities, but what is important is the readiness to observe the non-medical protocols, such as observation of NCDC infectious disease health protocols. Are Nigerians ready in terms of compliance to use a face mask, hand sanitisers, handwashing with soap, and social distancing?

"These are preventive measures, not curative ones.

"Once we correct, disrupt or interrupt the transmission of the virus, then we will be able to stop the infection. But Nigerians did not believe in that. Many Nigerians don't even know that COVID-19 exists. So the issue is not just the federal government being prepared but all Nigerians.

“We call on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to up its game because this is the time we need information and education to be pushed out to the public.

"You can use the various languages to appeal to Nigerians and sensitise the public on how best to prevent the transmission of COVID-19," he said.

On what NMA is doing, Ujah said: "As a professional body, you know our colleagues have paid the supreme price.”

He said the NMA is willing to work with government and other partners in the health sector to combat the second wave of the virus, adding that the body will be providing regular information and sensitisation of members of the public.

Speaking on the threat of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, Tomori, who chairs the inter-ministerial committee set up to review the state of intervention efforts to check the spread of the virus, said the situation was unexpected.

On whether Nigeria has finally slipped into the second wave of the pandemic, he said: "It is no longer the issue of apprehension, it has hit us.

You have 791 cases in one day and 675, the next day. It is here with us already. The highest number we ever got before now was about 790 or so. But we have gotten that figure last Thursday and it has gone up further.

Though, the number of cases last Sunday was less due to the fact that we don't test much during weekends."

According to him, with the level of increase in reported cases of new infections, especially with high profile personalities, there is no doubt that the second wave is here with us.

He added: "So, I expect that Monday and Tuesday's figure will rise even more. You can

see the stories we are hearing everywhere about governors coming down sick, military people going into isolation.

The second wave is here, what else are we waiting for?"

Tomori blamed Nigerians' refusal to obey various health advisories on how to avoid COVID-19 infection and contain the spread of the virus for the upsurge in the positive cases.

According to him, many individuals and organisations have since abandoned the adherence to nonpharmaceutical protocols approved by the NCDC. He also criticised the government for failing to ensure that the various testing laboratories are well equipped.

PTF Seeks Six-week Closure of FCT Social Centres The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has urged the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to close all sites that encourage mass gathering for six weeks in the light of the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the FCT. The National Coordinator PTF on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, gave the advice yesterday during the FCT COVID-19 Stakeholders' Review Emergency meeting in Abuja.

He urged the FCT Administration to reactivate the COVID-19 Protocols Enforcement Task Team to stop the violation of the protocols in the territory.

The PTF also advised that mass gathering should be restricted to preferably not more than 50 persons while restaurants should only operate outdoors.

"My recommendation is that all the sites that are currently serving as attractive points for a mass gathering should be closed for the next six weeks to takeout the rise in cases during Christmas,” Aliyu said.

While pleading for the enforcement of the proposal, he urged that restaurants should not be opened during the Christmas, except they can provide takeaways to curtail mass gathering.

He said: “Our aim is to stop the super-spreader events over the next six weeks. There should be inspection teams going around Abuja to monitor and ensure compliance.

“Any business premises or markets found accepting people without wearing of facemasks and allowing people to mix anyhow in those premises should be closed.

“The same applies to shopping centres; the same applies to motor parks and other commercial premises."

Bello had decried the nonadherence to all COVID-19 precautionary measures and protocols in the FCT. He assured the gathering that there would be massive enforcement, noting that the objective of the emergency meeting is to review the second wave of COVID-19 that has hit the territory.

MILITARY CONTRACTOR OFFERS TO HELP ARMY SUBDUE BOKO HARAM important for the government to review its strategy for defeating the insurgents.

A director and spokesperson of Conella Services, whose identity was concealed for security reason, said on The Morning Show, the flagship breakfast programme of ARISE NEWS Channel, THISDAY’s broadcast arm, that it degraded Boko Haram and liberated many communities within one month for the first time in three years.

The group, contracted by the then National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), explained that while it would like to return to the country if invited by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, it refused to see its possible return as an

indictment of the Nigerian military.

It added that it would only offer its own capabilities, while the Nigerian armed forces would “lead from the front.”

He said: “President Buhari was very clear when he took over the government that he was going to rebuild the military. He understood that the military was not what it used to be. They decided to take the fight to Boko Haram without outside help.

Nobody can blame them.

“For a national government to agree to the help of outsiders is a tough cookie to swallow and we understand that. I do wish though that we had a chance to sit down with the current government and explore different ways that we could help them.

“We don’t have to be at the forefront of the battle.

The air force needs training.

We bring in new capabilities.

Our approach is different.

We study the problem and we have our clients sign off on our training programme.

Then we go to work.”

He said he regretted the fact that the company did not have the chance to engage with the Buhari administration in a meaningful manner despite the value that it could add.

But he emphasised that he respected the national sovereign position on that.

“We are bidding our time doing other jobs, but we would like to come back and finish the work that we started in Nigeria,” the director stated.

According to him, as

a professional soldier, he would not force his group to return to Nigeria, except on the invitation of the president.

“My feeling is that there’s space for the PMC to come and help Nigeria. Whether in indirect combat or in training or repurposing of training and equipment, all of that can be done,” he said.

He blamed a combination of “money and politics” for the military contractor's exit from Nigeria, stressing that the Jonathan government defaulted in the payment schedule agreed on with it.

“Politics, unfortunately, overcame military operations.

And like any good soldier will tell you, that that’s where normally military operations will suffer: when military operations become

subject to politics. I believe that was what happened in the end.

“It had nothing to do with the quality of the men or the collaboration.

Politics, unfortunately, at that time was what stopped the operation, politics and money,” he stated.

He added that the Nigerian army should be transformed into a counter-insurgency one, saying that conventional war training is markedly different from a battle against terrorists.

“Decentralising decisionmaking, tactics and equipment, those are the things Nigeria has to do.

It does not have to buy sophisticated weapons, aircraft etc.

“Solutions can be found.

With the application of

a little bit of money and with the correct tactics and correct equipment, six to 12 months of operations and Boko Haram will be forced to go to the negotiation table or forced out of existence,” he said.

During the interview, the director said the company recaptured two cities earlier lost to insurgents within one month of hostilities and commenced an assault on the hideout of the terrorist group in Sambisa forest, before the contract was terminated.

He said the contract was not terminated over non-performance but nonpayment, noting that the Jonathan administration, which hired the group, also terminated the contract and Continued on page 35

SOYINKA: KIDNAPPING, SLAP ON PRESIDENT’S FACE, KATSINA OPENS TALKS WITH ABDUCTORS Niger State, abducting 19 people. A clergyman was also reportedly killed.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Masari told Buhari that steady progress was being made to rescue the pupils unharmed.

The statement quoted Masari as saying: "We are making progress and the outlook is positive," after holding an hour meeting with Buhari.

The statement said the governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mr. Manir Yakubu, added that aside establishing contact, discussions with the kidnappers centred on the safe return of the pupils to their various homes.

It quoted Masari as saying

that security agencies had located the position of the children.

The governor told journalists after the meeting that the president was fully committed to rescuing the schoolchildren, adding that he visited Buhari and gave him more details of the rescue efforts.

We're Fed up with Worsening Insecurity, Laments Sultan The Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday expressed fresh concerns about the worsening insecurity in the country, saying they're fed up.

Abubakar, who led

monarchs to Maiduguri, to commiserate with the government and people of Borno State on the killing of about 78 rice farmers in Zabarmari two weeks ago, also urged the military to occupy Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region housing Boko Haram insurgents.

He lamented that insecurity is getting worse in the country.

The sultan explained that they were in Maiduguri not only to commiserate with the governor but to make a strong statement on the insecurity in the country.

He said: “It is not just a condolence visit; it is a statement that all of us are fed up with the shedding of innocent blood under whatever guise across this country. So many lives have

been lost in the past; we can’t even compute how many lives we have lost. It becomes like a daily occurrence, a daily event, a new normal.

It becomes a story when in a day nobody was killed in a particular place of this country.

“We had at various fora with our political leaders, mentioned these things on how to take care of our security in various communities. We have written papers; sent our governors. We have discussed with all our leaders, all the way forward.

“But we see things getting worse and worse. It used to be Boko Haram alone in Borno and Yobe; now, in all over the North, in particular and generally all over the country. You have bandits

and terrorists all over the North. You can’t even move freely in the South; it is the same thing. The killings have taken new dimensions and we really don’t know what are the causes of these mass killings of innocent people.

“We decided to come together as the council of traditional rulers to make this statement to all and sundry, not only to the governor of Borno State, but to all our governors. Let’s rise up to the occasion and see how we can come together to fight this menace of shedding innocent people’s blood.”

Governor Babagana Zulum thanked the monarchs for the visit.

He decried the continuous dependence on donations to Continued on page 35

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COMMENT

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

BANDITRY AND INSURGENCY IN THE NORTH There is the urgent need to tackle the security challenges in a new and innovative ways, argues Idris Bugaje

A

bout 200 years ago, exactly in 1826, the North was aptly described by the Scottish explorer, Hugh Clapperton, in his memoirs thus: “a woman can walk alone on foot from Kano to Sokoto without fear of molestation”. This explains the level of peace, tranquility and social justice established under the Sokoto Caliphate. What a turn of events! Today, the same North has become so insecure that even Army Generals dare not follow roads and opt for the rail, sometimes in uniform.

Surely five years ago, the gross situation in the country was very bad with half of Borno State under the full control of the Boko Haram insurgents, now banished to the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Hills and the shores of Lake Chad.

However, the larger North has become worse especially its rural areas. Rural North is Nigeria’s food basket, and unfortunately due to banditry is facing eminent famine this year. The North is on a dangerous path of self-destruction, the chicken coming home to roost. Though we are being reassured that the army and police are doing their best, the situation is deteriorating daily. It is very embarrassing to see bandits attacking a boarding secondary school in Kankara, Katsina State, taking away 54 young kids in a Chibok attack style, in a week when Mr. President was on a private visit to his state.

We must therefore start to ‘think out of the box’ if a solution is to be found, and do this quickly to bring an end to this growing and very dangerous situation. Insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, herdsmen attacks and other acts of criminality, could all be related and we must attack them frontally and quickly bring both short and long-term solutions before the country becomes another War-Lords-governed Somalia. Bn Fodio’s thesis in 1802 titled “Bayan Wujubul Hijrah Alal Ibad” (The Compulsion of Migration on God’s Servants) could have applied to our current situation but for the postcolonial borders. We must therefore remain and bring forth solutions from within.

Let’s find solution by taking inspiration from Borno State. It was not the army alone that liberated the 17 Local Governments of Borno State after the 2015 assumption of office of President Buhari, rather a critical component to that success was the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), made up of rugged hunters from the state who knew the terrain very well. The CJTF-led the campaign against Boko Haram with the army giving them backup support and securing liberated areas. The present governor of the state has also increased their numbers and their monthly stipends as well as instituted a life-insurance scheme to support fallen CJTF heroes’ families. This is the model which every state in the North must adapt!

Formula 100 proposes the recruitment of 100 hunters in each local government of the North, organizing them and providing them with weapons and ammunition. Some may prefer the Double Barrel Shot Gun (DBSG) while others may be given Rifles, such as the AK-47 and where necessary RPG Launchers.

They need to be given a short training on communications during operations as well as intelligence gathering. They need to understand the role of GSM and Global Position System (GPS) in locating bandits.

These hunters must be screened at their ward levels to ensure

THE CJTF-LED THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST BOKO HARAM WITH THE ARMY GIVING THEM BACKUP SUPPORT AND SECURING LIBERATED AREAS… THIS IS THE MODEL WHICH EVERY STATE IN THE NORTH MUST ADAPT

they are of good character with guarantors in the community including heads of families, imams, ward and village heads.

For long these traditional institutions had been neglected and in some places the bandits have incorporated them into their networks.

Each LG should have a commander and be given the mandate to clear the bandits in their local government area.

Where there is need for coordinated action across the neighboring LGAs, the commanders can sit and organize a joint action.

This may be necessary in forests such as Dajin Rugu in Katsina State which covers about six LGAs and part of Zamfara State. I am confident this task will be achieved in a matter of weeks or at worse two months.

At the end of the exercise, the CJTF of each state should be absorbed into the army or police or better create a new security outfit for each state to assist in fighting crime on a sustainable way. This may be a foundation for establishing a new State Security Force, which is long overdue. The South had for long been clamoring for state police and there is really no cogent reason to stop that.

I am confident President Buhari will approve necessary constitutional amendment to attain this. The fear was on an old practice, the use of federal police in rigging elections may face challenges if states not controlled by the party at the federal level decide to use state police to counteract. President Buhari has shown his keenness in ending election manipulations by any means and will surely graduate Nigeria to a new level of free and fair elections as we see happening in Ghana.

Budgetary resources to implement Formular-100 may be the concern of some. Let me state clearly that even supplementary budgets can be passed considering the importance of security or the so-called security votes can be more effectively mobilized.

In any case, the funds needed are less than what the federal government intends to spend in creating some months employment for 774,000 Nigerians and the Formula-100 impact will be life-saving for the nation.

This exercise will add about 40,000 men from the North and if extended to the South another 35,000 to the security infrastructure of the nation. Presently, Nigeria has only about 150,000 men/women under arms in the Nigerian Army and about 350,000 in the police, which is grossly inadequate for a nation of 200 million. Compare ours with Iraq under President Saddam which had one million men under arms for a population of about 50 million at that time.

In the long term, after securing the nation, we must plan to create jobs and banish the endemic poverty in the North. This will require reviving the Northern industries by providing captive power supplies to industrial clusters through the Gas Master Plan, the AKK Gas Pipeline being a branch of it; the establishment of new industries utilizing natural gas such as urea fertilizer, methanol, polymers, etc.

Equally important our secondary schools and Institutions of higher learning must change gear to train students in skills so that graduates of these institutions will have hands-on skills to deploy in Nigeria or overseas for gainful employment or even self-employment. rProf Bugaje is Rector, Kaduna Polytechnic

NEVER A CLUTTER IN SAM’S WORDS

Louis Odion pays tribute to Samuel Nda-Isaiah, pharmacist, entrepreneur and publisher of Leadership Newspapers

T

he Samuel we read in the Holy Bible was a transformational figure in the Old Testament. Through him finally came kings to shepherd the nation of Israel after Joshua. The miracle child of Hannah was ordained to administer divine oath on God’s anointed.

Conversely, the Samuel we encountered in Nigeria’s media space in the past two decades was no less imbued with fierce crusader - if not ecumenical - spirit.

Whether in journalism, which he adopted as profession outside his training in pharmacy, or partisan politics, which he ventured into in the twilight of Goodluck Jonathan’s much troubled administration, Samuel Nda-Isaiah was indeed the curator of the “big ideas” to heal society and fix a broken nation.

The Kakaki of Nupe truly stuttered acutely, but there was never a clutter in his words whether spoken or written, deployed vigorously in defense of his convictions or country.

With him, there was nothing like perching conveniently on the fence in literal or literary terms. As powerfully expressed in his writings, he never quibbled or equivocated as to leave a doubt where he stood in the hour of national dilemma or a moral crisis.

His boundless energy was forever marshaled in evangelizing any cause he embraced or in pursuit of any target he set for himself. Those who interacted with him at the board meeting of NPAN (Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria) just last Tuesday in Lagos attested he was still his ebullient and humorous self.

Two days later, he would preside over another board meeting at Leadership headquarters in Abuja to fashion new strategy to grow the stable’s new offering called “National Economy” in the months ahead.

So, nothing prepared anyone for the looming thunderbolt, the eclipse that suddenly unfolded barely twenty hours later. The news jolted like lightning, just after Friday midnight. Suspecting another social media hoax, I quickly dialed my brother, Azu (Ishiekwene), whose relationship

with the Leadership publisher had grown from official to filial in the course of his five-year engagement as Group Managing Director of the company.

“Impossible!,” Azu’s screamed in a voice made groggy apparently by rudely aborted sleep. “We exchanged text messages only yesterday!!”

He hung up abruptly, promising to speak directly with the family and revert to me.

The next few moments indeed felt like eternity. Surreal. Or, was I in the middle of a bad dream? Still fresh was the grave of another senior professional colleague, Muyiwa Daniel.

(The ace sportswriter had just been interred few hours earlier in Lagos.) To say nothing about three other recent monumental passages of Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Pa Bisi Lawrence and Sonnie Asuelimen.

I pinched myself hard, hoping to awake from some nightmare. The resultant pain erased all doubts, caressing me with the icily cold hand of reality.

Just then Azu called back and, alas, confirmed the sad news.

Later around 1 am, I called Chief Segun Osoba, our media patriarch and legendary sleuth of the night. Sounding distraught over an earlier tragedy that had befallen the Ojora family, Aremo Osoba thought I was calling to offer fresh facts on the quinquagenarian (Dapo) who had just reportedly died of gunshot wounds in Lagos. Like Azu, the former Ogun governor and NPAN patron reeled in shock.

What he must have found shattering was the suddenness. Aremo Osoba recalled that there was no foreboding whatsoever only three days earlier when NPAN met in Lagos to elect Trust chairman, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf, as new president after Mr. Nduka Obaigbena: “Sam didn’t show any sign of illness. He looked robust and was his usual ebullient self.”

Though I had long encountered his writings, I finally got the chance to meet with the Leadership chairman in flesh in 2006 while we both vacationed in Central London. We met at

the home of our mutual friend, Barister Jimoh Ibrahim. For two weeks, we interacted daily and gisted on political happenings back home.

He had a quick smile, made more infectious by a square jaw and throaty laugher.

I recall each time he came from an outing, he always carried a duffel bag laden with latest books harvested from bookshops across London, betraying a chronic addiction to books.

He eventually returned to Nigeria before me.

Thereafter, we drew closer back home. When news broke I had resigned as Sun editor in 2008, he graciously invited me to transfer my column to Leadership. I could not oblige him because I already made commitment to The Nation pending the take-off of the newspaper project I was working on - National Life newspapers. He didn’t feel offended.

When I later accepted offer to be Edo Information Commissioner in 2011, he was also most supportive. When news of my resignation broke in 2015, Sam called to congratulate me and, again, invited me to write for Leadership.

Again, I told him I could not abandon my family at The Nation. He showed understanding.

In his own tribute, Kawu Modibbo stated that Sam was ever loyal to his friends, in fair or foul weather. I attest to that. What should be added is that he was also generous to a fault both in spirit and material terms.

Nothing illustrates this better than his relationship with Azu. In our clime, most employers and their employees often part in bitterness. But Azu and Sam drew even closer after the former resigned as Group Managing Director of Leadership in 2015 at the expiration of a five-year contract. Initially, the Chairman would not let go, offering more incentives. But he finally capitulated when Azu explained that at 50, he felt a compelling need to do his own thing.

He was most supportive in the setting up of The Interview and when Azu invited him to the celebration of the first anniversary of the monthly in September 2016 at the Yar’Adua Centre, Sam not only attended the pre-event

gala night, he was effusive in praise when invited to make comments at the main event: “To tell you how gifted and competent Azu is, you only need to take a copy of Leadership before he became our Group Managing Director in 2010 and what the paper looked like in 2015 when he left us.”

It is a measure of that special bond, the mutual trust between them that Azu is the only one I know who could call and veto the Chairman’s editorial decisions from outside till Sam drew his last breath on Friday.

It is a mark of his character that Sam had pitched camp with Buhari way back in 2003 as the main opposition figure when it was most unprofitable. Through the agency of his weekly column in Daily Trust, he was most unsparing of the Obasanjo administration. That crusade would, in fact, assume more militancy with the founding of Leadership in 2005.

It is always more materially rewarding to flirt with the ruling party. But with the overtly adversarial slant of his editorial policy, Sam obviously disdained the presiding PDP while keeping faith with the opposition. His somewhat radical posture is proudly justified as exertion for “God and Country” proclaimed loudly by Leadership as its corporate mantra.

The patriotic streak to this can, for instance, be seen in the newspaper’s epic front-page editorial entitled “Donald Trump Is A Danger To Nigeria’s Democracy” published on the eve (November 3) of now historic U.S. 2020 polls.

As could be deduced from the title, it was an acerbic put-down of the anti-democratic showing of the American leader. Very much like the sort of grenades Sam normally hurled on a good day.

Indeed, the said editorial would seem to have caused some disquiet at the State Department judging by the alacrity with which the head of the Abuja Consulate sought audience with Leadership board of editors immediately. r0EJPO JT 4FOJPS 5FDIOJDBM "TTJTUBOU PO .FEJB to the President

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T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͳ˜ 2020

EDITORIAL

TIME TO EXPUNGE VAGRANCY LAWS The laws affirm a divide and are offensive

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n advisory opinion recently delivered by the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights held that all the countries within the continent are under obligation imposed on them by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights to amend or repeal all their vagrancy laws. According to the court, these and related by-laws as well as other laws and regulations should be brought in conformity with the provisions of the Charter, the Children’s Rights Charter and the Women’s THE LAWS ARE DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE Rights Protocol.

A vagrant is a THEY TEND TO PUNISH person who does THE POOR. IF A RICH MAN not have a fixed abode, a means LOITERS HE IS A TAKING of livelihood or A STROLL BUT IF A POOR practice a trade or MAN DOES IT, HE IS profession.

DISORDERLY AND GUILTY Nigeria, like other African OF AN OFFENCE states, criminalises being “a vagrant,” which is characterised as “a suspected person or reputable thief who has no visible means of livelihood,” “idle and disorderly, including loitering and idleness,” or “a person without ostensible means of subsistence.” The penal codes operated by states in the North and the criminal codes which form the bulk of the criminal law in states in the South have provisions that amount to vagrancy.

For instance, Section 168 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2011 has the crime of vagrancy of being idle and disorderly. Prostitutes, people soliciting for arms, gamblers and persons “found wandering in, on or near any premises or in any road or highway” are among those so classified as vagrants.

These laws are discriminatory because they tend to punish the poor. If a rich man loiters he is a taking a stroll but if a poor man does it, he is disorderly and guilty of an offence. Which then

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means that the law punishes people for who they are and not for any offence they may have committed. Apart from their discriminatory nature, enforcing vagrancy laws have largely contributed to making our prisons congested.

Every day, police indiscriminately arrest people on the streets and lock them up, accusing them of wandering. Some of those arrested end up spending years in detention.

Before the African Court gave its opinion, the ECOWAS Court in the case of Dorothy Njemanze and others had held that arresting women at night under the pretext that they are prostitutes was unlawful. In that case, the women were arrested and detained on suspicion of engaging in prostitution simply because they were found on the streets at night. The court held that the arrest of the applicants was unlawful and that it violated their right to freedom of liberty, as Nigeria had submitted no proof that the applicants were indeed prostitutes. The court also found that branding the women prostitutes constituted verbal abuse, which violated their right to dignity.

Further, the court held that the arrest violated the applicants’ right to be free from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and also constituted gender-based discrimination.

Among others, the ECOWAS Court found that there were multiple violations of articles 1, 2, 3 and 18 (3) of the Charter; articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 25 of the Women’s Protocol); and articles 2, 3, 5 (a) and 15(1) of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Apart from violating the African Charter which has been domesticated and now forms part of our laws, these vagrancy provisions also violate the 1999 constitution as amended.

The proper step to take is to amend our criminal laws to eradicate colonial era discrimination and bring them in conformity with a modern society. We therefore call all on the Attorneys General of the 36 states to embark on a review of their criminal laws so as to delete all vagrancy provisions that have been found to violate Nigeria’s obligations under the African Charter and other international instruments.

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.

ASUU STRIKE: WHERE IS ADAMU ADAMU?

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his is the best question at this period of time when it seems the evil bedevilling education sector in Nigeria would never come to an end. Mallam Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, is a onetime lover of ASUU’s resistance against the former governments’ bad policies towards education. He dedicated a whole column in the Daily Trust newspaper of 15th November 2013 to explain the reasons ASUU was always on avoidable but necessary strike, which was due to government lackadaisical and unwarranted attitude. In his famous writeup, he posited with the “129 Universities, 100-odd polytechnics and 85 colleges of education, and a very I-don’t-care attitude to higher education; Nigeria spends less than one percent of its Gross National Income (0.85% precisely); while four of its smaller English-speaking African compatriot-states spend multiples of that: Ghana (2.85%), Egypt (3.9%), Zimbabwe (5.4%), and South Africa (7%)”. This was one of the statistics used by the current minister of education, to condemn the attitude of successive regimes in Nigeria towards education. How time flies that the erstwhile critic has forgotten to bring sanity to the same sector that he has now the opportunity to do so? That’s why it’s

not enough to say but to do. It’s almost an academic session that the lecturers of all Nigerian public universities have been on strike, in the same regime where Mallam Adamu Adamu holds sway as the minister of education and he is not only invisible as a person but also his policy towards greater education. Apart from the school feeding programme at the primary school level, which is ridden with corruption, there is no any other significant policy towards successful education system.

The ASUU strike which has entered the ninth month has been made possible by the apathetic attitude of the government officials who are involved in negotiating with ASUU executives. As against the popular belief that minister of education is the chief education officer of a nation and supposed to be at the fire front of the dialogue to ensure speedy resolution of the impasse, the reverse is the case in this current dispensation. The minister of state for education and minister of labour have been at the centre of the resolution. The duo, however, has remained the cog in the wheel of resolution of this imbroglio.

Instead of calling ASUU for negotiation during the Covid-19 pandemic to brainstorm on how the signed agreement will be implemented, they had side-lined the union leaders contemptuously. Even after

the lockdown occasioned by pandemic, the agents of government have continued to dribble the union with meetings upon meetings, without any concrete implementation strategy. This was manifested in a way an agreement will be reached, and the ministers at different times will pronounce different things to the media.

This hide-and-seek has continued severally until the parties agreed to shield their swords and allow universities to resume academic exercises. The government agreed to pay the withheld salaries during the strike on or before 9th of December 2020, while ASUU also promised to suspend the strike once it observes the government has started the implementation of its promises. In a characteristic manner of this government, the day has passed and no implementation of just one of its promises. They however want ASUU to suspend the strike based on their usual and fathom promises. They have forgotten they are products of these intellectuals from the ivory towers. Hopefully, this government will look back to the history of ASUU strikes and do the right thing in the interest of the masses.

LIKE A FLAME TO A MOTH

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ometimes you wonder about technological advancements. The main worry about Drones flying overhead used to be them crashing or invading your privacy especially when sunbaking. Now add a flame thrower and the world changes. A volunteer group in Zhong County, China, that normally uses a drone to find lost people attached a flamethrower to one to destroy wasp nests. It proved to be very effective.

The concern is what happens at the end of the day when someone takes the toy home or someone in the military sees them and thinks this could be of use. A flying flamethrower could be better at dispersing crowds than a water cannon.

A simple concern is that no matter how well intentioned the development of technology is someone will find a more interesting and possibly dangerous use.

Cars were a great improvement on horses, but they have killed a lot more people than horses did. And let’s not discuss the good and bad of online technologies such as Facebook or Twitter!

Don’t worry the Robots aren’t coming to get us, they are probably already here.

r%S 0MBXBMF 4VSBKVEFFO "EFCBZP %FQBSUNFOU PG $ZCFS 4FDVSJUZ 4DJFODF 'FEFSBM 6OJWFSTJUZ PG 5FDIOPMPHZ .JOOB /JHFS 4UBUF r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

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TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020

POLITICS

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

Musings on Imo North Senatorial District Election Amby Uneze examines the outcome of the Imo North Senatorial by-election held December 5, and the intrigues played by the Independent National Electoral Commission in announcing the All Progressives Congress as the winner without declaring a candidate

Uzodinma

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o doubt the much talked about byelection in Imo North senatorial zone of the state has come and gone but with a lot of worries on who the winner is. Instructively, any election without a clear winner is indeed work in progress.

Therefore, there is no gain celebrating an unfinished assignment that is yet to be finally concluded. It behooves the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the authentic winner instead of shifting her constitutional role to the judiciary to determine who among the contending candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be declared the winner.

Though, INEC had described the conduct of the election as peaceful inspite of the fact that there were reported cases of vote buying as well as voter apathy, which was created by the different court rulings preceding the election, and then there were doubts on who remains the candidate of the APC. In all these circumstances, there can never be a vacuum in a political situation where the candidates of other political parties are involved and also actively participated in the election. A political party is only a vehicle for politicians or candidates to ascend to political positions and cannot be declared a candidate when it does not present one at the time of a particular election.

The axiom which goes that ‘one cannot build something on nothing’ becomes very apt in this situation, indicating that a candidate must emerge as the winner and that candidate must come from a registered political party in line with the electoral act that currently gives powers for the conduct of this particular by-election.

According to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Prof Francis Ezeonu, few days to the by-election, he declared that14 persons consequently were authenticated by the commission as candidates for the election. These persons include Ifeanyi Godwin Arararume of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ndubueze Patrick (Accord), Emmanuel Ogueri (Action Alliance), Nathaniel Uba (AAC), Chigozie Onyinye (ADC), Charles Onyeirimba (All Progressives Grand Alliance - APGA), Raphael Nnadozie (APM), and Ernest Ezirim (APP).

Others were Okorondu (Labour Party - AP), Okereafor Chukwujieze (NNPP), Charles Amajouyi (NRM), Emmanuel Okewulonu (Peoples Democratic Party - PDP), Rita Okorafor (SDP), and Promise Nwadigo (YPP) respectively.

Then 24 hours to the by-election, a conflicting Appeal court ruling emerged from the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri presided over by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam returning Frank Ibezim of the APC as its candidate instead of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume who was declared winner of the primaries by a High Court in Owerri and whose name was

Araraume

listed by INEC for the election.

The judge who declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the APC ahead of the election had faulted the November 6, judgment of the Federal High Court which sacked Ibezim and announced Araraume as the rightful winner of APC primary election and ordered INEC to immediately enlist Ibezim’s name as the candidate of the party for the by-election. He said that the revalidation of the candidacy of Ibezim was in tandem with the electoral act, having won the APC primary in September.

On the contrary, another court this time, a federal High Court in Abuja on the same day, December 4 ruled against Frank Ibezim, on the basis that the educational certificates he tendered to INEC and his party APC had conflicting names. The court therefore ruled that because of the fake certificates, he tendered, Ibezim remains ‘unfit’ to occupy any public office “having lied on oath” and declared Araraume as the candidate of the party.

With these conflicting judgments from reputable courts of the land, INEC therefore, became more confused as to which name should be listed as the candidate of the APC who would have been otherwise declared the winner of the by-election. Based on the circumstances, and perhaps, in order to save her face from encumbrances, the commission decided to stop at announcing the result by declaring the party – APC as the winner without attaching any candidate. But generally, it looks absurd and unattainable to declare a political party without a candidate winner of an election.

The Nigerian Constitution and the electoral act did not specify that a political party should be declared as winner of an election in the event the party fails to field a candidate for a particular election or if the candidate(s) has

unresolved issues at the point of that election.

In announcing the results of the by-election for Imo North senatorial in the morning of December 6, at the INEC headquarters in Owerri, the Returning Officer, Hakeem Adikum said that APC scored 36, 811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the People Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 31,903 votes. Adikum, who quickly rose after announcing the results scored by various political parties and their candidates except that of the APC, simply said, “ I hereby return the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the bye-election held in Imo North on Saturday, December 5.”

According to Adikum, APC won in five out of the six Local Government Areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA. While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from, the Returning Officer said that APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano and Ihitte/ Uboma LGAs. INEC’s failure to return any candidate as the winner of the election caused disquiet in the hall, as the supporters of the two persons, Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, laying claims to the APC ticket who were waiting to jubilate outside went home unannounced.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo state, Prof Francis Ezeonu, told journalists that the electoral umpire was unable to return a particular candidate from APC as the winner of the election because of what he called several court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim of the APC. He said that two of the court judgments had surfaced on Friday, one from the Court of Appeal, Owerri, and another from the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The candidate of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu accused INEC of concerted efforts to subvert the will of the people by denying

I think it is high time we started talking about the antiparty activities of this governor in Imo state. I also think that the national body should take some disciplinary action against this governor because he came from the PDP and he feels that he belongs to the PDP. He has not done anything in Imo state to encourage the supporters and members of the APC. In all his appointments, he reflected it there and I think this is the highest anti-party he has now done to APC by instructing his people to vote for PDP. But the good thing and the good news is that we defeated them. So I believe that the interim leadership of the party should call the governor to order. He should know that he came into APC to meet some people, and he should know that in the election where he contested for the governorship election he lost in his local government. PDP won in his LGA

him of his victory in the December 5 senatorial by-election in Imo North. “It is not in doubt that the Saturday 5th December, 2020 senatorial bye-election was never contested by the All Progressives Congress (APC). In other words, the APC, following a series of conflicting court judgments went into that election without a substantive candidate.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), being fully aware of this undisputed fact, could not therefore, legally announce any people masquerading as the APC’s candidate, as the winner.

“It is in fact rather absurd, and an intolerable aberration for INEC to have allowed the APC to even purport to have participated in that election, or to record any votes thereof in its favour. In the history of elections in Nigeria, it has never happened that a political party is declared as an election winner without at the same time announcing the corresponding candidate of that winning party who is to benefit from its victory”, he stated.

Okewulonu therefore reminded INEC to stop playing the ostrich, and do the needful, in order to safeguard the sanctity and integrity of our electoral process. He said “as an unbiased umpire which it ought to be, INEC should have given life to the series of judicial pronouncements barring the purported two candidates of the APC namely, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Mr. Frank Ibezim, from the election, as no party ever fields two candidates simultaneously for the same position in the same election.

“Consequently, I, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu demand as follows: That INEC should immediately declare the PDP, with my humble self as its candidate, as the rightful winner of the 5th December, 2020 Imo North senatorial by-election, in line with the Electoral Act (as amended). It is indisputable that I won the election in accordance with extant laws.

“INEC should, without further delay, comply with the court judgments disqualifying both Senator Araraume and Mr. Frank Ibezim from taking part in the elections. It cannot continue to play a hide and seek game in order to evade the law. APC never participated in the election under review.

“No political party fields two candidates for the same position in any election. What the APC did in the just concluded Imo North senatorial by-election was unlawful, ultra vires, and sets a very dangerous precedent, and stands condemned in its entirety. Once more, I profusely thank the good people of Okigwe zone for massively voting for the PDP and myself. I wish to assure them that their votes must count, and that their efforts shall not be in vain,” he submitted.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020

POLITICS

Yiaga Africa Emphasizes Need to Prioritize Electoral Reforms Nseobong Okon-Ekong presents the outcome of monitoring the recent national by-elections conducted by frontline free and fair advocates, Yiaga Africa and certified by its Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu

Buhari

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 5, 2020 conducted bye-elections into Six Senatorial Districts (Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa West, Imo North, Plateau South, Cross-River North and Lagos East Senatorial District) and nine state constituencies ((Kosofe II State Constituency in Lagos state, Nganzai and Bayo State Constituencies in Borno, Bakori State Constituency in Katsina state, Bakura state constituency in Zamfara, Isu Uzo state constituency in Enugu state, Ibaji State constituency in Kogi, Obudu State Constituency in Cross Rivers state and Dass State Constituency in Bauchi state). The bye-elections which were conducted in 5,856 polling units spread across 34 Local Government Areas in 11 states were in line with the constitutional requirement to fill up any vacancy in the Legislative Houses.

The bye-elections were also important as an assessment of the electoral process towards the electoral reform agenda and to also assess the performance of INEC post the Edo and Ondo off-cycle elections.

Yiaga Africa deployed twenty-eight (28) duly trained and accredited Watching the Vote (WTV) roving observers to observe the conduct of the bye-elections in the respective polling units and LGAs in five (5) (Imo, Plateau, Cross River, Lagos, and Zamfara States) of the eleven (11) states where the elections were conducted. The 28 roving observers visited a minimum of 5 polling units each and reported on the conduct of the process. The WTV observers observed the entire Election Day process from the polling units’ setup, accreditation, voting, announcement, and posting of the official results. Yiaga Africa did not deploy the Parallel Votes Tabulation (PVT) Methodology for the observation of the bye-elections.

As predicted in the Yiaga Africa Pre-election statement, the bye-election witnessed low voter turnout across the LGA’s where the elections were conducted. While the bye-elections were relatively peaceful, the desperation of political actors escalated with a series of efforts to manipulate the process via all means possible. Yiaga Africa’s WTV Data Centre received reports of the kidnapping of INEC officials, destruction of voting materials and snatching of election results to truncate the process. Notably was the Election Day violence observed in Bakura LGA, in Zamfara State. Similarly, the hydra-headed menace of vote-buying again reared its ugly head at the just concluded bye-elections in some senatorial and state constituencies.

On the general conduct of the election, Yiaga Africa’s WTV observers reported minor logistics challenges in some polling units and relative non-compliance with some public health guidelines with respect to COVID-19. The Independent National Electoral Commission consolidated on its success in Edo and Ondo elections by ensuring the use of the Smart Card readers and the Z-Pad technologies for accreditation of voters and upload of polling unit results sheet respectively.

Yiaga Africa’s Watching the Vote Major Findings *Late Commencement of Accreditation and Voting: Although the Guidelines for

Yakubu

the elections requires polling official to commence accreditation and voting at 8:30am, Yiaga Africa observed late commencement of polls in some locations. The delay in the deployment of voting materials to polling units in Quanán Pan in Plateau South and Epe in Lagos state led to late commencement of accreditation and voting. *Transparency of Election Results Management Process: Consistent with our observation from the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, INEC has employed technology to increase transparency and accountability of the results management process. Across most of the polling units observed, polling officials transmitted the polling unit level result to the INEC results viewing portal. As at the close of polls, more than 60 per cent of the polling unit level results were uploaded on the online platform (IReV) across the states that WTV observers were deployed. *Vote Buying: Yiaga Africa observers reported cases of vote buying by political parties and polling agents in all polling units observed.

Party agents distributed between N2000 and N2500 in exchange of votes. *Low Voter Turnout: As predicted in Yiaga Africa pre-election statement, turnout for the bye-elections were abysmally low due to poor voter engagement, fear of violence and loss of interest. While it is becoming a trend to have lower turnout during legislative elections, the experience of the December 5th bye-election calls for deeper introspection by political parties who will rather deploy money to buy votes than deliver on campaign promises and invest in civic and voter education. *Non-Compliance with COVID-19 Election Guidelines: Yiaga Africa observed flagrant violation of health guidelines during the bye-election. INEC took some precautionary measures to comply with COVID-19 health guidelines by providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like face masks, hand gloves, thermometer for temperature checks, use of hand sanitizers and the use of methylated spirit to disinfect the smart card reader before usage by voters at all observed polling units.

The Commission experienced difficulty in enforcing wearing of face masks /covering and physical distance between voters despite attempts to maintain the two (2) queues.

Highlights of other findings: r 1SFTFODF PG &TTFOUJBM &MFDUJPO .BUFSJBMT

Mbamalu

election materials like the Smart Card Reader, Register of Voters, Indelible Ink – Marker Pen, Official Stamp, Voting Cubicle, Form EC.8A Statement of Results, Voter Information and Statistics (Form EC.40H), Magnifying Glass, Braille ballot Guide, Disinfectant/Sanitizer (Methylated Spirit), Voter Code of Conduct (Poster EC 30F), Electronic Tablet and Ballot Box were observed in majority of polling units. r 4FDVSJUZ %FQMPZNFOU TFDVSJUZ EFQMPZNFOU was to all the polling units that WTV observed. r 1BSUZ "HFOUT %FQMPZNFOU "1$ BOE PDP agents were deployed in majority of the polling units observed. While the party agents for ADC and NNPP were seen in a few polling units. r 1PTUJOH PG 1PMMJOH 6OJU 3FTVMU 'PSN &$ 60E: polling unit level results were posted for the public to see across majority of the polling units observed by the WTV observers.

Critical Incidents Yiaga Africa received ten verified incident reports, mostly from Imo and Zamfara States.

These incidents include; *Intimidation and Harassment of Voters, Poll Officials and Party Agents: Political party agents attempted to snatch election materials from INEC officials at Central School Umuopara Ogboama polling unit 018, Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo state. Yiaga Africa also observed an incident of harassment of INEC officials, party agents and security officers by the youth of Osuachara ward while demanding ransom before elections can continue at Obiosuru PU 009. Cases of intimidation and harassment were also recorded at Galadima Polling Unit 002 and Harande Polling Unit 003, Rini ward, Bakura LGA of Zamfara State. r %JTSVQUJPO PG 3FTVMUT $PMMBUJPO 1SPDFTT Yiaga Africa received a report of fake security agents disrupting the collation process at Rini Ward Collation Centre, Bakura LGA, Zamfara state and carting away with election results. A similar incident was recorded at Damri ward collation centre, also in Bakura, Zamfara state where political thugs reportedly left with all sensitive materials including result sheets. r %FTUSVDUJPO PG &MFDUJPO .BUFSJBMT 1BSUZ supporters destroyed voting materials during the counting process in Rini Ward 9, Shiyar Koga PU 006 in Zamfara State. r "TTBVMU PO UIF 4FDSFDZ PG UIF #BMMPU Some voters showed how they marked their ballots while casting their votes in Umunkwo

On the general conduct of the election, Yiaga Africa’s WTV observers reported minor logistics challenges in some polling units and relative noncompliance with some public health guidelines with respect to COVID-19. The Independent National Electoral Commission consolidated on its success in Edo and Ondo elections by ensuring the use of the Smart Card readers and the Z-Pad technologies for accreditation of voters and upload of polling unit results sheet respectively

Community School, Umuenyi 007 in ward 2. This incident also happened in Amaraku Secondary School PU 003 in Ward 1 in Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo state. r *OUFSGFSFODF CZ 1BSUZ "HFOUT :JBHB "GSJDB received a report of physical interference by polling agents of major political parties in polling unit 003, ward 1, Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo state where agents were trying to force a voter to vote for a particular candidate. r #BMMPU #PY 4OBUDIJOH BOE 4UVGàOH *ODJEFOU of ballot-box stuffing was recorded at Polling Unit 002, Rini Ward, Bakura LGA, Zamfara where political thugs stormed polling units with thumb-printed ballot papers, dispersed voters and officials, stuffed the ballot box and went away with it. Political thugs also snatched the ballot and unused ballot papers in Gidan Origin PU 001 of Rini Ward in Bakura, Zamfara state.

Recommendations For the National Assembly *Accelerate the consideration and passage of electoral amendment bills to confer legality on innovations such as electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of results. The passage of an Electoral Offences Commission bill is long overdue.

For INEC 2. INEC should take proactive steps to ensure full-scale deployment of technology in subsequent elections. In addition, INEC should ensure effective training of polling officials especially on the use of new technological tools used for elections. *INEC should hold security agencies to account for failing to protect INEC officials against thugs and polling agents involved in violence and disruption of the election. review its engagement with security agencies and other stakeholders *INEC should continue to review its voting processes to allow voters to cast ballots without interference and intimidation. *INEC should develop better strategies in enforcing physical distancing and adherence to health guidelines during elections.

For Security agencies *Vote buying is a criminal act and an affront on the democratic rights of citizens to freely express their choice. The security agencies, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) should investigate reported incidents of vote buying and ensure appropriate sanctions for offenders. *Support INEC in enforcing COVID-19 safety guidelines during elections as well as arrest individuals involved in vote trading and disruptive behaviour during elections. *Security agents must be proactive in preventing electoral malfeasance like ballot box snatching, harassment and intimidation on election day. *Maintain professionalism and impartiality in managing election security.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

FEATURES

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

Fortifying Staple Foods with Essential Micronutrients Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the recently held third annual CEO Forum was mainly to review the significant progress made in fortifying Nigerian staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to achieving better health and nutrition for all

A

s Nigeria battles increasing food insecurity and malnutrition, the country’s leading CEOs from major food processing companies recently joined government and international development leaders in a virtual forum to review progress on fortification of staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to good health and nutrition.

During the virtual forum, key points like the latest data on industry compliance in fortifying staple foods with key micronutrients; updates on commitments made by all stakeholders during the 2019 forum; updates on the Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI), a corporate fortification quality index that supports industry self-monitoring, and other governance innovations; and exclusive announcement of increases in the share of fortified food accessible to Nigerian consumers over the last three years—critical progress in a time of growing national food insecurity, were discussed.

Indices Worldwide, more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition—deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals that are integral to healthy growth and development.

Fortifying staple foods—such as oil, flour, salt and sugar—with vitamins and minerals has been proven to be one of the most cost-effective and scalable tools to combat malnutrition and save lives.

According to data provided by the forum, one out of three Nigerian children under five are stunted—their bodies and brains deprived of the key nutrients they need to fully develop to reach their full potential.

Over the long-term, stunting results in a 10 to 17 percent loss of wages.

When multiplied across the nation, it’s estimated that Nigeria loses more than US$1.5 billion in GDP annually as a result of diminished productivity and increased healthcare costs.

“If Nigeria is really serious about creating jobs, expanding its markets and growing its economy, nutrition and food systems should be put in the centre of the conversation” said Larry Umunna, West Africa Regional Director, TechnoServe.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 studies found that large-scale fortification programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have led to dramatic reductions in serious disease in those countries, helping to achieve a 34 per cent reduction in anemia from improved iron stores; a 74 per cent reduction in goitre and a significant reduction in iodine deficiency; a 41 per cent decrease in neural tube defects due to reductions of folate deficiency among women of reproductive age; and an approximate reduction in vitamin A deficiency (VAD) for three million children (0-9 years), significantly reducing their risk of mortality.

Inception of Micronutrient Fortification Index Since its inaugural meeting in 2018, the forum has led to the development of several initiatives including a corporate fortification quality index -The Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI) in support of industry-led processes of tracking and corporate reporting of progress on fortification to its shareholders and stakeholders, and a government-led Joint Regulatory Framework that signals a new commitment by Nigeria’s three regulatory agencies- National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) - to work more efficiently, in support of industry efforts and consumer expectations.

Review Recently, a virtual meeting was held to review the progress made, foster a strategic understanding of the short and long-term

the list.”

One reason for the slower progress is that the edible oil industry is less centralised than other staple foods, requiring coordination across more stakeholders.

TechnoServe will be working on further technical assistance to oil millers who want to participate in the multi-stakeholder effort. In addition, they will support relevant government agencies to improve its efforts on regular testing of imported edible oil at the ports of entry.

Fortifying staple foods with micronutrients are essential to achieving better health and nutrition for all

impacts of the pandemic on the food processing industry and key policy and operational implications and opportunities for fortification.

The essence of this move was not lost on stakeholders. Each year, poor nutrition costs Nigeria over US$1.5 billion in GDP and hinders the health and economic potential of Nigerian citizens and the nation. Thus, fortifying staple foods like oil, flour, salt, and sugar with key micronutrients is one of the most scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective tools to combat malnutrition.

Themed the “Third Annual Nigerian Food Processors and Nutrition Leadership Forum”, participants were the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire Bill Gates - Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; President and CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; high-level Nigerian and international executives across the public and private sector.

The forum was organised by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and the global non-profit TechnoServe, under the Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project.

The project aims to address the lingering challenges in the food fortification sector using a market-based approach to help more than 90 food processors increase their capacity to produce and sell fortified foods to local markets.

Accordingly, when the company CEOs gathered at third annual forum to review progress and areas of renewed focus, it was following three years of leadership engagement by the federal government and CEOs of the nation’s largest food processing companies.

At the virtual meeting, it was stressed that significant progress has been made fortifying Nigerian staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to achieving better health and nutrition for all.

The data was presented by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who chaired the event with Bill Gates participating by video conference.

According to data presented by international non-governmental organisation TechnoServe, companies have significantly improved their compliance with food fortification standards in the span of three years.

Together, these producers reach more than 90 per cent of the Nigerian population. From 2017 to 2020, the population reached with wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid increased from 54 per cent to 92 per cent; the population reached with sugar fortified with Vitamin A increased from 31 per cent to 96 per cent; and salt iodisation levels were

maintained at 95 per cent.

“The private sector remains the engine of growth for the Nigerian economy. By creating a common set of compliance standards, while also giving companies the tools they need to effectively fortify their foods, we are creating a sustainable path to delivering Nigerians food that will help them live healthier, more productive lives. Better nutrition for our consumers means better health and economic development for our nation,” Dangote posited.

It was also gathered that edible oil fortified with Vitamin A also made progress, but to a lesser degree, with the population reached with fortified cooking oil increasing from 25 per cent to 32 per cent. Unlike the other staples, however, the edible oil companies participating in the CEO forum represent closer to 40 per cent of the nation’s total production volume.

To put the scale of these achievements in perspective, an additional 125.7 million Nigerians now have access to sugar fortified with vitamin A; an additional 73.5 million have access to wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid; and an additional 13.8 million have access to cooking oil fortified with vitamin A. “Given the impacts of COVID-19 on our economy, I am particularly impressed with the leadership we have seen from our food companies,” said Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment.

“Our industry leaders have shown that even during an international public health crisis and an economic crisis, we can still deliver good nutrition for all citizens, including our poorest, through production and distribution of widely consumed fortified staple foods.”

The efforts are part of the Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project focused on increasing consumer access to adequately fortified foods, implemented

by TechnoServe with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Significant work remains to achieve project goals and maximise public health impact. Of particular emphasis is working to sustain progress and to ensure that fortified cooking oil achieves similar success.

“Vitamin A is one of the most critical nutrients kids need to grow up healthy—but too few kids receive a sufficient amount in their diet,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“The world needs to fortify more foods with Vitamin A. The leaders in this meeting have already shown what’s possible for wheat flour, salt, and sugar. I hope that by the next time we meet, cooking oil will be added to

Strengthening Industry Compliance According to the forum, to strengthen industry-wide compliance, TechnoServe has been working with private sector partners to launch Nigeria’s first-ever Micronutrient Fortification Index (MFI).

The MFI helps companies assess compliance with Nigerian Fortification Standards.

Companies’ overall scores are presented in a dashboard that is updated annually to show progress and gaps, contributing to an industry-wide platform that emphasizes quality standards.

The forum also reviewed progress on the development of the Joint Regulatory Framework (JRF), which would coordinate the enforcement of industry activities by the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Value Chain Givers Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. To learn more, visit www. gatesfoundation.org Whereas, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) on the other hand is the private charitable foundation of Aliko Dangote. Incorporated in 1994, as Dangote Foundation, with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities. 20 years later, the foundation has become the largest private foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.

At the international level and beyond the foundation provides financial and technical support to a number of continental and global initiatives and platforms/institutions to strengthen nutrition integration into their developmental portfolio and pipelines. The foundation embraces investments in education as fundamental to the development of a nation’s human capital and the capacity of an individual to earn. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, the foundation is led by the MD/CEO Ms Zouera Youssoufou under the direction of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON. Meanwhile, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. A non-profit organisation operating in nearly 30 countries worldwide, we partner with hard-working women and men in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. By linking people to information, capital, and markets, we have helped millions to create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.

Founded over 50 years ago, TechnoServe has been named the #1 nonprofit for fighting poverty by the ImpactMatters charity ratings agency.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

FEATURES

Tightening the Reins of Dominance The annual global demand for instant noodles is estimated to be approximately 150 billion servings and a market value of $42.2 billion as at 2018. With a projected growth of immense proportion, Dufil Group, manufacturers of Indomie Noodles has continue to invest massively, tightening the reins of dominance in the instant noodles market, writes Eromosele Abiodun

T

he increasing urbanisationinduced fast-paced lifestyle of many societies around the world has necessitated the need for affordable quick meals. The constantly moving working population, in particular, look to foods that require minimal cooking to address their hunger needs. This reality has seen instant noodles become a staple meal in many Nigerian homes.

However, even before instant noodles found its way into our menu in these parts, it had established its roots and formed a part of the food culture in Asia. Originating in Japan in 1958, instant noodles have come a long way from the ‘Chicken Ramen’ invention by MomofukuAndo; finding its way into Europe, the Americas, and eventually, Africa.

With rising income levels in developing countries in the 1990s came a corresponding increase in the consumption of instant noodles.

The World Instant Noodles Association estimated annual global demand for instant noodles to be approximately 15 billion servings in 1990, growing to 50 billion servings in 2001, and exceeding the 100 billion servings mark in 2012.

As economies of the world and markets continue to evolve, seeking swifter ways to get things done, the instant noodles sub-sector has held its place as a non-negligible contributor to the demands of this new reality. Factors such as affordability, convenience, safety and hygiene, long shelf life, palatability, and versatility make instant noodles desirable for a significant chunk of the global population.

A survey conducted by Research and Markets revealed that the global Instant Noodles Market reached a value of $42.2 billion in 2018, registering a compound annual growth rate of 6.2 per cent during 2011-2018 while Globe Newswire in its Global Instant Noodles Industry Report predicted that the Global Instant Noodles Market will reach $32.1 billion by the year 2027.

In a related development, a 2016 report by Kantar World Panel also ranked Indomie Noodles 8th out of 50 in a global ranking of the most chosen consumer brands.

Noodles and pasta products are gaining increasing acceptance in Africa especially because of the continents massive young population who are more adventurous with food. And in many homes, instant noodles now make an appearance on the menu alongside (and in some cases, replacing) long-time staple foods such as rice, bread, and maize.

The International Pasta Organisation names Tunisia as the leading consumer of pasta per capita in Africa while the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA) reports that Nigeria consumes 1,540 million servings of instant noodles—the highest in Africa—while Egypt, South Africa, and Ethiopia follow at a distance with 200 million, 90 million, and 50 million servings respectively.

Nigeria also leads in the wave of investments that have resulted from the increasing demand and interest in pasta and noodles in Africa. One of the companies that diversified its product line to include instant noodles is Dufil Group.

Dufil Group are manufacturers of Indomie Noodles; the noodles brand of Indonesian origin has caught on with the populace and can now be found in many African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana due to Dufil’s substantial investment, having started by importing the brand into Nigeria.

From the dense suburbs of the south

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Colgate Tolaram LFTZ Enterprises, Mr Girish Sharma; former First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; Social Bravery Award Winner, Kanye Tagbo-Okeke; Physical Bravery Award Winner, Yayah Zaki; Intellectual Bravery Award Winner, Anthony Lawrence; and Chief Executive Officer, Tolaram Group West Africa, Mr Pawan Sharma at the last Indomie Independence Day Awards celebration in Lagos

to the arid planes of the north, the ubiquitous meal in a packet is proof that Nigeria is not left out of the universal noodles bug.

Indomie Noodles has since evolved from the neophyte brand that made its way to Nigeria through export in 1988 to a household name that continues to hold its consumers by their tastebuds many years down the line, sweeping aside formidable competition in the process.

In Nigeria, indomie has become a synonym for instant noodles. “I want to eat Indomie” is the declaration when there’s a craving for noodles or even pasta sometimes, and this is not a coincidence. It is what happens when a brand has cracked the code for brand recall and top of mind awareness among consumers.

Tina Joseph, an undergraduate of a higher institution in the eastern part of the country says, “Indomie is one of my favourite meals because it’s easy to cook. With tight lecture schedules and hardly enough time for extracurricular activities, I find it convenient to simply pop a packet or two in hot water and have a fast meal rather than spend many hours cooking.”

Similarly, Samuel Adejare, a young man in his mid-thirties debunks the notion that Indomie is a meal for kids and ladies. “I am a very busy IT executive, and many times when I get back home after a hectic workday, Indomie is my meal of choice for dinner because it is light,” he said.

On her part, Blossom Idayi who has worked as a chef in one of the hotels in Lagos for almost a decade revealed that there’s been a mild shift in the culinary preference of diners and clientele who visit the hotel. Unlike what obtained in the past when they ordered the regular staples, more and more of them request noodles—and by “noodles,” they mean Indomie.

Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Adhi Nartoshed some light on what has made Indomie Noodles the brand to upstage in the sector.

According to him, Indomie’s commitment to offering consistent quality through its unique taste and constant reinvention has kept its loyal customers coming back.

“We do not take our leadership position

for granted, neither do we assume we have everything figured out in terms of how far we can go to improve our production standards. It is this knowledge that keeps us on our toes,” Narto said.

Group Public Relations and Events Manager, DufilPrima Foods Plc, Tope Asiwaju noted that Indomie’sdedication to inclusion is one of the qualities that make the brand stand out.

“A school of thought believe that instant noodles is a meal for kids, but Indomie has proven that to be wrong.

We are committed to ensuring everyone enjoys their Indomie just the way they want it and that’s why we have evolved from the pack size and Chicken Flavour that was first introduced to the Nigerian market to more variety in form of the Indomitables—tailored towards kids, Standard Pack—for small hunger needs, Super Pack—a more mouth-filling pack size mostly for teenagers and young adults, Hungryman—a bigger, more satisfying size for those with a large appetite, Belleful—tagged the “Total Hunger Buster”, Giant Pack—the biggest noodles size ever, created to bring people together, and Relish—a complete meal experience with two distinct variants. So, no matter who you are, your appetite requirements or how unique your dietary preference is, you’ll find an Indomie that caters to your need,” Asiwaju explained.

Indeed, no other noodles brand can boast of Indomie’svariety and versatility in terms of available sizes and flavours.

These days, however, it’s not enough for a brand to deliver on its core objective and responsibility; the most successful brands around the world engage their consumers beyond manufacturing quality products or offering excellent services.

They demonstrate their creativity and altruism through stand out initiatives that impact positively on their target audience and society as a whole.

Indomie Noodles has also succeeded in this regard.

Dufil Prima Food’s Chief Operating Officer, Adesh Jain highlighted Indomie Fan Club (IFC) as one of the initiatives the brand developed to engage the thousands of children who love Indomie.

“We created IFC to educate and entertain young kids who are the future leaders of Nigeria. Some of the activities children who are members of

IFC engage in include competitions, FRSC exercises, factory visits, birthday celebrations, Indomie day in schools, Children’s Day celebrations, End of Year parties, and in-school activities.

Schools get the opportunity to adopt IFC every first quarter of a new year with a minimum of 30 kids and students who register get a special package from Indomie,” Jain explained.

Perhaps the most profound way Indomie has convinced that its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is for the long haul is through the IndomieIndependence Day Award (IIDA) for Heroes in Nigeria which had its 12th Edition in 2019 and has held consistently since 2008.

Every year, IIDA identifies, recognises, celebrates, and rewards acts of bravery exhibited by children across the country.

According to the Group PR and Events Manager, Tope Asiwaju, IIDA was created to encourage acts of heroism displayed by children between 0 and 15 years who have made notable sacrifices at great risk to themselves and those who have fought to survive despite the unfavourable conditions they found themselves. Categories Awarded are Physical Bravery, Intellectual Bravery, and Social Bravery. 33 recipients have been recognised and celebrated across the categories over the years.

Indomie Noodles is by no means the only instant noodles manufacturer in the Nigerian market, but there’s little to suggest this. Competition is almost non-existent for the noodle brand and became even more negligible in 2017 when Dufil Prima Foods Plc, known then as De United Foods Industries Limited made a huge statement of intent by acquiring Dangote Noodles Limited plants in Ikorodu, Lagos State and Calabar, Cross River State in a deal worth N3.75 billion.

In what was once a fiercely competitive sector with no clear leader, Indomie has consolidated its stakes and continues to tighten its grip on the market through diverse strategies and innovations that delight its consumers.

For now, the prognosis doesn’t look different and there’s nothing to suggest there will be a marked change in the status quo and a rival brand will knock Indomie off the top of the leader board anytime soon.

22

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

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Quick Takes YouTube, Gmail Recover after Global Outage

Google services, including YouTube, Gmail and Google Drive, were restored for most users yesterday, following a global outage that affected thousands.

Google’s website that logs outages said the services that were affected for nearly an hour should be restored for most users, according to Reuters. The company has some of the most widely used services in the world. YouTube records over two billion logged-in users each month,withpeoplewatchingoverabillionhoursofvideoonitsplatform.

“We’re back up and running!” Reuters quoted the video platform to have said in a tweet. It had earlier tweeted that many users were having issues accessing YouTube.

According to outage monitoring website DownDetector, more than 12,000 YouTube users were affected in various parts of the world, including the United States, Britain, India and Nigeria.

Outages on select Google apps are not uncommon, but Monday’s outage affected all its popular services, including Google Hangouts, Google Chats and Google Meet, products that people have used extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DEEPENING FINANCIAL INCLUSION

L-R: Manager, Idimu Branch, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr. Wale Abioye; Channels Deployment Officer, Weisua Mbofung; Regional Service Head, Lagos, Mr. Patrick Akpareva; Zonal Service Manager, Ikeja 1, Mrs. Chinyelu Samuel-Johnson; Zonal Service Manager, Lagos Mainland, Mrs. Folake Ogunleye and Head, Channels Management, Mr. Muyideen Apena, during the inauguration of an ultra-modern Cash Centre of the bank at Ipaja, Lagos…recently

Nigeria, Others to Begin Extractive Contracts Disclosure from January Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has said that beginning from January 1, 2021, Nigeria and 54 other countries implementing the EITI Standard will be required to publish new and amended contracts, licenses and agreements concluded with extractive companies operating in their jurisdictions.

The EITI in a statement explained that it expects implementing countries to publish contracts concluded before that date for public view.

According to the organisation, the requirement to publish new contracts and contract amendments was introduced in the 2019 EITI Standard. It noted that the standard represents a

ENERGY major step forward in extractive sector transparency.

Many contracts, the EITI stated, remain unpublished, thereby increasing the opacity of the extractive sector and making it more vulnerable to corruption.

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had published various reports detailing the country’s extractive sector incomes and losses through opaque and corrupt practices.

The EITI thus explained that large sums are at stake in extractive sector agreements, but that contract transparency could create a powerful disincentive for officials to conclude extractive contracts that are partial or result in personal gain.

It said: “Subjecting agreements

to public scrutiny is more likely to result in fairer agreements, drafted in a way that is consistent with the country’s legal framework.”

As well as deterring corruption, the EITI noted that publishing extractive sector contracts can help the sector fulfil its potential to contribute to developments of national economies of countries.

“Communities stand to benefit from contract transparency,” the Chair of EITI, Helen Clark said.

Clark further stated that: “They will be able to see how much to expect as revenues from companies. Subsidies and tax incentives awarded to companies will be in plain view.”

“Stakeholders will be able to monitor obligations placed on companies to the environment, to make social payments, and to provide local employment and use local suppliers,” she added.

The EITI explained that to date, 37 countries that implement its ideals have disclosed some or all extractive sectors contracts they entered into with entities. It equally said that there is a growing use of contract information for accountability.

“Governments in Afghanistan, Armenia, Ghana and Mongolia among others are committed to this agenda. In Mongolia, for example, full contract disclosure is included in a proposed law, expected to be passed next year,” the EITI stated in the statement.

Similarly, it highlighted that company representatives agree that contract transparency is important and timely too.

It quoted Tom Butler who is the head of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Continued on page 24

FG: Consumers’Protection, Market Factors Will Decide Petrol Price The federal government has said that the policy choice it adopted in the deregulation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector was one which prioritises the interaction between market forces as well as consumer protection in the setting of the pump price of petrol.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Silva stated this during a recent digital session for the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Strategic Outlook.

The government earlier in the year announced the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

Owing to this, the government suspended the subsidy

ENERGY regime it ran for years which was allegedly covered in corruption and secrecy.

However, members of the country’s organised labour opposed the policy which saw the pump price of petrol rise and were recently able to hammer out a price reduction deal with the government.

Furthermore, Silva explained during the online session that the government’s removal of subsidy on petrol was in the interest of Nigerians, and that, “deregulation is going to save the Nigerian government up to N1 trillion every year, which

the country can use to develop other aspects of the economy.”

He further said that the government was keen to protect petrol consumers in the country from unfair market practices and wouldn’t completely exit the sector.

“What the government has done is to take the back seat and allow market forces determine the cost of PMS,” said Silva.

He then stated: “However, government will continue to play its traditional role of protecting the consumer against profiteers.

“Government has also realised that this policy will come with some level of pain to all Nigerians and as a result,

has introduced an alternative fuel source for our vehicles – Autogas.”

According to him, the Autogas initiative will cushion the effects of the downstream petrol sector deregulation and equally create huge markets and enormous job opportunities for Nigerians.

“The use of LPG and CNG present huge benefits with regards to efficiency, availability, accessibility, versatility, and environmental protection and safety,” he added.

The minister noted that the inauguration of the National Gas Expansion Programme Continued on page 24

Welder Jailed for Illegal Connection

A Magistrate’s court sitting in Keffi has convicted and sentenced one Babangida Malle, male, of Gauta, Keffi Area office to two years imprisonment for illegally connecting power from an Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) facility.

However, the convict was given an option of N20, 000 fine, while the court equally awarded a compensation of N30, 000 for the energy illegally consumed by Malle.

The prosecution led by Inspector Ibrahim Kante told the magistrate, Hon. Jibril Isah Shittu at the Chief Magistrate court 2, Keffi, that the convict(awelder)wasarrestedwhilehangingwirei.eillegallyconsuming electricity without payment and taken to Keffi divisional police station.

The police charged him to court and the convict pleaded guilty to the offence of mischief, contrary to section 286 (2) of the penal code law and was thereafter sentenced.

Tech Giants Face Fines

Tech giants which control access and data to their platforms could be fined up to 10 per cent of their annual turnover for violating rules aimed at curbing their power, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The proposed rules, to be announced by EU Digital Chief, Thierry Breton and EU antitrust czar, Margrethe Vestager today, according to Reuters, are likely to affect Amazon.com, Apple, Facebook and Alphabet unit Google.

The rules, known as the Digital Markets Act, set out a list of dos and don’ts for online gatekeepers to ensure a level playing field for rivals and users.

That could include requiring dominant companies to share certain kindsofdatawithrivalsandregulators,whilepracticessuchascompanies favouring their own services could be outlawed.

Breton has previously said gatekeepers can be ordered to change theirpracticesorevenbeforcedtobreakuptheirEuropeanbusinesses for repeated breaches of the rules.

Reddit to Buy Dubsmash

Social network firm Reddit has disclosed plan to buy short-video platform Dubsmash, becoming the latest company to expand in a space dominated by Chinese-owned TikTok. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but a spokeswoman for Reddit said the acquisition was based on a combination of cash and stock.

AccordingtoReuters,thesuccessofByteDance’sTikTokhasprompted many social media companies to add short-video services to their platforms, with Snapchat Inc rolling out “Spotlight” in November and Facebook Inc launching “Instagram Reels” earlier this year.

Both Facebook and Snap had approached Dubsmash about a deal earlier this year and talks had progressed far enough to include discussions of a price tag in “the hundreds of millions of dollars,” the Information reported here in August.

“The government needs to examine its revenue and if the government is now spending N80 out of every N100 for loan, that means the government only has N20 for the public service, health education and all of us“ Senior Partner OAL, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba

ete has

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24

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD NIGERIA, OTHERS TO BEGIN EXTRACTIVE CONTRACTS DISCLOSURE FROM JANUARY to have said that: “Stakeholders rightly have high expectations of companies. Contract disclosure helps build trust, promote open and transparent engagement and contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of host countries and communities, all central tenets of ICMM’s membership commitments.”

“ICMM welcomes the introduction of the EITI provision on contract disclosure.

It levels the playing field for responsible mining companies and shows they are open about their commitments with host governments,” Butler added.

Further, the EITI stated that supporting companies, including major mining, oil and gas producers have equally advocated for contract transparency.

It said that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the industry, impacting revenues in resource-dependent countries.

FG: CONSUMERS’ PROTECTION, MARKET FACTORS WILL DECIDE PETROL PRICE (NGEP) in January by the government was done to boost the use of natural gas in the country and shift from crude oil to gas.

He said: “We have initiated efforts to deliver sustainable energy by improving gas availability and accessibility, boosting gas-based industrialisation, and promoting economic diversification in our crude resources.”

He referred to President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent launch of the Autogas scheme as the country’s determined step to drive the adoption of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel for Nigerans.

“This alternative fuel option will afford Nigerians a cheaper, cleaner, and better choice of fuel. Cheaper than the price of PMS, cleaner for our environment, improving our carbon footprint and better for our automobile and generator engines.

Group Business Editor

ÌÓØØË ÒÓ×Ë Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

NEWS

FG Moves to Address Bottlenecks in Cost-reflective Tariff Implementation Peter Uzoho

being made by MEMMCOL towards growing the power sector through modern technology, which will enhance effective and efficient development in the sector.

Kayamo said: “Our team is making a facility tour to MOMAS to have first-hand information on the company’s capacity and capability in bridging the metering gaps.

“We are focusing on addressing

all the issues surrounding implementations of cost-reflective tariff in the power sector.

“MOMAS has the capacity of metering the entire country if given the support. The company can also meet national expectations on metering.

“With what we saw here today, we are convinced that MOMAS has what it takes to drive the sector to better ends.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of MOMAS, Mr. Kola Balogun, lauded the federal government delegations for deeming it fit to inspect the company’s metering factory and training school and the powerful investment done in the company.

Balogun reaffirmed the company’s capacity and capability to bridge the metering gaps in the country, adding that the

company also has the capacity to deploy meters massively across the country.

He said: “We have been advised by the delegation on what we needed to put right in the metering code to suit both the purposes of the Discos and also to meet consumers’ need.

“We have the capacity to address metering supply locally.

We have also developed mix

The federal government has assured investors in the nation’s power industry that it was doing everything possible to address all issues surrounding the implementation of a cost-reflective tariff in the country.

The government also said it was making progressive with efforts at providing Nigerians with effective and efficient electricity service delivery.

The Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, gave the assurance recently when he led the Ad-hoc Committee on Cost-Reflective Review on a facility tour of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company’s (MEMMCOL) factory in Mowe, Ogun State.

The team also comprised representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), distribution companies Discos and captains of industry.

The minister promised to engage with all the stakeholders in the power sector to ensure that all contending issues in the industry were resolved.

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr.Tope Smart; Chairman Board, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae; Company Secretary, Mrs. Olajumoke The Keyamo-led delegation, Philip-Akede, and Executive Director, Marketing, Mr. Andrew Ikekhua, during the Extra Ordinary General Meeting of NEM Insurance Plc held in however, commended efforts Lagos...recently Abiodun Ajala

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Chartered Printers Lament N2trn Annual Capital Flight, Demand Governments’ Patronage Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) has lamented the loss of about N2 trillion to the patronage of their foreign counterparts by both private entities and all tiers of governments in Nigeria.

Speaking during its third Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Abuja and the launch of “Nigerian Jobs Remain in Nigeria,” campaign, recently, President of the organisation and Chairman in Council, Mr. Olugbemi Malomo, urged the

federal government to initiate policies that will lead to patronage of local professionals and creation of job opportunities.

Malomo noted that members of the CIPPON, which was established by act 24, 2007, have the capacity to make the country the hub of printing in Africa with the right policies, but said that more than 80 per cent of books used in Nigeria are printed outside the country.

“Today, we have four important sectors in printing which can contribute significantly to GDP. One is the printing of books. We have about 160 million Nigerians

in one school or the other. In a year, there are three terms and that requires over 160 million books to be printed and when you multiply that by 10, that’s about 160 billion books to be printed.

“That is enough for our industry if done locally. Unfortunately, more than half or close to 80 per cent of those books, particularly from government are being printed outside Nigeria.

“We want to call on government and launch a campaign on how to keep Nigerian jobs in Nigeria because if we are going to solve our economic problems, we must start with ourselves.

Recently, the federal government issued Executive Order Number 5 that says anything that can be produced in Nigeria should be done here.

“Why is it that we still take books to print outside Nigeria?

Conservatively, if we are talking about 1.6 billion books and the cost of one book is just N100, which is pretty much low, we are talking about close to N2 trillion and that’s on books alone,” he lamented. He further said even the paper that’s used for the job is not even manufactured in Nigeria, revealing that the printing paper industry alone is worth about N3

trillion industry.

He added: “Ghana has decided to set up a paper mill. Our own are moribund. We are targeting our large population. If our paper mills are revived, it will create massive employment and it’s not rocket science. We need the right policies.

We need policies for an industry employing more than 10 million Nigerians.

“We need to address even the inconsistency in government policy.

If I bring in paper, I pay 25 per cent. If I print the books outside and bring them in as educational materials , I will pay zero per cent duty”.

Wabote: How Local Content Saved Oil Industry During Lockdown Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Simbi Wabote, has said the capacity developed by local firms through the implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, helped sustain the operations of the Nigerian oil and gas industry in the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Speaking in a goodwill message he delivered at the Nigerian Content Capacity

Building Workshop organised for Media Stakeholders in the South-south region, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Wabote explained that operations of the sector continued without disruptions even after many expatriates had returned to their countries.

He noted that the development was made possible because Nigerians had developed robust human and infrastructural capacities to operate the highly technical sector.

Wabote listed some of the achievements recorded by the

board during the pandemic to include commissioning of the NCDMB new head office by President Muhammedu Buhari, increase of the size of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund from $200 million to $350million and addition of new products to the NCI Fund, notably the working capital loans and women in oil and gas loans.

Other accomplishments during the period, he said, included the approval of the $50 million Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund by

the NCDMB governing council, commissioning of the 5,000 bpd Waltersmith modular refinery at Ibigwe, Imo state and approval of additional partnerships in the Nigerian content commercial ventures programme.

He added that the board has also made progress in the implementation of its 10-year strategic roadmap, held checkpoint review session for the roadmap, continued the construction of oil and gas industrial parks and secured the Final Investment Decision (FID) and award of

contracts for the NLNG Train 7.

According to him, the NCDMB has also achieved 32 per cent value retention from the annual spend in the oil and gas industry, noting that only five per cent was being retained when the Nigerian Content Act was enacted in 2010.

He reiterated that the vision of the roadmap was to achieve 70 per cent value retention by the year 2020, create 300,000 jobs, retain $14 billion out of $20bn annual industry spend as well as build shipyards and manufacturing facilities.

Comms/e-Business Editor

××Ë ÕÙØÔÓ

Ardova Launches Solar Powered Station at Oniru

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) ÌÏÜÏ áÙÔÓ (Insurance) ÒÓØÏ×Ï ÕËÐÙÜ (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Goddy Egene Ardova Plc (AP) has marked its official entry into the consumer market with the launch of its first branded retail service station located at Oniru, Lagos. Commenting, Chief Executive Officer, AP Plc, Olumide Adesoun, said: “We are glad to commence the

rollout of our newly branded AP service stations with the launch of our Oniru station, which is wholly solar powered and an indication of our mission to champion the transition to clean energy in Nigeria.

“I am certain that customers who come to this station and every other AP service station

will notice that we had more than a facelift, we built future ready stations that are a pleasure to be in for customers while we provide excellent service in catering to their needs.”

According to him, the goal with the newly rebranded AP stations was to take customer experience to a whole new level

by offering them a one-stop-hub tailored to satisfy their energy needs, while progressively adding other energy products beyond conventional fuels.

“We will continue to add interesting products and services that are certain to delight our customers. We are highly committed to becoming Nigeria’s leading

provider of clean energy.

“With our Oniru station, we are providing a glimpse of the direction in which we are headed.

The station runs strictly on solar energy and has so far generated over 5,000 kilowatt-hours and in due time will begin to power the street lights in its immediate vicinity.

25

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

Powering Nigeria’s Universities Emmanuel Addeh writes that efforts of the federal government, through the Rural Electrification Agency to provide sustainable electricity sources to the country’s universities, may have begun to materialise

E

nergy poverty remains a major problem, not just in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, but across the entire facet of the Nigerian society, leaving in its trail unnecessary difficulties in execution of simple tasks and grounding economic activities.

However, it poses even more challenges in the universities where it has become a barrier to effective research, student learning and general smooth running of the tertiary institutions.

For many years, the Nigerian power sector has been in crisis, with the average annual per capita power consumption being only 155 kWh, which is among the lowest in the world.

Indeed, some research suggests that selfgenerated power, mainly diesel or petrol generators, should be around 6,000MW, while many Nigerians, including students have had to resort to burning candles and kerosene and sometimes, rechargeable lamps, just to get by.

While Nigeria continues to grapple with actual transmitted power of between 4,000MW to 4,500MW for its over 200 million population, in contrast, a country like Brazil generates 100,000MW of grid-based power for 201 million and South Africa generates 40,000MW for 50 million persons.

There’s hardly any university visited today, that is not either partly or wholly dependent on generating sets to power its libraries and laboratories and as expected, this exacts a huge cost on the institutions’ meagre resources, accompanied with the hazards posed by harmful emissions.

To sort out this lingering problem, the federal government recently introduced the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) , to provide sustainable and clean power supply to 37 federal universities and seven university teaching hospitals across Nigeria.

Part of the project includes the provision of an independent power plant, upgrading existing distribution infrastructure, street lighting to improve security within the universities’ campuses, as well as the development of a world class training centre on renewable energy for each university.

Being implemented by the REA and developed in phases, the first phase is expected to deliver 28.5MW to nine federal universities and one University Teaching Hospital, using solar hybrid and/or gas-fired captive power plants.

According to the government, phase 1 of the EEP will benefit 127,000 students and 28,000 staff of universities, 4,700 staff in teaching hospitals (including 819 doctors), power 2,850 streetlights, and result in the decommissioning of hundreds of generators.

Additionally, aside the programme providing an installed 13.23km solar powered streetlights for illumination and safety, as well as a world-class renewables training centre, 20 female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students have received hands-on practical training under the EEP Internship Programme.

So, in furtherance of this objective, the federal government took the “operation light up Nigerian universities” campaign to Benue state last week where it landed at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM) for the commissioning of the project completed under the EEP of the REA. With the official flag-off of the 8.25MW solar hybrid power plant at the university, FUAM students and teaching staff can now have access to electricity supply round the clock, with many of the hassles associated with unstable power supply now gone.

Other universities in the Phase 1 of the programme, aside FUAM, include: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University - Bauchi, Bayero University - Kano, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Federal University of Petroleum Resources - Effurum, Nnamdi Azikiwe University - Awka, Obafemi Awolowo University & Teaching Hospital - Osun, University of Lagos - Lagos and Usmanu Danfodiyo University - Sokoto.

In his opening remarks at the well-attended event in Benue, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Ahmad Salihijo stated that the project had undergone the standard processes of design, construction and test-run and therefore certified fit for use.

Salihijo As part of the trial phase, the university, he said, had received power from the plant for a total of 137 days, and is therefore fully set for operation to deliver reliable power to the staff and students of the institution.

He stated that the reliability of the power supply will not only drive conducive learning, but also boost research and development, which will contribute towards the achievement of the goals set for the growth of Nigeria’s education sector under the current administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

He said: “Under the Phase 1 of the EEP, nine federal universities were selected from the six (6) geo-political zones in Nigeria, with the Federal University of Agriculture , Makurdi being the selection for the north central zone.

“Furthermore, the programme implementation was designed to incorporate gender mainstreaming through the Female STEM Internship Programme.

The STEM programme was targeted at training 20 female students per university on the various components in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) chain of power plant deployment.

“So far, two power plants have been commissioned under the EEP i.e. the 2.8MW captive solar hybrid power project at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State and the 7.1MW captive solar hybrid project at Bayero University, Kano State.

“This will be the third EEP Phase 1 site to be commissioned, with two (2) others scheduled for commissioning in the coming weeks”.

He added that the Workshop Training Centre (WTC) was designed to train students and staff of FUAM on the theory and practice of renewable energy, towards the greater outcome of increasing the total number of Nigerians with standard knowledge of clean energy solutions as Nigeria moves towards an off-grid renewable energy revolution.

Salihijo stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant public health challenges had stalled the completion of some minor components of the project as it restricted activities and movement of persons across the country for what seemed like months unending.

“However, we remained resilient towards ensuring that we kept to our mandate of delivering sustainable power and creating the platform for more jobs and knowledge transfer,” he noted.

He lauded the ministry of power for playing a very crucial role towards the successful construction of the plant, noting that they have been the major sponsor behind the entire Phase 1 of the EEP. Moving forward, the REA boss stated that the agency has secured funding from the World Bank and African Development Bank towards the implementation of Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the EEP respectively.

These phases, he noted, will see the design and construction of captive hybrid power plants across a total of 15 federal universities and two

Saleh teaching hospitals and will be implemented under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).

In his own comments, an elated governor of Benue State, Mr Samuel Ortom, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Alexander Shaapera, noted that the commissioning culminated in the graduation of the STEM participants who received certificates of completion for their technical and practical training on the FUAM solar hybrid power plant.

“This thoughtful project aligns with the rural electrification agency’s mandate and federal government next level agenda to provide electricity access to rural communities, economic hubs, educational institutions and teaching hospitals as well as the entire unreached and underserved areas of the country.

“I am most humbled that such a laudable project was deployed in Benue state at this time, to provide a conducive and safe learning environment for the thousands of young people who are currently undergoing academic training, preparatory to taking over various sectors of society, towards the growth and development of the state.

“It is important to stress that the benefits of clean, safe and reliable electricity will improve the quality of research, technical capacity, and improve productivity of the entire management, staff and students of the institution. “ Thus, the days of unreliable power supply within the university has come to an end and the students can heave a sigh of relief knowing that their campus environment is illuminated and that they can increase their study time as they prepare for the real world,” the governor stated.

He commended all the relevant stakeholders for providing reliable electricity to the institution and urged both students and management to utilise and sustain the infrastructure to also serve the university in the future.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, in his comments, noted that the EEP has provided a veritable and robust platform for the national assembly to engage and collaborate with the executive in advancing their shared interests of providing efficient, competitive, and sustainable electricity to unserved and underserved people in Nigeria.

“The 9th national assembly is excited to align itself with this project and is committed to continue to provide any and every necessary support to ensure that the resources, enabling environment, and oversight is available to provide efficient, sustainable, and competitive electricity to unserved and underserved areas in Nigeria.

“As Chairman of the House of Committee on Power, I will continue to use my office to ensure that we provide the leadership and oversight needed to enhance and advance increased investments, regulatory compliance, proper governance, and other issues that affect the power sector in Nigeria,” he assured.

Also, the Managing Director of the partnering

firm, Sterling and Wilson, Mr Deepak Thakur, noted that the overarching socioeconomic impacts on the lives and livelihoods of the university population that the project will produce was unquantifiable at the moment. “ The PV plant, backup DG sets and battery size of this project which has a total combined capacity of 8.25MW, has other components of the project which include a world class renewable energy training centre.

“It also involves installation of streetlights for adequate illumination, security and safety within the university, as well as the upgrade of the university’s distribution network. The solar hybrid project being commissioned will serve the entire university with constant electricity,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anande Kimbir, recalled that the university which was established in 1988, now has a population of about 13,000, including students and staff.

He said that the institution has several faculties and research centres, adding that as the food basket of the nation, FUAM was proud to align itself and serve as the engine that produces and manages the process of the agricultural revolution being birthed in Benue for the country.

“Our engagement with the federal government of Nigeria on this EEP project has been very robust and healthy. It has been one based on mutual interest and benefit which has produced the fruit of what we are seeing today; that is the attainment of this power project, which will impact and influence the delivery of access to electricity that is safe, reliable, and sustainable.

“The Energising Education Programme will no doubt support FUAM’s mission to address developmental challenges in Nigeria, through innovative research, knowledge-transfer and training.

“This is a joyous moment for not just our university, but also for Benue State. I am ecstatic for the expected positive impact this initiative will have in transforming the way we teach, learn, and live on our campus,” he enthused.

Head Project Monitoring Unit (PMU), of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Anita Otubu, reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government through the REA in ensuring increased access to clean and reliable electricity in educational institutions and the entire country.

She thanked the federal ministry of environment which facilitated the Sovereign Green Bond in a bid to promote clean energy initiatives, saying that it was instrumental towards funding the Energising Education Programme Phase 1.

For the dozens of female Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students who benefitted from the training , it was a lifetime opportunity which they would savour for a long time.That aside, the institution which will now have 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, would now have an edge over other universities which still have to grapple with epileptic electricity supply on a daily basis.

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

Augustine Alegeh, SAN

‘NBA MAKES NO PROFIT FROM THE STAMP AND SEAL’

15.12.2020

2/DASHBOARD

15.12.2020

LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

15.12.2020

Augustine Alegeh, SAN

Federal High Court Lacks Jurisdiction to Determine Contracts Generally PAGE 4

Rhodes-Vivour, SAN Appointed into World Bank Group Sanctions Board PAGE 5

‘NBA MAKES NO PROFIT FROM THE STAMP AND SEAL’ QUOTABLES It is not by our choice, that you will say this is where you will come from. But, the fact that God has made it possible for us to be one country, means that where you come from shouldn’t be a factor in order to move this country forward.’ - Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, Lawyer, Life Bencher, Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria ‘For groups of people that wish to come out and protest peacefully, they are free to do that and they will be protected. But, if you have the mind to come out to protest violently, we are going to use maximum force.’ - Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria

#EndSARS Lekki Shooting: CNN Objects to Lagos Judicial Panel’s Jurisdiction to Summon it as Witness PAGE 5

Lawyers as Frontline Advocates and Protectors of Nigeria’s Next Generation PAGE 6

/3

15.12.2020

Of Invisible Buhari, Maina The two matters which have been of great interest to Nigerians in the last couple of weeks are the President’s invitation to the National Assembly (NASS) to address members on the insecurity that has pervaded our nation, and Abdulrasheed Maina’s jumping bail and extradition back home.

The President’s Invitation to NASS I have listened to various arguments on this matter; and with all due respect; it is my submission that, the President can appear before NASS to address them. However, I will only touch on a few major points, while restricting the basis of my brief analysis on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution) in that regard.

NASS: Law Making and Oversight Functions Here are some of the reasons for my position: First, by virtue of Section 4(2) of the Constitution, NASS can make laws regarding any matter included on the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution - the Armed Forces and Police are Items No. 38 and 45 on that list, respectively; and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (presently President Muhammadu Buhari) is the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces. Section 88(1)(a) of the Constitution then empowers NASS to investigate any matter or thing, with respect to which it has powers to make laws, for the purpose of, inter alia, enabling NASS to expose corruption, inefficiency, and waste in the execution of its laws (Section 88(2)(b) of the Constitution).

This means that, since NASS can make laws for the Military and Police, it follows that it can investigate matters concerning them, their performance, especially with regard to their inefficiency and waste, and failure to protect the lives and property of the people, and/ or crush the insurgency that is responsible for the wanton and incessant killing of our brothers and sisters in the North East. See the cases of Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti & 3 Ors v AGF, Chief of Army Staff & 7 Ors 1985 2 N.W.L.R. Part 6 Page 211; Stabilini Visinoni Ltd v Mallinson & Partners Ltd 2014 12 N.W.L.R. Part 1420 Page 134 on misconduct/dereliction of duty.

The invitation of the President to address NASS is not an investigation of the President personally, but I would imagine, a look into the conduct of the Armed Forces vis-a-vis the rising, incessant insecurity in the North East, the recent massacre in Zabarmari, and a request for a general framework which will assure NASS and Nigerians generally that, going forward, the Government will leave no stone unturned to face the insurgency head on.

For instance, pertinent questions that can be asked are, if any alternative plans have been made by Government to receive the Tucano Jets when they are ready for delivery, if the Air Force tarmac in Kainji is not suitable for receiving them (we don’t need to be told

the nitty-gritty, if it will compromise military strategy); is there any truth to the allegations that Nigeria runs the risk of forfeiting the Jets if we are unable to take delivery of them, which would amount to a waste/loss of our $493 million? In any event, it is doubtful that any member of NASS will be asking the President to reveal secret strategies of how the Nigerian Army intends to fight the war!

Immunity from Proceedings Second, Section 308 which confers immunity from criminal and civil proceedings on the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor during their period in office, refers to court proceedings; an invitation to address NASS is not a court proceeding. A court proceeding is an action instituted in a court of law, for the determination of one disputed issue or the other. By any stretch of the imagination, NASS is not a court of law (nor is any issue being disputed with President Buhari); it is the Legislative arm of government, as there are the two other arms of Government - the Executive and the Judiciary; NASS is not part of the Judiciary. I therefore humbly submit that, Section 308 of the Constitution is inapplicable in this situation.

Primary Purpose of Government Third and most importantly, the security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of Government (Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution); and the doctrine of separation of powers (Sections 4, 5 & 6 of the Constitution) presupposes that, the three arms of government act as checks and balances against each other. Is it therefore not strange, that NASS would be unable to perform this oversight function for something so crucial as the security of the nation, which is one of the main reasons why we have a government in the first place?

It would be good for President Buhari to honour the invitation - even if he went there and refused to answer certain questions whose answers are not for public consumption, or attend the NASS session in the company of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, who is an eloquent Professor of Law, or the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, since they are in a good position to decipher what is privileged information and what should not be divulged publicly, should such questions be put to the President. The President’s attendance would have, at least, shown an element of personal care and concern for the plight of our people in the North East, and our security situation.

Abdulrasheed Maina: A Flight Risk When I heard that Abdulrasheed Maina had jumped bail, I wasn't surprised. I wondered why Senator Ali Ndume, had stood surety for a known flight risk. But, more importantly, I wondered why a known flight risk - someone who had fled the country twice already, would be granted bail in the first place. Luckily for Senator Ndume, Maina was successfully fished out and extradited from Niger where he had escaped to.

Did Maina deserve to be Granted Bail?

In Ojo v F. R.N. 2006 9 N.W.L.R. Part 984 Page 103 at 115, I. T. Muhammad JCA (as he then was) (now CJN) defined bail thus: "Bail generally is the freeing or setting at liberty one arrested or imprisoned, upon others becoming sureties by recognisance for his appearance at a day and place certainly assigned, he also entering into self- recognisance". In Okafor v IGP 1964 A.N.L.R. 589 the court held that, the main function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused at trial.

How would anyone have ensured Maina’s presence at his trial, without him being remanded in custody and delivered to the court by the authorities? With Maina’s known history of appearing and disappearing like a magician (“ori changer, babari changer” as late magician, Professor Peller used to say when he made thing disappear and reappear), any Judge who granted a known flight risk like him bail, cannot be said to have exercised his discretion judicially or judiciously - quite the opposite - as granting of a bail application under such circumstances, would be adjudged to be perverse - that is, against the weight of evidence.

We are all aware of Section 36(5) of the Constitution which provides that every person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty. In fact, Section 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) provides that a Defendant is entitled to bail, unless the court sees reason to the contrary. Some of the reasons why a Defendant may not be admitted to bail are listed in Section 162 of ACJA - and, in Maina’s case, specifically Section 162(b) - the Defendant may attempt to evade his trial (jump bail).

In short, even though the court has the discretion as to whether to grant bail or not, such discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously. The definition of judicious is "having, shown, or done with good judgement or sense".

In 2013, when Abdulrasheed Maina was sacked by the Jonathan administration over an allegation of a N2 billion fraud, he disappeared from Nigeria to destinations unknown and stealthily reappeared into the country in 2017.

When it was revealed that Maina had not only secretly returned to Nigeria, but had been reinstated as Director in the Ministry of Interior and promoted, he was sacked once more, and again, he disappeared into the night! He snuck back into the country, and was finally rearrested by the DSS in 2019.

In Adams v AGF 2007 All F.W.L.R. Part 355 Page 429 at 445, the Court of Appeal held inter alia that, the onus is on the Prosecution to show that the Applicant for bail is one that should be refused bail.

In Maina’s case, not only did the Prosecution have their work easily cut out for them with his antecedents, the trial Judge should have taken judicial notice of Maina’s penchant for disappearance as it was very much in the public domain, and done the needful which, in the circumstances, was to have refused the bail application, since he was certainly not deserving of it.

For Senator Ndume, all is well that ends well, it seems!

Dear Editor Dear Editor, Re: The Law and Service Chiefs’ Removal Salam Alaikum.

You picked a very topical issue today. You touched on all the precise legal issues and your conclusion inevitable, PMBs buy in is necessary.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Former Chairman, Pension Reform Taskforce, Abdulrasheed Maina

Two questions: Will the change of guards dramatically change the course of the war?

Secondly, what hard lessons do you learn from your experience as a Head of State once overthrown in a coup?

“HOW WOULD ANYONE HAVE ENSURED MAINA’S PRESENCE AT HIS TRIAL, WITHOUT HIM BEING REMANDED IN CUSTODY AND DELIVERED TO THE COURT BY THE AUTHORITIES? WITH MAINA’S KNOWN HISTORY OF APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING LIKE A MAGICIAN......”

Finally, military contractors are fine, but the international dimensions of the war should be thoroughly interrogated. What is the French connection? Are the countries that are reeling from our ban on rice imports etc.. happy?

Good copy!!

A.A.R.

Dear Editor, Re: ‘Nigeria Needs the “Low Profile” Approach of the 1970s’ - Ayò Obe CORRIGENDUM For proper correct historical context, the pioneering and founding team of the CIVIL LIBERTIES ORGANISATION (CLO), the first ever indigenous organised human rights organisation in Nigeria, which berthed on 15th October, 1987, are: 1.OLISA AGBAKOBA, SAN (President) 2.CLEMENT NWANKWO (Secretary) 3.MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN (Director, Legal Services) 4.RICHARD AKINOLA (Director, Research) 5.ABDUL OROH (Director, Organisation) 6.EMMANUEL ERHAKPOTOBOR (Treasurer).

We also constituted the Board of Governors.

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN

4/LAW REPORT

Federal High Court Lacks Jurisdiction to Determine Contracts Generally Facts

The Respondents and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), were parties to a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) in relation to Oil Mining Leases (OML) 18, 24, 25 and 29. The Appellant was not a party to the JOA, just as NNPC was not a party to the Agreement for Assignment (“the SPA”) of 45% Undivided Participating Interest in OML 25 owned jointly by the Respondents.

Sometime in June 2013, the Appellant became aware that the Respondents were considering divesting their 45% Undivided Participating Interest in OMLs 18, 24, 25 and 29 and receiving expression of interest from credible organisations, the Appellant therefore, expressed its interest in OMLs 24 and 25, demonstrating financial and technical capabilities. The Appellant was pre-qualified to bid for OML 25 in October, 2013 and by 13th July, 2014, the Appellant and the Respondents executed the SPA for assignment of the 45% Undivided Participating Interest in OML 25 owned by the Respondents, in consideration of the sum of US$453,320.00 (four hundred and fifty-three thousand, three hundred and twenty US Dollars).

By Article 19.4 of the JOA, a transferring party (the Respondents) is required to give notice of its intention to assign its Participating Interests to a Third Party and give details of the name and address of the Third Party, including the terms and conditions of the proposed assignment, so Honourable Ejembi Eko, JSC that the other party can exercise its right of first option or interest. The notice gives the other party 30 days within which to exercise its right of option/pre-emption. Some In the Supreme Court of Nigeria terms of the agreement between the Appellant and the Holden at Abuja Respondents however, included waiver by the NNPC of On Friday, the 5th day of June, 2020 its pre-emption right under the existing JOA; the consent of NNPC to the assignment of the Respondent’s 45% Before Their Lordships Undivided Participating Interest in OML 25; and the Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili approval of the Minister of Petroleum Resources for the Musa Dattijo Muhammad assignment under the JOA. Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun NNPC subsequently, exercised its right of pre-emption Chima Centus Nweze under the JOA by its letter of 8th August, 2014. Thus, Ejembi Eko the Appellant filed an action against the Respondents at Justices, Supreme Court the Federal High Court, whereat it challenged NNPC’s SC.765/2017 right of pre-emption on the ground that same lapsed on 4th August, 2014, and that the Respondents negligently Between and/or collusively in bad faith when it failed to object to …Appellant NNPC’s letter which foreclosed the Appellant, as a Third Crestar Integrated Natural Resources Limited Party interested in the Respondent’s 45% Participating And Interest in OML 25. The Appellant alleged further that the Respondents failed in their contractual obligation, to 1. The Shell Petroleum Development procure the conditions precedent stipulated in the terms Company of Nigeria Limited of agreement in the SPA. It therefore, sought inter alia, 2. Total E&P Nigeria Limited an declaration that the termination of the SPA by the 3. Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited…

Respondents Respondents by their letter of 20th January, 2015 was (Substituted by the Order of the wrongful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever; and an Court of Appeal dated 17/3/2011) Order of Specific Performance, compelling the Respondents to transfer their Participating Interest in OML 25 to it.

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Ejembi Eko, JSC) The Respondents raised a Preliminary Objection to the competence of the court, on the ground that the action relates to breach of contract, which the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to determine. In its decision, the trial court held that though the suit relates to a contractual relationship between parties, it is not a simple contract as the Federal High Court has original jurisdiction to determine dispute of this nature, which is connected or pertaining to mines, minerals, including oil field, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas. The Respondents successfully appealed the decision of the trial court; hence, the appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination The sole issue considered by the Apex Court was: Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Federal High Court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the Appellant’s claims.

Arguments Counsel submitted on behalf of the Appellant, that the bedrock of the dispute was the Respondent’s 45% Participating Interest in the oil field covered by OML 25, as the basis of the action filed by the Appellant at the Federal High Court, was to determine whether, pursuant to the SPA, the Appellant was entitled to the Respondent’s 45% Participating Interest in OML 25. Counsel conceded that the transaction with the Respondents was contractual, but argued that the transaction was not a simple contract that can be entertained by a State High Court. He argued that by the provisions of Section 251(1)(i)(n) of the Constitution

“THERE IS NO ASPECT OF BREACH OF CONTRACT, BE IT A SIMPLE OR COMPLEX CONTRACT, THAT THE CONSTITUTION, IN SECTION 251(1) THEREOF, CONFERS JURISDICTION ON THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT TO ADJUDICATE ON”

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 7(1)(n) and 7(3) of the Federal High Court Act, the lower court was bound in law to have reached the inevitable conclusion that the dispute between the parties had its roots in an oil field, which is within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court – RABIU v THE STATE (1980) 8-11 SC 130 at 195. Counsel posited that the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction to entertain the action, which challenged the executive and administrative action of the NNPC, a Federal Government Agency.

For the Respondent however, counsel submitted that the suit of the Appellant at the trial court relates basically to a simple contract, which is outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court – ONUORAH v K.R.P.C. & Anor.

(2005) All FWLR (Pt. 256) 1356.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the unwavering issue of jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, their Lordships relied on the decision in OLORUNTOBA-OJU v DOPAMU (2003) FWLR (Pt. 158) 1268, to hold that the Federal High Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, the precincts of which are circumscribed by Section 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Section 7(1) of the Federal High Court Act. It is therefore, the subject matter of the suit that determines whether or not the Federal High Court can rightfully exercise jurisdiction over it – OMOSOWAMI v CHIEDOZIE (1998) 9 NWLR (Pt. 566) 477. Though the court can legitimately expound or expatriate on its jurisdiction, it cannot validly expand the frontiers of its jurisdiction to cover matters which the Constitution or the Statute enabling its jurisdiction has not vested in it.

The trial court was in error, when it held that the Federal High Court is a court of unlimited jurisdiction.

Section 251(1) of the Constitution is in pari materia with Section 7(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004. There is no aspect of breach of contract, be it a simple or complex contract, that the Constitution, in Section 251(1) thereof, confers jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to adjudicate on. It is clear from Sections 249 and 251 of the Constitution that the Federal High Court, by its establishment, is intended to be a court of limited jurisdiction over matters enumerated in Section 251(1) thereof. Torts and Contract and their breach are not within those enumerated matters. The intent and purpose for the establishment of the Federal High Court is that matters of tort or contract should not be actionable at the Federal High Court, but at the State High Court – ONUORAH v K.R.P.C & ANOR ( SUPRA).

The issue in this case, is a compound of the tort of negligence and collusion actuating the breach of contract alleged against the Respondents. In both circumstances, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter. The trumpeted adumbration by the Appellant on the phrases – “issues relating to", “arising from", or “ancillary to" have been addressed in the case of TRADE BANK PLC v BENILUX (NIG.) LTD (2003) 9 NWLR ( Pt. 825) 416. The Agreement for Assignment (the SPA) of 45% Participating Interest in OML 25 owned jointly by the Respondents, is not directly connected to or arise from the items listed in Section 251(1)(n) of the Constitution; the dispute is contractual, not constitutional. The SPA did not have a thing to do with the activity that would be carried out by the owners of the lease, in exploration for oil drilling or exploring crude. The suit was not about an oil field covered by OML 25, but about Appellant’s right to the participating interests of the Respondents in OML 25 and breach of the terms of the SPA. It follows that, the decision of the lower court that the case was not one which the Federal High Court is imbued with jurisdiction to adjudicate on, is unassailable. The submission by the Appellant that decision in P.&C.H.S. CO. LTD v MIGFO (NIG.) LTD & ANOR. (2012) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1333) 555, was decided per incuriam Section 7(3) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 is unfounded.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo, Esq. for the Appellant.

Hamid Abdulkareem, Esq. with I.U. Robert, Esq. for the Respondent.

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

5

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS Governors to Stop Tax Collection Concession as States’ Revenues Decline Plan to harmonise taxes Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Governors of the 36 states of the federation have resolved to stop contracting collection of taxes to consultants, saying the huge commission being paid out to contractors would help swell the states’ internally generated revenue (IGR).

Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the governor of Ekiti State, said yesterday the planned review of the policy on revenue collection by states was part of reforms being considered to boost the financial outlook at the subnational level.

Many states, notably Lagos, have contracted their revenuecollection duties to consultants despite having internal revenue collection agencies.

This has resulted in the loss of internally-collected revenue in the form of commission to the contractors.

Fayemi, at the sixth Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) National Peer Learning Event in Abuja, also listed other reforms being planned by the states.

He said: "Other reforms being implemented by state governments under the SFTAS programme and as detailed in the “COVID-19 Response for Tax Authorities” issued by the NGF Secretariat and endorsed by us at the forum earlier this year include: ending the contracting-out of tax collections and assessments."

According to him, another resolve of the governors is to increase collaboration among the internal revenue service, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and local governments; roll-out of taxfor-service initiatives; scale-up of cashless payments; and the deployment of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to support effective land administration and property taxes.

He said this year has presented the states with a perfect storm of difficulties to deal with, from a health pandemic to the second economic recession in five years.

He explained that at the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the forum worked with the federal government, international partners and the private sector to deliver the necessary response needed to contain the virus and ease out its impact on the lives of the citizens.

These, he said, include the set-up of intervention funds, roll-out of social investment programmes, distribution of palliatives, initiation of tax incentive programmes to protect and support livelihoods and businesses.

"Unfortunately, the decline in oil prices that followed the global lockdown and the social unrest, which echoed the demands of the #EndSARS protests, further worsened the country’s economic and social conditions for months.

This exacerbated the already vulnerable fiscal environment for governments at both the national and sub-national level.

"Other accompanying trends have included rising inflation rate, degrading exchange rate and growing unemployment," he added.

Fayemi said the governors worked together to reflate

the economy, adding that the need to improve government revenues to adequately service planned expenditures cannot be overemphasised.

He said 2020 half-year year-on-year IGR performance reported a negative growth of 11.7 per cent for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, he stated that despite the overall decline, some states recorded positive growth, adding that three states in this category are Ebonyi, Gombe and Yobe, which recorded more than 50 per cent in growth.

He said the three states would have experiences to share with their other colleagues.

On the new finance bill, Fayemi said: "At the federal level, a new finance bill is being proposed to provide a legal framework that underpins many of the reform recommendations to stimulate the economy and deliver an effective but friendly tax system.

“The forum is actively engaging with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning on the provisions of the bill, especially those impacting state taxes and jurisdiction. It is important that the bill services the interest of all and not a few."

At the state level, the governor said they planned to professionalise their internal revenue services to be taxpayercentric and responsive to the new normal of digitalising tax administration.

He added: "The world’s trade and financial market are going digital and we must adapt or be left behind. We are not canvassing or proposing for new taxes to be introduced but emphasising the need for our internal revenue services to be more strategic, innovative and pragmatic in administering those taxes, fees, levies and charges that have been legally prescribed for collection across various jurisdictions.”

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, quoted global analysts as saying that Nigeria remains the fastest growing economy in Africa.

She said business and economic indicators anticipated that the country’s path toward economic recovery would commence in the fourth quarter of 2020.

She said: "Overall, economic analysts have predicted that the global economy will recover in 2021, especially with the positive outcomes of the race toward the discovery of a vaccine. For Nigeria, economic analysts forecast that the economy will experience positive growth in the first or second quarter of 2021.

"Going forward, the impact of COVID-19 on the economic and fiscal revenue outlook for 2021 presents a significant opportunity for states to strategise and reposition your fiscal revenue management systems for this era called the ‘new normal’. Fiscal reforms are important now, more than ever, to mitigate against current and future risks, bearing any future pandemics or other global crises.”

She said the federal government has embarked on a fundamental strategy

that comprises wide-ranging reforms in its tax policies and administration in the last few years.

For instance, she pointed out, the Finance Act 2019 and the Finance Bill 2020 have brought significant changes and consolidation to tax administration and management in the country.

The minister explained that the Finance Bill 2020 seeks to achieve the promotion of fiscal equity; reform domestic tax laws in alignment with global best practices; introduce tax incentives; support MSMEs and raise revenues for the government.

“Some of the key provisions of the bill include: tax relief for companies that donate

to a COVID-19 relief fund; a reduction of 50 per cent in the minimum tax rate from 0.5 per cent to 0.25 per cent of gross turnover for financial years ending January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020; an exemption from tertiary education tax by companies with turnover of less than N25 million; among others," she said.

Ahmed explained further that the Finance Bill 2020 will amend extant laws in order to facilitate and strengthen revenue mobilisation and growth in 2021.

She listed the laws to be amended as the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income Tax Act, Personal Income Tax Act, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, Customs and Excise Tariff, Etc.

(Consolidated) Act, Value Added Tax Act, Federal Inland Revenue Services (Establishment) Act, Nigerian Export Processing Zone Act, Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, and the Public Procurement Act. Some of the other ongoing initiatives of the federal government, she said, include the Integrated Revenue Monitoring System; the implementation of the National (Single Window) Project; and the full nationwide adoption of the Joint Tax Board – TIN. "With these initiatives, we seek to chart a new course for the tax system while addressing tax encumbrances for individuals and businesses in Nigeria,”

she said.

Earlier, the Director-General of NGF, Mr. Asishana Okauru, said given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments at both the national and sub-national levels suffered revenue shortfall and contraction in their tax base owing to the decline in business activities.

He said governments have been compelled to increase public spending to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by setting up testing and treatment centres from scratch and implementing targeted responses in public health, security, public works, social safety and other stimulustargeted interventions, including tax relief for individual taxpayers and businesses.

BOOSTING COMMERCE...

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo (left), and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during the inauguration of Abuja Chamber of Commerce Trade and Convention Centre in Abuja…yesterday

Moody's: COVID-19, Oil Price Shocks to Curb Nigerian Economic Growth Projects 2.1% rise in 2021 GDP Obinna Chima Nigeria's economic growth will be severely strained by the double whammy of COVID-19 and the volatility of the oil price in the international market, Moody's Investors Service said in an annual report on the country yesterday.

According to the report, the country's credit profile reflects the country's increasing exposure to fiscal and external shocks because of its weak government finances, which are constrained by an extremely narrow revenue base that hinders fiscal consolidation.

It said additional credit challenges stemmed from the political risks around the conflict with Boko Haram, potential attacks on oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta and growing income inequality.

Moody’s stated that the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated global downturn severely hurt economies in Africa, with the regional economy contracting for the first time in decades.

It predicted that Nigeria's economy would contract by

three per cent in 2020, compared with growth of 2.2 per cent in 2019, because of the severity of the strain caused by the pandemic and the accompanying oil price shock.

The rating agency explained that given containment and prevention measures that constrained the functioning of important economic sectors such as trade, coupled with global spillovers (particularly the sharp drop in international oil prices) that significantly weakened both domestic and external demand, the shock to the economy was most severe in the second quarter of 2020 when it contracted by 6.1 per cent.

It noted that despite an improvement in the third quarter of the year, when the economy contracted by 3.6 per cent in 2020, “overall contraction will represent Nigeria's worst recession in the last 25 years.”

Moody’s added: “The shock is likely to continue to restrict the economy over the next few years. The economy took three years to record growth above two per cent following the 2016 oil price shock, still

below population growth.

“The current shocks will amplify Nigeria's existing credit vulnerabilities. In the near term, a significant drop in oil revenue will reduce the country's already extremely low tax base, undermining fiscal strength and reducing the government's capacity to support the economy.

“In addition, pressure on the fragile balance of payments could intensify, threatening external and macroeconomic stability. In the longer term, the pandemic's impact on growth, particularly in the large informal sector, is still uncertain and could weaken economic strength.”

It anticipated that Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth reach 2.1 per cent in 2021, supported by a rebound in international oil prices, predicting $45 per barrel in 2021 from $41 in 2020 and the base effect from 2020.

“However, risks remain given the uncertainty over how long coronavirus-related disruption to the global economy will last. Similar to other African economies, Nigeria

is particularly exposed given its largely absent social safety net, coupled with limited fiscal and monetary ammunition to support the economy, which has reduced economic disruption in larger, more advanced economies.

“Beyond 2021, we currently assume that oil prices will return to a medium-term range of $45-$65 per barrel as demand recovers and supply adjusts further, supporting Nigeria's economic recovery. Overall, we expect real GDP growth to remain sluggish and insufficient to increase living standards over the next two years,” it added.

In his comment, Moody's Vice President - Senior Credit Officer and the report's coauthor, Aurelien Mali, said: "After this year's economic contraction, Nigeria's deficit will remain high and debt levels will continue to rise quickly, albeit from a moderate level.

“The country's weak institutions and governance framework also constrain the credit profile and have significantly affected both economic growth and the government's fiscal strength."

8

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Deregulation of Petrol Price Irreversible, Says FG Inaugurates committee on pricing Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday foreclosed a reversal of the deregulation policy that introduced a market reflective pricing regime for determining the pump price of petrol.

Against the background of the protest by organised labour over recent increases in the price of petrol and electricity tariff, the government said it would no longer fix the pump price of petrol, which will now be determined by various variables, including the global price of crude oil.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said at the inauguration of the 23man Technical Committee on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) pricing framework, in Abuja, that the technical committee would work to establish a more transparent method of arriving at the petroleum product price.

"Make no mistake about it, the federal government has taken a back seat and is no longer involved in price-fixing of petrol. It did not fix the current price because it was gotten from the commercials and other market-related factors," he said.

According to him, it is expected that the committee will work to come up with a viable framework for PMS price modulation.

Ngige said the move was aimed at bringing relief to Nigerians and consumers by bringing the pump price to N162.44k per litre.

He said that all the stakeholders – petroleum retailers, independent marketers and the Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC) had approved the new price template.

NLC General Secretary, Mr. Emma Ugbaja, raised objection to the appointment of a former Group Executive Director (Refineries) of the

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Azubike Anyaoku, as chairman of the committee and the initial reference made by the minister referring to the committee as a tripartite one.

Ngige, however, cleared the air saying that Anyaoku is a federal government's nominee and that the committee is a bipartite plus.

The terms of reference

of the committee include reviewing the cost of supply and incidental costs and arriving at the basis of determining market reflective pump price cap under the template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Act and engaging all stakeholders to establish a price review framework.

The committee is to also carry out any other

assessment that will facilitate its work.

The technical committee is expected to submit its report by January 25, 2021.

Besides Anyaoku, others on the committee are Mr. Lawal Musa (Secretary,) Mr. Umar Osifo (PENGASSAN), Mr. Williams Akporehia (NUPENG), Mr. Saidu Abdullahi (PPPRA), Mr. Ahmed Bobbi (Petroleum Equalization Fund).

Also in the committee are Mr. Ahmed Zakari (Special Assistant to the President on Infrastructure), Mr. Najeem Yasin (NLC), Mr. Nasirudeen Usman (NLC), Chief Hyginus Ouegbu (TUC), a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. C. C. Dike, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

SERAS Awards: Zenith Bank Boss, Onyeagwu, Emerges CEO of the Year Bank wins other awards Dike Onwuamaeze Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, has emerged CEO of the Year at the Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards held in Lagos.

According to the judges, Onyeagwu was selected for a plethora of reasons, which included a robust environmental and social management system for screening credit facilities and continued investment in social initiatives in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and for joining 131 other banks from across the globe as a founding signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Principles for Responsible Banking.

A statement from the bank explained that the judges found him worthy for his commitment to the promotion of sustainability and responsible business practices in Nigeria, “by his frontal leadership of sustainability in Zenith Bank, thereby enabling best industry practices in the banking sector, and for his passion to reduce carbon emissions in the bank’s operations.”

At the event, Zenith Bank Plc also emerged winner in two other categories, carting home the awards for, “Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being” and “Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being.”

Out of the five finalists for the Best Company in Promotion of Good Health and Well-Being Category, Zenith Bank emerged winner for donating N1 billion in support of efforts to address

the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, donation of N200 million towards Lagos State Government’s efforts to provide relief to the victims of the Abule-Ado pipeline explosion, and for spending over N300 million in 2019 to support various healthcare initiatives across the country.

In addition, Zenith Bank was adjudged winner in the category for the Best Company in Promotion of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment for its Z-Woman initiative which offers credit facilities to women-owned businesses at single-digit interest rate and for a gender-balanced workforce (about 49.80% female and 50.20% male).

The Z-Woman initiative has so far extended up to N1 billion in total credit facilities.

The Sustainability, Enterprise and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) is an initiative of TruCSR, which celebrates and promotes investments by corporate organizations in the society through CSR and sustainability initiatives. It made its debut in 2007 and participation was opened to other countries of Africa in 2016.

The 2020 awards featured 1,500 projects by 98 organisations. The SERAS Jury Board consists of global thought and best-practices leaders from around the world such as Deborah Liepziger (USA)President; Tunde Arogunmati (Nigeria); Maria Sillanpaa (Finland); Nyasha Gwatidzo (Zimbabwe); Amjed Achour (Morocco); Gina DinKariuki (Kenya); Adesuwa Onyenokwe (Nigeria); Paul Kapelus (South Africa); Ellen Gunning (Ireland); Scott Walker (England).

MATTER OF TAXATION...

L–R: Senator Michael Nnachi; the new Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Abuja and District Society, Mrs. Clara Nnachi; and President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, at the investiture of the chairman of the institute in Abuja…recently godwin omoigui

FG Achieves Retention of $6bn In-country Oil Sector Spending Indigenous operators' share of domestic gas supply hits 60% Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it had achieved the retention of about $6 billion in total spending in the oil and gas industry within the country, from just 5 per cent of about $20 billion in the last 10 years.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, said at the maiden edition of the company’s service delivery forum and stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, that the mandate to develop in-country capacities and capabilities had started to pay off.

Wabote who noted that from almost zero capacity, the country now has two world-class pipe mills and five pipe coating yards.

He added that about 40 per cent of marine vessels used in the oil and gas industry is currently owned

by Nigerians.

In addition, four drydocking facilities are now active in Port Harcourt,

Onne and Lagos while over 50,000 direct jobs have been created on the back of the implementation of the NOGICD Act. Wabote said: “Since inception in 2010, the implementation of the Act has resulted in 35 per cent of in-country value retention compared to the less than 5 per cent value retention before the NOGICD act.

“Before the act, we had an annual spend of $20 billion with little or nothing retained in-country. Today, I can confidently say that we spend over $6 billion in-country per year.

“We have 64 operating companies and about 7,000 oil and gas service companies pulling their weight in the industry. Our indigenous operators are responsible for 15 per cent of our oil production and 60 per cent of our domestic gas supply.”

In fabrication, he said Nigeria can handle fabrication of more than 120,000 tonnes per year, adding that all cables required in the oil and gas

sector are all manufactured in-country.

“Over 10 million training man-hours have been delivered via our human capacity development programmes. No surprise that our indigenous workforce was able to sustain oil production at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown,” he said.

According to him, in the last four years, the company built its 17-storey headquarters, a 10MW power plant for the headquarters building, the industrial park in Bayelsa State as well as the completion and inauguration of the 5,000bpd Waltersmith modular refinery.

He stated that the NCDMB has successfully exited appropriation since 2018 and intend to maintain its self-funding status through the prudent management of the NCDF. Wabote said the only infrastructure in Africa for FPSO integration is now available in Nigeria, stressing that the Egina FPSO, which is the largest in the world, was integrated into a yard

in Lagos.

According to him, the board’s 10-year strategic plan will propel the oil and gas industry towards 70 per cent Nigerian content by 2027.

He listed some of the projects lined up to achieve that to include the construction of 100 hectares of oil and gas industrial parks spread across four states complete with the provision of infrastructure and utilities to enhance local manufacturing.

He added that the company has partnerships for the local manufacturing of 1.2 million composite LPG cylinders per year with the first phase scheduled for inauguration next year and the establishment of additional modular refineries in Bayelsa and Edo States.

"The federal government is also in partnership to deepen LPG utilisation in the North with the roll-out of LPG bottling plants and depots in 10 northern states of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, Gombe, Jigawa and Abuja," he stated.

6/

15.12.2020

Lawyers as Frontline Advocates and Protectors of Nigeria’s Next Generation The Keynote Address delivered last week by Funke Aboyade, SAN FCIArb, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Branch 2020 Law Week “We are this world. Its next generation. If you’re not trying to save us, then what exactly are you trying to save?” – Claudia Gray Introduction he topic is apt for these troubled times, as is the quote above. I hope to provoke, to engage, to challenge, to educate not just the audience but also myself, to ginger, to proffer solutions.

T

Questions, Questions I begin with perhaps provocative questions. Why Lawyers as frontline advocates, what qualifies us? Put less politely, who do we think we are? Who really are the frontline advocates? Are we really the salt of the earth, as we like to think? Or have we lost our saltiness, no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot?

This, after all, is a country where we’ve gone from the days when people took off their shoes, tiptoed and spoke in whispers just to cross the gates of a Judge’s house to, well, donning a Judge’s robes, machete in hand, file tucked under the armpit, sauntering out the gates of the temple of justice, unchallenged.

What went wrong?

Does the next generation need protection? Protection from what? Protection by whom? Do they want it from Lawyers - frontline advocates or by whatever name called?

Put differently, of what use are we to them?

Have Lawyers been living up to their roles? Have we been promoting the rule of law? What do we have to bequeath to the next generation? Is NBA itself fulfilling its role?

The Next Generation(s) Perhaps we should first establish who is/are the next generation(s).

Millennials or Gen Y - born between 1981 and 1996.

Millennials are confident, ambitious, and achievementoriented. They also have high expectations of their employers, tend to seek new challenges at work, and aren’t afraid to question authority. They are tech savvy digital natives, plugged in 24/7; they are the most active group on social media. They are team oriented, fast learners, natural networkers, multi-taskers, restless, prone to job hopping and therefore, have varied work experience (The Common Characteristics of Millennial Professionals – Sally Kane).

They usually put achievement before financial reward.

They relish challenging and sometimes, impossible tasks. This is because they are driven by a sense of accomplishment, and being part of a big breakthrough. Because they are assertive and have grown up as kids challenging their parents, they care less about hierarchy (Managing Millennials in the Workplace www.ibs.edu.ng).

It is estimated that 50-75% Millennials make up the Nigerian workforce. In the US, they are the largest living generation.

Gen Z - born after 1996 through 2010.

They are on track to be the most well-educated generation yet. They are digital natives who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones. Their views on key social and policy issues, look very much like the millennials (Parker & Igielink) “Since Nigeria’s Gen Zs did not witness the totalitarianism of colonial and military rule, they are largely pro-freedom of speech and not scared of its consequences” Tapping into the Chutzpah of Nigeria’s Generation Z – November 30 2020 Tunji Adegbite.

Gen Z are community-focussed. They believe more in action than words, and since they’re always online, are continually sharing experiences.

There are at least 82 million Nigerians younger than 15 years old - roughly 42.54% of Nigerians.

Wait, What I’ve just described the demographics of the real #EndSARS protesters? Millennials and Gen Z - the #Sorosoke Generation.

We saw how organised they were, real time. Feeling peckish or thirsty? Here’s a croissant. Òfada rice, òbè ayamase, èwa agònyin tastefully packaged for lunch; no funny looking half dead “sausage” roll or tasteless cheap food here. Bottled water and fruit juice whilst you’re at it.

Failing phone battery power? Free solar-powered charging points. Left your charger at home? We’ve got you covered.

Hoodlums trying to infiltrate and Police nowhere to be seen? No problem, we’ll hire our private security and bring our dogs. Boring listening to all those speeches? Here’s live music and DJs to liven things up. Government freeze our bank accounts funding our protests? Bank accounts are so yesterday anyway, hello bitcoin. Need some shut-eye

Funke Aboyade, SAN and don’t want to miss any of the action by going home?

Here’s a tent in which to catch 40 winks. They even cleared up after themselves.

They achieved great successes almost right away, with government capitulating into their initial demands. As Peter Okoye PSquare pointedly observed, “The government messed with the wrong generation”.

“They” did very well without “us”, thank you very much.

Do they need us to protect them? Can they really completely do without us?

Here’s the rub. Millennials also crave feedback and guidance.

“This is where the boomers come in, because (though mostly retired) they have something to offer.” (Sally Kane) Generation Alpha - born early 2010s through the mid-2020s i.e. even those yet unborn. So named because they are the first to be born entirely in the 21st Century.

“ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE OF THE WORLD’S OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN, IS IN NIGERIA; THAT’S 13.2 MILLION NIGERIAN CHILDREN AGED 5-14. ONLY 61% (53% IN THE NORTH) OF 6-11 YEAR OLDS REGULARLY ATTEND PRIMARY SCHOOL. THE STATISTICS GET BLEAKER FOR THE GIRL CHILD, FOR INSTANCE ONLY 47.3% OF GIRLS IN THE NORTH WEST ARE IN SCHOOL”

They are the children of Millennials.

Front Burner Issues of the Next Generation(s) What does the next generation worry about? How can we assist? How can we protect them? How can we add value?

Down to Brass Tacks – the Reality 1. Education One out of every five of the world’s out-of-school children, is in Nigeria; that’s 13.2 million Nigerian children aged 5-14.

Only 61% (53% in the North) of 6-11 year olds regularly attend primary school. The statistics get bleaker for the girl child, for instance only 47.3% of girls in the North West are in school.

And yet, FG’s 2021 proposed budget for education is a meagre 5.6% of the total budget, the lowest in 10 years - the UNESCO benchmark is 15-20%. N742.5 billion is budgeted for Recurrent and Capital Expenditure of the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies of which N579.7bn is for personnel cost, N35.4bn for overheads and a mere N127.3bn for capital expenditure.

So, whether Gen Y, Z or Alpha, almost half of Nigeria’s children who we seek to protect are out of school. And no premium is placed on the education of the other half.

One need not be soothsayer to see that this is a train wreck. The chickens came home to roost long ago. We have bred several generations of young and hopeless Nigerians. The consequences are already with us – the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, the chaos the hijacked #EndSARS protests degenerated into and youth restiveness generally.

2. Unemployment, Brain Drain & Inability to Take on Meaningful Enterprise By 2050, Africa will have the largest youth workforce.

Nigeria’s unemployment rate in Q2 2020 was 27.1%, with 21.7 million Nigerians unemployed. Nigeria’s underemployment and unemployment rate is a combined 55.7%.

Youths are 64% of total unemployed Nigerians. 13.9m Nigerian youths are unemployed. Let that sink in for a minute.

Of 40 million youths eligible to work, only 14.7 million are fully employed.

Nigeria is the fourth leading source country of new immigrants to Canada.

3. Poverty China, on November 23, 2020, announced it had eliminated absolute poverty by lifting all its citizens beyond the $1/ day poverty line. That’s a big deal. Not one of its 1.43 billion citizens, lives in absolute poverty. It did not happen overnight, it was the result of an audacious economic reform plan Nigeria in contrast bears the ignoble title of the world’s poverty capital, with the largest rate of people living in extreme poverty – 82.9 million people or 40% of our population.

4. Security, the Rule of Law, Human Dignity & Freedom of Speech The Mo Ibrahim Index of Africa Governance 2020 report underscores the county’s decline in security and rule of law, participation rights and inclusion foundations for economic opportunity human development. Nigeria scored an abysmal 21/100 for a functioning criminal justice system - placing us in the lowest performing quarter of nations; 35/100 for law enforcement.

From Independence in 1960 till now, there has been a gradual but steep decline of law and order, as well as sustained assaults on the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian citizen, particularly the next generation.

The 2014 abduction of 276 school girls from Chibok Secondary School, Borno State; the 2018 abduction of 110 school girls from Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State and the 2014 gruesome massacre of 59 school boys at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State.

All are a direct consequence of the country’s shocking decline in law and order indices, and a damning indictment of the failure of Lawyers as a body to keep government’s feet to the fire. Save the #BringBackOurGirls campaign which has been harassed and demonised by government with nary a squeak from us as a body, life has pretty much gone on as usual in the country.

As I write, 110 rice farmers have been slaughtered in Borno State by Boko Haram. I am yet to hear the loud and unrelenting voice of the NBA. The ongoing banditry in the North West; the farmer/ herdsmen internecine clashes particularly in the North cont'd on page 7

15.12.2020

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Lawyers as Frontline Advocates and Protectors of Nigeria’s Next Generation cont'd from page 6

Central and parts of the South West and South East; kidnappings now an industry particularly in the entire South necessitating the setting up early this year of regional security outfits like Amotekun in the South West.

The harassment and wanton extrajudicial killings by SARS particularly in the entire South - the trigger for the #EndSARS protests. Predictably, government has resorted to demonising and harassing the #EndSARS protesters.

As lawyers, have we really stood up to be counted in pushing back against this?

The random acts of assault on the rule of law. As I write, a soldier in Ogun State jumped off the bus he was in and beat up and stripped naked a young lady walking past for “indecent dressing”. And then, calmly jumped back on the bus which zoomed away. Where to even begin?

5. IDPs The devastation wrought by Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East has resulted in over 2.7m internally displaced persons, 60% of whom are children.

And yet we carry on with our daily lives as if this is not a part of Nigeria.

The following chilling words by Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed, Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in an interview published recently in THISDAY sum it up, “At every camp…I saw school-age children in hundreds of thousands playing, with no idea of what they want or who they want to be…If we don’t address this educational menace, we have a ticking time bomb on our hands. In no time, these untaught children as they lack any form of western or religious education will grow up angry with themselves, their communities and the government and could end up posing other security challenges. It is even scarier to think that a five-year old, who was brought into IDP camp at the beginning of these crises, has now spent over a decade with no western or religious education.

And a new-born delivered at the beginning of the crises is now a teenager with no formal or informal education whatsoever. This alone should be a source of concern to everyone, especially government at all levels”.

Right there, are multiple issues of education, poverty, hopelessness, lack of an enabling environment, security threat and more. Entire next generations have been and are being born into this vicious cycle. As frontline advocates we can no longer ignore the problem and hope it will go away; we must as a body have a plan to keep government’s feet to the fire to prevent a festering situation which would make the present insurgency look like child’s play.

6. Corruption and Lack of Good Governance The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, only last week reported that the judicial sector tops the Nigeria Corruption Index between 2018 and 2020, reporting that N9.4bn was offered as bribes by lawyers or litigants to judges.

Wait what. The frontline advocates?

7. Others The economy; access to justice; shelter; health care; freedom of speech; police brutality as evidenced by the #EndSARS protests; human trafficking, slavery and prostitution; indeed, the pursuit of happiness are other areas of concern to our next generation(s).

The next generation wants a situation where they can travel simply because they feel like, not out of desperation, often ending up in forced labour or trafficked as sex slaves. Even when they travel they desire to be treated with respect at Embassies, Ports of Entry and by citizens of other countries, not despised because their passport happens to be green.

The next generation needs access to education, human dignity and the hope of excelling in their chosen field of endeavour or Canada here they come.

An Existential Threat Clearly, Nigeria’s next generations are confronted with a real existential threat compared with their counterparts elsewhere who take these things for granted.

What Next?

The legal community must come together and set an agenda for the country. The Nigerian Bar Association at national and branch level can and must take this up as a mission. By so doing we can rightly boast that we have fulfilled our calling and our oath as advocates.

The concerns of the next generation decidedly transcend the narrow definition of advocacy. The next generation includes even our citizens yet to be born – Generation Beta.

Whilst litigation is a helpful tool and as advocates we have to redouble efforts to assist in achieving results, the broader objective and more effective tool is in setting an agenda as lawyers and advocating this agenda to ensure there is reform.

How? 1. Prioritising Education - Formal, Informal, Vocational My submission is that education of the Nigerian child should be front and centre focus of frontline advocates proper funding to increase quantity and quality education from primary, through to tertiary level. After all, most, if

has reviewed the minimum age to hold office for some primary positions; in the case of the President the age has been reduced from 40 to 35. Good enough, but still most of these leaders highlighted above would not have made to their country’s prime position under our 4th Alteration. That said, caveat: youth does not necessarily equate to leadership.

Closer home, as I write, Adewale “Wally” Adeyemo, a Nigerian-American attorney has just been named as the first black to serve as US Deputy Secretary of Treasury in the Biden administration. A Millennial, he was born in Nigeria in 1981. Would he have been availed such an opportunity back home, without knowing anybody?

As Aisha Yesufu has often said, in the Nigeria of our dreams “the son of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody”.

As frontline advocates we must also advocate a change from our patriarchal society/attitude as well as cultural mind-sets that tend to stifle young people coming into leadership positions.

NBA President, Olumide Akpata, at NBA Ibadan Branch Law Week not all, states of the federation have some form of universal basic education; but there’s clearly a disconnect seeing as 13.2 million Nigerian children are currently out of school.

Drivers of this include insufficient schools, insufficient teachers, parents who prioritise money eked from street hawking over their child’s education and of course the IDP issue.

ASUU strikes should no longer be a perennial event.

Our youths’ futures are at stake. As frontline advocates we must find a way to be a bridge between ASUU and FG to ensure a seamless academic year becomes the norm, not the exception.

Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution stipulates the educational objectives of government.

However, it falls under Chapter II of the Constitution on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy which, by Section 6(6)(c), are non-justiciable.

Our Constitution must be amended to address the real concerns that are faced now by the next generation. It is time for NBA as a frontline advocate to advocate and push amendments to the Constitution to make the educational objectives of government justiciable.

Other ways of addressing the root cause of our outof-school children include enforcing school attendance, building more schools, training and employing more teachers and securing sufficient teaching resources.

Lack of education + youth unemployment = a combustible combination.

To make meaningful impact and address the rising spectre of youth unemployment, education advocacy and intervention must include informal and vocational education - hair dressing, catering, web designing, joinery, furniture, etc.

2. Political Empowerment of Our Youth More laws must favour our youth getting into leadership positions. Finland’s youngest ever Prime Minister (34), a woman, currently leads a coalition government led by five women. New Zealand (37), Austria (31), France (39) and Canada (43) all have young leaders (the ages indicated were upon taking office).

Happily, the 1999 Constitution, in its 4th Alteration,

“AS I WRITE, 110 RICE FARMERS HAVE BEEN SLAUGHTERED IN BORNO STATE BY BOKO HARAM. I AM YET TO HEAR THE LOUD AND UNRELENTING VOICE OF THE NBA”

3. Enabling Environment for Enterprise An enabling environment for our hardworking youth such as tech entrepreneurs - not SARS arresting and killing them extra-judicially.

Recently, Paystack a five year old Nigerian Fintech start-up was acquired by Stripe, a US-based payments giant in a $200m dollar deal. I looked at a picture of the founders, Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, both Millennials.

34 year old Ezra has dreadlocks. Left to SARS he would have been labelled a Yahoo boy and summarily executed with no consequences. Shola would have been arrested on the basis perhaps that he had his laptop or other gadget with him or simply adjudged too young to own perhaps the nice ride he was driving and marched off to the nearest ATM to extort his ransom.

The irresistible conclusion, sadly, is that they succeeded in spite of Nigeria.

The issue of Police brutality is not unique to Nigeria.

Indeed, it came to a denouement this year in the world’s bastion of constitutional democracy, the United States of America, with the #BlackLivesMatter protests. Only two weeks ago, in France we saw the viral video of four French Policemen beating up an unarmed black man simply because he did not have his mask on and had tried to avoid them. The protests which ensued nationwide morphed into a larger conversation about a controversial draft security law which prohibited the taking and sharing of photos of the police.

We however stand to learn from how their various police forces and governments handled the ensuing protests.

4. Enabling Environment for Wellbeing We also need a more enabling environment for the Nigerian child, particularly the girl child. Free and compulsory education, not hawking or child marriage.

Some states are yet to enact the Child Rights Law. Only two weeks ago for instance, Katsina State passed the Child Protection Bill after a chequered 17 year history, including at one time being declared missing, at the House of Assembly.

5. Promoting Accountability and Good Governance NBA can and should do more in promoting accountability within government, keeping government’s feet to the fire, recapturing the sense of public good and social justice and sensitising citizens of their fundamental rights.

It’s time, for instance, to advocate forcefully for a decisive end of the insurgency in the North-East, lest several next generations are destroyed. Recent comments by the Chief of Army Staff that the insurgency may likely be with us for the next 20 years are unhelpful.

NBA should get involved in legislative processes, sponsoring bills that are ultimately aimed at social justice and public interest, not just the legal profession. Furthermore, NBA should keep abreast of all bills put forward in legislative houses and sensitise the general public of the existence of pending bills, especially controversial ones like the Social Media Bill. Imo State recently passed into law, the Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice Bill No.2 of 2020 which allows the governor to detain a suspect at his pleasure. If lawyers as a body have spoken up against it, it’s certainly been muted.

Are NBA’s halcyon days of Mr. Alao Aka Bashorun and Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN now firmly in the rear view mirror?

If Lawyers ignore the challenges and the opportunities presented by the current state of affairs we may forfeit not only what remains of our prestige and public standing, but also imperil the lives of citizens, majority of whom are the next generation, who count on us for assistance in troubled times. The better Nigeria we all aspire for would have thus been seriously undermined and the foundation for her next generation eroded.

Now is the time to restore the glory of our profession.

Funke Aboyade, SAN FCIArb

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‘NBA Makes No Profit The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) encompasses all Nigerian Lawyers, with a membership capacity in excess of 150,000 spread across 125 Branches. Leading such a large body of learned persons, has posed considerable challenges to different administrations of the NBA, over the decades. A few past Presidents of the Association, had impressively tried to fill that leadership gap with palpable chains of tangible achievements. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi had a chat with Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, who credibly led the NBA from 2014 - 2016. He spoke his mind, on several professional and national issues

Y

our tenure as NBA President ushered in quite a lot of positive developments, including delivery of a new National Secretariat, Stamp and Seal, Life Insurance Scheme for all Nigerian Lawyers and more.

Since you left office, what is your assessment of these laudable programmes? We understand that the courts have declared stamp and seal irrelevant, and not compulsory.

Some say the stamp and seal did not do much in terms of identifying fake Lawyers which was supposedly one of the reasons for the implementation of it in the first place, and that all it did was line the NBA’s pockets. Kindly, comment on this.

The NBA is a dynamic and collaborative Association, and all the developments are building blocks of successive administrations. We must give each administration credit, for their part and respective roles in developing the Association.

On the NBA stamp and seal I am aware that the Supreme Court upheld its validity in the Sarkin Yaki case [Yaki & Anor v Bagudu & Ors. (2015) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1491)] and this position was followed by the Court of Appeal in Adewale & Anor v Adeola & Ors (2015) LPELR-25972, as well as in other cases, so it would be incorrect to say a lower Court has overruled the Supreme Court. I believe the handling of the Stamp and seal process,

Augustine Alegeh, SAN

“THE ASSOCIATION MUST COLLABORATE WITH GOVERNMENT WHERE POSSIBLE, AND ALSO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT DEVIATES FROM ITS CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE. IT MUST BE A BALANCING ACT. NBA SHOULD NEITHER BE SUBSERVIENT TO GOVERNMENT, NOR UNJUSTIFIABLY CONFRONTATIONAL”

subsequently created a situation where Lawyers who had paid were not provided with their stamp and seal, and the Courts could not fold their arms and shut out the Lawyers from appearing for their clients, when they had proof of payment for the stamp and seal.

The Stamp and seal process, put majority of fake Lawyers out of business. Some were even prosecuted.

On the price of the Stamp and seal which was fixed by NBA NEC at its meeting in Uyo, AkwaIbom State in November, 2014, same has not been increased, despite the wild increase in the dollar rate. The stamp is being produced in Europe, and paid for in foreign exchange. Additionally, the cost of delivery of the stamps and seals to branches, makes it impossible for NBA National to “line its Pockets”. It

is a totally erroneous impression, that the NBA makes profit from the Stamp and seal project.

We must all appreciate that the Stamp and seal project is for the collective benefit of all Lawyers, and we must all support the project. Given current technological advancement, we should now be working towards having an electronic seal for use online, for all our legal work.

The Federal and State Judiciaries are following the lead of the NBA, and introducing their own unique stamps and seals to shore up documentation authenticity.

Some have said that the activism of the NBA during the Alao Aka Bashorun days, are long gone. Are you a member of the school of thought that believes that the NBA may have lost some of its focus, even to the point of seeking

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from the Stamp and Seal’ Government patronage, and is in urgent need of repositioning? How would you say the new NBA Executive is faring so far, considering the fact that we are now living in times which some consider to be not too different from the military era?

We must always commend the vibrancy of the Alao Aka Bashorun leadership of the NBA, but we must realise also that we are now in a democratic regime.

The NBA must be dynamic and change its tactics, with the given realities of each situation. The Association must collaborate with Government where possible, and also hold the Government to account where the Government deviates from its constitutional role. It must be a balancing act. NBA should neither be subservient to Government, nor unjustifiably confrontational. We must also embrace dialogue, as our first option in resolving any issues with the Government.

What is your take on the decision of the National Assembly to limit the proposed amendments of the Constitution to specific areas? Do you think the items are such that address the challenges confronting us as a Federation? How would you advice NASS on others aspects of the Constitution which may equally deserve amendments?

Or do you think that it is a fruitless exercise, and this Constitution should simply be jettisoned for a new one entirely?

We cannot seek to amend our Constitution holistically at every turn. It will create constitutional uncertainty. I believe that a targeted and specific amendment to identified sections and parts of the Constitution, is a well desired, tried and trusted way to amend Constitutions, and that is the path we should follow in Nigeria.

What are your views on Restructuring and State Police? Do you think that it will have any positive impact on improving the country?

The issue of State Police has been a hot topic for a long time

“PERSONALLY, IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THE FIRST STEP FOR AN EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL REFORM PROGRAMME, IS TO INCREASE THE FUNDING OF THE JUDICIARY”

Augustine Alegeh, SAN

now. The issue has not gone away, and we now how several State and Regional contraptions that do some sort of Policing.

The reason for this is that, there appears to be a shortfall in policing personnel to confront the security challenges at all levels.

The most important matter that needs to be addressed now, should be the mode of operation of these security outfits and their relationship with the Nigeria Police Force, to ensure collaboration for effective security which would be in the best interest of all Nigerians.

If you were given the opportunity to reform the Judiciary, what would be the first three steps you would take?

That the judiciary requires reform, appears to be a given.

Personally, it is my firm belief that the first step for an effective judicial reform programme, is to increase the funding of the judiciary. There is a total infrastructural decay, insufficient funding for training and welfare, and total lack of readily available technology to help our judiciary fulfil its role as a modern and efficient judiciary.

Secondly, we need to amend a large portion of the procedural rules currently applicable in the

judiciary, as they have become more of a burden to speedy dispensation of Justice. For example, why does a Motion not opposed by the other Party have to go before a Judge? In other jurisdictions, the Parties can agree on the Motion and once the consent is seen by the Judge, the Motion is taken as granted without a formal hearing in the Court.

Thirdly, we need to constantly review the criteria for Judicial appointments at all levels, to ensure that only the best are appointed. I must state that, there has been a remarkable improvement in this regard, but our country will be best served if we keep improving on the system.

There has been an outcry in some quarters about the number of Senior Advocates conferred this year - 72. What is the reason for the outcry?

Is it justified?

The number may appear large to some persons, but it is not suggested that unqualified persons were appointed. We need to always appreciate that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria remains a privilege, and it is the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee [LPPC] that

makes the final decision. The Committee, in its wisdom, has made the determination of 72 distinguished Legal Practitioners this year, and we must respect their decision.

I seize this opportunity to congratulate the newly swornin Senior Advocates of Nigeria and urge them to take with all seriousness, the responsibilities associated with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

What are the implications of the emergence of Joe Biden as US President on the African political landscape. Positive?

The election of Joe Biden, President-Elect of the United States of America, would naturally result in some Foreign Policy shift by the United States Government, and Africa can only hope and pray that such a shift is beneficial and favourable to her.

The indications so far from the appointments that have been announced seem to indicate that the Biden Administration would be Africa friendly, but it is safe to maintain a wait and see attitude at least for now.

Thank you Learned Silk.

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Nigerian Criminal Justice Administration and the Need for Urgent Reforms This article by Chinyere Obia discusses the issue of the clogging up of the dockets of the Court of Appeal, and indeed, most other courts ranging from the Magistracy to the Supreme Court, as a result of litigants filing incomplete processes by not going further than filing a notice of appeal, or Judges being elevated to higher courts, making use of case law to buttress these points Court of Appeal’s Unhappiness The Court of Appeal is unhappy. Its unhappiness stems from the inability to dispense justice in several cases clogging its dockets, over the years. As a result, it has just set up seven special Panels to decongest the backlog of appeals in the court.

The President of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the special Panels would sit in two sessions daily for three days, to dispose off over 100 motions. This has become necessary in view of lingering appeals, which Justice Dongban-Mensem described as the unwillingness of some litigants who go into deep slumber, without filing complete processes.

“The Court of Appeal cannot be used as a tool in the hands of these litigants who go into a deep slumber. All notices of appeal filed without being followed with other processes to ensure quick prosecution and disposal of the appeal, should be shown the way out. We have sufficient provisions in our rules, which are backed by constitutional provision for the disposal of matters in court”, she said.

The Court of Appeal is not alone in this ordeal. All levels of courts ranging from the Magistracy to the Supreme Court, face similar challenges for both civil and criminal matters. However, the most worrisome is the High Courts, where majority of the trials emanate. Trials linger endlessly at the court of first instance, before judgement is obtained. In some cases, disputed decisions on interlocutory applications migrate up to the Apex Court, while the substantial matter is pending at the lower courts.

ACJA and the Udeogu Jones Case Ironically, the mischief, which the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 intended to cure by ensuring that cases are dispensed faster, is now endangered. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court in the case of Udeogu Jones v Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) & Ors, voided Section 396(7) of the Act and described it as unconstitutional.

Section 396(7) of the ACJA, was enacted to ensure trials are not restarted when Judges are elevated. It empowers Judges elevated to an appellate court, to conclude any matter being heard by them as of the time of the elevation. The implication of this decision by the Apex Court is the retrial, for instance, of previously convicted Defendants in the corruption case of former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, his firms and Udeogu Jones were ordered, after over five years of prosecution.

Worried by this development, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the first virtual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held in August, canvassed a time frame within which to dispose of all criminal matters as obtainable in election petition cases.

The President said: "I believe we need to step forward, and resolve some of the emerging problems of our system of administration of justice. Reform is urgent, because the fabric of our society is stitched together by our system of justice and law enforcement.

"We cannot afford to have the stitches come undone. The first issue I would like to commend to your consideration, is the terribly slow pace of trial in our courts. I'm not a Lawyer, but I have been a beneficiary of the judicial process."

The President, who spoke through his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, lamented the times he spent at the election tribunals, trying to challenge the electoral victory of

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad his opponents. He expressed happiness that the law has changed, to limit the time frame for electoral matters to eight months. He wondered why a time limit is not applied to other cases, as it is done in election petitions. "Why can't we put in place, rules that would say that a criminal matter all the way to the Supreme Court must not exceed 12 months in duration?

Why can't we do the same for civil cases?

Even if we say that civil cases must not go beyond between 12 and 15 months, I think that for me, would be stepping forward", he declared in reference to the theme of the conference, which was “step forward.”

According to him, in the context of a competitive global economy, the speed of

"IRONICALLY, THE MISCHIEF, WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT (ACJA), 2015 INTENDED TO CURE

BY ENSURING THAT CASES ARE DISPENSED FASTER, IS NOW ENDANGERED"

legal processes must match up with the global pace of transactions. Inability to match up, he noted, has a negative implication on the country's efforts to promote the ease of doing business and position Nigeria as the favoured investment destination.

Illustration Using Existing Cases In Federal High Court, Lagos, so many criminal cases have continued to suffer setbacks for various reasons. The most bizarre are charges, where the accused are yet to surface in court to take their plea one year after. A case in point is that of the FRN v Kenneth Ndubuisi Amadi & IDID Nigeria Limited. Slammed with five counts bordering on a N2.9 billion alleged fraud, forgery, suppression of data and conversion without authority in October 2, 2019, the Defendants are yet to come to court to take their plea. And there has not been any consequence for this, not even an effective bench warrant against the Defendants, who are obviously evading arraignment.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Kenneth Ndubuisi Amadi, male, Adult of No 31A, Providence Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos and IDID Nigeria Limited of No. 26 Osisiogu Crescent, Utako, Abuja sometime in 2016 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did obtain by false pretence and with intent to defraud, the sum of Two Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira (2,9000,000,000) belonging to EUNISELL LTD from A-Z Petroleum LTD and AMMASCO International Limited and you hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advanced Free Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, Cap. A6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

Such unresolved criminal matters make complainants and in fact, the general public lose faith in the system. Little wonder why many prefer to go the wrong way, which is self-help in trying to get justice. And cases of this nature, abound in our judicial system.

While some are scorning the courts by avoiding arraignments as far as they can without consequences, others who present themselves for trial seem to embark on endless ventures. Some times, the Defendants and their Lawyers employ delay tactics; some other times, the defence is not just ready or the court is choked with other issues such as transfers, retirements or

elevation of a Judge that slow down the pace of proceedings and make them linger for years.

In FRN v Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi & Ors, trial started before Justice Ibrahim Buba who was sitting in Lagos in March 2016, but the Judge was transferred from Lagos to Enugu State in 2018. Justice Ayokunle Faji took over the case, which is still ongoing to date.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Akpobolokemi, a former Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA) boss and others to court on allegations of N22.7 billion fraud.

The Defendants were accused of converting over N22.7 billion stolen from NIMASA to their personal use, between December 12, 2014 and April 10, 2015.

Trial in FRN v Baba Jauro & Ors started in 2016 and concluded before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun sitting in Lagos. But, at the stage to adopt the final written addresses after prosecution had called 16 witnesses and defence called five, the trial Judge proceeded on retirement in November 2019.

As a result, fresh arraignment took place before Justice Chuka Obiozor on November 10, 2020 after four years of fruitless trial before Justice Olatoregun. Jauro was also a former NIMASA boss, who succeeded Akpobolokemi on an interim basis. He was charged by EFCC too.

The story is the same in the matter between the FRN v Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosun & Ors. The trial started in 2016 before Justice Mohammed Idris who was elevated to the court of Appeal in 2018.

Consequently, the trial started afresh before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke to date. Amosun, a former chief of Air Staff was charged to court by EFCC. He and his co-accused are facing trial for alleged diversion of N21.4billion budgeted for security operations.

Also, the matter between FRN v Femi Fani Kayode, Nenadi Usman & Ors, which started in 2017, is still unresolved.

The trial started before Justice Muslim Hassan in 2017, but later reassigned to Justice Rilwan Aikawa, following objections raised

by Fani-Kayode to the effect that Justice Hassan had once been a staff of EFCC as the Head of Legal Unit, who signed the charge, which the agency preferred against him when he was tried before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia. The trial is still ongoing.

Another interesting case, which has lingered is that of the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.mAlongside one of his aides, the former Speaker’s trial started in 2012 before Justice Ibrahim Buba sitting in Lagos. The Judge later discharged the Defendants in 2014, following their “no case submission” application after the prosecution had closed its case. Dissatisfied with the development, the EFCC appealed against Justice Buba's ruling up to the Supreme Court and the Apex Court reversed the ruling in November 2018, and directed that the case be taken to another Judge of the High Court. Consequently, the trial started afresh before Justice Mohammed Liman in 2020, and is still on.

Conclusion Unless a drastic and comprehensive reform of the system is urgently done, Nigeria’s criminal justice system will continue to drag, no matter how hard the jurists try to clear their dockets.

Chinyere Obia, Legal and Public Affairs Commentator, Lagos

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Thanks, But No Thanks Uneasy lies the head It is said – Of he who wears The crown - or so pretends In case you need proof Look no further than The present occupant Of Aso Drive, Mr. Aloof Excuse me, Can you be more specific?

Come on, you know who I mean Who else, but Him However, in case you Still feign ignorance It is none other than Mr. Bu . . . (you know who) Why does he always seem To be on the spot Perpetually, constantly – Despite his best efforts?

Having coasted to office On the strength of Tremendous public goodwill – and belief That he is a Messiah of sorts The last five and a half Or so years Have left him gasping for breath In terms of his performance Many (including his base) – The Core North Have written him off And lost faith With his opponents, He fares even worse Because, to them, He has put every foot wrong But, by far his greatest undoing Has been the rampant insecurity Never the best – even at the best of times Under him, its scale simply boggles the mind From North, South, East and West The cry has been: “Nigeria is not well”; “The country is sick” Who will heal it?

Nay, deliver it – From its amalgam of threats: Cyber-criminals, armed robbers, bandits Herdsmen, kidnappers and insurgents

Therefore, the problem must be our amnesia Seldom, it seems Has Nigeria been so gripped By a seemingly endless Wave of casual, random violence Sometimes State-sponsored (As epitomised by SARS) But, more commonly by non-State actors So-called terrorists and organised criminal gangs Operating with brazen impunity In the face of weak and compromised Institutions of State Authority Who will stem the tide?

Is it the political class?

Ordinary folks tried it with #EndSARS With mixed results Perhaps, the Legislature?

And, why not – After all, they are The people’s agents, the law-makers Accordingly, in their wisdom They resolved to summon The President – or to invite him Whatever – the difference is mere legalese Will he come or not?

Having initially indicated His readiness/willingness To honour the invite His Chief Law Officer thought otherwise Trust our people That was all they needed To volunteer different points of view Both learned and unlearned Overnight, every Nigerian Became an expert In constitutional law Sometimes leaving the real experts lost In the ensuing confusion Few seemed to recall A similar scenario Not too long ago When there was a public clamour For the President to address the nation Unfortunately, when he eventually did It was somewhat underwhelming So, two months on Has anything happened to change the man Nothing, at least, that I can think of

However, beyond the legal – Or even moral Imperative of a Presidential Dialogue With the Legislature Isn’t it high time We asked ourselves: “Aren’t we, by now, used to Mr. President’s style”?

Isn’t it pointless to expect him to be different – From the man We have come to know Or loathe – (If you are no fan)?

To be honest, if we must Correctly decode his ambivalence At the Parliamentarians’ request We should first pose a few questions Are the constitutional guarantees Of freedom of speech Association and the doctrine Of separation of powers applicable to him?

Is the President really bound - willy nilly To interface with the Legislature In the circumstances?

Does the Constitution really impose that obligation?

If a court’s writ May not be served on him Can he really be at the beck And call of the 3rd arm of Government?

Of what use is his presumed immunity If he cannot decline – albeit politely A move away from his comfort zone Into ‘uncharted’ territory – parts ‘unknown’?

More pointedly, is there any sanction Attached to his declining the summons?

In other words, Is it merely binding in honour?

Short of prescribing Or condoning Arrogance – either Presidential Or by any other Branch I believe The title of this piece Best sums up Mr. President’s disposition

Tribute to Honourable Justice Dòlapò Akinsanya On hearing of the passing of Honourable Justice Dòlapò Akinsanya, I was immediately reminded of the kind of person she was; a woman who had the courage of her convictions. Her charm and beauty was enhanced by her easy confidence, which was underscored by a profound knowledge of the law and courtroom decorum. It was both a privilege and a pleasure to appear in her court where she wielded firm control, and in which one felt the stateliness of ancient times, reminiscent of the likes of Justice Rosalind Omotosho.

hostility from constituted authority, Hon Justice Dòlapò Akinsanya transmuted in the legal firmament to immortality, and will be perpetually recalled as a symbol of judicial integrity.

May her noble soul rest in perfect peace.

Hon Justice Akinsanya’s Role in ‘June 12’ In the evolution of a career, an event or chain of events may challenge one’s identity, and the response to it can define or maim.

Such a challenge presented itself to Hon Justice DòlapòAkinsanya, in the event of the controversial annulment of the June 12th, 1993 election in which Chief MKO Abiola was widely acclaimed to have won; a state of affairs that was greeted with awe and wonder given his unlikely political antecedents, rendered even more unusual by his extraordinary ability to unite and enthrall a country ordinarily riven by tribal and religious sentiments. In the wake of the celebrations which ensued, the election was annulled without cause by General Babangida. The nation was immediately convulsed in a fever of anger, resentment and frustration. The legal profession rose, and articulated these feelings on the altar of justice. Two contrasting judgements stood out in the annals of its history: the first was a timorous one by a court in Abuja, that declared the annulment valid and stamped ostensible legitimacy to a gesture of injustice, and the other was a courageous one by Honourable Justice Dòlapò Akinsanya, wherein she declared the

“......AND THE OTHER WAS A COURAGEOUS ONE BY HONOURABLE JUSTICE DÒLAPÒ AKINSANYA, WHEREIN SHE DECLARED THE ANNULMENT ILLEGAL AND LAID THE LEGAL FOUNDATION FOR THE RESISTANCE AGAINST THE OUTRAGE THAT EVENTUALLY FOUND COMPROMISE IN THE ELECTION OF GENERAL OBASANJO AS PRESIDENT IN 1999”

Demòla Akinrele, SAN

late Justice Dòlapò Akinsanya annulment illegal and laid the legal foundation for the resistance against the outrage that eventually found compromise in the election of General Obasanjo as President in 1999.

The three essential qualities of good Judges are: knowledge, energy and integrity. I agree with Warren Buffet that “Integrity” is the most important of the three, and without which, the other two are nugatory. By that singular act of learning courage and conviction in an atmosphere riddled with danger and unremitting

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Binding Biden Trumps Trump through Ballot Introduction

I

love writing. And playing with words. Creatively. Literarily. I am not good with poetry, I prefer essays. Alliteration occasionally helps to drive home a message. It has beauty e.g., “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”, “black bug bit a big black bear”. So, I searched for a befitting headline on how President-elect, Joe Biden, defeated President Donald Trump in a most humiliating manner.

So humbling that, to date, Trump has refused to wake up from his deep slumber of defeat. He still builds castles in the air.

He maintains his false illusion of grandeur. He drags America – great America – down the despicable nadir of a Banana Republic, refusing to concede defeat.

Trump still sulks, broods, whimpers, yowls, whines, screams, bickers, quarrels and tweets, like a child whose candy has been snatched away by angry parents. Yes, Americans were angry with Trump. They were even tired of him – Democrats and Republicans alike. The ballot shows it. So, 'Trumping Trump through Binding Biden' was the best alliterative heading I could find. Yes, Biden bound Trump.

Americans Speak As at last count, Biden had trumped Trump by amassing a historic over 80 million votes, the highest in U.S history. And still counting.

Biden indeed, exceeded Barack Obama’s record by more than 10 million votes, after Obama had garnered over 70 million votes in the 2008 election. None, (Obama in 2012, Trump in 2016, or Hilary Clinton in 2016), ever had this humongous number.

The Biden/Harris ticket has gained over 51% popular votes, as against the slightly over 47% votes of Trump. Biden has 306 electoral votes, to Trump’s 232.

I never hated Trump. But, I didn’t like him either. Just for one fundamental reason: he debased, cheapened and demystified the American Presidency, so much, that it has virtually lost its aura of serving as a bench mark and thermometer of global gauging of free, fair and credible elections.

For the first time, I beheld, stupefied, Trump’s political machine renting crowds to protest against Biden’s victory. Like in Nigeria! I watched, with awe, blue and red supporters, engage in disgraceful free-for-all fights on American Streets. Just like we witness in 3rd world Banana Republics of Presidential sit-tightism!

We saw Trump hold on to false and baseless allegations of rigging and votes manipulation, especially in swing States. We watched with horror, as Trump lost all his legal battles across America, to upturn and steal the American people’s will. Can someone please tell Trump to fly down to Nigeria, and take some lessons from President Goodluck Jonathan on patriotism and electoral behaviour! Trump has put himself first, over and above the larger interest of Americans. His sheer arrogance, narcism, grand standing, vain-gloriousness and chest-thumping self-adulation irritates the world. Including humble me.

The Politics of Concession Trump is the first incumbent President to lose re-election since George H. W. Bush, who was defeated by Bill Clinton in 1992.

Trump has refused to concede defeat. But, does concession really matter, when America and the world have since moved on?

A formal concession speech of defeat (such as did Jonathan to President Buhari, while the 2015 Presidential votes were still being counted), has always played a vital role in US elections. Right from the civil war era, to Bush v Al Gore, Trump v Clinton, concession played a significant role in calming nerves and balming a bleeding and divided nation, especially after a hotly contested election.

The Bush v Al Gore episode was historic. Al Gore had called Bush to concede defeat in the early hours after election night, only to call back and retract his concession, when he noticed that the race had unexpectedly tightened up. The first concession was cordial and friendly. The second was tense and combative, with Al Gore famously telling Bush, “you don’t have to get snippy about this”.

John Adams became the first American President to lose reelection bid. He hurriedly vamoosed from Washington D.C on an early morning stagecoach, to avoid attending the inauguration of his successor, Thomas Jefferson.

It was in 1896 that formal concession became normative, when Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat, William Jeannys Bryan, who immediately sent a telegram to McKinley. He wrote the famous words: “We have submitted the issue to the American people, and their will is law”. Today, Trump thinks otherwise.

The American people’s will means nothing to his over-bloated ego. But, Biden’s words are therapeutic, as he grapples with the task of unifying a gravely fractured country, where sharp daggers are drawn. He believes he and Trump are not enemies. The only common enemy he sees, is the corona virus. But, will Trump concede defeat? That will surely be the 8th wonder of the world.

In 1912, President William Howard Taft (Republican), conceded to Woodrow Wilson (Democrat), at 11pm of election night. Republican incumbent Herbert Hoover telegraphed his Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), congratulating him just a day after the then New York Governor unseated him from power.

In 1960, Republican Vice President, Nixon did the unusual, when, in his role as President of the Senate, he counted and confirmed his own electoral defeat to popular John F. Kennedy (of the “ask

President-Elect USA, Joe Biden

not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”, fame).

But, some past US contestants had been quite bitter. It took Charles Evans Hughes (Republican) two good weeks to congratulate incumbent Democrat President, Woodrow Wilson. The votes had initially, been erroneously called in Hughes’ favour. Thomas Dewy would not easily concede to FDR in 1944, and merely conceded defeat through the radio; not by a telegram or call. This forced FDR to send a telegram to Dewey over his snubbing attitude – “I thank you for your statement, which I heard over the air a few minutes ago”.In the rancorous 2000 election, which dragged into 36 days of suspense, counting, RECOUNTING and legal challenges up to the US Supreme Court, Vice President Al Gore made a television concession speech, right from his White House office, thus: “partisan rancour must now be put aside”.

Refusal to Concede – Any Legal Implications?

Concession is not, legally speaking, a formal part of an election process. It holds no legal consequences, or bar to an incoming President. It is not a binding contract, nor part of the Constitution. It is merely, convention. Once there is official certification of election results from Congress, it is all over. Though quite remote in contemplation, a bull in a China shop, such as Trump, may refuse the final resolution of disputes and certification of results

by December 8, to enable the Electoral College cast their votes

by December 14. He may even refuse to vacate the White House altogether. This could lead to a constitutional crisis. However, if Trump tries this, he would have become a trespasser at the White House. He will contend with the American set system and the resolute Biden Campaign team, which has already issued a stern warning, “the United States Government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House”.

As a writer (Mr. Vile), notes, though concession is of no legal consequence, it however, shores up democratic values, deepens its practice and gives democracy legitimacy, especially when elections are highly emotive and divisive, as the Trump-Biden one. Said Vile, “when it comes down to it, it’s not the Army or Navy that keeps the United States together. It’s the notion that we are bound together by certain great principles, and that our similarities are more binding than our differences”. Will Trump read this? I doubt.

Reasons for the Trumping of Trump Trump had escaped defeat in 2016. He literally bragged his way

“..... HIS ACTIONS SO FAR, HAVE TERRIBLY DIMINISHED THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY, SOWED SEEDS OF DISCORD AND CREATED BAD BLOOD. BUT, ON JANUARY 20, 2021, WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT, TRUMP MUST VACATE THE WHITE HOUSE. VOLUNTARILY OR BY FORCE”

through. With serial allegations of dodging tax, groping women’s buttocks, racist tendencies, disrespect for the disabled and minorities, Trump literally tweeted his way into power. No world President has tweeted more than Trump. It is his early morning pastime.

He worships the goddess of tweets.

Many reasons aggregated, to send Trump packing from the White House. In spite of his cult-like followership and incredible connection with his near hypnotised followers, such as did President Buhari before the 2015 election (NOT ANY MORE), Trump was roundly trashed by Biden. This makes him one of only four incumbent Presidents in modern times, to have lost a re-election bid. Indeed, he is the first President ever to lose the popular vote in two consecutive elections, having lost same to Hilary Clinton in 2016, by over more three million votes.

The reason of his being an unusual non-conformist outsider that heralded him into the White House in 2016, is the very reason that has showed him the red card – saying things hitherto considered ineffable, unsayable. So popular has Trump been, that many believed he would surely win, even if he shot dead a person on Fifth Avenue. But, his persistent tantrums, aggressiveness, needless confrontations, bellicosity, belligerence, unconventional behaviour and unpresidential carriage and utterances, have combined to dampen the enthusiasm of even his most ardent supporters, especially the highly educated Republicans.

Trump became loathed for his hardly veiled racism, infantile expletives, white supremacy, side-lining of America’s traditional allies, and his open support for dictatorial autocrats like Vladimir Putin of Russia. His narcism of regarding himself as a “genius”, and the “best” in everything and anything; his conspiracy theories, deployment of very foul language, and his isolationist governance style that made him look like President of the Republicans alone, deeply bruised his image. Trump became regarded as the most divisive President in 100 years. Trump never wooed the 20 blue States that voted for Hilary Clinton in 2016. Americans then looked forward to some form of normalcy; some decency. Even among the mad, there is order. Trump tried, but could not demonise or diminish Biden, who has a strong character, a personable charming baby face, and an urbane spartan-like carriage. Then, came Trump's biggest nemesis - the Coronavirus. Before the virus, Trump was still strong. Having survived his impeachment, his approval rating still stayed at its highest – 49%.

The economy was stable. He enjoyed the power of incumbency.

Then came Covid-19. Tump was no Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) who rescued America from the “Great Depresion”; or a George W. Bush, whose great response to September 11 (9/11) shored up his popularity.

Trump trivialised Covid-19. He blamed everyone and everything, except himself. But, even then, Gallup had released a poll showing that 56% of Americans still believed Trump would be re-elected, though the only President in a polling era not to have majority approval. But, Covid-19 sent the economy on a downward spin.

He mishandled the virus pandemic, played it down, and refused to wear a face mask and observe social distance. He had only been tested on Hurricane Maria. But, Covid-19 humbled him. He took ill, showing he was mere mortal after all. Indeed, Trump remained a businessman and non politician President. He was weak on inter-party politics, and never expanded beyond his narrow vociferous support base, even as Democrats rebuilt their battered party; snatching nine governorship States won by Trump’s Republicans in 2016.

Indeed, some Republicans, tired of Trump’s personae, voted against him, even as they simultaneously supported Republican House candidates nationwide. Trump could not prod Republican Senators to deliver on further fiscal stimulus, after the initial $1,200 cheques (checks, American version).

To make matters worse, Trump lacked any fresh message, as he did with his 2016 “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. The new “KEEP AMERICA GREAT” message, possessed no gravitas. It never resonated with a highly politicised and ruptured country. Was Trump meaning “keep America Great” in crises, white supremacy, segregation, Covid-19 and a downward economy? Trump’s labelling of Biden as a “radical socialist”, did not stick either.

Where Biden connected with Americans, with empathy and understanding in a dire pandemic era, Trump distanced himself with his false, provocative and self-adulating morning tweets, that irritated and annoyed Americans to great length. While Biden preached unity and inclusiveness, Trump hollered disunity and ill temper. Trump abused and denigrated the press and civil society.

Biden cuddles them.

Trump’s Uncertain Future Perhaps, Trump wants some concession leverage before departing White House; or perhaps, build a strong loyal base and postPresidency career. But, his actions so far, have terribly diminished the American Presidency, sowed seeds of discord and created bad blood.

But, on January 20, 2021, whether he likes it or not, Trump must vacate the White House. Voluntarily or by force. Because Americans have spoken through the ballot. Because binding Biden has trumped Trump.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” (Albert Einstein)

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Boosting Investments in Gas Sector Peter Uzoho writes on the urgent need for the federal government to open up the gas sector for more investments and increased attendant derivatives by transitioning the gas market to a market-led price regime

T

here have been unending clamour by stakeholders in the Nigerian gas sector, including the gas producers, gas-based manufacturing industries, power industries, as well as economic policy analysts for the Nigerian gas sector to be made more attractive for investors and investments.

Also, there has been a consensus that the Nigeria gas sector is replete with huge potential that need to be tapped to catalyse economic and human development in the country.

For the records, Nigeria currently ranks as the 10th world’s largest in terms of natural gas reserves with 203.16 trillion cubic feet (TCF), as at January 1, 2020, according the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Also, the country has an unproven gas reserves of over 600 TCF, which has been begging for investment for it to be tapped.

Unfortunately, on the global gas production front, Nigeria sits on the 17th position as it produces just about 8billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas per day. This has often elicited questions as to whether Nigeria is really serious in its dream of transforming the nation using its vast gas resources.

It has been said overtime that gas holds the key for Nigeria’s economic development and sustainability, considering its potential impacts on power generation, industrialization and Gross Domestic product (GDP). Realising this has, however, been hampered by the unattractive fiscal terms and the subsidy regime in place in the gas sector, as investors have not seen the motivation and incentives they need to play big in the sector.

To enable accelerated development of the Nigerian gas sector and increase its benefits to the country, the gas operators are of the view that there is urgent need for the federal government to emplace a pricing regime that allows the market to determine the price of gas in line with the basic global market principle of willing buyer, willing seller model. They said that transitioning to a market-led gas pricing regime would unlock the abundant potentials in the sector through increased participation of current and prospective investors in the sector.

The gas players who brainstormed on “Achieving Consensus Pricing for the Nigerian Gas Value Chain”, at a recent virtual business forum organised by the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), said the time had come for the country to leverage its gas resources to address its developmental challenges including huge infrastructure deficit, poor electricity supply, unemployment and poverty.

Speaking at the session, the President of NGA and Deputy Managing Director of Falcon Corporations, Mrs. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo, said there was need to get it right in terms of gas pricing, stressing that that would enable gas development in the country.

“Now, talking about pricing methodologies, I think that one thing that we agreed on is the fact that we have to get it right in terms of pricing, to be able to enable gas development in the country; because of the fact that gas is an enabler of various sectors, and I spoke to that in my opening remarks.

“Now, when you look at Nigeria in terms of production and in terms of actual utilisation of gas, the Nigerian gas market is the least developed amongst peer nations and this is something one has to keep bringing to the fore,” she said.

She pointed out that many countries and regions were literally moving away from the realm of regulated pricing into a market-led pricing, saying across Europe and North America, the gas markets were fully market-led, while there was an increasing push towards a deregulated market-led regime in the Asia countries of China, India, Malaysia and the rest.

Joe-ezigbo said: “Of course, in Nigeria, we haven’t really seen that. And when you consider the fact that there is such a clear correlation between the pricing framework in use within your country, the depth and the vastness of the domestic gas market and of course, the economic development like a-one dollar to three dollar correlation of the GDP side, it explains to some degree why we are where we are, and we have to be able to rethink that.

“It’s good to look at models and then try to contextualise them within your own peculiarities; and I think that is critical and I know that’s the kind of work that is being done.

“So, when you think about Nigeria over the last 10 to 15 years, from the Gas Master Plan even today, we have to ask ourselves why we

Joe-Ezigbo

Sylva

have not seen the kind of supply side projects; the kind of midstream projects that would have enabled a broader gas supply in the country; and that would have taken care of a lot of the pricing conversations we are having today.

“Now, we have to be able to do things very differently. So whatever pricing framework we come up with has to take this into cognisance.

If we look at Egypt for instance, and Egypt is a good example because they have gone through the same journey of regulated pricing and so had that grossly constrained investments and they had to do a quick turnaround.

“So you have a situation where in a very short time line, within this same period that Nigeria was doing Gas Master Planning and all that, we saw Egypt go through over 80 E&P agreements.

She further said: “In this time, we saw Egypt get the Gas and Offshore Gas Development Projects of over 30 trillion cubic feet in offshore – about 1,500 meters of water; and in less than three years, they had delivered these projects.

“In this time, Nigeria has not been able to do the same thing. We don’t have the infrastructure, no doubt, and yes, the liquidity issues and all that have continued to impact on the sector. Yes, there is always the tension about what is the appropriate level of recovery and incentivisation for the sellers or investors on one side, which will still ensure affordability for the buyer on the other side.

But the economics have to be right for the investors and then, if we have more investors, we are able to net off this issue of costing overtime.”

She opined that the appropriate pricing framework for the gas value chain should be the one that ensures availability, cost recovery, and the one that ensures return on investment will be commensurate to the risks taken by an investor.

According to her, “we have to look at things that ensure we are not subsidising one party at the expense of the other. So, it has to be a value chain perspective. And I know that the committee has done extensive work around this because as COO pointed out, there has been a very extensive stakeholder engagement, from the upstream, all the way down to the user end.

“So, we expect that we have to be able to come up with a pricing framework that the market can bear but again, keeping in view, how do we deal with the issue of needing to incentivize investment in?...

“So whatever price framework we will be looking, at again, we encourage this rapid move towards a willing buyer, willing seller model.”

Also in support of a market-led pricing regime for the Nigerian gas value chain, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), an arm of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), stressed that a market-driven regime will encourage competition and attract investments into the country.

It said in the meantime, gas pricing should be set at a price which is cost reflective of the investments and in addition, provides a decent returns to encourage investors and investments, adding that this will enable investments and encourage further developments of the Nigerian gas industry.

The OPTS in its position paper presented at the session by its Chairman, Mr. Mike Sangster, recommended that the three –tier sectoral demand segments of power, gas-based industries and commercial be maintained and that domestic gas framework should not be linked to export parity pricing.

Sangster who was represented by the Chairman of OPTS Gas Subcommittee, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, said: “Domestic gas demand obligation in the DGSO (Domestic Gas Supply Obligations) arrangement should also be capped at the current multi- year levels and discontinued after 2022, which is the end of the current multi-year allocations. This will represent a major transition milestone to liberalise gas market in Nigeria after marking 15 years of domestic gas supply obligations.

“Nigeria should also draw lessons from other countries and make it competitive to attract the much needed investments into the gas sector and stimulate the growth of our GDP. This is even more critical in low commodity pricing environment and in a situation of reduced capital flow to the economy.

“In general, a successful and timely development of Nigeria’s vast gas resources including its deepwater resources, will require the industry and authorities working together as close partners to achieve this common objectives”.

He said the OPTS believed that accelerating gas development in Nigeria was key to boosting the country’s economy, advising that Nigeria needs to strike a balance between viewing gas as a source of revenue and more importantly, as a catalyst for economic growth.

He also said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently in consideration at the National Assembly poses a unique opportunity to make a change towards the transition to a gas-based economy by enabling commercial terms that will pave the way for market-based pricing in the near future.

“In this regard, it is expedient that the federal government continues its leadership role to align a broad group of government ministries and industry stakeholders,” Sangster added.

However, citing some encumbrances, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) while recognizing the concerns of the operators and their demand for transition to a market-led gas pricing regime, said the country was not yet prepared to go that way now.

The Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, NNPC, Mr. Yusuf Usman, explained that the issues of infrastructure and power needed to be addressed

before Nigeria could transition to a free market price regime for the gas sector.

Although, Usman said that the issue of infrastructure was almost solved, considering the progress recorded so far in gas infrastructure development, and that that area was no longer of much concern with regard to the take-off of market-led gas pricing regime.

He said that power remained an issue that is yet to be solved and that it is only when that area is addressed that Nigeria can proceed towards a willing buyer, willing seller gas price environment.

Usman said: Transition to willing buyer, willing seller basis. Yes, this is what the industry likes to say –that willing buyer, willing seller is the ultimate. But can we jump into willing buyer, willing seller at this point?

“For the transition period, there are many things to look at in determining how many years it will take to get the market into the willing buyer, willing seller basis. We look at infrastructure. Do we have a robust infrastructure to go into willing buyer, willing seller basis? I can confirm to you today that we have made progress in infrastructure.

“So the key infrastructure are actually at the line of sight and therefore, it may not be a consideration for determining how long it will take us to the willing buyer, willing seller basis.

“But there are other challenges. If you look at our projection based on demand for gas, power continues to play a significant role in determining market-based pricing model for gas.

“Therefore, the key consideration is, how long will it take us to resolve the issues in the power value chain? Once we are able to do that, then I think we are in the mode that we can go into a willing buyer, willing seller basis”.

On achieving consensus pricing for the Nigerian gas value chain, Usman said that doing that would require having an alignment of all the players in the gas value chain, from the gas suppliers, transporters, the distribution businesses, off-takers, and alignment with the stakeholders including government and the Nigerian people.

According to him, “to achieve this type of alignment is a herculean task because the value drivers are different. Some are looking to maximise their profits. Some are looking to lowering the cost so that they can also be able to survive in a very difficult environment.

Some are looking at how to survive and get themselves out of the situation with respect to all the challenges across the market.

“So that means consensus is key. And to be able to achieve that, what are those things we need to consider? It means you have to involve the entire stakeholders. You have to listen to the stakeholders.

“You have to receive opinions of the various stakeholders and then attempt to arrive at some kind of balance and that will be able to help you in arriving at something that will be acceptable to the industry”.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Ogrih: Real Estate Investment Still Good in Economic Recession Bennett Oghifo The current economic recession in Nigeria should not be an excuse not to invest in real estate; in fact, it should be a good reason to put money in property. Real estate business pays at all times, if done correctly. Worst case scenario, investors will get their money back, said the Chief Executive Officer of Delta Mega Trend, Mr. Sam Ogrih, an Accountant, and frontline player in the real estate sector.

Ogrih, who studied in Harvard School of Design, Smart and Intelligent Housing, recommends real estate invest-

ment not only to people who want to buy property, but also to people who are working.

Ogrih has unique approach to real estate development, which promotes the development of gated-communities. He has attracted local and global attention, thereby making him a frequent guest on various industry events locally and internationally.

On the safety valve real estate investment presents, he said, “As people make some money, I will generally advise them that they should go and put their money in real estate.

When you have N100,000, you will want to pay into the bank, but in my own case, I’ll say if

Ogrih

you have N100,000, go and pay into real-estate as your bank.

“Why I say so is that if you put N100,000 in the bank, about a month ago, with the way the Dollar is now, if you go and take the N100,000 you will be shocked that you may get only $200, as it is today. Meanwhile, two, three months ago you will get $300 dollars. Then coming to the real estate investment, why I prefer that and recommend it strongly is that about a month ago we were buying cement for N2,600 and if you buy 100 bags of cement, you will spend N260,000. Today, if you buy 100 bags of cement, you are going to spend N400,000.

So, it means for every N260,000 that you kept in real estate a month ago you have, earned N140,000 on it and if you had kept that N260,000 in your bank how much interest would you have received in one month?

“So, if you have N100,000 today, I will tell you go and save it in real-estate. Some people ask, why should I sell my house? It is like someone asking why you’re withdrawing the money you kept in the bank.

So, if you buy houses and take it like oh I’m saving this money, the day you are broke, go to the market and sell it and you get the money back.”

Ogrih said he does not have loose cash hanging around because of his belief in real estate investment. “If you ask me any money I have at any time, you can’t even collect like N1 million or N5 million from me anytime because I put it in real estate in fixed asset, not cars. So, if you ask me, go and invest in real-estate no matter how small.”

However, he said, as in all things, there could be investment misfortunes, as with some property firms either folding up unceremoniously, or throwing the investor to the next scheme when they actually paid to be part of a current scheme and showing them terms and conditions they did not see because they were in fine prints.

Ogrih, who has over 25 years’ experience in business, including real estate, aviation, hospitality and education, said if this unfortunate situation happens, then it was “because the foundation was faulty from the beginning, yes the foundation was founded on falsehood. If you are honest, your real estate will not fold, because anything you do in real estate, if you are not out to dupe people from the beginning, you will surely prosper.”

Ogrih’s latest signature project

is called The Plantation City, located in Otokutu off the Delta Steel Company (DSC) Expressway, Warri, Delta State.

This award-winning developer has stated another project, the Southbrook Gardens on Warri Osubi Airport-Eku Road, Ugolo, Delta State; and a planned city project in Asaba, Delta State.

Other projects of the company are Ivory Oak Apartments at Marshy Hill Estate, Lagos; Leawood Hotel, Lagos; See Events Centre, Lagos; and many other property developments across Nigeria.

The Plantation, as it is fondly called, is a complete city with provision for all house-types to suit the needs and wants of those who desire to live in the highly secure community. It has 24-hour electricity, using IPP. This huge facility has recreational and hospitality facilities, as well as a proposed school for preschool to secondary learners.

Ogrih has a string of awards on account of his various developments, including a recent award of ‘CEO of the Year 2020’ by Nigeria Housing Advocacy Network, (NHAN) organisers of the annual Nigeria International Housing Award, He was honoured alongside 35 other players across different categories. The ‘CEO of the Year

2020’ award, adds to the growing list of awards and honours conferred on Mr. Ogrih for his exceptional entrepreneurial skills and commitment to jobs and wealth creation in Nigeria and Africa at large.

Early this year, he was honoured by Rotary International for supporting the work of the organisation to improve lives. In a letter jointly signed

by Holger Knaack, President, Rotary International 2020-21; K.R. Ravindran, Chair, The Rotary Foundation, 2020-21, on behalf of the board of directors, the organisation acknowledged his contributions towards supporting the work of Rotary International.

He was also recently honoured by the government and the state of Georgia, USA, with honorary citizenship and congressional commendation; CEO of the Year by CEOs Club Network, Nigeria; Business Leadership Excellence Award,

by African Leadership Magazine U.K.; Africa’s Patriotic Personality of the Year Award, by The League of African Development Students, among others.

The series of awards, he said shows that something you think you are doing quietly, is being noticed and appreciated by some people; “that’s what I think.”

ARCON Encourages Ekiti to Use Architects Database to Track Revenue Bennett Oghifo The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has recommended that the Ekiti State government use the Architects Project Registration Number (APRN) to enable them track revenues from property transactions.

The President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Arc. (Sir) Dipo Ajayi gave this advice when he led members of the council on a

courtesy visit to the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, recently.

The ARCON president said the APRN would provide the governor with a database of all building approval registrations carried out in all local government areas within the State.

This database is updated in real-time, and would enable the governor to track revenues that accrue to the state from: building approval charges; land use and appropriate taxes;

property taxes; ground rent; other building development related revenues; enable the collation of labour and employment statistics in the state from the tracking of building construction activity on the registered projects within the APRN database.

It will also initialise the development of a full database for all building development in the state to enhance IGR from the building sector; promote the immediate evaluation of

buildings as they are submitted for approval in each LGA through communication with designers to meet required building regulations and standards; act as a strong

preventive measure against building collapse; improve the beauty and landscape of the state, and grow the capacity of building industry professionals within the state.

This whole process, Ajayi said should be managed by Architects but expressed concern that there were very few of them in the state’s public service because of poor remuneration.

NIOB Condemns Hike in Cement Price Bennett Oghifo The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), has said the astronomical rise in the price of cement in Nigeria and the low purchasing power of Nigerians promote temptations to tamper with quality in construction work.

The National President, Nigerian Institute of Building, Bldr. Kunle Awobodu, FNIOB, said this in a statement, urging the government to “step in quickly and save the nation from imminent danger of substandard building construction.”

The body of builders said Nigeria is a country that is blessed with population, intellect and resources. The population can be a strength or a liability depending on how resources are managed. For investors and manufacturers, the population presents a large market for their products. For citizens, the population presents a raison d’etre for crash in prices because

of the law of large numbers.

The recent increase in the price of a 50 kilogram bag of cement from around N2,600 to N3,500 and beyond portends a bad omen for the construction industry and the nation at large. Whatever the underlying reasons given for the hike in price, the NIOB is actuated by altruism to bring the attendant or unintended consequences to the limelight so that stakeholders can appreciate and respond to the emergency that the nation is confronted with.

Even at previous prices, before the hike, Nigerians were confronted with the challenge of owning their homes and developing other infrastructure.

Reports of ‘cutting corners’ due to compromised material inputs abound. Sandcrete blocks, concrete and mortar are products in which cement is part of the inputs for their production. These products also play a major role in the cost and strength of structures

built with them.

While we are not sanctioning ‘cutting corners,’ that is, compromise on standard, the present price increase will only exacerbate an already volatile and precarious situation. It will increase the need for more vigilance and policing of the construction processes. As an analogy, a country with sub normal conditions of living will battle with more crimes with the implications of spending more to police the society.

It thus pays more to invest in improving the quality of living to reduce predisposition to crime. Price increases in the inputs of construction without corresponding increase in citizens’ purchasing power will reduce activities in the construction sector that are meant to rejuvenate the economy. This will translate to loss of jobs and its inter linkages. Where there is even activity, especially in the informal sector, risks are multiplied.

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; President, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Sir Dipo Ajayi; and ARCON Kwara Rep, Kayode Makanjuola, during ARCON’s visit to the governor at Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti… recently

Anambra to Deliver Millionaire Estate Before End of Obiano Administration David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State government has restated its commitment to ensure delivery of the Awka Millenium City, which has also been described as a millionaire estate before the end of the administration of Governor Willie Obiano.

The Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Protection and Promotion Agency, Mr Jide Ikeakor gave the assurance during the N1.747billion contract signing,

for the construction of internal roads of 2nd Phase of the project.

Ikeakor said, “This project is a PPP (Public Private Partnership) between Anambra government and MP Infrastructure. This is the promise of the governor, to woo our people to bring their investment home. We want to provide decent housing for Anambra people. This estate has a place for all class of people.

“We thank the company for keeping to their promise. We are happy that this is happening before us, and I assure you that

it will happen within the life of this administration. By 2021, houses will stay springing up here. It is an assurance from the Obiano administration.

Chief Executive Officer, Awka Millennium City Development Company Ltd (developers of the project), Mr Chimmy Ogbuebile stated that the estate boosts of diverse infrastructure including internal roads, hospital, shopping malls, standard drainages, security and many others, most of which have all been constructed.

31

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Oando Foundation, NCF Promote Environmental Education in Schools, Communities Fadekemi Ajakaiye Oando Foundation (OF), an independent charity, has initiated a project to promote environmental education and sustainable action for pupils in target schools and host communities in Lagos State with support from Sumitomo Chemical, a Japanese Chemical Company.

NCF said in a statement that Sumitomo Chemical, Japan is the co-funding partner, while the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is the implementing technical partner on the project.

The project, tagged ‘Clean Our World’ (COW), aims to promote environmental education and responsibility by creating

awareness and empowering children and teachers in 7 public primary schools and their host communities with the knowledge of plastic recycling and waste management, whilst encouraging the adoption of eco-conscious lifestyles. Benefitting schools and communities include: Dele Ajomale Schools Complex (I–IV) Ilasamaja, Metropolitan Primary School, Orile-Iganmu, Olisa Primary School and Methodist Primary School, Mushin.

It is estimated that Nigeria generates over 32 million tons of solid waste annually of which > 30% is plastic. There is increased flooding across cities during the rainy season due to clogged drainage systems,

directly attributable to poor waste disposal techniques. Education is an essential element of the global response to environmental sustainability. It helps young people understand and address environmental issues, encourages changes in their attitudes and behaviour, and helps them adapt to climate change-related trends.

When environmental education is integrated into the curriculum, pupils are more enthusiastic and engaged in learning, which improves learner achievement in core academic areas. Creating awareness on recycling, environmental responsibility and sustainability will help explain, inform, motivate, persuade, and encourage beneficiaries in

target schools and communities to embrace behavioral changes necessary for long-term impact.

In Lagos State, under its signature programme, AdoptA-School Initiative (AASI), Oando Foundation has adopted 8 public primary schools, constructed and renovated 36 units of classrooms, provided furniture, sanitation facilities, established 3 solarpowered digital learning centres, trained 100+ teachers in core subject knowledge and modern pedagogical skills, strengthened capacity of Quality Assurance Officers in Education Management Information Systems, provided scholarships to 155 students to support their secondary education and distributed over

3,000 learning and instructional materials to teachers and pupils

in these adopted schools.

According to Mrs. Adekanla

L-R: Representative of Lagos State First Lady, Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension, Hon. Ajibola Ponnle; Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun at the Y2020 Health Forum, held at the Orchid Hotels, Lekki, Lagos... recently

Ultimus Holdings Unveils The Classroom Fadekemi Ajakaiye Ultimus Holdings, a PanAfrican investment company has unveiled The Classroom, a luxurious ambiance fittings showroom in Lagos.

The official tape-cutting ceremony of the showroom was done by the Commissioner for

Physical planning, Lagos state, Tpl Idris Salako.

The Classroom was established to provide elegant and classy ambiance fittings within customers reach and also works towards being the biggest ambience fittings brand in Africa.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of Ultimus

Holdings, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii stated that the decision to open the ambience fittings showroom was driven by the passion to transform spaces from ordinary into extraordinary ones.

He stated that the Classroom offers an eclectic mix of ambience fittings solutions, which are developed in partnership

with strong global brands, to create an appealing balance of lifestyle products.

“It’s all about taking their space on endless rides of experiences by defining lighting as a mood of stylish glamour or turning their walls into a canvass of self-expression or transforming their kitchen

into a culinary arena and their bathroom, a monument to every eye,” he said.

The Vice President, Ultimus Holdings, Mr David Ewemie stated that the company’s passion for appealing spaces was inspired by a desire to not sell products but provide ambiance fitting solutions in

an experiential way.

“Having the right place to shop from a wide range of high quality and stylish ambience fittings solutions to suit your style is the very essence of what makes us tick. We provide customers with pieces that are durable and reflect their personality,” he said.

Joe Biden’s Climate Change Diplomacy and Implications for Nigeria Chukwumerije Okereke It is well known that US President-elect Joe Biden made climate change one of his key points in the just concluded American presidential campaign.

Since winning the election he has shown several signs that suggest that he is serious about delivering the campaign promises that he made. One of such bold moves has been the appointment of Senator John Kerry, a seasoned diplomat who played an active role in

creating the Paris Agreement as a Climate Change Envoy to the United States. This is the first time the US is creating such a position and empowering the occupant to sit in their national security council. It is a big indication of the seriousness with which Joe Biden takes climate change. Senator Kerry himself, in accepting the position, has also declared that he will not only push the US to take bold action on climate change but also push the rest of the world to raise their ambition in the

Okereke

next climate summit (COP26) that will take place in Glasgow, UK in 2021. As a country that is a party to the Paris Climate Accord, it is necessary to consider what these important shifts and signals in the global climate diplomatic world mean for Nigeria? There are at least three big implications: First, the raising their climate ambition by the United States and other countries in the world would mean that Nigeria, which is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, could expect over time to see some reduction in the scale and intensity of the negative impacts of climate change, which would be great news. Already, Nigeria is losing billions on Naria every year to climate-induced droughts and increasing frequency and intensity of flood.

The second implication of JoeBiden’s ambitious climate diplomacy is that the US would most likely restore its promise, made by President Obama, to raise its contribution to the Green Climate Fund, which is the main funding entity

established to help by the UNFCCC to help developed countries fund climate activities in developing countries.

President Obama had pledged that the US would contribute US3 billion to the GFC but this promise was canceled

by President Trump who also withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement. Lack of finance is a major barrier to many developing countries’ intention to act on climate change. Nigeria has an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution which has been projected to cost USD142 billion to implement.

If the money was going to be hard to find in the first place, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it almost impossible that Nigeria can fund its NDC without significant international assistance. Therefore, the likelihood of more funding from the US, which can also unlock fiancé from other countries and private entities, is good news for Nigeria and other developing countries.

However, Nigeria needs also to be aware that the increased global effort to tackle climate

change that might follow Biden’s presidency may have negative consequences.

If increased climate ambition propels the global transformation to a low carbon future, Nigeria could pay a heavy economic, social and political price if it does not have and implement a plan that enables it to adapt and thrive in the post-carbon world. A global green economy transition will mean a significant loss in oil revenue alongside international pressure for Nigeria to limit the exploration of oil and gas.

Such a situation can put Nigeria between the rock and a hard place with a drying up of international investment for oil exploration colliding with internal agitation for a better life by the citizens.

Given the foregoing, it is vital that Nigeria urgently commissions a National Green Growth plan that is underpinned by robust data and scenario as a means of scaling up its plan on how to manage the imminent global green growth transition to avoid being caught napping.

One immediate place to start is

to ensure that any COVID-19 recovery plan that is put in place in the country is such that supports, rather than hinders the green transition. One of the interesting advances made in the last years in tackling climate change is that we now know more about how to design policies and take action that address climate change and also support sustainable development and economic growth. However, it takes careful planning to entrench efforts that achive climatedevelopment co-befeits. It is important that the government realizes that the global green transition has already taken off; and that failing to plan is planning to fail.

indigenes while relegating our people to playing meager roles in the production process. There is actually nothing wrong with exploiting investment opportunities in other regions except as in our own unfortunate case where it has become a modus operandi and extremely detrimental to our developmental aspiration.

The questions now longing for appropriate answers remains just these, have we really realized that we are committing grave existential error and secondly, how can we reverse this frightful predicament before

it consumes our innocent future generations. I have taken my time to interact with some of our players in the field on this disturbing subject matter, unfortunately their answers have always pointed to the issue of lack of adequate industrial development infrastructure, unrelenting harassment by multiple security operatives, inadequate internal security arrangements and absence of support from our state governments.

-Professor Chukwumerije Okereke is the Director of the Centre of Climate Change and Development at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria and Visiting Professor at Oxford University, UK. He is currently Coordinating Lead Author (CLA) for the UN IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6).

Aku Luo Uno Community Development Concept Mark Neboh Aku Luo Uno as a development concept simply means setting-up medium and large scale commercial and manufacturing industry ventures in the investor’s indigenous home region. It is a productive strategy which if rightly applied enhances speedy and lasting industrial development of the investor’s indigenous region.

This age long strategy totally discourages the idea of making manufacturing industry investments in foreign countries or in

regions outside the investor’s indigenous region to avoid falling victim to unforeseen regrettable consequences. Adopting Aku Luo Uno development concept helps to guarantee everlasting ownership of an individual’s or collective industrial investment once properly established under existing legal frame work. On the long run, it provides gainful employment and accelerated economic and industrial development to the investor’s home region among other plausible end results.

Since our existence, we

Ndigbo have continued with our grave mistake of making huge capital investments in other regions of our country ignoring the monumental losses we suffered as a result at the end of the civil war and continue to suffer till date owing to recurrent sectional clashes in today Nigeria unpredictable political terrain. We have by this unpardonable mistake unknowingly promoted the rapid economic and industrial development of other regions even those covertly resentful of our feat to the disadvantage of

our own region.

We have bluntly neglected the age long proven adage Charity Begins at Home.

It is no longer news that a good number of manufacturing industries and mega-commercial hubs built in different regions of our country belong to or facilitated by Ndigbo capital and intellectual contributions.

These flourishing industries and mega hubs generate abundant revenue in the form of various tax regimes for these state governments and provide ample employment opportunity to their

-Neboh writes from Lagos

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

NNPC Restates Commitment to Transparency Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÌßÔË The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has reiterated his commitment to conducting the business and operations of the corporation in a transparent manner, with a view to placing it on the path of profitability.

Kyari made the pledge at the ECOA-Africa fellowship investiture ceremony where he was honoured with the honourary fellowship award of the Ethics and Compliance Officers Association (ECOA).

A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie

Obateru, stated that the NNPC GMD was among other prominent leaders honoured in recognition of, according to the national oil company, their commitment and promotion of ethical leadership.

In his acceptance speech, the NNPC boss who was represented by the Group General Manager, Governance, Risk & Compliance, Mr. Chris Akamiro, stated that since he assumed office, he had taken calculated steps to ensure more openness in the activities of the corporation.

“I want to assure you that NNPC under my leadership, will continue to be transparent in its operations, render complete and timely financial statements to all stakeholders and be repositioned for profitability for the benefit of

over 200 million Nigerians,” he said.

Kyari expressed gratitude to ECOA-Africa for the recognition and urged leaders not to shy away from the increasing demand by stakeholders for stewardship accounting.

“We must all embrace this sweeping call for accountability in the use of resources entrusted to leaders. It is for this reason that the top management of NNPC, under my leadership, launched the Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda,” he added.

The GMD listed some of the successes recorded under the TAPE agenda to include the publication of the 2018 and 2019 NNPC Audited Financial Statements (AFS).

NCDMB Pledges Sustained Support to NOGTECH Innovators Peter Uzoho The Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced its resolve to support the five winning innovators in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Technology (NOGTECH) Hackathon with sustained institutional and financial support.

The support, according to the board, will be coming from it and other industry stakeholders to enable the innovators become successful businesses.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, announced this at the demo day held recently in Lagos, where the five startups showcased their homegrown innovative solutions tailored to solve local problems in the oil and gas industry and

related sectors.

The startups which include AirSynQ, Fuel Intellisense, Gricd Mote, Homefort Energy and Kiakia Gas had earlier received $10,000 grant each from NCDMB and had just completed their three-month incubation programme, where they had resources and mentors that helped them identify their pilot clients and markets.

The NOGTECH Hackathon was launched in July 2020 under the sponsorship of NCDMB and 630 promising startups applied, with 15 finalists selected at the end of the screening phase.

The 15 groups took part in the three-day Hackathon stage held in September 2020, where the top five teams were selected.

Wabote confirmed that the board will continue to support

the five startups using the Nigerian Content Research and Development Council, that draws membership from relevant organisations and the $50million Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund.

He reiterated that NCDMB deploys an end-to-end strategy in its projects and will not relent until the innovations were fully deployed and begin to solve societal problems.

He noted that some of the solutions extend beyond the oil and gas sector and that they will impact the health sector, community surveillance and the military in their fight against insurgence.

“These are innovative solutions to everyday problems that we face in the country; it is beyond the oil and gas industry,” he said.

Fintech Firm to Unveil e-Commerce Platform Sunday Okobi A new Nigerian fintech start-up, Shago Payments Limited, will tomorrow unveil its bill payment and e-commerce platform to serve the banked and unbanked locally and internationally.

The Chief Executive Officer of the tech firm, Sabastine Enechi, described Shago payment system as a platform built to support the underserved, unbanked, and merchants in order to create a valued hub for the exposure of their goods and services as well as allowing them to earn commission on bill payment transactions. Enechi disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos to announce the launch of the

payment app, adding that Shago remains a partner to all the banks in Nigeria, to make payment and business transaction easy for the populace.

While adding that the fintech firm would provide the channel for various business transactions for its clients, mostly for those in the rural areas, he said Shago has a great future, with a focus on other areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), e-health, agric-tech, robotics, e-commerce among others. The CEO, who was flanked by other top executives of the company, said presently, Shago has over 3,000 clients on its platform in one year, and is also focused on having 10,000 clients more, and 200 e-businesses in the nearest future.

According to Enechi, “Shago in Hausa language means kiosk or shop front where people go to buy, sell, and make payments for services. So we are launching this easy-to-use app to create better awareness for the brand and also to educate the populace about our values and solutions.”

“The Fintech firm began operations on January 1, 2020.

This is one year in operation, and we have had so many positive feedbacks, reviews, and updates, therefore it is time to launch it to the public. Today, we have been able to collaborate with some PTSPs, banks, telcos, and digital service providers as well as super agents to provide top-notch service delivery to Nigerians.

CWEIC Partners CITITRUST Holdings The Common Wealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) has welcomed CITITRUST Holdings Plc as its newest strategic partner.

Also, the company’s Group Chief Executive, Yemi Adefisan has been recognised as an honourable member on the CWEIC’s Global Advisory Council.

At the brief inaugural meeting held online, the Adefisan, while stating his opinion on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic globally on the banking and financial services sector, thanked the CWEIC Global Advisory Council for the strategic partnership with CITITRUST, noting that with the

current slow of affairs in the global economy, there has been an increase in non-performing loans. According to him, part of the Group’s strategic ideas in reducing the non-performing loans to as low as five per cent was to improve on technology to help increase lending facilities and grow our clientele base and their businesses.

CITITRUST Holdings is a panAfrican diversified investment holding company established to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the Financial Services Industry.

The firm has its subsidiaries across 13 countries in Africa which

includes Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, South African, Malawi, Kenya, Benin Republic, and others. The firm has established a reputation for long-term value creation across the economies in Africa is to be the gateway and catalyst for mobilising capital for growth and development.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council is the Commonwealth’s business network. With over 90 business and government Strategic Partners from 27 countries and territories, CWEIC has a mandate to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 54 member nations of the Commonwealth.

Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, (right) conferring the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Media and Communication on Dr. Bolaji Akinola, at the 17th convocation ceremony of PAU held in Lagos…recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ 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 ˜ ͯ​ͯ ͰͮͰͮ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $49.58 a barrel on Friday, compared with $48.87 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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 SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

33

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͳ˜ 2020

All-Share Index Rises 1.7% as Market Rebounds Goddy Egene The bulls came back strong yesterday to open the stock market on a positive note after depreciating last week.

Last week, the bull run was halted following sustained profit taking.

However, yesterday, the market appreciated lifting the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) by 1.73 per cent to close at 34,843.44. In similarly

trend, market capitalisation added N309.8 billion to close at N18.2 trillion.

Market analysts had said while profit taking was expected to continue, the bulls would still have the upper hand.

“Yields in the fixed income market remain relatively unattractive, and we expect this to remain positive for stocks.

However, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

as the weak macro environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,” analysts at Condros Research had said.

At the close of trading yesterday, the bulls visited 26 stocks compared with 14 bears that appeared in the market.

Bellwethers such as Airtel Africa Plc, Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc were among the price gainers.

Airtel Africa Plc led the price gainers’ table with 10 per cent,

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

trailed by Royal Exchange Plc with 9.5 per cent. AIICO Insurance Plc chalked up 9.5 per cent just as FTN Cocoa Processors Plc and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc garnered 9.0 per cent, just as Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and Coronation Insurance Plc gained 8.3 per cent and 7.6 per cent respectively. BOC Gases Plc and GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Nigeria Plc appreciated by 6.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent in

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

that order.

Conversely, Prestige Assurance Plc led the price losers with 10 per cent, trailed by International Breweries Plc with 9.8 per cent. Cutix Plc and NASCON Allied Industries Plc shed 9.4 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively. Jaiz Bank Plc, Ardova Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc went down by 8.8 per cent, 6.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.

In terms of sectoral perfor-

O F

mance, the NSE Industrial Goods Index led the gainers with 1.5 per cent, trailed by the Insurance Index with a gain of 1.3 per cent. On the flip side, the NSE Consumer Goods Index fell by 0.9 per cent. The NSE Banking Index and NSE Oil & Gas Index lost 0.3 per cent apiece.

Meanwhile, activity level weakened as volume and value traded fell 73.9 per cent and 17.1 per cent to 208.1 million shares and N3.7 billion respectively.

1 4 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

FCMB Group Suspends Proposed N30bn Commercial Paper Issuance Goddy Egene

suspended the proposed City Monument Bank Plc. In its shareholders, FCMB Group Monument Bank Limited, has N30 billion Commercial notification to the Nigerian said: “The proposed CP by been suspended. This is as a FCMB Group Plc has Paper (CP) issuance by First Stock Exchange (NSE) and one of its subsidiaries, First City result of the Nigerian Treasury A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 12- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Dec-2020, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

Bills auction of Wednesday, 9 December 2020, which distorted price discovery.”

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 150.55 152.03 1.63% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 0.74% Nigeria International Debt Fund 415.98 415.98 32.60% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 113.87 113.87 0.47% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.04 1.06 15.97% ACAP Income Funds 0.86 0.86 11.41% 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 1.89% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.61 3.74 47.82% 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 0.89% Anchoria Equity Fund 124.23 124.68 17.95% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.42 1.42 19.72% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 392.86 404.70 13.73% ARM Ethical Fund 33.45 34.46 15.02% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.22 1.22 21.83% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.12 1.13 12.58% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.17% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 119.80 120.64 24.69% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.24 2.24 19.98% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.17 2.21 39.70% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.72% Paramount Equity Fund 14.97 15.24 19.60% Women's Investment Fund 127.81 129.16 15.86% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.38% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 125.15 125.90 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.42 108.42 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.72% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.16 1.17 25.49% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.72 1.72 29.38% 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 0.88% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.26% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,203.54 1,221.82 8.66% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,458.43 1,460.14 22.94% FBN Balanced Fund 179.07 180.39 21.97% FBN Halal Fund 110.97 111.00 10.97% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.43% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 121.13 121.51 7.29% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.31 121.69 6.91% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 145.55 147.78 11.85% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,686.75 3,724.92 20.94% Coral Income Fund 3,260.20 3,260.20 6.21% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.12% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.42% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 126.09 126.63 16.55%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.01% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.84 2.90 29.79% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.62 156.53 8.62% 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 1.37 1.39 21.53% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,148.43 1,148.43 10.37% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.60 1.63 29.50% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.11 12.21 7.53% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.10% PACAM Equity Fund 1.51 1.53 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.75 111.09 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 128.90 131.85 13.01% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 8.87% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 22.80% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 6.37% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 22.22% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.43% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 27.81% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 20.07% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 5.34% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.84 110.84 6.36% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.88 12.02 15.63% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.24 13.38 14.01% Zenith Income Fund 24.99 24.99 9.97% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.74%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.04

6.92%

52.14

0.17%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.23 110.31 85.32

11.33 112.71 86.92

33.39% 16.79% 13.58%

Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.92

3.96

14.26%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.53

5.61

-6.31%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

15.39 1.00 15.30

15.49 1.00 15.50

28.07% 2.27% 46.83%

223.92

225.92

19.22%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

35

TUESDAY, ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Suspends Issuance of Licences for Economic Zones

James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Niyi Adebayo, yesterday said the federal government had suspended further issuance of licences for the operation of the Free Trade Zones (FTZ).

Adebayo, during the inauguration of the panel set up for the evaluation of the performance of FTZs, explained that all applications for FTZ licences will henceforth not be processed pending the completion of the panel's

assignment.

He said: "It is important to note that FTZs in most developed countries have contributed successfully towards their industrialisation process. The model was adopted by the Asian Tigers and today most countries, including African countries are beginning to key into the idea.

"Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has begun delivery of world-class FTZs across the country.

“However, due to poor implementation, we are yet to take delivery of the dynamic potentials of FTZs as an instrument for economic growth."

According to him, the country currently has 33 licensed FTZ operators, and that due to poor implementation, only 12 are operational.

He said the key objective of the panel, which he is chairing, is to provide recommendations to inform government strategy on FTZs based on a thorough

evaluation of the current operations of the zones.

In addition, the panel will work, based on the terms of references, to deliver a report within eight weeks of inauguration.

The investigative panel, which also has the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Mariam Katagum, as a member, will map out and implement strategies to evaluate the operations of recipients of FTZ licences for the purpose of delivering world-class

zones as expected under the Presidential Priority Projects (PPP).

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sayo Ifedayo, the minister expressed concern that the country’s FTZs have not lived up to expectations by impacting positively on the industrial development of the country as witnessed in developed nations.

He said: "Currently, the performance of FTZs licensees has been below expectation and this heavily impacts our ability to deliver

SOYINKA: KIDNAPPING, SLAP ON PRESIDENT’S FACE, KATSINA OPENS TALKS WITH ABDUCTORS people’s security anxieties the ensuing melee. feed the internally displaced impunity.”

Bandits Kidnap 19 Confirming the attack in a in Niger persons as the main source It expressed concern that as one who still struggled to of livelihood.

Also yesterday, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body for Muslims, led by the sultan, again expressed concern about the seeming inability of the federal government and security agencies to address the security challenges in the country.

Reacting to the abduction of the Katsina pupils, JNI, in a statement, wondered whether the federal government and security agencies have been overwhelmed by the bandits terrorising Nigerians.

The statement signed by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, said the abduction of the students “in commandostyle is one tragedy too many coming on the heels of the infamous Zabarmari massacre just not long ago.”

It added: “This indeed is a sad reminder of the abductions of schoolgirls in Chibok and Dapchi of Borno and Yobe States of North-east Nigeria, and it’s an indicator that the powers that be don’t read the present through the spectacle of the past; this wouldn’t have happened.

“The Kankara abduction was so belligerently orchestrated that it happened the day Mr. President arrives Katsina State on a private visit.

“Are the bandits this bold as to further test the resolve of the government or smite the face of the Commanderin-Chief by bringing it up to his doorstep in his presence?”

According to the organisation, the pupils' abduction lent credence to the claim that "the bandits rule in many communities and do as they wish with

the abduction could frustrate school enrolment in the North as parents would be scared to put their children in school.

The JNI commiserated with the families of the abducted students and wished them safe and immediate reunion with their respective children.

Katsina Schoolboys’ Abduction Slap on Buhari’s Face, says Soyinka Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has lamented the spate of insecurity in the country, saying it is an indication that Buhari is not in charge of his government.

He said the recent “abduction once again of the nation’s children” in “Buhari’s terrain” is “a slap across the face of the Commander-inChief.”

Soyinka, in a statement yesterday, titled: “INFRADIG–A Presidential Comeuppance,” added that when the president was summoned by the National Assembly to appear before it amid the rising insecurity in the country, he didn’t initially consider the summon as below the standard of behaviour.

He stated that the president considered the invitation as a polite invitation to preserve the “tattered remains of his ‘Born-Again’ democratic camouflage.”

He said: “That, to come to the present, constituted Buhari’s response to the National Assembly’s invitation to drop in for a chat. He did not consider it infradig at the beginning. He responded to the polite invitation to rub minds urgently over a

preserve the tattered remains of his ‘Born-Again’ democratic camouflage.

“However, his reversal of consent raised yet again the frightening situation report I have fervently posed: Buhari is not in charge. Whoever is, that segment of the cabalistic control obviously cornered him on the way to the lawmakers’ chambers and urged: Don’t! Their invitation is infradig! He succumbed.

“Beneath the dignity of a Commander-in-Chief!

Well. The opportunistic homicidal respondents -Bandits/Boko Haram or whoever – thereupon picked up the gauntlet and provided a response in their own language: abduction once again of the nation’s children. They handed him a slap across the face, on his home terrain, taunting: See if that is more suited to your dignity,” he said.

He explained that he joined other people in using the word “Infra dignitatem” to any situation indicating assailing his dignity or statement unworthy of response.

Hoodlums Disrupt Security Summit in Kaduna A meeting of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) to discuss the security challenges in the North was disrupted by armed thugs who yesterday invaded the venue in Kaduna.

The hoodlums were said to have attacked guests at the summit smashed some vehicles, shattered windows and overturned chairs. Some people sustained injuries in

statement, spokesman of the CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said armed thugs, numbering hundreds, and unleashed terror on guests who attended the summit.

He said the summit was aimed at “discussing ways to achieve synergy between communities and government security and design a uniform approach to the current security situation in the North.”

According to him, participants at the meeting included retired military and police officers, religious leaders, traditional rulers and various women, youth and trade associations.

“Just as the meeting was kicking off, sponsored armed thugs stormed the auditorium after subduing the civil guards at the gate.

“The overturned tables shattered glasses, attacked the guests and officials, wounding several people and smashing vehicles parked in the premises,” the statement said.

Reacting to the incident, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) described it as an attempt to stifle national outrage over increasingly deteriorating security in the country The forum, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, also described the attack as cowardly.

According to the group, whoever was behind the attack needs to know that more meetings will continue to be held all over Nigeria to demand that those with the responsibility to secure the country do so.

on crucial priority areas of the government.

"FTZs are key to the nation's push towards industrialisation and will have a significant impact on Nigeria's trade and economic fortunes, which is greatly required given the current economic challenges.

Globally, FTZs account for 68 million jobs and generate USD 500 billion annually.

"The sector can be extremely lucrative if executed efficiently and we must aim to improve the operation of our zones."

No fewer than 19 people were kidnapped on Sunday as bandits stormed Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

The Chief of Staff to Rafi LGA Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed the incident to Channels Television yesterday.

Efforts to reach the police authorities to confirm the incident proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, Wasiu Abiodun, did not pick his calls or respond to messages sent to him, the broadcasting station reported.

A resident of Ogu, Mr. Kamal Wayam, said the attackers stormed the community on Sunday morning and started shooting into the air.

“The gunmen, in their large number, arrived in Ogu on motorcycles and before we knew what was happening, they started shooting into the air.

“They ransacked people’s houses and whatever valuable they could lay their hands on, they carted away,” Wayam said during his conversation with Mohammed.

He added, “They also abducted six persons from Ogu. Four of the persons abducted were members of one family while the other two were visitors to the community.”

Ogu is a settlement close to Wayam, another community about two kilometres from Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi LGA.

Similarly, the attack on Tegina community was said to have happened at about 12:30 am on Monday with 16 people abducted.

“The gunmen entered the room of my daughter that night, but she hid herself under the bed, while her husband went up the ceiling,” Sani Gamachindo, a resident of the community, told Mohammed, He added: “When the gunmen entered their room, they spent like 30 minutes and ate almost all the food in the kitchen. Thank God they were not abducted, but 16 persons were kidnapped.”

The latest attacks in Rafi LGA came barely four days after gunmen abducted a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the District Head of Gunna, and two children of two health workers in Garin Gabbas and Yakila communities in the local government.

Elsewhere, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Jeremiah Ibrahim, was killed by gunmen in Chukuba community in Shiroro LGA. The clergyman who was serving at the branch of the church in Kuta was murdered on Friday last week.

A senior official of the church in Minna, who pleaded anonymity, said Ibrahim had gone to check his farm in Chukuba and decided to visit a colleague who was the resident pastor of Chukuba where he was attacked and killed.

“This is coming barely two weeks after six missionaries of ECWA and the wife of one of them were abducted,” he added.

tough training programme with the mercenaries.

“We merged with those and experienced leadership presented by ourselves and you had muscle and power and aggression and fantastic fighting ability brought to the party by the Nigerian men,” he said.

He stated that the group fought under the command and control of 7 Division of the army in Maiduguri and a mobile strike force unit, which was created on the basis of that contract.

"What it (counterinsurgency) does need is really, really good intelligence. And I believe the president referred to that in his recent meeting with some of the state governors.

"Intelligence is everything. If you know what the enemy is doing and where he's at, you can take him on and the tools of this war are basic tools.

As I mentioned before, walk around, drive around in civilian vehicles and motorcycles," he said.

MILITARY CONTRACTOR OFFERS TO HELP ARMY SUBDUE BOKO HARAM not Buhari.

He said part of its strategy was to merge with the best in the Nigerian Armed Forces in order to achieve maximum results.

He explained that the key to counter-insurgency operations was intelligence gathering, which he said Buhari alluded to at a recent meeting with state governors.

"We were contacted by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Dasuki, while in office, and I hasten to add that it

was that administration that offered that also terminated the contract.

"It was not the current administration. By the time the current administration took power, we were long gone, unfortunately.

And the main reason for that termination was nonpayment.

“We had milestones written into the contract for payments. Those milestones were unfortunately not met by the Nigerian government, perhaps priorities changed,

perhaps with a view to the election around the corner.

“People thought differently about where to spend their money. We can only speculate about that; but that was the reason there was nonpayment," he said.

He, however, absolved the company of defaulting on the terms of the contract, saying: "It was not nonperformance by our side or any other reasons, as a matter of fact, we achieved almost the impossible within a month of operations. For

the first time in three years, two major cities that were in the hands of Boko Haram were back in the hands of the security forces.

"And also right at the end at the tail end of our contract, the Sambisa forest was being assaulted by our unit. We were not going to fight this battle by ourselves.

We were going to merge with the best that Nigeria had."

He stated that Nigeria gave the group its best young men, adding that almost all of the boys we merged in a

36

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15,2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Electoral College Elects Biden US President Attorney-General, Barr resigns Davidson Iriekpen with agency report The Electoral College last night cast its votes for president, officially electing Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States.

The announcement coincided with the resignation of the Attorney General, Mr. William Barr, one of President Donald Trump’s staunchest allies.

All 538 electors met in their respective states to cast their votes for president based on the election results that were recently certified by all 50 states and Washington, D.C. California’s 55 electoral votes pushed Biden over the 270 threshold needed to win.

Most electors, who were chosen by political parties in each state ahead of the November election, are cast their ballots in state Capitol buildings.

The first states to vote Monday were Indiana, New Hampshire, Tennessee and Vermont, which started to vote at 10 a.m. ET. President Donald Trump snagged an early lead after Tennessee and Indiana awarded him their 22 total votes while Vermont’s and New Hampshire’s electors cast their combined seven votes for Biden.

Trump’s lead evaporated by noon, though, when electors in several other states cast their votes, including three battleground states that were hotly contested by the president - Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

In Georgia, the vote was presided over by Stacey Abrams,

who helped get out the vote for Democrats and served as an elector Monday.

“I cast my vote for President Joe Biden,” Abrams told the assembly.

Abrams was introduced by Rep.-elect Nikema WIlliams, who noted the occasion marked the first time the state had voted for a Democrat for president since 1992.

“Now all the nation knows that Georgia is a blue state,” Williams said.

In Arizona, Secretary of State, Katie Hobbs, said the vote normally has much “pomp and circumstance” but this year “unfortunately had an artificial shadow cast over it in the form of baseless accusations of misconduct and fraud, for which no proof has been provided, and which court after court has dismissed as unfounded.”

She said the allegations from the president and his allies have “led to threats of violence against me, my office and those in this room today” despite an “extremely well-run election.”

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Mills noted the state’s importance in the 2020 election. “We are the state that put Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris over the 270 Electoral College threshold. We are the state that returned the dignity and honor to the United States of America,” Mills said, also noting that Harris was making history as the nation’s first female vice president.

“I’m honoured to stand before you to cast a vote for a woman,” Mills said.

In New York, former President

26 Army Generals Test Positive as 417 Undergo COVID-19 Test Twenty-six Army Generals and other senior officers have so far tested positive for COVID-19, the Nigerian Army has disclosed.

Four hundred and seventeen are undergoing COVID-19 test after the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Major General Johnson Olu Irefin, died from COVID-19 complications during the annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja.

Acting Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sagir Musa, in a statement disclosed that they now have, a total of 26 confirmed cases after 417 personnel were tested.

According to the statement, all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters are being tested, while “COVID-19 protocols are being strictly enforced across all units and formations of the NA.” He disclosed that the entire Army Headquarters complex “was thoroughly fumigated on Saturday 12 December 2020.”

The statement read in part, “the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference (COAS) 2020, started on December 7, 2020 with the virtual commissioning of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command’s Headquarters at Giri by the President, Commander- in-Chief.

Among the attendees was Major General JO Irefin, the late General Officer Commanding 6 Division, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Same day, at about 9p.m., having complained of fever, headache and mild cough, he was taken to Defence

Medical Centre, Abuja.

“His medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral artemether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Port Harcourt Barracks.

On Wednesday 8 December 2020, his sample for COVID 19 was taken and he was directed to self-isolate pending the outcome of the test. On the same day, the result of his COVID 19 test was confirmed positive and was taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja for further management.”

It continued that, “Sadly, he passed on at about 0510 hours on Thursday, December 10, 2020. The cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID 19 infection.

“On the confirmation that Gen Irefin’s COVID19 test was positive on 9 December 2020, the Chief of Army Staff directed the immediate suspension of the conference and all participants were directed to move into self-isolation in line with FGN protocols on COVID 19 pandemic.

“Equally, comprehensive testing of all participants commenced immediately. Consequently, as at Sunday the 13th of December 2020, a total of 417 personnel have so far been tested with 26 confirmed positive cases.

Currently, all participants are in self-isolation irrespective of their results while Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recommended COVID-19 treatment drugs were immediately issued to those that tested positive.

Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton served as electors. They and 27 others in the state cast their votes for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Around the same time those states voted, the Wisconsin

Supreme Court dismissed the Trump campaign’s lawsuit to overturn the vote certification in the state. The court ruled against Trump 4-3, finding some of his allegations were meritless and other challenges were brought too late.

Meanwhile, Attorney General, Barr, yesterday from the President Trump’s government.

Barr, one of President Trump’s staunchest allies, resigned amid lingering tension over the president’s baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into president-elect,

Biden’s son, Hunter.

Barr went to the White House yesterday, where Trump said he submitted his letter of resignation.

“As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family,” Trump tweeted.

ROYAL VISIT...

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum (left), and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, when the monarch led a delegation from the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Maiduguri ....yesterday.

OPEC Slashes Demand Forecast Despite COVID-19Vaccine Rollout Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has again reviewed downwards forecasts for oil demand as the cartel and its allies mull a gradual restoration of curbed crude oil supplies, which was first agreed upon in April this year.

In its Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) for November, the group reduced projections for global fuel consumption in the first quarter of 2021 by one million barrels a day, with demand just increasing by just 500,000 barrels from that quarter.

The 23-nation OPEC+ coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia will, however, meet on January 4 to consider whether they can press on with further monthly increases.

OPEC stated: “Uncertainties

remain high, mainly surrounding the development of the Covid-19 pandemic and rollout of vaccines, as well as the structural impact of Covid-19 on consumer behaviours, predominantly in transportation sector.”

The cartel’s decision to cut vast amounts of production to offset demand lost during the pandemic, has helped foster a recovery in crude prices with Brent futures trading near a nine-month high above $50 a barrel.

The November report published yesterday suggests that the producer network could incrementally restore that full consignment over the next four months, without pushing world markets back into surplus.

OPEC stated that 13 members pumped 25.1 million barrels a day in November and that it was 1.2 million below the level required

on average during the first quarter, and 2.4 million less than what’s needed in the second quarter.

According to the report, stockpiles in developed nations remained 200 million barrels above their five-year average in October.

The downward revision in OPEC’s latest report reflects the uncertainty surrounding the impact of Covid-19 on transportation fuels in some economies in the first half of next year.

“Earlier availability would allow a faster-than-anticipated move towards normalisation,” the report said.

On the supply side, the organisation stated that its NonOPEC supply is now expected to average 62.67mn b/d this year, down by 2.5mn b/d from 2019.

Last month’s report estimated a 2.43mn b/d drop to 62.73mn

b/d while the change reflects lower-than-expected output in the fourth quarter of 2020, mainly in the US, partially offset by revisions to output in Russia and Canada.

“The latest resurrection of Covid-19 infections and the associated consequences of lockdowns and/or voluntary social distancing measures are leading to a slowdown in Q4 2020, with the expectation of a spillover into H1 2021,” the report said.

“While the availability of a vaccine is certainly providing the base for a recovery, related developments remain to be seen,” it added.

The monthly report guides the OPEC+ discussions and forms the basis of the market scenarios prepared by the OPEC secretariat’s analysis arm for the policy negotiations.

#ENDSARS: Abba Kyari, Others to Appear Before Abuja Panel December 17 Alex Enumah in Abuja The Chairman of the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police Force, Justice Sulieman Galadima (rtd), yesterday ordered the police to produce the Commander of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari and Inspector Vincent Makinde before the panel in a case of alleged arbitrary arrest, detention, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment involving Mr. Rapheal Tersoo and Moses Mfe. Galadima gave the order at the resumed sitting of the panel in Abuja.

Counsel to the victims Mike Usahfa, told the court how Mr. Raphel Tersoo and Moses Mfe were subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment by the police since 2019.

He said his clients were arrested on the November 22, 2019 in new GRA Makurdi Benue State and that after spending a week at the Makurdi zonal command headquarters of the Nigerian police, they were transferred to Abuja and have since been in detention.

Utasha said since the arrest of his clients they have not been arraigned before any court of law and that all attempts to secure their bail were rebuffed

by Makinde who insisted that the sum of N1million must be paid before they could get bail.

As for Moses Mfe, Mr. Utasha said that his whereabouts is still unknown but that he was reliably informed that he was shot in the course of his arrest and sustained injury and has not been allowed to access any form of medical care, adding that he fears that he may have been extra judicially killed.

Utasha further prayed the panel to make an order releasing them conditionally or unconditionally in the interest of justice. His second prayer before the panel is that the police should be compelled to produce Mr. Moses Mfe. Responding, Justice Galadima directed the head of the Police Legal Team at the panel, DCP James Idachaba, to ensure that the commander IGP-IRT DCP

Abba Kyari and Investigating Police Officer IPO, Inspector Vincent Makinde ,appear before the panel to make public presentation of everything that transpired in the course of arrest, investigation and how the victims were subsequently remanded at the Suleja correctional services.

In his response, Idachaba told the panel that in all his years in practice it has come to him as a rude shock to hear that the suspects were remanded in prison by the police.

He said it is the court that orders suspects to prison; the police he noted will need time to get an accurate response so as not to mislead the panel.

The case was adjourned to December 17, 2020 for further hearing.

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˜ ͹ͽ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Why Ndidi is Irreplaceable at Leicester City, By Rodgers Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, 23, has been described as irreplaceable at Leicester City.

Wilfred Ndidi...irreplaceable at Leicester City

Leicester City Manager, Brendan Rodgers, told the club’s website yesterday that Ndidi who is one of the top defensive midfielders in the English topflight covers more ground than any other player in the club.

Ndidi has been in good form in the Premier League for Leicester since he returned from the groin injury that sidelined him since September.

“He (Ndidi) covers the ground.

In terms of counter-pressing, he’s so strong,” Rodgers said on the club’s official website.

“He can get up to the ball so fast. If a team breaks through our midfield line, he can normally get back in and recover.

“Of course, on set pieces, he’s

very dominant. You can see, bringing him into the team, the profile he gives you in your box when you’re defending,” Rodgers continued.

“From a defensive perspective, he’s irreplaceable with what he gives you, in

terms of energy and desire to get the ball back.

“Just his personality in the game is so great for us. It’s great to have him back. We’re obviously trying to manage his time coming back in there, but he’s a colossal player,”

concludes the former Liverpool boss.

Ndidi featured in the Foxes’ last two games which they won against Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Ndidi, who has struggled

with injuries this season, has played just four matches in the league this term for Leicester.

The 23-year-old has been linked with Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United in the past.

KADUNA POLO

El-Amins Returns to Winning Ways, Lifts FirstBank Georgian Cup Playing like a team infused with the winning bug, Kaduna-based polo team, El-Amin, galloped their way back to victory, claiming the 101 edition of the FirstBank of Nigeria sponsored Georgian Cup which held at Kaduna Polo Club at the weekend.

The competition which is one of the longest running sporting events in Nigeria has been sponsored by FirstBank of Nigeria Limited for 101 years, and it’s one of the longest running sports sponsorship partnership in the world.

To emerge victorious, El-Amin outplayed its rival, Abuja Rubicon by 9-goal to 7-goal.

Parading a high powered team led by Nigeria’s highest ranked polo player, Bello Buba, the teams Patron, Mohammed Babangida and two other mercenaries; Martins Sowedo and Raul as against Abuja Rubicons, Donovan, Manuel Crespo, Idris Gbadamosi and Ibrahim Gbadamosi, El-Amin proved that when it come to high goal event, they are second to none.

It was sweet victory for El Amin after losing out of the centenary edition of the tournament.

Speaking immediately after the victory, Babangida

commended his team mates, stressing their determination and resolve to stay on the winning streak.

Also speaking Kaduna Polo Club President, Abubakar Suleiman while commending FirstBank of Nigeria Limited for their support, urged the bank not to waver in the resolve to continue to make history with Kaduna Polo Club.

“Firstbank deserves all the commendations; they have been with us from inception and have been very consistent.

“The 2020 edition of this event is the 101 edition of their sponsorship. This feat is very rare in this part of the world and that is why we should all encourage and support them so that they can continue to back us”, Suleiman stressed.

Tournament sponsor, FirstBank while pledging their continued support for the competition, said they will forever cherish the relationship that exists between the club and the financial institution.

The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, Alhaji Lawal Kankia, Alhaji Usman Nagogo were amongst some of the royal fathers and dignitaries who graced the finals.

L-R: Patron of Kaduna El-Amin, Mohammed Babangida; Martins Origi, Raul and team Captain, Nigeria’s highest ranked polo player, Bello Buba, showing-off the Georgian Cup they won in the 101 edition of the FirstBank Georgian Cup in Kaduna...on Sunday

ICC Confirms Nigeria for Key Cricket Engagements in 2021 The International Cricket Council (ICC), the umbrella body for the sport, has confirmed Nigeria in two of the body’s major activities in 2021 including Nigeria hosting one of them.

In ICC communication with Nigeria at the weekend, the country was listed as one of the key nations penciled to vie for space for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 to be hosted in South Africa.

Nigeria women’s team, currently ranked 41st on the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings has been drawn alongside; Botswana, Cameroon, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda

and Zimbabwe in one of the qualifiers to be hosted

by Botswana in October 2021.

A spot for the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup would be up for grabs from the Botswana event.

The other event that Nigeria was listed for on the ICC’s calendar is the qualifier for the Under-19 World Cup in 2022.

Nigeria would be hosting the final qualifying round for Africa in Abuja along with Namibia and Uganda.

A fourth team for the final rounds would emerge from the first stage of the qualifier involving, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

The first stage of the

qualifying series would be hosted by Botswana in June before the last series to be staged by Nigeria later in September.

Nigeria had qualified for her first ICC World Cup through the Under-19’s after 105 of documented Cricket history in Nigeria.

The campaign in Nigeria for the U-19 World Cup ticket in September 2021 will be an opportunity to keep the country at the global spotlight after the heroics from the maiden qualification.

President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya said Nigeria is well aware of the developments and would

soon make public the training agendas of the two teams that will be involved in these campaigns.

“We have a plan we are working with and we believe the input of our new Head Coach will add to the quality and especially execution. These two ICC events are very important to our developmental plans,” he added.

World Cup winner, Asanka Gurusinha was unveiled by the Nigeria Cricket Federation as the country’s new head coach last week in Abuja, and his contribution is supposed to raise the chances of Nigeria at these international engagements.

Champions League Round of 16 Pit Neymar Against Messi Barcelona will face Paris St Germain and former striker Neymar while title holders Bayern Munich are up against Italy’s Lazio in the last 16 of the Champions League after UEFA’s draw held on Monday.

The clash of Lionel Messi and Barca with last year ’s runners-up PSG is a repeat of their remarkable meeting at the same stage in 2017 when Barca overcame a 4-0 first leg loss to beat the French club 6-1 in Spain with Neymar scoring twice for the Catalans.

“We know them (PSG) well, they’ve got some exceptional players. Paris want to fight for the Champions League, last

year they came very close to winning it and they want to go one better this time round, but we’ve got something to say about that,” said Guillermo Amor, Barcelona’s Director of Institutional Relations.

Bayern will start as favourites in their tie but will be wary of Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio team who have reached this stage for the first time in 20 years.

“Lazio are an uncomfortable opponent, you saw that in the group,” said Bayern Sporting Director, Hasan Salihamidzic. “It is always uncomfortable against Italian teams.”

Premier League

champions Liverpool will play last year ’s semifinalists RB Leipzig creating a match-up between Germany’s most highly rated young coach Julian Nagelsmann of Leipzig with Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp, the country’s No 1 coach.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last ten matches against German teams in all European competitions, a run going back to 2002.

13-times European champions Real Madrid face Serie A club Atalanta, who reached the quarterfinals in their first Champions League campaign last season.

Real have won ten of their last eleven games

with Italian clubs.

Atletico Madrid will face Chelsea in a game which could include the return of striker Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge.

Manchester City will take on Borussia Moenchengladbach, who are in the last 16 for the first time in the Champions League era.

Italian champions Juventus will face Porto, a game where Cristiano Ronaldo will return to his homeland Portugal.

The first legs will take place on February 16-17 while the return legs will take place on March 16-17.

In the Europa draw, Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester

United have been handed tricky draws in the Europa League round of 32.

After United were knocked out of the Champions League last week their reward for finishing third in their group is an intriguing tie against Spanish side Real Sociedad.

Arsenal will look to put their Premier League woes behind them when they take on Portuguese giants Benfica.

Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, were handed a relatively kind-looking tie against Austrian side Wolfsberger.

And the same is true of Leicester, who face Czech team Slavia Prague in their first ever Europa League last-32 tie.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (Fixtures) Barcelona vs PSG Real Madrid vs Atalanta M’Gladbach vs Man City Lazio vs B’Munich Atletico vs Chelsea Leipzig vs Liverpool Porto vs Juventus Sevilla vs Dortmund EUROPA LEAGUE (Round of 32) Wolfsberger v Tottenham Dy’Kyiv v Club Brugge Sociedad v Man Utd Benfica v Arsenal Red Star v AC Milan Antwerp v Rangers Sla’Prague v Leicester Salzburg v Villarreal Braga v Roma Krasnodar v Di’Zagreb Young Boys v Leverkusen Molde v Hoffenheim Granada v Napoli

TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWSXTRA

Saraki, Editors Describe Nda-Isaiah as Patriot, Committed Nationalist Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Nigerian Guild of Editors yesterday described the late Chairman of Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, as a patriot and committed nationalist who saw every Nigerian as his brother and sister and therefore related to them based on equality, justice and fairness.

Nda-Isaiah died last Friday in Abuja after a brief illness. He was aged 58.

Saraki in a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, added that the late publisher was a man who believed that the challenges the country was going through at the moment were temporary setback that could be overcome if the leaders continued to sustain the unity of the country and work to further entrench democracy.

He expressed sadness that Nda-Isaiah died at a time when his incisive analysis of the Nigerian issues would help both the leaders and members of the public to have correct perspective and positive approaches to how

to move the nation forward.

“Sam Nda-Isaiah was an engaging person. He was never tired of discussing Nigeria anytime we had the opportunity to exchange ideas. I particularly found his thoughts about the place of the North Central Zone, to which we both belong, in the present and future of Nigerian politics and economy very encouraging and particularly inspiring.

“Coincidentally, the last time I saw him late last month was when he was part of the North Central Peoples Forum (NCPF) delegation which visited me at home in Abuja.

He was full of life and energy and his eloquence resonated across the hall when he spoke.

“I join his family, friends and associates across the nation and beyond to mourn his passing.

However, we take solace in the fact that he lived an extraordinary life while he was here with us.

He will be sorely missed,” he stated.

The former Senate president further prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss and that the legacies he left behind should continue to thrive.

Also, the Nigerian Guild of

Editors expressed shock over the demise of Nda-Isaiah, In a statement signed by its President, Mustapha Isah and General Secretary, Mary Atolagbe, it said Nigerian media industry has indeed lost a thoroughbred professional, who made invaluable contributions to the

development of journalism Africa.

The body of Editors expressed its condolences to his immediate family, staff and management of Leadership Newspapers, as well as the government and people of Niger State.

“NGE is shocked at his sudden death because the late

Nda-Isaiah attended a meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) in Lagos last Tuesday, where the Chairman of Media Trust Limited, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, was elected as the new President.”

“Nda-Isaiah was a popular

columnist who later forayed into politics, even though he trained as a Pharmacist.

“The Guild remembers him as a great believer in the Nigerian project, who made immense contributions to the Nigerian media industry.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

Tinubu: APC Has Capacity to Put Nigeria Right

SENIOR LAWYERS...

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

Senate, House Query NCC over N29bn Budget Increase

The National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, said the party cannot afford to be disunited because it has a destiny to put Nigeria right.

Tinubu, who led some party men to Maiduguri to pay condolence on the government and people of Borno State on recent killing of rice farmers by Boko Haram at Zabarmari rice field, said “any remaining rats and cockroaches should be sprayed out of the party.”

He added that the party must live to its symbol, the broom which signifies the importance of unity and work to take out any form of disunity.

The APC leader said the covenant of APC with the Nigeria people is to work together in unity to bring about development and progress and that they must work for at all times.

He insisted that there is unity in the party, noting that anything

that would however work contrary to the progress of the party and Nigeria should be weeded out.

On the purpose of their visit to Borno State, Tinubu said it should be seen not “as a condolence visit only, not only as a sympathy visit but as a solidarity and commitment that we must defeat all evil doers.

“To show solidarity to the governor of Borno State, who is a man of courage, brilliance, talent and great character.”

He said that conceited effort should be put in place to get urchins off the street by investing in their future.

He noted that street urchins are easy recruits to violence monger and those who do not mean well for the nation.

Tinubu also called for the involvement of technology to curb the spate of violence across the country.

Responding, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum commended the former Lagos Governor for the visit.

Nasarawa Gov Travels to US for Medical Checkup, Hands over Power to Deputy Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has travelled to the United States of America for a medical check-up.

The governor notified the state House of Assembly about the two-week trip from December 13 to 29.

During plenary yesterday, the Speaker of the assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, read Governor

Sule’s letter to the members tagged “Notification to Travel to the United States of America”.

“I wish to inform the Rt Hon speaker that I shall be traveling to the United States of America for a medical check-up from Sunday, 13th to Saturday 29th Dec. 2020,” the letter partly read.

“Accordingly, in my absence, the deputy governor would oversee the affairs of the state pending my return.”

Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission,, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye SAN, (left), Chairman of Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, at the swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Abuja...yesterday.

Udora Orizu in Abuja Members of the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Telecommunications yesterday queried the increase in the financial provision for payment of consultancy service of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) from N29.195 billion proposed for payment of salaries and wages in the 2021 fiscal year, against the sum of N16.850 billion approved in the 2020 fiscal year.

The lawmakers, during the 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence which was presented by NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Dambatta, also demanded explanation over the increase in the consultancy services of N1 billion proposed for 2021 against the sum of N394.331 million approved in the 2020 Appropriation Act. Dambatta, at the defence session, asked the Director of

Finance and Administration to provide details of the budget performance for the year under review.

The budget performance as at November 30, 2020 showed the total budget of N140.383 billion but the actual came to N79.660 billion. ‘’For the Expenditures (recurrent) total recurrent expenditure that was budgeted was N39.297 billion and what was spent was N28.5 billion. Under the capital project, the total capital Expenditure was budget at N8.129 billion and the actual as at 30th November was N1.427 billion. ‘’For the special project, the total budget was N20.863 billion and what has been spent so far is N13.65 billion. ‘’For total capital project, the budget was N28.9 billion and what was spent was N1.4 billion; Transfer to USPF, N7.5 billion was projected and N5.583 billion was spent. For Transfer to

Federal Government of Nigeria, N64.208 billion was budgeted and N35.7 billion was remitted.’’

On the revenue side, the commission realised total sum of N167 million realized out of N1.5 billion budgeted for licensing fees; realized N51.5 billion out of N68.5 billion for annual operating levy; realized N22.778 billion out N47.653 billion budgeted; realized N4.76 million out N115.196 million, respectively.

He added that the documents before the joint committees further provide insight into variances and total revenue.

For 2021, according to the documents presented to the joint Committee, proposed total revenue expected stands at N112.810 billion and additional sum of N49.527 billion from funds for broadband infrastructure and transfer from reserve (totalling N162.067 billion for 2021), against the sum of N123.132 billion and additional sum of N17.252 billion from funds for

broadband infrastructure (totaling N140.384 billion) for year 2020.

The commission’s projected Transfer to the federal government for the year 2021 estimated at the sum of N42.002 billion against N64.208 for year 2020 out of which N29.697 billion has so far been remitted in addition to N5.5 billion paid recently.

A member of the committee who queried the report on the wide variance between the proposed N29.195 billion salaries and wages for 2021 and N16.850 approved for 2020 in relations to the 300 staff recruited by the commission, alleged that the commission employed people through the backdoor.

He said that the nominal roll from 2019 to date, will provide insight into whether or not the commission comply with extant regulations on employment, adding that the exercise was done without the knowledge of the Nigerian public.

Gunmen Kidnap 19 People, Kill Clergyman in Niger Dipo LaleyeinMinna At least 19 people have been kidnapped by gunmen in Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

The Chief of Staff to the council Chairman, Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed the incident yesteday.

He, however, had to place telephone calls to some residents of the affected communities for more information.

Efforts to reach the police authorities to confirm the incident proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, Wasiu

Abiodun, did not pick his calls or respond to messages sent to him.

A resident of Ogu, Kamal Wayam, decried that the attackers stormed the community on Sunday morning and started shooting into the air.

“The gunmen in their large number arrived in Ogu on motorcycles and before we knew what was happening, they started shooting into the air.

“They ransacked people’s houses and whatever valuable they could lay their hands on, they carted away,” Wayam said during his conversation with Mohammed.

He added, “They also abducted six persons from Ogu. Four of the

persons abducted were members of one family while the other two were visitors to the community.”

Ogu is a settlement close to Wayam, another community about two kilometres from Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi LGA. Similarly, the attack on Tegina community was said to have happened at about 12:30am on Monday with 16 people abducted.

“The gunmen entered the room of my daughter that night, but she hid herself under the bed, while her husband went up the ceiling,” Sani Gamachindo, a resident of the community, told Mohammed, He added, “When the gunmen entered their room, they spent like

30 minutes and ate almost all the food in the kitchen. Thank God they were not abducted, but 16 persons were kidnapped.”

The latest attacks in Rafi LGA came barely four days after gunmen abducted a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the District Head of Gunna, and two children of two health workers in Garin Gabbas and Yakila communities in the local government.

Elsewhere, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Jeremiah Ibrahim, was killed by gunm e n i n Chukuba community in S h i ro ro L G A .

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TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Anxiety over CJN’s Health, Misses SANs’ Inauguration Warns against disobeying court orders Alex Enumah in Abuja The unavailability of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, at the swearing-in ceremony of 72 Senior Advocates of Nigeria yesterday may have confirmed the anxiety in some quarters about his health.

The 66-year-old CJN has not been seen in public for weeks.

The special session for the swearing-in of SANs, which was held at the Supreme Court in Abuja, also marked the beginning of the 2020/2021 legal year of the apex court.

The unavailability of the CJN is unusual as he is mostly known to carry out important functions such as this.

The CJN had inaugurated eight justices of the Supreme Court on November 6 but since then, there are conflicting details on when he was last seen in public.

Although no reason was officially given for his absence, it was learnt that he had been ill and was due to be flown abroad for treatment.

At the inauguration of the new SANs yesterday, THISDAY was unable to ascertain his whereabouts of the CJN as nobody was willing to volunteer information.

Represented at the swearing-in by the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the CJN said: “The judiciary, like no other arm of government, had suffered a great deal of internal and external shocks in the course of the year.

“In the course of the year, we lost some of our colleagues in the bench and the bar.

“Our own Justices Karibi Whyte, JSC, CFR and Sylvester Umaru Onu, JSC, CON, died on Friday 23rd May, 2020 and Monday 30th November 2020 respectively.

“Similarly, we lost the chief judges of Yobe and Kogi states, Hon. Justices Garba Musa Nabaruma and Nasir Ajana.

“Within the same period, we lost the President, of the Customary Court of Appeal, Kogi State; Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, former Chief Judge of Niger State, Jibrin Ndatsu Ndajiwo; retired judge of Lagos State, Justice Isiaka Isola Oluwa; Justice Maikaita Bako of Katsina State High Court; and Justice Fidelis Ngwu of Enugu State Judiciary, among others.”

Muhammad said the SAN rank which is a fervent desire of every legal practitioner only comes by way of “hard work, perseverance, endurance and

Osinbajo Seeks Review of MSMEs’ Regulation James Emejo in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said government regulatory agencies should do more to improve the ease of doing business for small businesses rather than constitute bottlenecks to their smooth operations in the country.

He said though the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is currently working to remove obstacles in the operation of small businesses, “We need to take a second look at the way we regulate SMEs in the country”.

The vice president said the government must continue on incremental basis to provide an enabling business environment for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to thrive.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Convention Center in Abuja, the Osinbajo said government policy and private sector investments in small businesses will go a long way in determining the country’s economic trajectory.

Specifically, he said the current regulatory regime appeared to constitute hindrances to the growth of the SMEs subsector , adding that the requirement for fumigation license from small businesses as well as all manner of constraints ideally shouldn’t occur.

He said the current administration is however working to remove all impediments to the growth of small businesses adding that the Finance Act currently provides numerous incentives for SMEs. The vice president also said the ACCI and other chambers of commerce must pay special

attention to SMEs’ regulation going forward with a view calling government officials to order wherever there are perceived shortcomings on their part.

He further maintained that businesses cannot thrive if “government officials considered small businesses as obstacles”.

He argued that government regulations must not constitute roadblocks to the growth of SMEs but rather serve as business facilitator going forward.

Osinbajo, however, commended the outgoing ACCI President, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode for the edifice, adding that he has been able to prove a point in the capacity of the private sector to deliver results.

He said Kayode has so far contributed to building the Nigerian economy since assumption of office at the chamber, spearheading several initiatives that has repositioned the chamber.

He, expressed hope that the incoming ACCI President, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar will keep up the positive works at the chamber and build on the successes of his predecessor.

The vice president also challenged the ACCI and other chambers of commerce across the country to play a greater role in the pursuit of greater enabling business environment for SMEs. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, earlier assured that his ministry will continue to support the chamber to grow the SMEs sub-sector.

Kayode however, said the centre would among other things, promote the Nigerian economy, create opportunities for youths and boost support for MSMEs.

courage”.

“You must roll up your sleeves and get down to work with unrestrained enthusiasm and dexterity; then you can begin to coast home to victory,” he said.

However, he warned the senior lawyers not to use their position of authority to disobey court orders.

“Obedience of lawful court orders has no alternative in any

sane society. A threat to this is simply a call for anarchy,” he said.

“I believe strongly that there is no right thinking citizen of this country who will tread that path of infamy. We must respect and duly observe all the tenets of an enduring democracy.

“Nigeria is not a lawless society and no one, irrespective of his or her status, should turn

it into one.

“Most times, some persons who, by sheer stroke of providence, find themselves in position of authority, flagrantly disobey lawful court orders, and even make a boast of it.

“Such acts will henceforth not be condoned. In fact, they will be met with severe consequences. we must extinguish such raging fire before it consumes us.”

Some of the newly inaugurated SANs are Bolaji Owasanoye, chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC); Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Uwemedimo Nwoko, and Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpo.

PARTAKING IN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Olayiwole Onasanya; Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; his wife, Oluremi and Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, admiring one of the stands at the Lagos Seafood Festival, at the Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos ...Sunday

Appeal Court Reverses Alleged N3.5bn Debt in Favour of Ecobank Honeywell Group heads to Supreme Court

Alex Enumah in Abuja The Court of Appeal in Lagos yesterday upturned the judgment of the Federal High Court which last year cleared Honeywell Group of owing Ecobank Nigeria PLC the sum of N3.5 billion.

The appellate court in a judgment delivered in the protracted case, held that the case of Ecobank had merit and consequently ruled in its favour.

Ecobank had approached the appellate court to challenge the judgment of the lower court against it.

The lower court had in its judgment delivered in May 2019, held that operating companies of Honeywell Group were not in any way indebted to Ecobank.

Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Honeywell Group indicated that it would approach the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

Counsel to Honeywell Group, Mr. Olabode Olanipekun (SAN), gave the indication shortly after the appellate court’s judgment.

Honeywell had in 2015 filed a suit against Ecobank, asking the court to determine whether or not its three subsidiaries, Anchorage Leisures Ltd, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, and Siloam Global Limited were still indebted to Ecobank after having reached an agreement to pay the sum of N3.5billion as full and final settlement of the companies’ indebtedness.

The lower court in its judgment however held that the company was not in any way indebted to the bank having liquidated the said loan.

Also speaking, Honeywell Group’s General Counsel, Olasumbo Abolaji, said the company remains convinced that it has a compelling case and it is ready to appeal the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“Litigants can seek relief up to the Supreme Court. Consequently, the decision of the Court of Appeal is definitely not final on this matter”, she said.

She reminded our correspondent that in the course of the court action, at least 10 decisions had been the subject of appeals both at the Court

of Appeal and the Supreme Court, adding that Honeywell largely recorded victories at those stages based on the strength of its arguments. “We believe in the Nigerian Judicial System and we will take our case further to the Supreme Court,” she concluded.

In her testimony at the lower court during the trial, Honeywell Group’s Chief Finance Officer, Oluwakemi Owasanoye told the court that by an agreement reached at a meeting held on July 22, 2013, the bank agreed to merge the collective indebtedness of Honeywell’s three subsidiaries, which amounted to N3.5billion with the negotiations anchored by Honeywell Group Limited.

Bala-Usman: NPA Lost over a Billion Naira to #EndSARS Protests Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, yesterday in Abuja disclosed that the revenue generating agency incurred more than a billion naira loss to vandalism during the recent #EndSARS protests in the country.

This came as the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) declared its readiness to partner the NPA on goods’ evacuation from the ports as a way of solving the problem of trucks causing gridlock on the roads leading to various ports.

The issue on losses suffered by

the NPA through the vandalism inflicted on it by irate youths and looters who took advantage of the #EndSARS protests came up during the 2021 budget defence session the NPA had with the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.

According to the NPA boss, the sum of N807million had been earmarked for the rehabilitation of the burnt portion of the agency’s building.

This, she added, was different from the money to be spent on replacement of 27 vehicles set ablaze by the vandals and three others stolen.

Usman said: “These vehicles

were operational ones, and they need to be replaced as soon as insurance companies come up with the aspect of losses to be shouldered.

“Aside the burnt building and vehicles, other working tools like 317 computers were looted as well as photocopiers, and the cost of replacing them will be above N1billion when added to the N807million already estimated for the rehabilitation of the burnt building.”

She, however, assured the committee that the agency, based on the ongoing arrangement with the Lagos State Government and NIWA, is coming up with

a lasting solution to trucks gridlock on various roads leading to the ports in Lagos.

An electronic call up system, she explained, had been put in place for trucks accessing the ports for the evacuation of goods.

Accordingly, Usman said: “Trucks park has been established in Orile, Lagos, which is to serve as a call up centre for any truck waiting to evacuate goods at the ports.

“Besides this arrangement, an ultra-modern rail line leading to Apapa ports and water transportation being offered by NIWA are also helping out.”

Tuesday December 15, 2020

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MISSILE JNI to Buhari “The Kankara abduction was so belligerently orchestrated that it happened the day Mr. President arrived Katsina State on a private visit…

This further proves what we once said that the bandits rule in many communities and do as they wish with impunity” – Jama’atu Nasril Islam describing the abduction of hundreds of GSSS students in Kankara as a slap on President Buhari’s face.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Missing Kankara Boys and A Tear-Gassed Nation

W

hat is going on?”

“Where?”

“Where else? Nigeria of course.”

“What has happened again?”

“What has not happened? The other week, we were all lamenting that 43 farmers were slaughtered in Zabarmari, in Borno State, and now the whole world is being told that hundreds of school boys have been kidnapped from their school - a Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State.”

“And you are surprised?”

“What do you mean I am surprised? I am not surprised. I am shocked and angry.”

“But when Northern Governors, traditional rulers and the Sultan of Sokoto warned that the situation in the North had become very desperate and dangerous, what was the response from those whose job it is to ensure the safety of lives and property?”

“I stopped listening to official statements on security challenges long ago. In fact, I am looking at the government with one-corner eye, as we say” “You have to listen, because they are the ones in charge of our lives and our country. If the people do not feel safe, and are truly not safe, what you will get is this current reign of chaos and anomie. They told you that they are on top of the situation, in charge and that Boko Haram will certainly be defeated, no matter how regrettable the current situation may be.

You can ask questions if you are in doubt.”

“I don’t know what you listen to, what I hear is that the security agencies do not have the kind of equipment that they need to enable them deal a decisive blow to the Boko Haram, because some powerful countries have refused Nigeria access to heavy-weight platforms.”

‘Do you need heavyweight military or police equipment to make Nigerian schools safe? Or to make it possible for people to travel from one part of the country to the other without being attacked by bandits, terrorists and criminals?

This is Christmas season. In this same Lagos, many years ago, by now, the middle of the month, lagos would be half-empty. People from the North, the East, the South South would all have closed shop, leave Lagos and travel home to celebrate Christmas in their ancestral homes. There would be no traffic gridlock in the city till the second week of January in the new year. But for some time now, Christmas in Lagos has changed. People don’t leave town.

They say it is too risky because of Nigeria’s security problems.”

“I am not a security expert. I can’t offer you a professional opinion. But I have heard such phrases as “security architecture”; “we will rejig”, “we will remodel” to know that something is wrong somewhere. We don’t even know the exact number of children kidnapped in Kankara.

Can you imagine school boys sleeping in their hostels at night, only to be attacked by terrorists running into hundreds? Young, small boys?”

“Chibok, Dapchi, Buni Yadi, and now Kankara… what, where or who is the next target? The criminals laid siege on defenceless schoolboys for two hours. There was no rapid response.”

“To be fair, I understand that the police and the military eventually identified the hide-out of the terrorists and there was an exchange of gunfire, which led to the rescue of some of the boys.”

“How many boys did anybody rescue?”

“You know how we are with figures in this country? Take the killings in Zabarmari. We have been told different figures. In one account, 78.

In another, 67. There is also 43. Why is it so difficult to know who is alive or dead, in any

Buhari community in Nigeria?”

“Simple. Too simple. In Nigeria, we don’t know how many are dead or are living. We don’t even know how many we are. People live and die. Life rolls on.”

“Point of correction. The National Population Commission says we are 206 million.”

“I can bet that even the person who made that announcement does not believe himself either. We treat human beings as if their lives do not matter. The Governor of Katsina State says there are 839 students in the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara. Following the President’s directive that a proper audit should be carried out, the Governor announced that 333 students were still missing. But I understand Presidential Spokesperson Garba Shehu told BBC Hausa that only 10 students are missing. And that led to even more speculations.”

“Well, these things happen often. Garba Shehu spoke in Hausa. Whoever is quoting him may not understand Hausa. We should wait for him to translate what he said into English. You know he had to do that not too long ago” “Is he the only one that speaks Hausa in Nigeria? Whatever it is, the people deserve to know what exactly happened. The parents of the missing students want their children back home. No Nigerian, boy, girl, man or woman should ever be kidnapped or subjected to any form of indignity or abuse” “I understand the Governor of Katsina State is already negotiating with the terrorists. They have reportedly made contact and they are asking for ransom, and they are talking.”

“Fake news. Don’t peddle fake news. Have you forgotten that when the children were first abducted, we were told that the kidnappers are cowards?”

“This is not fake news oh. You know the Katsina Governor used to have some kind of understanding with the insurgents. I think they understand each other.”

“An understanding with criminals and cowards?

Who does that?”

“These ones are not cowards oh. People who go from community to community either on foot or on motorbikes causing mayhem, kidnapping persons, raping, maiming and slaughtering human beings, you call those ones cowards?

In fact, in the last few weeks, they have been on rampage in Katsina and other parts of the North, and for me that is a demonstration of courage, chutzpah-style. Two days before the incident in Kankara, a village head and 20 other

civilians were kidnapped in Gamji Village, Sabuwal Local Government in Katsina State.

The attack on the Government Science Secondary School happened barely 24 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in the state for a week-long private visit. By Sunday, there were further attacks in Jibia Local Government. The same day, terrorists also struck in two villages in Niger State.”

“My heart bleeds for the North”.

“My heart bleeds for Nigeria, because we are all in this together. I can’t blame the Governor of Katsina State if he is negotiating with the terrorists. If that is what will bring back the boys, so be it.”

“Do you think the President himself should negotiate with the terrorists? Those people may not listen to just a Governor.”

“When the President refused to discuss with the elected representatives of the people, you think he should now go and sit down with common criminals? Lend yourself some sense, my friend.”

“Okay may be the President should visit the families of the affected school boys then?”

“Is that why the President is in Katsina? The President is in his village on a private visit, not to start going from one village or the other greeting people.”

“We are talking about human lives. The lives of precious citizens. I just want the President to show empathy. Nigerians are very impatient.

Now they are saying instead of showing more interest in the Kankara Boys, he is busy visiting cows in his farm.”

“Don’t be cheeky.”

“It is not me oh. It is what people are saying.”

“Watch your mouth. The President is a farmer.

He has every right to visit his farm.”

“This is the problem with having a conversation with you. I am saying the President should take charge and show empathy, you are twisting the conversation and trying to defend the President.

Look, I am a citizen. I have the right to tell the President what I expect from him. If you are afraid to say the truth, I am not. Put yourself in the shoes of the parents of the victims of Chibok, Dapchi, Buni Yadi and now Kankara.

Is it easy?”

“Still, we have to respect the fact that every President has his own style” “What style? Is it part of Presidential style for government agents to tear-gas and humiliate the mothers of the boys of Kankara Government Science Secondary School who took to the streets on Sunday to plead with government to help rescue their children. They were rudely dispersed.”

“The last time I checked, the Nigeria Police had warned against any form of protest in any part of the country.”

“You mean women whose children have been abducted, some of them may have up to three children in that school, have no right to wail and call for help? What is wrong with you, though?”

“I am trying to let you see how people in government look at some of these issues. But you are bent on dictating what you think. And who told you the people who dispersed the protesting mothers were policemen? They could be hoodlums who have been very active these days.”

“Yes, like the hoodlums who attacked peaceful anti-SARS protesters. Hired hoodlums, tear-gassing the nation.”

“Can you prove that they were hired? By whom? Where? How?” “Yes, by government. The same government that will not hire hoodlums or mercenaries to go and fight Boko Haram is busy hiring hoodlums to fight innocent, peace-loving citizens.”

“You can’t prove that.”

“I am a citizen. I can say what I like. The

office of the citizen is the most important office in the land.”

“The people you call hired hoodlums, are they not citizens also? Beware of self-delusion.”

“So, those thugs who disrupted a meeting of the Coalition of Northern Groups, scattered the whole place and chased out the members, you call those ones citizens too? The Coalition of Northern Groups was holding a peaceful meeting in Abuja yesterday: a meeting to discuss the security situation in the North, in the light of recent events.”

“Oh, you know their agenda. You are planning with them to heckle and embarrass the President of Nigeria. They want to go and picket the President’s country home.”

“I wasn’t at the meeting. But I saw photographs of how their meeting was disrupted. People cannot meet freely again? Is it that bad? I won’t be surprised if one of these days, hoodlums begin to attack media houses. What am I even saying? During the #EndSARS protests, some media houses were attacked. There is an attempt to silence the people’s voices.”

“It depends on how you see it. Everything in life is a matter of perspective. Government is fighting fake news. Stop looking at photoshopped photos!”

“Certain perspectives are just not right, like some of the things you have been saying. Is it a good thing that children cannot feel safe in their schools anymore?”

“I never said anything like that. I do not support any assault on the integrity of the country’s education system. I am just worried that after the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014, Nigeria in collaboration with the UN Global Education Initiative launched a programme to protect schools from armed attacks, address the educational needs of children in Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDPs), and support education. The programme started in pilot states in the North. In 2018, Nigeria ratified the UN Safe Schools Declaration. But today, Nigerian schools remain unsafe.”

“May be in the North. In the South, the schools are fairly okay” “You don’t get it. Students are being killed, or recruited as frontline soldiers by terrorists, or turned into orphans, displaced, disoriented in parts of the North, but are the schools in the South safer? What is safe about schools where teachers are poorly paid or not paid at all, owed months of salary arrears and treated like dregs of the society? What is safe about a university system that has been shut down for more than eight months, with every activity in a suspended state, simply because government and university teachers can not agree on so many issues? We may be talking about security and the need for action and empathy, but we should also worry about the future of our children, and our own future as well.”

“Our own future is here already. Isn’t that what the EndSARS protest is all about? The children whose tomorrow adults like to talk about have issued a verdict: the older generation played with that tomorrow and messed it up.”

“When they too get older, they will see that life is a Mobius Strip”.

“What is that?

“Never mind” “I hope you are keeping safe sha. I hear COVID-19 is back.”

“It never went anywhere. Really bad. You can’t cough or sneeze anymore these days, without people putting a crown on it.”

“There is even a new strain of the virus in circulation, a deadly strain, according to scientists.

Infections are spreading” “It is better to keep safe, and avoid a really dirty December.”

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