TUESDAY 29TH DECEMBER 2020

NNPC Records N222.3bn Gross Revenue in November

Crude oil income grows by 500% compared to previous month Corporation loses 1.88 million barrels to shut-ins

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recorded a gross revenue of N222.3 billion, excluding statutory and

obligatory deductions in November 2020, latest figures from the national oil company have indicated.

Documents presented by the corporation, detailing its activities to the Federation

Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting of 15-16 December, 2020, showed that after months of falling crude oil exports and prices occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, November revenues

recorded about 500 per cent increase as prospects of an effective vaccine gained traction.

Despite the increase, however, many flow stations belonging to the corporation

suffered shut-ins, due to unforeseen circumstances and deliberate shutdowns for routine maintenance.

For instance, the Batan flow station came down for six days starting on October

12, due to protests by staff over non-payment of salaries, leading to the shutting-in of 240,000 barrels for the days the disruption persisted, while Continued on page 8

Fidelity Bank Announces Board Retirements, New Appointments... Page 6 Tuesday 29 December, 2020 Vol 25. No 9395. Price: N250

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To Contain COVID-19 Spread, FG to Issue Travellers Permits

Fake test results on sale in Lagos, says govt Dike Onwuamaeze

NDA-ISAIAH RETURNS TO HIS MAKER...

Chairman of Leadership Group Ltd, the late Sam Nda-Isaiah's widow, Zainab Nda-Isaiah (second left), with her children and other family members at the burial of Nda-Isaiah, in Abuja...yesterday

The federal government yesterday unfolded a new policy to contain the importation of COVID-19 into the country, especially by international travellers.

The policy, whose implementation began yesterday, compels travellers to register with the Nigeria International Travel Portal – nitp.ncdc.gov.ng. to obtain their travel permits before departure from their destinations.

The new policy complements the old system through which Continued on page 8

Row Grows over Bishop Kukah’s Criticism of Buhari at Christmas Presidential aide, Northern group, SMBLF, CAN, Catholic Church take sides Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Udora Orizu in Abuja The controversy generated by the Christmas message of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, in which he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, generated more reactions yesterday as groups and a presidential aide weighed in.

While the president's Special Assistant, Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) knocked Kukah, the Catholic Church in Nigeria, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) defended him.

Kukah, in the Christmas

message last Friday, had accused the president of turning nepotism into a state policy.

He had said that there could have been a coup if a nonnorthern Muslim president had done a fraction of what Buhari did.

He accused the president of institutionalising northern hegemony by “reducing others in public life to second-class

status”.

“This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness.

“The spilling of this blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate

of our country?

“President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him to what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony. He has pursued this self-defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion.

“Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way

any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and gotten away with it.

“There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war. The President may have concluded that Christians Continued on page 8

PDP Directs Saraki Committee to Reconcile Makinde, Fayose...Page 5

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NEWS

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

PDP Directs Saraki Committee to Reconcile Makinde, Fayose Party frets over impact of feud on 2023 outing

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has waded into the power tussle in the South-west chapter of the party that has pitted former Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose against Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde.

The NWC has, therefore, mandated its Peace, Reconciliation and Strategy Committee to resolve the feud between the two zonal party chieftains, as part of efforts at repositioning the PDP in the South-west. The committee is headed by a former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, with former Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo; former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande; former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke; a former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as members.

Makinde and Fayose are locked in a supremacy battle that has polarised the opposition party in the zone as state chairmen of PDP and others pitched tent with either camp.

Fayose, it was learnt, is challenging Makinde’s claim

to being the zonal leader of the party on the account that he's the highest elected PDP leader in the region.

THISDAY gathered that the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC is worried that the feud between Fayose and Makinde could impair the party's efforts to win the zone in the 2023 general election.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, told THISDAY that the sixmember committee has got its marching orders to resolve the leadership crisis in the zone.

The supremacy battle, that has lingered for some months, has degenerated as aides of the two party chiefs engaged in a war of words on the social media.

Fayose, on Monday in Lagos, had said that Makinde was not the PDP leader in the Southwest, noting that leadership should be earned and not for anyone to appropriate because of positional influence.

The former governor spoke when he received prominent members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit.

The delegation was led by Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, representing Ondo South District in the National Assembly.

It was learnt that the two party chiefs were at

loggerheads over whether or not a former Ondo State Information Commissioner, Dr Eddy Olafeso, should be

the next PDP National Vice Chairman (West), saying this was the agreement made in Makinde’s house at Ibadan.

"Governor Makinde is not my leader. He is my follower.

Respect should beget respect.

I have been a warrior. They

thought I will be with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission now. But, I am surviving,” Fayose had said.

LIGHTENING KWANKWASO'S GRIEF...

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu; former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande and a former Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, during a visit by the duo to condole with the former governor on the death of his father, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso, in Kano...yesterday

Lagos Moves to Take over Management of Apapa Gridlock Sanwo-Olu to meet Amaechi, IG over officials’ misconduct allegations Operators disagree over port congestion Segun James Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is to set up a special team to take over traffic management in Apapa from the disbanded Presidential Task Team (PTT) on the road.

The plan is to adopt a new approach in easing gridlock on the port area and its environs.

Sanwo-Olu said a stakeholders' meeting, involving representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) haulage transport unions, port operators, among others, would be convened next week to work out means of solving the protracted gridlock in Apapa, as well as having a more efficient, effective port operations in the general interest of the publics.

The governor, while inspecting the Apapa port road to assess traffic situation in Apapa ports and environs, said the aim is to restore sanity to the area.

The inspection, which took him to Lilypond truck terminal, Wharf Road, Apapa Port, and Tincan Port, Truck Park, followed the disbandment of PTT by the federal government as well as outcries by the public over the perennial gridlock.

Hoodlums and traffic armed robbers have always cashed in

on the gridlock to extort and dispossess people of their valuables.

The gridlock has defied all previous efforts at easing the congestion, including the setting up of the PTT, chaired by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, which appointed a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, as the vice chairman, with a mandate to restore law and order to Apapa ports and environs.

However, during the governor’s assessment, a blame game ensued between stakeholders operating within and around the Apapa seaports.

While the Committee of Freight Forwarders and Maritime Truckers (COFFAMAT) blamed the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) officials, Presidential Task Force on Port Decongestion and the police for the corruption that allowed truck drivers to park indiscriminately on the road, the Council of Maritime Transport Union and Association (COMTUA) absolved the police and the task force.

Rather, COMTUA accused COFFAMAT, truck drivers and other stakeholders of not playing by the rules.

A customs licensed clearing

and forwarding agent, Mr. Boniface Okoye, also blamed the Customs for not giving undue access to the shippers’ council to leave empty containers to the port areas and the police for looking away after allegedly collecting kickbacks.

Following the recriminations, Sanwo-Olu informed the stakeholders of the state government’s moves to tackle the gridlock by taking over traffic management in the area.

Sanwo-Olu decried the indiscipline among port players with the promise to tackle head-on and eliminate the cabal behind the alleged extortion being perpetrated by some officials and security personnel.

According to him, as part of efforts to ease the gridlock, a stakeholders' meeting has been slated for next week.

He said: "This is not the first time; certainly not the second, and in fact this is about the third or the fourth time in my government that we are trying to see how we bring better solution to Apapa gridlock.

"On all of the time we have come, we knew that we are having a road construction but you can see now that inside Apapa, there is significant

progress in this area, particularly on the road construction site.

A lot of road has been done.

"Today (Monday) even being the public holiday, it is even difficult for us to say that we have achieved a 100 per cent traffic free flow into Apapa.

"And we have all heard all the complaints from the various stakeholders, the unions, freight forwarders, drivers, everyone has said their own side of the story and you can see that it is multifaceted.

"There have been accusations around cabal collecting money from operators and accusations around being hijacked by some people and there has also been counter accusations.

"What are we solving at the end of the day? We are trying to bring about a cohesive metrics where all the stakeholders in Apapa understand and appreciate the various roles that everybody needs to play and let everybody identify and solve it.

"You are aware that since last year, the PTT had been working. Now, there is a process that is starting in which the state government needs to take over that task force. One of the reasons for this trip is to start that process, to see things

for myself.

"The state government is to set up a seamless operation to have a team of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, about 400 to 500, dedicated to Apapa gridlock; have a team of police men from Area B dedicated to the same gridlock. We understand what the port police command is doing because they are also part of the problem.

"More importantly, to be able to speak to all the big men in the office, the ship owners, the port terminal operators, freight forwarders, who are not here with the port drivers who we see that they are the one carrying the brunt.

"So, when somebody is supposed to deliver a container and he is being charged a demurrage, that cannot be a working operation, it's not fair.

"When it takes eight to 10 hours for operation to hand over to another team.

For that whole eight to 10 hours, the ports are locked; the trucks cannot come in because someone is just trying to take over.

"I have seen it again and will go back to see and plot a template."

Sanwo-Olu gave assurance to

escalate some of the issues to the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Adamu, meet with the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and get the NPA to understand what their roles are.

"As a government, we don't own the port, but we have a responsibility to our citizens.

The turn around here is the most expensive turn around port that you have.

"I am hoping that this trip will give us another opportunity to resolve this issue, identify the roadblocks," he added.

On extortion allegations against the police, Sanwo-Olu said: "I have said to them, give me the evidence of those people that are collecting money from you. That is also important.

"We are determined to make people scapegoats. It is part of ensuring that we reduce the ease of doing process of businesses.

"It is a process and we cannot say we have all the solutions but we have seen the process again. We have seen that we can improve this process and we have identified the stakeholders.

"We need to also go back and see how we can normalise those things and understand that we have a problem here and we have to solve the problem."

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Fidelity Bank Announces Board Retirements, New Appointments Goddy Egene Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday announced new board appointments to replace some of its outgoing directors who recently completed their tenure on its board in accordance with its internal governance policies.

According to a statement from the bank, Mrs. Aku Odinkemelu, its Executive Director, South Directorate, who was appointed to the board on August 4, 2014, will be retiring by December 31, 2020, while Chief Charles Umolu, Non-Executive Director, has completed his tenure and retired from the board on December 16, 2020.

In addition, Mr. Michael Okeke, a Non-Executive Director, has completed his tenure and retired on December 18, 2020. He was a member of various board committees, including the Board Corporate Governance Committee, which he chaired from October 2018 to December 2019.

Another Non- Executive Director, Mr. Alex Ojukwu, will also complete his tenure and retire by December 31, 2020. He currently serves on the Board Credit, Risk, Audit and Corporate Governance Committees and chairs the Board Risk Committee.

The statement said Odinkemelu played a defining role as a member of the transformation team in Fidelity Bank over the past six years. Her responsibilities covered the Commercial, SME, Consumer and Public Sector businesses of Fidelity Bank in the South-east and South-south regions and she provided leadership for 90 business offices within the 11 states under her purview, with her directorate accounting for 31 per cent of deposits and 21 per cent of loans.

Besides, the South Directorate under her supervision generated the highest profit before tax in the bank over the last five years (2015 – 2019), contributing over 23 per cent of the total bank’s profit over the period.

On the other hand, Umolu, served on the Board Risk, Credit, Finance & General Purpose, Audit and Corporate Governance Committees and

chaired the Board Credit Committee until he retired.

“The board expresses its profound appreciation to the outgoing executive and nonexecutive directors for their impressive contributions to the growth and development of the bank.

“Fidelity Bank is privileged to have benefited from the combined experience and expertise of these very accomplished lady and gentlemen. We thank them for their service to the bank and wish them the very best in their future endeavors,” Chairman, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi said.

In place of the retired and outgoing non-executive directors, the board announced the appointment of Mrs. Amaka Theodora Onwughalu, Mr. Nelson Chidozie Nweke and Mr. Chinedu Eric Okeke as non-executive directors.

“The appointments of Onwughalu and Nweke have been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) whilst that of Okeke is awaiting CBN approval,” the bank stated.

Onwughalu has over 30 years’ banking experience, including over 10 years in executive management in various financial institutions, with proven expertise across diverse segments including commercial banking, retail banking, treasury management, banking operations and corporate banking.

She served in executive management positions in different institutions and was the former group managing director of legacy Mainstreet Bank Limited where she led the successful execution of a seamless integration of the bank with Skye Bank Plc where she served as deputy managing director until her retirement in July 2016.

She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Blueshield Financial Services Limited and holds a BSc Degree in Economics from the University of Buckingham, an MSc Degree in Corporate Governance from Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom and an MBA from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

She gained further exposure

and training at the Executive Business School, INSEAD, France; IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland; Judge Business School, University of Cambridge; and Columbia Business School, USA. Onwughalu is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria; a fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (ICA); a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); an honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD).

She is passionate about mentoring the girl-child and committed to supporting women entrepreneurs/ professionals to contribute their quota to stimulating economic development in Nigeria.

She is a Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of various prestigious awards, including the National Merit Award for Accountability and Transparency (NMAT), the Award of Excellence and Distinction for Financial Management (AEDFM) and the Vocational Service Award (VSA) from the Rotary Club, Enugu.

On his part, Nweke,

currently serves as the managing director of Neilville Nigeria Limited and had an extensive career in the financial services sector, rising to the position of executive director at legacy Intercontinental Bank Plc. His banking industry experience covers operations, public sector, corporate services and human resources administration. He holds a Bsc. in Political Science and an Msc. in Industrial and Labour Relations, both from the University of Ibadan and has attended various executive development programmes at world class business schools including INSEAD, France; IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland; and Harvard Business School amongst others.

Nweke is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), member Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).

Prior to joining the board of Fidelity Bank, Nweke had previously served as a nonexecutive director of Premium Pension Limited and was a member of the Governing Council of Anambra State Investment Promotion and

Protection Agency between 2014 and 2018. He is presently an independent non-executive director at Berger Paints Plc. Okeke is the Managing Director of Azura Power West Africa Limited, an infrastructure development and operating company with special focus on emerging markets in Africa, including Nigeria. Prior to joining Azura in 2014, Okeke had a stellar career spanning over 19 years in a succession of bluechip companies, including Guinness Nigeria Plc, Lafarge Plc, Schlumberger Oilfield Services, and General Electric (GE). His areas of interest and specialisation across geographies (Nigeria, France, South Africa, Vietnam and Pakistan), covers technology, power, corporate strategy, finance, market analysis and international development.

Okeke has held executive and senior management positions in various climes, with direct responsibility for teams of diverse and multicultural professionals and demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic client relationships and deliver quality results under complex conditions.

He holds a B.Eng. Degree in Electronic Engineering

from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and an MBA from Imperial College, London.

He has attended executive training programmes at various premier institutions including Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa; INSEAD, France; Graduate School of Business, Stanford, USA, College of Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA and GE John F. Welch Leadership Development Centre, USA. “The board is pleased with the appointments and confident that the new directors will bring their considerable experience to bear in the bank’s growth trajectory.

“We are very delighted to welcome the newly-appointed directors to the Fidelity family. These appointments end the ongoing board realignment, occasioned by the retirements that had to happen, in line with our governance policies.

“We look forward to leveraging on the multidisciplinary experiences of Amaka, Nelson and Chinedu in executing the next growth phase of Fidelity Bank,” Chike-Obi added.

CELEBRATING A WORTHY JURIST...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Obi of Idumuje-Unor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Obi Charles Chukwunwike Anyasi III, during a ceremony by the Idumuje-Unor Kingdom, in honour of Justice Samuel Oseji on his elevation to Supreme Court, in Idumuje-Unor, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State... yesterday

Buhari Didn’t Demand Apology over Invitation on Insecurity, Says House Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has faulted reports that it apologised to President Muhammadu Buhari for inviting him earlier this month to brief it on the worsening security situation in the country.

The spokesperson of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in a statement yesterday said: ''It has come to the knowledge of the House that few sections of the media reported that the House apologised to the presidency over the resolution of the House, which arose

from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting for the invitation of the president to brief the nation on the state of insecurity in the country. ''The president or the presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate. Where then did the media get the report that the House as an institution apologised to anyone? Media professionals are advised to uphold the ethics of their

profession. ''For the avoidance of doubt, the House never apologised to anyone for exercising her constitutional mandate and the 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila will not do anything to desecrate or destroy the critical institution of democracy - the legislature.

We strongly believe that President Buhari subscribes to these democratic ethos and ideals as well.''

The House, via a motion on December 1, 2020, had invited the president to appear before

it to brief it on the nation’s security.

The invitation followed the gruesome killing of over 43 rice farmers in Zarbamari village, Borno State.

Following the House resolution, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had led a delegation to the president to formally inform him about the resolution and to find out when it will be convenient for him to honour the invitation.

Gbajabiamila had told State House correspondents after meeting with the president that Buhari had agreed to

honour the invitation.

The presidency, corroborating the speaker's statement, had announced that December 10 had been slated for Buhari’s appearance.

But a day before his commitment to honour the invitation, Buhari had walked back on his promise.

The presidency cited the constitution, which the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), said does not confer the power to summon the president on the National Assembly, for Buhari’s change

of mind.

But the lawmakers, while faulting Malami for querying its power to invite the president, had insisted that it's still awaiting official communication from the presidency to know why Buhari backtracked after agreeing to appear before the House.

However, a media report on Sunday had said the House had dropped the invitation and subsequently apologised to the president for inviting him.

The report said the sponsors of the motion secretly apologised.

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PAGE EIGHT ROW GROWS OVER BISHOP KUKAH’S CRITICISM OF BUHARI AT CHRISTMAS will do nothing and will live with these actions," Kukah had added.

However, the federal government fired back a day later, saying it is graceless and impious for a religious leader to use the period of Christmas, which is a season of peace, to stoke the embers of hatred, sectarian strife and national disunity.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement that was an allusion to Kukah’s criticism of the president, warned religious leaders that resorting to scorched-earth rhetoric at this time could trigger unintended consequences.

Kukah came under more attacks yesterday as Onochie accused the bishop of being critical of Buhari due to loss of patronage.

The presidential aide tweeted: "They've met more than once.

So, what's the problem? Baba no dey drop!

"He's rebuilding a nation battered by greed, political and religious favours.

"Buying the support of traditional/religious/political leaders is no longer on the table.

"Rebuilding our nation is the main focus."

In its reaction, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) called for the arrest and prosecution of Kukah over his Christmas message.

AYCF, in a statement yesterday by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, described Kukah’s comments as inciting and a “treasonable felony against the Nigerian state.”

Shettima accused the bishop of using “nepotism as a weapon of calumny against the government and people of Nigeria,” adding that it is an attempt to “set the South against the North in order to destabilise our country and further complicate matters.”

“Such a reckless statement

by Kukah betrays something much more sinister against both the North and the nation as a whole because Nigeria is at a stage that it requires responsible advice for attaining peace and

stability, not deliberate attempt to mischievously compound our problems.

“If Kukah wants to play politics, he should not do so on the pulpit and he should keep the bishop’s office aside and choose any Nigerian political party platform to contest for the president in 2023 and stop all the pretences,” the group stated.

He said Kukah should be reminded of the struggle to rid the country of military dictatorship.

“We will not allow opportunists, who did not make any contribution, to scuttle the democracy achieved through the sweat and toil and the sacrifice of our liberty,” he added.

The Muslim Rights Concern also faulted Kukah for criticising Buhari.

The Muslim group described Kukah’s claim of nepotism in Buhari’s administration as false.

MURIC’s Director, Prof.

Ishaq Akintola, in a statement yesterday, accused Kukah of making recklessness.

“This is a most irresponsible pronouncement and we will not allow it to go unchallenged.

Kukah’s statement is reckless, inflammatory and unguarded.

“It is the most egregious, luciferous and serpentine statement of the year 2020.

In particular, we are most disappointed that such a heavily prejudiced and explosive statement is coming from the secretary of Nigeria’s Peace Committee.

“Kukah’s allegation of nepotism against PMB holds no water. It further goes to prove that allegations of northern hegemony, caliphate domination, Islamisation and fulanisation are not more than a myth, a mirage, a phantom.

“Kukah knows those who engage in favouritism but he has chosen to be a pot calling the kettle black. Certain people are unhappy with a situation whereby they can no longer walk freely into Aso Rock for the low-hanging apples,” MURIC said.

Catholic Church

Backs Kukah However, the leadership of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, CAN and SMBLF rose in defence of Kukah, accusing his critics of mischief.

The Catholic Church, in a statement by the National Directorate of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja, urged lovers of truth and justice to defend Kukah against the attack on his person and the attempt to discredit his message.

The church said the situation in Nigeria no longer allows anyone to sit on the fence or show indifference.

"We are quite aware of the 2020 Christmas message by our revered Bishop Hassan Kukah and the enormous space it has enjoyed on social media and in public sphere. As expected, the agents of evil have gathered to attack the person of the bishop and to discredit the simple obvious truth of the message. This is the stock in trade of evil people. "However, they often succeed when good people, Christians, choose to do nothing.

"I am therefore calling our attention to this new development so that we can all rise in unison and stand for truth," it said.

According to the church, everyone must choose and stand up for what he or she believed in.

"The truth about our nation is also that there are only two parties now existing: the good and the evil, the oppressed and the oppressor, the suffering people and the benefiting government officers and their families. Please stop allowing anyone fool you with these cards: religion and tribe," the statement added.

CAN Accuses FG, MURIC of Twisting Kukah’s Christmas Message The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also dismissed allegations that Kukah called for

a coup in his Christmas message and made any expression suggesting an affront to Islam.

The association accused the federal government and Akintola of twisting Kukah’s message, stressing that it is injurious to the development of the country.

CAN, in a statement by its Vice-Chairman in-charge of the 19 Northern states and Abuja, Rev. John John Hayab yesterday, described Akintola’s earlier statement on Kukah’s message as misleading.

He called on the international community to counsel Akintola on the need to take the path of honour in matters of national importance.

The statement said: “CAN 19 northern states and Abuja has read with great shock attempts to further divide the nation by the presidency, the leadership of MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.

“Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed by the President of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, that Bishop Kukah had “referred to Islam as a violent religion” and “calls for a coup.”

“That such a statement comes from Prof. Akintola is not only laughable but misleading and tissue of lies. Records show MURIC’s leadership is often careless with assertions and many times acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious one.

“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore, condemn in its entirety the misleading and inciting statements of MURIC and its likes calling on the international as well as the local community to particularly counsel Prof.

Akintola of MURIC to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of crisis.

“Reading through Bishop Kukah’s “A Nation In Search of Vindication”, CAN is unable to find any expression suggesting an affront to Islam or a call for a coup. “Sadly, MURIC aims to incite citizens against one another along the lines of faith instead of denouncing the

insecurity witnessed across the country, which is the point of Bishop Kukah’s message. From the east to the south, west and all over the north, travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged from their homes for ransom."

CAN accused MURIC of keeping quiet when 76 farmers in Borno State were killed in early December and 344 pupils of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State were kidnapped.

“Given the current happenings in Nigeria with kidnapping, banditry, horrible atrocities committed against hapless citizens by members of Boko Haram, Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to the awful condition that we are in as Bishop Kukah has rightly done. For those castigating the revered cleric, we would call them by name – they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from their primordial views.

“It is time for the presidency, MURIC, and misinformed individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria under Buhari has strayed from the path and vision that the independence of this great country was fought for and won.

“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of inclusion for all and sundry, defending the citizens from harm, bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and villages that we could attain greatness together,” it added.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has expressed its support for the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, on the state of the nation.

The group, in a statement by its leaders, Yinka Odumakin (South-west), Chief Guy Ikoku (South-east), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south) and

Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), condemned the reaction of the federal government.

The forum said Kukah has been a beacon of truthfulness over the years, and remains a foremost defender of the aspirations of Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines, adding that the voice of truth and reason can never be suppressed.

The group expressed concern about the reactions of the presidency and the Northern Elders Forum over the Christmas Day message of Kukah.

It said: ''The outspoken cleric who has been a beacon of truthfulness over the years, remains a foremost defender of the aspirations of millions of Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines. On this occasion, his comments have been applauded by majority of Nigerians and we all stand with him. ''We want to remind the federal government and its attack dogs that in the past, they had equally welcomed the forthright views of this man of God when it favoured them. So why attack him now when he cautions them on their divisive policies? Today, the country has become terribly divided along all kinds of lines. It is shameful and indefensible that suddenly, the federal government is dominated by one small ethnic group and they expect all to keep quiet like slaves. Also the wind of insecurity is now almost tsunami and even up to Mr. President's doorstep in Katsina when he was home recently on holiday. ''What we expected was for those concerned to retrace their very unhelpful steps and get back to rekindling oneness in the country. We once more call on the federal government to take urgent steps to restructure the country. Finally, we remind those concerned that the voice of truth and reason, can never be suppressed successfully.

Bishop Kukah remains a national icon, a hero of the masses. We therefore demand immediate apology to him for the baseless attacks.''

million for strategic holding.

In all, the executive summary of activities for the period revealed that in terms of sales receipt, Nigeria exported crude oil worth N27.7 billion (about $73 million at the official exchange rate of N379 to a dollar).

The country got N11.2 billion from NLNG feedstock gas, equivalent of $29.6 million, while total oil and gas export revenue was N39 billion or about $102.9 million.

For deductions, JV cost recovery stood at N103 billion; crude oil and product losses was N1.28 billion with total deductions set at N108 billion

and total available for payment and remittance standing at N114.3 billion or $52.4 million.

“The overall NNPC crude oil lifting of 12.21mbbls (export & domestic crude) in October 2020 recorded 38 per cent increase relative to the 8.79mbbls lifted in September 2020.

“Crude oil export revenue received in November amounted to $73.27 million equivalent to N27.78 billion. This represents a 500 per cent increase compared to October 2020, while domestic gas receipts in the month was N3.2 billion.

“Feedstock valued at $33.75 million was sold to NLNG during the period out of which

$29.7 million was received during the month. The difference being MCA (Modified Carry Agreements) obligations, gas reconciliation and credit notes,” the document said.

NNPC also reported $22.8 million, being miscellaneous receipts, gas and ullage fees and interest income received in November 2020.

In October, figures from the completed cycle, which is usually delayed by one month, put oil export revenue received at $12.38 million, equivalent to N4.6 billion, one of the lowest receipts ever, representing a decrease of 85 per cent compared to receipts for September.

buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute them,” he stated.

Investigation at Abuja and Lagos international airports had shown how government officials forge COVID-19 test results in exchange for cash.

According to regulations, arrivals in Nigeria are mandated to carry out COVID-19 tests to show they are not positive before embarking on their journey.

Against this background, the state government has threatened to sanction travellers evading COVID-19 tests, saying it will not allow some people to undermine the gains it has achieved in curbing

the spread of the virus.

Abayomi explained that 48 per cent of COVID-19 patients in the state do not know they are carriers of the virus.

He labelled 16 per cent of the COVID-19 cases currently in the state as severe cases while one per cent are in critical condition.

He said: “Forty eight per cent of people infected with COVID-19 have very mild symptoms or even asymptomatic. Some of them don’t even know they’re carrying the virus.”

He expressed concern about what he calls a rise in the community transmission of

Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Back Kukah

NNPC RECORDS N222.3BN GROSS REVENUE IN NOVEMBER for Okono, routine production and maintenance operation led to the shut-in of a cumulative 82.281 barrels for the period.

On October 20, an unscheduled downtime occurred on Yoho flow station due to low pressure discharge on the pump, resulting in 210,000 total losses; that is, 30,000 barrels per day for the seven days that it lasted.

Erha, Agbami and Pennington also shut down for various reasons in October, leading to losses of 180,000, 392,000 and 558,000 barrels respectively for the periods the facilities were down.

The story was not different for Escravos, which lost 27,900

barrels of crude oil for the 31 days it was shut down for maintenance, while Clough Creek flow station in Brass also experienced shut-in as a result of leakage for 14 days.

In all, Nigeria lost about 1.882 million barrels of crude oil in October for the various times the facilities were down, including Bonny, Ugo Ocha, Antan, Okwori and Ima. For the summary of receipts and remittances due for November 2020, the NNPC figures showed that gross revenue for JV crude oil was N197.3 billion, JV gas was N11.2 billion, miscellaneous was N13.7 billion, totalling N222.3 billion

gross revenue for the month.

In terms of JV contribution to the Federation Account, royalty paid was N27.8 billion, tax stood at N38.2 billion and profit was N9 billion with total JV contribution standing at N75.1 billion, plus PSC/miscellaneous of N13.7 billion, coming up to about N88.9 billion total contribution to the Federation Account for November.

Also, in the month under review, pipelines and management costs topped N3.67 billion, with a breakdown showing N2.1 billion for pipelines and other facilities' repairs; N951.4 million for marine distribution and N551.7

TO CONTAIN COVID-19 SPREAD, FG TO ISSUE TRAVELLERS PERMITS travellers would have to generate temporary QR Code, which will only enable them to board at the airport, while they pay for COVID-19 test on arrival.

Under the previous policy, the federal government had warned that any failure to complete the post-arrival test will lead to a six-month suspension of passports for Nigerian citizens and revocation of visas for visitors.

This came just as the Lagos State Government alleged that fake COVID-19 test results were being sold in the state and paraded by travellers who needed clearance on their COVID-19 status.

A notice yesterday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), said: "When returning to Nigeria, all travellers must present two documents to the airlines in order to board. The first document is a negative COVID-19 PCR result and the second document is a permit to travel.

"To get a permit to travel on the travel portal, the customer must have done the following: r$PNQMFUFE UIF IFBMUI questionnaire electronically r6QMPBEFE B $07*% PCR result r1BJE GPS B SFQFBU UFTU UIBU would be done seven days after arrival in Nigeria.

"Passengers who do not present a permit to travel would not be accepted for flights to Nigeria from the 28th of December 2020."

Also yesterday, the Lagos State Government said some international travellers are procuring fake COVID-19 test results.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, at a news conference, described the racketeering of fake COVID-19 test results as a dangerous trend, adding that the state government will clamp down on those found culpable.

The commissioner added that some residents who tested positive for COVID-19 supplied

fake contact addresses and phone numbers at isolation centres.

Abayomi added that this makes contact tracing difficult for health workers.

“We suspect people are gaining access to fake certificates and we will clampdown on them as this is a very dangerous trend.

“Positivity for inbound travellers is on the rise as Nigerians in the Diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos.

It has come to our attention that a number of people are patronising individuals that sell fake COVID-19 results.

“We are currently putting in processes to identify both

Continued on page 9

TUESDAY, ͺ΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

OPS: AfCFTA will Attract Multinationals to Manufacture in Nigeria Urges FG to position Nigeria for trade gains Dike Onwuamaeze Members of the organised private sector of the Nigerian economy have expressed hope that strict enforcement of the Rules of Origin (RoO) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will present opportunities to multinational manufacturing companies to set up plants in Nigeria.

The Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Timothy Olawale, told THISDAY yesterday that Nigerian businesses, as well as the country in general, should make adequate preparations in order to be able to tap the huge market potential offered

by AfCFTA. Olawale said strict enforcement of RoO requirements would limit the possibilities of extraregional products to enter the African market, adding that "multinationals desiring to profit from the continental agreement will need to set up their plants/factories in Nigeria in order to take full advantage."

He stated that the policy will influence the influx of more foreign investment into the country.

He, however, warned that some businesses would not be in a position to appropriate the opportunities presented by the expanded continental market.

“While there is general optimism surrounding the promise of the AfCFTA to aid economic development, there must also be recognition that, like all free trade agreements, the AfCFTA will inevitably create winners and losers.

Whether for their own inefficiencies or the sub-optimal business environments they may find themselves in, some businesses or even entire sectors in national economies will not be in a position to make the most from the expanded market opportunities and, in

fact, may even be unable to compete with competitors from other continental economies,” Olawale added.

He also expressed concerns about the future of Nigeria’s MSMEs in AfCFTA and warned that no trade deal would be good enough without benefitting at least a majority of the country’s MSMEs. “There is little knowledge or no knowledge on the part of the MSMEs about the AfCFTA,” he noted.

Also, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said that AfCFTA would serve as an

avenue for Nigerian industries to penetrate new markets and establish strong cross-border supply chains with other African countries.

Muda said: “The benefits and costs of the trade agreement will not be evenly distributed among participating countries.

Only countries with open, friendly, and enabling business environment will stand to benefit from the agreement and this underscores the need for Nigeria to strategically position itself for significant trade gain. The AfCFTA poses new competitiveness risk for Nigeria firms, especially for those in the real sector of the

economy.”

However, the Lagos State Chairman of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASMEs), Dr. Adams Adebayo, told THISDAY yesterday that the government should protect the micro and small businesses to save them from being wiped out by AfCFTA. Adebayo, who spoke for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), said COVID-19 had affected every sector of the economy and made nonsense of their preparations for AfCFTA. He urged the government to look at the AfCFTA

holistically and carry out proper restructuring so that it might not expose the micro and small enterprises to undue advantages by the country’s neighbours.

“See how trailers load of rice and other items are being smuggled into the country just few days after the borders were re-opened. Nigeria has one of the most porous borders in the world in spite of them being manned by highest number of security agencies.

“Government should make sure that the local industrialists and the MSMEs are protected.

If not, what is the essence of opening your borders to the

people that will kill you? That is exactly what we are trying to avoid. The government should carry along the MSMEs and not focus only on the large enterprises and manufacturers that already have the shocks absorbers to withstand the impacts of AfCFTA. “The NASMEs are going to die if they are not protected.

As we are even talking now, not everybody will come back. Some of my members are shouting that they might not come back because of this COVID-19 and the recession.

The government should move closer to the MSMEs,” Adebayo said.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO APAPA GRIDLOCK...

L-R: Chairman, Lagos Inter-Agency Monitoring and Enforcement Coordination Committee, Mr. Kayode Opeifa; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu and CEO, MOB Tin Can Transit Park, Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, during the governor’s visit to Apapa...yesterday

IMF: Nigeria Remains Largest Economy in Africa, 26th in the World James Emejo in Abuja The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Nigeria maintained its lead as the biggest economy in Africa, in terms of the size of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

But globally, the IMF, in its recently released World Economic Outlook (WEO), reviewed by THISDAY yesterday, ranked Nigeria the 26th largest economy, with an average GDP of $442.976 billion.

The computation was based on nominal GDP, which does not take into account differences in the cost of living in different countries.

The IMF ,recently returned a gloomy verdict on the Nigerian economy for 2020, declaring that the nation’s economic outlook was challenging.

The multilateral institution, in its recently released 2020 Article IV Consultation on Nigeria, had stated that the country’s economy “is buffeted” from side

to side by a cocktail of issues, including the uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic, low oil prices, capital outflows and balance of payment challenges.”

The IMF had stated: “The COVID-19 global pandemic is exacting a heavy toll on the Nigerian economy, which was already experiencing falling per capita income and double-digit inflation, with limited buffers and structural bottlenecks.

“Low oil prices and sharp capital outflows have

significantly increased balance of payments (BOP) pressures and, together with the pandemicrelated lockdown, have led to a large output contraction and increased unemployment.”

In its estimation, the IMF said supply shortages have pushed up headline inflation to a 30-month high.

It said: “Under current policies, the outlook is challenging. Real GDP is projected to contract by 3¼ per cent in 2020. The recovery

TO CONTAIN COVID-19 SPREAD, FG TO ISSUE TRAVELLERS PERMITS

the COVID-19.

According to him, although the state has increased its testing ability to between 2,000 to 3,000 daily, a second wave of the pandemic seems imminent due to general laxity and lack of compliance with the non-pharmaceutical protocol.

Abayomi said the trend in positivity shows the virus transmission is increasing more during the festive season because people are gathering.

He also released statistics of the disease profile in the state showing that 48 per cent

of the cases are mild with 35 per cent in moderate condition and 16 per cent severe while only one per cent in critical condition.

A further breakdown of admissions in the state also shows that 3,299 patients have so far been admitted, 2,826 discharged, 236 deaths recorded, 63 evacuations made with 75 people are currently in isolation.

He added that 10 oxygen camps are being built across the state out of which six are ready for use.

The oxygen camps are permanent structures and can be used for other diseases besides COVID-19.

Abayomi explained that the outbreak of the new variant of the virus has the capability to be more contagious while the government hopes to balance the public health response and economy so that people can live normally.

He also said the state government would inaugurate the 10 oxygen and sampling centres to improve the management of severe-to-critical

COVID-19 cases.

He stated that the state would deploy oxygen therapy centres in high burden local government areas to manage severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients.

He said medical oxygen is the primary treatment for the majority of patients suffering from severe COVID-19 symptoms. ”Many of these patients present late to the isolation centres, thus leading to fatalities.

“This life-saving gas helps patients breathe when they

is projected to start in 2021, with subdued growth of 1½ per cent and output recovering to its pre-pandemic level only in 2022.”

The IMF report, which acknowledged the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to rein in inflation, however, maintained that despite an expected easing of food prices, inflation is projected to remain in double digits and above the CBN’s target range.

“Following a significant

decline in revenue collections - from levels that were already among the lowest in the world - fiscal deficits are projected to remain elevated in the medium term,” the report stated.

Recognising various policy measures put in place by the federal government, the Bretton Wood Institution still believes there is need to put in place more broad market reforms in order to address the pressing balance of payment pressures in Nigeria.

cannot do so on their own, and timely access to oxygen is critical to ensure the patient’s survival.

“If anyone is breathless, go to any of these centres and the doctors and nurses there will assist to stabilise you with oxygen before moving you with the ambulance to the isolation centre,” he said.

Abayomi expressed the state government’s commitment to ensuring improved healthcare system toward enhancing quality healthcare and saving the lives of its citizens.

He, however, warned that the rate of COVID-19 infection positivity was increasing in the state due to the festivities and disregard for safety measures. ”On December 26, the state confirmed 253 new COVID-19 infections, increasing the total confirmed cases of infections in the state to 28,774,” Abayomi said.

He added that 75 confirmed cases were currently being managed at the isolation centres while 3,716 active cases under home-based care were under the state’s EKO TELEMED.

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TUESDAY DECEMBER 29,2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Report: It Costs $4,000 to Move Goods from Apapa Port to Lagos Warehouses Eromosele Abiodun Increased congestion at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports have pushed the cost of moving goods from the ports to other parts of Lagos to $4,000.

In a report by Financial Times and titled: ‘Nigeria’s port crisis: the $4,000 charge to carry goods across Lagos’ yesterday, the newspaper said the congestion is caused by ageing infrastructure; poor rail transport that forces 90 per cent of cargo to go by road; and an almost complete lack of automation, which means every container must be physically inspected by customs officials.

It also reported that the land borders, which had been closed since August 2019 and recently reopened, increased sea traffic and compounded the congestion at the Lagos port.

The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index estimates that the 2020 average spot rate to ship a 20 feet container from Shanghai to Lagos is $3000 and between $3750-$4000 for a 40ft container.

The index currently puts the spot rate at $5,000.

“Cargo ships often wait for more than a month off the coast before they can offload their goods in the port — roughly how long some spend in transit to Lagos from China,” the report read.

“The congestion at the port in Lagos has become so bad that it can cost more than $4,000 to truck a container 20km to the Nigerian mainland these days, almost as much as it costs to ship one 12,000 nautical miles from China.”

Financial Times quoted senior executives at logistics firms as saying most importers now prefer to pay spot prices to fleet operators, who charge N1.5 million ($3,953) to drive a 40feet container from Tin Can to warehouses within Lagos rather than pay lower rates for a truck that could take several weeks to enter the port.

This cost, it reports, include road access charges and bribes but does not include terminal or storage charges on the port; general prices (which can run into tens of hundreds of dollars) associated

NAFDAC Closes Six Companies over Substandard Drugs Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down six local manufacturers of finished pharmaceutical products for producing substandard pharmaceutical products.

A statement issued yesterday by the Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Sayo Akintola, quoted the Director General of NAFADC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as saying that the pharmaceutical companies were shut down following a nationwide surveillance on their manufacturing activities.

She expressed dismay that in spite of appropriate notification the companies failed to meet minimum Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in line with extant requirements which are required to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products.

The NAFDAC DG ordered that the companies remain shut until

the respective GMP compliances are met.

She said the current measures are to serve as deterrents to all local and foreign manufacturers who may not want to comply with basic GMP requirements and join the Agency in its renewed campaign to rid the country of SF medicines.

“NAFDAC in its current effort and relentless drive to address the challenges of Substandard and Falsified (SF) medicines in Nigeria recently blacklisted a foreign manufacturer of finished pharmaceutical products (FPPs) and delisted its local representative for gross violation of NAFDAC extant laws and regulations,” she said.

Adeyeye however, noted that “NAFDAC owes the nation the onerous responsibility of safeguarding public health and will not back track in ensuring that only medicines that are safe, efficacious and of good quality are accessible to the Nigerians.’’

COVID-19 Second Wave: Edo Govt Calls for Protection of Elderly Persons The Edo State Government has urged residents in the state to take responsibility for protecting elderly persons who are most vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic.

Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., in a statement, said with the resurgence of the deadly disease, government is putting adequate measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Ogie, however, urged residents to comply with all safety and precautionary guidelines against the spread of the virus in order

to protect the aged population, who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

According to him, “As part of response to the second wave of COVID-19, the Edo State Government has reactivated isolation and treatment centres, 4 molecular PCR laboratories and its contact tracing network to ensure the pandemic is contained.

“We are also intensifying public awareness on the need for residents to take personal responsibility in staying safe to protect the elderly in our state,” he said.

with ships parked at sea or money extorted by criminals and officials while trucks wait days in traffic jams.

In response to the congestion crisis, the Managing Director of

Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, said the company plans to digitilise the processing of containers and has pressed terminal operators to invest more.

The congestion at the Lagos port has been a problem for years and efforts by the government to solve the problem, including constituting a taskforce, has not yielded the desired results.

Asaresult,cargodestinedforNigeria are now being offloaded in ports in Lome (Togo), Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo-Brazzaville.

Lome now houses West Africa’s busiest port.

TETE-A-TETE...

Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong (left), and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, during the funeral service of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Domkat Bali (rtd), at the Church of Christ in Nations in Jos...yesterday

Nigeria’s History Replete with Inept, Corrupt Leaders, Says Momoh Segun James The Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, one of Nigeria’s leading media firms, Mr. John Momoh, has lamented that Nigeria’s recent history has shown that the country is replete with inept and corrupt leaders.

Momoh made the comment at the unveiling of the book: ‘Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR: The Man, The General, The President’, which was written by a former Special Assistant to the former president, Otunba Femmy Carrena.

The media guru, who was the chairman of the occasion, and spoke through Zoom, said: “Nigeria’s history is replete with the good, the bad and the ugly. In terms of leadership, as you know it, we’ve had few good leaders as well as many bad leaders, not only on the political scene, but in every aspect of the Nigerian life.

“But there are a lot of good leaders who have shown that

they are ready to take the reins and show how good we are as a country. However, Nigeria’s history is replete with inept and corrupt leadership. It is exacerbated by ethnic and religious biases, and this leadership crisis has remained the bane of our politics since 1960.”

He, however, stressed that that does not imply that Nigeria has never had good leaders, adding that: “Indeed, we’ve had and currently have some of the finest men and women who made a difference or can still make a difference, and there’s no gainsaying the fact that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is one of those leaders.”

Momoh recalled his encounter with the former president just before he was sworn in as president in 1999. He disclosed that it was he (Momoh) who subtly suggested to Obasanjo not to use the title: ‘General Obasanjo’ “as Nigerians were tired of ‘generals’ after 15 years of military rule, hence the change to Chief Obasanjo.”

He also said the days of cold wars with the former president are long gone, recalling the days when Obasanjo had a signpost at the entrance of his farm that said ‘journalists are not welcomed’.

Also speaking at the event, former Special Adviser to President Obasanjo on Political Matters, Chief Akin Osuntokun, who presented the book, lamented that recent political situation in the country has shown that Nigeria has been matching backing instead of forward.

According to him, the greatest problem facing the country right now is political mismanagement, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari is not giving the people outside his ethnic and religious orbit any sense of political belonging.

“The president today is not in a position to bring all together, instead, he alienates others who do not look like him,” he said.

Osuntokun reiterated the position of Bishop Mathew Kukah, that if President Buhari had come from any other area other than his, there probably would have been a coup in the country.

He urged the Buhari to foster a united Nigeria, even as he stated that the only solution to Nigerian political quagmire is restructuring.

Earlier, the author of the book, Otunba Carrena, said the work on his book began in 2009 after the former president had left office.

He stated that Obasanjo changed and affected his life greatly, and that he would forever be grateful to the former president.

The book presentation was attended also by Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, who represented her husband; the Ooni of Ife, who was represented by Sooko Kemade Elugbade; the Chief Launcher, Chief Kessington Adebutu, who was represented by Apostle Dave Salako, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

Bali was an Epitome of Humility Integrity, Says Lalong Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has described the late former Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff, General Domkat Bali, as an epitome of humility, courage and integrity.

Lalong added that throughout his lifetime, Bali demonstrated discipline, commitment, diligence and valour in his duties where he rose to the peak of his career retiring as a four-star General.

The governor made the

remark at the funeral service for the General held at the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Jos before his body was conveyed to Langtang for burial.

He emphasised that Bali’s most cherished virtue which he always displayed even at the last moments was integrity.

Lalong said: “He was a man who had a lot of opportunities in life but was never arrogant or haughty; he remained principled, steadfast and truthful in his dealings.

Indeed he brought pride to Plateau State as a worthy son who accomplished a lot in his service to the nation. The state will miss him.”

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, in his remarks, said the nation and the Armed Forces are grateful for the service of Gen. Bali who gave his best to protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

Widow of Gen. Bali, Esther and her children paid tribute to the late General whom they described as a friend, mentor, father and

husband who sacrificed so much for the family and the nation as a whole.

In a sermon, COCIN Vice President, Rev. Dr. Obed Dashan, said the life of the late General should motivate those still living to submit their lives to Jesus Christ in order to gain eternity just as late Bali did when he accepted salvation.

He also reminded the congregation to always prepare for death which is inevitable and can come at the time least expected.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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NEWS

NMA: We Must Test COVID-19 Vaccines Before Administering on Nigerians Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday said COVID-19 vaccines being imported into the country must undergo a quick clinical trial before it they are administered to citizens.

According to the NMA President, Professor Innocent Ujah, reactions to vaccines differ among different races.

“If the vaccines come to Nigeria, we need to quickly do our own evaluation of that vaccine,” he said, during an appearance on a live television programme.

“I cannot say with 100 percent certainty that in the process of developing this vaccine, in the clinical trials, whether any African countries were involved.

I’m not too sure, but it’s possible.

“Then because of the biology, because of the environment, because of our genetic composition, we need to do our own clinical trials very quickly before it can be used on Nigerians. While we do not question the efficacy and safety, the responses vary from place to place.

“Recall that when we were using chloroquine, the southern part was not responding to chloroquine, some parts of the north were. But in totality it was thought that chloroquine were no longer effective and we changed.”

The NMA is also seeking additional funding from the federal government as doctors continue to suffer from the

deadly pandemic.

At least 20 doctors died in the past week after contracting COVID-19, according to the chairman of the NMA in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Enema Amodu.

The doctors died in the course of treating infected patients who failed to disclose their true health status, Amodu said.

“We don’t want anybody to die in the service of their country,” Ujah said. “That’s why we talk about infection prevention and control. And we believe that working with the federal government, the PTF, and the Ministry of Health, we need to continually train our health workers – doctors, nurses – and anyone who has anything to do with patients on infection prevention and control.

Meanwhile, Amodu has said the accuracy of the testing for the Coronavirus should be improved upon.

He said: “The turnaround time and accuracy of the testing for the Coronavirus should be improved upon.

“There should be comprehensive life insurance in place for doctors and other health personnel that risk their lives in the line of duty.

“Isolation centres should be properly equipped with drugs and personnel to manage cases as they come.

“This is a clarion call by the Nigerian doctors on behalf of her members and other colleagues in the frontline to protect us

Bandits KillVigilante Leader, Abduct Eight in Katsina Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Sunday night, reportedly killed the leader of a vigilante group in Maigora town in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Malam Ummaru Balli.

The bandits also allegedly abducted eight persons during the attack which took place in Rimi village in Sabuwa Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that Mallam Balli had led other vigilante members to Rimi to tackle the bandits operating there on that night.

Residents further disclosed that the vigilante group engaged the

bandits in a gun duel leading to the death of Mallam Balli.

The bandits reportedly left for the forest with the eight abducted victims.

Balli has since been buried according to Muslim rites.

The spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, was yet to react to the incident.

Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on Security, Mallam Ibrahim Katsina, did not pick his calls and was yet to respond to the text message sent to him.

while we discharge our duties.

“The NMA wishes to appreciate the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari who has reacted to our cry and

has promised to improve on the welfare packages of doctors; and also the Honourable Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, who

ensured the prompt payment of hazard allowance to FCT doctors.

“Once again, we mourn with our colleague’s family that have

died. While we pray for their gallant souls to rest in peace, we also pray for those of us alive to remain so in good health.”

YOUR MAJESTY, I COME IN PEACE...

Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dandeson Jaja (left), and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, during the anniversary marking the 150 years of the establishment of Opobo Kingdom in Opobo Local Government Area of the state...yesterday

Senate President Charges South-east Leaders to Continue in Unity President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has urged Southeast leaders to continue to strive for Nigeria’s unity.

Lawan specifically lauded Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for promoting national unity and integration across party divide.

Speaking during the 10th year anniversary of the death of Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu’s father, Chief Johnson Uzor Nsiegbe Kalu, held at Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, the Senate President expressed delight that Ugwuanyi was patriotic enough to attend the event in solidarity with the family of the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Kalu, in spite of their different political persuasions.

Lawan who stressed national unity said that “Nigeria needs all parts of the country to make things work”.

Pointing out that “this occasion that has brought all of us here; regardless of our political or religious persuasion” was a symbol that “there is unity among us”, the Senate President said: “The Governor of Enugu State, our brother, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, (Gburugburu) has been here since. This is in solidarity with this family and this is what unity can achieve for us”.

The occasion, which was also attended by governors of Ebonyi and Imo states, David Umahi and Senator Hope Uzodimma, among other political bigwigs, climaxed with the conferment on the Senate President a High Chief title of

Nwannedinamba 1(our number one Brother in Diaspora) and as member Ezumezu Circle of Igbere Ebiri by the Igbere Clan Council of Ndi Eze, Igbere.

Stressing further on national unity, the Senate President said: “Today and indeed even tomorrow and forever, we can achieve better. We can achieve more when we are united.

Nigeria is designed by the Grace of God to be a nation of many people of different orientation, different sentiments but we must be a people with common purpose and common destiny and this is what we are trying to achieve.

“Let’s unite ourselves in this state and indeed in the Southeast. Let’s face common agenda of being

in the center of Nigeria. In fact let’s even attempt to be the leaders of Nigeria because it’s a valid aspiration.

“Let’s not stay away from being part of the real center of action in Nigeria. That we can achieve when we sit together and talk among ourselves. Time is of essence.

“Nigeria needs all of us to be united. Nigeria needs all hands to be on deck. Nigeria needs the effort of each and every part to make it work and we can make it work.

“So let’s continue to unite here in Abia. Let’s continue to unite in the Southeast in making not only the National Assembly Whip our own but making Nigeria itself ours.”

23 Dead as Lagos-bound Truck Somersaults in Niger The Niger State Police Command yesterday said 23 persons lost their lives when a truck fully loaded with dozens of cows and 45 persons, skidded off the road and somersaulted into a bush.

The accident occurred at about 0500 hours along Bokani-Makera

road in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state, according to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adamu Usman, who confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna.

Usman said the truck, with registration Number BBJ 666

XA, was coming from Dadin Kowa, in Kebbi State, en route to Lagos when the incident occurred, explaining that the corpses of the deceased, and the other 22 who sustained various degree of injuries, had been conveyed to the

Mokwa General Hospital for postmortem and treatment respectively.

Usman, who attributed the accident to loss of control by the driver, lamented the failure of drivers to obey traffic rules and regulations.

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

a predetermined decision from the depths of Justice Abang’s innermost recess in order to please certain undemocratic forces.”

PDP in a statement signed by its acting National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Chief Ali Odefa, stated that in building a progressive democratic society, patriots pay heavy prices, some even pay the supreme price.

According to him, “Metuh’s 10 months sojourn in the Federal Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja, was part of the price PDP paid towards building a viable democratic country, where the rule of law takes precedence over individual and personal fantasies.

According to the statement,

“As the party that piloted the affairs of the Nigeria’s transition from military rule to democratic governance, the PDP is not new to the oppressive tactics and nature of anti-democratic forces, including using some willing judicial officers to carry out their predetermined ends in the cloak of serving justice.

“We are, however, consoled and at the same time, given hope by the patriotic conduct and decision of the Court of Appeal, which has restored hope in our judicial system. The decision of the Appeal Court has once again demonstrated that Nigeria is bigger than individual or clique interests.

“As a party, the PDP

is committed to Nigeria’s democratisation process and the singular justice served in the case of Chief Metuh has further strengthened our belief and resolve to make our country work for us, our children and generations to come.

“We implore Nigerians to keep faith with us as we are determined to lead our people to the promised land; a nation where merit is promoted over mediocrity; a country guided by its own laws and a nation where any citizen can aspire to greatness and achieve it through honest dint of hard work, patriotism and promotion of our collective interest.”

Atiku Mourns Idongesit Nkanga South-east PDP Hails Court of Appeal for Releasing Metuh Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed sadness over the passing away of the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd).

Atiku paid tribute to Nkanga as a patriot, astute administrator and a pragmatic politician of no mean repute.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Media Office and signed

by Paul Ibe, Atiku said the death of Nkanga has left a vacuum that would be difficult to fill given his numerous contributions to the development of his native Akwa

Ibom State, the Niger Delta and the country at large.

According to Atiku, “The late Nkanga was unwaveringly committed and dedicated to the founding ideals and objectives of the group to foster unity, peace and development in the Niger Delta region.

“He was a selfless, humane, broad-minded, trusted leader, esteemed compatriot and statesman”, the Wazirin Adamawa said.

The former vice president prayed God to grant his immediate family, the government and people of Akwa Ibom State and the entire Niger Delta the needed fortitude to bear the loss.

The South-east leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lauded the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which quashed the conviction of the former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, saying it is an indication of hope for Nigerians who believe in constitutional democracy.

The party said after careful examination of the High Court processes and the disposition of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the appellate court dutifully determined that the judgment that sent Metuh to seven years imprison “was

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

GOODBYE 2020: WHAT A ROTTEN YEAR! Covid-19 vaccines should be freely available like salt or sugar, writes Rajendra Aneja

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020 has been one of the most gruesome years, that mankind has faced in the last century. It has been much worse than the World War II era. In the World War, people knew who the enemy was and where.

2020 has been the year of the Covid-19 virus, which was invisible and attacked at free will, anywhere and everywhere. People have died, lives have been disrupted, commercial organisations are shut, unemployment has soared, people are poor and hungry.

The year 2020 was rent asunder by Covid-19. It was also politically tumultuous. President Trump continued to be mercurial. He should have focussed on the pandemic, but he neglected his mandate. The trade wars with China continued.

China and the USA never saw eye to eye. Accusations flowed between the USA and Russia about elections interferences.

Within the USA, the Afro-Americans agitated about racial discrimination. And, through all this, Covid-19 kept claiming more infections and deaths. Sad. Ultimately, all this led to the victory of Mr. Joe Biden.

India and Pakistan continued sabre rattling. Myanmar continued to be mired in the Rohingya crisis. There were protests galore in Hong Kong and Thailand.

The reign of strongmen leaders, continued in Turkey, Philippines, etc. Democratic conventions were discarded.

Many strong leaders governed, as if the countries they were elected to manage, were their private properties. Sadly, their electorates forgave them their trespasses. Elections in developing countries, should be monitored by independent auditors.

Voting machines need autonomous reviews.

The year has underscored the importance of good national leaders. Strong leadership in New Zealand, Germany helped to contain Covid-19. Opinionated leadership in other countries, fanned Covid-19. Even the common-sensical wearing of a mask, became a controversial political issue. The management of the 140 million migratory workers in India, who walked 200 to 1,000 kilometres, from the cities to their villages, was barbaric. And, not a word of sympathy from the erring leaders.

Africa continued to agonize. Covid-19 led to unemployment and poverty. The hunger in the belly, made many Africans shed masks and social distancing norms. So, wholesale and retail markets were cramped with people trying to eke a living, at the cost of their lives.

The only silver lining in a politically rotten year, was the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Gulf countries like the UAE. Hopefully, this détente, will continue under President Biden too. Peace is very tough to win. Israel and the Palestinians should also smoke the peace pipe.

The pandemic forced each country to look hard in the mirror. Almost every country failed the health test. Many countries had been spending two to three percent of their budgets on health. So, as the pandemic raged, countries floundered for hospital and ICU beds, ventilators, medicines, doctors, nurses, etc. There were agonising pictures of patients lying on floors, dead bodies next to patients, mass burials. It was a horrendous reminder of the inability of most countries, to manage a medical emergency.

In 2020, the economies of all countries, except China, contracted. The world went into a deep recession. The World Bank predicts a contraction of global GDP in 2020 by about 5.2

THE REVITALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY IN 2021, DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE SUCCESS OF THE VACCINES BEING ADMINISTERED. EVERY FARMER OR STREET-CLEANER MUST HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THEM

percent. The economies of developed countries will contract by 7 percent and developing countries by 2.5 percent, their worst performances in the last 60 years.

Almost every industry, in every country, lost sales, profits and market capitalisation. Airlines and hotels, suffered the most. The year also saw the closure of many established retailers like J.C. Penney, Debenhams, J. Crew, etc. Protracted lockdowns, low sales, mounting overhead expenses, knocked these retailers cold.

Millions across countries lost their jobs in the cities. They trudged back to their villages, making a living from the family agricultural business. Food security was an issue in many villages. These informal sector workers, were assisted by some governments with direct cash transfers and free food grains.

The middle-classes in the cities were left high and dry.

As the pandemic permeated, expatriates returned to home countries. Countries like Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, which depended on remittances, took another blow.

Online portals, like Amazon and Best Buy, prospered. Sales of formal clothing dropped, whilst casual apparel did well.

Food delivery companies also thrived.

Companies engaged in the manufacture of foods and consumer products, did well in 2020. Everyone needs flour, noodles, toothpaste, antibiotics or analgesics. Consumers stocked foods, consumer products and medicines, petrified of long, unexpected lockdowns.

Factories closed due to weak consumer demand. Prices of commodities like oil fell sharply. Demand for metals, platinum, rubber, vehicles also tumbled, generating further unemployment.

As Covid-19 persisted, countries and companies found it difficult to service their debts. They had to keep borrowing, raising the dangers of defaults and bankruptcies.

Student suffered immensely in 2020. Schools and universities were shut. The year was an educational washout. Some institutions started online courses. However, students who could not afford a smart phone or a laptop, dropped out.

How does a driver or a janitor spend USD 300 to 500 on a laptop for his children? Principally, students across the world, lost 2020.

One in eight Americans say that in November, they did not have enough food. 12 percent of Americans reported that they suffered food shortages during Christmas week, as per the USA Household Pulse Survey, reported by the BBC. When Americans sleep hungry due to unemployment and Covid-19, then the plight could be worse in Asia and Africa.

We have to lift the global economy out of the black hole it has fallen into. We need to recuperate public confidence. The revitalization of the economy in 2021, depends entirely on the success of the vaccines being administered. Every farmer or street-cleaner must have easy access to them. Moreover, just two or three vaccines are inadequate. We need 15 to 20 vaccines, to be available at arm’s length, within a kilometre of everyone’s home, shop, farm or office. Ideally, they should be free. The vaccines should be as easily available, as a packet of salt or sugar. Then, Covid-19 will be vanquished.

Aneja was the Managing Director of Unilever Tanzania. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and the author of books entitled, “Rural Marketing across Countries and “Business Express”. He is a Management Consultant.

FAREWELL TO THE CHAMPION OF BIG IDEAS pays tribute to Sam Nda-Isaiah, publisher of Leadership Newspapers who passed at 58

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hose at the top are not always ogres, as this writer finds out.

Bosses are human, too. I first met the Chairman, (Sam Nda-Isaiah) Kakaki Nupe, as an energetic young lad, freshly out of NYSC and trying to navigate myself around the political climate of Nigeria.

I grew up reading dozens of African pre-independence and post-independence political books in my dad’s library and profoundly admired the art of politicking. I got influenced by them, but had zero chance of having a grip on this dynamic game, until I got a call from Mustapha Sheikh Abdullah, intimating me of a meeting with a certain presidential aspirant from the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress (APC).

The negotiation birthing the coalition merger was still in progress even though Chairman was of the Congress for Progressives Change, (CPC bloc). I had to dash out from Zaria to Abuja, telling my dad I would be back in the evening of the same day; that never happened. It was late 2014 and Chairman was having a press conference to announce his intention to run for President’s office. I had no idea what to expect when we attended.

I had painted the mental image of the conventional Nigerian big man as unapproachable, patronising and distant. The Chairman was the stark opposite: I asked him a question in the press conference bordering on policy continuation. He must have been impressed with this question, as he later asked Hajiya Rabi Gambari, a confidant of his to inform me to wait behind and see him after. Unknown to him, we had come in a group to pitch some ideas for his campaign. When we met, we discussed issues bordering on national and international

politics, the use of digital media in campaigning, Howard Dean’s experience using social media to campaign, his inability to harness his online popularity into offline support and how President Obama rejiggered the playbook to win the election.

Summarily the team and I got hired to run the digital unit of his presidential campaign on the spot. That is how he operated: extremely spontaneous! We ran a diligent online campaign, and I am so proud of everyone who worked on the Sam4Nigeria team, coordinated by the then able Chief of Staff, Malam Abdul Gombe.

That is how the quartet of us, Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Ahmed Sidi, Johannes Tobi Wojuola of the Presidential Media Team and I cut our teeth into Nigeria’s political landscape as it were. David Chinda came in afterwards and proved to be a reliable policy wonk.

The Chairman nominated us, more or less rookies, to join the Presidential Campaign Council’s media directorate, which had media linchpins such as Garba Shehu, Dele Alake, and Muhammad Labbo, to mention but a dew.

We once accompanied him on a visit to the then Presidential Candidate of the APC, private residence; there we met many of the current kitchen cabinet members. On sighting the current Presidential Spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, but then Director of Communications for the campaign council, the Chairman motioned towards him and handed Ahmed Sidi and me to him saying” these are now your boys”; —this is who the Chairman was, he went all out for his kins, he was one of a kind.

Chairman was a nationalist to the core and an incurable optimist in the greatness

of Nigeria. Indeed, his motto was: “For God And Country.” His ringtone was the Nigerian National anthem, his email read “SamofNigeria,” he prided so much in Nigeria; Nigeria’s ambassador at large has been lost to the cold hands of death.

When I first saw Chairman, he initiated the conversation by extending his hand and said “Hi! I am Sam.” His handshake was firm and strong. He spoke with confidence and charisma. As time went by, I began to know him better and what he valued the most: people. To him, his employees were like his family. He made it known that everyone plays an important role.

“Don’t work for me. Work with me.”

Those words still ring in my ears today.

He did his best to pull everyone together, to build the team and make everyone feel a sense of belonging. No matter how disappointed he was at times, he was always optimistic.

He was also a boss who said, “If you need my help in any way, please let me know,” and he meant it. He would go to any length to achieve a request you made to him. He was willing to listen and never short of wise advice and opinions. He never, ever cut short a conversation with a “listen!”, even when he disagreed. He had his share of mood swings.

It was never his style to vent his anger and frustration on any of us. He was also one who was never afraid to admit his mistakes.

One session with him could easily take up to two hours or even more, but they were always informative; he was a walking encyclopaedia; his understanding of Nigeria’s political history, geopolitics, and key actors was mind-boggling — this we would miss sorely. One wonders how he had such a repository of knowledge. Chairman was an

avid reader. His study was where Tobi and I used to pass time most weekends, so rich is the library that we often found it hard to leave.

This year would have been my sixth year working with him, and with the level of confidence he reposed in me, it felt like we had known each other for over a decade.

When I first started, I was just a fresh, young graduate. He had seen me through very critical stages of my life. I have learnt the import of loyalty, which shall never depart me until I breathe my last breath.

On the night of his demise, Bashir had called to announce the very shattering news.

Ironically I had randomly thought of Chairman the previous night, without knowing that this news would be broken to me the next morning. The room was extremely cold, yet I woke up to a shirt drenched in sweat, perhaps it was the sign. I sprung up and prayed it was all a dream, alas it wasn’t, Chairman had left us, life is indeed transient.

Adieu Chairman, indeed a formidable backbone is gone — we are grateful for the opportunities you gave us, and our thoughts and prayers are with your lovely wife, Zainab Nda-Isiah, kids, the Nda-Isaiah clan, praying God gives mama the strength to handle this. I still fervently remember your dance with her on your birthday. It is with a heavy and broken heart that I pen this tribute. Until we meet again, be rest assured that the marathon continues as you smile at us, Chairman.

Your legacy would forever remain deep inside our hearts. Thank you for being a great leader and friend.

Akanji, a foreign policy analyst, wrote from Abuja

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EDITORIAL

SNOOPING ON NIGERIANS? It is a gross violation of the right to privacy

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n direct violation of sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Nigerians no longer enjoy confidentiality in communication, according to a recent report that has not been refuted.

A Canadian company, Citizen Lab, has revealed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has procured a spy system from Circles, a surveillance firm believed to exploit weaknesses in the global mobile phone system to snoop on calls, texts and the locations of phones around the globe.

The report also claims that some state chief executives in THE ONLY CULTURE the country procured the spy PERMISSIBLE IN A DEMOCRACY IS ONE THAT equipment to monitor political RESPECTS THE FREEDOM opponents.

AND RIGHTS OF THE Even without any law backing CITIZENRY such action, it is well known that the security services routinely demand and obtain telephone records from the GSM networks. This is a gross violation of the right to privacy and a veritable license for abuse of power that has been with us for a long time. In 2013 under President Goodluck Jonathan, the federal government was reported to have awarded a $40 million internet surveillance contract to an Israeli firm. According to the report which was also never denied, the contract allowed government to monitor the internet communications of citizens, especially journalists and those considered opponents of the administration. Available reports indicate that things are probably far worse now under an administration that has scant regards for the rule of law and rights of citizens.

We note particularly that the federal government has always hinged its obsession to ‘regulate’ the social media on national security.

This is because social media has become a very important tool for shaping public discourse in Nigeria. But the authorities have struggled to maintain a balance between regulating against

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extreme views and hate speech and preserving the right to free speech. The 2015 Cybercrime law, which criminalises a broad range of online interaction, has been used on several occasions to prosecute many bloggers, especially in some states. But we are worried by the abuse to which this ‘spy system’ could be deployed in a toxic political environment. It is all the more disturbing when the report claims that many governors have acquired the same system ostensibly to snoop on their opponents. This is a dangerous trend.

While we understand the imperative of national security and the actions that would have to be taken to protect us all, our security agencies are always more interested in regime protection, even at the expense of public good.

Not long ago, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), citing its powers under the National Broadcast Commission Act, sanctioned some media houses for airing “inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda against the government.” Besides, many social media users have also at different times been arrested for their posts, especially in the states. To now understand that our politicians are acquiring gadgets by which they can monitor the conversations of innocent citizens is the real issue. It is not only illegal, it is dangerous.

Ultimately, what we are dealing with is a tradition of citizen abuses that has become part of our culture. That culture owes its origins to a colonial mindset which is alienated from the public whose interest a government is meant to serve. Yet, the only culture permissible in a democracy is one that respects the freedom and rights of the citizenry. That is why an indiscriminate use of surveillance gadgets by politicians, especially against their opponents, is antithetical to the growth of democracy and the rule of law.

What all these portend is a gradual move towards restriction of free speech which is usually the first step in a move to full blown dictatorship and police state. It has happened before in history. It must never happen again!

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.

PASTORS AND 2020 PROPHESIES

have previewed hundreds of articles and video clips from last year’s church cross-over services and have yet to find a pastor that prophesied - or gave an inkling of forewarning regarding the ominous events that befell the world in 2020.

The question is - if ministers of God are truly mouthpieces of God, why did no one warn the world about coronavirus? The prophetic proclamations I heard were almost unanimously painting 2020 in a positive light, bolstering expectations of ‘uncommon breakthroughs’, ‘mind-boggling promotions’ and ‘extravagant abundance’.

Opposite was the case for the world in 2020 - both individually for many pastors and collectively for their members.

Let me pinpoint a few practical examples. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy declared 2020 the ‘Year of Perfection’. Several months later, he was embroiled in controversy after stating

the coronavirus pandemic was caused by 5G technology - a claim so spurious his television channel in UK was sanctioned for it. Malawian ‘Prophet’ Shepherd Bushiri said he had prophetically visited all the months of 2020 and they were resoundingly ‘great’. He was arrested two months ago over charges of fraud and eventually escaped to Malawi where he remains a fugitive. RCCG Pastor Enoch Adeboye declared 2020 “the year of series of joys” and “series of victories”. In May, a young girl was raped and murdered in one of his church branches, sparking outrage and protests throughout the nation of Nigeria.

Apostle Johnson Suleman termed 2020 “the year of greater glory”, Bishop David Oyedepo said it was “the year of breaking limits” while COZA Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo called it “the year of unprecedented exploits”.

Zimbabwean Pastor Emmanuel Makandiwa said 2020 was the

“year of excellence”, Dunamis Head described it as “the year of supernatural shift’ and DayStar’s Pastor Sam Adeyemi announced it as “the year of rest”. However, the members shouting ‘Amen’ to these ‘prophetic proclamations’ are mostly the same people facing the brunt of the economic backlash caused by the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and the lockdown imposed to contain it. While, of course, there are some sparse individual cases where these themes saw fruition, I think it’s safe to say that - as a whole - 2020 proved the entirety of these pastors wrong. Indeed, it will easily go down as one of the worst years on record and one most citizens of the world will be most to forget and forge ahead from.

Yet with 2021 approaching, the majority of these churches will be packed with congregants - most flouting COVID-19 guidelines - to hear another ‘word from the Lord’ for the

upcoming year. It suggests to me that most attendees at such events are simply going for social, traditional or conventional reasons, not to actually hear a genuine message from above. In the same vein, I would surmise that most pastors choose to ‘prophesy’ words that tickle ears and elicit a sufficient emotional frenzy to ensure a sizeable offering is collected at the crossover service. In the case of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, he stated he would not read his ‘prophecy’ but it was available to be purchased for N100!

Let me conclude by giving an honourable mention to TB Joshua of The SCOAN who did aptly term 2020 ‘the year of humility’. If there’s anyone who needed to be humbled in 2020, I’d highlight these pastors who yearly prophesy smooth things under the hallowed guise of hearing from God. Tawia Acheampong is a writer on religious affairs

OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN

O

ne of the skills of leadership is the ability to unite those that work for you and to have their complete support. This has been completely ‘undemonstrated’

by Donald Trump with many of his appointees being fired or resigning depending on who made their statement first.

The latest ‘deserter’ who actually did what was right rather than what was wanted is US attorney general, William Barr who is not appointing various special counsels.

His Supreme Court appointees have ‘deserted’ him by doing what is actually right and making rulings based on the law. Surely, it’s time to notice that people are actually doing what is right not what is wanted.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾ UESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2020

POLITICS

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

Wins, Failures at the House of Representatives Udora Orizu writes that while the 9th House of Representatives made some giant strides in achieving items on its updated legislative agenda, it however failed to ensure compliance to some very important resolutions

Gbajabiamila

Kalu

Doguwa

Elumelu

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of the budget.

Responding, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, assured the President and the people that the budget would be passed by December.

Thereafter, both chambers on October 20 adjourned plenary to November 24, 2020, to enable lawmakers hold budget defence sessions with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

After month long budget defence sessions with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 21 passed the budget, increasing the size from N13.08 trillion presented to them by President Buhari to N13.588 trillion.

The passage of the 2021 budget followed consideration and adoption of harmonised reports separately submitted to them by their Committees on Appropriation.

In his remarks after the passage of the budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that the January-toDecember budget cycle was necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the country’s annual budgets to meet the nation’s development challenges.

He assured that this standard would be maintained throughout the tenure of the present legislature.

the Committee and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Ahmed Wase, said the House would consider the creation of states, state police, true federalism, local government and judicial autonomy in the review of the 1999 constitution.

He said already, over 15 constitution alteration bills have been referred to the committee, touching on these broad thematic areas.

Soon after the inauguration the exercise is yet again stalled, as it was learnt that no money has been released to the two committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives out of the N1 billion approved for the exercise in the revised 2020 budget.

Sources close to the committee told THISDAY that the N1 billion allocated for the constitution review programme for the two chambers was yet to be released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

However, in an interview with THISDAY later on, the Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said that due to paucity of funds stalling the activities of the Joint Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, certain adjustments will be made to the expenses of the National Assembly to make sure that the objective is met.

Kalu said constitution review is one of the 9th Assembly’s top legislative agenda, which Nigerians are looking forward to adding that the lawmakers will ensure it comes to pass.

He said: ”Like you know, paucity of funds has always been the problem of National Assembly. Expectation is high, but I’m sure that because of its political will, the 9th Assembly is placing the constitution review on the front burner. Certain adjustments will be made to prioritize this particular objective and adjustment will be made to the expenses of the National Assembly to make sure that the objective is met.

Because It’s one of the top in our legislative agenda, Nigerians are looking forward to that and we will put our money where our mouth is in funding this.”

The House spokesman who said the committee met recently and are working on the programme of action, however said the review is not going to be compromised by speed, as the members of the committee will ensure a thorough job to harness the ambitions and desires of Nigerians.

According to him, ‘’The committee is under

a serious minded, well experienced chairman, that’s the deputy speaker, Hon. Idris Wase. If you know him very well, you know that he operates with the speed of light when he’s handling responsibilities. So I can assure you that he’s the right person for this all important committee. He has the leadership skills to be able to advance the constitution review expectations of Nigerians. So June or July 2021, whatever it is, it’s going to be fast, as fast as possible.’’

he 9th House of Representatives shortly after it was inaugurated on June 11, 2019 had rolled out a legislative agenda, promising to bring in reforms that will foster legislative activities and national development. The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who unveiled the agenda had at the time, asserted that 20 years into the present democratic endeavours, the promise and benefits of democracy are yet to be fully felt in the lives of many citizens, hence the 9th House mandated itself to make the lives of citizens better and bring home the long-promised benefits of democracy.

However in the view of current realities occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic. The House, in June 2020 resolved to update its agenda which was officially launched in July by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila at a retreat, a copy was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari in September.

The agenda which seemed ambitious was explained to be a framework that will guide House operations in the next three years, (20202023). In the agenda, termed ‘Our Contract with Nigerians’, the House identified 10 key policy areas, with legislative interventions separated into immediate, intermediate and long-term action.

The priority areas include; Health, Education, Economy, Security, Agriculture and Food Security, Sustainable Power, Environment and Climate Change, Human Capital Development, Governance and House Reforms.

Also, fast-tracking the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), electoral act amendment, restoring the January to December budget cycle, constitution review were featured in the agenda.

As part of the general principles of the new agenda, the legislators in the green chamber will identify and target passage of priority legislation within an agreed framework.

Unveiling the updated agenda, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the new agenda is in line with the current realities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, which came with unimaginable consequences. He also said the spate of insecurity in the country has made vast swathes of the country uninhabitable for citizens and unattractive to investment, hence the new agenda commits the lawmakers to a plan of action over the next year, and for the rest of their tenure.

While the House was able to achieve or kick start some of the mandate listed out in the agenda, however on several occasions, the legislative arm of government got blatant disregard from the Executive to some its resolutions reached, following the adoption of several motions on national issues.

Major Achievements of the House in 2020 Timely Passage of 2021 Budget With the recent passage of the 2021 budget, the lawmakers were able to restore the JanuaryDecember budget cycle.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 8, presented N13.8 trillion 2021 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly for consideration and approval. Buhari urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the passage

Constitution Review Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, several failed attempts had been made by the previous assemblies to amend some provisions of the 1999 Constitution, allegedly foisted on them by the military. It seems the jinx will be broken this time as both chambers of the 9th National Assembly as part of their legislative agenda agreed to set up a constitution review committee to give Nigerians a Constitution they can call theirs.

Although there was a lull in kick-starting this all-important assignment, however, several months later, it seems the Green Chamber hit the ground running with the inauguration of its special ad hoc committee on constitution review on October 15th.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chairman of

Every legislative day, since the inauguration of the 9th House on June 11 2019, security issues have been the crux of discussion on the floor of the House. Several security-related motions have been passed by the lawmakers with significant resolutions. Among the resolutions, include call for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs and invitation to the President to explain to security situation of the country. But so far, not much has come out of the many motions

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) It seems the much-sought sanity in the petroleum industry may soon be found, as the lawmakers at the resumption of plenary on November 24, passed for second reading the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The Bill which failed overtime in previous assemblies, was passed without varying views from members.

The Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan AdoDoguwa who moved for the second reading of the Bill, leading the debate said that the PIB has been a very important piece of legislation that has been in the works since the 5th Assembly but he expressed optimism that the 9th Assembly will be able to achieve history that has eluded the Nigerian people.

Ado-Doguwa stated that the passage of the Bill will ensure an unprecedented institutional reform to enable international best practices in the Nigerian oil sector and bring it at par with others globally. He said that the new PIB makes room for both the oil downstream and upstream sectors to be ideally regulated via wellstructured commissions. He also identified the new innovations in the bill aimed at ensuring that Nigeria derives the maximum benefits and profits of the sector.

Also, the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar stated that the Bill is coming at a time when Nigeria can ill afford to keep losing scarce financial resources, especially as a direct fallout of the covid-19 pandemic. He stated that with the discovery of oil in different African countries; Nigeria needs to operate an oil sector that will ensure maximum profitability that can ensure wealth for Nigeria and Nigerians, this he said will reduce social inequality.

The minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu stated that the Bill is long overdue as it seeks to institutionalize good governance and the ease of doing business, as well as the expunging of sharp practices in the oil sector.

The Deputy minority leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu called on the leaders and stakeholders in the oil sector to show strength of character, commitment and patriotism and support the passage of the PIB so that the nation can begin on a track of industrial progress. He reiterated the fact that a working PIB would expunge indigenes’ agitation, insecurity and youth restiveness, as the indigenes and youth will be meaningfully engaged in the oil sector and will see themselves as stakeholders with all to lose from the disruption of the activities of the sector.

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

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 , 2020

17

POLITICS

Improving Nigeria’s Insurance Penetration Through Legislative Framework Udora Orizu writes that Federal Lawmakers are set to reposition the insurance sector as a major growth driver for the economy through the passage of Insurance Amendment Bill 2020

I

nsurance penetration in Nigeria remains low and below the African and international averages, despite having the advantage of a huge population of nearly 200 million, of which the greater percentage is youthful, the sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) has remained at abysmal less than one percent.

According to industry statistics, Nigeria’s insurance penetration rate (IPR) in 2013 was 0.39 percent, down from 0.48 percent in 2010.

The IPR however worsened to 0.06 percent in 2016, while the insurance sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s real GDP was abysmally low at only 0.02 percent. Also according to a 2013 survey

by NOI Polls, 86 percent of Nigerians polled do not have any form of health insurance cover.

The aforementioned statistics provide a good backdrop to the country’s insurance sector huge potential for growth. Though the sector, is not specifically mentioned as one of the focus sectors of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), it however can be an important contributor to the ERGP. In general, there is limited public awareness of insurance in Nigeria, and distrust by those who are aware of it, especially in urban areas.

Insurance amongst other things provide financial support and reduce uncertainties in business and human life. It provides safety and security against particular event. Insurance also provides a cover against any sudden loss. For example, in case of life insurance financial assistance is provided to the family of the insured on his death.

As the nation fights another recession, the repositioning of the country’s insurance industry will not only increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but as well minimises the risk associated with economic activity and enable the efficient allocation of risk in the broader economy.

Effort to Improve the Insurance Sector On December 14 and 15, the House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Services held a two-day public hearing on a Bill seeking to regulate the insurance industry in order to develop the sector, to protect the interest of policyholders and prospective policyholders under insurance policies in ways that are consistent with the continued development of a viable, competitive and innovative insurance industry.

The legislation titled, ‘’Bill for an Act to Repeal and Consolidate Insurance Laws and other related matters’’, is sponsored by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha.

According to the Bill’s draft, the regulations and other regulatory instruments issued by the Commission pursuant to this Bill, shall determine who carries on insurance business in Nigeria and require insurance operators, the directors and the management of insurance operators to meet certain suitability requirements.

Other objectives of the Bill include, ‘’Providing for an effective mechanism for settlement of insurance disputes. Except as may otherwise be provided by this Bill, the provisions of this Bill shall apply to regulation and supervision of all insurance business, derivatives of insurance business and insurance operators in Nigeria.

This Act applies to all insurance business and insurers, other than insurance business carried on or by insurers of the following description: a friendly society that is an association of persons established with no share for the purposes of aiding its members or their dependents where such association does not employ any person whose main occupation is the canvassing of other persons to become members of the association, or collecting of contributions or subscriptions towards the funds of the association from its members; or a company or any other body (whether corporate or unincorporated) or person whose business is established outside Nigeria, engaged solely in reinsurance transactions with an insurer authorized or pursuant to the provisions of this Bill to carry on any class of insurance

Hon Nwokocha

Gbajabiamila

Hon. Kalu

business, but not otherwise however.’’

Speaking at the two-day hearing, which was attended by major stakeholders such as the apex insurance regulator, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha said that the country’s insurance laws were outdated and completely out of touch with the realities of the modern times.

He said the lawmakers will amend the extant pieces of legislation.

The lawmaker said, “Having taken time to study the insurance Act 2003 and other pieces of insurance legislation in Nigeria, we can confirm that much of the provisions of the insurance laws are out of tune with modern realities. In particular, the sanctions regime is weak. In some cases, as with the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1945, the prescribed fines are stated in pound sterling instead of naira.

“Also, the amounts stated as fines in the various laws are grossly insufficient. Some provisions prescribed something as low as N2 and N5 respectively. In the modern time, the philosophy of penal punishment advocates effective and dissuasive sanctions. We’ll consolidate it with other existing insurance laws, introducing changes that can make the insurance sector become a real growth driver for the Nigerian economy.”

Speaking further, Nwokocha said that public hearing was necessary to elicits the views and inputs of Nigerians on the amendments.

According to him, ‘’The essence of this public hearing is to collect and collate all sheds of opinion to ensure that the outcome represents the views

of all stakeholders. We have invited all relevant stakeholders and we hope that everyone is here for this important deliberation. We are going to do our best to ensure that this objective is attained.

“Having said that, I want to observe that the Insurance sector in Nigeria has come a long way. Despite the glaring poor performance relative to other jurisdictions, we are confident that given a robust regulatory and institutional framework, the insurance sector in Nigeria will soon emerge as one of the major drivers of the Nigerian economy.

“Furthermore, the extant insurance laws are written in a prescriptive form. Following the global economic crises of 2009, the financial regulatory world has moved toward risk-based supervision. Most jurisdictions have successfully gone risk-based. Even in Nigeria, all the sister financial sector regulatory bodies, including CBN, NDIC and Pencom have all implemented risk-based supervision.

“The structure of the extant insurance regulatory framework has made it impossible for Nigeria to implement risk-based supervision in the insurance sector as required. To move with the rest of the world, the time has come to provide for risk-based supervision in our insurance laws.

“The challenges of public confidence must be addressed. The regular courts appear to be overcrowded and do not seem to have the time to attend to insurance cases which ought to be treated with dispatch. Besides, the Complaint Bureau established under the provisions of Section 8 of the Insurance Act 2003, is grossly inefficient and indeed incapable of addressing the dispute settlement needs of the emerging insurance sector.

“At the same time, the insurance regulatory personnel require structured training to be effective with work of regulation and supervision of the insurance sector in Nigeria, matching their counterparts in other jurisdictions. This underscores the need for a proper regulatory academy that is devoted to training and retraining regulatory and supervisory officers as is the case with CBN and NDIC. Relatedly, the regulator should have its operations automated to remove unnecessary bottlenecks in its licensing and approval process.

In his welcome address, Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said it was necessary to rejig the insurance laws in Nigeria.

According to him, “We begin this difficult but rewarding task of conducting Public Hearing on the Insurance Bill 2020. I understand that the broad objective of this Bill is to amend the Insurance Act 2003 and consolidate it with other extant insurance legislation in Nigeria. This process is expected to deliver a robust regulatory framework that will change the face of insurance business in Nigeria and position the insurance sector as a major growth driver for our national economy.

“This would be highly desirable, especially in light of our rapidly contracting national economy.

As you are aware, in the current year, the Nigerian economy has been badly affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. Government is currently battling, through various economic intervention programs to bring the economy back to its feet. Although we are optimistic of emerging stronger from the present recession, current efforts are yielding only limited success. Therefore, both the federal and state governments, at this time, should be interested in virgin sectors that can be explored to national economic advantage. One of such sectors is the insurance sector”, he said.

Contributing to the issue, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele who was represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mr Adedeji Lawal called for the upward review of medical insurance.

He said, “Some sections are quite vague particularly in licensing of insurance companies and there’s need for upward review of medical insurance from 100k to 500. Share capital should be left with NAICOM and sanctions should be minimum and not maximum”.

The challenges of public confidence must be addressed. The regular courts appear to be overcrowded and do not seem to have the time to attend to insurance cases which ought to be treated with dispatch.

Besides, the Complaint Bureau established under the provisions of Section 8 of the Insurance Act 2003, is grossly inefficient and indeed incapable of addressing the dispute settlement needs of the emerging insurance sector

Seeking Stakeholders Endorsement and Support In the proposal mulling for stakeholders support of the legislation towards its passage into law, the lawmakers highlighted the major improvements proposed in the Bill and identified the funding sources for some critical reforms initiatives.

The proposal also recommends strong collaboration between the legislature and executive to realize the objective.

According to the reform initiatives underlined in the proposal, when implemented, will deepen the insurance sector’s contribution to the Nigerian economy to about N2 Trillion.

Also the reform has the potential for boosting foreign direct investment (FDI) and creating over 1million additional jobs directly and indirectly while alleviating poverty by increasing financial inclusion.

The legislators further explained that major anticipated advantages of the reform initiatives include, ‘’The ongoing recapitalization process of the insurance industry will be anchored on a modern and robust insurance regulatory framework that meets current international best practice. This particularly overcomes the present challenge of implementing the recapitalization exercise within the framework of the obsolete Insurance Act 2003, with attendant huge financial burden on the industry that defeats the laudable objectives of the recapitalization exercise. ‘’Appreciable expansion in the total contribution by the insurance sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimated at over N2 Trillion annually; Creation of over 1 million new jobs directly and indirectly; and Bringing efficiency and effectiveness in insurance supervision by implementing risk-based supervision and establishing a decentralized insurance regulatory academy.’’

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Empowering a Community of Female Professionals, Entrepreneurs At the maiden edition of the #Herconomy Conference and the third edition of #AGSTribe Annual Challenge, history was made when a unique product proposition, #AGSTribeMobile Africa’s first socio-economic empowerment mobile application for women - a one-stop resource hub for professionals and entrepreneurs in Africa, was unveiled to tackle the challenges of empowering women, scaling digital skills and accelerating inclusion, writes Mary Nnah

Panelists at the event

Guests at the event

O

ver the years, there has been advocacy globally about achieving gender equality, promoting social inclusion and the practically empowering women in a largely patriarchal and male-dominated world.

In line with this, the Founder of the AGS Tribe and Entrepreneur, Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti, has championed a support system for young women through a virtual community of female professionals and entrepreneurs. Through this community, Durosinmi-Etti, leads a growing movement of women who now easily access grants, training opportunities, mentoring and access to business leaders across various sectors of the economy.

After being inspired to write a book, “Accessing Grants for Startups”; she found a staggering dearth in resources for young people, especially women and decided to build a community of women who reached out at first with more questions about her book.

And with that, the vision kept growing; with a further need to provide support which inspired the AGS Enterprise Challenge. Yet again, in its third year; after Nigeria recently slipped into a recession and many are still affected by the pandemic and lockdown for many weeks; the AGS Tribe responded with a mobile app and a campaign tagged #HERconomy.

The #HERconomy Conference hosted leading experts and professionals who engaged on various issues that sought to address the gender gap in Nigeria whilst advocating for better inclusion and a women-led, post-pandemic economy.

Held at the Landmark Towers, Oniru, Lagos; the Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, lauded the efforts of the AGS Tribe in empowering women and expressed his commitment to support the initiatives of the community.

He hinted at the efforts of his administration to empower women in the state through a Four Billion Naira fund set to scale up over 200 women entrepreneurs and concluded his goodwill message by pledging to support 6 of the finalists in ways that will guarantee a big boost to their businesses.

The event also attracted many leaders from the public and private sectors such as: Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Presidential Aide on Ease of Doing Business, Hon. Stella Okotete, Executive Director, NEXIM Bank, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, CEO of Variant Advisory, Ian Walker, World Bank Lead on Jobs amongst many others.

The event’s special guest of honour, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, in her remarks, asserted that women contribute more to the economy than their male counterparts, especially in the agricultural sector. The Ogun State First Lady also emphasised on the need for training, exposure and access to funding for more women in Nigeria.

In his speech, Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti said the roles of women in the economy

Founder of the AGS Tribe, Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti

have always been pushed to the background. According to him, there is a need for deliberate policy to be set up to encourage women to step out of the background and take control at the helms of affairs. Other speakers who spoke at the event all lauded the achievements of women in alignment with the event theme and campaign, #HERconomy; calling for a more inclusive and women-led sectors in order to book GDP and improve Nigeria’s economic prospects in the future.

Manager, Jobs, World Bank Group, Ian Walker highlighted the importance of tackling youth unemployment in Africa.

Expressing his worries on the issue of unemployment amongst youths, he said, “this present youthful generation of Africa is the most educated the continent has ever produced and we need to address the challenge”.

He however observed that the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has made unemployment worse with more people getting laid off from their jobs.

In addition to the speeches and goodwill messages, the #HERconomy conference featured panel sessions on Women Empowerment with speakers from the United Nations Women Office (UN Women), Mastercard, FBN Quest, Flying Doctors and the Edo State Government. The panelists unanimously agreed that proper mentorship is needed to empower women to take up roles in entrepreneurship and thrive in them.

They called for women participation in Nigeria’s economy and also advocated support from men as gender balance will in no small measure help to achieve a female-empowered nation.

The panelists who participated in the second panel advocated for enforcement of policies that ensure that women are involved in the political and economic space.

The national average of women's political participation in Nigeria has remained 6.7

per cent in elective and appointive positions, which is far below the Global Average of 22.5 per cent, Africa Regional Average of 23.4 per cent and West African Sub Regional Average of 15 per cent.

They also called on women to better organise as a force to influence policy changes that support women. Themed, ‘Advocates For a Future, Women-Led Economy’, panellists included Lamide Johnson, Deputy Country Director, UKNigeria Tech HUB; Hon. Seyi Adisa, Representative, Afijio Constituency, Oyo State House of Assembly; Adebola Williams, Group CEO, RED; and was moderated by Kemi Onabanjo-Joseph, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company.

The conference activity line-up only got fired up after the panel sessions with further conversations about export. Identified by the conveners as a catalyst for vocational skills and window for scaling women-dominated industries, there was a fireside chat moderated by Olori BoyeAjayi, Founder, The Katie Wang Company who hosted the NEXIM Bank Executive Director for Business Development, Hon Stella Okotete.

Although the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) launched the SheTrades initiative targeted at Three Million women entrepreneurs by 2021 in Nigeria together with the International Trade Centre to unlock markets for women, little has been felt especially by women who run micro enterprises or informal businesses. Okotete asserted that “women are the biggest players in the nation’s non-oil sector but they are the least benefiting group.”

She affirmed that there is a need for an awakening amongst women to take charge of what rightfully belongs to them and the need for them to support each other in climbing the ladder of success.

Okotete shared case studies of women who had taken advantage of the federal

government’s policy reforms on exports and also counselled participants about how to get enlisted and registered with the bank for resource opportunities.

To round off the conference, the pitch session for the 2020 AGSTribe Enterprise Challenge featured 12 Finalists - female entrepreneurs selected from over 200 entries. The challenge is designed to support micro enterprises with grants and resource opportunities to scale their businesses. Judges who evaluated the entries and pitches included: Osayi Alile, CEO, ACT Foundation; Olumide Soyombo, Co-founder, Bluechip Technologies LTD and Ponmile Osibo, Partner, Platform Capital. After what was described by the judges as a rigorous and keenly contested session, Nneka Ogboi, CEO, Mash Baby Foods emerged winner and clinched a grand prize of N1.5million, while Ejiro Ogunmor, CEO, Anaborhi Nigeria came second with a prize of N1million.

The third position was tied as Adetoun Yusuf of Eve Signature and Stella Ndekile, CEO, Nuban Beauty, both went home with N500,000 (with donation support from Olumide Soyombo) to encourage the efforts of the women. One of the finalists, Mary Asanga, CEO, Kutama Enterprise, also went home with a special prize of a N250,000 grant presented by Mr. Ponmile Osibo on behalf of FP Capital.

The event was supported by BellaNaija, Ynaija, Amstel Malta, TechCabal, Bluechip Technologies LTD, Platform Capital, NEXIM, FP Capital, DND Travels, UK Nigeria Tech HUB, Baileys, Trendy Beevents, e-technologies Nigeria, and BusinessDay. Whilst most of the reforms by the current and past administrations are yet to fully take effect, it is expected that many more women will be empowered across the country through interventions and initiatives such as the AGSTribe. According to the 2020 PwC, Impact of Women on Nigeria’s Economy, Nigerian women account for 41 per cent ownership of micro-businesses in Nigeria with 23 million female entrepreneurs operating within this segment.

This places Nigeria among the highest entrepreneurship rates globally. Although the high-level participation of female entrepreneurs in the country is positive, it is however often driven mainly by necessity, which is the norm in emerging markets where there is insufficient formal employment.

In the formal sector and at the lower levels in formal employment, there is almost an even 50-50 split in the workplace between men and women. However, as both sexes climb up the corporate ladder, women begin to decline in representation on the senior leadership teams and at the board level.

This is why the #HERconomy conference and AGSTribe Mobile both provided unique platforms to support female entrepreneurs through digital inclusion whilst encouraging more women to actively participate in the nation’s economy.

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FEATURES

Borno: In Defence of our Troops Saheed Lawal

"A

house divided upon itself - and upon that foundation do our enemies build their hopes of subduing us."

That line appeared in a letter from Abigail Adams, the wife and closest advisor of John Adams, the second president of the United States, to Mercy Otis Warren, a poet, playwright and pamphleteer during the American Revolution. It was during the War of 1812. That war was fought between the United States and its allies, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and its allies.

But that war is not the purpose of this article; it is that immortal line and what it has got to do with the Nigerian security situation and what ought to be the ideal response of the Nigerian people, particularly the power brokers, and the military - emphasis on the soldiers that epitomise our struggle as Nigerians to live out our days as peacefully as we can.

It is hardly contestable that no mission, foreign or local, has claimed the lives of Nigerian soldiers more than the fight against Boko Haram since the terrorist group began its campaign in 2009. Brave Nigerian soldiers have continued to fight gallantly and, in many instances, pay the supreme price in ambushes and frontal attacks in the course of this war.

Nigerians may have been disappointed by a few lapses here and there - and justifiably so for obvious reasons, but this doesn't detract from the truth that men in the frontline of this internal war, from Generals to the Private in the trenches, have never come across as wavering in their calling. In spite of all odds, they are ever ready to do battle when duty calls and the least the civilian population could do is to support them.

George Smith Patton Jr. was a general of the United States Army. He could just as well be paying homage to Nigerian soldiers when he said: "The soldier is the army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country." Patton was said to have epitomised the fighting soldier in World War II. The job of the Borno State governor,

Buratai Babagana Zulum, is an unenviable one.

He is conducting the affairs of a state that is the epicentre of the security crisis that is afflicting Nigeria. In 2019, the governor reportedly commenced a multi-pronged strategy of his own, recruiting 10,000 hunters with "voodoo powers" to help the military rout the insurgents. But protracted insecurity has continued to ail his state's economy and normal life.

'Survival' is the word that you find on the streets of Zulum's state, not 'growth' or 'development', which his job should ordinarily be all about. And the man will have done a thankless job by the expiration of his tenure - two years from now, or six - because any accomplishments he may record will pale in comparison to the state remaining insecure.

So, I think we should cut the professorgovernor some slack if he was ever ill at ease at the feeling of disappointment over the burdensome security challenges he is facing, notably from Boko Haram activities. The discerning must be concerned if he is not showing serious concern about what the lot of his people has become in the face of banditry and insurgency.

On Monday, December 21, the governor gave an expression to what has recently turned out to be the icing on the cake of his state's security afflictions - kidnapping - and he found a vent in the military.

"If the army cannot protect people travelling within a distance of only 20

kilometres, then I cannot foresee the capacity of the army ending this insurgency any time soon." He was reported to have said those words against the backdrop of the recent spike in the rate of abductions on the roads that connect his state to others. The governor reportedly expressed shock as to how such magnitude of attack could be perpetrated under the watch of the soldiers and police special squads deployed to protect the highway.

His words for the army got rather more unkind: “It is sad and mind-boggling how innocent commuters are being kidnapped and killed on this Maiduguri-Kano Road, especially the road linking Maiduguri and Damaturu... The Nigerian Army has failed us; they have failed in discharging their role of protecting the commuters... Instead, they are busy harassing and collecting money from innocent travellers, both police and soldiers. This is embarrassing.

Just look at the number of vehicles that have been burnt here, yet we have our soldiers there watching and collecting money from commuters."

The Defence Headquarters was quick to fault the tagging of gallant Nigerian Army personnel as extortioners at checkpoints in Borno State without joining issues with the governor. According to the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Major-General John Enenche, all personnel of the Armed Forces are patriotic and focused on their call of duty.

Now, there is a paradox, considering what the majority of our soldiers are doing in terms of what they daily sacrifice in living up to their oath of securing the country and protecting its integrity. A few bad eggs among these soldiers may indeed lend credence to Governor Zulum's allegation, but the vast majority of others are brave men of honour.

Many of us may not have seen and probably will never know the true level of the sacrifice of our soldiers. But Ibrahim Gaidam, the immediate past governor of Yobe, a state that is unarguably as much terrorised as Zulum's Borno, is not one of this 'many'. He knew exactly what Nigerian soldiers were worth and he shared his view with the world. About six years ago when he still held sway as Yobe State helmsman, he said: “Despite the challenges posed by unconventional and asymmetric warfare, our gallant, dedicated, disciplined and loyal members

of the armed forces did not lose courage at critical moments…They refused to give up and faced each difficulty with confidence.”

He made that statement at an event organised to honour officers and men of the Nigerian Army, dead and alive, for their gallantry in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State. Governor Zulum can borrow a leave from this gentleman.

Nigerian soldiers are brave men who should be honored for their sacrifice, for risking their lives to protect our freedom.

Many of them have had to sacrifice their lives so that the rest of us can live freely and prosperously. Many of them have families who they have no choice but to leave behind as they go to defend their country.

The soldiers fighting in that corridor (Borno) are some people's sons, brothers and fathers and are daily exposed to danger. No one should compound their hardships with harsh words and 'unstatesmanly' allegations.

The soldiers need encouragement, empathy and support from the political leadership in that state. They also need the cooperation of the civilian populace.

Unfortunately, the news we read daily is of betrayals from those they are daily dying to protect.

People of goodwill across the country should speak for them. They cannot be doing so much, even dying, losing limbs and blood and be getting attacks as their rewards from beneficiaries of their sacrifices. It is not fair.

I call on the elite of Borno and the North East in general to call a stakeholders meeting and agree on communitybased strategies to assist the army to put an end to the 11-year-old war.

I call on them, from governor to civil servants, to meet and stop the bleeding of the nation. They should know that attacking our soldiers won't end the war.

What will end it is their cooperation. Our soldiers need their support and cooperation desperately.

According to the renowned English novelist, Eric Arthur Blair, known by his pen name, George Orwell, “We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.” ...Lawal, a public affairs analyst, sent this from Abuja.

Fourth Industrial Revolution… What is the African Agenda?

Tiko Iyamu

T

he key aspects of the Africa 4IR agenda should be digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, big data, and 3D printing, which are enabled and supported by Internet of Things, mobility of service, and security of cyber. These have enormous and obvious significant implications for health, education, industrialisation and decentralisation of infrastructure, which ultimately create employment, growth and development.

AFRICANS do not need to be reminded of our increasingly appalling state because it could possibly ignite headache, heartache or more irritational damage to some people.

Despite the fear of what we might find from self-introspection, let’s acknowledge one more time that the Africa continent accounts for over 12% of the world population, however, such significan ce presence generates less than 1% of global GDP. Painstakingly, Africa has enough intellectual capacity and natural resource to excel beyond its current status quo. In the technology space, the continent consume way more than it innovates. So, we cannot disassociate this obnoxious situation from technology and industrial revolutions.

There was the 1st industrial revolution (IR) between 1760 and 1840, which awakened problematisation of ideas in the areas of mining and textile. Although implementation and transition from current to desired states encountered challenges and constrains, foundations at least found its audacious space in many parts of the world, Europe and North America specifically.

Our forefather could be forgiven, as it

is in our DNA, to do so even when no apologies were tendered.

As we continue our mundane, the second wave of industrialisation came in 1871 and swept through as quickly as in 1914. Those who had vision advanced in the electrification, which they saw as a fundamental wheel for growth and development. In the course, African countries were preoccupied, reminiscing and romancing a one-way relationship, a beautiful dummy from the Whiteman. Nigeria’s greatest achievement was Lord Lugard’s sow of landmine tagged ‘amalgamation’ of the Northern and Southern regions!

And the third industrial revolution came in the 20th century. An era of computing and other machineries, which abrogate the need for human power. A revolution that endorsed the asymmetric between human and technology, for effective, development and growth of society. A revolution well known and remembered to have enacted information as the most powerful asset, a root and foundation to industrialisation, developments and growths. What did Africa achieve from the wave? Consumption! This is solely because the continent was unprepared and had no agenda.

In these industrial revolutions that preceded, let’s agree that African governments were literally on anaesthetics, while the European and North American counterparts took the advantages and enhanced their technological innovations in many areas, particularly in telecommunication, logistics and transport. From the IR perspective, these periods seem to portray that our values, norms, cultural or traditions were confused with generational vision and the need to assert relevance, and proclamation of preservation.

It is no longer news that the 4IR is here.

It promises loads of baskets, some are prima facie, and others can be associated with empiricism and realism, for countries and continents.

Thus, we would like to ask, what is really the African agenda? I am not referring to the bullet points that have been concocted in a website to try to validate mediocrity, incompetence and lack of vision. I am asking a question of fundamental importance for the benefits of today and future generations. We need achievable micro, macro, meso research projects that resonate with the nomadic, rural and urban communities, with short, medium and long terms’ goals and objectives. Preparedness is our opportunity, which only knowledgeability can achieve, and not the political jargon or popularist agenda that find coherence with the vast majority of the elites.

So, who takes the lead? I read and hear of pockets of organisations, split into regions, Arab Maghreb Union (AMU); East African Community (EAC); Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and Southern African Development Community (SADC). Despite the regional and structural positions, the 4IR should focus on developing the African markets in the way we know it. If industrialisation is to prevail, the revolution associated with it should be seen as a challenge and an opportunity for the policy makers, to provide realistic agenda that will help Africa leapfrog over development hurdles, toward advancement of the communities. Although, history says contrary, but I remain hopeful.

In doing so, here are a few things that should not be mysterious about the African 4IR agenda. Firstly, the constituents should be clear, not dodgy or politically misguided.

Secondly, originality. It is worthless to cosmeticise the western world agenda, copy and paste it as our own. Africanise the 4IR, for the African environment, to the benefit of the Africa people. Thirdly, without distinctiveness, the African agenda is refractory to articulation and execution, which can make it overly of context, relevance, and value from the perspective of the indigenes. These can enact purposive action and neutralise constraints limiting intentions and actions. For example, mobility is key, and it should not be vague, so it could promote structural change. The ranging advancement of technology based on 4IR has a sizeable platform for opportunities.

I foresee the African agenda as a litmus test on whether, one more time, we as a people can actually live up to the meaning of our potency creed. Otherwise, the 4IR run its equivocal speed away from us, and we remain only quixotic to our future. The key aspects of the Africa 4IR agenda should be digitalisation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, big data, and 3D printing, which are enabled and supported

by Internet of Things, mobility of service, and security of cyber. These have enormous and obvious significant implications for health, education, industrialisation and decentralisation of infrastructure, which ultimately create employment, growth and development. We need to convergent with a distinctive character, to formulate and execute a realisable agenda, which can enable communities to exert themselves of accomplishments at substantial equality, superiority and value. ... Iyamu is Professor of Information Technology at the Cape Peninsular University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.

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New couple, Sunday Ehigiator and his heart-throb, Sarah Oguntoyinbo, during their Traditional Wedding Ceremony held in Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

R-L: Enugu state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; member House of Representatives, Hon. Pat Asadu; and some of the beneficiaries of Pat Asadu empowerment outreach for Nsukka/Igbo-Etiti communities in Nsukka LGA of Enugu state… recently

L-R: Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Mannir Yakubu; Deputy Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki; Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Tasiu Maigari Zango;and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during the Wedding Fatiha of Aviation Minister’s daughter, Fatima Hadi Sirika and Jalal Hamman in Katsina...recently

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LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

Looking Back at 2020

29.12.2020

2/DASHBOARD

29.12.2020

Legal Status of an Entity Created Under a Repealed Law PAGE 4

QUOTABLES 'There is a speedy pathway out of the current recession. If we quicken the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan in addition to what we have done for MSMEs, the increased jobs and local production from agriculture, from housing and solar installations, will serve to boost the economy.’ - Professor Yèmi Òsinbajo, SAN, Professor of Law, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

'Power devolution from the Centre to the States, without the democratisation of such powers, will not promote the development of the country...’ - Fèmi Falana, SAN, Human Rights Lawyer and Activist

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29.12.2020

For Buhari, Time for Serious Self-Analysis ‘Still Far from a Country’ In my piece of 4/9/2018 titled "Still Far from a Country", I said: "Today, most of the signs that Nigeria may be on its way to being a failed State, are apparent. Even if we do not qualify to be called a failed State, Nigeria is certainly a dysfunctional, fragile/crisis State". I gave some reasons for my assertion - weak and failing institutions, poor infrastructure, insecurity and internal violence (Boko Haram, Robbers and Herdsmen), poverty, hunger and suffering of majority of Nigerians, greedy elite, political shenanigans, high level of corruption and its siblings - tribalism, nepotism etc. The Financial Times of London (FT)’s 22/12/20 edition’s article titled “Nigeria is at risk of becoming a failed State”, is therefore, not stating anything novel nor is it a surprise - many Nigerians have said the same.

Apart from restating many of the reasons that I gave for my assertion in its submission, the FT stated thus: "the definition of a failed State is one where the government is no longer in control. By this yardstick, Africa's most populous country is teetering on the brink".

Some of my suggestions as to how to make Nigeria a better place (because I concluded that all was certainly not lost), were a leadership that is prepared to make good choices on behalf of the whole country, and not just a part of it; redrawing our Constitution to make it more desirable for the majority of Nigerians; making our society more equitable - for instance, redrawing the salary structure of all workers in Nigeria - for example, Nigerian Judicial Officers who have one of the busiest dockets in the world, mostly sitting in less than conducive court rooms all over the country and going home with a pittance; or Medical Doctors who are life savers working almost ‘24-7’ under rather harsh and archaic conditions, and now risking their lives during this Covid-19 pandemic, going home with a paltry salary monthly, totally unappreciated by the system; or Teachers who play the most important role of imparting knowledge to us all, living in penury, while lawmakers - many without proper or adequate qualifications, doing little or nothing (at least in terms of actual lawmaking, with Bills like the PIB pending at NASS for about 20 years), sitting in extremely comfortable chambers, so much so that many of them are usually lulled to sleep during sessions, go home with millions every month!; building strong institutions that transcend tribalism and other useless sentiments which are a recipe for mediocrity, failure and disaster; and properly tackling President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC’s three major campaign promises - fighting insecurity and corruption, and revamping the economy.

The FT recommended that the Government of Mr Buhari “redouble efforts to get a grip on security”, restore trust in institutions like the Judiciary, Security Services and INEC, and most importantly, that Nigeria should have a generational shift, since it believes that the youths can do better, reduce the cost of governance; all this especially as our population which is growing in astronomical and geometrical proportions may become a problem in the future, if we don’t turn things around now.

Government’s 2020 WAEC Scorecard Alas, as we come to the end of what can be described as a traumatic year (2020), the Government's WAEC (West African Examination Council) Scorecard is not very encouraging. At the end of 2018, I had given the then Minister of Power an A3 for the consistent power supply in the estate where I reside, and a C6 generally for the rest of the country. Today, that A3 in my estate is now hovering between A3 and C4, while the C6 for rest of Nigeria is now a P7. Insecurity which was hovering between a P8 and F9, is now a definite F9 (or an F10, if such a grade exists). The fight against corruption which was bordering between a C6 and a P7, is a definite P7, education is still an F9, economy F9 (obviously worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic), while health has risen from an F9 to a P8, only

because of Government’s efforts at fighting the Coronavirus. Of course, some, including medical personnel, argue that Government’s focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, has been at the expense of other killer diseases like Malaria, Lassa Fever and Tuberculosis, which kill more people annually in Nigeria, than Covid-19 has.

Education, health, economy, welfare and security are some of the components of the provisions of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), that is, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

No-Case Submission Assuming that Government’s non-fulfilment of the provisions of Chapter 2 the Constitution, many of which are the key elements of a strong State was a criminal offence, and charges were filed against the Government in court for committing this offence, the Prosecution opened its case, called witnesses who not only cited the aforementioned WAEC Scorecard, but gave numerous examples to support their allegations; then the Government who is the Defendant in this scenario, decides to file a No-Case Submission (NCS) in response to the charges - how do you think the court would rule?! Would the NCS on behalf of Government, be upheld? I think not!

The practice of NCS, is only applicable to criminal cases. These days, in high profile financial criminal cases, Defence Counsel automatically file applications that their clients have no case to answer, whether meritorious or not. A NCS is when the Defendant prays the court for an acquittal without presenting a defence, asserting that the Prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the Defendant, or failed to prove an essential element of the offence, or failed to adduce legally admissible evidence against the Defendant linking him/her to the commission of the offence for which he/she has been charged. It doesn’t matter if the evidence adduced by the Prosecution is believed by the court - it must meet the legal thresholds. See the cases of R v Coker & Ors 20 N.L.R. 62 per Hubbard J; Ajiboye v The State 1995 8. N.W.L.R. Part 414 Page 408 at 414-415 per Kutigi JSC; Gafari Ajidagba & Ors v I.G.P. 1958 S.C.N.L.R. 60; Fagoriola v F.R.N. 2013 17 N.W.L.R.Part 1383 Page 322 at 347 per Ariwoola JSC. In Ajiboye v The State (Supra) per Iguh JSC, it was stated that the governing considerations in upholding a NCS are: "(a) When there has been no evidence to prove an essential element in the alleged offence; (b) When the evidence adduced by the Prosecution has been so discredited as a result of crossexamination or is so manifestly unreliable, that no reasonable court or tribunal could safely convict on it". Also see Sections 302-303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 (ACJA) on NCS. Section 302 of ACJA inter

President Muhammadu Buhari

alia, allows the court of its own volition without an application from the Defence, to record a finding of not guilty without calling on the Defendant to enter a defence, and accordingly, such Defendant will be discharged.

It is obvious from the foregoing, that the Government’s NCS would not be upheld. Where would we find the essential ingredients of the offences committed by the Government? In the Constitution, for starters. For example, the provisions of Sections 1(2), 14(3) & (4), and 42(1)(b) of the Constitution provide inter alia that Nigeria shall not be governed nor shall any person or group of persons take control of the Government of Nigeria; that Federal Character must be reflected in the composition of Government in order to command national loyalty; that there shall be freedom from discrimination - in this context, not according undue advantage to those from a particular part of the country over and above all others, when the Constitution clearly states in its preamble that one of its goals is to promote equality and equity amongst all Nigerians.

Reference to the Armed Forces (Army and Air Force), Police, other security and law enforcement agencies, and some other top government agencies which when combined control the country, their Heads and their States of Origin, would be enough to establish a prima facie case to dismiss the Government’s application for NCS. Ditto for that of security (the primary purpose of Government - Sections 14(2)(b) & 33(1) of the Constitution), as the different killings, kidnappings and violence against persons like that of the 43 Rice Farmers massacred in Zabarmari, Borno State recently, kidnapping of a Pastor and his wife (thankfully now released) and killing of a Village Head in Kaduna State last weekend, all establish a prima facie case against Government - of its failure to secure Nigerians.

The fact that Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school-children in the world and we have the incessant strikes by bodies like ASUU, is again, enough to establish yet another prima facie case against Government, that the educational objectives of this country have not been achieved. The fact that Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world contrary to Section 16 of the Constitution, would also make the Government’s NCS fail.

Conclusion Undoubtedly, the application would be dismissed - rightfully so too, as a prima facie case has definitely been established against the Government. Accordingly, Government would be called to open its defence, but can then decide to faint or feign sickness (which is also the latest trend), to try to delay the matter!

(See the cases of Senator Dino Melaye, Olisa Metuh, Professor Pondei and Abdulrasheed Maina).

As this administration approaches the half way mark of its second and final term, I hope that it engages in serious self-analysis as most sensible people do at the end of every year, and musters up the strength and political will to start to do the right thing for the country, instead of still blaming PDP and who and whatever for its failures, like a bad workman who blames his tools (not that I’m absolving the PDP for their wrongs). This administration can still make a positive difference, if it so desires. President Buhari, even though he is not a ‘hands on’ President, seems to feel empathy for the less privileged in the country, and we see can see evidence of this in some of his programmes like the school feeding for the children, and the N5,000 monthly stipend for those adjudged to be the poorest Nigerians. Though these initiatives are far from adequate, they are part of a foundation that can be built upon.

As we prepare to enter into the new year, I wish you all a happy, better, safer and prosperous 2021 and beyond. May all of us have many reasons to shout Alleluia and Allah Akbar this coming year. Amen. Jazakallah Khair. See you next year!

“ACCORDINGLY, GOVERNMENT WOULD BE CALLED TO OPEN ITS DEFENCE, BUT CAN THEN DECIDE TO FAINT OR FEIGN SICKNESS (WHICH IS ALSO THE LATEST TREND), TO TRY TO DELAY THE MATTER! (SEE THE CASES OF SENATOR DINO MELAYE, OLISA METUH, PROFESSOR PONDEI AND ABDULRASHEED MAINA)”

Dear Editor Re: Insecurity: Why the People Must Stand Firm Dear Editor, Your lesson to the North and indeed, on all Muslims on the Sunnah on Education is unimpeachable. You rightly exposed Ex-Governors Yerima, Sherrif and all the politically motivated Sharia co-travellers who sowed the seed of what the North is now reaping. It is such an uncanny coincidence that your topic today, is the same with today’s Financial Times of London’s Editorial.

Ominous. Government must quickly take charge.

A.A.R. Dear Editor, I am really impressed with your write up especially those Islamic quotes, and wondered what type of research you would have done. To buttress your points, our Prophet (PBUH) said “we should endeavour it, even if it will take you to trek from Saudi to Sinai to seek knowledge/ education”.That shows how important education is. You have highlighted the main causes of these problems in the North, and I personally think it boils down to hypocrisy on the part of the Northern rulers/leaders.

T.O.

4/LAW REPORT

Legal Status of an Entity Created Under a Repealed Law procedure and laid down rules. He submitted that the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the decision of the trial court, that the dismissal by the Appellants was null and void in the face of lack of fair hearing.

Facts The 1st Respondent was in 1990, conferred with the title of Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta of Kano and also appointed District Head of Gabasawa in Kano State by the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero. The appointment was approved by the Kano State Government, and the 1st Respondent was being paid salaries.

Sometime in December 2003, the late Emir, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero stripped the 1st Respondent of his title and office of Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta and District Head of Gabasawa.

Consequently, the 1st Respondent filed an action at the High Court of Kano State to challenge his removal. The trial court delivered its judgement in which it held that the 1st Respondent’s appointment had statutory flavour, and that the late Emir of Kano and the 2nd Appellant did not have a valid and justifiable capacity to remove the 1st Respondent from office without availing him the opportunity to be heard.

The Appellants filed an appeal against the decision of the trial court at the Court of Appeal, which court upheld the judgement of the trial court. The Appellants further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues for Determination The following issues formulated by the Appellants were utilised by the Apex Court in its determination of the appeal – 1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the Kano Emirate Council is a juristic persona with statutory authority.

2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in affirming the decision of the trial Court that the 1st Respondent was appointed by the Kano State Government; hence, he was an employee of the Kano State Government and his appointment enjoyed statutory flavour.

3. Whether the 1st Respondent was given fair hearing, and his removal was in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Kano Emirate.

Arguments On the first issue, counsel for the Appellants argued that the Kano Emirate Council was created by the Kano State Local Government Law 1991, which had been repealed by the Kano State Local Government Law 2000; hence, the Kano Emirate Council ceased to exist upon the repeal of the law that created it. He submitted that the Court of Appeal was wrong in holding that the Kano Emirate Council is a statutory authority set up by law, and authorised to enforce legislation on behalf of Kano State.

On the second issue, it was argued for the Appellants that the 1st Respondent was appointed by the Emir of Kano and removed by the same Emir, in accordance with native law and custom. He contended that the Emir is the custodian of Kano native law and custom, and the Court of Appeal was wrong to hold that the 1st Respondent was appointed by the Kano State Government.

Regarding the third issue, counsel for the Appellants argued that the title of Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta was a privilege without civil rights and obligations to compel fair hearing, and the 1st Respondent’s removal by the same Emir who appointed him was in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Kano Emirate. He cited VICTION FIXED ODDS LTD v OJO (2010) 8 NWLR (Pt. 1197) 486.

In reaction to the arguments of counsel for the Appellants on the first issue, counsel for the 1st to 9th Respondent argued that the 2nd Appellant is a creation of statute and assuming without conceding that the law which created the Kano State Emirate Council had been repealed, the repeal would not affect any right legitimately created during the existence of the said law. The Attorney-General of Kano State as 10th Respondent argued similarly that, any such repeal of the law would have no impact on the appointment and removal of the 1st Respondent. He referred to Section 6(1)(b) and (c) of the Interpretation Act, Cap 123, LFN 2004 and H. C. OKAFOR v UTOMI OLIANWA & ANOR (1964) ALL NR 343 at 345.

On the 2nd issue, counsel contended on behalf of the 1st to 9th Respondent that the Appellants’ silence on the established fact that the 1st Respondent’s appointment was approved by the Kano State Government, amounts to an admission that he was appointed by the Kano State Government. The 10th Respondent also argued that the 1st Respondent, having been so appointed, was a salaried employee of the Kano State Government and should not have been removed from office without first complying with the proper procedure laid down in the Kano State Civil Service Rules.

Arguing the third issue, counsel for the Respondents submitted that the tenets of fair hearing must be complied with before the Appellants could purport to validly remove the 1st Respondent from office, assuming without conceding that they even have such powers to remove him. the 10th Respondent argued that as a salaried staff of the Kano Emirate Council, the 1st Respondent should not have been summarily dismissed from office without first complying with the proper

Honourable Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 5th day of June, 2020 Before Their Lordships

Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili Musa Dattijo Muhammad Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Chima Centus Nweze Ejembi Eko SC.576/2014 Between 1 2.

ALHAJI BELLO ABUBAKAR, BUNUN KANO KANO EMIRATE COUNCIL APPELLANTS

And ALHAJI AMINU BABBA DAN AGUNDI & 10 ORS RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, JSC)

“.....UPON THE REPEAL OF THE KANO STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW 1991

BY THE KANO STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW 2000; THE KANO STATE EMIRATE COUNCIL, ESTABLISHED AND EMPOWERED BY THE 1991 LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, NO LONGER SHALL CONTINUE AND/OR HAD CEASED TO ENJOY THE JURISTIC PERSONALITY AND STATUS VESTED IN IT BY THE 1991 LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the Supreme Court relied on its decision in FAWEHINMI v NBA (NO. 2) (1989) 2 NWLR (Pt. 105) 558 to hold that an association of persons without incorporation cannot be regarded as a legal person for the purposes of actions in court, thus, it is imperative that a Plaintiff who sues a non natural person as juristic persona must establish the juristic personality. The Court further held that the effect of repeal is that the repealed law ceases to be an existing law, and is thus, treated as revoked or abrogated and removed from the statute book, and based on the principle of cause and effect, when a repealing law changes the course it follows, the change of its effect is also intended - ROTIMI WILLIAMS AKINTOKUN v LPDC (2014) LPELR – 22941 (SC).

The Court held that it was not in doubt that the Kano State Local Government Law, 1991 which the Kano State Emirate Council owed its establishment and empowerment to, had been repealed by the Kano State Local Government Law, 2000, three years before the cause of action arose in favour of the 1st Respondent upon his removal. It follows therefore, that upon the repeal of the Kano State Local Government Law 1991 by the Kano State Local Government Law 2000; the Kano State Emirate Council, established and empowered by the 1991 Local Government Law, no longer shall continue and/or had ceased to enjoy the juristic personality and status vested in it by the 1991 Local Government Law. On the 2nd issue, the Supreme Court held that under the custom and tradition of Kano Emirate, the title of Sarkin Dawaki is a hereditary traditional title within the prerogative of the Emir of Kano to bestow. Such title or office does not exist in either the Local Government Service or the State Civil Service Commission, and neither of these is the appointing authority or the authority empowered by law to bestow the title. The court held that the mere fact that the 1st Respondent received stipends from the State Government by way of salaries did not make him a civil servant. The tone and wordings of Exhibit B, the goodwill and congratulatory letter written by the Kano State Governor to the 1st Respondent, left no doubt as to whom the appointee was as it was expressly stated therein that the Emir was the appointing authority.

On the 3rd issue, the court restated the position of law on insubordination by a servant. Relying on the decision in TELIAT SULE v NIGERIAN COTTON BOARD (1985) 2 NWLR (Pt. 5) 17, their Lordships held that when a servant grows too big to obey his master, the honourable cause open to him is to resign to avoid unpleasant consequences should an occasion which calls for obedience be serviced with disobedience. Both common law and statute law brook no disobedience of lawful order from any servant high or low, big or small, and such conduct normally and usually attracts the penalty of summary dismissal.

Regarding the issue of denial of fair hearing, the court held that it is not in contention that a person’s right of fair hearing is a natural and fundamental right which must be adhered to when a complaint is levelled against anyone; however, when the opportunity is granted to the person and he fails to make use of that opportunity to defend himself or address the concerns raised, then he has no one but himself to complain against.

There was evidence that the 1st Respondent disobeyed a summons from the Emir’s Palace, inviting him to appear before the Palace. By his refusal to see the Emir, which itself was an established act of insubordination, the 1st Respondent is deemed to have waived his right to be heard and cannot complain since it was his choice to ignore the opportunity of being heard - BILL CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD v IMANI & SONS LTD. (2006) 19 NWLR (Pt. 1013) 1 at 14.

Their Lordships held further that the 1st Respondent’s appointment as Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta was made by the Emir of Kano under the native law and custom of the Kano Emirate and he held the position at the pleasure of the Emir, subject to good behaviour. It follows that upon the established insubordination of the 1st Respondent to his appointor, his summary removal by the Emir which was done in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Kano Emirate, was justified.

Appeal Allowed.

Representation P. Hussaini Hussaini with another, for the Appellant.

Offiong Offiong, SAN and Ors. for the 1st – 9th Respondent.

Ibrahim Mukhtar Esq. A-G. Kano State and Ors. for the 10th Respondent.

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

29.12.2020

COVER/5

Looking Back at 2020 The year 2020 was momentous, eventful, unique, peculiar and difficult in many ways. It altered the course of history, and changed the world in unimaginable ways. The global effect of the Covid-19 pandemic is still reverberating with its attendant negative impact on the economy, travel, social and economic spheres. At least 1.6 million people globally have died as a result of the Virus, so far. Nigeria wasn’t left out of the undesirable consequences of Covid-19; but in addition to this, an unprecedented uprising by Nigerian youths in protest against police brutality created a fresh set of challenges for an already beleaguered nation. The year saw the emergence of new ways of professional practice, especially for the legal profession. THISDAY LAWYER presents a compendium of major cover stories that led the editions through the year just ending January 7 12 Personalities Who Will Shape the Nigerian Justice Sector in 2020 For the Nigerian justice Sector it’s a new year, renewed hopes and renewed aspirations. What does walk the talk, this time around?

Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi identified key personalities and issues to be tackled in 2020, including the need for a clear national policy on the justice sector, and specific reforms necessary to realise that vision, like the promotion of constitutional development and the rule of law; Government’s job creation plan; promoting legislation like the Nigeria Police Service Bill to transform climate, amongst others. They pointed out that “A justice system replete with individuals who are underpaid and overworked, is a well-tested recipe for corruption”.

Defence The security challenges that have bedevilled this nation, have in the past few years, overwhelmed Government especially with an ill-equipped and ill-motivated Police Force, and allied security. Should the State Governments resign themselves to their fates and watch their people mowed down, raped, maimed and kidnapped on a daily basis by bloodthirsty bandits? The Governors of the South Western States rallied round each other and came up with the ingenious security mechanism, Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed ‘Operation Àmòtèkun’, to collectively defend their people.

Political and tribal elements, and the Attorney-General and Chief Law Officer of the Federation, kicked against this. Are Afe Babalola, SAN, Emmanuel Onwubiko, Sylvester Udem, and Dr. Kayode Ajulo unanimously posited that January 14 this proactive initiative, Operation ‘Nigeria’s Justice Administration Àmòtèkun is not only desirable, System is Flawed’ but necessary, to complement the The Nigerian Bar Association efforts of the overstretched Police, is unarguably the biggest profes- to curtail the growing insecurity. sional body in Africa, with over 160,000 members spread across January 28 125 branches. The challenges of Did the Supreme Court Shortadministering this national behe- change the Imo Electorate? moth can be quite daunting, as The Supreme Court, even in its it entails not just being in charge imperfections, is the final arbiter. of the discipline and professional There are few instances in its conduct of its members, but ef- history, when the Nigerian Apex fectively playing its role as the Court had to revisit and review voice and defender of the rights their own decisions. of Nigerian masses and the rule With the outrage and protests that of law. Pastor Dele Adesina, SAN, trailed the decision of the court in has served the Association in the Imo State Governorship election many capacities at branch and petition, many were of the view national levels, including being that, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha should its General Secretary. The former approach the court for a review of Pro-chancellor, Ekiti State University the Supreme Court judgement in spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite his case, which l attracted so much and Jude Igbanoi on the Bar of outcry, including demonstrations his dream. He also analysed the in Abuja and the Imo State capital, challenges in justice administration, Owerri. Was Ihedioha’s quest for and spoke the truth to power on a review of the decision a step in human rights and the rule of law. the right direction? Femi Falana, SAN and Ken Ahia, SAN in this January 21 Discourse, shed more light on the Àmòtèkun: Our Right to Self cont'd on page 6

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controversial decision and proffered solutions.

February 25 Imo and Bayelsa: Judicial February 4 Conundrums?

Nigeria: An El Dorado for The Supreme Court of Nigeria, Criminals and Insurgents? as the highest and final court of A few years ago Nigerians still the land, is not in the habit of managed to sleep with one eye always reversing its decisions. open, but on account of nationwide In the rare cases in which it has insecurity, every Nigerian, including reviewed its decisions, it was with lawmakers, can no longer afford absolutely compelling reasons. With the luxury of any sleep. President the criticisms and demonstrations Muhammadu Buhari, admitted that have trailed the Apex Court’s himself that he is overwhelmed judgements in the recent Imo and by the security challenges; to Bayelsa States Governorship apwhich Senator Abaribe called for peals, many were hopeful that the the President and his administra- court may be compelled to revisit tion’s resignation. In this Special the its judgements and possibly Cover, Norrison Quakers, SAN, Dr. reverse itself, especially in the case Osagie Obayuwana, Dr. Kayode of Imo State, in light of emerging Ajulo, Daniel Bwala and Comrade facts and information, revealing Femi Aborisade, teased out the what some Lawyers believe to be challenging insecurity issues and errors and misinformation. Dr. Muiz seemingly intractable problems, in Banire, SAN and Rilwan Balogun the face of the damning report by approach the matter in different Transparency International on ways, examining the multifarious Nigeria’s downward spiral on issues. the Corruption Perception Index, which is a concomitant factor in March 3 the fight against insurgency.

‘Security Agencies Now Monitor Judges’ February 11 The recent judgements of the US Visa Ban: What Implications Supreme Court have not only for Nigeria and Nigerians? altered the jurisprudential landscape It may take some time for clear of Nigeria, they have also opened reasons to emerge, as to why the a floodgate of applications for United States of America included reviews of the court’s decisions.

Nigeria on the list of countries This recent trend has left in its placed on a visa ban, including Er- trail, debates, protests, and even itrea, Libya and Sudan. While some unexpected negative criticism have rationalised and speculated from some American lawmakthat it could be the consequence of ers who are calling for sanctions Nigeria’s interminable war against against their Lordships at the insurgency in the North East, Apex Court. Senior Advocate of others opine that it is the result of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Nigeria’s inability or incapability to proffered his views on this and share information with the United many other issues going on in States for border and immigration the polity, including the vexed screening and vetting. matter of extending immunity As the effect of this ban bites from prosecution to the presiding harder, Daniel Bwala and Felix officers of the National Assembly, Eghie Patrick Sugaba share their independence of the judiciary, why respective viewpoints on the vexed he built toilet facilities at the Federal issue in this Discourse.

High Court, Lagos and his ordeal as a detainee, during the dark days February 18 of the Abacha draconian military Examining the Constitutional- regime. ity of INEC’s Deregistration of Political Parties March 10 The Independent National Elec- Social Media Bill: Dictatorship toral Commission (INEC) came by Another Name under criticism when it announced In this edition, Emmanuel the purported deregistration of Onwubiko, Udo Jude Ilo and political parties which drew the Uju Peace critically examined the ire of some Nigerians. On Thursday, controversial Social Media Bill 2019, February 6, 2020, 74 out of the 91 what it seeks to do and why its an odd political parties were barred exercise in futility by law makers. from partaking in the elections on account of their being deregistered. March 17 The electoral umpire now has Emir Sanusi Gone, Who Next?

The dethronement of the Emir 18 political parties. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Chief Ferdinand of Kano and his eventual banOrbih, SAN and Festus Okoye took ishment to Nasarawa State and their positions on the propriety confinement, was like a badly or otherwise, of INEC’s decision. cont'd on page 7

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scripted Nollywood movie. It no doubt, occupied the front-burner of national discourse for some time. While many believe it was malicious and unconstitutional, others argue that the dethronement serves the former Emir right for several reasons. Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, Dr Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Abubakar Sani and Chuks Nwana posited that the State Governor acted ultra vires his constitutional powers, at least as far as the banishment was concerned.

March 24 COVID-19: Testing Nigeria’s Resilience The Corona Virus hit the world like a meteor, and in a matter of weeks, it had left thousands dead or sick and the figures continue to rise. Across the globe, many hold the view that it’s the worse pandemic the world has ever seen.

The concomitant economic, legal and humanitarian challenges of this deadly virus are the focus of Paul Usoro, SAN, Gozie Francis Moneke, Patrick Eghie Sugaba and Dr Kayode Ajulo.

March 31 Dancing on the Graves of Soldiers and Victims To the chagrin of many Nigerians, a strange Bill for the creation of the National Agency for Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalisation and Integration of Insurgents found its way into the chambers of the National Assembly, seeking not only to grant amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents, but to absorb many of them into the Nigerian Army and send some of them abroad for further education at the expense of hapless taxpayers. Emmanuel Onwubiko, Jide Ojo and Richard Abdullahi posited that, granting amnesty to Boko Haram insurgents is an affront to the memories of our gallant soldiers who lost their lives while fighting against the insurgents and rewarding violence and criminality, while preferentially entitling insurgents to certain economic opportunities.

April 7 CROSS-FIRE COVID-19: Lockdown Nigeria

By Day 8 of the Covid-19 lockdown, security agencies were allegedly maltreating and dehumanising hapless citizens in the name of enforcing the lockdown announced by the Government.

In the midst of these tails of woes, Femi Falana, SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, Sylvester Udemezue, Abubakar Sani, Stephen Kola-Balogun and

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LOOKING BACK Richard Abdulahi, traded tackles on the powers of the Federal Government to issue a lockdown order.

April 14 Covid-19: Can NBA Extend the Deadline for Payment of Practicing Fees?

It was a thorny issue for the Paul Usoro led administration of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The Covid -19 lockdown had kicked in and it was a few days to the expiration of deadline for the mandatory payment of the Bar Practicing Fees by Nigerian Lawyers, many of whom hadn’t paid as at when the lockdown was announced. Could the NBA extend the deadline, outside of its constitutional provisions?

George Etomi, Afam Osigwe, Chuks Nwana and O.N. Ewelike interrogated the issues, and proffered solutions for the way out of the quagmire.

April 21 Dr Kole Abayomi, The Quintessential Law Teacher The Nigerian legal community lost one of its most beloved and iconic figures, Dr. Koleade Abayomi, SAN who joined the saints triumphant on April 2, 2020. Dr Abayomi taught at the Nigerian Law School for over three decades, and rose to the position of Director-General in 2004, conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Dr Abayomi had the rare privilege tutoring a generation of Nigerian Lawyers, Judges, Legislators and Law Teachers, including THISDAY LAWYER Editor, Onikepo Braithwaite and Deputy Editor, Jude Igbanoi. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, Olanrewaju Onadeko, SAN, Afam Osigwe and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, paid tribute to this great legal mind.

April 28 Richard Akinjide, SAN: Passage of a Legal Colossus Nigeria has lost another legal icon; former Attorney-General of the Federation and President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide at the age of 89. His son, Abayomi Akinjide, Paul Usoro, SAN, Stephen Kola-Balogun, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, Femi Falana, SAN, paid tribute to the legal colossus and the legal theorist of the principle of 12 2/3 majority, in the 1979 election. cont'd on page 8

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May 5 ‘Use of Technology: An Indispensable Tool for Justice Delivery’ When the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, the practice of legal profession will be dramatically altered. Is the Nigerian legal profession, prepared for this transformation? Charles Adeyemi Candide-Johnson, SAN is one of the leading lights in the crusade against corruption and unwholesome practices at the Bar, and on the Bench. In an encounter with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the immediate past President of the Lagos Court of Arbitration, shared his thoughts on the likely challenges facing the Judiciary, presently and post Covid-19, the Nigerian Bar Association, and Arbitration practice in Nigeria.

May 26 CID Bill 2020: In Whose Interest?

The controversial Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020, since it was conceptualised, attracted all manner of criticism and conspiracy theories. While some were sceptical about whom the sponsors of the Bill may have been and their reasons for doing so, others think it is simply a cheap plagiarism of the Singapore Infectious Disease Bill of 1977.

Whatever it is, Femi Falana, SAN and Sam Omotoso dissected the proposed law, and examined some of its possible resultant effects on the larger Nigerian populace.

June 2 Requiem for Karibi-Whyte, JSC and Chief M.A. Ajomale The Bar and the Bench lost two of its prominent members, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Life Bencher and Chairman of the prestigious Body of Benchers (2001-2002), Honourable Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, and Life Bencher and Chairman of the Body of Benchers (2006-2007), Chief Mobolanle Ademola Ajomale.

In this Special Edition, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Chairman of the Body of Benchers, O.C.J. Okocha, SAN, and Learned Senior Advocates, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, Dele Adesina, Charles Edosomwan and Dr. Babatunde Ajibade paid tribute to these legal titans.

May 12 Virtual court Hearings in Nigeria: Constitutionality or Otherwise The long awaited leap into 21st century practice is finally here, with the commencement of remote court proceedings, which was pioneered by the Borno State High Court, and quickly followed by the Lagos High Court; howbeit foisted upon the Nigerian Judiciary by the Covid-19 lockdown, which kept both Lawyers and litigants at home for over five weeks. By this development, Nigerian courts can now hold online, real time proceedings, including taking evidence, witnesses and oral arguments with Judges and Lawyers on video calls. Dr Ayodele Akenroye and Godfree Matthew examined the constitutionality and practicability of this initiative in justice delivery June 9 in Nigeria, and how the inevitable Rape and Murder in God’s House challenges can be tackled As the rest of the world was engulfed in protests over the May 19 murder of George Floyd, an Respite for Senator Orji Uzor African American who was Kalu?

In what the Chairman of the killed by racist white policemen, Economic and Financial Crimes Nigerians were also on the streets Commission described as a ‘Technical in Abuja and Lagos, protesting Ambush’, the Apex Court on May the rape and gruesome murder 8, 2020, delivered judgement in the of a University of Benin student, appeal of Ude Jones Udeogu, one Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa in of the co-Defendants of former Benin City. The young girl met Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji her death in the hands of five Uzor Kalu, allowing the appeal on devilish men who gang raped the ground that Section 396(7) of and viciously murdered her, right the ACJA which allows an elevated inside a church auditorium. As High Court Judge to go back to the most Nigerian gender rights court below to complete part-heard activists intensify the calls for criminal matters, is unconstitutional. the castration of rapists, former Dr Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Femi Edo State Attorney-General and Falana, SAN, Uche Wigwe, and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Chino Edmund Obiagwu, SAN Osagie Obayuwana, writes on dissected the judgement of the Apex why the case must be given its Court, which in some quarters was desired attention. seen as being controversial and bad for Nigerian jurisprudence. cont'd on page 9

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PASSAGE OF A LEGAL COLOSSUS

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June 16 NBA Elections Will be Fair, Free and Credible The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is unarguably the largest professional body in Africa. With almost 200,000 members, the body’s biennial elections come with understandably humongous challenges. This year’s elections to its national offices present no less, and Mr Tawo Eja Tawo, SAN was given the herculean task of midwifing the elections, which was by universal suffrage and e-voting. In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, he outlined the responsibilities of the Nigerian Bar Association Electoral Committee (ECNBA) of which he was Chairman, and gave insights on how his Committee intended to deliver a free, fair and transparent election in July.

June 23 Edo APC Godfatherism: Death Knell for APC? Dirty and murky intra-party politics, played out in Edo State. The issues in the convoluted journey towards picking a candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo State Gubernatorial election, including the disqualification of the Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from running the race on the APC platform, were as complex as rancorous; with some blaming the crisis in the State’s chapter of the party on the overbearing attitude of the National Chairman of the APC, and former Governor of the State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, SAN and Ademola Adewale gave their perspectives on what the real issues were, and how they could be resolved June 30 The Rape Scourge in Nigeria Is it that the crime of rape, especially against women and the girl child, has suddenly taken on unimaginable proportions and dimensions in the past few months, or countless rapes have simply been going unreported?

Some have even attributed the astronomical increase in this heinous crime to the lockdown occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, though experts say the problem had been with us long before the lockdown.

What can possibly make a sane adult male rape anybody, talk less of a girl child who is only a few weeks old? These days, male children too are not spared, as the menace of abusing and sodomising boys, is also on

the rise. Prof Joy Ngozi Ezeilo and Omolara Oriye, both experts in gender based violence, delved into the thorny issue to examine and proffer practical legal solutions to this worrisome trend.

July 7 NBA General Secretary Contenders: Their Visions, their Missions On July 29, 2020, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) went to the polls to elect national officers, who will run the affairs of the body for the next two years. For the office of General Secretary, the four candidates who were been cleared to participate in the election were, Joyce Oduah, Alex Muoka, Okey Ohagba and Chris Yakemewerigha.

THISDAY LAWYER sought out the contestants to speak about their aspirations, and how they would man the National Secretariat if elected into the office.

July 14 Ensuring Free and Fair NBA Elections Since the introduction of universal suffrage by e-voting in 2016, the elections of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) into national offices have been fraught with allegations of irregularities, manipulation and deliberate tampering with the process. This has oftentimes resulted in litigation, some of which is still pending in court. Nigerian Lawyers were scheduled go to polls again to pick their national officers for the Association. Human Rights Lawyer, Dr Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, who has always advocated for free and fair NBA elections, proffered a panacea to the NBA which could guarantee free, fair and credible election on July 29 and 30, 2020. The question was whether the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), would give these suggestions any consideration.

July 21 Who Will Lead the NBA in 2020?

For the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presidency, three candidates scaled through the hurdles to run in the election, Dele Adesina, SAN, Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN and Olumide Akpata. These three candidates engaged Nigerian Lawyers, canvassing for votes through the social and main-stream media, espousing their manifestos and their plans on how to administer the NBA for the next two years. While the trio are eminently qualified, Nigerian Lawyers are offered a choice between the three - who is the most trusted, most qualified, most experienced, with the pedigree to run the Association at this critical cont'd on page 10

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time, when Lawyers are craving for a reformed, rejigged and revived NBA. THISDAY LAWYER presented two of the three candidates, Dele Adesina, SAN and Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN in this Special Edition.

July 28 NDDC: Shortchanging the People of the Niger Delta The Obasanjo Administration, in its wisdom and concern for the plight of the people of the Niger Delta Region, established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in July 2000, to bring some much needed infrastructural development to the area, and tackle the ecological and environmental issues caused by oil exploration.

The Federal Government went all out to adequately fund the Commission, to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate. But, to the chagrin of the people of the region and to Nigerians generally, the Commission has been bedevilled with massive looting and pilfering by its officials and the supervising Ministry. This has necessitated a probe at the National Assembly, which is unravelled deep-seated and deeply entrenched corruption, which has been the hallmark of the Commission since its inception.

Learned Senior Advocates, Asiwaju Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo and Norrison Quakers examine this scandalous and extremely worrisome matter, which was 25, 2020 at the age of 93, elicited tagged by many as, ‘NDDCgate’. tears and encomia. In this Special Edition to honour this quintessential August 4 gentleman and iconic Lawyer, the An Outer Barman Becomes NBA Emir of Ilorin, His Highness, Dr President Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, Alhaji The much awaited outcome of the Lateef Olufemi Okunnu CON, 2020 election into national offices SAN, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, of the Nigerian Bar Association Seyi Sowemimo, SAN, Chief P.A.O. (NBA), was made known just Olorunnisola, SAN, Asiwaju Adbefore midnight on July 30. Deputy egboyega Awomolo, SAN, Kayode Editor, THIS DAY LAWYER, JUDE Sofola, SAN, Asue Ighodalo and his IGBANOI who monitored the entire first son, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, pay process, gave an account of how the tribute to ‘AGF’ as he was fondly election was lost and won, while called by his peers.

Stephen Kola-Balogun who was disenfranchised and unable to August 18 vote in the election much to his The Dame of the Bar Speaks chagrin, also made comments and The Dame of the Nigerian Bar is suggestions on how the incoming 80! Dame Priscilla Olabori Kuye President of the NBA, Olumide (knighted by Pope John Paul II Akpata, can redeem the dented in 1981), has served the Nigerian image of the Association going Bar Association (NBA) in several forward. capacities at Branch and National levels, including being National August 11 Financial Secretary, 3rd Vice, 2nd AbdulRazaq, SAN: An Iconic Vice and 1st Vice President, before Lawyer, a Man of Impressive Firsts becoming the first and only female AbdulGaniyu Folorunso Abdul- President of the NBA in 1992. As Razaq OFR, SAN meant many she turned 80 on August 18, she things to many people. His streak went down memory lane with her of ‘firsts’, is impressive. From being daughter, Onikepo Braithwaite and the first Lawyer from the Northern Jude Igbanoi, and spoke fondly of Region to the first Senior Advocate the lost glorious days of the Bar, from Northern Nigeria and the her momentous tenure as President, first Kwara State Commissioner her brushes with the military junta for Finance. His passage on July

Even though the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) addresses some of the deficiencies in the old one, the new Act assented to

by President Muhammadu Buhari generated fresh controversies and raised new challenges, for both the business community and faith based organisations. While the corporate world believes the new CAMA would potentially hamper the ease of doing business in Nigeria, some religious organisations are up in arms against its implementation.

What really are the issues in this contentious piece of legislation? Pastor and Learned Senior Advocate, Femi Atoyebi and Chuks Nwana analyse certain aspects of the law, and CAMA 2020’s potential impact, generally.

which almost cost her her life, and her pains with the present faulty NBA electoral system.

August 25 The Bayelsa Governorship Election Conundrum When would the Bayelsa State Governor be able to settle down to begin serious work? The Governorship election of November 16, 2019 continued to be trailed by one contention or another, and the question on the lips of many is, why such a furore over this Governorship election? First, David Lyon of the APC was removed a few hours before his swearing-in to office by the judgement of the Apex Court, and Senator Douye Diri of the PDP was declared to be the winner of that election. In a curious twist of events, the Election Petition Tribunal in a 2:1 majority decision, held that the ANDP who fielded under-age candidates, was nevertheless, unlawfully excluded from the election, thereby nullifying Diri’s hardworn victory. Damilola Olaleye, Sylvester Udemezue and David Tobi Oyesowo examined the Tribunal’s judgement extensively, in this Discourse.

September 1 New CAMA, New Challenges

September 8 NBA, ‘New NBA’ and El Rufai For six decades, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has held sway as the sole professional umbrella body to which when the leadership sneezed, even the all-powerful military juntas caught a cold. Apart from a brief hiatus occasioned by the unfortunate Port Harcourt debacle in 1992, the Association has been the custodian of the nation’s conscience. Did the developments in the Association, spell the death knell for the monopoly which the NBA used to have, which appeared to be fast withering and waning, as a splinter group emerged after the 2020 AGC, which senior members of the profession and the leadership of the NBA had to deal with, on how to rein in the young boisterous Turks whose intents and purposes were yet to be fully understood.

Did the New NBA emerge as a result of the disinvitation of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El Rufai who felt slighted by this?

Raymond Nkannebe and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim interrogated the intricate issues in a Crossfire!

September 15 Fuel, Electricity Tariffs: A Hike too Many In the midst of the hopelessness and despondency occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic which has made many Nigerians feed from dustbins, the nation awoke to the sad news and stark realisation that the Government had increased the pump price of fuel, while it tacitly allowed DISCOs to arbitrarily hike the electricity tariffs astronomically.

Was the plight of Nigerians taken into consideration, when Government took these steps? What would be the fate of the poor and suffering masses under the new price regime? Emmanuel Onwubiko, Sulaimon Arigbabu and Kolawole cont'd on page 11

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description is to secure the lives of Nigerians from armed robbers. Last week, Nigerian youths decided that they could take it no more, as the alleged shooting of one of them

by SARS operatives in Ughelli, Delta State, may have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back and the catalyst that ignited the protests across the country. This protest assumed a life of its own and took on serious dimensions, as even Nigerian Youths abroad took to the streets in places like the UK and USA, in a show of solidarity. Peaceful as the Protesters were, they didn’t seem to be relent on their demands, not only to #ENDSARS and not to reconstitute the dreaded outfit under the guise of any other name, as the Inspector General of Police has sought to do with SWAT, but calling for good governance generally. Ade Adegbite, Musa Shehu, Debo Oladinni, Dr Kayode Ajulo, Joseph Otteh and Deji Ajare, and Erasmus Ikhide examined what triggered the anger of Nigerian youths, the legitimacy of their demands, and what options are available to Government, in the face of the lingering protests.

Oluwadare, discussed the likely unsavoury effects of these hikes on the populace.

September 22 Can the AGF Amend the RPC? The controversy arising from the purported unilateral amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers 2007 (RPC) by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, is not likely to die down soon. There have been arguments and counter-arguments as to who has the authority to amend the rules, and whether due process was followed, especially given the fact that the immediate developments leading to the decision to amend the rules were rather uncomplimentary and unsavoury. There are allegations that the decision arose from questionable motives, where Lawyers from a section of the country purportedly sought to create a splinter group. Others allege that, what some perceive to be the undesirable outcome of the just concluded NBA elections, could also be responsible for the purported amendments. These are the issues addressed in this Crossfire between Dr. Kayode Ajulo, Sylvester Udemezue, Oliver Omoredia and Raymond Nkannebe.

September 29 Constitution Review Must be Holistic and Unfettered The Constitution is the heart and soul of any nation, and it is what binds the people together. Legal pundits and Nigeria’s Apex Court have driven home this point in the past few decades, with particular reface to the present Constitution which came into effect in 1999.

One of the criticisms of the 1999 Constitution, is that it was foisted on Nigerians by the Military. However, that alone is not the Constitution’s only defect, as in the past two decades, there have been several efforts

by National Conferences and the Nigerian Legislature to review and amend the Constitution, to properly reflect the nation’s diversity and complexities. Have these attempts yielded any tangible results, or cured the palpable defects in the Constitution? It doesn’t seem so.

Dele Adesina, SAN and Sebastine Hon, SAN give a comprehensive analysis of how Nigerians can give themselves a new and workable Constitution, in this Discourse.

October 6 ‘I am a Covid-19 Survivor’ Since December 2019 or thereabouts, when the Covid-19 pandemic reared its ugly head, the world rapidly changed in a matter of weeks; and it does not appear as

if things will ever be the same again, or at least, not for some years to come. Closer home, the virus struck even in the face of doubts and scepticism, and one of the survivors of Covid-19 is the former DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN. He narrated his harrowing experience to Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in an emotionally-laden interview, where he gave kudos to the medical team stationed at the Isolation Centre at Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, where he was treated and nursed back to health. He also talked about the class action which they have filed against China, holding China responsible for the spread of the dreaded virus and the dire consequences arising therefrom, and his humble achievements after 40 years at the Bar. October 13 What Nigeria Needs: Devolution of Powers, Not Restructuring For one who had been in the trenches fighting autocratic military dictatorships, it could be disheartening to note that after over two decades, Nigeria has not made much progress in the march towards a free, just,

democratic and equitable society.

Former NBA President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN played host to the THISDAY LAWYER team at his Ikoyi Office, where he fielded a wide range of questions from Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi. He spoke unabashedly about his Chairmanship of the NBA Board of Trustees, and why they did not overturn the last election of the Association, despite the wide criticisms that trailed the exercise. He also spoke about the nation’s quest for true democracy and federalism, economic challenges, and why he is optimistic that things will soon change for the better October 20 #ENDSARS: SÒRÒ SOKE was our Special Edition on the nationwide protests by Nigerians who have for decades, endured all manner inhuman and dehumanising treatment from the Nigeria Police, and the introduction of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) in 1991, gradually worsened the situation.

The dreaded SARS soon became law unto itself, as the outfit operated unbridled, and unleashed terror on innocent Nigerians, making Police brutality the order of the day. Many young and innocent Nigerians like Kolade Johnson lost their lives to these men, whose job

October 27 #ENDSARS: Echoes of a Black Tuesday Nigerian Youths (now popularly referred to as the #ENDSARS Protesters) have never been so united as was witnessed in the past couple of weeks, with the massive nationwide protests calling for the scrapping of the dreaded unit of the Nigeria Police, infamously known as SARS (the Special Anti-Robbery Squad). As the protests spilled over to last week, they were accompanied by untold and unsavoury consequences, which will certainly be well entrenched in the annals of Nigeria’s history.

On Tuesday October 20, 2020, in an attempt to disperse the #ENDSARS Protesters, the Military were alleged to have opened fire at the Lekki Tollgate where the Protesters were stationed, and some Nigerian youths were injured, while the allegation that some may have been killed and the number of deaths, remains unconfirmed. President Buhari’s much awaited broadcast to the nation, neither assuaged nor propitiated a mourning nation. Recriminations, accusations and counter-accusations, have continued to trail the aftermath of the otherwise peaceful protests.

Unarguably, the unprecedented protests have altered the course of Nigeria’s history, forever. Anthony Malik, SAN, Ossai Ojigho, Dr Osagie Obayuwana, Eyitayo Dada, Kingsley Jesuorobo and Michael Dibua weigh in on the avoidable unfortunate incident, which has put Nigeria in a negative light before the international community, in this cont'd on page 12

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Discourse November 3 #ENDSARS, Hoarding Palliatives, Fining Media Houses: Symptoms of a Failing Nation?

The week of October 20, was probably a defining one for the #ENDSARS Protests. While an impoverished mass of people stormed warehouses to forcibly recover Covid-19 palliative materials, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) without any justification, levied a N3 million fine each on three of Nigeria’s most credible and authoritative media houses, ARISE TV, AIT and CHANNELS TV. Nigeria’s foremost human rights crusader, Femi Falana, SAN, Emmanuel Onwubiko and Shehu Abdulwaheed Adisa interrogated the complex issues surrounding the #ENDSARS Protests, the role of the Nigeria Police, Army and thugs; whether the purported looting of palliatives was an act of the people taking back what rightfully belongs to them, or a criminal act; and whether the NBC had any justification whatsoever to levy any fine on these media houses.

November 10 Police Reforms: A Holistic Approach One of the spinoffs and salutary effects of the nationwide #ENDSARS protests, is the urgent need for a holistic Police Reform in Nigeria.

Every administration has paid lip service, to this rather crucial national concern. The social anguish which the abysmal performance of the Nigeria Police has occasioned, was the subjectmatter of this Discourse by Olawale Fapohunda, Kemi Okeyondo, Professor Etannibe Alemika, Dr Benson Olugbuo, Okechukwu Nwaguma, Danladi Plang and Innocent Chukwuma, who sug-

29.12.2020

Looking Back at 2020

gested various ways in which the Nigeria Police can be reformed and repositioned, to better carry out its constitutional duty of securing the civil populace, without terrorising the very masses they are meant to protect.

November 17 U.S. Presidential Election: Democracy Being Tested Americans may have cast their ballot in the November 2020 Presidential election, but the for the two contenders for the White House, it may not be over until President-elect Joe R. Biden gets sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America, come January 20, 2021. Like Nigerian Politicians, President Donald Trump refused to concede defeat, despite the fact that he lost both in popular and electoral votes; instead, Trump chose to grasp at straws, citing electoral malpractice.

The questions on the lips of many are: ‘Are Trump’s allegations of multiple electoral fraud against Biden’s Democratic Party true? Why has Trump refused to concede? Why did some world leaders refused to congratulate Biden, despite his clear lead in the election?’ Dr Gbenga Oduntan, Jefferson Uwoghiren, Dr Folus Ejele, Dr Anthony Ediae and Dr Kede Aihie dissected the complex issues in the just concluded Presidential election of the United States of America, in this Discourse.

November 24 ‘The Ship of the Nigerian State, is Sinking’ The new consciousness raised by the #ENDSARS protest has left in its wake, a new set of challenges, victims and heroes. One obvious victim, is Truth. This was further driven home when the International Television News Station, Cable News Network (CNN) came out with a damning documentary of what they believe transpired at the Lekki Tollgate, and the adverse consequences. One of

Nigeria’s foremost Human Rights Lawyers, Femi Falana, SAN, in an interview with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, gave his perspective of what led to #ENDSARS, the initial denial that soldiers weren’t present at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020, Nigeria’s embarrassing threat to sanction CNN, and why he thinks the ship of the Nigerian State is not only wobbling, but sinking.

December 1 Nigerian Needs Restructuring Urgently ‘Nigeria has only a few Nigerians who have had the rare privilege of traversing the legal and political terrain with equal success, and still remain resolute and have great faith in the nation. Owelle George Uwechue, SAN is one of such Nigerians; an avid legal practitioner, former Chairman of the esteemed Body of Benchers and Life Bencher, and Mr. Speaker Pro tempore of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic. Owelle Uwechue who turned 82 on November 30 had a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, explaining why he believes strongly that Nigeria is in dire need of urgent restructuring, and why he thinks the #ENDSARS protest was long overdue.

December 8 ‘Nigeria Needs the “Low Profile” Approach of the 1970s’ More than ever before, Nigerians are unanimous in their opinion that their basic rights are constantly under threat every passing day. The #EndSARS protest now appears to many, to be a microcosm of the bigger challenges that both the government and the citizenry have to deal with. One of Nigeria’s foremost human rights activists, Ms Ayò Obe went down memory lane with Onikèpò Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, to recount her involvement in the pro-democracy movement during the military era, which among other things, saw her going underground on a few occasions

to avoid arrest by the military, and also emerge as the President of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), the first indigenous organised human rights group. She also spoke about her radio programme, the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign, the #EndSARS Protest, and why she thinks the anti-corruption war of the present administration is not yielding desired results.

December 15 ‘NBA Makes No Profit From Stamp and Seal’ The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) encompasses all Nigerian Lawyers, with a membership capacity in excess of 150,000 spread across 125 Branches.

Leading such a large body of learned persons, has posed considerable challenges to different administrations of the NBA, over the decades. A few past Presidents of the Association, had impressively tried to fill that leadership gap with palpable chains of tangible achievements. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi had a chat with Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, who credibly led the NBA from 2014 - 2016. He spoke his mind, on several professional and national issues.

December 22 ‘My Administration is Committed to Reforming NBA’s Electoral System’ Coming into the saddle of leadership of Africa’s largest professional body, albeit through a much faulted and criticised election as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata has wasted no time in assuaging the confidence of Nigerian Lawyers that, he indeed, can deliver on all his electoral promises. Even in the midst of a debilitating global pandemic, he told Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in a chat, that his administration will not have any excuse not to lift the NBA back to its past glory (and more), and ensure the welfare of young Lawyers, amongst many other productive initiatives designed to benefit all members.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT FG Makes Clean Cooking Part of Climate Change Response Bennett Oghifo

N

igeria, in its commitment to the Paris Agreement, has identified the provision of clean cooking energy as an important effort to alleviate poverty and reduce emissions of harmful gases that cause climate change.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, only 10.5% of all households currently use LPG for cooking. During a workshop with the theme “scaling up clean cooking and Nigeria’s climate change response, held in Abuja on December 14, 2020, Ewah Eleri, the director of the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED) stated that it will take a seismic shift in policy and political prioritization for goal of universal access to clean cooking to be reached by 2030. According to Eleri, “There is the need to have a clear and strong national agency to lead the effort to

reach universal access. States and local governments must be involved in the delivery of clean cooking energy services.

It is also important that we strengthen the supply chain for LPG and improved wood stoves, and ensure that this fuel and technologies reach the poor,” he stated. ICEED is currently leading the research work for integrating clean cooking into the revised Paris Agreement commitment.

The current process of expanding the use of clean fuels for cooking brings together several stakeholders, including the office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The Project Manager of the LPG Programme under the Office of the Vice President, Dayo Adeshina said, “The Federal Government is committed to providing 30 million households with LPG in the next few years. This will be important in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from the use of firewood and kerosene.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken steps

to ensure that clean cooking becomes a central part of meeting its obligations to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Speaking during the ongoing revision of Nigeria’s commitment to the Agreement, the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor stated the determination of the Federal Government to meet its climate change obligations by ensuring that Nigerian households convert from harmful cooking fuels such as fuelwood, charcoal and kerosene to cooking gas and efficient wood stoves.

According to Chief Ikeazor, “The adoption of the Paris Agreement and its ratification, has made it obligatory for Nigeria to meet up with 20% unconditional reduction of emission of greenhouse gases by 2030 and 45%, if we are supported by the international community. To actualize this target, expanding clean cooking access is crucial to meeting our obligations to the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goal number seven. This goal seeks

to provide ‘access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services for all’ by 2030. There is therefore an urgent need to scale up clean cooking access in Nigeria.”

The Minister of State for Environment, thanked the

Heinrich Boel Foundation, World Resources Institute’s NDC CAEP Partnership for providing funding for the collaborative research project.

She welcomed the leading role ICEED is playing to ensure that the issue of clean cooking

remains in the front burner of national policies and pledged the support of the Ministry of Environment in providing the enabling environment for reaching the targets of the Federal Government on clean cooking and climate change.

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Maruf Akinderu-Fatai; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka and Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Olalere Odusote during the Maiden edition of Real Estate Marketplace Conference and Exhibition, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island… recently

Anaege: Exchange Rate Shouldn’t Bother Real Estate Investors A real estate firm, Sohana Realty, recently showcased a portfolio of property abroad and in Nigeria to drive confidence of existing clients and prospects in latent profitability of their chosen investments. The Managing Director of Sohana Realty, Henry S. Anaege tells Bennett Oghifo investors should not worry much about the Dollar/Naira exchange rate

T

ell us about your real estate background Henry S. Anaege is a licensed Real estate professional in the United States with a great passion for African real estate. He went on to become a broker/ managing partner in a real estate development startup that grew into multi-billionaire company in Africa in a short span of three years, an accomplishment he is most proud of. It is this same penchant for providing creative real estate solutions he continually bring to every transaction.

A Member of the NAR and HAR in the United States of Certified International and Luxury Real Estate Expert,

Anaege

with Bachelors degree in Linguistics from University of Lagos. Tenacious and highly optimistic, He strongly believes in philanthropy ,African heritage and the course to changing the narrative/ perception of Nigerians in diaspora about nigeria and africa at large through innovative business ideas and leveraging technology.

To unwind he enjoys jazz music travelling and reading.

What’s the current open house in Nigeria about?

We hosted Master developer SOHBA from Dubai here in Lagos. The whole idea is to help our existing clients or new prospects looking to diversify their real estate

portfolio, invest offshore. In light of the present situation and so much instability with the Dollar/Naira exchange rate, investors are becoming worried about the future of their investments. We see the need to help.

What projects are you marketing?

We are currently selling the Creek Vista G8 development in Mohamed bin Rashid City Dubai. Also we have a lot of inventory for our local market here in Lagos, Abuja and Eastern Nigeria.

My real estate portfolio after three years in business I am grateful for the journey thus far and glad to have accomplished so much in a short time. I started doing real estate from my first home sale in Lagos when I visited from the United States.

Afterward, I went ahead to get licensed in the United States, and joined an African real estate startup which we grew into a multi-billionaire company in a short span of three years. Currently, we have various real estate investments within Lagos and the United States being managed for our investors and partners. We are working towards expanding into construction and offering flexible payment plans to enable our people achieve their dreams of homeownership.

What’s the ROI like with your projects What can tilt prospective buyers your way, considering the stiff competition out there in a depressed economy?

Our investment opportunities are quite tailored to each investor. Before we work with any prospect we like to understand their objectives and goals. Real estate investing is quite different

from buying a personal residence because the return on investment (ROI) has to make sense for the investor.

At Sohana our team of experts is quite knowledgeable and experienced to best assist.

Victims Win Bonga Oil Spill Suit against Shell Group in UK Sylvester Idowu in Warri The 2011 Bonga spill victims, who have been pursuing legal means to actualise their quest to effect compensation under the aegis of Oil Spill Initiative Vanguard in a suit number HT -2017 -000383 and HT-2020 -143 Bonga Oil Spill, December 20th, 2011 against Shell Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STATSCO) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) have won the second round of the legal battle against SHELL the oil giant in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Harrison Jalla the Executive Director of Oil Spill Victims Initiative Vanguard (OSPIVV), an NGO dedicated to the pursuit of the rights of victims and communities affected by oil spill hazards, gas flaring and to ensure transparency and accountability in the extractive industries in Nigeria disclosed that a court in the United Kingdom has assumed jurisdiction to hear

the suit before it.

“God being a Man of justice prevailed as the judgement handed down by the Hon. Justice Stuart Smith on the 2nd of march 2020 in the English court assumed jurisdiction and ruled in favour of OSPIVV, lndividuals and Community Claimants in the matter,” he said.

Speaking further he remarked: “ l am glad to inform you that we are moving closer to end of the tunnel with a silver lining , our case has since been heard on the 19th of November 2020 in a case management session by both parties under a new Judge, Hon.Justice (Mrs) O’ FARRELL which outlined how the matter will progress in the main trial.”

He said the battle for OSPIVV to ensure that the victims are compensated has been on since September 21, 2017, when the Group took the legal action through Johnson and Steller Solicitors.

He however hinted for reasons not disclosed that the former lawyers, Johnson and Steller Solicitors are now replaced by Rosenblatt Limited, a reputable oil and law firm based in Saint Andrew East Central London.

The Group Executive however noted that the journey to final destination for the victim’s dream of compensation is yet to be realised legally explaining” Having scaled the first and second hurdles, where judgement has been delivered in favour of OSPIVV, we still have one more protective claim pending in suit No HT -2020 -000143 filed on the 23rd of April 2020.

He expressed optimism that the next phase of legal battle will still turn out to be positive in favour of OSPIVV just like the first two instances, because the Group have iron cast alibis which the judges of the earlier courts relied on to deliver judgement in favour of the spill victims.

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY DECEMBER 29, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Julius Berger Abumet Wins Prestigious Nation Builders Achievers Award 2020 Julius Berger Abumet, the aluminium and glass design, production and implementation subsidiary of Nigeria’s leading and most reliable engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has been hailed as “an inspirational trail-blazing agent of National industrial Development”.

Abumet, which launched its pioneering innovative product, the Abumet Evonig Glass, and commissioned its state-of-the art IGU production line in Abuja during the year, has won an award for distinguished service.

Tagged “Nation Builders Achievers Award 2020”, the prestigious industry award was earned by Abumet for providing “Sustainable Best in Class Aluminium and glass solution” for the built industry in Nigeria.

The Nation Builders Achievers Awards (NBAA) event which held on December 18, 2020 at the Nigeria Air Force Conference Centre in Abuja, was organized to recognise and appreciate consistently creative, resilient and outstanding individuals and organizations

whose hard work, business integrity and productive exploits towards the growth and development of Nigeria and Africa have distinguished them as nation builders. The award aims to motivate leaders and future leaders to make sustainable and positive impact in the society with a higher aspiration to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It would be recalled that earlier in March this year, Julius Berger Abumet had specially invited the Minister for Industry, Trade & Investment, His Excellency Otunba Niyi Adebayo, as well as other industry and corporate stakeholders to have a first-hand look at some of the latest industrial production facilities and processes at the internationally acclaimed Abumet factory at Idu Industrial Area, during the commissioning of the Abumet Evonig Glass production line in Abuja. At the event, the minister had congratulated and commended Julius Berger Abumet for its

initiative to domesticate the novel production of Evonig Glass at the Idu Industrial Area in Abuja Nigeria. Adebayo who said the current Administration has a vision to create a hundred million jobs in the country in the next decade, described the Abumet plant as a worthy job creation initiative. Otunba Adebayo also gave kudos to Abumet for pioneering the first and most advanced fully automated IGU production line in Nigeria.

The Hon. Minister described the Abumet production plant as a revolutionary fillip to Nigeria’s industrial development. “Keep up your worthy contributions to our strategic national industrial development and growth works”, Otunba Adebayo encouraged Julius Berger Abumet.

Giving his address at the event, the General Manager of Abumet, Mr. Tamas Hovart defined Evonig Glass as an industrial acronym which proudly synthesises the two words ‘Evolution’ and ‘Nigeria’.

The product, Tamas said, “is not

just an improvement of existing offerings in the Nigerian market; it is a combination of the latest technology and a skilled and committed Nigeria team.” The Abumet Evonig Glass, Tamas further explained, “is a special offering defined by great production quality according to best international standard, innovation, availability, local content and a

strong Nigerian workforce, reliable technical partnerships and advanced technology as well as sustainability and reliable after sales service.” During the ceremony, Tamas had informed guests that current industrial and procurement estimates of supply to the Nigerian IGU market is put at 90% for imported production and 10% for local production. This situation,

he said, exposes the Nigerian users of the product to long wait for offshore shipments and prohibitive exposure to foreign exchange challenges.

Julius Berger Abumet, Tamas said, “aim to offer comparably faster delivery times for a high quality insulated glass unit solution made in Nigeria with international standards, at a competitive rate.”

L-R: Julius Berger Abumet Commercial Manager., Thorsten Reinking; General Manager, Tamas Hovart; JBN Exec. Dir. Admin., Alh. Zubairu I. Bayi; Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; JBN PLC Dir., Mrs. Belinda Disu; Abumet Alternate Chairman, Mahmud Tukur; and JBN Exec. Dir., Corporate Development, Tobias Meletschus at the Abumet Evonig Glass product launch production plant commissioning in Abuja during the 2020 business year

NAE Advocates Technology Application as Panacea to Economic Development Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), the highest echelon of the nation’s engineering profession, has advocated the use of technology as panacea to economic development in Nigeria.

This was a major outcome at the Academy’s investiture of new fellows, and annual lecture tagged, “the Nigerian

infrastructure Conundrum- the Missing Links”; held in Lagos recently.

The Guest Speaker, Chairman Amana Consortium Ltd, Engr.

(Dr.) Edet Amana stated that technology and its application is the missing link in Nigeria’s infrastructure conundrum.

“As a result of failed infrastructure, the economic development of our country has suffered major setbacks

and what is potentially a rich and great country has failed to develop her enormous potential over the years,” he said.

He stated that the World Economic Forum’s 2016-2017 Global Competitiveness Index ranked Nigeria’s Infrastructure at the bottom - 132 out of 138 countries. According to that organization’s 2016 Executive Opinion Survey, the poor infrastructure is the largest

constraint on doing business in the country, he said.

National, human, and economic development, require extensive interplay of the nation’s physical, social, organisational and knowledge infrastructures. The quantum and quality of development depend on the effectiveness of this interplay, he said.

“Hard data is replacing decision making based on

observation, intuition, or experience in many areas of human endeavour. We saw this play out during the Covid-19 pandemic when, in the highly organised economies, the vast amount of data generated from GSM usage was used to predict the spread and therefore management of the Covid-19 disease,” he stated.

“An effective educational system will produce people

who will effectively man the political system, the knowledge generation and application systems, the systems responsible for the provision of water, roads, etc. Similarly, a failed political system cannot provide the organizational framework necessary for the development of power supply, education, healthcare delivery or knowledge generation and application systems,” he said.

Lagos Building Professionals Urged to Use Existing Codes for Safety Fadekemi Ajakaiye Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako has advised professionals in the nation’s building industry to be guided by existing codes to produce safe and sustainable buildings.

He stated this at the 29th Lagos Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting organised by the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Institute of Builders, held in Lagos, recently.

Salako, who was the Chairman of the conference, tagged “Safe and Sustainable Building in Lagos State. Implementation Strategy for Lagos Physical Development Law and Regula-

tion,” stated that the Lagos State government was committed to achieving safe buildings and liveable environment.

“For a building to be fit for human habitation it must observe certain parameters.

Thus, a building comprises many elements: physical, social, technical, economical and psychological. All these have been considered and incorporated in the compilation of the National Building Code. However, while safety of a building may be guaranteed through measures applicable to the individual units, sustainability may not be so achieved because it transcends this. We need to strive to do the right thing and build right,” he said.

He stated that Permanent Secretaries, General Managers and some district officers who initially could not sign some approvals have now been empowered to do so.

Also, the district offices are now increased to 30 while the number of supervising directors has been increased from five to 10.

Salako, who led the Panel discussion, stated that the agencies under his ministry were sensitizing residents on voluntary compliance to planning permits principles, adding that, the Governor had delegated more powers to the agencies to grant approvals.

The State government has also adopted various regulatory

measures, and enacted laws enforcing insurance to guard against incessant building collapses and loss of lives and property within the state, he said.

“The Government is currently negotiating with the National Insurance Commission to make insurance compulsory in the building process. The Lagos Physical Development Law and Regulation is saying when you are constructing you must have an insurance cover,” he said.

He said that the Lagos State Government had made planning permits seamless through technology as well as processes of obtaining titles easier to ensure properties were viable for use as financial instruments

in banks.

The Chairman NIOB, Lagos Chapter, BLDR. Sunday Joseph Wusu, stated that the Institute was of the firm view that, if building regulations were strictly and religiously adhered to, both undue building failures and urban slum formation would be reasonably minimised, and subsequently eliminated.

“Our mission as an institute, is to pave the way for members and all relevant stakeholders in the building industry, to deliver safe and sustainable shelter, and consequently, address the housing deficit of our country, which still stands at about 17 million houses. This can only be achieved through training, retraining, research and

development of local materials, and abreast with current trends in global technological practices,” he said “The rate of building collapse in Lagos and across the country is highly unacceptable. Even though to our own defense and pride, these collapse incidences are not usually associated with professional builders, it is still our fiduciary duty to rise to the complex challenge and rid the society of quacks masquerading as professionals. To this end, we consider it proper to partner with the Lagos State government in strategising to effectively implement the Physical Development Law and Regulation (PDLR) of the state,” he said.

Forests are Vital Resources for Poverty Eradication, Says Don African governments must protect forests as they are key in poverty eradication, according to Dr Gillian Kabwe, a senior lecturer at Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia.

Dr. Kabwe urged authorities to fight overexploitation of these natural resources to stop deforestation often fuelled by the vicious cycle of poverty.

“Deforestation plays two roles: on the one hand, it helps in eradication of poverty among

dependent communities in food and income generation activities such as charcoal burning, firewood among others, but, on the other hand, forests are being destroyed to clear land for agriculture, ranching and development, unsustainable logging for timber. All these human activities, among others, in the long run contribute to nature decline,” she said.

The Don was speaking during the Fourth African Conference

of Science Journalists organized

by Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA).

She said a recent global assessment report by International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) titled Forests, Trees and the Eradication of Poverty: Potential and Limitations, revealed that today forests contribute to about 25 per cent of household income for the poor.

Dr Kabwe told the conference that poverty is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity globally, with one in every 10 people living in extreme poverty.

Consequently, poverty eradication has found a place at the top of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“Most people living in the rural areas are disadvantaged on issues of value addition on forest products even though key

forest resources are known by local communities.

Among other challenges, acquiring a licence is almost impossible and, therefore, they cannot properly trade on products such as timber and charcoal,” she said.

She regretted that women are often the most impacted by poverty and forest loss, saying it would, therefore, be important that they are integrated in programmes of engagement

on issues of community-based forest management.

“In the rural setups women are endowed with knowledge about beneficial forest resources as they are the ones who provide for everyday family needs; they fetch firewood and water, and do cultivation, and therefore understand forest issues well enough,” said Dr. Kabwe, adding that it is important to create a platform for them to express themselves.

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Quick Takes Alibaba Increases Share Repurchase

Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited listed in Hong Kong fell on MondayoversevenpercenttoHK$212.20($27.37)afterthecompany raised its share repurchase programme to $10 billion from $6 billion.

“This Share Repurchase Program will be effective for a two-year period through the end of 2022,” Reuters quoted Alibaba to have said in a statement.

China’s market regulator launched an antitrust investigation into Alibabalastweek,partofanacceleratingcrackdownonanticompetitive behaviour in China’s booming internet space.

Financial regulators on Sunday also urged Ant Group Co, an Alibaba affiliate, to rectify financial regulatory violations, after Chinese regulators abruptly suspended Ant’s blockbuster $37 billion initial public offering in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Alibaba rival internet companies Meituan fell over five per cent and JD.com dropped more than two per cent.

Mexico to Limit Private Fuel Imports

COURTESY VISIT

L-R: Sierra Leone Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Commissioner, Olubunmi Wellington; Gambia AIB Commissioner, Lawrence Jarra; Permanent Secretary, Sierra Leone, Brima Sowa; Minister in Sierra Leone, Kabineh Kallon; Banjul Accord Investigative Agency (BAGAIA) Commissioner, Engr. Charles Erhueh, and Director General, Sierra Leone AIB, Moses Tiffa Baio, during the courtesy visit of the BAGAIA Commissioners to the West African nation...recently.

W’Bank Urges Nigeria, Others to Tackle Corruption in State Owned Enterprises Stories by Chineme Okafor in Abuja The World Bank has offered Nigeria and other countries that have State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) potential solutions to corrupt and incompetent practices in their respective public institutions.

It stated this in a recently report titled, ‘Enhancing Government Effectiveness and Transparency: The Fight against Corruption.’

SOEs are generally regarded as corporations created by a government to participate in commercial activities on its behalf.

They are also solely or partly

ENERGY owned by the government which usually allot specific commercial activities to them.

In the report, the World Bank stated that corruption in SOEs has gained prominence in recent years due to high-profile scandals in countries like Brazil, South Africa, Angola, and Malaysia.

The bank explained that corruption risks in SOEs arises from various sources such as monopoly or quasi-monopoly rights which provide an opportunity for abnormal profit generation.

It also said risks arise in SOEs from weak legal and regulatory frameworks, corporate governance weaknesses, lack of transparency and disclosure of finances as well as limited effective government and citizen oversight.

According to the bank, corrupt acts committed in SOEs with these shortcomings have defining effects on the economies of countries and government’s abilities to provide critical public goods and services.

It noted that phasing or sequencing of SOE reforms based on their political and

institutional feasibility can help overcome entrenched interests and provide confidence to policy makers to take further steps.

The bank thus suggested that, “opening up markets to greater competition to reduce monopoly power and market share and incentivise financial and fiscal discipline, strengthening SOE legal and regulatory frameworks and practices, building a commitment to good governance and capacity of state-owned entities,” could help improve integrity in the SOEs. Continued on page 22

Experts: Current Downstream Sector Deregulation Unclear, Contentious Oil and gas industry experts have described Nigeria’s current deregulation of its downstream oil sector as uncertain, contentious and identified some inefficiencies therein.

Speaking during a recent webinar organised by the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) to review the government’s deregulation policy, the experts explained that the current legislation and institutional arrangements establishes gaps which include conflicting provisions with respect to who has the power to fix the prices of petroleum products.

In a communique at the end of the webinar, the experts noted that the Petroleum Act of 1969, Price Control Act of 1977, Petroleum Equalisation Fund Act and Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency Act of 2003 all have varying provisions and powers on pricing of petroleum products.

ENERGY According to them, the PPPRA has the power to determine the pricing policy of petroleum products and has been determining the prices of petroleum products in the recent past through its pricing template.

They noted that in the current context, it is equally difficult to establish the true cost of petrol importation into Nigeria with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) reportedly enjoying some monopoly power.

“When PPPRA were announcing the monthly guiding prices, claims that the pricing template it published takes into account FOB (free on board) cost, freight, trans-shipment cost, statutory and admin charges (NPA, NIMASA, PEF, etc), storage charges, financing costs, foreign exchange rate together with generous distribution margins for the oil

marketing companies, transporters and retailers.

“But the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) insists that the cost of importation of petroleum products, especially PMS, is beyond the reach of its members, primarily due to unavailability of (forex) FX at the same rate applicable to NNPC. They also insist that distribution costs the template allots to marketers is inadequate to sustain their businesses,” the communique stated.

According to the experts, the NNPC as the sole importer of petrol is currently utilising its domestic crude oil allocation to import petrol under the Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP) arrangement, thus benefiting from unrestricted access to foreign exchange at official rate of N360 per a dollar.

“Oil marketers would end up with a higher landing cost that is at least 25 per cent higher than

NNPC’s if they procure FX at N480,” the experts noted.

They equally explained that transparency, sufficient political will, effective planning and strong regulator are essential ingredients necessary for the sustainable implementation of the deregulation policy.

Further, the experts claimed that the total cost of importing petrol into Nigeria is today unknown to consumers, adding that the PPPRA does not comply with regulations on monthly guiding prices for petrol.

“PPPRA renege on its responsibility to monitor the market and advise NNPC and other marketers on the appropriate guiding prices of PMS on a monthly basis,” they said, adding that there is insufficient market information that would allow all importers and consumers to understand the basis for any Continued on page 22

Mexico’s government has issued new regulations to limit the ability of private firms to import fuel, according to a weekend decree, fanning concerns that the move may unduly benefit national oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).

Therules,issuedbytheenergyministry,waspartofadrivebyPresident Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to put an end to fuel imports and make Mexico oil-independent, according to Reuters.

Among the changes set out in the government’s official gazette on Saturday, the energy ministry will now offer import permits for five years rather than 20 years.

Writing on Twitter, oil analyst Gonzalo Monroy said the measure appeared designed to close the market and ultimately leave it in Pemex’s hands.

Mexico’s antitrust regulator Cofece had fiercely criticised a draft proposal for the new regulation and urged the economy ministry to carry out further analysis.

Cofece said in a resolution last week that curtailing permits would lessen incentives to invest, while “reaffirming ... the dominant position of Pemex.” Consumers could suffer fewer supply options as a result, it argued.

“The draft plan would seriously hamper ... free competition in the commercialization of petroleum products,” Cofece said.

Lopez Obrador has made reviving Pemex a top priority, in part by clawingbackmorecontrolofenergypolicyandbybreakingwiththelast government’saimtotreatPemexonequaltermsasthenewprivateand foreign entrants to the market. The leftist leader has instead sought to bring regulators in line with his broader plan to boost ailing Pemex, which has suffered years of losses, and in April lost its investment grade credit rating.

Lilvera Group Bags Award

Lilvera Group, a consultancy firm focused on integrated marketing communication has won the 2020 Africa Finance Award for the ‘Most Customer Focused Experiential Marketing category.

Lilvera Nigeria was presented with the most customer focused experiential marketing award at the ninth edition of the award held in Lagos, recently.

After receiving the award, the Lilvera Nigeria Chief Ideas Officer, Buchi Johnson thanked the organisers, saying: “this is the testament to the fact that the company has done well in 2020 that is known to be the most difficult year.”

He said, “We are honoured by this award considering that there are so many fantastic experiential marketing with good customer tractions in Africa. We have been favored by winning the 2020 the most customer focused experiential company award. Don’t forget this has been the craziest year for business,” he quipped.

Johnson, who believed that the honour has place a burden on the company’s shoulder to continuously deliver on its core mandates, however dedicated the award top his clients that have showed unflinching supports to his craft and firm’s ability to deliver at all times.

The Chief Ideas Officer stated that without the team at Lilvera Nigeria, the honour would have been elusive.

“As there is no one-size-fit-all approach in salvaging an economy faced with multifaceted challenges like ours, we suggest a mix of fiscal, monetary and trade policies with political will in delivery the necessary actions“ DG, NECA, Timothy Olawale

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BUSINESSWORLD OPEC: FUEL EFFICIENCY TO CUT OIL DEMAND BY 8.6MBD IN 25 YEARS It also proposed that, “professionalising the SOE board of directors and senior management, establishing effective internal controls, compliance, and risk management, promoting transparency and full financial disclosure, including of SOE debt,” are other measures that could cut down corruption in SOEs. The World Bank warned that, “reforming governance of SOEs alone may not always be enough to prevent corruption and assure efficiency,” adding that breaking large SOEs into smaller units for greater efficiency could be adopted as well.

The World Bank suggested that, “where privatisation or private sector participation is not a viable option, SOEs can still be exposed to capital market discipline through partial listings.”

EXPERTS: CURRENT DOWNSTREAM SECTOR DEREGULATION UNCLEAR, CONTENTIOUS change in price.

The experts also claimed that the ex-depot price of the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) which is a subsidiary of the NNPC is now the basis for pricing petrol across the nation and thus asked if the PPMC is now a regulator or player in the sector.

On what needs to be done, they explained that: “Provided NNPC remains the only importer, Nigeria should develop a strategy for importing PMS at minimum cost from the international market and sharing same to all wholesalers for domestic supply at competitive prices.”

“Full deregulation is not limited to the removal of government subsidies alone.

Deregulation will require the creation of a competitive market environment, which will guarantee the supply of products at commercial prices to customers.

“It allows competent players to grow the market through deployment of current technology, good governance, and international best practices.

It also requires unrestricted and profitable investments in infrastructure, open to all players under a level playing field and which guarantees reasonable returns to the investors.

NEWS

Sunu Assurance Boss Calls for Enforcement of Building Insurance Ebere Nwoji

standard in the building sector.

He noted that SUNU Assurance, would continue to ensure improvement of its service delivery to the insuring public and would come up stronger, while it rounds-up the execution of the recapitalisation.

According to him, the underwriting firm witnessed increase

in shareholders’ fund as high as 90 per cent growth after share reconstruction and capital injection of N3.01 billion.

Ogbodu said in spite of economic challenges, the firm has continued to grow its market share, stressing that the firm would close the year 2020 with a premium produc-

tion of at least N3.15 billion, as against closing year 2019, with premium production of N2.24 billion, which represents a growth rate of 40 per cent due to the restructuring initiatives and strategic business transformation carried out in recent quarters to mitigate the effect of economic challenges.

He maintained that the company will close the year with claims pay-out of N1.29 billion in 2020, while its underwriting profit grew to N1.22 billion in 2020 from N781 million in 2019, presenting a growth of 56.2 pep cent, which was due to improved technical efficiency in business operations.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SUNU Assurance Plc, Mr Samuel Ogbodu, has called for the enforcement of building insurance in the country.

This, he said would help to address incidences of building collapse in the country.

Ogbodu, who stated this at a media briefing in Lagos, also said SUNU Assurances has successfully completed the first phase of its recapitalisation plan by increasing its shareholders’ fund to N6.61 billion in 2020, from N3.47 billion in 2019.

The SUNU Assurance boss, noted that the enforcement of building insurance as well as buildings under constructions, which are within the ambit of compulsory insurances, would enable insurance firms deplore their professionals to examine the state of building materials used in the development of houses in the country, thereby stemming the incidences of collapse buildings.

He noted that integration of insurance companies in the building process would help curb malpractices, adding that insurers would never provide cover for compromised property.

According to him, insurance L - R: Zonal Business Manager, Nigerian Breweries, Moses Ogbodo; Brand Ambassador, Legend Extra Stout, Erica Nlewedim, and the Sales operators are needed in ensuring Director, Nigerian Breweries, Uche Unigwe, during the Legend Homecoming Tour in Abia State... recently

HOME-COMING TOUR

McMedal to Head Mediacraft’s Business Development Unit Raheem Akingbolu Mediacraft Associates, a public relations firm and Nigeria affiliate of the FleishmanHillard global PR network, has announced the appointment of Segun McMedal as its new Director of Innovation and Business Development.

His appointment takes effect from first week in January, 2021.

McMedal, an experienced PR practitioner, is the current Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a position he has held since 2016.

Group CEO, Mediacraft

Associates, John Ehiguese, in a statement was quoted to have said: “We are very delighted to welcome Segun to the leadership team of our company. He brings on board, as his major assets, a wealth of experience in PR consultancy practice, and a vast personal network.

“His appointment is expected to reinforce our strategic growth and transformation programme, by which we are aiming to raise the bar of our service delivery to a level that matches global best practice standards.”

Commenting on his new job, Segun McMedal said: “I have watched Mediacraft

Associates grow, with admiration, in the last seventeen years. The company has grown steadily to become a leading communications consultancy in Nigeria. I am excitedly looking forward to joining the leadership team and building on the great foundation and growth potential of the business.”

As the PR firm’s Director of Innovation and Business Development, McMedal is expected to bring his wealth of experience in Nigeria’s Marketing Communications landscape to bear in exploring and optimizing new business opportunities, while also strengthening existing business relationships.

He is also expected to drive innovative business processes for Mediacraft Associates, as well as help promote Ehiguese’s agenda of working to ensure that Public Relations takes its pride of place as the lead function in the Nigerian Marketing Communications industry.

Prior to this appointment, Segun McMedal was the Chief Reputation Strategist at Upticomm Marketing Company Limited. Between March 2010 and July 2012, he served as the Group Head, Client Service and Business Development, at CMC-Connect BCW, where he managed high profile client accounts and coordinated media relations activities,

amongst other tasks.

He was also the Chief Operating Officer at Ross and Boss, a PR firm, from 2008 to 2010, as well as Managing Editor at Meljum Nigeria Ltd, a Nigerian publishing company, between March 2005 and June 2008.

McMedal holds a Bsc. in Sociology from the University of Ilorin (1997), a Masters in Public & International Affairs from the University of Lagos (2019) and a Post-graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Times Journalism Institute (2004). He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

‘Chevron, NNPC JV Contributed N7bn to Ijaw Communities’Devt in 15 Years’ Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Group Business Editor

ÌÓØØË ÒÓ×Ë Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

××Ë ÕÙØÔÓ Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) ÌÏÜÏ áÙÔÓ (Insurance) ÒÓØÏ×Ï ÕËÐÙÜ (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, the Nigeria National Petroleum Development Company(NNPC)/Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) Joint Venture disclosed that it has contributed over N7 billion to the Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) since its creation in 2005.

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of CNL, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, made the disclosure during the 10th Annual General Meeting of EGCDF at Effurun near Warri, Delta State, recently.

Brikinn, who was represented

by Mr. Sam Daibo, Area Manager, Field Operations, said the contribution was a manifestation of

CNL/NNPC JV commitment to the terms of the Global Memorandum of Understandings (GMoU) between it and the Foundation.

While imploring the people of the two communities to embrace dialogue in resolving issues, Brikinn noted that the benefits of the GMoU could only be sustained in an atmosphere of peace that was conducive for business activities.

“Since inception in 2005, the NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture has contributed over N7 billion to the EGCDF. Successive Regional Development Committee (RDC) leadership used the fund for implementing various infrastructural and non-infrastructural projects.

“Chevron will continue to provide support to ensure that we achieved sustainable

development for the people.

This is a tough time for the oil and gas industry globally.

Nevertheless, Chevron takes its role as a corporate citizen in Nigeria seriously and remain active in many projects that promote health, education and economic development”, he said.

Brinkinn sought for more cooperation from all stakeholders as the company takes steps to ensure the sustainability of the business in the face of the current business challenges.

He thanked the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, for creating the enabling environment for the GMoU to succeed.

He also thanked the various traditional rulers, community leaders and members of EGCDF for their hard work, dedication and support toward actualising

the objectives of the GMoU. Also, Chairman of the EGCDF, Mr. Jude Ukori, said despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation was able to make remarkable progress and achievement in 2020.

He said that under the 2019/2020 New Project Circle, the Foundation awarded a total of 17 projects to contractors nominated by the communities after a competitively bidding process.

“Apart from our infrastructural projects which indeed have dynamically transformed the architectural outlook and aesthetics of our communities.

“The Foundation also runs chains of non-infrastructural programs designed to build the capacity of the indigenes. This

programs include scholarship, skill acquisition and micro- credit scheme”, he said.

The Delta State Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Mr. Emman Amgbaduba, urged the people to continue to embrace peace and dialogue adding “When the issue is beyond you, you can meet the government and we will intervene”.

The General Secretary of EGCDF, Sheriff Mulade, said this year’s AGM was designed to celebrate and thank God for keeping them alive amidst the Covid-19.

He said in spite of challenges faced in 2020, the foundation had succeeded remarkably in engraving her name in the minds of the people.

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Nigeria Oil Industry in Turbulent Year Peter Uzoho chronicles the events that shaped the Nigeria oil and gas industry in 2020

T

he oil and gas industry globally has witnessed its most tempestuous experience in history in 2020. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic fromWuhan,China, and its threat to lives and businesses led to the introduction of lockdowns and other stringent restriction of movement measures across cities of the world.

Nigeria like other countries had begun the 2020 business year on a very promising note.

The Nigeria oil and gas industry entered the year basking in the euphoria of a major milestone that was recorded in the twilight of 2019 –the eventual signing of the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the seventh plant or train 7 of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

The $10 billion project which had been delayed for about 10 years was expected to complement the existing six trains and raise the total production capacity from the current 22 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of gas to 30MTPA. This implied an increase of the facility’s production capacity by 35 per cent. The industry players had described the project as a game-changer for the oil and gas industry as well as a major catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

The train 7 was said to deliver at least $20 billion of net revenue per annum for the federation and create about 12,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs to Nigerians.

In February 2020, the Nigeria oil and gas industry recorded another significant milestone with the launch of the National Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC) initiated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The code formally launched in Abuja during the third edition of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, was designed to open up access, enhance availability and affordability of gas for domestic use.

The code, according to the DPR, is a set of rules that guide the use of the gas transportation system in Nigeria and would essentially govern the operations of all the network players including suppliers, transporters, shippers and agents.

It is also a contractual framework between the network operator and network users, serving as an important negotiation component of the gas business and transactions in the Nigerian domestic gas market.

The NGTNC was patterned after the United Kingdom’s Uniform Code (UNC) and modeled on a methodology that is established, recognised and practiced globally within matured gas markets, which, when implemented, shall entrench transparency in the gas industry.

The Pandemic However, on the heels of the fast-spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world began to tremble. The global oil market began to feel the hit of the effect of the virus when countries began to impose lockdowns and restriction to contain the spread of the ravaging COVID-19.

The development fueled sharp drop in the demand for crude and refined petroleum products, leading to the demand-supply imbalance and the collapse of the crude price. The oil price which was trading above $60 per barrel began to nosedive almost on a daily basis. The crisis in the global oil market escalated due to the war of supremacy between the two oil giants, Saudi Arabia and Russia over crude production and supply, leading to over-supply of crude amidst fewer buyers. This led to the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil price, plunging at a time, to as low as $15 per barrel and recording an 18-year low in April.

During the period, Nigeria saw her economic projections for the year shattered as the country’s revenue from crude oil plummeted.

The 2020 national budget had to be reviewed in order to keep it in tandem with the unfolding economic realities. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the time, declared that a number of Nigerian crude vessels were hovering the sea with no buyers in sight, and even at some point, was begging buyers to take Nigerian crude.

Amid the turbulence and the need to survive the hit, the NNPC began to re-strategise on how to produce at a more efficient and cost-friendly manner, so as to be able to save and generate more money for the federation. Under its current Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari,

the corporation announced its plan to cut oil production cost to $10 per barrel and rallied its partners to key into the plan.

As part of the measures to cushion the negative impact of the pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions imposed on the people, the federal government announced the reduction in the pump price of petrol from then N145 to N125 per litre. The price was subsequently slashed to N121.50. It, however, went up again with the gradual recovery of oil price.

In the midst of the revenue crisis confronting the government, the government finally listened to the voice of reason and announced the removal of petrol subsidy to enable it channel the resources to more critical areas. The move brought to an end the many years of waste arising from the subsidy payment. It had been estimated that subsidy on petrol had cost Nigeria over N10 trillion in a period of 10 years. The subsidy removal was the commencement of the deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry by the federal government.

Oil & Gas Operators’ Response Meanwhile, in supporting the government to adequately confront the effect of the pandemic and help the nation’s recovery from the plague, the Nigerian oil and gas industry had in March, launched the industry-wide initiative against COVID-19.

A coalition of 33 industry operators led by the NNPC contributed $30 million (N11 billion) to help the federal government combat the virus in the country under three thematic areas of Provision of medical consumables; Deployment of logistics and in-patient support system; and Delivery of medical infrastructure.

Rising to the health and safety challenge posed to the industry operations and operators by the pandemic, the DPR, issued guidelines to industry players on managing the spread of the virus in offshore and remote locations.

The agency, in its industry circular, said that, “while strategies adopted by industry operators during this period is anchored on health & safety of personnel, compliance, stakeholders’ alignment, ensuring work-life balance, leveraging technology as well as ensuring continuity of businesses & operations, it has become imperative to adopt similar measures in onshore field locations”.

Fuel Subsidy Removal In June, the federal government proceeded with the full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector with the removal of the existing cap on fuel prices, to allow market forces begin to determine the price of petrol at the pump. The pronouncement however, came with the caveat that it would still be advising, through the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA), on the monthly prices of petrol through price

modulation.

That meant that private marketers who had not been participating in the petrol importation activity, could resume importation. The deregulation basically offered them the window of importing products and selling at prevailing market prices, without the usual price band set by the concerned regulatory agency.

But the marketers who had studied the document conveying the deregulation, pointed out some contradictions which they were not comfortable with.

According to the document, the agency (PPPRA) would only continue to monitor trends in the crude oil market and advise the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil marketers accordingly.

The marketers argued that if petrol price was to be determined by market forces, it was no longer necessary for the PPPRA to say it would still be advising the NNPC and the marketers on the monthly price of petrol.

AKK Gas Project Also in June, the oil and gas sector recorded a major mark in its infrastructure development with the flag-off of the epochal 614km AjaokutaKaduna-Kano Gas (AKK) pipeline project by President Muhammadu Buhari. The virtual flag off ceremony was done simultaneously at Ajaokuta, Kogi State and Rigachikun, Kaduna State camp sites.

Excited about the project, Buhari said it was very dear to the people of Nigeria and must succeed, affirming the Nigerian government’s commitment to ensure timely delivery of the landmark AKK pipeline project within budgetary allocation and specifications.

With the steady recovery of crude price, facilitated by the sustained production cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Countries (OPEC) and its allies, the federal government in September, finally surrendered the fixing of petrol price. It said the decision was to allow cost reflectivity to prevail in the downstream petroleum sector.

That action led to the rise of petrol pump price to N162 per litre, and subsequently, to N168 per litre.

But with the difficulty in accessing foreign exchange at the official Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rate of about N380 per dollar, the marketers are yet to resume importation as they still depend on the NNPC for the supply of products.

PIB Also in September, the president transmitted the draft copy of the long-awaited Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to the Senate for consideration and passage.

The bill which had lingered for years, seeks to produce a new petroleum law for the country that will replace the outdated Petroleum Act of 1969, as amended.

The president, in a letter dated September 2, 2020, and addressed to the Senate at plenary and read by the Senate President, Mr. Ahmed Lawan, said: “Pursuant to Section 58 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended, I formally request the consideration and passage into law by the Senate the Petroleum Industry Bill 2020.

“In particular, the Senate may wish to note that this bill combines in a single tone, aspects of significant reforms to the laws governing the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, that were previously set out in two distinct draft legislation namely the Petroleum Industry Bill 2020 and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, 2020. While I trust that the Senate will in their usual expeditious manner favourably consider the passage of this bill into law please accept Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

The bill is structured in four parts of Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), Petroleum Industry Administration Bill (PIAB), Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB), and Petroleum Industry Host Communities Bill (PIHB). When passed, the NNPC will be replaced with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which makes it a commercial entity. The PPPRA and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) and some other agencies may cease to exist.

The Senate had promised to pass the bill by the first quarter of 2021.

Waltersmith Modular Refinery On November 24, 2020, President Buhari equally inaugurated the 5,000 barrels per day Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and the groundbreaking ceremony for the 50,000 barrels per day expansion project.

The president, who performed the inauguration virtually, in Abuja, said the establishment of modular refineries in the country would make petroleum products available in the country and eliminate importation.

As part of government’s drive to introduce gas as an alternative to fuel for both affordability and cleaner environment, Buhari in early December, launched the national Autogas policy which was initiated to convert petrol/diesel cars and generators to run on either Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Although, the industry has experienced a very challenging year in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as indicated by the huge losses suffered during the period, it was not all pain and sorrow for both the nation and the industry.

A number of laudable achievements have been recoded despite the turmoil, as listed above.

The eventual discovery of the vaccines for COVID-19 obviously portends a brighter business activity for the Nigeria oil and gas industry come next year.

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Nigeria’s Power Sector in 2020 Chineme Okafor writes that in addition to its perennial low-level efficiency, Nigeria’s power sector had the COVID-19 pandemic to deal with in 2020

O

n December 27, three days before the curtains finally draw on 2020, data obtained from the office of the vice president, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo, revealed that the average volume of power generated and distributed to Nigerians from the national grid within the year was 4,045 megawatts (MW) daily, about 264MW more than the 3,781MW that was reported the same time in 2019.

Similarly, an average of 3,644MW could not get to the grid daily within the year while N640 billion was unearned as a result of the sector’s inefficiencies.

In the year under review, Nigeria’s transmission network equally reported a 5,520MW peak power generation and transmission – a feat it quite celebrated.

Plainly, the government stated that due to constraints which included insufficient gas supply, distribution and transmission infrastructure, the sector continued to record poor results, inferring therefore that it has not overcome its perennial challenges.

Generation issues, transmission and distribution networks failures as well as water management challenges are well-known dilemmas of Nigeria’s power sector; together, they confined the sector’s productivity and made it unable to support Nigeria’s economy.

According to a recent report of the World Bank on the workings of the sector, Nigeria’s unreliable electricity supply costs her up to N10.1 trillion or about two per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) yearly.

The bank also explained that out of the 190 countries it surveyed in another report to determine levels of access to electricity, Nigeria ranked 171 globally and 33 among 46 Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

It also stated that 97 million people or 47 per cent of Nigeria’s population today do not get electricity from the national grid; they mostly rely on battery-powered flashlights and fuel generators to electrify their homes and offices thus making Nigeria the country with the largest electricity access deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa and the second largest in the world, after India.

Sector’s performance in 2020 Commercially, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which regulates the sector, explained in its third quarterly sector report that the financial viability and commercial performance of the industry did not improve.

NERC stated in its first quarter 2020 report that: “The financial viability of NESI (Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry) has remained a major challenge threatening its sustainability.”

According to it, “the liquidity challenge is partly due to the non-implementation of cost-reflective tariffs, high technical and commercial losses exacerbated by energy theft and consumers’ apathy to payments under the widely prevailing practice of estimated billing.”

Further providing insights on the showings of the sector within the year, the NERC stated that only 10,477,856 people or homes are officially registered electricity customers in the country, from which only 4,231,940 or 40.39 per cent have been provided meter by their respective electricity distribution companies (Discos).

The regulator said that in the reviewed customers service complaints records of the Discos, cases of load shedding, delayed connection, service interruptions, outages, arbitrary disconnections and infrequent voltage were top on the list.

This, it inferred indicated that nothing really changed in the sector. Safety practices, it added were equally frequently compromised in the sector so much that in the first three months of 2020, nine people were reported dead from electrocution.

Payment defaults and cases of mistrust amongst operators were also quite rife in the sector in 2020. Edgy interactions between key operators showed that the sector still lacked the camaraderie required to get it working productively.

For instance, the Executive Secretary of the

Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji noted in June, the dire challenges of the power Gencos, and how the non-provision of earlier agreed payment securitisation instruments for power production has contributed to ruining the sector’s commercial status.

Ogaji, had explained that the development encouraged multiple defaults on invoices for power supplied to the national grid with zero penalties.

Additionally, she claimed that, “the weak transmission and distribution networks inherited from the PHCN are still in existence and are not complementing Genco’s efforts in maximising available capacities to the benefit of the Nigerian consumers.”

“The maximum capacity attained by the national grid ever is 5,375MW as opposed to the current overall average available capacity, 8,589MW, and installed capacity of 13,427MW, with an expansion capacity of 20,000MW in an enabling environment,” Ogaji stated.

She essentially explained that the average volume of electricity stranded from getting to Nigerians everyday as a result of poor transmission and distribution facilities was 3,214MW. “This implies that if we had a grid capacity that matches our average available capacity, 3,214MW can be immediately made available to Nigerians with the current state of operations of the Gencos and at no additional cost,” she added.

But the Discos debunked this, stating in the first quarter 2020 report of their operations that, “since 2015, there has been no significant improvement in the energy generated and wheeled by TCN, that is finally received by Discos.”

The Discos further claimed that power generation since 2015 “continues low and flat, only affected by a seasonal effect between the dry and rainy seasons.”

They equally claimed that supply uncertainty from the Gencos, NERC’s regulatory inconsistencies as well as theft and assets vandalism were key challenges to progress in the sector in 2020.

Huge debts, COVID-19 Furthermore, on the finances of the power sector, the World Bank had indicated that this was perhaps in tatters considering that between 2017 and 2019, the level of debt from tariff shortfalls totalled N1.249 trillion.

The bank had revealed in the Power Sec-

tor Recovery Program working document it developed with Nigeria that N322 billion, N403 billion and N524 billion were recorded in the sector as tariff debts in 2017, 2018 and 2019 despite the federal government spending N1.301 trillion within these years as subsidy for power production.

This subsidy it noted, however, benefits only rich Nigerians and not common people or even industries who need stable electricity to support the country’s economy.

“The significant fiscal resources spent on funding tariff shortfalls disproportionately benefit the (relatively) rich. While access to grid electricity of the poorest 40 per cent, ranked by per capita household expenditures, is 37 per cent, 68 per cent of the richest 60 per cent reported access to the grid.

“Living in more affluent neighbourhoods, the top 60 per cent also experienced fewer outages, and spent almost twice as much on electricity as the bottom 40 per cent.

“As a result, the fiscal expenditure on tariff shortfalls largely benefits the rich. Eighty per cent of the fiscal expenditure on tariff shortfalls benefits the richest 40 per cent of the population, while only eight per cent benefits the bottom 40 per cent, and less than two per cent benefits the poorest 20 per cent,” the bank explained.

With regards to COVID-19, the sector also suffered from impacts which affected its finances in 2020.

In a webinar organised by PwC Nigeria during the year, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Benin Disco, Funke Osibodu, had disclosed that while the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted the wages and earning ability of practically all Nigerians, payments for electricity services were also affected.

Osibodu, had further explained that the closure or scale down of commercial operations also reduced the energy consumption and revenues from Discos’ commercial and industrial customers.

She reported that the Discos in other words had more electricity sent to residential customers but with increase in non-payment and electricity theft through meter bypass and illegal connections. COVID-19, she added, also impacted the cost of delivering electricity to Nigerians.

“This is transparently manifested through electricity distribution companies, in terms of the inability of customers to pay their bills and the resultant reduction in revenue collections, Osibodu said while she noted that disruptions of material supplies, increase in operational

complexities and cost of operations were some of the other impacts the pandemic exerted on the sector in 2020.

REA, the only bright spot Despite the failings of the sector in 2020, a bright spot, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) remained conspicuous with its energy access programme through renewable energy sources.

Within the year, the COVID-19 pandemic offered the REA a unique opportunity to accelerate access to clean energy in Nigeria with up to five million new solar home installations and mini-grids earmarked, and execution started well off.

With strong institutional supports from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) amongst other globally recognised groups, the REA has been able to lay a solid foundation to support household solar market penetration in Nigeria through market-based processes. It leveraged this in 2020 to remain a key mover in the sector in 2020.

In a review offered to the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the activities of the REA, its former Managing Director who now heads the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi noted that the agency was quite impressive in 2020 with its practical response to COVID-19.

“REA has played a leading role in the pandemic, using its knowledge, network and infrastructure to help deploy off-grid energy solutions that can provide lifesaving electricity access to the more remote health clinics across the country,” Ogunbiyi said.

She equally highlighted REA’s lead in increasing electricity access to households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as students and patients at federal universities and university teaching hospitals in the country through its Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).

According to her: “The World Bank has provided a $350 million facility and the African Development Bank an additional $200 million facility to the Nigerian government for off-grid development as part of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP). This investment is expected to leverage over $81 billion in additional funding from the private sector – and in the wake of COVID-19, these investments will become even more important to help speed and scale progress.”

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Leadership: Addressing Challenges of Recession Alim Abubakre

W

hile the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a virulent recession in many countries globally, Nigeria’s case is a bit direr.

Even before COVID-19 struck, Nigeria was already suffering from the adverse consequences of collapsing oil prices. Hence, without effective and impactful strategic leadership, the virus could aggravate the pain of an already hard-biting recession.

For organisations that are not dynamic, responsive and agile, the effects of the recession are likely to continue hurting their performance into the foreseeable future and threaten their existence.

Some of the many challenges that organisations are facing include a high level of inflation and insecurity. Other stumbling blocks include fluctuations in forex, low customer demand, high operating costs, negative GDP, dwindling business and government revenue, loss of critical talent due to unavoidable redundancies and, of course, diminishing productivity due to low levels of morale among staff.

Without a doubt, being a leader during such a challenging period of great uncertainty is a challenge in itself and also an opportunity to make a profound impact and consolidate one’s legacy.

It is a time, not only to work hard, but also to be strategic and ensure that one remains optimistic even when the going seems to be getting worse.

For someone who has been in leadership for long, experience may offer some perspectives, but these are unprecedented times and solutions of the past may not suffice.

Also, what about those new in management positions? For organisations to win in these times characterised by severe socio-economic crises, they need strategic leadership.

Importantly, organisations need viable strategies that can help you manage the challenges that your organisation faces during such unprecedented times and turn it into opportunities. After all, companies such as GE, Disney, FedEx and IBM were all founded during recessions and DHL, Amazon and Netflix are all currently doing well despite their higher cost of operations and their increasingly disruptive and turbulent operating landscape. Here are some strategies that you can implement to succeed: Establish Strategic Priorities Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961, said: “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent”.

This quote underscores the importance of prioritising and advance planning. Thus, if one were to ask Eisenhower who was the Allied Forces Supreme Commander during World War II, NATO’s first supreme commander and who successfully navigated NATO and the USA through uncertain times; how can you achieve your diverse goals in these fast-paced and turbulent times? His response is likely to be that not all activities are necessary.

So, when sailing through hard economic times, identifying priority areas and therefore, the ability to develop the strategy and implement it to reflect the set critical direction is what separates those who succeed from those who fail.

It is, therefore, imperative for leaders to determine and clarify their strategic priorities. What priority areas mean here is that you need to identify those essential activities that you must do to survive and succeed. So, those that are important but not urgent can be scheduled for another time, those that are urgent but not important can be delegated while those that are important and urgent should go on.

But how do you ensure that this is implemented? Well, you need first to identify critical organisational vulnerabilities and address them as well as ensure that your senior leadership team is aligned to this priority. Then stay fully informed about the happenings within and outside your industry. Follow trends and changes that you can attribute to the recession. Your focus here should be responding appropriately to changes in demand for your goods/services, as well as the behaviour of your stakeholders (e.g. customers, regulators, investors and competitors). Recession hits both at a micro, intermediate and macro level, so understand how the economy is affected as well as the impacts on your stakeholders and how you can effectively and efficiently unlock

Abubakre scarce value.

Manage Finances and Cash Flow Carefully Recession significantly affects sales, revenue and profits. One way to manage its effects as a leader is to monitor your expenditure, earnings and cash flow carefully. Explore innovative expenditure solutions, for example, instead of outright purchase can you lease? Another could be, after weighing the cost of switching and if it is not too high, in place of using big service providers such as courier and IT providers that have substantial operational costs, could smaller firms be a suitable replacement?

If you could offer incentives such as discounts for advanced payments and use of electronic remittance to receive sales revenue faster, this could be a means of reducing default risks. It would help if you could explore all business lines of credit locally and internationally including business credit cards even before you need them.

Explore the use of inventory and a percentage of account receivables as collateral. Most importantly, ensure that your spending is only limited to the most critical areas that you need to focus on to keep your organisation going despite the harsh financial/economic environment. Can you cut on utility, rent or renegotiate on terms of loans?

Keep Your Staff Informed of Your Current Situation One of the ways to sail smoothly through turbulent economic times is to keep your team informed and optimistic about the future. However, this is often hard since some of your staff members are likely to exit to find employment elsewhere, feel insecure or even engage in private activities.

You might also want to downsize and lay off some of them to keep costs as low as possible.

As you tighten staffing levels, note that there are key people that you cannot afford to lose.

So, the best way to act is to make any necessary redundancies all at once then make sure that all key people are motivated by listening to them, involving them in solving problems, celebrate any progress made and appreciate your team. It is not just enough to keep them. You also need to train those who remain with the organisation to keep their morale high and help you keep the organisation going despite the difficult situation.

Keep Your Customers Satisfied and Happy Customer satisfaction is what creates the difference between organisations that survive and those that thrive. Ideally, when customers are satisfied with your services, they tend to share their experiences with friends. Eventually, those friends of theirs will end up as your customers too if they are happy with what you offer them. rAbubakre is a British based entrepreneur with an unparalleled passion for Africa, academic, and Founder & Non-Executive Chair of TEXEM, UK which has trained over 4,000 executives in the UK and Africa in the past ten years. He is on the advisory board of the London Business School Africa Society, lectures in Coventry, a top 15 UK university NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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20 Abducted, Others Injured as Gunmen Attack Niger Communities Dipo Laleye in Minna No fewer than 20 people have been abducted and scores of others injured by gunmen who attacked Maitumbi and Kuchi communities in Bosso and Munya Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State.

The Chairman of Bosso LGA, Abubakar Gomna, confirmed the incident in Maitumbi yesterday, saying the attack lasted almost two hours.

He disclosed that armed men numbering over 30 attacked the community at about 11:30p.m. on Sunday and opened fire on some residents.

“The gunmen came in their numbers and started shooting sporadically. Some members of the vigilante group tried to stop them, but they overpowered the vigilantes.

“Some of the vigilantes were shot but are currently

receiving treatment,” Gomna narrated.

He noted that the abductors have demanded a ransom of N5 million for each of the victims to be released when they contacted their families.

During the attack on Kuchi community in Munya LGA, at least five persons were said to have been injured, with at least 17 locals abducted.

Among those kidnapped were the father and mother of a former chairman of the local government, Mallam Yahuza.

The state governor, Abubakar Bello, in his reaction to the incidents condemned the attack on the communities.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje, the governor said he was concerned about the incessant attacks on innocent citizens by bandits.

He decried what he described as the incessant

and nefarious activities of the gunmen and urged residents in the affected local governments to remain calm and be supportive of the government’s efforts aimed at identifying and dislodging the criminals.

According to the governor, the recent meeting of the

North-central state governors held in Makurdi, Benue State provided ideas and offered a new approach in dealing with the issue of banditry in the region.

He stressed that the federal government and authorities in the states were doing their best to restore order in the

affected areas.

Governor Bello also assured the residents of his administration’s relentless support to the security agencies in the state.

He, however, urged them to play their part through collaborative intelligence sharing in order to defeat

the bandits disturbing the peace in Niger.

The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide medical assistance and relief to the injured, as well as those taking refuge at the Maitumbi Primary School in Bosso LGA.

Notorious Bandit, Nasiru Kachalla, Others Killed in Kaduna John Shiklam in Abuja A notorious banditry and kidnap kingpin, terrorising Kaduna-Abuja highway and other parts of Kaduna State, Nasiru Kachalla, has been confirmed killed.

Kachalla was killed alongside other bandits during a clash between his gang and a rival group of bandits at the weekend.

Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan who confirmed the development in a statement yesterday said, Kachalla masterminded the kidnap of four seminarians and killing of one of them in January this year.

According to Aruwan, “Security agencies have confirmed to the Kaduna State Government the killing of a notorious bandit, Nasiru Kachalla.

“Kachalla, who has been on the run for masterminding several criminal acts, including kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling and banditry, was killed in a clash between his gang and a rival group of bandits.

“Human intelligence networks confirmed that criminals from the rival sides were also killed, including some of Kachalla’s lieutenants.

“The clash occurred in a forest around the boundaries of KajuruChikun local government areas of Kaduna Central Senatorial District.

A dispute over a large herd of rustled cattle is said to have triggered the fatal confrontation.

“Kachalla and his gang were involved in several crimes, including kidnappings, killings and banditry on the KadunaAbuja road and also in the Chikun/Kajuru general areas.

“He was the mastermind of the 9th January 2020 kidnapping of seminarians of Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, and the 24th January 2020 kidnapping of Mrs. Bola Ataga and her two children.

“The criminals later killed one

of the seminarians, Michael Nnadi and Mrs. Ataga before releasing her children.

“Kachalla’s criminal gang was also responsible for the kidnap of six students and two teachers of Engravers College, in Kakau village of Chikun Local Government on October 3, 2019.

“While Kachalla was being pursued, security agents arrested three members of his gang, Tukur Usman, Shehu Bello and Mustapha Mohammed in April 2020 as you can see in the attached picture.

“Kachalla’s image is also attached, clad in a jacket and a winter cap.

“In another development, troops repelled an attempted attack by armed bandits along the Galadimawa-Zaria road in Giwa Local Government Area.

“The bandits blocked the road for some minutes, shooting sporadically at motorists plying the route.

“A combined team of the 4 Battalion and Field Engineers Regiment of the Nigerian army mobilized to the location. The road was cleared and normalcy was restored, with no kidnapping or harm to motorists.

“Troops and police are currently dominating the area with patrols.

“Furthermore, the government was informed of an incident in a forest located in the Western part of Chikun local government, where armed bandits opened fire on some hunters.

“Security agencies are carrying out investigations to ascertain the exact location as well as fatalities if any.

Citizens will be briefed on the operational feedback as it emerges.

“In the meantime, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has appealed to Tsohon Gaya, Sabon Gaya and other communities with members missing in the hunting expedition to remain calm,” he said.

HEAVYWEIGHTS AT IGBERE

L-R: Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu; and President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, during the 10th year anniversary of the death of Kalu’s father, Chief Johnson Uzor Nsiegbe Kalu, held at Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State... weekend.

COVID-19: More Girls in North-east to Be out of Schools, Says Report Michael Olugbode in Abuja A new report by Connected Development and Malala Fund, has suggested that there may be a drastic drop in the number of girls from schools across the North-east, a region badly devastated by the effects of prolonged insurgency.

This hint was contained in a study report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Girls’ Education in the North-east, recently launched

by CODE in collaboration with the Malala Fund.

According to the report, caregivers in rural areas of Adamawa state appeared certain that the girls in their care would not be returning to school due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report further stated that many of the girls interviewed had doubts that they would be allowed

to continue their education, while a percentage of the girls were certain that they would be getting married in a short while.

In the post-COVID-19 impact survey report, CODE, in a statement by its Communications Associate, Adaora Okoye said: “In some cases, cultural and traditional barriers are preventing girls from returning to school; girls may be less preferred to return to school as opposed to their male counterparts due to the male-child preference system. Girls are also more at risk of being married off or undergo female genital mutilation (FGM).”

The report, according to CODE, showed that “the pandemic exposed girls to increased shortcomings and challenges that already exist in the education system, including sexual harassment linked to gender-based violence, child marriage, harmful

norms, inadequate teachers and WASH facilities.”

“These factors also kept a good number of girls out of school pre-COVID”, it added.

As a way forward, Chief Executive of CODE and the Malala Fund Education Champion, Mr. Hamzat Lawal, called on governments at all levels to make a paradigm shift to encourage greater girl child education.

“The future of our world is a deliberate investment in the younger generation, particularly girls. To educate girls is to empower a nation.

“Government must proactively set up a gender-responsive plan for school resumption, in the wake of the pandemic,” the CODE boss stated.

Lawal named some of the suggested gender-responsive measures to include providing more funds for education and ensuring

every community has a female secondary school, provision of hand washing points, other WASH facilities, and personal protective equipment amongst others.

“We suggest that, all existing SIM Cards must be paired with the NIN numbers within a stipulated time, while an average of three months should be allowed for smooth and effective pairing.

“We also suggest that, the SIM Cards sale, registrations and activations should be allowed to continue, while an average of 10 new NIN machines is deployed in every local government in the 774 local governments of the federation for a better reach.

“That no new SIM Card should be allowed to synchronize without the support of NIN number and ID card until the SIM Card and NIN number pairing is concluded,” he said.

Leave Oshiomhole out of Your Predicament, Edo APC Replies Shaibu Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, to leave former party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, out of his legal predicament while urging him to present his certificate as demanded by the court.

The state Deputy Chairman of the party, Jarret Tenebe, made the assertion in a statement yesterday.

Shaibu warned Oshiomhole not to subvert the will of the people, adding that the former governor should jettison the plan to overturn the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki at the September 2020 governorship election through the judiciary.

But reacting yesterday, Tenebe said there was no time Oshiomhole attempt to subvert the will of the people through the judiciary.

“I will describe the deputy governor as a frustrated and

confused man who talks from both sides of his mouth as well as seeking for survival.

“Oshiomhole believes totally in the judiciary having gotten his stolen mandate through the instrumentality of the courts,” he added.

He accused the governor and his deputy of blackmailing the judiciary over their inability to present their certificates but instead resulted to filing frivolous appeals from one court to another.

Tenebe added that the new tactics

of the governor and his deputy were not only diversionary but also a calculated attempt to drag the hard-earned reputation of the honourable justices into the mud.

While noting that he was not supposed to comment on a matter in a court of competent jurisdiction, he, however, said he had to weigh in on the matter to halt the state government from feeding the public with incorrect information.

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TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Iheanacho Misses Penalty as Crystal Palace Hold Leicester Wilfred Ndidi, Eberechi Eze unused substitutes

Duro Ikhazuagbe Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, blew the opportunity to begin his 2020/21 Premiership goal account yesterday when he failed to convert from the penalty spot as Leicester City played 1-1 at Crystal Palace.

The 2013 U-17 World Cup winner with Golden Eaglets was selected ahead of Jamie Vardy, yet the Nigerian international failed the integrity test when it mattered most.

Iheanacho’s timid spot kick in the 20th minute was saved

by Palace’s Vicente Guaita to give Roy Hodgson’s men the hope that they could share points with the Foxes.

Utility midfielder for the Foxes, Wilfred Ndidi was an unused sub same way Crystal Palace’s Nigerian born English

player, Eberechi Eze was benched all through the game.

Iheanacho was however replaced in the 72nd minute of the game which was his eight appearance in the league

by Demarai Gray.

After a goalless first half, it was Palace who broke the deadlock in the 58th minute thanks to Wilfred Zaha who finished off a counter-attacking move.

But with seven minute remaining in the game Harvey Barnes rescued a point for Leicester as he created a bit of space for himself before drilling the ball into the corner.

Leicester are now temporarily on 29 points and Palace 13th on 19 points in the league table ahead of late Monday night fixtures.

Elsewhere in the English topflight, the fixture Manchester

City and Everton was postponed four hours before kick-off because of an outbreak of coronavirus at the Etihad club.

The latest tests have returned

more positive results, in addition to those of Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and two staff members revealed on 25 December.

The City training ground will

be closed for an “indeterminate period”.

City cited “a risk the virus could spread” among the squad with the “security of the bubble compromised”.

The postponement comes during a period that has also seen a number of English Football League matches called off because of Covid-19.

Federer to Miss Aussie Open First Time in 22 Years Six-time champion Roger Federer will miss the Australian Open for the first time in his career as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

The 39-year-old Swiss, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, has not played since January because of two operations.

He hoped to return at the delayed Australian Open, which starts on 8 February in Melbourne.

“Roger ran out of time to get himself ready for the rigours of a Grand Slam,” said tournament director Craig Tiley.

Federer has played in the Australian Open 21 years in a row, but his agent said missing the tournament was

“the best decision for him in the long run”.

Federer’s most recent last competitive match was a semi-final defeatby eventual champion Novak Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open.

In February, Federer had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

He hoped to return in July, but in June he had another operation that ruled him out for the rest of 2020.

This month Federer said he faced a “tight” race to be fit for the Australian Open, despite the tournament being pushed back three weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Olympic Host, Japan, Bans Foreign Visitors as Covid-19 Cases Spike The Japanese Government has announced that foreign travellers will not be permitted to enter the country until at least the end of January due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the nation due to host the next Olympics and Paralympics.

The new measure is set to start today and will continue throughout January.

It follows a record daily increase in new coronavirus cases – including at least two of a new, faster-spreading strain of the virus.

Japan reported in excess of 3,500 new cases yesterday.

A further 50 deaths were reported as well.

As Japan tightens its border, citizens and foreign residents will be required to quarantine for two weeks upon returning to the country and must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure for Japan.

They will also be tested upon arrival.

Digital Transformation Minister Takuya Hirai has also spoken of a tracking system for overseas travellers

being developed to monitor virus spread, with the system expected to be in place before the Olympics and Paralympics are held.

“There will be no point if we do not implement it, so that you will be allowed to enter the country unless you use it,” Hirai said, Kyodo News reports.

Hirai suggested that tracking will be delivered through GPS technology.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are currently scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8 in 2021, having been postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Paralympics are due to take place from August 24 to September 5.

With coronavrius cases rising in the host nation and across other parts of the world, notably Europe and the Americas, doubts remain over whether the Games will be able to go ahead – and if they do, whether international visitors or even domestic spectators will be allowed to attend events.

Kelechi Iheanacho (2nd left) kicked the penalty into the waiting hands of Crystal Palace goalkeeper, Vincente Guaita...yesterday

Plateau Utd Place Players on Half Pay after Poor Start to NPFL Season Players of Jos-based team, Plateau United Football Club have been placed on half salary following their poor start to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season after going down 2-0 to Kwara United of Ilorin at the new Jos stadium.

General Manager of the Club, Pius Henwan gave issued the directive yesterday while addressing players and coaches barely 24 hours after the dismal start to the NPFL season.

He explained that the team have no excuse whatsoever not to beat Kwara United stressing that their performance during the match was not acceptable.

Henwan lamented that despite the state government’s huge investment on the team,

the players are not reciprocating the gesture.

He warned that anybody who is not ready to work for the collective aspirations of the team, will be shown the way out.

“Plateau United is a big brand in Nigerian football and any of you who is not ready to defend the colours of the club, should just take a walk.

“Some of you are injured or sick since we returned from Tanzania but it seems others decided to exclude themselves from training under the guise of been injured. Such indiscipline will not be condoned here and anyone found wanting will be decisively dealt with.

Henwan disclosed that

the team must recoup the three points in their next away match and until that is achieved, the players will remain on half salary.

While meeting separately with the technical crew and other backroom staff of the team at the clubhouse, the General Manager urged them to close ranks and work as a team to change the fortunes of the team.

Henwan who expressed confidence in the ability of the head coach Abdu Maikaba to deliver, encouraged him to take all necessary measures to return the team to winning ways as quickly as possible.

He assured the head coach that management will continue to give him the maximum support to

enable him to succeed and encouraged him not to be deterred by the negative criticisms from detractors, but rather see it as a challenge that is surmountable.

Head coach of the team, Abdu Maikaba said he is ready to step aside if he is found to be the problem of the team saying that all the criticisms directed at him are unfair and baseless.

“I have been working hard to give all the players the chance to compete for places in the team and if some players will accuse me of been biased, then the identity of such players be revealed because they are the ones thwarting my efforts to change the fortunes of the club.

Kujah Seeks Speedy EFCC Action Against Jay Jay Okocha Femi Solaja Nigerian football players’ representative, Friday Nwankwo-Kujah, has sent out a passionate appeal to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to step up the process of investigation in a petition he lodged against former Super Eagles Captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.

The petitioner fondly called ‘Soccer Ambassador’ who is a long standing friend of the former mercurial football star is seeking expedited action from the EFCC over the allegations of fraud and breach of agreement he levelled against the ex-footballer who was part of Nigeria team to three World Cup finals at USA ‘94, France ‘98 and Korea/Japan

in 2002.

In a chat with THISDAY at the weekend, Kujah wondered why nothing has been done since the petition was lodged in 2016. He urged the new helmsman at EFCC, Mohammed Umar Abba, to bring up the file again as he believes that some persons who worked with the former regime were keeping the file away for personal reasons.

Kujah opined that four years was more than enough time for the anti-graft agency to call Okocha to order and for them to get to the root of all allegations he raised in his petition against the former star player.

Okocha played amongst several others at Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany, Fernebahce of Turkey, Paris-Saint Germaine of France as well as Bolton

Wanderers and Hull City of England.

“Austin Okocha still remains my friend but on this issue of litigation against him, some people out there at EFCC are covering up for whatever reason which may not be far from fame and personal connection between two individuals.

“In the interest of those who want to play by the laws of the land which I represent over the years in my dealing with the public, I want this regime to renew the confidence of justice to millions of Nigerians as we continue to battle with several moral issues that come up in the society,” he explained Kujah alleged that ‘Jay Jay’ schemed him out of emoluments and cumulative payments due him as a member of the board of

directors in a Lagos-based bureau de change.

Kujah insisted he single-handedly registered the company, hence his declaration that he deserves benefits and dividends for his efforts.

The football enthusiast-turnedplayers’ representative, explained that he did not rise to fame and fortune on the name of Okocha, but has been involved in the game long before meeting the ex-player.

He added that he registered the bureau de change with his own money and even bought four cars for the company.

Kujah further alleged that he did everything in good faith, as a friend to another and because he meant well for Okocha, whom he wanted to lay a strong foundation for after his retirement from football.

Tuesday December 29, 2020

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MISSILE CAN to Groups “Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to the awful condition that we are in. For those castigating the revered cleric, they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from their primordial views” – CAN berating the groups attacking the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, speaking out against killings in the country.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

2020: The Year That Was M

y favourite end-of-the-year quote, which I have shared with many others, is the following passage from Chapter 3 of the inimitable Chinua Achebe’s Things Falls Apart, a novel of monumental, evergreen relevance, translated into over 50 languages, a product of pure genius, a milestone in world literature.

Achebe wrote: “...The year that Okonkwo took eight hundred seed yams from Nwakibie was the worst year in living memory. Nothing happened at its proper time; it was either too early or too late. It seemed as if the world had gone mad. The first rains were late and when they came, lasted only a brief moment ... The drought continued for eight market weeks and the yams were killed.

The year had gone mad. When the rains finally returned, they fell as it had never fallen before. Trees were uprooted and deep gorges appeared everywhere.

That year, the harvest was sad, like a funeral and many farmers wept as they dug up the miserable and rotting yams. One man tied his cloth to a tree branch and hanged himself. Okonkwo remembered that tragic year with a cold shiver throughout the rest of his life. It always surprised him when he thought about it later that he did not sink under the load of despair. He knew he was a fierce fighter, but that year had been enough to break the heart of a lion. Since I survived that year,” he always said, “I shall survive anything.”

Chinua Acbebe, the master story-teller wrote Things Fall Apart in 1957. He was just 27. Today, his words ring true. His narrative summarizes what we have been through in the year 2020. Writers are prophets.

They see ahead. They map the trajectory of human experience even before it happens.

The year 2020, better known as the year that was, indeed went mad. In terms of harvest, there was very little to talk about.

Not yams sprouting from farmlands, but the negation of everything by a pathogen known as COVID-19 which left our world in dire straits. The last time the world witnessed a similar tragedy was in 1918-1920. That was the Spanish Flu. It lasted for two years and left a devastating imprint. We are sadly back to that past 100 years later. Across the world, from Europe to Antarctica, over one million people have died. Over 81 million persons have been infected. Many more will die, as the virus mutates and demonstrates a capacity equivalent to evil in extreme proportions.

Indeed as the sage wrote, If we survive this, “we shall survive anything”. The year 2020 is the perfect “annus horribilis.” It is not a year “on which we shall look back with undiluted pleasure”.

It was the year that everything failed.

Marriages collapsed. Businesses failed.

The world’s demand and supply chain was disrupted. Man was humbled and humanity tried to catch up with an existential accident.

The limits of science was tested. The idea of community was redefined, as human beings were forced to stay in their own natural enclaves, and avoid each other.

This was the spectacular year when even grandparents were advised to stay away from their own children. Hospitals were

Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Enahire overstretched. The entire world became an isolation centre. The words: physical distancing, social distancing, masks, hygiene, guidelines, protocols, task force, leadership, yes, leadership, and responsibility became the most famous words of the year.

The cemetery is a public place. It became even more popular in the year 2020. It was indeed an unusual year of paradoxes. Hi-Tech owners and investors made big money, so did Big-Pharmaceutical companies and so did the undertakers and funeral homes who made a fortune from the harvest of deaths.

In our country, Nigeria, there was another kind of harvest, which added to the people’s misery and pain. Kidnappings. Banditry. The failure of the Naira. The collapse of the oil and gas sector. The madness of the people who in the face of COVID-19 chose to be skeptical, saved ironically by the fact that the disease was not as terrible as it was in other continents. The economy of course failed also. Nigeria slipped into a second recession in five years. Many lost their jobs.

It was a sad year in all sectors, more or less. And it was the year when Nigerian youths rebelled against police brutality and bad governance.

We lament but we must also look at the other side of the picture: What lessons have we learnt and how can those lessons help us in the years to come. As the year 2020 ends, we are looking forward to a New Year. And somehow, everyone thinks that in 2021 COVID-19 will disappear. But not quite. The year 2021 looks very much like the year of the Vaccine and the politics of vaccination. Getting the people to take the vaccine is likely to be a big challenge. Going forward, I recall a few lessons that we may have learnt.

Number One: Could anyone have ever imagined that we would give up some of our usual habits as human beings? All of a sudden the year 2020, showed us that if we do not shake hands, hug each other, exchange intimate social affections, we would not die. I do not, as the year ends, remember the last time I hugged anyone or shook hands with a friend. A handshake was once a symbol and expression of brotherhood. The year of the virus made that impossible as we all

had to mask up, and observe physical and social distancing. Here we are at the end of the year and so much has changed in terms of how we relate to other people. Someone was telling me the other day that we are now in the Harmattan season, or put more correctly, the flu season. But you try and sneeze at this time. Or cough. Every sneeze or cough is considered a sign of Corona Virus. I know persons who go about with a can of aerosol spray in their bags. You sneeze. You get sprayed for constituting yourself into a threat to public health. A lady that I know, will spray Aerosol on you from head to toe and tell you: “ma ko bami jare!” Before the year 2020, it was normal to sneeze and cough. People will tell you: “God bless you.” Now, that has become a crime. Nobody asks God to bless you.

They look at you with what Nigerians call “corner-eye”.

Number Two: Nigerians love parties. But in the year 2020, it became a crime also to attend parties, wear aso ebi, and party all day long. I have bags of traditional party attires, agbada and all sorts, but this year, I have not opened any of those bags. There was no need going everywhere. We were told to keep safe and stay at home. Can anyone ever imagine that a year would pass like that without all the communal parties?

Some people defied the protocols, year 2020 was not like any other year. But some of us obeyed the government. It was quite clear at some point that even persons who followed the directive that everyone should #take-responsibility were not spared by the virus. The high and mighty died. The most talented in our community died. COVID-19 was so egalitarian, it did not respect anybody or national boundaries.

Number Three: One of my teachers, many years ago, in a 400 level course titled “Theatre and Mankind” told us that man considers himself the most wondrous being on earth and regards himself as Master of the Universe, but repeatedly, man realizes that he is really not as important as he projects himself to be.

Again and again, nature humbles him. The environment reminds him that he is not a Master but a gnat. The more this happens, the more man struggles to master the Cosmos and it is in that eternal struggle that we find the substance of epistemology and wisdom, and human drama. This is the story of our lives, and it was played out, poignantly, in the year 2020. In that year, that now ends, we were confronted with the uncertainty and the vulnerability of our lives. We are now at a point where scientists are saying they have found a vaccine. The drama of 2020 was that of man’s conflict with a pathogen, and as we were taught, this is just the beginning of another end. Man’s place in creation is that of Sisyphus and Atlas. If anyone believes that our struggle is over, he or she misses the point.

Number Four: It was a year we were told to stay away from one another and that taught us a lesson about how interconnected and interdependent we all are in a real sense.

And of course the freedoms that we often take for granted became more precious than we ever considered. We were asked to stay at home, lock down, and avoid others. Even students could not go to school. We were

required to bear responsibility for the health and well-being of others. It was a big issue that we all needed each other to survive, and if you were infected, you were told not to risk the possibility of infecting the other person. That was a big lesson in human solidarity. But it was tough. In times of pain and despair, the natural instinct is for people to reach out to each other, stick together as family, and seek help. In the year 2020, we were told to change the way we have always lived so we could remain alive. In Africa and Nigeria, the people took that for granted, but now that there is a second wave, we can only hope that the people will learn and not submit to conspiracy theories or the thinking that Corona virus is a big man’s disease which it is not.

Number Five: And still on how connected we are as human beings and how Corona Virus advances the struggle for equality, it became clear in the year 2020, that health is wealth, and that a failed healthcare system such as exists in many African countries would affect everyone. The African rich class had this habit of running abroad each time they fell ill; headache, ear-ache, indigestion, diarrhoea, even malaria. But in 2020, that became a suicidal option. Our leaders were taught the lesson that they have a responsibility to develop and strengthen the health systems in their own countries. For reasons not yet fully analysed, the African continent did not experience a corona virus blow out.

This was the surprising miracle of the year considering the behaviour of the people, the misconduct of African governments and the reign of superstition from Tanzania to Burundi, Ghana and Nigeria.

Number Six: The free market system flourished ironically and China, where the virus sprouted from became the biggest economic beneficiary. Vaccine nationalism flourished counterpoised by vaccine hesitancy, two instructive phrases of the moment. We are confronted, in the face of the Virus, with the urgent need for new global narratives.

Number Seven: Leadership. The year 2020 showed that leadership matters. We saw through the year, good and bad leaders in terms of how they managed the COVID-19 challenge. Good leaders help society. Bad leaders punish and frustrate the people.

Number Eight: Our world of work has changed forever. Before the disaster that was 2020 happened, we all enjoyed the thrill of the daily commute to and from our work places. Even when we spent hours on trafficcongested roads, we loved it. In 2020, we were told to stay at home and work from home. And just like that: the world of work changed forever, with analysts telling us that human beings tend to be more productive when they work in isolation, from home.

Tech companies have gained a lot. Stock markets have appreciated. Corona Virus may have robbed us of aspects of our lives, but it has also shown us new possibilities. What does tomorrow hold, then?

I have no idea. I am not too sure anyone can answer that question. What we know is that human beings are capable of new discoveries in the face of pain, suffering and tragedy. And so it has been with the year 2020. So, do we hold on to? Hope, I guess, the oxygen of human existence.

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