THURSDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2020

NSE Market Capitalisation Hits N20tn on Sustained Rally Investors' rising demand pushes bourse to historic peak Goddy Egene The market capitalisation of the Nigerian Stock Nigerian (NSE), which is the total value of all listed equities,

hit a historic peak of N20.281 trillion yesterday, as investors increased demand for stocks to reposition for year-end seasonal trends and the much expected economic recovery

in 2021.

This is the highest the market would record since 2008 when it peaked at N12.3 trillion before the meltdown.

That meltdown brought

the market value to about N6 trillion before it started recovery in later years.

However, the listing of Dangote Cement Plc in 2010 significantly lifted the market.

The listing of MTN Nigeria Plc, Airtel Africa Plc last year and BUA Cement Plc early this year added more boost to capitalisation of the exchange, which set the pace

for yesterday's historic peak.

The market, which gained N1.334 trillion last week, consolidated on the positive Continued on page 10

Manufacturers Groan as 500,000 Containers are Trapped at Lagos Port... Page 6 Thursday 24 December, 2020 Vol 25. No 9390. Price: N250

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COVID Christmas Looms as States Roll Out Restrictions FCT shuts night clubs, pubs, others for five weeks Nigerians to get vaccine free, says PTF coordinator UK imposes flight restrictions on South Africa over new virus variant W'African nations mull UK flight ban

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Nigerians are in for a lowkey Christmas celebration tomorrow as states yesterday rolled out measures to tackle the resurgence of COVID-19.

Some of the measures such

as restrictions on religious gathering, social activities and suspension of street carnivals that usually characterise the celebration pre-COVID era, will take the shine off this year's event.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has also ordered the closure of night clubs, pubs Continued on page 10

Ngige: FG, ASUU Reached Understanding on Regaining Lost Ground Union ends strike, commits to virtual teaching, doing extra work Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday gave insight into the deal between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that led the union to suspend its nine-month industrial action.

Ngige told THISDAY that part of the agreement between the two parties during the final round of negotiations on Tuesday that preceded the suspension of the strike yesterday, was that the lecturers will conduct virtual teaching and restart academic activities Continued on page 40

DISCUSSING STATE AFFAIRS...

L-R: Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja... yesterday godwin omoigui

Presidency Alleges Smear Campaign Plot against Buhari... Page 5

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NEWS

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Presidency Alleges Smear Campaign Plot against Buhari Accuses 'political elements' of sponsoring damaging stories against president

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency yesterday alleged plans by some individuals to embark on what it described as smear campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari to portray him as a leader that is not in charge of the country's affairs.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the alleged plans, to be fully implemented in the days ahead, had already started "from a procured offshore medium."

The presidency was obviously reacting to the editorial of Financial Times of London, in its December 22 edition, which alleged that Buhari is not in charge of the country, citing overwhelming insecurity involving kidnapping, killings and maiming in virtually all parts of the country.

According to Financial Times, Nigeria’s worsening insecurity indicates that the country is fast becoming a failed state.

But Adesina accused the president's detractors of spending money to procure stories in the media with unsubstantiated claims and consequently sow seeds of discord in the country.

He urged Nigerians to discern

the kind of stories they embrace in the online media, saying Buhari is determined to serve the country to the best of his ability as evident in the provision of infrastructure, fight against insecurity and corruption by the government.

The statement read: "The general public is hereby alerted to a smear campaign in the works against Mr. President and his office, by disgruntled political elements in the country, who have been shopping for pliant online media that will serve as accomplices in their nefarious act.

"The game plan is to launch orchestrated campaign of calumny in the days ahead, in which President Muhammadu Buhari would be portrayed as not being in charge of the country, a narrative already started from a procured offshore medium by the instigators.

"Money and other attractive inducements are being dangled before the online media, and some of them are already complicit, cooking up stories with jejune and unsubstantiated allegations, all to sow seeds of discord and discontent in the country.

"Nigerians are urged to be wary and discerning in what

they consume as news and special reports from such online media, as they are in cahoots with agents of destabilisation, seeking ultimate political gains.

"President Buhari remains

focused and single-minded in his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, bringing change to different facets of our national life. This is already evident in infrastructure as seen

in roads, rail, bridges, airports, and many other strides round the country. Agriculture is another worthy testimonial.

"The fight against corruption, insecurity, and retooling of the

economy also proceed apace, and the Buhari Administration will not be distracted, and will continue to serve with heart and might, irrespective of all shenanigans."

NEW BUDGET FOR EKITI...

L-R: Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba; Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Hon. Abiola Olowokere; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, during the signing of the state's 2021 budget into law, in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

FG Tightens Security at Lagos Airport to Combat Breaches Chinedu Eze The federal government has introduced new security apparatus to further secure the nation’s busiest gateway, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The government, in response to reports of incessant security breaches, has introduced different layers of security fortification to protect the airside and landside of the airport.

Presently, the federal government has already acquired new scanners, itemisers, x-ray equipment for NDLEA, perimeter protection equipment and Intrepid intelligent sensors for manning the airport terminal security.

Briefing THISDAY on the new security arrangements, the Terminal Manager, South West, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Victoria Shin-Aba, said the federal government had also introduced measures to fortify security at the airport.

Prior to these efforts, there had been allegations that unauthorised persons used to gain access to the airside of the airport and even access the holding point of the runway. But these alleged breaches have stopped since the introduction of the new security system.

But Shin-Aba who acknowledged that the airport used to record security breaches,

said this has ended since the introduction of new “security operations and procedures and different layers of procedures.”

“First and foremost, every incoming or outgoing aircraft is escorted by a patrol van, it is standard practice now. As soon as the aircraft lands and it is taxiing, we have a patrol team that escorts it to the parking bay.

"That singular process eliminates a lot of issues. Number two; we have constant joint patrol between AVSEC (Aviation Security of FAAN), the military, and the police,” she said.

According to her, in order to close any possible hideout of criminals, FAAN has illuminated the airside and runway areas of

the airport and in addition the agency is building watchtowers that will capture every part of the airport and monitor every movement.

“Then illumination too is being improved, a lot of thick bushes that used to be there along the approach of the international runway, that is 18R, were removed extensively. So, it was easy for people to see what is happening at the other end.

"So, patrolling has been improved, patrolling has increased and even currently we are building watchtowers.

"About six watchtowers that will be manned so that anywhere people are it will be easy to see them. It has been on but it was

stopped by COVID-19 lockdown, the contractor actually moved to site before the beginning of the pandemic but he is back to site now and they are working.

"Then we improved the CCTV coverage of the runway so that if anything is happening it is easy to spot and then the people on patrol will be alerted to ensure that such an area is combed very well,” Shin-Aba said.

On extortion of travellers by airport security personnel, she stated that the Executive Order introduced by the federal government in order to eliminate corruption practice led to the removal of search tables, which provided the extortion platform.

She said the Executive Order

also has enhanced easy facilitation, but THISDAY learnt that some security personnel have subtly devised other ways of seeking inducement from passengers, but FAAN management is also putting a check on that.

She said there is certain equipment that would enhance security checks that are yet to be acquired, adding that the federal government has concluded plans to acquire the equipment.

“The Executive Order actually removed the search tables but the main issue is that there are still some equipment, especially the ones that the NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) said they needed, that are yet to be provided,” she said.

Report: Despite FG's Denial, Freed Katsina Schoolboys Say Ransom Was Paid Claim bandits demanded N1m for each of the 344 pupils Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report The schoolboys who were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, by suspected bandits on December 11, have given more insight into the developments that led to their release by their captors.

Speaking to Wall Street Journal (WSJ), based in the United States, some of the boys narrated how they were thoroughly beaten by the bandits, adding that a ransom was paid to the kidnappers before they were freed.

Their narration conflicted with that of the federal government, which said no ransom was paid.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and

Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, said the rescuing of the 344 schoolboys from their captors who took them to a forest in Zamfara State, was facilitated by repentant bandits. He also reiterated an earlier statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the federal government didn't buy freedom for the pupils.

The WSJ, in a report yesterday, quoted three of the 344 boys as saying in interviews that the kidnappers told them a ransom had been paid for their release, while a person familiar with the kidnappers’ talks with the government said a sizable sum had been paid for the boys’ freedom.

Eight of the freed students, boys as young as 13, the report

said, were forced to eat raw potatoes and bitter kalgo leaves to survive. They were seldom allowed rest and slept on rocky ground.

“Government officials denied paying ransom and said the kidnappers released the schoolboys because the military had surrounded them.

“However, three boys said their kidnappers told them they were initially paid 30 million naira, equivalent to around $76,000, but decided not to release the boys because they had demanded 344 million naira—1 per head.

“They threatened to release only 30 of us when the 30 million initial ransom was paid, said 16-year-old Yinusa Idris. They even took 30 of us away on motorcycles ready to release,”

the news medium stated.

It quoted another of the abducted pupil, Imran Yakubu, a 17-year-old, as saying that the kidnappers told them: “One million naira must be paid per each student…or we will recruit or kill you.”

The paper also noted that person familiar with the negotiations said a ransom was transferred in three batches.

The boys were further told, according to the WSJ, on December 16, that if they returned to school, they would be kidnapped again.

“There were more than 100 armed men in the school courtyard. They were shining bright flashlights and streaming into the pastel-coloured buildings.

‘Gather here. We are soldiers,' they said.

WSJ added: “The gunmen, some on foot, others on motorcycles, ordered the boys to walk in a long column, hitting anyone who walked too slowly with a whip or rifle butt.

“At one point, when the guards were looking at the sky, two students close to the back of the convoy tried to slip away.

The hostages were all told to halt so they could watch their classmates being punished.

"The older one’s hands were tied to a tree and he was beaten.

Water was poured on his body in the early morning so that he could feel the freezing cold,” one of the students narrated.

However, the Nigerian military said that “ kinetic and nonkinetic approaches were used to ensure all the boys were rescued unhurt”, saying that there was

resistance from the abductors who laid an ambush against the troops.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, and Ahmed Jibrin, former Director, Military Intelligence, who spoke when they featured on an NTA programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”, insisted that no ransom was paid.

“Following the directive, the troop closed in on the abductors from four different fronts, including the reinforcement that was made from other divisions to ensure that the entire location was sealed off.

“The bandits were all under siege and they were fully aware of that, feeling the impacts of the presence of the troops both from the air and on the ground,” said the military.

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Manufacturers Groan as 500,000 Containers are Trapped at Lagos Port Eromosele Abiodun Despite the marching orders given by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, when he visited Apapa last week that the port access roads be cleared immediately, the situation has worsened.

THISDAY findings revealed that no fewer than 500,000 containers laden with raw materials belonging to manufacturing companies and traders are currently trapped at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

A top management staff of an international beverage company, who craved anonymity, said yesterday that his company had run out of substrate used in manufacturing one of its soft drinks.

“We exhausted our stock and the container loads we imported arrived more than six weeks ago, but have not been able to leave the port,” he told some select journalists.

Also, traders who imported goods to sell during the Yuletide season have been caught in the

traffic snare, as their commodities have been trapped at the port.

Many of such traders stand the risk of losing millions of naira if they are unable to sell the goods before Christmas.

Amaechi had last week inspected the Tin Can Island Port access road in company with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), Dr. Magdalene Ajani; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello, in an effort to find solution to the gridlock, which has crippled cargo delivery at the nation’s second busiest seaport.

Also last Friday, Ajani met with stakeholders in Lagos, outlining various measures to address the gridlock.

The measures include the disbandment of the Presidential Task Team on Apapa Gridlock and the reconstitution of the traffic management system at the Tin Can Port access road.

The permanent secretary also

directed the contractor handling the repair of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to reopen the road leading to the port to clear the gridlock.

However, the contractor has failed to comply with the order five days after it was issued, while security operatives still mount toll points along the road to extort truckers.

When THISDAY visited Tin Can Island environs yesterday, there was a long queue of trucks waiting to enter the port with the road from Tin Can Second Gate to Liverpool taken over by trucks trying to exit the port.

The situation is not different from the Tin Can First Gate to PTML and Coconut areas.

The development has also led to further rise in haulage cost.

A clearing agent who operates at the Tin Can Island Port, Emmanuel Onyeme, said despite the disbandment of the Presidential Task Team,

the gridlock still persists due to road blocks mounted by security and traffic management officials as well as the failure of the government to open up the completed portion of the road as promised by Ajani last Friday.

This, he said, has continued to hinder the free movement and exit of cargoes from the port with police personnel and other security operatives still cashing in on the blockade created by the contractor, especially at night.

He said: “The traffic situation still remains the same. Although they said they have disbanded the Presidential Task Team, this same set of people are coming out in the night to carry out their normal shady deals.

“If the government said they have banned the presidential task force, let them open the road so that we have free movement.

With the blockade on the road, how will the road be free? If you come to Tin Can today, the

containers that are exiting are not more than five yet people are paying demurrages.

“We are begging; let the government open up the road along Tin Can access road. The contractor on that road is not helping matters.

“For cargoes to exit, it is difficult because they have blocked everywhere. Right now, the only solution to this problem is for the government to call the contractor to order. They need to open the roundabout at the Tin Can First Gate so that containers coming out, instead of exiting through the Second Gate, will take the express.

“Cost of transportation has remained the same. As at this morning, the cost of haulage from Tin Can to Ladipo is N1.7 million because there is no road and the whole place is blocked.”

Also speaking, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin

Can Island Chapter, Segun Oduntan, said there hasn’t been any respite on the road despite the minister’s visit to the Tin Can Island Port last week.

He lamented the pain and frustration agents and importers are going through, especially those who have their goods trapped at the port as a result of the chaotic gridlock along the Tin Can Port corridor.

“You need to see how importers and agents are crying, especially those who have goods that are trapped at the port with the high cost of demurrage.

So what intervention has the minister made?

“The minister’s visit has not changed anything because when they came for the inspection, they did not inform any stakeholder.

We are the ones that can give the minister first hand information.

How can a contractor be bigger than the ministry? They should just open the road,” he said.

BPE: PHCN Sales Proceeds Lodged in CBN Privatisation Account

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has debunked reports that it diverted N14 billion sales proceeds of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into private banks.

The privatisation agency said the question of diversion did not arise as all the proceeds were paid into the Privatisation Proceed Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The bureau, in a statement, said: “The truth of the matter is that the BPE did not and has not diverted proceeds of the PHCN privatisation as all the proceeds were paid into the Privatisation Proceed Account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

"It must be noted that these proceeds were used to settle the severance benefits of staff of the defunct PHCN as agreed by the federal government and labour.

If then, the funds were diverted, how could this feat have been achieved?"

The BPE, in the statement signed by its Head, Public Affairs, Amina Tukur Othman, said it was constrained to put the records straight given the deliberate and constant disinformation on the proceeds from the privatisation of the PHCN, which was carried out in 2013.

The agency added that much as it would not want to question the opinion of individuals/media "on national issues, nay our privatisation processes, we wish to reiterate that our processes are transparent and in accordance with international best practices.

"That is why the power sector privatisation, in particular, undertaken by BPE has been commended by local players and the international community. " Recalling several negative reports on the sale to discredit it, the BPE noted: "First, it was a report which appeared in several newspapers recently with the headline: AuGF Report Reveals How BPE Officials Diverted N2.5bn PHCN Proceeds to Buy Properties in Aso Savings, which we gave a detailed explanation on what transpired, including among others, the approval obtained by

the BPE on 25th February, 2014, from the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) to establish a banking relationship with Aso Savings and Loans Plc. "Thus, the BPE subsequently, made a placement in the sum of N2.5 billion in the account to facilitate access to cheap finance for the bureau’s staff housing scheme but the staff were not able to access the money."

The agency added that following the federal government’s directive on September 14, 2015 that all funds held with commercial banks be transferred to the bureau’s Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, it was discovered that Aso Savings & Loans Plc could not meet its deposit repayment obligations.

As a result, it noted that on October 18, 2016, Aso Savings and Loans Plc proposed a repayment plan, including property swap valued at N1.52 billion, an arrangement which allowed ownership of some completed properties that are ready for sale to be ceded to the bureau in partial satisfaction of the stranded deposits.

The BPE said there was also a cash repayment of N1.25 billion, which entailed a bullet transfer of N70 million per month by Aso Sagings until the amount was extinguished.

"Despite the arrangement, Aso Savings and Loans Plc. defaulted in meeting its obligations under the agreement. As a result, the bureau has made several demands to ASL which has remained elusive till date.

"Not done with casting the image of the bureau in bad light, our detractors who obviously are on a smear campaign have sponsored yet another story on the power proceeds,’" the statement added.

The BPE called on stakeholders and the general public to discountenance the smear reports against it "as we are prepared to, at all times, as a responsible parastatal of the federal government, charged with reforms, privatisation, concession and commercialisation, to carry out our mandate responsibly and with integrity."

RELIEF AT LAST...

L-R: Former President, Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), Nasir Isah; ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi and the union's National Financial Secretary, Prof. Musa Abdullahi, at a press conference to suspend the nine-month strike by the union, in Abuja...yesterday reuben enock

FEC Approves N45bn for Roads, Power, Water Projects Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved over N45 billion for various road, power and water projects.

While N31.629 billion was approved as an additional cost to the initial N66.831 billion contract awarded to Julius Berger for the completion of roads B6, B12 and Circular Road in Central Area District, Abuja, N8.180 billion was endorsed for the maintenance of 10 roads in different parts of the country.

The council also okayed N4.7 billion as consultancy fee for the management and supervision of ongoing construction of Zungeru power project.

In addition, N627,600 was approved for the procurement of field materials (alum and gaseous chlorine) for water treatment by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board and another N200 million for water treatment with the completion period of 12 months.

Briefing State House reporters after the 29th virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of FCT, Muhammed Bello, said with the upward review of the former contract cost of N66.831 billion for the

construction of roads B6, B12 and Circular Road in Abuja, the total contract figure is now N98,460,774,862.36.

He explained that the water contracts were awarded to Messrs Gojac Nigeria Limited and Mudpha Nigeria Limited respectively with the completion period of 12 months.

He said: "The Federal Executive Council meeting approved the award of contract for the procurement of field materials ((alum and gaseous chlorine) for water treatment by the Federal Capital Territory Water Board to Messrs Gojac Nigeria Limited at the sum of N627.600 million and Mudpha Nigeria Limited at N200 million. Completion period is 12 months.

"It also approved request for the upward review of the contract sum for the completion of roads B6, B12 and Circular Road, Central Area District, Abuja - revised estimated total cost (RETC) number two, awarded to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; reviewed from the old contract sum of N66,831,381,123.49 to additional upward review of N31,629,393,749.87. The new revised contract sum is N98,460,774,862.36."

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,

also said the FEC approved his request for N8.180 billion on behalf of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for general repairs, emergency repairs, maintenance as well as critical intervention in 10 roads in different parts of the country.

Listing the location of the roads, he said: "One is the maintenance of Ikot-Ekpene-Itu Road in Akwa Ibom State; repair and maintenance of Onitsha Aguleri-Adani road in Anambra State; the general maintenance of Nasarawa-Toto-Abaji Road; reinstatement of failed pavement sections on the Zuba-Abaji Road in the FCT; major maintenance repairs along Atan-Agbara in the border of Lagos and Ogun States along Badagry area; general maintenance of OkeneAdogo-Ajaokuta-Itobe Road in Kogi State, the construction of Aden bridge between Okada and Ogbogui-Abangbe spur to BeninShagamu dual carriage way in Edo state; general maintenance repairs of Potiskum-Fika-NgaldaGombe Road in Yobe State; general maintenance repairs of Benin-Asaba-Onitsha dual carriage way, that is existing road to the Niger Bridge; general maintenance repairs of the Warri-Benin carriage way in Delta State.

"The total sum of these contracts was N8, 180,948,137.50 and council approved this memorandum on behalf of FERMA." Also briefing, the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, said the council approved N4.7 billion consultancy fee for project management and supervision of the ongoing construction of Zungeru power project.

He added that the council approved another N88.046 million for the construction of infrastructure at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria's permanent site in Abuja.

"Today, the Federal Executive Council approved two memos (memoranda) from the Ministry of Power. One is the revised estimated total cost in the contract for construction of infrastructure at the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria's permanent site in Abuja. The total cost is N88.046 million.

"The second approval by the council is the extension of the contract time for the consultancy service in the project management and supervision of the ongoing construction of Zungeru at the power project in the sum of 3.5 US dollars and N3. 4 billion equivalent to N4. 7 billion," he said.

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PAGE TEN COVID CHRISTMAS LOOMS AS STATES ROLL OUT RESTRICTIONS and other super spreader events for five weeks to tame the resurgence.

Also yesterday, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF), Dr. Sani Aliyu, said COVID-19 vaccine, which the federal government was still sourcing for, would be administered on Nigerians free of charge when the vaccination begins.

The international community has also stepped up efforts to combat the second wave of COVID-19, exacerbated by the discovery of a new variant of the virus, which is giving the global health authorities serious concerns.

This informed the decision of the United Kingdom to impose flight restrictions on South Africa, following the discovery that two COVID-19 patients with the virus variant in the UK contracted the disease from South Africa.

THISDAY also gathered yesterday that West African nations are considering banning flights from the UK whose variant is said to have about 20 mutations, including several that affect how the virus locks onto human cells and infects them.

These mutations may allow the variant to replicate and transmit more efficiently, said Muge Cevik, an infectious disease expert at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. The West African nations are expected to take a decision shortly.

The measures rolled out by the states were in furtherance of Monday's advisory by the federal government to the sub-national authorities to close all bars, night clubs, restaurants, event centres and recreational centres for the next five weeks.

It also restricted public gatherings such as conferences, social events such as weddings and religious activities to not more than 50 people.

In Ogun State, the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, announced the suspension of street carnivals, crowded cross-over night service, parties and similar gatherings in the state, amidst an increase in COVID-19 infections nationwide.

The governor has directed all civil servants and other government workers in the state, except those on essential services, to proceed on Christmas and New Year holidays from today.

A statement by Abiodun's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Somorin, said the directives would be reviewed from time-to-time.

It said the governor took the decisions following consultations with religious leaders from the League of Imams and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as community leaders as part of the measures and guidelines for public health as the state prepares for a second wave of the pandemic.

The governor directed all schools in the state to remain closed until January 18, 2021, while all bars, nightclubs, pubs and event centres, recreational

centres have also been closed down indefinitely.

He further directed that all markets are to open strictly between 8am and 4pm while maintaining social distancing and observing all COVID-19 protocols, including the use of face masks, provision of hand sanitiser and/or hand-washing equipment at every strategic point within malls, shops and business premises.

Abiodun restricted religious and worship centres to 50 per cent of their capacity while all services must also be in compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.

He said: “There should be no gatherings of more than 50 people at any event or ceremony, such as conferences, congresses, office events, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, cross-over nights, end of year parties, weddings, naming, birthdays, anniversaries, street carnivals, etc until further notice”.

He also called on motorcycle (okada), tricycle, bus, car, taxi and other transport operators not to carry passengers above 50 per cent of their capacity in compliance with social distancing rules.

Obaseki Adjusts Curfew Period Abiodun's counterpart in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, also rolled out similar measures to halt the resurgence of COVID-19.

The governor, in a broadcast yesterday, announced the reintroduction of restrictions and reactivation of disease surveillance and management protocols, including public health and safety guidelines to fortify the state government’s efforts at flattening the curve of the second wave of the virus.

Obaseki said: "Experts have warned that from experience, the second wave in any epidemic is usually larger than the first.

This is why as a government we are very concerned.

“Arising from the experience, which we gained during the last outbreak of COVID-19, we now have in place a robust disease surveillance system in the state with well-trained contact tracers, who can undertake active case searches; we have four PCR molecular laboratories that can undertake large numbers of tests with procedures to promptly obtain results from the laboratories.

“In line with the federal government directive, we have adjusted our curfew to now begin from 12 midnight to 4 am daily, beginning from today, December 23, 2020, except on December 31st, 2020.”

According to the governor, all schools in the state will remain shut until January 18, 2021.

He said: “the government has decided to reintroduce the following measures in Edo State to limit the spread of the second wave of COVID-19,

particularly during this holiday period: wearing of facemask is mandatory in public places; there should be drastic reduction in number of people attending religious, political and social gatherings in one place; people are advised not to patronise or enter any public facility without hand wash station, provided with soap and running water; make use of hand sanitisers and observe adequate hand hygiene.”

He reassured the people of government’s readiness to manage active cases and check the spread of the virus.

“Even though we have created the capacity to respond to the new outbreak of COVID-19, our strategy to cope with the second wave is to decrease the incidence of the disease and decrease the mortality from the disease “In order to decrease the number of COVID-19 cases and reduce deaths from this second wave, we must emphasise public enlightenment. As much as possible, you should avoid crowded places, closed places and close contact with other people.

“Market unions and trade associations are encouraged to rally their members to adhere to public health and safety guidelines outlined to halt the spread of the disease. Do not sell items to anyone not wearing facemasks so that they don’t put your life at risk.

“For our brothers and sisters returning from abroad, we urge you to contact the Edo Emergency Operation Centre on this toll-free number: 08003625000,” he added.

He urged the people not to go out, except it is absolutely necessary to do so.

Fayemi Orders Security Agencies to Enforce Compliance with NPIs Also in Ekiti State, the state government has imposed fresh restrictions to safeguard public health following a spike in the cases of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who reeled out new guidelines to curb the second wave of COVID-19 in a state broadcast yesterday, said the step became necessary to ensure that the situation did not get out of control.

According to him, security agencies have been given strict instructions to enforce compliance with the new guidelines.

Affected by the latest restrictions are worship centres, which have been directed to return to one service on worship days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday at half of their sitting capacity.

The governor directed that schools in the state will remain closed till January 18 while vigils, partying and clubbing are suspended indefinitely.

He directed civil servants on Grade Level 12 and below are to stay at home till January 18 when they would be directed on

when to resume at their desks.

Government officials, he noted, are to discourage in-person meetings as much as possible and no government official must been seen in the public without wearing facemasks.

According to him, protocols regarding wedding and burial ceremonies remain in force directing that there should be no crowd in the church auditorium and burial services must be at the graveside only.

Supermarkets, event centres, hotels and bar owners, he added, are to strictly ensure that social distancing measures are put in place and followed accordingly.

The governor said only half of the full sitting capacity of a facility can be allowed to participate in any ceremony/programme at any point and activities should not exceed 8pm.

Fayemi said: "In Ekiti here, as at two days ago, we had done a total of 7, 890 tests with 405 confirmed cases since the outbreak. We have about 30 active cases currently under treatment in our isolation centre.

"One frightening fact about these figures, however, is that we have recorded about 15 cases out of about 170 tests conducted in the last one week. This is near 10 per cent confirmed cases as against the less than five per cent that we used to have at the beginning of the pandemic, earlier in the year.

"Things were not this bad when we imposed strict restrictions on the state at the onset of the breakout of the pandemic in March. Government is therefore very disturbed with the rising figure and its implications on our fragile health facilities and economic wellbeing."

He added: "We understand the importance of this season in our religious life as a people, we, however, must prioritise public health above other considerations; therefore, we expect churches to observe the service in strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols such as hand washing, use of hand sanitisers, observation of the approved social distance and to allow only half of the sitting capacity of the church to partake in the service."

Kwara Imposes Curfew, Restrictions Against the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Kwara State Government yesterday imposed a curfew on the state.

The curfew, which is indefinite, takes effect today and it is between midnight and 4:30 am.

The state also said “appropriate use of face mask in public places is mandatory.”

Vice Chairman of the state Technical Commitee on COVID-19, Razak Raji, told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, that “concerts/carnivals/ clubbing are not allowed until further notice. Worship centres are not to allow congregations exceeding 50 per cent of the

maximum capacity of the venue.

This is to allow for physical distancing.

“Other gatherings (formal and informal) exceeding 50 people are disallowed. Therefore, the protocol of ‘No face mask, no entry’ must apply at all public places.”

Raji, who is also the state Health Commissioner added: “Civil servants are to work from their homes. The only exemptions are essential workers, especially in the health sector. Virtual meetings are encouraged.

“Transporters are to enforce all COVID-19 protocols, including proper use of face masks by drivers and passengers.

Appropriate sanctions will apply to defaulters.

“Security agencies will deploy all lawful means to enforce these protocols. Defaulters are deemed to constitute dangers to public health. Provisions of the Kwara State Infectious Diseases Regulations 2020 shall apply to all offenders.

He said that “there will be further communications on school resumption.”

Ondo Cancels Crossover Service As part of measures to combat the resurgence of COVID-19, the Ondo State Government yesterday cancelled celebration of cross-over vigil by churches.

Chairman, Ondo State Inter-ministerial Committee on Coronavirus and Vice Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, said the state was working to ensure it records no substantial case during the second wave of the pandemic.

It implored people to pay due attention and observance to the precautionary measures put in place to safeguard them.

Fatusi, at a press briefing in Akure, said no church service organised in respect of the New Year celebration must exceed 10pm until further notice.

According to him, government and business offices will remain open but with strict compliance with COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Markets will also continue operations but with heightened enforcement of COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Fatusi warned night clubs and relaxation spots not to operate beyond 10pm and advised anybody above 60 years of age or with existing ailments to remain indoors and disengage from joining any social gathering.

He said the state would begin strict enforcement of the law that guides against the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the state from January.

Fatusi said the law provided for three months imprisonment or payment of N20,000 fine or both for offenders.

FCT Shuts Night

NSE MARKET CAPITALISATION HITS N20TN ON SUSTAINED RALLY performance

this week by gaining N1.048 trillion in three days to close yesterday at N20.281 trillion.

The market capitalisation grew from N19.236 trillion to N20.281 trillion or 5.4 per cent in three days, while the NSE All-Share Index appreciated from 36,804.75 to 38,803.74.

After gaining N1.334 trillion last week, market analysts were upbeat that the market would remain bullish this week.

According to analysts at Greenwich Trust Research, “the market will likely remain upbeat buoyed by end-of-year portfolio re-balancing by fund managers, or even the “SantaRally”. We, however, do not rule out intermittent profit-taking that could slow down the uptrend

in the market.”

Similarly, analysts at Cordros Research said in the short term, they still see scope for expansion in valuation multiples as the hunt for alpha-yielding opportunities, in the face of increasingly negative real returns in the fixed income market, remains positive for stocks.

Analysts at InvestData Consulting said there have been positive sentiments for value, growth and highly capitalised stocks with attractive valuation, as investors reposition for year-end seasonal trends and the much expected economic recovery in 2021.

“The bull run shows that smart money is still in the market.

The ongoing Santa Claus rally is attributed to window dressing

for year-end among institutional investors, even as bonuses are entering the market ahead of the New Year, as some investors are taking advantage of the tax code by selling positions they have taken losses at the end of December to buy-back in January,” they said.

The analysts said although the inflationary trend remains a source of serious concern across the country, the equity market has so far provided a safe haven, with the NSE ASI returning 44.7 per cent year-to-date, remaining the only investment window that has outperformed inflation.

“The news of the federal government ordering the reopening of the nation’s borders is expected to add more momentum to factors

driving the equity prices, going forward. Such factors, including the high liquidity in the system, low yields environment in the fixed income market, uptrend in oil price, the discovery of a vaccine for COVID-19, and the expected early passage of the 2021 budget have supported the positive sentiment in the market so far,” InvestDat said.

Commenting on the last week’s market performance, a stockbroker and Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications Limited, Mr. Sola Oni, had said investment in money market instruments and fixed income securities were not attractive because of their negative returns due to low yield and double-digit inflation.

“Investors would naturally

opt for where they can generate optimal profit. At the moment, equities are about the major option that can meet investment objectives of many discerning investors. Our stock market is forward looking. Investors have realised that third quarter (Q3) results of many companies have signalled better performance for the year end results, which will begin to roll in as from early 2021. Therefore, sustained massive demand for equity is not unconnected with investors’ anticipation of higher dividend payout and possible declaration of bonus shares . Portfolio realignment is going on in favour of equity investment. We should also appreciate that investment in equity can be used as a hedge against inflation,” Oni said.

Clubs, Pubs, Others for Five Weeks The FCT Administration has approved new guidelines on controlling of the spread of COVID- 19 in the territory and has approved the closure of bars, night clubs, pubs, events and recreational venues for the next five weeks.

An emergency meeting chaired by FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, to contain the spread of the pandemic, yesterday ratified the guidelines.

The FCT is regarded as one of the epicentres in this second wave.

Also all informal and formal festivity events, including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, end of year events, among others, are restricted to not more than 50 persons.

It warned that enforcement teams have been mandated to arrest violators and prosecute them.

The emergency meeting ascribed the surge in coronavirus infections to the lack of compliance with nonpharmaceutical interventions by residents, especially facial coverings in public, physical distancing and hand hygiene.

All restaurants, except those providing services to hotel residents, takeaways, home deliveries and drive-ins, are to remain closed.

Public transporters are to carry passengers not more than 50 per cent of their capacity in compliance with social distancing rules while facilities for religious events are restricted to less than 50 per cent of capacity of the worship centres during which physical distancing, mandatory use of face masks and hand washing are to be strictly enforced.

Also, all employees of the FCTA and the six area councils of the FCT on GL 12 and below are to work from home for the next five weeks while the heads of the various secretariats, departments and agencies are to be responsible for compliance.

All schools in the FCT are to remain on vacation until at least January 18, 2021.

It also urged the Abuja Market Management Limited and the various market associations to ensure compliance with all the guidelines.

Nigerians will Get COVID-19 Vaccine Free, Says PTF Continued on page 40

TOP GAINERS ABCTRANS JAPAULGOLD AIRTEL ETERNA BOCGASES TOP LOSERS CHI PLC PZ LASACO

NGN NGN 0.03 0.33 0.04 0.44 77.40 851.80 0.45 4.96 0.78 8.70 NGN 0.12 2.90 0.20 5.30 0.01 0.31 AXAMANSARD 0.03 0.31 MAYBAKER 0.03 3.75 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 1.497 billion shares Value: N18.748 billion Deals: 4,316 As at yesterday 23/12/2020 See details on Page 39

% 10 10 9.9 9.9 9.8 % 3.9 3.6 3.1 3.0 0.7

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COMMENT

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

CHRISTMAS IN ANNUS HORRIBILIS Chiedu Okoye urges all to celebrate Christmas with caution

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s Christmas not the most celebrated and popular religious festival in our today’s world? Christmas ranks higher than other religious festivals in popularity because Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate the Christmas festival.

From New Delhi, India to Jakarta, Indonesia; and from Nairobi, Kenya to Melbourne, Australia, people from different races who profess religious faiths other than Christianity celebrate Christmas. And for many years, the peoples of the world have been celebrating Christmas, joyously.

But what is Christmas? Simply put, it is the commemoration and remembrance of the birthday of Jesus Christ, who is the only begotten Son of God. He paid the ransom for our sins by accepting to die on the cross for us. He is our redeemer and Messiah. So, those who exercise faith in Him will have eternal life.

Concerning His birth, we have different harmonious narrative accounts recorded in the synoptic gospel of the Bible. His nativity story has it that he was born of Immaculate Conception to parents, who belonged to lowly stations in life. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Both had not been sexually involved with each other when Joseph discovered that she was pregnant with a baby. So, he was contemplating putting her away when an angel of the Lord advised him against taking that course of action, telling him the reasons. He heeded the angel’s piece of advice.

During His stay on earth, Jesus propagated and spread the message of love. Love was the doctrinal base of His teachings, although He dwelt on such religious issues as forgiveness, repentance, paradise, and others. His revolutionary teachings, which his people deemed capable of upturning their ways of life, contributed majorly to His crucifixion on the cross. By His death on the cross, He paid the ransom for our sins. Now, whosoever believes in His name and obeys His command shall not perish but have eternal life.

Being a great religious personage and prophet, His birthday deserves remembering and commemorating. His phenomenal deeds, which are recorded in the new testament of the Bible, bear him out as a great religious teacher, prophet, and miracle worker. He’s a demi-god, who’s partly human and partly divine. He brought dead people back to life, converted water into wine, and calmed tempestuous sea. And his radical and revolutionary teachings have greatly influenced our way of life.

So, over the centuries, since his death on the cross, the peoples of the world have been celebrating his birthday. However, some Christian sects such as the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Jehovah Witnesses do not commemorate his birthday on the grounds that Jesus Christ didn’t instruct us to celebrate his birthday. And, other people who do not mark Christ’s birthday aver that it was improbable that Jesus Christ was born on December 25 based on the narrative accounts of His birth, which are recorded in the Bible.

More so, legends and other lores have it that Saturnalia, a pagan festival, was Christianized into Christmas. Whether or not Jesus Christ’s exact birthday was December 25 is immaterial to us now as every December 25 is set aside for the celebration of His birthday.

JESUS CHRIST FOR WHOM WE CELEBRATE AND MARK CHRISTMAS PERFORMED ACTS OF CHARITY DURING HIS EARTHLY LIFE AND MINISTRY. IT BEHOOVES US TO FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPLES BY BEING OUR BROTHER’S KEEPERS DURING THE YULETIDE AND BEYOND

Now, another Christmas is around the corner. We know that we have entered the Yuletide season when the deciduous trees start shedding their leaves. Then, our lips will become chapped. And houses near the roads will be coated with dust, which is ochre in colour, and which is the earth’s colour. When we start feeling a chill in the air, it is the unmistakable sign of the coming of Christmas.

As the Christmas day approaches, people get into a frenzy of preparation for the festival. They will buy new clothes and pairs of shoes for their children and relations. Others will have their houses dabbed with a coat of paint so as to beautify them. And people with the financial wherewithal may buy cars during the period for the celebration of Christmas.

That is how we celebrate Christmas in this part of the world. Besides the fact that it is the world’s remembrance of the birth of Christ, it is the time for mass home-coming of a people to their natal homes. Again, during the period, couples do solemnize their marital unions in churches. And, in many towns, chieftaincy titles will be bestowed and conferred on high-flying individuals, who have reached the acme in their careers and endeavours.

But sadly, the true meaning of Christmas as well as the reason for celebrating it is lost on many Christians in the Christendom. Do they know that Jesus Christ for whom they are commemorating Christmas stands for love? Instead of demonstrating acts of charity through their deeds during the Christmas period, many rich people engage in ostentatious and flamboyant display of their wealth. And during the period, young people do engage in illicit sexual concupiscence with the consequences of some school girls having unintended pregnancies. Again, during past yuletide seasons, many young people had died in unavoidable car accidents, which were caused by their drunk- driving.

Jesus Christ for whom we celebrate and mark Christmas performed acts of charity during His earthly life and ministry.

It behooves us to follow Christ’s examples by being our brother’s keepers during the yuletide and beyond. More so, were Jesus Christ alive today, he would not approve of people participating in bacchanalian orgies in the name of celebrating Christmas. Jesus Christ lived a chaste life, and he was not known for indulging in epicurean and hedonistic deeds.

As we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, who is our redeemer, we should reflect on his deeds and teachings. If we abide by Jesus Christ’s commands, which are captured vividly in the synoptic gospel of the Bible, we will be able to tame and rein in our proclivities for doing evil deeds. A world that is filled by people who are Christ-like in their natures will be an oasis of peace and unity.

It is an indisputable fact that the year 2020 is an annus horribilis. It has spun Covid-19 pandemic and #endsars bloody protests, causing loss of lives and limbs, and hurting our mono-economy severely. So do we have cause to celebrate 2020 Christmas by throwing bacchanalian parties and spending money extravagantly instead of engaging in sober reflection and helping the dirt-poor?

Okoye wrote from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

USING TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE PORTS’ EFFICIENCY With technology, the maritime industry can achieve more with less, writes

T

he importance of maritime sector in socio-economic and development of any nation is very crucial.

According to figures from the World Trade Organization (WTO) seaports currently represent one of the most important logistics centers due to the fact that more than 80% of worldwide freight is transported using this method. Therefore, if maritime is well harnessed and the ports are efficient, it will remain crucial to non-oil revenue generation and the most cardinal factor for growth and economic development in the country. However, a recent review of the situation at the Nigerian ports indicate that the state of many of the infrastructure particularly the roads are in state of despair.

This huge problem is currently having tremendous negative impact on the operational performance and efficiency at the ports.

Furthermore, government and port users, especially business owners, continue to lose revenue to these ports’ inefficiencies. More so the inefficiencies at the ports continue to have negative impact on the port users and the surrounding areas. In fact, on the part of the government, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), recently admitted that the perennial gridlock in the Apapa ports and its environs in Lagos State was making the federal government lose nothing less than N6 trillion annually across all sectors of the economy. To corroborate this assertion, Mr. Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa, once said that not less than N20 billion was being lost daily to the deplorable state of the Apapa ports road in Lagos State, alone.

Therefore, to change this troubling narrative, appropriate policy framework, regulations and huge investment in infrastructure is required, to transform the ports into catalytic hubs for revenue generation and industrial growth. For the ports in Nigeria, particularly the Apapa ports to work efficiently, technological innovation is important to fuel the success of the port

operations.

With the current realities and disruptions, occasioned by the advent of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is apparent that the new normal has provided virtual experience which is also inevitable in the maritime value chain and in business operations to remain competitive, profitable and to continue sustainability. Therefore, it is significant to state that becoming “smart” means becoming more attractive and competitive.

As an import dependent nation, if port operations are supported with technological application, it will reflect in the revenue generated at the ports, which will be contributory to economic growth and also improve well-being of the populace. Because all associated cost with imports and exports will be reduced drastically, which in turn will affect the price of goods and services across the country. Agreeably, Nigeria government and regulators need substantial improvement and infrastructure investments to leverage on the benefits and gains of the maritime sector.

It’s important to note that the one key infrastructure that can make a huge difference is this technological application through the use of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous drones, sensors, real-time tracking of cargo, camera systems and smart lights at port access roads to monitor traffic movements, all these and more can be used to improve performance, and make our ports smart.

Therefore, investing in technology is crucial in the current landscape to improve on the traditional brick and mortar practices and also to improve on the perennial challenges such as the port congestions. Technology can be the new development path to make the desired change in the maritime sector. Currently, a port without technology and intelligence regarding the market and its players, more so without a defined and anticipated strategy, cannot survive the intensity of international competi-

tion. However, with technology, monitoring, oversight functions can be made easy. Because data management will be used to make the best decisions, improve processes, and make them more efficient. Therefore, with technological applications the maritime industry can achieve more with less effort and resources.

Therefore, to simply put, smart port is a port that consider technology, automation and innovative technologies as presented above.

The adoption and advancements in technology will make it possible to work towards a smart ecosystem in the country. The smart port concept entails the use of technologies to transform the different public services at ports into interactive systems. And what is the real purpose? To meet the needs of port users with a greater level efficiency, transparency, and value.

A well-built digital infrastructure can help ports optimize their physical infrastructure as well as predict and prepare for future investment and maintenance needs. From findings, automated ports are usually safer than the conventional ones. This is because as technology develops, and ports become smart, the use of innovative technology will then improve the business improvement, take care of the perennial traffic jam on the high ways, reduce turnaround time, improve service levels and encourage more efficient usage of resources.

Meaningfully, some of the key drivers to becoming a smart port is to improve the throughput of all types of cargo and to reduce use of scarce resources. It will increase efficiency, expedite the movement, clearance, and release of goods in the ports; it will assist in overcoming concurrent challenges, and inefficient customs controls. In addition, it will improve security, the quality of stakeholder and port user experience and in the remote monitoring platform of information, better document management will also be guaranteed.

Significantly, technology adoption and full digitalization will revolutionize the maritime

sector and also transform the ports. More importantly, we are likely to have a decrease in the number of haulage accidents per year with the implementation. An increased commercial return is not in doubt because real-time data flow and seamless activities will be guaranteed both physically and remotely at the ports.

On a positive note, cue can be taken from many leading countries with smart ports and digitalized maritime sectors. In particular, Spain and Finland where innovative solutions lead to even smarter ports - such as Seville port in Spain, port of Hanko and port of Helsinki in Finland, which is the busiest passenger port in Europe. In 2019, a total of 12.2 million passengers travelled through the Port of Helsinki, which is also Finland’s leading general port for foreign trade. Other “smart” ports (already developed or underway) are located in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), Hamburg (Germany), Singapore (which has earned the nickname “connected port”), Shenzhen and Shanghai ports in China, and those located in Los Angeles and San Diego (the USA), to name a few.

In conclusion, a smart port should not be considered a mere application of digital technology. The intelligence of a port is also based on its ability to develop a collaborative approach. Therefore, finding the right partner to assist with technical management is key and can make a world of a difference. Port authority and regulators might not have all the necessary means to develop technological innovation, by themselves. The cruciality is that there is need to create enabling ecosystems, where the importance of the government, stakeholders, researchers, industries, users, lawmakers, and international agencies will be recognized in the transformation in the innovative process. Smart port is the future and is already here, therefore we must align in order to move forward with the time. Good luck!

Dr. Olubiyi is an Entrepreneurship and Business Management expert

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EDITORIAL

THE CASE FOR STATE POLICE It’s time for state police

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hile asking the federal government for a special security intervention fund to enable states contain the myriad of crises, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) recently reiterated the call for state police. While the call remains an expression of concerns about the present structure and management of the Nigeria Police Force, we enjoin the National Assembly to work with other stakeholdSTATE POLICE ers to realise the goal as a strategy WILL IMPROVE THE for combating MANAGEMENT OF the rising inseINTERNAL SECURITY AND curity across the THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW country.

There is AND ORDER hardly any part of the country that is safe today, although the greater challenge is in the North. But it is clear that the current structure has failed in maintaining law and order, internal security, intelligence gathering and in checking the increasing wave of crimes. The entire police force is so overwhelmed that a huge slice of the military asset has to be deployed to perform police duty with serious implications on professionalism. This anomaly has also created several other problems of its own.

However, the issue of state police is a constitutional one. Section 214 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, provides that ‘There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof’. But the governors have very compelling reasons to ask for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force as presently constituted. They, as chief security officers of their states, more or less, bear the huge responsibilities for

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FALSE PULSE OXIMETER READINGS IN BLACK PATIENTS

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the upkeep and maintenance of the police in form of logistics, allowances and other forms of assistance. Yet they have no control or power over the police command in their states, until they get clearance from Abuja.

The case of the governors was aptly put by the Ekiti State governor and chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Besides immediate security needs, Fayemi said the call for state police is an extension of true federalism as each federating unit is supposed to have control of its security apparatus. “Each of the federating units (which are the states) should have control over their own security apparatus. That is not to say that we still won’t have a federal police which responds to federal issues but in terms of wider knowledge of what obtains in my locality, the best person to use is somebody from that locality who has a much better, much richer understanding and will be faster in response to the immediate needs of that environment,” Fayemi explained.

Many retired officers of the police have put their weight behind the idea of state police because it would improve the management of internal security and the maintenance of law and order. Their position is that personnel of such a force would have local knowledge of the environment and would be more effective in dealing with local crimes, protecting law and order and in intelligence gathering. The timing could not be more auspicious considering the current national security realities.

While we are aware of its potential pitfalls, we believe that the merits of having state police far outweigh its demerits. With the active support of the media, the civil society, the legislature and indeed the judiciary, genuine concerns can easily be addressed.

But we are of the strong view that the country is overdue for the establishment of state police. It is perhaps the only solution to the current crisis of insecurity that puts Nigeria at the risk of becoming a failed state.

new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine says pulse oximeter results are three times likely to give misleading results in patients with black skin.

A pulse oximeter is a small device attached to the thumb which tells healthcare workers a person’s level of blood oxygenation. A pulse oximeter works by a process that senses the level of oxygen in the blood by passing light through the skin. It’s thought that the wrong result in black skin could be because darker skin pigments absorb light differently.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an increase in the use of the device. It helps to know the patients who are in critical conditions and who might benefit from the use of oxygen, or to make a decision to transfer a patient to the intensive care units. Those who are isolating at home can also use it to monitor their own condition too, to know if they need to go to hospital urgently.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this has been reported.

Some years ago, a research brought this issue up, but it was not taken seriously. But this latest research in a pandemic changes everything.

Some also say the report underscores a racial discrimination in the practice of medicine, especially for a disease pandemic that has killed more Blacks and Hispanics in America than white people.

Dr. Michael W. Sjoding, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and lead author of the new report said, “I think most of the medical community has been operating on the assumption that pulse oximetry is quite accurate.” He added, “I’m a trained pulmonologist and critical care physician, and I had no understanding

that the pulse ox was potentially inaccurate — and that I was missing hypoxemia in a certain minority of patients.”

The research analysed pulse oximeter results and compared them with results from arterial gas measurements which is a more invasive test. Arterial blood gas requires blood to be drawn and this test is rarely done these days.

The results of 10,789 paired tests from 1,333 white patients and 276 black patients hospitalized at the University of Michigan showed that pulse oximetry “overestimated oxygen levels 3.6 percent of the time in white patients, but got it wrong nearly 12 percent of the time, or more than three times more often, in black patients.”

The pulse oximeter wrongly gave oxygen levels for these patients between 92 and 96 percent, when it was indeed as low as 88 percent. Oxygen levels less than 95 are said to be abnormal.

The researchers also analysed a multi-hospital database comparing 37,308 paired tests from ICU patients hospitalized at 178 medical centers in 2014 and 2015, and found same discrepancies.

There are suggestions that the pulse ox could be improved with a setting that adjusts for a different calibration for a darker pigmented skin. It’s also suggested that the device carries a warning label that lets users be aware of a potential for the device to overestimate oxygen levels in black patients.

While we hope that local studies can be done to see whether the same results are also seen in Nigeria, it’s a wake-up call to healthcare workers in Nigeria to see patients holistically and individually, and not to rely too much on a device that in itself can malfunction.

Dr Cosmas Odoemena, medical practitioner, Lagos

THE SUSPENSION OF ASUU STRIKE

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ust while we were drowned in melancholy and buried in the sands of uncertainty as a result of the ninemonth old ASUU strike, there comes glad tidings - the strike has been suspended.

This news made the headlines of various news media, perhaps due to its significance. The news is a good one. The suspension of the strike did not only bring smiles to the faces of students, but to everyone who has direct or indirect connection with the university.

As soothing as the news may sound, however, ASUU Boss, Prof. Ogunyemi was quoted to have said the union would return to strike without notice if the government breached the agreement reached with the university lecturers. The statement of the ASUU chairman, I think is worthy of note.

It simply means the suspension of the strike is conditional and resumes if by any chance the government reneges on its promises.

If that is the case, I must without reservation plead with the federal government to redeem its promises to ASUU so as to enable the child of the common man have a future. It was evident the strike added fuel to the fire of youth restiveness and increased rate of vices among others. One must commend both parties (FG & ASUU) for the resolve to settle the matter once and for all. Perhaps the struggles of ASUU for the improvement of public universities have not been in vain. We hope this will mark the end of incessant strikes which ASUU is notorious for and usher in a new dawn where students will have uninterrupted period of study.

Mahmud Yahay, Faculty of Law, Bauchi State University, Gadau

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020

POLITICS

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

‘The People Preventing Relocation of the IOCs to the Niger Delta Region are in Lagos’

Nseobong Okon-Ekong holds a discussion on some of the contentious issues facing the Southsouth region with Former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State and Director General of three successful governorship campaigns in the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), who is at present Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum

R

ecently in Uyo, there was a reported fracas between the Hausa/Fulani community and the Akwa Ibomites in a place called Nassarawa, from what we hear the Hausa/Fulani community there now say that the area belongs to them they have changed its original name from Mbak Itam to Nasarawa Village. They have installed an Emir in the place. What do you foresee, recalling what happened in places like Jos? I heard about the fracas and I can tell you that they will not survive here. What happened in Jos cannot survive here. My advise to them is to maintain the friendly relationship which we already have with them. I don’t even know how that comes?

You just come and say this is your own, from no where? That will not happen here. I just hope that their sponsors or the people that know them well will advise them against that attitude. Maybe they don’t seem to understand that it is dangerous for them. Let them not even try it. I don’t see that degenerating to the kind of thing that you saw in Jos. Some of the people that we are talking about are not very educated people.

Sometimes you see things like that. I am sure that by now it has been quelled by the military. I think the Nasarawa thing is because they sell cows and goats and things like that.

If they have truly have installed an Emir…

You can’t blame them. You blame our people. If you leave a place open like that anything can happen. You don’t take chances with the Fulani. Every where that the Fulanis have taken over, they started like that, not just now from the days of Uthman Dan Fodio that is how they start. Everywhere in the North, once they go in, even if the Hausas are more than them, the Fulani person must be the Emir, no matter how many Hausa people are in that place. Everybodyy has been seeing this, it is not possible here. I think the state government will have to take more seriously what has happened. If you want to live peacefully, you live peacefully, if you bring that old-fashioned, land-grabbing attitude then there is no place for you here. We can do without them. What are they really doing? What are they contributring to the economy other than they cows that they are selling? Can’t we do without the cows? I don’t want to take it to that level. Let them just sell their market, but not think of taking our land.

Your tenacity in politcis in this state notable. You have been the Director General of two successful governorship campaigns, back-toback at the end you don’t appear to be in the limelight. You were in the background, not seeking anything, why is that? Why did you not presnt yourself as a governorship candidate?

Having been a Military Administrator, we have seen your colleagues who served as military administrators also contesting and winning election as civillian governors My understanding is that I don’t have to be a governor to get things done. If I am in a position to assist and recommend and things are done. I don’t see why I must be theone who must be there. May be it is the level of development of our politics that makes it the way it is. You

I am doing well, you will need a lot of cooperation of the people. Sometimes that cooperation does not come because of underlining issues. When something comes out some people want to see it from their own ethnic eye. Thank God, I have been preaching to the them that this is Niger Delta, it is a region that has so many ethnic groups. Everybody was speaking in his own tongue. This one would say I am Itsekiri, this one would say I am Ijaw or Ibibio. Somehow with the advent of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), we are beginning to speak with one voice. The problems facing us, does not understand whether you are Itsekiri and all. Is it the pollution, the environmental issues, we have? It is the same thing. I am just hoping that things would get better.

Nkanga

hear someone say that one is an action governor. Don’t they have a manisfesto or did the party not have anything that they promised the people people or did the man just drop from the sky, and just start doing anything that he wants to do?

To that extewnt, I belong to a political party. The political party would have what they intend to do for the people and if I am in a poistion to advise the perosn on what to do, I don’t have to go and start seeking for that same office. That is my attitude to it. Sometimes because of our low level of development or lack of it, we misconstrue some of those things.

I believe that with a team spirit if you are working for the betterment of the people and you have the opportunity, when you are not given the opportunity to put in a word, it is a different thing. I think I have the opportunity.

There is nobody that has been there and completely ignores anything that I say. When you carry something to, let’s say a governor, it doesn’t mean that he must do exactly what you say. He might

have access to other information which you don’t have. You must be ready to understand that the moment he gives you opportunity and some of then have been very nice in explaining why they are doing what they are doing, meaniing that you can just advise on the basis of the additional information that you have.

It is not because I have worked with two different governors and three different campaigns and they were successful that doesn’t mean that I must go and occupy that seat. I don’t have to.

And you did not even seek a senatorial position?

I don’t have to. What I am doing in the Niger Delta region today, if properly seen, the contribution is enormous. Today, I am talking about issues affecting the down trodden poeople of the Niger Delta. We are reconciling the Ijaws with the Itsekiris and so forth. All that is not an easy thing.

I don’t see what a senator is doing. A senator is just in his own little enclave.

It shows that for you to try to do what

On Novemeber 1, 2016, we went to see the President, about 100 stakeholders from the Niger Deltsa. We presented a 16-point agenda to him and said if you follow this, there will be peace in the Niger Delta. We were in a recession then, these Niger Delta Avengers had started breaking pipleines. The President, same President that is there said we are going to use this as a working paper.

We left, The Vice President, as Acting President also came around. It was in the Governor’s Banquet Hall in Uyo that he said he was going to work for the relocation of the IOCs. I did not believe him because the people preventing the relocation of the IOCs are people in Lagos and he is from there. If you are in Lagos and see the development from Central Lagos to Lekki by Chevron, by Mobil, you will weep for our people. Those things should have been here

We didn’t see PANDEF or really feel its impact when there was that NDDC probe, with the information available to you as a pressure group in the Niger Delta, a matter of urgent national interest like that probe involving huge sums of monies that were taken out during the lockdown supposedly for the people, should interest PANDEF to take a position?

We took a position but it had nothing to do with palliatives. It was not a palliative issue. We did not get ourselves involved in palliative whether someone is getting palliative or not because our main reason for getting involved is beyond palliative. It is not palliative that we are looking for. With the NDDC probe, we were one of the first that fired a salvo and I remember that time, particularly in Akwa Ibom State they abused me thoroughly because I signed the News Release as Chairman of PANDEF and our people thought that it was a matter between Godswill Akpabio and I. I don’t know why they did that because the truth is that whatever happens in the NDDC affects the whole region, not just Akwa Ibom State. While other states in the region appplauded what I did , our peole were abusing me. I was not bothered. I had said what I needed to say. It is still coming out the way we did.

The NDDC thing has a history and we like to go by way of the history of that place. From the beginning, we did not want the NDDC structured the way it is we said that but Obasanjo, at that time, insisted. He brought nine states, instead of the six staes of the South-south and we have accept it, otherwise tomorrow, they will go and carry Imo, Abia and Ondo and form a pressure group against us. Eventhough they did not want the place to succeed in the first instance, we endured all that and it has been working well with the other people but you can see now the development commissions are coming up in every region.

I saw that this was coming during the 2014 National Conference, when the North-east, because of Boko Haram said they should have their own development comission just like NDDC. I remember in that conference they were saying money should be paid and I said people are dying and you want money paid instead of solving the peoblem. Nobody was listening. At the end, they created that commission for the North-east. Northwest, because of banditry, has also asked for it, I think that one is in its second reading before the federal lawmakers.

Continued on page 19

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020

POLITICS

‘The People Preventing Relocation of the IOCs to the Niger Delta Region are in Lagos’

Nkanga

Recently, I was in Abuja during public hearing for the South-south Development Commission hearing. That same day, the South-west was supposed to come and I think they showed up later.

Apparently, if they have South-east; Imo and Abia will go with them, if they have South-west, Ondo will go with them, what will be left will be just South-south and the law is not looking good. We are not happy because they make NDDC a national property, whereas this one they are doing belongs to those people.

In NDDC, you have directors who are northerners. That is what we are saying.

That is the lot of the people of the Niger Delta. The NDDC is something for the whole country. Just like oil, it is for the whole country. Gold is for only Zamfara.

We have been saying this. I was glad to go and appear at that public hearing, so that they can amend the laws to suit us like they do for other people. These are some of the things we say and they will shout us down, but eventually it comes around. The issue of NDDC, the moment that problem came. I said first of all, we were not totally happy with the way the NDDC was structured, having come this way and then we have the IMC and for almost two years now, nothing has come to this area, as far as the NDDC is concerned. They are just answering the name NDDC, but it is run by how many people? They are approving and doing a lot of things. We say if it is audiitng, foresnsic audit, go ahead and return it to what the place was created for. That was our submission. Why you have there now is not what the law says. Now, it is being run by just a few people to the detriment of the Niger Delta people. If you ask them, they say, they are doing forensic audit. When will it end? When will the people of Niger Delta benefit from the NDDC? The Minister of the Niger Delta Affiars is from Akwa Ibom..

So what? The Minister coming from Akwa Ibom is of no significance to us. We have said this. If we don’t look at it from the angle of emotion, you will see that the Minister coming from Akwa Ibom makes no difference. We have said it very clearly, there are things that bother us as a region. You see this East-West Road that people have been dying, for how many years? It was later that I found out that even when I was Governor, in my address when General Babangida came to Ikot Abasi because I took him to that bridge linking Rivers State, that bridge was not there, that road was not constructed by the way it is now. The road that was there from Port Harcourt was constructed by the Shagari administration. There was no bridge, people used to go by boat. When he came to commission ASCON, I took him there and I said if we can have this bridge, it will help us. In my speech close to 30 years ago, I spoke about East-West Road.

You can imagine how long ago we have

been talking about that road. Till today that road is not complete. The Ministry of Niger Delta should concentrate on that East-West Road because it was given to them. Let them leave all these other ones.

Another area that is touching us is the relocation fo the IOCs. On Novemeber 1, 2016, we went to see the President, about 100 stakeholders from the Niger Delta.

We presented a 16-point agenda to him and said if you follow this, there will be peace in the Niger Delta. We were in a recession then, these Niger Delta Avengers had started breaking pipleines. The President, same President that is there said we are going to use this as a working paper. We left, The Vice President, as Acting President also came around. It was in the Governor’s Banquet Hall in Uyo that he said he was going to work for the relocation of the IOCs. I did not believe him because the people preventing the relocation of the IOCs are people in Lagos and he is from there. If you are in Lagos and see the development from Central Lagos to Lekki by Chevron, by Mobil, you will weep for our people. Those things should have been here. When we met him again on the 3rd of August the following year, because he went round the states of the Niger Delta and it was in Uyo that he made that statement that he would see to the relocation, when we met him and asked what has happened now, of course, he had not done anything.

I remember Chief E.K. Clark spoke in that place and told him, in other climes all these oil companies, Mobil, Chevron, Elf are they located in their federal capital?

They are not. Mobil is in Irving, Texas.

Chevron is in California. Why is our own the way it is? If they are located here, the trickle down effect on even the woman that sellls akara will be felt and it so happens that when they first came, Mobil was located in Ibeno, in Eket axis, both operational and administrative, it was during the war in the 60s that General Gowon’s administration then said administratively, let them operate from Lagos for the safety of the foreigners. Somebody is still quoting that one and sayig security in 2020. That day in that meeing of 3rd of Ausgtst, 2017, Ibe Kachukwu, he was the Minister of State, Petroleum then was quoting that security as an issue for the IOCs not relocating to the Niger Delta. Very recently, I head the Minister of State for Petroleum, Sylva said the same thing to Governor Wike and Wike was mad at him. Are you saying that they don’t kill people in Lagos?

Don’t they kidnap people in Lagos? So, why do you do things like this? That is why we said the Minister in charge of Petroleum, if these people don’t relocate, it is you. Another angle is the rail line.

The colonial masters built it from Lagos to the north; and from Enugu to the north.

They extended the one from Enugu to Port Harcourt for obvious reasons because Eastern Nigeria at that time had taken Port Harcourt as part of Eastern Nigeria and they needed a path to the sea, but from Lagos to Calabar, where the revenue is coming from, no rail. In Akwa Ibom, a child who starts primary school and finishes university there does not know what a train looks like, yet they are producing over 40 percent of the country’s revenue. The one they now use to build a rail line from Daura to Niger Republic. It is injustice and that is why when we talk about restructuring, it is this injustice that makes us talk about it.

There is a lot of injustice in the system.

These key places are manned by people from the Niger Delta. The rail line is Amaechi. He will be defending what they are doing. Sylva is the one for the relocation of the IOCs. Akpabio is for East-West Road. They are all from the Niger Delta and that is why it is very painful. The tree says, it is not that they fell a tree that is painful, but that the axe is using part of its body, the handle of the axe is wood.

DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS

Tasteless Comedy of Errors Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, President, Igbo Youths Movement blames President Muhammadu Buhari for the worsening economic and security situation in the country, while attacking the uninspiring leadership of South-east governors

Buhari

T

he five and half year-old drama of piloting 200 million people from one avoidable mistake to another in a most uninspiring and directionless manner, should be put to a halt now, because the people just can’t take it any more. President Buhari has proven to all, that he lacks the capacity to manage the complexities of Nigeria, let alone, make her great.

Since June 2015, we have been drifting around the ocean of life, not as a focused, committed nation, but rather, as a confused, rudderless country, run and managed by an unprepared leadership, experimenting with the future and destiny of 200 million citizens, and believe me when I say: that everyone is tired. Let truth be told.

From running the country for six months without ministers, while issuing and countering same orders to the central bank, to the enthronement of brazen nepotism, and total display of ineptitude, the inability to secure the country has confirmed beyond any doubt whatsoever that Nigeria is in big trouble, as the leadership the whole world put so much hope and trust in, six years ago, is clearly unable to secure, unite, let alone, move Nigeria forward.

It has been a harvest of errors.

History will record this regime as one of one mistake to another. Regime of Fulani herdsmen. Regime of prerecorded Presidential broadcasts.

A regime where the President is bigger than the whole country, and his handlers will shamelessly defend his unwillingness to visit disaster scenes as his style. A regime of inconclusive elections, a regime that pays Boko haram through the international Red Cross, to release Dapchi girls. A regime that northernized all sensitive appointments, thereby deepening and encouraging a fierce dichotomy that inspired agitation for seccesion. A government that simply does not care about the feelings and cries of sections of the country.

A regime that includes plans and benefits for Niger Republic as the new norrmal. A regime that borrows for every project. A regime that indebted us up to our great grandchildren. A government that comfortably watches as the whole country explodes into a war theater, with kidnappers ruling all our high-

ways. Hamlets and homesteads are sacked by armed bandits, even as Northern governors pay same bandits for elusive peace.

Travelling by road anywhere in Nigeria has become a high risk venture. Going to the farm has become an impossible task. The economy has collapsed into a frightening deep recession that could last for a while.

Even as inflation and unemployment has eaten so deep into our land, leaving everyone on edge. Insurgents, armed robbers, kidnappers and killers of all shades seem the only people smiling to the banks, as exorbitant food prices forces millions of citizens to go to bed hungry every night with tears in their eyes.

Guilty of a great crime, are those who have access to President Buhari, but refuse to tell him to his face that he has failed. Most wicked of our compatriots are those who flatter him, telling him he is doing wonderfully well.

Nigeria needs help. Nigeria is in trouble. Our President and his service chiefs have clearly run out of ideas. We have never had it so bad.

The situation calls for fasting and prayers. Our government has failed woefully, God have mercy.

This brings us to the confusing situation in the east, about a new security network that has raised hairs everywhere. Truth is, this development is closely tied to the erroneous decision by government not to engage the agitators for years now. As new twists and developments emerge, we should know that these are pointers that more developments are on the way. The unintelligent refusal to engage the agitators will yet throw up more issues.

Had the spineless South-east governors placed the security and welfare of the masses of Eastern Nigeria above their individual vice presidential desires, perhaps they would have known that their reneging on their earlier promises to establish a regional security outfit, would eventually lead us to this.

As nature abhors a vacuum, as the existential threat of the heartless Fulani herdsmen, is real. We should put the blame squarely at the feet of the South-east governors, who promised twice, to establish a security outfit that would protect Igboland, but failed.

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FEATURES

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

Putting Smile on Faces of Senior Citizens Igbawase Ukumba writes that senior citizens of Nasarawa State have started seeing light at the end of the tunnel

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ecently, retired civil servants of Nasarawa State were in a pathetic condition, a situation that caused public discuss which led to series of group agitations and litigations to press home demands, resulting to garnishing of the state accounts by a court.

Some lawyers to a group of pensioners in the state approached a court and got judgement against the state government which ordered for the garnishing of all accounts been operated by the state government.

Consequent upon the garnishee order, Governor Abdullahi Sule had to run the state with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The state commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Haruna Adamu Ogbole, disclosed this in his office when addressing journalists on the financial status of the state since the state government could not access its accounts.

The commissioner explained: "It is not that government is totally grounded. We have IGR in the state that we are leveraging on to make the government run, but the basic thing the court garnished is our salary accounts. Nasarawa is a civil service state and once salaries are not paid, it affects the whole state and that is what we are facing."

He said that in February, 2020 the state government raised N1.2 billion as IGR and was expecting to raise over N2 billion before the outbreak of COVID-19 which affected the state IGR. According to him, "IGR is being driven by economic activities, so the more the economic activities of every month, the higher the IGR we get. It is not static base on the COVID-19 pandemic as it affects the globe."

But Governor Sule, when interacting with members of the Nasarawa State chapter of the Corrrespondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, who paid him a Sallah homage at Gudi, said the gratuities the pensioners were fighting for can't be paid until the garnishee order was removed from the said accounts. However, the governor said the state government was able to pay salaries of civil servants for the month of July, 2020 despite the garnishee order of such accounts after he called Lagos, headquarters of those banks.

"When the accounts were garnished, I have to start calling Lagos, the headquarters of these banks so that we will be able to pay salaries.

So we've been able to pay salaries, but we've not been able to pay pensioners because the approval I got from Lagos was only enough to pay salaries. One thing that is very worrisome in Nasarawa State is that the numbers of garnishee orders for Nasarawa State are enormous and are unfortunate. The reason is that the state has no enough resources to get those garnishing orders," the governor said.

Sule lamented that he inherited close to five garnishee orders on arrival as governor of the state, even as he explained that since the period of military administrations, the state had not been saving for gratuity. So gratuities have been accumulating and not paid.

"As a result of that, their is a huge accumulation of gratuities. So what the previous administration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura did was to set aside a certain amount of money to pay gratuities for the state. But Local Governments didn't have enough to eat, talk less of paying gratuities," he maintained.

The fact is that Governor Sule's immediate predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, had sometimes ago expended over N2 billion on servicing of pensions and gratuities of retired civil servants of the state since his assumption of office in 2011. The erstwhile governor had stated this in Lafia when interacting with journalists, explaining that the N2 billion was used to clear the backlog of monies owed retirees from the Paris Club Refund.

Senator Al-Makura continued that local government pensioners were also paid their entitlements despite the meagre resources accrued to the state from the federation account. However, the governor revealed that the difficulty of the state government in meeting its obligations as regards to state government workers was due to the enormity of the funds needed to service the salary wage bill in the state.

Al-Makura had however assured of his ad-

Gov Sule.

ministration's commitment towards the plight of retirees in the state, even as he added that retirees welfare was his utmost priority as senior citizens who have contributed to the development of the state.

He said: "We have paid over N2 billion in servicing gratuities and pensions, and as regards to the state government workers' emoluments, we are alive to our responsibilities, but constrained by the minimum wage structure the state has adopted and the meagre resources accruing to the state from the federation account. Since we came to power in 2011, the welfare of retirees has been our focal point and I can assure you that no administration has accorded it such priority as this administration has done.

Garnishing of the state accounts did not go down well with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Nasarawa state council hence it bashed a faction of the union over the garnishing of the state account. The NUP attacked a factional group "Concerned Pensioners", by heavily criticizing it for not been patient on agreement reached between the state government and the NUP to pay retirees their pension and gratuity out of court.

According to a statement signed by chairman of the NUP Musa Obakpa, and the secretary, Ibrahim Usman, maintained that the action of the Concerned Group did not in any way reflect the interest of the mainstream pensioners. The NUP leaders counsel the state government to be wary of element who under the guise of fighting for retirees right, were rather trying to truncate the good intentions of the present government in bringing sanity to retirees.

The statement read in part: "The action of the concern group numbering only 650 out of the total number of over 9,000 pensioners in the state does not in any way reflect the interest of other loyal pensioners who considered dialogue and diplomacy as the best way to settle the lingering problem. We reject in total any move by the opposition to use our respected union to achieve their political agenda as currently chicken in by the concern group."

But Governor Sule had said Nasarawa State was in need of over N40 billion to clear the backlogs of gratuity been owed Pensioners in the state. Sule disclosed this in Lafia, the state capital, during an interaction with journalists as part of activities marking his one year in office.

He however said his administration has been paying the pensioners 100% of their pension as

promised when he assumed office in order to help them take care of their families.

According to him, "their gratuity can not be paid for now. This is because we need over 40 billion naira to pay. The money is huge considering the total allocation which comes from the federation account monthly. I am going round to see how to improve the revenue of the state. When that is done, we will commence the payment so that subsequent administrations coming after me can continue."

As the inability of the state to pay gratuities to retired civil servants persisted, NUP came out to expressed its mixed feelings to the pathetic situation decrying at the non-payment of federal and state governments' counterpart funds into the Local Government Pension Fund. Nasarawa State chairman of the NUP, Musa Obakpa, expressed feelings of the state pensioners over the situation when speaking on the occasion of the 2020 Pensioners Day celebration held in Lafia.

"Another problem compounding our members at the Local Government is the failure of the federal and state governments to pay regularly their 5% and 2.5% Counterpart Funds respectively into the Local Government Pension Fund which was stopped without just case. May we bring to the attention of Governor Sule that section 173 subsection (3) and 210 stipulates that pension should be reviewed every five years or whenever wages of workers are reviewed of whichever comes earlier. It may interest the governor to know that the pensioners are due for another pension increase in the year 2015 as the last increase was made in 2010," Obakpa said.

Obakpa however said the pensioners noted with satisfaction various strategies currently put in place by the Nasarawa State government to unravel reasons for the paucity of funds to pay monthly pension and gratuity as at when due.

"As the administration is writing its name in gold in this direction, this tangible exercise should be logically carried out with deligence," he concluded.

This was even as local government pensioners in the state in their hundreds staged a peaceful protest in Lafia, the state capital, over three months unpaid pension entitlements. The protesters numbering over 3,000 carried placards with different inscriptions such as: "LG Autonomy is not to Kill Pensioners." We Say no to LG Percentage Payment". "ALGON in Nasarawa Is not Fair to LG Pensioners," among others.

Spokesperson of the group, Abdullahi Ladan, complained that Local Government pensioners in the state have not been paid their three months pension. He complained that untimely remitance of the statutory 15 percent by Local Government Areas to the state's pension bureau was responsible for the none payment of their three months pension. The spokesperson who bemoaned the hardship being experienced by the over 6,000 local government pensioners in the state, therefore appealed to the state government to intervene especially at this time of coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the protesters, the state deputy governor, Emmanuel Akabe said government would sit with leadership of the local government pensioners together with local government chairmen in the state to resolve the matter. He said that with the local government autonomy, the state government can't interfere with the affairs of Local Government system. While commending the maturity exhibited by the protesters, the deputy governor urged them to remain calm, saying government would intervene with a view to resolving the matter.

Be that as it may, the Nassarawa State government has begun putting smile on the faces of the senior citizens of the state as the Nassarawa State Pension Bureau on December 18, 2020 commenced payment of N500 million gratuity to 500 retirees in the state. Director General of the state Pension Bureau, Abdullahi Sani Osaze, flagged off the electronic payment of the gratuities to retirees in Lafia.

According to the Director General, "following the release of N500 millions by Governor Sule as part of gratuity payment, we are starting the e - payment exercise in batches until we finish. He commended Sule for priotising retirees welfare in the state, even as he appealed to the retirees for continuous support and cooperation with the current administration under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

"We are starting the payment exercise today, we are paying in batches until we finish and the first batch is up to 500 retirees," he said.

Speaking to journalists during the e-payment, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Usman, expressed appreciation to the governor for keeping to his promise. While promising the Union's continuous support of the present administration under the leadership of Abdullahi Sule, Usman appealed to the state government to sustain the payment.

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#THISISNIGERIA - Rotimi Fawole

THE SECOND QUADRANNIUM OF GAMBRACH: END SCARS!

I

n the land of Jirriah, where King Gambrach reigned over the 37 Kingdoms, from the Iron Throne of Boo Jar, there was a division of the King’s Constabulary known as SCARS. SCARS was an acronym and lo, it stood for Subhuman Constables Against Robbing Sitizens. Yea, it should have been SCARC, as ye well know that ‘citizens’ is spelt with a C. But the King who inaugurated this unelite unit did so in a time of scarcity and did not want to give his detractors the opportunity to say he created both SCARC and scarcity. Yea, was he a cerebral king.

But we digress.

SCARS was created as the arm of the constabulary that would defend the people of Jirriah against robbers and bandits. The constables who filled its ranks were those who failed the Humanity and Empathy modules at Constabulary College – by design, so they could deal ruthlessly with the menace of crime. And gaddem, how it backfired!

You see, lacking in Humanity and Empathy, the SCARS commanding elite quickly came to the conclusion that the best way to save the Jirrians from the scourge of robbers and bandits was to rob the people themselves, before the robbers. They called it the Hammer for Headaches Strategy.

Thus it was that SCARS began to relieve the people of their wages, their dignity, their virtue and their blood. The people

rechristened them the Subhuman Constables Against Revelling Sitizens for behold, all one had to do was look like one was enjoying life a little too much and he would fall into their trap. And if he did not have the means to satisfy their vampirous thirst, it was quite possible that, like in the ancient times of the slavedealers, such a person would never be heard from again.

Time and again, the people cried out to Gambrach and the Nassholes, “deliver us from SCARS!” but the Many Years’ Disease meant Gambrach heard them not and the Nassholes gave no gaddem, for they hired the SCARS as their personal bodyguards. If the wailing was loud enough, the Head of the Constabulary would re-call the SCARS from the highways, that the people might have respite for a few days, but in no time they would be back again. Thus it was that on three occasions, Bashally, one of the King’s Spining Quills, announced to the people, “thy King has heard thee despite the Many Years, and the SCARS shall trouble thee no more.” But it was an ofege.

Finally, in the second year of the second quadrannium of Gambrach, the Neests of Phemmi rose with a loud cry, declaring “It is enough! SCARS is scarring our lives, our pscyhes and beings. No more SCARS, no more scars. End SCARS!” And the cry rang throughout the 37 kingdoms, from Ekonnos, to Canodonia, to Ekitilopia, to Oshunlonica all demanding an end to SCARS. Yea, they sent word and shekels to the

Neests of Phemmi saying, “do with our coin what ye must, that we be saved from a life of SCARS!” From all over Jirriah, the shekels poured in, even from Jirrians in the dayasporata. And with the coin, Queen Effle Kay and her fellow Neests bequeathed succour, refreshments, security, repair and morale upon the crowds of people demanding full and final reprieve from SCARS. Mefilius, warden of the Iron Bank of Boo Jar saw it and was greatly troubled.

Gambrach summoned him on the fifth day, asking “How have the Neests of Phemmi amassed so much shekelage in such a short time?”

“Your Majesty,” replied Mefilius, “it seems to be the work of the Social Medianites and the Digital Perusites; feeling cool with themselves, communicating and coordinating like a government. If not that it were completely legal, it would be high treason!”

“Can the inflows not be blocked?”

“Majesty, I am thy intellectual slave but bankers never reject money deposits. This is not like geographical borders, O King.”

“Okay, how about withdrawals then?

Money that cannot be withdrawn cannot be spent,” countered Gambrach, slightly irritated.

“Now that is a most excellent idea, Great King. I shall throttle them.” Lo did Mefilius give the order to all the Copper Banks (Garantease, Zany, Hack Sex and all the other copper banks) to encumber the

Neests of Phemmi.

The King of Twilistia, Samurai Jax, saw all that was going on in Jirriah and it gave him a constipation most severe. Wherefore he sent for his Twilistian meisters to engineer a solution for the Jirrians. And thus it was that the walls of Twilistia collapsed for half a dozen hours and none was able to send word to another. And there was no gaddem chill in the land.

But then the walls were rebuilt and Twilistia stood again and with this came the revelation that King Samurai Jax had blessed the Neests with verificato certificato and appointed a sigil unto the tagging of hashes for the ending of SCARS. Behold, the agitation took off with renewed vim and vigour and lo, was the cry heard across all the four corners of the earth, “End SCARS” and “halt Constabulary capriciousness”.

The Head of the Constabulary squirmed as he saw the rising tempers. “My King, permit me to inform the people that we have proscribed SCARS, taken them off the King’s highways and replaced them with an all new unit called SCRAPS – the Subhuman Constables Really Against Plundered Sitizens.”

“This is a great idea!” declared Gambrach.

“Give them SCRAPS!” The people heard it and maigheeeeurd, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE GADDEM CHILL IN ALL THE LAND! -Rotimi Fawole is a Lawyer and Satirist

22

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 •T H I S D AY

23

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

BUSINESSWORLD

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Quick Takes 9mobile Launches Portal for NIN Verification

SEALED DEAL

CEO, SEPLAT Plc, Roger Brown (left) and MD/CEO Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Chikezie Nwosu, at the signing ceremony of a Crude Purchase Agreement between SEPLAT and Waltersmith in Lagos...recently

Six Weeks Extension for SIM-NIN Integration Insufficient, NATCOMS Tells FG Emma Okonji Despite the extension window given by the federal government for the integration of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) with the National Identification Number (NIN), the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS) has said the extension period are still not sufficient.

National President of NATCOMS, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, who expressed the feelings of Nigerian subscribers, told THISDAY that NATCOMS would go to court to challenge the initial order given by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, which directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enforce blocking of subscribers’ SIM cards who fail to complete the

TELECOM integration exercise within two weeks, which is expected to lapse by December 31, 2020.

He explained that since the initial two weeks period has been extended by additional three weeks and six weeks, NATCOM would wait till the expiration of the new deadline on January 19, 2021, and February 19, 2021, before challenging the order to block SIM cards, should the federal government carry out its threat order after the expiration of the new deadline.

Pantami had last week, issued a directive, asking NCC to compel telecoms operators to link all registered SIM cards of telecoms subscribers with their NIN. Pantami later gave another directive, which made

it mandatory for telecoms operators to conclude the integration exercise within two weeks, beginning from December 16 to 30, 2020.

The Minister further ordered NCC to direct all telecoms operators to block the SIM cards of all telecoms subscribers who fail to make their NIN available to the telecoms operators for integration, after the initial two weeks period.

The directives, however, elicited reactions from the House of Representatives and Nigerians from all walks of life who protested the two weeks period, saying it will never be possible to achieve such exercise within two weeks, owing to the second wave of COVID-19, and coupled with the fact that Nigerians are in the yuletide season where many travel outside their stations to

celebrate the season.

Ogunbanjo, advised the federal government to give ample opportunity for the integration exercise, which he said, should not be less than six months.

He reiterated that NATCOMS would not hesitate to drag the minister, the NCC and the telecoms operators to court, should there be any attempts to block SIM cards after the new deadlines of January 19 and February 19.

Should NATCOMS go to court after January 19 and February 19, 2021, it would bring to two, the number of organised groups that have challenged the government over the timing of SIM-NIN integration.

Paradigm Initiative, led by Continued on page 24

‘Despite Recession, COVID-19 Disruptions, Yuletide Spending Patterns Remains Strong’ Raheem Akingbolu Despite the impact of the COVID-19 as well as the recession the economy entered into recently, analysts have stated that consumer spending ahead of the yuletide remains strong.

Head, Investment Banking, Cordros Capital Limited, Mr. Femi Ademola, in an interview with THISDAY, said the current recession was caused mostly by the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that it is a temporary occurrence.

“The current recession in Nigeria and other countries is caused mostly by the pandemic which resulted in economic

ECONOMY lockdown and reduced demand in many situations. But this indicates it is a temporary occurrence and may not really affect the economic structure significantly,” he said.

Describing recession as an economic event that depends solely on the reported GDP, Ademola pointed out that in several of developing economies with very large proportion of informal economy, the realities may be far different from what the economic data is saying.

He argued that the current recession in Nigeria doesn’t look as biting as that of 2016,

when oil price decline combined with the government policy of curbing revenue leakages put a serious constraint on consumers’ liquidity.

He explained: “Unlike now, markets were not as bubbly and the roads were not as busy as they were during the end of 2016. Indeed, despite the so-called recession, there are still significant activities at the moment, businesses are still thriving and the reality of the recession doesn’t appear to be very glaring.

“Therefore, while the economy is in recession, the impact on consumer spending won’t be so significant, arguably

due to the huge informal market in Nigeria.”

A Business Coach and Banker, Akin Oluwadare Jnr, though admitted that the current recession in the country is a global contagion, he said it would lead to decline in demand globally.

Speaking on how government policy could be of help to consumers while the recession lasted, he described the recent decision of the federal government to open the land borders as a proactive measure that can change the ugly tide.

“Recession typically occurs as a result of decline in producContinued on page 24

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Airtel Gets NIN Enrolment License

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New HP Display for Creators Launched

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“We believe little things can make a difference and as we continue to support the vulnerable and the underprivileged in our society, events will take a positive turn. At Airtel, we believe that to be great, we must first be good” Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria

Mr. Segun Ogunsanya

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 24, 2020

24

BUSINESSWORLD EXPERTS HIGHLIGHT COMMUNICATION DEFICIENCY AMONG CAUSES OF UNREST IN NIGERIA its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, has last week dragged the minister, the NCC and telecoms operators to a Lagos High Court, challenging the order to block SIM cards after the initial two weeks period given for the integration exercise.

The federal government, on Monday, extended the initial deadline fixed for the

REPORT: AFRICA’S MOBILE BROADBAND SUBSCRIPTIONS WILL DOUBLE BY 2025 tion activities and results in increased unemployment; hence reduced wages and incomes. Of course this will naturally affect the amount of money available as disposable income to consumers, but things are a bit different now.

“Perhaps because consumers are already readjusting to the ‘new normal’ forced on them by months of lockdown, when the country slumped into the new recession, it appears the consumption pattern hasn’t changed from what it was after the lockdown.

“Since consumers represent the bearers of consumers, recession or no recession, they are different from one to another and contend with different factors. But in this situation, things have gone beyond macro and micro levels, as the entire world struggles amidst threatening Coronavirus scourge.

“In Nigeria I’m optimistic, especially now that the borders have been opened; I hope we should be fine, pretty soon,” Oluwadare stated.

Meanwhile, in its recent report on consumer sentiment and behavior amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19, McKinsey & Company, admitted that consumer sentiment varies greatly across countries impacted by COVID-19.

The report stated that consumers in China, India, and Indonesia consistently reported higher optimism than the rest of the world, while those in Europe and Japan remained less optimistic about their countries’ economic conditions after COVID-19.

According to agency report, Ghana’s economy contracted

HP, Police Collaborate to Fight Counterfeit Products Stories by Emma Okonji HP and the Nigeria Police authority have partnered to disrupt criminal counterfeit operations across six states of the federation.

The team successfully halted the potential sale of over 54,000 counterfeit goods, including ready-for-sale fraudulent toner and ink cartridges.

The joint task force between HP’s Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud (ACF) Teams, and the Nigeria Police officials, also identified the sale of illegal ink cartridges across the six states The Nigeria Police with the assistance from HP Nigeria, discovered a massive operation selling counterfeit cartridges for HP printers. As a result, they worked with HP specialists to raid multiple retail and workshop premises in the Lagos area.

In the same month, officials of the Nigeria Police carried out further, separate anti-counterfeiting raids in the states of Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, and the Abuja area.

The Director, Global AntiCounterfeit Programme at HP, Glenn Jones, said: “We are very proud of our ongoing partnership with Nigerian

Group Business Editor

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

authorities to help safeguard our consumers and partners from illegal, fraudulent activity, as well as working together to bring counterfeiters to justice in Nigeria.

“The successful removal of counterfeit products from the Nigerian market is a testament to HP’s unwavering efforts and commitment to protecting our customers,

and the continued success of our Anti-Counterfeiting and Fraud Programme.”

Counterfeiting is a crime. For users, such illegal imitations can cause a multitude of problems that can lead to performance and reliability issues. Should your printer break because of using counterfeit printer ink or toner, you may have difficulty with your manufacturer’s war-

ranty becoming not applicable.

In contrast, original HP products are designed to meet HP’s strict quality and reliability standards, based on a long history of research, development, and testing.

Original HP LaserJet and HP inkjet cartridges, unlike counterfeits, benefit from superior performance and consistent results, Jones said.

Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) over the last five years, approximately 12 million counterfeits and components have been seized by local authorities, supported by HP. HP has conducted over 4,500 audits and inspections (CPPAs and CDIs) of partners’ stocks or suspicious deliveries for customers.

FACILITY MANAGERS

L-R: General Secretary, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Mr. Sherif Daramola; Executive Secretary, Dele Chinedu; President, Segun Adebayo; and Vice President, Lekan Akinwunmi, during the inauguration of the new council members of International Facility Management Association Nigeria Chapter, held in Lagos... recently PHOTO:ETOP UKUTT

Nigeria to Establish e-Waste Collection Centres, Opens Application Nigeria will soon get a boost in the electronic waste (e-waste) sub-sector with the opening up of applications for establishment of some 30 collection centres nationwide.

Nigeria is opening-up the e-waste sub-industry in order to create more jobs.

The Executive Secretary, E-Waste Producer Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (EPRON), Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, who made the disclosure during the 2020 ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue held in Lagos, recently, said the application would be free for charge for all interested

Nigerians.

Faluyi who spoke on subtheme: ‘e-Waste in Nigeria and Opportunities in Recycling’, said EPRON as technical assistant for the initiative, would be offering the application for free which could be accessed on its website.

According to her, for now there is no application fee attached as part of the incentive to get more people, especially Nigerians involved.

At the end of the exercise to be conducted alongside the National Environmental Standards and Regulations

Enforcement Agency (NESREA), about 90 jobs will be created.

This number of jobs, she explained, was arrived at based on the fact that each of the collection centres would be expected to have at least three staff to man its operations.

The e-Waste dialogue received backing from stakeholders in the digital space, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Association of Licensed Telecom Operations of Nigeria (ALTON) and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN).

Publisher of ITREALMS

Media, organisers of the eWaste Dialogue, Mr. Remmy Nweke, said the theme, ‘e-Waste in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities,’ would afford Nigerians the opportunity to address the challenges posed by e-Waste in Nigeria.

According to Nweke, “The e-Waste Dialogue was initially scheduled for October 14 but due to COVID-19 lockdown and #EndSARS protest nationwide, it had to be rescheduled and held this December as part of the Nigeria Internet Waste Dialogue.

“There have been concerns

over the waste associated with the electrical and electronic equipment originating from the likes of mobile phones, computers, TV-sets, and fridges, with a current burden in excess of 1.1 million tonnes of e-waste accumulating annually from both local and imported Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE).”

The e-Waste Dialogue supports the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organised “Internet Waste Dialogue” in commemoration of the annual International e-Waste Day (IeWD), Nweke said.

Women Group Trains 72,000 on Skill Acquisition Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Obinna Chima

NEWS

A non-profit humanitarian organisation, Women For Women International (WWFI), said it has trained over 72,000 women in more than 55 Nigerian communities on various skill acquisitions that are now helping them to make a living.

It added that the group trains an average of 4,500 women annually.

Addressing graduands at a

closing ceremony to mark its achievements in the last five years, Country Director of WFWI, Mrs. Bukola Onyisi said the group which is committed to providing skills, knowledge and resources that create sustainable change for women, their families and their communities, had a total of nine strategic interventions, three of which empowered the organisation to identify committed and reliable partners to provide with sub

grants.

She added that APURIMAC, Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Centre for the Advocacy of Justice and Rights (CAJR) started partnering with WFWI in 2016/2017 in three Local Government Areas of Plateau state; Riyom, Jos East and Pankshin.

According to her, COWAN provided safer methods to save

money and access credit, while WFWI introduced women-led informal savings and lending mechanisms such as village savings and loans associations, revolving loan funds/saving circles.

Onyishi added that APURIMAC was responsible for WFWI staff, successful former women participants, NGO and government partners with volunteers to provide intensive support and mentorship to business devel-

oped by program participants.

She said with the help of FIDA/CAJR, WFWI developed a new ‘Change Agent’ program and curriculum, through a participatory approach with WFWI beneficiaries, NGO partners and trained selected women with partnerships built with local partners to collaborate and include marginalised women on advocacy at the community level to influence traditional or customary law and practice.

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) ÏÞÏÜ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

Facebook Unveils 2020 Africa Year in Review Facebook has released its “2020 Year in Review: Highlights”, an infographic showcasing some of its key investments and work across Africa in 2020, Nigeria inclusive.

Supported by an animated video celebrating and showcas-

ing a few people across the continent rising against the challenges of this unexpected year, the campaign aims to highlight the successes, strength and resilience of its users, whilst reinforcing Facebook’s ongoing commitment to the region.

Commenting on the initiative, the Director of Public Policy, Africa for FaceBook, Kojo Boakye, said: “We know this year has brought many unexpected challenges around the world, including here in Africa.

The COVID pandemic has

changed the way we work, come together, and impacted many economies and local businesses.

Despite this, we continue to see and hear so many stories of resilience, strength and growth.

As Facebook, we remain committed to the continent, and our

2020 highlights reinforce just some of these investments and the impact we’ve been able to have by supporting the growing ecosystems of developers, small and medium businesses (SMBs), creatives, and many other communities.”

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 24, 2020

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Benefits of Electronic ID Emma Okonji writes that the plan by the Nigerian government to replace plastic identity cards with digital cards will not only boost Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, but will also be an opportunity to tap into the $500 billion cloud market

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he world is currently embarking on digital transformation, where emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoTs) will enhance digital connectivity of devices and the control of such digital devices by humans, designed to make life more comfortable for humans.

The digital transformation age is the knowledgedriven age where everything will be smartly controlled digitally and Nigeria is making efforts to key into the digital transformation age, having lost out in the first, second and third industrial revolution era.

It is for this reason that the federal government, last year, changed the Ministry of Communications to Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, in order to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

This year, the Nigerian government kicked off a quest to replace the plastic identity cards it issued to citizens from 2013 with a digital identity which it says is more reliable and in line with global best practices.

Digital identity Digital identity is information on an entity used by computer systems to represent an external agent. That agent may be a person, organisation, application, or device.

In Nigeria, the digital identity ecosystem is a framework involving the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) working with public and private service providing partners to create an enabling environment for the effective and efficient mass enrolment of Nigerians and legal residents in Nigeria into a centralised, and secured database through the issuance of National Identity Number (NIN) and the National Identity Cards.

Benefits of digital identity The planned digital identity, which will be issued to all Nigerians who have attained the age of 16, is expected to save the country some foreign exchange, address national security, encourage access to financial services as well as build investors’ confidence in Nigeria’s recessive economy.

According to Mckinsey, Nigeria is second when compared with six other countries in emerging economies. Digital ID coverage could unlock economic value equivalent to seven per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2030 in the adoption and its usage. This would, in turn, positively impact the Gross National Product (GNP), which is the value of what Nigerians earn here and abroad because there is reliable

respectively. While the US leads the rest of the world in cloud spending, countries like the UK and the Netherlands are catching up.

Countries in Africa have little or no share in the cloud computing market. The continent’s stake in the cloud market has mostly been driven by private organisations. Although top-line annual cloud services revenue is expected to double in the 2018-20123 period to hit $3.8 billion, currently, only about 30 per cent of the revenue generated is through the public cloud, according to a Xalam Analytics “State of Cloud 2019” report on Africa.

data to drive economic decisions.

But experts are not losing sight of the failure of the previous national identity card adventure.

After nearly four years of enrolling millions of Nigerians, less than 10 per cent of enrolled were actually issued a national ID card. It could happen again, they say.

The transition to digital ID is expected to be concluded by 2022. There are also high expectations that the government is ready to invest massively in enabling technology to drive the project. In that regard, cloud computing may well be the primary infrastructure that it may need to prioritise.

At the basic, digital identity includes attributes such as a unique identity number, social security number, name, place, and date of birth, citizenship, biometrics, and more, as defined by national law. The United Nations (UN) and World Bank ID4D initiatives set a goal of providing everyone on the planet with a legal identity by 2030.

So far numerous new national eID programmes (including card and mobile-based schemes and unrelated to ID2020) have been launched or initiated. Examples of projects in Algeria, Belgium (mobile ID), Cameroon, Ecuador, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Thailand, Turkey, Afghanistan, Denmark, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, and the Maldives.

Benefits of cloud computing The growing push for digital identities also means that countries are positioning themselves

Anchor Varsity, New Horizons Unveil International IT Skills Centre Emma Okonji Anchor University has partnered with the world’s largest IT training organisation, New Horizons to unveil a new ultratech ICT and e-business centre.

Speaking during the unveiling in Lagos, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Afolayan, said the university remained passionate about raising exceptionally competent graduates who are conscientious global players in their different field of works.

He said he was convinced that this partnership and the impact of the quality infrastructure being deployed and unveiled would complement the academic regiments and that Anchor University students will make optimum use of the facility for personal and professional development.

“Anchor University does not have time to wait or waste, we are headed to achieving the impossible as a university and

that within the slightest possible time. The plan is to widen our horizon and take the leap in all we do, we can’t afford to wait or crawl,” Afolayan added.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons Nigeria, Mr. Tim Akano, praised the university management for deeming it fit to partner with New Horizons in order to build a new and higher profiled graduates who are empowered digitally to become the toast of employers globally or successful technopreneurs like the world’s richest Technopreneurs like Mark Zuckeberg, Bill Gates, among others.

Akano said the deployment of fourth industrial revolution (4IR) training skill sets like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, Internet of Things (IoTs), under the partnership programme, were strategic measures to empower Nigerian graduates to be at par with their more advantaged foreign

colleagues as well as ultimately position Nigeria at the frontrow of IT-driven nations of the world both structurally and economically.

He noted that the projectdriven entrepreneurship empowerment approach will serve to stem the loss of promising Nigerian graduates to current situation where many graduates seek to travel abroad to engage in menial and condescending jobs.

The Chief Universities Operations Officer, New Horizons Nigeria, Dr. Bolaji Olaoye, assured that the computer hardware, software and courseware were original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) standard and every student would be trained and mentored by internationally certified technical instructors.

He said the university students would be groomed with the same top level standards which New Horizons has established across the globe.

to benefit from investments in cloud computing.

According to the Head, Cloud Advisory at Signal Alliance, Busola Komolafe, “Building a national identity architecture that does not depend on cloud technology will not service a modernising nation.”

A report by Canalys released in October showed that the worldwide cloud market grew 33 per cent this quarter to $36.5 billion. AWS has 32 per cent of the market and generated more revenue than the next three largest combined, Azure is at 19 per cent of the market, Google Cloud at 7 per cent, Alibaba Cloud close behind at 6 per cent, and other clouds with 37 per cent.

Also, the IDC projects that worldwide spending on public cloud services and infrastructure will double over the next five years, growing from a $229 billion run rate in 2019 to almost $500 billion by 2023. This is driven by a five-year compound annual rate.

Apart from companies, cloud adoption by countries has picked up in recent times. Countries’ cloud spending rates are projected to rise by 2.8 and 3.2 percentage points from 2019 to 2022,

Barriers to cloud adoption Barriers to cloud adoption which could also affect the success of the digital identity system are the poor state of infrastructure such as electricity, fast internet connectivity, backbone networks, etc. Although the country has seen the building of data centres, inadequate electricity is mostly why their number is yet to rise and they are not penetrative across the country most consumers and third-party vendors prefer to partner with data centres outside the country with guaranteed infrastructure than with one within the country or at least have a backup with data centers abroad.

Nigeria has an opportunity with its electronic digital identity push to not only scale its adoption of cloud services but also reap immense benefits by creating a policy environment for cloud investments to come into the country.

Deepening cloud adoption could also help the government address issues like empowering small businesses with digital technology.

Experts also said a rich environment in the cloud would force an interplay of competition and cooperation in the technology industry, thereby enabling cloud providers to produce services catering to specialised needs.

“National security is a multi-dimensional endeavour, and cloud technology enables the right architecture to build systems that the different security agencies in the country can depend on to secure from internal to external threats,” Komolafe said.

Xiaomi Launches Series of Gaming Mobile Phones Nosa Alekhuogie Xiaomi, a smartphone brand has launched sets of everyday use and gaming mobile phone devices, that come with triple threat of power and creativity.

The Mi 10T Pro and Mi 10T, offer impressive cameras, AdaptiveSync display, powerful processors and long-lasting batteries.

Marketing Director, Xiaomi Nigeria, Dr. Seifullah Gaya, announced the release of a trio of smartphones that will power consumers’ creativity like never before.

The flagship Mi 10T Pro takes creating and exploring to the next level, with unmatched specs in its class.

Mi 10T continues to push boundaries, delivering topnotch experiences for everyone

from working professionals, to streaming enthusiasts and mobile gamers. Mi 10T series brings 5G to everyone and offers unparalleled user experience in Nigeria.

According to him, “There is no denying Xiaomi’s pivotal role in defining the 108MP camera segment — from debuting the world’s first 108MP smartphone camera to introducing countless photography software innovations in the past year alone. Mi 10T Pro continues the brand’s ultra-high resolution legacy with OIS and 8K video support. Mi 10T offers an impressive 64MP main camera. But it doesn’t stop there – both Mi 10T Pro and Mi 10T offer a triple camera setup with a 13MP ultra wideangle camera and 5MP macro camera, equipping it to capture moments that matter. And with

a 20MP front camera, anyone can look their best whether taking a selfie or video-calling a loved one.”

Building on Xiaomi’s existing technology, Mi 10T Pro and Mi 10T flaunt new and dynamic photography software features.

Six standalone Long exposure modes let anyone capture artsy shots, from Moving crowd – which focuses on an idle subject while blurring dynamic surroundings – to Star trails – which creates a swirling starry sky effect. Photo Clones captures four of you in a single shot. Plus, Timed burst feature offers endless opportunities for fun, allowing users to set up photos with a time gap that can also be converted into video, while three new photo filters – Cyberpunk, Gold vibes and Black ice – help bring the desired mood to life,” he said.

TD Plus, Samsung Offer 50% Discount on Screen Repair Nosa Alekhuogie TD Plus, a subsidiary of subSaharan Africa’s technology, lifestyle and solutions distributor, TD Africa, has signed a partnership to provide quality support services to customers of Samsung, a global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in Nigeria and beyond.

Specifically, TD Plus has been certified as an Authorized Service Centre for Samsung Mobile and Consumer Electronics.

TD Plus has also partnered with Samsung to offer free screen repairs for mobile devices at fifty per cent discount. The offer covers the first 50 Samsung mobile users, with interested persons expected to call 08129851224 and 08129851226 to take advantage.

A top-notch after-sales support company, TD Plus is expected to bring its years of premium support and unmatched swift service delivery

to millions of Samsung electronics and mobile device consumers in Nigeria. The partnership is expected to strengthen Samsung’s support offerings and reduce average waiting time for customers. Further, the partnership represents a watershed in Samsung’s ambition to secure a bigger share in the Nigerian electronics and mobile devices markets, which require an efficient, responsive and round-the-clock-support service to navigate.

26

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ͵˜ 2020

Adisa: Healthy Competition Positively Impacting Advertising Industry The Chief Creative Officer at Noah’s Ark Communications Limited, Lanre Adisa, in this interview speaks on the place of local and international competitions in the creative industry and how advertising agencies are faring in the midst of COVID-19 as well as on other contending issues in the industry. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts:

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their communications will be better with our professional guidance

his year has been marred by challenges from slow economic growth to Covid-19 pandemic to #EndSARS, what is the impact of all these on the advertising industry?

It goes without saying that it is having a very big impact on our business. At times like this, what you need to do as a business is to ensure that you stay relevant in the industry. It is a game of relevance.

Clients will still run their businesses and consumers will still need those products and services. There is the tendency on the part of the client to cut budgets. But I always say what the clients need is a re-ordering of priorities and ask where should I put my money and who should I be talking to. Agencies also need to justify the trust clients have in them. These are demanding times. As a player, you must ensure you have the right team, focus and vision for the clients to stay with you. Some clients may not call for pitches but unilaterally select agencies to work with based on previous knowledge of the agencies.

Therefore, as an agency, you must stay relevant and walk the talk. And you must have results to show for it.

To what percentage would you put the loss of revenue or profits by the advertising industry players this year due to COVID-19, #EndSARS and recession challenges?

It is a tough thing to estimate as we don’t share data. For instance, in the UK, it was said at the beginning of COVID-19 that media business will lose up to 25 per cent revenue but it turned out that they dropped about five per cent. For those in events and activation business, my guess is they could have dropped by about 60 per cent revenue or more. Audio-visual, commercials productions also lost about 50 per cent, but for advertising, it could be about 30 to 40 per cent, depending on where you are operating and what you do.

Do you see many players in the advertising industry surviving these challenges?

Before you come to the realisation of whether advertising industry would survive at all, it is important to first of all take a holistic look at the macro –economic space. From what we are told by IMF, it is said that in Q2, 2021, perhaps Nigeria should be out of recession. If we are out of it based on that prediction, it means it will impact positively on business. In Q4, 2020, one saw some spike in activities of clients. I want to believe that Q2, 2021, when the economy is expected to be back on stream, advertising will bounce back. But this also depends on who the agencies are dealing with.

For instance, multinationals are in a position to survive the recession as they have deep pockets, but local firms tend to freeze or shrink their marketing budgets and this may be challenging to some agencies. To survive the times, agencies need to be at their best at all times, stay focused and stay true to their vision. But ultimately it is about the value the agency adds to the clients’ businesses, the existing clients and how the agency manages those clients.

What is the value of the Nigeria’s IMC industry?

Now let’s come home to Noah’s Ark. How would you describe the emergence of the firm as the Agency of the Year in the 2020 Lagos Advertising Ideas Festival?

One feels humbled that in five years Noah’s Ark has been adjudged as Agency of the Year in an industry that is close to 100 years old. In all the 15 years of LAIF Awards, the juries have awarded the Grand Prix only 6 times and Noah’s Ark has won it three times: in 2015, 2017 and 2020. That is something to be grateful for as it is awe-inspiring. It also confirms what we believe in; that is the supremacy of the idea, as ideas will always win.

It also shows consistency. Winning means working hard for it. Any agency whether old or young can win but what is important is how relevant the agency has been in the scheme of things and how important you are to the clients. It is also being able to attract the best talents, not just by paying them loads of money but by being able to motivate them to be at their best.

Adisa

I cannot estimate but there was a report by KPMG that this year, the entertainment, communication and media industry should be about $10 billion this year. Advertising industry may take about 40 per cent of this figure. But then again, that was before the pandemic.

Five years ago, Noah’s Ark entered into an affiliation with Dentsu Aegis Network. What happened to the partnership, does it still exist?

Let me provide a background on how we got into the relationship. About five years ago, Dentsu Aegis Network came knocking on our doors and we believed there was something to gain in expanding the business horizon of Noah’s Ark from the point of view of not only business referral, but on talent development, access to tools that will make us better. On our own part, we have also made some inroads on the global stage as a Nigerian agency that is doing some good works and we thought that engaging with Dentsu Aegis would enhance what we were doing. But five years down the road, we did a review and we realised that the partnership was not taking us where we expected. All what we set to achieve did not happen as expected.

Besides, we also saw a misalignment of values and we thought that it was in our interest to get out of the relationship. Dentsu Aegis, as you

know, has another local partner in Nigeria and there was an agreement that anything that had to do with media buying from our end will go to the local partner and they will also refer creative businesses to us. To the best of our ability, we kept our part and stepped down our media business to respect that agreement but we did not get a reciprocal fulfillment of that agreement from the other party. We thought it was not in our best interest to continue that relationship. Let me state that we would be bringing back our media business now that we are out of that relationship.

Nonetheless, we will continue to seek foreign collaborations to enhance our value as an independent agency.

The advertising industry is still struggling to get a deserved recognition from government in terms of patronage. Is there anything the industry is not doing right?

I would say that it has not been all that bad generally with previous administrations but it has been bad with this administration. For some reason, I think there may be down to a chemistry problem, lack of understanding or other overriding interests. Be that as it may, as a professional body, we are pushing to ensure that our interests are protected and we hope to have a better relationship as it is in government’s best interest too as

To survive the times, agencies need to be at their best at all times, stay focused and stay true to their vision. But ultimately it is about the value the agency adds to the clients’ businesses, the existing clients and how the agency manages those clients

This year was a peculiar year.

Would you say that those factors that affected this year reflected in LAIF Awards?

I would say those factors which are known to us did not affect us in a negative sense. Even though we had limited time to call for entries and despite the fact that some key players in the industry did not enter for the awards, we had more entries of about 600 this year than last year when we had 550 entries. This year, we also had young and new agencies coming on board. Another good thing is that since it was a virtual event because of COVID-19, we had to rely on technology that was not in existence before now. Let me use this opportunity to commend the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, (AAAN) Exco for agreeing that the awards be held in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This pushed us to look inward. We got ourselves an amazing portal built by young Nigerians which can be used beyond COVID-19.

How would you say the LAIF Awards has impacted on the level of creativity in the Nigerian advertising industry?

First, I would say keeping the awards going for 15 years is quite commendable. If you consider the impact alone, you cannot but agree that the awards have been able to raise the standards among players as there is healthy competition among them. Therefore when players win the awards, they feel delighted and celebrate it.

It may interest you to know that the only reason one of our key clients invited us to pitch their business is because of our being able to occupy the top of the LAIF Awards table consistently. They said that they had been monitoring LAIF Awards over the years and they knew the agencies that have been winning consistently. LAIF Awards plays a big role in determining the level of creativity and business pitches in advertising industry. That is why we must protect it, guard it and ensure it continues to have integrity and respect within the industry.

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T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 24, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

FMBN: Improving Service Delivery with Deployment of Banking Solution John Terhemen Ikyaave

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fter decades of unsuccessful efforts to modernise its operations and business processes to meet global banking standards, it is remarkable that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has finally broken the technology migration jinx and is now set to go fully digital.

And it took the last month of the year 2020 to kick-start this historic process.

On December 3, 2020, the Minister of Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, announced the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the FMBN to procure and deploy a core banking software application at the cost of N487.39 million from Messrs. Fintrak Software Solution.

The implementation of the banking system would be significant and far reaching. Once operational, it would help the FMBN to create an integrated technology-driven platform to activate its operations. On the back of the digital service provisioning eco-system, the bank would then tackle the many systemic challenges that it has had to contend with over the years due to the largely manual nature of its operations.

Real-time access to NHF Transactions Top on the list is fixing the longstanding inability of the Bank to update, in real-time, subscribers’ monthly contributions to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme. As manager of the NHF Scheme, a pool of funds comprising 2.5 per cent of subscribers’ monthly salaries that is deployed towards delivery of affordable housing, the FMBN has drawn much flak from workers, stakeholders, and the general public regarding its handling of the scheme.

Much of this is because of the multistakeholder structure of the NHF operations. Ideally, employers in the public and private sectors are expected to deduct 2.5 per cent of monthly income of workers who are registered with the NHF Scheme and remit same to the Bank.

However, the reality is different.

Subscriber complaints and investigations over the years have shown that many employers are dutiful and prompt in shaving off the 2.5 per cent of worker’s monthly salaries but sluggish and unwilling to remit same to the FMBN. There have been several cases of workers who after years of working and seeing the monthly deductions from their pay checks, are heartbroken to discover that only a paltry sum has been credited to their accounts with the National Housing Fund because their employer has either failed to remit or remitted only a portion of what was deducted These have resulted in instances of subscribers complaining that deductions made by their employers from their salaries are not reflected in their NHF accounts due to non-remittances by their employers to FMBN as well as inability to promptly access details and information on the status of subscriber accounts.

The good news is that these issues would be history once the core banking software is fully functional. The FinTrak Subscriber Management Component of the application was specifically designed to fix them to ensure a smooth subscriber and customer experience for all workers that contribute to the NHF Scheme.

This means seamless back-end integration with employers in a way that makes deductions from workers’ salaries and remittances to the FMBN more transparent to all stakeholders.

NHF subscribers will now get real time alerts on all transactions on their NHF Accounts and stay informed on the status of their accounts.

Reduced Turnaround time for mortgage loan applications Another equally important issue that is

Dangiwa

vital to the operations of the FMBN that the core banking system would help to redress is the time it takes for subscribers to access credit from the bank and in the process upgrading the overall customer experience of NHF subscribers.

Before 2017, when the Ahmed Musa Dangiwa-led Management of the bank took office, it used to take as much as twelve months or more before eligible NHF loan applications were fully processed, approved, and disbursed to applicants to enable them to purchase their homes.

Much of the delays were caused by the manual process of documenting and performing due diligence on loan applications that defined the relationship with Primary Mortgage Banks, which FMBN, operating as a wholesale back-end mortgage finance institution, uses as fronts to lend to NHF subscribers.

These are some of the systemic issues that the FinTrak Credit Risk Management System, an integral component of the core banking system, is designed to resolve.

The FMBN management projects that the software application would streamline the multi-layered mortgage loan process steps and eventually crash the time it takes NHF subscribers to access credit to less than two weeks when implemented.

This implies faster Mortgage loan application processing and disbursements as well as enhanced customer satisfaction and experience.

Besides that, the attainment of a twoweek turnaround time for processing mortgage loan applications would be an outstanding addition to the progress already made by the Dangiwa-led management in this direction over the past three years.

Since assuming office in 2017, Dangiwa and his team had rated improving turnaround time as a top Management priority. Within the first twelve months in office, the FMBN Management organized a Management Retreat in Kano with the primary goal of exploring ways to cut down loan processing red tape. The retreat witnessed a comprehensive review of existing processes, identified redundant areas and ways to make them more efficient. This was followed by a slew of process improvements that helped to shorten the loan processing time to about three months. The improvement from over 12 months to three months was in itself, a significant leap forward.

By taking it further down to two weeks, the banking system would cap this achievement and solidify the legacy of the Dangiwa-led management as having done the most to improve FMBN Business and

Customer experience and satisfaction at the nation’s apex mortgage bank.

Seamless Business Transactions Besides improving turnaround time, the FinTrak Credit Risk Management System by eliminating laborious manual documentation in the credit application and processing brings several other operational improvements to FMBN operations. This includes aiding digital credit scoring and appraisal for improved accuracy; improving visibility of NHF subscribers’ credit performance in the records of Primary Mortgage Banks; as well as ensuring early warning to Primary Mortgage Banks where likelihood of delinquency is observed on specific subscriber loans.

Equally noteworthy would be its ability to ensure better management of credit collaterals and online interactions with stakeholders and collateral valuation entries and alerts. The application also includes the ability to help the bank to achieve efficient document management systems by enabling it work paperless in loan documentation, appraisal, and disbursement, remediation, and loan recovery processes.

Standardisation of Financial Reporting Standardising financial reporting is another key improvement that the core banking solution would help the bank achieve. For an exceedingly long time, FMBN owners including its regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the investing community and other key stakeholders in the housing sector saw the FMBN as not an ongoing concern. This was because previous managements had stacked up years of unaudited accounts.

This impacted negatively on the bank’s reputation, soured investor, and stakeholder confidence in the Bank’s ability to account for funds under its care.

It is important to state that the Dangiwa led Management have done a sterling job of fixing the financial books of the bank.

As of 2017, when the new Management took office, FMBN’s financial accounts for the period 2013 right onto 2017 were left unaudited. Today, 2013 to 2015 accounts are already approved by the CBN while those for 2016 and 2017 have been concluded and submitted to the CBN for approval. The FMBN Board has already approved the bank’s 2018 financial accounts and audit is set to commence for 2019.

This is remarkable work that must have taken so much effort due to the largely manual mode of financial reporting that the FinTrak Finance Module, another key component of the banking system is set to fix. Once implemented it will aid the

bank to keep proper records of its financial transaction of payments and receipts, general ledger etc that will provide the base for financial reporting.

Standardization of reporting requirements give business entities the same leverage international companies have as well as greater level of confidence by market operators, potential investors, and analysts. This Integrated solution will allow for quick decision making by management by providing various management and financial reports in record time. The automation of financial reporting would eliminate many of the mundane and time-consuming processes associated with manual accounting. It would help to improve audit readiness, promote reliable consolidation of financial statements, team sharing and optimized collaborations, electronic review and monitoring while ensuring transparency and credibility of financial data. The entire process of preparing accounts becomes faster and reports can be generated instantly at the click of a button.

Internet Banking Capabilities, Improved Treasury Management and Business Intelligence Other notable components of the system include the FinTrak Internet Banking System that will provide seamless NHF customer contributions and loan activities from the comfort of their homes.

It will allow NHF Customers to make remittances to the Bank by leveraging on Internet technology to make the payments through the use of digital platforms such as Mobile phones, laptops, tablets, Personal Computers (PC) etc.

Others include the FinTrak Treasury Management System for better management of the bank’s activities as it relates to investment and Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence Platform to drive business analytics and provide data driven decision-making process using our Big Data to achieve insight to key business objects and trends for better strategic management and profitability The Treasury Management Module of the Core Banking is particularly important because it will help in aggregating financial and investment data and improves its accuracy, reduce the Bank’s exposure to credit and market risk and strengthen security.

Commenting on this development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the FMBN, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, who has led his Management team to achieve this historic feat said, “I am really excited that we have finally secured the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to engage the vendor and begin implementation of this important core banking application that would redefine and underpin the future of FMBN corporate and business operations. I wish to sincerely thank the Hon. Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, SAN for his commitment to fixing FMBN and his strong support of our efforts to put technology at the core of a new and reformed FMBN that is more responsive to our subscribers, owners, and stakeholders. This particular aspect of the system, the Subscriber Management Component, will fix longstanding issues that impinge our capacity for optimal performance, totally alter the way we manage subscribers and help us to give them a brand-new experience when they engage with us. It is comprehensive because it will also enable employers, who are registered with the NHF scheme, to seamlessly remit NHF contributions by their staff and submit the respective remittance schedules electronically on monthly basis which will be electronically credited to subscribers accounts without manual intervention” -John T. Ikyaave is a housing policy analyst based in Abuja Contact Email: housingtoday@gmail. com

28

T H I S D AY ˾ DECEMBER 24, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

Providing Succour to Physically Challenged Actionaid Nigeria and the Human Development Initiatives have been playing an integral role in supporting persons with disabilities through training, advocacy and other ways, writes Ugo Aliogo

D

ecember 3, every year is usually set aside to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

It is a day set aside since 1992 to recognise, honour and celebrate people with disabilities.

The theme of this year ’s event was “Building Back Better: Towards a Disability Inclusive, Accessible and Sustainable Post COVID-19 World.”

As part of efforts to accelerate the growth and development of persons with disability, Actionaid has been working on disability issues since the UN global agency 2030 recognised the need to reach the most marginalised group in the society.

In line with this effort, the organisation conducted two researches to showcase the challenges faced by persons living with disabilities.

One of the researches in 2011 showed huge disability and gender gaps, revealing a broader exclusion that women are subjected to and the harmful stereotypes.

The research implied that whatever the challenge faced by persons with disabilities, women with disabilities suffer more and are subjected to double discrimination. Poverty and other challenges of exclusion undermine their dignity and place barriers for full exclusion in the society, and this is the same for children living with disabilities.

In its bid to continue supporting persons with disabilities, it went into partnership with the Human Development Initiatives, conducted a community visit to Ajasa Odo Alabe Junior Secondary School, Alimosho on the International Day of Persons with Disability to showcase challenges children with disabilities face in their quest for education.

Speaking at the event, Country Director, Actionaid, Mrs. Ene Obi, said the organisation’s research on inclusive education revealed that many children with disabilities are out of school.

She also stated that reason why children with disabilities are out of school, include non-enrolment in school, while those who enrol are less likely to complete their education compared to their peers.

She expressed displeasure with the issue of overcrowded classrooms, lack of facilities to support their learning as teachers are unable to give them the support they need and inaccessible learning environment.

Obi further explained that despite progress made in ratifying the policy on inclusive education in Nigeria, current education resources are insufficient to achieve education; budgets and plans are not sensitive enough to support inclusion which makes financing inclusive education very low.

She hinted that Nigeria lacks the teaching workforce required to deliver inclusive education as they have not received enough training to practice inclusion.

According to her, “Actionaid Nigeria will continue to advocate for the rights of persons living with disabilities, push for their inclusion, support the development of policy and budget for inclusive education in Nigeria. These, we also demonstrated during the schoolclosure, when we supported children with disabilities with transistors radio to ensure their continued learning.

“Today, we encourage people with disabilities to embrace the teaching profession as a key to overcoming stereotypes and stigma and providing support to the children with disabilities coming through education system.

“With only 10years left until 2030, and in a world thrown into turmoil by the COVID-19 pandemic, all tiers of government must take concrete actions

to recommit itself to honouring the UN commitments and mobilise all resources available resources to deliver on the SDG4 thereby ensuring no child is left behind.

“As the federal and state government work on the 2021 Appropriate Bill, we call for the budgetary processes to be sensitive to address disability challenges in the country especially for the education sector.”

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Human Development Initiatives, Olufunso Owasanoye, cited the World Health Organisation to have revealed that 15 per cent of the world’s population or estimated one billion people live with disabilities constituting the world’s largest minority.

She remarked that 80 per cent of persons with disabilities live in countries such as Nigeria, (according to United Development Programme).

She added that there are 90 per cent of children with disabilities in developing countries such as Nigeria who don’t attend school due to various barriers, (according to United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Owasanoye further explained that beyond awareness creation on disabilities, the day aims to promote full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspect of governance, “especially in budget planning and implementation and other strategic plans as way to achieving the global sustainable development goals by 2030.”

According to her, “Nigeria ratified the UN Conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities in 2010, which recognises the right to education of children with disability, though the country has only recently started to translate this into policy commitments.

“In 2016, the government launched the first ever National Policy on Inclusive Education in Nigeria (NPIEN). The Lagos state government has established the office of the Disability affairs and made other deliberate efforts in ensuring that new public facilities meet the needs of some persons with disabilities.

“In the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic and thereafter, we have seen some reasonable adjustments made by the governance of Lagos to ensure continuous learning for children including children with disabilities and improvement of WASH facilities in schools for safe reopening.

“With crisis, comes opportunity, even as the governor and the Lagos state

house of Assembly are working on the 2021 Appropriation Bill and we hope that this bill will among other things make disability issues visible by ensuring that all budget areas address disability challenges in the state especially for the education sector.”

She added: “The policy document on inclusive education should be reviewed and activated by the commissioner for education and get approval of the state executive council to facilitate the support of the State House of Assembly to institutionalise it.

“Lagos state government must recruit more teachers and ensure that 20% of teachers’ recruitment is set aside for teachers with special needs skills as a way of progressively promoting inclusive education. The Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) should be seen to promote inclusive education and build the capacity of initiators on gender and disability-based budgeting.

“Many children with disabilities are not in school, partly because their parents are not aware of the nearest location of inclusive schools, thus the names of all the Lagos inclusive teachers should be published. The Lagos state government should make special provision especially transportation, housing for teachers posted to rural and hard-to-reach areas of the state. The Lagos state government should ensure that school infrastructure facilities and surrounding are accessible to children with disabilities.”

On her part, the Chairperson, Education Committee, Joint Organisation of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mrs. Rita Boyo, said the Lagos state government has worked extensively to assist persons with disabilities in the areas of inclusive schooling.

She noted that there are a lot of inclusive secondary schools at junior and secondary levels respectively, “we also have inclusive primary schools in the state.”

Boyo maintained that despite state government support over the years, they are still soliciting for more support because daily they come up with different disability issues.

She remarked that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lagos state government in collaboration with some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) was able to include persons with disabilities in the social media learning and create understanding.

She hinted that the state government

has also trained about 42 teachers (special teachers and non-special teachers) to support persons who had hearing impairment difficulties.

The JONAPWD chairperson stated that during the time of employment, the state government have a percentage of persons with disabilities they employed especially the recruitment of teachers.

“The state government gave us 10% employment quota. In terms of housing some of us enjoyed the state housing scheme. Presently, some of us are leaving in the state quarters.

“In terms of transportation, there is free transport for persons with disabilities.

Again, we have the disability office; the state government is the first state to have such office. The office is known is the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, (LASODA). I will encourage other States to have the disability office because it is the avenue where the state government can meet and discuss with us on any initiative they are interested in,” she noted.

Boyo further explained that the LASODA office is the office that helps to bring together persons with disabilities, noting that they work in collaboration with JONAPWD. She added that JONAPWD is the umbrella body (both at national and state levels respectively) that represents persons with disabilities, and it has eight clusters; the blind, the deaf, the physically challenged, the spinal cord injury, the albino and the dwarf.

Need for More Inclusive Schools She appealed to the state government to build more inclusive schools with boarding system for persons with disabilities, pointing out that their teachers need to be encouraged, “because it is not easy to teach persons with disability.”

Continuing, she added: “Governments should provide them with more incentives. I teach in Boyson Academy, on the Island. Government should provide inclusive accommodation for the staff and students of persons with disabilities because some of these students they come from far distance.

“We also want constant training for our teachers and we employ others to emulate Lagos State too because it is in Lagos State that we have more of these inclusive schools. Today is a special day where NGOs come to support us and show solidarity. We don’t people to pity us, instead, we want them to show us empathy. It is like an open day for us.”

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 • T H I S D AY

29

30

˾ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020

Thursday, December 24, 2020 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Rose 2.6% dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ϮϲϮďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϳϯϰ͘Ϭϱ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ AIRTELAF ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ UBA ;нϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ NIGERIAN BREWERIES ;нϭ͘ϴйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϯϭ͘ϲй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƵůůƐ ZĞĂĸƌŵ ^ƚĂŶĐĞ͙ ASI up 2.4% dŚĞ ďƵůůƐ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ŝŶ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͛Ɛ ƚƌĂĚĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝͲ

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

2.62%

18.1%

73.4%

15.6%

3.2%

6.0x

0.5x

5.2%

10.4%

160.00

0.0%

28.0%

52.4%

46.8%

189.4%

11.9%

16.5x

27.7x

4.4%

6.1%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

851.80

10.0%

27.5%

185.0%

185.0%

7.7%

2.8%

27.9%

4.7%

33.00

0.0%

8.3%

11.1%

13.0%

ϯϴ͕ϴϬϯ͘ϳϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌͲ

4 Zenith Bank PLC

24.50

0.0%

5.8%

31.7%

31.0%

1,505.00

0.0%

est in AIRTELAF ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ BUACEMENT ;нϵ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ NIGERIAN

3.5%

2.4%

2.4%

83.0%

6 Dangote Cement PLC

245.00

0.0%

5.3%

72.5%

72.5%

30.8%

BREWERIES ;нϭ͘ϴйͿ͘ ĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ

7 Access Bank PLC

8.55

0.0%

2.5%

-14.5%

-15.3%

16.8%

1.5%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

8.50

1.2%

ϰϰ͘ϲй

2.3%

18.9%

18.1%

13.9%

1.3%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

7.00

0.0%

2.1%

13.8%

7.7%

13.5%

1.3%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

56.00

1.8%

1.8%

-5.1%

-5.1%

6.6%

2.5%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

22.05

0.2%

2.8%

44.1%

59.8%

6.5%

4.6%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC

ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ

േϰϳϱ͘ϲďŶ

to ƐĞƩůĞ at േϮϬ͘ϯƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ƐƉŝŬĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

1,734.05

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

ŵĂƌŬĞƚ

P/BV

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

ƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĞdžƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƌƵŶ͕ ĂĚǀĂŶĐŝŶŐ Ϯ͘ϰй ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ at

ĂƐ

P/E

1.3% 4.8x

1.3x

8.5%

20.9%

3.5x

0.7x

11.4%

28.2%

20.5%

29.3x

28.5x

4.7%

3.4%

14.6%

16.4x

5.2x

6.7%

6.1%

2.8x

0.4x

7.6%

36.1%

3.6x

0.5x

11.5%

27.7%

3.4x

0.4x

5.4%

29.3%

41.5x

2.8x

3.1%

2.4%

15.3x

1.0x

4.5%

6.5%

0.3x

9.5%

-3.5%

5.6x

1.4x

5.4%

17.7%

0.7x

5.3%

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ Ϯϯϴ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ ϴϮ͘Ϯй ƚŽ ϭ͘ϱďŶ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϭϴ͘ϳďŶ ƌĞͲ

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

402.30

0.0%

1.0%

-38.8%

-32.1%

-0.3%

-0.2%

ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ VERI-

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

44.05

0.0%

1.5%

7.4%

10.1%

25.8%

3.8%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

26.60

0.0%

TASKAP ;ϭϮϭ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ FLOURMILL ;ϱϭ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ and BU-

0.9%

35.0%

35.0%

15 International Brew eries PLC

5.90

0.0%

0.4%

-37.9%

-37.9%

-26.3%

-6.2%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

6.55

0.8%

0.6%

0.8%

0.0%

0.5%

0.0%

63.6x

0.3x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.54

-0.4%

0.6%

23.9%

25.7%

10.7%

1.1%

2.8x

0.3x

7.9%

35.4% 8.1%

ACEMENT ;ϱϬ͘ϳŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ BUACEMENT (േϮ͘ϴďŶͿ͕ AIRTELAF (േϮ͘ϬďŶͿ ĂŶĚ FLOURMILL (േϭ͘ϰďŶͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚĂďůĞ͘

18 11 PLC

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƚŚĞ Ɛŝdž ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϭ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĂͲ ƚŽƌ ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƵŶĐŚĂŶŐĞĚ͘ The AFR-/ d ĂŶĚ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝͲ ĐĞƐ ĐůŝŵďĞĚ ϱ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ ϯ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ AIRTELAF ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ BUACEMENT ;нϵ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ WAPCO ;нϬ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϭ͘ϰй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƵŶĚĞƌƉŝŶŶĞĚ ďLJ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ GUINNESS ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͕ VITAFOAM ;нϳ͘ϭйͿ ĂŶĚ STERLING ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ &ŝŶĂůůLJ͕ the /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ůŽƐĞƌ͕ ƐŚĞĚĚŝŶŐ Ϭ͘ϴй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐͲ ƚŽƌƐ ƐŽůĚ Žī MANSARD (-ϯ͘ϬйͿ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

ƌĂƟŽͿ

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ

ƚŽ

ϯ͘ϰdž

ĨƌŽŵ

the

1.6%

228.00

0.0%

0.7%

54.2%

54.2%

16.4%

7.6%

12.4x

1.9x

3.8%

91.00

0.0%

0.7%

63.7%

63.7%

20.6%

13.4%

13.6x

2.7x

2.2%

7.4%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

17.90

0.0%

0.5%

31.6%

27.9%

30.8%

15.6%

6.3x

1.8x

6.1%

15.8%

1.1%

0.93

0.0%

0.3%

-6.1%

-13.1%

-3.5%

-0.8%

0.6x

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

13.90

0.0%

0.2%

-36.8%

-32.9%

-9.8%

-6.5%

1.2x

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

-6.2% -8.6%

19.50

1.6%

0.2%

-35.1%

-35.1%

-16.2%

-8.4%

24 FCMB Group Plc

2.90

-4.0%

0.4%

56.8%

59.3%

10.3%

1.2%

2.8x

0.1x

4.8%

36.3%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.92

0.5%

0.2%

-3.5%

1.1%

8.8%

0.8%

5.3x

0.4x

1.6%

18.7%

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

7.45

2.1%

0.2%

-13.4%

-16.3%

7.8%

3.7%

105.7x

0.4x

1.3%

0.9%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

6.00

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

13.9%

4.8%

5.6x

0.8x

7.5%

17.9%

71.80

0.0%

0.2%

51.2%

51.2%

18.5%

7.7%

13.7x

2.3x

2.9%

7.3%

5.60

0.0%

0.1%

-6.7%

-7.4%

8.0%

1.0%

6.6x

0.6x

4.5%

15.2%

130.00

0.0%

0.1%

17.2%

17.2%

10.7%

2.1%

15.7x

1.7x

5.0%

3.35

0.0%

0.1%

-16.0%

-16.0%

14.5%

2.6%

1.4x

0.2x

28 Presco PLC 29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 30 Total Nigeria PLC 31 Oando PLC

0.6x

-30.5%

6.4% 69.3%

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

14.50

0.0%

0.1%

12.0%

12.0%

18.4%

5.8%

9.5x

3.1x

2.7%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

18.00

0.0%

0.1%

8.5%

8.6%

10.8%

1.2%

19.5x

0.8x

9.3%

5.1%

0.69

0.0%

-6.8%

1.5%

6.8%

0.5%

4.0x

0.5x

5.8%

24.9%

13.55

0.0%

0.1% 0.1%

-24.7%

3.1%

1.1%

33.1x

1.0x

7.8x

34 Wema Bank PLC 35 Ardova PLC

-25.1%

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC

10.6%

3.0%

-100.0%

37 Beta Glass PLC

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

3.0%

3.0%

10.3%

7.2%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-21.3%

-6.4%

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

0.97

-3.0%

0.1%

68.0%

67.2%

21.5%

6.6%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

3.60

0.0%

0.0%

-26.5%

-26.5%

-10.4%

-5.0%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ

-29.4%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

1.1x

0.8x

0.0x

1.8x 5.6x

12.8% -13.3%

1.0x

17.8%

0.5x

0.0x

-20.8%

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

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

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

A B CTRA NS

0.33

10.0%

VER IT A SKA P

121.2

0.0%

A IR T ELA F R I

851.80

10.0%

F LOUR M ILL

51.2

0.0%

ET ER N A

4.96

10.0%

B UA C EM EN T

50.7

9.1%

NA ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵŝŶŐ ƟĐŬĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ FCMB (-

B OC GA S

8.70

9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

43.2

0.0%

ϰ͘ϬйͿ͕ PZ (-ϯ͘ϲйͿ ĂŶĚ LASACO (-ϯ͘ϭйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ

C UT IX

2.17

9.6%

M A N SA R D

21.6

-3.0%

9.5%

WA P C O

13.8

0.2%

60.00

9.1%

UB A

13.2

1.2%

0.25

8.7%

FB NH

13.0

0.0%

Ϭ͘ϳdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ as 24 ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶͲ ĞƌƐ͘ ABCTRANS ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ AIRTELAF ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ ETER-

ƚŚĞ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ďƵLJŝŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ďƵůůŝƐŚ͘

T ic k er

F T N C OC OA B UA C EM EN T R OYA LEX

0.81

T ic k er

R ED ST A R EX

3.36

8.4%

GUA R A N T Y

9.3

0.0%

C H IP LC

0.29

7.4%

UC A P

7.5

3.8%

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 T ic k er

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

2787.0

9.1% 10.0%

FCM B

2.90

-4.0%

B UA C EM EN T

PZ

5.30

-3.6%

A IR T ELA F R I

2017.4

LA SA C O

0.31

-3.1%

F LOUR M ILL

1361.7

0.0%

M A N SA R D

0.97

-3.0%

D A N GC EM

1174.8

0.0%

M A YB A KER

3.75

-0.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

1058.4

0.0%

A F R IP R UD

6.12

-0.5%

M TNN

535.3

0.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.54

-0.4%

GUA R A N T Y

306.5

0.0%

WA P C O

304.6

0.2%

NB

182.1

1.8%

UB A

110.5

1.2%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

31

MARKET NEWS

Expansion: Investors Increase Demand for BUA Cement Shares Goddy Egene

9.1 per cent to hit N60 per share the cement giant with Sinoma CBMI million tonnes each per annum in gained 71 per cent,Chairman of BUA as investors reacted positively the of China for the construction of Edo, Sokoto and Adamawa States. Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, had Shares of BUA Cement Plc rose news of an agreement signed by three new cement plants of three Year-to-date, BUA Cement shares have said Chairman of BUA Cement said A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 22- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Dec-2020, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

the expansion would transform the manufacturing industry and increase Nigeria’s cement production capacity.

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 ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 1.05 1.07 16.60% ACAP Income Funds 0.86 0.86 11.49% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.84% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.60 3.74 47.54% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.88% Anchoria Equity Fund 132.95 133.43 23.33% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.38 1.38 17.39% 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 18.44 18.99 20.36% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 405.33 417.55 17.34% ARM Ethical Fund 34.36 35.40 18.15% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.21 1.22 21.58% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.11 1.11 11.11% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.02% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 125.12 126.00 30.22% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.29% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.21 2.21 17.72% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.23 2.27 43.03% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.52% Paramount Equity Fund 15.87 16.15 26.76% Women's Investment Fund 132.66 134.11 20.28% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.00% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 129.02 129.83 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.72 108.72 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 0.53% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.16 1.17 25.34% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.68 1.68 26.51% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 0.91% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 0.86% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,209.09 1,224.18 9.00% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 185.45 186.85 26.31% FBN Halal Fund 110.54 110.57 10.54% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.21% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 121.29 121.70 7.42% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.45 121.87 7.03% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 150.30 152.58 15.50% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.91% Legacy Debt Fund 3.87 3.87 5.81% Legacy Equity Fund 1.49 1.52 31.61% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.93% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.46% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.14 127.67 18.08%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.69% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.88 2.94 31.60% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 156.87 157.83 9.51% 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 1.43 1.45 26.63% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,152.38 1,152.38 10.72% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A PACAM EuroBond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 131.51 134.36 6.52% 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 1.02 1.02 9.13% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 25.20% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 6.47% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 28.33% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.49% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 33.91% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.33% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 26.13% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 5.52% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.97 110.97 6.49% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.36 1.39 14.18% United Capital Bond Fund 1.89 1.89 9.09% United Capital Equity Fund 0.87 0.89 23.27% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.19% United Capital Eurobond Fund 116.92 116.92 6.96% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.08 1.09 2.87% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 12.28 12.42 19.45% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.57 13.70 16.80% Zenith Income Fund 25.00 25.00 10.05% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.85%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.48

7.29%

52.22

0.33%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

12.39 117.36 93.14

12.49 119.92 94.89

46.70% 24.26% 24.00%

Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.07

4.11

18.60%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.68

5.76

-3.79%

Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

16.72 1.00 17.99

16.82 1.00 18.19

38.70% 0.52% 72.43%

209.21

211.21

11.95%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

32

IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R: Head of Treasury/Investment , Mr Abimbola Olanrewaju; Executive Director, Private Banking( Abuja and Northern Nigeria) Adedoyin Coker; Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismark Rewane; Group Managing Director, Alpha Morgan Group, Mr Ade Buraimo; Managing Director, Investment Banking, Mr George Imade and Head Private Banking, Yimika Ogunlaja, during the Alpha Morgan Group three-day Annual Budget Retreat at the Raddison Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Carat Media, Igwe Okeke; Managing Director, Beiersdorf NIVEA Consumer Products Nigeria, Godwin Harrison; Director, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Sola Fijabi and Shopper and Customer Marketing Manager, Beiersdorf Nigeria, Kayode Faizal during the Official Sponsorship Signing Ceremony between NIVEA Men and Higher Institution Football League (HIFL) ahead of the 2021 tournament in Lagos...recently

L-R: Elder Ganiu Lawal; Mrs. Oluremi Osinowo; Pastor Segun Osinowo, Formal Director General NECA; Pastor Olayori Iyiola (Author); Pastor Ayodele Iyiola and Pastor Wunmi Kalejaye, Vice President FCMB during the launch of the book “Scavenger in God’s Vineyard”

by Pastor Olayori Iyiola at NUT Pavilion Alausa Lagos...recently

The Couple, Dr. Jonah Chigozie Asiegbu and his wife, Princess Ojiugo (middle) flanked by the former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke (right) and the groom’s mother, Mrs. Janet Asiegbu. during their wedding at Open Doors Christian Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State....recently L-R: Manager, Data Services, 9mobile, Godswill Nnaji; , N10million grand prize winner, Abisola Fausat Emmanuel and Head,Media Planning & Management, 9mobile,Gerald Osugo, at the 9mobile Mega Millions Promo Grand Finale and prize presentation held in Abuja... recently

.L-R: Mother of the Celebrant, Ajiya Mairo Manjalo; Zanna Gultuma of mai KanUri/ Ambassador of Shehu Borno in Abuja, Abubakar Mohammed; Wife of the Celebrant, Ajiya Saadatu Abubakar and Father of the celebrant, Hussaini Monjalo, during the turban ceremony of the ambassador in Abuja...recently .

ENOCK REUBEN

Deputy Inspector General of police, Leye Oyebade and his wife, Adebimpe and Managing Director, House J. Hotels and Resorts, Bayo Fatunsin during pull out ceremony in honour of Oyebade in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

33

Mfamosing Plant Manger, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Xavier Kennedy (left) and State Coordinator, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON, Mr. Ogbuji Michael Chukuwudi, during the presentation of the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme MANCAP) certificates to Lafarge in Calabar, Cross River State...recently

L-R: Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Energy, Engr. Lolu Adubifa; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Talabi; and Viathan CEO, Habeeb Alebiosu at the signing ceremony of a power expansion MoU between Viathan Engineering Limited, owners and operators of Lisabi Power Limited in Abeokuta ….recently

Commandant of the Lagos Zone of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr John Adewoye; New Deputy Commandant, Mrs Folasade Adegoke and her Husband, Tunde during the decoration of Mrs Adegoke with her new rank, in Ibadan...recently President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr. Boss Mustapha during the presentation of end of the year report of Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 at the Presidential Villa , Abuja...recently . GODWIN OMOIGUI

Bishop of St. Theresa Cathedral, Catholic Diocese of Yola, Stephen Dani Mamza, presenting cash gifts to some physically challenged people, as part of Christmas celebration’s intervention in Yola...recently

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Segun McMedal; President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Mallam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo; Group Managing Director, CMC Connect Limited (Perception Managers) Yomi Badejo-Okusanya receiving awards for the Most Inspiring Leader in Public Relations Practice & PR Practitioner of the Year and Principal Consultant/CEO, Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun during the 2020 LaPRIGA Awards ceremony, in Lagos...recently.

L-R: Member, National Governing Council, African Peer Review Mechanism/AUDA-NEPAD, Mrs. Tawakalitu Yusuf; Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Iyabo Okieimen ; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Alokan; Onise of OdoOro-Ekiti, HRM, Oba Babatunde Jemilehin, and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Mr. Femi Ajayi, during a Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on 2nd Peer Review of Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Ado Ekiti...recently

L-R: Queen, Continental International 2020, Favour Onyemelihe; Queen of African Continent Ambassador 2020, Blessing Udoh; Queen of African Continent 1st Runner Up, Angelina Clifford; Miss African Continent 2020, Malisi Stephen; Queen of African Continent winner,2019, Jennifer Magnus; and ,Queen of African Continent winner 2020/2021, Chinasa Opara (sitting), at the Queen of African Continent Beauty Pageant grand finale in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

34

T H I S D AY ˾ ,DECEMER 24, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Stemming the Looming Spike in COVID-19 Pandemic During Yuletide, New Year Festivities Health authorities, professionals in the health sector and other stakeholders, have expresed concerns over the possibility of an escalation in the spread of COVID-19 virus during Christmas and New Year celebrations. Cautioning against travels, with threats to impose restrictions to compel adherance to relevant health protocols, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, however points out that one of the most potent measures which is presently not given much attention is public enlightenment and advocacy

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Mashi Abdulaziz receives items for managing COVID-19 fatalities from ICRC’s Bruno Raymond

Minister of state, Senator Olorunmibe Mamora demonstrating one of the health protocols- exchanging greetings while avoiding unhealthy body contac

A

Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Federal Tertiary hospitals have begun work on the reactivation of treatment centres, assessing resources available and needed and alerting frontline health workers. He also said the ministry will be strengthening the COVID-19 home care treatment protocol for asymptomatic and mild cases and community based care by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, in management of moderate to severe cases.

The minister further said that government has commenced inventory taking and plan to distribute wide a range of resources available in our warehouses, according to need. These include PPEs commodities, equipment and consumables for deployment to treatment centres. To strengthen manpower needs, we shall step up continuous nationwide training of various cadres of health workers, especially ICU nurses, intensivists, Biomedical Engineers, to ensure proper utilisation and maintenance of ventilators and critical equipment, while improving knowledge and skills of personnel, as we learn more about COVID-19.

s various cities, towns and communities go agog with the festive moments, the fears and concerns of our health managers are centered on how the country will cope with the expected rise in new cases of COVID-19 infection, especially with the period of Christmas festivities at hand.

The worry is mostly based on the level of apathy and utter disdain with which many Nigerians are presently treating the call for the observance of COVID-19 health advisories. For, instance, many people do not follow the instructions issued by health authorities on the need to limit travels and interactions, observe social distancing at functions and offices, putting on face mask during large gatherings and reporting for tests to ascertain their COVID-19 status.

Even from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, most health advisories were either not adhered to or were observed in breach in most places. More than anything else, it was the rest of death from the relatively unknown virus that kept those who were informed in check. As soon as the people saw that the effect of the virus was not as potent as was earlier feared, they gradually dropped from observing the health protocols.

During the later part of the lockdown period, people were compelled to wear face mask and to maintain physical distancing at public places. This led to temporary drop in COVID-19 cases. But it appeared the lockdown succeeded in crippling our already weak economy and means of livelihood more than it did to halt the spread of COVID-19.

The effort to get people to understand the reality of the pandemic did not achieve the desired impact and the message didn’t just sink.

Apathy Many believed that the whole exercise is government’s contrived agenda to divert resources for easy looting. In public places like markets, offices, politcal gatherings, religious worship centres and in villages, most people ignore the health caution and expose themselves to the risk of COVID-19 infection. But it is not only the citizens that have failed in this direction. Despite, noteworthy efforts of some of agencies in the health sector and their noble staff who are daily sacrificing their lives to ensure that the disease is contained, there are little or nothing being done by government and private organisations to put in place facilities that will help check the spread of the disease.

For instance, our markets, schools and offices are still operated in a manner that exposes people to public health dangers. A visit to any of the markets in the urban centres shows that nothing was done to create more gateways for entry and exit in the markets. People still get cramped together in the markets without wearing facemask. Tap

water and toilet facilities are rarely available or are insufficient.

The situation has led to a spike in the infection rate across the country. Latest figures of the new positive cases have shown more than a normal increase in the spread of coronavirus.

Surge The surge in the COVID-19 cases is enough reason for the government and health officials to be worried. Speaking at the media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 pandemic last week in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire described the situation as very dicey.

The minister said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has continued to rise with the total number now 75,062 as at Thursday morning (December 17). According to him, a record number of 930 confirmed cases were diagnosed on December 16, the highest daily number recorded since the virus was detected in February, 2020.

He said: “This is what we have been warned about for many weeks, and it gives cause to worry, not only about the causes, but also about the course of events.”

Damp on Festivities On this he said: “As the festive season and holidays approach, many people will want to celebrate, many will crowd into shops, markets and places of worship, many will travel with mass transit transport, many will even travel to Nigeria from high burden countries”.

Ehanire said that all these circumstances have proven to accelerate COVID-19 transmission and have caused explosive increases in other countries.

He explained that the country’s epidemiological trend has already started to show that the curve is rising again with the total number of active cases now 7,087, and a corresponding increase in the number of serious cases requiring hospital admission in High Dependency Units for oxygen therapy, or mechanical ventilation support in Intensive Care Units.

He also said that if we include those in hospital for observation, the need for more hospital beds will become more acute. From all indications, the second wave is here.

Speaking on the threat of second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, the chairman of the inter-ministerial committee set up to review the state of intervention effort to check COVID-19 spread, Prof. Tomori Oyewale said the situation was expected. On whether Nigeria has finally slipped into the second wave of the dreaded virus infection, he said:” it is no longer the issue of apprehension, it has hit us. You have 791 cases in one day and 675, the next day. It is here with us already.”

Following this new surge, Ehanire said the

Vaccines On the backend, the minister said a Technical Working Group of the Federal Ministry of Health on COVID-19 is examining modalities to obtain access to vaccines for Nigeria. He said the committee is in conversation with the WHO-GAVI on the COVAX- AMC facility, to support 180 lower and lower middle income countries to access anti-COVID vaccines.

According to Ehanire, the Afro Regional Director of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Moeti has assured that only 20 per cent of the quantity of vaccines required for Low and Lower Middle Income countries will be made available to Nigeria through the Covax initiative as high income countries have secured first rights to vaccines rights for all their citizens, and in some cases, for double their population. The minister revealed that African Union has set up an African Vaccine Acquisition Team (AVAT), aiming to acquire vaccines for up 60 per cent of the population.

Stance of Health Professionals On his part, the President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah said that the current spike in COVID-19 infection was largely predictable. Ujah said that it was predicted and at the same time expected that everyone should be prepared for it, adding that if it was happening in other climes, “we will expect that it will also come to Nigeria. That is why we are preaching, appealing and advocating for strict compliance to NCDC protocol so that we can”.

Also the Nigerian doctors under the auspices of the NMA met recently in Awka, the Anambra State capital and issued a communiqué stating

their fears over the rate of violation of COVID-19 protocol and it’s implications. The doctors made a passionate appeal to all Nigerians to take the COVID-19 prevention advisories very seriously in order to interrupt the transmission reduce ill-health and deaths from the dreaded disease.

The NMA communiqué said that strict adherence to the NCDC Protocol of use of face mask, regular handwashing and use of sanitizers and social as well as Physical distancing is very strongly advocated. It further advised that non-essential travels should not be embarked upon especially during this yuletide season and beyond.

“Serious efforts to prioritise health including supplementary appropriation/ budgetary provision should be initiated by government at all levels and the private sector coalitions to ensure the procurement and availability of consumables for effective response in the containment of COVID-19, especially with upsurge of the infection.

“We also wish to advise government to procure the vaccines that have been reported to be effective for further research study on Nigerians to confirm their efficacy and safety for the Nigerian populace”.

NCDC Guidelines Following the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also waded in and has developed a number of guidelines for public sector leaders and business owners in Nigeria. The health advisory warned that the risk of spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 is higher in confined spaces where there is close contact (less than 2 metres), with an infected, but possibly asymptomatic person, the riskier the longer someone has close contact with an infected person. It cautioned people to avoid where possible travels during the Christmas period.

The centre provided guidelines for employers and business owners, to safeguard the health and safety of employees and customers, which included ensuring that they conduct temperature checks on every employee and visitors, wearing of facemask, provision of water for regular hand wash and maintenance of social distancing of not less than 2 metres.

Inspite of the acclaimed potency of the health protocols rolled out by NCDC in checking spread of COVID-19, what remained a major challenge is how to get people to observe these health protocols, especially during this festive season. How do we get people to heed the advise and internalise good health habits? How do we get government and relevant agencies to play their role of putting needed facilities on ground to further improve people’s health condition on sustainable basis?

These are issues that all stakeholders in the health sector should seek to address if we are to make genuine headway in the fight against COVID-19.

T H I S D AY ˾ ,DECEMER 24, 2020

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NEWS

USAID Commits $45m towards Primary Healthcare Services in FCT Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will commit $45 million over the next five years towards improving primary healthcare services in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Mission Director USAID/Nigeria, Anne Patterson, disclosed this during the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USAID/Nigeria and the FCT Administration to improve the health of residents in the territory.

The funds will be deployed through four existing health activities: the Integrated Health Programme, Breakthrough Action, Health Workforce Management, and the Global Health Supply Chain.

Patterson revealed that though the health status of the FCT population was fair when compared with other

states of the federation, the FCT has seen an increase in the influx of people from other parts of the country.

She noted that this population increase was putting stress on the available public infrastructure, especially primary healthcare facilities, which are ill-equipped and under-resourced to address the increased health needs of the residents.

“The purpose of the MOU is to support the revitalisation of the FCT healthcare system to deliver quality, affordable, and sustainable preventive and primary healthcare services to the residents of FCT. “With the signing of this MOU, USAID expects to apply global best practices and provide high-level technical expertise to assist the FCTA to meet their health improvement goals to operationalise their health plans and their reform strategies,” she said.

The MoU, specified that the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey

(NDHS) would serve as the baseline for overall health status improvement, while the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey would serve as the end line survey.

It also acknowledges the federal government and FCT Department of Health and Human Services Secretariat policies, standards, and implementation guidelines for achieving health systems strengthening especially Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and Primary Health Care (PHC) systems and service delivery.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, signed on behalf of the FCT Administration.

She acknowledged the tremendous role of USAID/ Nigeria in the development of healthcare facilities in the Federal Capital Territory, stating that the administration would actively sustain and build on the cost-effective intervention of this partnership.

Nigeria to Get Certification for Local Production of Vaccines, Says NAFDAC Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that it is working hard to obtain International certification to enable Nigeria manufacture vaccines locally.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed confidence that Nigeria would soon start manufacturing vaccines, with the upgrading of existing laboratories across the country.

Speaking during the NAFDAC’s Staff Recognition and Award Ceremony for 2019 and 2020, for serving and retired staff held recently in Abuja , the DG said the agency has made huge milestone in the efforts to address the health needs.

She said: “From last three years, the agency has embarked on the digitalisation of its regulatory activities through the deployment of the electronic platform for online registration and decentralisation of registration processes”.

She said the digitalisation exercise enables the clients register their products through online, adding that the agency has decentralised the production of some regulated products to encourage growth of small scale business enterprises She said NAFDAC was recognising some members of staff who helped in distribution of its palliatives during the lock down.

Also the agency has developed and deployed the port inspection data of

its management system as a web-based online application that provides electronic endorsement.

She dsclosed that achieving the ISO 9001 in June 2019, which is the world’s most recognised Quality Management System (QMS) standard, places the country in good standing to strive to get to maturity level three, which enables the country manufacture its own vaccines.

Adeyeye also noted that the agency is leveraging technology to trace vaccines, especially when the COVID-19 vaccines arrives the country.

She explained that this will enable it track and trace vaccines received, to ensure that they are safe and monitored for adverse reactions on patients.

“NAFDAC is a leading national regulator in Africa.

The agency is driven by international standards and best practices,” she said Adeyeye expressed confidence that Nigeria would soon start manufacturing vaccines, with the upgrading of existing laboratories across the country.

“Our new normal started three years ago when we started quality management system that now makes us to focus more on the customers, the image of the organisation in order to ensure that we are a standard operating procedure-driven organisation.

“This led us to achieving ISO 9001 in 2019 June. We moved on to the global benchmarking where we adopted international best practices and we are still

adopting international best practices.

“With regards to the establishment of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) global benchmarking and adoption of international best practices, we want to get to maturity level three so that Nigeria can manufacture her own vaccines, and we are all working on this every day.“ “We are upgrading the agency’s laboratories to international standards using equipment that are compliant to ISO 17025.

NAFDAC laboratories are changing very rapidly with improvements in new equipment and supplies.

“Our four laboratories that were accredited before I came have received reaccreditation. We have also gotten a new lab – the Yaba Biologies and Vaccines Lab accredited for the first time.

And our two other labs will be accredited very soon.”

Adeyeye said efforts to enhance the local production of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria, has led to the agency renewing and updating its 5 + 5 validity policy in order to promote local content.

“We want more local manufacturing – to reverse it from 70 per cent imports to 70 percent locally manufactured products.

“We are building traceability because our supply chain is chaotic to say the least. This is a technologically-driven initiative, and NAFDAC is the second country in Africa to adopt this. We are using this for COVID-19 vaccines when they come,” she said.

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

LIFESTYLE AND INFERTILITY (Part 1)

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number of factors can lead to infertility in couples, but not all of them are medically related.

Over the years several studies have been conducted to prove that there are other non-medical factors that can affect a person’s fertility.

The big question we would be asking and answering this week is: Can my lifestyle choices be a possible risk factor for my infertility?

It is amazing how much we indulge in unhealthy habits daily that causes harm to our health, reduce our quality of life and are capable of possibly causing death. Imagine if we were told that a particular tablet caused instant death most people would not even want to even get close, talk less of consuming them.

Lifestyle is defined as the particular way of living. It includes the choices we make, habits we form, and heathy activities we fail to adhere to.

Many lifestyle factors such as the age to start a family, nutrition, weight, exercise, psychological stress, environmental/occupational exposures and others can have substantial effects on fertility. Habits such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, alcohol and caffeine consumption has also been found to have negative impact on our fertility.

Clinical infertility as we already know is defined as the inability to become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. It has been estimated that approximately 15% of the population in industrially developed countries are affected. The causes of diagnosed infertility ranges from ovulatory disorder, tubal disease, endometriosis, chromosomal abnormalities, sperm factors and unexplained infertility. Lifestyle factors have had drastic impact on general health and also the capacity to reproduce. Issues such as smoking and obesity can affect general health and wellbeing.

For example smoking increases an individual’s risk of cardiovascular disease and obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers etc.

HOW FEMALE FERTILITY IS AFFECTED

BY LIFESTYLE CHOICES: r Age: This is a crucial factor when attempting pregnancy and has a pivotal role to play. The more you delay your pregnancy, the less fertile you become. This is due to the gradual reduction in the quantity and quality of a woman’s egg occurring over time due to natural aging. r Weight: Women who are underweight or overweight are not likely to have normal ovulation. This is because both extremes condition can have negative impact on hormone production r Diet: maintaining healthy diet is essential to maintaining one’s fertility. Adequate nutrition helps in promoting heathy weight and hormone balance e.g clean water intake is recommended instead of sugary fizzy drinks. r Stress: women with higher levels of hormones linked to stress (cortisol) have more

difficulty in getting and maintaining pregnancy as compared to women who experienced less stress. Stress has been found to alter hormonal levels and inhibit ovulation. r &YUSFNF FYFSDJTF while moderate exercise is recommended to keep fit and encourage healthy metabolism, excessive exercise has been found to impact negatively on ovulation. r 4BGF TFY unprotected sex sure predisposes to sexual transmitted diseases which are major causes of infertility e.g. gonorrhea and Chlamydia. The use of condom, fidelity or abstinence for unmarried individuals remains the best option to stay safe and healthy r 4NPLJOH Overall risk of infertility was 95% for smoker compared to non-smoker, with menopause reported to occur 1 to 4 years earlier for women who smoke compared to non-smokers. Recent study showed an increased thickness of the outer covering of female egg (zona pellucida) in smokers which makes it more difficult for sperm to penetrate. In female the contents of cigarette may affect the follicular micro environment and other hormones.

Women have a significant delay in conception independent of other factors associated with female exposure to both active and passive smoking. Almost twice as many IVF cycles were needed to achieve pregnancies for smokers compared with non-smoker. A large study of women undergoing first IVF cycle reported that there was 28% decrease in life birth rate for smoker compared to non-smoker r $BGGFJOF The stimulant properties of caffeine used in most beverages (coffee, tea and soft drinks) and some other food such as chocolates have been reported to prolong the time of pregnancy. Although the mechanism for this is still unclear, caffeine may affect female reproduction by targeting ovulation and corpus luteal function negatively alternating levels of hormone. r "MDPIPM a known teratogen agent (an agent or factor which causes malformation of an embryo) and consumption has been reported to decrease fertility, although the level of consumption associated with risk is unclear. Excessive consumption is known to be dangerous for the unborn child causing low birth weight and prematurity. r $PTNFUJDT most cosmetics, including nail polish, anti-bacterial soap, anti-aging creams, hair sprays and perfumes have negative effect on the female fertility due to toxic chemicals/heavy metals eg lead present in some of them. The use of cosmetics have been associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion and infertility in some women. r Adequate sleep: getting a good night’s rest helps to refresh and restore the brain and organ system functioning, thus regulating important body hormones including fertility related hormones. Sleep enhances release of the hormone LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which usually enhances maturation and rupture of the egg in the process called “ovulation” thus increasing the chances of achieving pregnancy.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ,DECEMER 24, 2020

FEATURES

Yellow Fever Scourge and Enugu Govt’s Prompt Response Samson Ezea

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n November this year, there were strange deaths of people in Ette Uno and Umuopu communities in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State. The situation created panic, confusion and pandemonium in the affected communities and the entire state.

The indigenes and residents of the communities were scared and upbeat.

While many claimed ignorance of the causes of the strange deaths, others attributed it to superstitions, some were of the view that it was the sudden surge in COVID-19 virus spread.

But in his usual prompt and swift response, just like he did during the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in the state, Governor Ugwuanyi dispatched Enugu State Ministry of Health Rapid Response Team and LGA Rapid Response Team to visit the affected communities in alongside the national and international health partners to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the sudden strange deaths in the communities.

Their findings revealed that the cause of the strange deaths was yellow fever. Further investigations as of the second week of November revealed that 222 suspected cases of Yellow Fever with 76 confirmed deaths have occurred in three states of Bauchi, Delta and Enugu.

Relying on heavily to ensure appropriate and adequate response to the outbreak by Enugu State Government is the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHCDA), whose it is her constitutional responsibility to handle health scourge like the battle against the spread of the dreaded Yellow Fever disease.

The Agency, led by its Executive Secretary and renowned medical doctor, Dr. George Ugwu, moved into action immediately in collaboration with its national and international health partners and massive support from the Enugu State Government liased with the leadership of the six local government areas in Enugu North Senatorial zone, where the disease has claimed lives to organise training for local government immunization teams and the Agency team members for reactive mass vaccination across the council areas to prevent further spread of the disease.

The Agency also mobilised resources and liased with Partners for financial, technical and human supports, which include mobilisation of stakeholders, prompt request and taking delivery

Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ESPHCDA) Dr. George addressing the Yellow Fever vaccinators their trainings in Enugu

Cross section of children with their Yellow Fever card showing that they have vaccinated

of doses of Yellow Fever Vaccine from the National Cold Chain Store, engaging in high level Advocacy visits and sensitisation meetings with government for enabling environment and key stakeholders for specific roles and mobilisation of all and sundry for acceptance of vaccination, training of Town criers and House- to-House mobilizers to create awareness. Others include production

and distribution of new letters to community governance, churches, schools, media and markets for information and public enlightenment, radio spot announcements for public awareness, selection of teams for fixed and temporary fixed posts to ensure wider coverage, daily delivery of adequate vaccines to the LGAs and maintenance of cold chain equipment, monitoring and supervision of

Outbreak response activities by State Supervisors, State Technical Facilitators and Partners, conduct of daily evening review meetings at LGAs and Primary Healthcare Agency office to appraise daily activities, daily call in data by the M&E unit was regularly implemented through data generation and transmission, engagement of Media through Press briefing for media monitoring, reporting and wider audience reach out and enlightenment, mid-review/ debriefing of ES/CEO ENS-PHCDA and State Immunisation team by the implementing LGA teams, release of health workers stipends and logistic funds to boost their morale and attitude to work, weekly staff management meeting of the Executive Secretary ENS-PHCDA with Directors and programme officers for stock taking, appraisal and restrategizing, liaising and collaborating with other government agencies such as Fire Service and SEMA for general fumigation and other non-medical emergencies and requesting for State wide Yellow Fever Vaccination campaign from NPHCDA amongst other assistance and support.

It is these prompt response of the Enugu State Government, concerted efforts and commitment of the ESPHCDA, State Ministry of Health, national and international health partners, local government administration and stakeholders that has helped immensely to reduce drastically or eliminate completely the Yellow Fever-induced deaths in the state, especially in Enugu North Senatorial zone since the outbreak of the dreaded disease.

Speaking on the progress made so far, the Executive Secretary, ESPHCDA, Dr. George Ugwu said that despite the robust response in the affected LGAs , the Agency is still at alert.

“We are currently perfecting plans for expanding the mass reactive vaccination to additional five LGAs and finally the entire state.

This is to ensure the full protection of our entire citizens against yellow fever and other infectious diseases in accordance with the priority of our healthcare loving Governor.

“We are hoping that the NPHCDA and our international partners will continue to support us with the needed vaccines to continue all this even at a faster rate.” t&[FB XSPUF GSPN *OEFQFOEFODF -BZPVU &OVHV

LASG Inaugurates Second Phase of MICH to Provide for Expectant Mothers Oluwabunmi Fache The Lagos State government has inaugurated the second phase of Mother, Infant and Child (M.I.C.H) program across wards in the state.

The scheme is to provide nutritional foods and supplements for over 1000 expectant mothers from their second trimester to delivery stage.

The intervention was first planned by the First Lady Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on July 28, 2020, at Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Government Area and has been taken to 11 local government including Ikorodu, Epe, IbejuLekki, Eti-Osa and others.

This plan is being supported by private and public agencies, such

as Ministry of Agric, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Woman Affairs and others.

Speaking at the event last Wednesday at Agege Local Government, Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale said the second edition of M.I.C.H birthed through the commitment of the governor to reduce the death rate among mothers and children, even from the womb.

In addition, Adebowale who represented the First Lady, said the M.I.C.H would not only encourage antenatal visits at primary health care facilities but also encourage pregnant women that rely on herbal homes to attend the Primary Health Care Centers for pre-natal regularly,

thus, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

“Guided by this lofty objectives, we have birthed the 2nd phase of Mother, Infant, and Child (M.I.C.H) pilot program, as a follow up to the initial pilot to assess the impact of the MICH Food and supplements on the pregnant participants with full monitoring of their existing conditions, along with their unborn children throughout pregnancy till delivery and post-partum.

“For clarity, the MICH program at full launch is targeted at 15,000 (Fifteen Thousand) participants over the course of the next three years, however, we are kicking off with this second pilot phase with 1,140 participants only comprising a

research study with 20 pregnant women in each of our 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs,” she said.

Adebowale highlighted that the second phase tagged: ‘The Research Phase’ will include independent case studies and research involving 1,140 pregnant women with follow up and monitoring of diverse medical and social indices starting from December 1 till the next six months.

Continuing she said: “Our formidable team of medical and technical experts has come up with a research proposal which aims to provide informed recommendations for the use of the federal and state governments and international development agencies like the United Nations.

“To ensure this research phase is impactful, we will ensure that the participating pregnant women receive qualitative health care and follow-up through home visits by a dedicated team of public and state-approved private community health workers and medical consultants.”

Adebowale, however, strongly appealed to all husbands, partners, families, and support systems of the pregnant participants to ensure that the MICH Plus Food packs meant for the sole consumption of the target participants are not abused or misused.

According to her, the Lagos State government has thought ahead of the need to support

struggling spouses of indigent pregnant participants, hence they have included indicators relating to the family engagement component of the MICH program as part of the research studies.

She assured that over the next few months, Lagosians will not only birth new healthy, virile babies and economically stable and civically responsible families but re-write the social inclusion narrative in local governance and global sustainable development.

Chairman of Orile Agege Local Government, Honourable Babatunde Johnson, who applauded the project, also promised to support it by keying into it to ensure that the death of pregnant women reduces.

Raising Device to Eye Level Will Avoid Neck Pain, Bad Posture – Says Expert Rebecca Ejifoma A Consulting Physiotherapist with St. Joseph Physiotherapy Clinic, Osahon Okodugha, has cautioned phone users across the country to always raise devices to eye level to avoid poor posture, and constant neck pains.

The expert gave this advice following the growing use of mobile phones in the country, as people tend to spend a lot of time on their devices. This, he said, causes long-term problems from poor posture and muscle tightness.

Okodugha said that as harmless as texting can be, it can cause a long term build-up of neck pain.

“The posture one takes when sitting or walking and texting is a bowed head. Doing this over a period of time can damage the muscles at the base of the neck.

“Eventually, the suboccipital muscles, which are located below the neck, lose flexibility, cause pain, and lose the ability to perform their function.

“If you must be on your device, the proper form to take while using laptops and phones is to raise the device to eye level; Ensure

that your device is between your shoulders and ears”.

However, the expert noted that staying on the device for a long period can be harmful.

“You should take breaks from devices every 15 minutes and maintain distance from your device. Use wireless earbuds, as they give more room for neck mobility devoid of the restraint of earphone wires,” he emphasised.

Okodugha explained further that there are exercises one can engage in after prolonged use of devices.

“Keep your back as upright

as much as possible, and push your shoulders and chin back; while upright, tilt your head to the left slowly, as if you are trying to touch your shoulder with your ear. Hold the position for a second and then return to the normal position. “Push out your chest. You can also put a small hand towel and resistance band at the base of your neck, and push against the resistance. If you use a resistance band, ensure that the band is pulled forward and is parallel with your gaze.

“Doing these exercises can help you avoid back and neck

problems that could arise from prolonged device use.”

He, however, urged people to perform these exercises before problems would arise.

The physiotherapist harped that “everyone who has access to devices should consider making permanent changes in their posture to avoid future complications.”

The expert also highlighted that one of the prevention measures is to make a conscious effort to change one’s sitting position as often as possible.

“You should also be careful

about stacking layers of pillows.

Laying your head on many can strain the neck and affect your range of motion,” he added.

Part of his suggestions include considering ergonomic adjustments – aligning one’s work space such as furniture in a manner that is suited to one’s body and its dimensional. Okodugha, therefore, recommended that after performing all these, “you still feel some pain or discomfort, and need further advice or assistance, please consult with a licensed physiotherapist as soon as you can”.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ,DECEMER 24, 2020

FEATURES

Medical Care for the Elderly Emmanuel Ugwu writes that the recently held free medical outreach of Senator Theodore Orji was targeted at the elderly, thus ensuring they get the best medical care and awareness training in diabetes and high blood pressure management

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t 67, Obioma Emenike frets over his health. He dreads the possibility of being afflicted with any of the old-age related disease that could make his old age a nightmare. A commercial bus driver by profession, the sexagenarian told THISDAY that he had always been keen to seek expert advice on how he can maintain a healthy living and enjoy his old age.

However, one of his regrets was the cost of getting expert advice from health professionals, which he lamented has been a stumbling block.

Emenike recounted how he went to a dietician to seek advice on the appropriate foods he should be eating and the ones to avoid at his age but was asked to pay N25,000. He offered to pay N10,000 but the dietician turned it down. The driver went home disappointed and frustrated.

However, that challenge has become a thing of the past as the medical outreach of Senator Theodore Orji has come to Emenike’s rescue.

He was among the beneficiaries of the free medical outreach for the screening and awareness training in diabetes and high blood pressure management for persons who have reached 50 years and above.

Emenike, who was among the 60 beneficiaries of the three-day medical outreach which took place at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, not only got the expert advice of a dietician he had longed for but was also screened for diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, he was given kits to monitor his sugar level and blood pressure. “Today, I have received the health information I had been seeking and at no cost,” the driver who hails from Ndume Ibeku enthused.

Medical Director of FMC Umuahia, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi said the free medical outreach targeted at old persons was a product of his discussion with Senator Orji on health related issues. According to him, the Senator representing Abia Central displayed a good knowledge of health issues, being a member of the Senate Committee on Health.

“I suggested to him to do something on high blood pressure and diabetes. He accepted, and that’s why we’re here (for the free medical outreach),” the MD of Umuahia FMC said.

This medical outreach targeted at the elderly was Ochendo’s way marking his 70th birthday.

It had participants drawn from Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Local Governments.The second phase is expected to be organised for beneficiaries drawn from the other three component council areas of Abia Central, namely Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma.

Senator Orji, popularly called Ochendo by admirers, is not new to provision of free medical services to his constituents. In line with his belief that provision of infrastructure would amount to nothing if the people are not healthy enough to use them, the former Abia governor regularly sponsors free medical outreach, including free eye care services which he has sustained for years.

Former Umuahia North Council boss, Chief Frank Ibe, who represented Senator Orji at the opening ceremony of the free medical outreach, said the beneficiaries should count themselves lucky to be chosen. He said the participants would, apart from going home fulfilled, would also be equipped to manage high blood pressure and diabetes should they develop such health issues. The knowledge so gained, he said, would make the participants add more years to their age.

Ibe, who is a former rector of School of Healh Technology, Aba, commended Senator Orji for his responsiveness to the health needs of the people he represents at the Red Chamber, adding that he is somebody who likes to replicate any good thing he sees outside by bringing it home for the benefit of the people.

Health professionals including consultant endocrinologist, dietician, health educator, among others, gave talks on various health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, unwholesome lifestyle and inappropriate food intake and its risk factor at old age. Dr Ignatius Ezeani, an endocrinologist and head of Diabetes unit FMC Umuahia told the participants that

Rebecca Ejifoma

Some of the participants

Health educator instructing the old women on how to use the blood pressure and diabetes test kits

they should maximise the opportunity offered to them through the Ochendo free medical outreach to sustainably maintain a healthy living. “This is the best thing anybody can do for you,” he told the participants.

Taking the participants through the causes and effects of diabetes and available remedies, Dr Ezeani identified type 2 diabetes as the most prevalent, adding that type one mostly affects pregnant women. He said unwholesome lifestyle such as smoking, lack of exercise, taking unwholsome foods easily predisposes people to type one diabetes. The endocrinologist added that high blood pressure basically share the same risk factors with diabetes. He identified the risk factors to include obesity, family history, high salt and fat intake and a life style of indulging in high intake of alcohol and smoking.

He advised the participants to develop the habit of going for medical checkups on regular basis, noting that hypertension is better managed if detected early enough before it damages body organs such as heart and kidney thereby causing complications.

According to Ezeani, health is so important that one should not hesitate to take extreme measures to avoid anything that could compromise one’s health. “It is recommended to avoid salt totally because a lot of things we take contain sodium,” he said. This advice did not in any way amuse the elders listening to the health expert but they have everything to gain by taking health precautions no matter its unpleasantness.

Speaking on the nutritional management of diabetes mellitus, the Assistant Chief Dietician FMC, Umuahia, Otuodichinma Solomon stated that “proper care of diabetes is essential to prevent

or at least reduce incidents of complications”.

According to her, a proper nutrition plan translates to management of the disease hence “control of diabetes rests on the tripod of diet, exercise and insulin.

The dietician advised the participants to always watch out for the symptoms of diabetes which include excessive thirst which increases frequency of passing out urine and feeling of hunger. However, Solomon further noted that the clinical symptom of diabetes entails the presence of sugar in urine above normal sugar blood level. “A fasting blood sugar level of 100mg/dl or higher on two different days indicates that the person suffers from diabetes mellitus,” she said.

The dietician urged that people should take necessary precautions to avoid suffering from diabetes as the disease “cannot be cured (but) can only be kept under control by the patient with the help of the physician, assisted by the dietician”. In fact the complications that could result from diabetes are so frightening that the disease should be avoided by all means.

According to her, the complications that could occur are loss of sensation in peripheral nerves, resulting in injury, infection and even amputation of lower extremities, eye disorders leading to blindness and kidney dysfunction.

To be on the safer side, Mrs Solomon advised the participants to avoid skipping breakfast, consume more of complex carbohydrates, consume foods high in protein, limit intake of saturated fat and increase activity level(exercise) as against sedentary lifestyle. Other dos and don’ts listed by the dietician include consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, eating less salt of no more than six

grammes per day, drinking plenty of water and high intake of fibre rich foods. She harped on the need for people to undertake routine checks to have their cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels tested.

Fortunately for the participants, all the above tests were done on them within the period of the medical outreach. It was a novelty for most of them who had never done such tests before due to ignorance, lack of money or sheer lack of chance. For instance, a businesswoman, Mrs Ifeoma Ndubuisi confessed that it was her first time of being tested for diabetes and high blood pressure. Those whose test results showed signs of the diseases investigated were given medications and advised on followup treatments and management of the specific ailment.

At the end of the three day event, the participants expressed satisfaction having got good knowledge of how to maintain a healthy living. Not only that, the myths some of them held about diseases were dispelled by medical experts who answered their questions during the interactive sessions. Other gains include the health checks carried out on the participants at no cost as well as drugs and either of high blood pressure or diabetes test kits distributed to them for use at home.

Exuding a deep sense of relief, Emenike said that he was glad to have received at no cost the health information he could not afford when he had sought for it. “We are advancing in years and good spirited persons should emulate Ochendo and help us stay healthy. But for Mrs Ndubuisi the valuable health talks would be wasted if the beneficiaries failed to put them to good use. “If we adhere strictly to their instructions it will be good for us,” she said.

38

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Shareholders Restate Opposition to Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund Goddy Egene Shareholders under the aegis of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) have restated their objections to the plan by the federal government to set up an Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund.

The shareholders stated their position during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, Trade and Investment and Public Procurement on the Finance Bill 2020. In a statement signed by National Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Omojola and Founder, Sir Sunday Nwosu, ISAN said dividends are private wealth of investors, either individuals or corporate entities and the idea of converting such private wealth to federal government’s revenue

negates the relevant provisions of the rights to own property and asset as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The shareholders noted that to the extent of its inconsistency with the 1999 constitution, the proposed trust fund was null and void, insisting that the law expressly states that there shall be no forceful takeover of any private moveable or immovable property of any Nigerian without due and appropriate compensation and or valid court order.

“It is nothing short of expropriation which the constitution forbids. Dividends, including unclaimed dividends, are fund generated by private companies and made available to its shareholders in line with the provisions of Companies and Allied Matters

Act (CAMA) and the Company Memart.

“That these funds are available only after the company has paid a host of taxes, including Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), Educational Trust Fund (ETF) and tax of about 32 per cent of gross profit is paid to the federal government and 10 per cent withholding tax on the shareholders for every dividend declared,” ISAN stated.

According to them, it was clearly overreaching and unacceptable for government to seek to expropriate the unclaimed dividends under the subterfuge of any revenue, noting that companies and individuals have a right to private properties and assets of which unclaimed dividends funds falls into.

FCMB Deepens Financial Inclusion, Opens Ikorodu Cash Centre First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has once more expanded its footprint by opening a cash centre at Ikorodu, Lagos.

The ultra-modern cash centre, located at Oluwarotimi Adeola Street, Ori Okuta Junction, Off Isawo Road, Ajaguro-Owutu, Ikorodu, takes into consideration the convenience of residents and businesses present within Owutu and its environs, including the popular Ikorodu garage, Agric Junction and Haruna areas.

The development, which is coming two weeks after the bank opened another cash centre at Ipaja, a suburb in Alimosho local government in Lagos, was in line with the commitment of FCMB to

bring financial services closer to the populace to deepen financial inclusion, especially in densely populated areas like Ikorodu where a large number of people desire excellent banking services.

According to a statement, the cash centre, which commenced operations on December 21, 2020, is powered by solar energy, and equipped with latest traditional and digital banking infrastructure that ensures convenient and secured financial transactions for customers in a relaxed and tranquil environment.

This is in addition to the team of highly experienced staff deployed to attend to the needs of existing and potential

customers of the Bank.

Speaking on the opening of the new cash centre, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Adam Nuru, reaffirmed the commitment of FCMB to grow its network to meet the individual and business aspirations of its ever-increasing customer base across segments.

According to him, “this is another turning point in our commitment to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the very best of Banking experience from FCMB. We consider our presence at Owutu, Ikorodu as another great opportunity to further cement our relationship with Lagos and in turn, drive development in this part of the state.

IoD Honours Abiodun, Rabiu, Shobanjo, Jaji Dike Onwuamaeze The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD) has honoured four distinguished Nigerian entrepreneurs with fellowship awards, during its 2020 Annual Directors’ Dinner and Award Night held recently in Lagos.

Those honoured were the Chairman of Troyka Holdings, Dr. Abiodun Olusina Shobanjo; Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Leisure Limited, Mr. Mustapha Biodun Jaji; Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Adedapo Abiodun, and Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji AbdulSamad Rabiu.

Shobanjo and Jaji were honoured with Honorary Fellow award and Distinguished Fellow

award of the institute respectively while Abiodun and Rabiu, who are members of the institute, were honoured with the Fellows award of the IoD. The President and Chairman of Governing Council of the IoD Nigeria, Mr. Bobasuwa Chris Okunowo, said the annual directors’ dinner and award night, “is one of the key programmes of our institute meant to recognise and present awards to eminent personalities and organisations that have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.”

Okunowo described 2020 as a challenging year for businesses and the country as a whole.

“These myriad of challenges coupled with the fresh problems

brought about by COVID-19 made 2020 a difficult year for businesses in Nigeria.

“Therefore, we must not lose sight of these challenges and we must continue to advocate and advise government on viable options that would be beneficial for our nation,” Okunowo said.

According to the Principal Partner, AD Consulting, Mrs. Olajumoke Adenowo, who was also the guest speaker during the occasion, the difficulties and challenges of 2020 have separated true leaders from chaffs in the same way the heat that melts the wax also hardens the mud. She described the awardees as people that have brought something significant to the year.

COVID-19: FirstBank Launches ‘Mask Up, Stay Safe’Campaign First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its ongoing digital campaign “Mask Up, Stay Safe” as part of its advocacy to encourage everyone to stay protected against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The digital campaign which was designed to employ a fun approach to urge and engage its stakeholders on the need to observe safety and precautionary guidelines during the festive season was implemented using the bank’s customised face mask filter on instagram, that is made of the bespoke FirstBank 125th Anniversary pattern in Ankara fabric giving a distinct African contemporary an consistent look.

According to a statement, the “Mask Up, Stay Safe” digital campaign is part of the FirstBank’s December activities which kicked off on the December 7, 2020, with the theme: “12 Days of Christmas and 12 Days of Kindness.”

The activities are structured in part to increase public awareness and participation in the Bank’s SPARK (Start Performing Act of Random Kindness) initiative with the central goal of reigniting the societal moral values by encouraging people to choose to do the right thing and reinforcing a consciousness/ mindset of showing compassion, empathy; as well as giving to

others aimed at inspiring people to make a difference.

Speaking on the campaign, the CEO of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, said “In the spirit of walking the talk, I have uploaded my Instagram story with the virtual face mask and I crave your indulgence to join me in doing the same.”

He added: “This campaign is targeted at informing our customers and the general public that staying safe and protected through face mask wearing is paramount now, more than ever, as it is a way of mitigating the unforeseen tragedy of the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Stay Safe First!.”

Trading floor

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͯ͵ ͰͮͰͮ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $50.78 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $50.12 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͲ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Funds Matrix Boss Advises Investors on Equities Market Goddy Egene The Executive Vice Chairman of Funds Matrix & Assets Management Limited, a dealing member firm of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Yadinma Onwu, has advised investors to embrace the stock market and enjoy positive returns on their investments. Speaking to THISDAY on the sideline of the 10th anniversary celebration of the company in Lagos, Onwu said

while many retail investors were still afraid to invest in equities, the market has been very profitable for those who are taking the risk using the services of professionals and applicable rules.

According to him, Fund Matrix has been offering investment banking services that cuts across securities trading, multiple trading channels, comprehensive market information and investment advisory in the past 10 years.

“With our customised services

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

our clients have been taking advantage of investment opportunities with ease at competitive fees with value-added services over the years.

“Although the past 10 years have been challenging, we have not done badly and the major thing that we have as our take way is our integrity. We have worked with the management of the NSE to expose some fraudulent and dubious people who attempted to sell other peoples’

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

shares. We have exposed many of them,” he said.

Onwu, who attributed the success recorded in the past 10 years to patronage by clients and dedication of staff, said the target is for the company to be among the top 10 in the next five years.

“You have to be creative and innovative to survive the Nigerian economy and that is exactly what we have been doing and will continue to do that because we

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

have equipped ourselves with the right strategies,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director/COO of the company, Mr. Isaac Olorungbon, the client management services of Fund Matrix distinguishes Fund Matrix from other companies.

According to him, the company has been reinforcing the confidence of many retail investors, explaining to them that they can make money by investing in equities compared to other

O F

asset classes.

“Now the equities market is giving good returns and we advise clients brace up and take informed risks. We have been guiding our clients very well and the outcome has been fantastic. We encourage them to take informed risk based on their investment objectives. If it is investing to get regular dividends or capital appreciation, we know the stocks to recommend for them” he said.

2 3 / 1 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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QUANTITY TRADED

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40

THURSDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Nigeria’s Challenges More Fundamental than Rotational Presidency, Says Utomi Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie A former presidential candidate and Fellow of Institute of Management Consultancy of Nigeria, Professor Pat Utomi, has faulted the growing clamour for rotational presidency, which he described as less fundamental challenges of the country.

He said Nigeria must first deal with its fundamental challenges before addressing the issue of rotational presidency.

Utomi, who is the founder of The Centre for Values in Leadership, shared his views about the clamour for rotational president, yesterday when he featured on The Morning Show, the flagship breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

He said: “Calling for rotational

presidency is like putting the cart ahead of the horse. Nigeria has a fundamental challenge that is far more than the issue of rotational presidency. So, calling for rotational presidency could be equal to rotating mediocrity, if we do not deal with the fundamental issues.

“Governance has been retrogressive in Nigeria and the situation is getting worse by the day. So there is something more fundamental that we must deal with than talking about where the president should come from. Until we take on those fundamental issues, Nigeria will continue to go down.”

He listed some of the fundamental issues to include selection of politicians for political positions, proper organisation of political parties, restructuring of the country, restructuring the police force, insecurity,

kidnapping and banditry as well state capture.

He described state capture as the political corruption, in which the public policy process is rigged to create opportunity for the personal material advancement of political actors.

Utomi said 80 per cent of people going into politics in Nigeria today do so because they want to profit from state capture for their material interest.

“So, in such situation, whether the person at the centre comes from any of the states or regions of the country, does not really matter to them because such individual at the centre of the political affairs is likely to run the state of affairs in a very bad light. This is true because the motivation for them is to loot and acquire so much wealth.

This is evident in our situation as a country where Nigeria

continues to be struggling to get stable electricity for the past 30 years. "Those in government make policies that do not benefit the masses. So the current challenges of Nigeria are more fundamental to tackle than the issue of rotational presidency,” Utomi added.

He explained that what had been happening to Nigeria in the past was that politicians kept presenting incompetent candidates in the name of rotational presidency, thus stultifying national development.

"Let's first deal with our fundamental challenges and the issue of presenting the right candidate for rotational presidency, will take its proper shape," Utomi said.

Giving further details of Nigeria’s challenges, Utomi said: “Policing has collapsed in Nigeria and hoodlums have

taken over the country. We need restructuring of the police force for proper policing. We also need to address the issue of qualification of political officers.

A lot of politicians who hold political positions do not know what it takes to run public offices.

The Nigerian political class have lost its legitimacy and they do not even know it; and as such, Nigerians do no longer believe in them and their political statement.

"Let me make this clear. I am not against the national agreement on rotational presidency in Nigeria. In fact, I so support it. But what I am stressing at is that we must as a country first deal with our fundamental issues before talking about the region that will produce the next president of Nigeria. If the fundamentals are not dealt with, time may come when there will be no Nigeria

to govern.

"I belong to a political party, but I can boldly say that in Nigeria, we have no political parties with ideologies that will transform the people. We tried to organise a political party with good ideologies but the Nigerian political system did not allow it to thrive."

According to him, until a political party articulates ideas and recruits people who believe in the ideas, "we cannot say we have political party in the country." Political parties are meant to form institutions and build people who understand the ideas and get them to advance the ideas, he added.

He stated that Nigeria must change its political parties and that political parties must introduce new ideas with future vision that will grow the Nigerian economy.

S'Africa over New Virus Variant

"We'll be changing the law to get this legal effect imminently," he said, adding that these "measures are temporary while we investigate further this new strain which is shortly to be analysed at Porton Down."

The UK joined a growing list of countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Guatemala and Saudi Arabia that have stopped flights to and from South Africa.

Although it emerged independently, the new virus variant features a similar mutation to the one discovered in the United Kingdom that scientists say is more transmissible, prompting many nations to ban travel from Britain.

South Africa’s Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, said the new variant there, referred to as 501.V2, appeared to be linked to higher rates of severe illness in younger people, and that scientists are working to learn more about it.

“It’s very important to notice that the variants between South Africa and the UK. They are very different,” said Tulio de Oliveira, director of KwaZuluNatal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.

“Both of us, in South Africa and the UK, believe that this lineage is much more transmissible than the previous lineage. And we are trying to study that as quickly and as thoroughly as possible.”

South Africa has recorded 931,000 cases of COVID-19, with almost 25,000 deaths, according to official statistics. Excess mortality studies suggest a death toll of more than 56,000.

After a first wave peaked in July and August, the daily total for new cases fell dramatically.

However, the number of new infections began to rise steeply at the beginning of December, reaching 11,000 earlier this week.

foothold because while the federal government pledged to fulfill it's part, ASUU also promised to do extra work load so that lost time will be recovered . They also pledged in the agreement to do virtual teaching," he said.

On the amount of money released to ASUU and the universities under the agreement, Ngige said the federal government had approved release of N40 billion for earned allowances to all categories of staff in the universities.

He made some clarifications on the disbursement of the earned allowances, saying that only deserving staff will benefit from the payment.

"It is not money for dash; the university vice chancellors will scrutinise the process and ensure that only staff that merited to be paid are allowed to partake in it," he added Ngige, however, said the federal government would release N30 billion revitalisation fund to the universities by January.

Ngige also said he would not give ASUU any excuse to go on strike again.

Ngige, whose ministry is the negotiator between the union and the Federal Ministry of Education, said he would ensure the government keeps its part of the bargain.

Ngige, who featured on

a live television programme yesterday, said: “We will not get to that (fresh strike); we will not get there because we have so structured the agreement in such a way that it is a win-win situation for everybody.

“For example, the revitalisation (Fund), we have given government up to 31st of January to pay that. We have also opened the window that by end of February, we will sit down and review the situation, eight weeks or nine weeks from now, so nobody will keep anybody in suspense.

“I will not give ASUU the opportunity to go on strike (again) because I have three biological children that suffered from this imbroglio that we found ourselves in. "So, I am a committed parent; I am involved, even more than some ASUU members because some of them have their children in private schools.

“I will not give them the opportunity because I will make sure the government does its own bit. I have structured the agreement in such a way that it is doable.”

On the threat by the ASUU president that the union could return to strike without informing the government, Ngige said: “They also know that we have labour laws and if the worst comes to the worst, they will give time, they will give notice.”

COVID CHRISTMAS LOOMS AS STATES ROLL OUT RESTRICTIONS

Coordinator The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF), Dr. Sani Aliyu, has said the vaccine will be administered on Nigerians free when vaccination begins.

Fielding questions on a live television programme yesterday, Aliyu said through the GAVI arrangement, there is the assurance that over 40 million Nigerians will be vaccinated.

“Yesterday, the president gave the PTF the mandate to proceed with preparations with regard to the vaccine.

“The president has also given us marching orders that the COVID-19 vaccine be available in Nigeria.

“Making use of the GAVI arrangement, we already have assurance that 20 per cent of our population will be accommodated

by GAVI in the vaccine.

“We don’t need to pay for that and this will cover 40 million

Nigerians or so. But we have to pay for the operations and the logistics associated with it,” he said.

Aliyu added that there were plans to buy additional vaccines besides the GAVI arrangement.

“We are also planning to pay for an additional 20 to 40 per cent. In general, over the next two years, at least 70 per cent of the population needs to be vaccinated before we can have enough herd immunity.

“The Pfizer vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines at the moment,” he stated.

When asked if the vaccine would be administered free, Aliyu said, “of course, of course”.

The PTF national coordinator advised Nigerians not to discard safety measures already in place just because of the vaccine.

“Just to make it clear to the general public, even if we have the vaccine available tomorrow in Nigeria, the epidemic will not change.

“We still need to apply the protective measures we have been advising right from beginning.

Vaccines alone will not change it. If you look at the time it takes the vaccine to take effect, the first dose will take about 12 days to have an anti-body response. The second dose takes a week. In all, it takes a month for one to have adequate immunity,” he stated.

Concerning the distribution of the vaccine when it is available, Aliyu said the PTF will make use of primary healthcare facilities that are situated in the secretariats of each of the 774 local governments areas of Nigeria.

According to him, the primary healthcare facilities will be upgraded to be able to take delivery and preserve the vaccine which requires cold temperature while the healthcare workers will also be trained.

UK Imposes Flight Restrictions on

The United Kingdom has imposed flight restriction on South Africa following the discovery of a new variant of the COVID-19, which appears to be more transmissible.

The UK imposed the travel restrictions on South Africa after two cases of the transmissible variant of virus were detected in the UK. Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said both people travelled to South Africa where the variant has been linked to a surge in cases.

All those who have travelled from South Africa in the last fortnight have been instructed to quarantine, as well as anyone they have come into close contact with.

At a briefing yesterday, Hancock announced “immediate restrictions on travel from South Africa.”

NGIGE: FG, ASUU REACHED UNDERSTANDING ON REGAINING LOST GROUND before the January 18 stipulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. Besides, ASUU accepted to do extra time and to recover lost ground.

The minister also said he would not give ASUU any excuse to go on strike again.

ASUU had earlier yesterday announced the suspension of the strike, which began in March to press home its demand, among others, for university lecturers to be removed from the digital salary payment platform, Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), mandated by the federal government for the payment of its employees' salaries.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the decision to go back to the classroom was made based on the agreement reached with the federal government at a meeting on Tuesday, which addressed most of its demands.

He said an implementation committee had been set up to monitor the implementation of the agreements.

"On the basis of the foregoing, the NEC resolved that the current strike by the union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 a.m Thursday, December 24, 2020. However, should government fail to fulfil its own part of the agreement, ASUU will resume its suspended

strike as deemed necessary," he added.

Ogunyemi, who read out some of the resolutions reached

by ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) at its meeting held on Tuesday night to review reports of agreement with the federal government, said the union resolved to give another chance to the federal government to prove that it can be trusted.

He said the NEC agreed to accept the agreements reached between ASUU and the federal government on Tuesday and resolved to consciously and diligently monitor their implementation.

When asked if the federal government has kept its promise to start payment of salaries arrears of ASUU members, Ogunyemi said that it has started though not completed yet.

Ogunyemi added that it was also agreed that no ASUU member should suffer any loss of deserved benefits as a result of participation in the strike.

According to him, the union resolved to pursue the areas in the ASUU-FG agreement of 2009 and Memoradum of Action 2013 that require legislation such as the mainstreaming of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) into the annual budget and amending the National University Commission (NUC) Act 2004.

Ogunyemi listed key

demands of ASUU for which an agreement was reached to include, the immediate release of earned academic allowances and mainstreaming of the EAA into the annual budget, using the agreed formula, to immediately engage the universities and other research centres in the fight against COVID-19.

As part of the agreement, the federal government is to expedite action on the test processes and ensure the deployment of the University Transperancy and Accountability Solution (UTAS), the union's preferred alternative for the payment of salaries in the university system.

Ogunyemi said the integrity test on UTAS is at the last stage now.

In addition, Ogunyemi said that ASUU expect the government to fast-track the FGASUU re-negotiation to ensure that it is concluded within the timelines agreed by both parties.

Ogunyemi said: "ASUU has undertaken to go back to classrooms, laboratories to do our best for our students and our country. *We are going back to rekindle the motivation and aspirations in our members to strive to encourage our students to excel, all in expectations that governments, both federal and states, will sincerely fullfil their own part of the bargain."

Ogunyemi listed some of the

key demands tabled by ASUU, and which ignited the current strike, to include funding for revitalisation of public university infrastructure, earned academic allowances, withheld salaries, proliferation of state universities, visitation panels, reconstitution of the government re-negotiation team and the replacement of IPPIS with UTAS. However, Ngige, while reacting to the suspension of the strike, explained that as part of their obligations in the agreement reached on Tuesday, ASUU accepted to teach extra time, including conducting virtual teaching in order cover the time lost during their nine-month strike.

Speaking on plans for resumption of teaching in universities, Ngige said pending the time government will order the reopening of the schools, each university's Senate can give a directive on the commencement of virtual teaching before the January 18, 2021 stipulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

"The Senate of the universities can arrange for virtual teaching to commence in the first week of January, next year. It is a win-win situation for everybody.

"We want to congratulate all Nigerians the parents, the National Assembly and ASUU for the resolution of the dispute.

For both sides, it's a conditional

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

NEWS

IG: We Won’t Allow a Repeat of Students’ Abduction in Katsina Vows to tackle banditry

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, has promised that there won’t be a repeat of the abduction of school children in Katsina State.

The IG also vowed to tackle the prevailing banditry and kidnapping afflicting farming communities in Katsina State and other parts of the country.

He said the recent abduction of over 300 school boys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina would be the last in the state.

The students were kidnapped after gunmen attacked the school on December 11. They were later released on December 17.

Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, had said the state was able to secure the release of the abducted schoolboys through

the help of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and repentant bandits.

Adamu, who spoke in Katsina yesterday, after a closed-meeting with top police officers, including those in charge of tactical operations, insisted that the abduction of the schoolboys would never occur again.

The three-hour meeting, which took place at the state police headquarters, was attended by Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on security, Mr. Ibrahim Katsina and the Chairman of the state branch of MACBAN, Alhaji Manir Atiku, amongst other top security officers.

The IG explained that meeting was aimed at restrategising and coming up with tactics that

will not give bandits rooms to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens of the state.

“The recent Kankara incident was unfortunate. I am in Katsina to ensure that such an incident will and shall never happen again,” the IG said.

“We are in Katsina today to ensure that the state is crimefree. Internal security is the job of the police. We should never give an opportunity to criminals

to operate and we have resolved not to allow either bandits or any other criminals anytime to operate either in the morning, afternoon, or at night.

“That is why we are liaising with our partners including security agencies and other stakeholders like the Miyyetti Allah, not to allow bandits and other criminals to operate.”

Present at the meeting were Ibrahim Katsina, special adviser

to the governor of Katsina state on security, Manir Atiku, chairman of the state branch of MACBAN, and other stakeholders.

He said: “The recent Kankara incident was unfortunate.Iam in Katsina to ensure that such an incident will and shall never happen again. We are in Katsina today to ensure that the state is crime free.

“Internal security is the job

of the police .We should never give opportunity to criminals to operate and we have resolved not to allow either bandits or any other criminals anytime to operate either in the morning, afternoon or at night.

“That is why we are liaising with our partners including security agencies and other stakeholders like the Miyyetti Allah ,not to allow bandits and other criminals to operate.”

PDP Commends Zamfara Governor for Role in the Release of Kankara Students Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and entire members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party have commended the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, for his role towards the release of the over 340 students of the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara in Katsina State.

The NWC expressed the commendation of the party to the governor when they visited him in Abuja During the visit, Secondus commended the governor for helping to solve the mystery over the kidnap of the students and his efforts over the students’ eventual release.

According to Secondus, “We as a party are proud of your efforts in national security. We commend your efforts in the rescue of the Kankara students when all hopes had appeared lost. Issues of security is beyond party affiliations and that is why the PDP doesn’t politicise security and hunger.”

Secondus told the governor that the party was proud of his efforts in ensuring security in the state and urged him to step up his efforts to wipe out banditry in the state.

The NWC further expressed support to the governor on his efforts in the development of the state.

The party assured the governor of its unflinching support as he continues to confront the challenges of governing the state.

It also commended the governor for the success of the party in the Bakura Constituency during the last election, saying “Zamfara is PDP and will continue to be PDP.” It said that Governor Matawalle is permanently in Zamfara State, facing the challenges of insecurity and banditry, unlike his predecessors who lived and governed the state from Abuja.

Gunmen on motorcycles had attacked the school on December 11 and abducted the students a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Katsina for a week-long private visit.

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, however, announced the release of the 344 schoolboys six days after their abduction by bandits.

The students were freed at a forest in Zamfara State.

Matawalle had revealed the role he played in the release of 344 students.

Buhari: Nigeria’ll Continue to Play Roles in African Issues President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria would continue to play her expected roles beyond the West African sub region.

He said the largest black nation would also continue to play critical roles in issues concerning the African continent in general.

The president stated this at the State House, Abuja during a meeting with former President of Mali and first Chairman, African Union Commission,

Professor Alpha Oumar Konare.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Konare was in Abuja to discuss the current political situation in his country as well as issues in West Africa and Africa.

The Nigerian leader commended Prof. Konare for his continuing interest in the affairs of West Africa and the continent.

RUBBING MINDS...

L-R: Minister of Education , Mallam Adamu Adamu; Attorney–General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami and the Miniister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja …yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

FG Declares Friday, Monday, January 1 Public Holidays The federal government has declared Friday, December 25, Monday, December 28 2020 and Friday, January 1, 2021 as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations respectively.

Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government.

He felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on this year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Aregbesola urged Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on

faith, hope and love.

A statement signed on behalf of the minister by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore said “We must emulate the life of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that the birth and Ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth.”

The minister noted that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable government accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct

Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years.

Aregbesola advised Nigerians and Christians in particular, to adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the yuletide, especially with the second wave of the outbreak of the disease.

The minister reiterated federal government’s commitment to the fight against armed banditry, kidnappings and other crimes and criminalities in the country.

He called on Nigerians to support the efforts of the security agencies by providing them with information that will enhance intelligence gathering.

While admonishing all Nigerians to remain focused, determined, patient and patriotic, Aregbesola expressed confidence that the year 2021 would be a better year for all Nigerians and therefore urged Christians to use the period to pray for Nigeria.

He wished all Nigerians and Christians in particular, a happy Christmas and New Year celebrations.

NIMC Denies Data Breach, Says It’s Upgrading Website Emma Okonji The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has refuted claims making the rounds that its website crashed yesterday, insisting that it’s untrue.

Some Nigerians who tried to log on to NIMC’s website to complete their NIN enrolment, had difficulties in accessing the website, suspecting that the website may have crashed, due to rush by Nigerians who visited the website to enrol for NIN in order to beat the initial deadline of December 30, before it was extended to

January 19 for those with NIN and February 19 for those that are yet to get their NIN. But NIMC, yesterday, issued a statement, clarifying that the commission was only upgrading its website to make it resilient for easy access.

According to the statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, “We would like to bring to the attention of the members of the general public that the purported breach of the National Identity Database going round the social media is false, a hoax, and

of mischievous intent.

The NIMC would like to assure the public that there have been no such breaches or incidents. Investigations on the alleged data dump were found to be non-existent in the National Identity Database.

“The commission investigated the data breach claim and found out that the database schema presented by the adversary does not tally with the existing schema of NIMC records. The data being posted by criminals purporting to contain citizens’ information is fake.

“The NIMC guarantees

the security of the National Identity Database through various layers of security and can assure that no data was breached.”

NIMC therefore enjoined members of the general public to refrain from spreading false reports on the purported data breach.

Adegoke told THISDAY that the commission was upgrading its network to serve the public better and that the difficulty in accessing the website as experienced by some Nigerians must have been caused by the system upgrade.

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

We Received Intelligence on Plan to Attack Lagos, Says CP Chiemelie Ezeobi The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has confirmed the command received intelligence on plans by criminals to attack churches and mosques.

He said the intelligence came from Abuja, adding that the police and relevant security agencies were already taking steps to ensure no such thing happened anywhere in the state.

Odumosu disclosed this while responding to questions on the security alert released by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday night which warned the public about plans by terrorists to unleash violent attacks on key and vulnerable points during this festive season.

In the statement signed

by DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the secret service said the criminals intended to unleash terror through the use of explosives, suicide bombing and other dangerous weapons.

“The objective is to create a general sense of fear among the people and subsequently undermine the government.

Against this backdrop, citizens are called upon to be extra vigilant and report strange movements and indeed, all suspicions around them to security and law enforcement agencies.

“On its part, the service is collaborating with other sister agencies to ensure that adequate measures are put in place for protection of lives and property.

“To further achieve this purpose, the service has provided these emergency response numbers *08132222105*

and *09030002189* for urgent contacts. It is also using this opportunity to unveil its interactive website *www. dss.gov.ng* for public communication support.

“Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of these platforms and similar ones provided by related agencies to timely reach and avail them (security agencies) of required information…”

Reacting to the statement, Odumosu told reporters that the police have already identified vulnerable areas and made adequate deployment to forestall any issue.

“The intelligence report came out and specifically said that churches and mosques are targets of the attacks. We are working on that, everyone should be rest assured that there is adequate security and they go about their lawful businesses without fear,” he said.

On efforts to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols, Odumosu reiterated that all recreational centres remained closed, adding that the command had held meetings with various clubs and social groups to suspend all end of year activities.

He warned that police would not hesitate to storm a wedding or social gathering and arrest people for flouting COVID-19 directives.

Odumosu also disclosed that the command arrested 18 suspects at Romeo and Juliet Night Club in Ejigbo for disobeying government order.

“If it is not compulsory to go out, please remain at your house moreover gatherings of whatever kind has been banned.

Parents should entertain their children at home. Beaches and all recreational facilities have been closed. We must all do

what we can to prevent further spread of COVID-19.”

Among those arrested were Samuel Jombo, 46, Chibuke

Agbo, 40, Tony Azubike, 38, Loveth Nwankwo, 32, said to have been drinking and clubbing around 11:30pm

on December 22, despite the immediate ban on club houses placed by government at the weekend.

OUR BUDGET IS READY...

Kona State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, flanked by other officials of the state during the signing the 2021 Budget into law at the Government House in Kano ....yesterday

Petrol Tanker Explosion Kills Six, Destroys 30 Houses in Kwara Hammid Shittu in Ilorin A truck laden with petrol yesterday exploded, killing no fewer than six persons in Jebba, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The petrol tanker said to be travelling through the ancient town, lost control and spilled its contents as it rammed into residential buildings.

An eyewitness account said the incident resulted

in huge explosions that also burnt down over 30 houses and shops.

When contacted, spokesperson of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and property, describing the development as devastating and sad.

In a statement, Mallam AbdulRazaq’s media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that “the governor is very sad at this development especially with the loss of lives and millions of naira worth of properties and farmlands.

“He sends his heartfelt condolences to the affected families. He urges them to take heart and remain calm as believers. He has also directed the State Emergency

Management Agency (SEMA) to quickly move in to determine the material loss.

“He also commends the Kwara State Fire Service and other responders for their efforts which helped to curtail the raging inferno and minimised the loss. Once again, he condoles with the victims and their families on this very sad incident, and prays to God Almighty to repose the souls of the deceased.”

last Friday in Lagos.

But the forum in a statement yesterday, signed by its leaders, Yinka Odumakin South-west; Chief Guy Ikokwu, South-east; Senator Bassay Henshaw, Southsouth; and Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt, said they would never hide under any other group or surrogates to make statements on issues.

The forum urged the group to be bold enough to use its name and the true identities of its leaders and members to push its positions.

According to the statement, ‘’The attention of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has been drawn to a recent publication by the leaders of the platform known as Nigerian

Alliance for Self-Determination.

The group had reportedly given 90 days ultimatum for the scrapping of 1999 Constitution as it was responsible for the worsening security situation in the country and poverty in the land and circulated it’s position to the international community. ‘’We note, that not only was the group parading the image of SMBLF as being part of its positions but it also used the identities of some of our prominent leaders in advancing its objectives without any recourse whatsoever to them. ‘’While we hold no grudges against any other group in holding its positions on national issues, we consider it indecent and

unacceptable impersonating identities of others, especially our respected leaders. We advise the group in question to henceforth be bold enough to use its name and the true identities of its leaders and members to push its positions.

This is the right thing to do if it has conviction and dignity of purpose. ‘’For the avoidance of doubt, we restate that the SMBLF will never hide under any other group or surrogates to make statements on issues as that would be too demeaning. We have continued to make our positions especially the imperative of restructuring the country and the urgency of enthroning, equity, fairness and justice, very clear and unequivocal.

Govt Hasn’t Done Enough to Address Insecurity, Constitution Review: Middle Belt, Southern Leaders Says Expert Distance Self from Ultimatum to FG Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

Security and safety consultant, Femi Dare has said the federal government has not put enough security measures in place to address the growing insecurity in country.

He, therefore, called on government to be more proactive about the state of security in the nation.

Dare who was a guest yesterday on The Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, noted that there had to be sincerity of purpose by both the federal and state governments to address the issues of insecurity in the country.

“I’ve not seen any intentional drive towards achieving that goal since the civilian rule.

Security is not what you buy off the shelf, it has to be systematic and built over a period of time. We have seen how porous our borders have been and the government hasn’t put enough measures in place to secure our borders,” Dare said.

Speaking further, he said: “There has to be a deliberate and purposeful approach towards addressing the state of security otherwise you cannot develop the country.

All sorts of people come into

our country unaccounted for, we don’t know their history or background and that exposes us to a whole lot of threats. So I think the state government has their direct responsibility likewise the federal government.

If restructuring is going to solve the problem, it has to be done as quickly as possible because we can no longer tolerate the idea of having a country with porous borders, lack of security here and there, bombing all over the place is not good for the future of the country.”

According to him, fighting insurgency remained a big business.

“We want to see a situation where technology is deployed in this fight of insecurity in managing our borders. There are quite a lot of technologies that can address these issues.

We can also sit on existing infrastructure that we have for the telecommunications to build effective surveillance systems.

You have equipments that can be used for intelligence gatherings like the radio barrier system.

There has to be an intentional purpose for addressing the vulnerabilities because if you cannot anticipate crime, you cannot stop it. There has to be an intentional drive by the government as the future is looking very ugly at the moment, “Dare said.

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has disassociated itself from the claim by a platform known as Nigerian Alliance for Self-Determination, that it has given the federal government a 90-day ultimatum to decide on the repeal of the 1999 Constitution or to dissolve Nigeria’s amalgamation of 1914 as it was responsible for the worsening security situation in the country.

The leaders of various ethnic groups were said to have come together under the auspices of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, to reach the resolution after a meeting

AfCFTA Offers New Opportunities for Nigeria’s Industrial Growth, Says Minister James Emejo in Abuja As the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) takes off on January 1, 2021, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo has called on Nigerians, particularly industrialists to take advantage of the inherent opportunities to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Ifedayo Sayo, the minister said Nigeria cannot afford to be left out of

the emerging African economic block, stressing that AfCTA will form a 3.4 trillion dollar economic bloc, which Nigeria must play a leading role.

The AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area in terms of 54 participating countries, will commence on January 1, 2021.

The commencement date will signal the beginning of the implementation of a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments across Africa.

According to the minister,

“The journey started on July 7, 2019, when Nigeria became the 53rd African country to sign the AfCFTA treaty. Long before then, it has always been the dream of Nigeria and Africa’s founding fathers to unite the continent in one, shared prosperity.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement will form a $3.4 trillion economic bloc, which Nigeria cannot afford to be left out of.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria not only partakes as a signatory in name but become a major trade and

economic powerhouse, even more than we have been within the ECOWAS region.”

Also speaking on readiness measures taken by the government towards the effective implementation of AfCFTA, the Secretary, National Action Committee on AfCFTA, Francis Anatogu said, “We are effectively coordinating with all critical stakeholders to ensure a smooth playing field for Nigerian traders and businessmen to explore the vast markets that will be opened up come January 1st, 2021.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

43

NEWS XTRA

APC Nullifies Suspension of Ameachi, Uchendu, Giadom Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared the purported suspension of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu and Chief Hon. Victor Giadom as members of the party in Rivers State as null and void.

The ruling party said the ward executives that purportedly suspended the trio were unknown to the national headquarters of the party.

The party’s Head Legal Services, Mr. Dare Oketade, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday, adding that the national secretariat of the party had no records that the said ward executive officers of the party in Rivers State.

It, therefore, warned party members in the state against the consequences of impersonation both within the constitution

of the party and the laws of Nigeria.

Oketade stated: “The attention of the Party has been drawn, through the social and print media to the purported suspension of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Andrew Uchendu and the purported expulsion of Chief Victor Giadom, respectively as members of the party in the state by some so-called ward executives of the party.

“It is therefore in the interest of the general public and our members in Rivers State that I am further directed to notify you that all actions purportedly taken by those ward executives, unknown to the National Headquarters of the party, and you in the name of the All Progressives Congress are null and void and of no moment.

“We have checked through our records at the national secretariat and found out that

these persons are not officers of the party in Rivers State. I am therefore directed by the National Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni to notify you, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is led by the Hon. Isaac Abbot Ogbobula

who were duly sworn in at the National Secretariat of the party on the 11th of December 2020 by virtue of the National Executive Committee directives issued at its 8th December, 2020 meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.”

The ruling party noted that “it

is in the interest of the general public and members in Rivers State that I am further directed to notify you that all actions purportedly taken by those ward executives, unknown to the National Headquarters of the party, and you in the name of the All Progressives

Congress are null and void and of no moment.”

Oketade stated categorically that the party would henceforth not tolerate any acts which are calculated to disparage the leaders of the party or bring the party to ridicule for whatever motivation.

Court Summons Sowore over Alleged Fake Report against IG Alex Enumah inAbuja Justice Binta Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has ordered the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore to appear before her over alleged false media report against the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu.

Justice Mohammed, made the order while ruling in a motion exparte number: FCT/ HC/M/13103/2020 filed by the IG through his lawyer, Dr Alex Izinyon, SAN. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until January 26, 2021 for hearing.

The IG had slammed a N10 billion suit against Sowore for allegedly publishing falsehood against him.

Izinyon in the motion had sought an order of the court, “granting leave to the claimant/ applicant (Adamu) to issue and

serve the writ of summons and statement of claim on the defendant who resides at No. 1, Mosafejo Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, outside the jurisdiction of this court.

It would be recalled that the IG had recently described as falsehood a report published by the media outfit, on August 3, accusing him of illegally raising funds to build Police Training School in Nasarawa State.

Adamu, through his lawyer, Izinyon, had threatened to file a N10 billion suit against the online platform and its publisher, Sowore, unless an apology was tendered within seven days of the letter addressed to the media house on August 6.

He had vowed to file the suit except “a written and unequivocal retraction with an apology carried with the same prominence on its platform and three national dailies,” was done.

SPDC Urges Rivers Govt to Follow Due Process in OML 11 Takeover oil giant noted that it was Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) yesterday dismissed the purported takeover of Kidney Island asset of the company’s Joint Venture in Port Harcourt by the Rivers State government.

Governor Nyesom Wike had claimed victory over Shell’s local subsidiary at OML 11, saying that it was in response to a court judgment and thereafter asked for SPDC to hand over revenues from the assets on the base.

At the time, Justice Charles Nwogu ordered that SPDC to “render accounts to and pay over to the claimant all accruals from the defendant’s continued appropriation of the pecuniary interests in the said OML 11” However, in the SPDC statement, signed by SPDC’s Media Relations Manager, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, the

in possession of information that Rivers government action was “in the exercise of rights purportedly acquired through a court auction process that is still the subject of ongoing appeals at the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt.”

According to SPDC, any purported exercise of rights allegedly acquired through that process, including any attempt to take over or seal up the Kidney Island asset or other assets of the SPDC JV to satisfy claims in pending suits is premature and prejudicial to the ongoing court proceedings, and therefore not recognised.

It noted that under the Nigerian Petroleum Act, any acquisition or assignment of interests in a licence or lease would require the consent of the minister of petroleum, adding that no such consent had been given in the case of the purported acquisition by the Rivers State government.

POINT OF INTEREST...

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha (left), and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in a chat after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday

Ile Arugbo: Judge Refuses to Recuse Self from Suit Hammid Shittu in Ilorin A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday dismissed the application by claimants to the disputed land (Ile Arugbo) of the late Dr Olusola Saraki, Asa Investments Ltd asking the state Chief Judge Sulyman to reassign the case.

The claimants had January this year, taken the state

government to court after the latter reclaimed the land allegedly unlawfully taken over by Asa Investments Ltd without any right of occupancy or payment to the owner, the state government.

Claimants lead counsel, Akin Onigbinde (SAN) had also urged the presiding judge in the matter Justice Abiodun Adebara to withdraw from the case alleging bias and

impartiality.

Onigbinde said: “It is not an application against the person of the honourable court. The concern is what ordinary members of the public will feel in this circumstance. There is no ruling yet. We give the court the freedom/latitude to decide according to its discretion.”

In his about two hours ruling yesterday Justice Adebara said that “allegation against a judge

is a very serious and grievous one. A case of impartiality should not be made against a judge unless there is sufficient ground to do so.

“The allegation of a likely bias against this court is misplaced vague and suspicious. I therefore that the allegation lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed.”

He then adjourned the case to February 1st and 2nd 2021 for hearing.

Alleged Unlawful Nomination: Court Fixes December 29 for Judgment in PDP’s Suit against Ize-Iyamu Hearing continues in APC’s alleged Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Ahmed Mohammed yesterday announced that he would deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu from the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

Defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC)

and Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

Justice Mohammed fixed the date after counsel representing parties adopted and argued their respective written addresses for and against the suit.

The court had at the last sitting ruled that ruling in all objections and motions regarding the suit would be delivered during judgment.

When the matter came up yesterday, counsel to Ize-Iyamu, Chief Roland Otaru SAN,

informed the court of an application seeking to invite one Hillary Otsu, deponent of the affidavit in support of the PDP’s originating summon.

His request was, however, opposed by Mr. Ken Mozia, SAN, counsel to the plaintiff on account that the earlier order of the court had foreclosed the hearing of any further application.

In urging the court to grant the reliefs sought by his client, Mozia submitted that Ize-Iyamu

was not validly nominated as candidate of the APC in the September election hence ought to be disqualified.

INEC’s lawyer, Mrs. Wendy Kuku, in her submission urged the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.

Similarly, counsel to the APC, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde SAN, prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the suit was tantamount to “Mr. A taking panadol for Mr. B’s headache’.

Army Arrests 66 Suspected Criminals, Loses Seven Personnel in Nasarawa Ali said that the command Niger amongst other places. In Kawuwajo and Zagalo Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Sixty-six suspected criminals comprising of kidnappers, bandits, armed robbers, gunrunners, bandit collaborators, and informants have been arrested by the personnel of the Nigerian Army Four Special Forces Command.

The suspects were paraded yesterday by the Commander, Major General Moundhey Gadzama Ali, at the command’s headquarters at Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

has carried out operations in the North-west, North-east, and North-central, South-south, South-west regions of the country after receiving credible information which led to the rest of several bandits and the killing of some gun runners.

He added that among the suspects, 41 of them are members of the late Benue militia leader, Terwase alias Gana, which also included his Chief Priest, Ugba Iorlumun.

“We have operated in Borno, Yobe, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi,

Benue, we have arrested the Chief Priest of the late Criminal Terwase alias Gana, one of his men called ‘ Commander’s among others and razed the Shrine. While another criminal, Paul Duguma died in KatsinaAla,” he said.

“In Niger State, Special Forces with 31 Artillery and the Nigerian Air Force, we neutralised kidnappers, destroyed the dens of Alhaji Damina, while the kidnappers killed each other due to rivalry between the camps of Alhaji

in Kamfanin Wayo, a boundary Village between Niger and Kaduna State.”

Speaking further, the commander regretted that seven personnel were killed during Operation Nut Cracker II, carried out in Niger State where nine bandits were neutralised.

While reiterating the resolve of the command to ensure safety, the commander said: “I want to assure you that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety of all law-abiding citizens of this great nation.

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THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Security, Economy Have Collapsed under Your Watch, Wike Taunts APC Governors Davidson Iriekpen

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has asked governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to own up to the failure of its party in the country.

Wike said security and economy have collapsed under the watch of members of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF).

A statement signed by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor spoke yesterday when he led his Oyo counterpart, Oluseyi Makinde to open the Woji and Obagi roads in GRA Phase 2, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

Wike said it was ironic for the APC governors to keep admitting worsening insecurity across the country without accepting the failure of their party.

He stressed that the APC federal government promised to offer better governance that would ensure safety of life and property of all Nigerians.

But the governor said virtually everything had collapsed in the country, adding that in a true democratic setting, nobody would be a proud member of the APC. He said: “I hear the Progressives Governors Forum saying that there is insecurity. Who is responsible?

They should come out openly and say that the party in power has failed. Nigerians gave mandate to APC at the Federal Government level and therefore, they must own up that they have failed Nigerians.

“Everything has collapsed in the country. Security has collapsed. Economy has collapsed. There is nothing working in the country. Today, all over Nigeria, there is insecurity everywhere.

“The other day, in Katsina State, they took about 400.

The next day, they said they took 84. Now again they said they’ve taken a village head, the wife and 14 people in Katsina State.

“When there was problem

in this State (Rivers), about the level of kidnapping, I shouted but nobody listened to us. They said it was politics and that we were killing APC people. I said when you introduce politics to security the consequences will be great.

“Now, it is everywhere.

Until they come to apologise to Rivers State that they are sorry for what they have done to us, then God will forgive all of them.”

The governor said he had not disappointed Rivers people, who gave him their mandate to improve

the quality of living, infrastructure and guarantee the security of life and property.

He said he was not tired serving the state boasting that after his tenure he would walk on streets confidently without the protection of personal

security guards.

He said: “We are proud because we can come out and say to the people of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Governments this is what PDP has done for you by the projects carried out in these two local governments.”

BUDGET OF HOPE...

Stop Distracting Obaseki, Edo PDP Chairman Cautions Party Members Akeredolu: We will Recruit More into Amotekun

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, flanked by officials of the state, during the signing of the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Benin City...yesterday

James Sowole in Akure

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-City

The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, yesterday cautioned politicians in the state, including members of his party, not to distract the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, as he settles down for his second term in office.

Aziegbemi, also denied rumours making the rounds that Obaseki had demanded that the elected executives of the party from the ward to the state level be dissolved and a mini congress be organised, so he could infuse some of his supporters who came with him from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the leadership of the party.

The state PDP leader, who stated this at an interactive session with journalists at the party state secretariat in Benin-city, the state capital, said Obaseki was ready to reposition the state civil service

for better performance.

According to Azegbiemi, “I urge Edo people to please continue to support the PDP-led administration in the state. We need the support of all for the governor to continue the good works. “This party under my leadership will give the governor all the support he needs because we need to say this publicly for our people to know where we stand.

“On the political front, we want absolute quiet; we don’t want the governor to be distracted, we want him to focus on governing the state, on giving the Edo people the dividends of democracy they deserve, and so we are guaranteeing him absolute calmness on the political front so that he can have all the time in the world to do all the things he wants to do for the people because we want PDP to deliver on the promises we made during the campaigns, so distracting him politically will not help.”

Insecurity: Abuja Monarch Begs Buhari to Sign Peace Corps Bill Alex Enumah in Abuja A traditional ruler in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Etsu Kwali, Dr Shabban Audu, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to give assent to the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) establishment bill when transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

Audu also enjoined the presidency not to decline assent to the bill as he did during the eight National Assembly.

Speaking at a lecture on “Nation Building and Security Challenges: Advancing an All Inclusive Security Architecture”, organised by the PCN to mark the end of year 2020, the traditional ruler claimed that the country needs the Peace

Corps of Nigeria to enable it contribute solutions to security challenges.

He said that from his interactions the personnel of the corps are well trained and highly educated and will do well for the country in the intelligence gathering that will help other arms of the security agencies to combat and curtail the unpalatable security situation in the country.

The monarch who expressed happiness that President Buhari is aware of the enormity of the security crisis engulfing the nation, pleaded that Peace corps should be allowed to join the security architecture of the country to enable it contribute in the fight against terrorism, banditry and armed robbery.

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has said that the state would employ more persons into the Amotekun Corps and give them necessary equipment needed for successful operations in the fight against crimes and criminality.

Governor Akeredolu who spoke yesterday while

receiving members of the Ifon Progressive Union led by its President, Chief Femi Awani, said the worsening security situation across the country was worrisome.

The Ondo governor said arms and ammunition got into the wrong hands in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protest.

He added that the good virtues of Oba Israel Adeusi,

the Olufon of Ifon, who was killed by suspected kidnappers, would not be forgotten.

Akeredolu described the late Oba Adeusi as one of his strongest supporters in the state even as he called for more collaborative efforts between the state government and the people in providing security in the rural areas.

He said the Amotekun corps would continue to comb the

forest in Ifon but urged the people of the area to give necessary support to the security agency.

Chief Awani said the governor’s visit helped to douse tension that gripped the town after the killing of Oba Adeusi.

Awani explained that the late monarch had been at the forefront of the campaign to combat crimes in the town.

Bayelsa Governor Receives 10 Rescued Expatriates Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday received 10 expatriates that were rescued by security agencies in the state from the den of kidnappers.

The foreign sailors were kidnapped on November 25 from their vessel along the Pennington River in neighbouring Delta State and brought into Bayelsa.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement listed the victims as three Lebanese, four Indians, two Egyptians and one Cameronian.

An official of the Department of State Services (DSS), who presented the freed vessel workers to Governor Diri at the Government House in Yenagoa, said it took the concerted effort of security personnel in both

Bayelsa and Delta states to rescue them.

While addressing the media, Senator Diri called on those responsible for such criminal acts to turn a new leaf, stating that kidnapping was not a business.

The governor, who thanked God for the safe return of the victims, said his government was working very hard to rid the state of kidnappers.

He equally thanked the security operatives for their professionalism in the rescue operation, especially when he got the information that the victims were being held in the state.

His words: “I thank God for the safe return of all of you, particularly as nobody was hurt and you all came back alive.

“I also use this medium to

thank the security agencies for being very professional. From when we were informed of the kidnap, the security agencies were on their toes, particularly when we were told that though your kidnap did not take place in Bayelsa, you had been brought into the state. The security operatives went into full gear to locate where you were and to finally ensure your smooth release.

“I therefore commend the DSS, the Police, the Army, Navy and all other security agencies in Bayelsa that synergised with the state government to ensure zero tolerance for kidnapping in Bayelsa.

“Let me use this medium to advise our young ones that kidnapping is not a business

and that it is time to listen to the voice of reasoning that we are ready to receive them back to society and rehabilitate them to be useful to themselves.”

The governor emphasised that his administration was working round the clock to ensure zero tolerance for crime and criminality in the state.

The governor assured them of safety as they return to their business and urged them to speak well of Bayelsa and how the government facilitated their release.

He also assured foreign nationals not to be deterred by such acts as the state is hospitable and open for foreign investors to be part of the prosperity story of his administration.

Yahaya Bello: FG Should Focus on Economic Recovery Not Procuring COVID-19 Vaccines Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has advised the federal government to focus more on reviving the economy than on how to procure COVID-19 vaccines.

Bello said this on a live television programme yesterday.

The governor said Nigeria cannot afford another lockdown in its present economic state.

He said members of the presidential task force on COVID-19 are meant to advise the president based on current realities and not get involved

in things that would make life difficult for citizens.

He said spending huge amounts of money on getting the COVID-19 vaccines is a misplaced priority.

“I think I would rather be excused from the discussion of COVID-19. I have taken a position and I don’t see myself shifting from it any time soon,” he said.

“I say this against the backdrop of the fact that we saw a lot of gimmicks and antics, merchandising of foreign products

that is not marketable in Nigeria at all and I said this long ago and some people advising Mr. President continue to take a wrong trajectory. I will say that.

“You see, all these brouhaha coming up about the issue of COVID-19 vaccines, I don’t think we deserve it now. We have an economy that Mr President inherited, recession, low income, left, right, and centre and Mr President is doing his best to make sure he pull out of the woods.

“I think we the followers, those of us charged with the responsibility of advising Mr. President should do that with utmost fear of God almighty.

“We are talking of insecurity in the country, let me tell you that when you lock over 200 million citizens at home for one day, you cannot quantify the number of lives that are lost. Livelihood lost can never be regained. We don’t need that marketing strategies.

But unfortunately, they are there; they are doing their job.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Ahmed: Treasury Safety Key for Economic Sustainability James Emejo in Abuja

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, yesterday said the safety of the treasury remained critical for economic growth and sustainability.

Ahmed who inaugurated the fire sub station located at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) - which is to be manned by the Federal Fire Service (FFS) - stated that the treasury was crucial to ongoing public financial management reforms in line with the desire of the federal government to bring the country up to speed

with other leading world economies.

The minister pointed out that in carrying out the enormous task, the treasury had not lost sight of the need to ensure that the work environment is not only conducive but safe.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Ahmed Ali, Ahmed said the prioritisation of the OAGF was a welcome development.

She said: “Fire safety at the work place is the foremost consideration in human resources management, of recent, fire incidences have been reported in many

government offices and in most cases such incidences were as result of failure to plan and implement fire preventive and safety measures”.

She explained that the commissioning of the fire station among other infrastructural development projects embarked on by the OAGF, was in line with the policy of the President Muhammadu Buhari - led administration to ensure safety in every workplace and its environs.

The treasury had earlier in April been gutted by fire, allegedly sparked off by faulty air conditioning conduit. The management had claimed no

important document was lost in the inferno.

However, speaking to journa-lists during the inauguration of the fire unit, the Account General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, said even before the April fire outbreak, efforts had been underway to establish the unit to contain future incidences.

He said the move was to boost fire safety awareness and ensure that Federal Fire Service and all fire commands around the country are enhanced in such a way that people can take basic and preventive measures to prevent fire by observing laid

down protocols.

The AGF said: “I have told the FFS on the need to sensitise Nigerians on awareness with protocols in the event of fire outbreak, so let Nigerians be sensitised and be aware and in the event of fire, necessary protocols should be taken to minimize loss of lives and property.”

“We are not unconscious that we need to provide safety of human being, and properties, but now that we have commission this fire station, we are not praying for fire, but in an event that fire comes, we can adequately address it before we get much more enforcement.”

He said collaboration was “always good for the benefit of the people and the public, I encourage other agencies to look at areas of synergy and partnership among themselves, and we have seen the beauty of this partnership with the Federal Fire Service.”

In his remark, the Controller General, FFS, Mr. Liman Ibrahim noted with this initiative, the service now had 12 zonal offices with 106 fire fighting vehicles to cover the entire country.

He said the service will purchase 44 more fire fighting trucks, 15 rapid intervention, water tanker of 10,000 water capacity, and 15 ambulances by next year.

Nine NYSC Members Test Positive to COVID-19 in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than nine members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed in Niger State have tested positive for COVID-19, investigations have revealed.

THISDAY learnt that the corps members were discovered to be positive through the tests carried out on them when they reported for the two-week orientation programme at the Paiko temporary orientation camp.

It was also learnt that those affected have already been placed in isolation in one of the government facilities in the state.

The development, it was gathered, stopped those concerned from passing out with others last Tuesday after the two-week orientation programme.

“They are doing fine in the isolation centre,” a top official of the state Task Force on COVID-19 confided in THISDAY. No official of the state NYSC was prepared to volunteer information on the development, however, when contacted, the state

Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris, confirmed the report, saying the relations of the affected youth corps members have been informed about the incident.

Idris said as soon as they (youth corps members) come out of isolation,” they will be sent home,” but did not say if they would be allowed to continue the remaining part of their one-year assignment in Niger State.

Also, the commissioner confirmed that the state Task Force on COVID 19 has begun the fumigation of the House of Assembly complex following the discovery that the Speaker, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, and Clerk of the Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara, tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

The two Assembly members have gone into isolation, but their absence is said to be stalling the passage of the N151.6billion 2021 budget.

THISDAY gathered that while Kagara is isolating at home, the Speaker, Wuse, is reported to have opted for a medical facility outside the state.

Gunmen Abduct Kano Businessman Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Gunmen yesterday attacked and abducted a businessman, Alhaji Abdullahi Kalos, at Minjibir town, 34 kilometres away from the Kano metropolis.

According to an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, the gunmen invaded the private residence of the business mogul at about 1a.m. yesterday, shooting sporadically in the air.

The eyewitness said the gunmen, who came in a white Hilux van, two VW Sharon saloons cars and four motorcycles, and numbering about 12, bombarded the businessman’s resident and forcefully took him away.

It was also gathered that the abducted man is a popular dealer in electronics and appliances at Sabon Gari market in the state.

“We noticed that the kidnappers came from a

short distance where they parked their vehicles. They shot sporadically into the air to scare people away. Nobody slept from that night till dawn.

“However, few minutes after locating the man’s residence, the criminals took him away,” the eyewitness said.

Meanwhile, the gunmen also burnt a police van stationed at the front of the businessman’s residence after over powering the security men stationed there.

The state police spokesman, Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed the incident, informing THISDAY that he was still gathering the details of the incident.

THISDAY recalled that last Tuesday, suspected kidnappers abducted a nursing mother and her baby after killing a vigilante at Falgore town in Rogo Local Government Area of the state.

LUCKY WINNER...

L-R: Manager, Data Services, 9mobile, Mr. Godswill Nnaji; Winner of the Grand Prize, Ms. Abisola Fausat Emmanuel; and Head, Media Planning & Management, 9mobile, Mr. Gerald Osugo, at the 9mobile Mega Millions Promo Grand Finale and prize presentation held in Abuja...recently

Soldiers, Others Kill Suspected Robber, Kidnapper James Sowole in Akure Troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure, Ondo State, in an operation with other security agencies, yesterday killed a middle-aged man, who was a member of a six-man gang of suspected kidnappers and armed robbers.

The man was killed at Igarra village on Ibilo-Isua road in the state during a foiled kidnapping and armed robbery operation.

The action of the security team was disclosed by

the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Zakari Abubakar, in a statement.

According to the statement, the commander said: “The troops, which were on patrol with other security agencies along Ibilo-Isua Road, encountered a group of bandits suspected to be kidnappers.

“The bandit attempted to kidnap three travelers in a gold colour Toyota Highlander 2006 model with registration number AKD 55 GS. “On sighting the troops, the

kidnappers tried to engage them in a gun battle, but were defeated due to the troops’ superior fire power. This resulted in the killing of one of the kidnappers while others escaped into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.”

He added that after the shootout, three of the kidnapper victims were rescued and some items were also recovered at the scene.

The items recovered at the scene of the incident, according to him, included N350,770,

one cutlass, 11/2 sachets of tramadol hydrochloride(100mg), and one Itel phone.

Commander Abubakar advised the public to give useful information on suspected criminals and their hideout to the security agencies in the state in order to fight crimes effectively.

He assured Nigerians that the army and other security agencies in the state would continue to ensure the security of lives and property during the festive period and always.

Niger Backs APC Registration of Members to Widen Power Base Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State Government has supported the plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker/ Convention Committee to carryout registration of members, insisting that the policy will widen the political power base of the party ahead of the 2023 general election.

The state government also maintained that fresh party registration would bring into the net of the party “many supporters of our party who have been hanging out there.”

The Mai Mala Buni-led

committee has already fixed the exercise for early January 2021.

The Special Adviser on Political Matters to the state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, Alhaji Nma Kolo, who made the government position known in a statement made available to journalists in Minna yesterday, however, challenged the party leaderships at all levels to ensure they “carryout the job meticulously and to the satisfaction of all stakeholders by also ensuring the registration of all supporters of our party.

“Nobody should be

indirectly or directly denied registration into the party.”

According to him, “Registration of members by any party is a very important task because it will allow the party to know it’s strength even before any election.

“On our part as a government, we will give the needed moral and physical supports to the leaderships of our party at all levels to enable them succeed in this very important assignment.”

On insecurity, Kolo said the state government was working assiduously with the federal government to bring an end to the frequent

banditry in some parts of the state.

“The state government is very concerned about the high level of insecurity in parts of the state, especially in the Niger East senatorial zone. We are working very hard to restore law and order as well as to make our people live peacefully in the various communities they find themselves,” the governor’s aide stated.

He however charged “our Christian brothers and sisters” to use the celebration of Christmas to pray for peace not only in the state but the country at large.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

CAF COMPETITIONS

Enyimba Walk Tight Rope with Defeat in Sudan Rivers Utd beat S’Africa’s Bloemfontein Celtic away Duro Ikhazuagbe The miserable state of the domestic club football in the country was highlighted with the 3-0 drubbing of Enyimba FC by Sudan’s Al Merriekh on Wednesday afternoon in Omdurman.

The first leg fixture was the last hurdle for Enyimba to reach the group stage of CAF Champions League this year.

If the People’s Elephant fail in the reverse fixture in

Aba next week, it will be the second year running that any Nigerian club side could not reach the lucrative group stage of the topmost club contest in the continent.

With the Nigerian topflight league yet to resume from lockdown since March, most club sides in the country have been idle and match rusty.

Saif Terry was the nemesis of the two-time African champions yesterday as he bagged all the three goals for El Merriekh in

the first round tie at the Al Hilal Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Terry scored the goals in the sixth, 44th and 90th minutes to smile away with the ball of the day.

All attempts by Enyimba Coach, Fatai Osho, to at least reduce the tally failed to yield

any dividend. The introduction of the duo of Nabil Yarou and Tosin Omoyele after the interval, had little effect on the game but the goals just refused to come till end of 90 minutes.

If Enyimba fails to cancel the three goals deficit, they are to drop to the second tier CAF Confederation Cup to join

Rivers United who went to South Africa to grab a 2-0 away win against Bloemfontein Celtic last night.

The Pride of Rivers State redeemed the day for Nigeria despite having three of their players disqualified from playing. South African authorities who tested the

Nigerian delegation announced that three Rivers United players had Covid-19 and so were not allowed to be part of the match.

Officials of the Port Harcourt team however disputed the claim, insisting that all players and officials all tested negative before departing Nigeria for South Africa.

PGA Nigeria Begins Six-Month Professional Programme for Female Golfers Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The PGA of Nigeria has concluded plans for a sixmonth special intensive training programme to enable Nigerian female golfers to become professional golfers.

The resolution was made by the Executive Committee of the PGA of Nigeria at its recent meeting.

The training will commence in January 2021 while the final examination is scheduled for July/August.

At the end of the programme, only the successful candidates will be admitted into the membership of the PGA of Nigeria. There shall be not less than two seminars that will be compulsory for all participants.

The programme, which will be very wide in coverage and deep in contents will be

in line with international best practices and be guided by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) Professional Education Programme.

Recently, the PGA of Nigeria signed a document with the R&A through the support of the CPG. The document, titled “Women in Golf Charter” is aimed at promoting the inclusiveness of females in golf.

The graduates from the programme will be expected to fill the shortfall in the PGA professional requirements in the country, grow the game among the women population and provide the coaching force needed to grow the game among children.

In addition, the programme will expose the trainees to career opportunities that abound in the game of golf.

Sportsville Award for Wike, Shaibu, Pinnick, Others Lagos-based media outfit, Sportsville has announced plans to hold her maiden Sportsville Awards ceremony come January 30, 2021.

The event is one which the media outfit which has her programmes running in different TV stations across the country would use to honour some very distinguished Nigerians that are contributing to the nation’s sports development.

Leading the list of those to be honoured include, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon. Philip Shaibu, alongside President of the nation’s Olympic body (NOC) Engr Habu Gumel.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick and his counterpart in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Engr Musa Kida are also listed to be honoured.

Others includes, NWFL chairperson Aisha Falode, Enyimba Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, Chairman of Monimichelle, Nigeria’s leading stadium facilities construction outside, Ebi Egbe, veteran sports

journalist cum media icon, Dr Larry Izamoje of Brilla FM and Super Eagles number one supporter, Dr Rafiu Ladipo.

Sportsville’s board Chairman, Hon. Frank Ilaboya stated that the award is Sportsville’s own way of appreciating those doing well to take Nigerian sports to greater heights, even as he added that the awards would be an annual event to reward excellence.

“We are coming out with this Special Recognition award as a way to recognize excellence and encourage those doing well for Nigerian sports to do more for the country. We would make it an annual event,” Ilaboya stated.

El Merriekh’s Saifeldin Terry scored hat trick against Enyimba...yesterday in Omdurman, Sudan

National Stadium Lagos to Host Super Eagles Matches Next Year The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has assured football stakeholders in the country that the National Stadium pitch in Surulere, Lagos could be ready to host Super Eagles and other International matches by May 2021.

The Minister made this assertion during an inspection tour of the Surulere National Stadium, Lagos which is undergoing rehabilitation.

According to him, “it’s high time we had a familiar ground for our national teams. The Moshood Abiola National stadium in Abuja and the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos will be ready to host matches next year and it will be a major plus to our teams when they have a familiar ground.

“This arrangement is under the adopt initiative which is a public-private model that we developed.

Sports Minister, Sunday Dare (arms akimbo) listening to the Site Engineer at the National Stadium in Lagos during his inspection of the facility...recently

“We were able to pitch that to the private sector. we discussed with a philanthropist and lover of sports Sir Adebutu Kessington, who was convinced about the proposal.

“He is somebody that has the youth of this country at heart and has done so much to support youth and sports

development.

“As a form of CSR, he is committed to providing fund at 100 percent and we have no doubt that it will be completed in May.” The minister recalled the many rich history of great footballers that have played on the pitch since it was first used to host the second All

Africa Games in 1973.

“The Stadium has a rich history with the likes of Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami and host of ex internationals who played in the memorable edifice that hosted so many international competitions.

“The Engineer working on the site has assured that the stadium will be ready for use

by May next year,” stressed the minister.

Dare also assured all that a maintenance template is in place to ensure that the facility does not go back to its sorry state.

“The Ministry has a department of facility which is building a template for maintenance of the stadium. We have a Facility Manager from the private sector that will work with our department of facility.

Maintaining this facility is critical and we are going to take it very serious,” he concluded.

Cavani Stunner Sends Man Utd to Semi final of Carabao A brilliant late strike from Edinson Cavani earned Manchester United a Carabao Cup semi-final against rivals Manchester City as they knocked out Everton 2-0.

Cavani’s stunning curling effort from 20 yards ended the hosts’ resistance in front of 2,000 fans, just as the game looked set to head to penalties.

With Everton chasing the game, substitute Anthony Martial added a second in stoppage time as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer attempts to earn his first trophy as United boss.

Everton were lacklustre in the second half, after Richarlison went off injured, having promised much in the first period, with Gylfi

Sigurdsson’s free-kick testing Dean Henderson.

Defeat for Carlo Ancelotti’s team ends a run of three successive wins which has lifted them to fourth in the Premier League table.

United continued their upsurge over the last month with a victory which means they have now won all nine of

their domestic away games this season - a run which has seen them go third in the Premier League table with a game in hand on their rivals.

Despite making nine changes to the team which beat Leeds on Sunday after going 2-0 up inside three minutes, Solskjaer’s side began with a similar intensity but could not find a breakthrough

against an Everton team whose defence has improved in recent games.

In keeping with their 3-1 at Goodison last month, Fernandes was at the heart of their endeavour and in Cavani, they had a striker with a keen eye for goal despite missing the last few games through injury.

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ThursdaySports

Okocha, Adepoju Charge Nigerians to ‘Stop Search for Another Jay-Jay’ Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha insists the Nigerian obsession with finding a new ‘Jay-Jay’ has to stop.

That same sentiment was echoed by his World Cup teammate, Mutiu Adepoju who says there is too much pressure on the national team’s young players.

The 47-year-old Okocha, who retired in 2008, admitted to Lagos radio station Brila FM that the lack of creative midfielders is holding the current Super Eagles squad back.

“We should support these players and let them flourish on their own instead of unfairly putting them under pressure by calling them the next this or that,” said Okocha.

“I think people need to stop the obsession with that new Jay-Jay label because it’s unfair on these young players.”

In recent years Under-17 World Cup winners Rabiu Ibrahim and Kelechi Nwakali, Joel Obi and Alex Iwobi have all been hailed as a successor to Okocha in the Nigerian midfield that many believe lacks flair and creative verve.

Okocha made his debut for Nigeria against the Ivory Coast in 1993, before going onto win Olympic gold three

years later and then become the first Nigerian to play in three World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

The former Bolton, Hull City and PSG midfielder is regarded as one of the finest players to have emerged from the West African nation and his talent saw him win twice crowned the BBC African Footballer of the Year Midfielder Adepoju, who also participated in three World Cups with the Super Eagles, agreed that the local media and fans are guilty of putting too much pressure and spotlight on the young players.

“I believe calling young players in the youth teams as next Messi or Jay-Jay Okocha is unfair and unnecessary,” Adepoju who turned 50 on Tuesday told BBC Sport Africa.

“Indulging in this comparison is setting them up for failure because the weight of expectations will definitely affect these players mentally.

“It’s the main reason some players refused to work hard and be themselves because they easily get carried away by what the press was writing about them.”

He says that he has seen plenty of younger talent that has not made the step-up to senior level over the last ten

years.

“We’ve seen in the past decade that we have talented players all over the field who can make our team tick again,” he explained.

“Nigeria continue to dominate the youth events and there are positive signs of better days to come.

“We just need to nurture these players properly and do

away with the hype and noise.

“But if these players are allowed to play their own game and shine, they can be a success both at club and national team level.

“Victor Agali was widely regarded as the next Rashidi Yekini, but he fought extra hard to establish himself and sometimes people expected too much from him.

“He is an example of someone who saw the burden of that label yet worked hard to establish his own name.”

Adepoju holds a UEFA Pro license and has Spanish nationality after years spent playing in Spain, for the likes of Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Salamanca.

He played alongside Okocha as Nigeria won the 1994

Nations Cup and his career also took him to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus after making over 50 appearances for the Super Eagles.

A 1989 Under-20 World Cup star, Adepoju insists Nigeria has shown promises in global youth tournaments that it can produce midfielders who can bring success back to the national side.

File photo of Mutiu Adepoju (left) Austin Jay-Jay Okocha. The former Super Eagles players want Nigerian football fans to stop their ‘search for another Jay-Jay’

Joel Obi Alleges Racist Abuse in Italian Serie B Tokyo 2020 Announces New Creative Team for Italian Serie B side Chievo have said Nigeria midfielder Joel Obi was racially abused by an opponent during a match against Pisa on Tuesday.

Pisa and the player have both denied the accusation.

Chievo said in a statement that Obi was “the object of an infamous and disgraceful phrase that has nothing to do with the most basic values of sport, ethics and respect.”

It said Pisa player Michele Marconi used the phrase “the slave revolt” towards Obi in the first half of the 2-2 draw.

“Chievo... regrets that a phrase heard by most on the pitch was not followed by any disciplinary action:

neither by the referee, nor the assistant or fourth official, nor the federation delegate,” it added.

Pisa said the club“distanced itself” from Chievo’s statement, saying the alleged insult was not detected by match officials or the microphones around the pitch.

“Moreover, our player confirmed that he had not addressed any insults to the opposing player, let alone racially motivated ones,” it added.

Obi has spent most of his career in Italy, playing for Inter Milan, Parma and Torino as well as the Nigeria national team.

Maradona’s Autopsy Shows No Sign of Illegal Drugs Diego Maradona’s autopsy has revealed that the Argentina legend had no signs of alcohol or narcotics consumption at the time of his death.

The 1986 World Cup winner died of a heart attack on 25 November at the age of 60.

The autopsy said Maradona had problems with his kidneys, heart and lungs.

It had been ordered as part of an investigation into Maradona’s death to see if there was any negligence in the healthcare he was

provided.

Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, had a successful operation on a brain blood clot earlier in November and had been due to be treated for alcohol dependency.

A first autopsy carried out on the day Maradona died found that the former Boca Juniors and Napoli player had died from “acute pulmonary edema secondary to exacerbated chronic heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy”.

‘Simpler’ Opening, Closing Ceremonies A new creative team led

by Hiroshi Sasaki will shoulder the responsibility of designing and delivering ‘simpler’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies at next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 organisers announced on Wednesday.

“The ceremonies will still be a great celebration to be enjoyed by the athletes and watching world but will likely take a simpler and more restrained approach designed to reflect the overall simplification of the Games and the potential need to still consider Covid-19 countermeasures.” Organisers

Newly appointed Executive Director SASAKI Hiroshi (left) and NOMURA Mansai speaking during the press conference to throw light on preparations for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Wednesday Photo: Tokyo 2020

said in a statement.

“We have therefore decided to create a new team organisation that will allow us to prepare for these ceremonies more quickly and efficiently

in the limited time available.”

This is why seven creative directors have been reduced to one. Sasaki, who served in the previous planning team as the Executive Creative Director

for the Paralympic Games, will now oversee all four ceremonies.

Tokyo 2020 expressed “heartfelt gratitude and utmost respect” to the former team headed by Chief Executive Creative Director Nomura Mansai for their dedication “to a very challenging mission of preparing the ceremonies” since their appointment in July 2018.

In February, Nomura said nearly 80 percent of work for the opening and closing ceremonies was complete.

But the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayweather to Consider Coaching Role Floyd Mayweather was seen coaching Richardson Hitchins even though the former has a ‘super-exhibition fight’ with Logan Paul in February.

Mayweather announced earlier this month that he will face YouTuber Paul in a pay-per-view fight taking place on February 20 next year.

However, the American has been influenced to take up coaching following the death of his uncle and former trainer Roger in March of this year and was seen taking 2016 Olympian Hitchins on the pads.

Super-lightweight contender

Hitchins represented Team USA at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and has a 12-0 record following his tenth round victory over Argenis Mendiz earlier this month.

Mayeweather also trains young American talents Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney in his Las Vegas gym.

Retired legend Mayweather, who has a 50-0 undefeated record, has not fought in just under two years and just once since he knocked out Conor McGregor in 2017 in another exhibition bout.

Mayweather then took part in a second exhibition fight since retirement from

professional boxing against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo.

The New Year’s Eve fight in 2018 saw the American win within one round, which saw Tenshin’s camp throw the towel in after an explosive start by Mayweather.

It is believed the 43-year-old made £6.7million from that one round in Japan, which added to the £223million he earned from the McGregor exhibition fight back in 2017.

Fellow American Paul, 25, fought fellow YouTuber KSI twice in the past three years, the first resulting in a draw before the Briton claimed a

rematch victory back in 2019.

His fights with KSI in 2018 and 2019 were also popular as the influence of YouTuber boxing continues to grow in the sport.

The first contest was an immediate hit and became the largest non-professional boxing fights of all-time with 1.3million pay-perviews worldwide, a figure which included 800,000 live purchases.

The second fight in 2019 saw both fighters receive around $900,000 each, though the figures are believed to be higher for both KSI and Logan Paul.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

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MISSILE Afenifere to Presidency

“It’s so clear that these people don’t reflect on what they say to Nigerians anymore. How can a President who shut Benin and other borders for over a year without any just cause but lacks the will to shut Niger border because of cultural kinship utter this statement? It is the height of waywardness in leadership” – Response to President Buhari’s statement that only God could effectively supervise Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI Gunman, COVID-19 and My Family THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

A

n emergency family meeting was called to apprise all eight people in the house of our health circumstance and the precautions we had to take. The moment I announced a two-week quarantine and treatment, the house keeper who had been looking forward to travelling home to Akwa Ibom State at Christmas to bury his father muttered something which I didn’t hear. But my son, Oluwakorede, apparently heard him.

“Can’t you hear what daddy said? We all have Covid and you say you want to go to your village to bury your father. You want your family to bury more people?”

While my 17-year old son has always been known for his mischievous sense of humour, I was also certain he had been conditioned for this sad news by the traumatic experience of the previous 48 hours when an armed robber terrorised everyone in the house between 2.30am and 4am. The robber had pointed a gun at his head and asked for his PlayStation and games. So, he must have reckoned that if we could survive the terror of a gunman who ransacked the entire house and went away with valuables (including forcing my wife’s wedding band off her finger), we were more than prepared to deal with whatever COVID might throw our way.

I will save the gory details of how the twinevil we confront in Nigeria today (insecurity and the pandemic) came right to my doorstep.

The lesson of course is that one can never be too careful these days. While we are still not out of the woods with Covid, there are enough signs to show that the worst is already behind us. Incidentally, when Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq asked two weeks ago when my family would be in Kwara for Christmas, I told him we would not come this year because of Covid. What I did not reckon with at the time was that the Covid we were running away from was already right in our living room.

Having read so much about the pandemic and the havoc it has wrought this year, I was overcome by panic, anxiety and fear when it finally hit. Despite all the prayers in the house, I am not ashamed to admit that my faith failed. But my wife was strong in her conviction that we would all pull through and so were other members of the family.

The armed robbery attack seems to have prepared them, causing everyone to band together to cook, watch Netflix movies and turn the ritual of taking medication into a fair.

They sang. They danced. And last Saturday when I was going through a tough period, they practically dragged me out to cut my 22nd wedding anniversary cake they baked.

And when I reflect on it all, it is perhaps their ‘madness’ that has kept me sane.

Not every wound is visible. The most important of life’s battles, as David McKay reminds us, is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul. Now, I understand the feeling of emptiness and despair that can engender loneliness even in the midst of a loving crowd. Those who have experienced Covid-19 will agree that it is more than a disease. It is something that can take the afflicted to dark haunting places where they question whether life is really worth living. I have been there. Since we were all infected,

Pastor Azodoh…Chief Executive, Chivar Specialist Hospital and Urology Centre, Abuja my family couldn’t understand why I have taken it so badly.

Most of us come to our wit’s end over difficult issues at some point. And in such periods of anguish and uncertainty, we all need encouragement. My family has been very lucky in that regard. Waziri Adio, Ola Awoniyi, Simon Kolawole, Bolaji Abdullahi, Koyinsola Dickson, Tunde Ahmadu, Florence Egopija and Mustapha Onoyiveta have been there for us.

So have Emeka and Ebere Ihedioha. In kind words. In prayers. In supplies of essentials. The CEO of Metro Bakery, Mrs Sandra Adio has not only been sending food to the house, she has been preparing and supplying herbs as well. In fact, if there is anything the past two weeks has taught me, it is that many of my friends are closet ‘herbalists’, given the range of their anti-Covid herbal prescriptions! And just as he did when the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (to whom he was ADC) was sick, Mustapha has been a master in crisis management. On a lighter note, Ola kept urging me to watch football as a way to keep my mind free. What he failed to understand is that if I took his counsel, as an Arsenal fan, Coronavirus would have combined with Arteta to send me to ‘relegation’!

I thank God for the network of friends He has blessed us with. Joshua Ocheja was always available to run errands for us whenever I called. Even my chairman, Nduka Obaigbena has become a motivational speaker: “You are

sounding down because of Covid? It is not a death sentence. You and your family will pull through. Just take your medication and you will all be fine,” he assured me. Caverton Chairman, Mr Remi Makanjuola was always on phone to ask after each one of us and to offer his prayers. We have benefited immensely from the kindness of good people.

However, through it all, my biggest appreciation is to our Pastor, Evaristus Azodoh and his wife Ngozi. Shortly after the armed robbery attack, it was to Pastor Azodoh that I sent a message. He immediately visited with his wife. They prayed for us and his wife gave my wife two pairs of earrings. And when Covid hit, the first thing my wife said was, ‘Please call Pastor.’ And he has been there for us medically and spiritually.

A few people already know that my pastor is a retired colonel and one of the foremost consultant urologists in the country. But he is much more than that. He is the one everybody calls when in trouble. And he is ever available whenever we call. He is the first in church and always the last to leave. And this is a very busy man, a hospital owner. In his piece, ‘Encouraging the Encouragers’, Kegan Mosier reminds us that we all have people in our lives who consistently encourage us or are somehow involved in our holistic growth and health, yet, “we don’t do a very good job of expressing our thanks, gratitude, and offering words of life to them.” Mosier argued further that “Without proper self-awareness, and often unconsciously, people use their pastor, nurse or counselor as a ‘punching bag’ or the target of their grief, anger, and pain.”

Because of a few bad eggs whose primary motivation for coming to the ministry is money, Pastors are not very popular in our country today. But Nigerians hardly talk about genuine men of God who invest their time, talent, energy and resources into the ministry. For many families in our country, the comfort they draw from their pastors in times of distress makes all the difference. I have observed Pastor Azodoh over the years. I have seen him get tired. And sometimes burned out.

But despite all that, he was always available whenever church members needed him. Yet, it takes a special grace of God to respond to the challenges of others when you are going through your own issues. To the Azodohs, this is to say a very big thank you!

Meanwhile, there are several theories as to why Covid has not killed as many people in Africa as it has on other continents. My hunch is that perhaps it has to do with our

Because of a few bad eggs whose primary motivation for coming to the ministry is money, Pastors are not very popular in our country today. But Nigerians hardly talk about genuine men of God who invest their time, talent, energy and resources into the ministry. For many families in our country, the comfort they draw from their pastors in times of distress makes all the difference.

sense of community. The pandemic is not something to fight alone. And sometimes the only difference between going on or giving up is the network of support and encouragement we can draw from those around us when we are weak and weary.

A critical casualty of the pandemic, according to Victoria Atkinson White, is social isolation, whether mandated or optional. “When we live in isolation, our world, our view and our values can get smaller and more inward focused”. And in such moments, it is easier to ignore the bigger picture and succumb to pessimism and gloom.

Sadly, the second wave of Covid-19 has hit the country. That we are not prepared to deal with it is the real shame. I have learnt a lot in the past two weeks of the different methods to fight Covid-19 that many people adopt. Most of the concoctions and herbs that people make to beat this disease are not new inventions. Heat immersion and steam baths with cooked mango and dogonyaro leaves and a cocktail of other materials including ginger, lemon, garlic and turmeric were some of the preventive and curative health practices that served our traditional societies quite well in the past.

When Covid first hit early this year, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo posed the question, ‘Can Africa really afford lockdowns, and can they be effective?’ His thesis was based on whether people on the continent could successfully and sustainably defeat COVID-19 by copying the template of the Western nations. “While the U.K. and others are experimenting with vaccines, you never know if an Africa herb might be the cure. Necessity is the mother of invention, and only those who dare, succeed,” Soludo wrote in his well-circulated paper.

It is instructive that our policy makers paid scant attention to Soludo’s suggestion.

This is despite the fact that it came at about the same time that China’s National Health Commission revealed that about 90 percent of their nationals infected with COVID-19 took some form of traditional Chinese medicine to treat their symptoms. These traditional remedies, according to the Chinese authority, helped to alleviate symptoms, reduced the severity of the virus, improved recovery and reduced mortality rate. Growing up in the village, most of us took these concoctions that are now becoming popular, so we are well aware of their efficacy. What I find most disturbing is that there are people who still doubt that Covid-19 is real. I plead with such people to believe me. While many are coping well with it, some may not for different reasons, so prevention remains the best cure, especially with the second wave.

In all, the year 2020 has been extraordinary for everyone, even with our diverse experiences.

But we are now at crunch time. Christmas is a season of community, a time when families gather either to celebrate or to mourn together.

This year, Covid is depriving us of those communal rituals. It is but a small price to pay to survive these troubling times. While we all have stories to tell, 2020 has been harder for some than others. But through it all, we still have enough to thank God for as we look to the future with hope and promise.

I wish all my readers Merry Christmas.

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