TUESDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2021

Oil Prices Near $80 on Mild Omicron Variant

New rate almost doubles 2021 budget benchmark of $40pb

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Oil prices rose over three per cent yesterday on hopes that the Omicron COVID-19 variant would have limited impact on

global demand in 2022, even as surging cases caused flight cancellations in some countries.

Global benchmark Brent crude rose $2.59, or 3.40 per cent, to $78.73 a barrel yesterday, while the United

States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.01, or 2.7 per cent, to $75.80 a barrel.

Prices of oil which had plunged by more than 10 per cent on November 26, when reports of

a new variant first appeared, started to gain last week after early data suggested that Omicron could cause a milder level of illness.

Although the variant had been spreading faster than any

COVID-19 variant yet, there’s been some relatively relieving news that most people infected with Omicron showed mild symptoms so far.

However, more than 1,300 flights were cancelled by US airlines on

Sunday as COVID-19 reduced the number of available crews while several cruise ships had to cancel stops.

Continued on page 10

Jonathan Left $28.6bn External Reserves, Says Aide ... Page 6 Tuesday 28 December, 2021 Vol 26. No 9759. Price: N250

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Omicron: Travel Nightmare as over 2,800 Flights Cancelled US CDC shortens recommended COVID-19 isolation, quarantine time More than 2,800 flights were cancelled yesterday as COVID-19 cases surged across the globe.

This was just as the US Centers for Disease Control and Preven-

tion yesterday shortened the recommended times that people should isolate when they've tested positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five days if they don't have

symptoms - and if they wear a mask around others for at least five more days.

However, of the more than 2,800 cancelled flights, around 1,000 were

within, into or out of the United States, according to FlightAware.

Almost 11,000 flights are delayed.

"The nationwide spike in Omicron cases this week has

had a direct impact on our flight crews and the people who run our operation," a United memo obtained by CNN disclosed.

According to the CNN, globally,

airlines cancelled more than 6,000 flights on Christmas Eve, Christmas and the day after Christmas. In Continued on page 10

Shell, ExxonMobil Face Huge Remediation Costs over Abandoned Onshore Assets Aiteo considers options against multinational oil company over Nembe spill Sector not ripe for full-blown deactivation processes, says industry regulator Stakeholders want enforcement of rules Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and ExxonMobil are presently faced with huge remediation costs over their failure to properly decommission and cap oil and gas assets across the Niger Delta, especially the ones sold to Nigerians in recent divesture programmes. A situation that creates severe environmental risks and pollution to host communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

THISDAY gathered from stakeholders that the recent case of Aiteo’s Nembe wellhead blowout, brought to the fore the need to enforce the relevant laws and to ensure that the multinationals that sold the assets to the Nigerian companies pay remediation charges.

While Aiteo is presently engaged in a legal tussle with Shell, seeking the sum of over $2.5 billion compensation over the sale of Oil Mining Licence 29, THISDAY gathered that the Nigerian oil and gas company is also considering fresh legal action Continued on page 10

UWAIS’ DAUGHTER WALKS DOWN THE AISLE...

L-R: Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; his wife, Toyin; Oyo State Governor, Mr. 'Seyi Makinde; Mrs. Mariam Uwais, former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Uwais' sister, Mrs. Fatima Abdulrahman, during the wedding of Uwais' daughter in Ilorin, Kwara State...yesterday

JOHESU Endorses New Hazard Allowance Approved by FG... Page 5

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

NEWS

A GET-TOGETHER FOR PARTY LEADERS...

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, and Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, during a get-together for party leaders in Benin City, Edo State... yesterday

JOHESU Endorses New Hazard Allowance Approved by FG Wants inclusion of CONHESS adjustment in 2022 budget Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) have accepted the increase in the hazard allowance approved by the federal government.

However, the unions appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to include the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in the 2022 appropriation bill before its passage.

The health workers said any attempt to do otherwise could be met with stiff resistance.

JOHESU Chairman, Biobelemoye Josiah, who spoke on a national television network monitored in Abuja on Monday, said though the new hazard allowance was not exactly what they wanted, the workers have accepted it in the meantime.

On the adjustments made to the hazard allowance, Josiah said the unions had accepted the explanation offered by the federal government.

"As for the approval of the hazard allowance it is not where we wanted to be but as far as we are concerned government pleaded that that is what they can afford for now. Inasmuch as we would have loved it to be higher than what we asked for, we have decided to give peace a chance and see how it is implemented.

"Government has issued a circular and we will abide by it for now but where the government listens to any agitation and increases by one kobo, which must be given to us too. Where government wish to take our high level of understanding for granted, we will certainly tell them that it is not weakness," he said.

He, however, warned that any attempt to favour one union against the other would be resisted.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and its subunit, the National Association Resident Doctors (NARD) had earlier expressed reservations over the

new increment in hazard allowance ranging from N5000 to N15,000, N32,000 and N34, 000 for various categories of health workers.

The two bodies had said that what the federal government did was not in line with the terms of collective bargaining which they all surrendered to during negotiations.

He also called for a balance in the leadership of the Health Ministry, saying this would benefit the country.

On the issue of adjustment of CONHESS salary structure, Josiah warned that the unions would not guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector if the president fails to include the adjusted salary structure.

"We are expecting that Mr. President will do us well because as a union we have yielded to his request that we should keep the health sector strike free for the period. We have done our part, we expect that no matter the games that the Federal Ministry of Health is playing by trying to deny us our own right, the president has the power to direct that the committee's job should be included in the budget before he signs it.

"I want to use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to plead on our behalf because we have been very patient, we have been very patriotic and we will not want a situation where all the effort we have put to ensure that there is peace in the health sector to waste because if it is not put into the budget, next year - a few days from now, which when we go into next year, certainly, the health sector will not be as peaceful as we have tried to keep it.

"If they don't put the adjusted CONHESS into the budget then they should be ready for us," the JOHESU leader said.

Josiah further said that the unions were aware that there was a provision of N80 billion made to take care of the salary adjustment for health workers.

He said it would be wrong for the Federal Ministry of Health

to "divert" the funds for other purposes.

"At the peak of our agitation the office of the Chief of Staff to the President also intervened.

We are aware that there was a provision of N80 billion made to take care of adjustment of salaries.

It is our strong belief that even if they have not specifically stated that this amount is for CONHESS adjustment, I think there is a provision made already.

"Our money from what the committee has worked out is not beyond that N80 billion so for the president who appealed to

us and who we have also listened to, we have kept our deal; we have kept our gunpowder dry.

We have not shot anyone so the president should do us that favour by giving us that level of love that we have shown.

"We believe that there is provision already imputed in the budget but the federal ministry of health in its well - celebrated bias would want to say the money is not meant for us so that they can favour those who they want to favour," he said.

Josiah added: "If any government wants a proper health system, a developed health system in this

country we should change from this leadership where they put medical doctors at the helm of affair. Let us go back to what took us to be among the best in the commonwealth. Hospitals' administrators should take charge so that there will be fairness and neutrality in handling hospital affairs for all professional groups.

"Today, a matter that ought to have been handled by the HR in the federal Ministry of Health it is the Directorate of Hospital Services that is handling it and that is headed by medical doctors that is why there is huge bias being

displayed every now and then and that is why since 1985 the health system has dropped from its high point down to where we are and if we must talk about international best practices then we must rejig the leadership.

"Right from the beginning of this administration we asked that the three top personnel should not come from one profession.

The minister and minister of state should not come from one profession and the permanent secretary. For now that has not been heeded and the country is suffering for that," he said.

Discos: Why We Took Control of Assets Bought

By Communities, Collect Reconnection Fee Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) yesterday explained that electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) assume ownership of electrical assets voluntarily acquired by customers to ensure safety.

In a statement signed by ANED's Executive Director for Research and Advocacy, Sunday Oduntan, the umbrella body of all Discos said it boils down to the need to ensure indemnity.

The organisation said it was responding to public enquiries on why its members take control of such assets bought by communities as well as why it charges a fee for reconnection.

"Many people have asked that question and the answer is simple, and we feel it is important to shed light on it for the sake of public awareness. It is a case of indemnity and protection.

"The Discos take responsibility for any incident that happens with those infrastructure. It is important for Nigerians to understand that Discos have a responsibility to ensure that only good qual-

ity equipment duly certified by Nigerian Electricity Management and Safety Agency (NEMSA) are installed in our network,” the spokesman said.

According to him, after installation, Discos will have to take steps to protect such equipment such that it will be safe for use by customers.

“We have had occasions where some transformers that were installed in the days of PHCN, for instance in Lugbe, Abuja, caused electrocution.

“We need to protect the equipment and ensure that access is only granted to qualified personnel.

People have lost their lives because they were trying to maintain their transformers,” ANED added.

The association added that this was why it often request that customers write letter of donation to the Discos, stressing that if the items do not belong to the Discos, they cannot exercise any right over their use, neither would they bear liability for any incident that occurs thereafter.

"It is our responsibility as Discos to make electricity infrastructure available and we do a lot of this.

However, in situations where the demand is far more than supply due to shortage of funds, customers do step in to help their communities,” the Discos noted.

Stressing that its members since privatisation in 2013, had invested considerably in improving the networks, ANED stated that the reality remained the absence of infrastructure was acute across the length and breadth of the country.

Considering the huge cost of revamping inherited networks as well as the critical need for power supply to homes and businesses, ANED said it was understandable when communities decide to step in rather than take the option of waiting till resources needed to services their needs are appropriated by their respective Discos.

"The issue of community volunteering is very clearly stipulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). For those who follow NERC's guidelines, there will be no argument at the end of the day," Oduntan said.

He also maintained that accusations surrounding disconnections and reconnection fees charged by Discos were unfair, saying discon-

nection was a legitimate recourse available to the service providers under certain conditions.

According to him, the reconnection fee is a penalty to dissuade repeat offenders and cover cost.

"Now, most times, we hear complaints of by customers regarding disconnection. The truth is that there are clear grounds for disconnections. Disconnections are not random and there are clear guidelines stipulated by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) under which disconnections can take place,” he noted.

According to him, disconnections can occur when a customer owes accumulated bills of over 90 days or when a customer is found engaging in energy theft or tampering with distribution equipment.

"It is statutory to charge a fee to cover the operations and to deter repeat offenders. This is not a practice that is restricted to Nigeria only.

“Time and resources are expended in both disconnecting and reconnecting a customer due to an act of the customer. If there is no penalty attached to that, then there is no deterrence," he said.

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30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY/BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ...

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and celebrant, Bimbo Ashiru; his wife, Kemi, and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during the couple's 30th wedding anniversary/ PHOTO: Abiodun Ajala Bimbo's birthday celebration in Lagos... yesterday

Jonathan Left $28.6bn External Reserves, Says Aide Insists Nigeria had $2.2bn in excess crude account

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Reno Omokri, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has refuted claims that the latter left

behind funds that could last barely for three weeks in 2015.

The claim was made by the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Omokri who refuted the allegation through his Instagram page, argued that Amaechi had been showing desperation to be the next All Progressives Congress

(APC) vice-presidential candidate, “a situation that has led him to be pouring lies against the Goodluck Jonathan administration.”

Reno who was a media aide

Makinde: Oyo's IPP Project'll Power Hospitals, Government House, Others Urges critics to assess govt based on electoral promises Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde has said contrary to claims by some opposition elements, the Independent Power Project (IPP) embarked upon by his administration would not only power the Government House, but would also power other critical state assets including schools, hospitals, streetlights and stadium, among others.

The governor, who stated this while speaking at the special thanksgiving service held at First Baptist Church, Igbojaye, Itesiwaju, Local Government Area of Oyo state, added that his administration would continue to leverage on the four comparative advantages of Oke Ogun and the state generally, which includes agribusiness, tourism, solid minerals and commerce.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also quoted Makinde as telling critics to always assess the performance of his administration based on his electoral promises.

He said: "Concerning the power project we are embarking on in Ibadan, they have been criticising us. They said the 11megawatts project does not make any sense because it will only power the Government House. Let me say here today that they need to do more research.

“It is not only Government House that it will power but all the street light within 10km radius, hospitals, schools, Judiciary Complex and the stadium will be powered.

"On my way here, I have seen the poles meant for the light-up project in Igbo-ijaye. We will ensure we power the project

with gas generators here. And when the light comes, darkness will definitely vanish and that is the essence of the project."

The governor asked critics to evaluate his performance based on his electoral promises saying: "For us in Oyo State, we are saying you should evaluate us based on what we said we would do and whether we are doing them or not."

Makinde said his administration had continued to leverage on the comparative and competitive advantages of each zone of the state.

He added: "In Oyo State, we have both comparative and competitive advantages in about four areas. One is agribusiness.

When we went to Brent Farm at Ijio, the owner said that from the survey, the area is the most fertile in Nigeria, and it is the same for most places in Oke-Ogun.

So, if we talk about competitive and comparative advantages in agribusiness, Oke-Ogun has a place.

“The second area is solid minerals and Oke-Ogun will also feature when we talk about the development of solid minerals.

Another aspect is Tourism. The hanging lake, which is at AdoAwaye, is a perfect example and the Oke-Ogun zone will feature too. The deepest Gorge Dam on the entire continent of Africa is at Ikere. So, this zone will also feature as far as tourism is concerned.

“The last is commerce. Oyo State shares an international border, which is between Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis. So, Oke-Ogun also features in commerce. So, as a government, if we want to lead our people from poverty to

prosperity like we mentioned in our roadmap for accelerated development, we have to focus on those areas.

“And what exactly are those things we need to do? We need to develop our infrastructure and that is why, six months into this government, we awarded the Moniya-Iseyin road. If we also talk about commerce, Saki is almost the furthermost city in Oyo State, which is closer to the border with the Republic of Benin. That was why we focused on completing the Saki Township road, which is done right now.

“Let me also say that there are other zones that have one or two things they can contribute to the development of our state. Talk of Ogbomoso, Oyo and others. We have started the construction of Oyo-Iseyin road, passing through Fasola. Fasola is our agribusiness hub and the same thing in Ibadan.

If you are coming from Lagos and going to North or East or other parts of the South-West, you will pass through Ibadan. So, Ibadan is almost the centre of Commerce for the entire South West. That is why we are saying anybody who is passing through Ibadan should have a good experience and want to come back. Those are some of the steps that this government has taken to ensure that we are expanding our economy and I'm very sure we are on the path of taking many of our people out of poverty."

He also appreciated the clerics and the people for what he called their consistent prayers, adding that without the prayers, "we won’t be where we are today."

He cautioned those campaigning about second term for him,

saying: "You can only pray that the will of God be done.”

Earlier in his sermon, the President of Oke Ogun Baptist Convention, Rev, Dr. Gabriel Olanrewaju, noted that the nation needs trustworthy leaders to survive its challenges. He added that leaders must also fear God in their dealings.

to Jonathan, described Amaechi as a “liar.”

He wrote; ”This is exactly what Jonathan left behind on May 29, 2015, that Amaechi said could not sustain Nigeria for three weeks: Foreign reserve of $28.6 billion, $2.2 billion in the Excess Crude Account, $5.6 billion Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited dividends and over $1 billion investments via the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority."

Responding further to allegation that Jonathan left government with only about three weeks money to run the country, Omokri on his part, alleged that that Amaechi had a slave mentality which he claimed makes him to do anything to please those he described as his slave masters.

He quoted Amaechi as saying in a recent interview on Channels TV that the money left behind

by the Jonathan’s administration, when he left office in 2015, couldn’t have sustained Nigeria for three weeks.

"Rotimi Amaechi is just a useless liar, who thinks he can get APC’s vice presidential slot by attacking former President Jonathan. 2023 is near. The whole of Nigeria will soon see what Buhari will leave behind, apart from N40 trillion debt,” he added.

He said Amaechi begun life as Peter Odili’s aide, saying inferiority complex had refused to leave him.

“Sadly, he has a perpetual problem with self worth and Nigerians are cautioned not to take him seriousl,” Omokri added.

He explained that the matter of Amaechi being desperate for the vice-presidential ticket of the APC was based on the thinking that the APC would once more zone its presidential ticket to the north.

Stop Comparing Me with Other Govs, Zulum Appeals to Supporters Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Zulum has expressed gratitude to many of his promoters on social media platforms. However, he has pleaded with them to stop comparing his performance with those of his colleagues in other states.

He said it was unfair to do this since every state has its peculiarities.

The governor said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Public Relations and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau.

The statement quoted Zulum to have said: “While I am enormously grateful for all the support and promotions, I have in recent days, received messages forwarded to me, in which our work-in-progress in Borno State is being compared with some states, and in some cases, with insults. The fact is that, I feel extremely uncomfortable any time I am being negatively compared with any governor, especially if anyone of those making the comparisons fall in

any of the social media groups associated with us.

“I consider such comparisons unhealthy. Moreover, we are not in competition. The truth is that all of the 36 States have their peculiarities and priorities, depending on developmental plans and the needs of societies.

He explained that in Borno’s case, his administration was desperate in its recovery efforts, “because we have been faced with 12 years of war, resulting to thousands of deaths and displacement of about two million people with humanitarian needs.”

He added: “From the World Bank’s Recovery and PeaceBuilding Assessment report on the north-east, Borno lost 956,453 private houses, representing 30 per cent of the total number of houses in across the state, to insurgent destructions. Also, 665 municipal buildings comprising ministries, LGA buildings, prisons, police stations and electric offices were destroyed in Borno. A total of 5,335 classrooms and other school buildings were destroyed in 512

primary schools, 38 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the state.

“201 health centres, mostly primary healthcare clinics, dispensaries and some general hospitals were all destroyed.

The insurgents also destroyed 726 power substations and distribution lines just like they destroyed 1,630 water sources including motorized boreholes, hand pumps, solar powered boreholes and facilities for piped water schemes, and more.”

He added that: “So, our developmental aggression in Borno is not driven by competition, but our realities of unquantifiable challenges. All States have different needs hence leaders respond differently and with different strategies. We in Borno needed to act fast given our peculiarity of needs but this should not be a basis for negative comparison.”

Gusau said his principal “appeals to anyone who genuinely supports him not to insult any leader on the basis of whatever is being achieved in Borno State.”

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PRESENTING OILY SOUVENIR...

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Mountain Top University, Prayer City, Ogun State, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, presenting oil drilling carvings to Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, while the Chancellor, Dr. Daniel Olukoya looks on, during the 2nd & 3rd combined convocation ceremony of the University...at the weekend

FCT: Outrage over Dangerous Car Racing

by Rich Kids Forces Police Clampdown Four suspects arrested, 21 vehicles impounded Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Police Command disclosed that it yesterday arrested four suspects and impounded 21 cars over illegal car racing and other similar offences in Abuja.

FCT residents had raised the

alarm over the threat to lives, property and infrastructure posed by the deadly car racing.

The car racing, which had become a menace in the nation's capital, are usually conducted around the Central Area, Area 10 and Areas One and Two in Garki District.

The participants, who are alleged to be children of top government officials and wealthy residents, conduct the dangerous exercise mostly in the evening and late hours of the night, moving through calm streets at break-neck speed with the tendency to knock down passersby in a hit and run

scenario.

For instance, the son of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory once allegedly knocked down a resident, who later died.

He was alleged to be the chief sponsor of the racing competition which had gained prominence in the territory especially during

Ogun Will Assume Oil Producing Status Soon, Abiodun Predicts James Sowole in Abeokuta The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has said his administration was working towards ensuring that the state takes advantage of its oil rich deposit and becomes an oil producing state.

Abiodun gave this assurance during the convocation lecture he delivered at the second and third convocation ceremony of the Mountain Top University with the topic, "Quest for Excellence: The Nexus of Faith, Knowledge and Resilience," held recently.

The governor, however, expressed disappointment that Ogun lost a $16 billion Dangote refinery to Lagos after a break in discussion between

the immediate past administration and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

He said despite the fact that the refinery was not sited in his state, he was working assiduously for Ogun to become an oil producing state.

He said: "We are working assiduously on that. So, I accept this challenge, we will further strengthen our resolve to ensure that we bring Ogun State to oil producing status in the very near future."

Abiodun, while also noting that he had the privilege to work as the Chairman of the Olokola Free Trade Zone that was meant to have the refinery sited in the state, added that the project was not just conceived

with the aim of refining petroleum products only, but to take advantage of the mining lease that has been awarded around the corridor.

"I worked as chairman of Olokola Free Trade Zone that was meant to have the Dangote refinery sited in Ogun Waterside, however, discussion broke down between Dangote and the then administration which led to the loss of that project to Lagos state; a sixteen billion dollars was lost to another state.

"That project was conceived with the aim of not just refining petroleum in Ogun, but also take advantage of the mining lease that had been awarded around that corridor that has even not

Buhari Mourns Mother of THISDAY Executive Director, Morenike Komolafe Funeral rites commence January 14th

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his condolences to the Komolafe family over the demise of their beloved matriarch, Chief (Mrs) Morenike Victoria Komolafe, the mother of the Group Executive Director of THISDAY Newspapers Limited, Kayode Komolafe The president in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu yesterday, said as an active member of her local community and leader, he believed the late Komolafe would be remembered for making important contributions for decades towards the development of her people.

Buhari trusted that her children, extended family, friends and associates, would continually honour her memory by extending the compassion and selflessness,

that epitomised her life, to those in need.

The president joined the family in mourning and celebrating the life of a silent achiever and philanthropist, praying God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

Meanwhile, the funeral arrangements for the late Komolafe (Nee Fakorode) has been released by her family.

The Christian wake/service of songs is to hold on January 14, 2022, 4 pm, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Odo-Ode Street, IgbaraOke, Ondo State.

This would be followed with the funeral service which would hold on January 15th, 2022, 10 am, at same church, while the reception after the funeral service is to take place at Anglica Grammar School, Igbara-Oke.

Late Chief (Mrs.) Komolafe

begun to be exploited," he said.

The governor affirmed that the state has rich oil reserves in Tongeji Island, adding that, "Ogun state is situated in the Dahomey Basin, which stands for the Niger Delta that goes all the way to Ghana."

"Every one of the states in that corridor are oil producing today, even Ondo and Lagos states," Abiodun submitted.

public holidays, in spite of the absence of car racing provisions in the FCT master plan.

THISDAY learnt that the children of the rich and affluent in Abuja are notorious for organising such deadly car racing, especially during holidays, where they drive recklessly in a bid to outrun each other and show off the prowess of their luxurious cars on highways around the city centre.

The outcry prompted the police to enforce the prohibition of car and speed races in the nation’s capital.

Owing to this, the command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, said the suspects were arrested and the cars impounded under the enforcement of Regulation 228 of the Road Traffic Act

on the prohibition of illegal car races and other similar offences.

It said the enforcement team, led by the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Babaji Sunday, arrested four suspects and impounded the cars on Sunday.

The command said the suspects were arrested around Muhammadu Buhari way by Nicon Insurance in the Central Area where they converged for business as usual.

The police command had earlier ordered full enforcement of the prohibition of all kinds of car and speed races in the territory.

The Commissioner of Police directed all the divisional police officers and their supervisory area commanders to ensure full enforcement of the prohibition in their respective area of responsibility.

Kogi Community Inaugurates 350 Vigilance Guards to Tackle Insecurity Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja As part of efforts to collaborate with the state government to curb criminality, the Egume Ome Descendants Union (EODU) in Kogi State at the weekend inaugurated no fewer than 350 Vigilance Guards, known as "Akogu-Omaga Vigilance Guards in Egume in Dekina Local government area of Kogi State.

The national President of EODU, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Ibrahim, while speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at Ome Community Secondary school Egume, said the security committee and the inauguration of vigilance group became necessary sequel to the rising insurgency and criminal activities in the area that almost made Egume a war zone.

He, therefore, admonished the group and all other security personnel to be very active in ensuring peace and security in the area at always, adding that, "security is everybody business and should be the utmost concern of all citizens of the community."

The national president stressed that members were recruited from all the three political wards within Egume environs, stressing that the

aim was to curb harbouring of criminals and prompt arrest of any possible escapee.

He pointed out that the activities of kidnappers in recent times scared personalities from visiting their country home during festive season despite the efforts of some security agencies.

He further disclosed that the union had spent over N2 million on the uniforms, personal ID cards, NIN data capturing, torchlight and other working tools for the group to enhance their performance.

Ibrahim who attributed the current economic woes and the challenge of food insecurity in the country to insecurity on the farms. These he listed to include kidnapping, herders/ farmers clashes, among others and appealed to government to rise to its challenges by doing the needful to encourage agricultural production, protection of lives and property.

The president therefore commended some individuals and branches of EODU for their financial support and exemplary leadership, especially the facilitating of four hospital bed units to Egume general Hospital by the Lokoja branch recently.

He lamented the security challenges, especially kidnapping and incessant attack on farmers in Egume area in the recent times that he said posed a lot of threats to low food production and development of the community, adding that the formation of herdsmen/ security committee had enhanced peaceful coexistence between farmers and herdsmen.

Ibrahim who was unanimously re- elected for the second term as the President of EODU reiterated his commitment to ensure sustainable peaceful coexistence among the people of the community so as witness progress in the land.

In his remarks, the Onu Egume, Alhaji Etila Ajeka who was represented by the Amana- Attah Ojikpadala, Chief Mohammed Atogijo Onu stressed that the fight against insurgents was a collective efforts and called on the rural people to always expose crliminal elements in Curbing Criminality.

He commended the national body of the Egume Ome Descendants Union for their zeal and determination to work in synergy with the government in fighting criminality in the society.

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TEN SHELL, EXXONMOBIL FACE HUGE REMEDIATION COSTS OVER ABANDONED ONSHORE ASSETS against the multinational over the Nembe spill and other wells not properly capped.

On the other hand, Seplat Energy Plc last month announced that together with its partner, that it was in competitive discussions to acquire ExxonMobil’s Nigerian shallow water business. With this, stakeholders have expressed concern about what would happen if the deal is sealed and some of the ExxonMobil’s assets that were not properly capped causes another environment challenge.

“The present environment challenge is what is likely going to be faced when Shell sells it entire SPDC oil blocs in the Niger Delta without properly capping the oil wells and providing for remediation” an oil and gas expert who pleaded to remain anonymous stated.

Findings by THISDAY have revealed that many of the oil and gas assets sold to Nigerians, mostly by the International Oil Companies (IOCs), are rarely decommissioned or properly abandoned, a development that clearly breaches existing laws regulating the industry.

Decommissioning is the cessation of operations at an oil and gas platform and returning the seafloor to its pre-production state for installations and any relevant structures that have come to the end of their productive life.

Onshore decommissioning involves capping oil wells, clean-up and taking out all production and pipeline risers that are sustained by the platform, removing the platform and getting rid of it in a junk storage area or manufacturing yard.

International conventions guiding decommissioning operations include the Geneva Convention on the continental shelf, 1958; United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982; and Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matters, 1972.

But despite extant regulations and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), THISDAY learnt that there was rarely any

adherence to full decommissioning for the infrastructure that had been sold and there might be no such arrangements for those for which buyers were being sought.

According to Section 232, (1) of the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), “The decommissioning and abandonment of petroleum wells, installations, structures, utilities, plants and pipelines for petroleum operations on land and offshore shall be conducted in accordance with good international petroleum industry practice.”

In Section, 233 (1), the new law affirms, “Each lessee and licensee shall set up, maintain and manage a decommissioning fund held by a financial institution that is not an affiliate of the lessee or licensee, in the form of an escrow account accessible by the commission.

“The decommissioning and abandonment fund shall exclusively be used to pay for decommissioning and abandonment costs. Where a lessee or a licensee fails to comply with the decommissioning and abandonment plan, the decommissioning and abandonment fund shall be accessed by the commission to pay for the performance by a third party.”

Arising from one of the deals, Aiteo recently claimed in a suit that it paid $799 million to Shell for the acquisition of the NCTL pipelines and the assets and that $389.6 million had been lost by the company as a result of the leakages in the pipelines and the degraded conditions of the asset.

Aiteo also claimed that $933 million had been expended for the repairs of the pipelines and acquisition of equipment, including well-heads, generators, and pumps, as well as replacement of the flow lines within the NCTL, which it bought from Shell.

It was learnt that the big oil companies had continued to sell “dead” assets to the country’s local businessmen under the guise that they could no longer cope with militancy or community issues, especially in the Niger Delta.

What they have not told buyers is that there would be huge remediation cost down the line from over 30 to 40 years of neglect.

The recent case of Aiteo’s Nembe wellhead blowout, stakeholders said, brought to the fore the need to enforce the relevant laws and implement proper shutdowns of oil and gas assets in the abandonment and restoration process. Many experts believe that if the wellhead was properly and permanently plugged and decommissioned, since it was not commercially viable, the blowout that happened in Nembe would have been avoided.

It is believed that Nigeria’s transitory regulatory environment and inability of the authorities to strengthen environmental and petroleum laws for the deactivation of abandoned wells and aging oil facilities have also not helped matters.

Speaking with THISDAY, the immediate past Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Nigeria Council, Joe Nwakwue, stated that the availability of regulations had not always been the problem, but enforcement. However, he explained that it was not wholly an IOC issue, noting that there are usually agreements with whoever is buying non-producing assets on steps to take to decommission them.

Nwakwue said, “There are regulations around assets that are no longer in use and it has nothing to do with the transfer of the assets. So, whether it’s Shell or Aiteo, for instance, there are rules.

“When a wellhead is no longer producing, there are two steps: it is either there’s a TP&A, which is to temporarily plug and abandon it or you permanently plug and abandon.

“The problem was that neither of those happened, so that means that it was still theoretically operational.

There was need to have abandoned the well when it was no longer in use. That didn't happen and that’s why we had that spill.”

He said it did not matter who owned the assets because transfer

OMICRON: TRAVEL NIGHTMARE AS OVER 2,800 FLIGHTS CANCELLED the United States, more than 1,200 flights were cancelled and more than 5,000 were delayed on Sunday alone as staff and crew call out sick.

The cancellations come at the busiest time of year for air travel.

The US Transportation Security Administration said it screened millions of people each day over the holiday weekend, peaking at 2.19 million travelers on Thursday, December 23. On Wednesday, more people passed through TSA checkpoints than on the same day in 2019.

Alaska Airlines, which cancelled 133 flights of 19 per cent of its operations Monday, attributed its

cancellations and delays on winter weather in the Pacific Northwest.

The airline said it cancelled almost 250 mainline flights scheduled to arrive or depart from Seattle Sunday. As of Monday afternoon, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has the most delays and cancellations in the world, according to FlightAware.

"We're working as quickly as possible to get all our affected guests rebooked on other flights, while operating safely," Alaska Airlines said in a statement. "Reservations is experiencing extremely long hold times of up to 11 hours."

Saturday air travel was a bit slower because of the flight

Fayemi: My Govt Paid N1bn to Pensioners in 2021 Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has revealed that his government paid a staggering N1 billion to pensioners in the 2021 fiscal year.

The governor, however, assured assured residents of the state of his administration’s resolve to focus more on rehabilitation and reconstruction of township roads in 2022 to bring about meaningful development and boost the general economic status of the people.

Fayemi, who stated this yesterday during his monthly radio and television programme, tagged: ‘Meet Your Governor’ said, he would continue to ensure adequate welfare of the people of the state by ensuring that he addressed projects and programmes that would enliven their lives and add values to their welfare.

The governor, who reiterated that his administration had paid over N1Billion to pensioners to ameliorate their suffering despite the dearth of fund, noted that his government had already looked for ways through promissory note with financial institutions to access fund to clear the backlog of gratuity but for one reason or the other, the pensioners rejected

the agreement.

He, however, said the roads that would be urgently addressed were the Ado Ekiti-Iworoko road that was awarded during the Segun Oni administration and was abandoned, the Omisanjana-Ajebamdele road; Odo-Ado axis as well as Igirigiri road up to the Ado Local Government headquarters, saying his government was not oblivious of some of the challenges inside town and promised to address the roads before the commencement of therainy season next year.

Other roads already slated for rehabilitation according to the governor, included IlaweIkere,Iloro-Ijurin-Ayegunle-Temidire road, Ifaki-Esure-Eyio-Awo road and Itapa-Ijelu-Omu road,adding that his administration was also cooperating with FERMA to address and ensure rehabilitation of federal roads.

He hinted that his administration had made efforts to construct the Ado-Ikere-Akure road but that the federal government said it would do it despite the fact that his administration had accessed fund for the road project. He explained that the fund has been given to the federal government, which, had in turn, awarded the road to a contractor.

cancellations: More than 1.53 million people passed through security checkpoints Saturday.

United Airlines (UAL) said last week it had to cancel hundreds of flights because it lacked enough crew members to safely fly all of its scheduled routes.

Delta (DAL) said it was working to get all stranded travelers home as quickly as possible.

"We apologise to our customers for the delay in their holiday travel plans," Delta said in a statement.

"Delta people are working hard to get them to where they need to be as quickly and as safely as possible on the next available flight."

European airlines also experienced a small number of cancellations amid record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases in several European nations.

A British Airways spokesperson told CNN yesterday that the airline had cancelled, "a number of flights due to operational constraints," and were instead using larger aircrafts, where possible, to get customers to their destinations. According to tracking website FlightAware, 46 flights from British Airways were cancelled yesterday.

Virgin Atlantic told CNN flying continues "as scheduled," noting the exception of one of their London Heathrow -- New York JFK rotations which saw cancellations on December 21.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told CNN: "We continue to take pre-emptive measures to uphold operational and staffing resilience, always putting the health and safety of our customers and people first."

Also, German airline, Lufthansa, said it would cancel 10 per cent of its winter flight schedule as the pandemic continues to hit the aviation industry.

In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung last week, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said that due to "a sharp drop in bookings" the airline will have to cancel 33,000 flights from mid-January to February 2022 or 10% of the group's winter flight schedule.

Spohr's comments were confirmed to CNN by the Lufthansa press office.

Meanwhile, the CDC also

was a different issue entirely, which should not be mixed up with the decommissioning process.

According to Nwakwue, “What happened to the commitments?

When you talk about asset transfer you’re talking about decommissioning commitment, because when you are selling the assets that's when the issue of who should decommission will come in because it goes into the pricing.

“If I’m buying an asset from you with what is called retirement obligation, I will have to deduct that cost from what I will pay you.

I am sure that Shell transferred its commitment to Aiteo.”

Nwakwue maintained that the Aiteo facility was just one of several that had been left without proper decommissioning operation, noting that there are even many more assets that have not been sold.

He held, “There might be a lot of wellheads that are no longer producing but they are active, they are exposed to pressure.

Whoever owns the asset should have a programme to temporarily abandon them to make them safer.

“There are regulations, but who is monitoring? That is the question.

Who is ensuring that the regulations are followed? Those are the questions that need to be answered.

“The regulator should step up their game. They need to have a programme where facilities that are not no longer in use are temporarily or permanently abandoned and decommissioned to keep the environment safe.

“Irrespective of who is operating them, the primary issue is that there are regulations that have not been followed through and is important that the commission is alive to those responsibilities.”

Secretary General of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, Capt.

Bassey Henshaw, told THISDAY that the oil companies must clean up the environment they had degraded over the years as well as pay compensation before any talk about leaving their onshore and shallow water operations in shortened the recommended time for people to quarantine if they are exposed to the virus to a similar five days if they are vaccinated and often to no time if they are boosted.

"Given what we currently know about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, CDC is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to 5 days, if asymptomatic, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others," CNN quoted a CDC statement to have disclosed.

"The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for five days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimise the risk of infecting others," it added.

Quarantine refers to the time people stay away from others if they are exposed to a disease but not yet testing positive or showing symptoms.

CDC changed those recommendations, too.

"For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days," it added.

"Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure.

Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19."

the region.

Henshaw said, “We do not dispute the fact that they can go green or whatever, but there has to be some closure. You have a business running and there are issues emanating from those businesses.

You do not wake up and say you are going green. All the issues have to be fixed and resolved.

“We cannot hold them to ransom if they want to leave, but they have to have a closure of the previous business they have done, the degradation of the environment, the oil spillages and all.”

An oil industry enthusiast, who had covered the sector widely, Ms Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, wrote in a recent article, “As a result, oil multinationals that want to avoid spending several millions of dollars on decommissioning, have taken advantage of the loopholes by selling their oil assets, including aging and rusting infrastructure, to local oil firms.

“Since the late 2000s, Shell, Chevron and ConocoPhillips have sold their stakes in about 20 to 25 oil blocks to local oil operators at ridiculously exorbitant prices.

“All the acquisitions were leveraged buyouts that left several Nigerian banks with massive exposures to the oil and gas sector.

Many of the loans are yet to be repaid to date.”

Nwogwugwu said one way to avoid this debacle was to adopt what obtains in other jurisdictions where it is mandatory, prior to asset sale, for prospective bidders to possess the wherewithal to decommission aging oil and gas infrastructure. She mentioned the $3 billion sale of the Bass Strait operation in Australia, as a case in point.

But in a reaction, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the industry regulator, stressed that the industry was not mature enough for wholesale decommissioning activities.

Head, Health Safety and Environment, NUPRC, Mr Afeez Balogun, told THISDAY that for divested assets, the buying companies were always encouraged to look holistically at the liabilities and factor them into the purchase arrangements.

According to Balogun, “The premise for full-blown decommissioning is not yet there in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, as many of the assets still have long mileage to offer. Add to that the fact that we are currently investing technology for improved oil recovery that will save a lot of costs and further increase the mileage of these assets.

“So, there is really no crisis, as many uninformed people would

want to assume. However, for divested assets, the buying companies are always encouraged to look holistically at the liabilities and factor that into the purchase arrangements.

“Fortunately, the divesting companies are currently the big ones that have JV agreements with NNPC, and we are aware that decommissioning arrangements with the companies are being put in place.”

However, he stated that the PIA was now more explicit and gave more strength and bite to the rudimentary regulations that the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) already had in place.

“So, before we reach a crisis level, if we ever will, all these arrangements should have given us adequate protection to make things easier,” Balogun said.

“We are also watching and are set to tap from all the numerous innovations being brought about by the developed world on decommissioning on all fronts, including environmental and legal considerations, technology, service provision and financing,” he added.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, recently said the federal government would carefully scrutinise oil companies that would bid for the takeover of assets that Shell and other oil majors will be divesting from in the country.

“In the past, companies were just allowed to buy assets that they had no capacity to operate. We would no longer allow that to happen again because government is the ultimate loser,” Sylva stated.

Shell and ExxonMobil are two of the most vocal IOCs in the country, which have been in talks to sell off some of their assets, especially those onshore and in shallow waters.

A leading global oil and gas consulting firm, Wood McKenzie, had put the total value of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the subsidiary Shell proposes to totally divest from, at $2.3 billion.

According to the document, 19 Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) will be put up for sale by the oil giant in onshore locations and shallow waters in the company’s eastern and western operations in the Niger Delta.

Only last month, Nigerian oil and gas company, Seplat Energy, revealed that it was actively engaged in negotiations to acquire ExxonMobil’s shallow water assets in the country. A Reuters report had in 2019 put the expected potential disposals at $3 billion.

OIL PRICES NEAR $80 ON MILD OMICRON VARIANT

This caused disruption to the supply of goods and services from isolating workers, notably air travel, although the global recovery story for 2022 still remains on track.

Brent has risen by more than 45 per cent this year, supported by recovering demand and supply cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, collectively known as OPEC+.

On January 4, the producer alliance would decide whether to go ahead with a planned 400,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) production increase in February, but the cartel has so far stuck to its plans at its last meeting to boost output for January despite Omicron.

OPEC has been struggling to meet existing targets under its agreement to gradually increase production by the 400,000 bpd each month, with Nigeria lagging behind for months.

But the country, a very active OPEC member had said even if prices fell to between $50 to $60, it won’t be much of an issue, with the country’s oil benchmark for the 2021 budget being $40.

Nigeria has failed for months to meet its allocation, due largely to waning investment, ageing upstream infrastructure and disruptions by some local host communities.

But the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) last week assured that by the year’s end, Nigeria should be able to produce about 1.7 million bpd. That target now looks almost impossible.

On December 22, Nigeria's

federal lawmakers approved a N17.126 trillion ($38 billion) budget for 2022, anchored on an oil price benchmark of $62 per barrel.

The approved oil price assumption was higher than the $57 per barrel price that President Muhammadu Buhari had proposed to the parliament on October 7, and also higher than the oil price benchmark of $40 per barrel adopted by the government for the 2021 budget.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the increase in oil price was to reflect the current market values of the oil barrel in the international market and to generate more funds for critical sectors of the economy.

However, the parliament retained the oil production target of 1.88 million bpd, including condensate production of between 300,000400,000 bpd, for the purpose of its revenue calculation in 2022.

This compared to the output target of 1.86 million bpd the government had set for the 2021 fiscal year.

In all, oil exports account for around 80 per cent of Nigeria's foreign exchange revenue, although the country has battled with a sharp drop in revenue amid a drop in production.

Nigeria has the capacity to pump around 2.2 million b/d of crude and condensate, but in recent months its output has been languishing below 1.55 million bpd.

In November, the NNPC was only able to contribute about N10.5 billion of its projected N122 billion to the federation account jointly run by the federal, state and local governments in the country.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE...

L-R: International Breweries Plc (IBPLC) Ilesa and Gateway Plant Corporate Affairs Manager, Stella Sawyerr; Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Temitope Oguntokun; Founder, The SERAS CSR Awards Africa, Ken Egbas; Business Operations Director, IBPlc, Tony Agah and Lead, Sustainability and Stakeholder Management, Boluwatiwi Omidiji, receiving award for the CEO of the Year (1st Runner-up) award on behalf of Managing Director, IB Plc, Hugo Rocha in Lagos…recently

2023: I’ll Not Negotiate Behind You, Obaseki Assures PDP Leaders Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state that he would not negotiate behind the party leaders as the 2023 general election draws near.

Obaseki gave the assurance during a get-together for party leaders in Benin City, Edo State.

He said, “Politics will soon start again as we are heading towards the national elections. We will sit together and decide what we want in Edo. “I will not negotiate behind you or on your behalf. We will do it together as we are good enough to govern Nigeria. Our target in e-registration is one million and we have over 220,000 members and the more people we can register, the more impact we will have in the election.”

The governor commended leaders of the PDP across the 18 local government areas of the state

for their role in the harmonisation of the old and new structure of the party.

“We have harmonised the party in the state. PDP is the ruling party in Edo State and will continue to be, as some people find it difficult to believe. The party is large enough to accommodate everybody as our umbrella is big enough for all.

“We have a strong party united at the base as the harmonisation was done from the ward level.

People will come and go, but the institution will remain.

“Looking into the future, we must open up the party, bring youths into the party as well as more women to participate in the party’s activities. Edo people are one and united as they don't want division in the state.

“It is only the people that can give you political power; no one outside Edo State can do that.

Anyone hoping for people from outside the state to give them political power is mistaking.

The politics of the future should be structured to benefit not only ourselves but our people. Let's be strategic in our politics,” he stated.

According to him, “Obaseki

is not Edo. I will come and go, but Edo will remain. We should not personalise politics. We don't talk or praise ourselves. We don't commission projects but our people

A former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, yesterday, lamented that despite the N300 million monthly security vote taken by the Nasarawa State Governor, farmers still cannot go to their farms.

Maku, who is the chief scribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), made this claim in his Christmas message at his Wakma country home in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

"In a poor state like Nasarawa, only one person is taking N300 million every month as security vote. Calculate that in one year, that is N3.6 billion every year, then multiply that in four years or eight years.

"How can one person be taking N300 million every month as security vote and yet people are being killed, farmers cannot go to their farms and nobody is arrested?" he asked.

Maku, however, noted that with N300 million monthly, over two thousand youths could be

employed and 30 cottage poultries established, where young people could be employed and paid simultaneously.

He, however, blamed the incessant killings in the north to insincerity of her greedy leaders, lamenting that the north was currently at war with itself.

"The war going on in the entire north today started in Nasarawa in February, 2001, when so-called unknown gunmen murdered some Tiv people.

"The killing trend moved to somewhere in Taraba, then, later to plateau and Kaduna and spread to other parts of the north. Today, the entire north is at full blown war," Maku traced.

The APGA chief scribe noted that the reason killings could not be stopped was because leaders in the north politicise everything including religion and tribe.

The former minister also said what was worsening the poverty level in the region, leading to insecurity was the level at which election results were being bought by some leaders and made to rule

the federal government.”

In his address, Chairman of the Edo State Chapter of the PDP, Anthony Aziegbemi, hailed the governor for organising the party.

2023: Ikpeazu Scoffs at Abaribe's Governorship Ambition, Calls it Distraction Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday, scoffed at the alleged governorship ambition of his kinsman and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in 2023, describing it as a distraction.

Abaribe, who hails from Obingwa Local Government as Ikpeazu had on December 24, 2021,broken the news of his governorship ambition to the governor, his kinsman, during a Christmas visit to the governor’s

Umuobiakwa country home.

But in a press statement by Ikpeazu’s chief press secretary, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, the governor dissociated himself from Abaribe's ambition to avoid distractions to his administration.

The governor's spokesman said, it was unfortunate that Abaribe's scheduled annual Christmas visit to Ikpeazu, which was "a display of brotherhood and love" had generated "misleading insinuations and needless innuendos" in the media hence the need for proper

Maku: Despite N300m Monthly Security Vote, Farmers Still Can't Go to Farm in Nasarawa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

do it for us.”

“I am working with some agencies to conduct a census and at the end, we will give identification to our people as we can't wait for

over people, who did not vote them to power.

He, therefore, concluded that where political office holders do

not love and put first the interest of the people they are leading, the consequence is what was being seen in most states in the north.

clarification.

"In view of the above, it will be inexpedient for him (Ikpeazu) to associate himself with the aspirations of any person at this time, a move that could send wrong signals to the rest of the state and introduce some level of confusion in the politics of our dear state," the statement said.

It added that, Governor Ikpeazu "is not thinking about the politics of 2023 now, because doing so will be tantamount to a technical abridgement of his own tenure and is capable of distracting him from the serious issues of governance in the state currently".

According to the statement, the Abia chief executive had in response to Abaribe's expression of interest in becoming the next Abia governor "stated that he is presently occupied with ensuring that some critical road projects are dealt with, especially, in Aba within this dry season window."

Ikpeazu had also told Abaribe that the issue of his successor was beyond what he could single-handedly determine as some intervening factors, including divine factor usually comeinto play.

"The governor believes strongly that power comes from God and that the issues around power are too important and critical that God cannot leave it entirely in the hands of men. It was this philosophy that defined his own emergence as governor in 2015," the statement added.

The statement further explained that Ikpeazu, being a democrat, "understands and respects the rights of every citizen," including Abaribe’s, to their political aspirations.

"He(Ikpeazu) also firmly believes that when the time is right, the usual interplay of political forces on the one hand and a divine agenda on the other will put all issues around, who succeeds him to rest."

Benue APC Wants Party’s National Chair Zoned to State George Okoh in Makurdi The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, has called for the zoning of the national chairman position of the party to Benue State.

The party, therefore, canvassed for the emergence of Senator George Akume, as their choice candidate for position of APC national chairman.

Chairman, Campaign Committee of the Akume National Chairmanship Aspiration, Simon Shango, who disclosed this at the sidelines of a reception in honour of Akume on his 68th birthday in Gboko, the traditional headquarters of the Tiv nation on Monday, said Akume would be the best aspirant for the position Shango, who is also the Chair-

man of the APC Elders' Council in the state explained that since the campaign to ensure Akume emerges chairman of the party started, the response has been wonderful.

He stated that the emergence of Akume would become the vogue for the country, where two of the national party chairmen would be Christians and also from the the North Central geopolitical zone.

"That will become the vogue for the country. It will be the vogue, because, one, it shows that is the place to go. Not just that he is from Benue; not just that he is from North-Central, but that he is also a Christian.

"It means the country is looking towards that direction, that the new arrangement is that chairmanship should go to

North Central and to a Christian.

So, it improves our chances of emerging the national chairman of the party," he said.

Akume, while acknowledging the support he got from supporters and groups at his birthday celebration, said, every event had its own time and space.

"Many people have been talking to me about the issue of national chairman of the party and there are many groups and individuals, who are already canvassing support for me and I believe that God's time is always the best.

"I've been to Kano, Kastina, Nasarawa, with a team of eminent Benue people like Senator Barnabas Gemade, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, Chief Steven Lawani, Dr. Sam Ode and the state Chair-

man Austin Agada among others.

In fact, I've been to see Al-Makura himself, who is contesting with me and next week, I'll be in Minna, Niger State to further the campaign."

On his birthday, he said, "I give glory to God for what He has done in my life. I'm a miracle. When I came to this world on 27th December, 1953, I was not born into a wealthy family but by His special grace, I'm where I am and that is why I come annually to give Him thanks."

Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has wished Akume a happy 68th birthday and prayed God to guide and direct him in the discharge of his duties to the state and the nation.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Presidency: All Terrorists in North East Will Be Eliminated Within a Year

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The activities of terrorists threatening the peace of Nigeria, especially in the North-east zone will be addressed by the authorities, in less than a year, Media Adviser to the President, Femi Adesina, has said.

While commenting on President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance that Nigeria is close to ending the scourge of insurgency, Adesina said the administration could achieve that in the remaining 17 months of its stay in office, assuring that all those behind the insurgency would be eliminated before the end of the administration’s rule.

He said: “Nothing is impossible. I always refer to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. That rebellion lasted for 28 years, but one day, the mastermind of that rebellion was taken out and that was the automatic ending of it.

“Those who are behind this insurgency will be taken out.

They are being taken out one after the other and it will get to a point that the last of them will be taken out and then we’ll get to the end of it, it can be done within 17 months, that remains for this institution,” he said.

Commenting on the ability of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating in Borno state to fire rockets targeting areas in Maiduguri, the state capital, Adesina said

the act was scaremongering to force President Buhari to cancel his official visit to the state.

According to him: “It was some sort of scaremongering.

They wanted to frighten the

president away, but they had forgotten that this President is a retired general, they had forgotten he is a man who can stand his own. They thought they will succeed in getting the

president to cancel that visit, that was why they, possibly did what they did. “ “But we see that the President still went ahead with the visit and from all indications, it

was a very successful visit. It is sad that some people lost their lives in that attack, but it shows you the cowardly nature of those behind these attacks,” he said.

UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN…

L-R: Proto Presbyter, Very Rev. Jonanthan B. Osin; Bishop of Trinity Church Council, Tinubu, Rt Rev. Omotayo Babalola; Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Uche; Secretary of Conference, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rt. Rev.Michael Akinwale, during the 2021 Christmas church service at Trinity Church, Tinubu, Lagos....recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

Youths Fault Dogara over Claims 2022: Disunity, Infighting Portend Danger of Security Threat in Bauchi for Ekiti APC, Ojudu Warns the complaint written to Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi Mwari Youths in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State have refuted allegation by former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara that there is security threat in the area that lead to breakdown of law and order.

The claim by Dogara, according to the Mwari Youths is to disrupt the planned commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the death of the late Sayawa nation crusader, Baba Peter Gonto.

Addressing journalists yesterday Pastor Isuwa Samaila on behalf of the youths said: “We, the concerned youths in Mwari, Bagoro LGA of Bauchi state feel duty bound to refute

the Inspector General of Police purportedly signed

by Rt Hon. Dogara Yakubu, the Honourable member representing Bogoro/Dass/ Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency of the Federal House of Representatives which is also making rounds in the social media.”

“In the complaint, it is alleged that unless the planned reception in honour of the Zaar sage, Baba Peter Gonto is put on hold, there may be a very serious breach of the peace. The author further argued that he has worked hard to restore peace to the area, that he is so concerned about any activity that is to reverse the peace enjoyed in the area,” he added.

Fan Milk Danone Inaugurates New Product Line in Ibadan Fan Milk Plc, makers of ice cream brands, including Fan Ice and Go Slo, has unveiled its newly completed state-of-the-art frozen dairy product line in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The event, which marked the 60th anniversary of its operations in Nigeria, was graced

by His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, who was represented by the his Chief of Staff, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi.

“Ibadan city has been home to Fan Milk Plc since the 1960s, when it was only a recombination plant, a distribution centre and less than 30 employees. It has now developed into an international brand impacting the Nigerian population and other countries on the continent as part of the Danone Company. We remain committed to supporting businesses, creating the right environment, providing adequate infrastructure and security. We assure Fan Milk Danone of our unwavering commitment to its business growth,” Makinde said.

Also, the Consul General of

France in Lagos, Madam Laurence Monmayrant, who witnessed the inuagration of the product line, said: “We are proud of the social impact Fan Milk continues to deliver through its business model. The French Government is committed to attracting investors into Nigeria and ensuring French companies like Fan Milk, Danone, can grow in the country.”

Commenting, Managing Director of Fan Milk Danone Nigeria, Mr. Ferdinand Mouko, said: “The company was established in 1961 and are happy about the scale of our reach and business - 800 employees, ten distribution centres and over 20,000 agents and vendors combined. With this new infrastructure, we can bolster our manufacturing capacity while contributing to employment opportunities and wealth creation for the people in Oyo State and Nigeria at large. We are committed to growing with Oyo State, as we collaborate with the state’s government.”

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has warned that the division and disunity among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State signal a bad omen that could deprive the party of victory in the 2022 governorship election.

Ojudu said he decided to sacrifice his governorship ambition and maintain neutrality in 2022 to afford him the opportunity to

mediate and resolve all nagging issues for the party to be victorious in the June 18 election.

Ojudu gave the warning in Ado Ekiti yesterday, while interacting with some members of the APPC and kinsmen, who paid him a visit at his residence in the state capital.

Ojudu thanked his followers for not abandoning him since he ventured into politics, promising not to fail them in terms of dispensation of dividends of democracy .

He said: “What we are seeing today in Ekiti APC portrays a very bad omen for our party, but we will salvage the situation so that we can rescue whatever that remains for the benefit of all of us. I am particularly happy for your love. I am not contesting and despite this, you still stand with me. This shows that we have become one family. I have decided not to contest this election, so that I can assume a leadership position mediating among aspirants. My own worries about APC is that, I

don’t want the party to be divided and lose the coming election in Ekiti. Someone like me should be able to unite our members after the primary, so that the APC can retain this state.

“I don’t want to be part of the problems, but party of the solution.

The party should be able to look up to people like us in time of crisis like this. Let me be sincere with you, my preoccupation now is not how to be governor, but rescuing APC from losing Ekiti is my concern.

APC Chides Edo Govt over Plan to Demolish Benin Central Hospital The Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for an immediate and unconditional halt to the plan by the state government to demolish Benin Central Hospital and in its place build an ultra-modern motor park.

In a statement issued by its State Assistant Publicity Secretary, Victor Osheobo, yesterday in Benin, the APC described the plan as a plot to

“Make Edo Grounded Again” (MEGA).

According to the party, there is no wisdom in the reason advanced by the government for the proposed demolition of the hospital which is to make way for an ultra-modern Motor Park to decongest the city centre and ultimately generate additional revenue for the state.

“We label such thinking not only as weird and evil, but also

unacceptable.

“This is because no right thinking government will prefer to replace a viable health facility, which it should equip and staff, to better cater for the well-being of the people, with a Motor Park.

“The APC has it on good authority that the hospital has been stripped bare while bulldozers are already lined up for the demolition

exercise. Our party will not allow this unpatriotic efforts of the government to continue because potentially it destroys the fortunes of generations of Edo children. We also demand an immediate and complete cessation of all MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) or partnerships the Edo State government has entangled itself with, to warrant this sinister move.

Miyetti Allah Leader Warned to Stay Away from Bauchi Fulani Affairs The National Leader of Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo has been warned to stay away from the affairs of the Bauchi State chapter of the association considering his antics of divide and rule which is causing disharmony within the chapter.

The organisation, after their zonal meeting held in Bauchi accused the national leadership under Badejo of politicising the

Fulani associations thereby causing disunity among the Fulani groups which, they argued, would not augur well for the socio-economic and political development of the Fulani not in the area alone but in the country as a whole They argued that Badejo has been using his closeness to the Governor of Bauchi state as a tool to disunite the Fulani in Bauchi state.

The warning was issued by the Heads of Fulani Hamlets

popularly referred to as Ardos in Bauchi South Senatorial District who vehemently rejected the leadership styles of the national chairman, Badejo for what they described as disuniting Fulani associations, attributable to his connection with Governor Bala Mohammed of the state.

The resolutions of the Ardos meeting which were contained a letter, has been forwarded to Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed copying

the AIG, Nigeria Police Force, Zone 12, Bauchi; Director of State Security Services, Bauchi and Commissioner of Police in Bauchi state.

The letter, which was signed by 12 Ardos and made available to Journalists weekend highlighted some of the resolutions that included their resolve to checkmate activities of Fulani/ herders in the state through the formation of committees across the Bauchi South Senatorial zone.

Abia Varsity Sacks Lecturer over Sex-for-Grades Scandal Abia State University, Uturu, has sacked a senior lecturer, one Michael Ukaegbu, over sex-for-grades scandal.

In a communique issued after its 148th regular and resumed meetings of the Governing Council of the university held on Thursday, the 16th and the

20th of December 2021, under the chairmanship of the ProChancellor, Adolphus Wabara, the ABSU council-in-session ratified the dismal of Ukaegbu, who is a former Acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication.

According to the

communique signed by the university Registrar, Acho Elendu, the Council also ratified the dismissal of Mr Leonard Chukwuma for admission fraud and racketeering.

A senior management staff of the university said ABSU management and security have

been tracking the lecturer.

The source said later, a disciplinary committee was set up, which sent their report to the Council with appreciate recommendation that was ratified by the Council, which led to the sacking of the lecturer.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

COMMENT

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

COVID-19 VACCINATION, NIGERIAN WORKERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH Vaccination can keep us from getting ill and less likely to spread the virus to others, writes Yerima Peter Tarfa

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oday the world is facing a serious public health crisis, seen as the worst after the flu pandemic of 1918. Since the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus in Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, back in October 2019, the world has never been the same again. The very contagious disease codenamed COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020.

As of the first week of November 2021, it had infected over 247 million people and claimed the lives of more than five million people globally. Statistics of the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that the disease has so far spread to more than 210 countries.

According to medical experts, COVID-19 spreads between people when an infected person is in close contact with another person. It spreads from an infected person’s mouth or nose when they cough, sneeze, breathe heavily or sing, in the process, releasing liquid particles of different sizes, ranging from larger ‘respiratory droplets’ to smaller ‘aerosols’.

The disease has an incubation period of between two and 14 days after exposure, within which an infected person can transmit the virus to a non-infected person. The symptoms include sneezing, coughing, fever, breathing difficulties, tiredness and loss of taste or smell. The virus can cause pneumonia, multiple organ failure and in severe cases, death.

The first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was reported on February 27, 2020. Since the report of the index case in Lagos State, the number of cases has increased greatly across the 36 states of the federation. Nigeria has witnessed the first, second and third waves of the pandemic.

In the absence of drug treatment for COVID-19, the WHO and health authorities at national and sub-national levels recommended NonPharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for the containment of the disease.

These interventions were targeted at restraining transmission between humans, slowing down the spread of the disease and thereby, reducing the burden on the healthcare system. They include social distancing, hygiene practices, restriction of movement, patient isolation, wearing of protective gears and public health information and communication.

The lockdowns and other restrictive measures resulted in grave socio-economic consequences in many countries including Nigeria, affecting the world of work adversely, both in the formal and informal sector. Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Reuters reported that 20 percent of workers in Nigeria lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the public sector, federal civil servants from Salary Grade Level 12 down have been working from home since the outbreak of the pandemic, unlike most of their counterparts in the private sector who were laid off. Fortunately, the tide of lay off in the Private Sector was reversed due to a memorandum of understanding signed between the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 15th June, 2020.

Whilst in the past it took years to develop vaccines for epidemics and pandemics, courtesy of an unprecedented combination of global

COVID-19 SPREADS BETWEEN PEOPLE WHEN AN INFECTED PERSON IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ANOTHER PERSON. IT SPREADS FROM AN INFECTED PERSON’S MOUTH OR NOSE WHEN THEY COUGH, SNEEZE, BREATHE HEAVILY OR SING, IN THE PROCESS, RELEASING LIQUID PARTICLES OF DIFFERENT SIZES, RANGING FROM LARGER ‘RESPIRATORY DROPLETS’ TO SMALLER ‘AEROSOLS’.

collaboration, funding and political will, the COVID-19 vaccines were developed at record speed. The debilitating effects of the pandemic sparked off the fastest vaccine race in the history of the world, culminating in the development of several viable vaccine options, such as Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca/ Oxford vaccines.

The main purpose of developing the vaccines is to help humans develop immunity against the virus, in order to limit its negative impacts on health, attendant socio-economic disruptions and threat to national and global communities.

Notwithstanding the challenges of inequity in vaccine distribution among the developed and developing countries, the vaccination of human beings against the disease has already progressed, with more than five billion vaccines so far administered globally. In some countries, evidence of vaccination is now a passport or visa to enjoy some things that others may not be able to enjoy.

But, in Nigeria, the vaccination rate has been very low as a result of vaccine hesitancy. According to WHO statistics, about 8.8 million vaccine doses have been administered at November 2, 2021 in a country with a population of over 200 million people. This is quite abysmal.

In a bid to reverse this trend, the federal government has mandated all civil servants to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The order was given last October by Boss Mustafa, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.

According to Mustafa, from December 1, 2021, workers who do not show proof of vaccination would be barred from entering their places of work in all locations within Nigeria and our foreign missions.

The SGF further disclosed that an appropriate service-wide advisory/ circular will be issued to guide the process.

It is important to point out at this juncture that Nigeria is not the only country that has attempted making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for civil servants. Early in October, Canada announced that it would place unvaccinated federal employees on unpaid leave.

The federal employees were asked to declare their vaccination status through an online portal by October 29.

Regardless, the NLC rejected the planned enforcement of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination on workers and Nigerians. While unveiling the COVID-19 Advisory for Federal civil servants in Abuja, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, argued that though the efficacy of the vaccines have been proven, the federal government should adopt the tool of persuasion, rather than force to get workers and the general public to take the vaccine.

Based on the foregoing, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is appealing to all Nigerian workers to avail themselves of the opportunity created by the Federal Government through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to get free vaccination against the COVID-19 disease.

Dr Tarfa is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment

DRIVING SAFELY INTO 2022

Folake Odegbami urges increased safety consciousness and adherence to driving regulations

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he Yuletide Season is upon us. It is a season of joy, love, sharing and reunions. Unfortunately, it is also a time of pain and tears for many families.

This is because of the sharp rise in the incidence of road accidents.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2021 report, 1.3 million people lose their lives in road accidents in the world and between 20 and 50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injuries.

Developing countries like Nigeria contribute more to these unfortunate statistics and intercity journeys during the end of the year holidays account for a disproportionate number of accidents.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its Road Transport Data Report for the third quarter (Q3), 2020), revealed that not less than 3,066 road accidents in Nigeria occurred in the third quarter of 2020 while noting that 1,236 lives were lost in the accidents. Besides being a tragedy for many families, the loss of breadwinners, workers and professionals is also a burden to the economy.

According to the NBS report, speed violation was recorded as the major cause of the accidents in Q3 2020, accounting for 57.26 per cent of the total road crashes reported. Wrongful overtaking closely followed speed limit violation, accounting for 7.11 per cent of the total road crashes recorded, while dangerous overtaking recorded the least of the total road crashes reported. Also, worth mentioning among the causes of road accidents during the festive seasons are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, poor weather, fatigue, signs and light violations, sleeping on the steering, the use of mobile phones while driving and overloading.

In 2019, Lafarge teamed up with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services and the Rotary Club of Lagos as part of its

Global Health and Safety Days to deliver a health and safety sensitization programme for motorists in Lagos State. It also launched a blood donation drive by its employees as part of this initiative.

In 2020, Lafarge committed N130 million to train drivers in Lafarge Driving Institute. Our objective is that they not only deliver our products safely and in good condition but that they serve as a model for safe driving to fellow truck drivers and other drivers on Nigerian roads all through the year.

Lafarge has also extended its road safety campaign to provide good quality roads in Nigeria.

It signed a road-building partnership agreement with the Cross-River State government to build a 38km concrete road connecting its local cement plant to a wider road network. The project is also a contribution by Lafarge to the development of Cross Rivers State as it would make the roads safer for citizens and visitors alike. The road will divert trucks away from busy roads in the city centre.

In 2021, to further reaffirm the company’s commitment towards affordable and clean energy (SDG7), the company launched a new set of 52 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuelled trucks. In addition, Lafarge Africa announced the graduation of its first set of female drivers from the Lafarge Driving Institute (LDI) in Calabar, Cross River State. This reiterates the company’s commitment to inclusive workplaces for women, a deliberate pledge to Gender Diversity, all-around safety on Nigerian roads through the availability of qualified drivers within its operations, and the creation of jobs around its host communities.

With the higher volume of vehicles and articulated trucks on the road during festive periods, the FRSC mount more patrols on the highways for enhanced monitoring of driving and vehicle violations. While these patrols will significantly improve driving behaviours, the accountability for overall

safety rests on all our road users. Increased safety consciousness amongst drivers and widespread adherence to driving regulations is thus a more promising way of reducing road accidents.

Wherever you are driving during the upcoming holiday season, please, commit yourself to a few safe driving tips.

Never Drive under the Influence A major contributory factor to road crashes and road deaths in the world is driving under the influence of alcohol. If you are going to a Christmas party and you plan to take a drink or two and be merry, do not drive. It is advisable you stay the night or plan a safe alternative to get home such as taking a cab or ensuring a designated driver who does not drink all night to take you home. Did you know that even in the morning after you have slept, you could still be drunk and over the limit? Do not get behind the wheels if you have to go out. It is a sad fact that many people drive drunk during the yuletide, so be extra vigilant of other drivers, pedestrians and other road users!

Slow Down: You may be tempted to speed in a rush to get to a party or do your shopping before the malls close. Do not forget that police presence is greater on the roads during the day and night throughout the yuletide, and a speeding ticket and possible accidents are most likely not on your holiday wish list. You can be courteous to follow the rules on the road, but other drivers may not be.

Therefore, do not drive your vehicle like you own the road. Never try to imitate other drivers and try to avoid aggressive drivers as much as you can. A lot of accidents happen on freeways. You should never try to recklessly pull into someone else’s lane.

Learn to become a defensive driver rather than being aggressive. Drive within the prescribed speed limits on the various roads.

Wear your Seat Belt: In a crash, wearing your

seat belt can reduce your risk of dying by about half or more. Always buckle up!!! Ensure that young passengers are buckled into appropriate safety seats in the vehicle. Do not be confident about your safety because of your car air safety bags. Note that car accidents could be deadly even with increased safety features in vehicles. Watch Out for Emergency Vehicles: Every second counts in an emergency. Be sure to pull off to the side of the road when you hear a siren, this would allow the ambulance, police car or fire truck go through uninterrupted. You just might be saving a life if you adhere to this rule.

Carry an Emergency Kit: Ensure that you are always prepared. Items that would come in handy if you are stranded on the side of the road or involved in a motor accident must be available in your emergency kit. Should you need to call for help, have an emergency support number ready. Most mobile phones are designed to allow users save and auto-dial numbers for medical assistance, relatives, and other details like blood group amongst others.

This information may become the thin line between life and death in a life-threatening situation.

Pull Off the Road if You Feel Tired: If you feel tired or your eyes shutting, do not try to drive; you could put yourself or others at risk if you fall asleep while driving. Take turns driving if there is another licensed person in the vehicle. You can also stop regularly to take breaks.

Forget Your Mobile Phone: The use of cell phones while driving increases the risk of causing a crash. Avoid the use of cell phones, earphones or headphones while driving.

Keep a Distance from Another Vehicle: Most cars come up with a powerful braking system but still, you should maintain a distance from other vehicles which are moving ahead of you.

Odegbami is the Head, Health, Safety and Environment at Lafarge Africa Plc

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T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

EDITORIAL DESMOND TUTU (1931-2021) Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero, dies at 90

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he pulpit as a force for both moral and political change is not usually a very common or successful occurrence. But the history of South Africa stood one man in a unique position to contribute to national history at a defining moment and in a definitive manner. In the ending of apartheid and the emergence of a democratic nation, Desmond Tutu stood out as the moral twin of his lifelong friend and compatriot, Nelson Mandela. Both men, in collaboration with apartheid South Africa’s last president, F.W. de Klerk, ultimately shared a vision and commitment that led to the emergence of what the late Tutu himself christened ‘the rainbow nation’, a land of equality and freedom for citizens of all races.

Poised against a system that was sustained by violence and racial discrimination, Tutu achieved the remarkable feat of using the pulpit not only to preach against apartheid but also rise in support of the political forces determined to subvert and overturn it. Yet, in Tutu’s moral arsenal, there was the unusual power of IN TUTU’S MORAL humour and the unARSENAL, THERE WAS canny ability to poke THE UNUSUAL POWER fun at the oppressors OF HUMOUR AND THE and dance in solidarity UNCANNY ABILITY with the oppressed.

TO POKE FUN AT THE This dimunitive OPPRESSORS AND DANCE man was nonetheless IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE South Africa’s moral OPPRESSED giant, towering above others with the force of his conviction and sharp wit. He defied the limitations of debilitating disease to survive in dedication to his calling and historical mission. Neither polio nor tuberculosis in his earlier life could deter him from his lifelong mission.

Even in later life, the ravages of prostate cancer could not stop him either.

It is to the eternal credit and vindication of Tutu that his tenacious devotion to the anti-apartheid struggle

Letters to the Editor

paid off in his lifetime. After independence and majority rule, Nelson Mandela sought to utilise Tutu’s undisputed leadership to set a tone for the moral compass of the new nation. He was appointed the chairperson of South Africa’s historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This was a role in which Tutu the preacher dramatist was in his elements.

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

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

n getting the oppressed to come face to face with their former oppressors, the commission achieved the feat of easing the pain of the years of oppression and achieving considerable reconciliation among the populace. Both oppressors and the oppressed publicly shed tears on recollecting the tragedy of the past and in the process helped the wider society achieve a beneficial certain moral catharsis. In recognition of his unique contributions to world history as a man of peace and a unique moral force in his own country, Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Tutu’s support for the African National Congress (ANC) in the anti-apartheid years helped propel the party to victory and enlarged its popular support. In the postapartheid years, however, he was to condemn the political foibles of the party and the misrule of its subsequent leadership. Under the leadership of Jacob Zuma in particular, Tutu was to disagree most publicly with the ANC, condemning its rampant corruption and moral debasement. The high point of his differences with the ANC government was when the government denied the Dalai Lama a visa to enter South Africa to attend Tutu’s 80th birthday ceremony in deference to the misgivings of the Chinese government.

It is not surprising that the Zuma government conveniently ‘forgot’ to invite Tutu for the funeral of Nelson Mandela, an oversight which the government later regretted openly and apologised to Tutu for.

It is a testimony to Desmond Tutu’s towering stature as a global statesman, human rights icon, and indisputable moral force that most world leaders have risen in unison to pay him befitting tribute as he passed on at the enviable age of 90.

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

NIGERIANS AND ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE

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n Nigeria, many look well but are not. Beyond the shiny, smiley demeanors that many wear and the cliched expressions of `it is well,’ ‘by the grace of God,’ `Insha Allah,’ that they mouth, something lurks – something dark and disturbing.

It is not just the paralyzing anxiety that grips many like the curls of a boa constrictor, there is the depression that is persistently dark and well versed in the darkest arts of disguise.

Many Nigerians are sick. Of course, many do not know this because they stay home and suffer, kept away from hospitals and the benevolent gaze of doctors by the forbidding costs of accessing healthcare in Nigeria.

When they die, all manner of suspicions is voiced by their survivors: from African science (whatever that means) to juju to ‘village people’. Yet, many die simply because they are careless or not proactive enough about their health.

In a country of millions that has enough troubles to sicken billions, many Nigerians do not keep enough tabs on the toll the Nigerian situation is taking on their bodies.

But of all the constituent parts of the human being, the mind is the most delicate even if it is the most adamantine. Because it is the battlefield, it wears many battle scars and it does not take long for the scars to show up in a country of many interminable challenges.

Occasionally, some who can no longer cope leap into the lagoon in Lagos.

Others drink sniper, the highly poisonous agricultural chemical, while many yet hang themselves until the noose squeezes the life out of them.

In a country of many challenges of the kind likely to afflict the mind, many have lost their minds but do not exactly know it because they are not out on the streets yet given that madness as it is known in Nigeria is associated with being out on the street.

Many others, knowing that something is gravely wrong, but finding it extremely difficult to put the finger on what exactly it is, resort to religion.

When religion is dragged into the fray, the situation gets even muddier. Because many of those who preside over religious affairs in Nigeria are not mentally healthy themselves, those who come to them clothed with rags depart naked.

Many Nigerians do not pay adequate attention to their mental health. This is only an extension of the scant attention they pay to their health in general.

Because mental illness affects and afflicts the mind, delicate as it is, it deserves maximum attention. If only an entire country could take therapy sessions. For many Nigerians, measures aimed at improving mental health remain absolutely necessary.

The country remains a war zone of sorts. One used to hear that Nigerians were among the happiest people on earth. Phrases such as ‘suffering and smiling’ are bandied from time to time to show a people that keep going no matter the odds.

But these things take their toll. What exactly is giant about the giant of Africa remains doubtful. However, there is no doubt that when the discussion turns on fortitude, Nigerians can well hold their own.

Over the years, Nigerians have shown it. With the many man-made challenges that have convulsed the country, fortitude for Nigerians is not just a virtue, it has been central to survival.

With dysfunction in the country gleefully superintended by a derelict government, Nigerians need well-trained psychologists they can always see at entirely reasonable costs. So, the one who no longer knows what to do leaps into the lagoon in Lagos as if in the depths of the dark waters, their problems will disappear.

With bad leadership and the classic signs of a broken country foisting a lot even on Nigerian children, Nigerians need more access to mental healthcare.

Nigerians deserve to look after their mental health.

They deserve the facilities to do so.

Kene Obiezu, keneobiezu@gmail.com

MY SANTA LIST Hello Santa, am writing with a short list of presents, not for me but for the world. Nobody else, especially our politicians, seems to be able to organise them.

One, that people have access to safe, free COVD-19 vaccinations and the wisdom to take them. Two, that people, not just one young girl, work to stop Climate Change now, not in 30 years time. Three, that people accept and appreciate that all people come in a variety of difference ways.

Four, that people can get what they need rather than what they want.

Ok, maybe a little bit of chocolate for me.

That should be a good start and I’ll return with more of the list next year and yes I have been a good boy.

Dennis Aged 62 Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021

POLITICS

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

Sani Musa, the Man Who Wants to Re-engineer APC Senator Sani Musa is not the only serving member of the National Assembly who aspires to lead the All Progressives Congress, but the Senator representing Niger East has a deep conviction that is irresistible, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

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ne of the hottest political contest to which attention is currently directed is the race for the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national executive. After many postponement, a tentative period of next February has been announced. But no date has been fixed yet, leaving room for wild guess.

Not minding the open date, contenders for various offices, particularly the office of the National Chairman, have since been revving their political engine, while engaged in various aspects of campaign to position themselves as the best choice for the APC elite set.

Although critics doubt the sincerity of Governor Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator Sani Musa representing Niger East in the National Assembly believes there is no reason to be anxious. “ I believe we are ready and we are going to have a hitch free convention that other parties will even emulate. So far, I believe that all the indications for the conduct of the National convention of our party are positive. As you’re aware, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu had earlier disclosed after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House that the convention will hold in February 2022. This is enough time for the States that are yet to hold their congresses at the State level to do so. The APC reconciliation committee is also working round the clock going from state to state to find solutions to all grievances either before or after the congress. So I am optimistic that we are on the right course, and the convention will be a success come February 2022.”

Musa’s interest in the leadership of the APC is a surprise to many who think he is brilliant legislator and should continue to make his contribution to nation building at that level of participation. His response may not be satisfactory to all, but he is convinced that the APC national chairmanship is where he needs to be next in his political career. “The desire to be for everyone is one of the cardinal reasons that sees me aspiring for the head of the All Progressives Congress.

Before I was elected a Senator, I have worked in the public and private sector. I have been a leader in the APC since 2014 and served as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2019 to date. If you look at the antecedents, you will notice the consistency. As a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the good people of Niger east Senatorial District and Chairman Committee on Senate Services. I have served my people well as a first term Senator, and it has been an amazing experience.

So my interest in the chairmanship of our great party, the APC is another call to national service just like my current position as a Senator of the Federal Republic. You must bear in mind that as a Chairman of the APC I can leverage on my experience here in the Senate to push the manifesto of the party to the National Assembly more efficiently. It will also give me vantage position to deliver reconciliatory leadership which the party needs now to navigate out of its present challenges. And my leadership of the party will reinforce our commitment to keep the towering legacy and leadership of our amiable President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, whom has given our party an ideology and presence in the international community, his democratic ideals

Musa

and work within the sub-region and Africa, fight against corruption and his efforts at providing security. Hence the need to have a leader that will continue to give full support and attention to such progressive efforts. There’s going to be a continuation and all of my efforts will be directed to support the deepening of democracy in Nigeria.

It is a necessary sacrifice I must make to build our party in particular and the nation in general.”

Trying to interrogate Musa’s support base brings out the fighter in him. “It’s been overwhelming, “ he said of the myltiplying numbers that sign up for his aspiration everyday.

Deep in his heart, he believes he is the party’s best choice. “ Across the leadership of the party at the State level, down to the grassroots and back to the Federal level, those who are sincere will tell you I am the candidate to beat. Even my opponents know in the recesses of their hearts that I am a better candidate based on my pedigree,

my contribution to the party and my sincere commitment to ensure the stability and success of the party.”

Comfortable with the thought that he will defeat other contestants, Musa is convinced delegates to the APC national convention will be looking for the qualities of a good leader to influence their choice. “ When you’re able to develop strong leadership attributes, you’re positioned to inspire your entire organization, team or country. Right from the inception of our campaign, we have always been reaching out to party leaders and members at every level. I will surely triumph even in a highly contested election.”

Everytime he has the opportunity, Musa talks about the reforms he hopes to bring to the APC when he becomes national chairman. “If given the opportunity to lead the party I will completely re-engineer the internal structures and workings of the party. I will be adaptive to participatory and affiliative work style that will usher visionary and

Given the opportunity to lead the party, I will completely re-engineer the internal structures and workings of the party. I will be adaptive to participatory and affiliative work style that will usher visionary and pacesetting leadership for the party. my reform agenda for the party is expressed in what I call the three Rs for success, that is, Reconciliation, Reorganisation and Redirection. We need to immediately reconcile aggrieved members of the party on a sustainable basis.

We need to reorganize the party in such a manner that it is able to effectively mobilise all segments of the country from youths to women groups for elections

pacesetting leadership for the party. my reform agenda for the party is expressed in what I call the three Rs for success, that is, Reconciliation, Reorganisation and Redirection. We need to immediately reconcile aggrieved members of the party on a sustainable basis. We need to reorganize the party in such a manner that it is able to effectively mobilise all segments of the country from youths to women groups for elections. And thirdly we must redirect our efforts towards winning elections and nation building and not wrangling. We’ll run an inclusive leadership that is devoid of the habitual grain of the entrenched political culture of dynastic politics, sectionalism, favouritism, money politics, parasitism on the public pay roll, cronyism and patronage.

We’ll run a party that will preserve the legacy of our founding fathers to build a strong country that is more tolerant, more prosperous and fairer by giving every member of the party equal opportunity.”

Talking about the threat that the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may pose to the APC in the 2023 national elections, Musa sounded dismissive. The PDP, he contended is a shadow of its former self and remains a toothless bulldog.

Regardless of the fact that the PDP has concluded what was widely applauded as a successful and rancour free national convention, Musa said the main party “cannot even offer credible stiff opposition which is expected of it under the present circumstances of our democracy.

Since PDP was defeated at 2015 general elections it has not recovered from the shock of the defeat and it is obvious in all that the umbrella does at the moment.

They are now going about with a very scandalous mantra to “ rescue and rebuild “ Nigeria. I would have said the mantra itself is ludicrous but I would rather say it is embarrassing. Embarrassing because how can a party like PDP forget about its atrocities so fast? In less than eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC has transformed the country into an infrastructural hub with critical infrastructures in every part of Nigeria. The moribund rail sector has been resuscitated; our airports are now world standard, roads are being rehabilitated, social investment programmes permeating every home and individual in Nigeria and even with the intractable security situation, supports are given to our gallant security forces. All these put together makes the party the court bride every day.

Nigerian economy was not only going to cripple under PDP they did everything possible to undermine democracy especially free and fair elections. Today, PDP is gaining from the free and fair electoral process entrenched by the APC and has the audacity to promote that insensitive mantra to “rescue and rebuild.”

Unperturbed by multiple crises that the party is engulfed in many states, Musa believes that once he emerges as the chairman of the APC, his reform agenda will address most of these challenges and reposition the party for the better.

“Diisputes,” he argued, “are indispensable in democracy because democracy allows for different shades of opinions.

This in itself is not a disadvantage because it allows people to learn from such disputes and even matters that end up in courts afford the judiciary the opportunity to expound and develop the law regarding issues in dispute which serve as precedents for the future. So I don’t see how disputes will affect the convention..”

17

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021

POLITICS

Understanding the Metaphors, Language and Ideals of Senator Marafa

Mikail Barau reemphasizes the role played by former governor of Zamfara State Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa in the birth of the All Progressives Congress and why both men should be accorded commensurate respect and courtesy

Yari

O

ne Aminu Atiku Gusau penned an article that is obviously a political tantrum from the discomfort that the strategic actions of Senator Kabiru Marafa throw on the transactional machinations characterizing the activities of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State. In the article, Mr. Gusau called the Senator ’s patriotic actions as ‘Marafa’s rantings’ which he wanted to address along ‘other sundry issues’. The training of transparent engagements received from courageous political mentors in the duo of Senator Marafa and former Governor Yari makes it impossible for one to engage the writer in significant details because he seeks to cowardly hide under a name that is not representative of his mercenary role.

For this reason, this response is going to be brief until the writer summons the courage to appear in a relatable name because it is counterproductive to engage with a ranting coward. The first reaction along this line is therefore identifying myself in the name that appears in this article and as a proud disciple of the political ideals that Senator Marafa represents. I am an academic by profession and the footprints of my thoughts exist a click away on relevant social media spaces using the same name. Similar declarations from the writer who decided to feign as Aminu Atiku Gusau will be most helpful for a more serious and detailed engagement.

Even the brief response I wanted to provide is therefore more academic than political because the rented role of Mr. Gusau trespassed into language which is the core area of my academic call; both Senator Marafa and former Governor Yari would definitely object to joining issues with a faceless interlocutor. From a number of erroneous assumptions, Mr. Atiku Gusau does not seem to have basic understanding of political language in general nor the resources to access the deep political metaphors and thinking processes of Senator Marafa which led to bluffing with uncountable contradictions in the

Marafa

article. For example, he had problem with the metaphor of construction site that Senator Marafa used in one of his reactions to the usurpation roles of APC national over its Zamfara state chapter. In the misguided views of the author, Senator Marafa’s recognition of himself and Yari as Senior architects and engineers and the intruding actors at state and national level as masons, carpenters and laborers as undermining the critical roles of these workers in building process.

There is an obvious lack of understanding of political context and building sites in the writer which are fundamental requirements for understanding every metaphor. There is hardly any aspect of human endeavor that is as hierarchical as political which is exactly the point that Senator Marafa was making in that metaphor. Because of their foundation roles in party formation, many decades after, people remember Malam Aminu Kano at the mention of NEPU; Sardauna of Sokoto on the mention of NPC; Awolowo whenever

Matawalle

Action Congress is mentioned as well as Herbert Macaulay and Nnamdi Azikiwe in relation to NCNC. Senator Marafa was a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when APC was formed while Governor Abdul’Azeez Yari was a serving Governor who hosted the convention that midwifed the party and both worked assiduously to give the party its first national victory at poll in 2015. It is therefore a valid argument if Senator Marafa considers himself and Yari as senior engineers and architects of APC at all levels. In the same wavelength, it is legitimate if, in the context of kangaroo political process imposed on APC Zamfara by the national leadership with all its questionable legitimacy, Senator Marafa called the leading actors today who were either mere Special Advisors in their state or adversaries to the process when the party was formed as masons and labourers. It is in record that some of the actors that Aminu Atiku Gusau depends and who want to claim enviable designing position that Marafa

Senator Marafa was a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when APC was formed while Governor Abdul’Azeez Yari was a serving Governor who hosted the convention that midwifed the party and both worked assiduously to give the party its first national victory at poll in 2015. It is therefore a valid argument if Senator Marafa considers himself and Yari as senior engineers and architects of APC at all levels. In the same wavelength, it is legitimate if, in the context of kangaroo political process imposed on APC Zamfara by the national leadership with all its questionable legitimacy

and Yari earned had to run out of Nigeria to the U.S and later Niger Republic for fear of repercussion because they were beneficiaries to the detested diversion of moneys budgeted for armed procurement. It is even dignifying that such people are given respectable roles of laborers and masons in the construction site that delivered APC. This instructional response will not end without taking Mr. Atiku Gusau to the construction scene from which Senator Marafa drew his metaphor.

At every important construction site, there is a Project Information Board that carries important information about the site. While everyone recognizes that masons, labourers and carpenters are important, their names do not appear on that board.

What you see there is the name of the project, the client, the contractor and the technical advisor depending on the nomenclature. It is similar historic role that Senator Marafa and Governor Yari performed in APC which no amount of envy can take away from them. Like all pioneers also, they hold special codes that give them special control like the one we see in Zamfara which the concerted collusion of political mercenaries find too mysterious to decode.

While I have to pause here to wait for the identity of Mr. Aminu Tijjani Gusau and whom he speaks for before a proper political engagement, I dare challenge from personal experience that Senator Marafa is one of the most liberal political elite around that the mischief of taking his use of language out of context cannot change. It takes keeping his company anywhere anytime to witness his accessibility to people of the most common status. A simple analysis of the demography of his supporters especially in Zamfara will show people of modest status who are inspired by his courage, genuine sympathy and altruism. Many including myself really wonder how Senator Marafa is accessible by phone to the multitude of his supporters in the rural parts of Zamfara and how he creates the time to listen to their thoughts and concerns.

18

TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Probe Those Responsible for My Arrest, Nwosu Appeals to IG Goddy Egene Mr. Uche Nwosu, who was arrested by security operatives in an Anglican Church last Sunday has called on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, to probe the circumstances surrounding his arrest and those responsible.

Nwosu, who is a son-in-law to former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, also called on the IG to ask his abductors to name the owner of a private jet that was stationed at the airport to take him away after his arrest.

The former Imo State gubernatorial candidate was whisked away by the security agencies at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State on Sunday.

But was later released on the same day.

But speaking on ARISE News Channel last night, Nwosu said his arrest was planned to humiliate him, stressing that the Imo State government was behind the whole plot. He alleged that his

abductors where taking orders from security operatives in Imo State Government, hence his conviction that his ordeal was orchestrated by the government.

The former commissioner,

who said he was never told what his offence was, commended the IG for his intervention. Nwosu therefore, called on the IG probe the incident with the aim of

unveiling all those involved, including the person that paid for the private jet that was waiting for him at the airport.

“Who hired and paid for the private jet that was waiting to

take me away. I was asking them what my offence was and they refused to say anything.

They were getting instruction and asked me to take off my clothes. They handcuffed me

and took my pictures for the social media. All these just to humiliate me. But I thank the IG for his intervention and professional conduct,” Nwosu said.

CAPACITY BUILDING…

L-R: First Vice President, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), Prof. Gbenga Ogunmoyela; Registrar/CEO, Mr. Aliyu Angara; Representative of Minister of State for Health, Dr. David Atuwo; Chairman, IPAN Council, Dr. Femi Oyediran; Representative of the event chairperson, Hajia Sherifa Ahmed; Secretary to State Government, Kogi State, Dr. Folashade Ayoade; Second Vice President, IPAN, Mr. Gbolahan Gbolawa and immediate past Chairman, IPAN, Dr. Dahiru Adamu, at the IPAN 29th mandatory training workshop in Abuja recently

Three Feared Dead, Scores Mobile App to Tackle Insecurity in Yoruba Land Unveiled Kidnapped as Gunmen Invade Zamfara Communities Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Three persons were reportedly killed on Sunday after gunmen suspected to be bandits invaded some communities under Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

An unspecified number of villagers, mostly women, were said to have been kidnapped during the assault.

Some of the villages said to have been attacked include, Geba, Tsakuwa, Gidan Kada, Gidan Kaura, and a couple of others, all within Gusau LGA. A witness from one of the affected communities who spoke under anonymity

explained that the bandits, who were on motorcycles, were moving from village to village on Sunday looting shops and houses, looking for food items, and also abducting people, mostly women.

According to him, the bandits operated for several hours within the villages without the intervention of security agents who were not around during the attacks.

“They were in the area for many hours where they searched from house to house, looking for food items and other valuables,” the witness stressed.

Internet Fraudster on the Run for Allegedly Killing Girlfriend for Ritual

Adibe EmenyonuinBenin-city

A suspect simply identified as Osas is on the run after allegedly killing his girlfriend, Elohor Oniorosa, on Christmas Eve in what was suspected to be ritual killing in Benin-city, the Edo State capital.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bello Kontongs, the father of the deceased, William Oniorosa, reported the case to the police, and investigation is on to arrest

the suspect. The PPRO gave the suspect name as Osa, a boyfriend to the deceased, adding that the suspect surname is unknown.

He said: “Investigation is on while the suspect is on the run.

The incident happens on December 24, 2021.”

According to the information, “The suspected ‘Yahoo Boy’ is said to have recently returned from Ghana a week ago and allegedly slaughtered his girlfriend in Benin-city.”

One Killed as Carnival Turns Bloody in Osun One person was reportedly killed in Igbaye town, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun state after a carnival celebration allegedly turns bloody yesterday.

Some youths were celebrating carnival in the town yesterday afternoon when misunderstanding was said to have ensued between two groups in the community.

According to one source, the crisis was connected with the community monarchy’s dispute, while another resident said it

was purely a celebration that went bad among youths in the town.

However, an eyewitness, Rasheed Damola said the crisis started at the carnival ground after an argument ensued between two groups within the event’s venue and the situation escalated into a free-for-all.

“Some people started throwing bottles, clubs and stones like those at the event scampered for safety.”

In his efforts to fight crimes, the leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof.

Banji Akintoye, has unveiled a mobile application designed to track kidnapped victims and expose danger anywhere in Yorubaland.

It was learnt that the mobile application and alert system known as PAJAWIRI can

also expose criminal elements wherever they are with their victims once the victim has the application installed in his or her phone either on or off.

It was similarly gathered that the security device has another system called AFINIHAN, that can be used by those without android phones to link up with those with the full application.

Akintoye, while virtually speaking at the unveiling ceremony held in Ibadan, said

the emergence of PAJAWIRI is an evidence that the Yoruba people are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued.

According to him, “We have now proven to the world that we cannot be captured or be subdued. We are too intellectually sophisticated to be subdued.

“These innovations and intellectual powers will deploy to get ourselves out of the quagmires of Nigeria.”

On the attendant benefits

of PAJAWIRI, Akintoye in a statement issued yesterday by his Communications Manager, Maxwell Adeleye, said: “Every person in possession of the PAJAWIRI app in their telephones will be able to activate it instantly whereever they find themselves in danger.

By activating the app, they will be able to alert their families, their friends and their neighbours that they are in danger and that they need help.

Osun Monarch Commends Oyetola’s Diversification Efforts Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo An Osun monarch, the Alakola of Ikola-Ijesa, in Atakumosa West Local Government of Osun, Oba (Dr) Festus Adeyemi, has commended Governor Gboyega Oyetola, on his efforts to diversify the state’s economy through gold mining.

Oba Adeyemi noted that with more revenue coming into state coffers through mining, Osun would in no time end overreliance on federal allocation,

even as the nation continue to struggle to end reliance on crude oil for revenue.

The traditional ruler made the remarks during rural/ community engagement programme organised by the State’s Civic Engagement Office held on Sunday in Ikola-Ijesa.

Oba Adeyemi, who commended the governor for minimising illegal gold mining in the state, said with the current efforts to sanitise the mining sector, mining will soon be good

source of revenue for the state.

He said: “I want to commend the governor for taking mining activities from artisan to corporate level, with the involvement of private sector players coming for exploration and exportation. This will have a positive effect on the economy of the state because with current efforts of the governor, in the next few years, gold will be our own crude oil in Osun state.

“Our state will be known for major supply of gold in Nigeria and around the world.

“We are also collaborating with the federal government on mining. Our state is one of the two states, along with Kebbi State, selected as pilot states for the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI).”

Adeyemi, as an Oba of a community where mining activities take place also commended Oyetola’s positive efforts in the areas of health, infrastructure, Agriculture and education across the state.

LASEMA: Bus Plunged into Canal Due to Carelessness Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, yesterday attributed the plunging of a bus into a canal at Oworonshoki area of Lagos State, to carelessness on the part of the bus driver. According to the General Manager of the agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, information gathered at the scene of the incident revealed that the driver of the bus with number plate, LSD 184 XV, lost control while

trying to cross a mini bridge such that it fell sideways and got stuck.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the occupants were rescued with minor injuries while a lady of about 20 years of age who sustained critical injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital. ” Situation report regarding a lone vehicle accident at Sandfilling, Oworonshoki by Berger bus stop outward 3rd Mainland Bridge. On arrival at the above

scene, a white Vanagon with registration number LSD 184 XV was discovered to have been involved in a lone accident.

“Further information gathered revealed that the accident was as a result of carelessness of the driver who lost control while trying to cross a mini bridge. The bus fell sideways into the small ditch and got stuck.

“The occupants were rescued

with minor injuries while a lady of about 20years of age who sustained critical injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Responders present at the scene include the Agency’s LRT, LASTMA and Police.

“The affected vehicle has been recovered from the ditch with the aid of the Agency’s towing truck and handed over to Police officers at Alonge Police station Oworonshoki,” he said in a statement.

APC Files Petitions against Two Bauchi High Court Justices for Granting Frivolous Ex-Parte Orders

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Bauchi State has dragged two justices of the state high court to the National Judicial Commission(NJC) for granting exparte orders contrary to procedures and conventions.

A copy of the petitions against

Justices Mu’azu Abubakar and Kunaza Hamidu dated December 20, 2021 and submitted at the office of the chief Justice of the Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC Hon Justice Mohammed Tanko on December 21, 2021, was submitted for granting exparte orders that will last till hearing and determination

of the substantive suit without fair hearing.

The petitioners Alhaji Umar Jibo, the APC Chairman-elect in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State and Honourable Babayo Aliyu Misau the Chairman-elect and his executives alleged that “By law, exparte orders are only granted

to preserve the respondent and last only for 14 days.” But the two Justices separately gave order in the suits no BA/294/2021 and BA/211/2021 which affects their swearing in, since both the two orders separately will last up to the hearing and determination of the suits file by aggrieved parties over their victory.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

19

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

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

08056356325

D E C E M B E R

S & P INDEX

2 7 , 2 0 2 1

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OBB

9.00%

CALL

4%

INDEX LEVEL

564.02%

1/4 TO DATE

5.82%

N413.03/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

10.75%

1-MONTH

6%

1-DAY

–0.17%

YEAR TO DATE

– 15.85%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.19%

Amid Declining Production, Nigeria Loses 4.82m Oil Barrels to Shutdowns in Upstream Operations

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Nigeria’s oil industry has continued to bleed owing to incessant shutdowns due to ageing upstream infrastructure, vandalism and community-related issues, with the country losing over 4.82 million barrels to the challenges, industry data obtained by THISDAY has revealed.

Although a marked reduction from the 6.3 million barrels lost in the preceding month, the country’s production losses recorded in Oc-

tober came mainly from Forcados, Bonny, Odudu, Brass, Yoho, Urha, Ajapa and Aje in the Niger Delta.

But a review showed that the situation will most likely continue unmitigated, at least in the short term, as Shell a few days ago announced a halt in crude shipments from the same Forcados, a situation that may negatively impact the country’s revenue stream and worsen existing shortages in the international market.

Shell announced that it had declared “force majeure” on exports

of Nigerian Forcados crude oil after a malfunctioning barge obstructed tanker path. The blend is one of Nigeria’s unique crude, with an average turnover of about 200,000 barrels per day.

In its report of events that affected oil production in October, 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, explained that due to technical problems, pumping was suspended into Forcados while community-related issues delayed the reinstatement of activities at a

Heritage Energy facility.

Also, there was shut-in from Walter Smith due to low pressure as the combination of these, the NNPC said, led to the loss of 456,563 barrels in the Forcados terminal.

In Bonny, the document showed that Aiteo shut down production due to some infractions at Owangbai Tuma axis, leading to a total loss of 1.03 million barrels of oil.

It was the same story in Odudu, where there was a decrease in production due to maintenance

work at the facility, effectively bleeding Nigeria to the tune of 1.250 million barrels of crude oil in the period under review.

For Brass, the Energia injection into the line was suspended due to pipeline damage as well as shutin of platforms due to flow line leakage, pressure build-up, high sand production and community issues. These caused a total shut-in of 106,000 barrels.

Furthermore, a faulty valve in the Yoho terminal led to a loss of 420,000 barrels, while in Urha 1.468

million was lost due to shutdown for maintenance.

Similarly, production on the Ajapa terminal was reduced by 30,000 barrels while that of Aje decreased by 62,000 barrels of crude oil.

The previous month, with an estimated $70 per barrel, Nigeria lost roughly $441 million to similar shutdowns, with the assets mostly affected being Sea Eagle, Brass, Yoho, Qua Iboe, Excravos, Urha, Continued on page 20

Global Oil, Gas Discoveries Set to Hit 75-year Low in 2021, Drops from 12.5bn Barrels to 4.7bn BOE Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Global oil and gas discoveries in 2021 are on track to hit their lowest full-year level in 75 years, if by the end of December there are no significant finds, a Rystad Energy analysis has shown.

As of the end of November, total

global discovered volumes this year were calculated at 4.7 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and, with no major finds announced so far this month, the industry is on course for its worst discoveries toll since 1946.

This would also represent a considerable drop from the 12.5 billion boe unearthed in 2020, although

liquids continue to dominate the hydrocarbon mix, making up 66 per cent of total finds.

Seven new discoveries were announced in November 2021, unearthing around 219 million boe of new volumes, the report from Rystad, an independent energy research and business intelligence

FOOD NAME OF COMMODITY

MAIZE

COMMODITIES

LOCATION

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

100KG JIGAWA

N9000

SORGHUM

100KG ENUGU

N24000

100KG DELTA

N15000

100KG

ABIA

N14000

50KG

LAGOS

N13500

SIZE

company providing data, tools, analytics and consultancy services, stated.

The monthly average of discovered volumes this year now stands at 424 million boe as a reduction in cumulative volume highlights the absence of large individual finds, as has been the case in previous years.

SIZE

PRICE

STATE

100KG JIGAWA

“Although some of the highly ranked prospects are scheduled to be drilled before the end of the year, even a substantial discovery may not be able to contribute towards 2021 discovered volumes as these wells may not be completed in this calendar year.

“Therefore, the cumulative

T O D AY

PRICE

N9,000

100KG

BENUE

N8,500

100KG

KADUNA

N8,500

50KG

ENUGU

N23,000

50KG

LAGOS

N17,000

100KG

DELTA

N23,000

discovered volume for 2021 is on course to be its lowest in decades,” says Palzor Shenga, vice president of upstream research at Rystad Energy.

The largest discovery in November 2021 was Russian group Lukoil’s Yoti West off the coast of Mexico, Continued on page 20

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

20

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FOOD

NAME OF COMMODITY

PALM OIL

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

25CL LAGOS N20,000-N25000 25CL

PH

NAME OF COMMODITY

RICE

N21,000-24,000

25CL IBADAN N18,000-N22,000 25CL

IMO

N21,000–N24,500

25CL

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

25CL ABUJA

N19500- N25000

COMMODITIES SIZE

STATE

PRICE

100KG ABUJA N23,000–N25,000 50KG 50KG

OYO

N22,000-N25,000

PLATEAU N23,500-N25,000 (JOS)

50KG KWARA N24,000–N27,000 50KG

LAGOS N23,000–N26,500

50KG RIVERS N23,000–N26,500 50KG SOKOTO N11,500–N13,000 50KG

EDO

N17,000–N20,000

PRICE

NAME OF COMMODITY

COCOA

T O D AY SIZE

STATE

PRICE

N740,000

1 TON ONDO – N760,000

NAME OF COMMODITY

SIZE

STATE

PRICE

ONIONS

100KG

IBADAN

N25,000

100KG

KANO

N10,000

100KG

BENUE

N27,000

100KG GOMBE

N12,000

100KG DELTA

N21,000

100KG LAGOS

N25,000

100KG ENUGU

N15,000

100KG

N29,000

N730,000

1 TON OSUN – N750,000 1 TON

EDO

N720,000 – N740,000

N700,000 1 TON CROSS – N720,000 RIVER

1 TON

AKURE SOUTH, ONDO

N730,000 — N755,000

ABIA

Sahara Commits $44m to LPG Facilities, Invests $742m in Host Community Development Peter Uzoho Energy conglomerate, Sahara Group says it has made a commitment of $44 million for the construction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG) facilities within the West African sub-region to ensure steady availability of cleaner energy sources for the global market.

The group also disclosed that its commitment to host communities enabled its investment of $742 million in community development with a focus on COVID-19 relief support.

Sahara Group’s Director of Governance and Sustainability, Ms Pearl Uzokwe, stated this as part of the highlights of the group’s 2020 Sustainability Report, containing the scorecard of its economic, social, and environmental performance across seven operating entities within the group, including the Sahara Foundation.

The report themed, “Leveraging Disruption for Growth and Innovation,” underscored how Sahara continues to leverage innovation and technology in achieving its corporate goals and sustainability ambitions across its businesses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

“Further, a commitment of $44 million for the construction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilities within West African region was made as well as the purchase of two additional LPG vessels to ensure the availability of cleaner energy sources for our global market.

“Our commitment to host communities enabled our investment of $742 million in community development with a focus on COVID-19 relief support,” Uzokwe said.

According to the director, the group also fixed all cables and panels for the rural electrification

project in Ajoki, one of its host communities, with a plan to deliver the project by 2022.

These, she noted, further demon-

strates the company’s progress on the sustainability journey, stressing that the 2020 sustainability report further underscored the group’s

commitment to creating shared value for its various stakeholders through economic development, protection of the environment and

building a sustainable society.

Uzokwe stated that Asharami Energy Limited, a Sahara Group upstream company, recorded

an improved performance in responsible procurement with 92 per cent of its suppliers assessed for environmental risks in 2020.

Aiteo Plans 500,000bpd Refineries in Niger Delta Peter Uzoho Nigeria’s independent oil and gas producer, Aiteo Eastern Exploitation and Production Company (AEEPC) Limited, has indicated its plan to build two refineries with a combined 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) refining capacity in the Niger Delta.

A top official of the company who pleaded to remain anonymous, told THISDAY in a chat about the company’s planned investment in refinery project.

He said the two refineries would be located in Rivers and Bayelsa states, adding that the facilities would be getting feedstock from

its oil producing assets and through secondary arrangements.

He stated that the company had already secured a licence to embark on the refinery project from the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), adding that the oil firm had all its plans worked out and was going ahead to execute them.

The Aiteo official explained that the refineries would be processing a variety of finished petroleum products, including petrol.

He said: “Like I said, we are the biggest independent in the country. We are playing across all the value chains. We are building our refinery, which is 500,000 barrels,

that’s massive. We are building two: one in Bayelsa and one in Rivers State. That’s 250,000 barrels each.

“So, we intend to be producing all kinds of petroleum products, ranging from PMS (premium motor spirit), lubricants, petrochemicals, and others.

“We will be getting feedstock from our producing assets and secondary sources. So, we have all our plans worked out and we are going ahead with them one by one.”

The Aiteo official expressed optimism that the company would accomplish its planned investment despite the current energy transition and the threat to discourage funding for fossil fuel projects, maintaining

that Aiteo does not borrow to fund its projects.

“What energy transition? It’s not a problem for us. We have no problem with that. We don’t borrow. We use our money to finance our projects.

So, energy transition or not , that’s not a problem for us.

“We have all our plans worked out and we are going ahead with them one by one. We have secured a licence for the project,” the official stated.

He, however dispelled the fear in some quarters that Dangote Group would become a monopoly in the midstream and downstream segments of the nation’s oil and gas

industry when its refinery begins operation.

He said that rather, the entry of Dangote into the refining space was a good thing for Nigeria as it would help to boost the nation’s refining capacity and save the country a lot of foreign exchange.

Aiteo is one of the indigenous Nigerian companies that took advantage of sale of assets by major international oil companies (IOCs), like Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell.

In 2014, Aiteo bid for and acquired Shell’s Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line for $2.7 billion.

Fashola Calls for Application of Surveying Information in Agriculture Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has called for the deployment of geospatial inputs in the country’s agricultural system in order to achieve food security in the country.

Fashola spoke at the opening ceremony of a two-day survey coordination conference and meeting of the advisory board on survey training themed: “Geospatial Approach to Harness Agro Planning and Food Sustainability for Economic Development”.

The minister noted that the conference was an opportunity

to brainstorm and proffer solutions, saying that Nigeria’s problem began when attention was diverted from agriculture, which was the mainstay of the economy during the oil boom that followed the discovery of oil at Oloibiri in 1956.

“Although we have failed in tapping our rich agricultural resources over the years, agriculture itself is already encumbered by climatic and environmental factors.

“It means that for us to achieve food sufficiency and security, there is urgent need of applying geospatial inputs into our agricultural system, hence the incumbent administration is

paying diligence to agriculture as part of efforts in achieving the diversification of the economy.

“The plan is to help in redirecting the country from the unhealthy path of monoeconomy,” Fashola said.

In his comments, the SurveyorGeneral of the Federation (SGoF), Abduganiyu Adebomehin, announced the readiness of his office to migrate from the Nigeria National Origin (NNO) to the World Geodetic System (WGS) 84-International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) 2014 to achieve best practices in geospatial world.

WGS 84 is the standard US Department of Defence definition of a global reference system for

geospatial information and is the reference system for the Global Positioning System (GPS). It is compatible with the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS).

Adebomehin further appealed to all the states of the federation to migrate as well for the country to have a common reference point and avoid the burdens of conversions to align with international best practices.

He disclosed that in line with the Public-Private-partnership (PPP) arrangement of the federal government, the survey office had franchised its services.

He noted that this was to provide easy access to geospatial products for various stakeholders

and sectors of the economy even as efforts were underway to revamp the high performance data centre of the office.

“This is also to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the government,” he stated.

Special guest at the event, Air Commodore Victor Aikhomu (rtd), highlighted the critical role of survey and geo-informatics to national security and other sectors of the economy.

He stated that failure in that regard means doom for modern day society, hence everything possible must be done, including robust regulatory regime, to prevent poverty of infrastructure development.

GLOBAL OIL, GAS DISCOVERIES SET TO HIT 75-YEAR LOW IN 2021, DROPS FROM 12.5BN BARRELS TO 4.7BN BOE

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

which is estimated to hold around 75 million boe of recoverable resources.

The discovery strengthens Lukoil’s cumulative discovered volumes in the North American nation. However, these volumes are still insufficient for commercial development and would require further discoveries of a comparable scale before a development concept could be drawn up.

These discoveries do, however, give hope to Mexico that the country can halt or slow down its production

decline. Several wells are scheduled to be drilled in blocks offered in various bid rounds, many by leading international oil companies.

Offshore Malaysia, Nangka-1 became the second successive exploration well drilled within Block SK 417. The wildcat was drilled by Thai state operator PTTEP to a depth of 3,758 meters and discovered sweet gas within the Middle to Late Miocene Cycle VI clastic reservoirs.

Norway continues to unearth

small-to-medium finds, providing an opportunity to materialise these discoveries with available infrastructure.

But despite the global slump, in September this year, the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it was close to ramping up Nigeria’s 36.9 billion barrels crude oil reserves by 14 billion barrels and the country’s gas reserves by an additional 68 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF).

The then Director of the organisa-

tion, Mr Sarki Auwalu, disclosed that the possibility of getting 14 billion barrels out of the 18 billion barrels in the works remained very high.

Auwalu disclosed that in addition to the increase of Nigeria’s gas reserves to 206 TCF, the DPR’s field analysis had shown that the possibility of proving the new oil and gas finds was becoming higher and gradually moving from P3 to P2.

In oil industry reserve classification, Proven (P1) reserve is an

estimate of recoverable volume with a probability of recovery greater than 90 per cent under present technical and economic conditions, while Probable (P2) reserve is an estimate of recoverable volume with chances of recovery equal to or above 50 per cent and less than 90 per cent.

In addition, Possible (P3) reserve is an estimate of recoverable volume with a chance equal to or above 10 per cent and less than 50 per cent of being economically and technically feasible to extract.

AMID DECLINING PRODUCTION, NIGERIA LOSES 4.82M OIL BARRELS TO SHUTDOWNS IN UPSTREAM OPERATIONS Ajapa and Otakikpo.

Although the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Ltimide, Mallam Mele Kyari, has assured that by the end of this year, Nigeria will be able to meet its allocation from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the country has been lagging behind.

In a similar report in August, THISDAY reported that Nigeria lost 6.035 million barrels of crude oil to emergency shutdowns, according

to data from the company.

At an average of $73 at the time, that would be a whopping sum of $438 million shortage posted for the month and roughly N219 billion at N500 exchange rate to the dollar.

Put side by side the NNPC’s contribution of N47.162 billion to the federation account in that month, the huge 6 million barrels worth over 200 billion, dwarfed the entire funds shared in the joint

pool by the federal, state and local governments.

It was also roughly the same amount to be allocated to the host communities fund in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), if the law had taken effect in the beginning of this year.

Although Nigeria has regained the top spot among crude oil producing countries in Africa with the nation’s crude oil production averaging 1.27 million barrels per

day in November, according to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), its crude oil production has continued to far below target.

Nigeria’s oil output fell to about 1.23 million barrels per day from about 1.25 million bpd the previous month, with Libya seeing its oil production rise to 1.24 million bpd for the month.

OPEC indicated that Nigeria pumped an additional 47,000 bar-

rels per day when compared to the 1.228 mb/d produced averagely in the month of October 2021, an insignificant number when compared to the latest loss figure of 4.82 million barrels.

Despite the 47, 000 rise, several countries, such as Angola and Nigeria, are pumping well below their quotas, increasingly concentrating the group’s spare production capacity in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.

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Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

HON. OLABODE RHODES-VIVOUR JSC

BACK AT 2021

AT 70, OLABODE RHODES- VIVOUR, JSC TAKES HIS LEAVE

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NBA PRESIDENT, OLUMIDE AKPAT

‘W WE ARE WORK KIN NG ON OVER R 13,0000KM M OF ROAD DS’

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Mrs Titilola Akinlawon, SA

Hairat Aderinsola Balogun: Still an Inspiration at 80

‘NBA is Firing Again On All Cylinders’

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AMINA MOHAMMED: A DISTINGUISHED WORLD SERVANT TURNS 60

‘CRIMINALISING RANSOM PAYMENT, IS NONSENSICAL’

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MR. O.C.J. OKOCHA, SAN CHAIRMAN, BODY OF BENCHERS

‘Leadership Positions are Not the Exclusive Preserve of Men’

Attack on Odili's Residence: A Desecration of Nigeria’s Judiciary

‘NBA MUST HAVE A VERIFIABLE, FOOLPROOF VOTING SYSTEM‘

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

II IN THIS EDITION

Criminal Conduct Which Can be Regarded as Economic and Financial Crimes

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MRS FUNKE AGBOR, SAN

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Page IV

‘ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION OF FHC IS BEING ERODED’

‘JU USU UN STRIKE STR RIKE HAS HAS S ‘JUSUN GR REA ATLY HAMPERED HAMPE ERE ED GREATLY JU UST TICE DELIVERY’ DE ELIVER RY’ JUSTICE

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Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN

’STATES SHOULD COLLECT AND UTILISE THEIR OWN VAT’

‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’

QUOTABLES ‘Our electoral system is so warped that, to me, it does not appear to be capable of bringing out any credible leadership. Once we cannot have a credible leader, forget about good governance; and corruption will continue to flourish.’ - Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, former National Legal Adviser, All Progressives Congress

‘In view of the fact that male soldiers have not been penalised for involving themselves in public amorous relationships in full military uniform, the threat to sanction Private Sofiyat Akinlabi is discriminatory.’ - Funmi Falana, Legal Practitioner; National Director, Women Empowerment & Legal Aid

LAWYER

Babalakin JSC, the Quintessential Jurist Raps his Last Gavel

Hon. Justice Ilori: A Judicial Titan Goes Home

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KIDNAP AFTER KIDNAP, AFTER KIDNAP

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello

THE ASABA DECLARATION: NO GOING BACK

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

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

III THE ADVOCATE

Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill: Beyond the President’s Veto

L

ast week, there was a considerable amount of hullaballoo, because President Muhammadu Buhari exercised his right under Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended in 2018)(the Constitution) and withheld his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 (EAMB).

Due to space constraints, I shall only discuss a few of the major issues of controversy which I observed, concerning the failure to enact the EAMB. Irrelevant Debate It was interesting to see how some of our learned colleagues get on all forms of media, most especially television, to mislead the public. Some that were in support of President Buhari’s decision to withhold his assent to the EAMB and sought to justify it, tried to start an irrelevant national debate by drawing a distinction between veto power and withholding assent to a Bill - a debate which I must say, serves no particular purpose. They claimed that because the President gave cogent reasons for his refusal to assent to the EAMB, his non-assent cannot really be called a veto!

The truth is that, whether it is called withholding assent or veto, the bottom line is that the EAMB was not passed into law, to the chagrin of many.

And, for the avoidance of doubt, the President’s omission to assent to the Bill, is a veto. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a veto is simply “an official power or right to refuse to accept or allow something”. According to the Collins Online Dictionary, “If someone in authority vetoes something, they forbid it, or stop it being put into action….Veto is the right that someone in authority has to forbid something….the President’s power of veto”. President Buhari certainly stopped the EAMB from being put into action, whether he gave reasons for his rejection or not.

Reasons for Withholding Assent at this time The problem President Buhari is facing, is akin to that of the story of the boy who cried wolf several times when there was no wolf; the day there was actually a wolf, no one took him seriously or paid attention to him, because of his false cries of the past! For example, in 2018, the President had failed to assent to the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 (EA) on electronic voting, a step in the right direction for Nigeria’s electoral process, for no good reason; now, that there are actually cogent reasons for withholding his assent, people have become cynical and are spinning all sorts of conspiracy theories and sinister agendas, that probably may not exist.

The main reason given for the President forbidding the EAMB for now, was the amendment to the old Section 87(2) of the EA which had given political parties the choice of adopting direct or indirect primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for elective positions. Section 84(2) of the EAMB which seeks to replace Section 87(2) of the EA, makes it mandatory that all party primaries be done by means of direct primaries which shall be monitored by INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission). Section 84(5) of the EAMB, also provides that INEC shall deploy personnel to monitor all primaries. It is trite that when the word ‘shall’ is used in a statutory provision, it imports that a thing must be done; it is a form of command or mandate. See the case of Ugwu v Ararume 2007 12 N.W.L.R. Part 1048 Page 367 at 441-442 per Tobi JSC. Again, by virtue of the old Section 85(2)(b) of the EA, INEC’s attendance and monitoring of party primaries was optional, not mandatory.

President Buhari’s decision was informed by a well founded concern of a significant increase in the cost of conducting primary elections across 8,809 Wards in Nigeria, by virtue of the Section 84(5) of the EAMB which provides that INEC must monitor all direct primaries; security concerns; clash with the constitutions of political parties which allow for direct and indirect primaries (this is not important, as the law will take precedence over Party constitutions); susceptibility to electoral malpractice, since political parties cannot boast of reliable membership registers (indirect primaries are equally susceptible to electoral malpractice, as we have all witnessed in the last 22 years); and a breach of the freedom of choice to choose the mode of primaries, which one imagines should be the essence of democracy. In APC v Engineer Suleiman Aluyi Lere 2020 I N.W.L.R. Part 1705 Page 254 and Wushishi v Imam 2017 18 N.W.L.R. Part 1597 Page 175 the court held that “the nomination or sponsorship of a

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

The

Advocate “As far as Section 87(2) of the EA is concerned (now 84(2) of the EAMB), if it is the only contentious issue holding up the passing of the Bill, why not leave it as the old Section 87(2) for now?…it…gives the option of direct or indirect primaries; it does not stop direct primaries….In the meantime, there are several other good amendments which are not controversial, and should be passed as soon as possible, to improve the coming elections” candidate for election is a political matter within the sole discretion or power of the political party, an internal affair which is not a matter for the public domain, being pre-election, and therefore, domestic”. I submit that by virtue of this judicial decision, the issue of the mode of primaries adopted for the nomination of candidates is a preelection matter, and therefore, a domestic internal affair of the political parties, and the Legislature seeking to impose a particular type of primaries mode on political parties may be arbitrary. Each mode of primaries has its pros and cons, though proponents of direct primaries believe that it is more democratic, as more people are involved.

I agree that this time, some of President Buhari’s reservations/concerns, are legitimate.

For instance, during the 2019 elections, there were over 70 political parties. If INEC had had to monitor every single party primary, they would definitely have had to employ many more ad hoc staff, like is done during the general elections, to have been able to be present to monitor every party’s primary, from Councillor to President. This alone, would definitely cost a lot more money.

Other Discrepancies Aside from President Buhari’s main concerns, I noticed that there are errors in the EAMB in terms of cross-referencing, making nonsense of some of the provisions. For example, Section 50(2) of the EAMB provides for voting at elections and electronic transmission of results

President Muhammadu Buhari

to be done by a procedure determined by INEC, and replaces the old Section 52(2) of the EA; in the EAMB, Section 50(2) is wrongly made subject to Section 63 of the EAMB (concerning not counting ballot papers that do not bear the official mark prescribed by INEC), instead of Section 60 which provides for entering the votes counted and the forms to be used. Considering that the matter of the amendment of the EA has been pending for years, it shows a measure of ineptness on the part of the National Assembly (NASS), that they couldn’t submit a perfect document to the President for his assent. I’m not sure I saw any provision relating to the electronic collation of results in the EAMB. The EAMB’s Section 60(1)-(4) sounds like manual collation of results, though Section 60(5) thereof provides for the ‘transfer’ of the results of the ballot and total number of accredited voters in a manner prescribed by INEC, which could obviously be electronically. Should collation not be electronic like transmission? Because if the input part of the system is manual, it could simply amount to ‘garbage in, garbage out’ if the Collation Officer is compromised.

Another example of food for thought is Section 51(2)-(4) of the EAMB, which deals with the cancellation of votes in a polling unit where the votes exceed the number of accredited voters therein. While Section 51(3) provides that there shall be no return for the election until another poll has taken place in that polling unit, Section 51(4) of the EAMB goes on to provide that if INEC

determines that the election result in the area where the result was cancelled will not substantially affect the result of the election, the Commission can go ahead and make a return without giving the voters whose results were cancelled the opportunity to vote. There may be a rationale behind Section 51(4) of the EAMB - if Candidate A has already won the election by a margin of 5,000 votes, and the total number of cancelled votes is 1000, even if Candidate B won all the 1,000 votes at a new poll, Candidate A would still be the winner with a margin of 4,000 votes; so what is the point of having another poll? My first question however, is whether it is constitutional to deprive people of the right to vote for any reason. It is trite that it is the right of every person age 18 and above who is a registered voter, to vote. Should INEC have the power to take away this fundamental right from voters, whose votes may have been cancelled, especially through no fault of theirs? My second question is, whether Section 51(4) cannot be subject to abuse by compromised INEC Officials who may decide to exclude voters in a polling unit who do not support their candidate? Or does Section 51(4) of the EAMB qualify as a constructive laid down legal due process of the law, that has the ability to take away a constitutional right, as was stated in the case of R. Benkay (Nig.) Ltd v Cadbury (Nig.) Plc 2006 6 N.W.L.R. Part 976 Page 338 at 385 per Ogunbiyi JCA (as she then was)? My dear colleagues, kindly, share your thoughts on this point.

Good Amendments in the EAMB While there are definitely some good amendments in the EAMB, they still need to be tweaked. For instance, I was glad to see that the proviso in Section 31(1) of the EA which I had repeatedly complained about, the one which precludes INEC from rejecting candidates for any reason whatsoever, had been removed from the EA by the EAMB. But, I still believe that to prevent the abuse of that provision, INEC’s power to reject candidates should not be at large; but should be limited to the laid out constitutional provisions of qualification of candidates required for the various elective positions.

For example, a Gubernatorial aspirant who does not meet one of the qualifications set out in Section 177(a)-(d) of the Constitution, clearly evidenced by the Forms and documentation submitted to INEC in support of his or her candidature, must be rejected

by INEC ab initio. See the Supreme Court case of Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) v INEC, PDP & Douye Diri in which two of the candidates fielded by the ANDP as Gubernatorial candidates were below the age of 35, contrary to Section 177(b) of the Constitution. In this kind of clear cut case only, provided by the Constitution, should INEC to permitted to reject a nomination.

Not limiting INEC’s power to reject candidates can result in abuse. If the baton of leadership of the Commission changes, and unfortunately, in the future, it falls into the wrong hands, unscrupulous INEC Officials can take advantage of this provision to unlawfully disqualify candidates.

Conclusion Section 58(4) of the Constitution does not give President Buhari the power to pencil out the sections of the Bill he does not agree with, and then assent to the Bill! But, Section 58(5) gives NASS the power to repass the Bill by two thirds majority of each House of NASS, thereby making the Bill become law without the President’s assent, or remove the offending section, pass it again, and re-present it to the President for his assent. There is a palpable fear that if the President assented to the EAMB as it is now, NASS will not agree to do a further amendment of the EA to expunge the provision mandating direct primaries. In the present condition that the EAMB is in, riddled with errors, overriding the President’s veto may not be advisable.

As far as Section 87(2) of the EA is concerned (now 84(2) of the EAMB), if it is the only contentious issue holding up the passing of the Bill, why not leave it as the old Section 87(2) for now? After all, Section 87(2) of the EA as it stands, gives the option of direct or indirect primaries; it does not stop direct primaries. And, if the direct primaries method is so much desired by Nigerians as the Legislature is making it out to be, proponents of it should not have any problems persuading their various political parties to adopt it as their method for nominating candidates. In the meantime, there are several other good amendments which are not controversial, and should be passed as soon as possible, to improve the coming elections.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 • T H I S D AY

IV LAW REPORT

Criminal Conduct Which Can be Regarded as Economic and Financial Crimes

Facts The Appellant was charged for the offences of offering gratification to a public officer, contrary to Section 64(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011; attempting to pervert the cause of justice contrary to Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, and making false information to an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (“EFCC”) contrary to Section 39(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 (“the EFCC Act”) . The trial court found the Appellant not guilty of the offences of offering gratification to a public official, and making false information to an officer of the EFCC. The Appellant was, however, found guilty and convicted of the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice and consequently, sentenced to thirty days imprisonment. The Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which allowed the appeal in part. Still dissatisfied with the decision, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination Eight issues were submitted by the Appellant, while the Respondent distilled three issues for determination.

The Supreme Court however, considered the following four issues:

1. Whether having regard to the provisions of Sections 14-18 of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004 and the decision in Emmanuel Ahmed v FRN, the EFCC had any authority to investigate and prosecute the Appellant for the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and if not, whether the trial court and the court below had jurisdiction to try the Appellant or to affirm decision of the trial court.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the conviction and sentence of the Appellant for the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice under Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law, having regard to the fact as found by the learned trial Judge, (a finding against which the Prosecution did not appeal), that Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law does not define the offence charged, and was therefore, inconsistent with Section 36(12) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and therefore, null and void.

3. Whether the court below erred in law when it affirmed the conviction and sentence of the Appellant for the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice under Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law, when the conduct of the Appellant did not constitute an offence defined under the law which he was charged.

4. Whether the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they applied the reasonable man’s test to their interpretation or construction of Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law and Section 36(12) of the Constitution, when as found by the learned trial Judge, Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law did not disclose any offence known to law.

Arguments Submitting on the first issue, counsel for the Appellant argued that the offence which borders on attempt to pervert the course of justice, relates to a non-financial crime, for which EFCC has no power to investigate and prosecute. Counsel relied on Sections 6, 7, 14-18 and 46 of the EFCC Act. Counsel contented that where a statutory body acts outside the law setting it up or conferring powers on it, such act, irrespective of the objective, will amount to a nullity - KNIGHT FRANK & RUTLEY (NIG.) LIMITED & ANOR v A.G. KANO STATE (1998) 4 SC. 251. Counsel contended that though this issue was not raised before the court below, it is jurisdictional in nature and touches on the salient issue of failure to initiate an action by due process of law and upon fulfilment of condition precedent to exercise of jurisdiction, it can be raised at the Supreme court for the first time and without leave - APGA v OYE & ORS. (2018) LPELR-45196 (SC). Responding to the submissions above, the Respondent contended that the Appellant’s argument as to the meaning and limits of the “economic and financial crimes” under Section 46 of the Act, is misconceived. Counsel noted that the phrase “any form of corrupt malpractices” in the aforesaid section, encapsulates acts aimed at subverting or perverting the course of justice. This is even so, when the act was done in the course of the Appellant’s commercial practice. He submitted further that the Appellant’s “corrupt malpractice” of attempting to pervert justice became an “economic and financial crime” within the contemplation of Section 46 of the Act, when he sent text messages to the court officials to influence assignment of his cases.

On the second, third and fourth issues, counsel

Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 20th day of December, 2021 Before His Lordships

Olukayode Ariwoola John Inyang Okoro Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju Abdu Aboki Tijjani Abubakar Justices, Supreme Court SC/CR/161/2020 Between Dr Joseph Nwobike SAN

Appellant

And Federal Republic of Nigeria

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Tijjani Abubakar, JSC) submitted on behalf of the Appellant that the learned trial Judge made a definite finding against the Prosecution that Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 does not define the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice, and since the Prosecution had failed to appeal against the said finding, it is deemed to have accepted finding - ALHAJI MUSA SANI v STATE (2015) 15 NWLR (Pt. 1483) 522.

He argued further that since there is no appeal against the conclusion of the trial court, the Court of Appeal lacks the jurisdiction to review, set aside and/or supplant same, and the court below was therefore in error, when it went beyond the scope of the complaint in the appeal before it, to hold that the offence is properly defined in Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law and the penalty of two years is imposed by the law. Counsel submitted further that having concluded that the offence is not defined, the trial Judge ought to have discharged and acquitted the Appellant on all counts relating to the offence, and that the court below was in error when it imported the reasonable man’s test into interpretation of Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law. He posited that the Appellant’s conviction cannot be sustained by reliance on any law in Nigeria, as done by the lower court, in so far as the offence is not defined under Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law, and in contravention of Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution.

Responding to the issues, counsel for the Respondent submitted on the constitutionality of Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law that the provision has always been in Nigeria’s Penal statutes, and is a verbatim reproduction of Section 126(2) of the Criminal Code Act applicable in Southern

“The test for ascertaining if a criminal conduct can be regarded as an economic and financial crime, is such that must be a non-violent criminal and illicit activity committed with the objective of earning wealth”

States of Nigeria. He noted as a misconception, the Appellant’s argument that the offence in Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law relating to attempt to pervert the course of justice is not defined. He referred to Section 97(1) of the Criminal Law which prescribes the penalty of seven years imprisonment for the offence. Counsel submitted that from the evidence on record, it cannot be said that various overt acts of the Appellant did not amount to an act constituting attempt to pervert the course of justice envisaged under Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law. Court’s Judgement and Rationale Resolving the first issue, the Supreme Court held that the effect of the combined provisions of Sections 6b; 7(1)(a) & (2)(f) and 13(2) of the EFCC Act leaves no doubt that the EFCC has the power to investigate, enforce and prosecute offenders for any offence, whether under the Act or any other statute, in so far as the offence relates to commission of economic and financial crimes. The court held that the argument canvassed by the counsel for the Respondent, wholly and exclusively revolves around Section 46 of the EFCC Act which defines “economic and financial crimes”.

In the definition as provided by Section 46, the words that call for interpretation are: “any form of corrupt malpractices” of which counsel for the Appellant has urged the court to adopt the ejusdem generis rule of interpretation, in construing the scope of the words within the contemplation of Section 46. Their Lordships held that the application of the ejusdem generis rule is not a matter of course and this court has admonished that this rule must not be pushed too far, but be applied with caution in the absence of other indications disclosing the explicit intention of the legislature. It suffices to say that the words “corrupt practices” entail conduct that might or affect the honest and impartial exercise of a duty, encompassing a vicious and fraudulent intention to evade the prohibitions of the law; something against or forbidden by law; moral turpitude or exactly opposite of honesty involving intentional disregard

of law from purely improper motives. The court, having given a careful consideration to the natural, ordinary, and plain interpretation of the expression “corrupt malpractices”, which is not defined under the Act, found it difficult to accept that the literal interpretation is effective in discovering the intention of the legislature, with respect to ascertaining its scope. The court held that if the literal meaning is adopted, the powers of the EFCC will be at large and open ended. By that interpretation, every criminal and illicit activity committed will fall within the scope of “corrupt malpractices”, and consequently, be regarded as an economic and financial crime, which the EFCC will be empowered to investigate. Such will make a pigmy of other legislations and render them barren and sterile, while escalating the status of the EFCC to that of a ruthless ungovernable monster; this is certainly not the intention of the legislature necessitating the establishment of the EFCC and enacting the EFCC Act. The court held that the ejusdem generis rule is applied where in an Act, there are strong reasons from the history and circumstances connected with its passing, from the structure of the Act itself, to indicate the real meaning of the Legislature, that the rule is one which not only can, but ought to be applied. The ejusdem generis rule is an interpretative one which the court would apply in an appropriate case, to confine the scope of general words which follow special words as used in a statute or document or interpretation of statute. The words – “any other form of corrupt malpractices” must be construed within the context of the specific class which it follows and must be confined to the particular class; in this case, the words – “embezzlement”, “bribery” and “looting.”

The test for ascertaining if a criminal conduct can be regarded as an economic and financial crime, is such that must be a non-violent criminal and illicit activity committed with the objective of earning wealth. It will not be safe to regard the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice which the Appellant was convicted for, where it has not been shown that it was committed with the objective of earning wealth, to be regarded as an economic and financial crime, thereby vesting the power to investigate and prosecute in the EFCC. It follows that the Appellant has discharged the burden of showing that the definition of “economic and financial crime” in Section 46 of the Act admits of intention to apply the ejusdem generis rule, as only by so doing can effect be given to the meaning “of any other form of corrupt malpractices” in the context of economic and financial crime. Consequently, the counts in the Amended Information, upon which the Appellant was convicted and sentenced, do not have foundation, and the case of the Prosecution was not initiated by due process of law. The trial court, therefore, ought to have declined jurisdiction.

Deciding the other issues, the Supreme Court held that the core complaint under these issues is in connection with the propriety or otherwise of the decision of the lower court, in its consideration of whether the offence of attempt to pervert the course of justice constituted in Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law is defined in the absence of an appeal against the decision of the trial court on the point. Their Lordships held that the fundamental question raised by the Appellant was not considered and determined by the lower court; rather, the Court of Appeal re-formulated issues for the Appellant. Though a court has the inherent power to reject, modify or re-frame issues distilled for its determination, the exercise of this power is not open ended or limitless. The issue so formulated must be rooted in the grounds of appeal - FRN v BORISADE (2015) LPELR-24301 (SC). It is apparent that the decision of the trial court runs contrary to the position maintained by the Respondent, and a Cross-appeal by the Respondent would have served as a stimulus for the Court of Appeal to consider the correctness or otherwise of the decision of the trial court on this point. The law is settled that a decision of a court of competent jurisdiction not appealed against remains valid, subsisting and binding on parties and is presumed acceptable by them. It therefore follows that, the issue whether Section 97(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State defines the offence the Appellant was charged with has been settled by the trial court, and remains unchallenged.

Appeal Allowed; Appellant’s Conviction and Sentence Set Aside.

Representation Kanu G. Agabi CON, SAN with Wale Akoni, SAN; R.A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN; Uche Njoku, and Uchenna Ede for the Appellant U.U. Buhari with A.O. Mohammed for the Respondent Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

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V COVER

The Year 2021 in Review For the year 2021, it was a medley and potpourri of events and issues that occurred over the past 12 months, including the passage of some notable legal personalities. In this Special Edition, the THIS DAY LAWYER Team presents a kaleidoscope of all the cover stories that shaped the year. We wish our readers, and indeed, all Nigerians, a happy and prosperous 2022

January 5, Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN graces our first edition of 2021 ‘There is Failure of Governance at all Levels’ Has Nigeria’s foremost professional body lost its voice and capacity to speak truth to power, which it has been known for over the decades?

Has the Nigerian Bar Association been able to retain its cohesion and focus in the past few years?

In search of answers to these questions, Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi sought out Chief Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Chairman of various Committees of the Association, as he turned 61 recently. In a forthright and fearless approach to issues, he spoke his mind on a myriad of concerns, including what he described as the failure of governance at all levels, corruption, the challenges of conducting credible NBA elections, ethical issues, and why there appears to be a rise in professional misconduct cases against Lawyers.

January 12, How effective and fast would justice administration be without paralegals?

‘Paralegalism: Essential for Administration of Justice Reform’ For a majority of Nigerian Lawyers, the Bench or the Inner Bar are the ultimate career destinations, and the attainment of either is the climax. It is however, a rarity in Nigeria, to find a Judge opting out of the Judiciary at a relatively young age, with many more years left to retirement. That is what Honourable Justice Olusola Ajibike Williams did, when she honourably bowed out of the Lagos State Judiciary to pursue her laudable vision of setting up Nigeria’s first Paralegal Training Institute, Institute of Paralegal Services (IOPS), a non-profit making Institute. In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, she explained what motivated her bold and courageous move to step down from the Bench after 18 years, and her ambitious plans to entrench Paralegal training, standardisation and practice in Nigeria, through her Institute of Paralegal Services located in Lagos.

January 19, NIN and its numerous challenges.

‘NIN-SIM Registration: Sacrificing the Health

of Hapless Nigerians’ Many Nigerians had been subjected to the harrowing experience of being made to compulsorily wait in crowded, endless queues, to capture data to register and obtain the elusive National Identification Number (NIN). The challenges for both the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the majority of Nigerians yet to be captured in this exercise, were humongous. The deadlines imposed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, to link all phone lines with NIN threw most into panic, as they scampered to meet the deadlines, and it put Nigerians at risk contracting the dreaded Coronavirus. In the face of these challenges, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, Jide Ojo and Emmanuel Onwubiko suggested ways out of the conundrum.

January 26, The USA Presidency came into focus.

‘The Biden Presidency: A New Dawn for USA’ After what many termed the most contentious Presidential election in the history of the United States, a new battle ensued. The battle of how to evict Trump from the White House, and it was, to say the least, fierce and deeply worrisome. It pitched Republicans against Democrats, America’s Christian Fundamentalists, the Evangelicals against the rest of Americans, pushing the world’s greatest democracy to the brink of a coup. The acclaimed winner of the contentious election, Joe R. Biden Jnr and his Vice, Kamala D. Harris, were sworn in as the 46th President and 49th Vice President of the USA, amidst tight security. Kingsley Jesuorobo, Emeka Eze, Jefferson Uwoghiren and Kede Aihie dissected the complex issues that surrounded Biden’s emergence as President, particularly the attack on Capitol Hill, the impeachment of Donald Trump, and the possible consequences flowing therefrom even after Trump has ceased to be President, and what Joe Biden’s Presidency portends for Nigeria and the world.

February 2, The menace of the ubiquitous herdsmen

was in discourse ‘Vacation Order to Herdsmen: How Legal, How Constitutional?’

It is no longer in doubt, that the nation is at war on several fronts. While that battle to reclaim the North Eastern part of Nigeria rages, bandits and kidnappers are perceptibly having a field day in the North Central and most other parts of Nigeria, including the Middle Belt. The South West which had hitherto remained relatively safe, seems to be losing its security with the invasion of gun-totting Herdsmen, some of Fulani extraction. The negative economic impact on the nation’s economy, has been debilitating.

In an effort to protect his people, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN was compelled to issue a seven-day notice to all Herders and occupants of the Ondo forest reserves, to vacate same. The order, which subsequently resulted in other States like Oyo and Ekiti taking similar steps to ensure the security of their citizens, was the subject-matter of this Special Edition in which Femi Falana, SAN, Dr Sam Amadi and Festus Ogun delved into the complex issues that pushed our nation into this unfortunate situation, in terms of the clashes between the Herders and the Farmers, and the criminality which may be a spin-off therefrom, also proffering workable solutions to these problems.

February 9, Addressing the housing infrastructure deficit.

‘We are Working on Over 13,000km of Roads’ The state of our road infrastructure, has been a matter of great concern to both the citizens and Government of Nigeria. It has also been the perennial cause of disputation, between States and the Federal Government. That is one of the reasons why the appointment of Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN as Works and Housing Minister elicited so much applause and commendation for the Buhari administration. How has BRF fared in the past five years, managing such a complex and herculean portfolio as Works Minister?

In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the former Lagos State ‘Action Governor’, recounted what can easily be described as some of his achievements in building and rehabilitating Nigerian roads, and providing affordable habitation for Nigerians.

February 16 Do Children have a right to know their biological fathers?

Determining the Paternity of a Child The mode of determining the paternity of a child, especially when controversy arises, varies from country to country. The applicable laws are as varied, as there are jurisdictions. The controversies that trailed two recent incidents in Nigeria, brought to the fore the need to examine the state of the law in determining the paternity of a child born in or out of wedlock. A Bank Managing Director and a sitting High Court Judge in Delta State, were enmeshed in controversies over the paternity of the offspring of their marriage and alleged dalliance. To what extent can the technology, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), precisely ascertain the father of a child? What backing does this new science have under Nigerian laws? Should the laws on the paternity of a child/children of a marriage be amended to include the use of DNA, or are they satisfactory as they are now? Do the children have a right to know who their biological fathers are, or will revealing the truth scar them emotionally?

Professor Nnamdi Obiaraeri, Mohammed Ibrahim Abdul, Frank Tietie and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, delved into the controversial issue to examine the various positions of the applicable laws in Nigeria, including that of the Sharia law, and how paternity issues can be resolved.

February 23, Kidnap After Kidnap, After Kidnap For the umpteenth time, Bandits visited their dastardly act this time on Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State, kidnapping 27 students and 15 others, killing one and leaving in their wake, blood, sorrow and tears as families were left devastated. This was only the latest in a series of similar nasty incidents, in the North East and North Central parts of the country. Thankfully, cont'd on page VI

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Looking Back at 2021 cont'd from page V

the passengers who were kidnapped from Rafi Local Government, also in Niger State, a few days before the Kagara incident, were released.

The Bandits are gradually extending their ignoble and bloody reign of terror, to as many parts of the country as possible. Like a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association said, ‘Nigeria is in a low grade war’. Does the Federal Government have the will, strategy and logistics to win this war? Jide Ojo, Emmanuel Onwubiko and Dr Sam Amadi take on the complex issues in this national malaise, and proffer viable solutions to fight it.

March 2, ‘At 70, I Still believe in the Nigeria Project’ His, is a classical example of grass to grace.

Starting out in 1970 as a typist grade iii to being a court clerk, administrative officer, qualifying as a Lawyer, Assistant Lecturer, Chartered Arbitrator, General Counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and acting Director-General of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Paul Oboarenegbe Idornigie, SAN went down memory lane in a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, narrating the odyssey of his life as he reaches the platinum age of 70, while commenting on the present state of the nation.

March 9, Former NBA President speaks on the state of the profession ‘NBA Must Have a verifiable, ‘NBA Must Have a Verifiable, Foolproof Voting System’ Legal education in Nigeria, has come with its huge challenges. With so many Lawyers being churned out of the Nigerian Law School, arguments have been rife as to whether Nigeria really has the capacity to gainfully engage this huge number of Lawyers. Mr. O.C.J. Okocha, SAN has been former Attorney-General of Rivers State, past NBA President, past Chairman, Council of Legal Education, and Chairman, Body of Benchers.

In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, he gave insights into various areas and issues in the profession, including the reason why the National Open University of Nigeria was recently stopped from admitting law students into its programmes. He also commented on the state of the nation and the insecurity that has engulfed our land, while lending his voice to the calls for the restructuring of our nation to reflect true Federalism.

March 16, ‘Shoot-on-Sight Order: Extrajudicial Killing

by Another Name?’

No one can safely say when Nigeria’s battle against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping will end. So far, every measure that this administration has applied to curb the menace of arm bearing murdering criminals (which hitherto, many adjudged to be half-hearted), have proven to be largely unsuccessful. As AK-47 bearing criminals and insurgents become more brazen with their dastardly attacks by the day, President Muhammadu Buhari in what many see as a desperate knee-jerk move, issued a shoot on-sight order on anyone caught carrying an AK-47 weapon in the forests. While this may sound cheering to a few, many human rights activists strongly believe that it amounts to sanctioning extra-judicial killing, and an outright violation of the constitutionally guaranteed right to life. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Dr Osaghie Obayuwana, and Chukwu Emeka Eze weigh in on this Presidential Order.

March 23, Rhodes-Vivour JSC, retires honourably.

At 70, Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, JSC Takes His Leave The Nigerian Judiciary has had its fair share of astute and sagacious Jurists, one of them being Honourable Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour CFR who retired from the Supreme Court on March 22nd, 2021, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70. Chief Wole Olanipekun, ASAN, Chief Judge of Borno State, Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN and Alex Muoka eulogise this quintessential judicial titan, as they take us through the highlights of his illustrious career, from his humble beginnings as a Pupil Counsel at the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in 1976, to his appointment as a High Court Judge in February 1994, his elevation to the Court of Appeal in April 2005, his secondment by the Federal Government of Nigeria while he was still a Justice of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone in 2008, culminating in him reaching the pinnacle of the career of a Nigerian Judge on his appointment as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on September 16, 2010.

Certainly, Rhodes-Vivour, JSC will go down in the history of Nigeria for his landmark judge-

ment in Ukeje v Ukeje, in which his Lordship declared as being unconstitutional, the patently repugnant Igbo custom of disinheriting a woman.

We congratulate his Lordship on the attainment of his Platinum Anniversary, thank him for his service to our dear country, and wished him the very best as he begins a new chapter in his life.

March 30 Governor under attack!

‘Ortom's Attack: Stretching Nigeria's Insecurity to the Limit?’

The nation’s insecurity challenges took a turn for the worse recently, when the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom was attacked in broad daylight by armed bandits on the way from his farm. The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, also suffered the same fate last year. If these criminals had succeeded in their dastardly attempt to eliminate a sitting Governor, the consequences of their actions would most likely have worsened the already tense situation in the country. The questions on the lips of many are, how safe are the other State Governors whose States have been under attack from insurgents?

How long will the authorities allow the marauders to reign free with their evil acts? What methods, including legislation, can Government adopt to help ease the insecurity that Nigeria is currently experiencing? Chief Sebastine Hon, SAN did an in-depth analysis of the worrisome issues in these frightening developments, drawing attention to strategies which have been implemented, and laws that have been enacted in other countries, like USA, the Philippines and UK. April 6, EFCC wields the big stick Can EFCC Compel Bank Employees to Declare assets?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the new anticorruption Czar is straddling with vigour. His order that all Bank and other Financial Institutions' employees should declare their assets willy-nilly, however, sent chills down the spines of many.

Onyekachi Umah, Richmond Idaeho and Richard Abdulahi in this Discourse, raised questions as to whether Mr Bawa and his Commission were not acting ultra vires their statutory mandate.

April 13, CROSSFIRE! Ransom: To Pay or not To Pay? Armed Banditry, Kidnapping, Insurgency and other related violent crimes have continued to thrive in Nigeria, despite efforts by the security agencies and hapless Nigerians who are at the receiving end. Heartless criminals have spared neither defenceless school children nor innocent Nigerians from these violent acts, and there doesn’t appear to be any respite in sight. Some have argued that, as long as Government continues to negotiate and pay ransoms to the perpetrators of these dastardly crimes, kidnapping will continue thrive and be a lucrative enterprise for criminals. Others argue that, even if ransoms are not paid, there should be negotiation with the Kidnappers. The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El Rufai, however, vowed that he would never negotiate or pay ransom to bandits in his State, which is presently one of the epicentres of banditry, insisting that some of the Kidnappers are insurgents, and paying them ransoms will be akin to shooting ourselves in the foot, as it will only make more funds available to them to use to purchase more weapons to continue their onslaught against Nigerians. THIS DAY Lawyer sought the views of a cross-section of senior Lawyers, on this complex and contentious issue. Should Government continue to negotiate and pay ransoms to criminals, or leave the victims to their fate? What other options are open to Government? Here is the CROSSFIRE! April 20, ‘SCAB’: A Step in the Right or Wrong Direction?’

A Bill, known as the Supreme Court Alteration Bill 2020 (SCAB), to alter Section 6(5) and Chapter VII of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), was in the offing.

The major purport of this crucial amendment, is to regulate the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and to create the Federal and State Courts of Appeal, thereby changing our Judicature as we presently know it to be. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN and Sola Akanni x-rayed the Bill and what it seeks to do, and how it will affect justice delivery at the Appellate Courts, and other related issues.

The question is, whether it is a good innovation or not?

April 27, Chauvin’s Judgement: Can African-Americans cont'd on page VII

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Breathe Again?

The gruesome murder of African-American, George Floyd, in the hands of former Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, by means of a chokehold, while his colleagues looked on and did nothing to save him, threw the entire world into unprecedented outrage in May 2020. It was one death too many for African-Americans, in the hands of white racist Police Officers, and the attendant spontaneous rage saw the people of Minneapolis, USA go on a rampage, resulting in the global hash tags, #icantbreathe and #blacklivesmatter, to press home the consciousness. A 15-member jury, found Derek Chauvin guilty of all charges of murder and manslaughter. Sentencing was adjourned for eight weeks, the convict facing imprisonment of up to 40 years. Jefferson Uwoghiren and Dr Kede Aihie dissected the issues in the landmark judgement, drawing a parallel with Nigeria, with emphasis on what lessons there could be for the Nigerian justice delivery system, while Epa Ogie Eboigbe examined the courageous role the teenage African-American young lady, Darnella Frazier, played in the whole saga and the ensuing trial, as a result of her capturing George Floyd’s murder on her phone-camera. If there is one thing this unfortunate incident has done, it has brought American policing into global focus, especially with regard to Police brutality against African-Americans. Will it be the catalyst for a change for the better, going forward?

May 4, Escalating Insecurity: a National Malaise The nation’s insecurity is worsening, the challenges are humongous, and the solutions have been elusive so far. The recent escalation of clashes between security agencies and local insurgents in the South East, have heightened the calls for Government to urgently rethink its strategies for combatting the security challenges in Eastern Nigeria and other hotspots like Benue State, where there are killings almost on a daily basis. The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, was not left out, as there was an attempt to assassinate him earlier this year in March, while seven internally displaced persons taking refuge in a Camp in Abagena, Makurdi were also murdered. Policemen and other security personnel, have also not been spared, as several of them have lost their lives in the violence. At least five Policemen were also killed in Okigwe, Imo State, while others suffered the same fate of death in Rivers State. Norrison Quakers, SAN, Professor Andrew Chukwumerie, SAN and Jide Ojo interrogated the multifarious issues, and proffered suggestions on how to end the crisis.

May 11, The Vindication of a Lawyer and Public Servant On February 26, 2013, This Day Lawyer ran a story, ‘My Ordeal with SEC,’ detailing the ongoing saga between respected Lawyer and Diplomat, Christopher Okeke and the Securities Exchange Commission of Nigeria. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude igbanoi did a follow-up interview with Ambassador Christopher Nonyelum Okeke, founding Partner of Ajumogobia & Okeke, Honorary Legal Adviser to successive British High Commissioners since 1989, one of just two Lawyers in Nigeria’s history who have held that prestigious honorific title, having been selected to provide counsel to Her Majesty the Queen of England’s Government in Nigeria. This interview explored the importance of digital identity, and how a careless error by a public authority can have dire implications on the reputation and good standing of even those Nigerians, who by training and experience are familiar with the law, and who have the power and resources to challenge impunity and fight back against oppression.

May 18, Maritime law issue ‘Admiralty Jurisdiction of FHC is Being Eroded’ Nigeria’s dream of becoming West Africa’s shipping hub got a boost in 2004 with the passage of the Cabotage Act; but, doubts have been expressed as to whether the Nigerian maritime sector has really taken advantage of the Act and maximised its benefits. Mrs Funke Agbor, SAN, a Partner in ACAS-Law which recently went into a combination with global law firm, Dentons, has come into prominence as one of Nigeria’s leading Maritime Lawyers and Arbitrators.

She recently emerged as the President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, and in a chat, she gave Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi a brief overview of the maritime sector in Nigeria, and her concerns about the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the MT Sam Purpose case, which she believes has eroded the admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

She further expressed her optimism about the establishment of a National Shipping Line, and more female Lawyers taking Silk.

May 25, The Southern Governors take a stand.

‘The Asaba Declaration: No Going Back’ For quite a while, the South has endured and tolerated the devastation of their crops and agricultural produce, occasioned by the nomadic activities of Herders. But, when some Herders, and criminals disguised as Herders, took things a notch higher, by starting to bear arms and committing what can only be referred to as atrocities, such as rape, kidnapping, and killing, the 17 Governors of the Southern States were compelled to come together on May 11, 2021 at Asaba, the Delta State Capital, to take a firm decision to ban open grazing in their individual States, among other decisions. Is what has now been coined as “the Asaba Declaration”, legal and constitutional? One of the South West Governors, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, Norrison Quakers, SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Dr Kayode Ajulo and Felix Sugaba write in this Discourse, that banning open grazing was not only inevitable, but absolutely necessary to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the 17 Southern States.

June 1, ‘Criminalising Ransom Payment, is Nonsensical’ In the fast expanding and diversifying legal profession, it is becoming rare to find a thoroughbred female litigation Lawyer like Mrs Titilola Akinlawon, SAN. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi tracked down the press-shy legal amazon, who was in her element as spoke about various aspects of legal practice and burning national issues, like the proposed Bill to criminalise ransom payments for kidnapping, the ban on open grazing, the JUSUN Strike, and the pervasive insecurity that has encompassed the country.

June 8, In the thick of JUSUN nationwide strike, former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association expressed her concerns ‘JUSUN Strike has Greatly Hampered Justice Delivery’ In a profession where there is almost parity between both genders in terms of numbers, to have only a meagre 5% of females at the Inner Bar, is appalling and a cause of concern for many female Lawyers in Nigeria. There are however, indications that this status quo might change in the not too distant future, as more female Senior Advocates continue to voice out the need to have more of their ilk as Silks. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi caught up with learned Senior Advocate, Mrs Boma Ayomide Alabi, who was elevated to the rank last year. An amazon who has been opportune to have been several firsts, including being the first female, non-Caucasian President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and first Black President of Female Lawyers Association of England and Wales, she spoke on a myriad of issues, including Police brutality and impunity, the debilitating effects of the JUSUN strike, and the retirement age of Jurists.

June 15, Discourse on Nigeria’s Constitution Nigerian Constitution: New or Reviewed?

Nigeria is on the march again, seeking a new Constitution, the grundnorm expected to usher in a fresh and invigorated polity, maybe even a new beginning. Every previous attempt to review or fashion out a new Constitution has not been completed. The question on the lips of many, is whether what Nigeria really needs is a new Constitution, or simply a review of the old and wobbling one. Dele Adesina, SAN, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah and Professor Auwalu Yadudu (in his widely circulated letter to the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution) stated their positions, in the face of the much-faulted ongoing public hearings around the country, towards giving Nigerians a workable people-centric Constitution.

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June 22, ‘NBA-SLP: Grooming the Next Generation of Lawyers’ Jude Igbanoi who was at the just concluded Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), reported on the proceedings of the four-day event which held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from the 13th to the 16th of June, 2021.

June 29, Special Edition Amina Mohammed: A Distinguished World cont'd on page VIII

‘JU USU UN STRIKE STR RIKE HAS HAS S ‘JUSUN GR REA ATLY HAMPERED HAMPE ERE ED GREATLY JU UST TICE DELIVERY’ DE ELIVER RY’ JUSTICE

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Servant Turns 60 It was a quiet, yet well attended event. The movers and shakers of the Nigerian Polity and the Diplomatic Community, including the former President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who delivered the Guest Lecture, converged at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja, at the 60th Birthday Colloquium to celebrate Nigeria’s precious gift to the world’, Ms Amina J. Mohammed, the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations who was recently reappointed for a second term, and turned 60 on Sunday, June 27, 2021. Ms Mohammed is the first Nigerian to be appointed (and reappointed) as UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the second African woman ever to be appointed to that role. She was chosen, according to the UN Secretary-General, not only because she is highly competent, but also because she has a strong background in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action. Amina served as the Senior Special Assistant to President Obasanjo on MDGs, and is a stickler for upholding the rule of law, the 16th goal on their list. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi were also present at the Colloquium. On behalf of our Chairman & Publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the Managing Director of THIS DAY, Eniola Bello, and all of us at This Day, we sent our wishes for a happy 60th birthday to Amina, and told her that ‘Nigeria is proud of you’.

July 6, ‘States Should Collect and Utilise Their Own VAT’ Only a negligible number of female Lawyers have had the privilege of serving as State AttorneyGeneral. Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, SAN is one of such rare Nigerian female Lawyers who served in that capacity as Attorney- General of Ogun State 2013 - 2017, and distinguished herself as a thoroughbred advocate. She told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in this interview, the reason why she believes that we have not had many female AGs, the possible cause of the paucity of female Senior Advocates, and why she believes that State Police should be on the agenda in the restructuring of Nigeria. She also expressed her opinion, on the issue of open grazing July 13, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN clocks 60!

‘Not Every Igbo Believes in IPOB’s Agitation’ Hitting the age of 60 in a country where the life expectancy is 54.33 years, is a privilege that may not easily be available to many. The Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN turned 60 on Sunday, July 11, 2021, and in a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, he defended his unflinching faith in the Nigerian nation, and why he doesn’t believe in IPOB’s agitation for self-determination, but rather a country based on equitable distribution of resources, appointments and projects. He also made a case for Devolution of Powers and State Police.

July 20, PIB, a Bill with nine lives.

‘Will the PIB Guarantee a Better Petroleum Industry?’

The Petroleum Industry Bill 2020, is unarguably the most controversial piece of legislation that Nigerian lawmakers have ever been challenged with. It was conceived and birthed in animosity.

It has gone through several Assemblies, and sat comfortably as the oldest Bill in the National Assembly, until its eventual passage in July. Several versions had been bandied around, until it was eventually passed by both Chambers. The question was whether President Buhari would assent to the final version of this controversial legislation.

How did the present crop of lawmakers manage to scale the ethnic, religious and political hurdles to pass the final document into law, especially as those from the oil producing areas still seem quite dissatisfied with they deal they got? Senate Spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, delved into the highlights of the new law.

July 27, Ethnic Self determination.

‘Kanu and Igboho: Hard Choices Before Nigeria’ In the face of crippling economic and security challenges, the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Buhari, has had the additional challenge of dealing with dissent, and very worrisome and unrelenting agitations for regional autonomy and outright secession. One of the arrowheads of these agitations, is the leader of the proscribed Igbo nationalist organisation, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who was abducted in Kenya and whisked back to Nigeria, ‘Gestapo-style’ to continue his trial

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Death Row Inmates

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in court. However, his arrest did not deter his counterpart in the South West, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, who after the invasion of his residence by men of the DSS on July 1, 2021, fled the country to neighbouring Republic of Benin where he was arrested by the authorities while attempting to board a flight to Germany along with his wife, Ropo. The concerted efforts by the Nigerian Government to extradite Igboho, were the subject-matter of a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Benin Republic. In this Special Edition, Femi Falana, SAN, Dr Ayodele Akenroye, Kede Aihie and Jefferson Uwoghiren examined the complex legal issues arising from the convoluted international conundrum in this Discourse.

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Death for death row inmates?

‘As Governor, Aregbesola Didn’t Sign One Death Warrant’ The highly controversial issue of the abolition of the death penalty is one that has in the past few years, elicited debates between human rights practitioners and the Government. While there are religious and social postures in the push to abolish or not to abolish, the global move in the past two decades or more, has been towards doing away with the death penalty as a form of punishment.

Many more countries have since erased the death penalty from their statute books, including several African countries, with the Francophone enclave leading the move. Nigeria, under the Obasanjo regime, stoically achieved the status of moratorium, that to the admiration and commendation of the

international community, not a single death-row inmate was executed between 1999 and 2007.

This huge stride is now in danger, as the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, urged State Governors to sign death warrants to execute death row inmates, in order to decongest the Nigerian prisons. Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN, Paul Ashibel and Lazarus Chinweokwu advanced reasons as to why Aregbesola’s recommendation is not only archaic, but inhumane, especially as we have a system that doesn’t always guarantee justice.

August 10, ‘There Must be Robust Funding for the Judiciary’ Being a judicial officer in Nigeria can be quite daunting, given the peculiar challenges in Nigeria’s justice delivery system. This arm of Government has been struggling with gross underfunding, poor welfare, paucity of even the most basic infrastructure for the rather herculean task of adjudicating cases, bearing in mind that the Nigerian judicial dockets are one of the busiest in the world. The intricate responsibility of catering for Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record, including appointing, monitoring and disciplining them rests squarely on the National Judicial Council (NJC). However, for this body to effectively carry out its constitutional mandate it must be administered by highly competent personnel headed by the Executive Secretary, who is directly responsible to the Chairman of the Council, the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi caught up with the Executive Secretary of the NJC, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, to shed some light on the functions of the Council, and let us into some of the strides he has made since he took up the mantle of office in 2017, despite the huge challenge of inadequate funding of the Nigerian Judiciary.

August 17 ‘With 10,000 Appeals, the Supreme Court is Overworked’ The Apex Court, despite being the highest court in the land is not without its own challenges, particularly underfunding and understaffing. In addition to these acute problems, their Lordships are overburdened with frivolous appeals that should not be clogging up their dockets. Between 2007 and 2019, over 10,000 appeals were filed at the Apex Court. For the outgoing second Female and 17th Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mrs Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, these are important issues that require urgent attention, in order to make the Supreme Court operate at an optimal level. Having enjoyed a successful and fulfilling career, as she bowed out on the attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60, Mrs Mustapha shared her life’s story and experience from her robust career with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, narrating how she managed to put in place, numerous innovations and drive several initiatives while at the Supreme Court, despite the paucity of funds. And, going forward, among other endeavours, how she intends to establish an NGO devoted to the Girl Child.

August 24, The PIA and Its Imperfections: Was Niger Delta Shortchanged?

After so many years of waiting for the Petroleum Industry Bill to be passed, most Nigerians, especially in the Niger Delta, expected a near perfect law from the National Assembly (NASS) that would assuage their worries and address age long concerns about lack of infrastructural development in the area, and environmental pollution/ degradation, resulting in a loss of livelihood for many, and chronic ailments like cancer and birth defects emanating from oil exploration and production activities. Last month, the PIB was finally passed into law by the NASS, and speedily assented to by the President. Alas! the newly enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has not met the expectations of many, nor does it seem to have addressed the concerns of Niger Deltans that have caused them to weep over the last few decades. For many, it’s not a case of how long, but, how well; and, disappointed, they are already talking about amendments to the PIA, even before the ink with which President Buhari signed the PIB into law, is dry. In this discourse, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Senator Ndoma Egba, SAN, Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, SAN, Chief Layi Babatunde, SAN, Professor Andrew I. Chukwuemerie, SAN, Abubakar Sani, Chief Dan Orbih and Tolu Aderemi weighed in on the contentious piece of legislation, pointing out its many imperfections and how to possibly address them, while Taiwo Oyedele pointed out 20 highlights of the new law. cont'd on page IX

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August 31, The open grazing conundrum Federal Gazette Provides for Grazing Reserves: Fact or Fiction?

Since the Northern Governors Forum, the Southern Governors Forum, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and other stakeholders, seem to agree that open grazing is an anachronistic method, and ranching is a better approach to animal husbandry in today’s modern times, it has continued to baffle and confound many, the reason why the Presidency, despite Government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan, is still talking about Federal Gazette on grazing reserves and routes, claiming to have identified 300 of such reserves in 25 States of Nigeria. In this Discourse, Femi Falana, SAN and Dr Osagie Obayuwana insisted that no such Gazette or nationwide grazing reserves exist, and saw Government’s claim as an attempt to somehow try legitimise open grazing, a regressive move which should be rejected by all.

September 7, Sokoto A-G speaks to THIS DAY Lawyer ‘Sokoto Criminal Justice System, is Speedy and Responsive’ Sokoto State is one of the largest States in Nigeria, by virtue of its land mass. Its vastness and being a border State, presents its own peculiar challenges, especially in the area of justice administration.

The recent upsurge in banditry and trans-border crimes, hasn’t helped matters. In an interesting encounter with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Sokoto State, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, the learned Senior Advocate spoke to Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on the achievements of his Ministry during his tenure, including the innovations inserted in the Sokoto State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019, and how he handles justice administration in a State that operates a dual system of criminal law, while he bore his mind on what has become a vexed issue in Nigeria, that is, the issue of open grazing. He also stated that serving as an Attorney-General under a ‘Lawyer-Governor’ is not a tea party, as a display of high skills and intelligence are imperative.

September 14 The NBA General Secretary speaks ‘Leadership Positions are Not the Exclusive Preserve of Men’ 38 years after the first Female General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was elected in the person of Mrs Hairat Aderinsola Balogun, last year saw Mrs Joyce Oduah, the second Female Lawyer in the history of the Association, to be elected into that office. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi took her up in an engaging dialogue on a range of professional and gender issues, including the bothersome subject of the paucity of women in key positions, not only within the legal profession, but in the Nigerian polity generally.

September 21, Mr Modupe Alakija speaks to THIS DAY Lawyer ‘Famfa Oil is a Family Business’ The oil and gas industry in Nigeria and indeed, everywhere else, is not for the lily-livered, as only the fittest survive, especially in these recent austere times. Despite the inclement operating environment, Famfa Oil Limited has weathered all the storms, and has continued to maintain its lead as one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous oil prospecting and producing concerns. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi spoke to Mr Modupe Folarin Alakija, a Senior Lawyer of almost 50 years standing and co-founder of Famfa Oil Limited in this interview. He shared his experiences and challenges in surmounting the numerous obstacles which eventually led to the birth of Famfa’s Oil Field, ‘Agbami’ and real estate company, Dayspring Property Development Company Ltd. While Mr Alakija also discussed the falling standards of the legal profession which he sees as part of a system that is generally in decay, he affirmed his belief in ‘One Nigeria’.

September 28, Dr Valerie Azinge, SAN is THIS DAY Lawyer’s Guest.

‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’ For Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, SAN, the climb to the top was steady. With a chain of academic feats, Dr Azinge has served the country in various capacities, including being Secretary to the epochal 2014 National Conference. Called to the Bar 1981, she obtained an LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1984 and a Ph.D from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma

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‘Hopefully, the 2014 National Conference Report Will Resurface’ in 1990. She is the author of the ‘Jurisprudence of Failed Banks Tribunal’ and the ‘Law of Broking in Nigeria’. She spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on a wide range of issues, including gender affirmative action, the controversy over the collection of Value Added Tax, and her optimism that one day the Report of the National Conference would see the light of day.

October 5 When death came calling on Ladi Williams Ladi Williams, SAN: Exit of a Legal Luminary The eldest son of late Chief Rotimi Williams

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Ladi Williams, SAN: Exit of a Legal Luminary QC, SAN, Chief Oladipupo Rotimi-Williams, SAN, joined the saints triumphant in the early hours of Sunday, October 3rd, 2021, as a result of complications due to Covid-19. He was aged 74. The Learned Silk was said to have been fully vaccinated, having taken the two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, before his demise.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, and brother Silk, Chief Mike Ozekhome, pay tribute to the late Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams, SAN. October 12,

October 19, The pre-Conference edition ‘Security Will be Top Priority at the 2021 NBA-AGC’ For the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lawyers will converge in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Chairman of Technical Committee on Conference Planning, Frank Omubo Briggs assured Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi that, although the Conference themed “Taking the Lead” is hybrid in nature, that is, both physical and virtual, it would be a memorable experience for Conferees who are promised a mentally invigorating, insightful, educative time, as well as a fun-filled time.

October 26, The edition that shook the world!

‘The Pandora Papers Exposé’ Like a hurricane, the feathers of the ‘rich’ were rustled by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), in what some say is the most audacious leak of some of the financial activities of a number of ‘rich’ men and women globally. The ICIJ revealed the offshore havens and concealed/clandestine/hush-hush riches of world leaders, Government officials and billionaires, exposing and unmasking the covert owners of offshore companies, secret bank accounts, private jets, yachts, mansions and artworks. As usual, “Naija no dey carry last” - Nigerians were not left out, having the highest number of Politically Exposed Persons amongst the African countries listed. Some of the issues in this Discourse bordered on tax evasion, money laundering and more. Norrison Quakers, SAN and Jide Ojo delved into the confounding flight of Nigeria’s wealth to the various tax havens, and the implications for the nation’s fight against corruption and poor state of the economy, while Ikechukwu Amaechi roundly defended former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, whose name featured prominently on the list.

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A lady of many firsts speaks!

‘Hairat Aderinsola Balogun: Still an Inspiration at 80’ Hardly any female Lawyer in Nigeria, can rival her monumental accomplishments. First female Attorney-General of Lagos State, First Chairlady, Body of Benchers, First female General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, first female President and first female member of Rotary Club Lagos.

Mrs Hairat Aderinsola Balogun OON remains a beacon of optimism, for all Nigerian Lawyers, both male and female. As she turned 80 on Sunday, October 10th, 2021, she spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on several issues, including the secret of her youth.

November 2, It was a ‘Conference Special Edition’ headlined NBA ‘Takes the Lead’ on National Issues During 2021 AGC’ The Nigerian Bar Association, the largest professional body in Africa, last week held its flagship event, the 2021 Annual General Conference at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Olumide Akpata led team of National Officers of the over 120,000 strong Association, left Lawyers in no doubt that indeed, the NBA can live up to its billing as the foremost defender of the rule of law. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi who attended the weeklong event, report on the day-to-day proceedings, where Lawyers ‘Took the Lead’ and offered pragmatic insights on many topics pertaining to how Nigeria can peacefully resolve its present constitutional impasse, and generally become a better, stronger nation.

November 9, The Judiciary came under heavy attack!

‘Attack on Odili's Residence: A Desecration of Nigeria’s Judiciary’ When the homes of judicial officers were massively invaded by the DSS in October 2016, the nation was aghast, and Nigerians condemned the invidious act unreservedly. Many intoned ‘Never Again!’ And, little did anyone imagine that such an ugly incident would occur again.

However, on Friday, October 29, 2021, at the residence of Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, the second highest ranking Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, there was a nightmarish encounter with members of various security agencies. They invaded her residence at No. 7 Imo Rivers Street, Abuja, under the cover of darkness. The operation which was carried out on the strength of a dubious Search Warrant issued by a Chief Magistrate, is now the subject of controversy, as the Magistrate claims that he was misled into issuing the warrant, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and the heads cont'd on page X

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of the other agencies involved in this unfortunate incident, have denied that they participated in it.

Would any security agency, without the support of someone or people in high positions of authority, have the audacity to launch such an attack on the residence of the No. 2 Judicial Officer in Nigeria?

Femi Falana, SAN, Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN, Sylvester Udemezue and Joseph Otteh went into the heart of the issues, and the unsavoury implications of the incident on Nigeria’s fledging democracy in this Discourse.

November 16, This was one of the saddest editions of the year with the collapse of the 360 Degrees Towers.

‘Building Collapse in Nigeria: Concerns and Practicable Remedies’ Building collapses are not uncommon around the world. Many countries, including USA, have had their fair share of failures which have resulted in the collapse of buildings. Recently, on June 24, 2021, a 12-storey beachfront condominium complex in Miami partially collapsed, leaving 98 people dead. On November 1, 2021, one of the three high-rise buildings in the 360 Degrees Towers Complex located at 44, Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos fell down like a pack of cards claiming 46 lives. What really happened? Putting conspiracy theories aside, Olawunmi Alade and Oghenekevwe Ibodje, Aderemi Fagbemi and Bayo Owojori tackle the legal and regulatory issues arising from the monumental disaster from which the nation is yet to come terms with.

November 23, Bang, the Judicial Panel Report is out!

‘Who is Afraid of the Lekki Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report?’

October 20, 2020 will go down in the annals of Nigeria’s history, as ‘Black Tuesday’. It was the evening during which a nation watched in bewilderment, as the Army rolled out its armoury and opened fire on hapless, unarmed and defenceless Nigerian Youths who congregated at the Lekki Tollgate Plaza to join in the protest to end Police brutality in Nigeria. Ironically, they ended up being brutalised, also by the Police once again! As would be expected, the Lagos State Government set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry, to examine the remote and immediate causes of the unfortunate incident, and determine whether or not, lives were lost. This month, the Panel submitted its damning Report to the Lagos State Governor; a Report which had not been officially released, but, somehow leaked to the Public. The findings which were discussed on various news platforms, even by Counsel to the Lagos State Government, indicate that the Lekki incident was nothing short of a massacre. Femi Falana, SAN, Olumide Babalola and Sam Akpologu delved into the vexed issue, and drew attention to the salient points in the Report.

November 30, Another sad edition.

‘Hon. Justice Ilori: A Judicial Titan Goes Home’ A valedictory court session was held on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, in honour of the 9th Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja. His Lordship who joined the Saints triumphant on October 12, 2021 at the age of 87, had an illustrious career. He also had an expansive Magistrate Court named after him, during his lifetime. He was celebrated in Tribute by his daughter, Hon. Justice Olusola Williams (Rtd), Chief Mrs Abimbola Williams Akinjide, SAN, Hon. Justice Olabisi Akinlade and Olukayode Enitan, SAN. May the soul of the faithfully departed, rest in peace. Amen.

December 7, The nation’s premier training legal institution was the lead in this edition.

‘Law School Campuses: How Many, How Necessary?’

In 1962, the Nigerian Law School, the nation’s only qualifying training institution for Lawyers, took off at a temporary structure at No. 213, Igbosere Street, Lagos, before moving to its permanent site on Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island.

The School’s pioneer set of students, mostly already called to the English Bar, have over the decades, turned out some of the best Lawyers in Africa, some of whom have distinguished themselves at the Bar and on the Bench. As Nigerian Universities continued to churn out Law graduates, and the number of prospective Lawyers seeking admission into the only campus of the Nigerian Law School soared, it became necessary to expand, in order to accommodate more entrants. Thus, in1997, the Bwari, Abuja

Campus of the School was opened to admit more students, then that of Enugu; Kano in 1999, and subsequently, Yenagoa in 2009, Yola in 2013, and Port Harcourt which is still under construction, was established in 2021. But, ever since these additional campuses have been established, there has been a demand for the establishment of more Law School campuses, six to be precise, to be sited in the geopolitical zones. How healthy is this call for more campuses? Is it just about playing politics? Are new campuses necessary, when the existing ones are suffering from gross underfunding, while some of them remain under-utilised? Are the existing campuses not already spread across the geopolitical zones? Can the existing campuses not just be expanded, if the need arises? The Council of Legal Education (CLE) recently issued a Report and Guidelines on the subject-matter.

Hon. Igo Aguma, Abubakar Sani, Bayo Owojori, Rasheed Ibrahim and Tolu Aderemi, examine the contentious issues surrounding the call for more campuses of the Nigerian Law School; and they all (including CLE) seem to agree that while the Law School has issues that need to be resolved to improve its standard generally, the building of new campuses in the six geopolitical zones is unnecessary.

December 14, It was a sad edition announcing the passage of one of Nigeria’s judicial titans.

‘Babalakin JSC, the Quintessential Jurist Raps his Last Gavel’ It is an understatement that late Honourable Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin, JSC (Rtd), CON, CFR, who died on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at the ripe old age of 94, left his distinct footprints in the sands of time. His plethora of erudite judgements, have enriched Nigeria’s jurisprudence. Even in retirement, his Lordship played a crucial role in the affairs of the nation, including his intervention in the face-off between the Federal and Lagos State Governments, over the withheld Local Government funds by the Obasanjo administration. His son, Dr Bolanle Olawale Babalakin, SAN and Mutiu Ganiyu, here paid tribute to the Judicial Icon, whose recent passage is a huge loss to the Nigerian Judiciary.

We payed that Allah admit Justice Babalakin into Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.

December 21 For President of the Bar, it was an opportunity to speak to Nigerian Lawyers on sundry issues to end the year.

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

Epilogue Indeed, it was a year of an admixture of the good, the pleasant and the not too pleasant.

The Bar and the Bench are in need of reform, and it is our hope that we see the much needed improvements in the coming year.

Thank you for your readership. We look forward to seeing you in 2022.

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Who is Afraid of the Lekki Judicial Panel of Inquiry Report?

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FEATURES

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

Preserving the Environment through Tree Planting Over eight million trees have been planted in the last 13 years in Lagos State, all targeted at preserving the environment. Recently, "The Evergreen Project Lagos", a brainchild of Miss Mahika Anmol Gupta, kicked off the 1,000 Tree Planting Project in Lagos in support of the legacy drive, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

L-R: Chairman, African Steel Mills, Raj Gupta; Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu; Project Initiator, Mahika Anmol Gupta; and Kayode Fasawe at the African Steel Evergreen Tree planting Project in Ikoyi, Lagos

Chairman, African Steel Mills, Raj Gupta, Mahika Gupta and Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu planting tree at ASTEP event

Raj Gupta, Governor of Lagos State; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello; GM LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe and the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resource, Mr Joe Igbokwe

Tree planting volunteers with the governor

"A

greener Lagos is what I aim to achieve. The building of a better future should start with me, and if not me, who? And I decided to take the first step towards building a better Lagos," those were the words of Miss Mahika Anmol Gupta during the recent kick off the 1,000 Tree Planting Project in Lagos under "The Evergreen Project Lagos".

On why she chose to to veer that path she said: "Sitting in my geography class, researching Lagos as my case study, the thought dawned upon me, this is my city and it is my responsibility to help shape its future.

"I strongly believe, a sustainable future is the only future. We at ASTEP aim to plant at least 1000 trees before the end of the year. We aim to create a Lagos for coming generations, with cleaner air to breathe. We aim to give back to mother earth what we have taken from it."

Why Lagos one might ask? Gupta noted that "Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria, the giant of Africa", however, "as proud as we are of this, we cannot overlook the resultant pollution levels. It is no secret that trees act as a carbon sponge in our atmosphere.

"By reducing the CO2 concentra-

tion and increasing the O2, we are creating a cleaner and less polluted atmosphere for ourselves and future generations. We are creating a Lagos, which we can be even prouder of. This is my goal for the beautiful state I call my home".

While thanking "all the volunteers who have kindly offered their time and efforts to help me achieve this dream," she also expressed a special thank you to the state governor for honouring the event and encouraging today's youth.

"I sincerely urge each and every one of you to do all you can. Last but not least, I wish to thank LASEPA, LASPARK, and African steel for sponsoring our cause.

To today's youth: take initiative, come forward and plant a tree,"

she added.

At the kick-off in Ikoyi, Sanwo-Olu tasked Lagosians on preserving the environment through tree planting, while disclosing that the state planted 8million trees in 13 years.

He also reiterated Lagos State government's commitment through Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK) to reduce carbon footprint in order to preserve the environment for future generations.

Stressing that the state government is committed to tree planting since 2008, he disclosed that the state government had planted over eight million trees in the last 13 years.

The governor who expressed his administration's commitment to

By reducing the CO2 concentration and increasing the O2, we are creating a cleaner and less polluted atmosphere for ourselves and future generations. We are creating a Lagos, which we can be even prouder of. This is my goal for the beautiful state I call my home

preserving the environment for future generations said 60,000 trees had been planted across different locations in the state during his tenure.

He also commended the Gupta family for the tree planting initiative and urged other residents of the state to join the effort for more trees to be planted in Lagos State.

Governor Sanwo-Olu who planted a tree during the event urged Lagosians to use the event as a change of mind set and ideas to preserve the environment for the children to have a greater future.

"I want to ask everyone to push and encourage laudable initiatives like this so that we can preserve our Lagos. We can preserve a place where we all call home and we can ensure that the future that is in the hands of teenagers who are here today is secured. We should plant more trees to save the environment," he said.

At the event were chairman, African Steel Mills, Raj Gupta; Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu; Project Initiator, Mahika Anmol Gupta; Kayode Fasawe; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello; GM LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe and the Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resource, Mr Joe Igbokwe, and several other tree planting volunteers.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Cavalli Group Commissions Heritage Apartments Victoria Island Bennett Oghifo

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avalli Business and Investment Group, a leading Nigerian Holding Company with interests in Luxury Real Estate, Facility Management, and Infrastructure, has commissioned its latest project, The Heritage Apartments, Victoria Island.

Situated in the exclusive Louis Solomon Close, Victoria Island, the Heritage Apartments is a fully serviced luxury twin-block of 16 ensuite 3 bedroom serviced apartments with an en-suite maid’s room.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Cavalli Group, Mr. Emmanuel Odemayowa, the Group went to painstaking details to ensure the Heritage Apartments meets the exacting standards of its clientele.

“Some of our clients who invested in this project are used to luxury accommodation across the globe and expect nothing less than the world class approach we took to executing and completing this project in terms of the project team, attention to details and facilities we have here”.

He said that completing the project amid the various challenges in the economy was a testament to Cavalli’s Group commitment to meeting its clients’ expectations and the high premium the Group placed on integrity.

Aside from the Heritage Apartments, Mr. Odemayowa said Cavalli Group has also commissioned two other Luxury Real Estate projects- The Elite Apartments and Simeon’s Court, both in Victoria Island, Lagos this year, with other projects at various stages of completion.

Speaking on the Structural integrity of their projects, the Cavalli Group CEO said: “Structurally, our buildings are excellently sound. We carry out all necessary quality tests such as Soil tests, Pile tests, Cube Tests, Mechanical and Chemical tests of Steel reinforcements and non-destructive tests, among others. We do not compromise on quality and never will.”

The three Commissioned luxury developments were handled by one of Cavalli Group’s subsidiaries, Deluxe Residences Limited, which has also developed a number of other Luxury Real Estate in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki areas of Lagos.

Cavalli Group is a holding Company for different sub-corporations with related but distinct products, services, markets and opportunities. Its

major sectors of operations are Real Estate, General Advisory, Facility Management, Construction, Infrastructure and Energy.

L-R: Head Operations, Global Property Partners, Laolu Oluwarinde; COO, Deluxe Residences, Eka Ekwem; GMD, Cavalli Business & Investment Group; Emmanuel Odemayowa; Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Godfrey Efeurhobo; and General Counsel, Deluxe Residences, Banjo Owoeye, at the commissioning of Heritage Apartments, Victoria Island… recently

Lagos Constructs a By-pass Within Soluyi Community to Third Mainland Bridge Bennett Oghifo The Lagos State Government has constructed and commissioned a by-pass, for motorists within the Soluyi Community to the Third Mainland Bridge (TMB) and Apapa-Oworonsoki Expressway, via the Third Axial underpass.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu said this at the commissioning of a network of nine roads with a bridge within Soluyi community in Kosofe Local Government

Area, recently.

“The newly-completed network of roads, he said, would serve as an alternative route, a by-pass, for motorists within the Soluyi Community to the Third Mainland Bridge (TMB) and Apapa-Oworonsoki Expressway via the Third Axial underpass.

“It will address the perennial environmental and infrastructural challenges facing the community, including flooding. it will increase property values, help improve quality of life and the productivity of residents, reduce maintenance cost on vehicles,

L-R: House Committee Chairman on Works & Infrastructure, Hon. Abiodun Tobun; Member Governor’s Advisory Council, Mr Olumuyiwa Sosanya; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo- Olu; Special Adviser on Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye; Member LAHA Kosofe 1, Hon Sanni Okanlawon, at the formal commissioning of a network of nine roads with bridge within Soluyi community in Kosofe Local Government Area… recently

and reduce the cost of doing business and earning a livelihood in the area.”

He said the contract for the construction of the network of nine roads and a bridge was awarded in September 2017, adding “Today bears testimony to the fulfilment of our administration’s promise to ensure continuity of governance by completing projects that were inherited from the previous administration, especially those that are directly beneficial to the well-being of our people.

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

Governor Sanwo-Olu described the Soluyi Community as a strategic settlement with a fast growing population in need of infrastructural renewal. “This prompted our decision to prioritise the completion of this network of roads, with a total length of 2.840km, including a bridge, which will serve a population of more than 300,000 people within the Soluyi-Araromi-Ifako-Gbagada communities.”

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

“And, in addition to all the benefits I have just outlined — improved transport connectivity, standard of living, environmental mitigation, and so on — these projects have also directly impacted the community in terms of job creation. I am pleased to note that in delivering these projects, jobs were created for about 380 persons: includ-

ing engineers, supervisors, and various cadres of artisans.

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

“The ever-increasing number of people living in Lagos, and the attendant rise in vehicular traffic volumes and axle loads are partly responsible for the issues we face regarding road infrastructure in the State. Our administration will continue to respond to this challenge by stepping up our efforts in the area of construction and rehabilitation of roads and highways, and the expansion of our transportation network, with renewed focus on our multimodal transport strategy.

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

“You will all also recall that earlier this year we launched our First Mile Last Mile (FMLM) intervention, to bring improved levels of organisation and coordination to our road transport system.

“We will also continue to identify for reconstruction works, major arterial roads that have good connectivity to adjoining roads, and could therefore serve as alternative routes to other arterial roads, especially during heavy/peak traffic periods.”

Estate Surveyors Urged to Influence Govt to Reduce Housing Deficit Fadekemi Ajakaiye Estate Surveyors & Valuers have been reminded of the onerous role they must play in influencing the government’s policies to enable it to reduce the high housing deficit in the country.

The Chairman Organising Committee for The 2001 Class Set Estate Management Department Alumni Association of the University of Lagos, Wale Afolabi stated this at a dinner in Lagos, recently.

Afolabi said, “Without a fragment of a doubt, we know what the challenges are in our nation, as professional Estate Surveyors & Valuers we must brace ourselves for further

individual successes but we must not jettison our role in ensuring that we influence the government to reduce the deplorable housing deficit in Nigeria.

“Our people should not be living in slums, the dignity of life must be preserved and upheld in our nation and we all must continue to use our various influences positively in this regard.”

The Class of 2001, he said, also had plans for the former department, stating that “As much as we are thinking big, we are starting small. This for us will be a marathon and not a sprint.

We have raised funds and we will be presenting much needed

gifts to the Estate Management Department of University of Lagos. Our Alma mater!

“We have also concluded plans to begin an annual scholarship programme for students from this department with established financial difficulties. Modalities and criteria for this will be rolled out imminently.

“Today, four students will be awarded. We are also going to Commence the Renovation of the MSC Classroom.”

Afolabi also discussed some great initiatives with the distinguished audience. Your Excellencies! I use those words with significant and deliberate intent as they are not and ought not to be the exclusive reserve

of failed politicians and leaders in climes such as ours. I am of

the opinion that excellence is inherent in every legitimate effort

invested towards the attainment of a future goal.

L-R: Tunji Asafa; Ibrahim Bello; Samson Nasiru; Abayomi Joh; Arinola Koleolu; Lanre Mabawonku; Emeka Adigwe; Wale Afolabi; Ezinne Alagwu; and Wale Adediran, at the reunion… recently

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IMAGES

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ͰͶ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola; Ondo State Governor/Special Guest, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN); Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and the Owa Oroo of Agbado Ekiti, HRM Oba Adesina Samuel Obafemi, at the inauguration of Agbado-Ode-Isinbode-Omuo road in Agbado Ekiti, Ekiti State…recently

L-R: Representative of Market Women Association, Mrs. Abiola Sodiq; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Goxi Micro Insurance Limited, Mr. Shina Gbadegesin; market women, Mrs. Ajibare Kudirat; and Head, Business Development, Goxi Micro Insurance Limited, Mr. Efeteya Isiorho, during the Goxi Micro Insurance ‘We Dey Your Back’ Campaign Market Storm held at the Oke-Arin market in Lagos...recently

L-R: Second runner-up of the student debate tournament, Uchechukwu Golden; first runner-up, Emmanuella Nnadi; Chief Executive Officer, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info FM, Serge Noujaim; Winner of the debate, Tanvita Koushik; and third runner-up, Emmanuel Busari, at the presentation of awards for the maiden edition of the ‘I Beg to Differ’ Student Debate Tournament held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Operation Director, Data Mining Company (DMC), Mirza Piccay; Development Director, DMC, Femi Akande; Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danlandi; acting General Manager, KWASRRA, Tajudeen Jimoh; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Deputy General Manager, Sterling Bank, Ademola Adeyemi; and Head of Digital Banking, Sterling Bank, Dipo Alagbede, during the unveiling of KWASRRA and Kwara State Resident Card at the Government House, Ilorin...recently

L-R: Mother of bride, Mrs. Anthonia Smart; father of the groom, Mr. Olusegun Suleiman; bride, Oluwabukola Dorothea; groom, Mr. Temitope Samuel Suleiman; groom’s mother, Mrs. Mobola Suleiman; and father of the bride and Group Managing Director, NEM Insurance Plc, Mr. Temitope Smart, during the traditional marriage ceremony of Bukola and Temitope Suleiman held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Wife of the Pastor, Foluke Olugbemi; Pastor in charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 3 Festac Town, Lagos, Toyin Olugbemi; Principal, Festac Junior College, Mrs. Josephine Okoduwa; guest, Mrs. Titilayo Efekodo; and Assistant Pastor, Sunday Avoseh, during the presentation of 30,000 exercise books by the RCCG Province 3 to public primary and secondary schools under District 5, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos…recently

Mr. Abiodun Awe and his wife, Pelumi Awe, during their engagement ceremony held in Ogudu, Lagos… recently

L-R: Chairman, Leadway Holdings, Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale; recipients of the Seyi Bickersteth Scholarship Programme (SBSP), Mariam Kuranga and Ayomide Ajao; SBSP Trustee, Mrs. Catherine Bickersteth; and non-Executive Director, Leadway Assurance, Mrs. Adebisi Lamikanra, at the Seyi Bickersteth Scholarship Programme (SBSP) Inaugural Award ceremony held in Lagos...recently

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

INDUSTRY

Which Way for Nigeria’s Flour Milling Industry The recent announcement of the proposal by the Honeywell Flour Mills Plc that the Flour Mills Nigeria Plc would acquire substantial stake in its operation has raised controversy and apprehension that the flour milling industry in Nigeria is moving toward imperfect market competition, writes Dike Onwuamaeze

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he announcement of the proposed acquisition of the Honeywell Flour Mills Plc (HFMP) by the Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN), would have excited stakeholders in the FMN as they look forward to celebrating their 60th anniversary next year.

It is also expected that the takeover of a weak industrial establishment by a stronger competitor would be a moment of relief to regulators, workers, consumers and stakeholders in the economy. However, this was not the case with the announcement of the agreement that would enable the FMN to acquire 80 per cent shareholding in HFMP. Last week, the Honeywell Group Limited announced the proposed combination of the HFMP and FMN for a total enterprise value of N80 billion, which would allow FMN to acquire 71.69 per cent stake in HFMP subject to regulatory approval.

The Honeywell Group said that this also meant that the “new company will have even more fuel to inject more jobs into the economy.”

The Managing Director of Honeywell Group Limited, Mr. Obafemi Otudeko, also said: “This announcement is in line with the evolution of Honeywell Group and our vision of creating value that transcends generations.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Group Managing Director of FMN, Mr. Omoboyede Olusanya, said: “The proposed transaction is aligned with our vision not only to be an industry leader but a national champion for Nigeria. We believe that this will create an opportunity to combine the unique talents of two robust businesses.

“As a result, we will have a better-rounded and more comprehensive skill set available to us as a combined diversified food business, thus enabling us to better serve our consumers, customers and other stakeholders, whilst providing employees with access to broader opportunities.”

However, rather than calming strained nerves, this announcement has stirred up controversy and apprehension.

First was the swift reaction of the Ecobank Nigeria Limited. The bank on November 23 placed a caveat on any share of HFMP and let the whole world to know that it has commenced a winding up proceeding in the law court against the HFMP over Honeywell’s indebtedness to it.

The caveat was contained in a statement the bank released through its Counsel, Kunle Ogunba & Associates, titled “Purchase of Honeywell Group Limited’s 71.69 per cent stake in Honeywell Flour Mills Limited- ‘Caveat Emptor.’”

Ecobank cautioned the general public and the corporate bodies on the danger inherent in dealing in any shares of the HFMP. The bank alleged that it advanced several loan facilities, which included working capital disbursements to HFMP and that due to the failure of the company to liquidate the said loan facilities, it was constrained to commence winding up proceedings against Honeywell Group Limited at the Federal High Court, Lagos in suit no: FHC/L/CP/1571/2015.

Ecobank said that it filed an appeal (with appeal No: CA/L/1041/2016) at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division and that upon review of its case, the appellate court found merit in the appeal, and held that the winding up proceedings was properly commenced and that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear the said petition. It added that the effect of the Appeal Court judgment is that there is currently a winding-up action/proceeding pending against the company.

It drew attention to the provisions of Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 which says: “Where a company is being wound up by the court, any attachment, sequestration, distress or execution put in force against the estate or effects of the company after the commencement of the winding up is void.”

It added that it is clear that Honeywell Group Limited is legally estopped from sequestering and/or disposing any of its assets pending the final determination of the winding up action commenced against it.

“Please be further informed that the assets of both Honeywell Group Limited and HFMP are the subject of the winding-up action and thus based on the doctrine of “lis-pendens” (in addition to the provisions of CAMA supplied above) you are advised to refrain from dealing with the subject asset which forms part of the subject matter of litigation. ” But determined to proceed with the deal, FMN and HFMP in their response on Wednesday, said that the proposed acquisition is not in breach of any court order. The Company Secretary of the FMN, Mr. Joseph Umolu, said the announcement by the group to assume majority shareholder status of Honeywell was made after carrying out necessary due diligence and obtaining appropriate legal guidance.

It said: “Consequently, FMN confirms that this agreement is not in breach of any subsisting order of court in matters relating to any third party. This further assurance has become necessary in view of the publication captioned ‘Ecobank warns against acquisition of Honeywell Flour Mills, alleges company facing winding up proceedings.’

“Stakeholders are, therefore, urged to maintain their trust in FMN’s management, whose actions are guided by global best practices, as we work diligently to maintain the group’s sterling reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading and oldest agro-allied companies.”

Besides this controversy there is also an apprehension that the food and beverage sub-sector of the Nigerian economy, as it pertained to four milling, is at best heading toward an oligopolistic market or at worst a monopolistic competition where there is more than one seller, each able to fix a price, that is, each with some monopoly power. But oligpoly is a market situation with only few sellers, each anticipating

the others reaction.

An Economist and Chief Executive Officer of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, told THISDAY that mergers and acquisitions are purely business decisions that demand good corporate governance to ensure that the interests of key stakeholders in the business entities were duly protected.

Yusuf noted that the roposed acquisition has a number of merits. First is the benefit of economies of scale, which a bigger size conferred on businesses as “the entity becomes bigger, unit cost would drop, turnover and profit margins could increase, and competitive strength would grow. Another key benefit of acquisition is that it could save ailing companies from collapse or value deterioration.”

He, however, observed that mergers and acquisitions could pose to stakeholders in an economy. “There is the risk of heightened monopoly powers which could lead to consumer exploitation, inefficiency due to absence of competition, and less choice for consumers.

“There is also the risk of loss of jobs especially from the entity being acquired.

There are also concerns about the fate of the suppliers of the acquired entity. There is also the challenge of possible conflict of culture. These are the issues to worry about with the acquisition of HFMP. “All of these concerns underscore the imperative of effective regulation to protect consumers in a monopolistic environment, which demands that the regulatory authorities must be alive to their responsibilities. The Federal Competition Commission needs to step up and live up expectations,” Yusuf said.

The Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, told THISDAY that NACCIMA has full confidence in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); which is charged with regulating the capital market with a view to protecting investors, to ensure that all regulations for the acquisition of shares are complied with.

Olukanni said: “In my view, as long as no non-compliance issues, the acquisition of majority shares in HFMP of Nigeria is a welcome development, as it shows investor confidence in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector of the economy.”

He, however, noted that the short-term effect of this deal would be stronger oligopolistic tendencies in the food segment of the Nigeria manufacturing sector. “It is my strong belief that in the medium to long-term, the sector would witness an influx of investment as other entities seek to compete in the space. While an oligopoly is more likely, I firmly believe that the food segment of the Nigerian manufacturing sector is too large for any single company,” he said.

But a Financial Analyst and Chief Executive Officer of BIC Consultancy Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, told THISDAY that it is too early for commentators to start worrying about a possible emergence of a monopoly in Nigerian food market industry.

Chizea said: “This, therefore, is not the time to worry about the evolution of monopolistic situations or any such related considerations.

The focus right now should be on the sustainability of operations to preserve shareholders value, maintain and possibly grow employment opportunities and continue to contribute to the growth prospects of the Nigerian economy.

“Not surprising investors’ reaction to this development is bullish as the share value of Honeywell Flour Mills immediately appreciated from N 3.72 per share by 9.73% while the share price of Flour Mills on the other hand remained so far neutral to this development.”

The threat of an emergence of monopolistic competition in the flour mills industry in Nigeria should not be dismissed with a wave of hand.

A KPMG report in 2016 stated that the FMN, Olam International and Dangote Flour Mills were Nigeria’s three biggest wheat flour millers, controlling 75 percent of the industry’s capacity.

The report said that the trio of FMN, Olam and Dangote controlled 32 per cent, 24 per cent and 19 per cent capacity respectively in the industry as at 2016.

Today, the emerging scene points toward a duopoly, which is a market situation between two sellers, namely between the FMN and the Olam Group. Olam is the parent company of Crown Flour Mills (CFM) that acquired Dangote Flour Mills in 2019.

THISDAY’s investigation revealed that about 21 flour mills might be operating in Nigeria. A substantial part of this number is owned by the FMN, the Olam Group and the Chaguory Group.

The flour mills are the FMN, HFMP, CFM, and Life Flour Mill Limited which later entered into partnership with the Mount Olive. Others are Northern Nigeria Flour Mill Plc where the FMN is reported to have 53.06 per cent stake,.

There are also Cowrie Flour Mills Limited, Gombe Dadaka International Flour Mill and Ideal Flour Mills. The Ikan Power Flour Mills, according to one of its managers, Mrs. Josphine Kanu, suspended production since two years ago due to high cost of importation of raw materials. She told THISDAY on Saturday that she hoped that government would introduce measures to resuscitate the factory.

There are also the Jos Flour Mills, Kabeer Flour Mills, Nigeria Eagle Four Mills, Mercury Flour Mills Limited and the Maiduguri Flour Mills, whose Managing Director, Mr. Ma’aji Arfo, was recently sentenced to 28 years imprisonment for N86.1 million contract fraud.

The Niger Delta Flour Mills Limited and the Port Harcourt Flour Mills were said to be dominantly owned by the Chagoury Group.

There are also Valleumbra Flour Mills Limited, Upland Flour Mills Limited, Standard Flour Mills Limited and the Niger Mills Company Limited, which is reported to have been merged with the FMN.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

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Despite Energy Transition, Africa Will Continue Exploiting its Oil Reserves, Says APPO Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Council of Ministers of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) has resolved to continue the exploitation of the continent’s huge oil and gas reserves despite the growing call to jettison the natural resource.

In a communique after its 41st ministerial session, the group said that this will lead to the economic emancipation of its people while also exploring the use of renewable energies.

The session, which was presided by the President of the organisation, Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria, was attended by the ministers and heads of delegation of the 14 member countries of the organisation.

They include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroun, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and South Africa.

Also, in attendance were Ministers of Petroleum and Energy of Senegal, Aishatou Gladima, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ghana, Mohamed Adam, the Executive Secretary of the Africa Energy Commission of the African Union, Mr. Rashid Abdalla and the Executive Chairman of the Africa Energy Chamber, Mr. NJ Ayuk.

“Top on the agenda of the ministerial discussions was the future of the oil and gas industry in Africa in the light of the global pursuit of energy transition.

“Ministers acknowledged the reality of climate change and expressed their support for any human efforts aimed at tackling the dangers of climate change.

“The session noted that the current approach to energy transition is unilateral imposition

where the developed countries that have for over one hundred years used fossil fuels to grow their economies and societies and have all along been aware of the dangers of fossil fuel emissions, are now telling the world that fossil fuels are dangerous to mankind and that all should abandon it,” the group said.

The ministers noted that this aggressive drive for energy transition was coming at a time that African economies are poised to launch themselves into industrialisation, which requires a lot of energy.

According to them, the economies of the developed countries now require less energy because of their transformation from manufacturing to knowledge production and artificial intelligence.

The ministers further identified the imminent challenges that the oil and gas industry will face in Africa as withdrawal of international financiers’ funding for the industry.

In addition, the group projected that oil and gas research institutions in the developed countries that have always led the technological development are closing their petroleum faculties.

On financing energy projects on the continent, the council resolved to look within the continent at both public and private sources to raise the necessary capital to continue to finance the oil and gas industry and agreed that Africa needs to re-strategise as the game is fast changing.

“Africa shall need to look within for the expertise, technology, finance and markets for its energy resources. The council noted that the potential exists, as Africa has a huge population of 1.3 billion people.

All they need is to be mobilised and empowered to be able to buy energy.

“The council reaffirmed its

REDTV Premiers Feature Length Movie, Unintentional The United Bank for Africa (UBA)’s Lifestyle and Entertainment channel, REDTV, has launched its starstudded blockbuster movie, ‘Unintentional’.

The movie stars some of Africa’s biggest names in the movie industry, featuring Kate Henshaw, Efa Iwara, OmowumI Dada, Beverly Osu, Chioma Okoli, Tina MBA, Mike Uchegbu.

Unintentional is a feel good, love story that follows Sefi Madaki (played by Omowumi Dada) and her best friend Rosy (Beverly Osu) on a journey of self-discovery after a tumultuous heartbreak during the start of their Youth Service year.

Filmed around the beautiful landscape of Enugu State in Nigeria, the movie delves into the lives of two young African girls on a road trip that leads to the discovery of love in the most expected place.

The Executive Producer of REDTV, Bola Atta, who spoke excitedly about the new movie was thrilled about the first feature length movie for the network.

She said, “We are excited to be entering a new phase in the life of REDTV as we launch “unintentional’. It is different from what viewers have been

seeing on the channel but still has the allure and beauty that REDTV is known for. For me, it is the breath taking scenes of Enugu that hold me spell bound in this movie. We keep saying that we are bringing the best of Africa to the world and we are not just talking about talents, but also the beauty of the continent.”

“This year, it will be a quiet boxing day for most. No boxing day sales in some countries around the world that have again gone into some kind of lock down. But it’s a different world that we find ourselves in and we are fast adjusting to navigating it in the best possible way. I will be glued to my home screen the day after Christmas, as I anticipate the launch of unintentional, “Atta added.

Unintentional was scripted by Zeina Otonjo and directed by Olufemi Bamigbetan.

Powered by UBA’s Lifestyle and Entertainment channel, award winning REDTV has produced hit series like The Men’s Club, Assistant Madams, Our Best Friend’s Wedding, Inspector K, RED Hot Topics, Public Figure, Hotel Boutique and a host of other entertaining content.

commitment to the protection of the environment, emphasising the need to pursue technologies that would allow for the use of fossil fuels with minimum carbon footprints.

“Furthermore the council called on the technologically advanced

and financially capable countries to lend their support to African countries as they grapple with the challenges of energy transition.

“Council noted the need for intra-African energy infrastructure like cross-border pipelines, products depots and terminals,”

the communique stressed.

The council of ministers unanimously elected Mr. Diamantino Azevedo and Mr. Samou Adambi, Minister of Petroleum Resources of Angola and Minister of Water and Mines of Benin, respectively, as APPO

President and Vice President for the year 2022.

The next ordinary session of the ministerial council will be held in Angola during the last quarter of 2022 at a date to be communicated by the host country.

L-R: Hero Lager Brand ambassador, Paul Okoye aka Rude Boy; Trade Master, Yinka Alakija; Apprentice from Alaba Int. Mkt and Grand Prize winner, Udokwu Chinedu; Marketing Director, International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), Tolulope Adedeji, and Sales Director, IBPLC, Carlos Coutinho, at the Hero Igba Boi Grand Finale Event in Lagos

Abdulaziz: How TCN Achieved Targets Despite Challenges Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, has said that despite the challenges of 2021, the wholly federal government owned entity met a number of its set targets.

Taking stock of the activities of the company during the year, the MD said strategic management decisions were taken that enabled the completion of several abandoned projects.

In addition, Abdulaziz noted that prompt maintenance of operational facilities, upgrade and repairs/restoration of vandalised transmission lines, installation of new transformers and substations, re-calibration and reconfiguration of transmission lines and transformer protection schemes were undertaken.

“We take pride in the fact that these measures effectively

reduced the frequency of systems disturbances and collapse, resulting in an all-time national peak generation of 5,801.60MW, successfully transmitted on March 1,2021,” he noted.

Abdulaziz further listed that achievements by the company to include the creation of Kano region, bringing to 10 the TCN’s regional operations centre in the country.

According to him, to further enhance its operational efficiency, the TCN is currently building over 32 office complexes nationwide, including regional, sub-regional offices and work centres.

He added that the projects are at various stages of completion, except the Port Harcourt regional office in Rivers state already completed and commissioned.

To create a more conducive working environment for staff efficiency, he said during the year the company also provided work tools and safety equipment, spare

parts and test equipment.

On how to sustain the company’s capacity building, the MD said TCN embarked upon training and retraining of all cadres of staff, the most significant being the collaboration between TCN and the World Bank to train 708 engineers.

Speaking on the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP), Abdulaziz stated that as the chairman of the board, progress was being made on the implementation of transmission interconnection projects that would impact positively on the sub-region.

He listed major challenges on the project to include the right of way encroachment, way leave issues, funding, natural disasters, vandalism of TCN infrastructure and facilities as well as insecurity.

To address these challenges, he said his management had continued to engage the appropriate stakeholders and authorities with a view to

minimising their impact on TCN operations nationwide.

“TCN’s community engagement efforts and collaborations with security agencies and state governments are gradually producing positive results.

“As we work towards our vision, we cannot afford to rest on our oars. We must strive for higher accomplishments in the NESI. We must continue to leverage on team spirit and corporate commitment in our determination to further increase grid capacity, stability and efficiency as well as enhance interconnectivity in the West African sub-region.

“In 2022 and beyond, we will intensify our effort on repositioning TCN as a world class transmission service provider and system operator in line with the our Vision, Mission and Core Values through effective rebranding strategies,” he noted.

‘Neglect of Project Managers to Blame for Building Collapses’ Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) has argued that the country’s failure to respect professionals within the organisation is responsible for the challenge of building collapses as well as substandard and abandoned projects in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the body, President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Victoria Okoronkwo, explained that there was the need to advance and propagate the critical role of professional project managers in building a society free of escalating vices.

She maintained that a key difference between developed nations and Nigeria is that those countries rank project managers

and project management very high among other professions.

Okoronkwo said: “The sad story in the case of our country is that this dependable profession has not only been neglected, relegated or misunderstood, but has been receiving bashing from subject matter experts whose narrow-mindedness has regarded and restricted projects to construction development.

“We want to use this medium to clarify that the teaching, theory and principles applied to the practice of engineering, accounting, finance, broadcasting, building etc. is the way project management should be a standalone profession.

“Until and unless this view is deliberately shared by Nigeria and Nigeria project owners (government at all levels, corporate bodies and private

individuals), the woes being experienced with projects in the form of substandard project delivery, outright project abandonment might continue unabated.”

According to her, there is a nexus between the lack of respect for professional project managers and the continued occurrence of building collapse and improper accountability for resources allocated to projects.

The CIPMN helmsman called on Nigerians to ensure that trained and certified project managers are engaged or employed to head all projects no matter the size and volume.

“This way, our regulatory functions be properly channelled and directed,” she noted.

She further urged enthusiastic Nigerians who wish to practice

project management in Nigeria, to as a matter of urgent national importance, register with CIPMN to be properly and professionally trained with the organisation’s project delivery methodology.

Okoronkwo said that project managers with foreign certifications who wish to practice in Nigeria should equally be registered by CIPMN in line with Section 14(8)of the CIPMN establishment Act. She stated that very soon the actual enumeration, inventory taking and documentation of all projects at various levels, existing projects without qualified, certified or professional project managers, will be embarked upon to ascertain the degree of either commitment or negligence of project owner.

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Nigeria’s High Commissioner, Abayomi Olonishakin with the Governor of Cameroon North Region, Roger-Moïse Eyène Lom.

PHOTO: NASSOUROU SOULEY

Nigerian High Commissioner, Olonishakin, Mobilises Support for Super Eagles’ AFCON Nest in Garoua Femi Solaja When the Super Eagles of Nigeria begin the quest for another AFCON glory from January 11 in Garoua, in the Northern part of Cameroon, Nigeria’s High Commissioner in the country, Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin, assured that everything has been put in place to make the National team feel at home in the Group D center of the tournament.

The Nigerian High Commissioner, Olonishakin, who was a retired Army General and also a former Chief of Defense Staff, met with the Governor of Northern Region of Cameroon which capital is in Garoua and

thereafter met with the Nigerian community in city to prepare for a comfortable as well as garner support for the Super Eagles who are programmed to play their three group matches in the city which is also the home town of former CAF president, Issa Hayatou.

If the Super Eagles top the group which also have Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau, they will play an additional match there before moving southward as the tournament progresses.

In an interview last night in Garoua, Olonishakin, said that the reason for his being in the Northern city was to sensitize the people about the Super Eagles and gather support

Ranieri Confirms Dennis, Troost-Ekong’s Release Date for AFCON Watford manager Claudio Ranieri has confirmed that Emmanuel Dennis and William Troost-Ekong will not depart for Nigeria until after the Hornet’s Premier League clash against Tottenham on New Year’s Day. Super Eagles vice-captain Troost-Ekong and Dennis were named in a 28-man shortlist to represent Nigeria at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The biennial tournament, hosted by Cameroon, runs from January 9 to February 6.

All the invited players have been instructed to report to the Super Eagles camp when it opens in the last days of December.

But with the English Premier League running through the festive season and into the new year, the Nigerian stars in the world’s most glamorous league have been exempted from that rule.

Watford hosts West Ham at the Vicarage Road on Wednesday, December 28, before making the trip to face Tottenham on January 1.

With the Hornets hanging dangerously close to the relegation zone, manager Ranieri insists he needs the Afcon-bound four of Dennis, Troost-Ekong, Adam Masina, and Imrân Louza around to help navigate a difficult period of the campaign.

“They will stay with us until January 1, all four,” the former Leicester City manager told Watford’s official website.

“We have to play, and we are strong, we have to make a very good match and get points, that is our philosophy, and I will not change our philosophy.

“I don’t want excuses. I want to be in the Premier League at the end of the season; we have to fight.”

for the team hoping to win the Africa Cup for the fourth time.

He also appreciated the Governor of the Northern Region for the support they have been given to the Nigerian community.

He also checked the facilities and rated them as excellent.

He said that the Super Eagles have strategies for each of their three group opponents and that no team is being underrated.

“In competitions like this, there is no team that is a pushover. Surprises can be sprung up. So, we take each match and each team as they

come.

“We are preparing for the Egyptian team as a strong side, the same will be the case for Sudan and Guinea Bissau.”

“I met with the Nigerian community on Sunday and sensitized them on the need to give the Super Eagles a rousing

welcome and to support the team for all their matches.

“We hope to top the group and play a fourth match in Garou and further more before we exit the city to reach the semi-finals. That means, we are playing about five matches in Garoua,” Olonishakin noted.

Eguavoen Admits Anxiety Ahead of AFCON, Says He Doesn't Sleep Well Again Femi Solaja with agency report With the Africa Cup of Nations expected to begin in the next two weeks, Super Eagles interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has expressed his anxiety over Nigeria’s performance at the biennial tournament.

The 56-year-old is barely three weeks into the Super Eagles job. Still, he is already feeling the heat as Nigeria is expected to do well, considering the abundance of talent for the three-time AFCON winners.

Nigeria is grouped alongside Egypt, Sudan, and GuineaBissau. The Pharaohs led by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah will pose the biggest threat to the Super Eagles.

However, Sudan and GuineaBissau cannot be pushed over even though they are ranked 89 and 70 places below Nigeria in the last FIFA rankings.

As the permutations and expectations continue to be rolled out, Eguavoen has expressed his anxiety over Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.

“It’s tough,” Eguavoen told NFF TV. I don’t sleep well because of expectations, but I know not everybody; how do I put it now.

“There are people out there who want us to succeed, there are few people out there who

are also in doubt, but we will do everything humanly possible to stick together- the team- the entire federation, officials.”

“And we will do what we can to make sure we put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.”

The 56-year-old has a tough job on his hands, as he has just a week to prepare the 28 invited players, He will also look to shield his team from all the shenanigans going on in the NFF as the bickering for a foreign coach continues.

Eguavoen

Iheanacho Says Leicester Players Are Excited to Face Liverpool Today Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed that the Leicester City players are excited to lock horns with Liverpool in a Premier League fixture at the King Power Stadium this evening.

The Nigeria international was in the Foxes side that played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Jurgen Klopp's team in the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup only to lose 5-4 on penalties.

Iheanacho has said that the players can take confidence from their display at Anfield when

they take on the Reds today.

The Super Eagles striker was statistically Leicester City's standout player in a 6-3 defeat to Manchester City on Boxing Day, scoring one and assisting two others against his former club.

"We’re looking forward to it," Iheanacho told LCFC TV. "We played them in the cup and it obviously was a good game, but we lost. We’re hoping to do better in the Premier League and get something out of the game.

"When you play a team like

them, you know how they play, you know about the players, and you know how to hurt them as well, how to attack them. We know about how they play and hopefully we give them a game.

"We put in a good performance at Anfield and we’re hoping to repeat that at King Power Stadium. Hopefully we’ll do that."

After seven previous appearances against Liverpool without finding the net, Iheanacho will be hoping to open his goal scoring account on Tuesday night.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

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MISSILE Bukola Saraki to National Assembly ‘’Now that the President has conveyed his decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, I am sure that I speak on behalf of millions of Nigerians in urging the National Assembly to act fast…They either veto the President’s decline of assent or remove the contentious direct primaries clause and send it back to the President for his assent’’ ---Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, advising the lawmakers not to ‘throw away the baby with its birth water’, concerning the bill.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The Year 2021: What Next?

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y the time we meet again on this page, right here, this very space, it would be a new year, and it is just so amazing that that is the way of the world. A year begins.

It ends. From January to December, we go through the same cycle, inexorably. And as I look back, what I remember is a year that whizzed past just like that. But it was a bad year for many, and for Nigeria, whatever the vuvuzelas of the corridors of power may say. The year 2021 will be remembered by Nigerians also not so much for the tragedies that it brought but for the anxieties that it leaves behind about the immediate future. No year in recent times has left us with so much uncertainty, anxiety and doubt. As 2022 knocks on the gates, I, let me speak for myself, remember 2021, as the year when Nigeria failed to deal with the challenge of insecurity. Things just got worse on that front. In Northern Nigeria alone, more than 600 schools were shut down. Children were abducted from schools.

The government had no clue. And as the year ends, the insecurity situation is compounded, lamentably by high inflation, unemployment rate, an army of disgruntled, dispossessed and unhappy youths, a security architecture that serves only the purpose of high-ranking state officials who go about in convoys of shame, an economy that is wobbling, silly public officials who think that they can do whatever they wish with stolen funds, and governments at all levels that cannot be too bothered. The latter are waiting for the next budget and the opportunity to award more contracts.

The Nigerian elite as always has not been able to forge a consensus about the past, the present and the future, leaving the people, these long-suffering people of Nigeria in a lurch. One Nigerian newspaper tried to review the year 2021, and searched far and wide for a person of the year and came up with the damning declaration that nobody was worth the honour of being declared Nigeria’s Person of the Year. I thought that was rather thought-provoking.

In a country of over 200 million human beings, not even one person was considered good enough to be praised or vilified. Many years ago, we chose the common man, the Nigerian, as The Guardian newspaper’s Person of the Year, for his resilience, courage and commitment in the face of difficulties, but it looks like not even that common man is good enough anymore. But should anyone be surprised?

These days, some newspapers are so silly they even choose those we regard ordinarily as “”money-missroad” as Men of the Year. I remember 2021 as the year in which something went terribly wrong with us. Pipeline explosions, Market fires. Sharp rise in suicide cases. Needless loss of lives. Lies.

Lies. Lies from official quarters. And by the way, 2021 was the year the Nigerian Government at the centre locked people, young people out of Twitter.

In June, they banned access to Twitter- the major micro-blogging site that provides many Nigerians opportunities not just for social interaction, but also business. Government says Twitter wants to ruin Nigeria, but as the ban continues, nobody is sure anymore whether the problem is really Twitter or a disregard for the right of the average Nigerian to the freedom of expression.

And on top of that was COVID. In fairness to the Nigerian Government, the Presidential Steering Committee, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) as well as agencies in some of the sub-national units focused heavily on vaccinating Nigerians against the virus and on generating awareness. The clumsiness that we witnessed in 2020 with regard to Nigeria’s management of COVID-19 improved a bit, such that by the end of 2021, both the NPHCDA and the NCDC can begin to award grades to states of the Federation. But on the whole, the news is very bad. In the face of OMICRON, Nigeria is having an OMICRONOUS

NCDC boss, Ifedayo Adetifa

end of the year. The guys at the NCDC tell us that recently there has been a 500% spike in COVID cases in the country. Nigeria is effectively in a Fourth Wave. But do the people care? No. They don’t. In Europe and elsewhere, restaurants, bars and events centres are empty. Travel and tourism bookings have been cancelled. Business chieftains in England are asking the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak to do more for the hospitality industry beyond the one million pounds that he has promised. In many parts of the world, Christmas was cancelled, and where it was kept alive as in England, there are fears about what may well happen in January. In Nigeria, we seem to be somewhat insincere. Before Christmas, the Federal Government had advised churches not to exceed 50% capacity at Cross-Over Services on December 31. The people were told to stay at home, avoid crowded gatherings and observe all necessary guidelines and protocols. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Nobody listened. Over the weekend that

just ended, Nigerians were out there, celebrating the Yuletide. Every event centre was filled to capacity. It was difficult to find seats at restaurants. To worsen matters, even the Federal Government declared free train rides! What kind of government tells people to avoid crowded places and yet gives them free tickets to go about like smallpox?

I think Nigerians are tired. Their government is tired. COVID-19 has stretched us to the very limits. But unfortunately, we have not done enough.

Morocco holds the best record in Africa in terms of vaccination. Out of a population of about 38 million, it has vaccinated over 23 million. Nigeria wants to vaccinate up to 55% of its eligible population by the first quarter of 2022 but there is no concrete evidence to show that the country has the capacity to do so.

Already we have missed the 40% target set for the end of 2021, with only about 2% of the population fully vaccinated so far. Our risk communication strategies are also weak and ineffective. The average Nigerian believes that COVID-19 is a “white man’s disease and burden” and that government officials are using it to steal public funds. When you try to argue with them, they would tell you pointedly that they know health officials, and fine-girl contractors, concubines of men in high places, who have built houses from COVID contracts. Enough said on that…

Let us remember the dead. In 2021, many died, persons of influence whose lives enriched others: Cicely Tyson, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Prince Tony Momoh, Pastor Temitope Joshua, Yinka Odumakin, Sadiq Daba, Sound Sultan, Rachel Oniga, Prince Phillip, Robert Dole, Colin Powell, DMX… May their souls rest in peace….

But I guess it would be fair to say that the year 2021 was not entirely gloomy. There were amazing individual stories. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emerged as Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a great achievement for Nigeria. Chimamanda Adichie, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid, Tems… continue to demonstrate the beauty of individual talent and the richness of Nigerian genius in the creative industry.

Burna Boy won the Grammy award in the Best Global Music Album category…We can in fact, conveniently put together a list of 50 Happy Stories of 2021: in the United States, Kamala Harris made history early in the year as the first female, first

black and first Asian-American Vice President in US history. The United Nations declared 2021, the “Year of International Peace and Trust”. I am not too sure about that, though. Where is peace in the world? In Afghanistan? Or Northern Nigeria? Where is trust?

Emma Raducanu, 19, won the US Open, the first British woman to win a Grand Slams singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977. Max Verstappen of Red Bull, won the Formula One World Title 2021.

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, the Mercedes superstar, was so unhappy, he unfollowed everybody on Instagram. He got Knighted though.

Lionel Messi, 34, took the Ballon D’Or, a seventh record time! As the year draws to a close, Pfizer and Merck have come up with two antiviral, oral pills, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir respectively, that have raised hopes afresh about the treatment of COVID-19 and indications that science may well be ahead of the pandemic in the long run.

But Nigeria’s problems are bigger than the pandemic.

The big problem we face as Nigerians is the uncertain note on which the year ends. The big question is: what will the year 2022 bring? I don’t know many Nigerians who can answer that question. We are ending a year, but we are going into the next one as a major guess work - a year of ifs. What if the COVID-19 pandemic gets worse and Nigeria is not prepared? What if inflation goes up, beyond current levels? What if the Buhari government decides to remove fuel subsidy and life just goes round the bend? I was asking someone the other day and I was told the cost of a cow is now about N270, 000!

Cow. Common Maalu, that we used to buy for N80, 000, and we say we still have an economy? A bag of rice is now beyond reach. Tomatoes. Onions. Pepper.

It is no wonder that people are easily irritated these days. The year ahead is also the year of politics. Both at the Federal and sub-national levels, our political leaders are most likely to be distracted. We don’t have an agreed electoral framework yet, and so the new year would begin with all of that unresolved matter of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.

And who will be Nigeria’s next President? There is definitely no emerging consensus in that direction.

Nigeria’s future, as the year 2021 ends, is clearly uncertain. The year 2022 remains at this moment, a great unknown.

Sonny Odogwu, Access Bank And N50 billion Debt

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any years ago, I sat in the office of a big man who shall remain nameless- and he expressed serious concerns about what would happen after his demise. He had not yet put a succession plan in place. He did not like the fact that his daughters seemed to be doing better than his sons, and how the daughters, smart as they were had ended up in the hands of husbands he thought were completely unserious and the threat that unserious sons-in-law can pose to a rich man’s estate. He was worried about the future. Big men; big problems, I thought. What happens after a man is dead and gone?

I remembered him last week as I read the story of the matter between Chief Sonny Odogwu’s survivors and Access Bank over a matter of a N26.22 billion loan which by the effect of a judgement debt secured by Access Bank against two of the late Chief Odogwu’s companies – Robert Dyson and Dicket Limited and SIO Property Limited, and the beneficiaries of his estate, had now been placed at over N50 billion. Access Bank, plaintiff in the case, claimed that it granted various credit facilities to the late Chief Odogwu’s companies for the construction of Luxury Hotels and Apartments. The Court found in favour of the plaintiff and granted an order that the collaterals, that is security, for the said

loans/facilities should be sold. There were other specific orders. The defendants took the matter to the Court of Appeal. Access Bank wants to enforce the judgment of Court. On December 20, ThisDay newspaper reported: “Access Bank Moves to Claim Late Sonny Odogwu’s Properties Over N50bn debt.”

It was the N50 billion that caught my attention. I have always been suspicious of Nigeria’s big men.

Many years ago, when the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) published a list of Nigeria’s most notorious debtors, I was shocked to find that most of the people on the list are those persons Nigerians call big men and women: the same ones that reporters struggle to praise to high heavens, media houses celebrate them and innocent people like me refer to as innovators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, Nigeria’s diamonds... we write glowing profiles about the icons, the movers and shakers, the shapers, the titans of industry…but what that list exposed was that there were actually very few authentic rich people around. I asked: how can you be so heavily indebted and claim to be a big man? How do you sleep at night? That AMCON list settled the matter for me. Nobody should be called a rich man except you know how much he is owing the banks! Too many people in Nigeria going about in flowing gowns, disturbing traffic and snatching people’s girlfriends, with borrowed

money! I was educated however by some people around me: that it is okay to be a chronic debtor and be a big man. Something like: Nobody uses their own money to do business. To do business, you borrow money. Interest rates can go up. Investments can fail. It is not every businessman that takes a loan, and deliberately wastes it.

Chief Sonny Odogwu was a man of great enterprise, and talent who helped to create strong legacies in the insurance business in Nigeria, industrial relations, real estate and hospitality. He was also the publisher of the defunct Post newspaper. He was also a strong community leader. He created jobs, touched many lives and carried himself with untainted dignity till the end. What the Access Bank case shows is that he left unfinished business behind. And it doesn’t seem to be the kind of unfinished business that honours his legacy or memory. The Ide Ahaba Sonny Dike Odogwu, CFR, was a glorious son of Asaba, and one of the best ambassadors from that community. The beneficiaries of his estate owe him a duty to preserve his memory and honour. If there is money being owed, just obey the courts, and let the living learn to build their own legacies. There are strong lessons to be learnt from the Sonny Odogwu business case study about banking, relationships, and succession. Above all, Access Bank owes a duty to protect depositors’ money!

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