TUESDAY 21TH DECEMBER 2021

Lagos Raises N137.3bn Through Bond to Finance Infrastructure Projects

Sanwo-Olu: It's the largest bond ever by a sub-national in Nigeria

Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday signed a

N137.3 billion 10-year bond to finance key infrastructural projects in the state.

At 13 per cent, the debt instru-

ment is under the N500 billion fourth debt series expected to run between 2021 and 2031.

At the signing ceremony which

took place at the State House, Alausa in the presence of the 24 issuing houses and eight trustees among others, the governor said

the bond was to finance key infrastructure projects, on roads and healthcare.

These he listed to include the

Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lekki Regional Road, Rehabilitation of Continued on page 11

Tuesday 21 December, 2021 Vol 26. No 9752. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

NCDC Begins Campaign to Curb Omicron, Delta Variants' Spread Says Nigeria has recorded 500% rise in infection FCTA announces surge in new virus cases Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has launched its

yuletide season campaign with the theme: #CelebrateResponsibly as part of measures to reduce spread of the COVID-19 during the yuletide.

According to the NCDC, Nigeria

has recorded a 500 per cent increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks across the country due to the Delta and Omicron variants.

A statement by the centre yesterday said the campaign tagged, "#TakeResponsibility campaign" first began in February, 2020 It focuses specifically on measures

Nigerians needed to take to protect themselves and loved ones from COVID-19 during this period.

The NCDC said the campaign was targeting the entertainment

industry, transport industry, religious settings, media, security personnel, young people, and the general public Continued on page 11

Buhari Withholds Assent to Electoral Bill, Says Imposing Direct Primaries Undemocratic The amendment as proposed is a violation of the underlying spirit of democracy, which is characterised by freedom of choices. Political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of association.

Wike: N’Assembly lacks will power to override President Obinna Chima President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, notified the National Assembly of his resolve to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The president in a letter to the leadership of the National Assembly, exclusively obtained

by THISDAY, clearly highlighted his reasons for refusing to sign the bill into law.

Buhari, whose letter to the lawmakers was obtained by THISDAY on the last day of the 30 days stipulated in the constitution for him to communicate his position on the bill, stressed that political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of either direct or indirect primaries to adopt in the conduct Continued on page 11

SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE LAGOS STATE BOND ISSUANCE...

L-R: Chairman, Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo; Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Managing Director, Chapel Hill Denham, Mrs. Kemi Awodein; Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, during the signing of the Lagos State Bond Issuance programme at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja... yesterday

45 Feared Killed in Attacks on Nasarawa Communities as Kaduna Death Toll Reaches 40... Page 35

2

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

3

4

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

5

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ 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

LET THERE BE WATER...

L-R: Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; and Minister of State for Science and Technology, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, during the Federal Ministry of Water Resources' 1st Awards Ceremony of the Rewards and Recognition System in Abuja ... yesterday

Conflicting Study on Omicron as Oregon Research Says Infections May Lead to 'Super Immunity' from COVID-19 Dike Onwuamaze with agency report There appears to be conflicting research finding on the Omicron COVID-19 as a conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University has found that infections in people who had been vaccinated, "greatly enhance immune response to variants of the virus."

The summary of the research findings obtained on the website of US-based Newsweek magazine yesterday, stated that a breakthrough infection, "generates a robust immune response against the delta variant."

The researchers also believed that the immune responses from breakthrough infections caused by other variants, such as Omicron, would be similar.

The findings were at variance with that of the Imperial College London, which held that Omicron variant largely evades immunity from past infection or two vaccine doses.

The report (Report 49), from the Imperial College London COVID-19 response team had also estimated that the risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant was 5.4 times greater than that of the Delta variant.

However, the study by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University discovered that antibodies in blood samples of those who experienced breakthrough cases were as much as 1,000 percent more effective than those generated two weeks after the second dose of a Pfizer vaccine.

"You can't get a better immune response than this," a senior author of the study and an assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine,

Fikadu Tafesse said.

"These vaccines are very effective against severe disease. Our study suggests that individuals who are vaccinated and then exposed to a breakthrough infection have super immunity," Tafesse added in a statement.

The findings could show, "an eventual end game" for the pandemic,” a co-author of the study and associate professor of infectious diseases at the school, Marcel Curlin added.

He added: "It doesn't mean we're at the end of the pandemic, but it points to where we're likely to land: Once you're vaccinated and then exposed to the virus, you're probably going to be reasonably well-protected from future variants."

"Our study implies that the long-term outcome is going to be a tapering-off of the severity of the worldwide epidemic," he said.

Researchers did not specifically examine the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa in November and is now circulating throughout the US. But Tafesse said they, "would anticipate that breakthrough infections from the omicron variant will generate a similarly strong immune response among vaccinated people."

Scientists are still tracking the new variant, but a South African study on Omicron published recently found that it appeared to be more resistant to vaccines, while causing less severe illness than the Delta variant.

The study compared COVID-19 immune response in blood samples from 52 people—all employees of the university.

Of those people, 26 had experienced mild breakthrough infections after they were vaccinated. Researchers say the

study shows getting vaccinated is a crucial step to ending the pandemic.

"The key is to get vaccinated," Curlin said. "You've got to have a foundation of protection."

But amid concerns about the

rapidly spreading omicron, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the United States and White House Chief Medical Adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci has described the booster jabs as

the tool to fight the spread of omicron.

"Our booster vaccine regiments work against omicron," US-based ABC News quoted him to have said.

"At this point, there is no need

for a variant-specific booster," he added. While a specific booster was not needed, booster shots, in general, have been shown to greatly restore antibody levels in the fight against omicron, he added.

OPEC+ Misses Oil Supply Target as Over-compliance Hits 117% in November Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Compliance with oil production cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies known as OPEC+ stood at 117 per cent in November, up from 116 per cent the previous month.

This indicated that the group's production levels continued to stay below agreed targets in the month under review, with compliance from the 10 OPEC countries participating in the production cut reaching 122 per cent and participating non-OPEC countries achieving 107 per cent.

The situation has further worsened as some members, mostly led by Nigeria have continued to struggle to increase output.

The figures excluded Mexico, which was yet to accept an official quota since July last year, but remains part of the agreement and sometimes features in the group's calculations.

Data seen by Argus showed the conformity of the 10 OPEC nations that participate in the production cut effort climbing to 122 per cent in November from 121 per cent in October, and non-OPEC compliance rising to 107 per cent from 106 per cent.

Comparatively, the group remained 580,000 bpd below its 37.94 million bpd November production target, even though collective output rose by 410,000 bpd month on month.

OPEC+ producers continue to face difficulties in bringing back production at a time when the group is pressing ahead with monthly increases.

The coalition would raise its output goal by 400,000 bpd to 38.34 million bpd this month, and by the same amount again to 38.74 million bpd in January.

The gap between the theoretical production target and what the group delivers may explain the decision to proceed with output increases at a time of high uncertainty caused by the new, more transmissible Covid-19 Omicron variant.

This has led to several countries adopting restrictions in the run-up to year-end festivities.

Several OPEC+ members, particularly in West Africa, have experienced infrastructural collapse, underfunding and sabotage in recent months, challenging their efforts to raise production In the preceding month compliance by members of the cartel averaged 116 per compared with 115 per cent in September, according to

documents, indicating that the group continued to produce less than its agreed targets.

The over-compliance was partly driven by Nigeria and Angola which had been struggling to grow production, with both countries around 240,000 bpd under their respective OPEC+ targets last month.

While over-compliance was welcomed last year when demand collapsed in the wake of the pandemic, the OPEC+ group now faces pressure from key oil-consuming countries to raise output faster to soften global oil prices.

Nigeria’s waning oil infrastructure, especially upstream, due to years of under-investment and last year’s OPEC-induced shut down of some oil assets aimed at complying with the production cuts on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, have combined to hobble Nigeria’s production capacity.

For months, the country has been unable to meet its production obligation to the producers’ group, further leading to a situation where demand outstripped supply by at least 600,000 bpd in October.

As a result of the increasing underperformance, OPEC

produced barely half the oil production increase it had planned for October as African members, especially Nigeria and Angola continued to struggle with output losses.

But despite Nigeria regaining the top spot among crude oil producing countries in Africa with the nation’s crude oil production averaging 1.27 million barrels per day in November, according to the latest monthly report from OPEC, it still failed to meet its allocation.

The previous month, Nigeria had lost its Africa’s top oil producer status to the North African country, as its crude oil production continued to fall mainly due to ageing upstream infrastructure.

In that month, Nigeria’s oil output fell to about 1.23 million barrels per day from about 1.25 million bpd the previous month, with Libya, which overtook Angola as the second-biggest producer on the continent in December last year, seeing its oil production rise to 1.24 million bpd.

But in November, Nigeria pumped an additional 47,000 barrels per day when compared to the 1.228 million bpd produced averagely in the month of October 2021.

6

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

ONE-DAY GOVERNOR VISITS SANWO-OLU...

L-R: First runner up of the Spelling Bee Y2020 competition, Master Sotin Ajose of Topo Senior Grammar School; winner of the competition and the One-Day Governor, Miss Jemima Marcus of Angus Memorial Secondary School; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and the second runner up, Miss Rhema Edeh of Denton Junior Grammar School, during the One-Day Governor’s visit to the Lagos House, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday

NCC Pegs Int’l Termination Rate for Voice Calls in Dollars Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has pegged the new International Termination Rate (ITR) for voice calls at $0.045, effective January 1, 2022.

The new rate was contained

in the, ‘Determination of Mobile International Termination Rate,’ issued by the Commission on November 25, 2021.

The $0.045 rate is the floor price for ITR services and is to be paid in dollars.

A statement by the Director Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Adinde

Ikechukwu explained: “No licensee shall charge and/or receive effective rate per minute below determined ITR floor rate.

As such, payment discounts, volume discounts and any other concession that has the effect of bringing the effective ITR lower than the rate determined shall

be deemed a contravention of the new determination and will attract sanctions in line with the Nigerian Communications (Enforcement process, etc.)

Regulations, 2019."

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said

FG Restates Commitment to Lift 100 Million Nigerians Out of Poverty Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja The federal government has vowed not to relent in its efforts to ensure that 100 million Nigerians are lifted out of poverty.

The Director General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, gave the assurance yesterday while speaking at the commencement of a three months training organised for 30 unemployed women in Lokoja.

The training would focus on wig, turban and decorative paint making in order to make them

self-reliant.

The Director General who was represented by Mrs. Chima Catherine, from the NDE headquarters, Abuja, said the federal government would remain committed to ensuring that the vision "Job for all" becomes a reality in no distant time.

Fikpo drew the attention of the trainees to the saying that, "skills acquisition and hard work are the beginning of riches" In his remarks, the Kogi State Coordinator of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Zakari assured that

the training would certainly add value to the beneficiaries respective homes and society at large.

He congratulated them for the opportunity to lift them out of poverty and enjoined them to utilise the rare privileged.

The Chairperson of Nigerian League of Women Voters, Aisha Mayomi Isa in her remark at the event, expressed joy over the gender sensitivity displaced by the NDE and its women friendliness.

She said the NDE had done its part by creating a special unit,

NIN: NIMC Enrols over 70m, Records 15m Mobile App Downloads Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has disclosed that it had enrolled over 70 million persons in the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) registration, with over 15 million of its mobile App also downloaded.

In a statement issued by its Head Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, the commission explained: “The NIMC mobile APP allows users to digitally verify their NINs, link their NINs to the SIM (up to seven numbers) and print the improved NIN slip from the comfort of their homes/offices."

The Director-General/CEO NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, attributed the agency's achievements largely to the Minister of Communica-

tions and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

He said: "The Commission was able to achieve the feat due to the immeasurable contributions of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the hardworking staff, the Front End Partners (FEPS) and other critical stakeholders in the identity sector.”

President Buhari recently launched three unique digital innovations by the Commission: Tokenisation, NIMC Mobile APP and the contactless enrolment solutions to drive the digital economy policy of the federal government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

"NIMC promises to build a positive brand and continue to

explore ways to improve and efficiently offer excellent identity services to all and sundry,” it added.

Women Employment Branch (WEB), challenging the trainees to take their destinies in their hands in order to justify government's efforts to make them become employers of labour after the training.

Mrs. Alice Asima who also spoke on behalf of the trainees, thanked the NDE for considering them to benefit from its intervention strategies towards ameliorating the sufferings of the downtrodden women in Kogi.

In a related development, the NDE has also flagged off a week long training for 110 aspiring entrepreneurs in Kogi state.

The participants are to benefit from the entrepreneurship skills training in capacity building of the directorate.

They were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi state. The gesture, according to the NDE, was aimed at tackling the unemployment challenge in the state.

in arriving at the new ITR of $0.045, the Commission carefully considered the information provided by stakeholders and taken a view on parameters and regulatory measures in the light of relevant information such as international experience, cost model results, the state of competition in the sector and the Nigerian macro-economic environment.

He added that the process of arriving at the ITR was conducted transparently with a view to providing maximum clarity to all parties without compromising the confidentiality of commerciallysensitive information.

“We are confident that the result the review will make a significant contribution to the development of the telecoms sector in Nigeria and be beneficial to subscribers, operators and the country at large,” he added.

The EVC, on behalf of the Board and Management of the NCC, extended the Commission’s gratitude to all operators and industry stakeholders, who submitted information relating to the regulation of interconnection rates and the costing models as well as the consultant, for their participation in the process leading to the Determination.

Explaining further he said, "The ITR Floor is the minimum that can be charged. Operators will be free to negotiate a rate above the floor and this will be entirely left to commercial negotiation between the operators and

international carriers/partners.

"However, while the ITR only pertains to the cost of bringing traffic into Nigeria, Nigerian operators will continue to pay the regulated Mobile Termination Rate (MTR), the local termination rate among themselves.

"The ITR of N3.90 for generic 2G/3G/4G operators and N4.70 for new entrant Long Term Evolution (LTE) operators determined in 2018, will continue to apply for local call terminations until a new rate is determined by the Commission pursuant to its powers as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003," he stressed.

According to the statement, with the development, the N24.40k regime of 2016, had come to an end, adding that it was not favourable to the telecom operators if it was priced in naira.

It further noted: "The subsisting regime of interconnection rates was sustained by the Commission’s Mobile (voice) termination rate issued on June 1, 2018.

“In the determination, it was stated that the ITR of N24.40 determined in 2016 will continue to apply until a new determination is made.

"The ITR, being denominated in naira had multiple negative impacts on local operators which was further exacerbated by episodes of devaluation of naira which ultimately left Nigeria from being a net receiver with respect to international minutes to a net payer.”

Reps Committee, CBN Laud Cross River Chicken Factory The House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Production and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have described Cross River’s Chicken Processing Factory (Calachika) as a national pride.

The committee therefore, pledged to enact relevant laws to strengthen the capacity of the chicken processing factory.

The 24000 birds per day chicken processing factory was one of the numerous agro-based industries established by the government of Prof. Ben Ayade across the state.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Muntari Dandustse and the Special Adviser to CBN

Governor on Development Finance, Anthony Ifechukwu, made this assertion during a tour of the facility situated at the Industrial Park in Calabar.

According to Hon. Dandustse, the Chicken Processing Factory was in sync with President Muhammed Buhari's policy on Agricultural production, "which greatly encourages this type of programme under the CBN. This is why we banned the importation of frozen foods.”

He urged other state governors to emulate Ayade's strides in agro-industrialisation.

"This factory here is a giant stride by His Excellency, the

Governor of Cross River and we hope to back it by law so that we will have a successful atmosphere whereby it will encourage this facility to have a backward integration for the economy.

"We encourage all the governors of the 36 states to emulate what Ayade is doing.”

Ifechukwu on his part said he was going back to Abuja to share the success story of the Chicken factory with the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

According to him, "this factory for me is a milestone that we should come out to celebrate and thank the Governor for his

vision.

"I'm going back to tell the CBN Governor that this program has started in Cross River and we need to do much more.”

The CBN representative disclosed that as part of its intervention, the apex bank, "is currently financing 400 farmers to produce broilers for this program but I see us extending the numbers to say maybe 2000 farmers which will produce the number of birds to feed this factory.

"We will work with the state government to ensure that other basic raw materials in the poultry value chain are produced", he added

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

7

8

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

9

10

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS US Builds Capacity for 170 Radio Journalists, 1,000 Youths in Nigeria Segun James

PROJECT FACT CHECK NIGERIA...

L-R: U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli; Head of Station at Wazobia 95.1 FM, Uche Nwaneri and Executive Director, West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy, Jika Attoh, during the presentation of equipment to radio stations participating in the "Project Fact Check Nigeria" supported by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos... yesterday

N250bn Sukuk, Final Tranche of N3.143trn Domestic Borrowing for 2021, Says DMO FCTA, N'Delta, works ministries to share in projects Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The N250 billion Sovereign Sukuk currently on offer by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on behalf of the federal government is being raised as the final tranche of the N3.143 trillion domestic borrowing component provisioned in the 2021 budget, Director General of the DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, has explained.

Oniha, who spoke at a media briefing and investor meeting in Abuja, yesterday, noted that unlike previous Sukuk offers with only the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as sole government's agency to utilise proceeds for road infrastructure, the current N250 billion Sukuk would be shared in addition with two others ministries - Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

She said: "The purpose of today's event is to achieve two objectives - sensitise the media on issuance of fourth Sukuk as

well as to invite investors within and outside Nigeria to tell them about sovereign sukuk we are about to issue.

"By way of background, the DMO had issued three Sukuk previously- 2017, 2018 and 2020, raising a total of N362.57 billion to finance road projects across the six geo political zones of the country.

That has been extremely successful and has both the DMO as the face of government for borrowing and others.

"The average citizen on the road has been impressed with what the sukuk has contributed to the economic growth and development."

She added: "It has now become one of the instruments with which we raised money for the federal government. Essentially, this event is, DMO on behalf of federal government is offering Sukuk of N250 billion to investors; whether they be retail investors, institution or town associations, cooperative or banks, insurance companies or pension funds.

"We are using sukuk to raise money for the government to finance road projects. Sukuk is different from other securities we issued in the market. You know we issue Nigerian Treasury Bills, we issue government bond.

With these ones, we are financing specific projects, and under the requirements for issuing non interest products, we need to tell you what it's we are financing.

"This is the fourth one; the largest we are issuing so far. They are now three ministries - Ministry of Works and Housing, Federal Capital Territory and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as supposed to one previously. The funds are all going into roads projects."

On how the funds will be allocated among the three ministries, she said: "We have been very transparent with the presentation, the projects that came from the Ministry of Works and Housing. Each one was listed, they were many.

"There is N200 billion, specific projects and the section of the

IG Orders Probe of N22m Bitcoin Extortion by Police Officers Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The police high command yesterday ordered investigation into an alleged professional misconduct, abuse of office, and extortion of N22 million worth of Bitcoin from some citizens in Lagos State, levelled against a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nwawe Cordelia, and others serving at the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Alagbon, in Lagos State.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Bala, ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Panel (SIP) to carry out a discreet and transparent investigation into the allegation.

A statement issued by the Force Headquarters said the development became imperative following a report making the rounds in the media about the involvement of the officers in the extortion of N22 million worth of Bitcoin from two young Nigerians, Morakinyo Tobiloba Peter and Yusuf Samson

Dayo, at gunpoint on July 14 while they drove along the Ikoyi/Ajah Expressway.

Cordelia and the other police personnel indicted in the report were ordered to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, December 21 to answer to the allegations against them.

The statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba, a Commissioner of Police, said the Special Investigation Panel was headed by DCP Olaolu Adegbite of the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB).

According to the statement, Adegbite holds a Master’s Degree in Philology (Russian Language) from the Pushkin Institute, Moscow, Russia, and he is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia, USA. Adegbite, a member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR), was a pioneer investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where he rose to Director

of Operations (2012-2015).

"An experienced and detailed investigator, he is expected to bring his vast knowledge in investigating corruption-related cases to bear in resolving this case,” the statement said.

It added, "The Force advices any member of the public who has had similar experiences of high-handedness or extortion by the officers in question, her team or any other officer at the FCID Alagbon to come forward with detailed information to enable the panel achieve a holistic investigation.

"It is vital to state that the alleged actions of the police officers in question do not represent the standards and practices of the Nigeria Police Force and as such any officer found wanting will be visited with the full wrath of the law.

"Members of the public are enjoined to remain calm as the force will provide timely updates and make the outcome of the investigation public."

roads were disclosed. Then, for FCT, there are N37 billion disclosed and the projects have been described, and for those of us who live in Abuja, we can tell where those roads are with the description.

"Then there is the Ministry of Niger Delta which has N75 billion included in those roads.

So, let's get the monies and we will allocate."

The DMO chief executive expressed optimism that the N250 billion target was realisable within one week of the offer which opened on December 16 through December 22, 2021.

"Certainly we believe so; we have set the time as one week, similar to other offers in the market. The reality is just that today is not the time we are talking about Sukuk. If you go back say a

month or two, we already started the sensitisation process for the Sukuk. So investors have already set aside funds knowing that the Sukuk is coming.

"The second point is that investors have bought into the concept of Sukuk, so there is awareness and they will support it.

"Then thirdly, don't forget one the major objective for issuing the Sukuk is for financial inclusion; so there are institutions and individuals who will not invest in our conventional products but will invest in this one, so the market is large."

In his remarks at the event, the Managing Director of Greenwich Merchant Bank, the financial advisers to the offer, Mr. Bayo Rotimi expressed confidence that it would record oversubscription as previous Sukuk.

As part of its commitment to promote and improve media literacy in Nigeria, the United States Government has launched ‘Project Fact Check Nigeria’, a media literacy and countering misinformation project.

With the support of the US Consulate-General in Lagos, the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA), and the Enugu Literacy Society (ELS), the project seeks to strengthen critical thinking skills, expand digital and media literacy, as well as build capacity of radio journalists to counter misinformation and disinformation across the 17 states in southern Nigeria.

Through this project, more than 170 radio hosts, producers, and reporters will acquire fact-checking skills and explore best practices for spotting fake news, disinformation, and misinformation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop in Lagos yesterday, the US Consulate Public Affairs Officer, Stephen Ibelli, explained that a healthy democracy requires both an informed public and accountable media that provide truthful and objective information.

“By promoting media literacy, we strengthen the principles of transparency, good governance and rule of law that serve as the essential cornerstones of our democratic system,” Ibelli noted.

As part of the project, WABMA and ELS have entered into a partnership with the management of the 17 participating radio stations for the production and airing of media literacy and countering misinformation shows in the next 12 months.

The radio shows and content will highlight the importance of personal accountability in the dissemination of information and also teach basic media literacy skills.

To support the production and airing of the media literacy radio shows and content, the US Consulate, WABMA and ELS donated equipment, including computers, digital voice recorders, headsets and microphones to the radio stations.

According to Ibelli, “In few months to come, we ask that you promote media literacy skills, and educate your audience as well as the people in your different social networks and communities in order to be vigilant against the threat of false information.”

A secondary component of ‘Project Fact Check Nigeria’ is to teach 1,000 young leaders the basics of digital fact-checking.

Ecobank Wants Court to Restrain Honeywell from Dissipating Assets Wale Igbintade Ecobank Nigeria Limited has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain Honeywell Group Limited from dissipating its assets pending the hearing and determination of winding-up proceedings in the suit.

It said the assets included but were not limited to Honeywell Group’s shareholding in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. The bank prayed the court to restrain the transfer of all shares held/belonging to Honeywell Group in any corporate body, particularly its entire holdings in Honeywell Flour Mills pending the determination of the winding-up action.

The bank made the prayers and four others in a suit marked FHC/L/CP/1571/2015 between it as petitioner/applicant and Honeywell Group as 1st respondent, in the matter of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc - the party sought to be restrained/2nd respondent.

It further prayed for an order restraining Flour Mills from purchasing/benefitting from

the disposition of any shares held/belonging to/owned by Honeywell Group, particularly the 1st Respondent's entire shareholding in Honeywell Flour Mills.

Bedsides, the bank sought to void the sale of any assets of Honeywell Group consummated after the commencement of the winding-up action on October 16, 2015, “particularly the ‘alleged’ sale of the 71.69% shareholding of the 1st Respondent in Honeywell Flour Mills to Flour Mills of Nigeria or any other legal/ natural person.”

The bank further sought to restrain all regulatory corporations, “from sanctioning the ‘alleged’ sale of the shares belonging to the 1st Respondent in Honeywell Flour Mills or any other corporate body.”

Finally, it sought an order directing the regulatory corporations including the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission; Securities and Exchange Commission; Corporate Affairs Commission; Nigerian Exchange Limited to immediately reverse all, "alleged"

sales of the shares belonging to the 1st Respondent in Honeywell Flour Mills Plc or any other corporate body.

The bank averred in its December 8, 2021, motion on notice that it commenced its action via filing a petition to wind up Honeywell Group due to its alleged inability to liquidate its indebtedness to the Petitioner.

It averred that the petition was filed on October 16, 2015; alongside a Motion on Notice seeking inter alia Interlocutory Injunctions restraining the 1st Respondent/it’s Chairman (Dr. 'Oba Otudeko) from dissipating the assets of the company.

But that despite the pendency of the winding-up action, among others, “the entire business community was awash with the news of the proposed sale of 71.69 percent of the 1st Respondent's stake/shareholding In Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc for over N80 billion.

The suit is yet to be assigned and the other parties are yet to file a response.

11

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

ELEVEN BUHARI WITHHOLDS ASSENT TO ELECTORAL BILL, SAYS IMPOSING DIRECT PRIMARIES UNDEMOCRATIC of their primary elections as their respective realities might permit.

He argued that direct primaries as envisaged by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 would significantly raise the cost of conducting primary elections by political parties and could have negative implications on the outcome of elections.

In the letter titled: “Withholding of Assent to Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021,” Buharistated: “Further to the letter dated 18th November, 2021 forwarded for Presidential assent, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, as passed by the National Assembly, I have received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government, and have also carefully reviewed the bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.”

He pointed out that arising from the review, it was worthy to note that the conduct of elections for the nomination of party candidates solely via direct primaries as envisaged by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, “has serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences, which cannot be accommodated at the moment considering our nation’s peculiarities.”

This, Buhari further said, “also has implications on the rights of citizens to participate in the government as constitutionally ensured.”

He explained: “The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, seeks to amend certain provisions of the extant Electoral Act 2010. Part of the objective of the Bill is the amendment of the present Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 to delete the provision for the conduct of indirect primaries in the nomination of party candidates such that party candidates can henceforth only emerge through direct primaries.

“The conduct of direct primaries across the 8,809 wards across the length and breadth of the country will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties as well as increase in the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC, who has to deploy monitors across these wards each time a party is to conduct direct primaries for the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative posts.

“The addition of these costs with the already huge cost of conducting general elections will inevitably lead to huge financial burden on both the political parties, INEC and the economy in general at a time of dwindling revenues.”

Furthermore, the president held that the indirect consequences of the issues of high cost and monetisation were that it would raise financial crimes and constitute further strain on the economy.

It will also stifle smaller parties without the enormous resources required to mobilise all party members for the primaries, he said.

According to him, this would not be healthy for the sustenance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

“In addition to increased costs identified above, conducting and monitoring primary elections across 8,809 wards will pose huge security challenges as the security agencies will also be overstretched, direct primaries will be open to participation from all and sundry and such large turn-out without effective security coordination will also engender intimidation and disruptions, thereby raising credibility issues for the outcomes of such elections.

“The amendment as proposed is a violation of the underlying spirit of democracy, which is characterised by freedom of choices. Political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of association. Several millions of

Nigerians are not card-carrying members of any political party.

“Thus, the emphasis should be on enabling qualified Nigerians to vote for the candidate of their choice during general election as a means of participation in governance and furtherance of the concept of universal adult suffrage or universal franchise.”

Additionally, he noted that the proposed amendment might also give rise to “plethora of litigations based on diverse grounds and issues of law including but not limited to the fact that the proposed amendment cannot work in retrospect given that the existing constitution of the parties already registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), permits direct, indirect and consensus primaries.

“This real possibility, will, without doubt, truncate the electoral programme of the nation as another electoral exercise is imminent towards a change of Government in 2023. Nigeria is at the moment still grappling with the issues of monetisation of the political process and vote buying at both party and general election.

“The direct implication of institutionalising only direct primaries is the aggravation of over[1]monetisation of the process as there will be much more people a contestant needs to reach out to thereby further fuelling corruption and abuse of office by incumbent contestants,who may resort to public resources to satisfy the increased demands and logistics of winning party primaries,” he argued.

Buhari also insisted that direct primaries would be subjected or susceptible to manipulation or malpractices as most parties cannot boast of reliable and verified membership register or valid means of identification, which therefore means non-members could be recruited to vote by

wealthy contestants to influence the outcome.

“Rival parties can also conspire and mobilise people to vote against a good or popular candidate in a party during its primaries just to pave way for their own candidates.

Whereas where voting is done by accredited delegates during indirect primaries, the above irregularities are not possible.

“The major conclusions arrived at upon the review are highlighted hereunder, to wit: Asides its serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences, the limitation or restriction of the nomination procedures available to political parties and their members constitutes an affront to the right to freedom of association.

“It is thus undemocratic to restrict the procedure or means of nomination of candidates by political parties, as it also amounts to undue interference in the affairs of political parties.

"Indirect primaries or collegiate elections are part of internationally accepted electoral practices. More so, direct primaries are not free from manipulations and do not particularly guarantee the emergence of the will of the people especially, in circumstances like ours,where it is near impossible to sustain a workable implementation framework or structure thereof.

“In the premise of the above, I hereby signify to the National Assembly that I am constrained to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“It is my considered position that the political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of direct or indirect primaries to adopt in the conduct of their primary elections as their respective realities may permit. Please accept, the assurance of my highest consideration and

LAGOS RAISES N137.3BN THROUGH BOND TO FINANCE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS Ijeododo road and Rehabilitation of the alternative route to Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza.

“In the last eight months, and with the unwavering support of our transaction advisers, we have been able to achieve this laudable feat — which to some observers had seemed impossible.

"We set out to raise up to N125 billion and closed the Book Build with bids totalling N137.3 billion.

This strong response from the investing community - to our administration’s debut bond issuance - is humbling and is indeed a testament to continued investor confidence in the state’s ability to deliver on its infrastructural and socio-economic developmental objectives; and to meet repayment obligations.

"Notwithstanding the significantly over-subscribed book, and active participation from a wide array of institutional investors including banks, pension fund administrators, asset managers and corporates, Lagos State has maintained its discipline on size and pricing. Mindful of the prevailing yield environment, the Series IV Issuance was maintained at N137.3 Billion and cleared at a coupon of 13 per cent per annum. Only bids within the clearing bid were accepted,” he explained.

The issuing houses were led by Managing Director Chapel Hill, Denam, Kemi Awodehin.

Sanwo-Olu added: "It gives me great pleasure to preside over this ceremony and to welcome you all, as Lagos State once again celebrates another milestone in the Nigerian domestic debt capital markets, with the issuance of the largest bond ever by a sub-national in Nigeria.”

This was also be the third time a sub-national would be issuing a long-date Bond (10 years), following the debut issuance of a 10-year instrument in 2017.

"We are gathered here for the signing of the necessary documents required by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) to finalise the issuance of Lagos State’s N137.3 billion 13 per cent

2021/2031 Fixed Rate Bond Series IV Bond Issuance, under the N500 billion fourth debt issuance programme.

“The conclusion of this process will bring to N377.715 billion the total value of bond issued from the Lagos State N500 billion debt issuance programme.

"From the moment I formally received my mandate in May 2019, the imperative to drive our THEMES agenda aggressively has been clear. In order to adequately kick-start the funding of our projects, we formally commenced this issuance process in April 2021.

"In line with the state’s vision to build a Greater Lagos, the proceeds of the Bond will be used to finance key infrastructure projects, primarily in roads and healthcare. These include the Lekki Regional Road, Rehabilitation of Ijeododo road and Rehabilitation of the alternative route to Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza.

“These projects will contribute to a better quality of living for our people, while also creating a more enabling environment for commercial and economic activity. There is no doubt — and we have seen this from previous interventions — that the multiplier social and economic effects will more than justify the cost of the investment.

"We applaud the Federal Ministry of Finance, PenCom and the Debt Management Office Nigeria, for their support and collaboration.

Our appreciation also goes to the Securities & Exchange Commission.

"We equally thank the investing community for their sustained support of Lagos State and our efforts to improve the social and economic welfare of all residents in Lagos. We do not take for granted your enthusiastic response to our Bond offer.

"We will continue to uphold our commitment to remain the most responsible issuer in the Nigerian capital market."

In another development, SanwoOlu yesterday inaugurated nine network of roads and a bridge

expected to cater for 300,000 people in the Kosofe area of the state.

With a total length of 2.840km, the roads are to improve connectivity in the Kosofe area of Lagos mainland.

The governor said: "Today bears testimony to the fulfilment of our administration’s promise to ensure continuity of governance by completing projects that were inherited from the previous administration, especially those that are directly beneficial to the well-being of our people.

"In addition to initiating new projects, we have expended huge resources on the completion of several projects which cut across different sectors in all parts of the state.

"Soluyi Community is a strategic settlement with a fast growing population in need of infrastructural renewal. This prompted our decision to prioritize the completion of this network of roads, with a total length of 2.840km, including a bridge, which will serve a population of more than 300,000 people, within the Soluyi-Araromi-Ifako-Gbagada Communities.

"These projects exist as a testament to our administration’s resolve to continue to provide the necessary infrastructure for sustainable development, in every part of the state.

"With the completion of these projects, our administration has once again demonstrated the topmost priority that we accord to the welfare and well-being of the people of Lagos, in line with our Greater Lagos Vision, and the Traffic Management and Transportation Pillar of our THEMES Governing Agenda.

"The ever-increasing number of people living in Lagos, and the attendant rise in vehicular traffic volumes and axle loads are partly responsible for the issues we face regarding road infrastructure in the State. Our administration will continue to respond to this challenge by stepping up our efforts in the area of construction

and rehabilitation of roads and highways, and the expansion of our transportation network, with renewed focus on our multimodal transport strategy.

"We can and will take some pressure off our roads by utilizing our waterways and by rail technology. This is why we are pushing ahead with determination on the Lagos Light Rail project, as well as the construction of jetties and deployment of boats and ferries across the State.

"I want to implore the Community Development Association of this area to immediately assume ownership of and responsibility for the judicious use of these projects/ roads. You must care for them with devotion and dedication, and keep them clean, and the drainage free of waste, at all times."

The Governor highlighted some of the benefits of the roads to include as an alternative route to the Third Mainland Bridge (TMB) and Apapa-Oworonsoki Expressway via the Third Axial underpass; to address the perennial environmental and infrastructural challenges among others.

Welcoming the audience, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Aramide Adeyoye said, "For us, the driving force behind this is to ensure connectivity and reduce the burden and pressure on major arterial roads that link to an integrated intermodal transport system which in turn opens up the local economy.”

According to her, prior to the project inception, the only access in and out of Soluyi Community, Gbagada, was via the ever- busy Ayodele Okeowo Road abutting Deeper Christian Life Bible Church.

“The attendant traffic gridlock arising from high vehicular volume during peak periods necessitated the provision of an alternative route to ameliorate the discomfort, residents around the area experience while also addressing environmental challenges, particularly flooding due to inadequate drainage system.”

esteem,” Buhari stated.

Wike: N’Assembly Can't Veto Buhari's Refusal to Sign Electoral Bill

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has said the National Assembly lacked the temerity to veto President Muhammadu Buhari’s withholding of assent tp the Electoral Act amendment bill.

He said the reason was because it was part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheme to allegedly deny Nigerians free, fair and transparent election in 2023.

Governor Wike spoke yesterday at the flag-off of Chokocho-Igbodo Road in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the only way for Nigerians not to repeat the 2015 and 2019 mistakes of voting the APC-led federal government into power was to send them packing in 2023.

The Rivers State governor recalled that, “Three weeks ago I told Nigerians that there is a conspiracy not to have a free, fair, transparent election in 2023 and that conspiracy was very clear. And I told Nigerians, Mr President will not sign the Electoral Act amendment bill.”

Wike stated that having known the modus operandi, style and strategy of the APC, it was obvious to him and all discerning minds that the clause on direct primaries was inserted into the Electoral Act amendment bill as a ploy for the president to refuse assent to the bill.

He said the APC members were afraid that if results were transmitted electronically, they would not survive the 2023 general election.

His words: “What APC resolved in the meeting they had was that their problem is not necessarily direct primaries, but the electronic

transmission of result in 2023. If they allow that, obviously APC will lose the election in 2023 and they told themselves that the only way we can survive that is to include the direct primaries in the bill so that Mr President can use that as an excuse, that he will not sign the bill.”

He accused the APC governors and their National Assembly members of allegedly deceiving Nigerians that they were engaged in battle of supremacy over the issue of direct primaries, whereas they had secretly agreed to scuttle the possibility of transmitting election result electronically in 2023.

The Rivers governor said, unfortunately, the National Assembly does not have what it takes to veto the president’s refusal to assent to the bill, because they were not interested in protecting the interest of Nigerians and ensuring that elections were free and fair with the electronic transmission of election results.

“Unfortunately, you don't have a National Assembly that has what it takes, that will stand for the people, that will say, look, we were elected by the people and we want to give the people the best. Nobody in the National Assembly, not even the leadership can have what it takes to say Mr President, for the interest of Nigerians, we are going to veto this your refusal."

The governor maintained that because APC did not consider the interest of Nigerians as priority, its leaders were immersed in crisis, jostling for benefits that could fan their personal egos.

He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was different, because it was waxing stronger as a true political party, and working everyday in improving the socioeconomic conditions of the people in PDP-controlled states.

NCDC BEGINS CAMPAIGN TO CURB OMICRON, DELTA VARIANTS' SPREAD

to promote adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures during this festive period.

The statement added: "As of 19th December 2021, a total of 223,887 cases and 2985 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

"The country is now in a fourth COVID-19 wave.

“The federal government through the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as NCDC and its partners, are therefore intensifying risk communication efforts to remind Nigerians of the risk we face and need to take collective responsibility to reduce transmission of the virus."

The NCDC said the response to COVID-19 required a wholeof-society approach.

"Therefore, individuals, families and institutions also need to play their part in protecting each other by ensuring adherence to COVID-19 public health and social measures.

"Critically, Nigerians are urged to adhere to recommended measures

by NCDC and other public health authorities, as they celebrate Christmas and New Year," it added.

The Centre advised Nigerians to avoid all non-essential travel within and outside Nigeria to reduce the risk of transmission.

In a related development, the FCT Administration has disclosed that it had detected almost 3,000 new cases of COVID-19, indicating the escalation in the spread of the virus which is now in its fourth wave in the country.

The Secretary of FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Dr. Abubakar Tafida, raised the alarm yesterday at a media briefing where he provided insights on the spread of the pandemic in the territory.

He pleaded with residents of the Federal Capital Territory to minimise physical contacts and other non-pharmaceutical measures to control the spread of the virus.

In addition, he urged members of the public to maintain social distancing, wear facemasks and wash their hands with soap or hand

sanitisers to prevent the escalation of the pandemic.

He said the secretariat had resolved three weeks ago that the Territory had lapsed into the forth wave of the pandemic following an exponential rise in the number of new cases.

Tafida said the health authority confirmed 84 new cases on Sunday to bring the cumulative cases in the FCT to 24,861 since the first wave out of which 224 deaths were recorded.

"Now we have 1,246 active cases.

We also noted additional 13 cases in the past 24 hours. In terms of people or cases on admission, we have a total of 105. Of this number, 92 are in THISDAY Dome and13 at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

This, he said signified the severity of the conditions, saying preparedness was key to effectively handling the pandemic.

"So you can see that within the span of three weeks, we are having almost a thousand plus, so if we continue to neglect these preventive measures, the situation might become very alarming and difficult to handle," he warned.

He added that at the last meeting they had evaluated the current situation as well as the increasing number of cases, the Health Secretariat developed strategies that were in consonance with scientific and other available data.

He implored all stakeholders, including security, traditional, religious leaders, people of note, to ensure that they are supporting the effort, by imploring and advising people to continue to observe these measures.

He added: "As we are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a lot of global upheaval, as there were lots of agitations, destructions , death and socioeconomic hardships.”

He lamented the vaccine apathy even though there were over 320 teams working within the FCT providing vaccination.

He warned that in view of the attitude the authority might be compelled to enforce the national vaccination mandate in the territory.

12

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

MEETING EXECUTIVES OF SUGAR REFINERIES...

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council, Zach Adedeji Adelabu; Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, during a meeting of the Ministers with chief executive officers of sugar refineries in Abuja ... yesterday

Anambra Poll: Despite Nullification of His Candidacy, Uba Insists on Challenging Soludo's Victory Alex Enumah in Abuja and David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last November’s governorship election in Anambra, Senator Andy Uba, yesterday vowed to appeal a High Court judgment that nullified his candidature.

Uba said he would continue to challenge the victory of Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that won the election, saying the ruling party in the state was doing everything possible to take him and the APC out of the tribunal, after knowing that they have a bad case.

The Deputy Director of Media in the Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyia who stated this in a statement made available to THISDAY, urged Uba’s supporters to remain calm.

Onyia said: "The Senator Andy Uba Governorship Organisation (SAUGCO) will appeal the judgment of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court that nullified his nomination as the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) for November 6, Anambra governorship election.

"While we remain law abiding in the face of the latest development, It is rather not surprising to many that the APGA members could turn themselves as the spokespersons of the Federal High Court with their tainted report about the judgment and abuse of our the party, APC with a view to blur and distort this grave miscarriage of justice because they (APGA) are to be the direct beneficiaries of judgment.

“The APGA part in this script appears very glaring. Of course, they are aware that they have a bad case in the tribunal and are doing everything possible to take

Andy Uba and APC out from the tribunal, but they will fail.

"We are not surprised that APGA members are celebrating the Justice Ekwo judgment like a child that received Christmas clothe from his father. They believe that the judgment will stop Andy Uba from proving his petition at the tribunal. The good thing is that this is not the last court in this instant. We are heading to appeal court to prove them wrong."

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High court, Abuja, yesterday disqualified the APC from participating in the just concluded Anambra governorship election.

Justice Ekwo in a judgment also held that the APC cannot field any candidate, in the November 6 poll in Anambra State, having failed to comply with provisions of the Electoral Act as well as it's guidelines for the conduct of party primary.

The court subsequently sacked

the APC and Uba from participating in the governorship poll and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the names of APC and Uba, "from the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the November 6 governorship election or at any subsequent postponement.”

Justice Ekwo, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/648/21, also ordered the APC to refund the sum of N22.5 million to Chief George Moghalu (APC governorship aspirant) being cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for primary election it failed to conduct.

Moghalu had dragged the APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Uba to court over the ticket of the APC in the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State.

He was among the 14 aspirants who purchased forms to contest

Supreme Court Nullifies Conviction of Senior Lawyer, Joseph Nwobike Alex Enumah in Abuja The Supreme Court yesterday nullified the conviction of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike on the grounds that the Lagos State criminal law on which charges were preferred against him, did not clearly define what constitutes attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The panel of five Justices led

by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, further held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lacks the power to investigate and prosecute the said offence of perversion of justice.

Nwobike had approached the apex court to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had earlier upheld the decision of a High Court of Lagos State which found him guilty of the alleged offence and consequently handed down a 30 days sentencing.

He had among other things argued that the two lower court erred in law to have arrived at a guilty verdict against him, and

as such the apex court should set aside the guilty verdict and the accompanying sentencing.

Delivering judgment in the appeal, the apex court in a unanimous decision held among others that the trial court was wrong in convicting Nwobike on the offence, adding that the appellate court also erred by going ahead to upheld Nwobike's conviction and sentencing on the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The apex court noted that Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, under which he was charged, did not clearly define what constitutes perversion of justice for which the appellant could be held liable.

Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, who delivered the lead judgment as prepared by Justice Tijani Abubakar, stated that the alleged offence of perversion of the course of justice did not fall within the contemplation of economic and financial crimes that affect the economic activities of the government, in respect of

which the EFCC has the power to investigate and prosecute.

"Having resolved that the EFCC does not have the power to prosecute the offences constituted in count seven to 17 of the amended charge, and that, in the light of the decision of the trial court that Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2011) does not define the manner of perversion of justice for which the appellant may be held culpable.

"It follows that the appellant cannot be tried and convicted on the aforesaid counts seven to 11, 13, 15 to 17 of the amended information and by necessary implication therefore, the conviction of the appellant cannot be sustained," she said.

The apex court accordingly went ahead to void the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered on December 19, 2019 in appeal number: CA/L/8560/2018.

"The appellant's conviction and sentence on counts seven to 11, count 13, and counts 15 to 17 of the amended information are hereby set aside. The appellant

is consequently discharged," the apex court held.

The EFCC had arraigned Nwobike before Justice R. I. B. Adebiyi of the High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja on an 18-count amended charge in which he was accused of among others, paying money to judges and exchanging telephone messages with court officials to influence the assignment and hearing of his cases.

The trial court in a judgment delivered on April 30, 2018, had convicted Nwobike on 12 out of the 18 counts contained in the charge and sentenced him to 30 days imprisonment on each count to run concurrently.

On appeal, the Court of Appeal, Lagos, in a judgment on December 19, 2019, had upheld Nwobike's appeal in part, and reversed his conviction on counts 3, 12 and 14, leaving counts 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17 in respect of which the Supreme Court pronounced on Monday.

The other two members of the panel were Justices John Okoro and Abdul Aboki.

the governorship election under the platform of the APC. The aggrieved aspirant had claimed he was robbed of the APC gubernatorial ticket in favour of Uba and had asked Justice Ekwo to hold that his party did not conduct a valid primary election for the selection/ nomination of its candidate for the poll.

Among the reliefs sought from the court was an order compelling INEC to delist the name of Uba and the APC from among the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the November 6 election or any subsequent postponement.

In addition, he demanded the sum of N122.5 million damages from the APC, insisting that the sum of N22.5 million was meant for the refund of payment for the expression of interest form and nomination form.

He also prayed the court to order the APC to pay him the sum of N100 million as, “exemplary and general damages for the breach of contract to commence and conclude primary election and or breach of Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the regulations and guidelines of the political party.”

"It is my finding that the Plaintiff has demonstrate upon preponderance of evidence that the gubernatorial primary election of the 1st defendant was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Ss. 85 (2) and 87(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Articles 17 (vi) and 18(e), (9) and (0 of 1 Defendant's Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates for the Anambra 2021 Gubernatorial Election," Justice Ekwo held.

The judge explained that the real issue which both the APC and Uba seemed not to understand was not whether accredited members of the APC voted on June 26, 2021, but whether there was any primary election at all conducted in accordance with the mandatory provisions of both the Electoral Act (as amended) and the APC's Guidelines for the Nomination of candidates for the Anambra 2021 Gubernatorial Election-Direct Primaries (Option A4).

"When a primary election is illegal, the fact that such illegal election was monitored by the Nigeria Police (or other security agencies) as averred in paragraph 25 (i) of the 3rd Defendant's Counter-Affidavit is of no moment.

"The function of the Nigeria Police (or other security agencies) during primary election or even election proper is not to monitor same," he held.

The judge explained that the court was inclined to grant the relief for refund of the sum paid by the Plaintiff for the expression of interest form and nomination form since having voided the primary election APC cannot be allowed to benefit from its illegality.

"A declaration is hereby made that pursuant to the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and 1st Defendant's Guidelines for the nomination of candidates for the Anambra 2021gubernatorial election-direct primaries (Option A4), it is incumbent on the 1st defendant to conduct a primary election for emergence of its gubernatorial candidate for November 6, 2021 or any subsequent date in compliance with the provisions of the said Electoral Act and guidelines of the political party.

"A declaration is hereby made that by virtue of the non- conclusion of 1st defendant's primary election process in Anambra State for the emergence of its gubernatorial candidate for November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election on June 26, 2021, or the conduct of the said primary election in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, it had no candidate at the said election.

"An order of mandatory injunction is hereby made compelling the 2nd defendant to delist the names of 1st and 3rd Defendants from the list of political parties and gubernatorial candidates for the November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election or at any subsequent postponement.

"The 1st defendant is hereby ordered to refund the sum of N22,500,000 paid by the Plaintiff to 1st Defendant for the expression of interest form and nomination form upon total failure of consideration.”

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

13

14

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

COMMENT

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

LAGOS AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ INFRASTRUCTURE Tayo Ogunbiyi writes that the Sanwo-Olu administration is overhauling schools’ infrastructure in the state

T

he administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos State clearly understands the key role education can play in transforming the society. This explains the decision of the administration to make education a foremost part of its T.H.E.M.E.S (acronyms for Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21ST Economy, Entertainment and Tourism and Governance and Security) Developmental Agenda.

The increase in budgetary allocation for education, no doubt, signifies the intention of the Sanwo-Olu led government to use education as a most effective channel to drive its ‘Greater Lagos’ vision.

Therefore, the pursuit of developing an educational system that is able to think critically, innovate and provide solutions towards a more sustainable pattern of living have become a noticeable part of the administration’s agenda.

One clear-cut way of achieving this has been through a well-designed infrastructure renewal programme across all public schools in the State.

No doubt, the results are becoming visible as Governor Sanwo-Olu recently declared that a total of 1,449 infrastructural projects have been commissioned in 1,036 schools across the state, while 96,334 dual composite units of furniture were supplied to primary and secondary schools across the state.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this at the closing ceremony and dinner of the 61st Independence anniversary of the President’s National Inter-Basic School Debate Championship held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said 96,334 dual composite units of furniture were supplied to primary and secondary schools across the state.

He said: “So far, our government has delivered over 1,449 school infrastructural projects, covering 1,036 schools across the state. Our government ensured prompt construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools, while 96,334 dual composite units of furniture were supplied to primary and secondary schools across the state.”

As he is doing across all sectors in the state, the governor is not just talking the talk, he is also working the talk. Recently, his administration delivered a brand new edifice at the Junior Secondary School in Elemoro community in Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area.

The state-of-the-art school structure has a college-size football pitch completed with 50mm-thick pile of grass and soft in-fills to ensure playability and fall absorption impact.

Built on 1.54 hectares of land, the imposing 18-classroom Elemoro Community Junior Secondary School was designed to offer learning services, recreational activity and extracurricular leisure.

The project, conceived by the Sanwo-Olu administration, was initiated as an intervention to address a shortfall in access to education in the community. Before the school was built, pupils in the town usually trekked to schools located outside the community.

Inaugurating the school built behind Area J Police Command in Elemoro, the governor said the project was dear to his heart, as its delivery demonstrated fulfillment of his campaign pledge to Oke

OUR ADMINISTRATION’S APPROACH TO CONSTRUCTING NEW SCHOOLS, REHABILITATING AND REVAMPING EXISTING ONES IS ALL-ENCOMPASSING; IT MAKES A STATEMENT THAT WE ARE TAKING THE ISSUE OF SECURITY IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS VERY SERIOUSLY

Odo-Elemoro-Iwerekun community.

Sanwo-Olu praised the town’s traditional ruler, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, for freely donating the land on which the education projects are built. The governor said his administration prioritized provision of infrastructure in education in recognition of the nexus between knowledge and development.

He said: “This newly constructed educational facility is a project that is dear to my heart and has made me extremely pleased, because it is a fulfillment of my promise to provide the Okeodo-Elemoro-Iwerekun community with a secondary school. What is more pleasing to me today is that, with the commissioning of this school, many children in this locality will now have access to quality secondary education.

“The infrastructure installed in the premises offers the platform through which the pupils can fulfill their dreams and ambitions for the future without having to travel kilometers to another community for secondary education. Our administration’s approach to constructing new schools, rehabilitating and revamping existing ones is all-encompassing; it makes a statement that we are taking the issue of security in our public schools very seriously.”

Aside from the 18-classroom block, the school also has 12 standard classrooms, six special rooms for Home Economics, Technology, a studio for arts and music, science laboratory, library and ICT room. It also has teachers’ offices, sickbay, standard canteen block and over 30 toilet facilities.

Other recreational facilities built in the school include a six-lane sandwich athletics running track and a spacious seating arena.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the government will build the senior secondary arm of the school in complementing the junior school.

He said his administration’s vision in education was to ensure every child in public schools had unrestricted access to quality education.

The obligation, he said, is being fulfilled with the infrastructure being delivered across schools. The governor reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for bullying and organised intimidation in schools. He urged teachers and administrators to dedicate more time to students and give them listening ears.

Recall that Sanwo-Olu has earlier commissioned a new 180-bed female hostel, 12-classroom block and other school facilities at the Lagos State Model College, Igbokuta. While handing over the schools’ infrastructure projects, the governor noted that the projects reflect his administration’s continued dedication to quality and equitable education, stressing the government’s unwavering commitment to the provision of conducive learning and teaching environment across all schools in the State.

“We will continue to build, rehabilitate and equip our schools as necessary”, the governor maintained. Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, acknowledged the governor’s sustained passion and significant contribution to the education sector in the state, pointing out that the efforts are geared towards ensuring that all students in Lagos Public Schools receive a quality education in a conducive environment.

Ogunbiyi is Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Information and strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

NNAMANI AND THE FALLOUTS OF STANDING STRONG The former Senate President clarifies some issues about his recently launched book, Standing Strong, writes Akpandem James

C

omrade Ini Ememobong, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Akwa Ibom State, was pleasantly surprised that a ranking member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would applaud the strides of a state governor elected on the platform of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And this was at a well attended event organised by journalists in the state.

The event also had on the head table two past senators, including the secretary of the Caretaker/ Extra-ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, and a former member of the House of Representatives of the ruling party. At some point, all of them were members of the PDP, when it was the ruling party in the country.

Senator Ken Nnamani, the president of Nigeria’s 5th Senate, himself a former member of the PDP, was in Uyo last weekend at the dinner and award night put together by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to round off its Press Week. He was the chairman.

He was impressed by the development strides in the state and excited at the transformation of Uyo, the state capital. He attributed it to the quality of leadership, past and present, that the state has been blessed with. He said more. The commissioner who represented the governor at the event savoured the accolades and praised the forthrightness of the former Senate president. He said such forthrightness was an attribute of statesmanship.

The commissioner must have encountered Nnamani for the first time in that mode, but forthrightness has become the defining character of

the former Senate president. He has been known for integrity in leadership. He is hardly associated with pettiness or undue patronage. He exhibits noble traits anywhere he goes and wherever he finds himself. When he made those pronouncements, it was not to impress the governor; after all the man was not there. He did out of conviction. He was, as usual, just speaking his mind.

Recently he launched a book Standing Strong: Legislative Reforms, Third Term and other issues of the 5th Senate, through which he spoke his mind lucidly. The well received book mainly told in some detail what had already been known of him by those who knew his antecedents. At the Uyo event he made some clarifications regarding some perceptions thrown up by the book in some quarters.

It would have been abnormal if they book did not throw up issues. Every such book does; so it was not out of place that it did. Applause, kicks and business as usual are common fares. Some would read and understand it the way it was meant, others would read with a mindset and draw their conclusions, for good or for bad. Nothing peculiar; it goes with the laws of selectivity and subjectivity.

Different strokes!

Appearing in the limelight at particular times often opens flanks for censure. Incidentally, Nnamani’s book came at a time the Anambra State governorship election was a hot topic in the public space. Being a caucus member of the ruling APC in the South East zone, he was ordinarily expected to play a critical role in the build up and eventual outcome of the election. Both did not come out well.

The entire process that led to the failure of his party in that election was not so well received; and some persons thought Nnamani should not be smiling at

all after such a mishap.

Given his status in the zone and in the party, he was expected, by some persons, to assert his influence and insist on certain outcomes. That did not happen. So they questioned his claim to “standing strong.” He knew what happened and the likely outcome, but it was not for him, at that time, to wash the party’s dirty linen in the open.

He made his position known in relevant quarters.

His critics would not hear that as they insist that an elder cannot be in the house while the she-goat suffers child birth at the tether.

In normal circumstances that would hold, but nothing seems normal in the partisan political landscape. Nnamani has been heard telling his friends that though he is a caucus member of the party in the South East, he was in Anambra State at the time as a private observer; nothing more. He and some senior party members who are indigenes of the state were greatly disturbed by what happened during the build up to the election.

Nnamani however suffered from the ailment that afflicts loyal party members - the type that sees catastrophe but becomes impotent, to avoid being branded a spoiler. When the process was disdainfully hijacked by one of the camps, it was obvious the party was going to pay dearly for its complacency. Probably that was why he hurriedly left Awka at cock-crow when he heard the outcome of the charade which took place the previous night.

He did not want to be associated with it or to be one of those to tell the sordid story.

Nonetheless, what he tried to avoid during that debacle turned out to be his albatross later. He was accused of being complicit. In politics, there are times silence is golden, even if not glittering. It is

more so with the Nigerian brand; but those who are quick at criticising often do not interrogate issues beyond mere assumptions. They lay their vibes on the table of ‘all things being equal’. But things are never equal here.

Nnamani till today laments his party’s loss in that election; more so because he saw the handwriting on the wall but lacked the authority to erase it.

There was a body from the party headquarters charged with the process. He was not one of them and had no power whatsoever to interfere or direct.

That momentary impotence opened the window for the questioning of the value of his conscience.

Nnamani claims he made his position clear but was ignored. He had no other option than to walk away, given the circumstance. He was never part of it, so the issue of selling his conscience does not arise. He was not alone on this. It was glaring that a good number of those who would have formed the bulwark for the party during that election similarly walked away when their counsel was disregarded.

Nnamani probably would not have been the target of attack on the Anambra matter if he did not come out Standing Strong during that same period. He is from Enugu, not Anambra State.

Besides the Anambra issue, some of his colleagues in the Senate claim he did not tell the whole story on Third Term issue. Could that have been possible, to tell the whole story in one book? Going through the book, it is obvious that Nnamani was telling his own side of the story, with proper acknowledgement of the relevant roles his colleagues played at the time. He was neither writing the story of the 5th Senate nor the full story of Obasanjo’s Third Term gambit. ames was at the NUJ Press Week event in Uyo

15

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

EDITORIAL EFCC AND SENSATIONAL CLAIMS The anti-graft agency should put its act together

I

n November 2017, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, set up a panel to find a lasting solution to why graft cases take forever to resolve. When the Corruption and Financial Crimes Cases Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) eventually submitted its interim report to the National Judicial Council (NJC), it blamed the delay on a combination of factors, but chiefly on poor prosecution. According to COTRIMCO, “offenders are charged to court before proper investigations of the charges are done, and afterwards, expecting the court to detain such alleged offenders till conclusion of their investigations”.

Unfortunately, rather than work towards dealing with those weaknesses that were clearly identified in their operations, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has elevated street gossip into their modus operandi. Two recent issues bear eloquent testimony to this malaise. First, in a letter to the Comptroller-General A WAR AGAINST of the Nigeria ImCORRUPTION THAT migration Service IS GUIDED ONLY BY (NIS) which was A BLANKET NOTION leaked to the media, OF NAMING AND the commission SHAMING OPPOSITION requested the service to place the governor POLITICIANS WILL of Anambra State, ULTIMATELY EXHAUST Willie Obiano on ITS AMMUNITION AND a watch list and RECORD EPHEMERAL inform it anytime SUCCESS he is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports and other points of entry and exit. Whatever may be the information at their disposal, that is not a professional way to fight corruption. Second, EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has levelled a serious allegation against an unnamed governor. “Very soon, Nigerians are going to see some of the things that we are doing. I can tell you for free that the new Department of Intel-

Letters to the Editor

ligence that we have created is working wonders.

They have come up with a lot of intelligence,” Bawa said. “In one of them, a governor in a North-Central state within the last six years (one individual) has withdrawn over N60 billion in cash.”

A

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

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

s we have said on this page several times, there is a world of difference between fighting corruption and peddling sensational information, sometimes with political motives. The drama and media showmanship that Nigerians have over the years witnessed in the name of fighting graft can only worsen corruption and we have seen evidence of that lately.

Meanwhile, we have at different times challenged the current administration that fighting corruption requires some underlying doctrines that will inform the battle plans with the overall objective of carrying the people along. But with a campaign that has no foundation in public morality or ethical good governance beyond empty propaganda, fighting corruption has been reduced to the arrest of some opposition politicians and telling outlandish tales.

The point that is lost on the EFCC and its leadership is that a war against corruption that is guided only by a blanket notion of naming and shaming opposition politicians will ultimately exhaust its ammunition and record ephemeral success. Fighting corruption in an environment such as ours goes beyond making sensational claims that are not backed by any evidence.

Therefore, the current practice of publicly naming and shaming suspects even before any case has been brought against them flies in the face of individual freedom and privacy. In recent years, many people have been announced as arrested whereas they were only invited in the course of investigation that most often end without going to court. In other cases, people are publicly paraded as arrested only to be surreptitiously released and the case dies. If it wants to be taken seriously, EFCC must understand that fighting corruption is not about drama. It is serious business.

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

BANDITRY, KIDNAPPING AND OSUN SECURITY

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari and the 19 state governors in the north should as a matter of urgency study and implement Osun 2014 security architecture to tackle the scourge of kidnapping and banditry. With the Osun security architecture, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola purchased a helicopter for aerial security surveillance and presentation of sophisticated 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to the Nigerian Police Force, a feat that has never been achieved by any government in the 36 states. The procurement of the helicopter and the APC was the security architecture that particularly drove away many undesirable elements from the state. I challenge any state governor to prove me wrong. The lesson from Osun 2014 security strategy is that former Governor Aregbesola strengthened the effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force which required improving trust with local communities and better response to citizens’ security needs.

Doing so requires systemic reforms in governance and accountability. Tackling modern security threats in Osun, then, was directly tied with improving the governance and oversight of the security sector, especially the police. This is the security architecture President Buhari needs now in north-west and north-east.

Osun 2014 security architecture did not leave issues of security at the door step of federal government but filled the gap between the security agencies. Former Governor Aregbesola used the security architecture to equip and motivate the security agencies to stop armed robbery and other security challenges in the state. Osun 2014 security architecture will assist President Buhari and northern governors to checkmate the spate of kidnappings, banditry, and other criminalities. Osun 2014 security architecture will tackle terrorists in the north east, bandits in north west and north central. Nigeria has, in recent years, witnessed a rise in banditry across the country, including in the north-western states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina.

Osun 2014 security architecture developed comprehensive strategy and home-

grown solutions to security challenges. It developed a security plan to resolve challenges such as robbery, cultism, drug abuse and arms proliferation, among others. President Buhari should deal with corruption in the security agencies, which engenders connivance with criminal elements. The nation is at a critical juncture and kidnappers should not be allowed to hold the people in bondage. It is not time for sermonizing but for the president to brace up for action.

With virtually all criminal groups – Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustlers, Fulani herdsmen, militia, and sundry criminal gangs – getting into kidnapping, the nation is getting dangerously close to that state of anarchy. The greed associated with kidnapping is exemplified in situations where some people organize the kidnap of their relatives, while individuals even fake their own kidnap to extort money from relatives, all in the craze to make easy money.

Studies indicate that between 2016 and the first quarter of 2020 in Nigeria, about $11 million (about N60 billion) was paid as ransom, making kidnapping a very lucrative business for the criminals. A report by the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations of May 29, 2020 showed that when interviewed on insecurity, the first thing Nigerians raise is “their fear of kidnapping’’.

This is not surprising. While the Boko Haram insurgency, cattle rustling and herdsmen-farmers’ conflicts are generally limited to the north and armed robbery and ritual killings are more prevalent in the south, kidnapping is pervasive in all the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. In the beginning, kidnapping, which was targeted at high net worth individuals with millions of naira paid in ransom, has degenerated to a state where anybody can be a kidnap victim as villagers, artisans and bus passengers become targets of kidnappers for as low as N10, 000 ransom in what has been described as democratization of kidnapping.

Inwalomhe Donald, Osogbo

DOCTOR WHO IS OR DOCTOR WHO IS NOT?

T

he number of teachers teaching outside their specialty has been an ongoing concern and yet it still occurs in many schools.

If a hospital can’t get a doctor who is a Cardiologist, can they just get a doctor who is a Dermatologist, a Urologist or a Pediatrician for their cardiac care unit?

Schools should have teachers who actually know the material they are teaching.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

16

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

AT THE ROLLOUT OF ENHANCED E-PASSPORT...

L-R: Onirun of Oke Irun, Oba Isaac Adetoyi Adetulurese; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and Acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Isah Jere, at the rollout of Enhanced e-Passport at the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Ibadan… yesterday

ACF Cries Out Over Endless Killings in North John Shiklam in Kaduna The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has cried out against the orgy of endless killings in the north being perpetrated by bandits and terrorists.

In a statement yesterday, condemning Saturday’s gruesome murder of 38 people by bandits in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna state, the forum maintained that, “President Muhammadu Buhari and the northern governors are unwittingly creating the impression that only their lives, those of their immediate family members and their offices matter.”

The statement signed by the spokesman of the forum, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe added: “The Arewa Consultative Forum will like to put on record its total disapproval, frustration and anger agaisnt what appears to be an endless orgy killings in Northern Nigeria.”

It called on the states and the

federal governments to show more empathy and sympathy in such grave security breaches, stressing that nothing stops the President and a state governor from visiting such places to sympathise with the victims.

The statement added: “The latest incidence took place in Giwa LGA of Kaduna state where 38 innocent citizens were

hacked to death.

“According to Samuel Aruwan the States Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, many houses, trucks, cars and food crops were destroys during the attacks.

“While the ACF joins the the Governor of Kaduna and the President of Nigeria in consoling those who suffers loses during

the latest attack, we call on all the state governments and the federal government to show more empathy and sympathy in such grave security breaches.

“Nothing stops the President and a State governor from visiting such places. We sadly note that he has never felt it necessary to do so.

“In fact following his example,

The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has charged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to strengthen revenue performance and remittances through improved understanding of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007.

The Executive Chairman, FRC, Mr. Victor Muruako, gave the admonition while declaring open a two-day capacity-building training on FRA, 2007.

Muruako, who was represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources, FRC, Alhaji Muhammed Zailani, applauded the management of the FRSC for organisng the training against all odds, and for seeking a better understanding of the FRA in the quest to ensure full compliance on remittances of revenue to the federal government, particularly at a time when all hands must be on deck to improve the government's capacity to provide solutions to all economic and infrastructural questions.

A statement issued by the FRC

“The President and the northern governors are unwittingly creating the impression that only their lives, those of their immediate family members and their offices matter.

“The ACF believes the President and the northern governors have the capacity to do better than this”, the statement added.

INEC: 2023 General Election Will Gulp N305bn Suspends Ekiti bye election

Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The conduct of the 2023 general election would cost the country some N305 billion, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmud Yakubu, has said.

He also announced the

suspension of Ekiti State Assembly bye-election after four unsuccessful attempts by the Commission.

Speaking while appearing before the Senate Committee on Appropriations yesterday, the INEC boss, stated that only N100 billion had so far been released by government.

He, however, stressed that the amount released was not sufficient to adequately prepare for the polls.

Yakubu added that the N305billion required was different from the N40 billion yearly budget of the commission.

According to him, "The Commission made a submission

Comply with FRA in Revenue Drive, FRC Tasks FRSC Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

not one governor has done so except Governor Zulum of Borno.

“Just a few days ago also in UBA Askira in Borno, where 10 people were killed and uncountable numbers taken away”.

The forum noted that the people affected by these savage attacks are left to think that their lives don’t count.

Head, Strategic Communications Directorate, Bede Ogueri Anyanwu, stated that Muruako noted that the fiscal responsibility initiative which was fully adopted by the federal government was an internationally accepted solution to the plethora of challenges of many governments of the world against profligate and careless abuse of office by public office holders around the world, including Nigeria.

He added that the FRA introduced rules and regulations for fiscal operations by all government officials, the adherence of which was expected to introduce discipline, prudence, accountability and transparency and to ensure that all public funds are accounted for.

He stressed that the FRA made provisions for clear governance of national fiscal ecosystem, including Establishment, Functions and Powers of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), The Annual Budget; Budget Planning of Corporations, Budgetary Execution and Achievement of Targets.

Others are Public Revenues, Savings and Asset Management, Public Expenditure, Debt and Indebtedness, Borrowing; Transparency and Accountability; Enforcement; Miscellaneous Provisions; Interpretations as well as a Schedule, which captured the list of Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs).

He observed that ten parts of the Act as specified above have the mandate in its long title to, “provide for prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensure long-term macro-economic stability of the national economy, secure greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium-term fiscal policy framework, and the establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to ensure the promotion and enforcement of the nation’s economic objectives; and for related matters.”

Muruako said the commitment of the Commission in the programme was to promote and enforce the nation’s economic objectives in terms of revenue generation, which has become

very important for the government to implement its numerous programmes outlined in the national budget which need funding. Funding of projects can only be possible when there are resources to do so.

He described the FRSC as part of the government agencies that earn revenue in several ways, adding that training was meant to strengthen the performance of the agency on remittances through indebt knowledge of the FRA, 2007.

In his response, the Corp Marshal, Dr. Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi thanked members of his management for making the training possible despite time constraints.

Boboye, who was represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal, Finance and Account, FRSC, Dauda Biu, expressed the hope that the training would bring about a better relationship as well as as provide a better understanding of the FRA. He called for continuous training of this nature for improved understanding of the FRA, 2007.

through the executive being part of the executive body. We made a submission for N305 billion for the 2023 general election in a very comprehensive 22-page document with 260 budget lines.

"In submitting the executive proposal to the National Assembly, the sum of of N140 billion was made available to INEC as a one line item in the budget and as usual, we broke it down and submitted same to the committee that oversights INEC in both the House and the senate.

"The N140 billion was broken into two. We take it that N40 billion is our regular budget as an agency of Government and N100 billion was the first tranche of the 2022 budget and we have gone ahead to make provisions accordingly.

"For the N40 billion annual budget are also for elections that we are supposed to conduct, particularly, off-season elections.

It may interest the committee to know that we have eight bye-elections pending: three Federal constituencies and five State constituencies. In fact, the last vacancy occurred only last Wednesday following the death of a member representing Jiwa West in Kaduna State."

In making a case for more releases from the N205billion balance, the INEC chairman highlighted activities that must be carried out ahead of the 2023 general election.

He said: "What we have done is to look at the activities that we have to conduct before the general election. There are

activities that must be concluded.

For instance, if you are going to replace some of the critical facilities like ballot boxes, voting cubicles, these things must be done before the election.

"Party primaries must be conducted and concluded before the election and names of candidates submitted, registration of voters would have to be concluded before the election.

Printing of the permanent voter's card would have to be concluded before the election and then, some of the critical election technology for the 2023 general election must be concluded and procured before the election".

On the controversial Ekiti East bye-election, the INEC boss said it has been suspended indefinitely having tried four times without success.

He said in the last attempt, voters were killed on the queue as well as security operatives and electoral officers at polling units.

"INEC will never reward bad behaviour. The election can only be repeated in June next year during the gubernatorial election," he stated.

In his remarks, the committee chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau, gave an assurance that the required appropriation would be made for the electoral body in the 2022 budget in the general interest of Nigerians.

He told newsmen after the session, that report of his committee on 2022 budget proposals would be laid at plenary of both chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday, considered and passed.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

POLITICS

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

What Citizens Want in the Amended 1999 Constitution

Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that the quest for a constitution fashioned by the people continues to occupy a prime place in the national discourse

Epia

F

rom the beginning of the current dispensation in politics, there have been sustained attempts to amend the constitution. Indeed, many successes have been recorded in amendment to several parts of the 1999 constitution. To many ardent proponents of what is being canvassed as the peoples’ constitution, the alterations so far made on the 1999 constitution amounts to tokenism. The current leadership of the National Assembly has, as well, like previous assemblies established a constitution review committee, which has embarked on extensive tour of the country to collect the views and opinions of the people.

There is an army of agitators who hold the strong opinion that the 1999 Constitution was bequeathed to Nigerians by the military and does not represent the wishes and aspirations of the people to ensure good governance. They have, therefore, been campaigning for a new constitution fashioned by the people.

At different times this year, Order Paper Nigeria (OPEN) with support from Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) of the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) organised different fora to aggregate the concerns and feedback on identified issues for constitution amendment by the 9th National Assembly.

The OPEN Constitution Conversation Series were designed to raise public awareness and engender citizen engagement and participation in the all-important process of alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The conversations were convened both online (webinars) and offline and featured recognized and respected individuals in Nigeria and Diaspora as speakers and panelists on the OPEN - OrderPaper Parliamentary Engagement Nigeria - platform.

The OPEN Series is a purpose-built programme tailored to bridge the gap between citizens and the National Assembly and serve as a platform for interaction and consultation between the legislature and wider civil society, media and the private sector on legislative matters. The platform is also planned to facilitate linkages between citizens and other governance actors including the legislature in response to the gap in citizen engagement created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The OPEN Series is being implemented as webinars and meet-ups hosted on virtual platforms and also via physical meetings. Targeted audience include the broad civil society community in Nigeria, targeted stakeholders, constituents and citizens generally.

Ajibola

Each OPEN event produced an outcome document with which stakeholders can further engage the policy and legislative process.

Four of these conversations have held virtually in the six months between May and October, 2021.

The focus was on separate thematic issues requiring constitution amendments to strengthen democracy and citizen participation in governance; efficiency in local government administration; improve Public Finance Management through streamlined budgeting processes and auditing; and generally improve transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business towards effective service delivery.

The overriding objective of the OPEN Constitution Conversation Series is to broaden the scope of public participation and secure wider inputs from citizens on identified constitutional issues so as to enrich and further confer greater citizen buy-in on the outputs of the National Assembly Ad-Hoc Committees on Constitution Review beyond the statutory public hearings already conducted by the legislature.

The expected outcome is that the Constitutional Amendment Bills that would be eventually passed and transmitted to the President of Nigeria for assent would significantly reflect the concerns, wishes and aspirations of Nigerians across board.

Review of OPEN Series Events The OPEN Constitution Conversations centred on (i) Nation-building and the Imperative of Constitution Review; (ii) Timeline for Passage of and Assent to Appropriation Bills; (iii) Efficiency of Local Government Councils; and (iv) Strengthening Public Auditing through Constitutional Amendment.

On May 26 via Zoom, the theme,

Omo-Agege

‘ Nation Building and Constitution Review,’ was thoroughly discussed by guest speakers and panelists: including Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy President of the Senate, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) represented by His Chief of Staff, Dr. Otive Igbuzor; Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere, Member, House of Representatives; and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, accomplished businessman and elder statesman.

The conversation was moderated by the Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia.

Some of the observations were that the zonal public hearings on the review and amendment of the 1999 Constitution (being) organized by the National Assembly was an opportunity to receive feedback and inputs from citizens and groups.

The National Assembly listed 17 issues for discussion at the zonal public hearings. The 2014 National Conference Report is one of the main documents being used by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in its work. The current constitutional review process is limited with respect to citizen participation as it is elitist instead of being peopledriven, process-led, transparent, consultative, and participatory.

The National Assembly does not have a monopoly in representing the people of Nigeria as Nigerians are also organized and represented by their state governors, state legislators, private sector organizations, labour organizations, social-cultural unions/association, etc all of which require engagement on the constitution amendment process. Members of the National Assembly in both the Senate and House of Representatives have immense roles individually to play in citizen engagement to extract feedback from their constituents. A fundamental problem facing Nigeria

The expected outcome is that the Constitutional Amendment Bills that would be eventually passed and transmitted to the President of Nigeria for assent would significantly reflect the concerns, wishes and aspirations of Nigerians across board

is the question of leadership in the executive, legislature, and judiciary branches of government in that when leaderships fail or is compromised, it becomes difficult to carry out reforms that place citizens at the heart of the efforts Going by these observations, it was resolved that, the Constitution review process should be participatory, consultative, transparent, process-led, and peopledriven. It should involve more citizen engagement at the local government areas and state levels instead of just at the zonal level Representatives of a wide range of citizen groups and Nigerians in Diaspora should be encouraged to contribute to the constitution review process through different and granular organizing. The National Assembly should work with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and other interest and professional groups to actualize broad-based consultations and citizen engagement on the constitution review process. Despite observed short-comings, Nigerians must engage and optimize the ongoing constitution review process to make their voices heard and have their positions imputed as much as possible in the outcome. The media, a key stakeholder and voice of the people, should be properly mobilized and utilized to reach out and get feedback from the people. The outcome of the Constitution review process should include a deliberate liberation of Nigeria’s federating units so states can be fully independent of the Federal Government. The Constitution should be freely accessible to all Citizens of Nigeria including being made available in local languages throughout the country. A key outcome of the Constitution review process should be the promotion of social inclusion; as well as protection of weak, vulnerable groups and the poor in society. Another outcome of the Constitution review should be a reduction in the cost of governance; and a systematic allocation of more percentage of budgets to capital projects rather than recurrent expenditures. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media should ramp up their advocacy roles in engaging Legislators at the sub-national levels in the performance of their functions of oversight and provision of checks and balances on the Executive arm of Government at those levels. Gender representation and equality should be considered at all stages in the process of the Constitution amendment just as women’s right should be enshrined in the amended Constitution to ensure and promote inclusiveness. State

19

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

POLITICS

Igbuzor

police should be a priority in the amended Constitution, but a Constitution-backed check-and-balance system should be initiated to prevent abuse by the governors.

The National Assembly should strongly consider and mainstream reports from past national conferences into the current amendment process. To dispel concerns that the current Constitution amendment exercise may be a political jamboree, the National Assembly must ensure that the process intentionally has the citizens of Nigeria as main beneficiaries.

Local Government and Constitution Review was the theme for OPEN Conversation series on July, 16 via Zoom. Some of the guest speakers and panelists were Senator Sadiq Umar, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business; Barr.

Okoroafor Okechukwu, National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT); Comrade Ambali Olatunji Akeem, National President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE); and Dr. Adebola Bakare, Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin.

The conversation was anchored by the Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia.

Following the expressed opinions of the panel of speakers and contributions from participants, the following observations and resolutions were made, the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution being organized by the National Assembly is an avenue to get the long desired Local Government autonomy achieved.

The Executive and National Assembly has demonstrated a genuine interest in bringing to birth the imperative of local government autonomy. The state governors have domineering strength over local government councils which has over the years crippled their productivity . State governors and states Houses of Assembly are spotted as impediments to achieving local government autonomy. There are gaps in citizen mobilization and leadership recruitment at the grassroots Full autonomy to the local government is long overdue and should be vigorously pursued in the ongoing amendment to tenaciously combat the rising level of insecurity in Nigeria since all problems in the country are traceable to the grassroots.

Local government autonomy will make local government administrators seat up to give room for creativity which will give room for development of local contents through the rise in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises which will in no measure contribute to the national GDP The need for the total abolishment of Joint Account Allocation Committee (JACC) and ensuring direct allocation to local government areas from the federation account to avoid state governors from putting hands into Local Government funds. The National Assembly should strongly consider ensuring a uniform tenure for local government chairmen across the country to avoid the use of caretaker committees being constituted by the governors and by ensuring INEC takes over the conduct of local government elections. The forum identified state houses of assembly as strong barriers to the achievement of local government

Ihonvbere

autonomy, hence the need for stakeholders to intensify engagement of the Constitution amendment at the level of state legislatures. Primary education funding should be made a first line charge, with the proposition that 40% of education budget be borne by local government councils while states and federal government should take care of 60%. There is need for right-thinking persons to manage the affairs of local government councils which can be achieved through the effective mobilization and participation of people at the grassroots in local politics OPEN Constitution Review sessions by OrderPaper should be sustained to address topical issues in the Constitution review exercise so that resolutions can be channeled to the appropriate quarters at the National Assembly.

The third conversation dealt with Timeline for ‘Assent of Bills and Passage of Appropriation Bills.’ It held via Zoom on August 16. The guests speakers and panelists including Victor Muruako, Executive Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Prof. Mojeed Alabi, Professor of Political Science and former lawmaker; and Mr. Bolutife Oluwadele, Policy Analyst and Chartered Accountant. The conversation was anchored by the Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia.

Following the expressed opinions of the panelists, these were the observations. The ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly is an avenue for issues around the Annual Appropriation Bill to be addressed. The Executive and Legislature branches of government were commended and encouraged to sustain collaboration in maintaining the January to December Fiscal Calendar attained recently. There were gaps identified in projects monitoring and evaluation thereby creating accountability loopholes at different levels of budget implementation. Effective citizens’ participation at all stages of the budget circle needs to be ramped

Ohuabunwa

up to bolster accountability demand by citizens. Institutionalization of timelines for budget submission, passage and assent circle will help private and public sector, foreign investors, and the citizen make the right economic forecast and to put to an end the notion of seeing the budget and ‘annual ritual’. The need for thorough scrutiny of budget proposals by the National Assembly should be taken seriously and not as a mere ‘ritual’ that has not yielded quality results on the lives of citizens. The need for sanction for defaulters in the budget implementation process cannot be overemphasized as such will promote the culture of discipline within MDAs saddled with one responsibility or the other within the budget process. The forum stressed the need to beam accountability searchlight on the budget process of the sub-national (states and local governments) level since much attention has been placed on the Federal Government with little or no attention on the States and LGAs. Budget performance reports by MDAs should be quarterly submitted to the appropriate quarters to provide accountability on how funds approved and disbursed are being utilized.

Continual citizen enlightenment and orientation on the importance of the annual budget to their daily lives is important as well as general awareness of the legislative process is key to achieving the production budget.

Strengthening Public Auditing Through Constitutional Amendment was the theme of the fourth discourse on October 18 via Zoom guest speakers and panelists were Senator Bashiru Ajibola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs; Dr. Greg Ezeilo, Technical Adviser, Public Accounts Committee, House of Representatives; Dr. Adetunji Ogunyemi, Economic Historian from Obafemi Awolowo University. The conversation was anchored by the Executive Director of OrderPaper Nigeria, Mr. Oke Epia.

State police should be a priority in the amended Constitution, but a Constitution-backed checkand-balance system should be initiated to prevent abuse by the governors. The National Assembly should strongly consider and mainstream reports from past national conferences into the current amendment process. To dispel concerns that the current Constitution amendment exercise may be a political jamboree, the National Assembly must ensure that the process intentionally has the citizens of Nigeria as main beneficiaries

The ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly is a window to push for a constitutional amendment on issues bordering around the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation. The forum commended the effort of the eighth (8th) and ninth (9th) National Assembly for driving the efforts to birth workable legal frameworks for effective financial management, particularly for the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, stressing that the present and subsequent administrations could win the fight against corruption through an effective audit system. It was emphasized that the financial and administrative independence of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) will help in the effective delivery of auditing tasks at the national and sub-national levels. It was noted that the Office of the Auditor-General’s office (OAuGF) lacks prosecuting powers to prosecute defaulters. It was observed that regular capacity building for Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly will enable effective examination of reports coming from the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies through the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation The National Assembly is encouraged to harmonize observations from the Executive in order to secure Presidential assent to the Audit Commission Bill . Elite consensus is needed in upholding the Constitution’s provisions for driving institutional reforms for the good of the citizenry at all levels of governance, irrespective of political affiliation and personal interest.

The Office of the Auditor-General’s office (OAuGF) need to be independent to help in the effective delivery of auditing tasks at the national and sub-national levels.

It was agreed that only experts with a minimum of 15 years working experience in auditing and accounting be appointed to drive the needed changes in the Supreme Audit Institution. It was proposed that a provision in the new Constitution should guarantee the security of Auditor General’s tenure. It was recommended that the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly should undergo regular capacity building exercises. The Office of the Auditor General of the Federation is encouraged to engage the service of Forensic Accountants. There is need to digitalize Nigeria’s audit system with modern technology to enable the Office of the Auditor General to carry out its work on public financial management effectively. The meeting called for the establishment of an Audit Tribunal that will help in timely prosecution of defaulting individuals and MDAs when needed. It was emphasized that a swift and effective audit system is a key strategy in winning the fight against corruption; therefore, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation should be empowered to conduct quarterly audit of reports of MDAs to avoid backlog of reports as seen in previous years. Nigerians were encouraged to support the National Assembly to ensure that critical matters like the independence of the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation is achieved to promote accountability and transparency

LAWYER TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

A

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

WEEKLY PULLOUT

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

NBA PRESIDENT, OLUMIDE AKPATA

‘NBA is Firing Again On All Cylinders’

II

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

IN THIS EDITION

R E Y W A L TUE SDAY, DEC

EMB ER 21, 202

1

A

LLOUT WEEKLY PU

TRU

TH &

REAS

TRU

TH &

RE A S

Whether Celebration of Marriage Under the Marriage Act is an Exclusive Duty of LGCs

ON

ON

A , OLUMIDE AKPAT NBA PRESIDENT

Page IV

n i a g A g n i r i F s i A ‘NB ’ s r e d n i l y C l l A On

61.3 million Nigerians Aged Between 1935 are UnderRepresented in Government Page V

QUOTABLES ‘We need to significantly improve the remuneration of Judges and Magistrates.

There's no reason why the salaries of Judges, cannot be benchmarked against that of Senators and Members of House of Representatives.’- Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON, SAN, Professor of Law, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

‘….Bandits……they have been declared terrorists, and we will continue to treat them as terrorists without any third party consideration.

Our decision as to how best to deal with them or not to deal with them, will not in any way be influenced by what Dr Gumi is doing.’ Abubakar Malami, SAN, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria

LAWYER

NBA Mentoring Committee Organises Learning Forum for Young Lawyers Page V

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE: EDITOR, JUDE IGBANOI: DEPUTY EDITOR, PETER TAIWO, STEVE AYA: REPORTERS

III THE ADVOCATE

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

Much Ado About Ikoyi Marriage Registry Two incidents caught my attention last week - the fact that the President did not renominate Lauretta Onochie as INEC National Commissioner, and the judgement of the Federal High Court per Osiagor J., which held inter alia, that except in Ikoyi, Lagos and Abuja there should not be Federal Marriage Registries in the Marriage Districts, and inter alia, made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Minister of Interior and his agents from contracting marriages and issuing certificates, except for in the two aforementioned locations.

Lauretta Onochie and the Electoral Process I could not but follow up on the issue of the former nomination of Ms Lauretta Onochie for the position of INEC National Commissioner, which I wrote about in July. Thankfully, President Muhammadu Buhari did the right thing, by not renominating her.

I referred to her nomination as repugnant, and rightfully so too, and raised serious objections to it, on the grounds that she is not just partisan but an active member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), contrary to Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution), a fact she had sought to conceal during her Senate screening. Also see the Third Schedule to the Constitution Part 1 F - INEC Section 14(2) (a) & 3(b) on partisanship and unquestionable integrity. I submitted that because of this, it would be an injustice for Ms Onochie to be confirmed, because apart from the fact that her attempt to mislead the Senate about her political activities showed that she lacked the requisite credibility and integrity for such a sensitive position since she is prone to being economical with the truth, at least, when it will be of benefit to her, there was a high likelihood that she would be biased in favour of the APC. I cited the cases of Deduwa v Okorodudu & Ors 1976 1 NMLR 237 and Rafiu Womiloju & 6 Ors v Fatai Ogisanyin Anibire & 4 Ors SC.211/2002 per Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad JSC (now CJN), to support my assertion, and concluded that the objections raised against her nomination, were verified facts which amount to admissible evidence against her nomination.

Furthermore, there was already an INEC National Commissioner from Delta State in the South South zone, where Ms Onochie’s hails from.

I had therefore asked that, either Ms Onochie reject her nomination, or the President withdraw it, or that the Senate should not confirm her - whichever way, she should not be given the job. The Senate rejected her, but on the basis of Federal Character because of the other Commissioner from Delta State (Section 14(3) of the Constitution), and not for the other aforementioned cogent reasons. I expressed my reservations about the Senate’s sole ground for rejecting Ms Onochie’s nomination without mention of her other impediments, and hoped that it was not a ruse to give the opportunity for her future renomination. I’m glad that the President proved me wrong.

President Buhari has undertaken, to leave our electoral process better than he found it.

Aside from putting the right law in place to achieve this goal, it is crucial that the officials of INEC, especially the high level ones, are non-partisan, intelligent, innovative people with unimpeachable integrity, whose sole purpose is to conduct free and fair elections, and deliver true and accurate results. Sadly, Ms Onochie, for the reasons I espoused, cannot fit into this mould for this particular role. Nevertheless, there are other positions that she can be considered for, like APC Women’s Leader!

The Marriage Saga For those who may be tired of the institution of matrimony, and were happy that by virtue of the decision in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/816/18 Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 Ors v Honourable Minister of Interior & 2 Ors per Osiagor J., (2018 case) their marriages are null and void since they were conducted at a Federal Marriage Registry and not by the Local Government, I am sorry to disappoint you; you will have to go through the proper process of obtaining a divorce from the High Court, if you want to opt out of your marriage which was contracted under the Marriage Act 1955, subsequently 2004 (MA)!

Abuse of Court Process If there was ever any, the aforementioned suit qualifies to be high on the list of abuse of court process. Even though new litigants were added to the matter to give it a semblance of being a completely new and different case, firstly, Eti-Osa Local Government was a recurring decimal in this case, the Haastrup case, and the

(CA) 10615. See also Section 241(1)(a) of the Constitution which provides inter alia that, appeals from the Federal or State High Courts shall lie to the Court of Appeal.

Item 61 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution states thus: "The formation, annulment and dissolution of marriages other than marriages under Islamic and Customary law including matrimonial causes relating thereto".

This clearly shows that by virtue of Section 4(1) & (2) of the Constitution, by which the National Assembly (NASS) is the body empowered to make laws for all matters included on the Exclusive Legislative List, all marriages (except those excluded from Item 61), including the contracting of marriage (formation) fall under the purview of the Federal Government - this power applies to all of Nigeria, and not Ikoyi and Abuja only.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocate

The

Advocate “In ….Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 Ors v Honourable Minister of Interior, the trial Judge, Osiagor J. definitely shut his eyes to Section 241 & Item 61 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution, certain provisions of the Marriage Act and Evidence Act, and the doctrine of res judicata, thereby arriving at a somewhat faulty decision” Federal High Court case that was dismissed.

Secondly, even though Osiagor J. had tried to distinguish the 2018 case from that of the Haastrup case, some of the prayers in the 2018 case had already been adjudicated upon and decided in the earlier Suit No. FHC/L/CS/870/2002 Prince Haastrup v Eti-Osa Local Government, and should therefore, have been excluded from this matter. Thirdly, the 2018 case, a matter that is so contentious, was commenced by means of an originating summons, instead of a writ of summons. Some of the Plaintiffs’ prayers, in my opinion, sought to reverse the decision in the Haastrup case, and indeed, it was somewhat overturned! In the Haastrup case, the court upheld the Federal Government’s power, through the Ministry of Interior, to conduct marriages (anywhere in Nigeria), and held that "the Local Governments were delegated by the Federal Government to conduct marriages by virtue of Legal Notices issued pursuant to the Marriage Act"; and that the Local Governments were constitutionally empowered to register all forms of marriage.

Instead of appealing the decision in the Haastrup case, apart from the aforementioned 2018 matter, there were two other cases on same issue, one in 2016 at the Federal High Court - Suit No. FHC/L/CS/170/16 Eti Osa Local Government & Anor v Hon. Minister of Interior & 2 Ors (which was struck out as an abuse of court process), and another at the Lagos High Court, Suit No. LD/1343/GCM/2016 Olumide Babalola v Ikeja Local Government & ALGON, which inter alia, affirmed the Federal Government’s right to conduct marriages. See the cases of Allanah v Kpolokwu 2016 6 N.W.L.R.

Part 1507 Page 1 at 27 per Sanusi JSC and Ogboro v Uduaghan 2013 13 N.W.L.R. Part 1370 Page 33 at 53 per Ogunbiyi JSC for the definition of abuse of court process.

Fourthly, it is trite law that, the subsequent judgement of the 2018 case at the same Federal High Court that touched upon the same subject-matter of the earlier 2002 Haastrup case, and came to a different decision, cannot purport to set aside the decision that was first in time, especially as the subsequent decision is ‘per incuriam’, as it was decided without reference to the Constitution, and a thorough examination of the MA and EA. It is perverse, that is, “one that is persistent in error….”- Ukatta v Ndinaeze 1997 4 N.W.L.R. Part 499 Page 251 at 276; “unacceptable and unreasonable” - per Galadima JSC in Emeka v State 2014 13 N.W.L.R. Part 1425 Page 614 at 632.

Can the same Federal High Court purport to interpret the judgement of its sister court, and in the process of the so-called interpretation, tamper with the previous decision as if it is the Court of Appeal? A court of coordinate jurisdiction, has no right “to sit as an appellate court in another case and review/adjudicate on a decision or order made by another court of the same hierarchy”. Does the doctrine of res judicata not apply? That is, “a final judgement rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction on the merits, is conclusive as to the rights of the parties and their privies, and as to them, constitutes an absolute bar to a subsequent action involving the same claim, demand or cause of action”. See Suit No. CA/L/1440/2017 Jonathan Uba & Anor v Bore Auta 2021 Legalpedia

Existing Law Assuming that the Constitution did not place Marriage as Item 61 of the Exclusive Legislative List, and it was a Residual Item, marriages that predate the 1999 Constitution would still not have been adversely affected, because it is trite that a law cannot be retrospective or retroactive.

The former law would simply qualify to be an existing law by virtue of Section 315 of the Constitution, and all marriages contracted under the MA would have shifted to one which the House of Assembly only is empowered to make laws for. The law would still have been valid.

The question would then have been, whether marriages conducted under a subsisting law by the wrong government agency, are valid. I would answer in the affirmative, because Section 114(1) of the Evidence Act 2011 (EA) provides for the presumption of genuineness of every document “…..which is by law declared to be admissible as evidence of a particular fact and which purports to be duly certified by any officer in Nigeria who is duly authorised thereto, to be genuine……”. Section 114(2) of the EA further provides that: “The court shall also presume that any officer by whom any such document purports to be signed or certified, held, when he signed it, the official character which he claims in such a paper”.

This simply means that, even if marriages were not included as Item 61 on the Exclusive Legislative List, by virtue of Section 315 of the Constitution and Section 114 of the EA, marriages conducted at the Federal Registries under the MA, even after the enactment of the 1999 Constitution, remain valid, because the law which the marriages were conducted under is saved

by Section 315 of the Constitution as an existing law, and Section 114 of the EA regularises the document which evidences marriage, that is, the marriage certificate if there is any anomaly, in terms of the officer who may have signed the document. Section 34 of the MA also declares that, all marriages celebrated under the MA are good and valid.

Conclusion Possibly, Marriage should have been Item 37 and not 61 on the Exclusive Legislative List, if it was placed in alphabetical order as starting with the letter ‘M’ (whether marriage should be a Federal or State affair, is an argument for another day).

A quick look at the List, may have made one overlook the presence of Marriage on that list. I did, initially. It was on my second, more careful perusal, that I saw it on the List. But, one would expect that judicial officers who are adjudicating upon an issue that is the subject-matter of a case, would not just take a second look like I did, but exhaust themselves researching the issue before handing down judgement! In Mini Lodge Ltd v Ngeri 2009 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1173 Page 254 the Supreme Court held that a finding of fact is said to be perverse, inter alia, where the trial court shuts its eyes to the obvious and the decision has occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

In the aforementioned 2018 case, Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 3 Ors v Honourable Minister of Interior, the trial Judge, Osiagor J. definitely shut his eyes to Section 241 & Item 61 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution, certain provisions of the Marriage Act and Evidence Act, and the doctrine of res judicata, thereby arriving at a somewhat faulty decision.

See the Supreme Court case of Baridam v The State 1994 1 N.W.L.R. Part 320 Page 250 at 260 per Iguh JSC. The Principal Registrar of Marriages, therefore, rightfully instructed that people should carry on with the contraction of their marriages as usual. The Haastrup judgement is subsisting, and remains so until it is overturned on appeal.

The matter itself, did not go on appeal, and even if it had, given the extant constitutional and statutory provisions, the outcome would possibly not have been different.

IV LAW REPORT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Whether Celebration of Marriage Under the Marriage Act is an Exclusive Duty of LGCs Facts By an Amended Originating Summons, the Plaintiffs posed some questions for determination of the court.

The questions revolve around the interpretation of the judgement delivered by the Honourable Justice R. Oyindamola Olomojobi, in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002 between Prince L. Haastrup & Anor v. Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 2 Ors., delivered on 8th June, 2004. The Plaintiffs’ question, inter alia, whether the court can grant perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant, his privies, agents and officers/delegates from contracting, celebrating and registering marriages as required to be carried out by the Plaintiff’s Registrar under Section 27 and other relevant provisions of the Marriage Act. The Plaintiffs also raised the question whether the 1st Defendant can only issue or grant licences to authorise intending parties to marry, contract and/or celebrate marriages without more, in line with the provisions of Section 13 of the Marriage Act. Further to the questions above, the Plaintiffs sought the following reliefs: An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant and/or his privies, agents, or delegates from further contracting, celebrating, issuing certificates of marriage, and registering marriages contracted or celebrated under the Marriage Act, within the Plaintiffs’ Local Government Council Areas. They also sought an order of court directing the 1st Defendant to return all marriage certificates issued within the respective Plaintiffs’ Local Government Councils, subsequent to the delivery of the judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002; as well as an order of court directing the 1st Defendant to return all the fees/money paid by couples, since the referenced judgement, to the Plaintiffs’ Marriage Registries for re-issuance. The Plaintiffs also sought an order of court sealing all the Federal Marriage Registry established by the 1st Defendant in the Plaintiffs’ Local Government in Nigeria, or an order restricting the 1st Defendant’s Marriage Registries or agencies to only issue “licences” to places of public worship for the celebration of marriage or to contract marriage under the Act at the Local Government Registrar’s office or to celebrate marriage in a licensed place of worship.

Issues for Determination The issues raised for determination are : 1. Whether by the judgement of Hon. Justice R. Oyindamola Olomojobi of the Federal High Court, Lagos in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002 between Prince L. Haastrup & Anor v Eti-Osa Local Government Council & 2 Ors., delivered on the 8th day of June 2004, the 1st Defendant should not be restrained in contracting, celebrating, registering marriages and issuing of certificate of marriage within the Plaintiff’s Local Government Council.

2. Whether the present suit is caught of by the doctrine of estoppel and constitutes an abuse of court process, given the judgement of court in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002 and FHC/L/CS/1760/2017, where Obiozor, J. struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Arguments Arguing the first issue, counsel for the Plaintiffs submitted that in view of the 2004 judgement and given the succinct provisions of Section 7.1(5) and paragraph 1(i) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and Section 30(1) of the Marriage Act, registration of marriages under the Marriage Act is within the exclusive preserve of the Registrars of the Marriage District, which he submitted, refers to the Local Government Councils in Nigeria. Counsel argued further that the 1st Defendant cannot celebrate or contract marriages. He can only grant licenses to parties proposing to get married, while the Registrars or a recognised Minister of some religious denominations, by virtue of Section 27 of the Marriage Act, can act on the license by celebrating the marriage between the parties named on the licence issued under Section 13 of the Marriage Act. Responding to the submissions above, Counsel for the 2nd Defendant submitted that there is no law, either under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or under the Marriage Act, which gives exclusive authority to the Registrar to contract and celebrate marriages in Nigeria. He submitted further, relying on Section 27 of the Marriage Act, that parties

Federal High Court, Lagos In the Federal High Court of Nigeria Holden at Lagos On Wednesday, the 8th Day of December, 2021 Before His Lordship

D.E. Osiagor Judge, Federal High Court Between 1.

2.

3.

4.

ETI-OSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, LAGOS STATE EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, EDO STATE OWERRI MUNICIPAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, IMO STATE PORT-HARCOURT CITY LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, RIVERS STATE …

PLAINTIFFS

And 1. HON. MINISTER OF INTERIOR 2. ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE 3. ANCHOR DATAWARE SOLUTIONS LIMITED (PARTY JOINED BY THE ORDER OF COURT ON THE 9TH DAY OF APRIL, 2019)

…

DEFENDANTS

(Judgement delivered by D.E. Osiagor, Judge, Federal High Court) have the option of where to celebrate and contract their marriage, and that every marriage celebrated in any licensed place or District is valid. Counsel argued that the Plaintiffs did not disclose any cause of action to maintain the suit, and therefore, urged the court to dismiss the suit.

The 3rd Defendant, on its part, argued that the instant suit is an abuse of court process, as the subject has already been decided by the court in the referenced Suit. No. FHC/L/870/2002 and therefore, caught up by the doctrine of Estoppel/ res judicata. Counsel submitted that forum shopping is an abuse of court process, and where such is shown as in this case, the proper order to be made by the court is that of dismissal. Responding to this submission, counsel for the Plaintiff argued that Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1760/2017 was struck out by Obiozor, J. for lack of jurisdiction, and same was not determined on its merit. More importantly, the said suit is different from the present suit. With regard to Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002, counsel argued that by the declaration in the judgement, the 1st Defendant can only issue licenses to place of public worship for the celebration of marriages and that this function can also be

“….. conducting marriages is not an exclusive duty of the Local Government Councils…. an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Minister of Interior and his agents from further contracting marriages and issuing certificates of marriage under the Marriage Act in the Plaintiff’s local Government Councils….. there shall not be a Federal Marriage Registry in the Marriage Districts, save for Ikoyi and Abuja Federal Marriage Registry, predating the 1999 Constitution…..”

carried out by States’ Government department in charge of marriages. He posited that there is nothing in the judgement which empowers the 1st Defendant to engage the 3rd Defendant, a private organisation, as a contractor of the 1st Defendant to register, contract and celebrate marriage under the Marriage Act. Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the issues, the trial Judge summarised the earlier decision of court in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002, wherein it was held that by the combined provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Marriage Act, and the Marriage Act (Delegation of Powers) Notice, Legal Notice 44 of 1973, the power to issue/grant licence to marry, which was within the exclusive powers of the Minister of Internal Affairs, can now be carried out by the Director-General of the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Director-General of a State Government and any officer in either the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs or State Ministry charged with the responsibility of marriage. And that all marriages celebrated in a licensed place of worship or contracted before a Registrar, is valid.

Regarding registration of marriages, the court found that it is within the exclusive authority of the Registrar within the Marriage District (Local Government) in accordance with the provisions of Section 30(1) of the Marriage Act, and Section 7(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and paragraph 1(i) of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

Guided by the decision above, Obiozor, J. in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1760/2017, declined jurisdiction to entertain the suit, and struck it out. The court declined to dismiss, stating (albeit obiter), that the Plaintiff may decide to file a proper action as a corollary to the decision in

FHC/L/870/2002, against which there is no appeal.

The advice above, informed the present action.

After a consideration of the present suit, the court found that it is not a re-litigation of issues in the decided case, as posited by the Defendants.

The issue in Suit No. FHC/L870/2002 dwells on whether only Local Government Authorities are to contract and register marriages in Nigeria, contrary to the present suit where the issue relates to the legality of the Defendants foraging into Marriage Districts (Local Government Areas) to establish Federal Marriage Registries and declaring certificates issued by the Local Government Areas as illegal. More so, the law even permits two actions to be brought in respect of the same facts, where those facts give rise to two distinct causes of action – A.I.C. LIMITED v MANNESMANN ANLAGENDAU A.G. & ANOR. (1993) LPELR-14510(CA).

The gravamen of the instant suit is the Public-Private Partnership Agreement between the 1st Defendant and the 3rd Defendant for the establishment of Marriage Registries across the States of the Federation. By the arrangement, the 1st Defendant portends to outlaw any marriage conducted by the Local Government (Marriage Districts) Registrars, in view of the directive by the 1st Defendant to the Nigerian Immigration Department, to make the Federal Marriage Certificate an inclusive eligibility requirement for all married applicants for issuance of international passports.

To this effect, the 1st Defendant established three Federal Marriage Registries in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Plaintiffs’ Local Government Councils and wrote a letter to the 2nd Plaintiff to obtain licenses from the Ministry of Interior. The court found that the directive to the Nigerian Immigration Service and Foreign Embassies in Nigeria to recognise federal marriage certificate only, is a complete abuse of power which undermines the constitutional recognition of the three tiers of government in Nigeria. … The stealthy manner in arrogating marriage territories beyond the statutorily delineated Central Licensing place of worship and undermining the Local Governments (Marriage Districts), is illegal.

The court held further that any marriage registry established by the 1st Defendant outside the former Federal Capital Territory of Lagos and present Capital Territory of Abuja, is a voyage in futility into the Marriage District (Local Government Councils) designated for such Registrars of such Marriage Districts to conduct marriages, and it is contrary to the spirit, intent and purpose of the Marriage Act and the judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/870/2002, which recognised only Registrars in places designated as an office; recognised Minister of religion in a licensed place of worship; and marriages contracted under the licence granted by the Director-General, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Director-General of a State Government in charge of marriages, any other officer in the aforementioned Ministrand the Minister of Internal Affairs (now Interior).

The law is settled on interpretation of statutes or enactment, that where there is specific mention of things or persons, then, those mentioned are not intended to be included. Where a statute confers power or schedule on an organ/body, those specifically not mentioned are excluded – AGNES U. EBUBEDIKE v FRN & ORS. (2013) LPELR-22061(CA).

The court went further to hold that only the Local Government has the exclusive responsibility of registration of marriages, contrary to the agreement between the 1st and 3rd Defendants.

Under a Constitution conferring specific powers, a particular power must be granted, or it cannot be exercised – MARWA v NYAKO (2012) ALL FWLR 1622 at 1669-1670.

Given the findings above, the court held that conducting marriages is not an exclusive duty of the Local Government Councils; the court also made an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the Minister of Interior and his agents from further contracting marriages and issuing certificates of marriage under the Marriage Act in the Plaintiff’s local Government Councils, except in the former Federal Capital Territory of Lagos (Ikoyi) and the present Capital Territory of Abuja. The court held further, that there shall not be a Federal Marriage Registry in the Marriage Districts, save for Ikoyi and Abuja Federal Marriage Registry, predating the 1999 Constitution, without prejudice to the powers of the Minister of Interior to issue licences to places of public worship to celebrate marriages all over the Federation.

Reliefs Granted in Part.

Representation Roger Michael Adedimeji for the Applicant.

T.A. Mokuolu for the 2nd Respondent, holding the brief of John Otuka for the 1st Respondent.

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

V NEWS

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

Above Frank Nweke Jnr. Below L-R: Ms Ibironke Faborode, Prof Remi Sonaiya and Leke Alder

Cross-section of Participants at NBA Mentoring Forum with Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN (in black) sitted in the centre

61.3 million Nigerians Aged Between 19-35 are Under-Represented in Government Leke Alder, Frank Newt Jnr, Remi Sonaiya, Others Canvass for More Inclusivity Founder and Principal of Alder Consulting, Mr Leke Alder, has said that there are 61.3 million Nigerians aged between 19-35 who are under-represented in Government.

Querying this development, he said, “how is it possible that such a percentage is not represented in Government, when in 1966, all the leaders who ruled in the country were below age 30? Now in the year 2021, we have people in their 70s and 80s. How will they come up with fresh ideas? We need to address these germane issues”, he said.

According to him the Nigeria we want is what we don’t currently have, and we must begin to deal with the root causes rather than the symptoms.

“There are more natural resources in Nigeria than most countries in the world, yet we are poor; this shows there is a problem.”

He further disclosed that Nigeria is a plaque with three forms of illogicality, namely; conceptual illogicality, demographic and religious illogicality.

“On religious illogicality, Nigerians pray to God on something that common sense can solve; if you look at all these illogicalities, you will find out the reason why we are where we are”, he said.

In her remarks, former Presidential candidate, Prof Remi Sonaiya, stated that having a modern society with political restructuring and more inclusiveness of people in governance, will take Nigeria to the level where every citizen desires it to be.

“While noting that Nigeria has the capacity to solve all her problems instead of running to foreigners for help, leaders must be held responsible in order to achieve this”, she said.

Sonaiya who was one of the Panelists with two other

persons, Mr Frank Nweke Jr and Mr Leke Alder, in the lecture anchored by Ms Ibironke Faborode, Co-founder and Executive Director of ElectHER, made these submissions at the 15th AELEX Annual Lecture, a Commercial and Dispute Resolution law firm with the theme: “The Nigeria We Want; Economic, Political and Social Justice”.

At the lecture, the former University Lecturer, Sonaiya, further stated that a political restructured nation should be the type, whereby vibrant young women will take positions of leadership and responsibilities in Nigeria.

Speaking on how women matter in achieving a Nigeria that we want, she noted that Nigerians must think about why there are women sitting on Boards of companies, and why we have women Professors and Judges, but they are not fit for political leadership.

“We must engage male advocates who will speak for women, so that we can begin to have people who have the mind to serve and lead. To bring this about, we must continue to advocate for a fundamental change of our Constitution, so that we will have a bigger say in the way our affairs is being run.

Also speaking at the lecture, Mr Frank Nweke Jr, a former Minister of Information, in his submission said no nation develops by accident, except they have leaders who are serious about the welfare of their people.

Nweke said: “I want a Nigeria that is secure and the Government is development driven; but regrettably, today, we are still talking about basic needs like security for citizens. I also want a Nigeria where everybody is included and treated equally regardless of their tribe.

“It will be good if we create opportunities for women to emerge as

leaders of key posts in our country, as we had during the era of former President Obasanjo, where we had

a list of women who were empowered to participate in active governance.”

Earlier, Mr Tunde Adeda-

po-Olowu, SAN, Managing Partner at AELEX, in his welcome address said the annual lecture which is the

15th edition, was founded in commemoration of the founding of the law firm

Lagos Partners With RoLAC to Train Stakeholders on ACJL The Lagos State Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the British Council, under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, RoLAC, last Wednesday held a capacity building workshop for stakeholders, particularly Police Officers and Media Practitioners on the new Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2021 (ACJL).

The three-day event which was held at the Pearlworth Hotel and Suites, focused on salient provisions in the amended ACJL Law. This was necessitated on the premise that, effective implementation of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law, 2021, should be the focus in the State.

Joseph Chu’ma Otteh, Founder/Director, Access to Justice Speaking with Police officers and Journalists, the Special Assistant to Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, Bola Akinsete, noted that the workshop was to sensitise stakeholders

in the administration of justice in the State to key provisions of the ACJL. She said this is important in order to protect the rights of the citizens – the suspects and victims of crime. According to the Speaker, the engagement would assist participants to understand the content and how best to implement the law.

During the engagement, Joseph Chu’ma Otteh, harped on salient provisions, in relation to Police and Media roles in the ACJL, 2021. Highlighting on Police arrest of suspects, parade of suspects, media parade, amongst others, he advocated that their duties are best done in compliance with the law.

He emphasised on the amended laws, and called attention to creation of new sections in the law.

According to Richard Somiari, Director, Lagos DNA & Forensic Centre, Police investigators should always ensure forensic processes are handled professionally, to preserve

evidence gathered during their investigations of crime scenes.

Investigative Police Officers learned tips from the State’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Tolu Aderiye, as she guided them with scenarios and learning aids that would assist them to investigate crimes and establish their cases.

She advised officers to consolidate on their expertise by taking advantage of the lecture journals, particularly, the book titled: Steps in Establishing A Case - An Investigator ’s Guide.

In his presentation, the Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Mr Benson Iwuagwu, explained the role of Nigeria Police on the Implementation of Restorative Justice.

Maritime Lawyers Association Elects New Officers The Maritime Lawyers Association (MAAN), at its Annual General Meeting in the penultimate week, elected new officers to run the affairs of the Associa-

tion. The Association held its 15th Annual General Meeting on Thursday, December 9, 2021 which was virtually attended by its members. During the Annual General Meeting, the group elected members of the new Executive Council which include; Mr Bodunrin Adewole, President. Mr Bodunrin Adewole had served as Chairman, Training and Ethics Committee, as well as Vice -President from 2016 to 2021.

Other members elected with him are Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, Vice-President. Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, is a practising Arbitrator and a past President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association, Nigeria, otherwise known as WISTA Nigeria.

Other elected Executive Council members are: Mrs Igbeaku Evulukwu (Honorary Secretary), Mrs Oluseyi Adejuyigbe (Honorary Treasurer), Professor Ike Ehiribe and Sir Osuala Nwagbara.

NBA Mentoring Committee Organises Learning Forum for Young Lawyers Steve Aya The Nigerian Bar Association Mentoring Committee Lagos Branch, put together a learning forum for its young Lawyers during the week.

Declaring the forum open, the Chairman of the Committee, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, said that the forum is an opportunity for young Lawyers to learn from senior Lawyers who had similar and hands-on experience on law practice, and life in general. She

called on them to make good use of such opportunities to learn, because it will make them better Lawyers and members of the public.

The first Speaker, Dr G. Abiri, told the young Lawyers to maintain a work-life balance, as they coast along life. She said that it is important to always take care of one’s self, because only those who are healthy, live the life. She said “listen to your body, and take good care of your health all the times”.

Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN and Mr Dapo Akinosun, SAN spoke about taking stock and preparing for the coming year. Quakers ask the young Lawyers to always maintain the three Ds which are Desire, Discipline and Diligence in all they do, adding that these were the qualities that will stand them out, as they go about reviewing their programmes every year.

Also speaking at the Forum, Mr Femi Olubanwo and Mr Sesan Sobowale, who spoke on the topic

“Note to My Younger Self, Nuggets from Senior Members of the Bar”, x-rayed their days as young men and how they took decisions that are reflected in their careers today. Mr Olubanwo especially, spoke on how he wanted to become an Architect, and he plans to still give it a go at a later date.

The Forum which was both virtual and physical, took place at the Conference Hall of Banwo and Ighodalo. It was rounded up, with a cocktail.

VI IMAGES

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T

he 1981 Set of the Nigerian Law School celebrated the 40th Anniversary of their Call to Bar on November 27, 2021 at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. Here are some of the Members of the Class, who came from different parts of the world to grace the occasion

Group Photograph of Members of the 1981 Nigerian Law School Class

Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Chairman, National Planning Committee Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Class Chairman

Members of the 1981 Set, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola JSC (left) receiving award from Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, CJN Members of the Planning Committee; L-R: Chief Ifeanyi Iboko, Mrs Joy Ojehomon, Prof CJ Amasike, Benson Igbanoi, Ibrahim Adamu, Mrs Rose Oby Nwosu, Mr Ebenezer Obeya, and Chief Bassey Dan-Abia

L-R: Hon. Justice Rowland Amaize (Rtd), CJ, Cross River State, Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme, Dame Tamara Kare Yekwe, Mrs Mayen Obi and Hon. Justice Dejo Akanbi (Rtd) L-R: Hon. Justice M.L. Garba, JSC, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, JSC, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Hon. Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, JSC, Maj Gen IBM Haruna (Rtd ), Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN and Prof Jummai Audi

L-R: Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu, K. O. P Odidika, Chief Ifeanyi Iboko, Babs Adejuwon, Liam Tony Ge, Chief Jide Koku, SAN, Hon. Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwola, JSC, Prof Jummai Audi, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, SAN, Hon. Justice Dejo Akanbi, Hon. Justice Obojor Ogar, Benson A. Igbanoi, Chief Chris Uche, SAN and Ebenezer Oyijole Obeya

L-R: Major General I.B.M. Haruna (Rtd), Prof Jummai Audi and Dr Mrs Valerie Azinge, SAN

L-R: Hon. Justice S. E. Aladetoyinbo, Chief Judge, Abia State, Hon. Justice Onuoha Ogwe, Prof Jude Akubilo (US), Babs Adejuwon, Alhaji Sanni Abbas, Liam Tony Ge, KOP Odidika

L-R: Benson Igbanoi, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Dr Gbolahan Elias, SAN and Prof Mike Ikhariale

L-R: Chief Chris Uche, SAN, Liam Tony Ge, Prof Jummai Audi, Alhaji Munzali Dantata, Ibrahim Gamde, and Ebenezer Obeya

VII

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

IMAGES

CJN, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed making his remarks

Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, JSC (left) and Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, JSC

L-R: Chief Judge, Niger State, Hon Justice Aisha Lami Bawa Bwari, Olorogun Albert Akpomuje, SAN, Chief Judge, Cross River State, Hon. Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme, Mrs Mayen Obi, Hon. Justice Rowland Amaize, Cyril Ogbekene, and Hon. Justice Dejo Akanbi L-R: Hon. Justice Obojor Ogar, Hon. Justice Goddy Anunihu, his wife, Mrs Anunihu and Mrs Mayen Obi

L-R: Hon. Justice Remi Oguntoyinbo, Chief Wale Atanda, Ibrahim Adamu, Dame Kare Yekwe and Prof Mike Ikhariale

Toast Time

Toast Time Cross-section of Celebration

Cultural Display

L-R: Santuraki, Zazzau, Alhaji Suraj Yakubu, Chief Chris Uche, SAN and Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN

Mrs Toyin Osakwe and Chief Bassey Dan-Abia

L-R: Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Senator David Umaru, Chief Bassey Dan-Abia, Hon. Justice Remi Oguntoyinbo and Mrs Rose Nwosu

VIII COVER

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

Olumide Akpata

‘NBA is Firing Again On All Cylinders’ The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is unarguably the largest professional body in Africa, with over 200,000 members spread across 125 Branches. The daunting of task of administering such a large number of learned persons, comes with huge challenges. Olumide Akpata assumed office as NBA President in August 2020, and hit the ground running. Apart from pulling off a successful Annual General Conference of the Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently, his administration has tried to rise to most occasions and play the role that is expected of a Bar Association, which many Lawyers had complained that the NBA had not been doing in recent years. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi discussed several issues with the NBA President, including an account of his stewardship so far, concerns about Association and its members, judicial reform and the welfare of judicial officers, the #EndSARS Report and White Paper, and plans for the rest of his tenure

T

he Nigerian Bar Association recently had a highly successful Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt; this marks your mid-tenure as President. Looking back over the last one year that you have been in office, especially with humongous challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, what would you say have been your major obstacles and how are you surmounting them? What would you also say have been your major achievements as NBA President so far? What have you done to regain the NBA’s past glory?

Thank you very much. As this question appears to be multi-layered, let me take the issues one after the other.

Yes, our Administration is beginning to wind down. Indeed, our Annual General Conference which we recently held in Port Harcourt actually did not coincide with our mid-term point, we marked that milestone at the end of August.

You will recall that a combination of factors, made it necessary for us to postpone the Conference to October from the usual dates in August.

That said, for me, it has so far been a very worthwhile experience leading the Bar, at arguably one of the most difficult times in its recent history.

In terms of what I consider to be the major obstacles that we have confronted along the way, I think it would have to be the numerous challenges we’ve faced from diverse State institutions which, most times, directly impinge on the core mandate of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) as a body. Let me put this in context: Not too long after we assumed office, we were greeted with news of the purported amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation. Most of the proposed amendments, strike at the very heart of the NBA and its ability to function effectively. We

“….the statistics show that more Lawyers paid their practising fees this year, than they had done, in any non-election year in the past. This, to me, is a vote of confidence by our members, and we cannot afford not to justify this overwhelming support and approval”

have, in last one year, made every effort to engage with and encourage the Honourable Attorney-General to reverse this illegality but our efforts have yielded absolutely no results, except for what I consider to be very feeble and rather incredulous attempts to disown the document, even though it has since been gazetted. We are now forced to approach the Courts over a matter that appears, at least to us, to be pretty straightforward.

There was also the crisis that was then rocking the Cross River State Judiciary, on the issue of the appointment of substantive Chief Judge for that State. For me personally, this was an issue that was totally avoidable, if only those in the executive arm of Government would stop trying to extend their political turf to include our hallowed Temples of Justice. The issue in Cross River State was, thankfully, eventually resolved; but unfortunately the same scenario is playing our in a number of other States, and we are looking into them.

There were also issues around the autonomy of the Judiciary and ensuing industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (“JUSUN”), which resulted in the locking up of our courts for upwards of two months due to the noncompliance by State Governors with the relevant provisions of the Constitution regarding autonomy of the Judiciary. You may recall the various steps the NBA took to ensure that the industrial action was called off, so that we do not become the proverbial Banana Republic where lawlessness becomes some kind of article of faith.

Beyond this, you will also recall that our inauguration was soon followed by the events of the #ENDSARS protests and its violent unravelling, resulting in the destruc-

tion of critical infrastructure in different parts of Nigeria, especially Lagos State, as exemplified by the destruction of the 100-year-old Lagos State High Court building. Throughout this period, the NBA couldn’t afford to be silent. In fact, at a point, Nigerians looked to the Association for succour in the face of disenchantment with the State. Thankfully, the NBA’s voice was heard loud and clear, throughout that unfortunate episode.

There was also the issue of the unconstitutional extension of the tenure of a former Inspector General of Police (which we are challenging in court), the recent invasion of the home of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC, just to name a few.

Now, these issues, taken as a whole, have constituted obstacles along our way, in terms of the sheer amount of time and effort it takes to tackle said issues which could have been better spent on improving the circumstances of our members, whose mandate we hold in trust. Now, this is not to say that we are oblivious of our commitment to the larger society, but the issues we have had to deal with on that front, literally every month since we came into office, could have been totally avoided, if some our State actors would simply do the right thing. But, I guess that is asking for too much. Through it all though, I am happy to report that we have come out even stronger; a feat which I consider to be a tribute to the resilience of the NBA. We have adopted a multi-dimensional approach, to dealing with these issues as they arise. Where we are not able to negotiate through back-end channels, we approach the institutions and individuals involved to state the position of the NBA, try to appreciate the sentiments of the other side, and then work towards of a win-win situation.

A perfect example in this wise, is our visit to the Office of the Inspector General of Police, over the incessant harassment of Lawyers at Police stations.

IX

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

COVER

‘NBA is Firing Again On All Cylinders’ That engagement crystallised in a Memorandum of Partnership between the NBA and the Nigeria Police, on how both institutions can jointly work to address this very disturbing and recurring situation. This is in addition to setting up a working group that will continue to engage with the Police and other security agencies, on issues like this. We similarly, deployed this approach in resolving the issue in the Cross River State Judiciary, and also during the JUSUN strike with reasonable success. Where this non-combative approach fails however, we have not hesitated to resort to the Courts for judicial intervention.

Coming to the other leg of your question, it is always tricky for one to be the assessor of one’s own performance due to the biases inherent in human nature; hence, the famous nemo judex in causa sua principle of natural justice, that no man should be a judge in their own cause. I think it is always better for that judgement to be reserved, for what we in law refer to as the proverbial man in the Clapham Omnibus the objective by-stander.

Having said that, and because you have put me on the spot, I would venture to say that, one our major achievements has been our ability to get the NBA firing again on all cylinders.

The truth is that the NBA is a very important Association as far as Nigeria and indeed, Africa is concerned, with so much expected of it by its members and indeed, the society at large. When we came into office, we took the decision that the NBA must begin again to meet and exceed these expectations. And, I am happy to report that the feedback would appear to be that we are scoring high marks in this regard.

This does not by any stretch imply that we have reached the promised land. Not at all.

There is still so much to be done. But, looking at where we are now as compared to where we are coming from, we can begin take pride in what we have been able to achieve, as it is not by mere happenstance that many of our members, including those who have been on the side lines for many years, are beginning to take pride in the Association again, because by their assessment, some of its lost glory have been restored under our watch.

You seem to have had a running battle with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN. He has levied several allegations against you. While many Lawyers have tried to dismiss these allegations, what are the real issues between you and the AGF? Your offices are meant to work in cohesion, for the progress of the legal profession. Also, the fact that the AGF was conspicuously absent at the recently concluded NBA AGC in Port Harcourt, may have lent credence to allegations of a frosty relationship between the leadership of the NBA and the AGF. Being the flagship event of the Association, many noted that it is the first time in the nation’s history, that a sitting AGF would be absent from the NBA AGC. What could have been responsible for this?

I honestly think that this issue has been unduly over-flogged for want of a better word, or perhaps, the situation has been exploited by agents of mischief to achieve whatever untoward agenda. For the record, the NBA is not at war with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; and I personally do not have any axe to grind with him. I think two major events have unfortunately helped to shape this narrative that one reads every other day, about the so-called animosity between myself and the AGF, namely, the purported amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct in the early days of our Administration which I have referred to in the course of this interview; and the circumstances surrounding the recent invasion of the home of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court and indeed, the second most senior judicial officer in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In the first case, the NBA did what it had

Olumide Akpata to do, by informing its members that the purported amendment was ultra vires, null and void, having not followed due process.

We also informed our members to disregard the purported amendment, and promised to engage the office of the AGF on the circumstances that led to that bizarre development.

We are happy that we have been vindicated on that score, as the AGF recently stated on live television that he had no knowledge of how the purported amendment came to be.

With respect to the AGF’s absence at our AGC, I am not aware that this was the first time in the nation’s history that an Attorney-General of the Federation would not participate at our AGC, as you have alluded. But, I don’t believe it has anything to do with some of these unfortunate developments. The Honourable Attorney-General is a very senior member of the Bar, and in his message to the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, he stated that his absence was as a result of circumstances beyond his control. I think what is most important, is that his absence did not in any way affect the eventual success of the Conference.

On the decision that we took over the invasion of the home of Justice Mary Odili, this was obviously not informed by any ill-will towards the person of the AGF or anybody.

It was based on the testimony of one those involved in that dastardly act, who claimed to be acting at the behest of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, rightly or wrongly. What we merely did, of course, with the approval of the NBA National Executive Council, was to invite the Honourable Attorney-General to provide clarification on the role(s), if any, that he played in the events leading to that criminal act. We believe it was a considered position taken in the interest of the Bar, the Bench, and of course, members of the public. As was widely reported in the media, the NBA appointed a Special Investigator in the person of Dr Monday Ubani, the Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law, to investigate this issue. From the interim report presented by Dr Ubani to the NBA National Executive Council a few days ago

“Under my watch, we have made it categorically clear that the NBA will not be a rubber stamp in the process of appointment of judicial officers, and we have continued to intervene in the process, making sure that our views, even if in the minority, are clearly articulated and recorded”

at its quarterly meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Honourable Attorney-General has so far cooperated with the NBA in unravelling those behind this unlawful act. So, the point must be made and reiterated that, I do not have a running battle with the Honourable Attorney-General.

All said, as an Association, the NBA has a duty to speak up and call out anyone whose actions or conduct might be considered as undermining our profession or our democracy.

It is a sacred duty that we will continue to discharge, no matter who is at the other end.

You had also engaged the EFCC as an institution, but many also perceive that there could be a personal grudge between you and the EFCC Chairman.

Kindly, shed some light on this.

Again, I think this is one of those artificial creations of the rumour mill. We only had recourse to engage the EFCC over the brutalisation, by EFCC operatives, of one of our members who doubles as the Chairman of the NBA Makurdi Branch, at the Makurdi Zonal Office of the Commission. We had petitioned the Commission to investigate the allegation, and ensure that adequate disciplinary measures are meted to the officers involved. But, the feedback we got from the Commission, is that its officers denied brutalising our member. In the circumstance, we are exploring a judicial remedy to the issue, particularly from the standpoint of our member concerned, who is constitutionally empowered to challenge the unlawful infringement of his fundamental rights by agents of the State. I don’t understand how that translates to a “personal grudge” between me and the EFCC Chairman. Perhaps, those who perceive that there is personal grudge between me and the EFCC Chairman would have preferred for me to have swept such an occurrence under the carpet, and let artificial peace prevail. Well, for those who know me, they would attest to the fact that this could never have been an option.

Last year, there was an open attempt to cause divisions in the Bar, with the purported attempt by some Lawyers in some parts of the country to create a parallel Bar. Was this imagined or real?

How have you resolved this issue? What has become of the issue of the stamp and seal, and the other amendments made by the AGF? Well, I always knew that the purported balkanisation of the Bar by a faceless group at the cusp of our assumption of office, was going to die a natural death. Only that it died too soon…(laughs). On a more serious note, I would say that the alleged attempt to create a parallel Bar by some Lawyers in some parts of the country as you have alluded to, was more imagined than real.

In any case, we have thankfully moved beyond that for good.

What transpired was that some Lawyers, especially from the Northern parts of the country, felt aggrieved with the way the

NBA handled the issue of the invitation to His Excellency, Governor Nasir El-Rufai as one of the guest speakers at the 2020 Annual General Conference of the NBA, and one way that they felt they could air their grievance was to threaten to pull out of the NBA. As you may recall, within a few weeks of our inauguration, we were visited by forty Chairpersons of the various branches of the NBA in the North and some other very senior members of the Bar who distanced themselves from the splinter group “New NBA”, and declared their support for the one indivisible NBA, under my leadership.

With the massive support that we have received from our members thus far, any group seeking to balkanise the Bar, would be labouring in vain. But, the attempt, even if unsuccessful, was instructive in the sense that it brought to the fore the need to further strengthen the Association, and reposition it to continue to meet needs of its members and delivering value to them. In this way, any proposal to balkanise or destabilise the Bar, will struggle for consensus, and would eventually fizzle out. I am happy to inform you that the Bar is probably stronger and more united now than ever before, and it is my hope that succeeding administrations will take steps to consolidate on this solidarity that is the strength of the Bar. With regard to the Stamp and Seal and Practicing Fees, our members have carried on, in total defiance of the purported amendments to the relevant provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct, even as they await the outcome of our matter in Court. As a matter of fact, the statistics show that more Lawyers paid their practising fees this year, than they had done, in any non-election year in the past. This, to me, is a vote of confidence by our members, and we cannot afford not to justify this overwhelming support and approval.

Many Lawyers believe that you have performed creditably. What will be your major focus in the remaining one year of your tenure?

It is actually less than one year…we will handover in August next year. We are gratified, that many members of the Association hold the view that we have performed quite well. As we enter our final months in office, our focus will shift to institutionalising some of the structures we have put in place for sustainability. For example, we are now implementing some of the far-reaching changes that were brought about by the recent amendment to the NBA Constitution, particularly with respect to the administration of our Secretariat and the conduct of our elections. We are also trying to finalise work on the digitisation of our Bar Practising Fees payment system, so that members can pay their practising fees with ease.

One of the promises that I made during our campaigns was to leave behind a sanitised data ecosystem for the Association, having regard to our membership and our numbers; we are also taking steps to conclude this before the end of the first quarter of 2022. cont'd on page X

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 • T H I S D AY

X

COVER

‘NBA is Firing Again On All Cylinders’ cont'd from page IX

As we begin to wind down, efforts will be directed at ensuring that these structures are established and fully entrenched, so that the next administration will not have to grapple with the same issues. And lest I forget; as I told members at our recently held NEC meeting, we are also working on shoring up the finances of the Association by setting up the NBA Fund, which would be very reasonably funded before we leave, and also ensuring that we clear the bulk of the Association’s outstanding liabilities. The importance of this cannot be overemphasised, as it would make the Association more viable and better able to add value to the professional lives of our members.

The number of Lawyers who have been engaged in fisticuffs is sharply rising across the different Branches of the Association.

How do you intend to deal with this? What sanctions for instance, have the two Lawyers who fought in a Gombe court recently, faced?

The NBA, from time immemorial, has always taken the discipline of its members seriously. I, however, don’t agree that the situation is as pervasive as you have indicated, particularly on the issue of fisticuffs amongst Lawyers. I think many of our members conduct themselves well both in, and out of Court. It is just that in the world we live in today, where information dissemination is now instantaneous with much wider coverage, you only need one or two of such occurrences to be reported, for the impression to gain ground that Lawyers are unruly and badly behaved. Having said that, the unfortunate situation that happened in a Court Gombe State stands condemnable, and the NBA through its Disciplinary Committee is currently on top of the situation, and the recommendation of the Committee is being awaited. Those involved in a similar incident in Lagos, are currently being prosecuted. We will not hesitate to make an example of any of our erring members to deter others, and to prevent a situation where we lose what is left of the esteem that the society has for our noble profession.

You recently set up a Committee on the vexed issue of conflicting judgements at the Appellate Courts. Why did you feel the need to establish this Committee, and what has it done so far?

The reason for setting up the Committee, is not far-fetched. The Judiciary is the last hope of the common man; and Lawyers who are Ministers in the Temple of Justice cannot be seen to be taking steps that besmirch the integrity of the institution of justice. That would simply signal the end of the Rule of Law. It is for this reason, that the NBA felt it had a duty to intervene by setting up a Committee chaired by Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, so as to ascertain whether there had been any breaches of our Rules of Professional Conduct by the Lawyers involved in those controversial cases. The Ajibade-led Committee has submitted its report to the NBA-NEC in which it recommended, and this was unanimously accepted, that the NBA should immediately bring our members who were involved in this unfortunate debacle before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for appropriate sanctions.

Instructively, while we were in the middle of the quarterly meeting of the NBA National Executive Council last week in Abeokuta, Ogun State where the Report of the Ajibade Committee was considered, the news broke that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had also taken steps to discipline the three judicial officers involved in the unfortunate notorious cases.

Again, security agents, fake or real, recently invaded the residence of a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court, using a spurious search warrant as their authority to do so. This drew the ire of members of the Bar and Bench.

Taking very prompt and decisive action on this issue, you set up a high-powered Committee to investigate and report to the NBA. Many weeks after, not much has been heard of its progress so far? What has the Committee been able to unravel? What can be done to stem this ugly tide of showing flagrant disrespect to the Judiciary? What kind of sanctions do

Olumide Akpata you believe (if indeed, you do) should be imposed on erring judicial officers who allow their courts to be used for forum shopping, those who issue conflicting court orders, and even Magistrates who issue illegal search warrants, as a deterrent?

After the ugly events of 2016 involving our Judges and the security agencies, and what was considered by many to be the very loud silence of the Bar at the time, we felt there was an obligation on us to be heard in unequivocal terms on this dastardly act. As I always say, the intimidation of the Judiciary under whatever guise, would spell doom for all of us. As the Bench can only been seen, but usually not heard, it is the duty of the Bar to fight its ‘wars’. That was what informed the decision we took to appoint Dr Monday Ubani as our Special Investigator, to amongst others, investigate the circumstances leading to that bizarre incident and report back to the NBA. Dr. Ubani has met and interviewed with most of the dramatis personae, albeit he is yet to get the perspective of the Nigeria Police whose officers were involved in the act, and this is not for want of trying. We do not want to believe that the Force is protecting some of these officers, as it may be too premature to reach such conclusion. But, rest assured that at the end of the day, Dr Ubani's Report would be made public, given the interest the incident has generated, and rightly so.

Having said that, until the Judiciary becomes truly autonomous, we will always find ourselves in such embarrassing situations from time to time depending on the personality, character, ideology, and worldview of our leaders. Again, if all those who are involved in this act are not roundly condemned and prosecuted, the sense of impunity would continue to fester, and these despicable people will continue to believe that they can always get away with such actions. At the NBA, we continue to emphasise the need to respect the Judiciary as an equal arm of Government, and not to take advantage of the gentility of Judges, informed by the nature of their training and indeed, calling, to ride over them roughshod.

As for Judges who submit themselves as

“At the recent Legal Year Opening Ceremony of the Supreme Court and elevation of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, I emphasised this point, calling on the Executive to give due consideration to the welfare of Judges”

willing tools to unscrupulous politicians, dealing with them is totally within the remit of the NJC, which like the Bar, has in recent times risen to the occasion in disciplining its errant members. We believe that is the way to go, in order to enforce sanity and decorum in the profession across its two spectrums of the Bench and Bar. The NJC has over the past few years, been accused by Lawyers of not giving enough leverage to the NBA to participate in the selection, screening, and appointment of judicial officers. How do you intend to take pursue this matter?

That allegation is not spurious. It is however, an issue we have to address holistically. I do not think it is strictly speaking, the case that Lawyers do not have leverage in the appointment of judicial officers. The NJC is a creation of the 1999 Constitution. Now, the Constitution provides for the composition of the NJC, and states that it shall be include five members of the NBA of not less than 15-year post-call appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the NBA. Instructively, the participation of the NBA representatives is expressed to include the consideration of persons for appointment to superior courts of record. So, by the letter of the law, the NBA has a say in this matter.

I think the issue that we have had, is the domineering influence of the judicial officers in the body before whom some, if not all of these Lawyers appear from day to day, and are naturally beholden to. So, the participation of the NBA in the past, may have been less than effective. Under my watch, we have made it categorically clear that the NBA will not be a rubber stamp in the process of appointment of judicial officers, and we have continued to intervene in the process, making sure that our views, even if in the minority, are clearly articulated and recorded.

The Judiciary is in dire need of reform, from the remuneration of judicial officers to their conditions of service etc. Can the Judiciary truly be considered to be the third co-equal arm of Government? What has the NBA done to bring the plight of judicial officers to the fore?

I had already stated the imperative of treating the Judiciary as an equal arm of Government with the Executive and the Legislature, which is sadly the case only in theory.

Let me now turn to what we have been doing to balance this equation, particularly through advocacy in our various public engagements.

At the recent Legal Year Opening Ceremony of the Supreme Court and elevation of new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, I emphasised this point, calling on the Executive to give due consideration to the welfare of Judges.

During the occasion last year, we had made similar appeal to the Executive. Happily, there was an increase of about N10 billion in the

total budget of the Judiciary for 2022. However, it goes without saying, that this sum is still too meagre to meet the multifaceted needs facing the Judiciary. I understand that budgeting is a function of revenue, and these are not the best of times for global economies, Nigeria inclusive. Yet, I believe that our leaders can still improve on this number by cutting the profligate cost of governance both at the Federal and State levels, and channel the surplus to critical institutions of our democracy, such as the Judiciary. This is a challenge that I expect the next President of Nigeria to take up in the interest of our democracy. To the NBA, this matter is of such critical importance, that it shall be one of the key issues to be examined at a Justice Sector Summit we are convening in collaboration with the Justice Reform Initiative and the United Nations, and which will be held on the 25th of January, 2022.

What is your view on the #EndSARS Report, and the White Paper that followed it?

We chose to be silent after the leaked #EndSARS Report went viral, and took the better step of awaiting the Government White Paper. Having read the White Paper, it would appear that we are back to where we were before the commissioning of the Panel; namely, Government’s refusal to take any responsibility for the events that took place at the Lekki Toll Plaza on 20th October, 2020; and the counter-narrative by the civil society. Unfortunately, none of these groups are ready to yield ground to the other. While the Panel says there was a ‘massacre in context’; the Government is of the view that there is no evidence of such from the proceedings of the Panel. Unfortunately, a few clerical errors and/or omissions in the Panel report, have been unduly exploited by the Government, and those who have its sympathy, to rubbish the back-breaking work of the Panel.

For me, I think that the argument over whether or not there was a massacre, misses the point.

After the level of destruction that we witnessed last year arising from the disenchantment of the Nigeria Youth, one would have thought that the Government would be fixated on ways to remedy this situation by taking measures targeted at reducing the widening trust deficit between it, and the masses.

So, I think this has become another missed opportunity by a Government fighting tooth and nail to force its own narrative down the throats of the citizens, instead of taking the high road towards achieving the greatly needed national healing; so that we can all collectively move beyond that ugly patch of our history for good. The question the Government must ask itself is, what is the rationale behind setting up an independent panel, having vouched for the integrity and competence of the membership, and having expended huge public funds in the process, only to turn around to set up another Committee to cast aspersions on the integrity and competence of the same Panel members, because the findings of the panel were unpalatable?

21.12.2021

/XI

XII/

21.12.2021

21.12.2021

/XIII

XIV/

21.12.2021

21.12.2021

/XV

XVI/

21.12.2021

20

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Enormous Opportunities Are in PPP Urban Regeneration Projects, Says Fashola

Ȋ Khaled El Dokani: Making cities livable, productive best strategies for growing economies

Bennett Oghifo

M

inister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has said there are enormous opportunities in urban regeneration projects that the private sector can participate in with the support of the government.

Fashola also said his ministry undertakes urban renewal and slum upgrading works, after a thorough study of the situation and needs in the communities where they intend to intervene.

The minister stated this in his presentation, as Special Guest of Honour, at the 4th edition of the Concrete Ideas Webinar Series, with the theme ‘PPPs in Urban Regeneration, Global Best Practices, Nigerian Opportunities’, organised by Lafarge Africa Plc., recently.

This is just as the CEO of Lafarge Plc., Mr. Khaled El Dokani stated that “more than 80 per cent of the global GDP is generated in cities; making our cities more livable and more productive is thus one of the best strategies for growing our economies and improving welfare of millions of our people.”

The Concrete Ideas Webinar Series, now in its 4th edition, is a veritable platform for quality brainstorming and exchange of ideas designed to grow the nation’s economy and the outcomes are usually worthy of being incorporated in government’s policies.

On PPPs in urban regeneration projects, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the opportunities in these regeneration projects for the private sector are enormous. “If you look at Adetokumbo Ademola today, I can tell you that there is a partnership between the Lagos State Government and the Eko Hotel Group and Ajose Adeogun was entirely reconstructed by the Zenith Bank Group in exchange for advertising rights and in the next few weeks, if that hasn’t happened already, it’s a major destination today for families for the Christmas lighting and the Christmas festivity. So, these are ideas that I think that we can replicate as we go along and I’m willing to listen and learn more from those who write the cheques about the possible ways in which we can structure partnerships to mobilise capital to regenerate our unplanned and planned communities that need a handle.”

Discussing the federal government’s intervention strategies for urban renewal works, Fashola said, “What should be emphasised is that whatever interventions we undertake, they are a result of technical diagnostic studies. We go to those communities, do a wholesale evaluation of what their realities and their challenges are and then we sort of try to help build it from the basic, but there is only so much that we can do and we will require the support and the input of not only the state governments, but also the local

Adefioye

Fashola

Khaled

governments, the communities where these urban agglomerations that we talk about are actually situated. “The government so close to them has much more to do than perhaps we from the helicopter view at the federal government level.”

He said the federal government executed “a total of 67 different projects, costing us about N3.64 billion and these projects comprise of 40 roads, drainages, coverts, bore-holes, and street lighting projects and as we are bound to do we are bound to ensure some equity in their distribution.”

The minister said, “as far as urban regeneration goes, the first thing that perhaps comes to the mind is slums, but these are slums or blighted areas in the sense that they were unplanned, they are a response to rapid urbanisation and they are a response to the need for shelter and basic survival by people living on the margin.”

Fashola said another aspect of this type of dwelling “are well-planned cities that are now falling into some disuse and that need a facelift, a boost, an injection of capital to enable them respond to today’s needs.”

He listed some of the projects as “about 21 kilometers of paved roads within settlements in aggregate and you are looking at about 7.8 kilometers of street lighting powered by solar panels,” presenting one that was done in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. “We undertook a similar project in one community in Nasarawa and within two years it transformed the education. “This is not the standard but its impact is important to discuss, the students could study at night under this lighting. I would love for the lighting to be indoors but just to dimension its transformative

impact school grades increased and the community came back to us and that led us then to start supplying them with solar home systems this happened in my other life when I was in I used to worship in the power ministry.”

He also presented water supply intervention projects in some communities, stating that even though it is centralised, “I would love to see the water in taps turning inside their homes but this is the difference between a four-kilometre journey to a river.”

Fashola wondered whether children who grew up in these slum communities would want to raise their families there. “As we embark on regeneration of these blighted, unplanned areas two things must stand at the back of our minds and the tough question to resolve one is that which child that grows up in this area wants to raise his own family there inspite of the intervention and after the intervention which child that grows up here in spite of the water we have brought the road pavement we have brought and the street lighting that we are brought wants to say I want my next generation to be produced here.”

On degradation of planned communities, he gave examples of places in Lagos like Yaba, Apapa, Surulere, G.R,A Ikeja, saying, “you will see that in the last decade and a half or so if you took a sample of those who now live in Victoria island and Ikoyi, they all grew up in Yaba, Surulere and that axis, but as the quality of infrastructure degraded they moved on to Ikoyi and Ikoyi itself is now becoming, if has not become, overcrowded and Ikoyi’s infrastructure is also aging. You will see therefore that over the last decade and a half the government of Lagos State has been intervening in the infrastructure of Yaba and Apapa and more recently Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

Also present at the webinar with the Minister were the chief host and Chairman of Lafarge Africa Plc., Prince Adebode Adefioye; and thought leaders that included, Mr. Mohamed Yahaya, Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme; Mrs. Mary Ojulari, President European Business Chamber Nigeria; Mr. Emma

Wike, President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers; Miss Tosin Oshinowo, Principal Architect CM Design Atelier; Mr. Simon Gusa, Curator, Project Manager, Future Benue Development Plan; Dr. Basirat Oyalowo, Research Manager, Center for Housing Studies University of Lagos and Mr. Femi Yusuf, Head, Mortal Innovation and Products Development Lafarge Africa Plc. Welcoming participants, the Chairman of Lafarge Africa Plc., Prince Adebode Adefioye described the thought leadership webinar series, Concrete Ideas as “a leading platform for the exchange and generation of ideas on critical issues in the housing, infrastructure, and construction sectors.”

Prince Adefioye thanked the Minister of Works and Housing, Fashola, particularly, and other thought leaders for attending the webinar.

“Great policies have roots in focused high quality well-formed and inclusive discussions between stakeholders the citizens and government of an economy.” He said, “Urban degeneration is a global challenge that can be solved through urban regeneration projects, resulting in the advancement of socio-economic and technological development of economics, including the creation of more efficient transportation system, sustainable livelihoods, employment generation, foreign investment, healthier citizenship, amongst many other gains.

“Today, you will find that Nigerian technology companies continue to attract millions of dollars in investments. The country definitely will do much better if we organise or reorganise and regenerate our cities to nurture vibrant hubs for the creative and current digital economy. We believe that through robust discussions and effective collaboration at all levels, we can transform our urban centres into vibrant communities that attract investments job creations, boost productivity and power economic growth.”

According to Khaled El Dokani, the theme of the 4th Concrete Ideas webinar follows the suggestion of the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to explore in greater detail the theme of the last edition, “New Solutions for Nigerian Urban Housing.”

Sanwo-Olu: We Adopt All-inclusive, People-centered approach in Infrastructural Development Bennett Oghifo Lagos State Government has adopted an all-inclusive and people-centered approach that covers rural and urban areas, so that no part of Lagos State is left out, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this in his keynote address at the commissioning of the upgraded/ rehabilitated network of three roads, Adeola Hopewell Street, Idowu Taylor Street and Afribank Road in Iru, Victoria Island Local Development Area, recently.

The governor said, “At the inception of our administration in 2019, we promised to address the challenges of gross infrastructural degeneration and the perennial flooding issues that the people of the Lagos Central

Senatorial District have had to contend with.

The roads’ commissioning, he said was, therefore, “a promise fulfilled and clearly demonstrates our audacious reforms in critical sectors of our economy, in line with our T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda.

“A major focus of our Greater Lagos Vision is the prioritisation of urban renewal and the development of road infrastructure as a means of enhancing the collective wellbeing of Lagosians.

We have adopted an all-inclusive and people-centered approach that covers rural and urban areas, so that no part of Lagos State is left out.”

Victoria Island, he said, “used to be one of the cleanest and most orderly neighborhoods in Lagos State. However, the

continuous growth of the area’s commercial activity, and by extension, its population, has led to various environmental and infrastructural challenges, among which are flooding and its attendant effects.

“The failure of many of the drainages and water channels on Victoria Island has consistently impeded the free flow of traffic, extending commuting time, causing damage to vehicles, low patronage for businesses, and generally poorer quality of life for the people who work and live here.

“As a responsive Government committed to the fulfillment of all electoral promises, we knew we had to do everything necessary to address and reverse this issue of incessant flooding and all its consequences in the area.

Cloud Tech Fosters an Entrepreneurial Environment to Boost Economy Ola Williams There is no doubt that economic recovery will be buoyed by the success of our start-ups and small businesses. This is because, across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), an estimated 90 percent of all businesses fall into the small- to medium-sized (SMB) category, highlighting the economic importance of these entrepreneurial enterprises.

The lesson thrust upon us by the pandemic is that building

resilience is key to ensuring business continuity in ever-changing market conditions in which many SMBs are operating on tighter budgets. The required resilience is rooted in digital transformation, allowing businesses to streamline operations and evolve to better meet current needs, while developing the agility that will enable quick pivots in response to future changes.

Transformation for SMBs is as much about embracing new technology as it is about

the speed of that adoption. It extends further still: transformation should nurture a business’s ability to build on and grow its own digital capability as well. Change is here, and in this ‘new normal’ landscape, innovation is the currency that will set businesses apart. This is why enabling an entrepreneurial environment where innovation thrives is so important.

-Ola Williams is Microsoft Country Manager for Nigeria

21

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

Pope Tells Abused Mother Domestic Violence ‘Nearly Satanic’ Pope Francis has denounced domestic violence against women as “nearly satanic” and said parents should never slap their children, reports AP. Francis made the comments in a televised encounter with an abused woman who recently fled her home with her four children. Their meeting was broadcast late Sunday on the private Mediaset network’s TG5 program and also included footage of Francis interacting with a homeless woman, a prisoner and a student.

The abused woman told the pope her story and asked him how she could find her dignity after she and her children suffered so much violence.

Francis, who has previously spoken out about “femicides,” responded by acknowledging the problem of domestic violence, which regularly makes headlines in Italy.

“For me, the problem is nearly satanic because it’s about profiting off the weakness of those who can’t defend themselves, who can only try to stop the blows,” he said.

“It’s humiliating, very humiliating.”

12 Released Missionaries Detail Daring Escape From Haiti A group of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti abducted in October are finally safe after a daring escape that followed their release last week, according to the aid group for which they work.

The 12 were among 17 people abducted on October 16 after visiting an orphanage in Ganthier, in the Croix-des-Bouquets area.

Last week, Gary Desrosiers, spokesperson for Haiti’s National Police, PNH, confirmed their release in an interview with VOA Creole.

On Monday, officials with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministry detailed their journey to safety, saying after their release, the 12 walked for kilometres at night and navigated using the stars. They also had an infant and other children with them.

Prominent Egyptian Activist Sentenced to 5 Years His defence lawyer says an Egyptian activist and prominent figure in the 2011 Arab Spring is headed back to prison after being sentenced to five years Monday on charges of spreading fake news.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah was released in 2019 after being sentenced in 2014 for participating in an unauthorized protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer.

However, shortly after his release, he was rearrested following a government crackdown for allegedly spreading fake news, using social media, and joining the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist organisation in 2013.

Also sentenced to four years each were Abdel-Fattah’s former lawyer and a fellow activist.

Several Western governments and human rights groups have criticised the sentences.

Omicron Variant: Israel to Ban Travel to US, Canada Israeli ministers on Monday agreed to ban travel to the United States, Canada and eight other countries amid the rapid, global spread of the omicron variant.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office announced the decision following a Cabinet vote.

price” in the event it invades Ukraine, the forward-deployment of hundreds of Russian tanks, howitzers, self-propelled artillery, and tens of thousands of troops has not been reversed.

Two days after the presidents talked, motorized infantry units from St. Petersburg were relocated to camp east of Kursk, 100 kilometres from the Ukraine border, according to Janes, a global open-source intelligence company based in Britain.

Twenty-four hours after Biden and Putin spoke, a social-media user-posted video showing Buk missile systems and armoured vehicles arriving at a train station in the Russian city of Voronezh.

The rare move to red-list the US comes amid rising coronavirus infections in Israel and marks a change to pandemic practices between the two nations with close diplomatic relations. The US will join a growing list of European countries and other destinations to which Israelis are barred from travelling and from which returning travellers must remain in quarantine. A parliamentary committee is expected to give the measure final approval.

Once authorised, the travel ban will take effect at midnight Wednesday morning.

In recent weeks, Israel has seen a surge in new cases of the more infectious coronavirus variant and began closing its borders and restricting travel in late November. Foreign nationals are not allowed to enter, and all Israelis arriving from overseas are required to quarantine, including vaccinated people.

Myanmar Court Delays Verdict in Aung San Suu Kyi’s Latest Trial Verdicts in the most recent trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was delayed to December 27, a legal official familiar with charges against her said on Monday. The court, located in the capital, Naypyidaw, was slated to rule on charges of possession of walkie-talkies and a set of signal jammers. Suu Kyi, 76, faced maximum penalties of three years and one year in prison on each of these charges, respectively.

The presiding judge, however, decided to defer the verdicts. The source for this information, who spoke to news agencies on condition of anonymity out of fear of punishment by authorities, said the judge did not offer a reason.

Following the February 1 coup against Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, Myanmar’s military seized control of the country and arrested her.

Her residence was searched, and radios were found at the entrance gate of her home and in her bodyguards’ barracks, The Associated Press reported. The radios are at the centre of her current trial.

Suu Kyi was first charged with illegally importing the walkie-talkies and using them without permission, which violates the country’s Export and Import Law 2012.

375 Now Dead in Philippines Typhoon The death toll from a powerful typhoon

that struck the central Philippines last week has risen to at least 375, with dozens still missing and several areas pleading for food and water.

The national police said Monday 56 people were still missing and 500 people injured due to Typhoon Rai. The toll was expected to increase because several towns and villages remained out of reach due to downed communications, power outages and clogged roads.

Rai packed sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 270 kilometres per hour before it blew out Friday into the South China Sea. The typhoon lashed more than 700,000 people in central island provinces, including more than 400,000 who had to be moved to emergency shelters.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited Cebu and Bohol over the weekend and stressed the need to fix water supply issues for affected residents.

Sixth Child Dies After Australian Bouncy Castle Accident A sixth child has died after a bouncy castle accident in the island state of Tasmania in Australia. A police investigation is continuing.

A sixth child who had been injured in an accident in the Tasmanian port city of Devonport last week has died.

Eleven-year-old Chace Harrison, who died Sunday afternoon, was injured Thursday when a bouncy castle and several inflatable balls were lifted off the ground in high winds at a school event.

Two children remain in critical condition in the Royal Hobart Hospital, while a third is recovering from his injuries at home. Investigators believe the children fell from a height of about 10 meters.

Meanwhile, the police inquiry into one of Australia’s worst playground disasters is continuing.

No Signs of Russia Deescalating on Ukraine Border Russia has not let up with a military build-up along the border with Ukraine since US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a two-hour video conference earlier this month, say Western security sources.

Despite Biden warning in his talks with Putin that Russia would pay a “terrible

Australia Relaxes COVID-19 Restrictions as Case Numbers Soar Australia’s most populous state is being urged to reintroduce COVID-19 restrictions after seeing a record number of new infections.

New South Wales is relaxing mask and social distancing rules at the same time as coronavirus infections are hitting record numbers.

On Monday, Australia’s most populous state recorded 2,500 new cases over a 24-hour period. Health officials believe the omicron variant “likely accounts for the majority” of those infections. Hospital admissions increased by more than 15% in the same period. According to the health department, of the 33 people in the state’s intensive care units, 26 are unvaccinated.

After a week in which the number of cases rose, Australia’s political leaders are urging calm and are promising that widespread lockdowns, which have been a feature of the pandemic, will not be reimposed over the holiday season.

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet says his government is taking a sensible approach.

The Australian Medical Association said the decision to ease long-standing disease-control measures was “bizarre timing.”

US, Western Allies Express ‘Grave Concern’ Over Hong Kong Vote The United States and four other Western countries expressed “grave concern” Monday about the “erosion of democratic elements” in Hong Kong as pro-Beijing candidates swept to victory in the city’s legislative elections after laws were changed to favour China’s Communist Party loyalists.

“Actions that undermine Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and a high degree of autonomy are threatening our shared wish to see Hong Kong succeed,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain said in a statement.

The diplomats said that since Britain handed over control of Hong Kong to China in 1997, “Candidates with diverse political views have contested elections in Hong Kong,” but that Sunday’s elections “reversed this trend.”

Pro-Beijing candidates won a landslide victory in the elections, defeating moderates and independents in Hong Kong’s first polls since Beijing decreed that only “patriots” loyal to China’s ruling Communist Party could run the city.

22

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Financial Boost for Ondo Women Women across the 18 local government areas of the Ondo State recently smiled home with various empowerment tools to boost their financial statuses at the third Summit of the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees. Writes Mary Nnah

FOWOSO members during the event

Some of the beneficiaries eulogising Mrs Akeredolu with praises

A

t the grand finale of the third summit of the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees (FOWOSO), held at Arcade Ground Igbatoro road, Akure, the state capital, hundreds of women joyfully went back home with business tools ranging from grinding machine, sewing machine, Plasma Television, fans, among other gifts.

Highlighting the Theme of Year 2021 FOWOSO Summit, “Turning Around The Economic Status of Women in a COVID-19 Era”, Founder, FOWOSO and wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu noted with deep concern the multifaceted effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the global economy just as she charged women not to keep quiet in the face of challenges but speak up and be a part of process as they are truly indispensable tools for sustainable development.

She stressed the need for women not to fold their arms and expect change as opportunity does not just fall on the lap of any individual but on those who are ready to learn, who are prepared and can act when the opportunity arises.

Declaring that the foundation has since kept faith with the ideals for which it was established, the governor’s wife who described the summit as hugely successful, said, “We have kept faith with the objectives of FOWOSO. Our women are now more aware of their environment and they have also advanced both socially and economically; they are being productive through skills acquisition and contributing meaningfully to their homes and the society.”

Established in December 2017 by Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu as a veritable platform for women empowerment and socio-political advancement, FOWOSO has since inception held its annual summit, save for the year 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

While expressing worry that women and children are the worst hit when it comes to inadequacies of health among others, said the world is gradually recognising the enormous roles women play in development.

She however encouraged women not to wait until they have money to establish industries but to at least engage in small scale businesses so they could have more financial security and independence.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu said, “You don’t have to wait until you have the resources to establish an industry before a woman can do business, you can start small businesses to make a living and support your husbands in the running of the home front.”

The first lady encouraged women to go beyond being women leaders at the party level and aspire to become councillors, secretaries, local government chairmen, House of Assembly and Representatives members, senators and governors of states, noting that things are already looking brighter for women in Ondo State because the governor, Arakunrin

L-R: Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Ondo First Lady, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, is gender-friendly.

“In organising a society to thrive and do well, it has a lot to do with politics.

That is why women must participate in politics to be at the decision making tables.

I encourage you to be part of the structure of the party.

“Our women should go beyond being women leaders at the party level and aspire to become councillors, secretaries, local government party chairmen, House of Assembly and Representatives Members, Senators and governors of states. Things are already getting better in Ondo State for our women because we have a He4She governor who is gender-friendly and believes in the emancipation of the womenfolk", she said.

In explaining her novel slogan, #ReduceFila2IncreaseGele which means Advocating for Increase in Women’s Representation in Politics and All Endeavours, Mrs Akeredolu added that the need to get more women involved in politics is not necessarily to compete with the men but to complement their efforts and also make contributions to nation building.

In her words, “Getting more women involved in politics is not to scare the menfolk. What we are saying is that

the women who form the 50 per cent of the country’s population, should be more involved in the governance of the country. It is not to fight the men but to join hands together in the determination of the future of the country.

“We also need to groom our young ones as they evolve. That is what we are doing with the Bemore Empowered Initiative, where we train girls in Information Communication Technology (ICT), renewable energy and other life-enhancing skills.

“Today, Bemore, since 2017, has trained about 2000 young secondary school girls mostly from Ondo, Imo, Ekiti States and beyond. Parents whose daughters have attended the Bemore Summer Boot Camp can attest to the fact that their daughters have changed to “champions of change” that I now refer to as “a new breed without greed” after the Bemore training.”

She, therefore, enjoined the women to make judicious use of the equipment given to them for economic purposes and not sell them off but to learn how to operate the machines.

While appreciating the Governor for his support, Mrs. Akeredolu said FOWOSO since its inception in 2017 focuses on prioritising women’s health and well-being and that beyond the loss

Our women are now more aware of their environment and they have also advanced both socially and economically; they are being productive through skills acquisition and contributing meaningfully to their homes and the society

of jobs occasioned by COVID 19 pandemic which further exposed women to domestic violence, steps were also taken to address cases of violence against women.

In his remarks, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu while applauding women said no country can achieve greatness without women as records abound of women who have defied the odds and are leaders in their respective fields of endeavour.

While noting that his administration will look into ways to create synergy between the Ministry of Women Affairs and other NGO to focus on women issues, the Governor said there is no way the rural economy can grow without empowering women at the grassroots.

The Chairman of the occasion and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while declaring open the 3rd FOWOSO Summit, said the initiative is for the overall development of womenfolk.

He advised that the forum should encourage more women to come into their fold so as to bring the desired change.

Sanwo-Olu described his Ondo State counterpart as a role model, adding that the Sunshine state Governor is a man of courage who speaks his mind no matter the condition.

He challenged women to participate actively in the business of governance for societal development just as lauded the various initiatives of Her Excellency, Arabinrin Akeredolu.the the first lady of Ondo State.

Also speaking in a keynote address, the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu while sharing from her personal experience said women must not allow anything to limit them but must strive to attain their best, noting that women are great influencers and managers.

Chairman of the grand finale, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, described Betty AnyanwuAkeredolu as a hegemon of Ondo State’s women, who, in ways hitherto unwitnessed, has revolutionised the ways and worth of women through the ingenious institutional instrument called FOSOWO. Ibrahim who said the activities of FOWOSO are effectively bridging the gender gap in Ondo State, encouraged the government to give FOWOSO the necessary legislative backing it deserves so that it can be institutionalised in the state.

The grand finale featured march-past by different women groups across the 18 local governments areas of the state, dance competition, Breast Cancer Awareness (Sekem) dance

by Fiwasaye Girls’ Grammar School, Akure, raffle draw and prizes ranging from solar home system, grinding machine, sewing machine, plasma television, fans, among other gifts.

Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor of Ondo, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, continents from across other South Western States and top government functionaries across all the 18 local government areas of the state.

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͯ, ͰͮͰͯ

23

FEATURES

Seeking End to Gender Based Violence The first lady of Nasarawa State, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule, recently led female folks across all works of life from the state on a street walk to seek an end to Gender Based Violence, writes Igbawase Ukumba

First Lady, Salifat (in black attire) leading the walk against Gender Based Violence

O

n December 13, 2021, Hajiya Silifat, the first lady of Nasarawa State and wife of Governor Abdullahi Sule, led a powerful walk across the streets of Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, expressing anger of the Nasarawa women against some Gender Based Violence (GBV) being perpetrated by some individuals across the state.

Hajiya Silifat was supported during the walk by the wife of the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sheila Tosan Akabe; the wife of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Balarabe Abdullahi; wives of chairmen of Local Government and Development Areas of the state, as well as wives of political appointees and elected officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Giving his consent to the commencement of the walk against GBV in Nasarawa State in the Government House, Lafia, Governor Sule told the mammoth crowd, who thronged out to accompany his wife, Silifat on the street walk, that their decision to that order was in consonant with the policies and programmes of his administration.

"I thank you for supporting this initiative and supporting the girl-child. I think this is what is best for our country. As you know this administration is attaching a lot to the education of our youths, especially the girlchild. So, with what you are doing, you are in support of this administration," Sule told the women before their departure for the Walk Against Gender Based Violence.

Addressing members of the state House of Assembly when the Nasarawa women arrived at the state assembly complex, the state first lady said as women in the state, they were not in support of Gender Based Violence, hence they were at the state House of Assembly to let the lawmakers know, and if possible pass that bill against the abuse of girl-child into law.

The Nasarawa State first lady, who spoke through the wife of the state deputy governor, Mrs. SheilaTosan Akabe, continued that women of the state were not happy with what was going on where there were many forms of abuse of the girl-child in the state.

"That is why we are ending our 16 days activism with a walk right from the Government House to the state House of Assembly to register our grudges and to also register our presence here with the speaker of the state House of Assembly," Silifat maintained.

Receiving the women at the assembly complex, speaker of the House, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, expressed gratitude at the Nasarawa State first lady's consistency in ensuring that there is an end to the abuse of the girl child’s right in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Daniel Ogah Ogazi, received the first lady with her women campaigners on behalf of the House speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi said: "The House of Assembly is following your (first lady's) programmes. You have gone to police stations and courts to ensure that you secure judgement for that abused girl-child in the state.”

The speaker maintained that the state House of Assembly would support the Hope Foundation of the state first lady in its fight against Gender Based Violence in the state. He continued that the House is to protect women and girl-child against all forms of violence to build an egalitarian society for peace and progress to thrive.

Balarabe Abdullahi, however, lamented that violence against women and girls has affected their lives negatively and the development of the society, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to end the menace.

"We want to commend Her Excellency in her fight against rape and all forms of Violence in the state. Her Excellency's efforts and continued fighting is to ensure

that there is no violence against women and girls in the state. We are happy with her initiative and movement.

We will give you all the legislations and other necessary support to end violence against women and girls in the interest of peace and for the overall development of the state," the Nasarawa House of Assembly speaker assured the women folks.

Balarabe Abdullahi then called on security agencies to bring perpetrators of rape and other forms of violence against women to book to serve as detterent to others.

"The House of Assembly is with you, and it is in this vein that Mr. Speaker has sponsored a bill in that direction and it has been passed by the assembly and as well assented to by your husband, the governor of the state," the speaker disclosed to the Hajiya Silifat.

Perhaps, it will not be out of place to note that Hajiya Silifat has girlchild education and training of more women, especially widows, as her major preoccupation as she serves the women folks in Nasarawa State.

Hitherto, speaking recently in Abuja at a meeting of her Silifat Abdullahi Sule (SAS) Hope Foundation, Silifat said education and empowerment of more women would reduce the number of abuses and also help in the state and national development.

“I am not happy about what girls and women, especially widows are facing in this country. Some people will marry widows just because of their money and when they have finished with their money, they then drive them away. We want to take action on that. So, we are

My office is working in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice to ensure that those involved in the act of rape are prosecuted according to the law of the country

working hand in hand with traditional rulers, community leaders and religious leaders in Nasarawa State in order to tackle this matter,” the first lady lamented.

She added that she had included girl-child education in her Silifat Abdullahi Sule Hope Foundation (SAS) Hope Foundation, and that she has presently about 200 girls that were being sponsored, which most of them were orphans. She also said she had empowered about 150 widows that she trained in skills acquisitions and were also offered N20,000 each to start a business.

Similar efforts earlier put in place by the Nasarawa State governor's wife towards salvaging the wellbeing of the women folks in the state could be attested by her offsetting of hospital bills of raped victims in the state. Hajiya Silifat had offsett the medical bills of the raped victims when their parents paid her a visit in her office in the Government House, Lafia recently.

Acccording to her, "my office is working in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice to ensure that those involved in the act of rape are prosecuted according to the law of the country."

Nevertheless, in a bid to support the vulnerable in the society, especially women and children, Hajiya Silifat Sule recently sponsored the educational needs of over 500 orphans across the state. This was stated in a statement issued to journalists in Lafia by the first lady's media aide, Mr. Lamino Ishaq, in commemoration of the 2021 International Widows Day celebration.

The statement read in part: "The first lady has also provided skills acquisition training for widows, orphans and people living with impairment, and the beneficiaries were provided with take-off grants after completion of training. The foundation has continued to encourage girl-child education by providing learning materials which has increased school enrollment, especially of the girl-child."

The statement maintained that Silifat remained unrelenting in her commitment to the fight against Gender Based Violence as well as the right of the girl-child and women through enhancement of their welfare in the society.

24

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

THE ALTERNATIVE

with RenoOmokri

And The Beggar d'Or Goes To...

M

any Nigerians are blissfully unaware of how indebted their country has become under Muhammadu Buhari. Let me put this into perspective. Buhari is the 15th President of Nigeria. But in six years, he has borrowed more than all the 14 Presidents before him combined.

This is not hyperbole. I urge you to do the maths. The total sum Nigeria took as loans from independence on October 1, 1960, to May 29, 2015 (less interests) is less than the total amount that Buhari has borrowed.

Nigeria had a total indebtedness of approximately N12 trillion on May 29, 2015. Today, that figure has been multiplied by three and a half and now stands at approximately N39.6 trillion. And only last week, the profligate Buhari sought and got from the remarkably pliant National Assembly, permission to borrow an additional $5.8 billion.

Where is all that money going? Bola Tinubu answered that question in a very fitting manner in his birthday message to Buhari, which was really a polite insult. A slap disguised as a kiss.

Praising Buhari for his “unseen” achievements.

Read between the lines. If after seven years in power your achievements are invisible, then you are a very visible FAILURE! But the question remains unanswered.

Where is all that money going? It is going towards paying grossly inflated salaries and allowances to Buhari and his cronies, and in building infrastructure, at Nigeria’s cost, in Niger Republic, where Buhari famously said, “I have first cousins in Niger Republic”.

I mean, what is the economic justification in building a $2 billion railway in Niger Republic, at Nigeria’s cost, when the entire Gross Domestic Product of Niger is less than $14 billion (I invite my readers to fact check me)?

It makes no economic sense. It however makes tribal sense, when you take into effect Buhari’s “I have first cousins in Niger Republic” comment.

Nigerians, being a people of extremely short memory, may not remember how, as military head of state, General Buhari in 1985, voted against Peter Onu, an Igbo man, who was Nigeria’s candidate for the post of Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, in favour of Ide Oumarou, a Fulani from Niger Republic.

Is Buhari from Niger Republic as has been rumoured?

For those who do not know or have forgotten about this incident, I urge you to read up about it in the book titled ‘The OAU: Reality Or Fiction’ by Ibrahim Dagash.

Mr Dagash wrote about how his fellow African leaders were stunned by the bizarre action of General Muhammadu Buhari, who could not hide his glee and began publicly celebrating the victory of Oumarou, over his own nation’s candidate, a victory that he engineered.

The late Tanzanian leader, Julius Nyerere, was so outraged that he approached Buhari and upbraided him. It was a show of shame.

This was more so as Dr. Onu was much more qualified and competent than Ide Oumarou.

He had been Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany and had worked as a diplomat in Moscow, and had advised Nigeria’s previous governments.

Nyerere was so offended by General Buhari’s behaviour that he vowed to make sure that Oumarou’s tenure was short-lived, and this he achieved in 1989, when he sponsored Dr. Salim Salim to run against Ide Oumarou, and eventually defeat him to emerge the longestserving Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, which he led for twelve years, from 1989 to 2001.

Buhari has placed his own tribal interests above and beyond Nigeria’s national interests and if everybody else is too afraid to say it, then I, Reno Omokri, will write it for all to see, so that it goes on record and can be used to bring Muhammadu Buhari to justice when a sane government takes power, hopefully in 2023.

Because our present indebtedness is no joke.

We are now at a very real risk of joining the grieving list of careless and unfortunate nations that have lost their sovereignty to the People's Republic of China.

In fact, when I heard that the Confederation of African Football was considering postponing the Africa Cup of Nations, I thought it was because Buhari had borrowed the AFCON

Buhari

cup and refused to return it. The man can borrow for Africa! He met a foreign debt of $10 billion and has increased it to $38 billion (not counting domestic debt) in just six short years, without anything to show for it.

If there were a Ballon d'Or for borrowings, it would undoubtedly go to Buhari. Heavy Beggar d'Or! If Togo or Ghana agree to lend him money, the shameless bambiala will collect.

He has gone everywhere to beg and borrow.

An eater up of other men’s work. What did we do to deserve this plague? Tueh!

And if tomorrow a future government wants to bring Buhari to account, then those in the National Assembly, who did his bidding, must also be brought to book for failing to exert enough checks and balances to stop this maladministration that has brought Nigeria to its economic knees and made us look like big for nothing in the international community.

Consider that 42 people, including children, were robbed, killed and then burnt in Sokoto.

And two days after this evil stain on our nation’s conscience, Buhari went to Lagos to celebrate with Bisi Akande and Tinubu. No visit to Sokoto.

No representative of the Federal Government to offer condolences and reassurances to the grieving families.

Then consider again that a week after Buhari went partying in Lagos, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other top shots in Buhari’s cabal attended Buhari’s son’s turban ceremony in Daura on Saturday December 18, 2021.

Remember that 42 people were robbed, killed and burnt in Sokoto, and none of them visited Sokoto, including Buhari. 25 people were killed by bandit terrorists in Niger last week. They all did not go either. Nine people were killed in Southern Kaduna. Still none of them went.

But when Buhari’s son was given a useless title, they all went. Buhari’s vanity is more important to them than national security. And you are wondering why Nigeria is wandering and blundering?

Do you still think human life has value under Buhari? Remember that this same government once issued a stern warning when herdsmen lost their cows. But since those killed in Sokoto are mere human beings, there is no need for action. Where else can such a disgraceful thing happen than in Nigeria under Buhari? Imagine turning on the TV in Sokoto and seeing this.

Reno’s Darts I mark Buhari’s alleged 79th birthday, by wishing him as much happiness as he has given Nigerians, and as much prosperity as he has given our countrymen, and as much personal security as he has given citizens of our dear country. May he be as fulfilled as the fulfilment of the campaign promises he made. May he be as valued as the Naira is valued. And finally, May he be as respected as he has made Nigeria’s passport and image internationally respected. In Christ’s Name.

Alas, you can’t crown a clown and expect a king!

And by the way, Now that Twitter has also deleted Osinbajo’s tweet, what will the Buhari regime do? Will they re-ban Twitter? Will they extend the ban already in place? Or will they just accept that both Buhari and Osinbajo and their media aides have no clue how social media works?

They think Twitter and other Silicon Valley tech giants are like Nigerian TV/radio stations and newspapers that they can bully using NBC? I really applaud Twitter for cutting Buhari and Osinbajo to size and bringing them back to their reality as mere paper tigers.

Analogue leaders!

Reno’s Nuggets The world’s population is currently 7.7 billion.

By 2023, it is projected to hit 8 billion. If you don’t have a house now, your situation will be worse in the next few years because the human population is growing faster than the housing accommodation. Even if you have to starve, buy a piece of land. Build a house and have a garden where you can grow food. Don’t buy another iPhone, or another designer outfit, or aso ebi, until you have started on the journey of home ownership.

Don’t wait to buy a house. Rather, buy or build a house and wait! #RenosNuggets #FreeLeahSharibu

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

25

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 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

NEXT TITAN…

L-R: Group Head, Corporate Communications Heritage Bank Plc, Mrs. Ozena Utulu; Executive Producer, The Next Titan Nigeria, Mr. Mide Akinlaja; Chairman, Trans-Sahara Investments Corporation, Mr. Kyari Bukar; Season 8 Winner,Mr. Adausu Taiwo; Chief Executive Officer, EFG Hermes Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Lilian Olubi; and Chairman, CPMS Africa, PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT Mr. Chris Parkes, at the Grand Finale of the Next Titan Nigeria Season 8 in Lagos… recently

NERC: Over 25% Energy Wheeled by TCN Lost to Theft, Technical Inefficiency Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Over 25 per cent of the total energy wheeled by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) is lost to theft and technical inefficiency, a report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has indicated.

The NERC quarterly document for Q4, 2020, noted that the level of Discos’ billing efficiency showed that for every 10kWh of energy received

by Discos from the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) in 2020/ Q4, approximately 2.52kWh was recorded as leakages.

In comparison, it explained that for every N10 worth of electricity received by Discos during the third quarter of 2020, approximately N2.43k was lost due to energy theft and poor distribution infrastructure when put side by side the one for the 4th quarter.

According to NERC, the performance of the Discos showed that

during the quarter under review, Ikeja followed by Eko Disco had the highest billing efficiency of 88.82 per cent and 86.38 per cent respectively, but still with lower efficiency relative to 2020/Q3.

However, the power sector regulator stated that the amount of energy received, billed and billing efficiency

by Discos during the third and fourth quarters of 2020 indicate an increase in Discos’ billing efficiency during 2020/Q4.

“Out of the 8,035GWh total energy

received by all Discos during 2020/ Q4, 6,082GWh (75.70 per cent) was billed to the end-users, implying 0.92 percentage points increase in billing efficiency and relatively lower technical and commercial losses of 24.30 per cent compared to 2020/ Q3,” NERC stressed.

But Yola Disco recorded the lowest billing efficiency at 48.31 per cent, indicating that Yola Disco lost more (i.e., 51.69 per cent) energy to technical inefficiency and energy theft in 2020/ Q4 than the total energy billed to

customers during the same quarter.

“Yola Disco has consistently recorded the lowest billing efficiency since the fourth quarter of 2018. This might be attributable to insecurity within the franchise which has affected the operational performance of the utility,” it added.

Based on relative improvement from the preceding quarter, NERC stated that six Discos with the exception of Abuja, Benin, Eko, Enugu and Ikeja recorded an improvement in their billing efficiencies during

the quarter under review, ranging from 1.84 percentage points (for Kano Disco) to 12.12 percentage points (for Kaduna Disco).

To address commercial losses (poor energy accounting or theft), the commission pointed out that it had continued to monitor the Discos’ asset mapping and tagging under the framework of the customer enumeration in order to identify illegal consumers and bring same Continued on page 26

African Petroleum Refiners Seek Upgrade of Continent’s Refineries for Cleaner Fuels Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) has said that the continent needs to deliver the “refineries of the future”, to be able to meet the growing energy needs of its population.

Executive Secretary of ARDA,

Anibor Kragha, in a presentation at the Africa Energy Futures Forum held during the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in Houston, USA, noted that the existing refineries will need to be upgraded to produce AFRI-6 or less sulphur fuels in line with the organisation’s roadmap.

With only 20 countries in Africa

having refining operations and capacity utilisation down to 55 per cent on the average, Kragha advocated that new refineries, like the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria and the ERC Refinery in Egypt, should be designed to produce cleaner fuels.

He lamented that the current situation whereby only six African

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

COMMODITIES

LOCATION

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

SORGHUM

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

SIZE

100KG

ABIA

N14000

50KG

LAGOS

N13500

nations have Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage capacity above 50,000 metric tons (MTs) was leading to uneconomic cargoes and increased landed costs.

“This overall situation has resulted in Africa petroleum products shortfall growing significantly over the years which poses significant concerns

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

for Africa’s energy security as the continent remains heavily reliant on imports,” he argued.

Kragha stated that significant investments are required in integrated refining and petrochemicals plants to meet growing demand and reduce imports as well as in large-scale LPG infrastructure to effectively promote

T O D AY

PRICE

N9,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

replacement of biomass with LPG as clean cooking alternative across Africa.

He noted that Africa’s future refineries must be flexible and efficient, stressing that policies that would provide an enabling environment Continued on page 26

26

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

RICE

N21,000-24,000

COMMODITIES SIZE

25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

PRICE

100KG ABUJA N23,000–N25,000 50KG 50KG

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000

STATE

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

PLATEAU N23,500-N25,000 (JOS)

50KG KWARA N24,000–N27,000 50KG

LAGOS N23,000–N26,500

50KG RIVERS N23,000–N26,500

25CL

EDO

25CL ABUJA

N17,000–N20,000 N19500- N25000

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

COCOA

T O D AY SIZE

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

N740,000

1 TON ONDO – N760,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

N730,000

1 TON OSUN – N750,000 1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

N700,000 1 TON CROSS – N720,000 RIVER

50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 50KG

STATE

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

ABIA

Agro-Industrial Stakeholders Laud CBN’s New Scheme to Boost Food Security Gilbert Ekugbe Agro-industrial stakeholders have extolled a new scheme introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at boosting food sufficiency in the country.

According to the stakeholders, the new scheme, “100 projects for EVERY 100 days,” would stimulate agro-industrial activities, create employment opportunities and boost post-COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery.

They also harped on deepening such existing interventions in food production and industrial linkages through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

The CBN released guidelines for its “Production and Productivity” initiative early in December through the “100 projects for EVERY 100 days” initiative.

According to the guidelines, a maximum loan of N5 billion would be loaned per obligor under the initiative, but any amount above the threshold would require special approval of its management.

The focal activities are, existing agro-businesses and projects with the potential to transform and jumpstart the productive base of the economy.

“It is a support to private sector companies with the aim of reducing certain imports, increasing non-oil exports and to improve the FXgenerating capacity of the economy.

These include manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing; extractive industries, petrochemicals and renewable energy; healthcare and pharmaceuticals, logistics services and trade-related infrastructure; and any other activities as may be prescribed, ”the CBN stated.

The apex bank had disclosed that the initiative was designed to support the Federal Government’s drive towards boosting productivity and economic diversification.

The facility is a long-term loan

for the acquisition of plant and machinery, as well as working capital.

“The initiative will create the flow of finance and investments to enterprises with the potential to kick-start sustainable economic growth trajectory, accelerate structural transformation, promote diversification, and improve productivity.”

Specific objectives are to catalyse

import substitution of targeted commodities; increase local production and productivity; increase non-oil exports; and improve foreign exchange earning capacity of the economy.

“It would also include a decrease in import volume and value of industrial raw materials and increase in the number of jobs created,” the apex bank stated.

CBN has always been in the

forefront of initiatives to increase food productivity, agro-industrial processing and entrepreneurship activities through existing and new businesses.

Through the ABP, there have been interventions in land preparation, quality seed supply, agro-chemicals, and off-take of rice paddies, maize, cassava, soya beans, and lately wheat and sweet potato, among other crops.

In November 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the ABP to boost agricultural production and minimise importation of food. Farmers captured under this programme include those cultivating cereals (rice, maize and wheat).

The programme was intended to create a linkage between companies involved in food processing and smallholder farmers of the required key agricultural commodities,

through commodity associations.

It is estimated that the ABP scheme has disbursed N864 billion to 4.1million smallholder farmers growing 5.02million hectares of land.

They said food crisis and inflation would have become worse in the face of poor performance of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, as evident in the eventual removal of former minister, Mohammed Nanono.

PIA: Stakeholders Seek Clarification on Gas Delivery Obligations, Licensing Requirements Peter Uzoho Stakeholders in Nigeria’s gas sector under the aegis of Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) have listed areas in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that require urgent reconsideration, clarification and amendment for the realisation of optimum value.

Some of the areas needing clarification and amendment, as pointed out by the NGA include issues around domestic gas delivery obligations, lack of clarity on licensing requirements for midstream and downstream gas, and potential

overlap in the roles of the two new agencies.

Other contentions areas, according to the group are the exclusion of the industry or private sector representation on the governing council of the midstream and downstream gas infrastructure fund and the lack of clarity on transition from a regulated to a market-based gas pricing regime.

The NGA in a communiqué signed by its President and Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas, Mr. Ed Ubong, after its meeting, stated that certain provisions of the PIA

required further engagement and clarification to ensure unambiguity in their implementation.

NGA raised concerns on the nature and extent of domestic gas delivery obligations and the scope of the discretion to be wielded by the regulators, given the commercial, contractual, technical and financial considerations underlying investments to meet such obligations.

On licensing requirements as stipulated in the Act, the NGA maintained that there is lack of clarity on the specific terms for the licensing of midstream or

downstream gas or petroleum liquids post the 18-month transition period.

The group further pointed out that there are potential overlaps in the roles of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDRA) in the Act. “The PIA imposes an obligation on upstream operators under the regulatory purview of NUPRC as well as holders of other licenses or permits, who are also engaged in activities in midstream or

downstream gas operations prior to the effective date of the PIA to apply to NMDRA within 18 months from the effective date of the PIA for the appropriate licenses or permits, as applicable,” it stated.

On gas pricing, the gas association said the PIA needed to be more specific about time-bound triggers for transitioning from a regulated to a market-driven (willing-buyer-willing-seller) pricing framework, saying this would ensure that investments could be made with definitive and applicable fiscal terms.

Insecurity Threat to Oil Sector, Economy, Say Petroleum Marketers Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The new National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Mr Debo Ahmed, has said that insecurity throughout the country

constitutes a serious threat to the oil and gas industry as well as to the Nigerian economy.

Speaking after he was sworn in at the association’s secretariat in Abuja, the IPMAN president expressed concern

over the challenge, noting that it remains a matter of worry to the association.

Ahmed who succeeded the immediate past leader of the group, Sanusi Fari, while addressing the gathering of petroleum marketers,

however acknowledged efforts by security agencies to surmount the challenge and guarantee security of lives and property.

The new IPMAN chief also called on the downstream oil sector operators to come to terms with the

reality of full deregulation of the oil sector, driven by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He assured his members that his leadership would accord full priority to their welfare in the volatile oil sector.

AFRICAN PETROLEUM REFINERS SEEK UPGRADE OF CONTINENT’S REFINERIES FOR CLEANER FUELS for investments, including clarity in regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements would help the continent to attract much-needed capital for future world-class refinery projects.

He further called for an accompanying financing plan, which will promote investments in world-class,

integrated refinery and petrochemicals complexes as well as critical LPG storage and distribution infrastructure.

In addition, the ES explained that digitalisation, machine learning, decarbonisation, safety and reliability, efficiency and funding were key to the proposed future refineries.

In an earlier forum, ARDA had

noted that about $15.7 billion would be needed to upgrade the existing 36 refineries on the continent, maintaining that the challenge will be to ensure that these refineries are converted into efficient centres of excellence.

“Complex, inefficient supply chains and intra-African trade

challenges are currently impeding implementation of cost-effective clean energy solutions, but the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) presents opportunity for the African Union and the respective Regional Economic Commissions to implement a harmonised energy transition plan,”

he explained.

Consequently, Kragha said that future refineries will need to minimise production of fuels and instead focus on converting crude oil directly to petrochemicals via modern alternative technology and delivering higher capital efficiency through a lower overall environmental footprint.

NERC: OVER 25% ENERGY WHEELED BY TCN LOST TO THEFT, TECHNICAL INEFFICIENCY Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

onto the Discos’ billing platforms.

It mentioned that the total revenue collected by 11 Discos from customers in the fourth quarter of 2020 stood at N169.81billion out of the total bill of N259.90 billion.

Relative to the preceding quarter, the Discos collection efficiency (i.e., the total revenue collected as a ratio of the total billing by Discos), NERC said, declined during the fourth quarter of 2020/Q4.

It explained that the overall collection efficiency for all Discos decreased to 65.34 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2020 representing 1.38 percentage points reduction from the 66.72 per cent collection efficiency

by Discos recorded during the third quarter of 2020.

“The collection efficiency for all Discos implies that for every N10.00 worth of energy billed to customers by Discos during 2020/ Q4, approximately N3.47 remained unrecovered from customers.

“This low collection efficiency

combined with billing inefficiency has continued to adversely impact the financial liquidity of the industry, which in turn, has led to low investment in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

Appraising individual performances, the industry regulator noted that Abuja Disco, though underperformed relative to 2020/Q3, had the highest collection efficiency of 89.57 per cent followed by Ikeja Disco with an efficiency index of 82.04 per cent.

NERC declared that Kaduna Disco had the lowest collection efficiency of 29.09 per cent, stressing that on a quarter-on-quarter basis, only Benin, Eko and Kano Discos recorded an improvement in collection efficiency with Eko Disco having the highest increase of 6.67 percentage points moving from 75.37 per cent in 2020/ Q3 to 82.04 per cent in 2020/Q4.

However, NERC noted that a major factor contributing to low collection efficiency was customers’

displeasure with estimated billing which often resulted in an unwillingness to pay, but reported that the commission has further amended the Order on capping of estimated bills which an unmetered customer can be billed.

On the Aggregate Technical, Commercial & Collection (ATC&C) Losses, which is the combined index of losses due to technical, billing and collection inefficiencies in the industry, the report noted that the overall average ATC&C for all the Discos during 2020/Q4 declined to 47.14 per cent.

It added: “Whereas the technical and commercial losses decreased by 5.34 percentage points, the collection losses worsened by 2.63 percentage points during 2020/Q3 indicating the imperative of the need for Discos to intensify effort in revenue collection to improve on their cash flow, operational performance and in meeting their contractual obligations.

“The overall ATC&C losses of 47.14

per cent in 2020/Q4 are substantially larger than the expected industry average of approximately 22.11 per cent – the allowable ATC&C losses provided in the MYTO (Multi Year Tariff Order) applicable during the quarter.

“The implication of the level of the ATC&C losses in 2020/Q4 is that, on average, as much as N4.71 in every N10.00 worth of energy received by a Disco was unrecovered due to a combination of inefficient distribution networks, energy theft, low revenue collection aggravated by the low level of metering of the end-use customer and unwillingness to pay by customers.”

NERC noted that Eko Disco was the most technically and commercially efficient Disco by recording the lowest level of ATC&C losses of 28.23 per cent in 2020/Q4.

“This ended Ikeja Disco’s dominance as the most technically and commercially efficient Disco in the NESI since 2018/Q4. The worst

performing Disco during the same quarter was Kaduna Disco with the ATC&C losses of 76.96 per cent as against the MYTO target of 20.12 per cent.

“Based on relative improvement from the preceding quarter, Benin, Eko, Ibadan and Kano DisCos reduced their ATC&C losses during 2020/Q4 while Abuja, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Yola Discos recorded increases in ATC&C losses during the same period.

“Kano Disco recorded the biggest reduction in ATC&C losses by 2.12 percentage points from 50.48 per cent in 2020/Q3 to 48.35 per cent in 2020/Q4, while Abuja Disco had the biggest increase in ATC&C losses by 6.63 percentage points during 2020/Q4,” NERC declared.

However, it noted none of the Discos had attained the level of ATC&C loss trajectory embedded in their performance agreement executed by their core investors and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

27

BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Manufacturers: Burden of Increased Taxes Hint from the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to the effect that the federal government would introduce new taxes and levies to implement the 2022 budget is sending cold shivers down the spine of operators and have sent ripples across Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and other members of the organised private sector, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

O

n Monday, December 13, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said, during a public hearing on the 2021 Finance Bill, which was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance that the federal government would introduce new tariffs and levies in 2022 in the 2021 Finance Act as part of its reforms and amendments of the country’s tax laws.

Ahmed suggested that the antiquated stamp duties and Capital Gains Tax should be reviewed by the National Assembly stating, “We prepared this draft bill (2021 Finance Act Bill) along five reform areas, the first is domestic revenue mobilisation; the second is tax administration and legislative drafting; the third is international taxation; the fourth is financial sector reforms and tax equity and the fifth is improving public financial management reform.

“The provision in the draft bill is proposing to amend the CGT, Company Income Tax, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act, Personal Income Tax, Stamp Duties Act and Tertiary Education Act, Value Added Tax (VAT), Insurance Police Trust Fund and the Fiscal Responsibility Act. “This is to amend the Police Trust Fund Act and the Nigerian Trust Fund Acts. The purpose is to empower the FIRS to collect the Nigerian trust fund levies on companies on behalf of the fund itself.

“Currently, because there is no such provision, the FIRS has been unable to start collecting on behalf of the fund. Also, it is to streamline the tax and the levy collection from the Nigerian companies in line with Mr. President’s administration ease of doing business policy.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the 2021 Finance Bill would seek to introduce strategic and broadminded positive reforms that would engender best practices and guarantee the interests of the investing public and businesses.

Gbajabiamila noted that the bill would seek to statutorily check borrowing by local, states and federal governments, enhance transparency and accountability in the administration in various strata of tax and public revenue generation.

He said: “It is instructive to state that the essence of the 2021 bill is to further reposition our finance system to plug wastes, close openings for corruption, create opportunities for employment as well as stimulate stability and growth in our productive sectors, within the wider context of our quest for economic recovery in our country.”

BREATHING SPACE

However, the Nigerian manufacturers and members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) have asked the federal government for a breathing space and to spare business further taxation. They are saying almost in unison that any move by the government to increase taxation in whatever form or guises would be counterproductive and retard the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the

GDP and cause a great setback on the ability of the real sector to support the poverty reduction/alleviation and job creation aspirations of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), stated unequivocally that manufacturers in the country have been groaning under multiple taxations from the three tiers of government.

It also said that its members are quite anxious about the imminent ill-advised re-introduction of excise, as well as steep increase in rate of excise on some products, including carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks and tobacco products.

It pleaded that manufacturing businesses are yet to fully stabilise from the debilitating disruptive effect of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the so-called relief funds from government has remained largely non-accessible to manufacturers. No thanks to the country’s illiquid foreign exchange market that cannot accommodate their demands for hard currencies on the official FX window.

The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said last week: “The tendency is (for government) to heed the advice from the World Bank and the like for more taxation in developing economies. But it has not considered that this has not led to appreciable growth in their economies. There is need for wisdom in gauging the times we are in and assessing the possible boomerang effects on our beleaguered socio-economic environment.

“With low and worsening disposable income, heightening insecurity and anxiety, caution is the word.What could be within reasonable contemplation should be widening the tax net to capture the largely untaxed endeavours that ought to have been within the tax bracket.

“I would want to believe that what the Honourable Minister (of Finance) was referring to is that the net will be expanded to capture those and not that exiting legitimate and diligent tax payers would be made to pay more or that additional taxes would be levied upon them. That will be counterproductive and the envisaged additional revenue may not be realized. Instead, we may start to witness dwindling profitability, higher rate of business failure and predisposition to tax evasion. This is not to mention the disincentive to local and foreign investment.”

Speaking in the same vein last week, the Chairman of the OPSN, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi said that the organization has deemed it necessary to once again share its perspective and position on salient national economic issues within the context of setting the country’s economic priorities right and avoiding actions or counter-policies that could negate the gains.

Adeniyi, who is also the President of NECA, said that members of the OPSN are; “vehemently opposed to any attempt to further burden organised businesses in the guise of new taxes or levies at the three-tiers of government.

Doing so will be counterproductive as this could further stifle the already burdened businesses, most of whom currently operate at less than 50 per cent capacity utilisation.

“It will also further lead to an upsurge in unemployment rate with its attendant socioeconomic consequences. We call on the National Assembly not to accommodate or insert provisions that could further burden organised businesses into bills presented to it. We wish to specifically draw the attention of the National Assembly to the ‘Establishment of the Tertiary Hospital Development Fund Bill 2021,’ which among other things seek to impose one per cent tax on businesses.

“Organised businesses are currently providing healthcare services for the staff through in-house hospitals, HMO providers or direct billing. It is unreasonable and will be an over-kill to still saddle the same organisations with the task of contributing to infrastructural development in the healthcare sector. Businesses are currently paying various percentages of their revenue to the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Industrial Training Fund, National Pension Commission and other government agencies.”

EXCISE DUTY

Adeniyi also broached on the intention to reintroduce excise duty on carbonated drinks.

He recalled that excise duties on carbonated drinks were suspended in 2009 during the global financial crisis to aid the sustainability of businesses. He, therefore, expressed concern that the federal government recently made pronouncements on reintroducing the excise duty on this class of products.

He said: “We make bold to say that the economic situation which necessitated the suspension of the excise in 2009 has not abated.

In fact, businesses currently face greater hardship than what obtained in 2009. The introduction of the tax will be counter-productive as it will lead to further stifling of businesses in carbonated dring industry.

“Globally, at a time when governments continue to provide incentives for industries to speed up recovery from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating costs, Nigeria cannot afford to be doing the exact opposite as manufacturers, across all product segments need a respite, especially in the light of the unprecedented increase in production and operating costs.”

The chairman of the OPSN argued further that “it is instructive to note that Nigerian manufacturers have been contending with the dislocations caused by the pandemic and the recession that followed; they are also facing serious crisis resulting from liquidity challenges in the foreign exchange market, which is impacting adversely on the cost of production; in addition, they are faced with

intense pressure arising from numerous structural bottlenecks that are creating sustainability challenges for investors, especially those in the SME segment.

Also of concern is significant spike in the cost of raw materials, cost of fund, high import duty, elevated energy cost, prohibitive cost of transportation and high cost of logistics/shipping.

“We therefore, urge Government to jettison the idea of reintroducing the excise duty on carbonated drinks but continue to support and promote the industry to attain full recovery after the onslaught of the pandemic and position it to further accommodate the teeming unemployed Nigerian, particularly the youths.”

INVESTMENT FRIENDLY POLICY

On Thursday, December 16, the Sectorial Chairman of Non-Metallic Mineral Products Sectorial Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Afam Mallinson Ukatu, returned on the same subject when he spoke to members of Commerce and Industry Correspondence Association of Nigeria at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

Ukatu appealed to the government to prevail on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make an investment friendly monetary policy that would prevent the total collapse of manufacturing industries in Nigeria.

He claimed that inadequate availability of FX has affected many industries and constrained them source FX at higher exchange rates from the parallel market at a rates that are 30 per cent or more above the official exchange in order to remain in production.

According to him, the manufacturing and steel industry is facing lots of problems, regarding accessibility to foreign exchange to buy raw materials spare parts, which he identified as what it takes to keep a manufacturing concern alive and kicking.

Ukatu, who is also the managing director/ CEO, NISPO Porcelain Coy Limited, said: “Your factory will be collapsing if you are not able to have access to FX to buy raw materials and spare parts. The MAN has been advocating that the CBN should create a window that can help genuine manufacturers to have access to FX with ease but to no avail.”

Speaking on the same point, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Centre for the Promotion of Private Sector, Dr. Muda Yusuf, observed that the high import dependence of Nigerian manufacturing sector on imported raw materials exposed it to three major risks. These are sharp depreciation of the currency, liquidity crisis in the FX market, and volatility of FX rate, which create considerable uncertainty and unpredictability for investors.

Yusuf said that the impact of currency depreciation on the real sector and the Small and Mediun Enterprises include “high cost of production, low sales and turnover because of the increase in price and effect on demand, erosion of profit margins because not all the additional cost can be passed on consumers and increase in business continuity risk for some segments of manufacturing.”

28

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

INVESTMENT

50 Years of Promoting Free Enterprise In this report, Ugo Aliogo writes on the 50 years journey of International Breweries Plc to promote free enterprise, drive environmental sustainability, and support economic growth in Nigeria L-R: Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Tolulope Adedeji; Managing Director, IBPLC, Hugo Dias Rocha; Independent Non-Executive Director, IBPLC, Olutoyin Odulate; Chairman of the Board, IBPLC, HRM Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe; Non – Executive Director, IBPLC, Mr Sunday Omole, and Finance Director, IBPLC, Bruno Zambrano, at the International Breweries Plc 50th Anniversary Celebration in Lagos

N

igeria is a country that presents huge business opportunities for international and local investors. In the ease of doing business index, the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, has addressed some fundamental issues to promote an enabling business environment for investors.

Although there are still areas of challenges that needs to be fixed, however, progress is being made.

While other international investors are leaving the country for what they term as a difficult business environment, others have chosen to remain having seen the innumerable business opportunities such as access to raw materials, large arable lands, availability of human capital for production, market for sales of commodities, and others.

As the largest economy in Africa, the Nigerian economy holds a huge prospect for any investor wishing to do business in Africa. One of the growth strengths of any economy is its population size, which in turn translates to a viable workforce and strong purchasing power. Nigeria boasts of a viable workforce (with 70 percent between the ages of 19-40years) and strong purchasing power, ingredients that are attractive to any investor wishing to do business in any economy.

Another factor that has continued to draw investors to Nigeria is the diversification of its economy which comprises oil and gas, solid minerals, agro-allied value chain, and ICT. It is these economic indexes that have kept many companies in Nigeria for decades—some have stayed for five decades. For instance, International Breweries Plc has operation within the Nigerian space for 50 years.

As a global organisation within the AB InBev Group, the focus of the company is to operate for 100 years and beyond in any country they establish their business. Without doubt, the first 50 years of the company’s operation in Nigeria have been rewarding.

International Breweries Plc are manufacturers of beer, stout, and non-alcoholic malt drinks. Its activities include the brewing, packaging, and marketing of beer, stout, alcoholic flavoured and non-alcoholic malt beverages.

In 2018, International Breweries Plc, a proud part of the world’s largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), inaugurated its $250 million greenfield Gateway Brewery in Ogun State. The plant, the biggest in subSaharan Africa, re-defined the concept of balancing business with environmental responsibility in Corporate Nigeria.

Its operation is run on renewable energy generated from 2,000 square metres of solar panels, a feat they have said they plan to replicate across other plants.

On December 9, 1978, IBL, in partnership with its technical partners – Haase Brauerei GmbH of Hamburg, Germany officially launched its flagship brand, Trophy Lager.

The brewery complex was formally inaugurated in April 1979 as the first indigenous brewery in the old Oyo State. The company has come a long way from a humble beginning when the legacy International Breweries Limited (IBL), with an installed capacity of 200,000 hectolitres per annum, was incorporated in December 1971 by Dr. Lawrence Omole, a renowned businessman and community leader in the old Western State. That investment by AB InBev, producers of over 400 beer brands worldwide, made International Breweries Plc the first company in Nigeria to power its operation with solar energy. It also underscored the company’s determination to improve its positive footprints on the environment and society.

In three years, Trophy Lager became a household name ahead of the projected 10 years. Households in the brewery’s host community also benefited directly or indirectly as workers, marketers, suppliers or distributors.

The company’s steady growth culminated in its listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, (now Nigerian Exchange Ltd, NGX) in April 1995.

To mark this milestone, the company organised the 50th anniversary launch in Lagos recently which brought together captains of industry, key players in the brewery

industry, and members of the political class.

Speaking at the 50th anniversary ceremony, the Managing Director, International Breweries Plc, Hugo Rocha, stated that the celebration was not about numbers, noting that they are not just counting the years, “our celebration is about the value we have been able to deliver and will continue to deliver to our stakeholders: employees; shareholders, customers/ consumers; communities, government and the society.”

He also noted that the 50th celebration constantly reminds them that they are a company of dreamers, in line with the company’s number one principle, ‘we dream big.’

He further explained that the foundation of the company, started with a dream, indeed, a very humble beginning, stating that it is the same spirit of dreaming big that has made the company to initiate various transformational moves that have propelled them to become an international and multinational enterprise while keeping the humble attitude as a local business.”

According to him, “Since 1971 when International Breweries Plc was founded, we have grown to become a leading brewery. We appreciate the vision of our founders both in Nigeria and at the global level.

We have and will continue to build on that vision.”

“Yes, we are part of a global company, but we are at the same way a local enterprise. We don’t produce a cellphone in China to sell in Nigeria. We produce 100% of our products in the country. We use local ingredients, and we just import when we can’t find the raw materials in Nigeria. Our employees are from here! Our consumers, costumers, farmers are from here.”

“So, we are part of the community. When the community suffers, we suffer and when they succeed, we celebrate. Due to that, we will keep supporting our society and doing our role to help on the transformation of this great nation.”

SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY

Rocha revealed that as part of their continuous drive towards growth, the last few years has seen the company invest billions of dollars in the Nigerian economy cutting across the different spectrum of their business operations. An example, he stated, is the $250 million-dollar state-of-the-art Gateway Brewery which uses renewable energy for cleaner environment.

He hinted that their support for the agriculture value chain: procuring, in about 3 years (and counting) over N77 billion worth of local rice, sorghum, maize, sugar and others to support the economy.

“Several millions of Naira have been invested in our various social investment initiatives. Across our communities where we have our plants and operations. We have identified needed gaps and we have supported the communities with infrastructures such as hospitals, school renovations, provision of portable drinking water, road rehabilitation and other countless interventions. In 2019, we repositioned and launched the International Breweries Foundation to better manage our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. In particular, our Kickstart – entrepreneurship program where we put in relevant investments to support our youths who are the future of the country,” he said.

COMPANY’S IMPACT ON SOCIETY

In the last six years, the company has given almost 500 million Naira seed capital as grants to 334 Nigerian youths. The company has trained more than 1,200 youths in entrepreneurship courses. The youths in turn have generated almost 600 jobs by employing others, while reaching out to youths in 23 States of the country

Rocha said the company believes strongly in local talent, hence, about 99.9% of its employees are Nigerians, creating job opportunities directly and indirectly for young men and women across the entire value chain.

He added that the company will continue to focus on quality and responsible consumption of the beverages and multiple product brands.

FUTURE PLANS

He remarked that as one of the leaders of this business, he enjoined customers to continue to count on the company.

He revealed that they remain committed to the continuous transformation of the business with concentration on delivering great value to stakeholders.

With the growth of the company’s business, they have even greater chance to keep transforming lives and to support communities. He reiterated that the purpose of the company is to bring people together for a better world. Dreaming big to create a future with more cheers.

On his part, the Chairman, Board of Directors, International Breweries Plc, the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, said “in today’s business environment, starting and maintaining a business for five years can be a tedious task, how much more for 50 years.”

He also noted that 50 years is the age of maturity, stating that it is the age where you have seen a lot of things in your lifetime – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Chairman revealed that it can be said that International Breweries have come, seen, and conquered, “we are not resting on our oars and would continue to drive value for all stakeholders.”

“I am content that we have achieved epochal strides these past 50 years. Our story has been a classic case of ‘transformation and delivering great value’ and we are immensely grateful to Nigerians for standing by us since our incorporation and helping us reach this milestone where we have moved from being a regional brand to become a household national name with international pedigree,” he added.

Achebe revealed that despite the challenging socioeconomic conditions and the very recent COVID-19 pandemic, they have accepted and worked round the challenges to deliver a strong performance.

According to him, “As the Chairman of the Board, my colleagues and I are focused on continuously entrenching values of strong ethics, with corporate governance as a top priority for us. We are convinced this is what will help us to continue to build a sustainable organisation that will continue to serve our shareholders year-on-year.

“I am also asking consumers to maintain their love and acceptance for our products. The market’s reception to our products has been phenomenal and encouraging. This is not surprising as we continue to focus on research and development – backed by our global office - to brew great quality beers that continue to bring people together for a better world.

“Importantly, I would love to especially say a big thank you to our consumers. Your passion for our brands is very much appreciated – Hero Lager and Trophy Lager, Trophy Stout, Budweiser, Eagle Lager and Stout, BetaMalt, Grand Malt and others.

“Owing to the importance attached to Nigeria by AB InBev, our Group has consciously and consistently invested in the country when faced with investment decisions around the world. It means they have confidence in our company and confidence in the opportunities that abound in Nigeria as a country.

“Today, the economic impact of those investments is felt across Nigeria. Our expansion opportunities that have seen us enter partnerships that have made

us establish our presence in five different States of the federation – Anambra, Ogun, Osun, Rivers and Lagos States. These investments have contributed massively to improving economic growth in our country.

“Living in line with our principle on reputation, corporate governance and ‘no shortcut’, our company remains a key contributor to Nigeria’s internally generated revenue through increased volumes and introduction of new brands.

“As we commence our journey into the second half of our march to 100 years and beyond, we pledge to remain committed to our culture of bringing people together through the conscious support of our host communities, pursuing environmental stewardship and driving economic value.

“We will continue to work together with the government and our other key stakeholders to generate shared value for the country. I would end on a note of appreciation by extending our deep appreciation to our partners and stakeholders for their support over the last 50 years - this would not have been possible without the great support of everyone present in this room.”

2025 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

In March 2018, IBPLC, as part of the global AB InBev Group, introduced its most ambitious public commitments yet: the 2025 Sustainability Goals to drive transformational change across its entire value chains.

The goals underscore IBPLC’s understanding of the importance of a better tomorrow for future generations.

The initiative focuses on five pillars of action – Smart Agriculture, Water Stewardship, Circular Packaging, Climate Action and Responsible Drinking – and are hinged on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

Smart Agriculture: Our goal by 2025 is to ensure water access and quality for both our communities and breweries such that 100% of our communities in high stress areas will have measurably improved water availability and quality. By 2025, we aim to improve water-use efficiency at our four breweries to reach a 2.7 hl/hl water-to-beer ratio as part of our contribution to SDG 6 – Water and Sanitation. Goal: By 2025, 100% of IBPLC’s direct farmers will be skilled, connected and financially empowered because we support the livelihoods of our farming communities to farm organically with a view to giving us high quality crops that will enable IBPLC brew the best beers.

Water Stewardship: Our goal by 2025 is to ensure water access and quality for both our communities and breweries such that 100% of our communities in high stress areas will have measurably improved water availability and quality. By 2025, we aim to improve water-use efficiency at our four breweries to reach a 2.7 hl/hl water-to-beer ratio as part of our contribution to SDG 6 – water and sanitation.

Circular Packaging: By 2025, 100% of our products will be in packaging that is returnable or made from majority recycled content. We promote zero waste by operating a strict adherence to 100% waste segregation, effluent treatment and recycling of bottles and by-product.

Only 3.60% waste (mostly organic) goes to the landfill, and we are committed to achieving zero waste to landfill across our breweries.

Climate Action: By 2025, 100% of our purchased electricity will come from renewable sources. We will have a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions across our value chain.

Responsible Drinking: By 2025, 20% of our products will be made up of low or no-alcohol beer We believe alcohol, when cons u m e d in moderation, can be part of a well-balanced lifestyle. We are committed to eliminating irresponsible drinking through our packaging, marketing, sponsorships, partnerships, and campaigns designed to educate our stakeholders and the public on the harm caused by alcohol abuse, thereby contributing to a positive drinking culture and lifestyle that ensure our products are enjoyed in a moderate and responsible way.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

29

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Assessing Nami’s Two Years at The Helm of FIRS

I

n the second week of December 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari announced the nomination of a certain Muhammad Nami to be the forerunner of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, many were taken by surprise.

Known very well to staff of the FIRS, who he met during his many visits seeking tax clearance and other regulatory documents for his client, Nami was not your populist political appointee at that time. His resume was not partisan. But bold on his resume was the fact that he was a tax man. He had risen at the PKF International to the position of senior consultant in charge of tax management and advisory services, he founded Manam Profesional Services — a chartered tax practitioners and business advisers firm. He had also served as a member of the Presidential Audit Committee on Recoveries, recovering loot from looters across the country. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, the Chartered Institute of Forensice and Investigation Professionals in Nigeria, the Institute of Debt Recovery Practitioners of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

If we were to judge by Mr. Nami’s experience and qualifications, he fits into the character to lead the FIRS. His credentials speak to a sound administrator and tax man indeed.

Two years on, since he officially resumed as the Chairman of the FIRS, there is so much to assess of his leadership. What has he done differently? What reforms has he brought to the tax administration space? What legacies is he certain to leave? What makes Mr. Nami a worthy appointee?

When Mr. Nami resumed at the FIRS he is reported to have called his management team together to inform his vision and objectives for his tenure. He summarised what he wanted to achieve in a four-point agenda: to rebuild the FIRS institutional framework; to improve collaboration with stakeholders; to make the FIRS a Customer-centric institution and to make the FIRS a Data-centric institution.

How has he faired on this? On the institutional framework of the FIRS: before he came on board the FIRS was mostly a notorious institution. It had become the financing house for rave events and parties across the big cities in Nigeria. There was corruption here and there. Staff morale was low; most of their jobs had been handed over to consultants.

Several allowances had not been paid, and there was no boost to do the work. One of

Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Mamman Nami the first things the new FIRS Chairman did was to end the contracts of over 2,000 tax consultants previously hired and gave the job of tax administration back to the FIRS staff. As it should have been.

Under him, the management approved a new structure for the FIRS. The new organogram was designed to create improved service delivery to taxpayers.

It introduced taxpayer segmentation where Large Taxpayers, Media Taxpayers and Small Taxpayers offices were created. The Audit and Investigation Departments were also reviewed for effectiveness. With the new boss on ground, the FIRS Annual Corporate Retreat was reintroduced to provide staff the opportunity to discuss their work, network, review the workings of the Service and improve on their capacity to deliver.

Mr. Nami further established the Tax Incentive Management Department to monitor companies and enterprises that were benefitting from tax holidays and tax exemptions, and ensuring that they were not making taxable profits and refusing to pay taxes on those income.

One major legacy of the Mr. Muhammad Nami led FIRS would be his deployment of technology to transform tax administration.

He has been consistent in his commentary on this. Tax administrators would remain in the brick and mortar age if they do not bring their work to be in line with technological advancement. As the world progresses, and advancements in technologies are recorded, for any sector of human life to engage with the dynamics of the world, it must be technologically advanced too.

Mr. Nami takes the credit for courageously deploying technology in the FIRS for tax administration. With the amendment of the FIRS Establishment Act through the Finance Act 2020, where the Service was given the powers to use technology for tax administration, the FIRS deployed its home-made solution called Tax-Pro Max to register tax payers, receive filings from them, and receive payments too.

The TaxPro Max is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Its deployment in June this year was a bold move by the FIRS against many odds.

It has cut off suspect middle-men from the tax filing processes and has made tax administration far easier and in line with global standards.

It was thus not surprising to see that the FIRS collected N664 billion Naira in the month of June 2021 alone. This was the single highest amount ever collected in a month by the Service since the covid-19 pandemic started.

In line with building a data-centric institution, Mr. Nami set up the Intelligence, Strategic Data Mining and Analysis Department (ISDMA) to deploy analytical tools to analyse data mined from the revolutionary TaxPro Max to properly asses taxpayers.

The FIRS has also improved its relationship with various stakeholders within the government finance networks as well as the security departments and agencies. This has allowed for the Service to receive more information on taxpayers, easily track tax defaulting and enforce compliance.

The world saw all these and honoured Mr. Nami with the extra job of leading the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) as the association’s President. On the 12th of November Mr. Nami was elected unanimously as the President of CATA. This election was a testament to the work that he has been doing here in Nigeria. It was a recognition and an affirmation of his success stories, and the call for him to take leadership of global taxation matters.

In December 2020, the FIRS announced that it had collected a total of N4.95 trillion compared to its target of N5.07 trillion.

This was an uncommon feat: it happened despite the covid-19 pandemic, and meant the FIRS had met up to 98% of its target.

Mr. Nami has indeed proved the naysayers wrong, countless times. His records in the last two years are enviable and rich. He has kept to his four-point objective in rebranding and reforming the FIRS to be one of Nigeria’s leading government institutions. He is indeed, as a friend describes him, Nigeria’s Tax Pilot. t #FSOBSE 0LSJ JT UIF 1SFTJEFOU PG UIF

Flour Millers Spent ‘Ongoing Reforms in Agric Sector N2.2tn Importing Boosting Oil Palm Cultivation in Edo’ Wheat in Four Years Gilbert Ekugbe The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has said that flour millers in the country spent over N2.2 trillion to import wheat into the country in the past four years.

The ministry attributed the high level of import to the country’s inability to meet its local demand of over 1.2 million tonnes per annum.

Investigations, however, gathered that the Flour Millers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) was only able to source for 10,000MT (metric tonnes) of wheat locally in 2021 amidst insecurity, volatility, high cost of production, low yields among others.

Specifically, reports from FMAN Secretariat revealed that insecurity and high cost of production frustrated domestic development of wheat production in the country.

The FMAN stated that it is very cheap to import wheat commodity from abroad into Nigeria than buying local ones at astronomical prices.

In addition, reports showed that price of wheat at the

international market are between $280/$300 per tonne compared to local price of the same commodity at $420 per tonne.

According to the FMAN, the challenges facing Nigeria’s wheat sector are complex, saying this is one of the critical reasons it has been resorting to wheat importation from the USA, Malaysia, India.

Speaking on the impacts of insecurity on Nigeria’s wheat production in an interview with THISDAY, the Project’s Lead Researcher and Principal Research Officer, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Mr. Kachalla Kyari Mala, explained that the northern part of the country have the best climatic condition for wheat growing because of its suitable tropical environment.

While speaking on the challenges FMAN members are facing in sourcing for wheat domestically, the Managing Director, Crown Flour Mill Limited (CFM), a subsidiary of Olam, a leading agribusiness conglomerate, Mr. Ashish Pande, said that it has been tough sourcing for wheat locally in the country.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration’s reforms in the agriculture sector is boosting oil palm cultivation in the state, noting that Edo State with the cultivation of 120,000 hectares, has the largest oil palm plantation under cultivation in Nigeria.

The governor said this during a courtesy visit by members of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria (POFON) at the Government House, Benin City.

He commended POFON for collaborating with the state government, adding, “We have the largest oil palm plantation under cultivation.

We put under cultivation up to 250,000 hectares of land for oil palm. Today, we are approaching about 120, 000 hectares. We have about 70,000 and now about 45,000 hectares at the Orhionmwon-axis.

“You have been very helpful in our early days in government to rethink agriculture

in the state. The partnership has helped us grow to this point. We have committed some portions of our land for the cultivation of oil palm in the state.”

According to him, “Nigeria did well without crude oil and agriculture drove the growth and development, as both small and large plantation owners drove the growth at that time.

“The large plantation owners did well and we

focused more on them as they prepared a large expanse of land for farming cash crops as smaller holders don’t have that capacity. They have access to knowledge and resources to help us introduce the new standard for agriculture.”

On his part, the Managing Director of PRESCO, Felix O. Nwabuko commended the governor for his foresight, as the oil palm sector has witnessed significant growth under his administration.

Muda Yusuf: Growth in Agric Sector Gloomy Gilbert Ekugbe The Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, Muda Yusuf, has predicted a gloomy outlook for the nation’s agricultural sector in 2022.

Muda stated this on the sidelines of the 2021 workshop and awards ceremony of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) in Lagos.

He said: “The projections for the sector in 2022 are

not too good given all the challenges that the sector is facing. There is problem of security and there is also nothing on the horizon to show that the issue will be addressed anytime soon even as the problem seems to be getting worse. If we do not fix security, how are we going to get people farming and if people are not farming how do they produce and if they are not producing how will the price come down. So the outlook from the point of insecurity and logistics, inadequate application of

technology to agriculture, the problems are still there.”

He added: “We are not likely to see any major improvement. There is still going to be a rise in food prices because these problems are still with us unless we are able to get these problems out of the way, the situation is not likely to improve.”

Yusuf said that the sector has been seriously affected by security challenges, saying that the farming communities have been disrupted by banditry and kidnapping, which has affected supply chains.

He said: “When supply drops, there is intense inflationary pressure and this is why food inflation has consistently being on a high and this is also why lots of citizens are complaining about the challenges of poverty.”

Also speaking, the Director, Tree Crops and Rural Development Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State, Mr. James Oyesola, said the federal government has for so long abandoned the agriculture sector since the advent of oil boom.

30

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

Ikeja Electric Engages More MAP Partners to Accelerate Metering Peter Uzobo

In preparation for the commencement of the next phase of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), Ikeja Electric (IE) has contracted six more Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) to accelerate the rollout of prepaid meters under its network.

IE said with the six newly contracted MAPs, it now has nine partners, saying with that, it was in a firm position to meter all its customers that have registered for meters. The Managing Director of the company, Mrs Folake Soetan, who disclosed this in Lagos at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s Customer Complaints Resolution Meeting, however, pleaded with non-metered customers to exercise patience as

the phase one NMMP might start before end of December.

NERC had said that 4 million prepaid meters would be distributed in the phase one of the NMMP, meaning that distribution companies would have more prepaid meters to distribute in their respective networks than they were allocated in the phase zero.

According to Soetan, 106,000 meters were allocated to Ikeja electric under the phase zero of the NMMP, saying that the Disco was able to meter over 99 per cent of the customers.

She said: “Metering is still ongoing and we are doing everything to ensure that we accelerate metering of our customers. We have just signed up with six more MAPs, making it a total of nine MAPs.”

CeBIH Calls for Collaboration to Fix Challenges Facing e-Business Industry Sunday Okobi The Chairman of the Committee of E-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH), Adeyemi Atanda, has stated that the challenges facing the e-business industry in Nigeria could be fixed if more collaboration is brokered and platforms such as CeBIH continue to create forums for engagement.

Atanda, who said this at the recently held CeBIH annual retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State, explained that some of the challenges plaguing the industry include infrastructure, connectivity and cost, which hinders inclusion. Also speaking at the event, Chairman Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Adeolu Akande, opined that the extensive demand for digital services is driven by the affordability of end-user

devices.

According to him, “With the current trend, it is envisaged that the digital sector will overtake the oil sector in contributing to the GDP earnings of Nigeria in about five years.”

While delivering his keynote address at the event, the Managing Director of Globus Bank Limited, Mr. Elias Igbinakenzua, said: “Banks of the future must embrace API strategy and platforms that will make them agile, invest in dev-ops and can’t run away from cloud computing.”

Also, the Director, Payment Systems Management, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Musa Jimoh, who provided insights on the role of the e-Naira on the growth of the economy.

NEWS

Vendease Reaffirms Commitment to Bolstering Africa’s Food Supply Chain Gilbert Ekugbe Leading agrifood tech company, Vendease, has restated its commitment to boost Africa’s food supply chains.

Vandease stated that as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, it has hosted a free medical outreach for traders at Apongbon Food Market in Lagos Island.

According to Vendease, the outreach, which had over 200 traders in attendance provided medical services including medical consultancy, medical checkups; vitals, hypertension tests, sugar level tests, and administration of drugs to the ill.

A statement by the Chief Executive Officer, Vendease Africa, Mr. Tunde Kara, said: “Small scale

suppliers represent 70 per cent of Nigeria’s agri-food supply chain, these suppliers and farmers form a major part of the 97 per cent of Nigerians without access to basic healthcare. As a player in the food supply chain, we have made it our responsibility to fix this. This is why, this year, we decided to bring medical aid to traders in Apongbon Market.

You would realise that a lot of these traders do not regularly check their health even though they are the backbone of the food industry in the country.”

The Baba Oloja of Apongbon market, Mr. Oluwashina Thomas, emphasised the importance of the exercise and appreciated the team while advising its expansion.

Firm Showcases Power Protection Technology in Lagos Peter Uzoho Power Management Company, Eaton Nigeria Limited has introduced its power circuit protection technology, Power Defence Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCB), a safe and reliable power solution, into the Nigerian market, reaffirming its commitment to providing

unique products for customers and partners.

The firm also unveiled its mini-experience centre in Ikeja, Lagos, aimed at showcasing its products and services to walk-in visitors, partners, end-users.

Introducing the MCCB products during the Panel Builders Forum held in Lagos,

the Regional Manager, Eaton Nigeria, Mr. Charles Iyo, said the MCCB provides unmatched circuit protection in alternative energy, commercial, industrial, mining, and military applications when protecting conductors against overloads and short circuits.

“It is the latest circuit protec-

tion technology and Power Xpert Release (PXR) which provides a Thermomagnetic breaker for the whole family up to 800A for 40°C and 50°C. “Eaton’s Power Defence MCCB generates data optimising performance, while also enduring end-user safety by reducing the risk of arc flash events,” Iyo said.

Goldman Sachs Projects $100 Per Barrel of Oil in 2022,2023 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

Goldman Sachs expects average global oil demand to hit record levels in the next two years on the back of rising demand for aviation and transport, as well as infrastructure construction.

Goldman said that there will be a steady growth in global oil demand until the end of this decade to about 106 million barrels per day (bpd), as it expects only a gradual energy transition.

The leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm which provides

a wide range of financial services in its forecast said that crude oil prices could hit $100 in 2023 as demand growth outpaces supply growth.

“You’ve already had recordhigh demand right before this latest variant and you’re adding higher jet demand and the global economy is still growing,” Damien Courvalin, Goldman’s head of energy research,” said.

He added: “You’ll see how we will average a new record high in demand in 2022, and again, in 2023.”

While the recovery has hit a speed bump with rising COVID-19

cases in parts of the Northern Hemisphere during winter, lockdowns remained limited, while high frequency mobility data was also showing limited impact, he said.

Furthermore, he stated that electric cars will dent gasoline demand, but that trucks and planes are still a very long way away from decarbonising.

“You’re selling nearly 6 million EVs (electric vehicles) a year now.

That still is less than 100,000 barrels per day of demand destruction on a 100 million barrels per day market so it’s still a small piece.

“There’s insufficient supply

in the face of strong demand.

Oil prices have to be higher to overcome the higher cost of capital to fund projects,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying.

But the upside risks for tripledigit prices include cost inflation for drillers and a potential supply shortfall coupled with fears over shrinking access to funding for new oil and gas projects.

According to Goldman’s analysts, the recent drop in oil prices—fuelled by fears about the latest coronavirus variant—was an overreaction.

The bank has become the second this month to maintain its bullish stance on oil despite the recent dip.

31

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϭϬďƉƐ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ϭϬďƉƐ ŐĂŝŶƐ ƚŽ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϴϱϵ͘Ϭϳ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ ŝŶ 'd K ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ E' D ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϵ͘ϱй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй >ŽĐĂů ŽƵƌƐĞ <ŝĐŬƐ Žī ƚŚĞ tĞĞŬ ŝŶ 'ƌĞĞŶ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ ϭϬďƉƐ

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ĚĂLJ͕ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƵƉƟĐŬ ŬŝĐŬĞĚ Žī ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,KEz&>KhZ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ďƵůůŝƐŚ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ĂŶĚ ďLJ & E, ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ďŽůͲ ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ ŝŶ E' D ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͕ 'd K ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ^ŚĂƌĞ E'y ŝŶĚĞdž ůůͲ^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϭϬďƉƐ ďLJ

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,859.07

0.10%

955.00

0.0%

33.6%

74.50

0.0%

10.3%

25.80

0.8%

7.1%

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

ƚŽ ϰϮ͕ϯϵϰ͘ϳϭ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ േϮϭ͘ϲďŶ ƚŽ ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

8 Lafarge Africa PLC 9 Access Bank PLC

േϮϮ͘ϭƚŶ ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ǁŚŝůĞ Ͳϭ͘ϴй zd ǁŚŝůĞ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ϱ͘ϯй ƌŽƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ ďLJ

10 United Bank for Africa PLC 11 FBN Holdings Plc

ϱ͘Ϯй͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚͲ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĞĚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϱϴ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ ďLJ Ϯϵ͘ϳй Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ƚŽ ϭϰϮ͘Ϯŵ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ േϮ͘ϱďŶ͘ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ & E, ϴϴ͘ϱй ;ϮϬ͘Ϯŵ ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ dŚĞ 'd K ŵŽƐƚ ;ϭϬ͘ϲŵ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂŶĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ ^KsZ E/E^ ;ϭϬ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ E' D ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;േϳϮϲ͘ϯŵͿ͕ ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ DdEE ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> ;േϯϱϳ͘ϮŵͿ͕ ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϮϳϬ͘ϵŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘ E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

Current Price

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

85.9%

15.0%

3.5%

12.1%

14.7%

5.2%

-3.7%

-3.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.8x

6.7x

-20.2%

-20.2%

24.8%

3.9%

3.9x

1.0x

11.7%

25.6% 29.7%

6.4%

0.2%

0.2%

20.9%

2.8%

3.4x

0.7x

12.1%

6.0%

4.7%

4.7%

40.4%

16.7%

12.7x

4.9x

6.2%

7.8%

185.90

-0.6%

5.1%

9.4%

9.4%

179.2%

14.1%

13.4x

20.3x

5.6%

7.5%

1,395.00

0.0%

3.5%

-7.3%

-7.3%

106.8%

15.6%

27.1x

31.8x

4.3%

3.7%

24.00

0.0%

3.6%

14.0%

14.0%

11.6%

8.4%

9.0x

1.0x

4.2%

11.1%

9.05

0.0%

2.9%

7.1%

7.1%

17.0%

1.4%

2.5x

0.4x

9.4%

39.4%

8.00

0.0%

2.4%

-7.5%

-7.5%

2.0x

0.4x

6.9%

49.7%

12.20

1.2%

4.0%

70.6%

70.6%

3.7%

13.9%

48.00

0.0%

1.7%

-14.3%

36.00

0.0%

1.8%

-4.7%

12 Nigerian Brew eries PLC 13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 14 International Brew eries PLC 15 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 16 SEPLAT Energy PLC 17 11 PLC 18 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

8.4%

0.8%

7.2x

0.6x

-14.3%

5.3%

1.9%

44.2x

2.3x

2.3%

2.3%

-4.7%

15.4%

2.0%

8.3x

1.3x

11.3%

12.1%

-10.3%

-3.9% 4.4x

0.7x

5.8%

22.9%

4.85

0.0%

1.2%

-18.5%

-18.5%

28.30

0.0%

1.1%

8.8%

8.8%

650.00

0.0%

1.6%

61.6%

61.6%

3.4%

1.9%

15.0x

0.5x

6.3%

6.7%

10.3%

19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 Ecobank Transnational Inc

0.0%

1.2%

56.0%

56.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.2%

2.52

0.0%

0.7%

0.0%

0.0%

12.0%

1.1%

2.2x

0.3x

8.7%

8.85

-2.2%

0.9%

47.5%

47.5%

14.8%

0.9%

2.4x

0.3x

-3.4%

-9.9%

-9.9%

1.48

-2.0%

0.3%

-27.5%

-27.5%

10.1%

0.9%

DŝdžĞĚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

24 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

13.20

0.0%

0.3%

-9.0%

-9.0%

21.3%

0.97

0.0%

0.4%

7.8%

7.8%

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ϯ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϯ ůŽƐƚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d

26 Presco PLC 27 Unilever Nigeria PLC

87.80

0.0%

0.3%

23.7%

23.7%

13.35

0.0%

0.2%

-4.0%

-4.0%

6.25

0.0%

0.2%

17.9%

17.9%

Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞͲ ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ E /D d, hW ;нϵ͘ϰйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ D zͲ ZKzͲ ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ > y ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ /> ^/E' ;Ͳϴ͘ϳйͿ͕ < Z ;нϴ͘ϳйͿ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ůĞĚ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ,/W> ;Ͳϲ͘ϵйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ t W/ ;Ͳϱ͘ϵйͿ ůĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžͲ ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ ƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ǁĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ͘ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

28 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29 United Capital PLC 30 Guinness Nigeria PLC 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance 32 AIICO Insurance PLC 33 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

44.9% 41.0%

1.7x

8.8%

3.2x

0.3x

3.4%

6.9%

12.4x

2.5x

3.0%

8.1%

11.1%

2.3%

5.1x

0.5x

1.0%

19.4%

2.1x

1.2%

-1.3%

-0.8%

5.0%

1.2x

31.1%

-1.1% 4.0%

9.95

0.0%

0.4%

111.3%

111.3%

2.2x

7.0%

39.00

0.0%

0.4%

105.3%

105.3%

8.1%

3.8%

13.9x

1.1x

1.2%

7.2%

7.80

0.0%

0.2%

33.3%

33.3%

24.7%

7.5%

3.8x

0.9x

7.1%

26.0%

7.2%

1.1%

377.8x

0.7x 1.8%

19.8%

0.68

0.0%

0.2%

40.4%

41.7%

221.90

0.0%

0.3%

70.7%

70.7%

0.3%

5.0x

24.80

0.0%

0.2%

40.7%

40.7%

20.7%

2.5%

4.3x

0.8x

1.7%

23.1%

35 Wema Bank PLC 36 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

0.80

5.3%

0.1%

15.9%

15.9%

13.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.5x

5.0%

26.5%

5.4%

0.0%

7.1%

0.8%

5.5x

0.6x

5.2%

37 Oando PLC 38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 39 Beta Glass PLC

4.60

-2.1%

0.1%

24.3%

14.5%

2.6%

2.0x

0.3x

4.7x

0.6x

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

24.3%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

52.95

0.0%

0.1%

-4.4%

-4.4%

14.8%

10.1%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

49.4%

49.4%

T ic k er

P ric e

2.3x

-20.3% 2.0%

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

1.79

9.8%

FB NH

20.2

1.2%

UP D C

1.16

9.4%

GT C O

10.6

0.8%

R OYA LEX

0.75

8.7%

SOVR EN IN S

10.1

0.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.28

7.7%

M B EN EF IT

9.4

7.7%

R EGA LIN S

0.44

7.3%

A IIC O

8.8

0.0%

UB N

4.85

5.4%

T R A N SC OR P

8.6

0.0%

WEM A B A N K

0.80

5.3%

F ID ELIT YB K

5.8

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

2.00

5.3%

WEM A B A N K

5.2

5.3%

UN IT YB N K

0.47

4.4%

N GXGR OUP

4.1

0.3%

GLA XOSM IT H

6.20

4.2%

R EGA LIN S

4.0

7.3%

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

T o p 10 L o s e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

C ILEA SIN G

4.20

-8.7%

D A N GC EM

726.3

0.6%

C H IP LC

0.54

-6.9%

M TNN

357.2

-0.6%

WA P IC

0.48

-5.9%

GT C O

270.9

0.8%

-5.5%

FB NH

244.7

1.2%

223.7

0.0%

123.8

0.0%

LA SA C O

1.04

P ric e C hg %

NA HCO

3.33

-3.5%

SEP LA T

J A IZ B A N K

0.64

-3.0%

NB

-2.2%

Z EN IT H B A N K

91.4

0.2%

N GXGR OUP

75.0

0.3%

8.85

OA N D O

4.60

-2.1%

A C A D EM Y

0.47

-2.1%

T OT A L

68.2

0.0%

-2.0%

ET I

31.7

-2.2%

ST ER LN B A N K

1.48

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

21.4%

0.9x

N EIM ET H

T ic k er

18.3% 50.5%

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

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

ET I

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

-11.7%

142.00

-3.4%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϵdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϭdž ĂƐ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž

0.9x

0.0%

0.5%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

2.8%

0.2%

0.5%

ϯϬďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϮ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ Ğƌ͕ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϴй ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ DdEE ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

17.2%

1.9%

0.6%

0.0%

ƚŽ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ t W/ ;Ͳϭ͘ϵйͿ ĂŶĚ ,/W> ;Ͳϲ͘ϵйͿ͘ ^ŝŵͲ ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƐŚĞĚ ϰϭďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ

5.3%

24.85

0.0%

,KEz&>KhZ ;нϭ͘ϱйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ hZz ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ůŽƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰϴďƉƐ ĚƵĞ ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

0.7x

256.50

3.00

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ϮϵďƉƐ ĂŶĚ ϯďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ƚŽ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ 'd K ;нϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ & E, ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

12.1%

17.00

'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ͕ ƵƉ ϯϭďƉƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ ŝŶ E' D ;нϬ͘ϲйͿ͘ dƌĂŝůŝŶŐ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ

5.0x

P/BV

26.7%

21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 Sterling Bank PLC

P/E

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu| dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

32

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ DECEMBER 21, 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Union Bank Joins IFC’s GTFP, Secures $40m to Boost Trade Finance Nume Ekeghe Union Bank Plc has announced that it has received finance guarantee facility from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that will help boost access to finance for local business, enable increased international trade for Nigeria, and help protect the country’s economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $40 million facility, under IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP), will support Union Bank to establish working partnerships with nearly 300 major international banks within the GTFP network, thereby broadening access to finance and reducing cash collateral requirements for Nigerian businesses.

The facility, the bank said, will ensure continued flow of trade credit into the Nigerian market at a time when imports are critical, and the country’s exports can generate much-needed foreign exchange.

“According to the terms of the agreement, the GTFP will offer confirming banks partial or full guarantees covering payment risk on Union Bank’s trade-related transactions. These guarantees are transaction-specific and may be demonstrated by a variety of underlying instruments including letters of credit, trade-related promissory notes, guarantees, bonds, and advance payment guarantees, “the sank said in a statement. Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa in the statement said: “Union Bank is pleased to join

the IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program. This is a significant achievement as we continue to expand our trade financing offerings to our corporate customers.

Even in these peculiar times, we remain focused on contributing to economic growth by developing tailored solutions that help our customers harness the teeming opportunities that still exist in the Nigerian market.”

IFC’s Country Manager for Nigeria, Eme Essien Lore added: “Keeping trade moving is essential to growth and job creation, especially during the challenging economic times we are living through today. We welcome Union Bank to IFC’s Global Trade Finance Program and value a partnership that will make a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy.”

Global Credit Ratings Upgrades Lekki Gardens to BBB+, A2 Nume Ekeghe The Global Credit Ratings Company Limited (GCR) has upgraded the national scale long-term and short-term Issuer ratings of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Nigeria’s leading real estate company, to BBB+ (NG) and A2 (NG), respectively.

GCR has also accorded a national scale long-term issue rating of A (NG)(EL) to Lekki Gardens Estate Limited’s Senior Secured Bonds, affirming that the outlook on the ratings is stable.

According to GCR, the ratings reflect Lekki Gardens Estate Limited’s strong competitive position within the Nigerian

real estate sector, evidenced by its strong track record of project delivery, which has supported rising earnings, stable cash flows, and moderate gearing metrics.

GCR stated that Lekki Gardens remained resilient, with revenue increasing by 6.7 per cent to N20.9bn in FY20, underpinned by rising off-take and sale volumes EBITDA margin remained firmer and well above peers at 10 per cent supported by the delivery of higher-margin projects and cost rigour despite the COVID-19 crisis and the attendant impact on the already challenged operating climate in Nigeria.

“As of 1H FY21, LGE has achieved a 29 per cent annual-

ized growth in revenue, with EBITDA margin registering at 18 per cent. GCR expects the latent housing demand to continue to drive growth prospects, but the deferral of key discretionary spending, such as home purchases, will likely impact demand and pricing,” says GCR Speaking on the significance of the Global Credit Ratings for the company, the Executive Director, Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Mrs. Emily Atebe, disclosed that the investment-grade ratings affirmed the company’s financial stability and ability to meet its financial obligations to all stakeholders

Zenith Bank, Int’l Breweries, HIS, Wins SERAs Award Zenith Bank plc, International Breweries and IHS have emerged as ‘Most Responsible Organisation in Africa’ at The SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2021, with a commutative point of 76, 67 and 62 points respectively.

Zenith Bank was adjudged the Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, winning the overall best sustainability award, for its continued commitment to the tenets of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, within its immediate community and in the society at large.

Coca-Cola emerged winner in ‘Best Company in Water and Sanitation’ and the ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ categories, in recognition of the company’s

significant strides through the Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) and various Special Intervention Programmes (SIP) respectively.

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

Founder, the SERAS/CRO TruCSR, Ken Egbas, said Africa has a lot to contribute to the future that the world desires. However, he posits that it must happen with Africans as equal partners on the table of decision-making

and not the poor relatives of the developed nations.

“If today the world talks about social responsibility as a new norm, they should remember that Africa embodied this in our communal way of living in which the strong protects the weak. When the world talks about waste management, recycling, and circularity, they will do well to take a cursory look at how our forebears lived on zero waste,” said Egbas.

He equally charged both individuals and corporate organisations not to get carried away

by The SERAS trophy, rather be reminded not of the works that earned them the honour; instead, it should continue to remind them of what is still left to be done on the continent.

Floki to Construct School in Nigeria Floki Partners in collaboration with Tabitha Cumi Foundation is to build a state-of-the-art school in Niger State, Nigeria.

Flok is a new Elon Muskinspired cryptocurrency widely regarded as the “people’s cryptocurrency.”

A statement explained that Floki sets itself apart from other cryptocurrencies not only because of its unique PlayToEarn NFT gaming metaverse, but also because of its charitable projects, beneficial to everyday people in society. In its latest efforts, “Floki would be building schools in all underdeveloped and developing

countries worldwide, providing a much-needed solution to the gap in access to quality education.

One of such schools is currently under construction in Ghana.

“Nigeria, Guatemala, and Laos are the latest beneficiaries of Floki’s charitable initiative to have a school built in every underdeveloped nation,” the statement added. Speaking on the school to be built in Nigeria, Floki Core Team Member stated that, “Floki will be building a state-of-the-art school in Niger State, Nigeria. The Nigerian school will have six blocks of classrooms and a technical block

fully equipped with a computer laboratory. The school will be fully furnished, have a gate house, and completely fenced.

“Floki believes education is a basic human right, and in line with Nigeria’s status as the giant of Africa and the crypto hub of Africa, it deserves the very best when it comes to education facilities.

“This school will be educating thousands of students who would never otherwise have access to education. We are excited to give back to society and to champion initiatives that have such great positive impact.”

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͵

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

33

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Stock Market Commence Week on Positive Note on Gains in Dangote Cement, 20 Others Kayode Tokede The stock market of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) yesterday commenced the week with a positive performance driven by bargain hunting in Dangote Cement Plc and 20 others.

In summary, the NGX AllShare Index (ASI) grew by 41.40 basis points, representing an increase of 0.10 per cent to close at 42,394.71 basis points, while the overall market capitalisation

value gained N22 billion to close at N22.129 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Dangote Cement, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN), Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) and NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals.

Market sentiment, as measured by market breadth, was

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

positive as 21 stocks gained, relative to 11 losers. NEIMETH International Pharmaceuticals recorded the highest price gain of 9.82 per cent to close at N1.79, per share. UPDC followed with a gain 9.43 per cent to close at N1.16, while Royal Exchange up by 8.70 per cent to close at 75 kobo, per share.

Mutual Benefits Assurance rose by 7.69 per cent to close at 28 kobo, while Regency Alliance Insurance appreciated by 7.32

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

per cent to close at 44 kobo, per share. On the other hand, C & I Leasing led the losers’ chart by 8.70 per cent, to close at N4.20, per share. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance followed with a decline of 6.90 per cent to close at 54 kobo, while Wapic Insurance declined by 5.88 per cent to close at 48 kobo, per share.

Lasaco Assurance shed 5.45 per cent to close at N1.04, while Nigerian Aviation Handling

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Company (NAHCO) depreciated by 3.48 per cent to close at N3.33, per share.

However, the total volume of trades fell by 58.4 per cent to per cent to 142.172 million units, valued at N2.486 billion, and exchanged in 3,749 deals.

Transactions in the shares of FBN Holdings (FBNH) topped the activity chart with 20.190 million shares valued at N244.717 million. GTCO followed with 10.575 million shares worth N270.907

O F

million, while Sovereign Trust Insurance traded 10.106 million shares valued at N2.424 million.

Mutual Benefits Assurance traded 9.364 million shares valued at N2.595 million, while AIICO Insurance transacted 8.840 million shares worth N6.002 million.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said “We expect the improved investor sentiment to sustain bullish performance in the next trading session.”

2 0 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021• T H I S DAY

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

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

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

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 17Dec-2021, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS

MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS

AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 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 100.00 100.00 10.06% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.44 3.60 1.07% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 7.79% info@anchoriaam.com Anchoria Equity Fund 136.71 138.38 2.79% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.15 1.15 -13.80% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 20.19 20.79 11.30% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 451.46 465.07 12.76% ARM Ethical Fund 39.36 40.54 16.75% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.07 1.08 -1.95% ARM Fixed Income Fund 0.99 1.00 -5.31% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 10.26% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 107.89 107.89 6.08% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,063.26 1,063.26 6.33% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.05 2.05 -2.85% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.19 2.23 1.17% mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund Paramount Equity Fund Women's Investment Fund CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Cordros Money Market Fund Cordros Milestone Fund Cordros Dollar Fund ($) CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Coronation Money Market Fund Coronation Balanced Fund Coronation Fixed Income Fund EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-assetmanagement-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Emerging Africa Money Market Fund Emerging Africa Bond Fund

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.04 1.04 5.61% investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Bid Price 100.00 17.02 139.72

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 9.72% 17.33 6.41% 141.32 4.98% assetmgtteam@cordros.com

Bid Price 100.00 131.50 110.31

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 7.90% 132.33 12.16% 110.31 5.78% investment@coronationam.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A mutualfundng@ecobank.com

Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 100.00 100.00 7.66% 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.61% 1,177.72 1,202.44 2.50% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com

Bid Price 1.00 1.04

Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.11 Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.44 FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price FBN Bond Fund 1,387.35 FBN Balanced Fund 174.01 FBN Halal Fund 115.31 FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund

122.17 147.98 Bid Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price 1.00 1.04

Yield / T-Rtn 7.93% 3.80%

1.11 10.68% 104.44 4.39% invest@fbnquest.com Offer Price 1,387.35 175.16 115.31 100.00

Yield / T-Rtn 11.32% 4.28% 9.31% 9.23%

122.17 3.97% 149.99 12.07% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Offer Price N/A N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A N/A

FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.96% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.81 2.87 -1.72% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 155.85 156.12 0.22% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.25 1.30 -0.41% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.00% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.49 1.51 9.03% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,157.27 1,157.27 8.42% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.59 11.68 10.47% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 10.25% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) 101.60 101.61 7.61% Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 100.00 100.00 8.88% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.58 1.60 13.21% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.13 11.16 -8.33% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.42% PACAM Equity Fund 1.42 1.44 -10.00% PACAM EuroBond Fund 113.50 115.80 3.52% 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 127.38 129.74 6.89% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.08 1.08 10.05% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,378.84 3,411.25 5.15% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 235.32 235.32 4.66% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.25 1.27 6.78% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 312.52 312.52 6.06% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 235.57 239.21 7.97% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.80% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,986.13 11,145.54 4.70% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.29 1.29 5.21% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 116.79 116.79 5.14% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 106.12 106.12 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.35 1.37 5.04% United Capital Bond Fund 1.95 1.95 6.53% United Capital Equity Fund 0.92 0.94 14.93% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.90% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.09 122.09 6.62% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 5.58% United capital Sukuk Fund 1.07 1.07 7.18% 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 13.06 13.17 10.04% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.51 14.66 9.91% Zenith Income Fund 24.83 24.83 3.45% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.83%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.46

10.62% 7.74%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.62 128.01 101.58 17.47 21.34

13.72 131.19 103.81 17.57 21.44

5.84% 6.46% 2.39% -5.35% 16.75%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.90 5.45 17.51 1.00 20.71 157.44

4.00 5.55 17.71 1.00 20.91 159.44

4.16% -3.94% 8.20% 0.00% 0.93% -15.18%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

13.11%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

35

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

A NEW ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) CENTRE IN ENUGU...

L-R: President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Emeka Nwandu; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Chairman, ECCIMA Board of Trustees (BOT), Rob Anwatu, and the Chamber's past President,. Ugo Chime, during the inauguration of ECCIMA House Annex for the new Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) Centre and SECCIMA Secretariat, in Enugu… recently

45 Feared Killed in Attacks on Nasarawa Communities as Kaduna Death Toll Reaches 40

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia and John Shiklam in Kaduna

At least, 45 people were reportedly feared killed in sustained attacks carried out by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on some communities in Nasarawa State.

In another development, the death toll from the attacks on communities in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has reportedly risen to 40, following the discovery of two corpses in the bushes by security operatives.

Report had it that the gunmen invaded Chabo, Daa, Wuchi, TseUdugh, Hagher and Shankodi in largely Tiv communities of Obi, Awe and Lafia Local Government Areas of Nasarswa State.

It was further gathered that the said attackers allegedly carried out the attacks in reprisal to avenge the killing of their own, one Idris Umaru, whose dead body was

found in the area.

Investigation revealed that the attackers had a field day beginning from Saturday, as they went from one village to another till Sunday night, killing over 45 people and unchallenged by security forces.

Beside the number of persons killed, several others had escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds, while some of them were taken to the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia for treatment, as others languished in the bush.

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahhi Sule, while condemning the attack, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Addra, said government was doing everything possible to forestall further breach of the peace.

"What is much troubling is that in spite of our untiring efforts that have kept us on our toes before and through the weekend, there is needles loss of lives of our citizens.

ICPC Closes Investigation, Clears Ex-MD of NIPC, Sadiku, Others of Alleged Fraud Says court struck out case Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),yesterday, said it had concluded investigation into various allegations levelled against a former Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Ms. Yewande Sadiku, and some officials of the agency.

The agency, in a letter to the management of NIPC, said it was not able to establish any case of financial infractions as contained in the petition against the former management.

"Upon investigation, none of these allegations was established, and the striking out of suit No FAC/ABJ/CS/249/2019 by his Lordship Hon. Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, brings the investigation to a close," the anti-graft agency said.

The letter further read: "I am directed to refer to your letter in

respect of the above subject matter dated November 2, 2021 with reference No. NIPC/Ag. ES/ CEO/2021/001/VOL.1/26. The commission received a petition against the former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive the NIPC, Ms. Yewande Sadiku, and some other officials of the NIPC. "The allegations can be broadly summarised as follows: i. Fraudulent abuse of office, waste and mismanagement of public funds by the Executive Secretary of the NIPC through incessant tours and travels within and outside Nigeria without adding value to the Commission. “ii. The Executive Secretary of the NIPC embarked on foreign trips without express approval of the Governing Council of the Commission. iii. The Executive Secretary of NIPC used the commission's fund to repair her damaged personal vehicle. iv. The Executive Secretary is receiving illegal foreign leave allowance," it said.

"Such act of violence is most unfortunate, condemnable, unacceptable and will not be condoned by this administration. Let me, at this point, condole with the families, who lost their members and properties. As an adminstration, we will do everything possible to get to the bottom of this to forestall any further security breach."

While promising quick return of the displaced persons to their communities, Sule said government would send relief materials in a shot time to cushion their hardship.

A survivor of the attack, Adugh Ortoho, told THISDAY that the attackers came in their numbers, carrying AK 47 riffles and machetes and shot anyone at sight.

He said: "We woke up Sunday and getting ready for the business of the day, suddenly we heard

gunshots in all angles in our village. As I speak, many people have been killed, others ran to the bush with bullet wounds.

President, Tiv Development Association (TIDA), Comrade Peter Ahemba, in a telephone interview, said over 20 dead bodies have so far been recovered from the scenes of the attacks.

He said although calm had return to the affected communities, the governor had directed the deployment of security personnel to stop further attacks in the areas.

"So far 20 corpses have been recovered from the affected villages, but many more people are still missing as I speak we don't know whether the missing persons are alive or dead. It's a very terrible situation. More corpses are still being recovered,” he said.

But the Nasarswa State police command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nansel Ramhan, confirmed that the attack was a reprisal to avenge the killing of Umaru, who was allegedly attacked and killed by unidentified person.

He said Umaru’s corpse was recovered and taken for autopsy while investigation was ongoing to track down the perpetrators.

"While investigation was ongoing on the attacks, the following persons namely: Sani Dauda, Danjuma Liambee, Uloho Jery Shedrack, Kente, Boniface John, Tersoo Clement, Gwanje Soja and Ayuba Ali, were attacked and killed, while their corpses had been recovered and taken to the hospital by police," he said].

However, in Kaduna, the Com-

missioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, while giving an update on the incident, said two more corpses were recovered by security personnel carrying out search operations.

“Security agencies carrying out search operations in Giwa LGA have reported to the Kaduna State Government the discovery of two additional bodies following weekend's attack in some villages in the area.

“It would be recalled that Kauran Fawa, Marke and Riheya villages in Idasu, Giwa LGA were attacked by armed bandits, with 38 people confirmed dead as at yesterday.

“The latest discovery of two more bodies brings the death toll from the attack to 40. Further details will be published as they are confirmed,” he said.

Presidency Attacks PDP, Says Nation Almost Went Under During Its Days Declares opposition party corrupted nation through wealth sharing

Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Presidency, yesterday, descended on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),saying Nigeria almost went under during its16-year reign at the federal level.

It also accused the party of corrupting the nation then through sharing of stolen wealth by some party members, who cultivated the habit of flaunting it before other Nigerians.

The Presidency, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, reacted to criticisms by the Peoples Democratic Party over President Muhammadu Buhari's recent visit to Lagos State.

It averred that those in the PDP, who have nothing positive or new to add to the debate about the future of the nation sought to trivialise the President’s Lagos visit by choosing to ignore the crucial launch of the naval vessels and suggested the primary reason for coming to Lagos was to attend a book launch.

"They (PDP) try to make further

mileage by claiming the President should not have attended given the attack by bandits elsewhere in the country that same day. Should the president not have launched the naval ships the day after that attack?

“Should he listen to the PDP, who feign concern for those affected by banditry, when they did nothing to combat it for decades – not on land or at sea? Should our famously austere President not attend a book launch of his friend and fellow democratic opposition veteran, when it coincided with a visit to Lagos to tend the affairs of state?

"Through their attacks, the PDP reveal their priorities. Of course, for decades, as the PDP enjoyed their decadent parties at others’ expense, the navy and the armed forces rotted through negligence.

"It is noted they have not criticised the President for boosting the country’s seaborne defence capacity. Instead, they only manage to make the attack personal. It reveals the chasm of difference between a president, who cares for the country while managing to show courtesy to his

comrades – and the opposition who corrupted the country through the sharing out of its wealth while celebrating and splashing about stolen public money.

"Sadly, these opportunistic opposition elements, in a desperate search for political points, have dragged respected religious leaders into the discussion, feeding them misleading information, who have in turn used this distorted picture to black-paint the president in the eyes of gullible and innocent members of the public."

The Presidency further stated that, "On 9th December in Lagos, President Muhammadu Buhari launched a made-in-Nigeria naval defence ship, NNS Oji, and inducted other vital military assets that improve the country’s capabilities to fight increased piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. With the waters off the coast of Nigeria seeing increased attacks – with 35 cases in 2020 – these new naval ships enter service at the most opportune time.

"Designed by Nigerians and built

by Nigeria’s Naval Dockyard, the ships are the largest military vessels

ever produced domestically. Key to President Buhari’s commitment to self-reliance as a nation and determination to build Nigeria into a manufacturing power, the ships pave the way for construction over time of larger more capable warships. In the future, Nigeria will move to become no more an arms importer to a defence exporter.

"In addition, the President surveyed and inaugurated a naval helicopter that will join the new vessels in scouting for and countering piracy that impedes security and trade.

"While in Lagos, the President also graced the launch of an autobiography by Bisi Akande – a leader, who played a crucial role in keeping democratic opposition to military rule alive, and later, a critical place in the development and ultimate unity of that opposition to create today’s APC. "Without visionaries such as Bisi Akande, the corrupt PDP and its acolytes, who have done so much to strip our nation of its wealth, stunt its growth, and subject it to derogation abroad, would still be in office."

TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

36

NEWS

APC Ignores Kalu, Resolves to Constitute Sub-committees for National Convention

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to set up sub-committees on budgeting and other relevant structures for the National Convention of the party slated for February, 2022.

The National Secretary of the party, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, disclosed this yesterday while reading the resolution at the end of 18th regular meeting of the Caretaker Committee held at the National secretariat of the party in Abuja.

He said the party congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the implementation of several pro-people policies that have positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians and subsequently passed a vote of confidence in the administration.

Akpanudoedehe added that the party would engage critical stakeholders on issues that affect Nigerians. He said the committee “deliberated on the planned National Convention and resolved to set up subcommittees on budgeting and

other relevant structures for the National Convention.”

The former Governor of Abia state and the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu had in a recent letter to the Chairman of the CECPC

and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni called for the postponement of the party’s convention slated for February in order to reconcile aggrieved members some state chapters

of the party riddled with crisis.

He also suggested that the convention and the presidential primary be held the same day.

But the Director General of Progressive Governors Forum

(PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman in a letter dated December 16, 2020 and addressed to Buni warned that the Chairman would be strengthening political opposition if he refuses to hold the party’s

convention in February.

He said postponing the party’s convention is detrimental and would jeopardise the party’s chances ahead of the 2023 elections.

WELL-DESERVED AWARD…

L-R: The Managing Editor, THISDAY Newspapers Group, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi receiving the Best Designed Newspaper Award of the Year, from Mrs. Lawumi Idowu at the 30th Dame Diamond Awards for media excellence in Lagos…Sunday ETOP UKUTT

COVID-19: Lalong Gives Plateau I Will Work with Amotekun, Others to Make Residents 72 Hours to Get Vaccinated Ondo Crime-free, Says New CP Oyediran Governor Simon Lalong of weddings, churches, mosques, Plateau has given residents 72 hours to present evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or negative PCR test result to be able to access public offices.

Lalong issued the directive yesterday in Jos at the flag-off of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign.

“All citizens of 18 years and above will henceforth show evidence of vaccination or present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours to gain access to any public office.

“This will also go handin-hand with observing all COVID-19 safety protocols in schools, markets, banks,

’’ among other places,’’ he said.

The governor added that the directive became necessary to ensure public safety, especially following the discovery of the Omicron variant of the virus in Nigeria.

He urged residents to avail themselves of the opportunity of the mass campaign to get vaccinated adding.

The governor added that his earlier order to arrest and prosecute those discouraging others from getting the jab was still in force.

Lalong directed local government chairmen to replicate the mass campaign in their areas.

Diri Tasks Youths on Self-reliance

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has renewed his call on youths to embrace skill acquisition programmes as a way to be selfreliant rather than depending on handouts from politicians.

Diri made the call yesterday in Yenagoa during the graduation ceremony of 814 students of the Diri Skills Acquisition And Empowerment Programme (DSAEP).

He also flagged off the training and empowerment

of 317 youths under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) scheme.

The governor stressed that true progress comes from hard work and restated the desire of his administration to continually support empowerment programmes that would improve the economic fortunes of youths and the state at large.

He encouraged youths to shun acts of criminality and take advantage of government’s plans and programmes in order to give their lives a meaning.

Land Dispute: OAU VC, Journalists, Others Escape Death as Hoodlums Lay Siege to Campus Community Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Some hoodlums yesterday laid siege in some parts of Obafemi Awalowo University’s community in Ile-Ife. It was gathered that some land grabbers were allegedly bent on taken some parts of the land belonging to the university for personal use.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunmodede, and some top

management staff were attacked on their way to the disputed land.

The management of the institution and some members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who were invited to visit the place were made to turn back by the fierce looking hoodlums.

Though no life was lost, but the hoodlums were brandishing cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to scare away anybody coming their way.

Fidelis David in Akure

Four days after his deployment as the new Commissioner of Police of Ondo State, Oyediran Adesoye Oyeyemi, has assumed office with a promise to work with the state Security Network Agency codenamed ‘Amotekun’ as well as other security agencies under the law to make the state crime-free.

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, had deployed Oyeyemi to the

Ondo State Command as the new CP. This followed the retirement of CP Bolaji Amidu Salami, the erstwhile commissioner of police in the state, having completed the statutory years of service in the Force.

Salami assumed office as the commissioner of police in the state on May 2020.

The new CP, while assuming office yesterday at the command headquarters in Akure, assured residents of

the state of adequate security throughout the yuletide season and beyond.

He said: “I am ready to work with all security agencies under the law and stakeholders to make Ondo State crime-free.

“I have strong belief that the current security problem confronting the country will be a thing of the past. We just need to stich some edges.

“You will notice that the issue of human rights abuses is on a serious decrease, and I

want to assure you that under my watch, there won’t be any link to abuse.”

Meanwhile, in his letter of deployment contained in a statement released

by Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba , “the new Commissioner of Police, Oyediran, who was until this deployment, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Railway Police Command, was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in 1990.

17-year-old Jemimah Emerges Lagos One-day Gov Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday yielded the seat of authority for Ms. Jemimah Marcus for a brief moment to step in as one-day governor of Lagos State.

The 17-year-old student of Angus Memorial Secondary School in Somolu, Lagos East, won the 2020 edition of the Spelling Bee Competition, thereby earning the honour to become the one-day governor.

A statement revealed that the weekly Executive Council meeting of the state’s cabinet was presided over by Ms. Marcus, an indigene of Edo State, as Sanwo-Olu temporarily stepped aside and observed the proceedings.

Spelling Bee competition, a contest between public schools across Lagos, is one of the legacy programmes in the state’s education sector pioneered in

2001 by the then First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu through her New Era Foundation.

Since 2015, the state government had taken full charge of the programme, collaborating with partners and stakeholders to further help realise its objectives.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Marcus commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for initiating “laudable”

programmes through its THEMES agenda to turn around governance and service delivery.

Describing Sanwo-Olu as a “transformational leader”, the one-day Governor said the state had recorded giant strides in education, health, housing, infrastructure renewal, transportation, youth and women development in the last two years of the administration.

Ekiti 2022: PDP, Governors, BoT Move to Reconcile Warring Factions Chuks Okocha inAbuja

As a prelude to the June 2022 governorship election in Ekiti state, the National Working Committee (NWC), the party’s governors and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) have commenced moves to reconcile all factions in the state.

The party in Ekiti State has been factionalised. The meeting

was attended by all the 17 governorship aspirants as well as former governors, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni. In his opening address at the reconciliation meeting, the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, said the meeting was a follow-up to national convention that showcased PDP as a united family and capable of uniting its

ranks.

He threatened that anyone that moves against peace moves and work against the party in any election should be seen as anti party and ready to face the consequences.

He said that at the inaugural meeting of the NWC, that it was agreed to resolve issues in state chapters before major election.

According to Ayu. “We are starting with Ekiti and we think that this is a process and we Want to go into any election as a united force”.

He explained that it was as a united party that PDP was able to 29 states in 2007, adding that “ it is our firm believe that when we e put our house in order, then we are back to the winning ways.”

Osun Assembly Passes N129.7bn Budget for 2022 Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Osun House of Assembly has passed the 2022 budget presented

by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola before the legislators on October 5, 2021.

This was even as Oyetola wrote to the assembly yesterday seeking to extend the tenure of local government chairmen by another six months.

The budget has a total sum of N129,756,450,790. The recurrent expenditure was N53,893,627,990 and the capital expenditure which stands at N75,862,822,800.

The budget was christened “Budget of Sustainable Development” and is N19 billion higher than that of the 2021 “Budget of Providence.”

The larger chunk of it was earmarked for infrastructure,

education and health sectors with the sum of N18.7 billion, N11.8 billion and N5.8 billion respectively.

The Speaker, RT. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, at plenary commended his colleagues and the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for their painstaking effort in considering the 2021 Appropriation Bill.

Owoeye warned that no

agency of government or ministry should tamper or alter the official figures in the 2022 budget, stating that such act would be taken up as a criminal offense, which might attract serious legal implications.

He said the House would be alive to its responsibilities while regular interactions would be held with MDAs and the people on budget performance and feedback.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

37

NEWSXTRA

Weapons Centre Says NATFORCE Remains Illegal Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW),yesterday, denied reports that it was linked with the National Taskforce on the Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons (NATFORCE).

A statement by the office of the National Coordinator NCCSALW and signed by Group Captain Ewejide Akintunde, said NATFORCE remained illegal.

The statement condemned the claims and insinuations that NATFORCE was linked to the NCCSALW an offshoot, contained in an opinion piece by one Ambassador Fatima Mohammed Goni, which was contained in some recent reports.

The publications had posited that NATFORCE was the most desirable body that could be deployed to augument security agencies in tackling growing security lapses and civil strife as well as a source of meaningful employment for the teeming youths, who were roaming the streets without any means of livelihood.

“For the avoidance of

doubt, the information on NATFORCE’s relationship with NCCSALW circulating on social media and in some national dailies is not only false but malicious and intended to

portray its affiliation with the NCCSALW in order to justify its deceitful recruitment drive.

“The NCCSALW wishes to affirm for the records, that it has no connection with

NATFORCE or any of its activities as conveyed by the publication.

“Also, the centre has not engaged NATFORCE or any individual or recruitment

agents to recruit on its behalf.

NATFORCE’s attempt to portray itself having any connection with NCCSALW is absolutely inept, inappropriate and deeply abhorrent,” it said.

The centre, therefore, called on the general public to be wary of some misguided elements whose intention was to misinform the citizens for reasons best known to them.

KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT SAFE…

L-R: Programme Manager, Sahara Foundation, Mrs. Chisomebi Okoroafor; Project Manager, Sahara Power Group, Mr. Omar Ikaige Onu; Director, Sustainability and Governance, Sahara Group, Mrs. Pearl Uzokwe; Sales Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Mr.Uchechukwu Igweonyia; Business Development Manager, We Cyclers, Mrs.Esther Chibueyin Fagbo; and Representative of Oba Abdul Fatai Aromire of Ijora and Iganmu Kingdom, Prince Adekunle Aromire, at the Sahara Green Life Initiative outreach, in Ijora Oloye Community, Lagos… recently ETOP UKUTT

Fintiri Accuses APC of Ekiti Tertiary Institutions’ Workers Slam Conspiracy, Gang-up to Fayemi over N3.172bn Unpaid Salaries Scuttle Electoral Bill Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Daji Sani in Yola

Adamawa State Governor, Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of conspiracy and gang up to scuttle the electoral bill for the fear of losing elections in 2023.

Fintiri made this accusation in Mubi town yesterday shortly after receiving members of the APC that decamped to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “We are here in the city of Mubi commercial headquarters of Adamawa in order to receive back into our

fold those decamping from the APC who are contented with the infrastructures development the PDP under my watch is executing.

“We are not surprised because of the level of decadence that this government, particularly the federal government, has brught into our system destruction of our economy, destruction in infrastructures, security and youth development.

“Now again they are ganging up to destroy our democracy by encouraging the President not to assent to the electoral bills because they are afraid of 2023.”

Yuletide: FAAN Assures Air Travellers of Safety, Security

ChineduEze

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured air travelers and other airport users of safety, security and comfort, as the yuletide holidays approach.

The agency in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said FAAN is fully prepared to play host to the hundreds of passengers and other airport users that usually transit through its facilities for the Christmas holidays.

The Authority said it has also heightened security arrangements at the airports, putting necessary

measures to ensure safety of air travellers, as well as upgrade facilities and infrastructure at the airports to ensure maximum comfort for all esteemed customers.

While advising air travelers to strictly comply with all COVID-19 protocols - nose-masking, phy-sical distancing, PCR test (for international travellers), as well as vaccine requirements (where applicable), “we will like to advise passengers to please get to the airports early to conclude all check in formalities in good time, so as to avoid the unpleasant experiences of missing their flights.”

2022: ‘Winning Ekiti Won’t be Tea Party for APC’ Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Director General, Buhari/ Osinbajo campaign Council in the 2019 presidential election in Ekiti State , Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu, has warned the leaders of the party against divisions that could make the party lose the 2022 governorship, saying: “ Winning Ekiti won’t be a tea party for the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)”.

The APC chieftain, said the leadership of the party would

have to up its game to unite all tendencies, describing the cleavages among contending forces with party leaders looking on helplessly as not only worrisome, but portends a bleak future for APC. The APC chieftain spoke yesterday in Ayede Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State during a Christmas get-together he organised for the party members across five councils in Ekiti North Senatorial District.

Staff members of the Ekiti State- owned tertiary institutions under the auspices of Joint Action Committee of Subventing Institutions (JACOSIES), have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay N3.17 billion outstanding subventions or face industrial dispute.

JACOSIES also descended

heavily on the Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr. Kolapo Olatunde, who is also a member of the body, for allegedly compromising issues relating to the welfare of Ekiti workers.

Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, yesterday the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ekiti State University chapter, Dr. Kayode Arogundade, who

spoke on behalf of JACOSIES, said the ultimatum will lapse on Tuesday(today), December 21.

Arogundade, flanked by labour leaders from the affected institutions, pointed out areas of contention with the state government to include: “unending deceit over on monthly statutory allocation, absolute abandonment of subverting institutions on the

altar of political mediocrity and constant delay in release of subventions to these institutions.

Others, according to the ASUU leader are: “failure of government to yield to peaceful persuasion, connivance with the NLC leadership to sabotage workers’ efforts on issues of welfare and refusal to defray five months outstanding since subventions”.

APC National Convention: South-west Youth Leaders Warn against Shifting February 2022 Date Fidelis David in Akure

Youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the South-west have warned the leadership of the party against shifting the date of the party’s national convention that has been scheduled to hold in February 2022.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the APC’s state secretariat in Akure, the Acting South-west Youth Leader of

APC, Mr. Kolade Lawal, said that youths in the South-west are already looking forward to February for the conduct of the national convention.

Lawal said: “We are upbeat and are already mobilising massively ahead of the convention. We are confident that our national leaders, being men of honour, will allow the party stick to its own promise and let our word be our bond.

“We ask the party leadership

not to listen, let alone accede, to the cacophony of sponsored suggestions in some quarters that the February 2022 date be still pushed forward to a later date.

“The people making this dangerous suggestion are familiar retrogressive voices who do not mean well for our party. They and their suggestions should be thrashed in the dustbin of history.”

He said the party leadership should remain steadfast on

the choice of February as the definite date for the conduct of the convention, stressing that anything short of it might not be good for the party.

“For sure and certain, the next national convention is a make or mar for the APC. Whether the APC will continue to remain united, indissoluble, big and strong is firmly predicated on the kind and quality of decision our leaders take at the convention in February.

Again, Accident Claims Another Five in Bauchi

SegunAwofadejiinBauchi

Barely 24 hours after a road accident along Dass - Tafawa Balewa road claimed 8 lives, another fatal accident in Zalanga village of Ganjuwa LGA along Bauchi - Maiduguri highway has claimed five lives instantly.

The accident, according to a resident of the village, Adamu Musa occured in the evening of Sunday when a Sharon commercial bus rammed into a trailer conveying

charcoal from the bus in the area.

The resident told our Correspondent that the Sharon commercial bus was conveying traders from Darazo who had traveled to Alkaleri for market and were returning home.

He told our correspondent that the trailer driver just got on to the road unexpectedly without caution of other road users when the Sharon mini bus rammed into it at the middle.

Adamu Musa added that, “there were 10 passengers in the Sharon mini bus out of which 5 people died instantly while others were seriously injured and taken to the Darazo General hospital for treatment”.

He said: “We have been complaining about the activities of these charcoal dealers, they don’t have regards for other road users because their vehicles are trailers and bigger than others. We have

lost many people through such accidents. We are calling on the concerned authorities to come to our rescue. “ While confirming the accident through its daily bulletin, Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) stated that the accident occurred at about 10pm, reported at about 10.23pm while its personnel arrived the scene at about 11pm for rescue and evacuation operations.

Police Arrest Two Suspected Kidnappers in Ogun The Police in Ogun have arrested two suspected members of a kidnap syndicate terrorising Ijebu-Ode and its environs.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, yesterday in Abeokuta.

Oyeyemi said that the two suspects, who are 46 years and 28 years respectively, were arrested following series of kidnap cases in Ijebu-Ode. He said that consequent upon this, the Commissioner of Police( CP) Lanre Bankole, gave an order to all the DPOs in the area to fish out the perpetrators within a timeframe.

The PPRO said that it was the arrest of the first suspect that led to the arrest of the other.

“In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO, Igbeba division, CSP Musiliu Doga, and his crack detectives embarked on a technical and intelligence-based investigation which subsequently led to the

arrest of the first suspect on December 8, in his house at Ijebu-Ode. His arrest and confession led to the apprehension of the second suspect in his hideout, also in Ijebu-Ode. Upon interrogation, the two suspects confessed to having participated in four different kidnap operations in Ijebu-Ode.

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

38

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Paul Onuachu (centre) being helped out of the pitch shortly after he got injured in Belgium. Now, he remains doubtful for the AFCON 2021 in Cameroon

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS

Onuachu Doubtful for AFCON, Suffers Hamstring Injury Nigeria's leading scorer in Europe this season, Paul Onuachu, is a major doubt for January's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.

The 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Genk's 1-1 draw with Royal Antwerp in Belgium on Sunday night.

Genk have not put an exact timeframe on his return but Onuachu has been ruled out for up to four weeks, with the Nations Cup set to kick off in 19 days' time.

"He suffered a muscle tear.

I already had the feeling that I had to replace him, but he said he could continue,” Genk

manager, Bernd Storck, told Belgian newspaper Sporza.

"And then he suffered a hamstring injury during a spurt. He will not be able to play for the next three, four weeks,” Storck revealed yesterday.

His injury is another blow

to Nigeria ahead of the tournament, which begins on 9 January, as the Super Eagles sweat over the availability of Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Watford midfielder Oghenekaro Peter Etebo.

Onuachu, who has scored 12 league goals so far this

season, was almost certainly going to be on the provisional squad list of interim Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen.

His injury could mean that in-form Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis of Watford are named in the preliminary

squad.

Super Eagles are to start their Nations Cup Group D campaign against seventime champions Egypt on 11 January in Garoua before facing Sudan four days later and Guinea-Bissau on 19 January.

Showdown in Ikoyi 21st National Sports Festival as Ultimate Golf to Hold November 2022 Challenge Returns Scheduled Okowa promises best ever games, inaugurates LOC

In a game that can only be likened to the famed ‘Showdown in Sherwood’, a one-day event that pits the then world Number 1 Tiger Woods against Spaniard Sergio Garcia, nicknamed El-Nino, the serene site of the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938, will witness a showdown of some sort in a season ending winner-takes-all Ultimate Golf Challenge on December 23rd.

This year’s event will feature the best professional golfers drawn from the PGA of Nigeria Order of Merit List.

The 36-hole competition to be played back-to-back same day will see the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanyo-Olu performing the ceremonial tee off.

The competition which is already generating lots of interest within the golfing community is the second in the series.

At stake is a whooping N2m prize money. Attached to the premium prize are other prizes for Most Birdies, Nearest to the Pin and Longest Drive.

Chairman of the organizing committee, Akin Semowo said the event is the first of its kind in Nigeria and by extension West Africa, designed to promote and

grow professional golf in the country.

“Nigeria’s professional golf is still developing but we all have to contribute to its growth.

So we came up with this idea as a way of engendering its growth and development”, Semowo said, adding that ‘Ultimate Golf Challenge’ is the promoter's contribution to the development of golf and professional golf in the country.

Expectedly, the likes of Sunday Olapade, Nigeria’s highest ranked Pro Golfer, Francis Epe, Ikoyi Club highest ranked and the Defending Champion, Andrew Oche Odoh are all gearing up for the Ultimate Golf Showdown in Ikoyi.

Also on the card to feature include; Ghanaian Number one Golfer, Vincent Torgah and USPGA Pro Golfer, Toks Pedro who started his golfing career at Ikoyi Club and flew in from his base in Orlando Florida determined to cart away the ultimate prize.

Ultimate Golf Challenge is sponsored by Polaris Bank, Jamz Group with additional support from Mactay and several individual golfers in Ikoyi Club 1938.

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Technical Committee of the National Council on Sports, yesterday ruled that the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 has been scheduled to take place between November 2 and 14, 2022 in Asaba.

Speaking shortly after the extra-ordinary National Council on Sports Meeting and Inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the hosting of the National Sports Festival in Asaba yesterday, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, handed Delta State a tall order to surpass the standard set by immediate past host of the festival, Edo State.

Dare who also unveiled members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), urged the government of Delta State and members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to stage a Games that Nigerians will be proud of.

He said; "The names I saw in the LOC set up by Delta State are familiar names. The task is upon you. Warri no dey carry last. We saw the standard at Edo 2020, Asaba 2022 must surpass that standard. I don't have any

doubt in my mind that Delta State government will give us the best Games in 2022," he stated.

The Sports Minister praised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, particularly the steps he has taken in repositioning sports.

“His adoption of 12 Nigerian athletes, the biggest in the Adoptan-athlete initiative ahead the Tokyo Olympics Games played a huge role. I am happy one of the athletes, Ese Brume got a medal. I am proud of what Okowa has done for sports."

Dare also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the environment for new and progressive ideas to thrive in sports ecosystem, revealing that the NDP 2021-2024 allocated N88billion to sports development for the first time, with youth development also got an allocation of N60billion.

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa assured the minister and other stakeholders that Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival will be the best ever.

He revealed that he was motivated to bid for the hosting of National Sports Festival following what he described as enthusiasm displayed by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare.

“I was almost discouraged

from bidding to host the sports festival because of what was happening in Nigerian sports then. But I can see the enthusiasm Sunday Dare has put in since he came on board as Sports Minister.

"Asaba 2022 will be the best in terms of infrastructure and others that will be in place in the next few months. We have the personal to stage a fun-filled and friendly sports festival from the beginning to the end," Okowa stated.

Chairman of the LOC who also doubles as Secretary to Delta State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, said the state will host a bigger, better and athletes-based

sports festival.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Delta State Sport's Commission and co-chairman of Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival, Chief Tonobok Okowa has revealed that the state had embarked on construction of new infrastructure, including the Games Village ahead the sports festival.

After consultation with all stakeholders yesterday, both the LOC and the sports ministry agreed that arrival for Asaba 2022 sports festival is November 2nd and 3rd, opening ceremony Nov 4, closing ceremony Nov 13, departure Nov 14, while the Games village will be closed on Nov 15, 2022.

LMC Postpones Sunshine vs Wikki Indefinitely The League Management Company (LMC) has noted the stalemate arising from the fixture between Sunshine Stars and Wikki Tourists which was originally fixed for Sunday and subsequently rescheduled to Monday but did not hold.

An official statement issued by

the league organisers yesterday said the match has now been postponed indefinitely.

“The LMC will review the situation and make a decision in due course,” observed a statement issued by Harry Iwuala, LMC’s Special Projects Manager.

39

TUESDAY, ͺ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Like Enyimba, Spurs Kicked out of Europa Conference League Tottenham Hotspur are out of the Europa Conference League after UEFA ruled yesterday that they forfeited their final

match against French Ligue 1 side Rennes.

The scenario leading to the exit of Spurs was similar to the

same Covid situation that led Enyimba to miss their trip to Benghazi to play Al-Ittihad in the CAF Confederation Cup

and were subsequently walked over on Sunday evening.

The Spurs versus Rennes match on 9 December was

called off following a Covid outbreak, with 13 positive cases at the London club.

UEFA then said the match could not be rescheduled and referred the matter to its disciplinary body.

It awarded Rennes a 3-0 win and they top the group, with Vitesse runners-up and Spurs finishing third.

"We are disappointed by the ruling of the UEFA Appeals Body and the refusal to allow more time for the match to be rescheduled," Spurs said.

"We have to accept this ruling, however, and our focus now

turns to the competitions we remain in."

Following the outbreak, Spurs were forced to close their first-team training centre, with their subsequent Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester also postponed.

The game against Rennes was Spurs' final game in Group C of the Europa Conference League.

Eight Spurs players and five members of staff tested positive for COVID-19. UEFA rules state that if clubs have 13 fit players on their A list, including a goalkeeper, they must play.

Premier League, EFL to Fulfil Christmas Fixtures

Tottenham Hotspur players were kicked out of the Europa Conference League yesterday

PHOTO: Reuters

Despite Assurances Doubts Hang over AFCON in Cameroon The fate of January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon hung in the balance on Monday on concerns over the country’s readiness to host the tournament, as Confederation of African Football ( CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, flew into Yaounde for talks.

A CAF executive committee meeting on Sunday resolved to go ahead with the 24-team event only if Motsepe was able to secure guarantees from Cameroon over its readiness.

Concerns have been voiced over a lack of organisation, incomplete building work and the threat of coronavirus outbreaks among the large number of players and staff set to descend on the under-resourced country in the next few weeks.

Several members of the committee called for the tournament to be postponed, insiders have told Reuters, but the majority voted for Motsepe to make an emergency trip to engage with the Cameroon government.

“We are clear in terms of our commitment to make the Afcon a success in Cameroon, and I’m confident after our meetings today and tomorrow we can come out of here and give Africa and the world the confidence,” Motsepe told reporters in Yaounde on Monday.

Last week CAF sent its General Secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, to urge the speedy completion of building work at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, scheduled to host the opening game on Jan. 9 and the final on Feb. 6.

But Sunday’s executive committee meeting was told there was a major risk of the tournament failing, with construction work incomplete after contractors were not paid, with insufficient accommodation and training

facilities for the 24 teams, and with several key organisational staff quitting.

Cameroon was originally awarded the hosting of the 2019 finals but the tournament was switched to Egypt when CAF found the central African country was not ready. Cameroon was then handed the 2021 tournament, which has since been delayed by 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CAF said last week that it would be importing its own laboratory, bypassing local healthcare facilities, to test players during the tournament.

Clubs in Europe, where most of the players in the tournament play regularly, are concerned over the healthcare arrangements as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly.

Patrice Motsepe...CAF President

Premier League and EFL clubs have chosen to fulfil festive fixtures despite ongoing disruption caused

by COVID-19 cases.

The Premier League's 20 clubs met yesterday to discuss the fixture list after six weekend games were postponed.

The postponement of a round of games over Christmas was a possibility.

No vote took place and so two rounds of fixtures are in place across five days from 26 December, while the EFL will play games "where it is safe to do so".

It had been expected that the Premier League's game week 20, starting on

Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Signs Marketing Deal with Pamodzi Sports Nigeria's leading sports marketing company, Pamodzi Sports Marketing Firm has been unveiled as Nigeria Rugby Football Federation's long-term marketing partner.

As part of the partnership, Pamodzi Sports Marketing will drive the marketing strategy, sponsorship, hospitality and Rights Acquisition for The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pamodzi Sports Marketing, Chief Mike Itemuagbor said. “We are

AfroSport TV Acquires Right of Broadcast for AFCON 2021 Sport fans across Nigeria are stepping into a new world of sports entertainment as AfroSport TV Kicks off operations on the Free TV network.

AfroSport TV, a sub-Sahara Africa’s first 24-hour free continent-wide sports channel has commenced operations in Nigeria with the exclusive right to broadcast the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on Free TV and on Digital Terrestrial Television in Nigeria and across Africa.

Announcing the operations of the channel in Lagos recently, Co-Founder and Managing Principal Consultant Director of AfroSport TV, Mr. Rotimi Pedro, said AfroSport TV is committed to delivering to Nigerians and Africa for free, top quality and depth of service that is usually found only on Pay TV channels. According to Pedro,

sport fans will now be getting unrestrained access to premium sports content, supported by a fleet of AfroSport productions that will both engage and educate audiences through an identifiable local conversation whilst shining a light on the achievements of African athletes past and present to the world of sport.

The AfroSport TV country representative boss added that the channel has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast the biggest continental football extravaganza, AFCON 2021, which kicks off on 9 January 2022.

Sport fans can enjoy all the 52 matches that will be transmitted on a tripod of Free-to-air TV networks like the NTA Network Service; selected Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria’s (BON) TV Stations and AfroSport TV Channel 730 on National

Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) digital platform – Free TV. Mr. Rotimi Pedro further added that “Africa has some of the best Pay TV sports delivery in the world, that is vital to rightsholders and fans alike.

“AfroSport will seek to focus on the 90% of fans who are not able to subscribe to Pay TV and allow them to participate in the enjoyment of the best of sport.”

He further stressed why AfroSport came into the Nigerian territory.

“There is both a compelling commercial and moral reason for AfroSport to exist. Commercially, with a potential audience in Nigeria of more than 150 million people, AfroSport provides a method of communication that is essential for brands to market their products and will be an essential component for

28 December, would be postponed in order to ease the pressure on Premier League squads.

Instead, clubs have been advised if they have 13 fit players, plus a goalkeeper, they should fulfil their games.

FA Cup replays in rounds three and four have however been scrapped and talks are ongoing on whether to reduce EFL Cup semi-final ties to one-leg matches.

Last week, Premier League players returned 42 positive Covid-19 tests in a sevenday period, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Updated figures for the most recent seven-day period expected late last night.

rightsholders – both global and local – to establish a strong following for their products.

“Morally, when you consider the powerful role that sports has played in societies, it is only right that a continent that has given so much enjoyment to the world of sports through its sons and daughters over the past 100 years and still continues to do so currently should not face exclusion for a majority of its population when it comes to viewing and enjoying sport.

“Many will never get the chance to attend a World Cup, go to Olympics, or the attend a match in Wembley or the Staples Centre, and the TV is the closest that they will get to enjoying collectively what is enjoyed around the world. AfroSport’s aim is to inspire a billion dreams”, Mr. Pedro concludes.

really excited to be partnering the NRFF. We have seen drive, enthusiasm and amount of work being put in by the new President, Dr Ademola Are and our support for the federation will complement their efforts to see to the growth and development of rugby in Nigeria.

Nigeria Rugby Football Federation President, Dr Ademola Are, also expressed excitement that the NRFF-Pamodzi partnership was an indication of the bright prospect of rugby sponsorship within the country.

“The NRFF Board's commitment to work with the leading sports marketing organization such as Pamodzi is to change the perception towards rugby to the betterment of our players and stakeholders within and outside the country.

“We thank Pamodzi for their belief in NRFF and goodwill. We also thank God for sparing our lives and guiding us through these strange times.”

Pamodzi Sports Marketing is a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and Rights Acquisition business with operations within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

The company is presently in a long term partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation and the relationship has been yielding positive results since 1994 when Nigeria qualified for her first ever FIFA World Cup in the United States of America.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Gov Nyesom Wike to FG “You’re saying that we don’t want more importation. But having stopped importation, what is the fate of the ordinary Nigerians? Is the food there? Is it cheap? The availability is not there; the cost is high.

The money you have given to encourage farmers, what impact has it created? So, we should not be deceiving people”---Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, faulting government’s policies on revamping the economy.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Buhari And The Electoral Law I

t is now confirmed: President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021 as forwarded to him by the National Assembly on November 19, 2021. Yesterday, there were speculations as to whether or not the President had complied with the provisions of Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution and whether or not the 30-day time frame in the Constitution had lapsed or not. That has now become academic. The President has rejected the Electoral Act as amended and proposed. We are back, all of a sudden to 2018 - the moment before the 2019 general elections - when the President withheld assent to the then proposed 2019 Electoral Act Amendment Bill on the grounds that the country faced the constraints of time, to enable relevant institutions to put the reforms then being proposed in place. Nonetheless, the original arguments about electoral reform and all the issues involved became even more urgent after the 2019 general elections, which in many ways merely further accentuated the change and progress that Nigerians wanted.

Expectedly, the 9th National Assembly led by Dr. Ahmad Lawan was put under heavy pressure to return to the subject. Lawan promised that the National Assembly under his Chairmanship would treat it as a priority. The Amendment Bill that was transmitted to the President, Muhammadu Buhari a month ago, did not cover all the concerns expressed by the stakeholder-communities – such as independent candidacy, diaspora voting, and reforms with regard to the treatment of electoral offences, but it was a major advance. It said a lot that was useful, to be fair, about the mode of conducting party primaries by the political parties, nomination of candidates, campaign finance, the leveraging of technology in elections, the balloting process. Yesterday, the President put public anxiety as to what he would do to rest, by returning the Bill to the National Assembly without his assent. His major grouse is his objection to the idea of direct primaries as proposed. The President says direct primaries will be a prescription for chaos in the political parties, and an undemocratic abbreviation of the rights of political parties to conduct their own affairs. Other reasons, as reported, include the “high cost of conducting direct primaries, the security challenge of monitoring the election, violation of citizens’ rights and marginalization of small political parties.” Why did it take the President 30 days and a 30-day, eleventh hour, nerve-wracking suspense to arrive at this off-the-shelf response?

Or does anyone think the President has handled the matter in a much cleverer manner this time around?

In 2018, he was directly accused of frustrating the passage of the law because he did not want any reform that would jeopardize his personal chances of getting a second term in office. In 2023, he would not be running for office and whereas the same President promises Nigerians credible elections and a legacy of fairness, he has tactically shifted whatever blame may emerge in the future to other stakeholders. But not quite, and not so, I guess. It is on record that the most divisive matter after the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the two Chambers of the National Assembly, was the issue of electronic voting and the mode of party primaries, under Clauses 52 and 87, respectively, of the proposed Bill. The House of Representatives and the Senate had differed originally on the structure and control of electronic transmission of results, but after much pressure from the public, the Senate reversed itself. There was no unanimity on the question of direct primaries,, in and out of the National Assembly.

But why should anyone think that the President is just being clever by half this time around? In 2018, the President refused to give his assent three different times, in such an untidy manner that even the village idiot could figure out that something was fishy and selfish. This year, the President upon receiving the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill put in place an internal ruling party mechanism, led by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to deliberate on the Bill. The party was divided down the middle between the party’s representatives in the National

Buhari

Assembly who want a direct primaries system which they consider more democratic, and the majority of the APC Governors who prefer an indirect party system, also known as the delegates system. The lawmakers thought the Governors were being selfish because the indirect system allows them to dictate, and dominate the process, and thus strengthen money bags and Godfathers within the party. The lawmakers in turn were accused of giving voice to their own insecurities and trying to use the Bill to promote their ambitions. I doubt if anyone has any record of the position of the APC as a party qua party, that is, not necessarily as the majority party in parliament, on the Bill. This was another layer of the uncertainty in what is emerging as the Electoral Bill game. The thing to note is that the APC is one political party out of many.

Subsequently, President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded the Bill to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for advice. INEC is Nigeria’s electoral body. Whatever mode of party primaries that may be adopted, it would be its duty to provide the oversight framework. The Attorney General of the

Federation is the country’s Chief Legal Officer. He advises the President on matters of the rule of law and administration of justice. What is not clear is that it took both offices a rather unusual length of time to get back to the President. The INEC had originally said that direct primaries would be somewhat expensive, as a greater staff and financial outlay would be required. But when it finally spoke, INEC offered a classical, “your-obedient-servant response.

It would do whatever the powers at the top want.

Sycophants at work! The Attorney General of the Federation was less evasive in his response. He advised the President to reject the Bill, citing the recommendation of direct primaries as a problem.

The mode and method of the President’s handling of the Bill forwarded to him, would not be clever after all, and the backlash would fall heavily on his head and office, if it turns out that the needless delay was engineered by the Presidency, or that this is the beginning of the same back and forth that we witnessed in 2018. We should note this: Many Nigerians may think that the electoral reform that they demand has not happened or that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill does not fully address their concerns, but there is a feeling out there among the people, that this Bill as is, may well be a good beginning, and so the President was urged to sign it.

Our President clearly objects to that. So, what is next?

It is expected that before it proceeds on its annual end-of-the-year vacation, the National Assembly will this morning, formally present to its members, the President’s decision to veto the Electoral Act Amendment Bill of 2021. So, what is the likely response we should expect? The key option available to the National Assembly as defined, is a matter of law in Section 59 (4) of the Constitution which states that “Where the President, within thirty days after the presentation of the bill to him, fails to signify his assent or where he withholds assent, then the bill shall again be presented to the National Assembly sitting at a joint meeting, and if passed by two-thirds-majority of members of both Houses at such joint meeting, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.” In other words, the National Assembly can override the President’s veto. Section 59 (4) of the Constitution is in pari materia with Section 58 (5) of the same Constitution.

But will the National Assembly, dominated by the President’s ruling party, the APC, override his

veto? I really don’t see that happening. After an initial declaration by Dr. Lawan that the 9th National Assembly would do whatever the President of Nigeria wants, he has had occasion to back-track a little bit by affirming the independence of the legislative arm of government and the potency of its mandate under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, but the persona of this 9th Assembly is that it is at best a rubber stamp of the Executive arm of Government - to be specific, a lackey of the Buhari government! It probably now faces its biggest test so far, with the President’s rejection of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. If it simply accepts what the President wants, critics of the administration would have solid reasons to accuse the Presidency of tyranny and the legislature of sheer obsequiousness. A coalition of 70 civil society organizations under the umbrella of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room thinks that the rejection of the Bill will not “do the country any good.” It will also project the government of the day as being insincere.

We should also be interested in the questions that the President’s decision throws up. One: so, what now happens to other aspects of the Bill, the more progressive recommendations contained therein, such as electronic transmission of results? Two, is the President now kow-towing to the Governors in his party who want to maintain the status quo so they can buy delegates and determine who gets what?

Three, is there a connection between this and some people’s 2023 electoral ambition? Are there hidden beneficiaries one way or the other, and the entire country is a victim of some people’s selfish inside baseball? Four, is it indeed true that the proposed direct primaries undermines the Constitution and rights of the political parties?

One other question: why didn’t the President assent to the Bill and thereafter initiate a process for its further amendment? Focusing on one item out of many, and using same to undermine expectations is not a very clever move after all. In 2023, President Buhari owes Nigerians a major parting legacy: a demonstration that he is truly a statesman whose loyalty is beyond religion, geography or emotions. Will he rise to that high pedestal? And will he even be allowed to do so, if he so wishes, by the hyper-ventilating “spiritual forces” of Aso Rock? President Buhari’s rejection of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, may end up as the lowest point of his public career as Nigeria’s President, if care is not taken.

Nigeria’s Suicide Bridge: A Red Alert

I

t was a rather depressing moment, last week, reading the story of a young man, who sat on the rails of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and jumped straight into the Lagoon - a case of suicide. He has been identified as Lekan Odunare, 25, married to a 19-year old lady, and father of a one year old daughter. His body was found a week after the actual incident. I was very uncomfortable reading the story. It was too graphic.

The image of a young man sitting at his own chosen departure lounge, locked between that chasm: here and the hereafter, opting for finality, was a different kind of euthanasia, given the public nature of it.

One fellow had the effrontery to video-record the mortal crisis, and one other voice could be heard pleading with the man, on the road to death, as he mumbled “asta- gafiru llahi.” It means: “I seek forgiveness from God”. And he jumped. And that was it. The mother of his daughter has reportedly said he had been depressed and he had told his family members to take care of his daughter. But why would anyone kill himself or herself? Why would anyone knowing that a course of action is wrong still embark upon it? Why do ordinarily good people commit evil or do wrong - what Phillip Zimbardo calls The Lucifer Effect in a book of the same title.

Nigeria is in the grips of a local pandemic and it is mass psychosis. The experts tell us that since

2015 there has been a sharp rise in cases of suicide, violence, and conflicts in Nigeria. Increasingly, people just decide that they are tired and they seek to end it all. Some Nigerians seek greener pastures elsewhere in the universe but for every person that succeeds, there are probably hundreds that failed. People are losing hope. They can’t cope. They live in a country that holds up few promises. Their leaders play games with their future. The country cannot even provide for the sick. Mental health crisis is a health condition like any other treatable illness. More than 100 years since the first mental health asylum was established in Calabar, Nigeria has no sensible policy on mental health. Stigmas, prejudices persist. We do not have enough mental health personnel or facilities either.

Every time a suicide is reported, we all pay brief attention and move on. In a country of over 200 million people, when anything tragic occurs to you, you are reduced to a mere statistic. Nobody may notice that you are dead and gone, except family members. We must put an end to this trend.

March 2017: Dr. Allwell Orji. March 2017: Titilayo Momoh, a textile dealer, 65 years old. November 2018: Sheriff Oladejo, a staff of the Federal Road Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) May 2019: Ayinla Rilwan. February 2, 2020: Awolusi Olusegun, 65 years old. Jan. 21, 2020: Ikechukwu Ibeh. Feb 2020: Tayo Dabo, 21-year old graduate of Quantity

Survey; December 2021: Lekan Odunare. Names.

You probably do not know them. These are the names of persons who either committed suicide or tried to do so at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. Momoh, Rilwan and Awolusi, Ibeh were rescued before they took the plunge but the others jumped into the Lagoon and died. All of them with one exception, who chose the Lekki-Ikoyi link Bridge, preferred the Third Mainland Bridge as their suicide spot. Like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, United States, the Jacques Cartier Bridge in Quebec, Canada, and the Prince Edward Viaduct in Toronto, the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge is gradually becoming a suicide bridge.

There will be more than enough time to worry about why people are taking their own lives, and why more Nigerians are doing so under the Buhari administration, but Nigeria can begin to show that it cares about the people by setting up a suicide deterrent system on that bridge. The rails are too low. They should be raised. Suicide barriers should be provided. There should be 24-hour security surveillance. The Bridge is 11.8 kilometres long.

Commissioned in 1990, it is the major link road between the Mainland of Lagos and the Island.

It has become a symbol of the aborted hopes of many, a Golgotha in the heart of the city of Lagos. Tragic.

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