WEDNESDAY 21TH DECEMBER 2022

Buhari: FG Generated $547m from 5G Spectrum Auction Hails ICT sector for driving nation's economic growth Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the auctioning of the 5G spectrum generated $547 million into federal government coffers.

He also applauded the contributions of the digital economy in driving economic growth, creating employment and generating revenue for the country.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja,

while inaugurating the National Shared Services Centre, a one-stopshop for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to interface with citizens, which also houses a Cybersecurity Operations Centre,

Network Centre and Call Centre, the president stressed that auctioning of the 5G spectrum alone generated $547 million, further fueling options for funding development.

Buhari said the National Shared

Services Centre would provide services that are, “swift, secure and seamless.”

He noted that the Information, Communication and Technology Sector (ICT) had accelerated

diversification of the economy, adding that the second quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report by the National Bureau of Continued on page 10

FG: Full Restoration of Crude Oil Production Underway ... Page 6 Wednesday 21 December, 2022 Vol 27. No 10116. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Obaseki Signs N321.4bn 2023 Appropriation Bill into Law... Page 40

Buhari, Gbajabiamila Meet over Rising ElectionViolence, Dispute over Cash Policy Speaker says 2023 budget will be passed tomorrow Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari and Speaker of the House of Represen-

tatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday, brainstormed over the rising incidence of violent attacks at political parties' rallies and the

controversy over the newly introduced cash withdrawal limit by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Gbajabiamila revealed that

the National Assembly would, tomorrow, Thursday, pass the 2023 budget estimate of the federal government. He disclosed this to

newsmen at State House, Abuja, after a closed-door meeting at the president's office, describing his meeting with the president as

routine and meant to deliberate on key national issues, while not Continued on page 10

Cash Policy: CAN, Others Express Concern over Plot to Arrest Emefiele

Says selfish Nigerians want to create confusion in country Bullion van politicians after CBN, says Atiku/Okowa campaign Lawmakers re-invite Emefiele for grilling on cash policy tomorrow Falana, other senior lawyers react Money launderers, political bandits against redesigning of naira, says NANS Policy will allow voters elect credible leaders, says ex-Kwara governor, Ahmed Alex Enumah, Sunday Aborisade, Udora Orizu, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria

(CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, yesterday expressed concern over the manner those he described as selfish Nigerians want to create confusion Continued on page 10

WITH BUHARI AT THE US-AFRICA SUMMIT...

L-R: Minister of Industry, Trade and investment, Niyi Adebayo; President Muhammadu Buhari and Managing Director, First Bank, Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, at the US-Africa Summit in Washington DC... last weekend

Obi: Aged Presidential Candidates Should Retire from Politics ... Page 41

2

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

3

4

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

5

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

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

NEWS

BUHARI IN AUDIENCE WITH SPEAKER GBAJABIAMILA...

President Muhammadu Buhari (R) receives in audience The Speaker Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE.

NDLEA Seizes over N450bn Drugs, Others from Barons, Traffickers in 22 Months

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that it made drug and non-drug seizures of over N450 billion from drug traffickers and barons in the last 22 months.

Also within the same period of time seizures of over 100 million pills of pharmaceutical opioid, tramadol that could have impacted negatively on the youth population and national productivity in Nigeria were made, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig.

Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) disclosed

in Abuja, yesterday.

Marwa made the disclosure during the Command’s Awards/ Commendations and decoration of newly promoted officers at its headquarters.

According to him, “Within the period under review, the agency arrested 23,907 drug traffickers including 29 barons. Our seizure was over 5,500 tons or 5.5 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, which together with cash seized are worth over N450 billion.

“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of cannabis growers by destroying

772. 5 hectares of cannabis farms.

In these 22 months, we have record convictions of 3, 434 offenders. We have equally made good strides in our drug demand reduction efforts where the number of those counselled and rehabilitated is 16,114.

“The figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to the society, the impact on public health, security as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street. “Take, for instance, the 100 million pills of tramadol

seized in the past 22 months. If those pills had gone into circulation and ended up in the hands of young people, it would take a heavy toll on lives, families, productivity and, ultimately, the GDP of the country because it will affect these young people who are the engine room of productivity.”

Marwa, while justifying the reason behind the award and promotion of staff, said, “there is no gainsaying that our dedication to duty has been the driving force behind our good performance; at the same time, it is also not an exaggeration to say that our

ACOMIN: Malaria Accounts for 35% of Primary Healthcare Patients Seven health facilities renovated in Kaduna Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Civil Society in Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has said a recent health survey it conducted revealed that over 35 per cent of patients who visited the primary healthcare facilities to access services tested positive to malaria.

ACOMIN, as a civil society network said it had deployed solutions to technologically drive its anti-malaria intervention across the implementing states.

It said an Accountability Management Information Systems (ACCOMIS) was deployed with the aim of fostering electronic data collection, analysis and monitoring respectively.

While presenting its report on its journey so far towards eradicating malaria pandemic through community-led monitoring and strengthening of health systems in Nigeria, a Senior Advocacy Officer of ACOMIN, Fatima Kolo Abdullahi who represented the National Coordinator, said from the prevalent rate of malaria, there is need to intensify efforts towards strengthening health systems in eradicating malaria.

"The use of ACCOMIS on this CLM project has revealed that one of the most assessed services at the health facility by clients is the malaria services and upon testing it revealed that over 35 per cent of tested cases are positive, hence the need to intensify efforts towards strengthening health systems in eradicating malaria," she said.

She said the group have been implementing the community-led

monitoring (CLM) project funded

by Global Fund across thirteen states in Nigeria.

According to her, the aim of the project was to pursue an increase in the quality of services, generate real time objective information and assess the quality and quantity of service delivery, reduce wastage and loss of interventions and advocate for increased resource allocation for malaria intervention.

She also explained that intervention technology was being used as data collection tool and to aid data analysis.

By working with various stakeholders across the spectrum of private, public, political and community office, the Coordinator said ACOMIN had achieved noteworthy successes and contributed to mitigating several issues confronting the health sector in the communities where the project is being implemented.

One of these successes of the CLM project was the infrastructural development recorded through advocacy to political leaders, she added.

"For example, during quarter seven, the health facility structure was renovated and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to serve the community in Angwan-Maichibi community, Kaduna South LGA, Kaduna State. When ACOMIN’s team first got there, they discovered that the Comprehensive health facility was dilapidated and was neither conducive nor safe for the community members which led to low patronage.

"To tackle this, the team from

ACOMIN conducted various advocacy visits to stakeholders at the community level. The community head and some members of the community took up the issue and went all out to find a solution even from the local government leaders.

"One of the stakeholders who was reached through these advocacies was the LGA Chairman. The LGA Chairman, using the influence of his office, subsequently facilitated the renovation of the dilapidated facility building to a standard health facility in that community and equipped it with an incubator and wards for male, female and children respectively. “This intervention has in turn increased malaria services

patronage amongst many others at the facility," she said.

ACOMIN said several other improvements to health infrastructure had been attained through the project in Kano and Delta States, among others.

ACOMIN further said it succeeded in facilitating the exercise of political commitment to health on the Global Fund Community led Monitoring project in the last three years.

"These are just a few out of the many ways the CLM project has facilitated health system strengthening through collaboration with stakeholders at all levels.

Continues online

good performance is catalysed by motivation.

“As proven right by events in the past 24 months, management’s decision to deploy multi-pronged motivational mechanism to improve the organisation’s work ethic is part of the recipe for the resurgence of the agency and the resultant spectacular performance.

“On that score, management is committed to doing everything possible to improve productivity on the job. Part of that effort is why we are here today, namely the Commands Awards and Commendations.

“We usually calculate our performance as monthly, quarterly or yearly appraisals. But drug law enforcement is generally a continuum, hence, I am wont to always appraise our efforts from January 2021, when we began far-reaching reforms, reviewed our strategies and rejigged the existing systems to accommodate innovations.

“From then till now, we have been on an upward trajectory and indeed, what we have done in the last 22 months, from January 2021 to October 2022, based on the available statistics, is cause for celebration.”

Marwa while praising President Muhammadu Buhari for his relentless support for the agency to succeed in its given assignment, led the gathering to offer a birthday song to celebrate the president on his 80th birthday.

He charged the officers who were promoted and those who got commendation awards to rededicate themselves while assuring others with such expectations to be hopeful.

“I charge you to take this award as a testament to your professional

progress. Beyond that, that you are here today should also be taken as a challenge to surpass your record every quarter and to be resolute to always be part of this bi-annual ceremony.

He said the second leg of the ceremony pertained to the decoration of some officers that were recently promoted. Last year, 3,506 officers were promoted.

This year, a total of 1,018 officers were also promoted to new ranks including two DCGN, 17 ACGN, 29 CN, 78 DCN and 111 ACN. Others are 63 CSN, 106 SN, 129 DSN, 25 ASN I, 400 ASN II, 9 CNA, 44 SNA, 3 NA and 2 NAS I. He noted that: “Promotion is a reward for industry, diligence and dedication. It is earned on merit, not given as gratis, and at times, it is subject to vacancy.

“What that means is that it is not everybody that deserves a promotion that gets it. From certain ranks, there is a limited vacancy in upward mobility.

“That brings me to this important point: to those whose expectations were not met in the just concluded promotion and harmonisation exercise, I am saying that the process is still on going as management is working to address some complaints.

We will continue to put everyone concerned into consideration as soon as there are openings at the higher level,” he added.

He however charged officers not to rest on their oars while also urging them to abstain from any action that could undermine the collective interest of the agency in ridding the country of illicit substance abuse and trafficking.

Continues online

Buhari Inaugurates Eye Hospital, Says it Will Reduce Medical Tourism Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja inaugurated Skipper Eye-Q Super Specialty Eye Hospital, saying it would curb medical tourism.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah said it was heartwarming that the hospital which was commissioned in Lagos in 2017, thought it necessary to open a third hospital with state-of-the-art equipment and high quality eye services in Abuja.

The president explained that eyes are very important organ and need serious care and protection.

He said eyes are the window of the body and they have a lot of functions, saying good vision

contributes to healthy brain function, better cognitive and psychomotor functions and overall quality of life.

Buhari stated: "Worthy of commendation is the fact that this hospital of international standard with outfits in other countries of the world has successfully carried out 1,500 cataract surgeries; 4,500 glaucoma surgeries; 2,000 retina surgeries and other eye related surgeries in Nigeria.

"It is my belief that with the establishment of this state-of-the-art healthcare outfit, the frequency of medical tourism outside Nigeria and its attendant foreign exchange resources will be reduced as patients will receive quality medical attention in Nigeria."

Also, India High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Balasubramanian

said he was proud to have Indian imprint in the healthcare sector in Nigeria.

According to him, “we have other eye care specialist hospital here in Nigeria. Operating Chamber is one, India Eye Care Foundation is another and Skipper is certainly a feather in the cap of this particular cooperation that we have between India and Nigeria.”

Balasubramanian added: "We hope that in the future there will be more and more hospitals and more cooperation in the field of health sector that would happen between India and Nigeria to bring our people closer to each other, get to know better.

"And people who are contributing towards the health of the country, in physical terms are the best

ambassadors, are the best friends for anyone."

Earlier, the Founder, Dr. Ajay Sharma said the hospital's goal was to treat those deprived of vision and those that have multiple problems with their eyes.

He said they have around 37 hospitals in India and Nigeria Sharma said: "We have already treated 7.5 million patients there and we have done around 600,000 surgeries.

“We want to expand further within Nigeria within Africa with blessings of all of you. I think we will be able to grow. We will treat the poor and will treat the rich here under the same roof. We will treat them equally, give them the same thing. And this is what I promised you all."

6

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY NIGERIA ALUMNI END-OF-YEAR ANNUAL DINNER...

L-R: Finance Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Mrs Remilekun Soyannwo; Chief Executive Officer, eBanqo, Mr Charles Ifedi; President, Cranfield Nigeria Alumni / Managing Partner, Lecole Consulting, Mrs Evbusogie Osojie; Chief Executive Officer, Ciris Limited, Mr Tokunbo Onitilo; Digital and Technology Director, Nigeria Breweries PLC, Mrs Philomena Aneke; and Chief Executive Officer, Open Data Access Centre, Dr Ayotunde Coker, at the Cranfield University Nigeria alumni end-of-year annual dinner in Lagos recently

FG: Full Restoration of Crude Oil Production Underway Sylva eyes 3 million bpd output Despite pressure on Nigeria to cut fossils, US becomes net exporter of crude Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said that the federal government was working to ensure that all local and international oil companies return to full capacity production of crude oil in the country.

Speaking while receiving the new Managing Director of Eni SpA, in his office, in Abuja, Sylva again restated the government’s readiness to continue to improve security along the tracks of the major crude oil pipelines and block every leakage through which crude oil is stolen by oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

A statement by the Senior Adviser, Media, to the minister, Horatius Egua, stated that oil majors in the country drastically cut down on crude oil production due to the massive vandalism of pipelines and theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta region by those he described as criminal elements.

The decisions of the oil companies, the statement noted, have affected the volume of daily crude production which has led to revenue losses for the country.

It added that in the last few months, the improved security surveillance along the major crude oil has however helped to improve crude oil productions from a paltry 900,000 barrels per day to between 1.4 million and 1.6 million barrels per day.

“I am happy to hear from you (Eni) that you have increased your crude oil production to 15,000 barrels per day as a result of the efforts of the government in protecting the pipelines in the

region. I assure you that this trend will continue,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Sylva added that the desire of the federal government is to see all the oil majors in the country return to their full production capacity to boost revenue for the government and also to help the country meet its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) obligations.

"We will continue to work to bring stability and build confidence for everyone to return to the field to produce their maximum capacity,” the minister added.

By this effort, the federal government, the minister noted, is targeting full production capacity of up to 3 million daily crude oil production.

Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Region of Eni SpA Mr Mario Bello, in his brief remarks during the visit, lauded the renewed attempt by the federal government in restoring sanity along the major crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.

He stated that this has enabled the company increase crude oil production from a near zero production level to about 15,000 barrels per day in the last one month.

“We are happy that the security situation is improving and we will be willing to be back fully,” Bello said, adding that as at last month, the company complained to the minister over the vandalism and theft of products. He noted that as of this month, the situation has improved.

“At a point we were producing almost nothing but today, with

the improved security situation along the pipelines, we are able to produce and export about 15,000 barrels of crude oil and if this trend continues, we will be able to reach our 30,000 barrels crude oil production,” he told Sylva during the visit.

Bello said with the renewed confidence the company has in the security of the crude oil pipelines, Eni was willing to reopen its planned investments in the gas and power sector, noting that the company was happy with the support from the government

in terms of business cooperation.

Meanwhile, despite mounting pressure on Nigeria and other African countries to cut emissions, the United States is set to become a global crude oil exporting power.

Although in the last few years, the country has ramped up production, but exports have not exceeded its imports since World War II. That could change next year, Reuters reported.

Sales of US crude to other nations are now a record 3.4 million barrels per day, with exports of about 3 million bpd of refined products

like gasoline and diesel fuel. The United States is also the leading Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exporter, where growth is expected to soar in coming years.

But the United States consumes 20 million barrels of crude a day, the most in the world, and its output has never exceeded 13 million bpd. Until recently, the idea that it would be anything but a big crude importer was folly, the report added.

The United States already produces more oil than any other country in the world including

Germany Returns Looted Benin Artefacts to Nigeria FG knocks Britain for refusing to return Nigerian antiquities Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Germany has formally handed over the repatriated 1,130 Benin bronze artefacts to Nigeria.

The handing over ceremony was held yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.

The German delegation was led by Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock.

Also in the contingent was the Minister for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth, members of parliament both of the federal and regional governments in Germany and administrators and directors of museums in Germany.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Nigeria, Africa and indeed

all of humanity, would remember and always cherish the period in human history when Germany stood by the country.

He applauded the courage, sincerity and the sense of justice of the Europeans in returning the highest-ever number of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, saying history will record the moment with a smile.

He also thanked other persons and groups that had worked subtly behind the scene over the years towards the realisation of the dream.

The minister noted that arising from the German action, negotiations with other nations, institutions and museums for the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes in their possession became swifter.

“When Germany mooted and announced the idea of returning

Nigerian Benin Bronzes, the entire globe treated the news with disbelief.

However, Germany did not stop at a mere announcement but followed up with a visit to Nigeria by high ranking officials in March 2021 to further assure us,” Mohammed said.

After a series of meetings between Nigeria and Germany on modalities, the Germans had on July 7, 2022, signed the declaration with Nigeria to restitute all 1,130 Benin Bronzes in Germany public museums.

“Twenty years ago, even 10 years ago, nobody could have anticipated these bronzes returning to Nigeria, because the obstacles to achieving repatriation were seemingly insurmountable.

"But today, with the pioneering gesture of a friendly nation, Germany, the story has changed.

Okonjo-Iweala: With Difficulties Globally, WTO Cannot Afford to Stand Aside The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged Geneva-based delegates to use the upcoming year-end break to reach out to their respective capitals for guidance and instructions and get the organisation “back on track” in the new year.

Speaking at the final 2022 meeting of the WTO’s General Council held on Monday and Tuesday, OkonjoIweala in her capacity as chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee expressed disappointment with the lack of progress made since the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June, where members achieved breakthroughs on issues such as fisheries subsidies.

In a statement yesterday, she noted that while MC12 remained a highlight of the year, "we've not done much serious negotiating in the past six months."

She told members: "We have a lot of ground to cover and will have to intensify our efforts when we return from the winter break.”

Now that members have clarity on the dates and venue for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), which would take place in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, the Director-General said there was the additional responsibility to use the coming months to build convergence on meaningful outcomes for the meeting.

"During these difficult times of economic slowdown, food and energy crises, climate change, and persistent development challenges, the WTO cannot afford to stand aside," she told members. "We must begin to lay the ground for concrete results before, at and beyond MC13."

One immediate issue remains the appointment of new chairs to lead the WTO negotiations on

Saudi Arabia and Russia.

It became the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas during the first half of 2022, surpassing Qatar and Australia, on the back of demand from Europe and surging prices, Reuters said.

In recent months, the United States has sent delegations to Nigeria, including in September when the country’s Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, visited the country to find ways of curbing the production of hydrocarbons and embracing renewable energy.

agriculture and fisheries subsidies, posts that have been vacant for several months.

Chair of the General Council, Ambassador Didier Chambovey, reported to members that despite recent consultations with group coordinators on the negotiations chair appointments, the situation remained unchanged.

He urged members to work together in a constructive spirit to bring this issue to a solution as soon as possible.

"It should not be beyond this body to be able to appoint negotiating chairs," the Director-General said.

"Six months of not negotiating is not acceptable."

Also at the General Council meeting, WTO members reached an agreement to extend the deadline set by ministers at MC12 to decide on whether the TRIPS Decision adopted last June should be

extended to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.

“That Decision confirms the right of members to override the exclusive effect of patents and provide greater scope to take direct action to diversify production of COVID-19 vaccines through clarifications of existing flexibilities and a targeted waiver over the next five years.

“Paragraph 8 of the Decision states that, no later than six months from the date of the Decision, members will decide on its extension to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.

“The General Council agreed to the recommendation put forward by the TRIPS Council to extend the deadline and also agreed to revert to the matter of the duration of the deadline at its next meeting tentatively scheduled for 2-3 March 2023.

“The General Council chair also reported to members on his consultations regarding WTO reform, including an informal meeting on the issue which took place on 10 November,” the statement added.

Chambovey said he would convene an informal meeting on WTO reform focused on development issues at the beginning of February, providing members the opportunity to discuss, inter alia, cross-cutting aspects of the development dimension.

The chair also highlighted dispute settlement, an issue he said had been identified as a priority by almost all delegations during recent discussions on WTO reform.

While many delegations have expressed appreciation for the ongoing informal discussions at the expert level, they have also called for the discussions to be formalised in some manner.

The negotiations were not as easy as things look today.

"They were stormy at times. But the sincerity of the Germans played a big role in resolving knotty issues.

In this regard, my special gratitude goes to Andreas Gorgen and the directors of the various museums for their patience and understanding,” he said.

He allayed concern about the infrastructure where the returned artefacts would be warehoused, saying the federal government of Nigeria was embarking on infrastructural development around the National Museum in Benin City in addition to the infrastructural developments being initiated by other stakeholders in the country supported by foreign partners.

He also urged other nations, institutions, museums and private collectors still holding on to Nigerian antiquities to release them.

In particularly, Mohammed called out the British Museum to release the more than 900 Benin Bronzes it was holding, more than a year after the federal government submitted an official letter to the British Museum demanding the return of Nigerian antiquities in this museum.

“Yet there has been no reply of any kind. I visited in July this year hoping that the success recorded with the Germans will nudge the British Museum to do what is right.

But I met a brick wall.

"The British Museum and all those holding on to our artefacts must understand that repatriation is a cause which time has come.

"They must also understand that many of these cultural objects are not mere art to us but the true essence of our being. They are not mere decorative works but our culture and heritage. They belong here, not anywhere else!’ Mohammed said.

Continues online

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

7

8

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SIGNING OF MOU BETWEEN INEC AND THE TRANSPORT UNIONS FOR THE 2023 ELECTIONS...

L-R: President National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa; National President, National Association of Road transport owners, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman; INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and President General, Maritime workers Union of Nigeria, Dr. Adeyanju Adewale, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between INEC and PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI the Transport Unions ahead of the 2023 general elections held in Abuja... yesterday

NECA: 2022 Very Challenging to Organised Private Sector Dike Onwuamaeze The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has described the outgoing year as a very challenging one for the organised private sector of the Nigerian economy.

This view was shared yesterday by the Director General of NECA, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, in a statement titled, “Reviving the Shuttering Economy: NECA Proposes Policy Options.”

Oyerinde said: “Year 2022 remained one of the most challeng-

ing years for organised businesses.

The pandemic-inflicted leadership and sustainability challenges forced organisations to take extraordinary measures in real time, with zero planning,” as things changed drastically and dramatically, leaving no industry across the world unaffected.

He said Nigerian enterprises were forced to operate under excruciating circumstances, made worse by inherent systemic contradictions during the year.

“As organisations faced sustainability issues, they, at the same

time, had to deal with rising energy cost, regulatory gangsterism, inconsistencies and contradictions in the fiscal and monetary policies, which has made doing business unattractive and created clogs in the wheel of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), rising inflation and increasing cost of doing business, which invariably reduced the capacity utilisation of industries,” he said.

While noting that some of these challenges were not peculiar to Nigeria alone, Oyerinde stated

that, “government’s approach to solving them has remained suspect and does not inspire confidence.”

He, therefore, urged government, “to stop making mockery of Nigeria and the citizens” because “it is distressing to witness long queues for petrol when government claimed to have paid trillions in petrol subsidy.”

According to him, “government must unravel the scam surrounding the subsidy and make pronouncement on a definitive plan to remove it.”

Scarcity of Aviation Fuel May Disrupt Flight Operations, Airline Operators Warn Chinedu Eze Many Nigerians travelling for the Christmas and the New Year holidays by air may be stranded as the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has warned that scarcity of aviation fuel, known as Jet A1, may disrupt flight operations.

A statement signed by AON Spokesman, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, who is also the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines and made available to THISDAY, noted that the scarcity of the product started few days ago.

The statement explained, “The AON wish to inform the general public of impending disruptions in scheduled flight operations due to the scarcity of aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET-A1, which reared its ugly head again in the past few days.

“The scarcity will no doubt force airlines to reschedule flights leading to late operations and, or, cancellations.

“This unintended development is a pain on airline operators and a stain on the industry, especially at this time of mass movement of people for the Christmas and New Year festivities.”

The AON also addressed the passengers, saying: “We do our utmost best to manage the situation and ensure safe flight operations, we plead the understanding of the traveling public in the circumstance.”

AON also called on the concerned authorities, including product importers and marketers to do their best to resolve this ugly

situation so as to ease the stress it brings on the travelling public.

“As airline operators, we remain committed to doing all that is necessary to ensure seamless services and safe air travels in our dear country,” the statement said.

A passenger who travelled from Port Harcourt to Lagos on Monday, December 19, 2022 told THISDAY that all the flights that arrived Port Harcourt International

Airport, arrived at least one hour later than scheduled time and they cited fuel scarcity.

“My flight was a 6:30 pm flight to Lagos, but I came to the airport four hours earlier. From the announcement from the public address system, many of the airlines picked their passengers about three hours, two hours late.

My flight delayed for about one hour,” he said.

With disruptions from the Harmattan weather at many airports in the country, the scarcity of aviation fuel would exacerbate flight delays and disruptions.

These create uncertainty in air travellers who might not know what will happen when they arrive at the airport; whether their flights would be delayed due to the scarcity of aviation fuel or by bad weather.

Speaking on policy options that could revive the stuttering economy, Oyerinde noted that “the tax system is currently skewed against responsible tax payers.”

He, therefore, argued the incoming government in 2023 to reform the tax system to create incentives for payers and expand the tax net rather than the current over-burdening of legitimate businesses.

He said: “Consistency in the tax policy will improve stakeholders' confidence rather than the shortsighted attempt to sabotage the established roadmap set out in the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariffs Amendments (FPM 2022), which covers 2022-2024.

“While it was gladdening to hear that government had jettisoned the proposed increases in excise tax, a more collaborative and evidence driven approach should be adopted for future changes."

The director general of NECA also commented on the rising public debt that has crossed N41 trillion and a seemingly unregulated borrowing by state governments.

Oyerinde advised the incoming government in 2023 to “make deliberate attempt to resist the urge to borrow but should rather establish an accountability system that reduces the cost of governance,

curb corruption and make budget padding almost impossible “While government and some of its agencies sometime act as allknowing, we urge inclusiveness in policy design, implementation and monitoring.

“As the private sector is arguably the largest contributor in terms contributions to GDP, it is therefore, imperative to include the organised private sector in all economic-related decision of various arms and tiers of government.”

Oyerinde stated that “it is no gainsaying that the country faces enormous challenges, mostly selfinflicted. We, therefore, urge the current and incoming Government to explore policy options as suggested and adopt a more robust, all-inclusive strategy, focusing not only on the diversification of the economy but also on the imperative to urgently reform the current fiscal structure to reflect fiscal federalism, promote healthy competition and drive productivity.

“Government also should address short term appropriation for long term infrastructure to avoid white elephant projects and create a template for assessing and evaluating the performance of regulatory agencies to national and business sustainability, among others.”

NLC Accuses 10 States of Stalling Local Government Autonomy Bill Says Nigerian masses won't forgive defaulters Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has blamed governors and 10 state Houses of Assembly of Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau. Kwara, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Sokoto and Ondo states are scuttling efforts to amend the country's constitution and to grant autonomy to local governments and state legislature.

It said Nigerian masses would not forget political office holders who took sides with the governors of the aforementioned states.

A statement signed by NLC president, Mr. Ayuba Wabba stated: "It is unfortunate that the current efforts to amend the

constitution of Nigeria has been stalled by the delay by some state Houses of Assembly to assent to the constitutional bills sent by the National Assembly on autonomy for Local Governments and State Legislature."

The NLC said the autonomy for local government councils and state legislature was imperative for democratic consolidation "There are concerns that this constitutional amendment gridlock is at the instance of some state governors.

"Currently, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau. Kwara, Imo, Ebonyi, Oyo, Sokoto and Ondo State Houses of Assembly are yet to assent to the very crucial bills on autonomy for local governments and state

legislatures.

"Interestingly, one of the bills which is on financial and administrative independence for the legislature is of utmost benefit to the State Houses of Assembly which are delaying assent.

"This suggests an attitude of institutional hostage-taking as it appeals to common logic that the concerned state Houses of Assembly would have since willingly and gladly assented to that piece of progressive legislation," he said.

The labour movement described the situation as unfortunate, adding the fact that the amendment had not happened proved that there were very strong forces pulling some backward strings from behind

the scene.

"As the Speaker of the House of Representatives meet with State Governors this week, Nigerian workers who bear the brunt of poor allocation of public resources and scant welfare for workers at the lower echelon of government in Nigeria demand that the constitutional bills on financial and administrative autonomy for local governments and state houses of assembly should be assented to without further delay

by State Houses of Assembly yet to do so.

"This progressive step is very crucial to exempt affected state legislatures and their Governors from the harsh judgement of history. Besides severe excoriation by posterity, the State Houses of Assembly still dragging their feet

on the revolutionary constitutional bills for local government autonomy should understand that millions of Nigerians are watching with keen interest how they treat these bills which translate to huge developmental gains for the mass of our workers and people who live in rural places," it said.

Thw NLC said the caution was critical given that the 2023 general election was just weeks away.

It added that Nigerian masses would not forget political office holders who took their side.

The NLC appealed to state governors and lawmakers to quickly assent to the constitutional bills on autonomy for local governments and state legislatures.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

9

10

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

TEN

Afreximbank, US EXIM Sign $500m MoU to Enhance Trade The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) to enhance trade between Africa and the United States of America (USA).

It is also expected to expand commercial engagements of the African Diaspora community in the US towards facilitating transactions critical to the economic growth of both the US and Africa.

According to a statement, the two banks would support trade

and economic integration in Africa and across a broad range of trade-enabling sectors, including helping to revive and strengthen the African aviation sector.

Both parties would also facilitate trade and investments in healthcare, power, digitalisation, agriculture and agro-processing, and transportation infrastructure, including rail and road projects, as well as investments in renewable energy projects, most importantly, scaling support for industrial development across the African continent.

The MoU was signed by the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah and President, and Chair of US EXIM, Reta Jo Lewis, on the sidelines of the just concluded US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, in Washington DC. Afreximbank and US EXIM would also cooperate with other US departments and agencies through the Prosper Africa initiative, a US Trade and Investment Initiative which aims to increase trade and investment between the US and

African countries.

The Prosper Africa initiative also targets other organisations, businesses, and investors from the African Diaspora community in the US “With the signing of this memorandum of understanding, we move from intentions to action and set the stage for our two institutions to serve as anchors for a renewed, vibrant U.S.-Africa trade and investment relationship,” Oramah said during the signing ceremony.

“As the political actors from the US and Africa renew their commitments to a stronger alliance in today’s fractured world, our two institutions must convert the political intentions into concrete business, trade, and economic gains for the expectant African and American people.

“The time to act is now! By entering this MoU with U.S. EXIM, Afreximbank is helping to open wide that window of opportunity,” he added.

“The partnership that U.S. EXIM

and Afreximbank are undertaking today is very much part of the Administration’s commitment to revitalising partnerships and collaboration with Africa. And the MOU that we are signing today is: To partner with Afreximbank in an effort to create economic opportunity and job creation in Africa and the United States and to “engage America’s African Diaspora,” a source of strength who maintain close familial, social, and economic connections to the continent,” Lewis added.

those who are after the CBN and her Governor should be careful not to discredit the institution in the process as the consequential effect of such will be disastrous on our already ailing economy.

“Our campaign counsels such politicians to rather market their programmes to Nigerians, if they have any, and end their reprehensible hope on vote buying. What is of paramount importance to us in the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation is the stability of the polity, economic growth as well as the wellbeing and happiness of Nigerians in the overall national interest.”

summoned Emefiele for explanations on the policy.

But on December 15, 2022, scheduled for the meeting, the CBN Governor was not available to brief the House.

He, had then written to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, pledging to brief the lawmakers at the, "earliest time possible."

In the letter dated December 13, 2022, with a reference number GVD/ DGC/CON/NAS/002/055, signed by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Edward Adamu and addressed to Gbajabiamila, Emefiele had said he couldn't be physically present to brief the lawmakers due to his trip to the United States of America with Buhari.

Similarly, yesterday, Emefiele sent another letter to the Speaker, saying he would still not be available because he was still engaged with an official assignment outside the country.

Based on the development, the House resolved to re-invite the CBN

CASH POLICY: CAN, OTHERS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER PLOT TO ARREST EMEFIELE in the country with the plot to arrest the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, just because they do not like the policies on naira redesign and the new cash withdrawal limits.

This was just as the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, yesterday called for restrain on the move to forcefully remove Emefiele from office, given the sensitivity of his position to the nation’s economy.

However, the House of Representatives at plenary yesterday, re-invited Emefiele to brief them on his recent monetary policies, especially the cash withdrawal limits which is expected to become effective on January 9, 2023.

But the recent revelation of attempt by the Department of State Service (DSS) to arrest and detain Emefiele has continued to elicit responses from Nigerians including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) alleged that money launderers, political bandits, exchangers, drug and narcotic traders were against the cashless policy and the redesigning of naira by the CBN. Human right lawyers, Chairmen of some political parties, Civil Society Organisations, Ethnic Youth Leaders and Arewa Youth Consultative movement, under the auspices of Coalition of National Interest Defenders (CNID) had raised the alarm over an alleged plot by the Department of State Service (DSS) to implicate Emefiele for terrorism.

The DSS had through one U. S. Gambarawa on December 7, 2022 brought an ex parte application

before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking the court's order to arrest and detain Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing amongst others.

The court in its ruling on December 9, had declined to grant a request by the DSS to arrest Emefiele, stating that sufficient evidence was not brought before it to warrant the granting of the order.

Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, who delivered the ruling held that, "These are no doubt, grave allegations, but which the Applicant has not presented any concrete evidence to support".

The position of the court corroborated the position of some civil groups that the move to arrest and detain Emefiele was a ploy to derail the CBN's redesigning of some denominations of the naira as well as its cash withdrawal limits policy which becomes effective from January 9, 2023.

Chairman, Kaduna State Chapter of CAN, in a statement titled: “What are those against CBN new money policy Hiding?” expressed concern that persons that kept quiet when bandits and kidnappers made life in Kaduna, northern states and especially Southern Kaduna hellish, were bent on disrupting a policy that was capable of addressing the issue of ransom payment.

It added: “We are concerned that what should be a monetary policy has become a tool for some politicians to pick a fight with the Governor of the Central Bank and his board. Why would a spokesman of a political party be releasing a statement encouraging the DSS to

go after the CBN Governor?

“That shows that this is a case of the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Surely, every right thinking Nigerian knows that politicians had stockpiled huge sums of cash in order to manipulate the 2023 elections.

“Indeed, we saw the image on a blackboard behind the son of a prominent politician where the words ‘monetary inducement’ was boldly written. Therefore, we are of the considered view that the attempt to intimidate the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria into abandoning program of redesigning the naira and the new ATM limits is at the behest of politicians whose election strategy is based on money inducement,” it added.

CAN Kaduna State therefore warned that nothing must happen to the CBN governor, saying Nigerians would also want to know why the, “arrogant and aggressive actions against the CBN new money policy, and what is the secret behind this hidden agenda?”

It added: “Section 1 (3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, provides that “The Bank shall be an independent body.”

“We remind all and sundry that the international community is watching this unfolding artificial crisis and is not fooled by the positioning of those who want to frustrate this patriotic policy. No one should take the silence and patience of Nigerians for granted. Nigerians have suffered enough.”

However, the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation also alleged that inordinately ambitious politicians, “that run activities

with bullion vans and raw cash are out to destroy the nation’s financial institutions, particularly, the CBN, for their selfish political interests.”

The spokesperson, Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this in a statement yesterday.

The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation noted that it was instructive to caution that the stability of the CBN as Nigeria’s apex financial institution was critical to the economic and social health of the nation and must not fall prey to corrupt politicians who are out to annex and control, “our national patrimony as well as resources for their personal ambitions.”

The statement added: “Nigerians know the politicians who are desperate for political office as their "turn”, who see our nation and her citizens as an estate for sale, and who believe that their vacuity, many gaffes, manifest incompetence, incapacity for leadership and allegations of smelly past can be perfumed through the dispensing of corruptly acquired cash.

“It is therefore important that

made in in less than one year since the unveiling.

“To ensure that the digital economy sector remains successful and in order to reduce the burden on citizens, I recently approved the suspension of the proposed excise duty in the telecoms sector, as any initiative that will lead to hardship for the citizens would not be pursued."

The president said the digital economy ensured continuity in governance during the restrictions that came into force as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We approved the National Policy on Virtual Engagements for Federal Public Institutions on the 14th of October 2020 and this enabled us to formalise government online meetings.

“As such, statutory meetings like the Federal Executive Council meetings, Council of State meetings and other meetings can now take place online, effectively and legally.

"Our administration’s commitment to promoting data promotion and privacy is receiving praise across the world and we have increased our digital identity enrolments from 39 million in October 2020, to about 92 million today.

"The massive increase of about 63 million in about two years is a global success story and has led to several requests for partnership from countries within and outside Africa.

I also approved the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau on the 4th of February, 2022 to provide an institutional framework for data protection in Nigeria, in line with global best practices," the president told the gathering of ICT experts and government officials.

He said a number of policies and programmes to enhance the productivity of the digital economy sector had been developed.

"For example, National Policy on

NIN-SIM integration has enhanced the integrity of the National Identification Number database.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Postal Service has been repositioned through the unbundling of its services to increase its efficiency and make it more viable as a revenue generating agency of government. The two subsidiaries are the Property & Development Company and the Transport & Logistics Company.

"As part of the NDEPS, I approved the 24th of October as the Digital Nigeria Day. I am delighted that the maiden Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibitions commenced on the 24th of October 2022.

“I am confident that the outcome of the Conference, as noted in the Communique, will support the growth of the digital economy sector.

"I signed the Nigeria Startup Bill into law on the 19th of October 2022. The Nigeria Startup Act is a landmark legislation of this administration to transform the pool of highly talented youth we have in Nigeria into a pool of highly innovative digital entrepreneurs.

“We aim to make Nigeria a global hub for digital talent. It was an Executive Bill that was initiated by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy" he added.

Buhari also noted partnerships with leading global ICT companies to train Nigerians in cutting edge and high demand digital skills.

"This include the training of five million Nigerians, as part of a partnership with Microsoft Corporation. It also includes the training of an additional one million Nigerians in skills, in areas such as blockchain technologies, cybersecurity and data analytics, among others," he also stated.

Buhari commended the giant

In the meantime, the House of Representatives yesterday re-invited Emefiele to brief them on his recent monetary policies especially the cash withdrawal limits.

The lawmakers had via a motion at a plenary session penultimate week

Continued on page 42

BUHARI, GBAJABIAMILA MEET OVER RISING ELECTION VIOLENCE, DISPUTE OVER CASH POLICY revealing the outcome.

The speaker also clarified that the House of Representatives was not involved in the ongoing controversy stirred by its member representing Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankwashi Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, Hon. Gudaji Kazaure, over the alleged missing N89 trillion accruing from Stamp

BUHARI: FG GENERATED $547M FROM 5G SPECTRUM AUCTION Statistics showed the extent of growth, with the ICT contributing an unprecedented 18.44 per cent to the GDP, close to three times the 6.33 percent contribution of the oil sector in the same quarter.

“As part of our efforts to expand our digital infrastructure, we increased our 4G base stations from 13,823 to 36,751 from August 2019 to date, and this has increased the percentage of 4G coverage across the country from 23 per cent to 77.52 per cent, also from August 2019 to date. We have also followed this up with roll-out of 5G services.

“It is noteworthy that the digital economy sector has excelled in generating revenue for the government. In particular, at the Ministerial Retreat that I chaired from the 18th to 19th of October 2022, our independent analysts adjudged the digital economy sector to have generated 594 percent of its revenue target from the 2019 baseline.

“This is very commendable.

As part of these unprecedented achievements, the sector generated over $547 million dollars from the auctioning of the 5G spectrum alone."

Buhari said he was pleased to unveil and inaugurate a number of initiatives that further expressed the government’s commitment to develop a sustainable digital economy in Nigeria.

According to him: “These initiatives are part of our administration’s efforts to position the digital economy as a key enabler for the diversification of our economy and as a catalyst for the transformation of every sector of our economy.

“You will recall that I unveiled and launched the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria on the 28th of November, 2019 and I am very proud of the giant strides and the unprecedented progress that we have

Lawmakers Re-invite CBN Governor for Grilling on Cash Withdrawal Limits on Thursday

strides made by the digital economy sector under the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and other stakeholders, describing it as impressive.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, appreciated the president for his support for the digital economy, with turnovers in broadband/ Internet penetration, skills acquisition for global competitiveness and infrastructure development, like the fiber optic cable, which was about 15,000kms in 2015, and increased to more than 60,000kms.

According to him, there had been 2,255 interventions and programmes in the higher institutions of learning, secondary schools, and some private schools, and the quarterly revenue from ICT rose from N51billion (Naira) to N418 billion (Naira), while some prominent institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, had shown interest in researching the pace of growth in the sector.

Pantami listed many policy interventions that had directly impacted on governance, institutions, markets and citizens, assuring that the ICT would enhance the process of diversifying the economy.

Also speaking, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammed Bello Abubakar, said 400 Ministries, Departments and Agencies were already connected to the National Shared Services Centre.

At the close of the event, two young Nigerians, Kalim Haruna, who developed a system called “Sharp-Sharp’’ and Bashir Abubakar, founder of “Africa First’’, were honoured by President Buhari for their creativity and ingenuity, and showcasing the nation’s talent in a global ICT conference.

Duty.

On the purpose of the meeting, Gbajabiamila said, "It's the regular routine discussions on state matters, and of national interest. I haven't seen the president in a little while.

He's been away. He just got back.

Of course, also his birthday. But more importantly, we had to discuss issues surrounding state matters."

According to Gbajabiamila, "Things have come up, you know, things have come up in the last few weeks. Things come up every day. And the last few days, some things have come up.

"I'm sure you know some of these things. And I just wanted to get his perspective on them and give him mine and the National Assembly's perspective and position on those matters. And we had a fruitful discussion."

Asked regarding the specific issues discussed at the meeting, Gbajabiamila stated, "Well, I wasn't actually intending to talk to the press. It was just a discussion between the president and I, but, of course, there were issues around cashless policy, issues around elections and violence that seems to be erupting here and there, and a couple of other very important matters as well."

He noted that the House was not involved in the Stamp Duty controversy, because Kazaure was working with his team independent of the legislature, adding, "Kazure, from my understanding, is working with whoever he's working with.

"If it necessitates the House coming in, we will come in. If he has an official function, he should go ahead and do his work. But this has nothing to do with National Assembly. Not that I know of."

Probed further on the legislature’s involvement, the speaker stressed, “No, no, no, no, no. It was not based on a resolution of the National Assembly. It was not based on a motion from the National Assembly.

“I believe he said he had the executive authority to do what he's doing. If that be the case, then, it's got nothing to do with the National Assembly."

On whether the House might call the Jigawa lawmaker to order, Gbajabiamila said Kazaure had not infringed on the character

of the House or its members to necessitate that.

He stated, "The House can only call Kazure to order to the extent that he is impugning on the integrity of the House or individuals or leadership of the House, that has nothing to do with what he's doing.

"I think it's important to separate the two. If he has a mandate to do something, that's on him. When it came up, we had asked members of the executive, they said they were not aware of any mandate or such mandate has been withdrawn.

"I don't want to get into it. I don't want to get into it, except to the extent that he tries to impugn on the integrity of members of the House. And that's a no no. We have nothing to do with this."

Projecting on the activities of the House next year, Gbajabiamila pointed out that the Green Chamber would round off the ninth session and go on break to campaign for the elections soon.

He said, "We're going to be rounding off our session. And, of course, you know, when we resume in January, it's going to be just barely five weeks before elections. So, it's probably going to have very little time to sit with maybe about a week to 10 days before we all go for campaigns and elections.

"In that one week to 10 days, we intend to cram in a lot. For now, we’re going to pass the budget on Thursday. Hopefully, when we come back in January, we'll do some housecleaning matters.

Like I said, things come up every single day in Nigeria. So, we don't know what's going to come up any time and then we close for for campaigns.”

He used the opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on his recent 80th birthday anniversary, saying, "The president was in America during his birthday. Many of us were not available with him in America to wish him well. But we did wish him happy birthday.

And I did the same thing upstairs with him.

“We wished him very good birthday, good tidings and I prayed for his longer life, continued protection and Allah's continued blessings on his life. So, happy birthday to Mr. President."

11

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

APC GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN– LAGOS EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT...

L-R: Member of the House of Representatives, Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon Jimi Benson; Senator Tokunbo Abiru; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State Chapter, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, during the APC Gubernatorial Campaign– Lagos East Senatorial District Mega Rally at Ikorodu Town Hall,... yesterday

INEC Signs MoU with Road Transport, Marine Workers’ Unions to Ease Movement of Electoral Materials Group charges Buhari to walk his talk on transparent elections

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) to ease logistics on the lifting of election materials and staff during the general elections next year.

This came just as a group known as the Vote Buying Disruptor have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to walk his talks on avowed plans to ensure a free and fair general election next year.

In his speech at the signing of the MoU with the road transport and marine unions, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said signing of a revised MoU with the road and marine transport unions’ was a demonstration of its determination to implement key recommendations of the review exercise in order to enhance logistics in the electoral operations.

According to the INEC chairman, "The 2023 general elections will involve the nationwide deployment of over one million personnel and massive quantities of materials twice within a period of two weeks from our state offices to 774 local government areas, 8,809 electoral wards and 176,846 polling units across the length and breadth of our country.

"It will require over 100,000 vehicles and about 4,200 boats that will be accompanied by naval gunboats. This is a huge undertaking that must be accomplished in the next 66 days and we are resolute in doing so to give Nigerians a pleasant voting experience.

“Let me assure Nigerians that we are determined that all polling units nationwide will open at 8.30am on Saturday, 25th February 2023 for the presidential and National Assembly elections and on Saturday, 11th March, 2023, for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections,” he explained.

Yakubu said in order to ensure that personnel and materials would be at the polling units on election days awaiting the arrival of voters rather than the other way round, "INEC requires large numbers of vehicles, including motorcycles, tricycles, boats and canoes in the riverine areas which cannot be met from its internal resources.

"It was for this reason that the Commission signed the first MoU with the NURTW in January 2015.

In order to expand the pool of our service providers to meet the requirement for the increasing number of vehicles, the MoU was reviewed in December 2018 to incorporate NARTO. "Over the years, the Commission has come to rely on the partnership with the NURTW and NARTO to provide vehicles for the successful deployment of electoral personnel and materials.

"However, we did not incorporate the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) within the ambit of the MoU, a situation which has often resulted in logistics nightmare in the deployment and retrieval of personnel and materials to the riverine areas of the country.

“This oversight is now addressed by the revised MoU to include MWUN comprising of sailors, dockworkers and those in related trades in our electoral logistics planning and delivery.", he said.

He explained further: "The MoU we are about to sign today is a

general framework. The contractual agreement between and Commission and the actual service provides will be worked out at the state and LGA level between officials of the unions and our Resident Electoral Commissioners and electoral officers.

"The agreement which is legally binding will be based on the actual breakdown of the number of vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, boats and canoes per state. It is therefore significant that our Resident Electoral Commissioners are present here today to witness the formal signing of the framework that will enable detailed work at State and LGA levels.

"I am also glad that the unions are represented by their national leaders and as many of their zonal and state officials.

"It is our expectation that the leadership of the unions will effectively supervise their members in the various chapters and branches for the full implementation of the MoU. In doing so, you will be required to work very closely with our Resident Electoral Commissioners and collaborate with the Federal

Regulatory and Safety Agencies to ensure that the objectives of the MoU are fully realised in terms of required road/sea worthiness and safety standards of your vehicles and boats", he assured the transport unions.

Furthermore, the INEC chairman said the knowledge of transport union members of the routes and topography in various parts of the country was especially important for ease of movement and safe delivery of personnel and materials, especially to areas with difficult terrain.

According to him, everyone involved in election duties must subscribe to the INEC Oath/ Affirmation of Neutrality.

Thus, he said, "We will therefore require your members to swear and strictly adhere to this oath and the INEC Code of Conduct for Electoral Officials as your participation in the delivery of electoral logistics requires absolute neutrality and non-partisanship.

"The security agencies shall not only be available to escort all vehicles and boats to locations, they will also ensure the safety and protec-

tion of all election personnel and materials. As usual, we shall track the movement of all vehicles and boats electronically and in real time to ensure that election personnel and materials are not hijacked or diverted," he explained.

In a related development, the Vote Buyers Disruptor (VBD) have appealed to the president to walk the talk and give a matching order to the Inspector General of police and the NSCDC to encrypt all security personnel participating in elections and ensure any misconduct are punished to safeguard the democracy he enjoys.

In a statement, the group signed, they said, "we also condemned in strong terms the anti-democratic act of destroying INEC facilities across the country as we asked those involved to stop such dastard act.”

The VBD identified and recommends solutions that could lead to a transparent general election next year.

On vote buying, they said the launch of VBD was to dislodge proponents of vote buying menace from source and makes it difficult

FG Bars Cash Withdrawals from Public Accounts Dismisses claims of plans to block all accounts by January 1 Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday, ordered the stoppage of cash withdrawals from public accounts The directive takes immediate effect. The move is part of efforts to support the cash withdrawal limits to be imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that takes off from January 9, 2023

According to the directive, henceforth, public officers are to open domiciliary accounts in foreign and local currencies ahead of the commencement of the new policy which follows the new naira withdrawal policy introduced by the CBN. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Modibo Tukur, gave

the directive at a parley with the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Mahmud Yakubu, in Abuja.

He said the introduction of the new policy became imperative, following the consistent devaluation of the naira and the introduction of a new naira policy in line with Section 1 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

Ohanaeze Debunks Alleged Killings of 100 Northerners in S'East Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has debunked what ir described as a ‘malicious propaganda’ dished out by people identified as ‘enemies of peace’ to cause disharmony, distrust and mutual coexistence between the South East zone and the North.

One Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, who labeled himself as coordinator of the Northern Consensus Forum,

had alleged that 100 northerners were murdered in the South East within last week.

Last Friday, a pro-north newspaper promptly ran with the purported killings, givng Aliyu's claims a curious prominence.

But Ohanaeze, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Dr Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, roundly condemned the purveyors of falsehood, describing the alleged killings as "a lie from the pit of hell."

According to him, "The most disturbing part of the report is

even when electorates aid such heinous act.

They recommended to INEC that Voting Cubicle Reform (VCR) which was to review/ensure vote thumbprint and casting were done simultaneously inside the same cubicle as against short-spaced distance always provided which gives opportunity for votes thumb printed to be ‘seen, viewed and verified’ by the bystander buyers while transiting to being casted into the ballot box, for the purpose of cashing out as no politicians will give out money if he/she cannot verify he was actually voted for.

“We recommend for simultaneous accreditation and actual voting be done the same time as against performing accreditation and staying back to cast voter at later time. This will curb invading of polling units after voters’ have concluded accreditations and process manipulated.

"We recommend for BVAS Location Tracker (BLT) which will detect if any voting action takes place in different location aside configured exact location.

(the claim that) 'not less than 100 northerners were murdered in the South East within last week.”

The Ohanaeze spokesman wondered, where Aliyu got his wild allegations of killings of northerners, when he has "not been in the picture among the Northern leaders resident in the South East".

He said it was unusual that recognised Northern leaders in the South East were unaware of such large scale killings and the security agencies did not react in

any way to alleged incident if it has actually happened.

Ogbonnia noted that Aliyu's grandstanding would not in any way lift him to "such a position to speak on the relationship between the Northerners and the people of the South East," adding that that the alarmist was out to wreak havoc.

"One begins to imagine the very intendment of the purveyor of such a false, mendacious and devilish alarm that 'not less than 100 northerners have been killed in the South East within last week. An

introspection will reveal the damage caused on the image of Nigeria among the comity of nations that 100 persons are killed in one week.

“Apart from the negative image to Nigeria, such unverified front page report is a breach on the duties and civic responsibilities expected of a national daily such as the Daily Trust. Investigative journalism suggests that both the number of persons killed and the locations, where they were killed should have been indicated in the report by the Daily Trust," he said.

In a statement, which was signed by the NFIU’s Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko, It was gathered that the policy was activated following the observation that most cash withdrawals from government accounts including payments for estacode for public officials were often in excess of the cash withdrawal limit provided for by the Money Laundering Act. The NFIU boss said the practice exposed innocent public officials to the risk of imprisonment.

Tukur also said the NFIU was in the process of developing an advisory to the secretary to the government of the federation, state governors and local government chairmen across the country to direct all public servants in their employ to open domiciliary and naira accounts ahead of the commencement of the policy which becomes compulsory by law.

Tukur said governors and local council chairmen were expected to organise training for traders on how to use ATM and PoS services. Tukur also dismissed as false claims in some quarters that the NFIU would block all federal government accounts from January 1, 2023.

12

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

13

14

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

15

16

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

17

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

18

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com

08033025611 SMS ONLY

PDP Crisis and Atiku’s Campaign on the Plateau In this piece, Seriki Adinoyi writes on the damage the internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party is likely to wreak on the presidential bid of Atiku Abubakar in Plateau State, if not quickly addressed.

Atiku

Okowa

T

he internal crisis rocking the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) again reared its head by way of low turnout at the presidential campaign rally in Jos, the Plateau State capital, where the stadium was not as electrifying as it used to be in the past rallies of the party.

Former Governor of the state, Da Jonah Jang, who is famously described as a rallying point of the party, with a substantial control over the party in the state, was conspicuously absent.

His absence alone cast a dark cloud over the rally that used to be charged with large number of able-body young Plateau men that are his foot soldiers. No thanks to the protracted internal wrangling that has torn the once robust party into shreds. Jang belongs to the camp of the Governor of River state, Nyesom Wike that has been calling for the head of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. His position has not changed on the matter.

He has continued to reiterate that Ayu promised that if a Northern presidential candidate emerge from the party primaries he was going to resign as the party National Chairman, and that promise must be honoured for the sake of justice and fair play. He decided therefore that he was not going to be part of Atiku’s campaign, and was therefore not at the rally.

Jang again repeated that he has nothing against Atiku as a person, but rather against the process that led to his emergence in which the primary election was skewed in his favour, and subsequent refusal of Ayu to honour his words. Though cases were made to explain away his absence at the rally, as having travelled abroad for medical checkup, discerning minds know that no medical checkup would have prevented Jang from attending the rally.

Okowa was in Jos a few weeks earlier to inaugurate Atiku’s campaign office, Jang was in town but never attended the event which ordinarily he should have championed as the leader of the party in the state.

But rather he flew to Lagos to attend a meeting called by the Wike group. Aside from the Wike versus Atiku crisis, PDP in the state has been standing on lame feet with camps contesting for the control of party.

The Jeremiah Useni-led camp had had a long-drawn battle with the Jang group, a development that has attracted reconciliation teams from the National headquarters of the party.

Ayu

Jang

Litigants met themselves in court as aggrieved members seek legal redress.

As the crisis festered, many had accused Jang of being unduly firm and unyielding over the control of the party, adding that a little understanding here and there from him would have sufficed.

The gulf among members got even wider with the outcome of the party’s gubernatorial primaries where Jang allegedly showed his power by allegedly enthroning his preferred candidate in the person of Caleb Mutfwang.

Mutfwang spent a whole lot of time trying to mend fences with the other aspirants, but Jang looked away as if nothing happened.

So, his ‘enemies’ within the party got even angrier with him. The only way they could spite him was to pitch their tents with the Atiku camp knowing that Jang is for Wike, probably to whittle down Jang’s influence by supporting Atiku and making him irrelevant.

But the poor outing at the stadium showed that Atiku and the PDP definitely need Jang to be able to maintain hold on the state. Anything different would be as good as handing over Plateau presidential election to any other party, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) will undoubtedly maximize it.

For a rally that held at the same Rwang Pam Township stadium venue where Bola Ahmed

Tinubu of the APC also held a flag-off of his campaign with a massive turnout that attracted President Mohammadu Buhari and other APC bigwigs from across the country, one would say that what the PDP held was a child’s play in the name of a rally, and will advise the party to do more if it truly intends to maintain its hold on state.

PDP has never lost presidential election on the Plateau; because the people see the party as their own with the like of late Chief Solomon Lar as a founding father and first national chairman, and the like of Jang as a Board of Trustee member that has rallied unprecedented support for the party in the state.

But the story has changed completely; things have now fallen apart, and the centre has refused to hold. At the stadium, though the stage was set early, the usual massive and steaming crowd that greeted past PDP rallies was absent as divided supporters managed to muster courage to the venue. Many of the stands at the rally were scanty at the beginning of the rally as weary supporters awaited Atiku, who had led other stalwarts of the party to pay homage on the Gbong Gwom Jos. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Politicians Storm Enugu to Celebrate John Nwodo at 70 David-Chyddy Eleke reports that as former Ohanaeze Ndigbo president, Dr John Nnia Nwodo, recently celebrated his 70th birthday, even the coal city of Enugu State acknowledged that a remarkable event held in town.

N

o one who loves erudition, intellectualism and finesse will fail to admire former Minister of Information and former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Dr Nnia Nwodo.

Of course, both as minister and as president general, Nwodo showed the same finesse which he is known for, delivering with class and never shying away from expressing his opinion very boldly on topical issues.

Of course, for his boldness, many people disliked him, but a lot more loved and cherished him for never making his stand on issues, especially as it concerns Ndigbo secret.

It was therefore not a surprise that penultimate weekend, the very crème of the society from all across Nigeria converged on Enugu to celebrate with him as he marked his 70th birthday anniversary.

From the political world, business, entertainment, high profile individuals came together, and also spared very beautiful thoughts about his person. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi; Obiof-Onistha, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe and many others were in Enugu to felicitate with Nwodo.

The event which started with a Holy Mass , at St. Mulumba’s Catholic Church, New Haven, Enugu, also featured a colloquium, and was later almost turned into a political gathering as leaders of many groups across the country eulogized Nwodo, but didn’t fail to make political statements about the forthcoming

Nwodo

2023 elections, stating that it was a critical decision making period for Nigeria, and everyone should be able to contribute to the making of a new Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Obasanjo said: “The age of a man does not matter much as to his achievements and contributions to humanity. The life of a man really begins at 70. It is not the number of years you spend here on earth, the most important thing is your positive contributions to humanity and God.” He prayed to God to continue to guide Nwodo as he continues to make

positive contributions to the development and unity of the country.

On his part, Pa Adebanjo also extolled the uncommon trait of Nwodo to build bridges and friendships across the country.

According to him, Nwodo had stood out for peace and equity among all parts and ethnicities of the country, adding that he had done that with words and vivid actions.

“I congratulate him for his love for humanity and the progress of everybody he comes across.

We thank God for his life,” he said.

For the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Nwodo remained a man of many parts who had contributed much in various fields of human endeavour and community development.

Achebe described him as a great nation-builder and an outstanding bridge builder who had continued to see all Nigerians as one and the same family.

“I pray that God will continue to grant him good health and the drive to accomplish all He had set out to use Nwodo to achieve for our great nation,” he said.

Also, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev Geoffrey Onah, who delivered the homily noted that God at no time limited the age of men, but “it is our sinful nature that brought us to this limitation. However, long years do not make life honourable but wisdom and fear of God do.”

Onah congratulated Nwodo and urged other leaders to emulate his good virtues of patience, meekness, accommodation of others, and love

for humanity.

Some groups also took the opportunity of the event to make bold statements about their leanings in the forthcoming election.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), in a speech by its president, Dr. Bitrus Poga said the North Central zone of the country is committed to supporting a president of South East extraction for the purpose of fairness, equity and justice.

Poga stated that “Peter Obi will be the first democratically elected president of Nigeria from South East extraction.

“The rest of the country should give peace a chance by voting Obi as the next president. We have said it again and again that in the interest of equity, fairness and justice, the president should come from the South, particularly, the South East. In the middle Belt, we are with Obi for a better Nigeria. When Obi emerges, Nwodo will stand by him as one of the persons who played a major role in presenting him to us.”

Many who have commented on the success of the gathering have described it as one worthy for a personality like Nwodo.

Chief John Nnia Nwodo is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and economist. He served as 9th President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and was Minister of Information and Culture, Minister Of Civil Aviation. He was born on 11 December 1952 at Igboetiti, Enugu State, Nigeria. He also resides in Enugu. He is from the popular Nwodo dynasty, and has played several roles in the emergence of successive governors of Enugu, and also played politics successfully at the national level.

19

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

POLITICS

Onyejeocha Mounts Rostrum again for 2023 Poll As 2023 general election draws near, Emameh Gabriel, writes that Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has yet again mounted the rostrum to return to House of Representatives for another four years.

C

alm but fierce when passionately advocating her cause, prudent with words even when lost in thoughts, perhaps also contemplating her next political move, as she strives to keep the right of women political leadership banner afloat in the nation’s political turf.

In a society where men have called and have continued to call the shot for a long time, especially given our not too far history of military and patriarchal tendencies and leadership, a few women have continued to overcome the barrier as well as keeping the fire burning by establishing themselves against every odds, and holding tenacious the bastion of women representation in national politics.

Fighting tirelessly to put women, children and social innovation issues on the policy agenda, one can count on the likes of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Hon Patricia Etteh, Prof Dora Akunyili, Senator Stella Oduah, Mrs Lauretta Onochie, as falling into the same league by reason of sheer chance or pure determination.

But Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Deputy Chief Whip of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia state, is in a class of her own, especially coming from a background without requisite political relations or pedigree.

Like the proverbial Shakespeare, which said some are born great, some attain greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them, Onyejeocha can be said to fall into the category of the latter, when a community found her worthy and invited her to serve their cause of representation at the national level out of the impression of diligence and honesty that has marked her private life.

Having been found worthy by the elders, she decided to heed their call and learn the ropes.

She became a commissioner of Resource Management and Manpower Development

Onyejeocha

and later executive transition chairman of Umunneochi local government area of Abia state in 2002, before taking up the task of full time national representation as the House of Representatives member for Isuikwuato - Umunneochi Federal Constituency.

She has had an exciting run in a male dominated legislature, particularly being one of the few female members, who have held sway since 2007, proposing innovative policies and laws.

With a background in the maritime sector and international affairs, she has not only effectively advocated the cause of her constituency, she has also become a champion of other national and gender sensitive issues, striving for national consensus.

Knowledgeable and depth in

Nigerian politics, she has won four consecutive elections in her constituency between 2007 and 2019, with virtually new set of candidates at each turn, as they come to test her popularity, which from the figures and trends had shown a social standing, grounded in popular support, which is anchored in concrete performance and excellent politicking.

Among the proposition she has championed or co -championed in the House include the compulsory treatment and care for victims of gunshot act, the anti - torture act, both passed into law in 2017, the Senior Citizens center act, of 2018 and the local government financial autonomy bill currently before the houses of Assembly and the additional seat bill and affirmative action bill intended to increase women participation in politics.

Speaking on the affirmative action bill, she said, “The solution to the whole of these is, Nigeria needs a president who is committed to affirmative action for women. A president who will order political parties to include certain percentage of women for elections.

This is not rocket science. Cameroon, Rwanda and Kenya did it. In 2021, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament of Rwanda stood at 61.25 percent.

“In fact, in the recent election in Kenya, seven women were elected governors. What the women did was to extract commitment from one of the presidential candidates, Williams Ruto, who publicly signed an agreement to allocate specific number of Parliament seats to women. But the men fought it vehemently.

“I was with the Deputy Speaker of Kenya Parliament, she told me that before this election, she asked the presidential candidate that the only way you could have their support is to promise them that you are going to give certain number of seats to women in the parliament.

And that he must signed that agreement in the public. That is what they did. The man said he doesn’t have a problem with women in the

parliament or having women in government.”

After spending about 12 years in the House on the platform of the PDP, on which she witnessed so much transformation on the domestic and national political scene, in 2018, she defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a predominantly PDP state, where even the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has been making better incursion, and succeeded in keeping her seat.

Onyejeocha, who has always declared her political ascendancy as divinely ordained, after winning the party’s primary election, is heading to the poll once again, determined to continue her winning streak as a champion of her constituency and the nation.

Onyejeocha will be going into the election as a political heavyweight, with an excellent appreciation of the political landscape and having the credentials and good work to show for it. A resume’ that will be difficult to beat.

If politics is all about good representation, Onyejeocha has made dexterously and ingeniously. To her kinsmen, she is a monument of pride, having lived up to their expectations by bringing home the dividends for which she was voted for.

Her supporters believe that the special providence that has kept her wining since 2007 has already defined her political future. To them, Onyejeocha represents the face of hope for the people of her constituency.

Her period of service to her people still remain part of the sunny sides of the constituency.

She has done exceedingly well by bringing brilliance, finesse and precision on the flow of the House of Representatives, even girls intending to venture into politics in the future now draw inspiration from her leadership style and disposition.

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

As Buhari Honours NASENI Boss Haruna with OFR Today...

Deji Elumoye reports that the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Haruna, will today receive the national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic from President Muhammadu Buhari

A

ll is set for the conferment of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) national honour on the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mohammad Sani Haruna on Wednesday ahead of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to be chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber at the State House, Abuja.

Interestingly, today’s FEC meeting, according to the President, would be the last for the year.

President Buhari’s decision to confer the national honour on the NASENI boss was announced a fortnight ago by the President in an address while inaugurating the agency’s headquarters named: President Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Complex at Idu Industrial Zone, in Abuja.

Ahead of the prestigious national honour to be conferred on Haruna, the President had earlier recommended him for an Excellence Service Award for driving the agency from the position of obscurity to limelight.

The announcement of the honour and recommendation for Excellence Service Award came to the NASENI boss as a surprise because the President was only scheduled to inaugurate the building.

President Buhari, who is also the Chairman of NASENI, said he was impressed by the performance of the agency so far with what it has been able to achieve under his administration despite serious funding constraints; classifying the agency as one of the pivotal legacies his administration would bequeath to the next administration in 2023.

According to him, the agency, under Haruna’s leadership, has been repositioned to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for national development.

Buhari

Haruna

His words:”This is one pivotal legacy of this administration. With this complex and the available facility, the future of our national competitiveness among global economies is promising. We are sure that these advanced Science and Engineering Core facilities will assist our nation in the attainment of Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030.”

Noting that the agency, created over 30 years ago, had been facing multifarious challenges making it to perform below its potentials in the past, the President said his administration was determined to reverse the trend.

According to him:”NASENI has a long history of establishment and

has been in existence for over 30 years now, but the agency has been facing so many challenges that were mitigating against the realisation of her full potential in line with the Act that established the Agency.

“Under my Chairmanship, NASENI is undergoing a reinvention and transformation to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for our national development.

“Consequently, we have strategically repositioned NASENI to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication, which is critical to Nigeria’s Industrial development.”

On why he was impressed by Haruna’s leadership and resolved to surprise him with the award and honour, President Buhari stressed that NASENI has begun to domesticate foreign technologies and product development through backward integration.

He added that “the recent attraction of 250 Czeck Koruna or $10.5 Million US Dollar

Research and Development grant to Nigeria is evidence that our transformation is achieving results in building competitive Agency.”

President Buhari who said that NASENI, under his watch as the Chairman, has lived up to its expectations and has performed well, stressing that the Agency has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices and has engineered, in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier with advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected APC, among others.

He added that NASENI was advancing the Agricultural Self Sufficiency, Energy, Power and Home Grown Technology Programmes of his Administration through its fabrication of machinery, equipment and devices.

According to him, the Agency “is currently implementing Smart Irrigation Projects for multi-crop season farming; the National Tractor Recovery, Rehabilitation and Redeployment Innovation, in collaboration with Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending,” stressing that the “assembly of two Helicopters towards first Made In Nigeria Helicopter and the development of Solar cells for 100%Solar Module production, using local raw materials are among patriotic contributions to Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy.”

President Buhari reiterated NASENI’s relevance as a critical agency towards the maintenance and sustainability of the nation’s infrastructure emphasizing that: “the present administration has invested heavily in diverse infrastructural facilities: in roads, rails, water and aviation , among other sectors of our economy.

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

20

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

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

Ending Violence against Women and Girls In commemorating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign which kicked off on November 25th and ran until December 10th, Yinka Olatunbosun reports on some milestones as well as the drawbacks in Nigeria’s criminal justice system in fighting the scourge

Baba Ijesha

S

he calls him daddy. But he sees her differently. She is nothing but a tool for sexual gratification. Every night, he would leave his unwary wife in bed and lure the young girl into his study. He started by fondling her genitals. Then later, he made her watch pornography. He introduced the young child to oral intercourse and later, began to experiment all his sexual desires with her. Reports say he had done the same to his patients at the hospital and his older children from his first failed marriage.

The matter is now before the police. But he is still a free man.

The story above is based on a real life experience based on an allegation made by a wife against her husband, who works as a medical doctor in Nigeria. Such stories of sexual abuse of minors have been largely reported in both traditional media and online platforms.

As outrageous as some of these stories might sound, most of them are found to be true after intense investigation and prosecution.

More often than not, young girls are abused by persons close to them: relatives, domestic staff, teachers, neighbours or even religious associates. Historically, sexual abuse cases are often settled out of the court in Nigeria and perhaps, other climes. Years later, the victim would manifest signs of a damage sexual health or other psychological disorder while the unprosecuted perpetrator continues the cycle of abuse having been emboldened by the culture of impunity.

In 1989, a milestone was reached when world leaders made a historic commitment to the world’s children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – an international agreement on childhood. Arguably the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, it has helped transform children’s lives around the world.

For instance, under article 34 of the convention, all states signatory to the convention are required by law to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse including the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; the exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices.

Landmark Victories Against Genderbased Violence In the past few years, victims of sexual abuse and violence-young and old- have been united in calling out serial abusers. For instance, the famous movie producer, Harvey Weinstein who was accused of multiple sexual offences was prosecuted and subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison for criminal sexual acts including rape.

Adenekan In June this year, the former R&B legend, R.Kelly was also sentenced to 30 years in prison for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges. This came on the heels of decades of botched sexual abuse cases and a long trail of sexual misconduct around his supposed music mentees, fans and even his ex-wife.

Recently too in Nigeria, some cases of sexual abuse of minors have been thoroughly prosecuted and where abusers were found guilty, they had been sentenced.

For instance, a toddler aged 2years and 11 months was sexually abused by a supervisor/pastor in Chrisland School, Victoria Garden City (VGC) named Adegboyega Adenekan and the abuser was sentenced to 60 years’ jail term by Justice Sybil Nwaka of an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in 2019. This decision was upheld by the Appellate court in 2020 thus breaking the cycle of impunity for sexual offenders in Nigeria.

Also, earlier this year in July precisely, the comedic actor, Olanrewaju James popularly known as Baba Ijesha was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year old minor. The story did not go without counter claims by friends of the sexual offender, thus demonstrating once more the culture of shaming the victim instead of the abuser.

Indeed, all these aforementioned landmark victories would have been impossible without the unity of victims to speak against the sexual

offender. Notably, the #MeToo social movement against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment have proved to be a liberating tool for victims of abuse to seek justice. It has foisted courage in other women across the globe to speak out boldly against violence and abuse of women and girls.

This explains the theme for this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women dubbed 16 days of activism titled “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.” It is an invitation to everyone to play his or her role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity to women’s rights activists and to resist the rollback on women’s rights.

Drawbacks to Justice…

For women facing violence by men who are their spouses, partners, employers, superiors, mentors or religious associates, it is common to find many victims who prefer to suffer in silence rather than publicly shame their abusers. Often, the fear of being discredited by the abuser or losing their source of income or financial support may have prevented many from seeking justice. Some just wish to preserve their privacy at the expense of encouraging a criminal, violent behaviour.

Asides from the slow justice delivery, one major drawback to seeking justice for the victim is the culture of shaming the victim.

In-laws and even the entire public shame or silence wives who speak out against abusive husbands. Thus, there is a need to educate the public to change their perception of the victims or survivors of gender-based violence.

Educating the Public There are several advocacy groups that

To achieve maximum results, everyone, individuals, government agencies, non-for-profit organisations need to come together as one, to tackle gender violence.

One cannot work without the other. It is a collective responsibility. We are all part of the society we've created; therefore, we should also all be part of societal reform.

Campaigns to this effect should be at the forefront of our daily living, to create residual awareness in our collective consciousness

are working towards changing the public perception of violence against women and girls to advance a better quality of life for this vulnerable group. One of them is the Knowledge Education Empowerment for All (KEE) Foundation chaired by an author and sexuality educator, Ifeoma Theodore Jnr. For her, it is very important to prevent the abuse from happening to protect the young girls from a life-long trauma. She explained the timeliness of this year’s theme of “Unite’’ in an encounter with THISDAY. “This year's theme "Unite" speaks to collaboration, partnerships, and consolidation, to timely achieve a set objective. The World, led, of course, by the United Nations, have since realised and supported the advancement of the Rights of the Child. The theme is set at a great time, and so when all of us consolidate our efforts, especially at upholding the rights of the child, that child grows into an adult male or female empowered with knowledge and awareness, as essential life tools, which have been established as lacking among victims of conflict and violence against women.

“To achieve maximum results, everyone, individuals, government agencies, non-forprofit organisations need to come together as one, to tackle gender violence. One cannot work without the other. It is a collective responsibility. We are all part of the society we've created; therefore, we should also all be part of societal reform. Campaigns to this effect should be at the forefront of our daily living, to create residual awareness in our collective consciousness,’’ she explained.

Her organization, KEE Foundation is working assiduously at breaking many unnecessary bureaucracies and barriers to protecting the right of the Child, prevention against violence, starting from adolescents, teens and young adults.

“The foundation has many published works, which have been approved for use in schools and communities. These works have been distributed to various schools and communities to help facilitate needed discussion between adolescents and their caretakers,’’ she added.

Recently, the Anambra State government approved the use of Theodore’s published books “Trapped in Oblivion” and “My Daughters and I” in the state’s secondary schools. This is a huge step in the government's commitment to protecting young girls from abuse using education as a tool.

“We envisage more partnerships and collaboration with frontline organisations like: related Government agencies, FHI 360, AHNI, NACA, UBEC, to mention a few. We all have a new theme and platform to "Unite" and perform better,’’ she said.

21

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES

Nigeria’s Flood Debacle: The Future Starts Now Remi Adebayo

F

or those who would customarily ignore the threat of floods or oblivious of the dangers it portends, the 2022 experiences have opened the awareness that unless unusual measures are deployed to arrest the situation, this year’s incidents could be a child’s play.

Excuses and buck passing held sway.

Many citizens remained hapless, unable to fathom reasons why floods ravaged communities where lives have been lost in the magnitude seen from September, killing no fewer than 600 people, aside from communities that were sacked alongside economic and environmental misfortunes across the country.

This year’s floodings had in its trails most catastrophic effects, bringing unimaginable economic hardship to households in the affected areas where more than 1.3 million people were reportedly displaced in different communities nationwide.

Its crushing effects were more felt in states like Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Kogi in the North; while Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Anambra and Bayelsa largely bore the effect in the Southern part of the country.

Sad enough, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, a government agency saddled among other mandates, with the responsibility of Weather Forecasting Services, Applied Meteorological Service and Research and Training had issued several alerts on the intensity of the rains and possible negative impacts Floods are not new to us Rivers Niger and Benue did overflow their banks between July and October 2012 and within a space of three months, caused serious economic and health problems to those residing along their banks.

Similarly, in October 2015, River Benue overflowed its banks, leaving over 300 houses and huts submerged with many families rendered homeless in the Makurdi area of Benue State, among others.

The question to always ask is if there were warnings of any sort before such disasters occur in the first instance. Yes, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet has not left the nation in the dark on what to expect each raining season.

While appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise, Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services, Clement Nze disclosed that the Minister of Water Resources, Engr.

Suleiman Adamu had in a letter he personally authored earlier in the year, informed state governors of the impending devastating floods of 2022, arising from NiMet’s report of February 15, 2022.

“The Minister of Water Resources that gave the unveiling of the prediction, the annual flood outlook, issued warnings, issued letters to each state government in Nigeria and

Mustapha

relevant ministries like agriculture, environment and aviation, informing them the specific locations in their states they should watch out for during the rainy season,” Nze disclosed.

Again, ahead of the 2022 flooding, NiMet in August alerted that there would be heavy rainfall and possible flooding in six states in an impact-based weather forecast for August 30 to September 1.

What are the policies and programmes of sub-national governments? Records indicate that NiMet as far back as May 2013 urged officials, especially state governments plan ahead and avoid disasters, especially in flood-prone riverine communities. Ifeanyi Nnodu, then Director of Weather Forecasting Services emphasized that while the agency cannot enforce its advise, state governments should give serious consideration to its advocacy.

“Our duty is to give the prediction, then the other agencies of government who have enforcement powers should act.

“Where the people will have to be moved by force, they move them by force. If there is going to be flood, with the level of awareness, definitely the loss of lives and property will be reduced. You cannot stop natural disasters from happening, just like you cannot stop a bird from flying over your head but you can prevent the bird from perching on your head,”

Nnodu counselled.

But are these disasters supposed to occur in the magnitude of their occurrences? Amidst the controversy of states heaping entirely the flood response on the laps of the Federal Government; questions have arisen of the responsibilities of sub-nationals in flood control management in view of their share from the ecological fund.

Has the Federal Government reneged on its promise to build a dam in Dasin Village of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State to control water from Lagdo Dam from neighbouring Cameroon?

Nigeria was expected to build a similar dam along the River Benue for the purpose of curtailing the effects of the downstream water released from upstream by the Lagdo Dam on nearby Nigeria’s North-East states of Borno, Adamawa and Taraba.

While appearing before the Senate Committee on Water Resources on October 19, 2022 to defend the ministry’s 2023 budget, Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, distanced the Nigerian floodings from water release from the Cameroonian Dam. A Benin City, Edo State based public health physician and retired Director/Chief Executive of Edo State Hospitals Management Agency, Dr. Peter Eguakun, thinks that the Federal Government can do better to control incessant flooding and mitigate damage to lives and property.

His position: “The most cost-effective action, backed by a strong political will, is siting of a solid bumper dam in Nigeria down the course of the Lagdo Dam to cushion the effects of the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.” While Dr Eguakun was right in his submission, it is comparably important to take cue from the minister. If the water fingered for the horrible flood experience this year had no direct linkage with the Cameroonian source, then the solution must be homegrown and all-inclusive to have intentional inputs from the government at the centre and absolute commitment from states governments!

With growing demand for the Federal Government’s intervention during this year’s flood disasters, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, faulted the argument that the Federal Government has not being doing enough. “Calls for the Federal Government to respond to all outbreaks of natural disaster do not just display an understanding of Nigerian law,” Shehu argued.

He specifically tasked states governments to give account of how they spent amounts in excess of one trillion naira which accrued to them in three years from the Ecological Fund to tackle floods and other ecological problems in their respective states.

Records indicate that the 36 states and FCT received an excess of N1 trillion, representing

2.2 per cent of the total accruals for 2018, 2019 and 2023 for ecological and disaster management.

Shehu in addition, said that each of the three tiers, the local government, the state government and the Federal Government has a sizable budget at its disposal, allocated monthly precisely for dealing with these state-level natural emergencies.

“If those sums of money are, for whatever reason, no longer available, the affected states and local councils must immediately contact the relevant authorities to explain what has happened to those funds,” said Shehu.

Established in 1981 through the Federation Account Act 1981, on the recommendation of the Okigbo Commission, the Ecological Fund is an intervention Fund by the Federal Government to address the multifarious ecological challenges in various communities across the country and it has as parts of its other responsibilities aside flood control, soil erosion; drought, desertification and coastal zone management and also pollution control.

Aside from the casualty figures, the sacked communities and people that were rendered homeless and displaced, many farms were washed away with losses suffered by individual farmers and big names in agricultural productions.

About N100 billion was estimated by the Director General of the Federal Emergency Road Management Authority, FERMA, to rehabilitate roads affected by floods nationwide for this year.

It is then important for subnational governments to reconsider their Ecological Fund spending strategy and deployment to necessary and critical sectors in a manner to significantly avoid, reduce and mitigate the impact of unavoidable flooding should a repeat of 2022 experience presents itself in 2023, after all, the climate change menace is still here with us.

To avoid similar emergencies as witnessed this year, state governments must stop seeing the Ecological Fund as an extension of free fund that could be diverted fo other uses; deliberately prepare to forestall recurrence by embracing audacious town planning to resettling disaster-prone communities; heed and act on early warnings and offer needed support to save life, property and the environment will the devastations.

In the same vein, the Federal Government must take advantage of this breathing phase to dredge the Benue and Niger Rivers in line with experts’ demands for the rivers to gain more depth that can soak the volume of municipal and cross border waters which have destroyed livelihoods and brought pain and agony to many homes.

-Remi Adebayo is the Editor, Abuja City Journal, Abuja.

Rollace's True Hospitality Drive for Nigerians Precious Ugwuzor

“T

rue hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests,” Eleanor Roosevelt was known to have said. And for Rollace Hotel, this is the quality of service they offer its customers since its establishment.

The classy hospitality with all 80 rooms designed to suit customers comfort and relaxation is strategically positioned in the heart of Lagos at No 46/48 Awoniyi Elemo Street, Airport Rd, Ajao Estate.

Rollace Hotel customers will always come back and most times refer people to the hotel because courteous treatment they say, will make a customer a walking advertisement.

Without a doubt, the Rollace hospitality is a perfect experience given to customers.

Already, it has carved a niche in the dynamic hospitality market, thus, it has remained a name to be reckon with.

Established to serve a purpose- meet customer's taste both nationally and Internationally, Rollace Hotel offers its customers rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screens, tea and coffee-making facilities, a dresser, a refrigerator, upholstered chairs, en-suite bathrooms and a modest-quality and world class mattress that can only be found in the hotel.

Rollace staff, geared to serve

There's a relaxed restaurant, a casual pub and a lobby lounge.

Other amenities include an outdoor pool with a sundeck, a poolside bar.

Rollace Hotel is a 3.5-star hotel with a casino VIP room, 40 slot machines, a fitness centre com-

prising of a gym, 10 casino gaming tables, a nightclub, a poolside bar, dry cleaning/laundry services, free self parking, buffet breakfast, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk.

All 80 rooms are individually furnished with comforts such as 24-hour room service and premium bedding, as well as perks like laptopfriendly workspaces and air conditioning.

Rollace hotel which is said to be a beauty better seen than told with a service better felt than written has a staff strength of 180 to continue to maintain excellent service delivery.

Rollace which is adjudged to be the most preferred hotel in Lagos and the best on the mainland because of its closeness to both International and local airport.

In order to make movement easier for its customers, Rollace Hotel provided a 2022 Hiace Bus to convey guests to the airport on free booking to avoid stories like missing of flights.

The hospitality which is just 3 minutes to the International airport and 5 minutes to local airport is built in a serene environment with 24 hours electricity and full armed security presence to ensure safety of it customers.

Extra amenities include free tea bags/instant coffee and electric kettles, bathrooms with rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs, 43inch flat-screen TVs with premium channels, wardrobes/closets, separate sitting areas, and refrigerators.

Rollace is the most preferred hotel within the local and International airport vicinity with the sole vision of meeting the highest international standards.

Already, it has won several honours and awards with many more prominent and reputable awards to come in 2023.

22

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY ADVERTORIAL

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022

23

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

2 0 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

At 16.67%, Foreign Portfolio Investments in Stock Market Hit Over 9-year Low

Kayode Tokede Amid 2023 political uncertainty and scarcity of foreign exchange, foreign portfolio investments in the Nigerian stock market dropped to 16.67 per cent in 11 months of 2022, the lowest level in over 9 years.

This is in contrast to 22.93 per cent foreign portfolio investments in 11 months of 2021.

THISDAY investigation revealed that foreign portfolio investment in 11 months of 2013 stood at 46.59 per cent and it increased to 80.92 per cent in 11 months of 2014.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited

(NGX) domestic & foreign portfolio participation in equity trading report showed that foreign portfolio investments in 11 months of 2015 stood at 56.81 per cent, while in 11 months of 2016 it was at 44.86 per cent.

Further breakdown revealed that foreign portfolio participation in the stock market trading was at 48.55 per cent in 11 months of 2017; 50.87 per cent in 2018; 48.85 per cent in 2019 and 34.72 per cent in 2020.

The stock market in 2022 has witnessed mixed performance amid a hike in the inflation rate and

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a desperate attempt to tame the growing inflation rate, the CBN had raised the MPR to 16.5 per cent from 11 per cent, and the world economy, according to the World Bank may be edging towards a global recession and a string of financial crises in emerging market and developing economies in 2023.

On the backdrop of impressive corporate earnings by some key companies and low yield in the fixed-income market, among other factors, the stock market segment of the NGX has gained per cent

in 11 months of 11.57 per cent in 11 months of 2022 and highly dominated by domestic investors that comprises of retail domestic/ institutional investors.

Capital market analysts have expressed that the MPR increase, uncertainty towards the 2023 political elections, inflation rate and most especially the scarcity of foreign exchange have contributed to foreign investors’ exit.

Findings by THISDAY revealed that Naira at the Investors & Exporters (I & E) Foreign Exchange Market depreciated to N 451.50/ Dollar as of December 19, 2022, from

N412.99/ Dollar it closed in 2021.

CEO Wyoming Capital and Partners, Mr Tajudeen Olayinka attributed the drop to foreign exchange challenges.

According to him, “The only explanation for that is the disappointing exchange rate misalignment in Nigeria and the need to limit possible exposure to foreign exchange risk.”

He noted that solution to the problem lies in unifying the exchange rate regime and allowing foreign exchange market to function.

The Chief operating officer of InvestData Consulting Limited,

Mr. Ambrose Omordion also highlighted that foreign exchange market challenges, 2023 election fear and rising interest rates weaken foreign portfolio investments in Nigerian stock market.

Speaking with THISDAY, the Vice President of Highcap Securities, Mr. David Adnori attributed the foreign investors’ decline in the stock market to foreign exchange scarcity, stating that domestic investors have increased their holding in some listed fundamental stocks on the Exchange.

Continued on page 27

Report Highlights Port Logistics, Access to Finance as Factors Hindering Exports Oluchi Chibuzor For Nigeria to maximise recent reforms embarked upon by the federal government to increase the country’s earnings from nonoil export, the government should improve port logistics, access to finance and its government agencies.

This was disclosed in a report by 3T Impex Consulting, which identified poor port logistics, access to finance and as the greatest challenges hindering ecports.

The first edition of the report

provided insights into what needs to be done by the government, banks, and other stakeholders in the industry to fix the problems.

While presenting the maiden report on Annual Trade Finance Survey 2022 in Nigeria in Lagos, Lead Consultant, 3T Impex Consulting, Dr. Bamidele Ayemibo, said the county will continue to fail to meet her export target unless Logistics hindering it are urgently resolved.

He said banks should be deliberate in providing Forex to

those in the export sector for the country to move away from being an import dependent economy.

He added that it is sad that 94 per cent of export financing request were rejected by banks in the country as shown in the report.

Africa, he added, represents 2.5 five percent of the total export in the world, stressing the need for the country, “to put up necessary sanctions to remove all bottlenecks Nigerians face at the port trying to export their products abroad.”

He noted that the objectives

of the survey was to identify the challenges of export business in Nigeria, knowing the level of export trade finance rejection and understanding the reasons for export trade finance rejection.

He maintained that the report also seeks to understand the features that characterized approved export trade finance requests and identify the challenges faced by exporters in getting their export trade finance requests approved.

He stressed that some of the recommendations made by the

survey will address the identified challenges associated with export trade finance rejection with the positive effect of reducing the trade finance gap.

According to him, some of the findings showed that “42 per cent of rejected export finance requests were done without any reason given to the exporters, “21 percent of the rejected export financing requests were based on lack or inadequate collateral security and only 11 percent of exporters received approval for their export

financing request.

“Other are 57 per cent of exporters identified access to export finance, port logistics and delays by government agencies at the port as major challenges hindering export growth, 22 per cent of export financing requests were approved within one month of application.59 percent of exporters were attracted to a bank that have support services for exporters and 94 per cent of exporters experienced Continued on page 27

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 2 2 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

Yield

102.66

11.79

102.41

12.25

98.72

13.00

107.27

13.94

103.86

12.92

Change Updated Time (%) -0.01 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

Yield

NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

5.40

5.43

5.68

5.73

5.42

5.49

7.22

7.41

NTB 11May-23

7.50

7.73

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 0.00 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022 -0.01 December 16, 2022

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) 0.00 December 12.44 12.84 16, 2022 17.39 18.32 0.00 December 16, 2022 14.02 14.68 0.00 December 16, 2022

Discount Yield

.

.

.

. .

.

.

.

. .

CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS DEC 28 1 2022 NGUS JAN 25 2 2023 NGUS FEB 22 3 2023 NGUS MAR 29 4 2023 NGUS APR 26 5 2023

Current Rate Updated Time ($/₦) December 454.73 16, 2022 December 456.93 16, 2022 December 459.12 16, 2022 December 461.32 16, 2022 December 463.51 16, 2022

24 T H I S D AY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 TR

UT H

& RE A S O

Wednesday December 21, 2022 Vol 27. No 10116

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

ELON MUSK AND THE MANY TWITTER TWISTS The microblogging platform is floundering, writes SONNY ARAGBAAKPORE

See page 25

FIFA HUGGING WORLD CUP RACISM

OKELLO OCULI urges the World Cup organising body to help stem desecration of human rights

See page 25 EDITORIAL

FARMERS, HERDERS, AND THE ISSUES

26

1

Despite the hard times, SONNIE EKWOWUSI enjoins all to celebrate Christmas

A CHRISTMAS LIKE NO OTHER Whether in plenty or on empty stomach or in foreboding forlorn or in distress, we are HOHFWULÀHG DQG HQUDSWXUHG LQ WKH PDJQLÀFHQW DOOXUH DQG IUHQ]\ RI &KULVWPDV DPLG WKH UHQGLWLRQ RI EHDXWLIXO &KULVWPDV FDUROV IHVWRRQLQJ RI SXEOLF KLJKZD\V SXEOLF SDUNV DQG SHUVRQDO KRXVHV H[FKDQJH RI &KULVWPDV JLIWV VRFLDO SDUWLHV DQG IDPLO\ &KULVWPDV gatherings.

7KLV \HDU·V &KULVWPDV RXJKW WR EH FHOHEUDWHG ZLWK SRPS DQG SDJHDQWU\ ,W LV WKH ÀUVW SRVW &29,' &KULVWPDV 7KH ODVW WZR &KULVWPDVHV ZHUH PDUUHG E\ WKH &29,' ORFNGRZQ <RX will recall that families, friends, relatives and DFTXDLQWDQFHV ZHUH IRUFHIXOO\ VHSDUDWHG IURP RQH DQRWKHU GXULQJ WKH &29,' ORFNGRZQ 6RFLDO IDPLO\ DQG FRPPXQDO LQWHUDFWLRQV DQG VRFLDOL]DWLRQV ZHUH SDUDO\]HG (YHQ SXEOLF UHOLJLRXV ZRUVKLS FHQWUHV ZHUH EDQQHG GXULQJ WKH ORFNGRZQ 1RZ WKDW WKH &29,' ORFNGRZQ and social restrictions have been lifted, I say, KDSS\ VXUYLYDO /HW XV PDNH PHUULPHQW DQG FHOHEUDWH DV ZH WKDQN *RG IRU JUDFLRXVO\ VSDULQJ RXU OLYHV DW DOO WLPHV HVSHFLDOO\ GXULQJ WKH UDYDJLQJ &29,' \HDUV )URP ZKHUH , DP VHDWHG DW WKH PRPHQW DQG VFULEEOLQJ WKLV , FRXOG KHDU LQ WKH KRUL]RQ WKH WUDGLWLRQDO &KULVWPDV FDUROV LQ FHOHEUDWLRQ RI WKH GLHV QDWDOLV RI -HVXV &KULVW , FRXOG IHHO WKH IHVWLYH PRRG RI WKH GLͿHUHQW SHRSOH DURXQG PH , FRXOG VHQVH WKH LQQHU SHDFH DQG MR\ HQFXPEHULQJ WKH KHDUWV RI PDQ\ SHRSOH HYHQ WKRXJK WKH\ KDYH OLWWOH RU QRWKLQJ WR HDW DQG GULQN $W WKH 1DWLYLW\ RI -HVXV &KULVW ZH DUH LQYLWHG WR UH OLYH DQG GHHSHQ RXU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH XQIDWKRPDEOH &KULVWLDQ P\VWHU\ ZKLFK WRRN SODFH DW WKH ÀUVW &KULVWPDV PRUH WKDQ \HDUV DJR :KHQ SHDFHIXO VLOHQFH OD\ RYHU WKH VXUIDFH RI WKH HDUWK DQG WKH QLJKW KDG QRW UXQ LWV IXOO VZLIW FRXUVH *RG FKRVH WR EH ERUQ LQ D UHODWLYHO\ KXPEOH FLW\ RI 'DYLG FDOOHG %HWKOHKHP $V 6W -RVHPDULD (VFULYD DSWO\ SXWV LW ´ZKHQ WKH IXOOQHVV RI WLPH FRPHV QR SKLORVRSKLFDO JHQLXV QR 3ODWR RU 6RFUDWHV DSSHDUV WR IXOÀOO WKH PLVVLRQ RI UHGHPSWLRQ 1RU GRHV D SRZHUIXO FRQTXHURU DQRWKHU $OH[DQGHU WDNH RYHU WKH HDUWK ,QVWHDG D child is born in Bethlehem. He is to redeem WKH ZRUOGµ 3RHW :LOOLDP %XWOHU <HDWV ZULWHV WKDW DW WKH DSSRLQWHG WLPH *RG FDXVHG ZKDW KH GXEEHG WKH ´XQFRQWUROODEOH P\VWHU\ RQ WKH EHVWLDO ÁRRUµ WR WDNH SODFH DW D UHODWLYHO\ REVFXUH WRZQ RI %HWKOHKHP <RX DQG , VKRXOG PDUYHO DW WKH PDJQDQLPLW\ RI D *RG ZKR WRRN ÁHVK LQ WKH HYHU YLUJLQ ZRPE RI WKH %OHVVHG 9LUJLQ 0DU\ LQ RUGHU WR EH ERUQ DPRQJ XV :H OLYH LQ a society in which anybody who by any chance KDV DFFXPXODWHG VRPH PDWHULDO ZHDOWK RU KDV ORWV RI PRQH\ LQ KLV SHUVRQDO EDQN DFFRXQW ZDQWV WR PDNH D ELJ VWDWHPHQW DERXW LW ZLWK KLV ELJ FDU JRUJHRXV GUHVV DQG WKH TXDOLW\ RI KLV VKRHV -XVW WDNH D VWXGLHG ORRN DURXQG \RX :KDW FDQ \RX VHH" 1RLVH PDNLQJ WUXPSHWLQJ WKXQGHU JUDQGVWDQGLQJ ÁDPER\DQFH FRORXUV WLWOHV +XPLOLW\ LQ RXU FOLPH VHHPV WR EH D YLFH 6HOI²HͿDFHPHQW LV D VFDUFH YLUWXH LQ RXU ZRUOG ,I \RX DUH GRLQJ DQ\ JRRG ZRUN WKH VRFLHW\ H[SHFWV \RX WR ERDVW DERXW LW LQ SXEOLF RWKHUZLVH \RX FRXOG EH DFFXVHG RI UHYHOOLQJ LQ

UHOLJLRXV REVFXUDQWLVP RU VHFUHF\ 2XU D΀QLW\ IRU WLWOHV LV XQSUHFHGHQWHG 7KHVH GD\V VRPH even wear badges so that the society may not ORVH WKH JRRG RSLQLRQ WKH\ KDYH DERXW WKHP %XW -HVXV &KULVW WKH ZD\ WKH WUXWK DQG OLIH LV KXPLOLW\ SHUVRQLÀHG ´&KULVW WULXPSKHG WKURXJK KXPLOLW\µ ZULWHV 6W -RVHPDULD (VFULYD -HVXV LV WKH &UHDWRU RI DOO WKH DOOXULQJ PDWHULDO WKLQJV RQ WKLV HDUWK +H FRXOG KDYH FKRVHQ WR EH ERUQ LQ WKH PRVW H[SHQVLYH KRVSLWDO RQ HDUWK UXQ E\ WKH EHVW J\QDHFRORJLVW RQ HDUWK ,QVWHDG he chose to be born in a stable, a place where DQLPDOV DUH NHSW &DQ \RX LPDJLQH" &KULVW WKH VDYLRXU RI PDQNLQG FKRRVLQJ WR EH ERUQ LQ D SODFH ZKHUH DQLPDOV DUH NHSW 7KH %LEOH WHOOV XV WKDW WKHUH ZDV QR SODFH IRU KLP KLV PRWKHU Mary and foster father Joseph in the inn.

5HÁHFW RQ WKLV SDUDGR[ ZKHUHDV WKHUH LV URRP IRU WKH PDWHULDOO\ ULFK RI WKLV ZRUOG WKHUH LV URRP IRU WKRVH FORWKHG LQ ÀQH DSSDUHOV WKHUH LV room for every traveller who has travelled far DQG ZLGH %XW WKHUH LV QR URRP LQ WKH LQQ IRU WKH &UHDWRU RI WKH XQLYHUVH +H ZDV ODLG LQ D manger, not in a golden bed. Animals not only ZLWQHVVHG KLV ELUWK EXW VXUURXQGHG KLP DIWHU KLV ELUWK 3ULRU WR KLV SXEOLF OLIH KH VSHQW \HDUV LQ REVFXULW\ ZRUNLQJ DV D FDUSHQWHU ZLWK 6W -RVHSK KLV IRVWHU IDWKHU )RU RXU VDOYDWLRQ KH DOORZHG KLPVHOI WR EH DUUHVWHG DQG FUXFLÀHG RQ DQ LJQRPLQLRXV FURVV )ROORZLQJ WKH H[HPSODU\ KXPEOH OLIH RI -HVXV OHW XV OHDUQ WR EH KXPEOH :H VKRXOG UHSURGXFH &KULVW·V H[HPSODU\ OLIH LQ RXU LQGLYLGXDO OLYHV -HVXV FDPH WR VHUYH QRW WR EH VHUYHG +H DOORZHG KLPVHOI WR H[SHULHQFH VXͿHULQJ ZDQW DQG GHSULYDWLRQ ,Q DVVXPLQJ KXPDQ QDWXUH KH ERUH RXU EXUGHQV 6HHLQJ WKH VXͿHULQJV DQG GLVWUHVVHV DQG GHSULYDWLRQV DQG GHDWKV RI WKH SHRSOH DURXQG KLP KH IHOW VDG +H IHG WKH KXQJU\ +H FXUHG WKH EOLQG OHSHU WKH GHDI DQG GXPE DQG WKH LQÀUP 6HHLQJ WKH ZRPDQ RI 1DLP LQ WHDUV IRU ORVLQJ KHU VRQ KH felt sorry for her and restored her son to life. )ROORZLQJ WKH H[HPSODU\ VRFLDO FRQFHUQ RI -HVXV WKH 6DYLRXU RXU SROLWLFDO R΀FH KROGHUV VKRXOG EULQJ OLJKW WR WKH GDUN ODQG KRSH WR WKH KRSHOHVV MXVWLFH WR WKH RSSUHVVHG DQG LQWHJULW\ to the wasteland. At the moment life seems WR KDYH ORVW LWV PHDQLQJ LQ 1LJHULD 7KHUH LV XQWUDPPHOOHG KXQJHU LQ WKH ODQG 2XU VWUHHWV DQG DOOH\ ZD\V DUH OLWWHUHG ZLWK PDQ\

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that protection of lives and property of WKH FLWL]HQU\ LV KLV SULPDU\ FRQVWLWXWLRQDO UHVSRQVLELOLW\ ZKLFK KH FDQQRW FRQWUDFW RXW ,Q IDFW LI WKHUH LV RQH &KULVWPDV JLIW 0U 3UHVLGHQW FDQ JLYH WR 1LJHULDQV WKLV &KULVWPDV LW LV WR SURWHFW WKHLU OLYHV DQG SURSHUW\ ,W PDNHV QR VHQVH WKDW 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL LV WURWWLQJ WKH world and telling all who cares to listen that KH KDV GRQH KLV EHVW IRU 1LJHULD ZKHQ LQ IDFW WKH FRXQWU\ LV QRZ ZRUVH WKDQ KH PHW LW :KHQ a government has failed to protect lives and SURSHUW\ RI WKH FLWL]HQU\ LW LV DQ LQGLFDWLRQ WKDW WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDV ZRHIXOO\ IDLOHG $W WKH LQGLYLGXDO OHYHO ZH QHHG D QHZ KXPDQLVP LQ 1LJHULD 3UHVLGHQW %XKDUL LV QRW WKH FDXVH RI DOO RXU SUREOHPV 3DUW RI RXU SUREOHP LV WKH SUREOHP RI SROLWLFDO IROORZHUVKLS $V ZH VSHDN PDQ\ 1LJHULDQ YRWHUV KDYH EHHQ ERXJKW RYHU E\ PDQ\ IUDXGXOHQW SROLWLFLDQV 7KHVH IUDXGVWHUV ZDQW WR XVH WKHP WR WU\ WR ULJ WKH HOHFWLRQV 0DQ\ RI XV GR QRW ORYH RXU IHOORZ KXPDQ EHLQJV 7KHUHIRUH ZH PXVW OHDUQ WR VHH RXU QHLJERXUV DV KXPDQ EHLQJV QRW PHUH REMHFWV WR EH XVHG WR VDWLVI\ RXU VHOÀVK LQWHUHVWV 7KH VHOI VDFULÀFLQJ VHUYLFH RI -HVXV 0DU\ DQG -RVHSK DW ÀUVW &KULVWPDV LV D VSXU WR XV WR EH OHVV VHOI FHQWHUHG DQG DWWHQG WR WKH QHHGV RI RXU IHOORZ men and women.

1RZ WKDW ZH KDYH UHDFKHG WKH WKUHVKROG WR WKH HOHFWLRQV ZH VKRXOG JHW RXU 39&V ready to vote for competent and credible SROLWLFDO FDQGLGDWHV RI RXU FKRLFH 'RQ·W WHOO PH \RX DUH ZDLWLQJ IRU WKH PLUDFOH RI *RG WR VDOYDJH 1LJHULD IURP WKH GROGUXPV RI failed political leadership and failed political IROORZHUVKLS , NQRZ WKDW *RG ZRUNV PLUDFOHV EXW *RG QHHGV WKH FRRSHUDWLRQ RI \RX DQG , LQ RUGHU WR ZRUN KLV PLUDFOH LQ 1LJHULD +H ZDQWV XV WR JHW RXU 39&V DQG JR RXW WR YRWH RQ (OHFWLRQ 'D\ *RG FDQ RQO\ ZRUN KLV PLUDFOH LQ 1LJHULD LI ZH VKXQ HOHFWLRQ ULJJLQJ 39& EX\LQJ DQG YRWH EX\LQJ *RG FDQ RQO\ ZRUN KLV PLUDFOH LQ 1LJHULD LQ LI ZH UHIUDLQ IURP YRWLQJ IRU WKH LQFDSDFLWDWHG DQG IUDXGXOHQW SUHVLGHQWLDO ÁDJ EHDUHU VLPSO\ EHFDXVH KH FRPHV IURP RXU WULEH 7KHUHIRUH WKLV &KULVWPDV FDOOV IRU D GHHSHU UHÁHFWLRQ :H PXVW RQO\ FDVW RXU YRWHV IRU PRUDOO\ XSULJKW SROLWLFDO FDQGLGDWHV :H FDQ QR ORQJHU YRWH IRU ´ µ SHUVRQV LPEHFLOHV DQG WKLHYHV $QG LI RXU YRWHV PXVW FRXQW ZH PXVW ZDLW WR GHIHQG WKHP DIWHU YRWLQJ RQ (OHFWLRQ 'D\ Ekwowusi writes from Lagos

T H I S D AY

3 25

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

The microblogging platform is floundering, writes SONNY ARAGBA-AKPORE

ELON MUSK AND THE MANY TWITTER TWISTS After the seemingly controversial acquisition of mega blogging platform, Twitter, Elon Musk still swims in controversies.

First was the antics of oath taking for loyalty by workers, a situation seen by many a hard pill to swallow, and the resignations in droves.

Deadlines followed which Musk insisted workers must abide by or ship RXW ZLWK D WKUHH 0RQWK SD\ RͿ 7KLV WRR didn’t go down well with the workers.

$QG GHVSLWH WKH MRJJOLQJ RI VWDͿ IURP Tesla and SpaceX to Twitter, no one seems fooled because, everyone knows Musk to be perpetually engrossed in controversial ways.

Musk has been known to gag his workers and oath of secrecy was nowhere alien to those who work with or for him.

He has also vowed to deploy legal means to challenge any one including his workers who criticize him and so the Twitter deal was done to raise his hold RQ PHJD EXVLQHVVHV EXW ÀUP FRQWURO over this platform that was seen as a platform for those who have important messages to pass to the general public.

Advertising has been reduced to subscriptions thereby restricting access to all.

He has opted to regulate the platform ZLWK LURQ ÀVW DQG GHVSLWH UHRSHQLQJ 3UHVLGHQW 'RQDOG 7UXPS·V R΀FLDO handle that was ousted by former managers for what was seen as toxic posts, Musk scored an own goal as Trump declined to reopen the handle.

Only a few days ago those involved with the Twitter debacle voted that Musk should step aside as a mark of his personal honour if Twitter will return to its preeminence. But will he step down from his strong grip and let Twitter run its race? The drama continues.

The move came after mounting criticism of his chaotic leadership at Twitter, including recent decisions to suspend journalists and introduce (and then delete) a controversial policy banning the practice of linking out to ULYDO SODWIRUPV OD\LQJ RͿ KDOI RI WKH FRPSDQ\·V VWDͿ ÀULQJ RWKHUV ZKR disagreed with him; and welcoming back onto the platform previously EDQQHG ÀJXUHV ZKR WUD΀FNHG LQ misinformation, conspiracy theories, and hate speech.

Musk has led Twitter Inc. for a little over seven weeks, taking the helm after buying the social-media platform in a deal valued at $44 billion in October.

His ownership of the San Francisco-

EDVHG ÀUP KDV JRWWHQ RͿ WR D WXUEXOHQW start, with many advertisers having SDXVHG VSHQGLQJ PDVV OD\RͿV DQG resignations, and content-moderation actions that have been abrupt and controversial among many users, including reinstating former President Trump’s account and disbanding Twitter’s Trust and Safety Council.

Trump has not tweeted since being reinstated.

The past week has been another one full of twists. Twitter suspended the accounts of several journalists, prompting criticism from some ODZPDNHUV DQG R΀FLDOV EHIRUH 0XVN said Saturday that Twitter would begin reinstating the accounts.

He had asked Twitter users to vote on Sunday on whether he should step down as head of the social-media platform and pledged to abide by the results, the latest twist in what has been a tumultuous period for the company since his takeover in October.

“Should I step down as head of Twitter? I will abide by the results of this poll,” Musk said in the tweet, posted to his own account. He gave users two options for a response: “Yes” or “No,” according to the tweet.

In another tweet shortly after, Musk added: “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it.”

Earlier on Sunday, Twitter made another sudden change to its contentmoderation rules, saying it would no longer allow “free promotion of certain social media platforms.” That also fueled criticism and questions, including from Twitter co-founder and former chief executive Jack Dorsey, who has previously endorsed Musk’s takeover. “Doesn’t make sense,” Dorsey explained.

Musk, who has said he intends to make the platform a bastion of free speech, appeared to acknowledge some concerns about the recent, abrupt content policy changes. “Going forward, there will be a vote for major policy changes. My apologies. Won’t happen again,” he tweeted shortly before posting the poll about his leadership on Sunday.

Musk has warned about Twitter’s ÀQDQFLDO FRQGLWLRQ VD\LQJ WKLV SDVW PRQWK WKDW WKH FRPSDQ\ KDG VXͿHUHG “a massive drop in revenue” and was losing over $4 million a day. He later raised the possibility of bankruptcy.

Musk’s team this past week reached out for potential fresh investment for Twitter at the same price as the original $44 billion deal, a Twitter investor said.

Musk also is contending with investor questions about electric-car maker Tesla Inc., which he runs in addition to Twitter and rocket company SpaceX. 7HVOD·V VWRFN LV GRZQ PRUH WKDQ this year.

Musk this past month said he had too much work to do that he needed to be left alone to do that which will move Twitter forward.

Aragba-Akpore is a member of THISDAY Editorial Board

OKELLO OCULI urges the World Cup organising body to help stem desecration of human rights

FIFA HUGGING WORLD CUP RACISM Entrenched racism in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia has assumed new visibility following calls for respect for ‘’HUMAN RIGHTS’’ before and during FIFA’S festival in ‘’QATAR 2022’’.

Brutal dictatorships across Southern Africa were shattered after African diplomats got the United Nations General Assembly to condemn ‘’APARTHEID’’ as a ‘’Crime Against Humanity’’.

Under the brilliant diplomatic skills of 'LDOOR 7HOOL HOHFWHG LQ DV WKH 6HFUHWDU\ General of the Organisation of African Unity), South African was expelled from

membership of the United Nations because of its barbarous racist form of government.

This precedent is a relevant guide for members of FIFA. On the eve of ‘’QATAR 2022’’, the value of upholding ‘’Human Rights’’ was raised over ‘’sexual orientation’’ and subhuman conditions of living by foreign workers.

Australia’s football team to QATAR 22 ranked by the media as ‘’underdogs’’, kicked dust from KANGAROO leaps into eyes of teams from Tunisia and Denmark. They rose to become one of the top 16 countries in the football rumble.

Although they played a ‘’Coloured’’ South African player, and a ‘’Shilluk Black’’ Sudanese, there was no indigenous AfroAustralians; who are victims of GENOCIDE

by European immigrants. In their game against Argentina, the ‘God of Football’ denied Australia the historic achievement of a last-minute goal scored by the ‘Shilluk Black’ player.

The block by Argentina’s goalkeeper had the stamp of divine help. The spontaneous pileup by four Argentinean players on top of their goalkeeper expressed a vast gasp of relief and gratitude by a nation across the Atlantic Ocean.

Argentina is widely accused of systematic decimation of its people of African Descent from constituting 37 per cent of the population LQ SHU FHQW LQ DQG D PHUH SHU cent in 2022. Blame for this decimation is put on high death rates from epidemics of Yellow fever in 1871 and Cholera in 1864 - both of which were welcome to racist government R΀FLDOV $ ZDU DJDLQVW 858*8$< ODVWLQJ IURP WR LV DOVR ÀQJHUHG Those committed to decimating AfroArgentineans are accused of putting Black troops on the frontline and supplying them with inferior weapons to ensure high mortality. Low numbers of Black males pushed Black women into inter-racial sex.

Their mulato children were encouraged to marry White women, thereby ‘WHITENNING’’ their children and distancing them from emotional and genetic identity with ‘’Africanity’’.

As is the case in Colombia, people of African Descent continue to be denied access to education beyond rudimentary primary school delivered inside wretched classrooms which lack infrastructure to aid good quality education.

The passion for eliminating AfroArgentineans from the country is so entrenched that in 1993 President Carlos Menem is reported to have told an audience at Maastrich University that ‘’we don’t have Blacks in Argentina’’.

The Argentinean team at ‘’QATAR 2022’’ does not include any Blacks and other indigenous races.

Mexico’s history asserts the arrival of Africans into the Americas before 1492 when Christopher Columbus told Queen Isabela of Spain (who sponsored his sailing across the Atlantic Ocean), the grand lie that he had reached INDIA. The name of islands in the Caribbean as the ‘’WEST INDIES’’ comes from this lie.

6FKRODUV DW 7XͿ 8QLYHUVLW\ KDYH asserted in their work titled: ‘’THEY CAME BEFORE COLUMBUS’’ that from 0H[LFR WR 3(58 RQ WKH 3DFLÀF 2FHDQ coast, there is evidence of Africans living in South America before Europeans arrived there.

When Afro-Mexicans ZHUH FRXQWHG IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ they totaled 1.2 million. The census of VKRZHG D WRWDO RI PLOOLRQ 7KH city of CUAJINICUILAPA, the city with the largest Black population held a total of 229,661.

Mexico has its share of notoriety in denial of resources, education and healthcare services to their people of African descent. The depth of this racism is shown in the ‘’WHITENING’’(or lack of Black artists) in their contemporary movies exported to NIGERIA. Brazil shares this sin of racism.

Following a 1922 alarm sounded by Sweden’s ambassador to Brazil (to European governments), that Brazil would become the BIGGEST AFRICAN country in the western hemisphere, a policy of creating a population of ‘’MESTIZOS’’(mulatos) as a security EXͿHU EHWZHHQ (XURSHDQ LPPLJUDQWV and Afro-Brazilians.

Following PELE’s global fame football authorities adopted a policy of favouring MEZTIZOS in their WORLD CUP teams.

7KH WHDP LQ 4$7$5 D΀UPV WKLV racial bias. They are dedicating their victories to PELE The stench of racism in genes of these countries soars to high skies at home and on sacred football pitches of World Cup tournaments. African diplomacy achieved the opening of racism in South Africa to the fresh air of democracy and multiracialism. FIFA must end turning blind eyes, deaf ears and blocked noses to these long histories of social terrorisms and desecration of human rights.

Prof Oculi writes from Abuja

26 4

T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

FARMERS, HERDERS, AND THE ISSUES What is the government doing to find a lasting solution to the problem?

T

some pre-colonial grazing routes. As we reminded he Minister of Agriculture and Rural the president at the time, wherever those grazing Development, Mohammad Abubakar, routes of the 1960s may have been, population has not said anything new in his growth and pressure of farming and land use would ODPHQWDWLRQ WKDW WKH LQFHVVDQW FRQÁLFW have brought them under new uses. Besides, even between farmers and herders was if the grazing routes were still valid, they can only threatening food and national security in facilitate further clashes between settler farmers and Nigeria. His argument that climate change is a catalyst migrant herders who have no legitimate claims to in the crisis is well-known. Nigerians understand the lands on which they and their herds settle and that the perennial bloodshed between farmers and devastate. pastoralists is embedded in the struggle for fodders 'XH WR WKH QDWXUH RI WKHVH FRPPXQDO FRQÁLFWV during the dry season. Invariably, it is this scarcity that many communities across the country are selfinforms the seasonal migration of herders in search arming either to protect themselves or for reprisal of grazing land and water for the survival of their attacks as bloody battles livestock. The question for supremacy and for the critical stakeholders control of land become would therefore want It is time to modernise the way we rear cattle in our country by increasingly alarming. the minister to answer is: Invariably, this pattern, What is the government investing in ranching or creating a cattle colony along with limited access GRLQJ WR ÀQG D ODVWLQJ OHDGV WR FRQÁLFW ZLWK WKH solution to this problem? farmers and often results Given the primacy of in the destruction of crops farmers and herders in and cattle rustling by both the economic chain of T H I S D AY parties.

It is therefore time to modernise the way we our country, what is expected of the government EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU rear cattle in our country by investing in ranching or is to put in place measures that will sustain the DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA creating a cattle colony, instead of carrying on with harmonious relationship between these two groups.

MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO the primitive pattern that is no longer in vogue.

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU But that is not what we see. Yet public lamentation CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI It is disturbing that farming is becoming a cannot substitute for seeking ways by which the EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN hazardous profession at a time when the nation needs two groups could peacefully coexist in their mutual MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI to embrace agriculture not only for food security but interest and that of the nation. What we need from THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE also to take many of our young people away from the minister are practical ways on how to tackle the the street.

Authorities, both in Abuja and the states challenge. He may perhaps need to be reminded that concerned, must therefore begin to fashion long-term a government that cannot guarantee the security T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D solutions to the challenge that is generating violence of life and property for citizens and residents in a EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA in several theatres at enormous cost to the nation. country has failed.

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, Going forward, all relevant stakeholders must come ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI In an age when modern ranches have replaced WRJHWKHU WR ÀQG DQ DFFHSWDEOH IRUPXOD WR GHDO ZLWK DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, roving herds while beef production has become a ANTHONY OGEDENGBE the challenge. States and the federal government, modern mechanised industrial undertaking, one of DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI legislatures, traditional rulers, civil society the curious tragedies of Nigeria is that we have come SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH organisations, security agencies and communities to accept the category ‘nomadic’ as a permanent ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI description of a vital segment of our populace. CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI need to frontally tackle these deadly and criminal DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO FRQÁLFWV ZKLFK WKUHDWHQ OLYHV DQG OLYHOLKRRGV LQ That perhaps explains why President Muhammadu TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com Nigeria.

Buhari would be canvassing for the resurrection of

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 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 (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

LETTERS NIGERIA AND THE LIMITS OF LEVITIES Another year gradually but eventfully winds down for Nigeria and what a year it has been! There have been cheers and tears as well as highs and lows. Many Nigerians have experiHQFHG WKH IXOO UDQJH RI GLͿHUHQW HPRWLRQV WKLV \HDU For many Nigerians, it has been a year of crushing disappoinment. But what cannot be taken away from the year is the excitement it has generated. With pivotal elections and all it means to look forward to next year, a large chunk of this year has been dominated by the coming elections. Nigerians are thrilled at the prospects of going to the polls but more than that, they are in thrall of the politics that would yield the next president.

As with politics of political parties and candidates, there has been enough going on in the money and banking world to suggest the politics of money is afoot.

Firstly, the Central Bank of Nigeria decided to replace the old naira notes with new ones in what is clearly a deliberate plan.

The plan to phase out the new notes was hatched some months DJR EXW RQO\ EHJDQ WR ÀQG SHUIHFWLRQ WKLV PRQWK The new notes went into circulation on December 15 and the plan is that by January 31, 2023, the old notes would be obsolete.

The Central Bank of Nigeria marching in lockstep with the

executive has also announced that from 2023, there would be daily withdrawal limits.

For individuals, it is N100,000 weekly while for corporate entities, it has been put at N500,000 weekly until further notice.

The steps would appear to be a sign of President Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed commitment to ensure free and fair elections.

However, the moves, especially the one about the daily withdrawal limit, is one that is poised to bite sections of the country hard.

Already, Point of Sale (POS) operators have already written President Buhari to protest the move. According to them, it will put many out of business. Also, concerns have also been raised by the Arewa Consultative Forum.

According to the Forum, the daily and weekly cash limits ZRXOG DͿHFW WKH FRPPRGLWLHV PDUNHWV LQ UXUDO DUHDV WKDW DUH entirely cash-based. There is no doubt that the cash withdrawal limit would heap pressure on those who rely on cash for their business. But if it is with an eye on ensuring the integrity of the 2023 elections, would it be worth it? If that is the aim, is a sacriÀFH ZRUWK PDNLQJ" Ahead of the elections, one of the chief concerns of observers

is that money would play an inordinate role. In recent elections, vote buying has become a big issue as Nigerians are not immune to the occasional stray cash especially when it is coming from dubious people. Nigerian authorities must ensure that the appropriate structures are put in place to ensure that all those who would attempt to buy and sell votes fail.

To do this, the prosecutorial agencies have to be at their best during the elections to apprehend, prosecute and incarcerate those who would trade in votes. The new policies must also be VX΀FLHQWO\ WZHDNHG WR HQVXUH WKDW WKRVH ZKR GR EXVLQHVV GR QRW VXͿHU HFRQRPLF ORVVHV EH\RQG PHUH LQFRQYHQLHQFH Measures must also be taken to ensure the transparency of the implementation of the new policies as Peter cannot be robbed to pay Paul.

Finally, there is a need to review the limits upwards. By any measure, N100,000 for individuals and N500,000 for corporations per week is not enough. But whatever it is that is being done to make the next elections free and fair, the hope is that it works for the sake of Nigeria’s future.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

27

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

BANKING

Boosting Depositors’ Confidence Amidst Challenges Nume Ekeghe writes on Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation’s recent activities and strides at furthering depositors’ faith in the banking system

W

hile many are familiar with their banks or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), not many are conversant with the activities of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). The corporation came into being in 1988 through the promulgation of Decree No.22 of 15 June 1988 as part of economic reform taken by the government to strengthen the safety net for the banking sector.

Basically, the establishment of the NDIC was part of measures to boost the confidence of the banking populace in the industry as the frequent collapse of banks and loss of funds would erode public confidence in the system and thus lead to the collapse of the financial industry.

MANDATE OF THE NDIC

While bank failures and cases of distressed banks are no longer as prevalent as they used to be, the protection of depositors remains a crucial part of ensuring financial stability. The mandate of the NDIC includes the coverage of all deposit liabilities in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs, including Non-Interest Banks), Microfinance Banks (MFBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), and Mobile Money Operators (MMOs).

The corporation is also saddled with the adoption of differential premium assessment system to encourage effective risk management system in banks as well as insurance coverage which guarantee payment of up to N500, 000.00 and N200,000 to depositors for DMBs/ PMBs and MFBs respectively in the event of bank failure.

Asides from these, it also implements passthrough deposit insurance for the subscribers of mobile money operators (N500,000 Coverage per subscriber of MMOs). Alongside these, the NDIC also participates in other safety-net policies, which include an on-site examination and off-site surveillance of licensed deposittaking financial institutions to ensure safety, soundness and stability of the banking system.

It also performs Risk-Based Supervision in collaboration with the CBN to ensure effective

risk management in banks and promote stability and ensures zero tolerance for unethical practices in insured financial institutions in the interest of depositors thereby promoting safe and sound banking practices.

At a recent three-day workshop on, “Boosting Depositors’ Confidence Amidst Emerging Issues and Challenges in the Banking System,” NDIC Director of Communication and Public Affairs Department, Bashir Nuhu explained that the corporation in collaboration with the CBN, carries out the efficient and cost-effective resolution of distressed banks to promote public confidence and protect depositors.

“Effective resolution of failing banks is carried out to enhance the safety, soundness, and stability of the banking system” he stated, adding that mechanisms that had been used include open bank Assistance and Depositor Reimbursement amongst others.”

ACHIEVEMENTS IN RECENT TIMES

In his opening remark at the 19th edition of NDIC Workshop the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) and Business Editors, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Mr. Bello Hassan, stated that the corporation has cumulatively paid N11.83 billion to over 443,949 insured depositors and over N101.37 billion to uninsured depositors of all categories of banks in-liquidation. This brings the total amount to N113.2 billion.

According to him, “As of June 2022, the NDIC had cumulatively paid N11.83 billion to over 443,949 insured depositors and over N101.37 billion to uninsured depositors of all categories of banks in-liquidation.

“It is most profound for me to say that out of the 49 DMBs in liquidation, the Corporation in September 2022 declared 100 per cent liquidation dividend in 20

of those institutions, meaning that the Corporation has realised enough funds from their assets to fully pay all depositors of the listed banks.”

He added that as at June 30, 2022, the NDIC provided deposit insurance coverage to a total of 981 insured financial institutions. The breakdown included: 33 DMBs made up of 24 commercial banks, six merchant banks, and three non-interest banks (NIBs).

Others, he added was: two non-interest windows, 882 Microfinance Banks (MFBs), 34 Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs), three Payment Service Banks (PSBs), and 29 Mobile Money Operators. Hassan added that the corporation was determined to ensure a faster and orderly resolution of liquidated banks.

He said: “In the area of scaling up the deposit insurance framework and ensuring faster and orderly resolutions of liquidated insured institutions, in May this year, with the active participation of the relevant stakeholders, we developed and deployed the Single Customer View (SCV) platform for the Microfinance and Primary Mortgage Banks in order to strengthen our processes and procedure for data collection.

“The platform would not only ensure availability of quality, timely and complete data to the NDIC, but would eliminate delays often experienced in reimbursing depositors following revocation of institutions’ licences by the CBN. “The final phase of the implementation of the SCV for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) will be achieved through the incorporation of the SCV template as part of the ongoing Integrated Regulatory Solution (IRS) jointly being developed with the CBN.” He added that in the area of consumer protection, the corporation has strengthened its complaints resolution platforms, which include the Toll-Free Help Desk, social media handles and Complaints Desks in the Bank Examination, Special Insured Institutions and Claims Resolutions Departments, as well as our Zonal Offices, to receive and process complaints from depositors.

EDUCATING THE POPULACE

Asides from these, the NDIC also takes a step further in educating the populace particularly to protect them from being victims of fraud and Ponzi schemes. Over the years, Nigerians have fallen victim of fraudsters through wonder banks and Ponzi schemes.

Ponzi scheme, experts say is a form of fraud in which belief in the success of a non-existent enterprise is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors.

Historically, Ponzi schemes in Nigeria were common in the 1980s and early 1990s. The earliest in the recall were the Umana-Umana investment platform in Port Harcourt and Calabar and the Planwell scheme in Edo State.

Other ponzi schemes in Nigeria include, MMM, Twinka, Ultimate Cycler, Givers Forum, Crowd Rising, among others.

NDIC’s Director, Bank Examination Department (BED), Mr. Michael Oladele, said the Corporation is constantly building both human and regulatory capacities to meet up with evolving activities of ponzi schemes was necessary.

Oladele said that the Corporation was also encouraging the public to report such schemes known as ‘wonder banks’ via the NDIC website.

The director in a lecture with the title ‘Rising Ponzi Scheme and Investment Scam in Nigeria: What we need to know’, advised the public to only patronise regulated entities and always conduct due diligence while trying to invest.

He said the Corporation was a member of the inter-agency committee on illegal fund managers including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), among others.

Oladele said Ponzi was an aspect of investment fraud, saying that there was a paucity of data for Ponzi scheme frauds in the country.

The director listed some of the methods of operations of Ponzi schemes to include; the offering of abnormal return on investment and a desperate search for new investors.

He suggested stiffer penalties for operators of Ponzi schemes. According to him, women are mostly being used to perpetrate Ponzi schemes, and advised them to desist from being used as ambassadors for such scheme testimonials.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS PORT LOGISTICS, ACCESS TO FINANCE AS FACTORS HINDERING EXPORTS rejection of their financing requests

by Nigerian banks.”

The recommendations in the report captured what the banks,

Ministries Departments and Agencies of (MDA’s) and exporters should consider doing in order to grow the non-oil export volume

of the country.

“The Nigerian banks need to become more creative in export credit risk assessment. They need

to avoid using old knowledge of general credit risk assessment for solving present-day problems of export business financing. They

need to avoid insisting on tangible collaterals and begin to accept intangible collaterals like trade finance instruments as security.

This will require Nigerian banks to engage in aggressive capacity building programmes for their staff, “t stated.

AT 16.67%, FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS IN STOCK MARKET HIT OVER 9-YEAR LOW According to him, “Foreign investors are not investing again in Nigeria’s stock market, leading domestic investors to dominate the market. The decline in foreign investors’ confidence in the economy of Nigeria is also another key issue.

“If you consider the debt area, a lot of foreign investors usually invest in Nigeria’s public debt. As it is now, a lot of them have stayed away over looming fear that the government may not be able to service those debts.”

He noted that foreign investors are critical in the global stock market.

He explained, “With more foreign investors, you will have more foreign currencies in an economy. What is happening now

is that our macro economy has been mismanaged by the debt crisis.

The federal government needs new debts to service existing debts. It is a worrisome situation for foreign investors and it is contributing to their exit from the stock market.”

The MD, Head of Strategy at EFG Hermes Research, Mr. Simon Kitchen recently disclosed that foreign investors are finding it hard to get their foreign exchange out of both frontier markets.

Speaking at a virtual event, he noted that, “In Nigeria, foreign exchange is a long-standing problem. Foreign Exchange has been scarce since 2020 and foreigners are just impossible to take money out of the Nigerian economy if they sell stocks. In Kenya, it has become a problem.

“Nigeria and Kenya together make up more than 10per cent of that frontier market index and that means that the $150 million that came in the past three weeks, $15 million should have gone into Nigeria and Kenya markets.

“What it means is foreigners just aren’t putting that money in and so I think, from a foreign investor point of view, it is absolutely critical that authorities in these two countries fix the FX situation.”

He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s foreign exchange market in 2023 amid the change in political leadership with the forthcoming general elections.

He stated that, “The change in leadership could create an opportunity for the new government to draw a line under

the years of orthodox policies and take the right decision in fixing the foreign exchange crisis and fix finances on a sustainable growth.”

He noted that once foreign exchange challenges are tackled, Nigeria would witness an inflow of foreign funds.

On how to drive stock market growth, he urged pension funds in Nigeria and Kenya to invest more money in stocks, calling on regulators to change incentives.

However, the NGX in a report last month disclosed that, “As at 30 November 2022, total transactions at the nation’s bourse decreased by 5.19per cent from N110.09billion or about $248.50million in October 2022 to N104.38billion or about $234.88million in November6 2022.

“The performance of the current

month when compared to the performance in November 2021 (N196.14billion) revealed that total transactions decreased by 46.78per cent. In November 2022, the total value of transactions executed by Domestic Investors outperformed transactions executed by Foreign Investors by circa 72per cent.

“A further analysis of the total transactions executed between the current and prior month (October 2022) revealed that total domestic transactions increased significantly by 10.31per cent from N81.54billion in October to N89.95billion in November 2022.

“However, total foreign transactions decreased by 49.46per cent from N28.55billion or about $64.45million) to N14.43billion or about $32.47million between

October 2022 and November 2022.”

The report added that over a 15-year period, domestic transactions decreased by 58.80 per cent from N3.556 trillion in 2007 to N1.465trillion in 2021 whilst foreign transactions also decreased by 29.38per cent from N616billionn to N435billionn over the same period.

“Total domestic transactions accounted for about 77per cent of the total transactions carried out in 2021, whilst foreign transactions accounted for about 23per cent of the total transactions in the same period.

“The transaction data for 2022 shows that total domestic transactions are circa N1.820trillion, whilst total foreign transactions are circa N364.02 billion, ”it stated.

28

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

LCFE Inducts 83 Commodities Brokers

L-R: Country Sales Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Leye Adeniji; Country Logistics Manager, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Ayokunle Ajijola; Overall Winner, Drivers Category, Oritsetimeyin Logistics, Musbau Olaleye; Safety, Health & Environment Manager, Unilever, Ghana & Nigeria, Rachael Ezembakwe and Supply Chain & Planning Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc., Tobi Adeniyi, at the Unilever Nigeria Plc 2022 Annual Transporter’s Safety Week in Agbara, Ogun State

PenOp Condemns Passage of Bill Exemption National Assembly Service from CPS Ebere Nwoji Pension fund operators and custodians have condemned the recent passage of a bill seeking for an Act to amend the Pension Reform Act, 2014, to exclude and exempt the National Assembly Service from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and establish the National Assembly Service Pension Board and for related matters (HB 2025).

The bill was recently passed by the House of Representative for the second time after it was challenged by some lawmakers initially for breach of due process.

The pension fund operators and

custodians under the aegis of Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) frowned at the speedy and shrouded manner the bill was passed saying even the issue of breach of due process challenged by some lawmakers were not addressed.

PenOp in a statement made available to THISDAY titled Exemption of the National Assembly Staff From the Contributory Pension Scheme, the Need for a Second Look, noted that the Pension Reform Act 2004 amended in 2014 which established the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) was one of the most revolutionary pieces of legislation in Nigeria’s history,

as it has effectively sanitised the pension industry and contributed immensely to the country’s economy in various ways, including job creation, deepening of the financial markets and the funding of infrastructural projects with the pension funds contributed by workers in the pubic and private sectors.

He noted that the coverage of the Pensioners under the CPS is currently at more than 9 million Nigerians, who have their pension liabilities fully funded unlike the situation in the old defined benefit scheme that always had funding deficits.

PenOp in the statement issued by its Chief Executive, Mr Oguche

Agudah stated, “Whilst we acknowledge the constitutional responsibility of the legislature to make laws for the good governance of the country, we are not convinced that this bill was passed in “good” faith. We believe that an important bill of this nature, that has wide ranging implications for the finances of the Nation and the future of employees, should go through the standard and due legislative processes. One of such processes is the convening of a public hearing where all stakeholders that are affected by the bill are invited to discuss and make contributions that strengthen the law-making process”, he stated.

Beauty Aesthescian, Fashion entrepreneur and Brand influencer, Pinkberry has been appointed the brand ambassador of KG Enas Water, one if the leading water bottling companies based in Warri, Delta State.

Pinkberry will join Youngchief, the youngest international comedian as KG Enas Water official brand.

Reacting to her appointment, Pinkberry expressed appreciation for her appointment to be one

of the brand ambassadors of one of the leading water bottling companies in the country.

She said: “I’m so excited to let this out of the bag. I am feeling the love and energy already. Shout out to my new

family KG Enas Water.

“Life without water is impossible as we all know. This is more than love for nature. It’s love for good water, health, for purity, awesomeness and premiumness”, she added.

In pursuit of its strategic manpower development, a Pan African Exchange, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE), has unboarded, trained and inducted 83 commodities brokers, in collaboration with Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) to drive seamless transaction on the Exchange which thrives on trading of electronic receipts of commodities products across asset classes.

The induction is the third in the series for the duly licensed commodities brokers of the Exchange. LCFE had on 17th March, flagged off the induction with the Doyens and other Elders of the Market and admitted another set of Commodity Brokers on the 31st of March.

The event featured the oath taking ceremony by the Inductees, presentation of certificates and the robbing of the inductees by Doyens of the Capital Market Addressing the inductees, The Exchange’s Chairman, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu explained the occasion was an important and memorable occasion for the inducted brokers because they were the first set of brokers to be inducted after the Commissioning and full operationalization of the Exchange.

He noted that the Exchange had been making great strides in Gold trading since the launch of the Eko Gold Coins in July.

He encouraged the brokers to be committed to driving the market as they join other Commodity brokers who are

currently trading Gold on LCFE. Corroborating him, LCFE’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Akeredolu-Ale, urged the brokers to make a commitment towards developing the Commodities ecosystem with determination and resilience that will in turn change the face of the economy.

According to him, the commodities ecosystem is large enough for all the Brokers to participate profitably, especially, with the 13 Commodities approved for trade on LCFE by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Sam Onukwue, congratulated the Brokers who are also certified stockbrokers. He urged them to unleash their creativity by developing products, trading and growing volume of transactions on the Exchange.

The event was graced by many dignitaries, including Alhaji Rasheed Yussuff, the Doyen of the day, Mr Yahaya Babaginda who represented the Managing Director of Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc. Some of the notable inductees include Mr Innocent Ike, the former Managing Director, Polaris Bank, Ms Ify Ejezie, Managing Director, Cashville Securities, Mrs Ugochi Nnodi, Managing Director, Futureview Asset Management, Mr Chete Nwanze, Managing Director, Icon Stockbrokers and Mr Hakeem Otiti, Managing Director, FIS Securities Limited.

Wema Bank: Digital Pinkberry Joins Youngchief as KG Enas Water Brand Ambassador Banking Can Aid Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

LASAA Launches 2023 Mobile Advert Stickers for Branded Vehicles The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), the agency saddled with the mandate to regulate advertisement displays in Lagos State, has announced the release of its 2023 mobile advert stickers for branded vehicles in the state.

Managing Director of LASAA, Prince Adedamola Docemo, in a statement in Ikeja yesterday, stated that the new and improved mobile advert e-sticker will be in force effective from the 1st of January 2023, a development that will render the 2022 sticker invalid.

He reiterated that, just like last year, the agency has fully deviated from the yearly tradition of launching the stickers with pomp and would rather focus on improving the efficiency of the new process.

He explained that the new e-sticker, which was introduced last year, has attracted a lot of commendation from stakeholders. He said LASAA has continuously reviewed and improved the mobile advert e-sticker product throughout the year to assess the process and fix all barriers for better and efficient performance.

Prince Docemo disclosed that the 2023 e-sticker continues to experience constant upgrades with a Quick Response (QR) code scanner application, which is readable with a simple smartphone.

He said, “The e-sticker has been enhanced with internal control mechanism, which comes with specialised bar codes and embedded details, including vehicle particulars and serial numbers for

authentication.”

He explained that the new e-sticker comes with new improved security features such as anti-counterfeit properties and authentication system against fraud.

Prince Docemo emphasised that the level of security implemented for ease of confirmation has improved the process of compliance for the agency’s clients. He stressed that all branded vehicles statewide will be effectively captured on a mobile advert database, thereby making the agency’s ability to monitor compliance and enforcement to work efficiently.

He noted that the incidence of fraud has been hugely minimised, adding that noncompliant vehicles will be impounded and grounded.

He assured clients that upon

registration; the e-stickers will be available to them within 48 hours.

According to him, LASAA continues to monitor the activities of unscrupulous persons parading themselves as staff of the Agency as well as those working to frustrate it’s efforts by selling mobile advert stickers belonging to other States. This act LASAA believes is an attempt to cause confusion and conflict within Lagos territory. He added that LASAA has already taken bold steps to reverse this anomaly.

He, however, assured that LASAA is always a step ahead in ensuring that all vehicles branded with logos and adverts are properly registered in Lagos State. He warned that the agency would arrest those who fail to comply.

The Managing Director/CEO, Wema Bank Plc, Ademola Adebise, has said with the advancement of technology, digital banking can play a big role in driving Financial inclusion in the country.

He stated this in Abuja during the official opening of its ultra modern branch at Constitution Avenue, Central in Abuja.

He noted that the Bank being Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank has evolved in the last decades despite the glaring challenges facing the Banking sector.

“Wema Bank being in existence for the last 7 decades is expanding its branches today here in FCT as it is not only the capital of Nigeria but also a business hub in the country with over 6,000 Small and Medium Enterprises asides the thousands of Micro businesses operating in the FCT “Similarly, the Bank is leading in digital banking services since the launch of ALAT by Wema, an

application that offers a comprehensive banking and other digital transaction options,” he said.

He added that even as the Bank is expanding its branches, other digital platforms of transactions are operational anywhere around the world.

Speaking further, Chief Finance & Strategy Officer of the Bank, Tunde Mabawonku, said in over 77yrs of the existence of the Bank, it has been operational for 30 years in the FCT He added that the ALAT banking app has digitised banking experience as Customers have the leverage of using the application different type of services.

The CFO added that the bank is advancing its service delivery strategy by ensuring uniform standards in their branches across the federation Mabawonku further stated that with the recent cashless policy introduced by the CBN, Nigeria’s might need to adjust to digital banking as it is the way to go.

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022

29

BUSINESSWORLD

ECONOMY

Subduing Poverty via Social Safety Net James Emejo writes that the federal government should re-examine its social investment programmes and introduce greater transparency and accountability in order to record meaningful success in the fight against poverty.

A

report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which indicated that 133 Nigerians are living in poverty, has further exposed the inherent weaknesses in the country’s social protection architecture and the need to rid it of all inefficiencies.

The report is particularly disturbing for the current administration, which had promised to make a dent in ravaging poverty in the country.

In 2019, Buhari hinted that his administration planned to lay the foundation for 100 million Nigerians to be lifted out of poverty.

Speaking at a retreat for ministers-designate in Abuja, Buhari said the target would be achieved at the end of his eight-year term in 2023.

He said, “Our Administration’s eight years will have laid the grounds for lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, this outcome will fundamentally shift Nigeria’s trajectory and place us among the world’s great nations.”

Also, Buhari, in April 2021, further approved the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to accelerate the reduction in poverty through economic growth, redistributive programs, and shared prosperity.

Essentially, the strategy is anchored on macroeconomic stabilisation, industrialisation, structural policies and institutional reforms, and redistributive policies and programmes that provide social protection as well as support Buhari’s goal of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade.

But according to the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2022 Survey, no fewer than 133 million Nigerians, representing 63 per cent of the population are currently living in multidimensional poverty.

The report further noted that of the total, 105.98 million poor Nigerians are located in rural areas compared to 16.97 million in urban areas.

This showed that the administration had failed in its quest to tame poverty given that more than 83 million Nigerians lived below the national poverty line in 2019, according to the statistical agency.

DEFECTS IN SOCIAL PROTECTION SCHEME If anything, the country’s social safety had attracted controversies in recent times

as critics said social interventions lacked transparency and were marred in corruption.

Interventions are believed to be cornered by intermediaries, a situation that often politicizes the schemes and limits vulnerable populations from benefitting direct.

It is particularly curious that despite the trillion of Naira spent by the government to alleviate poverty, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Nigerians living in penury has barely improved.

According to Wealth Management and Business Development Consultant, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, the government had failed to tackle the root causes of poverty over the years “but has rather taken a fire brigade approach albeit amidst crippling macroeconomic conditions”.

In a chat with THISDAY, he said, “We have to acknowledge that the fight against poverty will not be won overnight. It is a result of years of systematic failures in our system to address the issues that affect the most vulnerable in our society.

“Policies alone cannot solve the issue.

There needs to be a concerted effort in implementation, accountability, and consistency.

“For example, a minimum wage of N30,000 was passed years ago but has still not been implemented or enforced across the country and despite massive inflation, has not even been reviewed.”

Shelleng, also noted that the MSME sector which has been the lifeblood of the economy has been crippled through unfavourable policies such as capital controls, multiple taxations, inadequate infrastructure, and unfavourable monetary policy all this against a backdrop of worsening insecurity.

He said, “Yet despite massive government spending on social welfare, it has failed to reach the intended recipients, who are those at the base of the pyramid.

Welfare spending that just looks to give cash to the poor will not solve the poverty problem.

“What is required is spending in areas that will increase productivity. The old adage of give a man a fish and he eats for a day but teach him how to fish and he eats forever resonates.

“Focusing on tackling corruption alone does not solve the issue. Rather, enabling the flow of money through the system

will give better results.”

A DIRE SITUATION According to the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2022 Survey, there are high deprivations in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing.

Also, poor people experience over one-quarter of all possible deprivations.

Moreover, both the incidence and intensity of poverty at 62.9 per cent and 40.9 per cent respectively exceeded the 26 per cent poverty cut-off threshold The report stated that over half of the 200 million population who are multi-dimensionally poor cook with dung, wood, or charcoal, rather than clean energy.

According to the report, multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas where 72 per cent of the people are poor compared to 42 per cent in urban areas.

It stated that about 70 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas, yet these areas are home to 80 per cent of poor people.

The report pointed out that the North accounted for 65 per cent or 86 million poor Nigerians while 35 per cent or about 47 million people living in poverty reside in the South.

The incidence of multidimensional poverty was high in Sokoto State, which accounted for 96 per cent of poor Nigerians and the lowest incidence of 27 per cent was recorded in Ondo.

In terms of the proportion of poverty and its intensity, the poorest states include Sokoto, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Kebbi, Gombe, and Yobe.

“But we cannot say for sure which of these is the poorest because statistically, their confidence intervals or the range within which the true value falls considering the sample overlap, “ the report noted.

The report, among other things, said two-thirds of children aged 0-17 are poor and accounted for 65 per cent compared to 58.7 per cent of adults, adding that “This gives rise to the sobering reality that over half of all poor people are children”.

The report also stated that the incidence of monetary poverty is lower than the incidence of multidimensional poverty across most states.

It pointed out that the incidence of

national monetary poverty stood at 40 per cent in 2018/2019, compared to 63 per cent who are multi-dimensionally poor in 2022.

The report also noted that 29 per cent of all school-aged children are not attending school while 94 per cent of all out-of-school children are poor.

The report, among other recommendations, urged the government to set child poverty reduction as a top national priority.

The survey further stated that “While the COVID-19 regulatory measures implemented in Nigeria helped to control the spread of the virus, many of these necessary and lifesaving measures had deleterious effects on livelihoods, health, human wellbeing, state-society relations, and social harmony.

“The Nigerian economy has grown postCOVID, with the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate rising from -1.92 per cent in 2020 to +3.40 per cent in 2021.

“Despite this economic recovery, the lingering impact of the 2020 recession has undermined household welfare and exacerbated poverty and vulnerability.”

Also speaking to THISDAY on the poverty report, Managing Director/Chief Executive, SD&D Capital Management Limited, Mr. Idakolo Gbolade, said the government’s economic policies had contributed to rising poverty.

He said there is high unemployment and underemployment, consistent food inflation, insecurity, and a weaker Naira, adding that all these indices point directly to increasing poverty in the country.

Golade said, “The federal government should tackle the issue of poverty through genuine empowerment in the areas of agriculture, SMEs, technology, and innovation to increase productivity which will in turn resuscitate the economy and reduce unemployment. The youth population we have in Nigeria is an engine room for growth if properly utilized.

“Money needs to be directed in the right direction and cogent policy implementation needs to be pursued so that we can get value for money.

“The social safety net programme cannot lift Nigerians out of poverty. According to the government, the plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty has not worked but it has instead dragged more Nigerians (about 133 million) into severe economically induced poverty.

“The ministry supervising the programmes has not also come up with statistics to show progress or how they intend to make progress going forward.”

30

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

31

32

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

EDUCATION PAMO as Model for Medical Education From all that transpired last week at the second convocation ceremony of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, it is clear that the institution is determined to continue to be contributing quality manpower to Nigeria’s health sector, Blessing Ibunge writes

F

or those who witnessed the second convocation ceremony of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, last week, it was simply a spectacle to behold. The colourful event had top government officials in Rivers and beyond in attendance.

But none glowed with pride at the occasion like the graduates. For some, it was more than just receiving a certificate; it was a celebration of passing through one of the best universities in the country. They graduated from the school, acquiring life-changing and career-defining skills.

Since its establishment five years ago, PAMO has built an enviable reputation, running its academic calendar uninterrupted. At the event, 39 students graduated from the school and ready to practise nursing and other allied medical fields. Out of the 39 graduands, six came tops with first class. The graduates received certificates in Medical Laboratory, Nursing, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology and Pharmacology.

The event was not all about awarding degrees and prizes to the best graduating students, but also an opportunity to admonish the graduands.

For instance, former Head of State and Chancellor of the school, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), called on Nigerians to work for the country’s peace. He stressed that to achieve peace in the country, there should be more focus on the rehabilitation and reorientation of the youths, especially building their interest in education.

“Without peace, there wouldn’t be a country, so let us give peace a chance in our country,” he said. Abdulsalami commended Governor Nyesom Wike for his generosity to the university.

Also, the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Dr Peter Odili, said from the achievements made by PAMO in the last five years, no other private university has moved at the same pace. He added that apart from the fact that all the programmes in the schools have been accredited by the regulatory agencies and authorities of the federal government, the university has, in five years, graduated two sets.

Odili thanked Wike for the scholarship programme for students in the school, which has attracted more students to PAMO University.

Describing Wike as the best governor Rivers and Nigeria has ever produced, the former governor thanked him and assured him that the privilege which has led to the institution’s growth would always be appreciated.

Odili also promised to support the young graduates who want to further their studies to any level.

Given its high standard of education, PAMO was again extolled by a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), during the convocation ceremony.

Agabi, the keynote speaker, pointed out

A cross-section of the graduands that for Nigeria to excel, it should give youths the right education.

He argued that the education given to the youths today determines the country’s future.

Given the various challenges the educational sector faces, Agabi nonetheless expressed optimism that the country will overcome economic downturn. But to do so, it will have to encourage and teach youths to be entrepreneurs.

“We must ‘entrepreneur’ the nation. We must pay attention to our rural area; we have destroyed the village as a cultural institution.

The nation is not self-reliant. No nation without self-reliance can be self-disciplined,” Agabi. “The youths are not self-employed because we are not giving them the right education. If we are going to be a self-reliant nation, we must shut our borders, begin to produce and use our own produce.”

For Agabi, education is the pinnacle of nation-building, and this he saw in Wike for his commitment to ensuring that Rivers youths embrace education through his government’s Education Scholarship Scheme.

“Governor Nyesom Wike is a blessing to the nation. By your service, you are a blessing not just to this generation but to the future.”

He also applauded Odili for his initiative in birthing the medical institution.

“The education you have provided for our young people will assure the future yet unborn,” he said.

Wike, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof Prince Mmon, described PAMO as a priceless gift to Rivers, Nigeria and the world. He reiterated the state government’s support for other universities in the state established by a Rivers person.

“PAMO is a kind of university that is believed will transform the lives of our children and bring development to the state.

We shall continue to support the university.

We have also renewed the scholarship for Rivers state students, including those from poor backgrounds,” the governor said as he pledged the donation of N500 million to the institution.

Nestled in a serene environment in Rivers, PAMO has always been dedicated to building healthcare workers, including medical doctors, nurses and other allied courses. Well-equipped and furnished to world standard, the university has played a key role in nation-building by moulding the teeming youth population through its teaching, research and community services.

The full accreditation of the school’s courses and programmes by medical and health professional bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Medical Laboratory Council, among others has turned it to a first choice for parents who want

their children to have not just sound medical education but to graduate in record time.

The institution’s strength lies in its teaching hospital, established by its founder, Odili, a renowned medical doctor. He established PAMO Clinics and Hospitals Group in the 1980s.

The hospital has been at the forefront of providing high-class medical care and services to residents and visitors to Rivers for nearly 40 years. Over the years, it has provided high-quality medical treatment and health promotion services spanning internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics to individuals, families and corporate organisations spanning sectors such as energy, oil and gas, power, agriculture and construction.

Besides, the school has a memorandum of understanding with the Rivers State government and State University Teaching Hospital, where its students visit for clinical training before the completion of the building of its teaching hospital.

Thus, students have been gaining medical knowledge and experience from the onset, unlike other universities where students are not exposed to hospital experience until they are at the 400 level.

Since its establishment, the university has not only maintained its high standards, which it started with but has ensured that all the promises of infrastructure—basic and educational—are top-notch. Known for its unrivalled level of discipline and quality of learning, PUMS has been adjudged one of the country’s best universities in the field of medical education.

Fafunwa Educational Foundation Lauds FG’s Mother Tongue Policy Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Fafunwa Educational Foundation (FEF) has commended the federal government on its recently announced policy of making mother tongue compulsory in primary schools.

The FEF is a non-governmental organisation that analyzes issues affecting Nigeria’s education sector and advocates for salutary policies.

The foundation’s Secretary, Muyiwa Obiyomi, stated that the founder and guiding spirit, Prof Babatunde Fafunwa, former Minister of Education, was an earnest and persuasive champion of adopting the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in primary schools.

“Prof Fafunwa, who died in 2010, encouraged the FEF to organise a series

of conferences to advance the case for adopting the mother tongue in childhood education,” stated Fafunwa. “His unrelenting commitment to that cause was borne of his conviction that students become more attuned, confident and grounded when they are taught concepts in the organic medium of their first language.”

He said Fafunwa pioneered the production of a science programme at the primary education level in Nigeria and chaired the ‘Fafunwa Study Group’ on funding primary education.

“The group’s report led to the creation in 1987 of Nigeria’s National Primary Education Com-

mission (NPEC),” added Fafunwa. “He wrote that primary school education in the mother tongue would ‘deliver students from the shackles of colonialism, allow for effective and meaningful communication between the teachers and students within and outside the classroom and also promote the development of mature judgment by the pupils’.”

Obiyomi reiterated Fafunwa’s belief that education must be relevant to the needs of society. He said in recognition of the cognitive benefits of instruction in the mother tongue, the board and members of the FEF resolved that their founder’s passionate cause must be sustained.

“Since Prof Fafunwa’s death, the foundation has held numerous seminars and workshops that offered roadmaps for integrating mother tongue into early

education in Nigeria,” he explained.

Mrs Doris Fafunwa, the foundation’s chairperson, expressed delight that the government finally adopted a policy long proposed by her late husband.

She hoped that policymakers, teachers, parents, students and other stakeholders would approach the implementation of the new policy with requisite rigour, wisdom and investment of time and resources, calling on Nigerians to be proud of their rich culture and advising parents to cultivate the habit of interacting with their children and wards in indigenous languages instead of leaving the implementation of mother tongue education entirely to teachers.

Fafunwa added that members of the FEF would be available to assist policymakers and teachers in making the new policy a success.

33

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022

EDUCATION

SEPLAT: Empowering Youths for Self-Reliance, National Devt Seplat Energy and Conversation for Change recently graduated 22 youths who participated in the C4C-Seplat Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme, aimed at empowering youths to create jobs and become change agents. Uchechukwu Nnaike reports

T

he rising number of unemployed/ unemployable graduates in the country has prompted well-meaning individuals and organisation like Seplat Energy Plc to come up with series of youth empowerment initiatives.

For Seplat Energy Plc, listed on the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, the need to harness the potential of Nigerian youth and make them agents of change in their families and the country cannot be overemphasised.

Seplat Energy thus collaborated with Conversation for Change (C4C), an NGO to launch, and has sustained the C4C-Seplat Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme.

Friday, December 16, 2022 was the culmination of this effort for 22 young people who graduated from the Seplat Energy and Conversations 4 Change Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, the ignited dreams of youths lit up the venue.

There are still ways to go, and grounds to cover, but they had hit a major milestone in their individual ideations of their future. Their dreams had been pronounced valid and they were rearing to go.

According to ‘Worldometer’, a reference website that provides counters and real-time statistics for diverse topics, as of August 25, 2022 Nigeria’s population stood at 217,079,601.

Of this number, youths account for 70 per cent -151 million. And 42 per cent of the 70 per cent are under the age of 15. Therefore, Nigeria is full of youths burning with ambitions to make something of themselves and of their time here. Unfortunately, the terrain is a tough one and they are in dire need of adults who can ensure they walk guided.

Seplat Energy long saw the need to harness the potential of Nigerian youths. So, aside the many other things it does to advance this, the Seplat/C4C initiative boils down to brass tacks.

Young Nigerians need to be financially independent, driving their own lives, based on the big dreams they’ve been incubating for entrepreneurial success. The gap for guidance and a systems orientation was what Seplat saw and decided to jump in alongside C4C to make adequate provisions that meet those needs.

The 22 young and ambitious Nigerians who had successfully scaled the daunting process of the business plans presentation of the 2022 C4C Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme, were given their marching orders, and with provisions fully made, (based on their proposals) to ensure that the burgeoning dreams they had had for some time would come alive with the right amount of support, and be guided via financial and mentorship leverage to success.

The day they presented their business plans, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, the Director External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, thanked the young entrepreneurs and C4C. She said the programme aligned with one of the five pillars of Seplat CSR. According to Nwachuku, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (poverty eradication); in addition to the SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well being), SDG 4 (quality education), and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) make up the company’s five CSR pillars.

The empowered entrepreneurs and their area of businesses are: Oluyemi Oyinleye (café business); Pauline Musa (catering); Maryam Musa (spices); Mary Oteikwu (fish drying); Justin Agbo (fashion); Joseph Agu (fashion); Chizoba Okolo (fashion/fabric sales); Adebola Olamide Greatness (fashion); Regina Etuka (fashion); Blessing Gabriel (bag making); Princess Esther Samuel (shoe making); and Emmanuel Ogwuche (footwear).

Others are: Nancy Otokina (confectionaries); Adeola Samuel (confectionaries); Gladys Emuh; (agro processing); Patience Sunday (palm oil production); Brume Aina (gerbal skincare); Bright Bello (salon and spa); Ogechi Iwuanyanwu (plants and flowers); Olufunbi Akinyemi (gift curator); Benedict Gabriel (photography); and Stephen Ahor (laundry services).

The beneficiaries from the programmes, who received funds ranging from N750,000 to N5 million, were equipped to begin their business empires, which are expected to grow and flourish as well as provide support to not just them and their families, but also for

The 22 empowered entrepreneurs with Seplat Energy and Conversation for Change teams at the 2022 Youth Entrepreneurship Programme held in Abuja... recently communities, countries and the world.

Speaking to the entrepreneurs at the ceremony held in Abuja, Nwachuku, said: “You are indeed equipped for your next phase in your various enterprises.

Thanks to C4C and to Seplat Energy for enriching you with the knowledge and competencies you need to grow your business. The greater appreciation and kudos, however, goes to you, for having the capacity to establish your striving enterprise.

“Congratulations dear C4C-Seplat Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program 2022 Graduates!

“We are happy at Seplat Energy to play a big role in changing the narrative of the Nigerian Youth. You are no longer the leaders of tomorrow rather, with the empowerment you have received over the year, you are the change agent of your generation. We are quite elated with the level of creativity and passion you all exhibited and truly, the sky will not be your limit.”

Empowerment is one of the strong pillars on which Seplat Energy is addressing social challenges in Nigeria particularly that of Sustainable Development Goals’ 1, 2 and 8 on no poverty, zero hunger and decent work and economic growth.

We believe that as soon as these critical SDGs are addressed, other things will follow, Dr. Nwachuku explained.

She added: “In this regard, we felicitate also with Conversations for Change, our visionary partners on this journey for a great job well done. Dear 2022 graduates, we have a great confidence in your ability to further excel. Congratulations, and we pray to your continued success.”

Responding, the President/founder, C4C, Dr. Kechi Ogbuagu, thanked Seplat Energy for the invaluable support over the years whilst pledging C4C’s resolve to empowerment of the youth population to drive national economic prosperity.

Dr. Ogbuagu explained: “C4C is a non-profit organisation with a major objective of empowering young people to participate more effectively in all relevant areas of development.

“Efforts are focused on young people aged 18-40, in the belief that they are

ready to embark on being valuable and creative members of their society and therefore are most in need of the inspiration, empowerment, guidance and support to do so.”

The entrepreneurs thanked Seplat Energy and C4C for the huge investment in their future and wished both organisations the best of success in all their endeavour. Two presentations of interest were from Blessing Gabriel who used various materials, including waste to make bags; and Ogechi Iwuanyanwu who presented plants and flowers for different uses.

As is immediately evident, these are not rocket science businesses. Just services sought after by many and therefore with a guaranteed customer base if well managed. Don’t forget that the business plan segment involved trainings and mentorship programmes that extend well beyond the life of the physical programme.

The candidates draw on a deep well of knowledge from individuals who have pledged to be by them if they hit those bumps that are inevitable for anyone navigating entrepreneurship.

Dr. Nwachuku had succinctly clarified at the 2021 graduation ceremony that “the vision of this initiative is to create a world where young people/minds are inspired, motivated and empowered to find their niche in society and use their skills and talents in improving their societies/countries and indeed their world. In doing this, day-to-day items and wastes are converted to wealth, thus promoting a sustainable world.”

At that same event, the CEO Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown had described the C4C-Seplat Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme as “a long-term effort to invest in the next generation of leaders, through creating a vibrant platform for continuing information provision, dialogue, and discussions”.

He had also added that “through these and other strategies, the initiative would inspire, encourage and support young people to become active partners in the development and leadership of their communities, societies, nations and indeed the world.”

With the empowerment you have received over the year, you are the change agents of your generation. We are quite elated with the level of creativity and passion you all exhibited and truly, the sky will not be your limit

That is a point well known in development circles and in the general arena of wisdom and wise sayings. Give a man fish and you feed him for a day. But teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Everybody knows that. And yes, there is a time to feed people so they can just survive and be able to live another day, but that is not, in the long run, sustainable. Sustainability comes from marketable expertise that can keep putting food on the table day after day, an expertise or knowledge that is transferrable to future generations.

When a corporate organisation decides on empowerment as a way of expressing its corporate social responsibility ethos, its immediate and wider communities derive greater value from the very act of goodwill dispensed and thereafter from the output of the individuals being put to work under guidance for greater results.

At the heart of all of this is the idea of sustainability, of devolution of development, one which says it is not up to government alone, but rather one for organisations with proven capacity for adding value to communities. It’s also about devolution of development in the sense that those who are today empowered will in turn empower others with the knowledge and resources that their own empowerment avails them.

Seplat Energy and its partner Conversations for Change (C4C) are doing for the young people of Nigeria what they have yearned and longed for all these many years. One has no doubt that competition is keen for slots in the programme. Opportunities like this are limited despite the abundance of ideas and the drive required to push those ideas. The two critical things usually lacking are the financial enablement to get the dream off the ground and tested knowledge which if applied is capable of keeping businesses running and profitable.

A good number of young Nigerians take the plunge anyhow with a good dose of faith and hope, (and sometimes hype), believing that they have the innate resilience to pull through the inevitable headwinds entrepreneurs usually run into. This is, sadly, hardly ever the case.

The mortality rate for MSMEs is massive. It is estimated that 96 per cent of businesses fail after 10 years in Nigeria. But with entrepreneurship programmes such as Seplat’s, there is a greater certainty that businesses and managers can improve and gain operational efficiencies which enable their business longevity.

While congratulating the latest graduands of the C4C-Seplat Energy Global Entrepreneurship Fellowship Programme, it is hoped that their endeavours will benefit maximally and sustainably from the initiative. That would be the only way to repay the favour done them by the company.

34

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

CITYSTRINGS

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

Tackling Security Sector Connivance in Proliferation of Small Arms, Light Weapons Though the underhand business of proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, SALW, popularly known as gun running, has been in existence for decades, it has become more alarming in the light of the current security concerns in Nigeria. At the moment, beyond the challenge of porous borders, the volume of illicit weapons circulating in the system has reached frightening dimension fueled by 'weak' security architecture and connivance, corruption, hollow institutions, and the abysmal enforcement of adequate punishment for perpetrators. Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

N

afiiu was a soldier who had pledged allegiance and loyalty to the Nigerian state in defending it's territorial integrity. He was attached to the Muhamadu Buhari cantonment in Tungan Maje, Abuja.

That much he did until two months ago when he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly hiring out and selling guns to kidnappers around Dankogi Park in Zuba in collaboration with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in the area.

On one occasion, Nafiu hired a gun to the kidnappers for N300,000 and in another instance, N200,000 naira for another operation. He however met his Waterloo after the kidnappers were arrested and they mentioned him as their gunrunner.

As instructed by the DSS, the kidnappers had contacted him for another deal to supply them with AK 47 rifles for three million naira and he fell for it. At the agreed site in Zuba, he was arrested immediately he arrived to present the arm to the buyers. The AK 47 rifle, as well as a fully loaded magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition were found in his car.

Nafiu is not the only one who delves in gun running while in uniform. In May last year, another soldier, Corporal Mohammed, was arrested at Borno Express motor park with 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition in Borno State.

Premium Times had reported that the soldier, attached to 198 Special Forces Battalion, had just been relieved from duties at Damasak town in Borno State, after recently obtaining a sick report, which the army later disowned.

In March of that same year, the Zamfara State government had alleged that a Nigerian soldier and his girlfriend were caught supplying ammunition and military uniforms to armed bandits in the state. He was said to have been arrested by the military through communitydriven intelligence.

On October 11, 2022, a serving Nigerian Army private, Emmanuel Iorliam of the 156 Task Force Battalion, Mainok in Borno state, was arrested for gun running.

Iorliam allegedly steals arms and ammunition from his base which he sells to bandits, Boko Haram members, and kidnappers. He met his waterloo while he was moving the cache of ammunition out of Borno State to hand over to his customers.

He was intercepted by his colleagues at a checkpoint and upon searching him, he was found to be in possession of stolen ammunition.

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons SALWs, occasioned by illegal and porous national borders and a booming business of gun-running, are some of the main factors fueling Nigeria’s security challenges. This has been exacerbated by security sector connivance in arms dealing which has given rise to criminal activities across the country.

ECOWAS and Its Definition of Small and Light Weapons Small arms as explained by the ECOWAS Convention in 2006 are arms used by an individual, and which include firearms and other destructive arms or devices such as exploding bombs, incendiary bombs or gas bombs, grenades, rocket launchers, missiles, missile systems or landmines, revolvers and pistols with automatic loading, rifles and carbines, machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns.

Light weapons, on the other hand, are portable arms designed to be used by several persons working together in a team, and which include notable heavy machine guns, portable grenade launchers, mobile or mounted portable anti-aircraft cannons, portable anti-tank cannons, non-recoil guns, portable anti-tank missile launchers, and mortars with a calibre of less than 100 millimetres.

According to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) which has done extensive studies on the dangers posed

by SAWL, "the uncontrolled trade in small arms and light weapons is a matter of life and death to people around the world."

But of greater concern to UNICEF is the fact that it is easy for children to be easily taught how to handle these weapons, which are lethal but light and easy to use yet once exposed to them, what follows is "a vicious cycle of crime and violence."

and the absence of adequate punishment for the traffickers.

The danger in the proliferation of these weapons is that when they fall into the hands of non-state actors such as Boko Haram insurgents and bandits or terror herdsmen, they become objects of terror by people who have no regard for international laws and conventions.

Such proliferation equally leads to difficulties in conflict resolution as was the case not long ago in Liberia and Sierra Leone, sometimes with dire consequences for even children.

Promotion of Self Defence Bane of Weapons Proliferation Gunmen violence feeds from arms proliferation and porous borders. Undoubtedly, criminal networks have explored unregulated borders entry points to smuggle weapons undetected.

These armed group violence has left communities vulnerable, and state security frameworks ineffectual in preventing the destruction. As a result, self-defence militias are created for survival and other unclear motives. Indeed, some government officials have encouraged self-defence in the face of security threats.

In 2021, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State asked people to arm themselves and confront bandits. These new additions will likely require guns to operate as well.

Therefore, while terror groups constantly need weapons, self-defence militias will also need arms to protect themselves. Together with porous borders, the situation creates a readily available and accessible market for SALWs’ business.

Iorliam Emmanuel, a soldier arrested for gun running United Nation's Position Over the years, the United Nations (UN) has significantly enhanced global efforts to combat the proliferation of SALW. In 2001, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (PoA).

In the instrument, governments agreed to improve national small arms regulations, strengthen stockpile management, ensure that weapons are properly and reliably marked, improve cooperation in weapons tracing, and engage in regional and international cooperation and assistance.

Within the PoA framework, the General Assembly adopted the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) in 2005, a global instrument for cooperation in weapons tracing.

Improving weapons tracing is now part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Together, both instruments constitute the normative framework on small arms and light weapons, which all UN Member States have agreed upon.

States periodically report on the implementation of the PoA and ITI and review implementation efforts at Biennial Meetings of States and Review Conferences. Additionally, countries have held Meetings of Governmental Experts (MGE) to benefit from the knowledge of technical specialists on matters of small arms control.

The global framework of treaties and instruments also includes the Firearms Protocol and the Arms Trade Treaty. In addition, there are regional instruments and regional roadmaps to control and regulate small arms and light weapons.

Statistics

According to a study conducted by the Genevabased Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that more than 857 million SALWs are currently in circulation aside from 12 billion rounds of ammunition produced annually. Of these, 10 million SALWs are estimated to be in Africa with 1 million of these in Nigeria.

This is connected with previous and ongoing conflicts in the west and North African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Libya.

A report by Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM) Intelligence notes that about 6,154,000 SALWs are illegally circulating among civilian non-state actors and criminals in Nigeria.

The firearms, according to the report, were put at 3.21 per 100 persons, while a total of 224,200 and 362,400 firearms were in the possession of the military law and other law enforcement agencies, respectively.

The Nigerian Situation The proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs), occasioned by illegal and porous national borders and a booming business of gun-running, are the main factors fueling Nigeria’s security challenges, giving rise to criminal activities across the country.

A 2016 United Nations report reveals that Nigeria accounted for 350 million, representing 70 per cent out of the 500 million illegal arms in West Africa. A revelation by the Nigerian police that 1,887 weapons were recovered between January and December 2021 is undoubtedly a mere drop in the ocean.

This grim revelation does not bode well for Nigeria especially at this critical time when the nation is experiencing serious security challenges across almost the regions.

It stands to reason that with access to abundant illegal weapons, the rogue elements have become more fortified and hence less amenable to entreaties to make peace. Indeed, the proliferation of SALWs is believed to have aided non-state actors including Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, bandits, militants, etc while undermining the state’s monopoly of instruments of coercion.

In fact, the volume of illicit weapons in Nigeria has reached a frightening proportion and portrays Nigeria’s weak security system, fueled by corruption, laxity, hollow institutions,

Where Does the Inflow Come From?

This beggars the question how the arms smuggling and proliferation thrive.

Multiple reports have suggested that Nigeria's landmass, the hundreds of unmanned borders coupled with shortage of security manpower have made it easy for gunrunners to thrive unchecked.

Also factored is the crises in Libya, South Sudan and other countries in the Sahel, which seems to further increase inflow of illicit weapons into Nigeria.

According to a three-year study by the Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an independent investigative organisation based in the UK, into the proliferation of weapons used by armed groups involved in Nigeria’s herder-farmer conflict, "it shows that most of the weapons were smuggled into the country from Libya, Turkey and Côte d’Ivoire".

Also according to the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), the same source the NSA document claimed to have drawn its figures from, "70 per cent of the 500 million illegal arms in West Africa are in Nigeria, meaning there is an estimated 350 million of these weapons in Nigeria".

Corroborating the proliferation, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani said 70 per cent of illegal arms in West Africa are in Nigeria.

Quoting available data on SALW document captioned ‘Proliferation of Arms and Security Challenges in Nigeria: International Journal of History and Cultural Studies published by www.arcjournals.org’, he said it showed that out of the 640 million circulating globally, it is estimated that 100 million are found in Africa, about 30 million in sub-Saharan Africa and eight million in West Africa.

He said: "Seventy per cent of the eight million find their way into Nigeria. The majority of these SALW, about 59 per cent, are in the hands of civilians, 38 per cent are owned by government armed forces, 2.8 per cent by police and 0.2 per cent by armed groups."

Also speaking at a recent focus group discussion on the “Barriers and Bridges to Accountability in the Defence and Security Sector”, which they organised in Lagos, CISLAC then Program Officer, Salaudeen Hashim said: "there are over 70 per cent of the eight million small arms in the country, in the hands of armed opposition groups.

"How are these things happening? We know that even the collapse of Libya has continued to lead to the export of personnel and fighters Continued on page 35

35

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

CITYSTRINGS

Tackling Security Sector Connivance in Proliferation of Small Arms, Light Weapons into the country. All of these things put together suggest that we need to tighten up more around our border patrols.

“The Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea are some of the biggest threats to security in this part of the country. And until we regulate and work more, and those who have responsibility to act should do a lot more, we might continue to experience this situation and there might not be any end in sight till there is a deliberate approach towards stemming the current tide that we are currently experiencing."

Another incident that increased the influx of such weapons in the hands of non- state actors was the 2020 EndSARS protest across the nation.

After the Lekki shootings of October 20, 2020, the once peaceful protest turned violent as rioters looted, burned, vandalised and destroyed many police stations and correctional centres. At the end, they made away with a large number of AK47 rifles and other weapons from the police stations, most of which are yet to be recovered till date.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria has been cited as one of the major reasons for the influx of illegal arms in the hands of non- state actors.

In this case, these terrorists often over run the security forces and even their bases. And each time this happens, they make away with their gun trucks, cartridges, ammunition, and even the Armoured Personnel Carriers and other Contingent-owned Equipment (COE). This has gone a long way to boost the fighting force of the Insurgents.

But for President Muhammadu Buhari, the blame should be squarely placed on the table of the war in Ukraine and Russia. Speaking at the 16th Summit of Heads of State and Government, he said weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia, and also those used in Libya were filtering into the Lake Chad and Sahel regions of the country According to him, “Despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the various ongoing national operations in the region, terrorists’ threats still lurk in the region.

“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in the Lake Chad region.

“A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunition procured to execute the war in Libya continues to find its way to the Lake Chad region and other parts of the Sahel.

“There is, therefore, the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by our border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region.”

Complicity of the Police On January 2, 2022, the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) disclosed that about 178,459 different types of arms and ammunition were missing from the Nigeria Police armoury in 2019.

As alarming as that sounded, the report got worse as it further revealed that there was no trace or formal report on its whereabouts as at January 2020 when THISDAY reported it.

As contained on pages 383 to 391 of the OAuGF's annual report on non-compliance, internal control weaknesses issues in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government of Nigeria for December 31, 2019, which was submitted to the National Assembly, 88,078 of the missing arms were AK-47 rifles and 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols from different formations nationwide.

Referenced AuGF/AR.2019/02 and dated September 15, 2021, the report which was signed by the Auditor General for the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu, and addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly, accused the Nigeria Police headquarters of lacking comprehensive details of unserviceable weapons, lamenting that such could fall into unauthorised hands for illegal use.

It stated that the action of the Nigeria Police contravened paragraph 2603 of the Financial Regulations, which stipulates that in the event of any loss of stores, the officer in charge of the store in which the loss occur shall report immediately to the head of department or unit but not later than three days, by the fastest means possible if the loss occurs away from headquarters.

The AuGF report stated, “Audit observed from the review of Arms Movement Register, Monthly Returns of Arms and Ammunition and Ammunition Register at the Armoury section that a total number of lost firearms as reported as at December 2018 stood at 178,459 pieces.

“Out of this number, 88,078 were AK-47 rifles, 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols across different police formations, which could not be accounted for as at January 2020. Formal report on the loss of firearms through dully completed Treasury Form 146 (loss of stores) were not presented for examination.

“Records obtained from force armament at the Force headquarters showed 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron, Abuja, did not report a single case of missing firearm, whereas, schedule of missing arms obtained from the same PMF showed a total number of forty six

How illicit weapons fuel Nigeria’s insecurity

Photo: Ukeoma Modestus

(46) missing arms between year 2000 and February 2019.

“The value of the lost firearms could not be ascertained because no document relating to their cost of acquisition was presented for examination.

“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Nigeria Police Force Armament. Several numbers of firearms from the review of arm issue register, monthly returns of arms and ammunition obtained from Force Armament, Force headquarters for various States Commands, Formations, Zonal offices, Training Institutions, squadrons and physical inspection of firearms and ammunition at the Force Headquarters have become unserviceable and dysfunctional.

"Similarly, returns were not submitted by some Police Training Institutions and some Formations, and Physical verification of firearms and ammunition at the Force Armament, Force Headquarters showed large quantity of damaged and obsolete firearms which needed to be destroyed.

“The damaged and obsolete firearms and ammunition should be treated in line with Financial Regulations 2618 which requires the destruction to be carried out in such a manner as to render the firearms unusable for their original purpose.”

they play in the proliferation of these weapons.

Its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), called on Nigerians to hold the services accountable for the massive influx of arms and ammunition into the country.

Lamenting the high level of banditry in the country, he stated that the constitutional mandate of both Customs and Immigration included checking goods and persons into the country at the different seaports and land borders.

He stated that if the two organs of the government dedicated half of the energy used in running after smugglers of rice and frozen poultry to checking the inflow of arms and illegal aliens, the war against banditry would have been a thing of the past.

Also, CISLAC then Programme Officer, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, argued that the NIS is part of the problem because these aliens are not properly controlled and the inability to control them has continued to threaten the security architecture of the system. He argued that bandits were able to bring gun truck into the country because our borders are porous.

"Our borders are becoming very porous, we have a belt of over 2000 kilometres that is not properly policed. Also, there seems to be a lot of commercialisation going on by personnel at the nation’s borders. They look the other way and allow aliens to move in and out of the country at will," he said.

Inadequate Manpower to Man Porous Borders It is no gainsaying that our borders are porous, which has given room to increase in infiltration of such weaponry into the country. As much as it is the responsibility of the police to provide internal security and the military external protection, the onus of protecting our borders however lie with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

It was rather alarming when the then Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, made the startling disclosure that besides the 84 regular border check points, there were no fewer than 1,497 illegal routes that lead into Nigeria.

Identified by the NIS in conjunction with the National Boundaries Commission (NBC), these illegal borders have become routes through which such illegal arms are smuggled into the country.

Many stakeholders have argued that the porous borders have posed the nation's weakest link in terms of security.

At one time, the NIS under the then Comptroller-General, Mr. David Parradang, had pledged that as part of his key reform programs, tightening the borders would be worked on. He had vowed that the borders would be secured in a way that has not been done before that would be able to yield positive results for the security of Nigeria.

It was on that note that the government approved the establishment of border patrol corps to take care of the wide expanse of land in the nation's borders from the north to east and also the sea sides of the country. Years after, that idea never thrived as new illegal routes continue to spring up each day.

Infact, recently, CISLAC blamed the immigration services for the role

Crucial Role of Customs Again, as much as the NIS have a crucial role to play, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) are not left out as the onus of importation lies on them. It is no gainsaying that most of what is exported and imported goes through the customs and inculcates their statutory functions of revenue collection, anti-smuggling, trade facilitation and security.

Also, heaping a part of the blame on the Customs, Hashim said: "I think it is important that they begin to tighten up more."

He however, commended the efforts they have put in. "There seems to be some effort coming from the system, as we have seen where customs have been able to expose arms and containers full of ammunition, but of course, there are still some snickers where these things are going on".

For example, a joint border patrol team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Kwara, Kogi, Niger and Benue states led to 550 pump action gun cartridges interception in December 2021. In January 2022, NCS seized 3,620 live ammunition cartridges in Kwara state.

Efforts to Tackle Proliferation of SALWs The Nigerian Government has made concerted efforts to tackle this menace.

In July 2022, The Senate passed a bill that seeks to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs).

The bill passed is a consolidation of three bills including the Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 283).

Another of the bills is the Nigerian National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 513).

The third among the bills now consolidated into one is the National Centre for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 794).

The passage of the bill was a sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, amid rising violent attacks, including kidnapping, terrorism and banditry, across the country.

Given the objectives of the bill, it is aimed at combating the challenges associated with SALWs in Nigeria under the United Nations Treaties and ECOWAS Convention on SALWs.

The proposed commission, if established, will identify sources and routes of illicit trade of SALWs, enhance coordination and collaboration among Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to address the challenges of the proliferation of SALWs and disseminate information among intelligence units and law enforcement agencies.

Other functions of the proposed commission include providing training for officers in identifying individuals that are involved in the illicit trade of SALWs and establishing mechanisms for the prosecution of offenders involved in the illegal importation of SALWs. On November 24, 2022, the Office of the National Security Adviser-ONSA said efforts of FG in addressing the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons are yielding positive results.

Co-ordinator of the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Major General Abba Mohammed Dikko (rtd) stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the centre in Kaduna.

Dikko explained that the centre had recovered over 3000 illicit small arms and light weapons from various theatres of operations as well as those who willingly surrendered their arms in the past 18 months.

He said the centre collaborates with government agencies and stakeholders at different levels through capacity building to nip core societal issues of concern in the bud.

He disclosed that the centre would identify the ingenuity of people and mainstream them into the military-industrial complex to become self-reliant in weapon manufacturing and reducing importation.

He also pointed out that the centre was in the process of providing a database for legitimate and illegitimate arms in the country to advise the government on the lines to take in terms of weapon and ammunition management.

The NCCSALW will also work closely with security and intelligence agencies on prevention and control of proliferated arms, as well as tracking weapons in the hands of non-state actors.

National Assembly Delves In Pending the outcome of the probe that the National Assembly has reportedly instituted, there is no other preliminary conclusion one can draw other than that these losses were deliberately concealed by the end police authorities, perhaps over the years, they said.

With these revelations, "it should not be surprising that the Police is so weakened that it has become systematically outgunned by criminals and terrorists almost in every situation, including the war against Boko Haram, bandits, criminal herdsmen, armed robbers and the so-called “Unknown Gunmen” who have been destroying Police stations in several parts of the country.

"We call for a similar investigation of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Customs and other arms-bearing security agencies. With the frequent reports of collusion with, and condonment of terrorist acts, banditry and atrocities by armed herdsmen, as well as reports of night time helicopter drops to the camps of the marauding herdsmen, it will not be surprising how the bulk of the missing weapons found their ways to these terrorists.

"Officers found culpable for this crime, even the retired ones, must be exposed. They must tell Nigerians what happened to these weapons.

They must be treated in a manner as to ensure this is not repeated in the future."

Way Forward To manage gunmen violence in Nigeria should include efforts to tackle SALWs proliferation and regulate border entry points.

For many stakeholders, gun violence and porous border problems call for regional commitment towards security as such a Illegal entry points have created an easy passage for armed groups to operate across the board.

They also posited for increased multi-agency and multi-country collaboration on managing shared borders and making concerted regional efforts to securitise borders, which will help address the smuggling of small arms and light weapons.

In one of the reports cited by THISDAY, National Working Group on Armed Violence (NWGAV) in conjunction with the UK-based Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), in its 24-page report titled: 'The Violent Road', recommended that the government needs to do a weapons stockpile management, which entails marking and tracing of small arms.

Also, many called for increased collaborative actions by border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of illegal weapons in the region.

Most importantly, many stakeholders opined that to stop security sector connivance in gun running, multiple checks should be put in place to tighten any loophole that gives rise to smuggling of weapons and selling such to non-state actors.

This story was sponsored by The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) in collaboration with Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS).

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022

36

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Chevron Relocation: Ogu Youths Congress Threatens To Paralyse Onne Port Gilbert Ekwugbe The President of Ogu Youth Congress, Comrade Taripakaye Gbobbo, on Tuesday threatened that his group will paralyse operations at Onne Port if oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited proceeds with plans to move its logistics base out of the Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone.

Speaking with journalists in Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, Gbobbo said the planned relocation of the Chevron Logistics base from the Onne Oil & Gas Free Zone will lead to severe economic hardship for people in the host community who have fully supported the operations of the oil company.

According to him, “The operation of Chevron in our community has helped us a lot because our people are being employed and earning salaries but if Chevron leaves this facility now, it will bring back hunger to the community because many people will go into poverty thereby increasing the level of poverty in the community.

So we are not in support of Chevron leaving this facility.

“Besides, our community is peaceful. There are no crises or militancy so they will not say it is because of

insecurity that they want to leave. Chevron should stay back and let us continue working as a community and company.

“I will write a letter to Nigerian Ports Authority via the Port Manager informing them that if Chevron wants to leave this facility, we will not allow them to leave.”

He said while his group favours dialogue and constructive engagement, they would not fold their arms and allow economic hardship to be foisted on hapless families as a result of the planned relocation of the Chevron Logistics Base from the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone.

He called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Oil & Gas Free Zone and other appropriate organs of government to prevent any clandestine relocation of the logistics base in order not to disrupt peace in the communities.

Recall that on Tuesday last week, hundreds of youths under the aegis of the Onne Youth Council staged a peaceful protest at the Chevron Logistics Base to protest the planned relocation of the base.

The President of Onne Youth Council, Tobiah Silas Tete, who led the

peaceful, said their visit to the logistics base was to submit a letter of appeal to the Chevron management to reconsider the decision to relocate its logistics support base from Onne in order not to throw the community and Rivers State into economic hardship.

“It has come to our notice as members of the host communities, the leaders and community representatives of the Onne-Ikpokiri clan that Chevron Nigeria Limited, an oil producing company operating its Shore/Logistics Base at the Oil & Gas Free Zone has commenced moves to relocate the Base from its current location in Onne, Rivers State.

“This news came to us as a shock considering the strategic role the Chevron Logistics/Shore Base plays in our daily lives, especially as the company has enjoyed very warm and cordial relationship with our peaceful and welcoming communities for more than thirty years. Consequently, we the host communities are jointly appealing to Chevron to stop the planned closure of its Logistics/Shore Base at Onne,” Tete had said while addressing journalists during the protest.

How Postly is Changing Digital Marketing for Businesses, Influencers The most difficult aspects of digital marketing are creating social media posts, scheduling, designing creative content and literally trying to drive the entire conversations online.

Often, it is just one or two persons trying to pull this stunt, in addition to several other responsibilities and commitments. Then comes Postly – the one tool that changes your entire digital marketing game.

Postly is your one opportunity to cut down your social media time, while upping your digital marketing game at the same time. Postly is that all-inone social media management tool that helps you with content generation, creative design, scheduling posts, and driving

lots of social conversations that lead to conversions.

Postly integrates marketing tools and features like the AI Writer, AI Art, Image Editor, Video Editor, Link Shortener and Bulk Uploader, so that you do not need to have multiple tabs open just to get the job done. The in-built AI Writer can generate Marketing copies for you 10 times faster for product descriptions, social media content, digital ads and high converting sales funnels.

One feature that many still consider to be a strong value offer from Postly is the OneClick publishing, which allows users to post on multiple social media platforms with a single click. By linking accounts from Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram,

Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google My Business and even for Reddit and Telegram groups to a single Postly dashboard, a user can post and manage all accounts from a single dashboard.

For entrepreneurs managing businesses (of different sizes), this single tool will not only boost your online presence, it will also raise your brand recognition and increase conversions.

Founded by Paul Onu, a marketing professional with close to two decades of experience, Postly has surpassed its first year objectives, acquiring almost 20,000 business and agency users across over 100 countries in just 12 months of operation..

MUSON, Mandilas Group Begin Yuletide Season With Christmas Concert The Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) has lifted the mood of Nigerians for the 2022 Christmas season in collaboration with Mandilas Group, household name in automobile, air-conditioning & cold chain solutions.

The annual Christmas Concert, held in Lagos, featured the MUSON Choir & Orchestral conducted by Sir Emeka Nwokedi and The Mandilas Choir.

Indeed, it was a beautiful night. The air was warm friendly, the crowd was joyous, and the music filled the air.

The concert, which held at the MUSON Centre with Mandilas Group as the official sponsor for the third consecutive year had in attendance the doyen of accountancy in Nigeria and MUSON Patron, Mr Akintola Williams, legal

luminary, MUSON Patron and Chairman Board of Trustees, Mr Louis Mbanefo (SAN), among others.

The Mandilas delegation was led by Group Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ola Ayo-Adeloye, General Manager (operation), Mr Pal Singh, General Manager (Mobility) Miss Kemi Koyejo and General Manager (Sales & Marketing), Mrs Marie Therese-Phido, among others.

The colourful two-part event began as the MUSON Choir and Orchestra led

by Sir Emeka Nwokedi entertained guests with of songs rendered in English and various local dialects.

The Choir thrilled guests with Let there be Christmas

by Joseph Martins and variety of evergreen Christmas Carols.

The Mandilas choir also thrilled the audience with evergreen songs in English, Yoruba carols, among others.

Addressing the audience, Mandilas Group Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ola Ayo-Adeloye, said: “ At Mandilas, we love to celebrate.

Let Christmas begin. Let hope begin. Let joy begin. Mandilas has been here for over 72 years. We are so delighted to share the joy of the Christmas season.”

Ayo-Adeloye explained that the concert was a way of bringing people together, adding that music is the language of love.

In his closing remarks, Chairman of MUSON Board of Trustees, Mr. Louis Mbanefo (SAN), thanked the sponsor, Mandilas Group, for helping to put the concert together.

MUSON Choir & Orchestral

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24 OCTOBER, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Stock Market Close Flat as ASI Settles at 49,416.18pts KayodeTokede Trading closed on an uneventful note yesterday on the stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) as the bench market settled at 49,416.18 basis points.

The All Share Index (ASI) rose by 1.22 basis points or 0.002 per cent to close at 49,416.18 basis points from 49,414.96 basis points it opened for trading.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

while 16 declined. UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust recorded the highest price gain of 8.62 per cent to close at N3.15, per share.

Royal Exchange followed with a gain 5.95 per cent to close at 89 kobo, while Ardova Plc went up by 4.19 per cent to close at N17.40, per share.

Vitafoam Nigeria went up by 3.57 per cent to close at N21.75, while Custodian Investment appreciated by 2.75 per cent to close at N5.60, per share.

Accordingly, investors gained N1 billion in value as market capitalisation went up to N26.916 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Vitafoam Nigeria, Ardova Plc, Zenith Bank, UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust (UPDCREIT) and Dangote Sugar Refinery.

Also, market breadth closed negative as 11 stocks posted gains

DEALS

F O R

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

On the other hand, Neimeth Pharmaceutical led the losers’ chart by 9.66 per cent to close at N1.31, per share. SCOA Nigeria followed with a decline of 9.41 per cent to close at 77 kobo, while UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) went down by 7.07 to close at 92 kobo, per share.

R.T. Briscoe Nigeria lost 6.90 per cent to close at 27 kobo, while Chams shed 4.55 per cent to close at 21 kobo, per

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

share.

The total volume traded increased by 30.4 per cent to 100.094 million shares, worth N1.296 billion, and traded in 3,186 deals. Transactions in the shares of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) topped the activity chart with 16.438 million shares valued at N354.749 million. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance followed with 9.260 million shares worth N5.447 million, while United

A S O F

Bank for Africa (UBA) traded 7.119 million shares valued at N52.463 million.

FTN Cocoa processors traded 7.096 million shares valued at N2.014 million, while Access Holdings transacted 5.266 million shares worth N45.159 million.

On market outlook, GTI Securities Limited said “we expect sustained positive sentiments given the renewed attractiveness of the financial sector.”

2 0 / 1 2 / 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

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 19Dec-2022, 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 N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.03% Anchoria Equity Fund 141.50 143.54 1.95% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.21 1.21 6.23% info@anchoriaam.com 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 21.55 22.20 111.01% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 500.26 515.34 121.38% ARM Ethical Fund 43.00 44.30 119.99% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.09 1.09 102.33% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.06 1.06 110.30% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.36% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 94.23 94.23 -8.33% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,106.77 1,106.77 3.88% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.04 1.04 8.24% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.52% Paramount Equity Fund 18.01 18.34 8.54% Women's Investment Fund 145.71 147.44 2.73% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.17% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.06 1.06 8.83% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.04 1.04 3.12% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.81 104.81 2.99% FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1462.74 1462.74 11.60% FBN Balanced Fund 196.22 197.51 11.96% FBN Halal Fund 122.41 122.41 12.53% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.78% FBN Dollar Fund 119.94 119.94 6.65% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 157.33 159.59 4.81% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.71% Legacy Debt Fund 3.57 3.57 -10.83% Legacy Equity Fund 1.94 1.98 11.60% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.26 1.26 4.44% 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 Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

4,112.80 3,702.10 100.00

4,141.18 3,702.10 100.00

5.79% 6.97% 14.57%

FSDH Dollar Fund 1.13 1.13 0.00% GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.70 1.73 19.52% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,179.77 1,179.77 9.26% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A 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) 102.62 102.62 9.20% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 13.01% 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 1.56 1.60 -0.81% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.59 11.75 4.31% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.48% PACAM Equity Fund 1.42 1.44 -0.17% PACAM EuroBond Fund 116.56 119.96 2.60% 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 N/A N/A N/A 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 1.10 1.10 11.04% 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 N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.93 0.96 5.35% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.33 1.35 1.77% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.15 1.16 11.35% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.10 1.10 7.21% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.95 1.95 6.30% United Capital Eurobond Fund 125.14 125.14 5.76% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.07% 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 13.75 13.87 4.21% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.57 15.71 6.45% Zenith Income Fund 23.57 23.57 7.37% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.32% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund N/A N/A N/A

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

121.79 52.78

7.35% 3.72%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

15.29 N/A N/A N/A N/A

15.39 N/A N/A N/A N/A

9.28% N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

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

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.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 • T H I S D AY

39

40

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

SIGNING EDO STATE 2023 APPROPRIATION BILL INTO LAW...

L-R: Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun; Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Clark of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai, and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Roland Asoro, during the governor’s signing of the Edo State 2023 Appropriation Bill into law at the Government House in Benin City...yesterday

Obaseki Signs N321.4bn 2023 Appropriation Bill into Law Assures Edo Vigilance Group more support to enhance security Warns against flouting ban on open grazing Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki yesterday signed the state’s 2023 appropriation bill pegged at N321.3bn into law after it was passed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

Signing the bill at the Government House, Benin City, Obaseki said most of the projects in the budget would be funded from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

A statement quoted the governor to have said, “The budget for 2023 is a watershed budget because as we reviewed the year 2022, we found out that we broke every record in the year 2022.

“In terms of budget performance, we hit more than 90 per cent, which is considered excellent. This means

that we got more than 90 per cent of our estimated revenue of N220 billion in the finance budget for 2022.

“We also insisted and emphasised a lot more on capital expenditure than recurrent. Unfortunately, we had a very long rainy season but as you can see now, contractors are on site and work is going on in a lot of roads across the three senatorial districts of the state and some of these works will spill over into the New Year.

“More of the resources we have earned has gone into serving the people of Edo state to build infrastructure, whether road or electricity, among others that the people need so that their

businesses can thrive. We have also not neglected investments in education, skills development, job creation and health. These items cut up the bulk of what we earned and spent in the year 2022.”

Obaseki continued: “Clearly, we now see that we can achieve what we are estimating for the year 2023, provided that the citizens of the state cooperate with us.

“Bulk of these projects will be funded by internally generated revenue and because of the improvement in the economic environment, businesses are thriving, particularly in the areas of construction and real estate services.

“We expect that those businesses

that are doing well will pay the taxes due to them. Government is doing its best to boost the economic environment so we expect that citizens must also contribute by paying their tax revenues.

“We are going to be emphasising revenue collection in 2023 for those who are making money.

We know them and have their data. We believe we will earn all what we have estimated. We are not relying solely on oil receipts from the federal government but on ourselves and our citizens. We want to assure you that every Kobo of tax revenue spent will be on capital development.”

The governor further commended the Speaker of the Edo State House

Senate Probes Accountant General Over N978bn Service Wide Vote

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate yesterday commenced an investigation into the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation over the N978 billion it received from the Service Wide Vote (SWV), between 2017- 2021.

The amount was the expenditure of both capital and recurrent expenditures disbursed to the Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs).

The investigation came less than one week after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that the agency collected about N30 billion from the former Accountant General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed, who is currently under investigation for N110 billion fraud.

Speaking at the opening of the investigative hearing, the Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, Senator Mathew Urhoghide observed that there were some releases from SWV in which there was no authority to incur expenditure and this elicited

suspension of the Committee, adding that it was only memos provided to back the releases.

The Chairman of the panel was not satisfied with the submission of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

He said the Office of Accountant General needed to explain to the committee on bit by bit of the expenditures for proper understanding, “because the figures are enormous and response to the committee is not satisfactory.”

Uroghide said, "From what I have seen, we may need time so that we can analyse the expenditure one by one, these figures are enormous and the response is not satisfactory."

However, the Office of Accountant General of the Federation, represented by Director of Fund, Sabo Mohammed, told the committee to give them more time to respond the issues raised by the Lawmakers.

He said, "It will take some time,

we should do it systematically to save our time and your time, this is a matter of going back and do them one after the other.

"We have responded to some, we will still go back and separate our own from that of MDAs. We have found out that many of the figures may not be correct."

The Chairman, therefore, asked the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to go back and put the documents together and appear on Thursday.

Sanwo-Olu to Attend Lagos Metro Rail Line Completion Ceremony Today Segun James The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is to attend the blue rail line physical completion ceremony at National Theatre Blue Line Station, Iganmu, Lagos today.

This was disclosed in a short statement from the office of the

Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile.

This, according to him, was a prelude to the official inauguration and commencement of operation of the rail system next year.

The Blue Line of the Lagos Metro Rail System would run from Amuwo-Odofin in Lagos West to

the Lagos Marina in Lagos Central.

The Red Line System would also run from Ikeja, the state capital to the Lagos Marina when completed next year.

Akosile recalled that Sanwo-Olu had promised that the physical completion of the project would be done by the end of 2022.

of Assembly, Marcus Onobun and other members of the Assembly for the speedy consideration of the budget.

Earlier, while presenting the bill to the governor, Onobun said the Assembly slightly reviewed the estimates upwards from the initial N320 billion to ensure equitable distribution of projects across Edo’s three senatorial districts.

“You recall that you presented a budget size of N320 billion to the Edo State House of Assembly. We looked at all you proposed and agreed that you mean well for Edo State.

“We have approved N321.4 billion. There is a slight increase of a billion naira which cuts across the three senatorial districts for roads and bridges with N400 million to Edo South, N300 million to Edo Central and N300 million to Edo North,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Obaseki, has said his government would continue to support the state’s Vigilante Security Network to enhance security in the state and ensure the protection of lives and citizens.

Obaseki gave the assurance while addressing traditional rulers, security chiefs and other stakeholders in Edo North Senatorial District, at Etsako West Local Government Council Hall in Auchi, yesterday.

Present at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo; Commissioner for Security and Public Safety, Hon. Omololu Ojehomon, as well as Heads of Administration of the Six Local Government Areas in Edo North, amongst others.

The governor, while assuring that the government would provide more logistics support to the vigilante network to improve patrol and surveillance in the grassroots, said his administration will be working with communities that have boundaries with other neighboring states, including Akoko-Edo and Etsako-East where security is porous so as to strengthen mechanisms and strategies to secure

the borders and increase security in the areas.

Obaseki said, “We will continue to provide support for our vigilante but in the immediate, we will purchase a number of motorcycles for the vigilante for patrol and bush combing. The vigilante must be supported with some stipends and logistics. I will give you a Christmas bonus for the year as each local government will get N3 million for the work you have done for this year.

“From January 2023, we will make sure we support each local government with N1 million every month to support our vigilante and report must be rendered in every Security Council meeting.

“I thank the Afamai World Congress who contributed N10 million to support security in Edo North. We will double the money and use it to support our vigilante with logistics.”

“We encourage other associations and citizens to support the state security arrangement as the government alone can’t do it.

These men need encouragement to combat crime and make the state peaceful,” he added.

The governor further noted: “To have effective security, one must know those he is securing. This has given rise to the ongoing citizens’ identification exercise. Edo State citizens’ identification is tied to the national identification as our officials will visit you soon to take your details. This will help us provide adequate security for our people. If you don't have an identity as a citizen of Edo State, your children will not be able to attend our schools, hospitals and markets. It will get a lot of push in January 2023 and needs your support.

“We thank our vigilantes, PUWOV and hunters for your efforts and services which will never be taken for granted. Our role is to organize and provide some support. From January 2023, the six commands of the vigilante in Edo North will be the first to be trained.”

41

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

AT THE INAUGURATION OF DIVINE FM...

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Divine FM 101.3 FM Enugu, Crystal Jane Cosmas; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Chairman, Divine 21st Century Communications Limited, D.C Duru, and Presiding Bishop, Rock Cathedral, Asata, Enugu, Obi Onubogu, during the inauguration of the radio station, at Trans Ekulu, Enugu ... yesterday

Obi: Aged Presidential Candidates Should Retire from Politics Okupe resigns as Labour Party campaign DG Emameh Gabriel in Abuja and Okon Bassey in Uyo Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has expressed concern that instead of weak and feeble presidential candidates retiring from politics, they were still engaging themselves in the system.

This is as the Director General of Labour Party Campaign Council, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has announced his resignation from the party's campaign council over what he described as personal travails.

According to Obi, the task to rescue and restore Nigeria needed physical energy and a presidential candidate, who was vibrant enough to go round and understand the problems of the country.

Obi, who was in Akwa Ibom State for his presidential rally, said he could not imagine being represented by anyone on a rally that concerned his mission to render service.

The presidential hopeful said

he was committed to work towards the realisation of the Ibaka Deep seaport in Akwa Ibom State if elected President.

The commitment, according to him, would not be a favour done Akwa Ibom, but part of his strategic move to open more economic gateways for Nigeria.

Fielding questions on the conviction of his Director-general, Mr. Doyin Okupe over alleged money laundering, Obi said the witch-hunting of persons in his campaign team could not break his resolve to be Nigeria's president.

"I am hearing about it (the conviction) just like you. I am still studying what is coming out of the courts and everything.

I believe in the rule of law. It is not going to demoralise me.

"When I arrived Akwa Ibom somebody asked me why I haven't been using my aircraft, because it has been grounded and all that and I said to him that nothing demoralises me.

"In my life I have never stayed where they dropped me otherwise I would have

been where they dropped me before. This election if they like let them say anything about people who are around me, I will get there".

On the impression that he does not have political structure to win the presidential election, he said he was determined to dismantle the existing political structure in the country, which encourages corruption and spreads poverty among Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Okupe, in a letter addressed to Obi, requested the appointment of a new DG to

continue from where he stopped.

The latter read: "Dear Peter, You will recall that I briefed you yesterday about my personal travails in seeking justice and clearing my name using the Nigerian Legal System to pursue same. I have invested too much in your campaign to allow my personal travails to become a source of distraction.

"In the circumstances, I have opted to step aside and plead that you appoint a new Campaign DG, who can continue the assignment with zero distractions. God bless you and

23 January, Founder’s Day of the school.

According to the anniversary programme of activities, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, also an old boy; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), are among the dignitaries expected during the celebrations. Obasanjo is scheduled to deliver the Legacy Lecture, titled “BBHS Value”.

Osinbajo is expected to deliver the special anniversary lecture on 17 January. The activities would also see a number of school projects facilitated or executed by the old boys’ association. These include Sir Kessington Adebutu Alumni Building, built by Sir Kessington Adebutu; the N43m main access road funded by the 1984 set, the Centennial Park

not affect the party, saying the party was not structured on the shoulder of one person.

"Labour Party has millions of soldiers, who can take the baton from where Okupe stopped. It is a national organic movement that no one can stop,” he stated.

In a telephone interview with THISDAY, Tanko said Okupe was a reputable democrat, who has paid his due and would continue to earn the respect of many Nigerians, who appreciated his contributions in the democratic development of the country.

Osinbajo Mourns Malami, Says He Was Good Example Gets excellence award from maritime workers Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to the family of late Sokoto prince, Dr Shehu Malami, who passed on Monday, describing

him as a “good example, an inspiration to me and many others."

Osinbajo, who spoke at the Abuja residence of the deceased, said “he was always a source of inspiration and a good example

Ex-Reps Speaker, Bankole, for BBHS Centenary Anniversary Colloquium Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole has been listed as one of the dignitaries expected at the centenary anniversary colloquium of the famous Baptist Boys’ High School (BBHS), Abeokuta.

According to the Centennial Committee of the BBHS Old Boys’ Association, the colloquium, billed to hold in the school on January 19, 2023, was part of the week-long activities lined up for the celebration of 100 years of the school’s existence and has as topic “The Role of Education in 21st Century Nigerian Development: BBHS Adventure.”

Bankole, an old boy of the school, would be joined by other eminent old boys and dignitaries for the centenary celebrations, which will begin 16 January and climax on

your family,” the letter stated.

Okupe, a former Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, announced his resignation as DG of from LP Campaign Council a day after he was sentenced by a Federal High Court, Abuja, to two years imprisonment or pay N13 million fine for accepting cash transaction above the N5 million approved by the Money Laundering Act. But the spokesperson of the campaign council, Yunusa Tanko, has expressed confidence that Okupe's resignation would

built by the old boys’ association and the 500-capacity new sports complex. The celebrations will also see the presentation/launch of BBHS, Abeokuta: Inter-Generational Reminiscences, a compendium of old boys’ recollections across generations and the school history book, BBHS: 1923-2023; Jumat and church services, career talks by professional bodies as well as dinner and Distinguished Centennial Old Boys and Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony.

Established on 23 January 1923

by Baptist missionaries, the school has a reputation as an assembly line of distinguished Nigerians.

Aside Obasanjo and Bankole, BBHS also produced Justice Bola Ajibola, retired World Court judge; Chief Funso Kupolokun, former Group Managing Director, Nigerian

National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor of Ogun State; Oba (Dr) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the BBHS Old Boys’ Association; Dr Onalapo Soleye, former Federal Commissioner of Finance; and Professor Olukayode Oyesiku, former Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education and National President, BBHS Old Boys’ Association; It also produced the late Chief MKO Abiola, Professor Adeoye Lambo, renowned psychiatrist and Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation; his brother and alternative medicine icon, Chief JO Lambo; and Chief SMA Afolabi, Minister of Internal Affairs under the Obasanjo presidency.

to many of us and would be sorely missed.

“Of course, we all know that he was a good example in diplomacy, (he was ambassador to South Africa). In business, he founded so many businesses (he was one of the founders of Ecobank, and in Standard Chartered Bank, he was a director). And even in the World Economic Forum, he was on the International Advisory Council.

“His impact was tremendous and I think that he will be greatly missed not just by his community and Sokoto State, but by the entire country, because his voice was a voice of authority, represented hard work and diligence, and unity for the entire country.

“At a time when our country is going through so much, it is very sad that we will miss such an important voice – the voice of brotherhood, the voice of unity. But we are happy that he didn’t just come, he came to this earth and achieved so much and he was a blessing to many including myself and I am sure many other people here.

“I just want to say that God is the one who gives life and is

the only one who can determine when we will go. I pray that the Lord almighty will comfort all members of his family and preserve his memory and his legacy,” he added.

The Vice President was received by the wife, children, members of the family and associates of the late Ambassador.

Earlier, the Vice President received on a courtesy visit to the State House, Abuja, the leadership of the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Associations (COMTUA),where he lauded the efforts and contributions of workers in the nation’s maritime sector, noting their hard work over the years and steadfastness in ensuring that maritime transportation worked.

The group led by its President, Mr Adeyemi Aroyewun, had earlier presented an award to the Vice President in recognition of his contribution to the development of the sector.

Osinbajo noted that despite the challenges of operating in the maritime sector, the hard work and steadfastness of the workers was commendable.

42

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

GERMANY RETURNS STOLEN BENIN BRONZE...

L-R: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Deputy Head of Mission in Germany, Ambassador Regina Ocheni,during the symbolic presentation of 22 pieces of repatriated artefacts from Germany to the federal government in Abuja…yesterday

CASH POLICY: CAN, OTHERS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER PLOT TO ARREST EMEFIELE governor on Thursday this week to brief the lawmakers.

Earlier, the minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu reminded the House that it had already taken a resolution on the matter, asking that the policy be suspended.

He said what the House should take interest in was the implementation of the resolution and not necessarily the appearance of the governor.

Ruling on the matter, Gbajabiamila said it was necessary that Emefiele or his deputy with the required information should appears to fully brief the House as stipulated by the law of the land and the resolution of the parliament, adding that he would want to know the official assignment that had kept the governor away for two weeks

SANs Divided on Implications of DSS' Plot to Arrest Emefiele

The recent revelation of attempt by the DSS to arrest and detain Emefiele has continued to elicit responses from Nigerians including SANs. Speaking on the issues, some senior lawyers while commending the trial judge, Justice Tsoho for declining the granting of the order, were however divided on the implications of the DSS' action on the economy and political environment.

According to Mr. Dayo Akinlaja and Mr Ejembi Eko, both senior advocates, the arrest and detention of the CBN would have serious implications on the economy and the forthcoming general elections.

"Without doubt, arresting a CBN Governor is bound to stir socio-economic ripples, which may prove dire to the wellbeing of the nation. Therein lies the imperative need to be exceedingly circumspect and careful in handling the situation.

"Where Mr. President is convinced that the need for his arrest outweighs the possible socio-economic prejudices, I believe he will throw his weight behind the Agency. In that case, all that needs to be done is to effectively manage the aftermath through adequate briefing and sensitisation of the citizenry and international community on why it has to be so. Of course, having regards to recent developments in the affairs of the CBN, masterminded by the Governor, it is only human that people would want to attribute the issue of his arrest to politics and the upcoming elections. By reason of this, the President should be extra-careful in handling this unfolding situation", Akinlaja, SAN said.

He added that, if the matter was not properly handled, it has the potential to not only scare away foreign investors, but bring the country under international condemnation.

Akinlaja, while observing that the DSS needed not obtain an order of court as a prelude to investigating and arresting, if need be, the CBN Governor, since he does not enjoy

constitutional immunity from arrest and prosecution, commended the agency for approaching the court for permission to arrest Emefiele.

He also commended the court for declining the request because sufficient evidence to warrant the grant of the order of arrest was not placed before the court.

"Anyhow, going forward, I believe the proper thing for the agency to do is to secure the buy in of the President on the subject if indeed there is a compelling reason to arrest the CBN Governor.

Similarly, Eko said, "if you arrest the Central Bank Governor of any other country be it Nigeria or any other nation at all, it will have implications on the economy and the economy does not work alone, the economy works in twine with the social and political realities of any state.

"So if you arrest the CBN governor it will affect the economy, if it affects the economy, it will affect the societal and political clime for a while and in view of the of the fact that we are preparing for an election the effect will spill over because the economy will determine the choice the voters make when they get to the polls. If the economy is bad, it helps them decide who they would vote for".

Eko like other senior lawyers also observed that the DSS has statutory powers to arrest any person suspected of committing or about to commit act of terrorism or any other related acts without recourse to the court.

He explained that the DSS approached the court because it chose to subject itself to the discretion of the court in the matter.

He also agreed with Justice Tsoho in rejecting the motion because sufficient evidence was not brought to enable the court exercise its discretion.

For John Baiyeshea, there was nothing special in the arrest of a CBN governor if there were evidence of commission of an offence prescribed by law.

He however, stated that the DSS cannot make such a move to arrest the CBN Governor without thinking of the far reaching complications and implications.

"I don't see how the arrest of the CBN Governor (if indeed there is good ground for it), can adversely affect the economy of the Nation, neither will it derail the forthcoming elections.

There are other capable persons to the job at anytime.

"In Tanzania about a year ago or so, the President of the Country suddenly died, and the Vice President (a Woman), immediately stepped in. She was sworn in and she has been conducting the affairs of state without any hitch.

"The extreme situation that can happen to the occupant of an office is death and even in such situations nothing stops.

This is my candid view. The law is no respecter of persons in any civilised Country where the rule of

Law prevails", he added.

On his part, human rights activist Mr Femi Falana, commended the dispatch with which the case was handled pointing to it as take away from the issue.

"Within two days, the Chief of the Court, the Honourable Justice John Tsoho assigned the case to himself and heard it. As no sufficient evidence was adduced by the SSS the Chief Judge struck out the motion.

"However, his Lordship rightly pointed out that an order of court is not required to arrest and detain Mr. Emefiele if there is reasonable suspicion that he has committed the grave offence alleged against him.

"Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case the position of the Chief Judge is unassailable. His Lordship deserves commendation for assigning and determining the case so swiftly. That is how it should be in matters of civil liberties for the law says so", Falana stated.

While he congratulated Emefiele for his temporary legal victory, he called on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and Chief Judges of the High Courts of the States and the Federal Capital Territory to always assign fundamental rights cases with dispatch.

"Such cases ought to take precedence over political cases in line with the letter and spirit of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.

"As a matter of policy, Nigerian Judges and Magistrates should end the practice of authorising the antigraft bodies, security agencies and other law enforcement organisations to arrest and detain citizens on the basis of ex parte applications.

"Like Mr. Emefiele, other citizens whose liberty is liable to be abridged should be put on notice, regardless of their status. After all, all citizens are entitled to equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law", he added.

For Mr Ahmed Raji, "it is a bit difficult to comment in the absence of a copy of the application made to the court.

"The DSS is a very responsible organisation while the Chief Judge of the Federal high court is a very senior and experienced Jurist.

'The system should devise a means to resolve whatever the issues are. This should not be a matter for public debate in the overall interest of all of us".

NANS: Money Launderers, Political Bandits against Redesigning of Naira

However, NANS has alleged that money launderers, those it described as political bandits, exchangers, drug and narcotic traders were against the cashless policy and the redesigning of naira by the CBN. NANS Senate President, Felix Annalue in a statement issued yesterday, stated that Nigeria as Africa's largest economy and population has experienced an

unbelievable exchange rate in the last seven years which needs to be stabilised.

Against this background, the students' body urged the CBN to come up with stiffer measures that would save the naira from further depreciation.

The NANS said: "We cannot continue like that, the CBN must come up with enough stiffer measures that will save our naira.

"We cannot abandon our currency to the activities of money launderers, exchangers, drug and narcotic traders and the bewildering information that over 80 per cent of currency-in- circulation of over N2.7 trillion Is outside the banks, is this a Joke? What are our law enforcement agencies doing? Is the CBN short of policies?"

While a lot of concerns had been raised as a result of the cash withdrawal limits, the students' body insisted that it was commendable.

It added: "Nigerians are always afraid and impatient of everything even progress, the limit which is strategic, seems harsh for political bandits, the same way the rejected BVN." NANs noted that there was a drastic fall in the exchange rate as soon as the policy was announced, stressing that there had been humongous deposits coming into the banks.

The students body, therefore, urged Nigerians to embrace the change, while the banks improve on their online applications to encourage consumers’ confidence.

It stated: "Our interest is in the future, for there we will spend the rest of our lives. This is why we absolutely support the redesign of our naira, so that N2.7 trillion and more should go right back into the banks, the currency change is necessary at this political period, I mean it is long overdue and according to Lamido Sanusi, it could stop rigging and the constant security information of counterfeits, hoarding and discoveries of stashed naira notes."

CBN’s Policies to Allow Voters Elect Credible Leaders, Says Ex- Kwara Governor

In a related development, the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has said the policy on cash withdrawal limits was a master stroke that would allow voters to elect credible leaders in next year’s general elections.

He, however, explained that, "there is no doubt that money has taken over the nation's political system and with this new CBN policy on withdrawal limit, it would reduce free flow of cash during the elections and allow voters to decide credible leaders that would lead the country."

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, yesterday, on the state of the nation, the two- term governor of the state said: "I see the policies

as master stroke. This is because money has been in the forefront of the nation's elections and the implications in that is that it has beclouded our capacity to question those who want to come and take responsibility of ruling us.

"It has also beclouded our capacity to question what programmes they have for us or to see whether to they truly deserve to be voted in or not because we get beclouded with money taken upfront."

The former governor who was once a former banker added that, "for the first time, this change in naira will make it a bit difficult for cash to be available as it were for next elections.

"So, what the policy is telling us is that money will not be at the forefront in determining how we select leaders again.

"If that's one key thing we're able to achieve, it's a way forward.

Though, all we desire can't be achieved in one sweep as it takes time to perfect it.

"The United States of America overcame ballot box snatching in the 50s. We'll overcome ours too with time.

"Every policy taking us towards it should be embraced. We shouldn't be hopeless. It's beyond individual interests. It's about selflessness to strengthen our democracy."

The former PDP governor berated the present APC administration in the state, saying that he saw a lot of disconnect from policies already put in place by past administrations where he said people could have benefitted from.

"This disconnect usually lead to wastage of public resources as projects are not taken to completion level where people could benefit from. There are incongruences in policy application and programme development", he said.

In a related development, a civil society organisation, The Justice Centre has vowed to approach a court of competent jurisdiction to demand the immediate removal of the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Bichi, if President Muhammadu Buhari refuses to sack him within 24 hours.

The group gave the threat at a news conference in Abuja even as various civil society organisations intensify calls for the removal of the DSS boss over an alleged attempt by him to slam terrorism charges against the Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, through an Abuja Federal High Court.

The JC at the news conference addressed by its Director, Kingdom Okere, in Abuja, said Bichi should be sacked for undermining the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari, by secretly instituting a court process to arrest Emefiele.

Okere said, "Despite his exposure, Mr. Bichi still refused to resign and save himself from what happened.

"If the president refused to relief Bichi of his job within the next 24

hours, we would approach a court of competent jurisdiction and file a suit to demand his removal.

"We will also continue to protest on major streets across the country until our voices would be heard by the President. " The Justice Centre said, "We have no other option but to join the mounting call for the immediate sack of the Director General of the State Security Service, Mr. Yusuf Bichi from office to serve as deterrent for any person in government contemplating undermining the authority of the president.

"The whole world will now be looking forward to the reaction of the president over the recurrent attack on his promise to deliver credible, free and fair elections come 2023."

In the same vein, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Timi Frank, yesterday urged the DSS to urgently halt its alleged grand plot to harass, humiliate, arrest and illegally force Emefiele out of office.

He called on Buhari to call the DSS and other conniving officials to order so as not to intensify the already heightened security situation in the country at this critical time.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, said, "such gestapo tactics employed by the DSS against Judges of the Federal High Court and Supreme Court Justices in the past must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians."

He noted that even though he was neither friend to nor a fan of Emefiele or the present administration, he would not, "fold his arms and remain quiet when a grave injustice is about to be meted to any Nigerian because “injury to one is injury to all.”

The Bayelsa-born political activist noted that allegations remain allegations, no matter how finely couched, until proven otherwise before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He added: “Therefore, the rule of law and due process must be followed if at all this present onslaught by the DSS is not a politically motivated witch-hunt against Emefiele.

“Let us not allow the kind of kangaroo and commando-styled operation by the DSS that was used to remove a former Chief Justice of Nigeria in the recent past.

“I call on all well-meaning Nigerians to resist a repeat of this type of injustice and inhumanity in our nation.

“If any government official has been found to violate certain aspects of our laws, let the Rule of Law be followed in redressing any such infraction.

“Why should any security agency want to remove someone who is trying his best to give some sort of credence to this government - that has failed in all aspects of good governance?

43

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES IN AUDIENCE MEMBERS OF ATTIJANIYYA...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari Chats with Sheikh Muhammad Khalifa Niass, Sheikh Tijjani Shehu Hadi Almauritany, Sheikh Sirajuddeen Niass, Sayyidi Muhammad Kasim Yahaya, Sayyidi PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE. Muhammadu Nuru Murtala, during a courtesy visit with members of Jam'iyyatul Ansarudeen (Attijaniyya) at the State House, Abuja.... yesterday

2023: Sanwo-Olu Takes Campaign to Ikorodu, Reels Off Feats

Segun James

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, took his re-election campaign to Ikorodu part of the state, where he reeled off his achievements in the last four years.

The governor also seized the

opportunity to disclose that the nation's largest Rice millfactory would commence operation in January in Imota, Ikorodu area of the state.

The governor who was received by a tumultuous crowd of residents, party stalwarts and leaders from all towns in the Lagos

East Senatorial District, promised that more projects embarked upon by his administration in the area would be completed and commissioned soon.

Candidates of the party running for national and state legislative seats in the district also led scores of their supporters to the campaign

attended by members of the State cabinet, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) members, and various political support groups.

Speaking, Sanwo-Olu said, “Today, we have come to you to seek your mandate and support for another term. We are here with our hands full of fulfilled promises,

which are already changing the socio-economic situation in this part of Lagos.

“After this campaign, we will be coming back to Ikorodu for the formal commissioning of Oba Sekumade Road and Ipakodo Road. The President will also be coming in January 2023 to

In Katsina, Atiku Pledges Security for Farmers, School Children, Others Okowa: He’s the best man for the job Chuks Okocha in Abuja In continuation of his campaigns, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, pledged to provide security for farmers and school children as well as employment opportunities for youths and women.

He also said he would remove the controversial petrol subsidy, which could cost Nigeria up to $9 billion in 2022, a development that could plug a drain on the economy.

At the same time, the vice presidential candidate of PDP and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has described Atiku as the best man for the office of President, come 2023.

Atiku, who acknowledged that oil would continue to be key in turning Nigeria’s beleaguered economy around, said years of under-investment in infrastructure and large-scale theft had depressed oil production and brought untold misery.

“I will remove the fuel subsidy, and within the first 100 days in office, we should be able to make a decision,” he said, promising to provide a comprehensive road map on how the proceeds from the petrol subsidy removal will be invested.

The former vice president also promised to tackle the security challenges in the country head-on as well as provide employment for the youths and women.

Speaking in Katsina State, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, attended by a mammoth crowd, Atiku said all the major developments in the state was the handiwork of the PDP, as there was nothing visible to show as development from the APC government from 2015 to date.

"If you noticed all the

developments in Katsina State was achieved by the PDP. The roads, university, House of Assembly, Government House and even this stadium. We have promised from the five agenda of my policy document, we will return peace and security to the fore. We will revive the economy and open all land borders in Nigeria.

“I will ensure that no businessman is arrested for carrying a bag of rice; it will not be possible.

We will ensure that our children go back to the universities that were built to learn. Therefore, the people of Katsina, here are your son and

we appreciate you for giving us the support and vote from the PDP from top to bottom.”

Okowa, speaking to the crowd, said, "With the challenging situation we have at the moment, we need a man that we can trust; we need a man that is experienced enough to take us out of these challenges, out of the pain, out of the poverty, out of the hunger, out of the insecurity, and that man with great experience is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

"You cannot find anyone better than him in the Nigeria of today, that can take us out of the problems that we have. So, we have presented

the best choice to you as a party and we urge Katsina State to go all out to vote for him. Nigeria will be better again, because with Atiku Abubakar, as from next year, there will be no more hunger in the land and insecurity will be a thing of the past.

"Our youths should prepare to work, because it is your future that Atiku Abubakar, wants to secure. Our women, you must be prepared to work because with Atiku Abubakar, your children will no longer cry of hunger and they will be able to go to school," he stated.

National Chairman of PDP. Dr.

Iyorchia Ayu, said, “We are not here to campaign but to thank you for this rousing welcome you’ve given us. Since Umaru Yar'adua, Ibrahim Shema, there was no 1 km road construction.

"You all know that there is hunger in the land, they tell you lies that they are going to bring change for you, so, now you have seen the change, therefore, vote for Atiku for president to bring the right change."

He also said the PDP and its governorship candidate, Yakubu Lado Danmarke, would construct 1000 road km and even more, urging them to vote for the party.

inaugurate the Imota Rice Mill, which we have completed and has been in operation.

“Also, in January, the first deep seaport we have initiated in the Lekki Free Trade Zone is due for inauguration. In the same free zone, we have the biggest refinery to be commissioned by Mr. President. The first phase of the six-lane Lekki-Epe Expressway from Eleko to T-Junction getting ready for completion and will be formally opened.

“We have delivered Mother and Child Centre in Epe, just as we opened regional emergency centre in Epe. These are some of the projects sited in the Lagos East and they are verifiable.”

Sanwo-Olu said the approval and the siting of an airport in Ibeju Lekki was another “step forward” towards delivering his administration’s agenda of Greater Lagos and keeping the Lagos East on the path of economic prosperity.

He said the creation of Lekki Free Zone was a triumph for the vision of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who initiated the idea that had transformed Epe Division into a new economic hub.

Shema, Majigiri, Others Boycott Atiku's Katsina Rally Ex-VP donates N50m to victims of banditry Francis Sardauna in Katsina Former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema and 10 out of the 14-member working committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, boycotted the mega rally of the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar in the state.

HISDAY discovered at the Muhammadu Dikko stadium, venue of the rally, that 19 out of the 34 local government chairmen of the opposition PDP, believed to be loyalists of Shema, were also absent at the event.

This is as Atiku, has donated the sum of N50 million to victims of banditry in Katsina state.

However, Shema, who has been holding series of meetings with critical stakeholders at his residence in Katsina over the 2023 elections, might work against the

state governorship candidate of the party, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke, because of their longstanding feud.

Also, a former chairman of the party, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri and the embattled acting chairman of the party, Alhaji Salisu Uli as well as their teeming supporters shunned the PDP mega rally.

Their reasons for boycotting the campaign rally, THISDAY gathered, might not be unconnected with the leadership tussle rocking the party in the state that apparently metamorphosed into factions.

Reacting to the development in a telephone interview, Salisu Uli, said they boycotted the rally, because of the "disrespect" accorded to the leader of the party (Shema) by the governorship candidate.

"I want to inform you that 10 out of the 14 state working committee members of our party as well as

19 out of the 34 local government chairmen have boycotted today's (Tuesday) rally because Lado and his supporters have disrespected the leader of the party, Ibrahim Shehu Shema," he said.

Asked whether they were in support of Atiku, Uli said: "We are fully in support of our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and we are going to vote for him in 2023."

But the state chairman of the PDP presidential and governorship campaign, Ibrahim Umar-Tsauri, told journalists at a press conference on Sunday that the party remained one united big family and was ready to unseat the ruling APC in the state.

Also, the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, who is the director-general of the campaign council, claimed they

have resolved their 8-year-old feud with the erstwhile governor, Shema.

Meanwhile, Atiku announced the N50 million donation, yesterday, when he paid homage to the Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, at his Palace in Katsina, the state capital.

Atiku, who was in Katsina in continuation of his campaign, was accompanied by his running mate and Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; former Governors of Niger, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna, Aliyu Babangida, Ibrahim Shekarau, Sule Lamido, Ahmed Maikarfi, among others to the emir' palace.

He sympathised with the people of Katsina and other northern states over the spate of insecurity and other challenges

bedevilling the region, and vowed to eradicate the security and economic challenges bedevilling the region if elected president of the country in the forthcoming 2023 general election.

"I sympathise with the people of Katsina and other northern states that are facing security and economic challenges. I want to assure you that if elected as president of Nigeria I will end all these challenges.

"On behalf of myself, I donate the sum of N50 million to victims of banditry in the state, who have relocated to other places as a result of bandits attacks in their communities."

Responding, the emir lamented the upsurge of insecurity in the country, adding that the emirate would support only a candidate with vision to tackle the challenges afflicting the nation.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

൯൯

NEWS

EMZOR’S THANKSGIVING DINNER…

L-R: First Lady of Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun; Chairman of the Occasion, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; Group Managing Director/CEO, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Dr. Stella Okoli; Executive Director, General Duties/Human Resources/ Finance, Mrs. Uzoma Ezeoke; Guest, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, at the EMZOR 18th AnnualThanksgiving Dinner in Lagos…recently DAN UKANA

Delta Pensioners Protest Non-payment of Entitlements Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has explained why its members have had series of protest against the state government, stressing that they would not embark on any protest if their legitimate demands for payment of their entitlements were duly met by the government.

The retirees also expressed dismay at the failure of the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to listen to them,

claiming that the governor had refused to have a roundtable with the pensioners as he had, for years, not responded to several letters requesting for such a meeting.

The pensioners stated this while briefing newsmen at the Labour House in Asaba yesterday, noting that they could not fold their hands and do nothing while they were faced with hardship especially due to the biting inflation and unfavorable economic situation in the country today.

The union pointed out

that “for almost four years now, the Defined Benefits Scheme Pensioners have been demanding in writing to meet with His Excellency (the Governor) to discuss the

issues affecting the Delta state pensioners.”

In a statement, signed by the Chairman, Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief

S.M. Savbede, the union said there were several main issues agitating the minds of the pensioners including.

They include: full implementation and payment

of all arrears of 33 per cent increase awarded in July 2010, which though implemented in October was 2019 with an outstanding arrears of 99 months yet to be paid.

2023: Don’t Compromise on Perpetrators of Hate Speeches in Kano, CSOs Urge Police Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Kano State Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have called on the Police to set an example by arresting politicians who engage in hate speeches and public incitement to serve as a deterrent to others.

The President of the CSO, Ibrahim Waiya made the call

yesterday in Kano during a peace summit organised by the police in collaboration with Aminu Magashi Foundation (AMF) held ahead of the 2023 elections.

Waiya said the police must take decisive action against defaulters irrespective of their status if it is serious about bringing about sanity that would translate to

peace and stability of the state.

He cited instances with the recent unguarded statement attributed to the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa and called for his arrest.

“If truly the security agencies want to address political thuggery in the state, they have to show an example by arresting some of the big shots who are

involved in uncomplimentary statements which are threatening the peace and security of the state.

“I made a particular emphasis on utterances of the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa where he was recently quoted saying “you either vote APC or face the consequences.”

Adamawa and Nasarawa.

It said the discovery was as a result of a capacity building by the National Bureau of Statistics on data analysis and draft reporting for national child Labour/forced labour survey conducted in April.

Speaking during a workshop workshop for Labour reporters

organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja, the Director in the Inspectorate Department of the ministry, Mr. Olaolu Olaitan, said the ministry had listed 120 victims and vulnerable households in Ebonyi (36), Nasarawa (36) and Adamawa (48), who would be given grants

in order to help rehabilitate and empower them.

Olaitan who spoke on the progress at checking child Labour law violations in the country said a total of 400 children of 15 years and below were recently rescued and are being rehabilitated in a facility in Info state.

Truck Driver Kills Tricycle Operator in A’Ibom FG: Child Labour Abuse More Rampant in Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Adamawa Okon Bassey in Uyo

Fears have gripped traders at the popular Itam International Market in Itu Local Government Area, the Akwa Ibom State capital, over the killing of a tricycle operator by an alleged northern truck driver.

Following the development, the market was temporarily closed to prevent likely invasion by hoodlums, who could capitalise on the tension-soak environment to loot or embark on reprisal over the incident which happened last Sunday.

Heated argument was said to have ensured between the Hausa man who drove a truck loaded with goods and the

tricycle rider over obstruction of the major access road into the market.

There was a traffic-jam on the road as the truck driver was trying to negotiate space to park for easy off-loading of the rice and other goods meant for the yuletide season, but was obstructed by the tricycle operator and tables used by traders to display their wares.

Angered by the action of the tricycle operator not to leave the road, the Hausa truck driver was said to have emerged from his truck with a machete with which he allegedly used to cause severe cut on the head of the tricycle driver who later died before reaching the hospital.

Brig-Gen Sunny Tuoyo Dies at 87 Pakistan. He retired from

Brigadier General Sunny Esijolomi Tuovo (rtd) is dead. He died in Lagos on December 17, 2022 at age of 87 years. He is survived by his widow, Mrs Shayegbe Henrietta Tuoyo and his children, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan; Mrs. Ete Ambah; Ms. Temi Tuoyo; Ms. Tosan Tuoyo; Mr. John Tuoyo, and Mr. Peter Tuoyo and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

General Tuoyo served in the Nigerian Army from 1961 and following a highly decorated career. He was a member of Third Marine Commando and Military Administrator of Ondo State from 1978 to 1979 and also served in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping missions to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and India/

the army in 1984 going on to manage his business until retirement in 1998.

Meanwhile, Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, have condolled with the Tuoyo family and Itsekiris on the passing of Tuoyo, who is the fatherin-law to former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta.

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday said it was in the process of rehabilitating and empowering 120 victims of child Labour in three states adjudged to be harbouring high number of cases.

It listed the states as Ebonyi,

Fayose’s Allies Kick against Inclusion of SDP Members in Atiku’s Campaign Team in Ekiti Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Fresh crisis seems to be brewing in the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the inclusion of members who had defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and worked against the PDP candidate in the last governorship election,

and conflict of interests by rewarding defectors to SDP with the membership of Ekiti State Campaign Management Committee to sell the candidacy of Atiku to voters in the state.

Aggrieved loyalists of Fayose on receipt of a letter signed by the director-general of the PDP Presidential

Campaign Organisation who is also the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, at the weekend questioned the rationale behind the appointment of SDP members into the Ekiti State Campaign Management Committee (SCMC) when they were yet to officially return to the PDP.

Uzodimma Presents N475bn Budget for 2023 Governor Hope Uzodimma 466,276,267 budget of wealth (Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and rural areas as well as the yesterday presented a 2023 budget of approximately N475 billion to the Imo State House of Assembly where he reiterated that his administration would continue to vigorously pursue policies and projects that would create wealth for the ordinary people.

While presenting the N474,

expansion, Governor Uzodimma reminded the lawmakers, “is to satisfy the desires of the good of Imo State, promote sustainable economic development of the State, but most importantly, expand wealth and prosperity.”

He said the 2023 budget is aligned with the 3R’s

and Recovery) policy, which is to promote shared prosperity in Imo State.

He said: “Government will therefore, continue to put the well being of the citizenry at the centre of governance through the ongoing reconstruction of our dilapidated infrastructure both in the urban

provision of adequate security to protect the lives and property of our people.”

The 2023 appropriation has a total budgeted revenue of N150, 450,189,428 with the sum of N9, 054,906,110 budgeted as personal cost and representing 94 per cent of the total budget estimate.

JAMB Announces Registration Date for 2023 UTME KuniTyessiin Abuja

Tuovo

Otunba Bisi Kolawole, in the campaign team of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Allies of former state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, led by Kolawole are angry that the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation are promoting disloyalty to the cause of the party

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it would commencec registration for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from Saturday, 14th January, to Tuesday, 14th February 2023.

The board, at the end of its management meeting held yesterday, 20th December 2022, made the announcement when it rolled out some major dates for its activities in 2023.

This, however, does not include registration for Direct Entry (DE) application documents as the DE registration would commence

from Monday, 20th February to Thursday, 20th April 2022, a statement by spokesperson of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said.

The board also fixed Thursday, 16th March 2023, for the conduct of its optional mock UTME. Candidates are to note that they would be required to pay the sum of N1,000 service charge

for CBT centres for the conduct of mock examination at the point of registration to prevent a situation where candidates would indicate their interest to sit the mock-UTME leading the various centres to commit human and material resources only for them to stay away on the day of the examination.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

45

NEWSXTRA

CELEBRATING A SUCCESSFUL YEAR…

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Enza Capital, Mr. Mike Mompi; Director of Engineering, Seamless HR, Mr. Syl Omope; Head of Human Resources, Seamless HR, Grace Ayibowu; Co-Founder and ChiefTechnology Officer, Seamless HR, Mr. Deji Lana;Head, Customer Success, Adetoun Akinsunmi;Chief of Staff, Seun Obatuyi, and Head, Branding and Communications, Mr. Sayo Akinwale, at the Seamless HR 2022 end of year gala held in Lekki, Lagos… recently :ETOPUKUTT

Kalu’s Second Term Bid Threatened as Abia North APC Withdraws Support Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s quest to return to the Senate after the 2023 general election has come under serious threat from within his constituency.

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC)

in Abia North Senatorial District,the announced withdrawal of its support for the Abia North Senator, and accused him of engaging in “high level anti-party activities.”

Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the group under the aegis of Concerned Members of Abia North All Progressives

2023 Elections: Corp Members Tasked to Be Neutral Okon Bassey in Uyo The Acting Director-General of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Mrs. Christy Uba, has told corps members to show patriotism, neutral and apolitical when engaging in the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country.

Uba said their participation in conduct of the general elections is not compulsory but voluntary, hence the need for them to carry out the duty with patriotism.

She gave the advice during the closing ceremony of the

batch ‘C’ Stream 11 orientation course held at the NYSC Camp, Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State yesterday.

She told corps members willing to participate in the conduct of the elections to make themselves available for proper training and sensitisation to be thoroughly equipped to carry out what is expected of them.

“This is not the first time and it is not going to be the last time corps members will be participating in general elections.

Court Sacks ADC National Chairman

Wale Igbintade

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court yesterday removed the Chief Ralph Nwosu-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Specifically, Justice Nyako barred ADC and Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu from extending his tenure of office after it had expired going by the extant provisions of the ADC Constitution.

The court also nullified all actions taken by executives

from the August 21, 2022 till date.

The Court’s Judgement is in favour of Kingsley Temitope Ogga and others plaintiffs in suit No FHC/ ABJ/CS/1541/2022.

The court held that the party was bound by the extant provisions of its Constitution, and therefore, the actions taken by the ADC and Chief Nwosu in wanting to extend Nwosu’s expired tenure of office is unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

New Policy Reduces FCTA’s N100m Annual Spend on Training OlawaleAjimotokaninAbuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that its yearly staff training fund has been drastically reduced from N100 million as a result of the newly introduced Standard Operation Procedure (SOP).

The Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department (RCSID), Dr. Jumai Amadu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja.

Amadu said that the FCTA

was spending not less than N100 million on the training of both newly employed and the existing staff before the establishment of the department and introduction of SOP. She conceded that without SOP, the ongoing performance system of the federal government would not be achieved, adding that 70 staff across agencies and department of FCT Administration had been trained to train other staff.

She maintained her department had also completed pilot SOP for 15 departments while three departments was in the pipeline.

Congress (CMANAPC) alleged that Kalu had floated the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Abia “in order to support his younger brother’s governorship ambition.”

Kalu’s younger brother, Mr. Mascot Uzor Kalu is the governorship flag bearer of Abia APP hence the belief in Abia North APC that the Senate

Chief Whip is playing a double game. However, the younger Kalu, who had dumped APC for APP has denied receiving any backing from his elder brother.

But the Secretary of the APC Group, Mr. Kingsley Okorie, who announced their stance on Kalu’s second term bid, said that the former Abia State’s governor was no longer fit to

run as the senatorial candidate of APC for Abia North.

According to him, Kalu was placing personal and family interest above party interest as well as the general interest of Abians, who are looking up to APC to liberate the state from bad governance.

Okorie stated that by giving support to his younger brother,

Senator Kalu was deliberately undermining the governorship project of APC’s Candidate, Mr. Ikechi Emenike, hence the need to checkmate Kalu before it would be too late.

He declared that Abia North members or APC would cast their votes for all APC candidates with the exception of Senator Kalu.

AbdulRazaq: PDP Out to Reverse Gains of 2019 in Kwara PDP guber candidate pledges good governance in 2023 Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday asked electorates in the state to see the comeback bid of Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP) government as another plot to draw back the state after it has been placed on a right footing by the APC-led government.

Meanwhile, the PDP’s

Governorship Candidate for 2023 Polls, Mr. Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi, has pledged his commitment to provide good governance that would take the state into greater height if given chance to lead the state come 2023 elections.

However, the state governor while speaking in Ilorin at the commissioning of an office donated by the former KWASSIP General

Manager, Mr. Mohammed Brimah, for the use of APC Campaign Council in the state, said that “as you could all notice, those selfish politicians who ruined this state are plotting their comeback.

“Don’t mind them, they are shameless. Kwarans should not give them a chance to come back because their mission to regain power is nothing but to reverse the progress of the state.”.

He added: “Like I once said, the PDP’s comeback bid can be likened to the people who, after abusing a rented apartment and another occupant had cleansed their mess, now attempt to occupy the same house again. Will you allow them to come back?

“These people have nothing substantive to offer the state after ruling for 20 years with little or nothing to show for it.

Omo-Agege to Dredge Escravos, Free Vessels’ Access to Delta Ports Sylvester IdowuinWarri The Delta State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said that with him and Bola Ahmed Tinubu as governor and president in 2023, the APC government would dredge the Escravos bar and grant vessels free access to Delta ports.

He gave the assurance in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, on Monday evening while addressing members and supporters of the APC during the party’s ongoing ward-to-ward campaign.

He asked the Itsekiri people to vote their son-in-law, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as President, and himself as governor of Delta State, “so that, with concerted

efforts, between Tinubu and I, we would bring the much-needed development to this land, starting by making Koko, Burutu and Warri ports work again.”

The APC governorship candidate made a strong case for Mr. Joel Onowakpo Thomas, the party’s senatorial candidate for Delta South, as well as other candidates of the APC, whom he described as adherents that would

give APC the needed support at various levels of government.

Omo-Agege at the event demanded that former Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, apologise to the Itsekiri nation over his neglect of his native Warri North Local Government Area both as secretary to the state government for four years and governor for a further eight years.

I ‘ll Deliver Democracy Dividends, Accord Party Guber Candidate Assures Oyo Electorate Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Accord Party gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, has expressed confidence that the party would be victorious during the 2023 election in the state as it would deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

This is just as he warned that another four years of Governor Seyi Makinde,

would be disastrous and anti-development.

The former Deputy Governor (Operations) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said these yesterday during an interactive session with journalists in Ibadan, the state capital.

He said his antecedents coupled with his 7-point agenda with the acronym, ‘SERVICE’ put him in good stead to win the election, stating that he has

been able to move about 80 per cent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) into his new party.

Adelabu, who was the gubernatorial candidate of APC in 2019, said he is not looking for money, name and position to become governor of a state that has had eminent statesmen at the helms of affairs, noted that Accord which is no more a marginal party has become the

one to beat in the state.

According to him, “I am confident that Accord is now the party to take Oyo state to the next level with my humble self as the governor come May 29, 2023. My antecedent as the grandson of a prominent politician in Ibadanland is a big plus for me as the loss of 2019 was due to circumstance which I know would not repeat itself this time around.

Anti-corruption Activists Warn against Politicisation of EFCC, Back Agbakoba on Kogi IbrahimOyewaleinLokoja As the Kogi State Government and Economic and Finance Crime Commission (EFCC) bickered over allegations of money laundering, the frontline anti-corruption activists have risen strongly in support of the position of a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. OlisaAgbakoba (SAN), against what they described as the politicisation

of the EFCC. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by six anti-corruption activists which was made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

According to them, the commission’s recent actions, especially against the Kogi State Government, portray it as a “compromised political tool.”

The activists are leaders of

various frontline anti-corruption organisations, including Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership; Centre for Public Accountability; Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance; Africa Labour Research Centre; and Secureworld and Liberty Initiative for Peace, among others.

They specifically called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the EFCC to order and move in

to save the image of the government as regards its commitment to an unbiased war against corruption.

They singled out what they described as an unending persecution of the Kogi State Government, arguing that the EFCC’s job was not tidy as it had given a loud impression that there was a political axe to grind with the state beyond the mandate of the commission.

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

46

WEDNESDAYSPORTS Crazy Argentine Fans Halt Messi & Co Parade with Dangerous Jump into Team Bus Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe

Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

Argentina's World Cup heroes have had to cut short their open-top bus victory parade and greet jubilant fans from the sky in helicopters after fans threw projectiles and tried to jump on the team's bus.

Lionel Messi and his fellow World Cup-winning players were transferred to helicopters after four million supporters thronging the streets of Buenos Aires made it impossible for them to continue their journey.

The helicopters carrying the footballers circled low above the skies of the capital including the area around the iconic Obelisk monument as crazed fans chanted and applauded before taking them back to the Argentine Football Association's (AFA) training facilities HQ near Ezeiza Airport where the victory parade had begun around midday.

It will take in landmarks including the iconic Obelisk, where the majority of expectant Argentinian supporters have congregated.

AFA president Chiqui Tapia confirmed in a tweet just before 4pm local time: 'They won't allow us to greet everyone who was at the Obelisk.

'The security organisations that were escorting us won't let us continue.

'I apologise in the name of all the players. A real shame.'

Gabriela Cerruti, an Argentine presidential spokeswoman, tweeted as TV stations broadcast the breathtaking images of the crowds looking upwards towards the players above them in the sky: 'The world champions are flying along the route they were taking because it was impossible to continue by road with the explosion of happiness.

'Let's continue celebrating in peace and showing them our love and admiration.'

The Argentine players had intended to travel on the bus from the AFA training facilities to the Obelisk, where an estimated three millions fans congregated after their nation’s thrilling penalty shootout win over France on Sunday.

AFA confirmed a last-minute change of plan on the advice of government safety advisors earlier yesterday afternoon/on Tuesday afternoon before the later decision to switch to the helicopters.

The party mood briefly turned ugly as news the players were instead going to greet fans from the 25 de Mayo motorway seeped out.

There were reports of missiles being thrown at police and footage emerged of crazed fans hijacking a police car and partying on top of it near the Obelisk in the aftermath of the announcement.

Lionel Messi and Argentina had earlier returned as heroes as they were greeted by thousands of fans at Ezeiza International Airport after

touching down in Buenos Aires.

The national team and the World Cup trophy, which they lifted for a third time Sunday, landed back in Argentina after a roughly 21-hour flight at around 2.20am local time Tuesday morning.

Talisman Messi emerged from the plane first and lifted the World Cup trophy triumphantly into the air as he and head coach Lionel Scaloni stepped on to the airplane steps to greet the waiting fans.

The PSG star, with his medal around his neck, could not keep the beaming smile off his face as he soaked up the homecoming.

Messi and his teammates came close to being knocked off the back of their open-top bus shortly after arriving.

Video shows Messi and four

DURO IKHAZUAGBE Reporting live

teammates including Leandro Paredes and Di Maria being forced to duck under an overhead power cable at the last second as

Sponsored by:

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

they drove slowly through a sea of jubilant Argentinian fans.

Despite the long-haul flight, the players were still in a jubilant mood

as they waved to their adoring fans from the top of the bus, which read, 'Champions of the World,' on the side.

The team rode in the open-top bus through vast crowds of wild supporters but some fans jumped from the bridge into the bus

The champions' bus crawled through the streets of Buenos Aires and fans flooded the streets to get a glimpse of their heroes.

Fireworks lit up the sky over the crowds, who were several rows deep, and music group 'La Mosca' played.

The flight - with the World Cup trophy in tow and which left at 5am Argentina time - refueled in Italian capital city Rome, before flying on to Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires.

In total there were two planes for the entourage of the champions, including players, coaches, staff and family members.

After landing, the jubilant players are expected to begin displaying the trophy to their adoring fans, including at the iconic Obelisk landmark in the centre of the Argentina capital.

Fans in the Argentine capital flooded the streets as they waited for the return of the World Cup winners.

Despite the flight's late arrival, many stayed up to gather outside the headquarters of the Argentinian Football Association to greet the team.

They created a party atmosphere, playing drums and singing as they continued to celebrate their nation's triumph on football's greatest stage.

Many donned the national team's jersey, in particular Messi's No. 10, to welcome the players home.

Flags were draped and hung from any possible object, including vehicles, while a giant replica of the Jules Rimet trophy was suspended from a crane.

Some supporters were even spotted on top of horses waving the nation's flag, while the replica of the World Cup trophy was displayed in front of them.

Osimhen Rejects Mega Offers, Vows to Win with Napoli Femi Solaja with agency report With the FIFA World Cup in Qatar over and clubs and players taking stock of viable options, Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen, has made up his mind to remain with Napoli rather than pick any of the offers available from top clubs in Europe.

The Nigerian forward who has been having wonderful runs with Napoli has been inundated with offers from Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and many others in the summer window but he decided to stay.

And another transfer window beacons in the next few days with many movements expected to happen following the conclusion of the World Cup finals in Qatar.

But yesterday in an interview published by Italian web, FootballItalia.net, the player said he is not

even thinking about leaving the Serie A club in January contrary to expectations of those looking forward to his leaving Italy for

mega pay elsewhere.

Now, Osimhen insists he does not want to leave the Stadio Maradona in the January winter transfer window.

“The future is this moment, try to win something relevant in Italy,” Osimhen told Il Mattino.

“It’s hard to think about something better than Napoli, one of the best clubs in Italy, right now I am only focused on this season because we haven’t done anything yet. We must win something and then we’ll see what happens.”

Napoli are the only unbeaten team in Serie A, having won 13 games, drawing two. They are enjoying an eight-point lead over second-placed AC Milan and the

season break will end on January 4th when the club visit San Siro stadium with a tough duel away to Inter Milan.

“We’re looking forward to starting again,” said the striker.

“Nobody thinks that these eight points give any guarantee for the future. The season is long and we are aware that we must not slow down to keep the lead.

“We must continue like this, work hard, pretending we are not at the top of the table. We must not think about those looking forward to our defeat. We want to beat Inter, but it won’t be easy.”

The 23-year-old has scored 38 goals in 76 appearances with the Partenopei, but which one is his

favourite?

“It’s the one that will make us win the title, the dream is there already,” admitted Osimhen.

“I can only imagine what would happen in the city if we win it.

The path is still long, we must continue to win games.”

Osimhen joined Napoli in a €75m deal from Lille in 2020. He has scored 10 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions this season and his contract at the Stadio Maradona expires in June 2025.

Napoli rejected a €100m bid from Newcastle in January 2021, but the Magpies are still interested in the Nigeria international and the same is true of Manchester United and Arsenal.

Nigerian Junior Curlers Clinch Africa's Ikoyi Club 38 Rumbles for 2022 Ultimate Golf Challenge First 2024 Youth Winter Olympics Ticket All is now set for the third edition of the Ultimate Gulf Challenge billed for the golf section of the Ikoyi Club 38 on Thursday.

Speaking at a media briefing to herald the tournament on Tuesday, the grand patron, Ultimate Golf Challenge, Femi Pedro, said 39 professional golfers from across Nigeria and West Africa would slug it out at the golf course of the Ikoyi Club.

“Thirty-nine players from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and America would be scrambling for the N3million prize money.

It’s a unique competition because it’s just for a day in which the winner takes all. The idea is to test the doggedness,

perseverance, physical and mental fitness of the players,” Pedro said.

According to the organisers, the essence of the Ultimate Golf Challenge is to promote golf and indeed golfers in Nigeria, the organisers is therefore charging other corporate organizations to join in sponsoring the tournament.

For the chairman of Ikoyi Club, Demola Mumuney, the Ultimate Golf Challenge is the kind of competition needed in the golfing arena of Ikoyi Club.

“This championship goes further than just West Africa.

The challenge will portray the Ikoyi golf section well to the world,” Mumuney noted.

The chairman Ultimate Golf

Victor Osimhen

organizing committee, Akin Somowo said every participant would be given a token of a hundred and fifty thousand Naira, which will serve as an appearance fee.

“The Ultimate Golf Challenge is not a profit-making tournament, rather it’s our own way of giving back. We would do all we can to help golfers showcase themselves,” Somowo said.

Tournament’s Director, Kunle Olatunde, is however of the belief that by the time the challenge gets to the fifth edition it would have been raised to a PGA ranking event.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, is expected to tee-off the tournament on Thursday morning.

Team Nigeria have emerged as the first African to qualify for the curling event of the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics.

President of the Nigeria Curling Federation, Daniel Damola, confirmed Nigeria's qualification for both the Mixed and Mixed Doubles events.

According to him, Nigeria's qualification for the 2024 Youth Winter Olympics was secured after the country became the sole participating team from Africa at the World Junior B Curling championship held in Finland.

He said the qualification ticket and the official notification will be sent to the Nigeria Olympic Committee in March 2023.

"Well done, Team Nigeria youth curlers for making history again by becoming the first African Nation to qualify for the 2024 Youth Winter

Olympics. We are proud of you all and the boys’ team as well. Still we rise,” the delighted boss declared as he shared the cheering news.

Fresh from the eye-opening outing in Lohja, Finland where they played on ice for the very first time, alongside the very best teams in the world, the newly groomed Nigerian Junior curlers have been tipped to ruffle feathers on ice in the years ahead.

"The beautiful thing about the whole success is that we actualised the dream using the locals, the homebased athletes and children from the grassroots. " Mr Daniel said.

"This is a life-changing thing for all of them and basically for the country as well. For us to pull out this historic achievement using only home-based youth athletes, the first of its kind in the entire African region. I’m glad and

happy. I’m happy with the staff and management, from the cleaner to the presidency. It is a team success and I thank God for everything,” he added.

The Nigeria Curling Federation president, while noting that the recent successes have been from personal sacrifices since there has been zero sponsorship from government quarters, stated that more can be achieved if the Federation gets the needed support.

"Not minding that there was no support from anybody; Government, NOC or sponsors, we achieved this.

That means if we had sponsors, you can only imagine what we would have achieved. Like I always say, still we rise at the Nigerian curling”.

The 2024 Youth Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place in Gangwon Province, South Korea from January 19 to February 1.

47

WEDNESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Infantino Keen on Drastic World Cup Calendar Change FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, is keen on holding the World Cup every three years in the future

and also wants the tournament to take place in winter again.

The 2022 World Cup was

like no other, with the heat of Qatar's summer forcing them to host it in winter instead, right

in the middle of the European club season.

There were concerns that

players would be worn out and highly prone to injuries, damaging the quality of football at the tournament, but that didn't prove to be the case with a number of extremely entertaining matches taking place and some of the sport's biggest names being at their best.

That, along with the fact that record revenues were generated, has convinced Infantino that World Cups should be held at this time of year again in the future, according to the UK’s Daily Mail.

That's not the only change the FIFA boss wants to make either, with the report adding that Infantino wants the tournament to take place every three years

rather than every four.

It's by no means the first time such a plan has been heard of with the governing body previously proposing a World Cup every two years and clashing with UEFA and CONMEBOL as a result.

The European and South American organisations are likely to be opposed to the new ideas as well, but Infantino won't be able to introduce them any time soon either way with the next edition of the World Cup guaranteed to take place in the summer of 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

That tournament will introduce some changes though, with 48 teams taking part for the first time and a new format yet to be decided.

Fans Troop Out to Welcome Morocco’s Atlas Lions in Rabat Tens of thousands of Moroccans thronged the capital on Tuesday to welcome home their national football team, the first Arab or African squad ever to reach the semi-final of a World Cup. The team and their coach Walid Regragui waved from an opentopped bus as they were driven from the airport and around central Rabat, accompanied by dozens of police cars and motorbikes with flashing lights and wailing sirens.

The crowd cheered and some waved flares as fireworks crackled in the sky over the seaside capital.

"I'm so proud of our team. Who knows – maybe next time they could win the cup," said Adam Najah, a 27-year-old waiter from the city of Meknes.

He said he had travelled over 150 kilometres (90 miles) to "experience this historic day" and "celebrate the beautiful story of Morocco at the World Cup".

Many supporters, clad in the team's kits and waving red flags, had waited hours to see their heroes.

The team was to be hosted

by King Mohammed VI later on Tuesday evening.

Martinez Ready for Villa Talks after W’Cup Return FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Ronaldo Set to Join Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo will sign a £175m-a-year deal with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr before the end of the year, according to Marca.

The 37-year-old's contract at Manchester United was terminated earlier this month after he slated the club in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.

Ronaldo - who is currently in Dubai - was linked with the Saudi Arabian club before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but refused to comment as he was focused on the tournament.

According to Marca, Al Nassr want to sign Ronaldo before the end of the year and have offered the 37-year-old a whopping £175ma-year deal to secure his services.

Ronaldo and his family are said to be waiting in Dubai until the deal - which includes advertising agreements - is confirmed.

The Portugal international rejected a switch to Saudi last summer, but without any firm interest from Europe's elite clubs, he looks set to now make the move.

Al Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having being crowned winners of the country's top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019.

In both 2020 and 2021, Al-Nassr may not have won the league, but they did manage to win the Saudi Super Cup. However, they have struggled to make a splash on the global scene. Their only Club World Cup appearance came in the 1999-2000 season, where they played against one of Ronaldo's

former clubs, Real Madrid, and lost 3-1.

They went on to beat Raja Casablanca 4-3, but lost 2-0 to Brazilian side Corinthians as they missed out on a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

Al Nassr are currently managed

by Frenchman Rudi Garcia, who

has previously coached Roma, Marseille and Lyon. They also play in a 25,000 seater stadium.

Ronaldo joining Al Nassr would be monumental for the club and the country as a whole given they are looking to become a major sporting nation.

Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister

previously claimed he would 'love' to see Ronaldo play in the nation's domestic football league.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Prince Abdulaziz said: 'Anything is possible, I would love to see Ronaldo play in the Saudi league.

'It would benefit the league, the sports eco-system in Saudi and it will inspire the youth for the future.

He's a role model to a lot of kids and has a big fan base.'

Ronaldo's move to Al Nassar comes shortly after his contract with Premier League giants, Manchester United, was terminated.

Aston Villa are set to hold talks with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez about his future heading into the January transfer window, 90min understands.

Martinez has just returned to his homeland of Argentina after leading La Albiceleste to World Cup glory, earning the tournament's Golden Glove as a reward for his heroics.

Unsurprisingly, Martinez's performances on the biggest stage have caught the eye of a handful of clubs and sources have confirmed to 90min that the 30-year-old is ready to speak with his current employers to discuss what the future holds.

New Villa boss Unai Emery, who arrived at the club in January, will be involved in the talks as the ambitious Martinez seeks to figure out whether he should stay at Villa Park or explore the interest his performances have generated.

Reports elsewhere have named Chelsea and Manchester United as suitors, while Juventus have also

been mentioned in Italy - something Martinez's agent was asked about recently.

"Today, there are very few teams that can afford a goalkeeper like him," agent Gustavo Goni told Tuttomercatoweb. "But Serie A, well, why not?

"Clearly, we're aiming high, for the Champions League."

Bayern Munich have also been touted as suitors for Martinez following the season-ending injury to Manuel Neuer, but 90min understands that the Argentine is not currently on their shortlist.

The Bundesliga side are looking for a short-term replacement for Neuer, who will return next season and has been backed by the club to keep playing for a few more years at least, so spending big on someone like Martinez is not in their plans.

Martinez signed a five-year contract with Villa back in January 2022, giving the club plenty of negotiating power.

Organisers Promise Maximum Security at GOtv Boxing Night 27

Ronaldo is currently a free agent after being released by Premier League giants Man United

Ahead of GOtv Boxing Night 27 featuring a World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fight and a music festival, organisers of the event have assured fans of top-tier security in and around the venue.

The event, which will see London-based Nigerian West African Boxing Union (WABU) featherweight champion, Taiwo “Esepor” Agbaje fight Richard Taruc Pumicpic for the WBF Intercontinental featherweight title, will hold at the Tafawa Balewa Square on 26 December.

Speaking on the security arrangements for the event, Chief Operating Officer of Flykite Productions, Bamidele Johnson, said fans coming to watch the show have nothing to fear, as measures

have been put in place to ensure that they are adequately protected.

“Security is paramount and we have put measures in place to guarantee that. There will be policemen, who will complement a leading private security firm with competence in events of this magnitude. Alongside this, there will also be officials of the government security agency, who will be on hand to make sure that things run smoothly throughout the duration of the event. We understand how important security is to the enjoyment of the festival of boxing and music we have put together,” he said.

Aside from the headline fight, there will be five other fights, including the all-female middleweight

clash between Sofiat Lateef and Abosede Akinsanya. The other allmale bouts, across weight divisions, will see a lightweight clash between Adeyemi “Spirit” Adekanla and Bartholomew Abuchi; duel between Michael Adesodun and Idris Aloma, while Opeyemi “Golden Boy” Ibrahim and Sodiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke will slug it out in the bantamweight category.

In the super featherweight division, Sikiru “Iya Eleja” Shogbesan will take on Sodiq Oyakojo.

The show, sponsored by GOtv, with support from Supa Kommando, will also feature live musical performances by Ruger, Pheelz, 9ice, Chinko Ekun and renowned DJ Xclusive. It will be broadcast live on DStv and GOtv.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

TR

UT H

& RE A SO

N

Price: N250

MISSILE RMAC Chairman to the PubIic Sector Officials “I don’t want any Nigerian in the public sector earning above that of Mr. President or Governors. People say that governors have security votes and that means you now sanction whatever they do with security votes at their own discretion and you’re busy crying and saying these people are corrupt.” The Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Mohammed Bello Shehu questioning the pattern of remuneration in the public sector.

KAYODEKOMOLAFE Lessons From the Second Niger Bridge A THE HORIZON

t least two seemingly contradictory lessons could be learnt from the completion of the first phase of the Second Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta states.

On the one hand, the long story of the bridge is a lesson in how not prioritise a project of such a huge significance. On the other hand the completion of the project is a good example of governance as a continuum. It is negative on the path of progress to delay the execution of such a project with immense implications for so long while it is positive that the Buhari administration elected to end the delay in the building of the bridge.

The iconic bridge was released for public use six days ago; but there is still a yet-to- commence second phase comprising the construction of the four kilometre - link road on the Delta state end and the seven kilometre - road linking the bridge and Onitsha-Owerri interchange in Anambra state.

As a matter of fact, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola made this point very clear when he announced two month ago that the bridge would be ready for use before the end of the year. So it’s “a promise kept,” as political publicists would say.

First, the story of the Second Niger Bridge has become proverbial about the levity with which government takes the provision of very vital infrastructure. The 1.6 kilometre -bridge links the south-south and south east zones of the country. Yet it has been decades from the time the idea of the bridge was conceived to the completion of the of the first phase of the project at the cost of N336 billion to completion The Second Niger Bridge had almost become a metaphor for uncompleted projects in Nigeria. The idea of the bridge always came alive during elections. It was an item of campaign towards the 1979 presidential election by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The election was won by President Shehu Shagari. He could not fulfil the promise before the government was overthrown

kayode.komolafe@thisdaylive.com

Buhari in a military coup after four years and three months in power. The military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari succeeded the administration of Shagari.

Incidentally, it is the administration of Buhari as an elected President that is now completing the first phase of the project. By the way, this is also happening two months to another presidential election.

At a point, the military regime of President Ibrahim Babangida actually challenged Nigerian engineers to design another bridge on River Niger to link Asaba and Onitsha. A design was made available, but no bridge was built before the of the regime.

The subsequent military regime of General Sanni Abacha did not make the idea of the bridge a priority.

President Olusegun Obasanjo only remembered

0805 500 1974

the Second Niger Bridge five days to the end of his eight years in office when he “flagged off” the construction of the bridge in Asaba. Meanwhile the bridge was a campaign issue in the 1999 presidential election won by Obasanjo.

The administration of President Umaru Yar’adua inherited the project with the aim of executing it with funds from a Public Private Partnership (PPP) . In 2007, the cost was estimated at N58.6 billion. A contractor, Gitto, was to provide 60% of the funds while the federal government was to provide 20 per cent while Anambra and Delta states were to be responsible for the rest. The dream was not realised before the death of Yar’Adua after three years in office.

Yar’Adua’s successor, President Goodluck Jonathan also promised to deliver the project in 2015. This was never done despite the fact that Jonathan reportedly told a Town Hall Meeting in Asaba in 2012 that he would “go on exile” if the bridge was not ready by 2015. Ironically, he left office that year.

Meanwhile the huge socio-economic costs of the delay in the completion of the project may never be accurately estimated. The enormous human cost of the pressure on the first bridge has also been immeasurable in the absence of an alternative.

Secondly, there is the positive lesson of seeing governance as a continuum. Three months after his election as president, Buhari cancelled the contracts awarded by the previous administration. A new contract was signed with Julius Berger. The project was managed by the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and funded by the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund. The other two projects being funded from the same source are the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road and the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road. These are truly remarkable projects.

The idea of “landmark” projects has been bastardised in Nigeria with culverts, feeder roads and boreholes being “commissioned” with fanfare by some sub-national

governments. The Second Niger Bridge is not in the class of such projects.

Doubtless, the Buhari administration will be leaving office in five months with many important roads dilapidated and several vital bridges not built. The socio-economic landscape is still defined by infrastructural decay. This is a central question in any serious discussion about Nigeria’s development.

Yet, to give the Buhari administration its well-earned credit for completing the Second Niger Bridge is certainly far from giving the devil his due. A number of other roads and bridges are being built. With an undeniable sense of modesty, Fashola draws attention to some of these roads across the country from time to time. A lot of progress has been made on the other projects being financed by the presidential infrastructural funding initiative.

What Buhari has done with the Second Niger Bridge is indisputably an exemplar of a continuum in governance. Abandonment of projects begun one administration by the subsequent governments has become plague in the realm of development at various tiers of government.

While reflecting on the chequered history of the Second Niger Bridge, the rigmarole of constructing the East-West Road which links the states of the Nigeria Delta naturally comes to mind. It is a development tragedy that 16 years after the contract for the rehabilitation and expansion of the East-West Road was awarded, the federal government is still the lamenting the poor funding of the project. The Obasanjo administration awarded the contract for the construction of the dualcarriage road with four lanes. The slow pace of work on the project is simply unacceptable.

It is hoped that the East-West Road will benefit from the new creative schemes that the federal government has designed to fund big projects so that this all-important road would be completed early enough for Buhari to “commission” before the end of his tenure.

ERICTENIOLA Back to the Oronsaye Report A GUEST COLUMNIST

lot has been said about the Steve Oronsaye’s report. I doubt whether President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR will implement any part of that report before handing over on 29th May, 2023.

A lot too, has been said about the report on 2014 National Conference but not much has been said on the 1999 Ahmed Joda’s Report on Streamlining and Rationalisation of Poverty Alleviation Institutions and Agencies. The Ahmed Joda’s Report is equally as important as the Steve Oronsaye’s Report.

The Ahmed Joda’s Panel was set up in June 1999

by President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR. The Panel was charged with the responsibility of reviewing the factors responsible for ineffective and inefficient performance of the existing establishments and making recommendations that will ensure the Government’s success in executing programmes to eradicate poverty and raise the standard of living of Nigerians.

The Chairman of the Panel was Alhaji Ahmed Joda(13 February, 1930-13 August 2021). He was a long time friend of President Obasanjo. He had his education at the Yola Elementary School, Yola Middle School, Kaduna College, 1945-1948, Pitman’s College, London, 1954-1956; joined Nigerian Broadcasting Service, 1956-1960, senior assistant secretary, later Permanent Secretary, Northern Nigerian Public Service, 1962-1967 and Permanent Secretary , Federal Government, 1967-1978.

Oronsaye The panel was inaugurated on July 22, 1999 by the then Secretary to the Government of Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette CFR (1939-2019). Other members of the panel were Mrs Funlayo Adebo-Kiencke, Dr Attahiru Jega, Engr. Chike Madueke, Dr. Peter Ogbang,

Mallam Oumar Shittien, Alhaji Adamu Yakubu while Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu was the Secretary to the panel.

The resource persons that helped the panel were Dr Magaji B. Mahmoud, Dr. (Mrs) Evelyn Onyeozili, Dr. M.S. Kallah, Dr. Abubakar Lamorde, Dr. Ephraim Madu, Engr. A. Liman, Engr. Willy Achukwu, Hajiya Talatu Bashir, Chief (Mrs) Bisi Ogunleye, Mr. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Prince Lekan Fadina and Mr. S. O. Eloho of the National Planning Commission.

The next President must take a look on the Panel’s Report on Streamlining and Rationalisation of Poverty Alleviation Institutions and Agencies.

The Panel has identified Ministries and 18 Institutions/Agencies that have Mandate directly on poverty alleviation. It has also identified some other institutions that complement the activities of the core poverty alleviation Agencies.

In discharging the responsibility entrusted to it, the Panel used various strategies of data gathering, which include literature review, courtesy calls on State Governors, discussions with officials of State Governments; and project verification visits to States.

They also include dialogue with non- Governmental Organisations(NGOs) and International Donor Agencies (IDAs), and a parley with Chief Executives of Federal Government’s poverty alleviation institutions.

The panel recommended that the ultimate goal of Government in dealing with the problem of poverty in

Nigeria should be the eradication of absolute poverty in Nigeria, which is achievable, and has been promoted by the United Nations Orgnisation since the World Social Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995. In this regard, the Panel recommended the establishment of an appropriate machinery for coordinating the activities of all agencies, as well as promoting complementation between the activities of the Federal and State Governments. All with a view to achieving the goal of eradicating absolute poverty..

I also doubt whether the President will implement any part of that report before May 29th, 2023.

The 2014 National Conference was inaugurated by President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR on 17 March 2014 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Conference was headed by retired Chief Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi from Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State in the Middle-Belt Region of Nigeria.

Other Principal Officers were the Vice Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi who is from Ilesa, Osun State in the South-West Region of Nigeria, while the Secretary was Dr Valerie Azinge SAN from Ukehi near Nsukka in Enugu State in the South-East Region of Nigeria.

Following a plenary session that lasted for weeks, the Conference was broken into 20 committees that included Public Finance and Revenue among others.

All 20 committees indeed submitted their reports and they deliberated upon at the conference.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com