FRIDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2021

Yari, at Media Summit, Tells True Story of How APC Was Formed Chairmanship aspirants meet in Abuja, unveil agenda Akpanudoedehe: Nigerians too intelligent to replace us with PDP Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja In a manner it has never been told before and contrary to the familiar story in the public space, about those who initiated the APC merger, a former governor

of Zamfara State, Abdul-Aziz Yari, yesterday, regaled his audience at a media summit in Abuja, with what he tagged the true story of how the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed.

Yari spoke at the APC Press Corps’ Second Annual Summit with the theme: "APC, Beyond 2023, The Task Ahead", an event used as an avenue for all the chairmanship aspirants of the APC to unveil their plans and

programmes as well as ponder the future of the party.

Also, the National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, yesterday,

at a different gathering, said despite their shortcomings as a party, Nigerians were too intelligent to replace the APC with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

Speaking at the summit, Yari,

who said the theme of the event was at the heart of any APC member, especially, those that initiated the merger of the party in 2013.

Continued on page 8

World Bank Approves $700m for New Climate-resilient Projects for Nigeria... Page 5 Friday 17 December, 2021 Vol 26. No 9748. Price: N250

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Jonathan, Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Sanwo-Olu, Others Celebrate Buhari at 79 Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Udora Orizu in Abuja Eminent Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of

the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, amongst others, yesterday, paid glowing tributes to President Muhammadu Buhari, on his

79th birthday today, Friday, December 17.

Leading the pack, Jonathan, while praying God to grant the president good health, peace and long life, noted Buhari’s contributions to the development

of Nigeria and commended him for his support and commitment to the peace mediation of the Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali.

The former president, who

stated this in a goodwill message personally signed, wrote: “I am delighted to join your family, friends, well-wishers and fellow compatriots to celebrate you on the occasion of your 79th birthday.

“Your Excellency, as a statesman and patriot, you have made significant contributions to the development of our country, occupying different leadership Continued on page 8

Adebanjo Replies Akande, Asks Him, Tinubu to Explain Their Sources of Wealth Lists properties he disposed to build Lekki home Oyinlola: How Akande awarded N800m contract for construction of a govt house after he lost election

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, yesterday responded to the allegation by a former Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Akande that he (Adebanjo) compelled a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Bola Tinubu to build a house for him in Lekki, Lagos.

In a statement he personally signed, the nonagenarian noted that the imputation by Akande in his recently released book, "My Participations," that the former Lagos governor funded the Lekki home was baseless and false.

Also, in reaction to the new book, a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said he found it strange that Akande who boasted that he was prudent and honest as governor, awarded the construction of a Government House in his last days in office, "after he lost the election, and in advance, paid the contractors the entire contract sum of N800

million."

Adebanjo stated that he decided to add Tinubu to the fray because his (Tinubu’s) refusal to refute the allegation after the launch of the autobiography meant the APC leader agreed with Akande.

While explaining how he financed his own building, Adebanjo urged both Akande and Tinubu to do likewise and tell Nigerians how they became stupendously rich.

Specifically, he called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to verify his statement as to how he funded the building and called on the former Lagos governor to explain how he allegedly financed the APC campaign in 2015.

"I hereby authorise the EFCC to verify the above facts. It is alleged that Chief Bisi Akande’s building at Ila-Orogun, which I understand is more than double in expanse of my house in Lekki Continued on page 8

ACCESS BANK RESTRUCTURING...

L-R:GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Dr. Herbert Wigwe; Chairman of the Bank, Dr. Ajoritsedere Awosika and Company Secretary, Mr. Sunday Ekwochi, at the Court Ordered Meeting for the proposed restructuring of Access Bank Plc and other related group companies into a new non-operating holding company in Lagos… yesterday

NJC Slams Promotion Ban on Three Judges for Issuing Conflicting Exparte Orders... Page 47

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

OGUN STATE 2021 CAROL SERVICE...

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele; wife of General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mrs Folu Adeboye and her spouse, Pastor Adejare Adeboye; former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun and her husband, Gov. Dapo Abiodun at the State 2021 Carol Service held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta ...yesterday

World Bank Approves $700m for New Climate-resilient Projects for Nigeria Obinna Chima The World Bank yesterday announced its approval of a $700 million credit from its International Development Association (IDA) for the Nigeria Agro-Climatic Resilience in SemiArid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project.

The project is expected to increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in northern Nigeria and strengthen the country’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.

According to a statement from the multilateral institution, the productivity of major crops in Nigeria had been steadily declining over the past two decades, in part due to climate change, forcing an expansion of the area under agriculture and increased imports to meet the food needs of Nigeria’s growing population.

It noted that persistent water shortages, especially in the extreme north, continue to exacerbate land degradation, desertification, and habitat loss.

“Resource shortages, violent conflict, outdated agricultural

Governors Ask FG to Put Proposed Privatisation of 10 Generating Plants on Hold Chuks Okocha in Abuja State governors have resolved to ask the federal government to put the process of privatiaing 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) across the country on hold till further notice.

The governors want the processes to be put on hold in order to review it and communicate their position to the federal government on what they considered critical national assets.

This was based on the fact that states currently own a total of 53 per cent equity in the NIPPs while the federal government owns 47 per cent stake.

The governors after their meeting in a communique signed by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi said after receiving a detailed presentation by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alex A. Okoh, the governors resolved to review and communicate through their board representatives, their assessment and position on the proposed privatisation.

The communique added: "On the National Social Register and the Rapid Response Register as critical tools for rolling out cash transfer programs, members received a presentation from

the National Coordinator of the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mr. Iorwa Apera."

The communique stated that the governors also listened to the World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri on the rollout of a bank’s financed $800 million facility designed to fund a large scale conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the country.

According to the communique, the governors thereafter resolved that each state governor would establish and Chair a Steering Committee to oversee the CCT initiative to ensure that the program aligns with the vision of the state.

On the strategy to build a sustainable Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for state governments that would also be capable of clearing outstanding pension liabilities, the communique stated that the governors listened to a presentation by the Chief Executive of AVA Capital, Mr. Kayode Falasinnu, and resolved that the settlement of all outstanding pension obligations should be included as part of the social compact with citizens for the removal of fuel subsidies.

systems not adapted to changing dryland conditions, lack of access to finance, weak value chain linkages, an uncompetitive environment for agribusiness, and poor market access are other key barriers to increased agricultural productivity in Nigeria. “Better environmental and water resources management and resilience against disaster and climate risks (largely waterrelated) are needed to sustain economic growth and protect the most vulnerable,” it added.

World Bank's Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri noted that Nigeria was faced with water scarcity and droughts which occur every five years, on average, with the potential to increase in frequency due to climate change.

He added: “This scenario not only threatens food security, livelihoods, and productivity, but also exacerbates fragility and increases the risk of violence.

“With communities and households that are most dependent on natural resources for their survival and vulnerable to desertification, this intervention will improve multi-sectoral watershed planning and investments to help about 3.4 million direct beneficiaries adapt to evolving dryland conditions.”

The Washington-based institution pointed out that in recent years, the Government of Nigeria had established several initiatives in the agriculture sector to combat desertification including afforestation and reforestation programs, dissemination of proven agricultural technologies and sustainable agricultural practices, and promotion of efficient energy sources.

However, it stated that efforts to stop and reverse desertification had been complicated by the need to feed a rapidly increasing population in a region where

natural resources were dwindling and over 90 percent of national food production depends on smallholder farmers who lack the capacity to increase food production without degrading land.

The ACReSAL Project is a 6-year strategic project prioritising actions within four components: Dryland Management, Community Climate Resilience, Institutional Strengthening and Project Management, and Contingent Emergency Response.

It is expected to improve the capacity of the country to adapt to a changing climate, largely through enhancing multi-sectoral convergence (across environment, agriculture and water) and technology modernisation, including improved use of data, analytics, and connectivity.

“The project will specifically target the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women, youth, the

elderly, persons with disabilities, internally displaced people, and ethnic and religious minorities using an integrated watershed approach across sectors and levels of governance,” Task Team Leader, ACReSAL, World Bank, Joy Iganya Agene said.

“This will help reduce the vulnerability of millions of the extreme poor in northern Nigeria, strengthening their own role in the management of their natural resources while also addressing land degradation, strengthening climate resilience, and lessening livelihood vulnerability in dry, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions in the northern states,” Agene added.

The World Bank’s IDA established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.

FG to Release List of Real Owners of Nigeria’s Oil, Gas Assets in January Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government will next month make public the real owners of oil, gas and mining assets in the country through a National Beneficial Ownership (NBO) register.

The data to be jointly launched by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), was expected to further push the country’s preparedness to shine the light on the opacity in the extractive industry.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji and the Registrar-General of the CAC, Mallam Garba Abubakar announced this at the on-going Conference of State Parties on United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

A statement by the Deputy Director/Head Communications and Advocacy of the initiative, Obiageli Onuorah, noted

that when ready, the register would be merged with the CAC register of companies in the country.

“The NEITI executive secretary explained that under the joint inter-agency collaboration with the CAC, the NEITI beneficial ownership register filled with facts, information and data on who owns what in the oil, gas and mining sectors will merge with CAC beneficial ownership portal that covers all registered companies in Nigeria.

“Orji stated that with a national integrated beneficial ownership portal, NEITI and CAC will be in a better position to support government efforts at revenue growth by checking capital flight, tax evasion, terrorism financing, illicit financial flows and outright economic sabotage,” the statement added.

Addressing a special panel on beneficial ownership at the conference in Egypt, the NEITI executive secretary identified

political will, stakeholders’ consultation, institutional and citizens' ownership as well as civil society partnership as critical success factors that have led Nigeria’s efforts.

The statement further revealed that Nigeria had submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on the use of beneficial ownership information and data disclosure to identify, track, recover and return assets looted or stolen from developing countries.

“The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, announced this while addressing the 9th session of conference of state parties in progress in Egypt,” NEITI stressed.

It explained that the draft resolution was submitted jointly with the support and partnership of five other developing countries , including Kenya, Pakistan, Peru, and Saudi Arabia.

“The attorney general informed the UN Convention that Nigeria has put in place institutional structures and legislations to protect Nigeria's resources.

“The minister conveyed Nigeria's appeal to the conference of the UN convention against corruption to consider the draft resolution on its merit in view of its strategic importance in recovering looted assets from developing countries,” the statement noted.

It explained that the Nigerian delegation to the conference led by the minister was made up of heads of key anti-corruption agencies, the NEITI executive secretary, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Registrar-General of CAC, among others.

“The UN Conference is expected to ratify the global anti-corruption strategy for adoption by over 150 countries attending the conference,” NEITI stated.

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AJIMOBI LIVES ON...

Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (left) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during the unveiling of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Center at the University of Ibadan Oyo State…yesterday

FG Disburses $300m NCI Funds to Nigerians in Oil Industry, Records Zero Default Adeniyi cautions against forex round-tripping Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has fully disbursed the $300 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) to about 53 indigenous operators in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking in Abuja at the Nigerian Content Capacity Building Workshop for Media Stakeholders, General Manager of the Nigerian Contents Development Fund (NCDF), Mr Obinna Ofili, noted that there had been no single default on the loan repayment by the beneficiaries.

He said the decision to give the Bank of Industry (BOI) the responsibility of disbursing the funds was to eliminate banks with very deep profits motive, explaining that although the loan was initially given out at 8 per cent, but because of the Covid-19 meltdown, it was reduced to 6 per cent, lowest in the country.

To grow Nigerian content in the industry, the federal government had launched the initial $200 million fund for Nigerian companies involved in manufacturing in the oil and gas industry as well as firms seeking

to acquire assets, especially rigs and marine vessels.

The beneficiaries who got a maximum of $10 million, repayable after five years, according to the guidelines, could spend it on contract financing for Nigerian oil service providers, contract financing for oil and gas community contractors and contract and loan refinancing for service companies that already have facilities with Nigerian banks.

The fund is a portion of the NCDF drawn from one per cent of all contracts awarded in the upstream sector of the industry and was meant to address persistent funding challenges that hindered capacity and growth of local service providers in the oil and gas.

It was later expanded from $200 million to $350 million, with $100 million from the additional funds deployed to boost the five existing loan products of the NCI fund, which include manufacturing, asset acquisition, contract financing, loan refinancing and community contractor financing.

Also included was the $20 million and $30 million respectively for the Intervention Fund for Women in Oil & Gas and Petroleum Technology Association

of Nigeria (PETAN) products, which included working capital loans and capacity building loans for member companies.

Ofili noted that before the intervention, many companies were dying under the weight of high interest rates, saying that since its launch, many beneficiaries had gone on to build a number of the infrastructure now being used in the industry.

He added that three companies who accessed the fund had fully repaid, even before expiry, with the rest having never defaulted in their monthly remittances.

“A significant number of

companies have so far accessed loans with present number at 53.

There is no bad loan under the scheme presently as all the loans are performing and meeting their obligations.

“Three companies have so far fully liquidated their loans.

Loan disbursement presently stand at over 100 per cent of the fund size as BOI is already re-lending recovered loans paid back by initial borrowers under the scheme,” he said.

In his contribution, the Chairman, THISDAY Editorial Board, Mr Segun Adeniyi, called for proper monitoring of the fund

companies.

The goal of the Gulfood 2022 Show and the trade mission is to increase two-way trade between the United States and other countries of the world.

It also provides exhibiting companies and visitors’ unparalleled opportunities to discover new markets, creative new products, ideas and innovations.

Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, US Mission Nigeria, Gerald Smith, explained that Nigerian buyers and importers would be able to meet with nearly 100 American exhibitors spanning food, pulses and grains, meat and poultry

content in all the sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Speaking to correspondents present at the event, he advised them to arm themselves with relevant knowledge, especially laws guiding the industry to make sure that no one bamboozles them with technicalities in the coverage of the sector.

He further cautioned against distortion of facts, urging them to be mindful of unethical practices which may bring the profession to disrepute. “We must abide by the same standards we expect from others, especially from those in public offices,” he noted.

UK Resumes Visa Processing for Nigerian Visitors Chinedu Eze Sequel to the removal of Nigeria and 10 other African countries from its red list over the Omicron COVID-19, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced that it would resume the processing of visitor visa applications for Nigerians and other countries. .

The British High Commission had suspended processing of visitor visa applications from

Nigeria immediately it put the country on red list.

However, in a statement yesterday, the British High Commission explained that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) would lift the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list.

The statement titled: UKVI Lift Pause on Processing Visitor Visa Applications read, “In

US Announces Two Opportunities for Nigerian Agribusiness Operators As part of efforts to support the food industry and agribusiness value chain in Nigeria, the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Mission in Nigeria has highlighted two opportunities for Nigerian agribusiness operators.

These includes opportunities to attend the Gulfood Show 2022 from February 13th to 17th and the Agribusiness Trade Mission in Dubai, holding from February 16th to 21st, hosted by the US Department of Agriculture.

According to a statement, the two agribusiness trade events would provide considerable opportunities to meet US

to ensure that those who access it at 6 per cent or 8 per cent, do not round-trip the funds.

The former presidential media adviser, who spoke on the topic “ Role of the Media in Promoting Local Content Agenda”, explained that it was possible to get those cheap funds , simply sit at home and sell at a premium either through the banks or in the black market.

He, therefore urged the managers of the fund to redouble their efforts to ensure that the funds are deployed for what the law intends, describing himself as a passionate advocate of local

products.

He explained that the Gulfood Show and the trade mission would provide Nigerian participants opportunity to meet and network, “one-on-one” with some of the top decision-making food executives that are looking to meet and do business with international partners.

“The Foreign Agricultural Service is ready to welcome Nigeria buyers to this opportunity to interact with high quality U.S. exporters,” Smith said.

“Participants will discover new products and suppliers and stay up to date with the latest trends in the global food and beverage industry.”

Market prospects at the Gulfood Show include dairy products, frozen poultry, chilled and frozen red meat, fresh fruit, snack foods, confectionary, packaged foods, dried fruit and tree nuts, potatoes, wine, beer, and fishery products.

Gulfood Show is reputed to be the largest American-focused food and beverage trade show in the Africa and Middle East region.

“Nigerian agribusiness companies interested in attending the Gulfood Show and Agribusiness Trade Mission must register in advance and pay their own way to participate,” it added.

line with the lifting of red list restrictions – following the UK Government announcement that from 4:00am on 15th December all countries who were on the red list will be removed – UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) will lift the pause on processing visitor visas in all countries previously on the red list.

“Due to extremely high global demand, standard UK visitor visas are currently taking significantly longer than usual to be processed. UKVI are working hard to process visitor visa applications as soon as possible and sincerely apologise to all our customers affected.”

It added: "Non-visitor visa applications (including student and work visas) are still being processed within published service standards and we are working hard to meet customer demand.

“Applicants will be contacted by the Visa Application Centre (VAC) when their passport is ready for collection. They should not visit the VAC until they have been invited to do so.

“You are not required to book any travel before applying for a visa, or before a decision is made on your application.

“Those with an urgent need to travel to the UK for compassionate reasons will still need to apply for a visa in the usual way, including submitting

biometrics at a VAC. Applicants should clearly explain the compelling or compassionate reasons for the visit in their application form and must alert the VAC staff during biometric submission."

The statement further explained that if visitors had already submitted their visa application and needed to urgently travel to the UK for compassionate reasons, they could contact UK Visas & Immigration for help.

“Priority Visa (PV) and Super Priority Visa (SPV) services remain temporarily suspended for all visa routes in all countries coming off the red list.

“This allows UKVI to concentrate on assessing applications in date order for all our visa customers, and to deal equitably with the increased demand we are currently experiencing. This will be kept under review and we hope to be able to reinstate PV services in due course.

"Students who may have planned to use PV services can speak to their course provider about options, including COVID-19 concessions or slightly later starts if necessary. However, students may wish to consider making their application early, rather than waiting for PV and SPV services to be resumed,” the statement added.

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PAGE EIGHT J O N AT H A N , L AWA N , G B A J A B I A M I L A , SA N W O - O L U , OT H E R S C E L E B R AT E B U H A R I AT 7 9 positions at different political eras.

“As we celebrate you on this special day, please accept my appreciation for your sustained co-operation and commitment towards the success of ECOWAS Peace Mission in Mali, where I serve as the Mediator. On behalf of my family, I wish you good health, peace, joy and long life.”

Lawan, while felicitating with Buhari, acknowledged his purposeful leadership, vision, courage and steadfastness in the pursuit of the right cause and common good.

"I join the multitude of fellow Nigerians and your other wellwishers across the globe in thanking Allah for His great gifts of good health and long life to you. This benevolence of Allah has enabled Your Excellency to continue to provide purposeful leadership to our country in this time of unprecedented challenges across the world.

"You are a leader, who has matched vision with courage and who is steadfast in his pursuit of the right cause and common good. Your Excellency, like most, who have worked with you, I attest that you are passionate about the unity, security and prosperity of Nigeria.

"This attribute, with the focused transformation of the nation's physical infrastructure, social and economic reforms will enhance your legacy as a unique Nigerian leader.

"Our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is lucky to have you as our leader in this stage of its history.

Your selfless and foresighted leadership has brought unity and cohesion to the party, and greatly contributed to making the APC the most freely embraced political platform in the history of Nigeria.

"Mr President, your leadership of Nigeria is a blessing to our dear country as it offers our people and institutions confidence in confronting the current challenges and in laying the foundation for sustainable prosperity.

"The National Assembly will continue to work with you in line with our shared vision and in the best interest of our dear nation," Lawan says.

On his part, Gbajabiamila, said the president has done great things for Nigeria since he came to power in 2015 and should be celebrated by all well-meaning Nigerians on his birthday.

The Speaker, while lauding Buhari for putting Nigeria first before any other consideration, said at 79, the president has achieved a lot both as an individual and as a leader with uncommon character and integrity.

He expressed optimism that the president would do a lot more for the country in the remaining period of his administration.

"Mr President, Nigeria and Nigerians are proud of you. The way you have been steering the ship of the Nigerian state has been commendable. I, therefore, join millions of our compatriots to wish you a happy birthday and more years in good health," he said Also, Sanwo-Olu, in his congratulatory message, described President Buhari as a courageous and passionate leader, whose commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria is worthy of emulation.

In the congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said Buhari has provided honest and transparent leadership in the country, as well as demonstrated unparalleled leadership skills, patriotism, integrity and courage in steering the ship of Nigeria since he assumed office on May 29, 2015.

"You have contributed immensely to the unity, growth and development of Nigeria right from your youthful days till date, having served in different capacities as Minister of Petroleum Resources, Head of State and currently President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander -in- Chief of the Armed Forces.

“I hereby join family, friends, associates, leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in celebrating President Buhari’s 79th birthday. I wish our President more prosperous years in good health and wisdom as he continues to serve our dear nation," the governor said.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris

Ngige, in his tribute described Buhari as a hero, who met Nigeria at the crossroads of socio-economic challenges, and has already left footprints on the sands of time.

In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja , Senator Ngige described the President as a colossus, who upon crossing the the Rubicon in 2015, retrieved Nigeria from a threatening morass, and set her on a fruitful march of socio-economic and political recovery.

“At crossroads in 2015, Nigeria

needed a statesman, an honest leader with an undistracted focus on national rebirth and the lot fell on President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Six years in saddle, despite teething challenges, worsened

by COVID-19 pandemic, which shut and brought the entire world on bended knees, Nigeria has trudged on, first through the Era of Change and now, the consolidation moment of the Next Level. Many projects met on ground have been completed, in some cases, expanded and

new ones initiated.

“The incipient return to national food sufficiency, through the expanded horizon on agricultural production, and the arising job opportunities in the production value chains. The expansion of roads and railway infrastructures, illustrating the unambiguous commitment to national infrastructural rebirth, and summarized by the administration’s five legacy projects viz, the 2nd Niger Bridge, now 80% completed, the Lagos-Ibadan-Ilorin-Kaduna

YARI, AT MEDIA SUMMIT, TELLS TRUE STORY OF HOW APC WAS FORMED "I'm one of the co-founders of this great party and my colleague, Al-Makura and he mentioned one other, who is not here (Kayode Fayemi). I can tell the gathering that three of us started this progressive.

"A little history about it is that at any point in time we went for a meeting in Amaechi’s House (former Rivers State governor), after the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, they will say PDP governors wait, the president wants to see all of you and we were being a kind of intimidated with what PDP was doing.

"So, we too said we're going to do something and Al-Makura was part of the initiative, Fayemi as well as the immediate past Chairman, that's Adams Oshiomhole. We arranged that after a meeting, we should also announced that we have opposition governors’ meeting in Fashola's House. That's how the APC, I can tell you, came to birth."

THISDAY checks, also pulled up a statement issued by the governors on February 5, 2013, at the Lagos House, tagged: “We Endorse a Merger to Rescue Nigeria”.

“We, the Governors of Borno, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Yobe and Zamfara, rose from a meeting at Lagos House, Marina today, Tuesday, February 5th, 2013.

Having reviewed the situation in our country, we resolved that to rescue Nigeria is a task that must be done.

“As progressive and patriotic leaders of our people across party, religious and geo

political zones, we are extremely concerned about the state of the nation and we put our heads together in the interest of our people to deliberate on what can be done to rescue our country.

“As governors, we fully endorse the merger initiatives already commenced by our various political parties and we will put our full weight behind these efforts. Nigeria is greater than all of us and we have a duty to make it work for our people and the future of our children yet unborn,” the statement stated.

Yari, however, added that governors would continue to dominate the affairs of the party, because they were the Alpha and Omega and financiers of the party.

According to him, "The issue of domination, of course, governors must dominate the party. Why? Because they're the Alpha and the Omega and they are the financers but we have to change the narrative.

"If we change the narrative and with members of the party, at least, certain direction on the issue of critical importance, then that narration can be changed."

Yari also stressed the need to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party, saying the cases of internal crisis must be resolved before going to the ballot box.

Aside Yari, other aspirants, who made it to the event included a former governor of Nasarawa, Senator Tanko Almakura, Senator Mohammed Musa, former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who was represented

by Mr. Cairo Ojougboh; former

Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; Malam Mustapha Saliu, Mr. Sunny Monidafe, Mohammed Etsu and Senator George Akume, who was also represented by a former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Sam Odeh.

Speaking, Al-Makura said the ruling party was in a transition period and there was a need for thinking the APC beyond 2023.

He, however, expressed worry that President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he described as the unifiier of the party, has held the party together in the past six and a half years, but would be on his way out.

Al-Makura said: "Are we prepared to carry the mantle and at least, try to do what he has been doing? That is the question. So, I can sum it up that what needs to be done is sustaining the gains and securing the future.

"I am here as one of the aspirants. It may interest you to know what is my motivation?

What is my motive? What is my objective of wanting to be the national chairman of this great party? It is not about myself.

It is not about the ego or what goes with that.

“It is about sustaining the gains as one that was opportune by providence to be part of those that participated in the merger exercise. It will be a total disservice to the party, if I sit back at this very critical period, not to partake in ensuring value addition to the party. That is my objective. That is my reason for wanting to contest for the office of chairman."

Al-Makura said the best way

ADEBANJO REPLIES AKANDE, ASKS HIM, TINUBU TO EXPLAIN THEIR SOURCES OF WEALTH and some other properties he has in Lagos and abroad were financed by Bola Tinubu.

"His house in Ibadan was also alleged to have been built by the contractor that built the secretariat in Oshogbo, when he was the governor of Osun state.

"I hereby challenge Chief Bisi Akande to clear the air by disclosing the source of financing these properties as I have done above.

"Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the great philanthropist, should also disclose the source of his wealth with which he bankrolled the elections of APC in the south-west and that of Gen. Muhammad Buhari and his various properties in Lagos.

He should also authorise the EFCC to verify such details as I have done above," he said.

Akande reiterated that since Tinubu himself was present at the book presentation, he expected him within a few days to refute such a malicious falsehood about him, emanating from his "man Friday."

He noted that it was shocking that Tinubu who just some three years ago at n the occasion of the presentation of Adebanjo's auto-biography, “Saying It As It Is,” attested to the fact that if not for "My incorruptibility and strength of character he, Bola Tinubu would not have been Governor of Lagos State in 1999."

Adebanjo wondered what

Tinubu could be demanding from him after his two-term governorship to make him pressurise him to build a house for him, when he did not get a naira from Tinubu before he became the governor.

Describing Akande as a neophyte and a beneficiary of a struggle he never took part in, Akande averred that he owed himself a duty to put the record straight for posterity about the "big lie" that Tinubu built the house for him.

"I therefore deny categorically (sic) that my house at Lekki was built with my resources through the sale of three developed properties, loan from GTBank and the sale of undeveloped landed property given me by my late leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory," he argued.

On the details of the properties he disposed to build the Lekki home, he listed a four-bedroom duplex with two bedroom flat enclosed with two undeveloped plots at plot four, block 14, Nuru Oniwo Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos state, where he lived hitherto. He added that the house was commissioned in 1972 by Awolowo.

"A wing of the duplex was once occupied by a staff of the security outfit then known as “special branch” headed then by the late Alhaji M.D. Yussuf who later became Inspector General of Police when Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo was the Head of State.

road, East-West road, AbujaKaduna-Kano road and the Mambilla Project and more!

“The improving legacy of credible elections exemplified in abundance by the President, in the recent off-season elections in Edo and Anambra is at the heart of national revival. I’m therefore optimistic that by the time the President completes his term in 2023, Nigerians will look back with joy at the long standing commitment, steadfastness and sacrifices of this President,” he said.

"It was later occupied by one of the wives Chief Pius Akinyelure, who often visit his wife there in company of Senator Bola Tinubu.

"The gate of this property was forced open by Abacha security forces when NADECO was holding a sendoff party for American ambassador Walter Carrington in my house. I took the federal government to court for damages and I was awarded N1 million which has not been paid till today by the federal government, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), was my counsel," he said.

In addition, he mentioned a two-storey building at Odedola Street, Surulere, Lagos state, which he bought through an estate agent by name Mr. Shiwoniku, who has since relocated to UK and has a brother who is a legal practitioner in Abuja.

“The house was sold to a Ghanaian by name Mr Akappo.

He is still alive and he lives in one of the flat in the building,” Adebanjo noted.

He also mentioned a plot of 45X100 which he said he inherited from his mother Salamotu Anomo-Adebanjo, who built a bungalow on it.

“She bought the land when I was in primary school in 1940 from one Pa. Idowu Onitiri for £20, which she paid by instalment of £10, £7, £3. His son Akanbi Onitiri, executed the conveyance for me without extra payment after showing him

the purchase receipts from his father, when I was developing it in 1976. Akanbi Onitiri is the father of Sumbo Onitiri, a well-known estate surveyor in Lagos.

“The building was sold to a woman through an estate agent. I then took a loan from GTBank to complete the house in Lekki where I am living now,” Adebanjo recalled.

He added that when the interest on the loan became unbearable, he was compelled to sell the undeveloped land given to him by Awolowo in Dide-Olu Estate in Maroko Victoria Island.

“One Mr. Ade Otusanya, a friend of my son, Femi AyoAdebanjo bought the land. The contractor who built my Lekki house is Hakeem Sulaiman, Senior Partner of Messrs HA associates.

“The Electrical and Mechanical Contractor is Tokunbo Oshokoya, Senior Partner of Messrs Oshea Projects. The Architect is Mr. Deji Johnson. The Quantity Surveyor is the late Otunba T.B Adebayo.

“The Lekki property, the house in my village, Isanya Ogbo, and three-bedroom flat in a town house, at Omorinre Street in Lekki are the properties I have in the whole world,” the Yoruba leader said.

Furthermore, Oyinlola who said his forthcoming autobiography had already taken care of all the issues raised

in Akande's book about him, however said he decided to make preliminary replies for the benefit of Nigerians who may be interested in hearing his own immediate side of the story.

The former Osun Governor stated: "Chief Akande said I wrongly accused him of corruption in the construction of the Governor's Office (Bola Ige House). I did not level any false charges against him. I came into office in May 2003 and discovered that the Governor's Office complex which Akande commissioned for use after he lost the election was really not completed.

"The state government asked the contractor to come back to site and complete the works, more so when evidence in government accounts showed that he had been paid. But the project consultant shocked everyone with his claim that part of the payment was taken back to finance the 2003 re-election bid of Chief Akande.

"The consultant said the contractor could not go back to work unless he was paid his full dues. One of Akande's own appointees confessed collecting money from this contractor for Akande's re-election. I consulted Chief Akande on this.

"He denied having any deal with the contractor and the consultant. Some people were subsequently taken to court on a seven-count criminal charge.

to reposition the ruling party and prepare for a post-Buhari era is by electing him as the next Chairman of the party.

“The challenge is the sacrifices people have been able to make over this period of time. I think there couldn't be a better way to get this party properly positioned more than someone that has been with the party right from the beginning and has gone across the board to know what needs to be done and what not.

“By the special grace of God, if I become the National Chairman, I would ensure justice. I wish to ensure fairness and I will ensure a level playing field for everybody and ensure also internal party democracy and reward system," he promised.

Senator representing Niger East, Musa, lamented that all political structures in the country have been reduced to only platforms, where leaders usually use to attain leadership, stressing that the trajectory was not good for the country, because it has not given the populace what is desired.

Musa said there was a need to make APC an institution, whereby it would be governed by the book and leaders, as well as ensuring members abide by the constitution of the party.

"I want to bring technology to the running of the administration of APC. The internal structure needs to be re-engineered.

We need to re-engineer APC. We need a leadership that is participatory. We need a leadership that is pace setting, Continued on page 50

Stakeholders in the state and Alhaji Arisekola Alao later intervened. I have the details of who collected how much in my forthcoming book."

Continuing, Oyinlola wrote: "Akande wrote on the Government House that he wanted to build on a site on Ilesa road in Osogbo which I stopped. I found it strange that Chief Akande who boasted that he was prudent and honest as governor, awarded the construction of a Government House in his last days in office, after he lost the election, and in advance, paid the contractors the entire contract sum of N800million.

"Chief Akande confirmed this strange payment on page 393 of his book. This was a man who said there was no money to pay workers and pensioners but he had enough to pay a contractor in advance for a government house after losing his re-election.

"In any case, the state already had an ongoing Government House started by the military government which Akande refused to complete. I completed the project and added chalets plus a presidential lodge.

Everything was completed and commissioned within my first year in office. "The state has continued to use the structures till date. Akande, in his book, condemned my decision to opt for that project instead of his own idea. Further details on this are in my forthcoming book."

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COMMENT

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

BUHARI’S OSTRICH APPROACH TO INSECURITY Federal government’s insistence that insecurity is abating is self-deceit, writes Bolaji Adebiyi

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argely because of its enormous capacity for calling black white, it was difficult to believe the social media posts of late noon of Wednesday. The internet space was agog with the story of how an influential monarch that doubles as a spiritual leader in the North-west, reportedly escaped, through the window of a mosque, the rage of invading bandits.

The story was told of how the gun-wielding marauders stormed the state mosque at noon in an apparent attempt to seize the prized monarch who was eventually smuggled away through the window of the place of worship by state security operatives. Despite not catching their targeted loot, it was still a handsome day for the forest men as they reportedly carted away 48 worshippers. At least, millions of naira will still roll in as ransom in a few days.

Although it turned out to be fake, the authors of the story mimicked the worsening insecurity in the country, particularly in the North. With the military turning the heat on bandits in the endemic states of Katsina and Zamfara, the outlaws have found the contiguous states of Sokoto and Kaduna as safe havens to ply their nefarious trade.

The seriousness of the rising violence of the forest men took Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, to Muhammadu Buhari, the president of the federation, on Monday to make a case for better management of the situation. He did a review of the tactical situation, telling the president, a former general in the army, about the need for the military to rethink its tactical approach to the containment of the bandits.

Despite official denials, the media is awash with reports of outlaws’ control of several communities in the state where they have imposed levies and taxes. In an audacious display of bestiality, a week ago, scores of travellers were trapped in a bus and burnt to death by bandits in Gidan Bawa village in Sabon Birni Local Government of the state. These clearly are evidence that whatever the tactics of the security forces, the security crisis is not abating. As usual, the president acknowledged the dire situation and promised to step up action. This, for many Nigerians, is a serious challenge that they are unable to unravel. Why does the president promise but fail to rein in insecurity, particularly in the North?

This poser was the focus of an editorial last weekend by the Daily Trust, an Abuja based newspaper that devotes a lot of attention to northern issues. Titled ‘Life Has Lost Its Value Under Buhari’s Nigeria,’ it lamented the worsening security situation in the North, pointing out that the region must be disappointed by the record of one of its own in the saddle.

In a timely but unusual temperate response, the presidency in a statement by Shehu Garba, a presidential media aide, acknowledged the severity of the issues raised and catalogued the efforts of the Buhari administration to tackle the problems.

Interestingly, Garba, for once, left the Goodluck Jonathan administration alone in the blame for the state of affairs, apprehending this time around, the continental nature of terror, banditry and armed violence. “Nigeria is not unique,” he said, explaining: “Violence and terror have risen steadily across the entire African continent over the last decade.” Saying the Buhari administration was worried about the killing field that

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHERN STATES ARE UNDER THE RULE OF ONE OUTLAW OR THE OTHER: BOKO HARAM, BANDITS OR HERDSMEN

Nigeria has become, he ended his statement with the habitual refrain: “Nigeria’s persistent and continued efforts to suppress instability have seen results, with the terror group Boko Haram among others reduced to a shell of its former self.”

There lies the problem. The Buhari administration has an Ostrich approach to resolving challenges. It sees positive results where most Nigerians, including credible public opinion moulders, see debilitating failures. Most times it argues against the facts. When it took over in 2015, it claimed that it inherited 15 local government areas in Borno State that were under the control of the terror group, Boko Haram.

Although this was a lie it told persistently, it, however, further claimed a few months later that it had technically degraded the terrorist organisation to the extent that it was no longer holding positions. By its own claim, only a section of a state out of the 36 states of the federation was in a security crisis at its inception. But today, what is the situation, which it insists is under control?

The terror organisation, though in disarray, has multiplied.

Besides Boko Haram, there is now Islamic State West Africa Province. Despite the discord, its defence intelligence has been unable to catch in and do the kill. Instead, the organisation it claimed to have degraded has shown audacious strength in transforming from a guerrilla to a conventional force that is taking on military locations at will, killing scores of priceless senior military officers and men. Battalions have been sacked severally, and on one occasion or so, a whole brigade.

Six years after Buhari, armed violence in the North has spread from a section of Borno State in the North-east to several communities in Northern Nigeria with intensity in most states of the North-west even as the North-central states of Plateau and Benue suffer intermittent attacks from herdsmen. So, the fact of the matter is that many communities in the Northern states are under the rule of one outlaw or the other: Boko Haram, bandits or herdsmen.

Yet, during the week, Lai Mohammed, the administrations’ minister of information and culture, told Nigerians that but for Buhari, the ISWAP would have established an Islamic state in Nigeria. He was responding to the Monday tackle by Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, that Buhari had approached his wits’ end on the matter of security. Warning the former president to mind his mouth, he contended that the president had provided qualitative leadership that had yielded positive results.

Without a doubt, no Nigerian could have taken him seriously. Certainly not Tambuwal or Bello Sani, the youthful governor of Niger State, who are dealing with the excision of several communities in their states by bandits. Nor would those Northern youths who have taken to the streets of the North with the slogan: ‘The North is Bleeding!’ believe him.

A report by The Punch newspaper this week made the matter clearer. It puts the death toll in the North in the last 11 months at 3,125 while the figure for the kidnapped is 2,703.

Obviously, for the Buhari administration, these are tales by the moonlight. But Nigerians who are at the receiving end definitely know better.

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

BETWEEN IKHIDE AND OBASEKI Crusoe Osagie writes that Ikhide’s tirade against the Edo State governor is unfortunate

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erial rabble rouser without much substance, Erasmus Ikhide, has taken a complete detour. He used to try to mask his unfair, vicious attacks on Governor Godwin Obaseki, with developmental criticism, asking for more infrastructure, roads and education reforms.

Alas, in his latest retort to the governor, he has come full circle to show that the attacks have nothing to do with seeking more development for Edo State but purely borne out of personal hatred for Obaseki, which is derived partly from his belief that it was Obaseki who destroyed the political career of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. According to Ikhide, Obaseki “destroyed his (Oshiomhole’s) political career totally.”

The other half of Ikhide’s hatred for the governor is apparently derived from the fact that his proposal to Obaseki’s media team to offer his gun for hire was politely turned down. Since then, he has run amok dreaming, thinking and hallucinating about

a governor who probably does not know that he exists, but is rather focused on his mandate to the people.

It will do Ikhide and his ilk a lot of good to take a second look at the said total destruction of Oshiomhole by Obaseki.

Could it have been that it was really self-immolation on the part of Oshiomhole? Was the highpoint of Oshiomhole’s self-destruction not the point at which he was removed as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which happened after the governor had been pushed out of the APC? To paraphrase American psychologist, Susan Jeffers, taking responsibility means never blaming anyone else for anything you have done or become. This is an essential lesson that Ikhide and his cotravellers need to learn.

In the second paragraph of his misguided missive, Ikhide referred to the numerous Edo people, who rose in defense of the governor as “gullible” because they stood by Obaseki and fought off defanged

and oppressive godfathers.

How can an individual who is hardly accomplished in the newfound journalism profession he appears to have stumbled into be wiser than the thousands of Edo people, who stood up for the governor in the face of intimidation by unprogressive political forces across the country determined to keep the people subjugated?

Truly, the first sign that one is losing his mind is when he thinks himself to be the only sane person and other persons around him have gone crazy.

Ikhide took a voyage into the lame lingo of betrayal. ‘Oh, how Obaseki betrayed Dan Orbih; Oh, he betrayed Governor Wike.’ According to him: “While the world was celebrating Governor Wike yesterday as an elder statesman, Obaseki was among the humanity (sic) that refused to send him birthday wishes on his anniversary.”

This tirade was published on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. However, at least 24 hours before Ikhide published his hogwash, Obaseki had a full-page con-

gratulatory message for Governor Nyesom Wike on page 15 of Vanguard Newspaper of December 14, 2021.

Even if there was no evidence of a congratulatory message, since when did not verbalizing or documenting birthday messages to a fellow governor amount to betrayal?

Ikhide will find the words of ancient Greek philosopher, Sophocles in his play, Antigone, useful when he said “Who the gods want to destroy, they first make mad,” in salvaging himself from his recent adventure of trying to create a phantom crisis between Governor Obaseki and his Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan.

This is because the way our forefathers deal justice to liars and warmongers may be radically different from how politicians may do so. So Ikhide should be guided and thread softly on such matters that are too high for him.

Osagie is Special Adviser on Media Projects to Edo State Governor

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EDITORIAL THE WELFARE OF IDP INMATES The authorities could do more for the internally displaced

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or more than a decade now, the number of Nigerians displaced by insurgency, banditry, communal clashes, and farmerherder conflict has been increasing at an alarming rate. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), there were 2.9 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria at the end of August 2021. And these excludes many of our citizens taking refuge in Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Chad. Nigeria is also home to over 73,000 refugees and asylum-seekers mostly from Cameroon.

Despite the humongous amount of resources being expended by government, multilateral and local aid agencies as well as the international community, the growing populations of displaced persons across the country lack the basic necessities of life. By diverting scarce resources meant for the most vulnerable of our people, lives are being made increasingly difficult for them. Hunger walks naked in most of the IDPs camps, medicare is in short supply even as NIGERIAN IDPS AND REFUGEES SUFFER FROM shelter, clothing and remain essential DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS water commodities. With MARKED BY HUNGER, the maimed, the POOR HEALTHCARE, LACK orphans, the widows, OF WATER AND GOOD widowers, and the tides of refugees in SANITATION, SQUALID camps practically left ENVIRONMENTS, AND to their own devices, ACCESS TO EDUCATION we are unwittingly creating other social problems that could come back to haunt the nation my years down the line.

By international conventions and protocols, Nigeria is obligated to protect and assist these Persons of Concern (PoC). Unfortunately, Nigerian IDPs and refugees suffer from deplorable conditions marked by hunger, poor healthcare, lack of water and good sanitation, squalid environments, and access to education. A recent report

by Umaru Gola, Chairman of the Durumi IDP camp at Garki, Abuja, alleged that the camp alone buries at

Letters to the Editor

least one of its members every week; and they die mostly from hunger and both preventable and curable diseases.

“Everybody has been left to face his or her fate”, said Gola. He said they draw support mostly from religious bodies, NGOs, and kind-spirited Nigerians.

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

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

f the IDPs in the nation’s capital are in this state of abandonment, what then will be the fate of the rest in over 250 IDP camps and host communities?

Worse still, allegations of misappropriation of funds, flagrant breach of procurement process, incompetence, and abuse of power, are rife. There are also reports of withholding logistics, such vehicles donated by the UNHCR for field operations, while some refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) were forced to risk travelling the bandits-prone Kano-Kaduna-Abuja road for their documentation, which could have been done in Kano.

Nigerians and the world expect something better from such a strategic humanitarian agency both in the appointment of its leadership, its governance, and supervision by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. As a result of mass displacements, many children are holed up with their parents in internally displaced camps with limited schooling at most – and with no textbooks and teaching aids. A generation of children are being deliberately robbed of the right to education, and by extension, their future. And as it stands, the cycle of poverty is being perpetuated.

Since a civilisation is measured by how well it treats its weakest members, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive actions to ameliorate the sufferings of IDPs. As a matter of urgency, the government needs to ensure protection, provision of food, water and sanitation, healthcare, skill acquisition, and education.

The federal government must also ensure that resources meant for soothing the pains of the displaced are not misappropriated by some greedy officials.

In 2017, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said Nigeria was facing “the biggest humanitarian crisis in Africa today.” That, sadly, remains the situation, even today!

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.

WHY BANDITRY AND TERRORISM THRIVE

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irstly, the military has been stretched doing other ‘peoples’ jobs’.

The military is tackling the terrorists’ bandits at the ‘surface’- see and kill, while the root causes still remain. The military is not a policing institution. The Nigerian Army is under intense pressure to fill security gaps. Security experts say, globally military involvement in crime-fighting is problematic because they are not trained to do so.

Secondly, the police which are trained to uproot the causes of this kind of criminality, deal with it at the surface and seal the seals, are handicapped beyond tolerance level. The police are underfunded, ill-motivated, under-equipped, and neglected. If the Nigerian police can get half of what it needs, they will tackle the bandits and terrorists from start to finish. The police are superb in gathering intelligence from primary sources, because the police are everywhere and trained to do so.

Thirdly, it seems, President Muhammadu Buhari is relying so much on bulk information-first line of information (service chiefs). He should also get information from the second and third levels - field commanders and local communities dwellers. If he is doing it, he should seek more.

Though, the presidency on December 12th, 2021 said “Alongside military force, the government is seeking to address the violence at its economic source. Massive infrastructure projects like the coastal rail and new train from the southern coast through the north-east to our neighbour Niger, aim to expand employment and opportunity across the country, bringing hope to our more remote and poorer regions where bandits and terrorists thrive.”

Fourthly, governors, security votes and benefits- some officials of

government who in one way or another benefit from the opaque security vote system will always work hard to make sure banditry and terrorism continue - it’s a business. Some state governors are doing their best, but some of their officials may be sabotaging their efforts.

Fifthly, communities social disorder- abject poverty, the death of community-living, everybody for his own has also contributed in oiling recruitments into the banditry business. This problem was as a result of one thing - the hijack of the local government system by the governors and state legislators. LGAs are the best sources to cater to the need of local people. When this source is no more, local people start searching for new sources to survive. Though, sheer criminality and materialism among some groups including the international proliferation of small arms are also factors.

According to a report by American Security Report (ASP) - ‘Banditry in northwest Nigeria has become an appealing method of income in the region where weak governance, youth unemployment, poverty, and inequality have left people with depleted options for livelihood. Security services are often understaffed and lack the proper resources to effectively combat banditry. Vast areas of unregulated forests allow for easy concealment, and police and military forces have difficulty penetrating the rough terrain. In addition, under-policed borders have aided the proliferation of small arms and light weapons’ amongst bandit groups’ Banditry and terrorism have reached the red level. The problem now requires a holistic approach - new and already established effective methods must be implemented to tackle the problem from the root causes.

Zayyad I. Muhammad, Abuja

ABUJA: THE GRAZING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

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am always shell shocked anytime I visit Abuja.

From the airport to my hotel, apart from the lush beautiful landscape inundated with hills and green landscape, all I see is cattle grazing and I start to wonder if Abuja is one big farm. Abuja is supposed to be the iconic Nigerian capital built from scratch which is supposed to be a model to other African capitals. I keep scratching my head about the cattle everywhere. I am shocked by the fact that the bovine flock are so much that they now encroach farms and enter into estates. Some estate residents in Abuja, now complain about the reign of cattle in the capital city and the shocking part is, there is hardly anything they can do about it. Sometimes I wonder if the FCT minister is aware of the extent of grazing sites in Abuja. Sometimes I wonder if Abuja was part of the grazing route historically debated.

I honestly call on the authorities to save Abuja, and make our capital look beautiful again.

A stitch in time saves Nine!

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

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POLITICS

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

NDDC: Buhari’s Legacy of Illegality and Contempt Godspower Tamunosusi draws attention to the consistent open disregard of the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission by the Muhammadu Buhari administration

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or over two straight years now, since November 2019, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been administered by illegal interim managements which were not appointed according to the statutes establishing the federal agency. It is the longest breach of the law governing the operation of the commission and follows a pattern of disregard for the rule of law that should define the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President and his handlers have employed the jaded excuse of “reforming” to perpetuate what is seen as an administrative heist in directly appointing Interim Managements for the NDDC without following legal provisions. This wanton disregard for the NDDC Act indeed started with the Buhari regime when he abandoned the laid down provisions for appointing the Governing Board of the NDDC, which is statutorily empowered to manage the NDDC. In all, the President has appointed five interim management/sole administrators since 2015 when he was sworn in as President.

In the 15-year history of the NDDC, prior to President Buhari’s coming in 2015, an interim appointment had never been made outside of the law, even when the Governing Boards were dissolved. Prior to Buhari’s coming to power in 2015, in the absence of a Board duly constituted in line with the NDDC Act, the most senior Civil servant in the NDDC took over as Managing Director in acting capacity for a brief period until a Board was constituted in line with the NDDC Act. The NDDC Act does not permit the appointment of any external persons from outside the Commission to act as Managing Director or Sole Administrator without compliance with the Act which requires nomination by the President and Confirmation by the Senate. This is the same requirement for Ministers of the Federal Republic. The Law does not permit for anyone to be appointed as Acting Minister in any Ministry. If there is no Minister in a Ministry, the most senior civil servant - i.e. the Permanent Secretary holds forth until a Minister is appointed by the President and duly confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The orderly succession in NDDC was only breached in 2015 by the Buhari Administration when it dissolved the Bassey Henshaw - led Board and appointed Ibim Semenitari as Sole Administrator, a position she held illegally for over one year. The illegality in NDDC continued in January 2019 when President Buhari dissolved the two-year old Victor Ndoma-Egba - led Board and replaced the Board with an Interim Management team led by Professor Nelson Brambaifa. It was not until August of 2019 that President Buhari ended the illegal Brambaifa interim management team and then, in accordance with the law establishing NDDC, forwarded the list of nominees for its Board to the Senate for confirmation in October 2019 which the Senate confirmed in November 2019.

But unfortunately again, rather than inaugurate the Board, President Buhari put it on hold and relapsed to illegality in administering NDDC. Since November 2019 this government has appointed two illegal interim management teams led by Joi Nunieh and Professor Keme Pondei, respectively, and presently the Commission is illegally led by an Interim Administrator, Effiong Akwa. This is unprecedented, illogical and vexatious.

It is clear that under the Buhari presidency, the NDDC has been concessioned to a cabal to use as they please while the Niger Delta people wallow in neglect and poverty.

Mr President, that is how the Niger Delta people see your actions after six years in power.

Unfortunately there has been unending

irregularities and lack of due process in NDDC since October 2019 when the illegal interim management/sole administrator

contraptions have been administering the Commission in flagrant violation of the NDDC Establishment Act of 2000.

Why Ohanaeze Ndigbo United Kingdom Inaugurated Transition Committee Following apparent irregularities that marred the recent election of the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo United Kingdom, Azuka Benson and Bennett Onwuzurike write that a transition committee has been constituted to guide the organisation for a three-month period

A

nswering the clarion call and in response to the widespread outcry of Ndigbo in the UK over the numerous irregularities that marred the recent Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK election held on November 20, 2021, the General House comprising of Ndigbo in the UK under the umbrella of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK, rising from a duly convened and constituted meeting in London on Saturday, December 11, 2021 has resolved to acknowledge the widespread outcry of Ndigbo in the UK and take cognisance of the numerous irregularities that marred the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK November 20, 2021 election.

Therefore, it has decided to adopt in its entirety, the independent opinion and advice of the Forum for the Advancement of Igbo Race – ‘FAIR’ (copy available on request), over the numerous irregularities that flawed the purported election as detailed in the referenced document.

The General House also notes specifically that contrary to the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK, only two delegates were allowed to vote from pre-selected Ohanaeze Affiliate Members Organisations (AMOs), clearly disenfranchising other delegates on trumped up allegations that the AMOs are splinter groups of state unions.

Taking cognisance of these irregularities, the General House unanimously agrees that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK election of November 20, 2021 is repugnant to the constitution and convention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as well as repugnant to the culture of Ndigbo which has recently been adjudged to be the cradle of democracy.

In order to correct these abnormalities, the General House unanimously declared the Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK election of November 20 unconstitutional, null and

void. Consequently, a five-man Transition Committee was immediately inaugurated to manage the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK for an interim period of three months, with a mandate to advise and conduct a credible election.

The Transition Committee of Ohanaeze Nidigbo UK includes Dr Azuka Benson - Chairman, Dr Bennet Onwuzurike, Secretary, Chief Charles Anyanwu, Mr. Chris Dike and Mr. Uche Kay It was resolved and mandated that all properties belonging to Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK in whatever form and wherever located must be surrendered to the Transition Committee with immediate effect.

The support of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK Women Wing and the Youth Wing was commended and both wings were urged to continue to give their unalloyed cooperation to the Transition Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Under the illegal interim managements/ sole administrator contraptions, the combined two-year budget for 2019 and 2020, as approved by the National Assembly was N799 Billion. Yet, as pointed out by Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), under the interim management/sole administrator contraptions, “over N600bn payments have been made for emergency contracts; over 1,000 persons have been allegedly employed in the NDDC between January and July, 2020 without due process; the 2020 budget was passed in December and N400bn was voted for the NDDC but the commission had spent over N190bn before the budget was passed, thereby violating the Procurement Act.” It is also important to recall the Senate probe of NDDC in June/July of 2020 which revealed how the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC) blew N81.5 billion in just a couple of months on fictitious contracts, frivolities, and in breach of extant financial and public procurement laws.

The Senate therefore passed a resolution recommending that the IMC should refund the sum of N4.923 Billion to the Federation Account, and that the IMC should be disbanded, while the substantive board should be inaugurated to manage the Commission in accordance with the law.

At the recent protest by the Association of Contractors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (ACNDDC) who picketed the NDDC Head office in Port Harcourt, Chairman of ACNDDC, Joe Adia stated that “presently huge monies come into the Commission every month and the next thing we hear is that the money is finished.

Who are you paying? Give us a record of the people you are paying. How can you pay N800 million each for so-called desilting jobs and yet contractors being owed N5 million you have refused to pay?”

What has happened at the NDDC under the President’s watch is clearly the Capture of the Commission by a cabal, who are deploying its resources to whatever pleases them.

Niger Deltans are disillusioned and angry.

A broad assemblage of prominent leaders of the Niger Delta including statesmen, top lawyers, civil society organisations, sociopolitical groups and ethnic groups have condemned the continued occupation of the NDDC by these illegal managements yet the President has refused to do the right thing.

Senior lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, at a public function, spoke on the dangers of the Buhari administration flouting the law setting up NDDC. Speaking at a lecture to mark the Third Anniversary of the first term of Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in Akure on February 27, 2020, Falana said the administration is flouting the law setting up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by appointing an interim management committee for the Commission.

The rights activist noted that the administration’s actions on the NDDC where the law has been subverted leave the actions of the illegal management contraptions in the Commission open to litigation. In Falana’s words, “The President in October 2019 appointed an interim committee. I am submitting here that there is no provision in the NDDC Act for an interim committee.”

Recently, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, who is also Chairman of the South-south Governors Forum, stated the unequivocal opposition of the constituent states to the continued illegal management of the NDDC. -Tamunosisi lives in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2021 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

D E C E M B E R

S & P INDEX

1 6 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

NIMET Raises Air Travelers’ Awareness on Poor Visibility in Airspace as Christmas Approaches

Chinedu Eze As more Nigerians have taken to travel by air because of the insecurity on the roads, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has again cautioned the citizens on possibility of poor visibility in the coming days.

NIMET’s Central Forecast Office made this prediction adding that the development was as a result of fresh dust plumes raised at the dust source region (Faya Largeau in Chad Republic).

This, according to the agency, is expected to move into the country

and reduce horizontal visibility.

“Dust haze conditions are expected to intensify before the end of December 14, 2021 over most of the Northern cities, horizontal visibility should further deteriorate from 0600 local time of 15th December 2021; as thick dust haze should be observed over some of the Northern cities keeping visibilities to 1000m and below over places like Maiduguri, YobeNguru, Potiskum, Dutse, Gombe, Yola, Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kaduna,” NIMET said in a statement.

NIMet therefore warned that

flight operations may be disrupted and airline operators are advised to pick up their flight folders and adhere to regulations, especially at aerodromes in the Northern parts of the country, while road users should exert caution while driving along areas with poor visibility during this period and people with respiratory problems should take caution.

Also in its High Temperature Outlook, NIMet warned that High-temperature between 35°C and 40°C is expected over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna, and Zamfara in the northwest. Similarly,

in the northeast, temperature greater than 35°C and less than 40°C is expected over parts of Taraba, and Adamawa. In the north-central, parts of Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, and Plateau are also expected to experience 35°C and less than 40°C. Areas in the south that are expected to record the same temperature range (35°C and less than 40°C) include parts of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Cross River.

The agency therefore advised Nigerians to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, avoid

leaving humans or animals in the car, especially young children.

It also advised that people should stay in the shade such as under trees if they have to wait outside, wear light and bright clothing, and to avoid wearing dark coloured clothes.

It is hoped that there would be improvement in navigational aids to enhance flight operations under low visibility during the Yuletide.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has said it has installed Category 111 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at some airports,

which enables flights to land at very low visibility.

The agency also said it has commenced the implementation of Free Routing Airspace (FRA) to enhance airspace efficiency and reducing operational cost to airlines.

The Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said Nigeria had earlier in October 2021 notified the global aviation community of its intent to commence the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace concept in December 2021.

Continued on page 27

NEPC Certifies 36 SME Exporters to Boost Non-Oil Exports, Moves to Minimise Products Rejection by Foreign Partners James Emejo in Abuja The Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Ezra Yakusak has stated that 36 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exporters had been certified further to enhance the country’s non-oil exports.

He also said the council is currently working to address the frequent rejection of Nigerian exports especially by the European Union among others.

The Nigerian economy was largely

driven by the non-oil sector, which accounted for 92.51per cent of GDP in the third quarter of the year (Q3 2021) according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The oil economy contributed 7.49 per cent to growth in the same period.

Addressing the beneficiaries at a brief ceremony in Abuja, Yakusak said the cardinal objective of the project was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce.

He pointed out that the

certification would enable the SMEs compete favourably in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.

He said, “It will also facilitates SMEs access to certified niche non-oil export international markets and to compete favourably in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.

“You are all aware that penetrating international markets for processed and value-added products, particularly food items require additional voluntary certification to

enable the products access overseas market.”

He, particularly noted that accessing global markets had become stricter due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, which requires tougher inspection regimes at border control points in importing countries.

According to him, “Accessing global markets has become stricter due to the on-going pandemic, which requires tougher inspection regimes at Border Control Points (BCPs) in importing countries.

“These stricter and increasingly

competitive requirements imply therefore, that exportable food items must strive to acquire additional non-mandatory certification(s) to enable it compete globally.

“Non-mandatory certifications (e.g.

ISO, HACCP, GMP, etc.,) are global certification, trusted by consumers and end-users of products and services, and are attained, based on the reputation of the certifying bodies.”

He also said the Export Expansion Facility (EEG) programme would be leveraged for the certification of

more SME exporters in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA).

He added that the main objective was to encourage value addition against the export of raw agricultural produce.

Yakusak also said in the council’s efforts to curb the high rate of export rejection and to build the capacity of exporters, it had engaged a reputable certification expert, Top Certifier, based in Bangalore India, Continued on page 24

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 1 FGN BONDS DESCRIPTION 9.091 FGNSB 11-DEC-2021 13.402 FGNSB 12-DEC-2021 7.144 FGNSB 15-JAN-2022 13.125 FGNSB 16-JAN-2022 16.39 27-JAN2022

Price

Yield

BILLS Change (%)

MATURITY

OTC FX F U T U R E S

Discount Yield

Change (%)

100.03

4.14

0.00

NTB 13-Jan-22

3.69

3.71

0.00

100.08

4.12

0.00

NTB 27-Jan-22

3.85

3.87

0.00

100.34

3.71

0.00

NTB 10-Feb-22

4.00

4.03

0.00

100.96

3.70

0.00

NTB 24-Feb-22

2.45

2.46

0.00

NTB 10-Mar-22

2.98

3.00

101.67

3.56

CONTRACT TENOR (MONTH) 1

Contract

Current Rate ($/₦)

NGUS DEC 29 2021 421.18

2

NGUS JAN 26 2022 422.61

3

NGUS FEB 23 2022 424.04

0.00

4

NGUS MAR 30 2022 425.46

0.00

5

NGUS APR 27 2022 426.89

C Ps MATURITY

Discount Yield

MREP CP XXXVII 14-DEC-21 MTNN CP IV 17DEC-21 FDHC CP I 17DEC-21 PARP CP II 30DEC-21 CMBL CP XVI 7-JAN-22

Change (%)

13.80

13.82 0.00

7.45

7.46

0.00

7.45

7.46

0.00

5.68

5.70

0.00

7.71

7.75

0.00

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

FG Urged to Adopt Self A I R Slot Allocation System WATCH Chinedu Eze

The Managing Director of Kings Airlines Limited, Senator Musa Adede has urged the federal government to look at the politics of slot allocation and ensure that Nigeria is not shortchanged, using that system.

He recommended that in the spirit of reciprocity, Nigeria should also adopt its own slot allocation system so that if after signing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and the country wished to use slot to sideline Nigerian carriers, Nigerian government could also do the same.

Adede also called for a review of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and all the countries whose airlines operate into the country.

“I very proud of the position taken by the Minister of Aviation and the federal government on the issues concerning air connectivity between Nigeria and UAE. I recommend that Nigeria should renegotiate all the Bilateral Air Service Agreements we have with

all the countries whose airlines come to Nigeria. We should also review the issue of multiple landing by foreign airlines and adopt the system that will protect and create market for our airlines. We should also appraise the aircraft type they bring into the country while negotiating BASA henceforth. We should make sure Emirates and other foreign airlines offer us the service, which it offers to other countries.

“We want to see Nigerian cuisine in the menus and also we want to read Nigerian newspapers in flight in these foreign airlines when they take off from Nigeria,” Adede said.

He pleaded with the Ministry of Aviation, the Ministry of Health, theNigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other relevant MDA’s to ensure that at least 70 per cent of Nigerians are fully vaccinated even with the difficulties African governments are facing with getting the rights and waivers to manufacture these vaccines in about six countries in Africa. Adede said Nigeria has the capability of producing the COVID-19 vaccine

in Nigeria.

“All we ask our International partners including World Trade Organisation (WTO), WHO and others is for the developed countries to give us the intellectual property rights so that we in Africa can make our vaccines. Simple,” he added.

Adede observed that if African countries are enabled to manufacture these vaccines, it would be easy to get everyone vaccinated within a short period.

I believe that the more we get our continent as well as other developing countries in the world to manufacture and produce these vaccines locally, then almost all countries will be vaccinated and collectively the world will reduce and eradicate these viruses sooner than later; so that we can all live our lives in a healthy manner again.

I also want our government to take drastic measures including jail terms of at least five years against those persons or organisations involved in fake vaccination and fake PCR certificates,” Senator Adede also said.

Why Industry Players Insist on Fairness in Airport Concession

United Nigeria Airlines Boosts Fleet with A320 Aircraft United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has announced the acquisition of Airbus A320 aircraft to further boost its fleet and expand its operations.

The airline said that with this acquisition, the aircraft fleet of the airline has grown to eight.

A statement by the spokesman of United Nigeria, AchillieusChudUchegbu said that the aircraft arrived at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos on Sunday.

Uchegbu said that with the additional aircraft, the airline would boost its domestic operations and frequencies this December, adding

that this would further make connections easier for the travelling public at this time of the year.

According to him, the airline was pleased with the positive feedback it continues to receive from its passengers as well as their demand for the carrier to extend services to other airports in the country.

He assured that the airline would continue to offer quality services to its clients and assured that more routes would be opened very soon.

“The airline understands that the service of reliable airline is built around schedule integrity and safety,

which remains the fulcrum of UNA’s entire operations.”

He stated that the airline had been operating flights in line with global safety standards and vowed that it would continue to maintain such in all its operations.

The new aircraft A320 has total capacity of 180 - 12 business and 168 economy seats.

“The aircraft would be deployed to Lagos, Owerri, Asaba and Enugu routes, but won’t be used on the Anambra airport because small body are only allowed at the airport for now.

NANTA Inducts 10 Travel Journalists Into Media Hall Of Fame The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents (NANTA)) has inducted 10 travel journalists into NANTA Media Hall of Fame.

According to the National President of NANTA, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye ,they were inducted “in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Nigeria travel industry.”

The inductees were drawn from online, broadcast and print journalism and they include Abel Orukpe, Franklin Ihejirika, Segun Koiki, WoleShadare, Nosa Aituamen, Wole Oyebade, Ifeoma Okeke and Chinedu Eze Speaking at an event organised

by NANTA to induct these journalists, Akporiaye, said inducting journalists into NANTA Media Hall of Fame is to show appreciation to them for their contributions to the Nigeria travel industry in general and the

association in particular and also for doing their job professionally She said that in view of their contributions, she decided to come up with the idea of appreciating travel journalists by introducing NANTA Media Hall of Fame.

The induction, she said, would be a yearly affair and that a room would be dedicated to travel media at the association’s head office adding that the essence is for people to visit and see what the travel journalists have done.

According to her, “The NANTA Media Hall of Fame will form the fulcrum of the relationship between NANTA and travel journalists” She urged travel journalists to endeavour to advice the association when it is derailing or deviating in the interest of the industry.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT),Mr. DayoAdeola commended the newly

inductees /travel journalists for carrying out their jobs professionally, “You have done marvelously well. You have accommodated and you are still accommodating both the good and the bad of NANTA. What is key is that you have character. You people on the table have character,” he said.

He said that because of the positive write up of the travel journalists, people who before regarded travel agents as touts and non-reliable peoplenow see travel agents as very reliable people and professionals.

This, he said, is commendable and that it would not have happened without the contributions of the travel journalists.

“You have helped to change the negative perception and the narrative people have about NANTA. Where we err, please forgive and advise us.”

NEPC CERTIFIES 36 SME EXPORTERS TO BOOST NON-OIL EXPORTS, MOVES TO MINIMISE PRODUCTS REJECTION BY FOREIGN PARTNERS to provide certification awareness training to manufacturers and producers.

He said, “The India based company guides companies and organisations certification for ISO, CE, FSMS and other international certifications and have successfully executed over 3,000 projects across 20 countries.

“In the vein, the council also collaborated with the German Cooperation International (GIZ) in implementing the Nigeria Competitiveness Project (NICOP) to support key value chains in

Nigeria by promoting structural transformation and improving access to regional and international markets through certification in order to conform with pre-requisite international food safety standards in alignment with benchmarked global standard and global value addition.The certifications under this collaboration include Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 22000:2018 and ISO 9000:2015.”

Also, NEPC Director, Product Development, Mr. Williams Ezeagu, said the council adopted the ‘Go

Global, Go For Certification’ to ensure that the SMEs compete favourably in the international markets.

He explained that the initiative, including the NICOP programme had a total of 40 SME exporters that benefited from the certification projects including the 26 that will be awarded HACCP, Halal, USFDA and ISO 22000 certifications.

He said, “It will also facilitates SMEs access to certified niche non-oil export international markets and to compete favourably in the lucrative international markets while getting premium pricing for their products.”

Chinedu Eze International and local airline operators, industry service providers and others have continued to emphasise that the plan by the federal government to concession major airport facilities in the country must be done efficiently and transparently.

Federal government in the first phase of the programme plans the concession of the facilities of four major airports in the country, which include Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Most of the stakeholders said that such concession when done wrongly would stir controversy, which would affect the airport users.

Many of the airline operators and service providers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos said they support government airport concession programmebecause it will attract investment, lead to modrnisation of the airport facilities, create more opportunities for Nigerians and increase job opportunities.

This is also the position of foreign airline operators under the aegis of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), which called for transparent and efficient execution of the concession programme.

President of the association who is also the Director, Operations, Cargolux Airlines Nigeria, Kingsley Nwokoma in a recent press conference in Lagos said AFARN, being the association of major players in the industry, is anxious to see to the smooth concession of the major airport facilities in Nigeria.

“AFARN as you all know for many years has become one of the major voices, and safety promoters as far as aviation industry in Nigeria is concerned. Therefore, since aviation is our constituency, we owe it a duty as a professional body to advice the federal government as stakeholders where necessary, especially for the fact that we are desirous that the system survives for the common good of every Nigerian, even for the unborn generations.

“The news however is that a lot of comments from various quarters have continued to trail the four major airports penciled down for concession since the plan was hatched and made public, by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, almost three years ago. Since that time, well-meaning Nigerians, and various stakeholders have spoken on the issue. The latest one coming from Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, whose law firm also has advised that there might belegal battle if things are not done right, in the concession process, based on what the law says,” AFARN said.

AFARN pointed out that some companies that have indicated interest in the concession

of the airports have also pushed in their subsidiaries and others companies where they have interest in a way that even if they lose the concession, other companies where they have stakes would win and manage one of the airport facilities.

The foreign airlines made reference to Falana’s observation when he urged the federal government to disqualify Messrs Tav Consortium GMR Consortium owned by Airport du Paris (ADP) that holds 46 percent share in GMR and 49 percent share in Tav respectively, “having expressed desire and bided for the airports in question, against the rule that says, ‘no applicant, single or consortium can be part of more than one bid in this case’”.

AFARN said, “While we leave the legal technicalities for lawyers, AFARN wants the federal government to be very transparent in this process and those that breach the concession rules should be disqualified.”

The Minister of Aviation, Sirika while reiterating the determination of government to ensure transparency said, “Like we promised from the onset, we remain committed to ensuring the highest level of transparency and accountability till the end of the process. This is because we believe that the programme is in the best interest of Nigerians as a people and Nigeria as a nation” The foreign airlines said, “The world is watching this process and AFARN calls upon the Minister to live up to the above promise he made on the outset of this process.”

President of the Association, Nwkokoma recalled that the liquidation of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) seemed to have been done in a hurry, leaving the workers without their severance benefits and most of them suffered poverty and death.

“That should be enough lesson for everyone involved in the ongoing concession plan to learn from. The federal government should be circumspect in making its choices, putting into considerations of many variables like safety and security issues raised by various opinion groups.

“Much as we share this opinion, our position is that things should be done right and transparently too, to avoid crippling the industry that has provided thousands of Nigerians with employments.

We cannot afford to gamble this time with the aviation industry, considering the state of the economy and it’s global outlook too,” the foreign airlines said.

The federal government announced recently that it was at advanced stage of the concession process and soon the companies that expressed interest on the concession of the airport infrastructure would be announced.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

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NEWS

Kyari Inaugurates Emadeb’s 120-ton LPG Plant, Pledges Constant Gas Supply Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mallam Mele Kyari, has inaugurated the 120-ton Emadeb Energy’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Abuja, pledging to ensure constant supply of gas to the facility.

Kyari stressed that the plant located in Gaduwa District aligned with the aspiration of the federal government to ensure that clean and cheaper fuel is made available in the country.

The NNPC boss noted that the company decided to key into the “decade of gas” declared by the federal government, which

aims to explore the enormous gas resources in the country so that there will be extensive domestic gas use and export.

According to the NNPC GMD, the move will not only bring prosperity to the country, ensure security of energy, but bring cleaner fuels nearer to consumers.

“You can always count on us at the NNPC to support the initiative in terms of supply and also sharing every necessary data and information at our disposal to help grow this business for the benefit of the Nigerian people,” he stated. While conveying the delight of President Muhammadu Buhari at the completion of the project, Kyari stated that it will

eventually reduce the cost of energy for the Nigerian people since LPG is cheaper than any other type of fuel, stressing that it was one of the many steps to make sure gas is made available to Nigerians. In addition, the GMD pointed out that the auto gas conversion centre available in the facility will provide an easy alternative to petrol and praised the firm for deploying 100 per cent local content in establishing the centre. On the skyrocketing prices of cooking gas, Kyari blamed the shortage of supply as well as the impact of the international market for the development, stating that it’s a reflection of what’s happening in the global market.

Collapsed Ikoyi Building: IIFG Urged to Make Health Insurance Compulsory Ebere Nwoji The Chairman, Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC), Mr Muftau Oyegunle has called on federal government to make health Insurance compulsory in Nigeria.

He made the call against the backdrop of the collapsed Ikoyi building, which killed no less that 45 people but lacked insurance cover to bring succor to the deceased dependents.

The IICC is a body that unites all the arms of insurance industry in Nigeria.It is an organ through which the insurance Operators speak with one voice on crucial issues that affect the industry.

It comprises of Nigerian Insur-

ers Association (NIA), Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers(NCRIB), Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria( CIIN), Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria(ILAN).

Oyegunle, who is its current president spoke at the Annual Media Retreat organised by the IICC council for Insurance and Pension journalists at Asese, Ogun state, said the federal government could achieve this by subsidising the premium paid by Nigerians on the policy.

He noted that this has been done successfully in other countries therefore is achievable in Nigeria.

“It may interest you to know that common malaria kills more people in Nigeria than Covid.“The recent Collapse of 21 storey 360 degrees

apartment at Gerald Road, Ikoyi on November 1, 2021 where 45 deaths so far have been recorded with many wounded without any insurance cover exposed the level of decadence in our society. It simply revealed the level of culture of settlement in our country. “he said.

Oyegunle, explained that the insurance industry would not be able to avoid the incident or do anything after the incident since they were not involved from the beginning.

He added that the industry was waiting for the response of the Lagos State Government whom he said would share in the blame of the collapsed building which obviously lacked insurance cover.

PenCom Restates Commitment to Safety of Pensioners’ Contributions James Emejo in Abuja The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said it is committed to ensuring that all pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) are fully recaptured and uniquely identified on the database to ensure that only bonafide Retirement Saving Account (RSA) holders have access to their contributions.

Head, National Data Bank Management Department, PenCom, Mrs. Grace Usoro, told THISDAY the data recapture exercise for government agencies remained critical for the commission adding that it would continue until “we ensure that the last contributor that registered before the cut-off date of July 2019 has

been fully recaptured.”

About 9, 000 contributors will be required to update their information in order to remain eligible RSA. Speaking shortly after an inspection of one of the data recapture centres operated by Payone Solutions Systems, in Abuja, she explained that exercise which is undergoing its pilot phase was to enable the agents capture contributors who registered under the CPS before July 2019.

She pointed out that at that date, the commission was able to deploy an enhanced registration system which had inbuilt controls and requirements that met the minimum thresholds set by the National Identity Management

Company (NIMC) for registration of individuals under the scheme.

According to Usoro, the development meant that the “contributors that registered before July 2019 did not meet this minimum threshold”.

She said, “So the data recapture exercise has been instituted to afford those contributors the opportunity to bring their records up to date.”

Also commenting on the development, Commissioner Technical Department, PenCom, Mr. Anyim Nyerere, clarified that the essence of the exercise which would be fully escalated by January was to ensure that all contributors under the CPS has an updated information with the commission as well as the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

Edo Govt Charges 445 Trained MSMEs on Self Reliance, Business Orientation Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Edo State Government through its skills development agency (EDOJOBS) in collaboration with the State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO) has charged its 445 trained Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) on Digital Marketing, to be industrious, self reliant and business oriented.

Presenting Certificates to the 445 beneficiaries, the Managing Director, EdoJobs, Ukinebo Dare, said that the Edo State Government through the state’s skills development agency, has contributed to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Edo State.

She said the exercise was conducted with support from

wa

the Edo State Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, and the ProPoor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme - SEDIN of GIZ. In her remarks, Head of Component, Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (EEE),GIZ-SEDIN, Ms. Oladoyin Olawaiye explained that the training was aimed at equipping MSMEs with Digital Marketing Skills and Support to assist them to catch up with the new normal resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “The MSMEs were trained to leverage technology in a way that it maximizes their sales reach and the delivery of their products and services during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.”

According to her, “The learning methodology was an interactive physical classroom sessions that took into cognizance COVID-19 protective measures for 445 MSMEs from across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“Trainings were held in Benin City (Edo South), Uromi (Edo Central) and Auchi (Edo North) at different dates between May and September 2021. The trainings covered essential topics including Search Engine Optimisation, Pay Per Click Advertising (PPC), Social Media Marketing (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook etc.) and Management, Email Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Content Marketing and Digital Copy Writing. Digital Marketing Agents were also engaged to support the MSMEs.”

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Chimphondah: Shelter Afrique Actively Financing Nigeria’s Housing Sector Nigeria’s housing deficit remains a cause for concern among industry stakeholders, especially with the nation’s population expected to double by 2050. According to PWC, 700,000 housing units must be built annually for the next 20 years to bridge the gap. Pan-African housing financier Shelter Afrique has successfully financed the real estate sector on the African continent for 40 years. The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique, Andrew Chimphondah in this interview explored the road map to bridging the gap and Shelter Afrique’s contribution to achieving this goal How are industry players like Shelter Afrique contributing to bridging Nigeria’s housing deficit? t Shelter Afrique, our contribution to achieving this goal is two-pronged. First is project finance – where we finance the developers directly. At present, our investment appetite is to consider large-scale projects of nothing less than 1,000 units. Secondly, we provide lines of credit to banks to bolster the provision of mortgages.

Recently, we provided $10 million to Wema Bank for this specific purpose.

However, to solve the affordable housing problem, we believe it should be addressed as a volume business - to make commercial sense for developers. We have addressed this by proposing Private-Public-Partnerships (PPPs) of no less than 1,000 units; this is our primary product under our revised strategy. We have made progress in Rwanda, Togo, and Cameroon, and are concluding conversations here in Nigeria to deliver similar projects. We are also advocating for strengthening the capital markets as a source of financing. African capital markets generally lack size and liquidity due to the low depth and liquidity of local markets; trading is often limited to a few stocks that represent most of the market capitalisation.

Additionally, there are capacity issues to address.

It is difficult to find many real estate developers who have the experience of delivering 1,000 units at once.

Through our Centre of Excellence (COE), we are also working to address capacity issues by holding training sessions, masterclasses for developers interested in delivering large-scale affordable housing. We have signed MoUs with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors to provide certified sessions to professionals within their networks.

Centre of Excellence estimates a deficit of 17 million houses; Ghana has a shortage of 1.7 million; in East Africa, Kenya has a shortfall of 2 million units. Our COE estimates that the housing across the continent stands at 56 million.

In Nigeria, like many other countries, the challenge is managing rapid urbanisation and the expectations that come with it—the anticipation of a better life in urban centres that include gainful employment and decent housing. Without proper planning, in our experience, when these expectations are not met or planned for, informal housing settlements sprawl and with that, the associated social ills. The increased demand also means that construction can be an engine room for economic growth. We believe real estate will be central to this boom, but whether the boom is realised as an opportunity or a challenge is down to planning. We as an organisation have made this advocacy central to our strategy.

A

The vastness of your footprint across the African continent is quite commendable. What challenges have you encountered as a vibrant real estate player in Africa, and how have you managed these issues?

Typically, the continent’s challenges can be categorised into four broad areas; government policy and regulation, high cost of finance, prohibitive loan tenor and lack of capacity. The lack of access to affordable finance and credit is a common theme across Africa.

In Nigeria, this is reflected in mortgage penetration, which is still minimal with interest rates at 25 per cent for a tenor of 20 years. We have addressed this by establishing a primary mortgage institution like the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and providing lines of credit to financial institutions.

Regulatory challenges are common across Africa as well. Governments will need to drastically improve the registration of land titles and digitisation of records.

Governments need to make housing policy and housing projects a front-of-mind issue which has not been the case before now. Relatedly, transportation and infrastructure policies have to be drafted with housing in mind—this has a knock-on effect on housing concerning the accessibility of land. Governments should also consider incentivising developers and developments and reducing administrative bottlenecks. We have found that money tends to follow government interest and direction. As an organisation, we have tried to address these gaps with the Yaoundé Declaration—a policy framework agreed to by our 44 member countries at the 40th Annual General Meeting to address affordable housing and governance frameworks.

Against the odds, Shelter Afrique has facilitated affordable housing on the African continent for 40 years. Tell us about this journey.

The attainment of a 40th year is an achievement in itself; it means as a business, you have remained as a going concern but, more importantly, remained relevant to your shareholders. It is my privilege to be at the helm of affairs now, I have not been here for 40 years, but the moment is not lost on me. One thing that I am proud to see is how the organisation redefines itself, how it has adapted and grown. Today we have 44 member countries - from 17 in 1981, and three regional African organisations as shareholders.

The landscape is quite different from when the organisation was instituted; many other organisations now mimic what we do. Others are on the border of our activities; commercial banks, other development finance institutions, but our member countries still have recourse to us regarding matters of affordable

Chimphondah housing and, increasingly, matters of large-scale development. It should give our shareholders some comfort that the organisation will always be fit-for-purpose and remains committed to its founding vision of providing affordable housing for all Africans.

We also directly impact livelihoods and quality of life; in 2019, we estimate that we delivered 3,821 housing units, impacted 19,015 beneficiaries, created 26,747 jobs, and empowered 242 women with housing units.

In 2020, we delivered 5,101 housing units, housing 25,505 individuals; this translates to 15,303 direct jobs and 20,404 indirect jobs created. This is the real way we impact livelihoods and improve the quality of life in Africa.

We also have a very vibrant stakeholder universe with other organisations such as the UN-Habitat, the African Union, the European Investment Bank, the West African Development Bank, BOAD, the Islamic Development Bank, Commonwealth Development Bank, the German Development Agency, KFW, Trade Development Bank, TDB, Agence Francaise de Developpment, the French Development Agency. We are also equity partners in such institutions as the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company (TMRC), and the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company, where we were instrumental in its creation.

Congratulations on your recent award as Africa’s Best Real Estate Finance Company

by Capital Finance International. What were the major drivers of this award?

It is gratifying to see that our efforts to house Africa have not gone unnoticed. The award reflects our longevity, relevance, and impact in the industry.

It is not coincidental that they awarded us as we celebrated our 40th year. The CFI recognised our organisation had remained true to its mandate but had also grown and expanded its membership.

The award also realised the role of advocacy, which I believe is usually muted when we discuss our role in Affordable Housing and development in Africa. Beyond anything else we do, we have to continue to shine the light on the emergency; I dare say, on the housing crisis in Africa. I am fond of declaring it a human rights issue, not just for effect, but because it is. Our Centre of Excellence estimates that there is a 57 million housing deficit on the continent that requires a minimum investment of at least $2.8 billion annually, according to a World Bank Report.

Earlier in this conversation, you mentioned limited access to finance and specifically cited the lack of access to credit facilities as a significant challenge many Nigerians face. How is Shelter Afrique poised to solve this challenge?

We believe that the capital markets are an under-utilised avenue for fundraising. Beyond this, we continue to leverage our partnerships and relationships to crowd-fund for affordable housing.

We have relationships with other multi-laterals such as the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Corporation for Development, the German Development Bank (KFW) and the French Development Agency (AFD), among others.

We also have member countries contributing capital. Over the last four years, we have received over $100m from member countries which commits us to participate in their affordable housing programmes. Indeed, this is our second strategic pillar—shareholder value and developmental Impact. It guides our investment philosophy in our member countries.

From all indices, we expect a massive population boom, with Nigeria’s population expected to hit 400 million by 2050. How do you see this boom panning out for the real estate sector in Nigeria, and what measures should be put in place as we prepare to house 400 million Nigerians within the next 30 years?

The impending population boom reflects the investment horizon for Africa; the African continent is increasingly young and is poised to enjoy a population dividend. Simply put, Africa will have more people eligible to enter the workforce than leaving it. This is a situation that many developed countries in the West are still looking for a solution.

Japan, for instance, is dealing with an incredibly ageing population. Across the West, America and Europe are all experiencing decreased fertility rates, which demographers and economists will tell you directly bearing on future projections.

Africa finds itself on the other side of the debates, but this comes with opportunities as it does challenges. This is likely to put more pressure on our urban centres; according to the UN-Habitat urbanisation, Africa is projected to hit 60 per cent by 2050, the same year we anticipate the population boom. That is not a coincidence. At the same time, the housing deficits across Africa will not remain static. Here in Nigeria, although contested, our

Nigeria has maintained its position as the African country with the highest real estate investment for two decades. What factors would you say have been responsible for this sustained trend? Do you expect this upward trend to continue?

The entry point for most investors and the attraction, really, is the significant consumer base. With a teeming population of 200 million and growing, the most populous black nation will always attract investment because the investment horizon is quite broad. Additionally, there is proven demand for housing at all price points; the financial sector is quite liberalised and dynamic, and in recent years the technology and start-up space has boomed. This is usually an indicator of innovation and diversification of factors of production. These all typically contribute to an uptick in investment, not just in real estate but also in the broader economic sector.

If they remain constant, you will continue to note the upward trend. The population and the youth dividend alone are sufficient for pressure on housing demand; Shelter Afrique believes the investment horizon for Nigeria will remain constant, and we are willing to bet on the market. It informed the decision in establishing a regional office for West Africa here and all the other ambitious plans we have for Nigeria.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected this outlook, and how have stakeholders managed to navigate these uncertain times?

The pandemic has affected the industry, and we are not exempted from that. To begin with, the lockdown measures enacted by many African nations in response to the pandemic forced work stoppage on many construction sites. Additionally, there is a current aversion to risk, so many companies cannot access credit or finance, which is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. There has been disruption to supply chains the world over, which directly impacts the housing industry as many of our African countries are still import-reliant economies.

There is also the very apparent human toll the pandemic will have on the industry. Many of the temporary and permanent workers who work in the industry or who have created a mushroom industry around construction have been rendered jobless; many African countries do not have the same welfare safety nets offered in more developed nations.

In our day-to-day business and operations, like most businesses, we have created systems that allow our employees to work remotely and initiated strict COVID-19 protocols and measures. Travel, an integral part of our work, has been suspended for the year, so we are holding all major meetings virtually, including our Annual General Meeting.

However, we cannot deny that it has had a material effect on our business. Initially, when the pandemic broke and countries initiated lockdowns, the level of new business activities reduced due to the employeerelated, social and economic issues customers had to deal with. Recently, as customers have adapted, there has been an improvement as customers embrace the use of technology. Additionally, our inability to engage with the customer physically (specific to due diligence processes in the underwriting process) has affected the level of new business activities leading to reduced new business underwriting.

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

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BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Of Nigeria, International Carriers and Lopsided BASA Deals Since the demise of Nigeria Airways Limited, Nigeria has been consistently shortchanged by other nations through lopsided Bilateral Air Service Agreements and unfavourable commercial agreements, writes Chinedu Eze

I

n July 2019 during a conference organised by League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), industry stakeholders called for a review of Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BABA) Nigeria signed with different countries, arguing that those agreements are tilted against Nigeria’s interest.

The stakeholders urged the federal government to review all the BASA it signed with foreign countries to make them reciprocal and support the growth of the sector.

They also urged government to quickly stem the unfavourable condition in which 100 per cent of international flight services are handled by foreign carriers, remarking that it stifles attempts by Nigerian airlines to reciprocate by flying to their own routes.

Some stakeholders have argued that the royalties paid by foreign airlines for frequencies are not commensurate with the huge revenues they make from Nigeria and that if Nigerian carriers also fly to the destinations of these airlines, it would enhance more benefits for Nigeria, adding that foreign carriers should pay Nigeria a percentage of the revenue that accrues for each aircraft seat when Nigerian carrier is not operating the same number of frequencies with the foreign airlines.

This matter has come to the fore following the impasse between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the designation of Emirates and Air Peace airlines in the Nigeria-Dubai route.

Last week the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu explained that Emirates Airlines flight operations to Lagos were suspended, while NCAA allowed the airline to operate once in a week to Abuja.

The Director General further explained that Nigeria took the action in response to the way United Arab Emirates (UAE) treated Nigerian airline, Air Peace, which requested for three flights a week to Sharjah but was given only one flight a week.

Nuhu said that NCAA withdrew the approval to Emirates following the refusal of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of UAE to grant equal rights to the sole Nigerian carrier, Air Peace flying to Dubai via Sharjah.

COMMENDATION

Many Nigerians have commended the federal government for the positionit took by standing with Air Peace and insisting that UAE must restore the Nigerian airline’s three flights a week before it would allow Emirates to operate its 21 flights a week to Lagos and Abuja.

On the Nigeria-UAE impasse, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika gave background to the bilateral relation between the two countriesand explained how the Buhari administration gave the Middle East country 21 frequencies a week.

“We negotiated our BASA with them when we came in as a government and we gave them the requested 21 frequencies, meaning that they will be coming to Nigeria 21 times in a week, or simplified as three times a day, two in Lagos and one in Abuja.

We have no airline that can go 21 times into UAE, so they are taking advantage of us, which is our fault not theirs. But however we have got an airline, a Nigerian airline, which is Air Peace, that applied to get only three out of the 21 frequencies and I approved. So Air Peace wanted to be going into the UAE three times in a week. UAE refused to approve the three frequencies for Air Peace. They insisted on giving them only one frequency and it is in Sharjah. Now we are giving them 21 from our agreement, they ought to give us 21. So what they are supposed to do is to give Air Peace 21 and then it is up to Air Peace to operate all the 21 or operate just three.

“They wrote us a very insulting letter, referring to our meeting, discussions and agreements in accordance with the bilateral air services agreement between the two countries. Part of the letter said, ‘And having looked at our operations, with great pain we are giving Air Peace one slot in Sharjah and that is the best we can do in the circumstance that our airports are full.’ This is very insulting and this is not acceptable by international treaty, convention or agreements. And therefore I directed that they also be given one frequency and into Abuja, beginning from the 12th.”

THE RIP OFF

Industry stakeholders said that Nigeria is shortchanged by foreign airlines, which operate many frequencies to Nigeria without corresponding flights from Nigeria to the airlines’ territories, arguing that the royalties paid by these airlines to Nigeria for lack of reciprocity is not enough. For example, they posited that if Emirates is given 21 flights a week by the federal government, Nigerian carrier ought to have the same 21 frequencies and if the Nigerian carrier cannot operate the frequencies, it could take the number it wants to operate and sell the rest to Emirates.

The Secretary General of the Aviation Round Table (ART) and former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd), told THISDAY that there has been a lot of rip of Nigeria by foreign carriers and blamed the top officials in the Ministry of Aviation who preside over the BASA negotiations and commercial agreements between Nigeria and other countries and their airlines.

“What was the sense in the BASAs that give benefits to one side and none to the other side of the divide? What are Nigeria’s benefits from 14 or 21 frequencies to Emirates in 10 years? What has been the Nigeria benefit from 14/21 frequencies to UK (British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways in 14/21 years? What have been the benefit from over almost the same numbers of frequencies to Ethiopian Airlines in the last 14 years? We’ve gone ways too long in selling our birthright to these countries that; like a prodigal son, we are returning home; I hope we will confess to Nigerians how we got this far and be repentant of the sins we have committed with these foreign airlines,” Ojikutu said.

He said that when the defunct Nigeria Airways existed it had seven flights a week to London and BA also had seven flights a week to Lagos and while BA was using Boeing 747, Nigeria Airways was using DC 10 aircraft and the difference in passenger seats was compensated.

In order words, BASA agreement drawn during that time benefitted Nigeria, but now BASA negotiations are at the detriment of the country, which does not have airlines that operate major international destinationsand Nigeria is not getting due recompense from the foreign airlines operating to the country.

“Trade and foreign affairs have turned to commercial agreements that are now signed only by Aviation Ministry officials into multiple

frequencies and destinations. It has not occurred to many that this is where the problems of today is, especially using COVID- 19 as the reason for the recklessness of the past,” Ojikutu said.

SLOT ALLOCATION

Industry consultant and CEO of BeluJane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, expressed sadness that in dealing with Nigeria, UAE has used COVID-19, which is a global tragedy to play aero politics to enlarge its market share in Nigeria by not allowing competition and attempting to crowd out every other airline.

In an interview with Arise TV, Aligbe said the principle of reciprocity is absolute in diplomatic relations between two countries and also in BASA. He said that what Nigeria has done in insisting that UAE restored Air Peace its three weekly flights was right.

Reacting to slot allocation, which some stakeholders said it is what some countries use to play aero politics and eliminate their competitors in their own market, Aligbe said slot has become an instrument for market dominance or crowding out other airlines. Allocation of slots between air carriers (‘slot allocation’) is a planning tool. Its purpose is to ensure, where airport capacity is scarce, that available landing and takeoff slots are used efficiently and distributed in a neutral, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

“Today we have taken a decision to protect a Nigerian carrier. Air Peace is a private airline but Air Peace is a citizen of Nigeria and should be protected and so this is the level playing field.

Protect a national flag carrier, if you have one; protect a private flag carrier and that is the right thing to do,” he said.

Aligbe recalled that Nigeria began to have problems with BASA since the demise of Nigerian Airways, but said henceforth when Nigeria is entering into BASA relationship it must be clear and we must be specific in terms of airport of operation. We must now state in our BASA whatever agreement we are reaching and we should be able to review the agreement.

“If you don’t give slots to our airline to your flagship airports, which may be what has been missing in the agreements we had before but now we have to adopt a different approach to our BASA agreements,” he said.

The impasse between Nigeria and UAE has given

NIMET RAISES AIR TRAVELERS’ AWARENESS ON POOR VISIBILITY IN AIRSPACE AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES “The journey to the implementation of the Free Routing Airspace in Nigeria started two years ago, following the decision and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) AFI (African- Indian Ocean) Region that member states should develop necessary strategies towards implementation of FRA in their respective states and regions. ICAO in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA)

supported this push by developing the FRA concept of operations, conducting FRA gap analysis as well as providing guidance in the development of FRA implementation checklist,” he said.

Akinkuotu further said that after several meetings, workshops and co-ordination among contiguous FIRs (Flight Information Regions), the FRA concept “is surely transforming from an abstract idea to concrete reality and that has been largely the Nigerian

experience as the nation successfully commenced FRA implementation on the 2nd of December, 2021.”

“FRA was first conceptualized about 13 years ago in Europe, being the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept beginning from 2008. However, in the entire ICAO AFI Region, Nigeria is the second country, after Mauritius to implement this globally new concept,” Akinkuotu said.

Explaining further, the NAMA

boss said FRA basically accorded airspace users over Kano FIR the opportunity to migrate from the conventional fixed Air Traffic Service (ATS) route network to flight plannable direct routes between a published FRA significant boundary entry point to a published FRA significant boundary exit point, thereby optimisingairspace utilisation.

He listed the benefits of FRA to airspace users to include: savings in terms of distance covered per

rise to a collective request from aviation stakeholders that BASA should be reviewed and that every necessary detail must be recognised and agreed on and these include the size and type of aircraft, the airports that would be operated in and slot allocation that must be reciprocal.

Also during Arise TV interview, the Chairman of the Board, Nelike Capital, Dr Alex Nwuba said that Nigeria has to address the issue of slots.

“We have to address the issue of slots. We really have to look at how we negotiate these agreements.

We have the ability to demand that we be granted the permission to commence the same number of frequencies,” he said.

He said that with 21 flights a week, Emirates was airlifting about 450, 000 passengers a year and making about half a billion dollars on the Nigerian route, so there is no comparison with what Nigerian carrier is getting.

“It starts with the kind of agreement we signed. We have flawed bilateral agreements, which has led to the disadvantage of our economy. We have to rework these agreements. We have to go back to the bargaining table to review the frequencies and the slots,” Nwuba said.

NEGATIVE BALANCING

Speaking in the same vain, the President of Aviation Round Table (ART) and also the President of Sabre West Africa, Dr Gbenga Olowo, while reacting to the impasse between Nigeria and UAE, said that Nigerian government has made many Nigerians proud by the approach it has taken to deal with the flight operations between Air Peace and Emirates.

“I am indeed very elated to read the current decision by government through the Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu that our long time agitation on schedule reciprocity to Nigeria is finally being addressed. Emirate (EK) was granted only one weekly frequency and to only one entry point (ABV) on Thursdays in its winter schedule.

Emirates had before now operated 21 weekly frequencies to two entry points (LOS and ABV) whereas Nigerian carrier, Air Peace wanted three frequencies to Sharjah and was granted only one weekly frequency reported.

“The action of the DG here is highly commendable and confirms his professionalism and love for Nigeria to emancipate and address the negative balance of trade between reciprocating countries participating in Nigeria’s BASA. “ART hopes and persuades that correction of these anomalies will not be treated in isolation but applied to all the foreign operations into Nigeria. Reciprocity on number of frequencies and choice of entry points,” Olowo said.

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

Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo and Her Day Out with Widows, Orphans of Fallen Heroes

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵, ͰͮͰͯ

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COVER

Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo and Her Day Out with Widows, Orphans of Fallen Heroes The 21st indigenous National President of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association, Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo, recently hosted the widows and orphans of fallen heroes. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that beyond this, the association, which was established some 56 years ago as a body that binds all wives of naval officers, complements the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in enhancing the welfare of the families of naval personnel in areas of education, charitable ventures, economic empowerment, health and social services, as well as sporting activities

NOWA National President Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo( Right) presenting a souvenir to a past president of the association Mrs Margaret Koshoni

NOWA National President Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo presenting a souvenir to a former president of the association Mrs Jemilat Ayinla at A Day With Widows and Orphans event in Navy Town Lagos, recently

T

hey might not be dressed on the Mess on Dress uniform of Nigerian Navy (NN) officers, neither do they wield the guns or have access to the weaponry at the disposal of the navy but the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) are as every bit as important as their men.

The reason is not far fetched- they are the engine room that drives the service. From a small tea group that began in 1965, these women have become stronger and much more formidable, thus becoming pillars of their communities. They also thrive on touching the lives of their members by empowering them, the widows amongst them and orphans.

Foundation NOWA came into being on November 30, 1965 under the leadership of Mrs. Anne Wey, wife of the first indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey of blessed memory. It started as a small ‘Tea Group’ for light-hearted discussion by wives of naval officers to kill boredom because of the regular absence of their husbands to sea, also as a forum of rendering assistance to wives of naval ratings in and out of the barracks. It was and still is a forum where social problems relating to the less privileged in the society are discussed and where contributions are made to assist the needy.

Functions of NOWA Today, NOWA engages in a wide range of activities and these includes the provision of crèches in naval barracks and bases, establishment of schools and

skill acquisitions centre, provision of market stalls as well as providing general welfare support to officers’ and ratings’ families.

These activities and projects serve to complement the efforts of the NN in enhancing the welfare of the families of naval personnel and they have impacted positively on the wellbeing of officers and ratings families alike.

Past Presidents Past presidents of the body include Mrs. Ann Wey, Mrs. B Boroh, Mrs. Bisi Adelanwa, Mrs. Bekky Aduwo, Mrs. Rebecca Aikhomu, Mrs. Margret Koshoni, Mrs. Zainab Nyako, Mrs. Apollonian Omatsola, Mrs. Lola Saidu, Mrs. Uche Madueke, Dr. Josephine Akhigbe, Mrs. Jemilat Ayinla, Mrs. Betty Ombu, Mrs. Treasure Sam-Afolayan, Chief Mrs. Fatimat Adekeye, Mrs. Grace Ibrahim, Hajia Aminat Modupe Ibrahim, Mrs. Vivian Ezeoba, Mrs. Lami Jibrin and Barr Theresa Ibas, who handed over to the incumbent, Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo.

Vision of Incumbent President Upon assumption of office on February 27, 2021 as the 21st National President of NOWA, Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo, pledged to sustain the giant strides recorded by her predecessors through educational development, capacity building, skill acquisition and provisions of support material to enable them add value to the society.

NOWA National President Hajiya Nana Aisha Gambo presenting a souvenir to a former president of the association, Mrs Apollonia Omatsola

Hajiya Gambo with some of the widows that were empowered She also pledged to embark on innovative activities, events and projects that would continue to enhance and develop their capacity while ensuring that all NOWA Schools must continue to remain among the best in Nigeria.

programme since then.

“As practiced annually, NOWA always ensure that the beneficiaries are kept abreast of the happenings in the world so that they can gain adequate knowledge to broaden their horizon.”

Day Out With Widows and Orphans Started under the leadership of the then NOWA President, Mrs Vivian Ifeyinwa Ezeoba, in 2013, the event was targeted at catering to the needs of widows and orphans of fallen heroes. Since then, national presidents have keyed into the initiative.

This year, the event was held at Underwater Warfare School Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos. The theme of this year’s programme was “Embracing Resilience in Situations of Change”.

Empowering Women In her speech, Hajiya Gambo stressed that women are critical stakeholders in global human development as their role in society cannot be overemphasised, adding that building their capacity is an essential requirement for a nation striving to develop a thriving economy.

On the need to reach out to the widows, she said since by social tradition, a man provides for the family’s basic needs, it is traumatic when such bread winner charged with providing basic amenity is no more.

“This reality is tough, as it often sets a family back, especially for a military man’s wife. This is because many wives have chosen and sacrificed personal dreams to pursue the interest of their families by becoming a “stay at home” parent due to the constant absence of their husbands.

“It is therefore of utmost importance to see to the need of such women who have lost their husbands and finding it difficult to keep the family together”.

While the Special Guest of Honour was past NOWA President, Mrs Margaret Koshoni, two past national presidents- Mrs Jemilat Ayinla and Mrs Apollonia Omatsola were present.

Meanwhile, Pastor Mrs Janet Adetomiwa and Mrs Orolu Jemilat Abike, who were the guest speakers, spurred the spirit of the widows present with their life experiences. The highlight of the day was the disbursing of food and other packages to the widows for the season.

According to Hajiya Gambo, “to show how impactful this programme has become, it is now considered an annual event in NOWA. The association has trained, empowered and issued palliatives to the beneficiaries of this

While commending the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo and the navy for their support, Hajiya Gambo reiterated her pledge to sustain the ethos of the association, a pledge she has already started fulfilling since assumption of office.

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Aworanti-Ekugo’s Lagos to London Provides Survival Tips for Nigerians Abroad Stories by Mary Nnah Inspired by happenings today where young Nigerians consistently leave the country to seek greener pastures abroad, LolaAworanti-Ekugo in her fictional novel, “Lagos to London” advised Nigerian on how to live their lives abroad so as to fulfill their dreams and at the same time, make their country proud.

“I thought there was an important story to tell based on my background about understanding the cultural exchange between countries in African and other European countries – understanding and finding that balance between living in your country and also being a foreigner”, she said on why she wrote the book.

Speaking further, AworantiEkugo said her book gives a view into life abroad, so that people can decide where they want to go and if they go, whether they want to stay or come back. To summarise the book, she said, “The book is like going abroad, without leaving

Lola Aworanti-Ekugo your seat.

“I thought it was important

to promote good value and allow people to sort of discover

themselves and find their own path and place in the world.”

She hopes that her book will inspire people who are trying to find that path whether in Nigeria or abroad.

For Aworanti-Ekugo, ‘Lagos to London’ is a book that inspires following one’s dream, finding one’s own path and being an ambassador for Nigeria wherever one finds oneself in the world.

“We are good people, brilliant people and amazing people who can have a good impression whether it’s abroad or whether it is here in our own country as well”, she noted.

On how long it took to write the book, she said, “It took a good number of years. People think it’s one year but it was a bit longer. I think it as about three years to write the book because I felt like there was a lot say and it required time as well, so it took a while, but I am really happy that it’s finally out to the world and I think it is going to make a good impact in schools at all levels.”

The author, who initially

could not find her bearings on what she actually wanted to be, eventually became a Digital Innovation Specialist.

She had always loved technology but it took her a longer time to find out that.

“I love technology – solving problems and I realised that I don’t have to be one person, I can be many things and I think we can all be many things as we are all talented. You don’t have to restrict yourself.

“I am a digital innovation executive with up to 15 years experience in the industry but I also love to write and I am also solving a problem of the youths today even through writing”, she said.

Although she confessed that a little bit of her life is portrayed in “Lagos to London”, she added however that the book is a mixture of so many people’s stories as she wanted it to be very relatable and for people to be able to see themselves in it or see someone that they know.

“In the book there are stories about people who lost their way in the beginning but eventu-

ally found themselves; so, it is a book about me but I think there is a bit of everybody in the book.”

She therefore encouraged every student to read the book as it is actually about finding oneself and realising that he/ she is of her own race.

“Nobody can run it for you.

Everybody is uniquely scaled with different talents and it is up to you to find it and make your mark in this world.”

She specifically advised young people, especially to be true to themselves and not fall under peer pressure to do things they were not supposed to do, adding that, “Hard work and good values actually pay off in the end” and that though the journey may seem long, it’s actually worth it in the end.

And for those going abroad, she reminded them that they were ambassadors of their country, adding, “the streets of abroad are not paved with gold, you still need to be a good person; you still need to work hard, find yourself and find your place”.

Job Creation, Poverty Reduction Top Discussions at ONDEA Summit Determined to create jobs and reduce extreme poverty, several initiatives targeted at job opportunities for the youths, women and vulnerable groups remained top discussions at the Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency, (ONDEA) unemployment summit held at Akure recently.

The governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) reeled out the eight-point agenda and his pledge to eliminate poverty through entrepreneurship, knowledge economy, innovation and technology.

Akeredolu stated that he is ready to invest more in entrepreneurship development and provide startup funds for persons with entrepreneurship skills that are badly affected by the CO pandemic.

Akeredolu who said the only enduring solutions to the unemployment issues were for the youths to embrace entrepreneurial development,

added that entrepreneurship development plays a vital role for job creation and poverty alleviation.

The Unemployment Summit hosted by the governor and executed by Special Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship Development and CEO of Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA), Dr Summy Smart-Francis was targeted at addressing unemployment as a challenge and proffering practical solutions to it.

Smart-Francis equally assured the people of Ondo State that the agency has many more initiatives that will tackle unemployment and poverty.

The keynote speaker at the summit, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, said that to foster economic growth and engender business knowledge transfer for indigenous based entrepreneurs, MSMEs and job seekers need to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

“Entrepreneurship is a great

RCCG Donates to Lagos Schools Private support to educational development in Nigeria was further displayed recently with the presentation of 30,000 exercise books to some public primary and secondary schools under District Five Amuwo Odofin

by The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos, Province 3 Festac Town.

The gesture, according to the church was informed by the need to promote human capital development at basic level by positively impacting on the lives of the students most of whom are needy and also to underscore the church’s Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda as initiated by the General Overseer, Pastor E. A. Adeboye.

Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 3, Toyin Olugbemi, while presenting the books, charged the students to remain dedicated by showing greater seriousness to their studies and become good and responsible citizens of the country.

The benefitting schools include Festac Senior and Junior College, Festac Senior and Junior Grammar School, Festac Senior and Junior Girls Secondary School and Community Senior and Junior Grammar School Amuwo.

Others are, Second Avenue, Third Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue Progressive, Central and Universal Basic Education (U.B.E) Nursery and Primary Schools, Festac Town.

Olugbemi, flanked by other clerics including Pastor Ajibola Opeoluwa-Calebs, Assistant Pastor in charge of Province, CSR, LP 44; Pastors Steve Osafile and Sunday Avoseh, Assistant Pastors in Charge of Lagos Province 3 Administration and CSR respectively, among others, explained that Pastor Adeboye instituted the CSR initiative with a view to positively impacting the communities where branches of the church are located.

L-R: Pastor Toyin Olugbemi and wife, Folake; Principal, Festac Junior College, Mrs Josephine Okoduwa; Mrs. Titilayo Efekodo and Assistant Pastor Sunday Avoseh during the books presentation. panacea for unemployment it. We cannot continue to handle the country with kid gloves. I the country will be put to rest; and the vices associated with the issue of unemployment in believe that unemployment in the ball has been set rolling.”

Church of the Nativity Primes to LandWey Unveils N50 Million Host Praise Concert Scholarship Fund to Community All is set for the annual praise concert of the Church of the Nativity, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, scheduled to hold on Sunday, December 19th, 2021 at the church grounds in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Tagged “Ephphatha” the concert is in line with an annual tradition of thanksgiving and praise of the church.

Speaking during a press briefing to announce the forthcoming event, the Vicar of the Church, Ven. Olalekan Popoola explained that Ephphatha is gotten from the book of scriptures in Mark 7:34 where Jesus healed a man that was deaf and dumb after proclaiming the word Ephphatha which is an Aramaic word that means ‘Be Opened’.

The praise concert which would be the grand finale of the week-long revival has a line-up of gospel ministers billed for the concert.

They include Dr. Tim God-

ferey, Sola Allyson, Bidemi Olaoba, Rev. Jacob Adebayo Olorundare, Onos Ariyo, Efe Nathan, Dare Justified, Mairo Ese, Sammy Guitar, Olumide Baritone and Godwin strings amongst others.

According to Ven. Popoola, “The Praise Concert would provide ample opportunity for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus and there is no better time to do this than during Christmas. We invite all to join us in this celebration of Jesus and an experience of His power.

“The Church of the Nativity is named after the birth and incarnation of Jesus Christ and in a time where the world needs healing, this event brings together anointed gospel ministers to raise an altar of praise unto the Lord most high to bring the much-needed healing to our land at this significant time”, the Vicar added.

The children living in the Ogombo community in Lagos State will benefit from the 50 million scholarship fund launched by the Landwey Investment Limited as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to stir the children with the much-needed educational aid in the country.

This was disclosed at a funfair event organised for the children and parents of the community with the theme “Building their future”.

Speaking during the event, the Group Managing Director, LandWey, Olawale Ayilara, said, “It’s not the sole responsibility of a parent to raise a child, that’s why we’re more than committed to getting all hands on deck in a bid to build a better future for children. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.”

He explained that 20 million was the educational grant itself. The others were

used for school items such as empowering other students in the community. Access to the 20 million Naira educational grants will be made through applications and an efficient screening process to ensure fair and equal disbursement.

Parents who attended the funfair were not left out as gifts, relief packages and medical checkups were administered while the children went home with back-to-school kits after being treated to a fun day of games and refreshments.

The funfair also marked the beginning of a five-day celebration as the real estate giants mark their fifth-year anniversary.

The acting Managing Director, LandWey, Adesola Bello, said, “we are proud of how far we have come and how much more we are willing to go to provide an excellent product and service delivery.”

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Filmmaker Olawunmi Ajayi Examines Foundation of C&S Church in New Documentary Stories by Vanessa Obioha For her film debut, young filmmaker Olawunmi Ajayi embarked on an ambitious project: plumbing the misperceptions about the White Garment Church Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S).

To achieve this, the daughter of the famous founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church (C&S) Esther Ajayi, travelled to Ikare in Ondo State to trace the history of the founding father of the church, St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase.

Her discovery was mind-blowing and this she packaged in over an hour-long documentary set for cinematic release soon. At a recent screening where guests watched the first 20 minutes of the documentary titled ‘The White Garment Church Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S)’, the younger Ajayi revealed that her utmost goal was to correct the misperceptions about the church.

“First, I wanted to show the difference between C&S church and the Celestial church.

The latter do not wear footwear at all when going to church but we only remove ours when we are about to enter the church. Also, we don’t do idol worshipping. Everything we practice is in the Bible. The documentary gives you a full biblical backing of the doctrines of the C&S church.”

Narrated by the prolific silver screen prince Richard Mofe-Damijo, ‘The White Garment Church’ which doubles as a biopic sheds light on the myths surrounding Tunolase. Legend had it that he started walking the day he was born.

“When I was doing my research, one of the things I found interesting was the belief that he walked on the first day he was born.

Jesus Christ didn’t walk the day he was born

L-R: Richard Moje-Damijo, Olawunmi Ajayi, Rev. Mother Abimbola Esther Ajayi, Owa Ale of Ikare, HRM, Oba Adeleke Adefemi Adegbite-Adedoyin; and Publisher Ovation International Magazine, Dele Momodu at the screening of The White Garment Church held at Ebonylife Place, Victoria Island, Lagos recently

so I went to Ikare and interviewed different people and they all said the same thing. That story still feels strange to me. I wouldn’t say it’s true because I wasn’t born then but I can only document what I found out.”

Explaining further, Ajayi said that the role of Tunolase in Christendom cannot be overlooked.

“A lot of people don’t know about him. He made Christianity strong in Nigeria. Without

him, I don’t think there will be a Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners Chapel or Christ Apostolic Church.”

Initially, Ajayi revealed, the plan was to do a short documentary but the more people she talked about, the more the vision expanded and with the army of young creatives working with her, the documentary turned out to be more than she bargained for.

One of the key persons she spoke to was her mother, not necessarily because of the familial relationship. Rather, given her mother’s Muslim background, Ajayi was interested in finding out why she stuck with the church.

Other subjects interviewed in the documentary include publisher of Ovation International Magazine, Dele Momodu; Bankole Babatunde among others.

‘Movement-Japa’ Ep.7: A Bloody Voyage GUS Finale: The Search for Akolo’s Chest Begins The closing scene of episode seven of the riveting television series ‘Movement-Japa’ leaves many questions in the minds of fans and viewers of the show. Is Osas dead is probably the most pressing question.After a bloody battle with the ship’s crew, Osas is shot in the back by one of the men. With the trio still shattered byAngela’s death in episode six, how will they deal with another death?

The episode titled ‘Things We Do for Love’ begins with a heartbroken Shina mourning the death of Angela. The transition from love to grief is an emotional rollercoaster for the hustler who moments ago was in heavenly bliss with the deceased. Nevertheless, with time running out, Shina, Osas and Mimi had to shelve their feelings and figure out their next line of action. They agree to dump the body at the house of a female police officer with a recording of Angela implicating her step-

mother. But it turns out to be a futile attempt as the officer unaware of the connivance of her colleagues and the accused played into their hands.

Done with Angela’s corpse, the trio rushes to the port to meet with Osas Uncle Willie who promised to help them japa. But there is a new captain who doesn’t want to see stowaways on his ship. The stowaways would later realise that their ticket to greener pastures may be a death trap.

The episode gives insight into the harrowing experience faced by immigrants. Most of them end up killed before they reach their promised land, their dreams dumped in the blue ocean.

With Osas down, how will Shina and Mimi escape the waves of death?

‘Movement-Japa’ shows every Monday night on Africa Magic Showcase and repeats on Showmax.

King Daniel Isong Plans New Model Competition for 2022 Popular model King Daniel Isong who is known for discovering young talents and providing a platform for them through his modelling company Dream Models has announced plans to hold a competition next year.

Speaking on the 13th anniversary of his brand, the Akwa-Ibom indigene said that his desire for next year is to have a contestants show of Dreams Models Next Supermodel 2022. However, he did not divulge further plans about the show.

Since he ventured into modelling 12 years ago, Isong who is also a filmmaker disclosed that he has trained more than 150 models and up-and-coming

entertainers helping them fly beyond their dreams.

“I discovered Titi Akin, now Mrs Grace Lafoxy, who is based in Germany. She was the second runner-up in a contest. She also won an award in my Dreams Models in 2009. I also trained Precious Patrick who has featured in some Nollywood movies; same with Martins Uzezi. Through my brand, he contested in the Duke and Duchess of Africa competition in 2018, and won the crown.”

The entertainer and mode concluded that he is focused on using his platform to groom more people in the modelling and entertainment industries.

Of the 18 contestants who joined the Gulder Ultimate Search for the ultimate prize of N50 million, only three men have begun the search for Akolo’s secret chest. Last weekend saw Chidinma Okeibe and Rachel Bello exit the show with the former

making history as the last woman standing.

Rachel bowed out after the Splash task that tested their endurance and focus.

She was the first to lose balance and as such drenched in the pail of water suspended above her. Odudu

Otu emerged winner in that task and was rewarded with N100,000 cash prize while Chidinma came second.

However, for their 15th task of the season, A Combination of locks, Chidinma came last, thus temporarily ending her journey in

the search. Since she has a boomerang, she is likely to be voted back into the game alongside Esitima, Tosin and Osas. Whoever the fans vote back into the game will join Odudu, Adedamola Johnson and Damilola Odedina to search for Akolo’s chest.

Musical Collaborations that Defined 2021 has captured the attention of many music lovers, making it a staple on most playlists.

Iyke Bede The power of collaborations cannot be overemphasized, and this year is no different.

Through the decades, we’ve seen many artists team up to deliver a memorable hit that leaves fans swooning.

For instance, from Lagbaja’s ‘Never Far Away’ that features powerhouse singer Ego, Onyeka Onwenu’s smashing duet ‘Wait for Me’ with King Sunny Ade, to 2020’s popular hit ‘Know You’ that leverages the synergy between Ladipoe and Simi, these songs show the power of collaboration.

Here are some of the top collaborations that defined the year 2021.

‘Coming’ – Naira Marley, Busiswa Gqulu Released in the first quarter of the year, Naira Marley extends his trail of controversial songs with unabashed lyrics, over-the-top braggadocio, and raunchy visuals with some silly special effects. Marley and Busiswa did not shy away from their sexual intentions. Though it may not be the go-to track on your playlist for obvious reasons, it reigns supreme in nightclubs.

‘Early Momo’ – Vector, GoodGirl LA What ‘Coming’ lacks in conservative lyrics and lyricism, ‘Early Momo makes up for

‘Feeling’ – Ladipoe, Buju This one is hard to miss. Buju draws listeners in with his brief melismatic singing, which is later followed by Ladipoe’s sleek rap bars. Generally a feel-good song, the visuals go a step further to exploit emotions.

Wizkid and Tems on stage

in brilliantly penned double entendre. Vector’s silky rap lines effortlessly fuse with Good Girl LA’s raspy tone over dreamy guitar riffs and heart throbbing beats. It remains the official quiet storm on urban late-night radio.

‘Running (ToYou)’– Chike, Simi This collaboration affirms the adage ‘two (good) heads are better than one.’ The perfect standalone track of Chike gets the ‘Simi’ treatment, further expanding its listenership and breaking cultural boundaries for Chike.

‘High’ – Adekunle Gold, Davido The good boy turned bad Adekunle Gold teams up with Davido to deliver a tribute to alcohol with reckless abandon.

Taking the amapiano route, Gold retains relevance in the ever-shifting music landscape.

‘Somebody’s Son’ – Tiwa Savage, Brandy A twist on ‘The Boy is Mine’, Tiwa Savage teams up with American singer Brandy to deliver a female power anthem. Released amid sex tape controversy, Savage leverages her femininity to produce stunning visuals. The song has also inspired thousands of social media memes.

‘Kolo’– Ice Prince, Oxlade Reminiscent of collaborations between rappers and R’n’B singers in the early 2000s, Ice Prince extends his legacy by sharing the spotlight with Oxlade, who possesses all the skills of an OG. With the chorus rendered in pidgin, it

‘Love Nwantiti’ – Ckay, Various artistes The global phenomenon that bears the silky voice of Ckay has featured the likes of Joeboy, Kuami Eugene, and Moroccan rapper ElGrandeToto in different versions, The viral hit has slowly become a global anthem with thousands of covers in its honour.

‘Monalisa’ – Lojay, Sarz Sometimes less is more.

Creatively harnessing the song’s title albeit repetitive, Lojay gives one of the catchiest choruses in recent times.

Teaming with Sarz, the pair complement each other in ways words cannot describe.

‘Essence’ – Wizkid, Tems Easily overlooked as part of the body of work that is ‘Made in Lagos’, the creative direction of the song becomes complete with accompanying visuals that portray WizKid and Tems as lovers. A global hit in its rights, Wizkid and ‘star girl’ Tems dominate global music.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

With Style Zero, Quintessence Extols African Culture

Made in Lagos: A Solo Exhibition Berths at AAF

At the just concluded fashion show, Style Zero, Quintessence Gallery’s collection-varied in its details- is rooted in minimalism, crafted with comfort at heart. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

L

ong strides, magnificent make-up, models clad in simple African fabrics matched with hot stilettos and loafers stole the Style Zero fashion show inside Parkview, Ikoyi- the home of Quintessence Gallery. The unconventional space for a fashion show came alive recently to showcase the rich collection of African wears that the gallery offers for the Christmas season.

It’s been a particularly hot season as the hint of harmattan haze is at its best a rumour or an experience totally lost on many who are often covered in sweat as they step away from the air-conditioned cars or offices. Quintessence has always had the customers at the heart of their activities and this year is no different what with a big comeback for the gallery with the show titled ‘Style Zero.’

With a selection of Afrobeat and other African genres booming from the sound system, the audience was treated to a visual parade of models clad in a wide range of pieces that is elegant and chic, made of adire, aso-oke and custom-made accessories from ‘Eyes of A Lagos Boy,’ a partner on this runway project.

“We always look for a place to express our culture hence this collaboration. I have always known Quintessence all of my life. I had met the founder of Quintessence, Chief Aino Oni-Okpaku, who saw my project then and asked me to bring them. A year later, she passed away. But here we are today. For us, it is a continuation of history and that’s what Eyes of A Lagos Boy stands for- documenting history,’’ Bolaji Alonge, the artist also known as Eyes of A Lagos Boy said.

The collection, varied in its details, is rooted in minimalism, crafted with comfort at heart.

At the end of the show, the CEO, Quintessence Limited, Jude Oni-Okpaku fielded questions from the journalists on how he has embraced the legacy of its late co-founder, Chief Mrs Aino Oni-Okpaku.

“We wanted to do something during the Christmas season and Quintessence has been around now for almost fifty years and one of the things that we have been known for is our fashion. We haven’t had an opportunity due to Covid-19 to portray our different African inspired styles that we have. We thought this

One of the works at the exhibition

Jude Oni-Okpaku at the fashion show, Style Zero

was a good opportunity to bring everyone together for this Christmas period and at the same time showcase the beauty of African culture. Quintessence is all about promoting African arts and crafts. This fashion is not a new idea for us. We have been doing fashion shows for many years. We just haven’t done one for a while. This is the first one in a long time,’’ he said.

The theme Style Zero comes from the idea of starting fashion-particularly African fashion on a black canvas, without the undue influence of foreign fabric layering or styles. He explains what African style should project.

“We think it should be simple and comfortable due to our climate and working conditions. We believe that our fashion has been way too inspired by western influences whereby we wear suits and ties to work and we live in a hot climate. So, Style zero is saying let’s hear all that and start from

a fresh canvas and let’s wear clothes that are made for us and conducive to the kind of environment that we live in,’’ he said.

Apart from the climatic consideration, Style Zero aims to draw attention to the economic value that is embedded in wearing clothing made from African fabrics.

“We need to appreciate our textiles and our own designs to create jobs. We have one adire type from Kano the cotton was grown in Kano and then from Osogbo; and another is aso oke. The locally sourced materials are economical because you don’t have to think about importing cost and they are better for our climate,’’ he said.

Jude holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from California Lutheran University, USA. An entrepreneur at heart, he founded two IT companies in Stockholm, Sweden before venturing into managing Quintessence. He described himself as a lover of everything African.

WithVirtual Exhibition, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nigeria Mark 100 Years of Kingdom Service Stories by Yinka Olatunbosun ‘They had the courage to say no.’ That is one of the texts written on the exhibition walls of the Centenary Museum inside the Branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nigeria. It was indeed a sneak peak of the exhibition of historical artefacts surrounding the activities of this international organisation in Nigeria. Held last Sunday, December 1, nationwide, the special programme to mark the 100 years of Kingdom activity was held virtually on the JW Stream and the KHCONF online radio.

In 1921, the first preaching activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses was recorded in Nigeria and in 1935, their first place of worship known as the Kingdom Hall was reportedly built in Ilesha, Osun State.

The exhibits in the show titled ‘Portraits of Courage’ are visual chronicles of the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses especially through difficult periods such as the civil war and the ban of Watchtower publications. Known as preachers of peace, Jehovah’s Witnesses stood courageously against the war.

Till date, these preachers continue their preaching activity in all states across Nigeria. Since the onset of the pandemic, however, Jehovah’s Witnesses have suspended all public preaching activities and in-person gatherings, substituting them

A view of the virtual exhibition

with electronic forms of witnessing as well as letter writing in compliance with Covid-19 protocols.

The centenary celebration which had as theme “100 Years of Courage’’ was marked by talks, video screenings, virtual exhibition,

music interludes with a unique African flavour. Some of the best distributed literature in Nigeria such as ‘My Book of Bible Stories’ and ‘Awake’ were published by the organization under the name Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

Emma Odumade created a little suspense with his delayed entrance into the exhibition hall at the African Artists Foundation (AAF), Victoria Island, Lagos. At 21, Odumade’s shyness is a façade above the depth of his creative energy. In this debut solo exhibition titled ‘Made in Lagos: Green and Blue,’ he presents his body of works as a mirror to the society with his revisionist view of histo-cultural narratives.

Born and raised in Lagos, Odumade began to manifest artist strengths at a very young age with drawings, comics, cartoons and collages.

For him, the pencil is a weapon for activism, as well as a channel through which he can connect personal stories and experiences.

As a careful observer, he had painted a series of archetypal characters-mostly children to tell stories behind their everyday lives. The undergraduate of Botany at the University of Lagos explained why children are predominant subjects in his works. “I use children a lot in my work because they represent new beginning,’’ he said. While painting with acrylic and black tea, his piece titled ‘Like Mother, Like Daughter’ offers an insight into street trading- a cultural phenomenon that has transcended generations.

The multi-media work titled ‘A New World’ is also a commentary on the use of masks in the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I am also documenting this culture, this way of life now. We will die one day and this present culture will change because change is constant.

Sotact Entertainment Hosts Influence of Possibilities Exposé Show SOTACT Entertainment is set to host the Influence of Possibilities Exposé Show (i-OPES) as part of the Music in Africa Live showcase project. This digital live-music performance that will hold at the Freedom Park Lagos on Sunday, November 21 featuring touring and tour-ready musicians from Nigeria comprising of four females and three males namely: Kayefi, M Show, Aderinsola, Bibi, Edaoto, Wura Samba and Seun Olota. Collectively, their works revolve around the concept of advocacy, activism, consciousness, Pan-Africanism, trado-urbanism and futurism.

The Music in Africa Live is an initiative of the Music in Africa Foundation (MIAF) aimed to support African musicians and professionals that traditionally earn a living from live performances but have been affected by the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented lockdowns and restrictions thereof.

The project thus aims: to support the African Music industry by enabling musicians earning opportunities from digital live performances at a time when many have lost their usual income due to the pandemic, to develop critical skills among professionals and to support Music advocacy activities on the continent.

The project is supported by the GoetheInstitute, Siemens Stiftung and the German Federal Foreign Office in partnership with the Music in Africa Foundation (MIAF).

The MIAF is a Pan-African, non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg-South Africa with satellite offices in East, West and Central Africa.

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Saraki @ 59: A Blend of Principles and Patriotism

B

ukola Saraki the 8th president turns 59 years in few days time. Going by the age of old brigades in the Nigeria political field he falls into the youth age bracket. However despite his youthful years he has navigated and actively participated at great length and depth in the nation’s political spectrum with remarkable imprints of excellent achievements even with all the land mines and banana pills. As the sole heirloom of an impressive political heritage labored by his late father Dr Olusola Saraki in the formation years of post-independence Nigeria political system the former senate president inherited a political tradition which allows for improvement . Indeed and as subsequent years revealed, the younger saraki proved that he is capable of sliding into the space of political heritage with some impressive marks of improvement. This should reasonably explain the splendid array of his superior ranking in political mentorship, bridge-building, inclusiveness, sagacity, team-play and clear-sightedness. What more –that he was the chairman of the reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party whose foresight brought together various groups with conflicting interest and laid to rest intraparty squabbles in the party as a prelude to the hitch-free show cases the unifying personality that he is.

Casting a reflection on his outstanding achievements in the years of his involvement in politics in spite of the storm generated to obstruct his rise unveils a personality that epitomizes a puzzling enigma of resilience, tenacity and purpose. Not a few would agree that the orchestrated distraction enabled him to dissolve into a formidable force in the Nigeria political system. To survive the treacherous terrain of Nigeria political landscape takes more than ‘the ordinary’-a lot would invariably depend on exceptional idiosyncratic spirit , calculating instincts, experience and fair portion of providence. Armed with a blend of fascinating charisma , deft political tact , discipline and a huge dose of exceptionally calm spirit in times of volatile dirty politics summarizes the picture of an enigma whose light would endure the ravages and bruises of dirty politics . The operational structure of the political system operated by the current players in the corridors of power breathes a raging fire designed to consume and annihilate any trace of opposition. The level of exposure to the thermal conditions of its cruel fireworks depends on the measure of threat which persons of incredible personal charm and robust political leadership flairs pose to the morbid aspirations of its operators. A casual glimpse at the graph of political persecution that Saraki experienced in the hands of masters of politics of bitterness reveals a scary trajectory of mindless crudity in style; manner and proportion that erases any doubt on the level of threat he poses to the personal interest of those who swore to protect the rights of Nigerians.

The genesis of his travail was all about how and why he became the senate president in the manner that he did which grossly and embarrassingly dressed downed the arrogant plot to pocket the legislature against the spirit and letters of the constitution and politics of inclusion. In response the entire apparatus of state power, thrusted with genocidal vehemence, was deployed to liquidate any trace of his influence in the nation’s political space. Plethora of false stories were generated and sold to the public to justify these actions. What they didn’t tell Nigerians and which the people have now come to know presently stares everyone in the face.

Furthermore, shortly before the 2019 election, a loose militant combatant was carved out of the ruling political party with active connivance of the highest echelon of the party and charged with the singular task of making sure that saraki never returns to the senate. To this effect, a leading member of the party’s national leadership adopted the task as a personal ambition and boasted before the entire nation of the desire to see it to conclusion. Unfortunately for him but as comeuppance which exposed the lies and hypocrisy, the said individual has been consumed by fiery intraparty wars. Various false narratives sweetened with malicious clichés of smooth talkers dominated public space. The larger public and party members alike were maneuvered and conditioned to believe a one story line which sees Saraki as the black sheep in the party, leaving barely enough room and reason to reflect on the option that Saraki was only bent on upholding the sacred democratic principles of using the senate as a check against the executive while he held sway as the senate president. So harsh and crude were the onslaught in scale and proportion that This Day newspaper boldly reflected a political quote on Saraki’s travail on page 71 of its edition of 5/8/2018 which reads : “At some point in the political history of this country, there will be the need for a dedicated study of the current president of the senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, not just in terms of his political wisdom

Saraki

or native intelligence, but the nature of his demeanor, which allows him to remain extremely calm and calculated in the face of crisis, no matter the extent of provocation” . With philosophical exactitude, his close aides witnessed firsthand, his resilient and forgiving nature as aptly worded above by This day Newspaper. When the fury and dimension of intimidation soared to the new heights, he summoned us and cautioned that we should never respond to any of the provocations because he sees the president as his father and won’t be a party to violating the sanctity of the presidency for cheap political scores.

It’s a scared truism that we get to know the worth of individuals under trying period –the best in a person which the world never knew comes into view during his trying and difficult moments. Nigerians now realize that they were sold the laughable story that the cloudy maneuvers and persecution of Saraki were meant to halt the disservice that he posed to the patriotic disposition of the central leadership. Since the scale has fallen off the eyes and the truth about Saraki has been revealed, a wave of nostalgic reflection easily resurfaces to capture his memorable era in the national assembly.

Amidst the confusion and uncertainty in the land he sure would have done differently in nudging the executive to the best standard of governance.

A nation once held together by the strength and spirit of brotherhood, political tolerance, inclusiveness and ethno-religious harmony is now under the verge of splitting asunder as discontent, despondency and disillusion fill the public sphere. Various forms of violent criminality weaved through the acts of dissatisfaction with the mismanagement of our diversity gave rise to agitation for secession from the Nigeria nation. Selective treatment and lack of conviction in handling of those considered as threat to the state emboldened others to pick up arms. kidnapping and various acts of criminality gradually scaled up and metamorphosed into a sophisticated enterprise threatening and endangering our unity and collective well-being .It should worry every right thinking Nigerian that in all these, those charged with the task of securing the nation against sharing the monopoly of the instruments of coercion with non state actors are still unsure of the proper name that befits these rampaging felons- terrorist or bandits –in spite of their proven capacity to shoot down planes. Nothing illustrates this better than the recent call by governor El-Rufai to the federal government to declare bandits as terrorist. Governor Aminu Masari is the latest to add his voice in calling for a state of emergency in the northern states

Casting a reflection on his outstanding achievements in the years of his involvement in politics, in spite of the storm generated to obstruct his rise, unveils a personality that epitomizes a puzzling enigma of resilience, tenacity and purpose

gripped by insecurity. The disarray in the ranks of the members of ruling party even in serious life threatening issues of national concern is not unconnected to the confusion in the land.

A casual reflection on the way and manner Saraki held and maintained the cohesion of members in the national assembly –particularly the senate which is a micro-unit and a chip from the diversity of the Nigeria nation, despite mountainous loads of trouble heaped on his path proves his unifying and healing personality .In surviving various state-sponsored high-wire impeachment attempts and judicial ambush via several spurious allegations activated through the agency of ant-corruption outfits he earned the trust and loyalty of the legislature and the larger Nigerians. Many are now further convinced of the vindictiveness of those who suffered the brunt of his superior political strategy and purposeful principles for his choice to stand with the people rather than the interest of some cliques in power.

The Division, confusion and despondency that engulfed the nation today, arising from the wrong economic choices and misguided steps of the executive in the economy and security matters are clear indications of an absentee legislature – a quintessential antithetical reality that the legislature which saraki presided upon to robustly hold the executive to its duties is now a shadow of what it was under his reign. The Nation in its present state of disarray, division and insecurity needs a strong personality to lead it out of the woods. This is where Saraki stands.

Known for his forgiving spirit and unifying personality with strong pan Nigeria vision –a Saraki president would be a perfect answer to the national question and whose success would qualify him as a top contender for Mo Ibrahim leadership and Nobel peace prize award.

Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu S A Special Duties 8th President of the Senate Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵, ͰͮͰͯ

METRO

…Your city life in print

Prof Chike Edozien Secretariat and Okowa’s Commitment to Excellence in Public Service The recent official visit to Asaba, the Delta State capital, by Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has far-reaching significance than the usual niceties that accompanied the inauguration of two important projects, theAsaba IPPand, particularly, the multi-billion naira state secretariat complex, christened Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat, writes Omon-Julius Onabu

‘I

ron sharpens iron’ is a profound biblical truism that is philosophically etched on marble. And, when two visionary leaders decide to put aside the garment of partisanship for the nobler cause, the significance of the axiom finds palpable expression that benefits both the present generation of people and posterity.

It is, therefore, noteworthy that the imposing state-of-the-art architectural masterpiece, the Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat, which was conceived and delivered by the Okowa administration, would be formally declared open by no other than an erudite scholar and eminent public functionary, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President of Nigeria.

The vice-president, who was on ground to perform the traditional tape-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the central secretariat building complex, was his characteristic self as he minced no words in expressing his impression about Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s demonstrable commitment at stamping the culture of excellence in the state civil service.

That is the stuff purposeful and patriotic leaders are made of, he asserted. Specifically, he described Dr Okowa as a visionary leader, lauding his administration for the conceptualisation, architectural design and functionality of the building that cuts the picture of a modern five-star hospitality complex sitting majestically in the central business district of the Delta State capital.

He said that the state-of-the-art building is definitely a worthy monument to enhance efficiency in the public service, which he noted serves as the human resource engine-room of government. Effective or optimal public service woul be a mirage in the absence of an efficient civil service, he asserted.

Significance of Efficient Civil Service While inaugurating the edifice last week, the vice-president underscored the importance of bureaucracy to governance as a central administrative point for any given government’s day-to-day business especially in a democracy. He likened the civil service to a brainbox in the government machinery and noted that the complex was what the Delta State civil servants could ever wish for as it was unprecedented.

Osinbajo said, “This is historic indeed, because the seat of the civil service of any arm of government anywhere in the world is usually one of the major monuments enshrining not just the power but also the splendour of the authority of government. This imposing complex clearly meets this requirement.

“In due course, such buildings become historical monuments; and, the commissioning of this secretariat is special in two different ways. First, the civil service and the people of Delta are today being presented with a state-of-the-art functional and befitting secretariat after many years.

“Consequently, the civil service forms the very tip of the sphere of governance. Optimal public service delivery requires an efficient public service. Such a public service requires training, capacity building and also work spaces that are well equipped, conducive and inspirational. Public servants require an environment that brings out the best in them, and this secretariat complex would provide such an environment.”

Immortalising Nigeria’s Oldest Professor of Medicine On the decision of the government to honour Nigeria’s oldest professor with the name of the secretariat complex, the vice-president said, “This is worthy of great celebration but beyond that is the fact that it is, at the same time, immortalizing one of the Nigeria’s most illustrious sons, HRM Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba, Nigeria’s oldest living professor in any discipline and an internationally renowned professor of medicine.

“He is an outstanding bridge-builder and patriot. He has played, and continues to play, an important role as a symbol of unity in the state. During his 30-year reign thus far, Asaba has changed dramatically, becoming the capital of the newly created Delta State in 1991, and has attracted people from far and wide that have come to seek their fortunes here. His traditional leadership has ensured that the growth and increasing diversity of Asaba has proceeded

Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa (left) presenting a gift to the Asaba monarch, HRM Obi (Prof) Chike Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba, during his 97th birthday celebration at his palace in Asaba, recently

without tension and antagonism among those who live here.

“I believe that by naming this building after Asagba, you are not just celebrating a highly respected and deserving son of Delta State and Nigeria, you are also signalling a sort of excellence in public service that we wish to see incubated in this complex.”

Justifying that decision earlier in his address, Okowa said, “as already announced by my humble self, this building is named Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat. Perhaps unknown to many, Professor Edozien, the Asagba of Asaba, is a notable scholar in the field of medicine. It is in recognition of his accomplishments in the medical profession and his disposition to peace building and peaceful co-existence among the different ethnic nationalities of the state that we decided to name this secretariat in his honour.”

Diminishing Politics to Celebrate Excellence In February 2019, Vice-President Osinbajo was in Delta State to inaugurate several infrastructure projects executed by the Okowa administration during his first tenure. These included several roads linking some coastal community where previous administrations have shied away from vital infrastructure development on account of the very challenging physical environment.

Although there were speculations around the seeming “romance” between the vicepresident and the governor, especially as the 2019 general election was then around the corner, Prof Osinbajo was undeterred but has continued to honour invitations to different functions of the Delta State Government, including the inauguration of newly completed projects. Osinbajo has thus gestured a bold statement that statesmanship and excellence could not be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics.

Osinbajo said, while inaugurating the new secretariat building, that he was delighted that Okowa has demonstrated responsible and visionary leadership in that his administration has consistently defied the economic downturn that had put much pressure on financial resources at all levels of government in Nigeria, to continue to execute worthy projects.

“There is more for which Okowa deserves commendation. Despite dwindling revenue receipts and severe resource constraints across all levels of government, he has been able

to provide funding for this project.

“Also, your recognition of the critical role of the public sector is notable, whether we are talking about the need for more Internally Generated Revenue and greater tax efficiency, compensation for resource deficit or the management of the public health crisis such as the pandemic or even the drive for more IGR, it is the capacity of the public sector that is invariably an issue.

Legacy Of Inspirational Leadership In appreciating Okowa’s consistent pursuit of programmes and projects that optimally elevate the quality of life for the citizens of the state, the vice-president threw a subtle challenge to the states of the federation, saying that Okowa has been undeterred by the prevailing economic downturn in Nigeria.

“The completion of this complex is another demonstration of what Okowa has shown over the years, that with visionary leadership a state government can do incredible things indeed, and I’m sure this one would be a worthy legacy.

“Perhaps more importantly, you are saying to a generation that is not even old enough to be employed into the service that integrity, diligence and service to community still pay. It is my hope that this place will be a symbol of unity and distinction,” Osinbajo further noted.

Nonetheless, Governor Okowa also hit the bull’s-eye by bringing the vice-president, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at a time some key members of the APC in the state had embarked on a campaign apparently designed to persuade the people that Governor Okowa has, in more than six years in the saddle, failed woefully to deliver on his electoral promises, as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC group urged the people to “chase PDP out of Delta in 2023”, alleging that Governor Okowa has done practically nothing to transform the state into a better geo-political environment.

Osinbajo is Now Citizen of Delta State In his unpretentious elation, Okowa lauded Osinbajo for his sportsmanlike cum patriotic disposition, saying that the law professor and vice-president deserved to have the Delta special citizenship bestowed on him because of his love for the Delta State.

“By now many people will probably be wondering if the Vice-President has Delta roots. We have lost count of the number of times he has been here on official engagements.

Mr. Vice-President, let me once again put it on record that you have shown yourself to be a true statesman and an uncommon leader. The government and good people of Delta State appreciate you today and always; we value your friendship, partnership, and genuine interest in the progress of our state. Thank you, Your Excellency, for always responding when we call upon you”, Okowa said.

While admitting that executing the building project was both financially demanding and energy-sapping for the government, the governor said that his joy at the successful completion of the project knew no bounds. “I stand here today feeling very proud of this legacy project. Indeed, I am filled with a great sense of joy, satisfaction, fulfilment, and triumph.

“It was an arduous journey from the time construction commenced on November 27, 2017, to this momentous occasion. As you would expect, constructing an edifice like this would task the ingenuity, resources, and patience of any government in the times we live in.

“It was quite demanding and exacting, and there were times we were tempted to throw up our hands in despair, and even questioned the wisdom for embarking on a project of this magnitude.

The turbulence that has plagued the economy since 2017 was worsened with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing major financial disruptions during the construction process.

Not Some White Elephant Project Going by the detailed and systematic arrangement of its physical features, functionality, efficiency, safety, sustainability and contemporary aesthetics were obviously of premium consideration of the architectural masterminds of the gigantic one-stop building, christened Professor Chike Edozien Secretariat Asaba. The team, led by the principal partner of Contemporary Design Associates, Kester Ifeadi, provided the structural blueprint, which North China Construction Nigeria Limited translated into a magnificent, massive building .

The Delta State Information Commissioner, Charles Aniqgwu, told THISDAY the Governor Okowa has a penchant for staying focused on the important goals towards achieving the ‘Stronger Delta’ vision even in times of dwindling resources, rather than allowing himself to be distracted by shallow criticisms from desperate politicians. “You don’t need an expert to tell you that this is world-class, functional edifice and not some white elephant project,” Aniagwu said.

The imposing eight-floor structure, which sits on a 45,000 square meters ground, is a one-stop office complex designed to house 27 ministries along with their respective commissioners and permanent secretaries. It is designed around five clusters with each of the clusters standing around courtyard simply to guarantee openness through natural lighting and adequate ventilation in offices, aside the extensive electrical lighting and artificial ventilation provided.

The sprawling building is complete with every imaginable comfort and convenience with nine seminar/conference rooms, training rooms, three restaurants within the main floor.

It also has a main reception as well as a utility services lounge and a driver’s lounge.

The building has a clinic that meets the standard of an average hospital, several business centres and commercial banks. It also has two gatehouse facilities at the facade and one at the rear with over 1,000 parking spaces for cars while the new complex has vehicular connection with the old Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat Complex, which sits beside the new Chike Edozien secretariat complex.

Other features of the office complex include a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant and six waste disposal centres located at the rear.

It is further fortified with contemporary firefighting equipment and devices including numerous hoses connected to the water supply network and electronic smoke and fire detectors.

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

40

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ DECEMBER 17, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

SEC to Charge 0.025% Regulatory Fee on Fixed Income Transactions from Jan 1 Kayode Tokede The Securities and Exchange Commission( SEC) yesterday said it will commence 0.025 per cent regulatory fee on fixed income (Bonds) secondary market transactions effective from January 1, 2022. The Commission in circular said, “This circular is made pursuant to Section 13(u) of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA), 2007 and Schedule 1, Part D of the SEC Rules (Registration Fees, Minimum Capital Requirements, Securities and others) which empower the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to levy, among others, fees on transactions relating to investments and securities business in Nigeria”.

The Circular stated that Capital Market Operators (CMOs) and

stakeholders generally are hereby notified that: “a regulatory fee structure on secondary market transactions on Bonds will take effect from January 1, 2022 and Secondary market transactions on Bonds shall include bond transactions executed on a Securities Exchange (Exchange), reported by voice or by any other means to an Exchange as having being transacted thereon or of which the information of the transaction details are featured on the Exchange’s platform for purposes including but not limited to onward transmission to a Depository for settlement, price discovery and corporate disclosure.”

The Circular also stated that, “by this fee structure, the SEC will charge 0.025per cent of the total value of all secondary

market transactions on Bonds, while the Securities Exchange on which the transaction occurs will charge an amount not exceeding 0.025per cent of the total value of secondary market transactions on Bonds while Bond transactions by Dealing Members will attract a single regulatory fee of 0.0001per cent of the total value of the secondary market transactions on Bonds, and are exempt from the 0.025per cent fee charge earlier stated.”

The Commission stated that the circular supersedes previous directives given by the Commission on the subject. Also, the Commission has informed all Capital Market Operators (CMOs) and the general public that the annual renewal of Registration of CMOs for the year 2022 will commence from 1st January, 2022.

IBEDC Launch MAPS to Fast-track Meters Acquisition Kemi Olaitan ÓØ ÌËÎËØ The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has re-launched the Meter Assets Providers Scheme (MAPS), which allows customers to pay upfront for energy through the prepaid meter option.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), of IBEDC, John Ayodele, while speaking during the relaunching in Ibadan, said it followed the directive given by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to give customers the choice to purchase meters.

Ayodele, was represented by the Head, Strategy and Corporate

Performance, Peter Oni, disclosed that the scheme would serve as the best arbiter between electricity consumers and distribution companies without the hassle of estimated billing.

According to him, “We want our customers to be aware of the fact that it is no third-party affair; it is between IBEDC and the customer and we want them to cooperate with us and transact their businesses with us. We want it to be in such a way that metering is the arbiter between us and our customers; they will be able to know how much energy they have consumed and we will be able to know how much energy and expected revenue using

these meters and by so doing, there will be nothing like they over-billed me.”

He added that customers who subscribe to the MAPS, would get a refund of the cost of the meter through the same amount of energy credit whenever they vend over a period of 36 months.

“We have completed phase zero of the NMMP and we are moving to the next phase and from experience on the field, we observed that it was not sufficient for us to meter the expected number of customers we wanted to meter for that period. We have done the MAPS metering system and it worked very well.

CSR: Cadbury Splash $1m on Primary Schools in Lagos Dike Onwuamaeze Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelz International, has said its signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle project, which officially ended on December 9, 2021, had achieved the desired outcomes.

Cadbury stated this in a press statement IT issued yesterday, which said that the four-year project that cost about $1million, was sponsored by Mondel z International Foundation, and implemented by Helen Keller International.

It said that the CSR activities were aimed at tackling malnutrition and obesity among children in some selected primary schools within its host communities in Lagos State.

Speaking on the CSR, The

Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria, Mrs. Oyeyimika Adeboye, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this pilot project funded by Mondelz International, our parent company, as part of its commitment to promoting ‘Snacking Made Right.’ We thank our implementing partner, Helen Keller International, for their dedication and professionalism.

“This is a project that we are all proud of. The results have been quite encouraging. The project has increased the knowledge of the target beneficiaries on how to promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyle. It has also enabled the pupils to participate more actively in class and consume nutrient-rich foods.”

Similarly, Country Director of Helen Keller International, Ms. Philomena Orji, said: “The past four years of work in public primary schools in Lagos have

been exciting and fulfilling for Helen Keller. Thanks to our partnership with Mondelez International and Cadbury Nigeria, we have been able to directly reach 11,234 children with nutrition education and supported them to exercise more and grow nutrient-rich crops.

Through this project, we have reached over 179,309 Lagosians.

We are grateful to Mondelez International for the opportunity to impact the lives of children and their families.”

Also, Hon. Amosu Akeem, Education Secretary, Ikeja Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), said Helen Keller International complemented the efforts of the Lagos State Government by providing basic amenities in the beneficiary schools. “There is no school you will go to in Ikeja that you will not see hand washing bowls,” he pointed out.

Fate Foundation Graduates 700 Entrepreneurs Across 20 States On Thursday, December 2, 2021 FATE Foundation hosted its 2021 Annual Celebration and Awards Ceremony. It was a hybrid event that was themed, “Celebrating Grit, Resilience and Innovation”.

The Keynote Speaker was Mr Wole Abegunde, Group Managing Director, Meristem Securities Limited.

Since inception in 2000, our annual celebration ceremony is a yearly commemorative program celebrating all the entrepreneurs,who have entrusted us with their entrepreneurial journey over the course

of the calendar year. Through the program, we celebrate the spirit and drive of entrepreneurship and also partnerships that have been critical to enabling us support aspiring and emerging Nigerian entrepreneurs across the country.

The Founder and Chairman of FATE Foundation, Mr Fola Adeola, who was physically in attendance said in his welcome speech, “FATE Foundation was born 21 years ago, to harness the strong entrepreneurial culture of Nigerians by providing aspiring entrepreneurs with the business incubation, growth and accelerator support required to fully explore their

innovative potential, to start, grow and scale their businesses. Fast forward to now, through our track record and commitment to our mission,we have maintained and solidified this position for over two decades as an enabler of entrepreneurship.”

At this year’s celebration, FATE Foundation graduated 743 entrepreneurs from its various programs. Most of the graduands joined virtually and expressed their utmost happiness as they had a loved one present their certificates to them. Also at the event, FATE Foundation presented seven different categories of awards and the recipients are stated below:

The BusinessDay Life Time Achievement Award presented to Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7

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

41

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ͵˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Shareholders Approve Access Bank’s Planned Holdco Structure

Kayode Tokede

Shareholders of Access Bank Plc yesterday approved a Holding company structure (Holdco) for the bank.

The shareholders at the court order meeting in Lagos noted that for the financial institution to become Access Holdco, it poise to bring expansion and growth in shareholders returns.

At the court order meeting, the shareholders gave approval

to the company for the transfer of the 35,545,225,622 ordinary share of 50kobo each in the issued and paid-up share capital of the bank held by them to Access Holdco Plc. Each shareholders of the Bank will receive one (1) ordinary share of 50 kobo each in the Holdco, which will be credited as fully paid, in exchange for every 1 ordinary share of 50kobo each held in the bank as at the terminal date.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

The National President, Association for Advancement Rights Nigerian Shareholders, Dr Faruk Umar expressed excitement that the bank aims to diversify into a permissible business that is expected to boost profitability.

According to him: “I believe after converting into Holdco, the share price of Access will increase. We (shareholders) commend the foresight of the board for the acquisition so far and it has proven to be profitable to

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

the bank. We are happy with the quality of directors and board. We believe with the Holdco structure, we are going to move forward.”

Speaking at the court order meeting with shareholders, the Chairman, Access Bank, Mrs. Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoritsedara Awosika said the Holding structure is in compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s regulation on the scope of banking activities and ancillary

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

matters (regulation 3, 2010) that repealed the universal banking guidelines and limited the ability of banks to undertake non-banking business.

According to her: “Due to its oversight function, the Holdco structure will facilitate the business growth of the banking group and expansion of service into underpenetrated regions in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.”

She explained that the board

O F

considers the restructure to be the most appropriate approach to create greater strategic flexibility and diversification of the Group’s revenues. She added that: “The restructure will result in shareholders holding shares in the Holdco in the same proportion as their current holdings in the Bank and the bank’s shares being held wholly the Holdco, which will be a regulated entity for CBN purposes.”

1 6 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

42

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

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ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking in DANGCEM (-ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ WAPCO (-1.6), and

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ of theŝŶ local ,KEz&>KhZ GTCO (-0.8%) ĚĂLJ͕ doused the performance bourse. Thus, (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ (+0.7%) points bolthe E'y ůů-^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŝƉƉĞĚ ĂŶĚ ϮϭďƉƐ & E, ƚŽ ϰϮ͕ϮϳϬ͘Ϯϯ while zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ϱ͘Ϭй ĨƌŽŵ ϱ͘Ϯй͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ǀĞŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ the local bourse as the AllŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚŝƉƉĞĚ േϰϱ͘ϱďŶrose ƚŽ േϮϮ͘ϭƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚͲ Share index by ing ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ volume and value traded rose 11bps to 39,550.36as points. ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd 10.3% ůŽƐƐ and ŝŵͲ ϯϱ͘ϳй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ Ϯϰϵ͘ϰŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϯ͘ϲďŶ͘ FBNH (79.1m

proved to -1.8% while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ units), ACCESS

(33.3m units), and ETI

;Ϯϯ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ůĞĚ

േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ by volume while FBNH ;േϵϱϱ͘ϵŵͿ͕ MTNN ;േϲϭϮ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ AC-

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value CESS ;േϮϵϵ͘ϱŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The most traded stocks by volume were dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, (11.1m Mixed Sector Performance

ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ Performance across our coverage sectors was mixed as 3 indices

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

ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ Ϯ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ the AFR-ICT ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ

and Oil Θ Gas indices gained 0.5% each due to price apprecia-

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ 'd K ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ & E, ;-Ϭ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ dKd > ;нϮ͘ϰйͿ͘ DĞĂŶͲ

Bearish Sector Performance while

gains

in

E'^h' Z

;нϭ͘ϱйͿ

ĂŶĚ

hE/> s Z

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

and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ing indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϴdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϱdž ĂƐ ϮϬ stocks lost while 15 stocks advanced.

REDSTAREX CHAMS (+4.8%), and ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), E/d, (+5.0%), (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

26.4%

85.5%

15.0%

3.5%

12.1%

12.1%

14.7%

5.2%

0.8x

5.3%

-3.7%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-20.2%

-20.2%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

11.6%

25.6% 29.7%

2.8%

24.80

0.0%

6.4%

0.0%

0.0%

20.9%

2.8%

3.4x

0.7x

12.1%

252.00

-1.2%

5.9%

2.9%

2.9%

40.4%

16.7%

12.5x

4.8x

6.3%

8.0%

187.00

0.0%

5.1%

10.1%

10.1%

179.2%

14.1%

13.5x

20.5x

5.6%

7.4%

-7.3%

-7.3%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

4.3%

3.7%

14.0%

14.0%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

4.2%

11.1%

9.00

0.0%

2.9%

6.5%

6.5%

17.0%

1.4%

2.5x

0.4x

9.4%

39.6%

7.85

1.3%

2.3%

-9.2%

-9.2%

2.0x

0.4x

7.1%

50.7%

12.00

-0.8%

3.9%

67.8%

67.8%

3.7%

14.1%

48.00

0.0%

1.7%

-14.3%

36.00

0.0%

1.8%

-4.7%

8.4%

0.8%

7.1x

0.6x

-14.3%

5.3%

1.9%

44.2x

2.3x

2.3%

2.3%

-4.7%

15.4%

2.0%

8.3x

1.3x

11.3%

12.1%

-10.3%

-3.9% 4.4x

0.7x

5.8%

22.9%

4.70

0.0%

1.2%

-21.0%

-21.0%

28.30

0.0%

1.1%

8.8%

8.8%

650.00

0.0%

1.6%

61.6%

61.6%

3.4%

1.9%

15.0x

0.5x

6.3%

6.7%

0.9x

-12.1%

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC 24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 37 Oando PLC

142.00

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.2%

10.3%

2.52

-0.4%

0.7%

0.0%

0.0%

12.0%

1.1%

2.2x

0.3x

8.7%

44.9%

9.50

3.3%

1.0%

58.3%

58.3%

14.8%

0.9%

2.6x

0.4x

16.65

1.5%

0.5%

-5.4%

-5.4%

#VALUE!

#VALUE!

3.00

0.0%

0.5%

-9.9%

-9.9%

1.50

0.7%

0.3%

-26.5%

-26.5%

10.1%

0.9%

12.90

-1.1%

0.3%

-11.0%

-11.0%

21.3%

0.98

3.2%

0.4%

8.9%

8.9%

87.80

0.0%

0.3%

23.7%

23.7%

13.25

0.4%

0.2%

-4.7%

-4.7%

5.90

0.0%

0.2%

11.3%

11.3%

9.0%

3.3x

0.3x

3.3%

6.9%

12.1x

2.4x

3.1%

8.2%

11.1%

2.3%

5.2x

0.5x

1.0%

19.2%

2.1x

1.2%

-1.3%

-0.8%

5.0%

1.2x

-1.1% 4.2%

9.90

-1.0%

0.4%

110.2%

110.2%

2.2x

7.1%

0.0%

0.4%

105.3%

105.3%

8.1%

3.8%

13.9x

1.1x

1.2%

7.2%

7.80

0.0%

0.2%

33.3%

33.3%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.1%

26.0%

0.68

-2.9%

0.2%

40.4%

41.7%

7.2%

1.1%

377.8x

0.7x

221.90

2.4%

0.3%

70.7%

70.7%

1.8%

19.8%

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

40.7%

20.7%

2.5%

4.3x

0.8x

1.7%

23.1%

0.77

-3.8%

0.1%

11.6%

11.6%

13.7%

0.8%

3.6x

0.5x

5.2%

27.5%

0.0%

0.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.5x

0.6x

5.2%

0.0%

0.1%

27.0%

14.5%

2.6%

2.0x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

27.0%

0.3%

5.0x

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

49.4%

49.4%

2.3x

-20.3% 2.0%

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

T o p 10 G a i n e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

0.63

5.0%

FB NH

79.1

-0.8%

gain buying.

CHA M S

0.22

4.8%

A C C ESS

33.3

0.0%

N GXGR OUP

18.55

3.9%

ET I

23.2

3.3%

13.0

1.3%

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ET I

9.50

3.3%

UB A

Corporate Disclosure

T R A N SC OR P

0.98

3.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

9.6

0.0%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

J A IZ B A N K

0.67

3.1%

C OUR T VILLE

8.1

2.7%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ >> ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ŝŶ ŝƌƚĞů DŽďŝůĞ ŽŵͲ

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks ŵĞƌĐĞ s ;͚ D s͛Ϳ͕ the holding company for several of Airtel

C OUR T VILLE T OT A L C OR N ER ST D A N GSUGA R

advanced while 15 stocksŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘ declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAYAfrica͛Ɛ ŵŽďŝůĞ ŵŽŶĞLJ ŚŝŵĞƌĂ /ŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚ

0.38

2.7%

SOVR EN IN S

7.6

-4.2%

221.90

2.4%

UN IT YB N K

6.8

-2.2%

0.51

2.0%

T R A N SC OR P

6.7

3.2%

16.65

1.5%

UP D C

5.2

-8.3%

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

T o p 10 L o s e r s

BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOURfollows (+9.8%) ledsecondary gainers >> ΖƐ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƚLJ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ƐƚĂŬĞ ŝŶ D s a $50m T ic k er

purchase of shares from a subsidiary of Airtel Africaand plc, LIVEwhile while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), ŝƌƚĞů ĨƌŝĐĂ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ STOCK (-4.8%) led ƚŽ ŚŽůĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ƐƚĂŬĞ ŝŶ D s͘ losers. Previous day, we expect the

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season gradually winds up.

LIVEST OC K

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

1.80

-10.0%

FB NH

955.9

-0.8% 0.0%

1.10

-8.3%

M TNN

612.0

18.20

-5.7%

A C C ESS

299.5

0.0%

SOVR EN IN S

0.23

-4.2%

D A N GC EM

272.5

-1.2%

C UT IX

2.40

-4.0%

Z EN IT H B A N K

238.4

0.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.24

-4.0%

SEP LA T

220.5

0.0%

WEM A B A N K

0.77

-3.7%

ET I

218.4

3.3%

A IIC O

0.68

-2.9%

T OT A L

177.1

2.4%

R EGA LIN S

0.38

-2.6%

UB A

100.8

1.3%

-2.2%

N GXGR OUP

72.2

3.9%

UN IT YB N K

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e C hg %

P ric e

CA P

UP D C

21.4%

0.9x

R OYA LEX

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ Airtel Africa announced ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŚŝŵĞƌĂ

18.3% 49.4%

T ic k er

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x

30.7%

39.00

4.70

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

38.2%

1.6x

UPDC (-8.3%), and er, up 1.8%CAP (-5.7%) drivenled ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ by price appreciaƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ Ă ŵŝůĚůLJ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĐůŽƐĞ͕ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ ďĂƌͲ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

17.1%

1.9%

3.5%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

NGXGROUP (+3.9%) led gainers while LIVESTOCK (-10.0%), ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.0%

30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

(-6.4%),

5.0x

P/BV

3.6%

17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ Ϭ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϴй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ E' D ;-

>/E< ^^hZ

P/E

0.0%

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

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC

9.1%), hE/> s Z (-3.5%), Investor ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ &ĂůƚĞƌƐ

ROA

-1.6%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

bearish as 4Industrial indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-/ d versely, the Goods and Insurance indices declined

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (-

ROE

24.00

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

er 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ Insurance indices, down 4.6% and ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ t W K ;-1.6), // K ;-Ϯ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ D E &/d ;-4.0%).

Price Change Index to Date

1,395.00

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

Across sectors under our coverage, performance was (+0.4%) drove the Consumer Goods index 0.1% ŚŝŐŚĞƌ͘ ŽŶͲ

Price Previous Current Change Price YTD Weighting Change

Current Price

0.45

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

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

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu| dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

43

FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2021• T H I S DAY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 15Dec-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 162.90 164.32 0.63% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.12% Nigeria International Debt Fund 317.82 317.82 -17.73% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 101.58 102.73 -7.27% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 10.06% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.31 3.37 -4.04% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 8.69% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Equity Fund 136.43 138.11 2.57% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.14 1.14 -13.94% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.15 20.75 11.08% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 450.72 464.31 12.58% ARM Ethical Fund 39.30 40.49 16.59% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -1.94% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 1.00 -5.37% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.14% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.85 107.85 6.04% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,062.62 1,062.62 6.26% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.04 2.04 -2.91% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 1.13% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Cordros Money Market Fund Cordros Milestone Fund Cordros Dollar Fund ($) CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Coronation Money Market Fund Coronation Balanced Fund Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Emerging Africa Money Market Fund Emerging Africa Bond Fund

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.04 1.04 5.44% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 100.00 17.01 139.74

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 9.77% 17.32 6.35% 141.34 5.00% assetmgtteam@cordros.com

Bid Price 100.00 131.49 110.31

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 8.80% 132.32 12.15% 110.31 5.78% investment@coronationam.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.25 1.42

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 8.04% 1.27 4.06% 1.42 -10.41% mutualfundng@ecobank.com

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 8.24% 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.84% 1,176.20 1,200.80 2.37% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.04

Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.12 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.41 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,385.37 FBN Balanced Fund 172.27 FBN Halal Fund 115.20 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

122.11 147.45 Bid Price 1.00 4.00 1.72 1.20

Offer Price 1.00 1.04

Yield / T-Rtn 7.93% 3.73%

1.12 11.05% 104.41 4.36% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,385.37 173.41 115.20 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.33% 3.36% 9.31% 9.16%

122.11 3.98% 149.45 11.72% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price 1.00 4.00 1.75 1.20

Yield / T-Rtn 7.46% 3.37% 12.74% 6.00%

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.05% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.81 2.87 -1.70% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.81 156.09 0.20% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.25 1.29 -0.62% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.08% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,156.85 1,156.85 8.38% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.54 11.63 10.38% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.26% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.56 101.57 7.59% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.97% 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 1.58 1.60 13.21% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.13 11.16 -8.38% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.35% PACAM Equity Fund 1.42 1.44 -9.78% PACAM EuroBond Fund 112.42 114.71 2.54% 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 129.35 131.88 5.50% 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 1.08 1.08 10.06% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,373.27 3,405.58 4.97% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 235.30 235.30 4.65% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.25 1.27 6.78% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 312.30 312.30 5.99% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 234.71 238.34 7.57% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.80% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,965.91 11,124.89 4.51% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 5.15% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.74 116.74 5.10% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 106.02 106.02 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.34 1.36 4.73% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 6.50% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.94 14.79% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 9.02% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.05 122.05 6.60% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.09 5.26% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 7.16% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.03 13.15 9.83% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.47 14.62 9.61% Zenith Income Fund 24.81 24.81 3.37% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.07%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.46

10.62% 7.74%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.61 127.75 101.51 17.34 21.31

13.71 130.93 103.75 17.44 21.41

5.72% 6.24% 2.32% -5.40% 16.18%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.91 5.43 17.50 1.00 20.74 157.33

4.01 5.53 17.70 1.00 20.94 159.33

4.20% -4.31% 8.12% 7.77% 1.05% -15.23%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

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NEWSXTRA

FLAG-OFF OF 34.85 KM OYO-ISEYIN ROAD PROJECT...

R-L: Balyesa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Senator Mosurat Sunmonu and General Manager, Kopek Construction Limited, Mr. A. Issan, during the flag-off of 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin road held at Oyo…recently

NJC Slams Promotion Ban on Three Judges for Issuing Conflicting Exparte Orders Serves them warning letters Alex Enumah in Abuja The National Judicial Council (NJC) has placed a promotion ban on three judges of courts of coordinate jurisdiction who issued conflicting orders, particularly as it concerned the recent leadership tussle in the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The decision which formed part of resolutions of the Council's meeting of December 14 and 15, 2021, was expected to serve as deterrent to other judges.

Specifically, the affected judges would not get, "promotion to higher Bench for a period ranging from two to five years whenever they are due."

The affected judges were: Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State; Justice Nusirat I. Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State and Justice Edem Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State.

A statement from the NJC's Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, noted that although there was no written petition, allegations of corruption or impropriety against the subject Judges, Council nevertheless, initiated investigation pursuant to its inherent disciplinary powers under the Constitution to unravel the circumstances that led to the spate of Exparte Orders granted by these Courts of coordinate jurisdiction over matters bearing same parties and subject matter.

"The meeting which was chaired by the Deputy Chairman of Council, Justice Mary Peter-Odili, agreed with the recommendations of the Investigation Committee set up in September 2021, that Justice Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers State be barred from elevation to higher Bench for two years whenever he is due, as he failed to exercise due diligence in granting the Exparte

Buhari, Wife, Six Ministers to Attend Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari accompanied by his wife, six Ministers as well as two other top government officials would be attending the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul.

The President, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, and his entourage departed Abuja yesterday for the third TurkeyAfrica Partnership Summit, being hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.

On the President's entourage are his wife, Aisha Buhari; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd); FCT, Mohammed Bello; Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd); and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

According to the organisers, the theme of the Summit is “Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity,’’ and the agenda includes reviewing the cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit in 2014.

The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is coming on the heels of President Erdogan’s recent State Visit to Nigeria during which several agreements in the fields of energy, defence industry, mining and hydrocarbons were signed to expand existing bilateral ties.

The Turkish leader had during the visit to Nigeria, affirmed his commitment to immediately expand the volume of trade between the two countries to $5 billion and the Nigerian delegation would seize the opportunity of the gathering in Istanbul to enhance cooperation with other partners for more trade and investment opportunities in the country.

Order in Suit No: PHC/2183/ CS/2021 between IBEALWUCHI EARNEST ALEX & 4 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR, as there was no real urgency, in the circumstances of the matter, that would have required an Exparte Order.

"His Lordship is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future.

"Council also resolved that Justice Nusirat I. Umar of the High Court of Kebbi State be barred from elevation to

higher Bench for two years whenever due, having found fundamental defects and non-compliance with the law in granting the Exparte Order in Suit No: KB/HC/M.71/2021 between YAHAYA USMAN & 2 ORS AND PRINCE UCHE SECONDUS & ANOR. He is also issued with a warning letter to be circumspect in granting such Exparte Orders in the future.”

It added: “Justice Edem Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River State will not

be promoted to higher Bench for five years for allowing himself to be used as a tool for “forum shopping” and abuse of Court process in Suit No: HC/240/2021 between Mr. ENANG KANUM WANI AND UCHE SECONDUS as it was evident that, in granting the Exparte Order, he was seized of earlier Orders of the High Courts of Rivers and Kebbi States, being Courts of coordinate jurisdiction with his.

"He is also to receive warning letter to be circumspect in

granting such Exparte Orders in the future.

The Council also placed him on its Watch-List for a period of two years."

In a related development, the Council also approved the appointment of 63 Judges for 16 states, nine of which are Heads of Court.

Also, 84 members of staff, ranging from salary Grade levels 7 to 17, were approved for promotion as submitted by its Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee.

SEC to Commence Regulatory Fee on Fixed Income Transactions January 1 Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to commence charging regulatory fee on fixed income secondary market transactions (bonds) with effect from January 1, 2022.

This was contained in a circular dated December 15, 2021, signed by the Management of the SEC. The Commission stated: “This circular is made pursuant to Section 13(u) of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA), 2007 and Schedule 1, Part D of the SEC Rules (Registration Fees, Minimum Capital Requirements, Securities and others) which empower the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to levy, among others, fees on transactions relating to investments and securities business in Nigeria.”

It added that capital market operators (CMOs) and stakeholders were generally being notified that a regulatory fee structure on secondary market transactions on bonds would take effect from January 1, 2022.

SEC added that secondary market transactions on bonds shall include bond transactions executed on a Securities Exchange (Exchange), reported by voice or by any other means to an Exchange as having being transacted thereon or of

which the information of the transaction details are featured on the Exchange’s platform for purposes including but not limited to onward transmission to a Depository for settlement, price discovery and corporate disclosure.

The circular also stated that by this fee structure, the SEC would charge 0.025 per cent of the total value of all secondary

market transactions on Bonds, while the securities exchange on which the transaction occurs would charge an amount not exceeding 0.025 per cent of the total value of secondary market transactions on bonds.

However, bond transactions by Dealing Members would attract a single regulatory fee of 0.0001 per cent of the total value of the secondary market transactions

on bonds, and are exempt from the 0.025 per cent fee charge earlier stated.

The Commission stated that the circular supersedes previous directives given by the Commission on the subject.

SEC also informed all CMOs and the general public that the annual renewal of Registration of CMOs for the year 2022 will commence from 1st January, 2022.

Direct Primary is Right Way to Go, Says Abba Moro CSOs urge Buhari not to let down Nigerians, diplomatic community Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja A former Minister of Internal Affairs and Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, has said the amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to make direct primary mandatory for political parties in choosing candidates for elections was a step in the right direction.

This, however, came at the time the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to disappoint Nigerians and the International community by ensuring he assented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Speaking in an interview, Moro, a one-time Interior Minister, wondered why anyone, who meant well for the advancement of democracy in the country would be opposed to the adoption of a direct primary system, which would give power to the people and a sense of belonging to the entire members of a political party.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker said, the indirect primary method, where a few persons decided who became candidates of a political party without consideration for the views of the generality of the membership had resulted in the bastardisation and debasement of democratic values in Nigeria.

“Quite frankly I support direct primaries, because I think that is the best and right way to

go now in this country. Our democracy has been bastardised by the delegate system (indirect primary mode), which has become a cesspool of corruption that democracy is on sale. People now ask for as much as N500, 000 per delegate. People now propose to give as much as one million naira per delegate to buy their votes. This is certainly a classical situation of democracy on sale which is unacceptable.

“In the beginning of our present democratic dispensation it was option A4. It was direct primaries in which rather than narrowing down the electors to a few number of delegates, a sizeable number of registered party members are allowed to choose their leaders. It was smooth. It was hitch-free.

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NEWSXTRA

FOR A MODERN, EFFICIENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN BENIN CITY...

L-R: Retired Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transport, Dr. Salham Taiwo; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Managing Director, Edo City Transport Services, Mrs. Edugie Agbonlahor, during the Edo State Transport Sector Stakeholders’ Summit, at the Government House, Benin City…recently

APC Insists Military Has Dismantled Insurgents, Bandits, Despite Daily Reign of Terror, Deaths FG: Buhari has kept Nigeria united Lawmaker killed in Kaduna, several others abducted Ruling party has set Nigeria 20 years backwards, says Wike Olawale Ajimotokan, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, John Shiklam in Kaduna, Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt and Francis Sardauna in Katsina The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has maintained that the military under President Muhammadu Buhari has demolished insurgency in the North-east and banditry in the North-west and, subsequently, recorded successes in many other areas. This is in spite of the killings and maiming being unremittingly unleashed on the civilian populace by insurgents and bandits in different parts of the country.

National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, made the claim yesterday in Abuja after he was decorated with the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration emblem by officials of the Ministry of Defence.

The federal government also declared that Buhari deserved encomiums for keeping the country together.

However, a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rilwanu Gadagau, and one other person were on Monday killed by bandits along the KadunaZaria highway. The hoodlums also abducted several travellers during the attack, which occurred in the night.

Amid the atmosphere of insecurity, the governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, accused the APC federal government of setting Nigeria some 20 years backwards in its six and a half years of governance. Wike stated this yesterday at the inauguration of the Rivers State Government Safe Home, in Borikiri, Port Harcourt.

Similarly, former National Secretary of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Umar Tsauri, said APC was not a political party, but an association of people with zero political ideology.

However, Akpanudoedehe said the country’s military deserved commendation and support of Nigerians, stating that the military have demonstrated professionalism and gallantry

in their operations, particularly, against banditry and insurgency.

He said of the country’s armed forces, "They have also demonstrated loyalty to the Nigerian flag and commitment to the Nigerian public. It is our duty to appreciate what they have done. The military have been there for us in the insurgencies and the banditry going on in the North-east and other areas in the country.

"So far so good, the armed forces are giving the terrorists a good fight and have dismantled them, especially, as we have recorded successes in many areas.

“Even during the Niger Delta agitation and in the South-east, the military have been there for us.

They have always shown loyalty to Nigerians. So as a party, we stand with them and the widows the fallen heroes left behind."

The APC national secretary urged Nigerians to always support the military in any way possible, adding that they should be commended for their zeal and commitment, despite the daunting challenges.

Speaking yesterday also, in the light of the worseningin security situation in the country, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said security had remained a priority of the Buhari administration since he assumed officAe in 2015.

He noted that the polity had recently been awash with heightened commentary on the security situation, but said while some of the commentary were the product of genuine concern, others were triggered by crass politicking and sheer absurdity.

The information minister said, "This is not a surprise, considering the fact that the fight against insecurity is one of the three priority areas of the APC-led federal government. Yes, the security situation has continued to pose a great challenge, but amidst the cacophony of voices – some genuinely concerned about the situation and others ready to exploit it for selfish ends – it is easy to forget, where we are coming from."

Mohammed claimed worse things could have happened to the country if the president had not taken a bold initiative on the security situation. He

conceded that banditry and kidnapping had added to the state of insecurity, but maintained that the president had continued to provide quality leadership to ensure that the security agencies decisively tackled insecurity.

He said with the free reign of insurgents, who controlled a vast swath of land the size of Belgium, and carried out relentless attacks in almost a dozen states, including the Federal Capital Territory, which was bombed at least five times, they could have easily achieved their aim of declaring an Islamic state in Nigeria, if Buhari had not acted decisively.

Mohammed said, "After all, in 2014, Boko Haram declared a caliphate in Gwoza after capturing Bama and Gamboru as well as other towns and villages in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. They installed their own emirs, collected

taxes, and flew their flag, before the military dislodged them.

"No administration in Nigeria's recent history has provided the security agencies with the hardware needed to tackle insecurity as that of President Buhari, in addition to raising the morale of our security men and women.

“Only last week, Mr. President commissioned an armada of naval boats and ships in the latest effort to enhance our nation's maritime security. The army, the air force and the police, among others, have also been receiving modern hardware to strengthen their arsenal."

He noted that the administration had not concentrated on kinetic measures alone, but had also firmed up non-kinetic efforts, including the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,

Disaster Management and Social Development to coordinate all humanitarian affairs in the country to tackle poverty and shrink the pool of those being targeted for recruitment by insurgents and bandits.

He stated, "With the entire Sahelian region experiencing a devastating surge in terrorist attacks, more so in the wake of the Libyan crisis, it has become even more imperative for Nigeria to step up regional cooperation to more effectively tackle insecurity, and that is what Mr. President has been doing.

“Gentlemen, President Buhari has done so much, under very difficult economic and social conditions, to tackle insecurity in our country. Not only has he done so much, President Buhari continues to do much more to keep Nigerians safe. To say he has nothing more to offer is untrue,

fallacious and smacks of dirty politicking.

“Even as we continue to battle insecurity, it will be uncharitable on our part to suggest they are not doing enough, or not to appreciate their sacrifices. The recent massive surrendering of Boko Haram terrorists and the huge pressure on bandits represent a testament to the effectiveness of the efforts of our security agencies. We should encourage them to do more, instead of pillorying them.”

But bandits killed a member of the Kaduna Assembly, Gadagau, and another person along the Kaduna-Zaria highway on Monday. The remains of the lawmaker and the other victim, whose identity was not immediately known, were recovered in the bush by security personnel and taken to the morgue.

SB Morgen Predicts Victory for PDP in Ekiti Guber Election, APC in Osun

SB Morgen Intelligence, a geopolitical research firm, has predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the governorship election in Ekiti state fixed for June 18, 2022.

Earlier, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had fixed its primaries for between January 4 and 29, 2022.

As it is, the incumbent, Mr Kayode Fayemi, a member of the APC, who also leads the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), cannot seek re-election as he had first governed the state between 2010 and 2014.

However, SBM Intelligence, in its report titled: “The Year Ahead , 2022” signed off by its Head of Research, Ikemesit Effiong, said that the fact that Fayemi will not be on the ballot will be a major game-changer.

According to the report, the elections in Osun state and Ekiti state will be the real start of the 2023 elections, with the organisation stating that the APC will claim victory in Osun state, with Governor Gboyega Oyetola

likely gunning for a second term next year.

“In Ekiti, the governor will not be on the ballot. We expect the APC to lose Ekiti state to the PDP. “In Osun state, however, with the incumbent governor on the ballot it will be a close-fought battle due to political infighting in the APC structure in the state.

But we expect the APC to just edge it,” SBM said.

It projected that the two main parties in Osun will field candidates that are the direct opposite of the other in terms of the region of origin, with the APC waiting to see who the PDP field before reacting.

SBM pointed out that unlike going into the 2019 elections where the incumbent president was on the ballot, he will not be returning in spite of tepid attempts to moot a third term.

According to the report, defection from the APC is unlikely to be a strategy employed by politicians this time.

“We will therefore not see a rash of defections out of the APC like we did in 2019. Rather there

will be defections into the APC, as politicians will conclude that the real battle is winning the APC presidential ticket,” it claimed.

It further said that it expects a rash of corruption arrests and trials in 2022 as political opponents will seek to neutralise rivals, forecasting that the attorney general will be particularly active in pursuing these.

“But we expect a coalition to rise which will ultimately see him out of office before the elections,” SBM added.

The report said that there will be a rejuvenation of the civil society space as the elections galvanise the various groups into action once again and a likely CSO-led protest, ostensibly to demonstrate against socioeconomic hardships around inflation and cost of living.

Moreover, SBM Intelligence predicted the release of Nnamdi Kanu before or during the third quarter of next year, as a political compromise will be reached.

According to the group, international sanctions, on the basis of documented massacres, will be instituted against named

Nigerian government agents, while the government will lift the ban on Twitter in time for the campaign season to kick off.

“The government will continue to clamp down on press freedoms.

At the subnational level, more state governors will come under more pressure as economic failings begin to make more people question the use of state government funds,” it maintained.

On the economy, the report noted that Nigeria’s 5.01 per cent and 4.03 per cent growth rates experienced in Q2 2021 and Q3 2022 signify that the country can outperform the World Bank Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast of 1.8 per cent in 2021.

Regarding 2022, SBM stated that it envisaged a strong GDP growth due to several factors, including oil price, oil production, expansion of financial services due to the licenses issued to the Telcos, and most importantly, an increase in federal government spending due to the approaching election year.

It said: “We project a 2.0 per cent to 2.5 per cent growth rate for the full year 2022.”

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

A NEW REALITY SHOW BIRTHS… L-R: Executive Director, Media Reach Communication,Mr Yinka Adebayo; Director, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mrs OlohijeVera Oronsaye; Chief Executive Officer, StarTimes Nigeria, Mr Alex Jian, and Content Director, StarTimes Nigeria, Ms. Viki Liu, during the unveiling of the reality show, "Breaking In," by StarTimes Nigeria, held in Lagos...yesterday

2023: PDP BoT Chair Advises Ayu’s NWC to Be Neutral, Reconcile Aggrieved Members Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin, has advised the Senator Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) to be fair and neutral to all presidential aspirants of the party.

He also tasked the NWC to embark on massive reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party, if they wanted to have a successful tenure.

Jubrin gave the advised against the perceived close relationship between Ayu and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who is a presidential aspirant.

Speaking at the inauguration of the BoT under the new NWC, Jubrin said, "May I urge the National Chairman therefore to use his wealth of experience to make the party great as it remains the largest party in Africa. You must try to reconcile individuals, states, and all national issues."

While urging the new NWC to be neutral and fair, the PDP BoT further said, "Do not be detracted by the ambition of Individual members but keep the party as formidable as possible.

"Concentrate on your duties and not more of who shall be the President, Vice President, Senate President etc. Do not side any individual with selfambition and try to reduce the state of godfatherism.

Please, respect the dignity of individual and dynamism of a group," he charged Ayu and his team.

Responding, Ayu said, "I personally have no any personal interest. I will not be part of any factions in any state. Now, we're not encouraging factions."

Emphasising the importance of team work, Ayu told Jubrin, "I also want to say clearly that no single individual can win elections in the states. State leaders must work as a team.

If you work as a team, you

will win elections in your state.

"Most of the elections we have lost in PDP is because PDP defeated PDP. That

should never be encouraged.

And part of the problem is because the leadership of the party sometimes takes sides

with certain factions," Ayu stated.

He, therefore, said, "During my leadership of the party, I

will try to be free, fair, and make the interest of the party to be paramount, it should not override a broader interest.

I believe that if we go along this route, we will be able to recapture the lost glory of the PDP".

Agba: Customs Should Be Focused on Trade Facilitation, Not Revenue Generation Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba has said his ministry is presently in talks with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to change the agency’s mindset from seeing itself as a revenue generating agency, to focus on facilitation.

According to the minister, a shift in focus would expand Nigeria’s revenue base by attracting more businesses in the export sector in order to increase foreign exchange earnings, boost imports, trade and manufacturing.

He also said the National Development Plan (NDP) which was recently passed identified some laws that needed to be changed in a bid to foster growth through the private sector.

Agba said these in an interview on, ‘The Morning Show’ a breakfast program monitored on THISDAY’s sister broadcast Station, Arise News Channel, yesterday.

Speaking on NDP and other measures taken by the federal government to increase revenue and the role customs play, he said: “And I am glad that the Federal Executive Council just approved the new NDP 2021 to 2025. And because we truly want it to be a national plan, not written by the federal government, not written by a consultant, not written by a political party, we had to ensure that all the 36 states were involved in the development of the plan.

“And because this economy

is driven by the organised private sector, we had to get in the organised private sector to drive the development process itself and that's where we brought in Mr. Atedo Peterside. As a government what we're doing is facilitated and provided the logistics for that plan.

“Revenue is it an issue? Of course, it is. Our revenue to GDP currently is seven per cent and the current plan that we have put in place, targets 15 per cent Revenue-to-GDP. We have the strategic revenue growth initiative currently going on. Like you can see that non-oil is beginning to produce more because we are building efficiencies into our collection systems. We are working with customs to change their mindset so

that they know that they are not just the revenue collecting organisation, but that they are supposed to be facilitating trade and as they facilitate trade and make business easy, then you find out more revenues will come in.”

He added the plan would be driven by the private sector.

“Currently, when you look at the nation's GDP, 92 per cent of it is the private sector. So, if they have to drive the economy, we have so much binding constraints that are dragging them back, it means that we'll have a lot of revenue issues because if the MSMEs are able to operate well, if the large companies able to operate well, freely, then we'll get more taxes from Companies

Income Tax (CIT) and that is why we had to involve the sub nationals because that's where the rubber hits the road.”

The local governments were very much involved in all of this and they for the first time in the plan that we have put in place has got three volumes. The volume one being the plan itself, Volume Two, being the prioritise programs and projects that have been costed, so we have a knowledge of the financial requirements to deal with this. And then volume three is the legislative imperatives.

"We have identified about 18 laws that are needs to change in order to be able to catalyse growth through the organised private sector.

We have looked at about 10 different policies that also need to be changed.”

Continuing, he said: “Of course, should we continue the subsidy? No, I wouldn't support that. We lose about N3 trillion alone from petroleum as subsidy.

There is a subsidy from exchange rate. And you find that there's also subsidy in power. All of these are monies that can be put into more infrastructure, stimulate growth in the economy, create employment.

“The whole idea of the Finance Bills was to create more efficiencies and effectiveness in the system. It is to broaden the tax net not so much to begin to increase the taxes. And the whole is to improve on our revenues,” he added.

Citizens Should Bear Arms for Protection, Masari Insists Wants states to possess their forests Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The Katsina State Governor and Chairman, North West Governors’ Forum, Aminu Bello Masari, has reiterated call for citizens to be allowed to bear arms in self-defence as part of measures to curb the spate of insecurity especially, in the North West part of the country.

Masari, who insisted it was totally unacceptable to allow criminals bear arms and use same to attack and kill unarmed citizens, spoke when he led some of his colleagues in the region

on a condolence visit to the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the people of the state.

He argued that dealing with insecurity had nothing to do with religion or ethnic groups, adding that, "We need unusual approach to deal with these people, who are nothing but animals terrorising our people across the country."

Masari also called for collective efforts by both the leaders and citizens to take ownership of all their forests across the country from bandits and other criminals.

Speaking too, his Kano

State counterpart, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, described reserved forests especially, in the northern part of the country as home to criminals.

He said the call for the reclaiming of forest was now or never, adding: "It is no more issue of farming or hunting in our forest but for us to take full ownership of the forest."

Tambuwal, while responding, commended the governors and their entourage for finding time to visit the state at this time.

He described bandits killing people as criminals, who did not have any

ideology but targeting anyone irrespective of religion or political affiliations.

He re-emphasised his call to President Muhammadu Buhari to declare state of emergency in those areas occupied by bandits in the country, saying it would help the military to deal with the criminals in the best language they understood.

Others on the entourage of the visiting governors included Senator Kabiru Gaya, Honourable Ado Doguwa, and members of the Kano State executive council, among others.

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NEWSXTRA

Insecurity Can Truncate 2023 Elections, Jega Warns Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan A former National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, yesterday, raised the alarm that the prevailing security challenges in the country could negatively affect the forthcoming general election in 2023.

Jega, who served as INEC Chairman during the tenure

of former President Goodluck Jonathan, gave spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State, while delivering the lead paper at a roundtable with the theme: "Election Security and Good Governance in Nigeria", to mark the 72nd posthumous birthday of a former Oyo State governor, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Present at the ceremony were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,

Ajimobi's wife, Florence Ajimobi, Deputy Governors of Oyo and Osun States, Rauf Olaniyan and Mr. Benedict Alabi, Senator Ayo Adeseun, who represented Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, among many other dignitaries.

Jega insisted that there was increased apprehension as Nigerians approach the 2023

general election, stating that this could pose a serious danger to the conduct of the 2023 elections.

The professor of Political Science further noted that to avoid security breaches during future elections, there must be an improvement in the security arrangements in the country.

"We want delivery of goods and services by democratically elected people. As we look

forward to 2023, there is an increased apprehension. Security challenges may pose a serious danger to the conduct of 2023 elections. Our good governance must have democratic content," he said.

Jega maintained that election security was important in order to have free and credible elections in the country, lamenting that the present crop of politicians

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Buhari Directs Fin. Minister to Release Seized Salaries of Doctors, Nurses, Other Health Workers Inform your members how much has been paid, FG tells ASUU Nigeria, UAE, Qatar to agree on labour migration

Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, to release the salaries of doctors, nurses and other health workers, which were seized when they embarked on industrial action in 2018 and 2021.

The federal government also challenged the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to tell their members how much of their outstanding allowances and salaries government had been paid. Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, stated this on Thursday in Abuja while addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the State House.

Ngige disclosed that the president had approved the authority letter to release the salaries of the resident doctors for September and October 2021.

According to him, the approval also covers the wages of nurses and other members of the Joint Health Services Union (JOHESU) who went on strike in 2018.

He said the approval for the release of the salaries was on compassionate grounds and to encourage them, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging.

The minister revealed that the president had also directed relevant agencies to conclude the discussions on the other allowances for the health workers.

He stated, “The president graciously approved that we pay back some funds, some wages, which we did not pay health workers.

“First, section 43 of the Trade Disputes Act says that when a worker goes on strike, especially those on essential services, the employer can also refuse to pay.

That is what they call the ‘No Work, No Pay Rule’. But these health sector workers; doctors, pharmacists, nurses and members of JOHESU, we’re trying to make sure that we create an equitable environment for them to function.

“As a first step, Mr. President has approved last week and I have

the authority and letter, directing the Minister of Finance to release the funds of the resident doctors for September and October 2021, which were seized in conformity with the law.

“In the same vein, the approval also covers members of the JOHESU who went on strike in

2018 for three months. After the first month, after March, when they couldn't come back, we asked that their pay be suspended. This is in tandem with the ILO principles at work.

“You have a right to strike, but the employer has a right to stop your remuneration and, if possible,

use it to keep his enterprise going by taking new hands, where possible, especially in essential services.

“So, that same money for 2018 April and May, Mr. President has again approved that the finance minister refunds or reimburse, on compassionate grounds, those payments.

YARI, AT MEDIA SUMMIT, TELLS TRUE STORY OF HOW APC WAS FORMED we need people with ideas to come in.

"When I said I would be adaptive to participatory and affirmative work style, that will usher visionary and perfect leadership of this party, what I mean by that is, APC must be an institution, which is the only antidote to the reckless disabuse of office and ethics, which brings about disharmony and wrangling.

"We must bring reform and that form of reform we are going to bring is true reconciliation, true reorganisation and the redirection of our manifesto. We must build a manifesto that will go in line. We must domesticate our policies. Democracy is borrowed, but we must also use this democracy as a platform to domesticate what we have that will usher in good economy for us, usher in a generation that is thinking ahead."

Akume, in his submission, said the theme of the summit couldn't have been better, adding that the reason was that the party should be thinking about its future beyond 2023.

He said while it was his desire to be elected as the chairman of APC, he was not desperate and ready to work with whoever emerges.

Akume, however, said the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, has no capacity to deliver

his polling unit during election, adding that Ayu was suffering 'delusion grandeur' for him to have asked APC to prepare its handover notes in 2023.

Monidafe, on his part, said he would generate N4.2 billion monthly and ensure that the party could easily function without money bags.

He said: "Word going round says that we have about 42 million members in the APC. If we can convince them to pay N100 per month, we will raise N4.2 billion. Multiply that by 12 months, you will get N50.4 billion.

"The governors will then use the money allocated to them monthly and generated to provide services for their citizens. I am a youth pastor, but two of my brothers are Muslims.

"Under my watch, we will hold annual party conferences, at both national and state levels.

We will push for the party to screen candidates for ministerial and commissionership positions."

Monidafe, however, assured the people that if elected chairman, he would appoint and immediately swear in members of the caucus, elders forum, at both national and state levels.

Meanwhile, Akpanudoedehe, who spoke in Abuja, when APC state chairmen passed a vote of confidence on the caretaker committee, had reacted to the

'sack' of the Mai Mala Buni committee by APC youth led

by Mustapha Audu.

While commending the state chairmen for standing up against any youthful exuberance, Akpanudoedehe said the “Nigerian youths are very brilliant, resourceful people. We want to thank you for standing in the gap, when there were issues in your party.

“We had said to ourselves that we were not going to respond, because it is not an issue. But we must be very careful not to arm PDP with the bullets against our party. I learnt that the new PDP chairman made a prophecy that we will scatter before April.”

The secretary, however, wasted no time in going scriptural to counter the declaration by the the PDP national chairman, who said the APC would cease to exist in 2023.

"I replied by saying that the Bible says take counsel together, it shall come to nothing. Speak the word, it will not stand, rather, we will be stronger and stronger.

"Let me send a message to PDP, if we are talking about replacing APC, it can never be you because Nigerians are too intelligent. Nigerians will still choose APC. Talk is cheap, even when you sponsor crises throughout Nigeria, we won all our By-elections.

"We inherited insurgency and

we have dealt with it. As we speak, not one inch of Nigeria's territory is being taken over by any group. That is why they have turned themselves to criminals.

When PDP was in government, they took over everywhere but today, it is different.

"Maybe because the President is not the talking type. I am challenging anyone to show me any social intervention programme better than this government. People are collecting alerts for COVID-19 palliative.

Youths, women, civil servants are collecting it.

"We have a minister, who served under that government and the minister bought a bressiere worth 1 million.

We cannot replace APC with a bressiere government. We just got another information that another account has been discovered," he said.

Earlier, speaking on behalf of the state chairmen, Delta State APC Chairman, Prophet Jones Erue, said APC was greater than any individual and therefore its existence was paramount to the members.

According to him, “We are not going to mortgage it for any reason. We are not going to destroy our APC for any reason.

Therefore, we, state chairmen resolve and we stand resolved that we stand with the leadership of our great party under the leadership of his Excellency, Mai Mala Buni.”

behaved as 'militician' who were more interested in their selfish interest.

He then called for recruitment of good people into the electoral process in the country, warning that Nigeria was too important to be left for politicians to destroy.

"For credible elections, Nigeria must constantly work to ensure that elections are credible. Voters must be free to elect their candidates, must be free to vote without fear or intimidation. Election security is important in order to ensure that materials are safe. To ensure that the officials are safe.

"Election security is important, because it is critical mechanism for good governance. We need an improved presence of security.

All security agencies should be involved. But, we must define roles of each security agencies," he said.

Osinbajo while delivering his remarks after commissioning the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre donated to the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF), lauded the family for keeping the name of the former governor alive, stating that his indelible marks could not be forgotten in the history of the state.

FG Approves Planned Airport

by Edo State Government at Uzairue Chinedu Eze The federal government has given approval to the request by Edo State Government to build airport at Uzairue/Okpella in Etsako West Local Governemnt Area of the state.

Approval was conveyed in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to the Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki dated December 16, 2021.

The letter, which was signed by the acting Director, Aerodrome Development, Awogbami C. O., was in response to the earlier application made by the state government seeking approval for the airport project.

The Federal Ministry of Aviation in its approval stated thus; “Sequel to the receipt of your Excellency's letter, Ref. No: OG.51/Vol.4/120 dated 16th February, 2021 and subsequent visit of the technical team from the Ministry and its agencies on the 3rd to 5th of November, 2021, I am directed to convey approval of the Honourable Minister for the construction of an airport at Uzairue/Okpella in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State.”

The letter stated the conditions, which must be met by the Edo state government to build a second airport in the state.

These conditions include: strict compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority's (NCAA) requirements; compliances with all relevant environmental regulations and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report should be conducted to assess the impact of noise on the settlement.

Other requirements include: adherence to the provision of the subsisting Civil Aviation Act 2006, and other legislations that may evolve with time; payment of all statutory fees; issuance of security clearance

by Department of State Services (DSS) and site survey data in accordance with WGS 84 (World Geodetic Survey 1984) specification.

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NEWS

Marwa Visits Military Chiefs, Says Drug Abuse Fuelling Terrorism, Banditry Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Marwa(rtd), yesterday traced raging terrorism and armed banditry in the country to drug abuse.

He said the abuse and illicit trafficking of drugs in the country had assumed a worrisome dimension such that several youths were now gripped with substance abuse.

He also solicited for more collaborative efforts between the agency and the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in ridding the country of illicit drug trafficking.

Marwa, who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Leo Irabor and Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, maintained that there was a nexus between drug abuse and the current state of insecurity in Nigeria.

He affirmed that as the lead agency in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in Nigeria, NDLEA would remain steadfast in its operations in order to ensure a drug-free society.

He called for a robust partnership between the Armed Forces and NDLEA in curbing the menace of substance abuse

and trafficking in Nigeria.

Brigadier General Marwa attributed most of the activities of terrorists and bandits witnessed in the country to substance abuse.

He assured the military chiefs of the NDLEA’s commitment to a robust collaboration with the armed forces in its operations to drastically reduce the menace of drug abuse and

other criminalities.

He lamented that drug abuse had ruined many homes in the society.

He used the medium to appreciate the military for the

training support provided to the NDLEA Academy.

He also commended the military for the sacrifices, patriotism and gallantry in tackling security challenges

in the country.

In his remarks, Gen Irabor commended the leadership of NDLEA for tackling the issue of illicit drugs usage and trafficking.

AWARENESS ON LUPUS DISEASE…

L-R: Chairman, Arise Monaliza Foundation Steering Committee, Mr. Ejike Asiegbu; Legal Adviser / Steering Committee Member of the Foundation, Mr. Aham Njoku and the Founder / CEO, Arise Monaliza Foundation, Monaliza Chinda-Coker, during the foundation’s sensitization programme on Lupus disease in Nigeria, in Abuja AYO AJAYI

Outbreak of Lassa Fever in Save Nigeria’s Largest Herd of Elephants from Nasarawa, FCT, Threat to Extinction,Group Tells Lagos, Ogun Ekiti, Says Commissioner Mary Nnah

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Following the outbreaks of Lassa fever in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance to be able to nip in the bud any suspected case in Ekiti State.

The government has also directed healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever while consistently observing standard protocols for infection prevention and control.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said that the government has ordered Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) to all

suspected cases of malaria.

Filani said that the state government remains committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of Ekiti people, urging everyone to take personal responsibility to mitigate the spread of this disease within their community.

“On December 14, 2021, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) released a statement confirming the deaths of two persons from Lassa fever. The first case was a pregnant woman who presented in a health facility in Nasarawa State and the next one, a medical doctor involved in the treatment of the patient that later sought medical care in the FCT.

The Omu Resort and the Nigerian Association of Zoological Gardens and Wildlife Parks (NAZAP) have called on the Lagos and Ogun State Governments to save the largest and most important elephant herd remaining in Nigeria from endangerment and subsequent extinction.

This appeal was made by the President of NAZAP, Dipo Bali, while speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at a recently held awareness campaign against the trafficking of animals in Nigeria.

Correcting the earlier erroneous impression by scholars and conservatory agencies that the largest elephant herd remaining in Nigeria is located at the Yankari Games

Reserve, Bauchi State, Bali said indeed the largest elephant herd numbering about 200 have been spotted in Epe town, Lagos State.

Urging the governments to ensure the animals do not go into extinction, he said they are seriously raiding crops, causing economic losses to farmers in the Imobi-Itasin-Epe lagoon communities thus putting

themselves in danger in the hands of frustrated farmers and poachers who kill the animals for ivory, despite the international ban on trade in ivory.

Stating that efforts to get the elephants back into the reserve where they strayed from have been abortive due to the rising water level of the Osun River that is also

Group Petitions Buhari over Missing Anambra Guber Candidate Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations for Truth and Justice has urged the federal government and security agencies to find the missing candidate of the Labour Party in the last Anambra governorship election, Obiora Agbasimalo.

The group at a news conference by the Coordinator, Mr. Phil Roberts, yesterday in Abuja also issued a seven-day

ultimatum to this effect.

Roberts said that Agbasimalo and his security detail were abducted on September 18, while on his way for an election campaign from Ezinifitte to Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra.

He said that nothing had been heard of the governorship candidate since then, adding that Agbasimalo’s

disappearance had triggered concerns among family members and friends.

“Whether he is dead or alive, no one knows and all these questions are begging for answers. Who kidnapped Obiora Agbasimalo and how was he kidnapped? Already family and friends are seeking Obiora’s safety and his eventual release from his captors.

“We are as a matter of urgency by this press conference respectfully urging Mr President to direct the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Services DSS and other relevant security agencies to get to the root of this matter.

“It is in the interest of the peace and stability of not just the southeast region, but the nation at large.”

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has deployed Oyediran Adesoye Oyeyemi to Ondo State Command as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state.

This followed the retirement of CP Bolaji Amidu Salami,

completed the statutory years of service in the Force.

This was contained in a press statement released by Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba yesterday.

He said: “The new Commissioner of Police, CP Oyediran, who was until this

Railway Police Command, was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in 1990.

“He holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He has attended several tactical and leadership courses within and outside Nigeria including Strategic

College, Jos; Strategic Action on Kidnapping and Hostage Taking (UN Senegal), amongst others.

“He has also served in various operational, investigative, and administrative capacities in Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ebonyi, and Akwa-Ibom State commands.”

Yuletide: House Calls for Disbandment of Multiple Ondo Gets New Commissioner of Police Checkpoints on Roads the erstwhile Commissioner deployment, the Commissioner Leadership and Command Fidelis David in Akure of Police in the state, having of Police in charge of the Course (SLCC), Police Staff

Udora OrizuinAbuja

The House of Representatives has urged security agencies to remove their multiple checkpoints on the roads leading to and from Lagos and Abuja to the South-east region forthwith to facilitate the free flow of traffic, relieve the pains and hardship of the motorist and other road users traveling to and from the South-east region, especially during this festive period.

The House also mandated the Nigerian Police Force and related agencies to immediately disband all checkpoints at the Head Bridge, and the Federal Road Safety Commission to as well deploy men and materials for ensuring free flow of traffic between Asaba and Onitsha.

It further urged the security

agencies to collaborate with one another in the discharge of their responsibilities and avoid dissipation of resources as exemplified by the multiple checkpoints on the roads especially those leading to and from the South-east region.

It directed the Federal Ministry of Works and Power and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to remove all abandoned makeshift roadblocks used as checkpoints and debris from the roads and highways to facilitate the free flow of traffic on these roads.

The Green Chamber called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to position ambulances at major intersections along the roads and highways especially during this festive season to provide first aid to accident victims and evacuate them to the hospitals.

FAAN Admits Runway Infraction as Major Incident Averted at Lagos Airport Chinedu Eze The Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian (FAAN) has admitted that a major incident was averted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport domestic runway, known as Runway 18L on Wednesday, when electrician

engaged by the agency drove into the runway as Max Air flight was taxiing after landing from Abuja.

Eye witness account narrated that a pick up vehicle belonging to the agency was reported to have developed some electrical fault and since they didn’t have anyone to

effect the repairs, electrician was invited from outside the airport.

“In between his arrivals and attempts to effect repairs on the said vehicle, the FAAN staff who ought to have stayed and monitored the rewire works left him alone on the tarmac. As an expert, he

finished the work and began calling the staff for minutes without luck.

“Pronto, the rewire jumped into the vehicle, kicked it into life and was driving it straight on the runway and behold, he came face to face with an aircraft taxing and both faced each other menacingly!

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NEWSEXTRA

Malaria: Akpabio Seeks UN Intervention in Vaccine Production Ndubuisi Francis and Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to the United Nations (UN) to consider lending the necessary support for the production of malaria vaccine to save millions of people dying from malaria-related diseases every year in Africa.

The minister’s appeal was conveyed when Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja yesterday.

Akpabio, who explained that Africa had long been tagged as the ‘white man’s graveyard’ due to the devastating effect of malaria disease has been neglected for the last fifty years of medical advancement while COVID-19 has attracted so much attention.

He said: “The healthcare delivery system is a major issue within the region and in Africa. Malaria kills millions of people every year more than COVID-19.”

He said his ministry would be very glad to partner the UN in the area of Climate change, Environmental issues, Social inclusion,

empowerment programmes and education to reduce the effect of underdevelopment occasioned by continuous oil exploration and degradation in the region.

He stressed that the federal government was carrying out

the Ogoni clean-up with the support of the international oil companies (IOCs) and the international community.

He therefore, appealed to the UN for intervention in other areas of the region affected by oil exploration

and the attendant oil spillage.

Responding, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative Bande stated that Nigeria remains a great country, noting that what happens in the Niger Delta region was a reflection of what happens

in Nigeria as a whole.

He stated that issues relating to the region were crucial and that the region should be provided with adequate health facilities, schools, empowerment programmes for youths and

equally tackle environmental pollution as a result of oil exploration.

He explained that empowering the youths was planning for the future as it gives them hope and reduces insecurity.

CSR IN ACTION… …

L-R: Manager, General Services, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN), Mr. Olalekan Adebekun, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Central Business District, Hon. Sola Giwa; Director, Group Strategy & Stakeholder Relations, FMN, Mr. Sadiq Usman, Special Advisor to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Mr. Moses Fayinka; General Manager, Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Intelligence, Mr. Ayo Laurent at the presentation of a brand new Toyota Hilux to the Apapa Traffic Management Committee in Lagos… recently

FG Ensuring Sea Safety, Obasanjo, Fayemi, Anya, Adelusi, Others Inaugurates Vessels in Rivers Felicitate with Osuntokun at 60 Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

To ensure the safety of waterways and smooth movement in the sea, the Ministry of Transportation yesterday inaugurated newly acquired vessels of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gemisola Saraki, urged NIWA to ensure it harnesses the great maritime potential properly, saying a country such as Nigeria with over 10,000 kilometres inland waterways is a blessed country.

She noted that the Inland waterway is verifiably the cheapest and safest mode of transportation which equally plays a critical role in the multi-modal transportation.

Represented by the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George

Moghalu, Saraki stressed that the vessels and other launched boats would aid in the security of waterways She stated that waterways must be dredged to achieve the required draft, adequate survey, mapping and charting with marker buoys and signal put in place with every necessary step taken to ensure safe navigation.

According to Saraki, “A country blessed with more than 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways is certainly a nation with great maritime potential if such natural endowment is properly harnessed.

“Inland waterway is verifiably the cheapest and safest mode of transportation.

“It is, therefore, compelling that waterways must be dredged to achieve the required draft, adequate survey, mapping and charting with marker buoys and signage put in place as well as every necessary step taken to ensure safe navigation.

Oluchi Chibuzor

It was the gathering of the big personalities in both the private and public sector as notable Nigerian leaders recognized the intellectual prowess of Akin Osuntokun, a leading columnist in the country.

Described as an epitome of knowledge, at a public lecture titled, ‘Consistency In Public

Intellectual Advocacy: Nigeria as a case Study’, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said Osuntokun contributed tremendously to nationhood even though he could have become an Ifa priest.

“One of the things I learnt from Akin is that he does not pretend. If you do what he does not like, his countenance, face and his attitude will not

change. I am trying to pretend that I like what I don’t like.

“But knowingly or unknowingly, Akin has made tremendous contributions to the way we live in this country.

When he made up his mind to do something, he would do it. When he said he wanted to go to Oxford, he did. Akin is so versed in Ifa, probably he could be an Ifa priest,” Obasanjo said.

Giving the opening speech as the Chairman of the day, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said it was not a crime to be a public intellectual advocate even as they are often misunderstood.

Fayemi said he was not surprised that Osuntokun has chosen to reflect on the place of public intellectuals in the making of democracy and development.

Ijaw National Congress Calls on FG to Respect equity, Justice, Federal Character Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has called on the federal government to respect equity, justice and federal character principle as spelt out in the country’s 1999 Constitution as amended.

The President of the Congress,

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, stated this when he led officials of the body to formally present a copy of the communique of the just-concluded ‘All Ijaw Summit’ to the traditional rulers of Ekpetiama and Bomo Kingdoms in Bayelsa State, King Bubaraye Dakolo, and King Joshua Igbugburu respectively.

Speaking during the separate visits to the palaces of the two first class monarchs, Okaba lamented that 62 years after the 1958 Henry Willinks Minority Commission Report, the Niger Delta had remained more devastated and socioeconomically and politically backward despite producing the

bulk of the country’s revenue from oil and gas resources.

He noted that the problems of neglect and environmental injustice meted out to the region, which the hero of Ijaw struggle, late Isaac Boro, fought against, had remained largely unaddressed by the Nigerian state.

The federal government has commended the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s efforts in revitalising the agriculture sector as well as improving livestock production towards boosting the socioeconomic activities of the people.

The Director of Animal Husbandry in the Federal

Development, Mrs. Winnie Tai Solarin, made the commendation during an inspection visit to Wawa Zange Grazing Reserve in Dukku Local Government Area yesterday.

She inspected a health care facility, veterinary clinic, Earh Dam, boreholes, milking and storage facilities, schools, roads, pasture farms among other projects by the federal government in

government.

Solarin expressed satisfaction with the level of work.

According to her, I assured you of our ministry’s readiness to provide more facilities in this grazing reserve to boost animal keeping and stimulate the economy.”

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Animal

Magaji Gettado, appreciated the federal government’s intervention in the state, adding that many projects in the reserve had been completed while others had reached significant levels of completion.

He then appealed to the federal government to put more facilities in the reserve, especially dams and boreholes for the cattle rearers.

Okowa Signs N479bn 2022 FG Lauds Gombe Gov for Revitalising Livestock Farming Appropriation Bill Into Law SegunAwofadejiinGombe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural collaboration with the state Husbandry, Hon. Muhammad Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State 2022 Appropriation Bill of N479 billion was on Thursday signed into law by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who reiterated the determination of his administration to finish strong in spite of the financial challenges in the country.

Governor Okowa also signed five other Bills, including Delta State House of Assembly Service Establishment Bill 2021, Delta State Registration of Community Development Associations Bill 2021, Delta State Debt Management Bill 2021, Delta State Erosion and Watershed Management Bill 2021 and Asaba Specialist Hospital Bill 2021.

Signing the Appropriation Bill, the governor assured the

people that the government would strive to complete all ongoing projects as well as implement capital projects contaained in the 2022 Budget.

He commended the House of Assembly for the prompt passage of the appropriation bill, saying that early assent to the Bill would avail the government ample opportunity to fine-tune plans for its implementation at beginning of the year.

Okowa said: “We thank God for the good work the House has done; the very important one is the Delta State Appropriation Bill 2022, now signed into law. I must thank the House for giving speedy attention to the Bill because with the signing into law today, it will help us to plan and to start early in 2022.

Fayemi Meets Labour Leaders, Pledges to Prioritise Workers’ Benefits Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said his administration would continue to meet workers’ demands targeted at improving their welfare and condition of service in the state.

Fayemi gave the assurance yesterday during a roundtable with executives of the organised

labour unions comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.

The governor assured the labour union leaders that all agitations raised in respect of workers’ promotion, leave bonuses, salaries, pension, gratuity

and other cogent matters that affect workers’ welfare would continue to be accorded top priority.

In attendance at the meeting were the Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Biodun Omoleye; Special Assistant on Labour Matters, Oluyemi Esan; Special Adviser, Governor’s Office,

Evang. Folusho Daramola, and state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akin Oyebode, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, James Folorunsho; Chairmen of NLC, TUC and JNC, Kolapo Olatunde, Sola Adigun, and Kayode Fatomiluyi respectively, as well as other labour leaders in the state.

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Saraki: Stronger Political will Needed to Achieve Universal Basic Healthcare

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called for stronger political will amongst politicians and policymakers to achieve universal basic healthcare in Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday at the Universal Health Coverage Summit organised by Chatham House, in Abuja, Saraki stated that to put healthcare and health security coverage on the front

burner, Nigerian leaders at the national and sub-national levels needed to take healthcare delivery for all its citizens more seriously.

According to a statement by Olu Onemola of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, quoting Saraki, said: “As a medical doctor, this is a topic that is close to my heart. It is a topic that I believe that we all need to get on board to ensure that more Nigerians have access to healthcare coverage.

“To achieve development, the Nigerian population must be healthy. If we can get healthcare coverage right as a nation, we will be doing a lot for our citizens.

However, the people that truly matter, the political leaders and decision-makers at the national and sub-national levels should be the ones at summits like this one to discuss what their manifestos and plans in the healthcare sector are for the Nigerian people,” the former Kwara State Governor said.

NGO Seeks Forensic Evaluation of Kidnapped NELAN Engineers in Ebonyi Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has called for a forensic evaluation of the abduction of engineers working with NELAN, a consultant engineering firm in Ebonyi State.

Five engineers, working with the Enugu-based consultant engineering firm, were reported missing on November 3 after they were deployed to a road project at Effium in Ebonyi

State in continuation of routine supervisory works.

According to reports, the victims were identified as Mr. Nelson Onyemeh, Mr. Stanley Nwazulum, Mr. Ernest Edeani, Mr. IK Ejiofor, and Mr. Samuel Aneke, were scheduled to have a meeting with one Mr. Ken Okeh at 3 p.m. same date after the site visit to discuss some accommodation issues.

They were said to have traveled from Enugu to Effium with the project vehicle, Toyota

Hilux with registration number ERR 001 EB and had arrived Effium about 2 p.m. ahead of the scheduled meeting. That was the last time they were heard from or seen.

In a statement, the Board Chairman of the Intersociety, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, the NGO said that there had never been reports of hostility and violence by the host community towards the construction and consultancy firms handling the project.

Yuguda’s Supporters to Merge Ahead of APC National Convention, Says Aide

Sunday Okobi

Supporters of former Bauchi State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, across the country working for his emergence as the next national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are to merge soon into one uniform national support body in order to actualise their dream ahead of the party’s forth-coming national convention in February 2022.

The former Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters,

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as OKEOWO MICHAEL TEMIDAYO now wish to be known and addressed as OKE MICHAEL TEMIDAYO. All former documents remain valid. Banks and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as LMIE MATHEW OYAKHIRE, now wish to be known and addressed as IMIE MATHEW SUNDAY OYAKHIRE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and the general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EKE SIXTUS CHUKWUEBUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as THOMAS SIXTUS CHUKWUEBUKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OYEDOLA DAMOPE OGINNI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OYEDOLA DAMOPE IGOCHE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as JOSFYN ONYEKACHI PETER, now wish to be known and addressed as JOSFYN ONYEKACHI FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AGUSE, MARYAM YUSUF, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GBADAMOSI, MARIAM YUSUF. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

Hon. Abdulmumin Kundak, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said the move was in swift response to the increasing number of loyal groups of supporters springing up across the country since the former state governor accepted calls to run for the office.

He noted that bringing together

the various support groups across the country rooting for the former minister of aviation had become necessary to properly coordinate their activities and programmes towards pushing his candidacy to every nook and cranny of the country and in the Diaspora ahead of the national convention of the party slated for Abuja.

FUTO, Host Community Disagree over Land Acquisition Amby UnezeinOwerri The bickering going on between the host community and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) over land acquisition has taken another dimension as

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. HUSSAINA ISMAILA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. HUSSAINA JOHNSON. All former documents remain Valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as IMEH - ISAIAH, HANNA now wish to be known and addressed as ISAIAH, HANNAH IMEH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MICHEAL MUMUNI MUSA now wish to be known and addressed as MUSA MUMUNI OMEIZA and correct Date of my Birth is 11th of November 1991. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I formaly known as MRS RASHEEDAH OLUBUSOLA HASSAN ODUKAYE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS RASHEEDAH OLUBUSOLA ODUKAYE. All old and present documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as JOY OGONNAYA GODWINOJI now wish to be known and address as JOY OGONNAYA AKWEKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

indigenes of Ihiagwa, one of the host communities, in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State staged a peaceful protest in front of the main entrance of the university, demanding that part of their ancestral land acquired by the federal government for the purposes of establishing the university be returned to them.

During the protest, which took the university community unawares, the community gave the management of the university a 30-day ultimatum to take necessary steps in resolving the issues of land grabbing and encroachment being experienced in the course of the ongoing construction of perimeter fencing of the proposed FUTO College of Medicine and a private partnership housing estate.

The protesters alleged that FUTO, through the instrumentality of government, acquired their ancestral land without due consultation, and in the course of building the university’s College of Medicine illegally took over their entire ancestral land and encroached on the community farmlands.

The community appealed to the federal government to intervene as quickly as possible to avert any breakdown of law and order in the area.

However, this is not the first time indigenes of Ihiagwa community would carry out a protest against the management of FUTO over allegations of land grabbing.

But this time, indigenes of the community, both young and old, carried a mock coffin and barricaded the main entrance of the university, which halted vehicular movement.

WORLD OF ISLAM

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

In Search of True Ecstasy (1) By: Spahic Omer/IslamiCity Almighty Allah as the Creator of man reveals in His Qur’an that upon creating and proportioning man He breathed into him of His spirit (the soul) (al-Hijr, 29).

This is likewise referred to as bringing man forth as another creation (al-Mu’minun, 14) – in addition to matter.

The Qur’an also mentions the covenant between Allah and the sons of Adam (entire mankind) prior to their physical creation and their arrival in this world (al-A’raf, 172).

Such was the purpose of the covenant that it cannot be erased from human memory.

No person forgets it regardless of life’s circumstances and people’s conscious choices.

The majority of scholars interpret the covenant as the fitrah, or the sound human nature, which has been implanted inside all human beings. It drives them to search for the Creator and to believe in Him.It furthermore causes them to long for and love Him, and finally to submit to His will and to serve Him. The fitrah is accepted as the human natural inclination, inborn innocence, purity and goodness, hereditary weaknesses, dependency and religiosity, and the restless perennial quest for a higher order of meaning and experience.These feelings are universal, expressing themselves differently and with different degrees of intensity, subject to people’s overall aptitudes, gifts and, most importantly, religious affiliations.

People’s lives are dictated by the terms of their humanness - consciously or otherwise.

Yet, people are slaves of their nature and its instinctive proclivities.Neither can they ignore them, nor transcend their bounds.

Whatever they do is either a response to, or a step to satiating, their urges.

Epiphanies and Ecstasies Epiphanies are celebrated as unrivalled moments of truth and enlightenment, and as sudden revelations that grace an individual, a community and even the whole world.

However, as splendid and exuberant as they may be, such moments and experiences are but flashes of the otherworldliness of human nature.They erupt when both known and unknown conditions are right, when people tirelessly work, expect and hope for them, and whenever they simply want to erupt, often when least expected.

Ecstasies or raptures, on the other hand, are moments of intensified mental and spiritual awareness.They are normally seen as altered and advanced states of consciousness, which make a person oblivious to the fetters of this material and fleeting world.

However, they are rare and temporary instants, sometimes as rapid as a twinkling.

They signify a condition whereby a person’s incorporeal and spiritual dimensions take over his being.They can be in relation to love, beauty, benevolence, sagacity, fulfilment, virtue and the truth. They can be in connection with people, things, ideas and values.

In other words, only in such provinces as to serve as gateways to Heaven can true ecstasies be generated.

They produce exceptional experiences of elation and happiness. They are personal and innermost, instead of being collective and exceptionally outward.They cannot be expressed by words, or any other physical media, because a metaphysical component cannot be articulated by a physical one.

Only approximate metaphors can be used.

They are inwardly experienced and cherished however a person so desires and is able to.As heavenly gifts, ecstasies are common in all human beings. They cannot be bought, simulated, or manipulated. They are not solely religious, nor “professionalized”, occasions.

Needless to say, nonetheless, that the closer a person is to the spiritual spheres - and to himself -, the more often and the more intensely he possesses such feelings.That is what is generally understood as ultimate human joy, happiness and pleasure. All other forms of joy, happiness and pleasure are subjected to the former.People live for such moments and experiences. That is also what keeps them going. The universes of dreams (hopes) and memories are built but on the premises of those moments and experiences.

Indeed, life is a succession of extraordinary memories held together by as many extraordinary emotions. The remainder is quickly cast aside and easily forgotten.

For example, a lifespan of seventy years, in essence, is just a small memoir of authentic recollections imbued with enduring and as authentic feelings.They are consigned to the deepest recesses of the soul, which a person keeps frequenting. His visits keep increasing as the recollections grow and the prospect of making new ones diminishes.

Torn Between Ecstasies, Matter and Transience In this there is an element of tragedy as well. Not even most intensely spiritual persons can capture and fully experience ecstasies in this world, let alone such as have turned their backs on spirituality and Heaven.Spiritual persons who embrace and live the truth know that the most genuine, most complete, everlasting and heavenly ecstasy (bliss) can take place only in the Hereafter, in Jannah (Paradise).

This world’s flashes of although-worldlyyet-otherworldly-quality-wise ecstasy are no more than reminders of and a stepping stone to the former. They in addition function as its irrefutable evidence and sign. They attract each other.

On the other hand, non-spiritual persons, who are trapped in matter, persist in trying the impossible: to satiate their inner cravings for the ontological ecstasy, albeit within the wrong framework and by wrong means.

It goes without saying that the results of such an approach are at best partial, erratic and unreliable. Instead of driving a person forward, their one-dimensionality holds them back. The results are often fake and deceptive.

People as a consequence appear torn between the pressure of the innate demands for actual ecstasy, and the painful reality of transient matter inside which they have imprisoned themselves.It is a war of attrition involving demands for the real and absolute and supplies of the superficial and relative substance.Either way, life is a chase. It is a mission fraught with a mixture of hopes, expectations, victories, celebrations, failures and disappointments.

Capturing the Moment (catching the wave) Life is like a river. It constantly flows.

As if there is no present. There is only the uncertain future and the beckoning past.

The present is that fine, yet virtual, frontier that stands between the two realms.

It denotes their confluence. No sooner does a person start thinking about the present, than it becomes part of the past with the rays of the future starting to show up.

Such is the dynamics of life. Its subtleties are overwhelming and beyond anything man can offer. If people could only capture that fine frontier and flow with it, especially insofar as creating and experiencing ecstasies are concerned.That is impossible though.

People can only dream and look forward to such thing in the Hereafter. Some tend to resort to theorizing about and inventing utopias as an alternative.That condition is mankind’s weakest spot. Hence, Satan was able to deceive Adam and his wife in the Garden of Eden while promising them eternity, perfection and infinite authority.

One cannot flow with the river of life because it is the rule that life flows through people. The only option left is that people grow vertically more experienced, wiser and ever closer to the realizing of their existential purpose.

Be that as it may, there are still certain individuals who are granted special abilities and flairs. They can do what others cannot and can only dream about.

They are in a position to arrest glimpses of those exceptional blissful moments. They can somewhat freeze them, so to speak, and translate them - for instance - in a poem, a musical composition, a literary work, a painting, an idea, a solution, an architectural design, a decorative pattern, or in any other remarkable acts that evoke the perfection, splendour, beauty, unity, peace, equilibrium and profundity of the truth and Heaven.

To Be Continued

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Gernot Rohr: No Regrets Coaching Super Eagles Says Nigeria good enough to win AFCON in Cameroon Duro Ikhazuagbe Despite the fact that he was fired from the Super Eagles job, German Coach, Gernot Rohr, has insisted he has no regrets taking up the senior Nigerian football team post.

In an exclusive interview with ESPN’s Colin Udoh from his base on France yesterday, Rohr who will be going to Cameroon next month as a pundit said his five years on the job were eventful ones.

“No regrets (working in Nigeria). We did all we had to do in the interest of Nigeria, and we are proud about that. We found young goalkeepers who will be here for perhaps 10 years. We found young wingers, we found new defenders. We helped our captain (Ahmed Musa) get the record of more than 103 games for his country. We produced the top goal scorers in the last AFCON and the qualifiers also.

“So, five wonderful years and

four months, and I thank (NFF President ) Amaju Pinnick, who gave me the chance to work in this country. I will forget the end.

What happened this last one year was not easy, but now I hope that everybody will be correct and can live like friends,” observed the German who showed witty side of him in the interview.

Rohr also insisted that if he he had been left to continue, Super Eagles were sure of winning the AFCON in Cameroon as icing on the bronze they won at Egypt 2019 with him in charge.

“Last time (at Egypt 2019) we made third. We had a good AFCON, we lost in the semifinal in the last second. This time, I’m sure it would have been better because the team has been growing together for five years and we had our different strategies, and the tactics were becoming more and more efficient.” The German gaffer still believes in the wards to deliver even in his absence.

“And I think even without me, they will do it, they can do it, because this team is young, is intelligent, and they can fight.

They love their fatherland and they will be able to do very well at the next AFCON.” Instead of ill feelings due to the manner he was eased out of the Eagles job despite meeting all the targets set in his new contract, Rohr wants Nigerians to remember his legacies.

“Opinions are not all the same but everybody will see the facts.

The facts are that we came from No. 67 in the world to No. 36.

From No. 13 in Africa to No. five.

And we will be in the top five (in Africa) for the World Cup draw, which is very important for the playoffs.

“We had a wonderful professional relationship, and the human relationships also will be forever.”

He also admitted to cherish forever the memories of delivering results in difficult groups with

Cameroon, Algeria, Zambia for the 2018 World Cup, and then finishing first for the AFCON qualifiers.

“We never lost a competitive game for the qualifiers away.

Never. We only lost two at home in Nigeria.

“There are different reasons for that. Because at home, there are sometimes distractions that make it more difficult. They have family waiting for them, they have friends waiting for them, it’s not easy for them to concentrate. And it’s only Uyo where we can play well. That was the best one all the time, but we couldn’t go there any more for different reasons.

I wish that Nigeria can get good infrastructure. They need to develop football. And they need solidarity between the sports minister and the federation. That was unfortunately not the case in these five years,” concludes the German.

Klopp Insists Liverpool Will Not Miss Salah, Mane, Keita During AFCON In the midst of threats by European clubs not to release African players in their folds for the Africa Cup of Nations starting on January 9 in Cameroon,

Gernot Rohr... no regrets coaching Super Eagles

C O U N T RY V E R S U S C L U B Liverpool Manager, Juergen Klopp, has insisted that he

is happy with his squad and has options to cover for the

Mohamed Salah (right) scored in Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat of Newcastle last night

PHOTO: REUTERS

Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open Enters Knockout Stage With the conclusion of the group matches at the 3rd Lagos Valuejet Para Table Tennis Open, the knockout round of the competition will start today to separate the contenders from pretenders.

The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun in Lagos was besieged by players drawn from across the country including the visiting Benin Republic team competing in the 45 events at the three-day tournament.

The top seeds in each class had an easy passage to the knockout

stage while players aiming to upstage the established ones also failed.

One of the top seeds still in contention to retain her title is Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi who vowed to retain the precious medal.

19-year-old Ikpeoyi who has made it to the top 10 in the world ranking based on her performance in France being her maiden international tournament believes nobody can stop her from mounting the podium again this year.

Bronze medalist at the 2021 French Para Open said she is poised to give her best as more players are eyeing her title this year.

“I am fully ready to retain my title but from what I have seen so far, it is not going to be easy because other players are working hard to displace me. They have seen that I travelled abroad for my first international tournament and they are also keen to start playing at the international level.

But I am fully ready for them as nothing can stop me from getting

the best medal in my class again,” she said.

She, however, called for more support for the athletes especially in terms of organizing more tournaments that would give the players the chance to showcase their talents to the national handlers. “I believe we can have more of this tournament again early next year because we cannot just be training without competing against ourselves to ascertain our level and quality at international tournaments. I must

also commend the organisers and sponsors for deeming it fit to support the staging of the championships this and I hope they have come to stay with para-athletes,” Ikpeoyi added.

The three-day tournament is organised by the Sunday Odebode Sports Foundation with technical support from NTTF in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports Commission and the grand finale holds on Saturday, December 18 with winners carting home mouth -watering prizes in each class.

absence of key players during the fiesta.

The 24-team AFCON event will take place in Cameroon between Jan 9 and Feb 6 and Liverpool are set to lose Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Guinea’s Naby Keita for several weeks.

Salah has scored 21 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, while Mane and Keita are also key members of the side.

“I am happy with the squad and we still have options,” Klopp said on Wednesday. “We knew three would be qualified and be there and we knew that at least two of them will go pretty far in the tournament.

“Can you be prepared for something like that, properly, perfectly? Like a one-for-one replacement for Sadio, a replacement for Mo, one replacement for Naby? That’s tricky in each situation.

“We are quite confident we will find solutions.”

Klopp added that while Liverpool might not be able to play the same way without the trio, they would adapt their gameplan to suit the line-up.

“Whoever will play in a period when the three boys are not here will have a plan and gives us the chance to win a football game,” said the German.

“Can we play exactly the same football? Probably not, but who cares? We play the football we are able to play then, that’s the situation.”

Second-placed Liverpool, who now trail league leaders Manchester City by just one point, hosted Newcastle United with Salah scoring the second goal in the 3-1 defeat of Newcastle.

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MISSILE ASUU to Federal Govt

“Our base line is the full implementation of the 2020 MoA signed by the Federal Government and the union. There’s no commitment to the agreement entered into. The government is not sensitive to the welfare of workers. That’s why we’re sensitising the people so that they won’t see us as using strike as the only tool of fighting for our demands” – ASUU Coordinator, Ibadan Zone, Prof. Oyebamiji Oyegoke, blaming the government for breaching their agreement.

GARBASHEHU GUEST COLUMNIST

As Buhari Clocks 79, A Focus on Achievements, Challenges

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari marks the age of 79 on Friday 17, without the joy of being with the family and the country he governs, seeking to maximize bilateral benefits in critical areas of Nigeria’s safety, survival and economic development in a distant country, Turkey.

As President in the last six years, he has had several achievements to his credit. But there are also challenges that need to be met in the balance of 15 months before he leaves office upon the completion of two terms in office.

As with all the countries around the globe, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown the biggest challenge to the Buhari administration, for the obvious reason that it kept under attack, not only the health of citizens but the economy and environment.

For a country and a continent designated for a world record of positive cases and deaths, yet turning in the lowest in terms of numbers, the explanation our people give here is to say “Thank God,” and they move on.

Nothing wrong with thanking God for everything that happens or does not, for, without His grace, nothing can truly get done (or undone).

But the Almighty uses the instrumentality of humans to get some of these things done.

These last two years, President Buhari led a government that believes in science and in our doctors that put in place an effective mechanism to check the spread of the pandemic and we are where we are today because this dedicated team has responded in the most capable manner any country could ever do.

He gave the experts the latitude of freedom and resources to lead us out of the worst-case scenarios using especially well-thought-out non-pharmaceutical protections and these, in the face of the denial of fair access to vaccines to us by those who make them, have really done us wonders.

Although high figures for active cases, new cases and deaths are rising lately and a fourth wave is being feared in many quarters, the proven competence of our administrators, whose aptitude, agility and appropriate sense of timing have drawn commendation from no less a body than the United Nations gives us the reassuring solace that we will wade through the muddle by getting it right.

Increasing awareness about health and hygiene is helping the country fight the deadly coronavirus disease pandemic.

The campaign against open defecation is catching on in all the states and the only way for the momentum is up and up.

President Buhari was handed an economy in 2015 just on the verge of a recession. It was sluggish due to internal as well as external factors, all these compounded by the fall of oil prices occasioned by global recession.

The new administration surprised itself by pulling the economy out of recession in less than two years.

Just as this was being celebrated, the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the global economic woes, and there we were, back in recession just as did everyone.

Yet again, the careful handling and management helped us out of a second recession in six months, setting an unbeaten record on how not to suffer a recession.

The current and projected economic growth figures are quite encouraging and if government measures being worked out to curb the existing high food inflation work well as they should; unemployment figures which are officially at 34 percent are being forced downwards through growth, especially in agriculture which President

Buhari Buhari saw as the silver lining from the very beginning, the economy will continue to recover at a faster rate than projected.

Today, the economy is back on the path of growth after two consecutive recessions and it is noteworthy that the administration’s priority sectors, especially ICT, agriculture and solid minerals continue to lead the growth of the now diversified economy.

Inflation has maintained a downward streak and external reserves have stayed on healthy levels throughout these periods.

Exports have grown and have remained in an upward trajectory in agriculture, raw materials, solid minerals and manufactured goods, setting a clear tone that we are ready for a leading role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), which is the largest world free trade organization.

Agriculture growth could be attributed to bumper harvests in rice and other agricultural communities which have been aggressively promoted by the lending schemes put in place by the Central Bank of Nigeria and other commercial banks, the revival of the fertilizer industry which has seen such production plants grow from only four in 2015 to nearly 40 at the moment, employing thousands directly and indirectly and saving the country USD 200 billion in import bills and more than N60 billion in government subsidies.

However, smuggling across the country’s vast land borders still remains a dark spot amidst the ray of hope for total national food security.

The APC government led by President Buhari has been challenged by the worrisome activities of bandits, now classified as terrorists and the incidents of attacks on communities especially that which pitches farmers against herders.

Both have had the combined effect of disturbing the nation’s social fabric.

The government has a two-pronged strategy in dealing with the clashes: one by addressing immediate security and then dealing with scarcity of land.

Additional police and military units have been deployed to the affected states to address the former. They have already had some noticeable successes against militia groups.

But the increased presence will also enable quicker response to distress calls to prevent attacks before they happen.

The National Livestock Transformation Plan

remedies this through a phased transition from herding to ranching.

This shall allow both parties to recognise for themselves the solution, rather than having it thrust upon them.

Notably, a majority of the states-which control land- and the major farmer and herder associations have welcomed the initiative.

Boko Haram which is now reduced to a shell of its former self now holds no territory and not a single militant incident has been recorded for years in the Niger Delta.

Of course, there is still more to do, but the President’s determination is to end all the conflicts to keep citizens safe.

The main reason for the defeat of the PDP in 2015 was corruption.

The present administration at the centre led

by President Muhammadu Buhari has so far presented a corrupt-free image of itself.

It has also succeeded in abolishing grand corruption at the top and as attested to by the former American President, Donald Trump, when the President visited him in 2016, the government has significantly brought down the level of corruption in the whole county.

It is, however not lost on anyone that corruption is fighting back.

In this country, politics is often considered as a synonym of corruption.

The previous government came under huge criticism for scandals like that discovered in arms procurements in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) which transformed itself into a major source of funding of the PDP; NNPC crude oil thefts, broadband spectrum licensing scandal, oil subsidy scam and so many others but the present government has not faced any such corruption charges.

Minister Diezani Allison-Maduekwe who has so far forfeited cash denominated variously to the Federal Government: USD 153 million, N23.4 billion, and USD 4m and USD 5m in separate counts; a former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) forfeited GBP 578,080, and the Ikoyi Apartment Owners from whom USD43.4m; N23m and GBP 27,800 respectively, were recovered are part of the success of the war against corruption waged by the government.

Also, the hidden owner of the N449.6 million cash, in Lagos, is still unable to step forward to say “it’s mine”; the ex-Naval Chiefs who have forfeited N1.8 billion; the Governors Forum which surrendered N1.4 billion and the major oil marketers, from whom the EFCC has so far seized N328.9 billion.

Banks in the country which equally joined the party while it lasted, gave back N27.7 billion they “ate,” the scion of the Akinjides, Jumokes and her N650 million as well as those scammers in INEC who coughed out N1 billion all tell a story of the success of the war against corruption under Buhari.

But perhaps the greatest game-changer in the war against corruption is the institution of those measures that seek to stop such incidents from happening.

These include the biggest tax revolution since independence, VAIDS, now being implemented, and which many rich citizens are made to pay outstanding taxes; the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) that has saved the nation billions paid to ghost workers, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Open Treasury Portal tell the citizens where their money is and how it is being spent.

There is also the Whistle Blower policy by which the government is able to recover stolen or concealed assets through information provided by citizens.

This has changed the moral tone of the business transactional space in the country. The whistleblower is entitled to between 2.5% to 5.0 % of the amount recovered.

The government’s moves on Ease of Doing Business have attracted international attention and investment and significantly improved the ranking of Nigeria as a place of doing business, in fact achieving a place in the World Bank’s top 10 reforming economies.

But this is how the World Bank saw Nigeria: “Overall, the 10 top improvers implemented the most regulatory reforms in the area of getting credit, starting a business, dealing with construction permits and paying taxes,’ the report said.

Someone said President Buhari should be named as infrastructure President.

Hear the President: “Infrastructure is vital to economic development. As you are aware, this administration has given special attention to the infrastructural transformation of our country.

This is in consonance with the CHANGE philosophy of the administration. Such projects and programmes form part of our contribution to national development, which are tangible for all to see.”

In the last six-and-half years, President Buhari has taken historic decisions which have changed the country, top among which was his signing into law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) amidst cheers by the Nigerian business community; the Climate Change law and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), all of which are now part of our laws.

PIA came after lengthy negotiations with the states, the whole of the oil industry, the oil-producing communities. By taking all of them on board, this success broke a twenty-year jinx.

Yet another jinx broken was the very recent decision for an out-of-court settlement of the dispute involving a businessman and the government of Nigeria that had prevented the take-off of the Mambila Hydro Electric Power Project, a development that may see it leave the drawing boards after nearly 50 years.

On the external front, President Buhari’s towering figure as an honest leader and an international statesman continues to generate a successful run in our foreign relations.

Security and political stability in West Africa have posed a tough challenge for the government of late. Little wonder that the riot act was read by the President at the ECOWAS Summit last weekend in Abuja, warning that constitutional amendments to elongate term tenure, increasingly becoming the norm in the sub-region will continue to fuel instability. It must stop.

In 2015, Presidential candidate Buhari stood on a platform to secure the country, improve the economy and fight corruption and won.

He did again in 2019 and the current challenges facing the country, though not new will only make him give his best for the country.

Politicians seeking political capital in the prevailing security situation in the country and the sections of the media making the problem appear as intractable so as to sell copies have a shock waiting for them because this one is a way President Buhari is determined to win before he leaves office in 2023.

What the President has achieved in the past six and a half years is for the nation and its people.

Sooner than later, the frustrations we face are challenges to be overcome and this period will one day be written as the golden period of Nigeria’s history.

•Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media & Publicity

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