TUESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2020

ECOWAS Raises Committee on Closure of Nigeria’s Land Borders Nigeria reiterates objection to unilateral adoption of Eco currency Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has constituted a committee to study the impact of Nigeria's closure of its land borders on

its neighbours and submit a report to the authority of the regional body for further decision.

The committee, headed by Burkinabe President, Roch Marc Christian Kabore, was,

however, not given a deadline to submit its report.

The decision to raise the committee was taken on Sunday night by West African leaders at the margins of the ongoing 33rd African Union

(AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the closure of the borders on August 20, last year to check the influx of smuggled products, notably

rice and arms, into the country.

The move was also made to forestall illegal export of petroleum products out of the country.

The federal government said the border closure had been

Electronic Payment Transactions Hit N151tn...

positive for the economy as local production of food such as rice had increased while local consumption of petrol had fallen.

Continued on page 8

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Anxiety in Bayelsa as S’Court Delivers Judgments on Gov Primaries... Page 6

Buhari Condemns Attack as Boko Haram Kills 30 in Borno Says FG determined to frustrate bid to hold Nigeria to ransom Military: Maiduguri-Damaturu road now closes 4pm

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri President Buhari yesterday commiserated with the families of victims of terrorist attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State, in which 30 people were killed.

He also pledged his administration's commitment to perpetually frustrate the devilish operations of Boko

Haram and end the insurgents' goal of holding Nigeria to ransom.

The president's condolences from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is attending the African Union (AU) summit, came against the backdrop of the killing, by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, of no fewer than 30 people in Continued on page 8

ASUU Opens Talks with FG over 2009 Pact, IPPIS Blames state govts for insecurity

Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan As part of moves to halt an impending strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its standoff with the federal government on the non-implementation of the February 2009 agreement and government’s insistence that the union members must enroll

on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), leaders of the union and the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, have commenced fresh talks, THISDAY has learnt.

The union has also accused the federal government of plotting to embark on what it called the “dilution” of the academic ranks of its members, through a Continued on page 8

OILY SMILES...

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu (left), and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja… yesterday

Amotekun Law Ready in South-west States Feb 14... Page 6

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NEWS

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

Electronic Payment Transactions Hit N151tn

Obinna Chima The total value of transactions through various electronic payment (e-payment) channels in the country rose by 13 per cent to a total of N150.773 trillion in 2019, compared with the N133. 637 trillion recorded in 2018.

Also, the volume of transactions stood at 2.952 billion in 2019, higher than a total of 2.073 billion recorded in 2018.

The figures were contained in the latest industry e-payment data for full year 2019, from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), obtained

by THISDAY yesterday.

But the data put the total value of intra-bank e-payment transactions at N441.905 trillion in 2019, while total volume stood at 90.875 billion.

However, while total value of transactions by cheques was N4.482 trillion in 2019, lower than the N5.035 trillion recorded the previous year, the volume of transactions by cheques also dropped from 9,019,278 recorded in 2018, to 7,275,237 in 2019.

This clearly showed that more Nigerians now prefer to carry out transactions electronically, as against the issuance of cheques.

Also, while the combined value of Automated Clearing House System/NAPS/PMS stood at N25.131 trillion, the volume of transactions under this payment channel was 47,311, 582.

The data also revealed that in 2019, the total volume of transactions that took place across Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the country was 839,819,922, while the value

APC Replaces Lawan with Akande in Reconstituted Reconciliation Committee

of transactions in the period under review was N6.513 trillion.

Furthermore, the value of transactions via point of sale (PoS) channels across the country throughout last year, was N3.205 trillion, whereas the volume of transactions recorded was 438,614,182.

Also, while the volume of transactions through internet (web) in the review period was 103,497,007 with the value put at N478 billion, the volume of transactions through mobile money was 377,265,208 and valued at N5.080 trillion. The value of transactions through Nigerian Instant Payment (NIP) was N105 trillion and the volume was 1,145,785,229.

Also, the data showed that electronic payment transactions through the mCash payment platform was N600 million in the entire 2019 and volume recorded at 251,490; whereas

transaction volume through E-bills Pay, an online payment platform, was 1,099,805 and value at N652 billion.

Similarly, transactions through the Central Pay platform stood at N5.476 billion with total volume put at 663,163.

The CBN recently reviewed downward bank charges to ameliorate the pains of customers. In its revised ‘Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Nonbank Financial Institutions,’ which became effective from January 1, 2020, the central bank, amongst others, announced the downward review of charges for electronic banking transactions; review of other bank charges to align with market development and the inclusion of new sections on accountability/responsibility and a sanction regime to directly address instances of excess, unapproved or

arbitrary charges.

Some of the major highlights of the new Guide to Bank Charges include the removal of Card Maintenance Fee (CAMF) on all cards linked to current accounts, a maximum of N1 per mille for customer induced debit transactions to third parties and transfers or lodgments to the customers’ account in other bank on current accounts only; reduction in the amount payable for cash withdrawals from other banks’ Automated Teller Machines (Remote-on-us) from N65 to N35, after the third withdrawal within one month.

Other reductions include Advance Payment Guarantee (APG), which is now pegged at maximum of one per cent of the APG value in the first year and 0.5 per cent for subsequent years on contingent liabilities.

Also, for cards linked to savings account, the

maintenance fee has been reduced to a maximum of N50 per quarter, from N50 per month, amounting to only N200 per annum instead of N600.

Furthermore, there will be no more charges for reactivation or closure of accounts such as savings, current and domiciliary accounts while status enquiry at the request of the customer (like confirmation letter, letter of non-indebtedness and reference letter) will now attract a fee of N500 per request.

On Current Account Maintenance Fee (CAMF), the Guide expressly stated that this would be applicable only to current accounts in respect of customer-induced debit transactions to third parties and debit transfers/ lodgments to the customer’s account in another bank.

It stated that CAMF was not applicable to savings accounts.

Edo welcomes new members

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan with the former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande in the reconstituted National Reconciliation Committee of the party.

This is coming as the Edo State Government has applauded the reconstitution of the APC National Reconciliation Committee, expressing confidence that the committee will deliver on its mandate to restore peace and unity in the party.

Lawan who was the chairman of the initial 10-member APC National Reconciliation Committee set up last year, did not make the list, while the ruling party did not offer any explanation why his name was removed in the new committee.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement issued yesterday said that the committee was mandated to address grievances of party members across the country and resolve existing conflicts, all with a view to fostering oneness, strengthen the party for better governance and ensure unity of purpose within the party.

According to him, "President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reviewed the membership of the party’s National Reconciliation Committee."

The 12-member committee would be chaired by Akande, while Senator John Enoh would serve as the Secretary.

Other members are; Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola; Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya

Abdullahi; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase; Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; Sen. Kashim Shettima; Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor; Alhaji Nasiru Aliko Koki; Sen. Khairat Gwadabe-Abdulrazak; and Senator Binta Garba.

The committee would be inaugurated today, February11, 2020 at the APC National Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has applauded the reconstitution of the APC National Reconciliation Committee, expressing confidence that the committee will deliver on its mandate to restore peace and unity in the party.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie said in a statement that the state government is “grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for putting together a committee of persons with proven integrity and the forthrightness needed to deliver on this very sensitive national assignment.”

He added, “With the person of the renowned statesman and leader of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, heading this committee, and other very worthy leaders of our party as members, we have no doubt that justice will not only be done but seen to be done in the execution of the mandate of this committee.

“We hereby restate our full commitment to peace in the APC both in our state and across the country.

“Despite the many challenges, APC has remained strong in Edo State and in Nigeria, but we are certain that at the end of this exercise, the party will become even stronger and continue to lead our great country with its progressive ideals for many years to come.”

RUBBING MINDS ON SECURITY...

L-R: Ogun State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. David Tuska; Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson; and Governor Dapo Abiodun, after a security meeting with the governor in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta…yesterday

Obesity to Cost Nigeria, Others $7tn, Says World Bank A new report by the World Bank has projected that in the next 15 years, the cost implication of obesity, including healthcare and reduced productivity, among others, will amount to over $7 trillion in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Obesity is considered both a lifestyle and environmentrelated problem.

The report titled, “Obesity: Health and Economic Consequences of an Impending Global Challenge,” which was sourced from the bank's website, sheds light on the growing obesity epidemic and its negative impacts, putting the number of people affected at two billion globally as of 2016.

Nigerian-born, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank, Dr. Mohammed Pate, was cited in the report as saying: "One of the most effective ways to address non-communicable diseases is by ramping up investments in affordable, quality primary health care.

“This makes sense both from a health and

an economic perspective.

Putting more resources on the frontlines to detect and treat conditions early, before they become more serious, saves lives, improves health outcomes, reduces health care costs and strengthens outbreak preparedness."

The report identified obesity as one of the most known risk factors to noncommunicable diseases as well as a disease in itself.

The report lays out why overweight and obesity are an impending global challenge, especially for poor people and those who live in low or middle-income countries, dispelling the myth that it is a problem only in high-income countries and urban areas.

It also provides many of the current trends concerning overweight and obesity.

According to the report, recent data show that since 1975, obesity has nearly tripled and now accounts for four million annual deaths worldwide.

In 2016, over two billion adults (44 per cent) were reported to be overweight or obese with more than 70 per cent of them living in low

or middle-income countries.

The World Bank report projects that based on the trend, in the next 15 years, the costs of obesity will total more than $7 trillion in the developing countries.

"For example, in China between 2000 and 2009, health care costs associated with obesity grew from 0.5 per cent to more than 3 per cent of China’s annual health care expenditure.

"In Brazil, obesity-related health care costs are expected to double from less than US$6 billion in 2010 to more than US$10 billion in 2050.

"It is not only the health care costs, but also the indirect costs due to reduced work productivity, absenteeism, early retirement, etc., that the society and individuals will have to bear. For example, one study estimated an increase of the ‘indirect costs’ of overweight/ obesity in China from 3.6% of GNP in 2000 to 8.7% of GNP in 2025.

"Research shows that investments today in cost-effective interventions could save 8.2 million lives in poorer countries and

generate US$350 billion in economic benefits by 2030.

This is equivalent to a return of US$7 per person for every dollar invested," the report added.

It identified the factors fuelling the obesity epidemic as largely behaviourial and environmental .

"These include easier access to ultra-processed and sugary foods; a decline in physical activity linked to technological advances in the labour force and at home; and greater consumption of unhealthy foods often linked to an increase in wealth and income.

The report also cited exposure to environmental risks, such as air pollution and constrained access to basic services.

"Today, overweight and obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancer, are among the top-three killers in every region of the world except in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Reducing overweight and obesity is a global public good,” said Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank, Annette Dixon.

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Anxiety in Bayelsa as S’Court Delivers Judgments on Gov Primaries Verdicts threaten Lyon's inauguration Friday Segun James Anxiety has gripped politicians in Bayelsa State as the Supreme Court will today and Thursday deliver judgments on who will be sworn in as the governor of the state on Friday.

On the two days, the apex court will finally settle the disputes arising from the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Mr. David Lyon, is billed to take his oath of office on Friday.

The disputes predated the governorship election in the state in which Lyon trounced the candidate of the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Federal High Court in Yenagoa had on November 14, 2019, nullified Lyon's candidacy and ruled out APC from the contest.

Justice Jane Inyang gave the order in a judgment in a case filed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who was one of the APC governorship aspirants.

Lokpobiri, a former Minister of State for Agriculture, had approached the court, asking it to declare him, and not Lyon as the authentic candidate of the APC. But Lokpobiri’s lawyer, Mr. Fitzgerald Olorogun, said the court ruling was not part of their prayers.

“The court pronounced that the governorship primary conducted by the APC in Bayelsa State was not done in compliance with the guidelines and the constitution of the party, and therefore, the party has no candidate,” Olorogun had told reporters immediately after the court ruling, adding: “It’s strange.”

However, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Port Harcourt, last month upturned the Federal High Court’s decision, declaring

that the APC had a candidate in the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

Delivering judgment on Lyon’s appeal at the Court of Appeal, the presiding justice, Justice Isaiah Olufemi Akeju, ruled that the suit before the Federal High Court, which was filed on October 18, 2019, was statute-barred, considering the fact that election matters are timebound.

Not satisfied with the Appeal Court’s ruling, Lokpobri had approached the apex court, seeking to set aside the decision.

The Supreme Court is billed to deliver judgment in Lokpobri's appeal today.

Also on Thursday, the Supreme Court will also be giving judgment in the case filed by the PDP challenging the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the candidacy of the deputy governor-elect of Bayelsa State, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.

The appellate court had set aside a November 12, 2019 verdict of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, disqualifying Degi-Eremieoyo as the APC’s deputy governorship candidate in the poll.

Justice Ekwo had in his judgment held that Degi-Eremieoyo gave false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about his academic qualification allegedly evidenced by the discrepancies in the names contained in his credentials.

Degi-Eremieoyo had appealed against the judgment of the Federal High Court.

But a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Stephen Adah, had held that the Federal High

Court judge erred in his decision disqualifying the APC’s deputy governorship candidate.

“The appeal has merit and it is hereby allowed.

The judgment of the lower court delivered on November 12 is hereby set aside. Order is hereby made dismissing the suit of the respondents,” Justice Rilwan Abdullahi who read the appellate court’s lead judgment had held.

The Court of Appeal held that there were no enough grounds for the Federal High Court to rule the way it did, adding that the allegation that Degi-Eremieoyo gave false information to INEC was not proved as required.

It faulted the lower court’s reliance on Section 31(5 and 6) of the Electoral Act in disqualifying the APC’s deputy governorship

candidate.

The court added that the allegations against DegiEremieoyo were criminal, which required proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Justice Abdullahi ruled that the PDP and its governorship candidate in the election, Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhruojakpo, who are the plaintiffs at the lower court and respondents at the Court of Appeal, failed to prove their allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

He held that the different names contained in the appellant’s Form CF 001, his First School Leaving Certificate and General Certificate of Education belonged to the same person, going by the supporting affidavit of change of name and newspaper publication.

The appellate court set

aside the Federal High Court’s judgment and awarded N500,000 cost against the respondents in favour of the appellants.

Dissatisfied by the decision of the Court of Appeal, the PDP had headed for the Supreme Court to reverse the judgment.

THISDAY gathered that if the APC loses in the Lokpobri case today, it may be deemed that the party had no candidate in the election.

If the party’s candidate is disqualified, the party with the second-highest number of votes, which is the PDP, may be declared the winner, it was learnt.

But a chieftain of APC in the state told THISDAY that there is no way the party will lose in Lokpobiri’s case, no matter the decision of the apex court.

“What Lokpobiri is asking for is to be declared the winner of the primary election. If the Supreme Court rules in his favour, APC is still the winner and if Lyon wins, it is still APC,” he said.

He, however, acknowledged that if the party loses the case filed by the PDP on Thursday, Senator Douye Diri of the PDP will be automatically sworn-in on Friday as the governor.

“The case of PDP is different because it is a joint ticket. If the court disqualifies APC’s deputy governorship candidate, it means the governor-elect is disqualified because it is a joint ticket,” he added.

THISDAY gathered that tension has enveloped the state as none of the parties knows how the pendulum will swing.

WELCOME HOME...

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan (left), and Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, on arrival at River Alkamaram, venue of the Bade cultural and fishing festival in Mauyi Ganga, Yobe State... weekend

Amotekun Law Ready in South-west States Feb 14 Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The law to give a legal backing to the South-west security outfit, Amotekun, will be ready on February 14 in all the six states in the geopolitical zone, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said.

He spoke yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while receiving the draft bill for the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) from the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda.

The Attorneys-General (AGs) from the six states in the region were saddled with the responsibility of preparing independent draft bills that will be passed and signed into laws to legalise

Amotekun, whose formation by the governors in the geopolitical zone had stirred up a controversy.

Fayemi, while receiving the draft bill, thanked the AG for the accelerated work done, saying this would guide the states properly on how best to go about the security outfit He said: "You were all aware and know that it was one of the highlights of our meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and South-west governors when we met to iron out the opinions and steps taken by the governors that appropriate legal frameworks must be put in place.

"The main purpose of government is to guarantee

the security of lives and property of every resident and non-indigenes of a state, as long as they are law-abiding and operate within the ambit of the law."

Fayemi regretted how the intention behind Amotekun was being misinterpreted in some quarters, dispelling the insinuation that it was meant to carry out certain invidious acts.

"A lot of people misconstrued what Amotekun initiative is all about. It is not an exclusive protection for the indigenes alone, but for the safety and security of every citizen and resident in the six states regardless of where they may have come from and as long as they are legally resident and respect the law of the land.

"It is within the jurisdiction

of our responsibility to ensure safety of lives and property," he added.

The governor stated that the draft bill would not guarantee exclusive safety for only Yorubas as it was designed to make the highways in the region free of criminalities and brigandage.

Fayemi added that the security network will also complement the community policing initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari.

"Amotekun is a complementary effort to the community policing initiative of President Buhari. I want to assure you that it will be given accelerated discussion at our various state executive councils and expeditious passage at the state Houses of Assembly.

"To let you know how

serious we are, some states had quickly recalled their lawmakers back from recess so that they can sit and debate the bill.

"By Friday, February 14, the bills would have been signed into laws simultaneously across the six states in the region," Fayemi stated.

Contained in the draft bill for Ekiti State, according to the AG, is a proposal for the establishment of Ekiti State Security Network called Amotekun Corps.

"The corps is to assist in maintaining law and order in Ekiti State. In the past two weeks, the AGs from the six states had been working on how to provide enabling legal frameworks for our joint security network.

"After the draft bills were produced, we said we will

present the draft to our governors for discussion at the state executive councils and the Houses of Assembly for passage into law.

"The guidelines for the security agency proposed 38 provisions. It involved establishment of the Ekiti State security agency called Amotekun Corps. It also contained establishment of governing board for the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps.

"It also makes proposal for the establishment of the independent Amotekun complaints board for the people to report cases of abuses of power and corruption.

"We will put it on the website by 5p.m. today for interested members of the public to comment on it," he stated.

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PAGE EIGHT BUHARI CONDEMNS ATTACK AS BOKO HARAM KILLS 30 IN BORNO a Sunday night siege on Auno village located on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway in Borno State.

The president, in a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, condemned the “murderous and cowardly attack on innocent passengers by the Boko Haram terrorists near Maiduguri.’’

He said: “The commitment of this administration to protect the lives of Nigerians will not be derailed by the cowardly and indiscriminate violence against innocent people by Boko Haram terrorists.

“This administration is ever determined to frustrate their goal to hold Nigeria to ransom.’’

Buhari, who condoled with the government of Borno State, warned “that terrorists are clearly on a back foot and their days are numbered.’’

According to him, as members of the armed forces "continue to receive more hardware and intelligence to

counter our current security challenges, the remnants of Boko Haram will ultimately be crushed."

He added that "the peculiar challenges of asymmetric warfare notwithstanding, our armed forces are ever determined to defeat these enemies of humanity."

Boko Haram Kills 30 in Borno Eyewitnesses said the insurgents killed 30 people in the attack on Auno village located on MaiduguriDamaturu highway in Borno State and abducted many others.

The villagers told the Borno State Governor, Prof.

Babagana Umara Zulum, that 18 vehicles, comprising trailers, buses and cars, were burnt by the insurgents who laid a siege on their village at about 9.50 p.m. on Sunday.

However, the attack has prompted the military to order the closure of Maiduguri-Damaturu road

by 4p.m. daily to prevent reoccurence.

The villagers, who were still in tears when the governor paid a condolence call on them yesterday, said an unspecified number of women and children were loaded into three buses and taken away by the insurgents.

The villagers lamented that most of those that were attacked could not get into Maiduguri on Sunday as the gate to the town was shut against them having failed to arrive before the 5p.m. deadline.

One of the villagers, who spoke on account of anonymity to journalists, said: “It is so sad as the Boko Haram seems to have targeted the people knowing that many would have to sleep in Auno as the gate to Maiduguri would have been shut against them by 5p.m.”

He said when the travellers arrived after 5p.m. the gate mounted by the military was closed and all vehicular movements had officially

ceased.

The governor, who was visibly shaken when he saw the charred bodies of the victims of the attack, requested the military authorities to dismantle the Auno gate from its present position and move it further away from the village so that it would be more difficult for insurgents to gain access into the village.

He promised that the state government will assist those whose vehicles were destroyed in the attack as well as those whose goods were burnt alongside the vehicles transporting foodstuff and other wares into Maiduguri.

He, however, called on the people to remain calm and law abiding in the face of the challenges, promising that government will look for a way out of the situation.

Reacting to the attack, the Head of the military counter-insurgency operation in the North-East - Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole - Maj. Gen.

Olusegun Adeniyi, said the Maiduguri-Damaturu road would now close by 4p.m. in order to protect lives and property.

Adeniyi directed the closure to be moved forward to 4p.m, instead of 5p.m.

Though the residents of Auno had told the governor that 30 corpses were counted at the scene of the attack, Adeniyi told journalists at a press briefing that 10 persons were killed.

He said it had become dangerous to “ply and park vehicles” along MaiduguriDamaturu road from 4p.m.

“We don’t want to see vehicles on this road between evening and night hours,” he stated.

He queried motorists and truck drivers on the businesses they have that they should park over 200 vehicles at Auno.

He noted that the closure of road was also to prevent Boko Haram insurgents from attacking commuters and communities along the 132-kilometre highway.

He attributed Auno’s attack to the excesses of drivers and transporters, saying that daily closures of the road will now be by 4p.m.

On the rescue of students, he said: “Yesterday (Sunday), Boko Haram came with 15 gun trucks along MaiduguriGubio road and in two minutes; they kidnapped three students of Government College, Maiduguri.

“The insurgents quickly fled the road but Lt. Col I. Yusuf mobilised other soldiers and pursued the terrorists.”

He said while engaging the insurgents, troops rescued the students without harm to them.

Adeniyi has also handed over the students to their parents.

He, however, warned school authorities against students wearing school uniforms on Sundays in insurgency-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

He added that the wearing of uniforms makes students vulnerable to terrorists and other suspected kidnappers.

The mobilisation is for an impending strike in case the federal government fails to pay February salary due to the union's continued opposition to IPPIS. He said: "As we are here seated, I know some of us want to go on sabbatical leave, collect our accumulated leave, contracts appointment and host of others, before our very eyes, very soon, that will be taken away from us by the federal government.

"And a tone has been set on that plot and anytime from now on, because a one-member committee has been inaugurated by the acting Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi- Esan, to review sabbatical and contract appointments and what that means now to academics.

"And when you listen to the comment from the government circles, especially when the issue of IPPIS lasted, there were insinuations that lecturers worked on multiple campuses.

"Even during our meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said that lecturers worked in multiple campuses but we let him know that accumulated and sabbatical leave, contract appointment and others are our rights that cannot be infringed upon and the government quickly set up committee to look into our rights.

"Don't be surprised that by the time the committee is being set up, the report is already written to put an end to our rights like accumulated and sabbatical leave, contract appointment,

among others, thereby putting you permanently where you belong."

Adejumo added that politicians considered ASUU members as arrogant and people who cannot be controlled and urged the union to resist the plot.

"Apart from this, there is another plot to dilute the academic ranks of union members in the nation's universities.

Normally, appointment to academic positions must originate from the departments because the department is supposed to identify who it may need for such a position.

"By the time the IPPIS runs its cycle, the government will start posting staff from Abuja. When you get to your department, you will start seeing new faces.

"Don't be surprised also that your students that managed to pass your courses will be sitting with you in your offices and by the time they have achieved that, they have diluted you and lower your ranks and it rests on us to resist the plot so as to protect our rights and ranks in the universities," he explained.

Earlier, the ASUU Chairman, University of Ilorin, Professor Salihu Moyosore Ajao, who lauded the massive attendance of the union at the meeting, had said the development had changed the past notion that the national leadership of the union had been having about the branch.

Also, ASUU yesterday blamed the federal and state governments for the rise in insurgency in the country.

The union alleged that many state governments are reverting to organising their

internal security networks without treating the causes of insecurity.

The ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, chapter, Prof. Deji Omole in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the union had been warning governments to cater for the needs of the vulnerable in the society, adding that the warnings appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

According to him, instead of budgeting for people’s welfare, the federal and state governments now spend billions of naira to buy security equipment from countries that have invested heavily in research and training.

According to him, due to years of neglect and unbridled corruption in high places, many Nigerians have lost interest in being upright since those leading them have mortgaged their future.

He said the union had warned that a time would come when the children of the poor would have nothing to eat, noting that the observation is becoming a reality now.

ASUU OPENS TALKS WITH FG OVER 2009 PACT, IPPIS 11-member committee set up by the acting Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan.

In addition, it blamed state governments for the insecurity in the country, saying rather than tackle the causes of insecurity, they are busy organising their internal security networks.

THISDAY gathered that the latest meeting between the ASUU leadership and the federal government team led by Adamu took place last week at the ministry's board room in Abuja.

A source privy to the meeting told THISDAY yesterday that the resumed talks were being held without media coverage because both parties considered the discussion very sensitive at the moment.

The source added that the talks also involved the Wale Babalakin-led committee set up to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with the university lecturers.

“ASUU has started meeting with the minister of education and the union is engaging him on the issues.

They hope to do more follow-up meetings and that is why much cannot be said on the things being discussed at this stage.

“The issues being discussed include: the Memorandum of Action (MoA) that led to the suspension of the last strike in February 2009, all the issues that are outstanding in our 2009 Memorandum of Action, visitation to universities, funds for recapitalisation, the issue of payment of arrears of Earned Allowances for lecturers as well as funding of state universities are all part of the outstanding

demands being tabled for discussion at the meeting,” the source stated.

When asked the date of their next engagement with the federal government, the source declined to disclose it, saying it was resolved that nothing of such should be announced in the media to avoid distractions.

He also added that the issue of IPPIS is also being addressed, saying that it is expected that the negotiations will produce "fruitful results very soon."

Meanwhile, ASUU has accused the federal government of plotting to embark on what it called the “dilution” of the academic ranks of its members, through an 11-member committee set up by the acting HoS. The HoS had inaugurated an 11-man committee on operational guidelines for Contract Appointments in the Nigerian civil service.

Inaugurating the committee, she said the committee was constituted to develop modalities for the implementation of short-term engagements in service, which cover contract appointments, sabbatical leave, exchange programmes and talent sourcing in the civil/public service.

The HoS asked the committee to see the task as another opportunity to rejig the public service system to meet the change agenda of government.

She said the assignment was necessary given the need to streamline the provisions of contract appointments in the civil/public service in line with PSR 020401.

"It is also necessitated by the need to revisit PSR

100222, which provides for one-year sabbatical leave for officers on Salary Grade Levels 15 and above in the civil/public service but which has been observed to be predominantly implemented in tertiary institutions and some research institutions.

The committee’s terms of reference are to cover the circumstances that may require contract appointment, career exchange and talent sourcing; the tenure of such appointment/engagements; the qualifications and requirements for engagement of an officer on those provisions and the guidelines for determining the commensurate remunerations for officers engaged under the provisions.

It is expected to complete the assignment within four weeks But reacting to the setting up of the committee, ASUU said the move was part of the efforts by the federal government to trample upon the rights of lecturers and ensure the "dilution " of academic ranks of its members.

ASUU has charged its members to come together to resist the plots saying, "no one will come to fight for you except we fight for ourselves so as to protect the university autonomy in the country".

The Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of the union, Dr. Ade Adejumo, spoke on the issue in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, when members of the National Executive Committee of the union addressed members of the University of Ilorin branch as part of ongoing efforts to mobilise its members across the country.

ECOWAS RAISES COMMITTEE ON CLOSURE OF NIGERIA’S LAND BORDERS It has also vowed not to reopen the borders until its neighbours, mainly Republic of Benin, Niger Republic and Chad, ensure they properly regulate their sides of the borders.

However, the neighbouring countries affected by the border closure have faulted Nigeria's action, saying that the measure violates ECOWAS and African Union protocols.

But a statement yesterday

by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, quoted Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, as telling journalists after the meeting that the gathering also discussed West Africa's new single currency, the Eco, and the situation in Guinea Bissau after the country's presidential election.

The meeting, which lasted for three hours, was chaired by the ECOWAS Chairman

and Niger Republic's President, Mahamadou Issoufou and attended by Buhari.

The statement quoted Onyeama as saying, ‘‘the President of Burkina Faso is charged with undertaking a full study of the situation, make a report and then we take it from there.’’

The minister said the report would be presented to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government as

soon as possible to decide on the next step.

"As soon as possible, there are no timelines. But he (Issoufou) is supposed to start very quickly, study the situation from all the affected countries and present his report,’’ Onyeama stated.

On the Eco currency, the minister said: ‘‘Nothing has changed in respect of Nigeria’s position," adding that Nigeria’s position on the currency is

that the convergence criteria have not been met by majority of the countries and hence, there has to be an extension of time on the take-off of the single currency.

"On Guinea Bissau, the Minister said ECOWAS leaders recognised that there was an appeal of the presidential election result and they are waiting for the Supreme Court decision on the matter," the statement added.

TOP GAINERS SOVETRUST TRANSEXPRESS NPFMFB PRESTIGE JAPAUL TOP LOSERS NESTLE LINKASSURE MAYBAKER

NGN NGN 0.02 0.22 0.08 0.89 0.11 1.23 0.05 0.59 0.02 0.24 NGN 138.00 1,242.00 0.06 0.56 0.15 2.02 OANDO 0.15 3.45 JAIZBANK 0.02 0.67 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,242.00 Volume: 200.16 million shares Value: N1.92 billion Deals: 3,487 As at yesterday 10/02/2020 See details on Page 33

% 10 9.8 9.8 9.2 9.0 % 10 9.6 6.9 4.1 2.9

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Again, Gunmen Kill Three, Injure one in Fresh Attack on Plateau Village Seriki Adinoyi in Jos At least three persons have been confirmed dead, and another critically injured following a fresh attack by

gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Pyana village of Rahoss ward in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau state on Sunday night.

The member representing

Buhari Pledges to Secure Freedom of Kidnapped Children Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, pledged the commitment of his government to secure the freedom of all children and other victims of abduction by terrorists in the country.

At a high -level breakfast dialogue held on the margins of the ongoing 33rd summit of the African Union (AU), the president assured Nigerians and the international community of the renewed commitment of the federal government to freeing the children.

The president spoke on the theme of the dialogue, “Stop the War on Children Affected

by Armed Conflicts, Dividend of Silencing the Guns,’’cosponsored by the governments of Nigeria, Uganda, Norway, and the AU Commission and Save the Children.

He recalled the freedom of some Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram and commended the

support of the MultiNational Joint Task Force and the partners for the reintegration of the girls. ‘’A number of school girls from Chibok and Dapchi earlier abducted by Boko Haram have regained their freedom. ‘’We commend the gallant efforts of the MultiNational Joint Task Force and the partners in supporting the reintegration of the girls. ‘’Let me categorically reassure you of the steadfast commitment of the Government of Nigeria to ensure the freedom of all kidnapped children from the shackles of Boko Haram. ‘’We will not relent until every child, boy, or girl, every Nigerian adult in custody of Boko Haram, is freed,” he said.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari “urged African countries and other stakeholders on the continent to work fervently towards strengthening the protection of children from six grave violations that occur during armed conflict.

FG Arraigns Adoke on Fresh Money Laundering Charges Again, granted N50m bail Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), on fresh charges of money laundering.

The Economic and Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Adoke and one Mr. Aliyu Abubakar on a seven-count criminal charge bordering on bribery and laundering about N900 million.

Adoke and six others who were last month arraigned before Justice Idris Kutigi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was this time arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges read against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Bala Sanga, urged the court to remand the defendants in the commission’s custody pending the hearing of the matter.

However, a team of counsel to the defendants drew the court’s attention to the bail application they had filed.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who argued the bail

application of Adoke, prayed the court to grant him bail on self-recognisance being a former AGF, pending the hearing of the charges.

He said in the alternative, Adoke should be granted bail on favourable and liberal terms, or better still to allow him enjoy bail terms as already granted him by Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi before whom Adoke is facing a 42-count charge.

He said the former AGF had never been convicted of any crime and that the charges before the court were bailable offences.

While submitting that bail is constitutional, the senior lawyer said a defendant should not be denied his right of freedom of free movement until when he is convicted.

Similarly, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, aligned with the submissions of Ozekhome and urged the court to grant the second defendant bail.

In his response, Sanga urged the court to use its discretionary power to grant the defendants bail.

Delivering ruling on the bail applications, Justice Nyako admitted the defendants to bail in the same terms granted them earlier by Justice Kutigi.

Riyom constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Datong who confirmed the attacked, described the killing as unfortunate.

He said the gunmen at about 9.34p.m. on Sunday invaded the village and gunned down three persons, while one other person sustained injuries and

now hospitalised, adding that farms and harvested crops were also set ablaze by the assailants.

Datong revealed that the attack, which lasted for about two hours with heavy gunshots from different directions held the entire community hostage, while security agencies only arrived the scene shortly after

the attackers had gone.

He said, “On Sunday night four persons were attacked by unknown gunmen in my constituency; three were killed, while one sustained injuries.

I am now on my way from the hospital where I visited the injured one.”

He described the incident as

sad, saying it very unfortunate that the attack is coming at a time the state is working hard to ensure peace.

Every attempt to confirm the incident with the Police failed as the phone of the state Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Uba Gabriel Ogaba was switched off.

SAVING THE CHILDREN ...

L-R: President of Ethiopia, Mrs. Sahle-Work Zewde; President Muhammadu Buhari; President, Stop the War on Children Campaign Committee, Mali, Ms. Mariam Aldianabangou; and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children, South Africa, Mr. Steve Miller, at a high-level event on ‘Stop the War on Children: Dividend of Silencing the Guns’, in Addis Ababa ... yesterday

APC, Buhari, Lawan, Lalong, Others Mourn Plateau Senator Deji Elumoye, Omololu Ogunmade, Chuks Okocha, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The All Progressives Congress (APC); President Muhammadu Buhari; Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and former Governor Jonah Jang have expressed shock at the death of the Senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, Ignatiur Longjan.

In his condolence message, President Buhari yesterday in Addis Ababa condoled with the National Assembly, government and people of Plateau State over the demise of the senator.

The president, according to a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, commiserated with the family, friends and political associates of the senator, whom he said had served as the state’s deputy governor from 20112015, and equally served the country as a career diplomat

for many years.

Buhari said the senator had been steadfast, loyal and diligent in serving the country adding that his contributions to peace and stability in the state would always be remembered.

He prayed the Almighty God to grant the soul of the departed rest, and comfort his family and constituency.

The APC and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase have also expressed sadness over the death of

the senator.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement issued yesterday said that the late Senator was a grassroots politician and progressive federal lawmaker who advocated for a smooth working relationship between the executive and legislature as a way of ensuring good governance and proper initiation and implementation of policies that impact positively on the people.

Alleged Contempt: Secondus, Others Appear in Court The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, and some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) appeared before the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere yesterday to stop committal proceedings against them.

Justice Taofikat OyekanAbdullahi had on December 5, 2019 ordered the PDP Chairman and a member of the NWC of the party, Senator Ben Obi, to show cause why an order for committal should not be made against them.

The judge said Secondus and Obi should come and explain why they should not be committed to prison for defying its order.

The verdict was as a result of alleged disobedience to the court’s order of November 12, 2019, which restrained Secondus and the party’s NWC from conducting a special election for the vacant offices at the Lagos State chapter of the party.

Then, while ordering the contemnors to show cause for defiling its order, Justice OyekanAbdullahi expressed dismay that

the PDP in Lagos state proceeded to conduct the aforesaid special election despite the knowledge of the case and pending application for interlocutory injunction.

The special election committee was chaired by Senator Obi at the instance of Secondus.

At yesterday’s proceedings, Francis Akinlotan appeared for all the claimants as counsel, with Emmanuel Enoidem and Wendy Kuku appearing for the respondents.

The four claimants in the suit are Dr. Adegbola Dominic, for state chairman of the party; Mr.

John Babatunde Agbaje; Alhaji Fatai Ajisefinni and Chief Taiwo Kuye.

The respondents are the PDP, Senator Obi, Senator Biodun Olujimi, Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Hon Danladi Baidu Tijo, Ahmed M Mukthar and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akinlotan who appeared for the claimants informed the court of his clients’ pending applications seeking for extension of time to their written addresses and also to reply the preliminary objection filed by the respondents.

EFCC Arrests another Wanted FBI Suspect over N120m Internet Fraud Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin zonal office, has arrested a 38-year-old Nigerian, Festus Akinyemi Abiona, who was indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of the United States over his alleged involvements in a N120million internet fraud.

Abiona had been on the wanted list of the Commission for more than eight months over the alleged fraud case before luck ran against him and was finally arrested in his hideout.

The anti-graft body was able to fish him out on February 6, 2020, in his duplex in Arepo, Ogun State, despite the fact that he has refused to step out of his house since he got the wind of

the EFCC/FBI hunt for him for the past five months because of fear of being arrested.

In the petition dated July 10, 2019, the FBI alleged that the suspect was involved in business email compromise (BEC) and other computer enabled fraud.

The petition stated further that “in May 2016, the FBI received information that an actor or actors bypassed online

security to steal money from retirement accounts held by an insurance company for public workers in the United States, which resulted in the loss of approximately $2,500, 000.”

Investigation into the case by the Commission revealed that the person behind the business email compromise is Festus Akinyemi Abiona and his syndicate members.

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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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FG Launches Gas Transportation Network Code Buhari assures foreign oil firms of high returns Peter Uzoho The federal government yesterday formally launched the long awaited Nigerian Gas Transportation Network Code (NGTNC) and also declared year 2020 as a year of gas for the country.

This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari has assured foreign oil companies of high returns on their investments in Nigeria.

While launching the NGTNC at the third edition of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja,, the

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said the code had become effective from February 10, 2020, saying it shall apply to all gas transportation arrangements between gas transporter and gas shipper as defined in it.

According to Sylva, the transporter and all existing users of the transportation network shall, within six months of the date of the directive, migrate from existing Gas Transportation Agreements to the network code by executing the necessary ancillary agreements.

“Accordingly, the Nigerian

Gas Master Plan (NGMP), the National Domestic Gas Supply 8: Pricing Regulation, 2008 (Section 2 (F and G), and the National Gas Policy 2017 (Section 4.3.3) all stipulate the introduction of Gas Transportation Network Code to guarantee open access to the Network.

“The code is a contractual framework between the gas transportation network operator and gas shippers that specifies

the terms and guidelines for operation and use of the gas network.

“Consequently, in line with government’s policy to reinforce and expand gas supply and stimulate demand through the National Gas Expansion Programme, the Code will provide open and competitive access to gas transportation Infrastructure and development of the Nigerian Gas Sector.”

“Also, the Code will stimulate the domestic gas market, drive gas-based industrialisation and the realisation of the government’s aspiration to move 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. The code in its current form has in-built modification mechanisms.

Hence, all stakeholders are assured of the periodic review of the network code to suit the dynamics of the industry”.

Sylva disclosed that his ministry will send a new Petroleum Industry Bill to parliament next week, aiming to pass it into law by mid-2020.

Declaring the third edition NIPS open, Buhari who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, assured foreign oil companies of high returns on their investments in Nigeria.

Bill and Melinda Gates Highlights Activities in First Two Decades The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has released its 2020 annual letter entitled: “Why We Swing for the Fences: Reflecting on the First Two Decades of Our Foundation,” where the foundation reflected on its activities and what it has learnt over the past two decades, including how the world – and their work – has changed during that time.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Senior Communications Officer, Nigeria, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Olufunke Olufon, the 2020 annual letter takes inspiration from advice given to the foundation by Warren Buffett: to “swing for the fences” and put the full force of their efforts and resources behind the big bets that have the most potential to save and improve lives.

“At the core of our foundation’s work is the idea that every person deserves the chance to live a healthy and productive life,” Bill and Melinda Gates said.

“Twenty years later, despite how much things have changed,

that is still our most important driving principle.”

Bill and Melinda explained why the foundation thought the risks it had taken in global health and education have set the world up for future progress.

“They (the foundation) also write about two areas that have emerged as priorities for them – the climate crisis and gender equality – and how they will factor into their work over the next twenty years,” the statement added.

“There is no question that this new decade is beginning at a time of tremendous unrest and uncertainty around the world,” Bill and Melinda Gates explained.

“But even in a moment as challenging as this one – in fact, especially in a moment like this one – we remain committed to supporting advocates, researchers, government officials, and frontline workers who are making a healthy and productive life possible for more people in more places.”

This includes those who are working tirelessly to respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

SON Seals 13 Steel Companies for Violating Standards Bennett Oghifo Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has closed13 steel factories across the nation for violating standards.

Chairman of the SON Task Force on Steel, Mr. Enebi Onucheyo, stated this in Lagos yesterday.

Onucheyo said the companies located in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Abia and Edo states were found culpable, following a nationwide market surveillance carried out by the SON Task Force between November 2019 and January 2020.

Samples of various steel products were obtained from the open market as well as from the facilities of the companies during the surveillance period, he said.

SON, he said, classified steel bars as life-endangering products and that Nigeria Industrial Standards provides for unique identification marks for every locally manufactured or imported steel bar for easy traceability.

He said: “Laboratory tests

and analysis carried out on the samples revealed that most of them failed to meet the minimum requirements for diameter and mass per meter as provided in Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS 117:2004).

“These are critical parameters in the standard for reinforcement bars for concrete.”

Enebi said SON had warned all companies manufacturing steel to ensure strict compliance with the requirements of the NIS 117:2004.

He stated that some of the companies were found to have tampered with products in their facilities that SON had placed on hold, adding that an unregistered identification mark “GE” was discovered on one of the products sampled.

According to him, the exercise would continue “in furtherance of the SON commitment to protect Nigerian consumers from the dangers associated with substandard and life-endangering products in view of the incessant collapse of buildings and structures across the country.”

DIVIDENDS OF DEMOCRACY...

L-R: Member of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Wisdom Fifa; member of the House of Representatives, representing Yenagoa/ Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency, Prof. Steve Azaike; Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Mr. Kemela Okara; Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Seriake Dickson; member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Agbo, during the inauguration of Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Airport Road, Amassoma, Bayelsa State…yesterday

Minority Leadership Crisis: Court Restrains House from Suspending Chinda, Others Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order of interim injunction restraining the House of Representatives from further investigating or taking any disciplinary action, including suspension, against the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and others.

This followed media reports making the round last week that the leadership of the

House was set to suspend Chinda and his three other colleagues-Hon. Chukwuma Onyeama, Hon. Ajibola Muraino and Hon. Yakubu Barde.

The planned suspension might not be unconnected with the conclusion of the investigation by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges. The House had mandated the committee led

by Hon. Kolawole Lawal to investigate the lawmakers for parading themselves as leaders

the PDP caucus in the Green chamber.

The decision of the House to investigate the matter was consequent upon the adoption of a motion by Hon. Ben Igbakpa who alleged that the quartet were falsely parading themselves as leaders of his party, thus violating the standing rules and orders of the chambers.

Following the rumoured planned suspension, THISDAY gathered that Chinda approached the Federal

High Court in Abuja, where he sought among others, an order restraining the House from taking any action against him and three others.

A copy of the court order cited by THISDAY showed that the plaintiffs in the case included Chinda, Chukwuma, Muraina and Barde, while the defendants are the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabamila; Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the House, Hon. Kolawole Lawal, Hon. Ibrahim Misau among others.

Ashes of Cremated Ex-principal Arrives Nigeria from UK The ashes of the late Principal Emeritus of Ajuwa Grammar School (AGS), Okeagbe in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Guy Gargiulo, yesterday arrived Nigeria from the United Kingdom.

It was flown aboard a British Airways aircraft that touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos about 6.00 p.m.

Exactly, 7.01 p.m. the sealed

pack containing the ash was cleared out of the arrival hall .

The old students danced as they received and lifted it to the admiration of airport workers and passengers.

There was excitement in their faces amid jubilant drumming and dancing.

It was received by old students association of the school, whom Gargiulo adopted as his children.

He died in the United

Kingdom December 3, 2018 at the age of 87.

Old students of the college gathered at the arrival section of the Lagos international airport to receive the ashes.

Decked in T- Shirts bearing many inscriptions, they sang and danced awaiting the arrival of the aircraft.

While awaiting the arrival of the aircraft, old students of the college took time to celebrate the life and times

of their former principal.

Speaking in an interview, the President of Ajuwa Old Students’ Association, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade (rtd) described his five-year stay in the school under the tutelage of the late principal as memorable.

He said the old students were very excited that his wish to be buried in the school after cremation has been achieved.

Kogi Guber: PDP, Wada to Call 259 Witnesses against Yahaya Bello’s Election Alex Enumah in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Kogi State, Mr. Musa Wada, yesterday listed a total of 259 witnesses they planned to call to prove their petition against the return of Mr. Yahaya Bello as the governor of the state.

The Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Bello and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) winners of the November 16 governorship poll having won majority of votes cast at the election.

But Wada and PDP alleging rigging and other malpractices which according to them substantially marred the election, approached the Kogi State

Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to nullify the return of Bello as governor.

Defendants in the petition include the INEC, Yahaya Bello and the APC. The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Kashim Kaigama had on January 30, after listening to parties adjourned till yesterday for hearing proper on the pre-

hearing applications.

At the resumed hearing, several applications were moved by parties while some were withdrawn without objection by the opposing party.

However, due to the fact that one of the motions was not ripe for hearing, the tribunal had extended the pre-hearing period till Thursday to conclude all pre-hearing applications.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

Magodo Residents Kick against Planned Conversion of Flood-prone Land to Residential Estate Ejiofor Alike The residents of Magodo GRA Phase 1 in Lagos State have restated their opposition to a fresh plot by a property development company, traditional authorities, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Land Matters and the newly appointed Acting General Manager of New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), OJ Aboyeji to convert a natural floodplain that is prone to heavy annual flooding to a residential estate.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman of the CDA of the area, Oyebode Ojomo and the Secretary, Mr. Tony Ebinum, the officials noted what they described as threats and intimidation against the residents by the new NTDA helmsman at a meeting held last Wednesday.

The statement disclosed that the objective of the threats and intimidation was to railroad the CDA into teaming up with him and his collaborators to consent to the environmental degradation of the green belt area.

The residents also stated that the plot to convert the green belt area into a residential estate has also been faulted by environmental experts in the private and public sectors, stressing that “the green area is a vast gorge adjoining our estate”.

The residents said they were shocked that public officials

whose brief include the protection of public interest could show such insensitivity to the genuine public outcry against the sinister plot.

“Several red flags have been raised at different platforms emphasising the imminent threats to human lives and property if the Lagos State Government permits the

despoliation of the Green Belt Zone, which essentially and primarily is a flood plain.

We are further dismayed that some unscrupulous civil servants and lawmakers could embark on such an ominous venture under the exemplary government of His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, who is reputed for professionalism,

administrative ingenuity, exemplary leadership and strict adherence to the rule of law,” the residents explained in the statement.

The CDA officials also said they were shocked that the NTDA had made a 360-degree turn from its previously sound position that an estate could not be sited on the floodplain.

Osinbajo to Represent Buhari at Arap Moi’s Funeral Today Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will today (Tuesday) represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the state funeral for former Kenyan President, Daniel Arap Moi, in Nairobi, the Kenya’s capital.

Moi, who passed on February 4 at the age of 95, ruled Kenya for 24 years from 1978 to 2002.

A statement by the vicepresident’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo would join African heads of states and other world leaders expected at the funeral scheduled to hold at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Akande said the vice

president, who would be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials, left for Nairobi yesterday and is expected back in Nigeria later today.

The statement read: “Prof.

Osinbajo would be joining other African Heads of State and world leaders expected at the occasion scheduled to hold at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

“The Vice President, who would be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials, leaves for Nairobi today (yesterday) and is expected back in Nigeria later tomorrow (today), February 11, 2020.”

BPP DG Raises the Alarm over Declining Price of Crude Oil Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Director General of Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, has decried level of insufficient funds for national development of the country.

Ahmadu lamented that this has resulted in the decline of price of crude oil, the main source of financing the national budget.

He stated this while delivering a welcome address at the 2020 retreat for the Federal Permanent Secretaries in Kano.

According to him, “It is important to remind us of the declining price of crude oil, our main source of financing the national budget. Consequently, it is imperative that we collectively ensure the judicious use of funds

and avoid bad procurements, litigations, inflated contracts and abandoned projects.”

He called on the permanent secretaries to ensure judicious use of funds and avoid bad procurement practices that could lead to insufficient procurements and consequences.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Nasiru Ali Ahmed, charged the permanent secretaries to do more to ensure a perfectly working procurement system.

“Let me point out at this juncture that the issue of corruption that is be-devilling the nation can best be addressed and humbled if we can get our public procurement processes right.”

GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION...

L-R: Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi; Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and member of House of Representatives representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Prince Cornelius Nnaji, during the flag-off of the party’s councillorship election campaign at Abakpa Ward 1, Enugu East Local Government Area…yesterday

I Sacked Ex-EFCC Chair, Waziri to Protect National Interest, Says Jonathan Former President Goodluck Jonathan has restated that his administration sacked the former boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri to protect the interest of the country.

Reacting to a claim by Waziri in her new book that she was removed from office because she was probing some

oil racketeers, Jonathan’s spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze said in a statement yesterday that the former president had no personal issues with the former EFCC boss.

Jonathan disclosed that when he assumed office as President on May 6, 2010, he had decided to retain Waziri, who was appointed

by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, despite obvious disenchantment from many Nigerians and mounting international pressure against her continued stay in office.

The former president said he initially stood by her because of his conviction that every public officer should first be given the opportunity to deliver on his or her mandate.

He added that at a point, he had to let her go in the national interest, adding that her removal therefore has a lot to do with reasons relating to Nigeria’s interest and global standing.

Jonathan however declined to provide the details, saying that he is obliged to keep the details as state secret in the national interest.

FG Moves to Resolve Industrial Dispute in Power Sector Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government has agreed with the leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) on a 60-day timeframe to settle all issues relating to outstanding severance package due to electricity workers disengaged seven years ago as a result of the privatisation of the power

sector entities.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the leadership of NUEE, Ministry of Power, and Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking with journalists after the talks with the Union, Ngige said the issues necessitating the

strike ultimatum by NUEE have been satisfactorily resolved.

“It was a very good meeting we just concluded, and we have reviewed the agreement reached between the Ministry of Power and the Union in December, and everyone is happy. We have given ourselves 60 days within which to process payments for the remaining persons that have not gotten their severance

package,” he said.

Ngige, however, said the number of the affected electricity workers would have to be verified by the BPE and the Accountant-General’s office.

He also said it was agreed that his office would reach out to the power generating and distribution companies to ensure that complaints of casualisation are resolved.

Osinbajo: Nigeria’s VAT Rate Lowest in Africa Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said that Nigeria’s Value Added Tax (VAT) is the lowest in the whole of Africa.

The vice president stated this in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, at the National Micro, Small and

Medium Enterprises Clinics for Viable Enterprises.

According to Osinbajo, “many people have said this is a higher tax rate for consumers and has complications on those who are trading as well. You must remember that this is the lowest VAT rate in the whole of Africa.”

“While it is true that Ghana has reduced its VAT rate from 15 to 12.5 per cent, ours is 7.5 per cent,” he added.

He noted that small and medium companies with a turnover of less than N25 million do not have to register for VAT. “So, that way, the government is

not creating any extra burden for the small and medium companies.

In addition to reducing the impact of VAT on consumers, several basic items such as food, drugs and educational items are exempted.

So, there is no payment of VAT on food, drugs and educational items,” Osinbajo said.

Kwara Hosts Security Dialogue Thursday Kwara State Government will on Thursday hold a multistakeholder security dialogue in Ilorin, the state capital, as a proactive step designed to further concretise its efforts to strengthen security and hasten

socio-economic development.

The dialogue comes amid nationwide efforts, including increasing regional arrangements, to address emerging security challenges. Kwara is also part of the ongoing talks by the North

Central Governments to deepen security.

“The security dialogue at this critical time is to bring all stakeholders on board and educate the citizens on the prevailing security challenges

in the country and the need to brainstorm on strategies in tackling them headlong,” Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said in a statement yesterday.

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COMMENT

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

A LEADER AND HIS STRATEGY

Ray Umukoro pays tribute to Herbert Wigwe, chartered accountant, renowned banker and chief executive of Access Bank

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ccess Bank is currently among the top five banks in Nigeria and was in 2015 ranked as one of the top 500 banks in the world by The Banker’s magazine. But it was not always so. Analysts are quick to point to the transformational leadership of Herbert Wigwe as reason for the turnaround.

Only in 2002, Access Bank was a small bank ranked 65th in the crowded hall of 89 banks in Nigeria. That was when Wigwe and his friend Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede acquired the bank. From that point, what was once a small financial institution revved into life to ride the competition and survive the consolidation years during which many banks lost their identities through acquisition by bigger banks. Access Bank was not swallowed by the hurricane called consolidation; neither did it lose its identity. Rather, it turned the uncertainty of the consolidation into opportunity for growth. As chief executive officer, Wigwe positioned the bank as a nimble, value-focused financial institution. And it has remained ever so, most times setting the pace in corporate governance, fiscal prudence and as a fiducially sustainable model.

Wigwe, a chartered accountant, financial economist and banking and finance whiz deployed his unassailable skills in the management of strategic uncertainties into action. Not only has he improved the bank’s balance sheet, he has restored investors’ confidence in the bank, shoring its brand equity and giving shareholders more reasons to believe. In recent years, the Nigerian banking sector has had to contend with fierce headwinds. The economic storms that buffeted the global economy caught up with many countries. Nigeria was no exception. Economic growth slumped below projections from both World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Many corporates shrank in revenue-takings and defaulted in profitability.

Wigwe, an apostle of innovation and strategic leadership has succeeded in riding not only the global storm but also the local economic tidal waves to the acclamation of shareholders. Now a first-tier bank, Access Bank’s fundamentals are healthy, all thanks to the purpose-driven leadership of a man who believes that “if banks cannot truly be customer intimate, they are doomed to be just dumb commodities acting behind the scenes like utilities” – apologies to JP Nicols, the maverick banker and financial advisor famed for his rich toolkit of innovation.

Access Bank has been groomed to set the pace in customer-centric innovations. This has reflected on its growth and expansion with profoundly strong performance in the first half of last year. Profitability increased within the period especially within the bank’s core banking business. Maintaining a culture of cost efficiency, Access Bank under Wigwe expanded its net earnings and profitability indices. It’s of little wonder that among the banks which declared interim dividend on the basis of audited report and accounts for the six-month period of 2019, Access Bank is one of them.

It declared an interim dividend of 25 kobo per every share of 50 kobo, for the financial period ended Sunday, June 30, 2019. The

IN LESS THAN TWO DECADES, WIGWE AND HIS CREW HAVE PUSHED ACCESS BANK FAR BEYOND THE FRONTIERS OF NIGERIA WITH NETWORK OF OVER 600 BRANCHES AND GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD SPANNING THREE CONTINENTS (AFRICA, EUROPE AND ASIA), OVER 12 COUNTRIES AND BOASTING EMPLOYEE POOL OF OVER 28,000

declared dividend was predicated each on the 35,545,225,622 issued ordinary shares, which works out to N9 billion.

The bank’s half year report showed strong fundamentals of a financial services solution institution on the ascendancy. Compared to the same period in 2018, it was a growth that trips investors.

Teaser: Gross earnings for the half-year 2019 period stood at N324.3 billion, compared to N253 billion recorded in 2018, representing a 28.1% increase. Earnings Per Share (EPS) grew to N1.94K, up from N1.38K for the same period in 2018.

The bank simply stayed bullish in the midst of bears. It’s a manifestation of the managerial acumen of Wigwe, a man who embraced influence and affluence at early age and still remained humble and simple, detached from the swashbuckling brigandage associated with some young successful bankers and corporate leaders. He’s shorn of the aristocratic aloofness that negatively defines some corporate moguls of his status.

Rather than lead the life of wanton ostentation and vainglorious brazenness, Wigwe keeps it simple and humane. The master of corporate acquisition prefers his works to speak for him rather than mount the soapbox to mouth his accomplishments in bombastic showiness.

Indeed, Wigwe and his Access Bank team deserve a disquisition in matters of acquisitions and mergers. Both are usually thought to be risky just like any marriage or alliance. Whether in acquisition or merger, there is always a shadow of risk lurking in the horizon.

Global examples abound where an otherwise healthy company acquires another only to be infected and infested by the toxic virus embedded in the acquired company.

Financial advisors also counsel buyers to beware. Some organisations are not usually what they are presented to be. Even with the most meticulous of due diligence, cases abound where both the acquirer and the acquired do not produce the desired hybrid organisation. The same virulent corporate virus that stymied the growth of the acquired company may insidiously creep deep into the resultant ‘union’ and deposit sludge in its engine. End result?

Inefficiency, poor corporate governance and ultimately corporate fatalism.

This is the sense in which Wigwe and his team deserve not only applause but a deep study of the whys and wherefores that kept them riding gloriously the cusp of acquisition. Here’s a bank that in the wake of the consolidation era acquired Intercontinental Bank, later Diamond Bank and has just acquired Transnational Bank of Kenya with its eagle eyes set on Sierra Leone and Mozambique. It’s bullishly driving its big feet farther into the Africa market.

In less than two decades, Wigwe and his crew have pushed Access Bank far beyond the frontiers of Nigeria with network of over 600 branches and geographical spread spanning three continents (Africa, Europe and Asia), over 12 countries and boasting employee pool of over 28,000. Access Bank is deliberate and intentional in its choice of employees. And this has much to with the leadership.

Umukoro wrote from Lagos

ILE ARUGBO, SECRETARIATS AND ALL THAT Gani Abdurasak urges Gov Abdulrazaq to deliver on his promises to the people

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here are still obvious attempts apparently by the Kwara State Government aimed at re-writing the narratives on the illegal demolition of Ile Arugbo (Old People’s Home) which the late Dr. Olusola Saraki used to cater for the aged and needy during his life time, a tradition that has been sustained by his children. This propaganda blitz is in spite of the out of court settlement directed by the High Court, Ilorin, in which the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led government and representatives of Asa Investments are to meet for amicable settlement over the ownership and use of the land on which the illegally demolished Ile Arugbo was.

The sponsored narratives by the Abdulrazaq administration is to the effect that the midnight demolition of Ile Arugbo during which hundreds of old women and youth were brutalized was a result of public policy executed in order to restore the land on which Ile Arugbo stood to a state where it could be used to build a secretariat for the workers of Kwara State. The Abdulrazaq government seeks to exploit the old propaganda theory of repeating a lie through many sponsored articles in the newspapers and online to the point that it will be believable.

However, the governor and the government forgot to reckon with the fact that anybody familiar with Kwara State will see through the lie. Ile Arugbo’s demolition is no public policy and will not lead to the building of any secretariat. It is simple petty politics and personal score settling elevated to the point of state policy.

Anybody who knows Kwara very well knows that the present secretariat in use located beside St. Anthony is not being fully utilized. Also, in the

last year of the immediate past administration of Abdulfatai Ahmed, the government built a new secretariat located around Challenge Roundabout.

The new, expansive complex was completed and only required little finishing touches and furnishing.

Just a few weeks before Abdulrazaq started stoking the fire of Ile Arugbo demolition, the governor himself publicly and happily announced that the contractors working on the new secretariat built by the last administration gave a bill of N400 million to complete the secretariat and get it ready for use.

Abdulrazaq said he negotiated the money down to N350 million and paid the money.

If the governor talked glowingly about the new secretariat which will be ready for completion in a few weeks, who needs a third secretariat to be built on Ile Arugbo? How many secretariats does Kwara require to function? Apart from these secretariats, many government ministries in Ilorin have huge office complexes which are being maintained with public funds. Examples of these ministries are the Ministry of Finance, opposite Police Command Headquarters, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, Kwara State Inland Revenue Service, located opposite DSS Office, Governor’s Office opposite Sharia Court and many others.

It will be good to know if the government of Abdulrazaq is planning to recruit more workers who will utilize the numerous secretariats that are about to be proliferated all over Ilorin. The governor himself told State House correspondents in the Presidential Villa last month that 75 per cent of the revenue accruing to Kwara State goes into payment of salary of public sector workers. Earlier this week, the government also told the Kwara State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that if it implements the new minimum wage, the percent-

age of government revenue to be devoted to salary payment will jump to 85 per cent, leaving only 15 per cent for infrastructure development. If all these figures are true, then, is the Abdulrazaq government still planning to invest the remaining 15 per cent in employing more civil servants whose salaries will take the remaining 15 per cent?

For a government with such poor statistics on revenue generation/ recurrent expenditure ratio, is the building of an entirely new secretariat which only serves as prestige project or what is known as ‘monumentalism’, the next thing? Let us not forget that Ile Arugbo occupied only three plots of land: Plots 1, 3 and 5. So, who builds a viable Government Secretariat on three plots of land, even if the land is located in the Government Reservation Area?

Or is the governor planning to acquire more land on Ilofa Road where Ile Arugbo is located? Well, since the governor’s mother also owns a large plot of land on that road where the Raliat Foundation is located, he could revoke the title on that property too and joined it to the ones on which he planned to build his fancy secretariat.

Those who are helping Abdulrazaq to spin the narrative that the demolition on Ile Arugbo was borne out of good public oriented policy should advice the governor to also watch his mouth when he speaks to his confidants about his plans. Words get out, you know. He told somebody that the revocation of the Ile Arugbo was his answer to the heavy criticism that the Kwara State PDP and Saraki supporters subjected him to over the wasteful expenses on the New Year Music Show in which hundreds of millions were used to sponsor the visit of music stars, including Whiz Kid. The current government in Kwara State has elevated the art of lying to a state policy. The

governor and his ‘O to Ge’ crowd claimed the state was not functioning because Abdulfatai administration was diverting huge sum of money into the pocket of Dr. Bukola Saraki. For the past eight months that he has been on the saddle and the problem in Kwara is getting worse, why did he not divert the saved money into development projects?

Again, it is inconceivable that eight months after he assumed office, Abdulrazaq has only achieved so much in fighting enemies and stoking the ember of division. He has not embarked on any tangible infrastructure project or development policy or programme. He has assembled a cabinet of neophytes and people who genuflect in his presence.

Abdulrazaq has turned Kwara to a state of ‘one day, one trouble’. He has fought all the people who helped him to get into office. In the Presidential Villa, his image is that of a “trouble maker” such that last December after the Ile Arugbo controversy began, what they say in Aso Rock is “only God knows whose advice that man listens to”. Yet, he is a governor elected on the strength of a ceaseless and numerous promises. Today, Abdulrazaq is confronted with the reality of governance. That is why many believe all his fight with every key stakeholder in Kwara is a diversionary tactic. The man used the confusion to hide from the failure to deliver on all or some of his promises.

The earlier Abdulrahman faces the facts and start working to deliver his promise on infrastructure development, youth employment, provision of social services, wealth creation and development of agriculture, the better for the state. Nobody will judge him on the number of people he fought to a standstill. He will be judged on how well he delivered on the ‘O to Ge’ promises.

Abdulrasak wrote from Tanke, Ilorin

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EDITORIAL JUDICIARY AND THE ELECTIONS The electoral law should be reviewed to reduce the role of the judiciary in deciding the outcome of elections

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hile the courts have always adjudicated on election matters in Nigeria, the growing pattern by which those who seek power now prefer judicial ambush to campaigning for votes should concern all critical stakeholders. Since this development bodes ill for our democracy, it should compel a rethink of our electoral laws by the National Assembly, especially as they begin another review of the constitution. According to the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, more than 1600 court cases were filed after the 2019 elections. In climes where politics is played according to the rules, the resort to the courts after every election is usually minimal.

To be sure, the judiciary has the sacred role of interpreting laws and deciding the rights, responsibilities and liabilities of parties to a dispute, including on election matters. But the frequent resort to the courts and tribunals by politicians is FOR AS LONG AS WE affecting the quality of INSIST ON REDUCING judgments as many are OUR COURTS TO VOTE compromised in the COUNTING STATIONS IN process. Indeed, many A MANUAL PROCESS, of the judgments are THIS DEMOCRACY WILL tainted with politics EITHER DESTROY THE as they contradict the JUDICIARY OR A CORRUPT expressed will of the JUDICIARY WILL DESTROY people. A situation in which opportunity for THE PROSPECTS OF legal redress is available DEMOCRACY but where it comes with little or no hope of justice ever being served, is as good as useless. In some cases, the rules of procedure of our courts are thrown overboard to achieve some predetermined end.

Indeed, INEC had cause sometimes ago, to report a serving Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja to the Chief Justice of Nigeria over the recall process of a senator

representing the Kogi West. This was in order to prevent a precedent in which politicians would resort to using the court to derail legitimate electoral process. Many of the politicians no longer bother with the electorate.

Only recently, in Abuja, courts of coordinate jurisdictions nullified each other in the case of Ifeanyi Ubah, who was sacked from the Senate for allegedly presenting forged NECO certificate. That matter is yet to be resolved.

T T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR YEMI AJAYI, DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

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

he crisis of credibility afflicting the judiciary has taken a serious toll on the institution. It is all the more unfortunate that those bringing shame upon the judiciary are the same custodians charged with maintaining its integrity and prestige. So bad is the situation that there have lately been investigations of some men and women on the bench, including Supreme Court Justices, allegedly linked with corrupt practices. But the main concern here is how all these impinge on our democracy.

The electoral law should be reviewed in order to reduce the role of the judiciary in deciding the outcome of elections.

INEC is the only body constitutionally entrusted with the conduct of elections. But the only way to achieve such finality is to empower INEC to adopt current technologies in election management. Our banking and telecommunications systems are about the most advanced in the adoption and application of IT solutions on the African continent.

Since we like to imitate the best of other nations, how come the Indians manage a democracy of nearly one billion voters without these needless lawsuits? How do other African countries manage their elections that they do not end up with our kind of judicial acrimony?

The essence of the court’s interventions in election matters is to promote democratic culture, and strengthen the confidence of the people in the democratic process. For as long as we insist on reducing our courts to vote counting stations in a manual process, this democracy will either destroy the judiciary or a corrupt judiciary will destroy the prospects of democracy. Many of our politicians no longer bother with the electorate. They just contest and literally wait at the gate of tribunals and courts with bales of cash!

And they ‘win’!

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THE DEFECTION OF ZAMFARA COUNCIL CHAIRMEN TO PDP

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bout two days ago the Zamfara State Peoples Democratic Party - led government released a press statement announcing the defection of eight local government councils chairmen elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP. The official statement signed by Special Adviser on Public Enlightenement Media and Communication, Zailani Bappa, said the defected chairmen were received by the Zamfara State PDP chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha.

Those reported to have joined the PDP are the Zamfara State ALGON chairman and chairman of Birnin Magaji local government council, Alhaji Muhammadu Umar; the ALGON vice chairman and chairman of Maru local government council, Salisu Isah Dangulbi, and the ALGON Secretary and chairman of Bukkuyum local government council, Nasiru Zarumi Masamar Mudi. Others are Ahmed Balarabe (Anka), Lawali Abdullahi (Kaura Namoda), Shehu Muhammad Faru (Maradun), Abdulaziz Ahmed Nahuche (Bungudu), and Aminu Mudi Tsafe (Tsafe).

The council chairmen “announced their defection shortly after a meeting with Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle,” according to the statement.

The ALGON chairman Balarabe Anka told journalists shortly after the meeting that their “decision to join the ruling PDP in the state was as a result of Governor Muhammad’s leadership style in restoring peace and tranquility in all parts of the state within short period of time.” The chairmen said they defected to the PDP alongside thousands of their supporters and assured of their readiness to rally round the administration of Governor Matawalle. On his part, Governor Matawalle said the defected chairmen would be treated like any bonafide member of PDP in the state.

It is pertinent to mention here that Governor Matawalle was enthroned as

governor of Zamfara State after a controversial judgement by the Supreme Court voided the electoral victory of the APC in the state general elections.

The apex court on April 24 transferred APC’s victories in Zamfara State to the PDP for alleged irregularities in the ruling party’s primaries. The verdict sacked all the 34 elected officials that comprised a governor, his deputy, senators, House of Representatives and State Assembly members.

It was a fallout of the artificially engineered crisis in the ruling APC in the state, which peaked when some elements in the party having realized that they have lost their electoral value launched a vicious campaign against the party in courts.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the PDP was rejected by the Zamfara electorate and even though the apex court has now imposed on them a government they rejected outright and which they find difficult to stomach.

With this it is clear why Governor Matawalle and his party are desperate in coercing elected APC council chairmen into the PDP by all means necessary in a blind attempt to curry acceptance from the public. The PDP government new approach was arrived at due to the gale of defection that stormed the Matawalle administration where commissioners and special advisers he appointed resigned and cross-carpeted to the APC. While the PDP government tried to indicate to the public that defection of the eight local council chairmen was voluntary, available information revealed that it was indeed not, instead, it was at a gun point.

Frustrated by the gale of defections from PDP, Matawalle’s strategists devised means of cajoling the council chairmen to join the APC or risk losing their elected positions. That was how the project was executed and out of the 17 local council chairmen threatened, eight gave in to save their positions.

Muhammad Auwal Gusau, Gusau, Zamfara State

DON’T ANSWER THE QUESTION BABY

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ustralia had great hope for its Tennis champion Ash Barty, the world number one, to win the Australian Women’s Open but it didn’t happen.

She went to the post match interview not as a cry-baby like so many losing players but with a real baby, her niece, and this lead to some controversy.

She commented that family was the really important part of life and this may be the most important message of the tournament. Some of the media criticized this as a way of blocking interviewers from asking difficult questions. It is unlikely this would be an effective shield.

If a baby could stop reporters from asking difficult questions, then every politician would stop kissing babies and start bringing them to every event. This is an interesting contrast to the Parliament itself where until recently breast feeding babies were banned from attending sessions.

Babies are noisy, messy and demanding just like most politicians and reporters so when they behave they can ask their questions.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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T H I S D AY ˾TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020

POLITICS

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

In PDP, It’s One Committee Too Many Chuks Okocha writes that given the Peoples Democratic Party’s poor record at implementing reports of many standing and ad-hoc committees, its new committee to review the 2019 elections may be unnecessary

Secondus

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s January 27, 2020 marked the beginning of the second tenure of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello in office as 4th executive governor of Kogi State, expectations are high that the incoming administration may provide a paradigm shift from what it used to be, to what it ought to be, in terms of rapid development in the Confluence State The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from its 88th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on penultimate Thursday and resolved to set up a post-election review panel to look into the party’s performance in the various elections in 2019. This was sequel to a motion by the party’s candidate in the 2019 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the NEC meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, said the committee would comprise members nominated by each zone and state chapter to work with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party for guidance.

This may be one committee too many, considering the fact that the PDP has a couple of reports from previous committees awaiting deliberation. There is the committee on the crisis over the emergence of the minority leader in the House of Representatives. The report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate why Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and others disobeyed PDP is yet to be considered.

There is also the Adolphus Wabara committee.

However, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin was the first to drop a hint about the possibility of a full investigation in the wake of the party’s poor outing in the November 2019 Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections. Walid said PDP needed to look into both internal and external factors affecting the party’s electoral fortune.

“We reviewed the accusations and counteraccusations among our members on the behaviour of some of our members both in Kogi and Bayelsa, especially in Bayelsa.

“Therefore we recommended to the National Working Committee (NWC) that a very serious investigation must take place. We recommended that an interim committee be set up similar to the one that was set up after the 2015 election under the chairmanship of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.”

However, PDP is not new to accusations and counter-accusations or committees and reports over electoral misfortune. Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s loss to the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 elections equally opened a floodgate of recrimination.

While many of the party’s Northern chieftains were alleged to have betrayed PDP over Jonathan’s refusal to keep a reported gentleman agreement on power rotation to the North in

Abubakar 2015, the PDP Governors Forum, through its Chairman, Senator Godswill Akpabio, blamed the Adamu Mu’azu-chaired NWC for the loss and called for his resignation. But the National Publicity Secretary at the time, Chief Olisa Metuh, hit back at those blaming the NWC. He accused the Presidential Campaign Committee of sidelining the NWC and also mismanaging N4billion released to it from the N7billion realised during Jonathan’s campaign fundraiser. Mu’azu, on his part, lampooned PDP Governors for demanding his resignation and warned the party against “the developing culture of using and dumping.”

He eventually resigned on May 20, 2015.

Chairman of the BoT, the late Chief Tony Anenih, also followed suit, citing “personal grounds.” Many of the senior party chieftains equally resigned even before the swearing in of President-elect Buhari, with many more actually crossing over to the new ruling party, professing love and support for the incoming President.

There were also wranglings over choice of Zonal Coordinators, poor mobilisation, resource deployment, and coordination in the zones, including Jonathan’s strongholds. In the South-east, coordinated by Mr. Peter Obi, who had just joined the PDP in October 2014 after completing his second term as Governor of Anambra State on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Jonathan’s votes fell from 5,090,108 in 2011 to 2,464,906 in 2015. That was a loss of 2,625,202. Recall that Buhari defeated Jonathan by 2,571,759 votes.

Enter the Ekweremadu Panel It was in this state of recrimination flying in every direction that the party set up the PDP Post-Election Review Committee popularly known as the Ekweremadu Panel on May

Ekweremadu 5, 2015 to probe the immediate and remote causes of the party’s dismal performance at the 2015 polls.

Announcing the panel’s terms of reference during its inauguration, then National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said the committee was mandated to trace the origin and process of the seeming decline of the party in its electoral performance; take a critical look at the preparations and build-up of the PDP to the 2015 general election and determine its adequacies and lapses; review and determine the adequacy of the structures for the 2015 general election and how those structures actually functioned; ascertain the degree of anti-party activities, compromises, and outright sabotage that may have contributed to the misfortunes of the party at the elections.

It was also to look at funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were properly done; identify different groups in the party, which were to play critical roles before and during the elections and determine their effectiveness or otherwise; to examine any other matter that may be considered necessary and in the interest of the party; and propose a roadmap for the party to recover its past glory.

To ensure the participation of members at all levels, the panel constituted three subcommittees, which conducted public hearing in the six geo-political zones with Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun leading each sub-committee.

It received a total of 5,007 memoranda from six geopolitical zones, 36 state chapters, 268 party support groups, and 4,696 individual stakeholders.

Whereas many party faithful believe the party should, in fact, review its outing after every general election, they wonder the use of new committee when a plethora of previous reports, especially the Ekweremadu Panel report, was left to gather dust at Wadata Plaza….Our party is very good at setting up committees, which recommendations they won’t implement. A typical example is the Ekweremadu Panel report.

That report is not just about 2015 elections, but a total reform. If you read it thoroughly, you see a document that would have re-launched and

Recommendations Submitting the report in September 2015, Ekweremadu said the report was sub-headed under party structure and administration, party finance, legal framework, primary elections, party’s candidates, conflict resolution, campaign organisations, campaign finance, Election Day activities, post-election management, third party groups/support groups, etc. and how they impacted the party’s wellbeing.

“We have made extensive recommendations, the core of which is to end impunity, uphold justice, entrench internal democracy, enhance party administration, promote transparency and accountability, and return the party to its true owners- the people- in accordance with our party slogan and founding principles,” he said.

He reeled out the recommendations; “Among many key recommendations, proposed are nationwide biometric membership registration to align our party records with modern technology and further boost the integrity of our membership records as a precursor to other reforms we have recommended.

“The party should henceforth be self-funding, relying on membership registration and enforcement of dues and levies as its primary sources of income at all levels in line with the PDP constitution. This is with a view to ending the prevailing situation where those who pay the piper dictate the tune.

“We have also recommended that the role of Party Leader, which has no basis in the constitution of the PDP, should henceforth be discontinued at all levels. This is to strengthen the structure, offices, and organs of the party at all levels.

“The party should adopt direct primary as the sole means of electing PDP candidates for any election at all levels. The use of delegates has been grossly compromised and abused, and should therefore be discontinued forthwith to return true ownership of the party to the people.”

Ekweremadu explained that there were widespread grievances in the North over the breach of the zoning principle that denied them the 2015 presidential ticket.

“It is, therefore, recommended to the party to strictly apply the zoning principle at all levels. In particular, since the last President of PDP extraction came from the Southern part of Nigeria, it is recommended that PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections should come from the Northern part of the country. This is in accordance with the popular views and will also assuage any ill feelings in the North over any perceived breach of the party’s zoning principle.”

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020

POLITICS

The Lion and His Burden Emmanuel Addeh writes that as a new government takes over the reins of power in Bayelsa State on February 14, the euphoria generated by his electoral victory will decline, leaving Mr. David Lyon, Bayelsa Governor-elect to face his clear-cut job

Dickson

Lyon

Sylva

Kemepado

A

Medical University (BMU), the University of Africa, Toru-Orua and light up the streets of all major towns in a twinkle.

For these people, managing their expectations by the incoming administration, will be a major task, if not an impossibility. If after six months of Lyon’s government, the nagging issues remain unresolved, the support of this set of loyalists may be shaken.

Yet, there’s the group of pessimists with a feeling of déjà vu, who believe that the outgoing governor, Seriake Dickson, will be hailed as a hero when the reality dawns that the incoming government cannot do any magic overnight.

Pundits believe that having been handpicked

by Sylva one day to the deadline for the purchase and submission of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) expression of interest and nomination form, then supported by a disgruntled clique of elitist politicians in the last election, Lyon may end up a lame duck if he does not wean off their overbearing influence early in his administration.

The same persons who flock around every administration, according to Mr, Gabriel Inam, a professional photographer based in Yenagoa, are those praise-singing the governor-elect, who strangely has already received an award for ‘Best Governor’ even before stepping into office.

“His Excellency, Chief David Lyon should be careful and mindful of praise singers.

The same set of people that are insulting Governor Henry Seriake Dickson today were the same people praise-singing him years back.

“They did the same to Chief Timipre Sylva (now Minister of State Petroleum Resources).

Power is sweet, I know you will use it well.

But be very mindful of praise singers,” he cautioned.

Inam was probably spot-on. The chaotic history of politics in Bayelsa, from the impeachment of late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and culminating in the somewhat disgraceful hounding of Sylva from office is confirmatory of how their leaders have come with so much acclaim and departed with harsh criticisms of their activities while in office.

The relative stability enabled by the outgoing administration of Seriake Dickson, will perhaps remain one of the highpoints of his government for years to come.

The Convener, Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network (PACON), a non-governmental organisation, based in Yenagoa, Mr. Ebikebuna Aluzu, believes that there are soaring expectations from the incoming administration, and Lyon cannot afford to fail the people.

“I expect the incoming administration to hit the ground running in terms of service delivery. They need to tackle the issue of welfare and security in the state while also recovering diverted funds. I know the expectations are high but they are genuine expectations from the people and they are not insurmountable.

“The Governor-elect rode on his wide acceptability to power and must not betray the confidence reposed in him by Bayelsans.

He must show foresight in governance. Lack of foresight has made governance to seem very difficult in the state. With the right team at his disposal, I expect the incoming administration to take Bayelsa State out of the doldrums,” he said.

On his part, the Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr. Alfred Kemepado opined that instead of the rising hopes that Lyon will perform any magic, what he needs is support and cooperation from the people of Bayelsa.

He added that apart from existing challenges besetting the state, every administration creates its own problem, advising that the government should not spread itself too thin, but concentrate on infrastructure that can directly boost employment and productivity in the state.

“People should not expect too much from the incoming administration, rather they should task themselves on how to give it support because what I observed is that people are expecting so much. They should not forget that the man will come in and meet existing challenges and also challenges that will come his way.

“All he needs is total support. He does not need distracting politics. Another thing

I expect of the government is to concentrate on the construction of infrastructure. I mean only infrastructure that will jumpstart the economy. What the incoming government needs to do is to create industries. Small scale industries that will employ Bayelsans because majority of the problems in the state is poverty and it is poverty that results to crimes. So, he should tackle that,” he noted.

According to Kemepado, the government in-waiting will also have a lot of work to do in terms of reorienting the youths on the virtues of hard work instead of waiting for free money which most times will never come.

“While doing that he should also create a platform to create reorientation for the youths of Bayelsa because the average youth from this area does not want to work but he wants to earn.

“Lyon needs to create that reorientation so that when he creates the industries the people are set to work in those industries and know that it is hard work that pays, not crime. They have to be patient. He should open the state in the area of infrastructure,” the IYC scribe added.

Lyon has a huge burden on his shoulders.

First, he’s a green horn in government, with limited exposure. Secondly, as expected, those who backed his rise from obscurity to political stardom will soon start breathing down his neck. Thirdly, how he handles the soaring projections from the people of Bayelsa will matter in the short and medium term.

However, in his few public appearances, the reclusive oil and gas contractor cum politician has made two points clear: That developing Bayelsa would remain a major plank of his government and that every kobo accruing to the state will be used for the good of the people.

Lyon says his strong belief in God and the future of Bayelsa will make the difference when he assumes office as the fifth governor of the state created less than 24 years ago.

“I believe strongly that God would do something for Bayelsans. I started my life with prayers, prayers from Bayelsans; prayers from pastors across the country and God would do something for us.

“We need not be afraid about the task ahead. The task to govern Bayelsa has been given by God and we must fulfil it not for David Lyon but the people of Bayelsa State.

“In my campaign, I specifically stated it that Bayelsa’s money is not David Lyon’s money. The money for Bayelsans would be used for Bayelsans. Bayelsans have done their part and I would not disappoint Bayelsans.

“We shall tackle security so that investment and investors can come in. I would also advise the youths to come together to build our state,” Lyon said.

If Lyon does well in office, it will be a boost for young people (at less than 50 years) and for those who believe in a clean break from Nigeria’s hegemonic political arrangement.

For the incoming administration, the cost of failure will be too much a price to pay.

ny close observer of the political mood of the people of Bayelsa today, will likely identify three cluster of expectations from the incoming government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the governor in-waiting, Mr. David Lyon.

There is a set a people who are palpably clueless concerning what the administration to be sworn-in in a couple of days, precisely on February 14, holds, given that the head of that impending government remains untested both in public service and in the much clichéd murky water of politics.

Lyon’s fairy tale ascension to the highest political office in Bayelsa was not only bewildering even to the keenest watchers of politics in the state, even the beneficiary himself was shocked.

“If somebody dreamt and told me that David Lyon from Olugbobiri would be the elected governor of this our great state I would never believe it. But God Almighty has made it possible. By February 14, by the grace of God, I would be sworn-in as the governor of Bayelsa State,” he told a crowd of supporters during a thanksgiving ceremony recently.

This group of people who do not know what to expect, they appear to have adopted the ‘siddon look’ strategy, summarised to mean an attitude of ‘let’s watch and see’ coined by late politician, Chief Bola Ige, in the heyday of the late Gen. Sani Abacha military interregnum.

There’s yet another collective which seems to be on cloud nine over the taciturn governor-elect’s triumph at November 16 2019 governorship poll. This group literally worships at the feet of Mr. Lyon, a pipeline surveillance contractor from Southern Ijaw, almost singlehandedly picked by Chief Timipre Sylva, a former governor of the state and now Petroleum Minister who has been trying to reconcile with a number of elitist politicians who felt left out in the last eight years.

With a magic wand, this particular pack believes that Lyon, the naturally reclusive 49-year-old, would fix the perennial darkness foisted on the state by a coalition of forces, including, among others, the electricity distribution company in charge of the state, the government and a populace hitherto used to freebies.

Mostly comprising the common people, this classification, routinely refers to the incoming administration as ‘our government’.

They tell anyone who cares to listen that Lyon will halt the dangerously skyrocketing unemployment rate in Bayelsa, fix all the bad roads, build bridges across the major rivers in the state and make generosity an official government policy.

He will stop the ‘Mai Ruwa’ or the water vendor malaise in the heart of the state capital, cut the fees paid by the stateowned tertiary institutions, including the Niger Delta University (NDU), the Bayelsa

Pundits believe that having been handpicked by Sylva one day to the deadline for the purchase and submission of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) expression of interest and nomination form, then supported by a disgruntled clique of elitist politicians in the last election, Lyon may end up a lame duck if he does not wean off their overbearing influence early in his administration

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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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11.02.2020

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

US VISA BAN: WHAT IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS?

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Donald Trump

2/DASHBOARD

11.02.2020

Applicability of Res Judicata on Decisions of a Competent Tribunal PAGE 4

Rethinking Women’s Property Rights Customary Law in Nigeria PAGE 5

Oyetibo Decries State of Insecurity, Urges Buhari, Stakeholders to Rise Up to the Challenges PAGE 5

QUOTABLES ‘For those of you who are concerned about security, get behind your Governor in Lagos State on this decision that he has taken (about ‘okadas’). I do not dismiss the concerns, that have been raised on the other side.....It is a trade off between our conveniences, and our existence! Do you want to be a victim? Because, if you walk a few extra kilometres, you will still likely be alive. I know work is going on, on the trains.....’

– Babatunde Fashola, SAN, former Governor, Lagos State (2007-2015), Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Federal Republic of Nigeria ‘We were deliberate, thorough and dispassionate, in applying the provisions of the Constitution in the issue of de-registration of political parties......

Under Section 225(a) of the Constitution, any political party that falls off the window or the ladder of the conditions for registration, will be deregistered.’

– Festus Okoye, Lawyer, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC

Justice Olayinka Bows Out of Lagos State Judiciary PAGE 5

‘Only Love and Passion brings Fulfilment in Law Practice’ PAGE 6

COLUMNISTS DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIARB, PH.D, LL.D Constitutional Democracy, means a system of government, in which political and governmental power, is defined, limited and shared by a grundnorm called the Constitution, which provides inbuilt checks and balances.

This column seeks to fiercely discuss constitutional, legal and political issues, with a view to strengthening, deepening and widening the plenitude and amplitude of democracy and good governance, without fear or favour.

The writer of this column, Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is a Constitutional Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Pro-Democracy Campaigner, Notary Public and Motivational Speaker. He co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Nigeria's pioneer human rights league, on October 15,1987, the Universal Defenders of Democracy (UDD), in 1992, and with Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others in 1998, the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON), to push out the military. In his early days, he lectured at the University of Ife. Dr. Ozekhome is an author of many books. He is also a Special Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

JOY HARRISON-ABIOLA AJoy Harrison-Abiola holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Ondo State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos State University. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (ISMN), a member of the Association of Legal Administrators Illinois, and a member of the International Relations Committee (Africa).

She is is a leading Legal Management Professional, with over 21 years’ experience as a business professional. She works with Adepetun Caxton- Martins Agbor & Segun- ACAS-Law as the Practice Administrator.“FROM THE BACK OFFICE” explores what law firms need to do, to remain competitive and relevant in today’s business and economic climate, and will also look at ways to re- engineer and awaken the dynamics of the contribution of the Legal Management Professionals; to better position them to provide practical solutions to the challenges facing law business.

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE EDITOR JUDE IGBANOI DEPUTY EDITOR AKINWALE AKINTUNDE REPORTER TUNDE BUSARI GROUP HEAD OCHI OGBUAKU II ART DIRECTOR

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Issues in Visa on Arrival Policy

K

Baba’s Administration and Nigeria’s Unity udos to the Buhari administration, for succeeding in almost completely dividing the country on ethnic and to a slightly lesser extent, religious lines. I just cannot understand the rationale behind this administration’s deliberate and irresponsible moves, to embitter Nigerians against each other. In the parlance of Pentecostal Christians, “I cast and bind you Buhari administration, and throw your spirit of ethnic division into the abyss!”

Maybe it wouldn’t even have really mattered too much who is occupying which position, if the country was prospering on all fronts. But, the fact of matter is that, mostly, Nigeria has been on a downward spiral, as many of those that Baba (President Muhammadu Buhari) has entrusted with the most crucial tasks in the country, have been under-performing. This has resulted in life being rather difficult and distasteful, for the generality of Nigerians - bitter taste, worse than that of Nivaquine!

It is Baba’s administration, so he must take responsibility for its failures and successes. Baba took an Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office of President (7th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution)), to inter alia (among other things) defend and protect the Constitution, preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (which includes Section 14(3) to reflect Federal Character in appointments, in order to promote national unity), and not to allow personal interest to influence his official conduct or his official decisions.

But, strangely, Baba has done quite the opposite, and breached the oaths. Instead of uniting us, despite the cries of those who have been marginalised, his administration has brazenly continued with their tribalistic and nepotistic appointments and behaviour, resulting in excess disaffection, not to mention the way he handled the Fulani Herdsmen crisis in Benue State etc.

And now that people are calling for the removal of the service chiefs due to the rising insecurity in the country, it riles me when ‘Buharists’ respond that, Baba can appoint whoever he likes to occupy official positions. Really? No! His appointments and indeed, all his actions, must be in consonance with the Constitution, with the primary purpose of governance for the security, welfare and prosperity of the Nigerian people as a whole, not just in part.

Suspicion Of course, as a result the ethnic disaffection in the country, everything that Baba does, is now viewed with serious suspicion by the nonNortherners (rightfully or wrongfully) - that there is an ulterior motive, to give the Northerners/ Fulani/Muslims an advantage over everybody else. And, while such assertions are not baseless, and we are well within our right of freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39(1) of the Constitution to voice our disapproval when the situation demands it, we must not read false

ulterior motives into situations, where they may not be applicable.

Recently, a Lawyer from the South, was complaining in a general conversation, that the Government was planning to admit Fulanis enmasse into Nigeria (plus those illegally here already), and register them as Nigerians. His allegation sounded rather strange to me, especially coming from a Lawyer, and I wondered whether something new had happened in the country, which I must have missed while I was away on my brief trip to the UK, a couple of weeks ago. Where did that bizarre theory espoused by the Southern Lawyer, emanate from? Was there a basis for it?

Visa on Arrival and Registration of Illegal Immigrants Nothing new had occurred. It turns out that, because Baba had mentioned the Visa on Arrival (VOA) programme while on a recent trip to Egypt, and had given a six month window for illegal immigrants already in the country to register with Immigration, the VOA has been completely misunderstood, misconstrued and misinterpreted by many, while the call for registration, coming on the heels of the RUGA saga, has been taken as a conferment of automatic citizenship on non- Nigerians, especially Fulani Herders. It didn’t help matters that, a person in such a high position of authority like the Governor of Bauchi State, in a television interview, made statements that - we are already accommodating non-Nigerian Fulanis (almost as if, what’s the big deal if we accommodate more), Fulanis have relatives all over the world, how can we delineate Nigerian from non-Nigerian Fulanis, and ‘presumably’, those Fulanis are Nigerians.

Mr Governor, you are either Nigerian or you are not! The parameters to qualify as a Nigerian, are clearly set out in Chapter 3 of the Constitution. Of course, you can delineate Nigerians from non- Nigerians. There are also Yorubas all over Africa, up to faraway Brazil and Cuba (and the fact that they are Yoruba, doesn’t mean they are Nigerians). However, we can tell very easily, the difference when a Yoruba person from nearby Cotonou, speaks the language, and know that they are not Nigerian.

Likewise, my Fulani friend from Mali, told me that its easy to tell the difference, because the Fulfude (the language of the Fulanis) they speak in Mali, is different from the one that is spoken in Nigeria - some of the words are different - Fulfude, like many other languages, has several dialects. Furthermore, the common language that runs through the entire Northern region, is Hausa, spoken by the majority over there, whether Kanuri, Fulani, or even Plateau, and most of the foreign Fulanis, are unable to speak Hausa. So, it will not be right, to say that it would be difficult to delineate.

In an interview last week, the Controller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede, very eloquently explained the reasons behind the VOA, the different categories, and the qualifications to be able to gain entry into Nigeria on the VOA programme. I know that, for instance, a form of the VOA has already been operating

Comtroller General of Immigration, Mohammed Babandede

in Ghana for several years, as Nigerians do not have to apply for visas to enter there, at least entering through Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

I can confidently say that, those non-Nigerians that the Southerners are rumouring are coming to flood Nigeria with their ‘okadas’, ‘tuk-tuk’(keke napep/tricycles) and cattle, are not the people that the VOA will cover, as one of pre-requisites for the VOA includes, possession of an African passport.

Those that nobody wants in our country, are the illegal unskilled immigrants, who enter Nigeria through our porous borders (whether from Cotonou or Niger), come to do menial jobs that Nigerians are quite capable of doing themselves, and worse, kill, maim, rob, kidnap and rape our people, in the name of grazing cattle, riding okadas, working as chefs and housekeepers, and so on. And, as long as our borders are not properly manned and secured, they will continue to enter Nigeria. It does not have much to do, with the VOA programme.

As for the call for registration of illegal immigrants, just as Mr Babandede explained the VOA programme to Nigerians, so also must Government explain the essence of this registration. Is it to enable Government deport these people, back to their countries of origin?

I sincerely hope that, that must be the only reason, especially as Section 18 of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015 (and indeed, Part II of the Act), inter alia, provides that any person who enters Nigeria illegally, shall be arrested and deported to his/her country of origin.

In a country, that is the poverty capital of the world and does not have adequate infrastructure, even basic amenities to guarantee the welfare of its own people - poor electricity and water supply, high unemployment, low educational standards, high number of out of school children, lack of medical facilities, no security, ailing economy - why would we throw open our gates and welcome illegal immigrants, who will be a drain on our already stretched and scarce resources, people who have absolutely nothing to contribute to the development and progress of our country? That would be, nothing short of being senseless.

Where first world, developed countries who have more than enough, are clamping down on immigration, to the extent that President Trump of USA is hell bent on building a wall to keep illegal Mexican immigrants out of his country (even those who have relatives in USA - a la Governor Bala Mohammed re: Fulani relatives all over the world), then our Government will decide to compound the pain and suffering of Nigerians, by freely letting in more people? I don’t think our Government, can be not just thoughtless and insensitive, to the plight of Nigerians, but unable to feel the general pulse of the world with regard to curbing immigration.

The Constitution: An Impediment to Automatic Citizenship!

In any event, throwing our doors open to immigrants to automatically become Nigerians, is unconstitutional. There is absolutely no provision in the Constitution, for such an action. Sections 25-27 of the Constitution, are quite clear about who is a Nigerian citizen by birth, and who is qualified to acquire our citizenship, and letting people into the country to register as citizens because they are from your tribe or your distant relatives (not your spouse), are not included in the criteria of those who can be admitted into the country to become Nigerians.

Citizenship by acquisition, that is, Section 26 - Citizenship by registration (open to women who are married to Nigerians or those born outside Nigeria, who either of their grandparents, is a Nigerian citizen), and Section 27 - Citizenship by naturalisation (mainly those who have resided in Nigeria continuously for 15 years), has a common thread running through both sections, which is that, such persons seeking Nigerian citizenship, must be of good character (Sections 26(1)(a) and 27(2)(b) of the Constitution).

Over and over again, when the Herdsmen attacks were at their peak, the Government claimed that the Herdsmen responsible for the violent crimes against our people were not Nigerian Fulanis, but from other places. Since, they are obviously of questionable character, miscreants, why would Government warmly and happily let them into the country to cause

ONIKEPO BRAITHWAITE

THE ADVOCATE onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive.com onikepob@yahoo.com Twitter: @TheAdvocateTD

“OF COURSE, AS A RESULT THE ETHNIC DISAFFECTION IN THE COUNTRY, EVERYTHING THAT BABA DOES, IS NOW VIEWED WITH SERIOUS SUSPICION BY THE NONNORTHERNERS (RIGHTFULLY OR WRONGFULLY) - THAT THERE IS AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE, TO GIVE THE NORTHERNERS/FULANI/ MUSLIMS AN ADVANTAGE OVER EVERYBODY ELSE. AND, WHILE SUCH ASSERTIONS ARE NOT BASELESS......”

more problems and kill more Nigerians, because they are Fulanis and may be their relatives? I think not. It follows that, if anything, a responsible Government would explore all ways to expel them, if they are already here as the Governor of Bauchi says they are, and keep them out, if they are still on their way here.

What about the fact that there’s at least a 15 year stay period in Nigeria, to qualify for consideration for citizenship (Section 27(2)(g) of the Constitution)? Pray tell, how do people just coming in from Chad, Niger or Cotonou this week, fit into this category? Or be acceptable to the local community in which he/she is to live permanently (Section 27(2)(d))? Given the crisis with the Farmers, I’m not sure that such migrants will be acceptable in the South and parts of the North anyway. Additionally, the reaction of most Nigerians to RUGA, is enough indication that they will not be acceptable to many local communities. Meanwhile, in the North, how well have our own IDPs been catered for, talk less of assimilating foreigners? We are all aware of the appalling, unsanitary conditions, which IDPs are living in.

Also, as a condition for naturalisation, Section 27(2)(e) of the Constitution provides that, the applicant must have made or is capable of making useful contributions to the advancement, progress and well-being of Nigeria. Pray tell, how would unskilled illegal immigrants, contribute to our already over-burdened polity? They are not neurosurgeons, or nuclear physicists! And, we all know that, the reason for illegal immigration, is primarily to seek greener pastures, wherever and however you think you can get it, usually through criminal means, and not to contribute to the advancement of the host country.

So, fear not, my Southern learned colleague and all those who have a negative opinion of these two new Government policies. I doubt that, your fears will be realised. But, then again - stranger things have happened! What do you think, my dear colleagues?

4/LAW REPORT

11.02.2020

Applicability of Res Judicata on Decisions of a Competent Tribunal

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was complied with. He argued that, the lower courts diligently evaluated the evidence of the parties, resolved that the preponderance of evidence tilted against the Appellant, and the concurrent decisions of the courts couldn’t be faulted. He relied on the case of ONWUGBUFOR v OKOYE (1999) 1 NWLR (Pt. 424) 252.

Facts

pon the demise of the erstwhile Olokua of Okua in Osun State, the Appellant and the 1st Respondent were each nominated by their respective branches of the ruling house, to be the succeeding Olokua of Okua in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State. The Olokua of Okua is a chieftaincy recognised in Part II of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 1978 (applicable to Osun State). The Appellant claimed through the Alaelu section of the Aina Okobi ruling house, while the 1st Respondent claimed through the Abioye section of the same ruling house. A dispute arose as to whether the Alaelu family and the Abioye family are both members of the Aina Okobi ruling house, as the Abioye family claimed entitlement to the ruling house to the exclusion of the Alaelu family. Both families relied on traditional evidence in support of their positions.

The 4th Respondent set up a Commission of Inquiry in 1984, to inquire into the membership of the Aina Okobi ruling house. Upon conclusion of its inquiries, the Commission issued a report containing findings and recommendations (Exhibit D), based on its terms of reference.

Significant among the findings, was that the Alaelu family should not be regarded as being related to Aina Okobi ruling house of the Olokua of Okua Chieftaincy, and that the choice of Francis Adetunji Olaniyi Oguntade be regarded as irregular, and therefore, be declared null and void.

Very displeased with the report, the Appellant instituted the action leading to this appeal at the High Court of Osun State, contending that the report did not represent the native law, custom and usage of the people of Okua, and ought to be declared null and void. He also challenged the right of the 1st Respondent’s family, to produce the new Olokua of Okua. At the conclusion of trial, the court found no merit in the Appellant’s claim. Aggrieved by the decision of the trial court, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which court upheld the decision of the trial court, resulting in the appeal to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination Whether the Court of Appeal was right in dismissing the Appellant’s appeal without adequate consideration of the Appellant’s case against the findings, non- finding or wrong findings of facts made by the trial court.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant argued that, both parties relied on traditional history and acts within living memory, to prove their case. However, the lower courts preferred the case of the Respondents without adequately considering the Appellant’s case, and this occasioned a miscarriage of justice. Counsel contended that, by refusing to intervene and properly resolve the pieces of evidence of traditional history of the two sides, the Court of Appeal refused to be bound by the rule in KOJO v BONSIE (1957) 1 WLR 1223 at 1226-7. He argued further that, the lower courts unduly glossed over the evidence of his witnesses as well as the 1st Respondent’s evidence, that the parties have the same ancestry and members of the same Ruling house. This evidence, he submitted, was given before the trial court and by Section 20 of the Evidence Act, the said admission should have operated as an admission against interest. He relied on the case of IPINLAYE v OLUKOTUN (1996) 6 NWLR (Pt. 453) 148. Counsel challenged the non-consideration of the Appellant’s oral evidence of traditional history in proof of his claim, as well as the non-consideration of his documentary evidence by the two lower courts in their concurrent decisions.

For the 2nd Respondent, it was argued that, the trial Judge had the rare opportunity of assessing the demeanour of the witnesses in the course of taking both oral and documentary evidence, and he has the primary responsibility of evaluating the evidence and ascribing probative value to them. He cited the case of AJUMOBI OGUNDULU & ORS. v I.O. PHILIPS (1973) 2 SC 1.

Counsel submitted that, the trial court not only isolated all issues and facts of common activities between the parties, but thoroughly, exhaustively and properly evaluated the entire evidence led before making his findings. He stated that the trial court exhaustively and properly evaluated the entire evidence led, and that the evaluation is unassailable.

Counsel contended that, the findings of a court are arrived at on the basis of the totality of the evidence of both sides, and it is made in favour of whom the imaginary scale tilts, referring to the decision of MOGAJI & ORS. v ODOFIN & ORS. (1978) 4 SC 19. He argued that, both the oral and documentary evidence of the two sides pitched against each other, including the result of the public inquiry, showed that the Appellant’s case is weak.

He argued that, the Appellant has failed to demonstrate that the findings of the lower courts were perverse and

Hon. Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 29th day of November, 2019 Before Their Lordships Musa Dattijo Muhammad Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Chima Centus Nweze Amiru Sanusi Ejembi Eko Justices, Supreme Court SC.17/2006 Between Francis Olaniyi Oguntade... ...

(For himself and on behalf of other Members of Alaelu Group of Aina Okobi Ruling house) ...... Appellant And 1. Joseph Oyewale Oyelakin (For himself and on behalf of other Members of Abioye Group of Aina Okobi Ruling house) 2. Secretary, Odo-Otin Local Government 3. Chief Yesufu Akinola (The Eesa of Okua for himself and other Kingmakers of Okua) 4. Government of Osun State 5. Attorney-General of Osun State ....... Respondents (Lead Judgement delivered by Hon. Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC)

therefore, the appeal should fail.

Counsel for the 3rd Respondent on his part, threw his weight heavily in support of the decision of the lower court, which affirmed the findings of the trial court, that the Appellant’s case lacks merit. He contended that, the lower court meticulously evaluated the oral and documentary evidence of both parties, while considering the report of the Commission of Inquiry (Exhibit D) and acts in recent time; therefore, the principle in KOJO v BONSIE (supra)

“INDEED, BY EXHIBIT D, THE APPELLANT IS ESTOPPED FROM FURTHER RE-LITIGATING THE VERY CLAIMS HE SETS OUT TO DO, BY THE INSTANT SUIT. EXHIBIT D, HAVING SATISFIED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES OF A JUST AND FAIR DECISION OF A TRIBUNAL, ARRIVED AT AFTER ALL PARTIES TO THE INQUIRY HAVE BEEN HEARD, REMAINS EXTANT”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale The Supreme Court held that, a civil claim, as well as a Defendant’s defence succeeds or fails, on the basis of the pleadings and evidence proffered in support thereof. Civil cases are decided on the balance of probabilities, and the party in favour of whom the weight of evidence preponderates, succeeds. Also, a party seeking declaratory reliefs succeeds on the strength of his own case, and not on the weakness of the other party - WOLUCHEM v GUDI (1981) 5 SC 291.

The Appellant pleaded that his entitlement to the Olokua Chieftaincy, stemmed from the fact that his family is the branch of the Aina Okobi ruling house, whose turn it is to occupy the stool of Olokua of Okua; that Exhibit D (the report of the Commission of Inquiry) is unconstitutional, and the nomination of the 1st Respondent being contrary to Okua native law and custom, is null and void. However, as found by the lower courts, the Appellant failed to tell the court the native law, custom and usage of Okua, against which Exhibit D should be tested.

Ordinarily, the Supreme Court would be hesitant to interfere with concurrent findings of facts, nonetheless, it will succumb to allow an appeal, where such findings are shown to be perverse – AJIBOYE v FRN (2018) LPELR-44468(SC). A perverse finding or decision of a court, is one in which the court’s finding or inference being appealed against is completely unsupported by evidence, or that it is so manifestly unsound that no reasonable tribunal could have arrived at such finding or conclusion on the evidence. A court’s finding contrary to a principle of law and/or procedure that equally occasions miscarriage of justice, falls within the category of perverse decisions the appellate court interferes with – NAFIU RABIU v KANO STATE (1980) LPELR-2936(SC). In this case, the Appellant led oral evidence of traditional history, in support of his case, just as the Respondent did. Although the Appellant pleaded joint or common settlement with 1st Respondent’s family at Idiomo, Idi-Ape and Ile-Tutun, and that the two families together, constitute the Aina Okobi Ruling House, he however, failed to provide evidence of any blood link between the two families. The 1st Respondent’s oral account however, traces Alaelu to a certain Onayemi, rather than Aina Okobi. According to the 1st Respondent, the said Onayemi had migrated from Idofin to Okua. He also clearly refuted, all the festivals the Appellant claimed his family jointly partook with the 1st Respondent. The foregoing evidence and other others were presented before the tribunal, which duly considered, determined and issued Exhibit D. This notwithstanding, the Appellant decided to re-litigate the issues submitted to the tribunal at the High Court, which court determined that Exhibit D is valid and subsisting. This decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeal; the Appellant did not demonstrate why the Supreme Court should hold otherwise.

Indeed, by Exhibit D, the Appellant is estopped from further re-litigating the very claims he sets out to do, by the instant suit. Exhibit D, having satisfied all the attributes of a just and fair decision of a tribunal, arrived at after all parties to the inquiry have been heard, remains extant. Where a cause of action has been determined in the manner it is determined in Exhibit D, between the parties herein, the Appellant as a matter of policy and in the interest of the common good, is estopped from bringing a subsequent suit in any court in the same cause that had already been pronounced upon by a competent tribunal, duly constituted to decide the matter. There must be, an end to litigation – MEMUDU AJIBOYE v ALHAJI OLOYEDE ISHOLA (2006) LPELR-301(SC).

The Apex Court upheld the concurrent findings of the lower courts, that the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations were correct, in that they flow from the terms of reference of the tribunal and the evidence led before it, and there was no evidence to disturb the finding or recommendation.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation: O.O. Ogungbade, Esq. for the Appellant.

Adetunji Oso, Esq. with Umar Abdulhammed, Esq. for the 2nd Respondent. Uzona H. Azikiwe with Ijeoma Nwala, Esq. for the 3rd Respondent.

1st, 4th and 5th Respondents were absent and unrepresented.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited (Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR))

11.02.2020

NEWS/5

Justice Olayinka Bows Out of Lagos State Judiciary Akinwale Akintunde

L-R: Guest Lecturer, Dr. Anthony Diala, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Muhammed Ladan, Ph.D, Chairman of the Occasion/Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Professor Ayo Atsenuwa, Representative of the Special Guest of Honour/Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mr. Abdul Bello and Professor Paul Idornigie, SAN, during Diaspora Scholars' Lecture at Ayo Ojomo Auditorium, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos Campus, Akoka

Rethinking Women’s Property Rights Customary Law in Nigeria Jude Igbanoi Nigeria needs urgent constitutional amendment, to specifically give women matrimonial property rights.

This was the conclusion reached, at this year’s annual Diaspora Scholars Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos Campus, last Thursday.

This year’s lecture titled ‘Rethinking Customary Law and Women’s Property Rights in the Context of Legal Pluralism in Nigeria’, was delivered

by Dr. Anthony Diala of the Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Western Cape, South Africa.

The event which was chaired by the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos,

Prof Ayo Atsenuwa, had in attendance, the Director General of NIALS, Prof Muhammed Ladan, Director of Studies, NIALS, Prof Paul Idornigie, SAN and other distinguished legal scholars.

Dr. Diala noted in his lecture that, Nigeria’s framework on property law, is insensitive to women and children. The lecture, Diala said. was aimed to inspire judicial and legislative reforms relating to the interaction of legal orders in Nigeria, especially the reform of the customary laws of matrimonial property. He however, noted that, ‘the problem with customary law and women’s matrimonial property rights in Nigeria,

is the unsuitability of many customs to contemporary conditions, which reflects in legal pluralism’.

In the context of Nigeria’s legal pluralism, Diala views the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as disturbingly deficient, as it is silent on the relationship between Indigenous law and State law. He further expressed concern over clauses in the Constitution, relating to the establishment of Customary Courts, composition of the courts and their positions in the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria.

Diala argued that, Nigeria’s legislative framework gives women a weak legal platform, on which to assert changes

in the indigenous laws of matrimonial property.

Commending the recent decision of the Supreme Court in UKEJE v UKEJE, which robustly recognised the rights of women to inherit properties in Igboland, Diala urged an urgent holistic judicial approach, on women’s property rights in other parts of Nigeria.

He further recommended amongst others, that the Constitution must specifically give women matrimonial property rights, like the Ghanaian Constitution which provides that ‘spouses must have equal access to property jointly acquired during marriage, which shall be distributed equitably between the spouses, upon dissolution of the marriage’.

Oyetibo Decries State of Insecurity, Urges Buhari, Stakeholders to Rise Up to the Challenges Akinwale Akintunde A Lagos-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, has decried the current state of insecurity in the country, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and other major stakeholders, to rise up to the challenges and proffer urgent solutions to assure the citizenry that the Government cares about them.

Oyetibo, who made the call in Lagos last Friday, while speaking at the 2020 Annual thanksgiving of his law firm, also expressed worries over the rising state of poverty in the country.

“It would not be out of place, at this juncture, to comment on the current state of insecurity in the country. The purpose of any Government in any nation, is to provide for the greatest

happiness of the greatest number of the people.

“It would be sheer political chicanery, to say or even suggest that the greatest number of the people of Nigeria, are happy with the current state of security in the country. It would seem that the Hobbesian state of “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short life”, is staring at us presently.

“The Government therefore, needs to rise up to this challenge and find a solution to the problem as a matter of urgency, so as to reassure the citizenry that the Government cares for them”, he stated.

According to the Senior Advocate, the present security breakdown, is as a result of Nigeria’s sociological problems, which would require to

look beyond the immediate incidences, and to find out what are the root causes.

Oyetibo said situations where millions of youths are unable to get education or some are school drop outs, due to inability to pay school fees; pensioners, who had used their strength to serve the nation, but denied their pensions, would definitely lead to insecurity.

“If we have these kind of problems, we cannot but have the kind of insecurity challenges, and that is where exactly Government should act”, he stated.

He suggested the need for Government to provide good education, healthcare system, and create employment, otherwise the devil will always find

jobs for idle hands.

On the firm’s Thanksgiving Day, Oyetibo said, “It is a yearly programme, scheduled to mark the commencement of our Practice as a firm of Legal Practitioners that started in February 1991. The purpose of the Thanksgiving Day, is to acknowledge the goodness and mercies of God to us as a corporate entity in the preceding year, and to seek from Him greater goodness and mercies over us and our professional activities, in the current year”.

In his words of exhortation, a cleric, Pastor Isaac Ogbeide, stressed the need for the Government to tackle frontally, the issue of insecurity.

He lamented that no society can develop, where there is insecurity.

Justice Olaide Ajoke Olayinka of the Lagos State High Court, Land Division, bowed out of service yesterday, February 10, 2020, having reached the retirement age of 65.

Justice Olayinka joined the Lagos State Judiciary on March 18, 2008, after being appointed and sworn in by the then Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN along with five other Judges.

Born to late Mr. Olawale Folarin and Mrs. Jemilat Folarin in the United Kingdom on the 10th day of February 10, 1955, Justice Olayinka attended Girls’ Secondary Grammar School, Bariga, now known as Eva Adelaja School, where she obtained her West African Higher Level School Certificate in 1973. She also attended Baptist Academy, Ikorodu Road, Lagos where she obtained her Higher School Certificate in 1975.

She proceeded to study law at the University of Lagos, where she obtained her LLB (Hons) in 1979. Thereafter, she attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar, in the year 1980.

Justice Olayinka

started her career in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, serving first as a member of the National Youth Service Corp in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) (19801981).

She was thereafter, appointed as a substantive State Counsel in the Ministry on July 14, 1981, and retained in DPP where she undertook criminal prosecutions and rendered Advisory services. In 1984, she was promoted to the post of Senior State Counsel, and after being in the Directorate for about 6 years, in 1986 she was posted to the Directorate of Civil Litigation and Advisory Matters. Justice Olayinka was promoted to Principal State Counsel in 1986, and was in the Department of Civil Litigation, holding that position for about seven years, till 1990.

Justice Olayinka served as the Solicitor-General for Lagos State and Permanent Secretary for Lagos State Ministry of Justice, from April 31, 2006 to March 17, 2016.

She served in various divisions of the Lagos State High Court, such as the General Civil Division, Family and Probate, and Lands Divisions.

She also served as the presiding Judge of the Ikorodu division.

General’s Wife Refutes Claim of having $15m in her U.S. Bank Account Akinwale Akintunde Chizoba Vivian Nengite, the wife of Brig-Gen. Charles Nengite, has refuted allegations that some lodgements, ranging from $11 million to $15 million, were found in her bank account in the United States (U.S.A).

Refuting the allegations through her Lawyer, Taofik Adeleke, Mrs. Nengite said claims that she was under investigation for money laundering by law enforcement agencies in America, were false.

She threatened to seek legal redress, against the sponsors or publishers of the “false information”.

There were reports, last December, that the Nigerian Army detained Brig-Gen. Nengite, following the discovery of $16 million in a bank account belonging to his wife in the U.S. He was said to have been held by the Army’s Special Investigations Bureau (SIB), a department that handles matters on fraud and money laundering.

Mrs. Nengite, in a statement through her

Lawyer, Adeleke, described publications linking her to any such money, as “false and malicious”.

“A false allegation by unknown sources was made against our client, insinuating that our client was involved in money laundering activities.

“The said publications specifically stated that sums, ranging from between $11 million to $15 million, were found in our client’s private account in the United States of America, and that our client is under investigation by the authorities in the United States of America”.

The Lawyer said the “false publication” caused Mrs Nengite and her family “a lot of undue embarrassment, thus necessitating the need to refute the wrong information now in the public domain”.

“We wish to state unequivocally on behalf of our client, that the information is not true.

“At no time was such an amount of money or any huge sums of money found in our client’s account, to warrant the false and malicious publication.”

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11.02.2020

Judge Decries Dearth of Sign Language Interpreters for Sexual Offences Cases in Court Akinwale Akintunde Justice Sybil Nwaka of Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, has decried the dearth of sign language interpreters in Lagos, in the prosecution of sexual offences involving deaf and dumb complainants.

The Judge made the observation in court last Thursday, while addressing the State Prosecutor, Mr. Gbenga Alagbe, during the trial of one Emmanuel Umoh, a 48-year-old Pastor accused of defiling a 13-year-old deaf and dumb girl.

Requesting assistance from the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, Justice Nwaka said due to a large number of cases involving deaf and dumb complainants, the court needed sign language experts to assist with the dispensation of justice.

“We need to get the services of sign language interpreters, and we need them as soon as possible as this; State v Emmanuel Umoh case, is a 2017 case. Therefore, this court needs to be equipped with sign language instructors.

“We need the Attorney-General’s involvement, because we have a lot of cases involving deaf and dumb

children that have been defiled.

“Let the Attorney-General know that Defendants need legal aid, as we also have issues with Defendants not being represented in court”, she said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Alagbe, had told the court that the complainant as well as the witnesses to the case, were not in court to testify against Umoh.

He promised that at the next court date, the witnesses would be available to testify.

Umoh, whose residential address was not provided, is facing a charge of defilement of a child, contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The prosecution alleges that the Pastor committed the offence at about 1 pm on April 27, 2016, in Shapati Town, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.

“The father of the complainant left the complainant alone at their home with her four-year-old brother, to run an errand.

“When he came back, he noticed that his son was asleep, while his daughter was missing.

“While he was looking for his daughter in the apartment, he caught Umoh, a Pastor in their church, in the act of defiling his deaf and dumb daughter.

“The father immediately attacked the Defendant with a stick, and Umoh fled the home and was on the run.

“He was apprehended, a few weeks later”, Alagbe said.

Justice Nwaka adjourned the case

Legal Personality of the Week Ejiroghene Abiodun Akpoguma

‘Only Love and Passion brings Fulfilment in Law Practice’ be met, if our clients do not pay well for our quality legal services.

Please, give a brief introduction of yourself My name is Ejiroghene Abiodun Akpoguma. I am a husband, father and a Legal Practitioner, engaged in private legal practice in Warri, Delta State. I am member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch, nicknamed the Radioactive Branch. I am a Partner in the Law Firm of V.E. Akpoguma & Co. Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?

In my time as a Legal Practitioner, I have experienced a lot of challenges.

Apart from the stress that comes with being a Legal Practitioner, one major challenge I and indeed, Legal Practitioners who decide to practice law in this country have experienced, is the low professional fees paid by Clients for the legal services we provide for them. Notwithstanding, the present state of the Nigerian economy, clients have always found it difficult to pay their Lawyers well. Most people have the perception that Lawyers are already wealthy, so, there is really no need to pay them well, for the legal services they provide. I want to use this medium, to correct that perception. Just like a Doctor who provides health services to his patients, a Lawyer provides legal serves to his clients. Most Doctors at the earliest stage of their practice, are capable of buying a car. The case is unfortunately, different for a Lawyer, during the early stages of his practice.

During my NYSC, I was posted to a Local Government Area. At that time, I was the only Lawyer that was posted there. At the end of each month, the Local Government paid me the sum N3,500.00, for my services. This was apart from the monthly pittance the Federal Government paid, as allowance. In that same Local Government Area, Doctors

What do you consider to be your worst day as a lawyer?

This happened, the year of my call to Bar. The Counsel on the other side informed the court that, my client had not provided them with some documents which they had subpoenaed them to provide. So, when I was asked by the trial Judge why my client had not complied with the subpoena, I said something off point which I cannot currently recall, and I got this response from the Judge: “Mr. Akpoguma, how can you say that when your parents are Lawyers?”.

Ejiroghene Abiodun Akpoguma

were paid more, for their services. This shows that a Doctor is more valued and appreciated than a Lawyer, these days in Nigeria. A Doctor’s service is just as important, as the service provided by a Lawyer.

Lawyers are now cautious when they charge their professional fees, because the client who feels he/she has been charged exorbitantly, will take his or her legal problems to another Lawyer, who will accept a lesser amount than the previous Lawyer. This shows that we, as Lawyers, are also the cause of our problems. This must stop, in order for us grow in the legal profession. Of course, Lawyers from time to time, are encouraged to conduct pro bono services for clients who do not have the means to access quality legal services. Lawyers are also human beings who have needs that have to be met, and our needs cannot

What has been your most memorable experience as a Lawyer, so far?

Many years ago, I was assigned a State brief by late Honourable Justice F.O. Ohwo, who was at that time, presiding at the High Court, Warri. This was special, for me. To crown it all, I got judgement, in favour of the Defendant.

He was discharged and acquitted, of all charges against him. It was a satisfying experience. May His Lordship’s soul, rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Who has been most influential in your life?

My parents, Sir Victor Akpoguma and Lady Abiodun Akpoguma, without a doubt, have been the most influential in my life. Apart from being my parents, they are also my learned friends. I have had the privilege to learn the ropes of the legal profession, first hand from them.

I will not fail to also mention my wife and my children. Their constant love and care, have inspired me to be the best husband and father I can be. Lastly, my two brothers (both Engineers), who have taught me through the prism of their engineering eyes, certain knowledge that I otherwise may not have obtained,

and which has helped me immensely in my profession. I thank God for bringing the aforementioned persons, into my life.

Why did you become a Lawyer?

I became a Lawyer first and foremost, to realise a lifelong dream. As a child, I always knew I would be a Lawyer. I am aware that there are children, who grow up changing their choice of careers. For me, it was different. I was only going to be a Lawyer. Nothing more, nothing less. Certainly, growing up, I was also positively influenced by my parents.

As I ventured into the legal practice, I realised that there is only one mission, which is to bring forth lasting solutions to the problems or issues facing your clients. This is my mission as Lawyer, in a nutshell.

What would be your advice to anyone wanting a career in law?

I advice anyone who wants a successful career in law, to be ready to work hard, be persistent and consistent. These qualities, surely make a good Lawyer. Apart from working hard, they must have love and passion for the profession. If a Lawyer does not have love and passion for the profession, he cannot have a satisfying practice, and may not work as a Lawyer for a long time. Without the love and the passion, you will not be satisfied and fulfilled in the legal profession.

If you had not become a Lawyer, what other career would you have chosen?

I love music. So, I would have delved into the music industry. Not necessarily as a singer, but perhaps, as a Music Executive Director.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

By God’s grace and mercy, I see myself at the top of the legal profession.

11.02.2020

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TALKING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY DR. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN

SMS only to 08098898888

Different Countries, Different Forms of Government (Part 12)

L

such as mines, mills, factories and natural resources, are owned not by private individuals, but the public.

Communism seeks to replace private ownership of properties, and control the means of production and the absence of social classes, money and the State. Propagated by Karl Marx, communism believes that inequality and suffering, actually resulted from capitalism. According to its protagonists, communism is actually a higher advanced form of socialism. Communism is thus, regarded as “revolutionary socialism” of Karl Marx.

Capitalism Introduction ast week, we finished our discourse on Theocracy.

Today, we shall discuss Capitalism, a system of government practiced in the free world.

Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of production, and their operation solely for profit. It is characterised by private ownership of property, capital accumulation, wage labour, a price system, competitive markets and voluntary exchange.

Private individuals or businesses own and control capital and goods. In capitalist countries, a free market economy operates, rather than a planned or command economy.

There is minimal government involvement. The motive is profit.

Free enterprise dominates. Technological advancement reigns.

It includes the ability to pass on wealth, to future generations.

Capitalists believe theirs, is a fair society.

Capitalism is virtually the opposite of socialism, where individuals are to have access to what they need, but are rewarded based on their contribution to society. In socialist systems, large scale industries and public services are communally owned and managed, to ensure that the benefits flow to the society as a whole. In capitalism, government plays a secondary role. All firms, factories, industries and other means of production, are properties of private individuals and firms.

A capitalist economy works through the price system. When demand is high, prices rise up accordingly. When demand is low, prices also fall.

Karl Marx and Communism Karl Marx, a 19th century thinker and writer, often tended to use the terms communism and socialism interchangeably.

In his book, “Critique of Gotha Programme” (1875), Marx actually identified two phases of communism, that would replace or overthrow capitalism. The first phase would be a transitional system, where the working class would control government and economy; and yet, still find it necessary to pay citizens according to how long, or well they worked.

The second phase, would be one where communism is fully realised. This would be the phase where, there is no class division or even government. In this phase, the production and distribution of goods would be based upon the principle of, “from each according to his ability; to each according his needs”. This distinction was later to be copied by many Marxists, including Russian Russian’s revolutionary “Vladimir Lenin” President Muhammadu Buhari

Origin of Capitalism The pursuit of happiness by means of material prosperity, is not a new idea. It was the way of life, of many ancient Greeks and Romans. But, it fell into disrepute throughout the entire middle Ages. Why? Mainly for religious reasons.

Medieval society was dominated by religion, in every field of human activity. For the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, poverty was a virtue. It was a “test” that had to be accepted, by the poor. The rich were rich, and the poor were poor by what was labelled a God-ordained arrangement.

Voluntary poverty was considered “holy”, and “usury” (lending for gain) was condemned by Canon law.

Yet, while anathematising Jewish moneylenders, Catholic Cathedral chapters lent money at high interest rates. The papacy itself, became “the greatest financial institution of the Middle Ages.” This was the setup, during much of the period of the feudal- ecclesiastical order.

The Birth of Capitalism With the breakup of the feudal system, town and intercity trade grew and blossomed. So did trade between nations. And ideas circulated more freely, particularly, after the invention of the printing press. The influence of the Catholic Church, began to wane.

Medieval Catholicism had been the greatest obstacle, to the development of a new economic order. Yet, pockets of capitalistic trading, manufacturing and banking, had been growing towards the end of the Middle Ages, right within Catholic Christendom. This was true in such Catholic cities as Venice in Italy, Augsburg in Germany, and Antwerp in Belgium.

Catholicism, Capitalism and Protestants’ Influence Then, the Protestant Reformation broke out in the 16th century.

While it would be an exaggeration to say that the Reformation fathered capitalism, it did release certain unaccustomed ideas, that gave a decided boost to it. For one thing, Calvinism relieved legitimate business profit, of the stigma of “usury.”

Moreover, certain Protestant beliefs, provided people with the incentive to work hard so as to succeed in life, and thus, prove they were among the “elect.” Success in business, was considered to be a sign of God’s blessing. The resulting wealth became available “capital” for investment in one’s own business venture, or some other one. Thus, the Protestant ethic of hard work and thrift, contributed to the expansion of capitalism.

Not surprisingly, the capitalist economy developed faster in

“TODAY, ONLY CHINA, CUBA, LAOS AND VIETNAM, PRACTICE COMMUNISM, EVEN WITH FULL ADULTERATION OF THE ORIGINAL MARXIST IDEOLOGY”

Protestant countries, than in Catholic States. But, the Catholic Church, quickly made up for lost time. She allowed capitalism to develop in lands where she was powerful, and became an extremely rich capitalist organisation in her own right.

Capitalism undoubtedly provided an improvement over the feudal system, if only for the greater freedom it brought to the working classes. But, it also brought many forms of injustice. The gap between the rich and the poor, tended to widen. At its worst, it brought about exploitation and class warfare. At its best, it produced an affluent consumer society in some lands, with material fullness. But, it has also produced spiritual emptiness, and has failed to bring true and lasting happiness to its practitioners.

Classification of Capitalism The Marxists had periodised capitalism into different stages - agricultural capitalism, merchant capitalism, industrial capitalism, finance capitalism and global capitalism. It is generally believed that capitalism may go on forever, because it creates new needs, new possibilities for the market, and new innovation.

However, automation and advances in new information technology are believed to be capable of ending capitalism, because it makes production costs to tend towards zero.

Communism Introduction The Protestant Reformation, was a revolt against papal abuse of power and privilege. Yet, it unleashed a flood of ideas, that went far beyond what the original Reformers anticipated. These ideas sooner or much later, were to produce revolutions in fields other than religion. Not only did the revolt against Rome boost the development of capitalism, but it also contributed to innovations in the fields of science, technology and philosophy leading to godless beliefs.

With the advent of the steam engine and machinery, capitalism spread out from the field of commerce, into that of industry.

The latter part of the 18th century and the 19th century, saw the creation of huge factories requiring a large labour force recruited among peasants, craftsmen, and even, children. But, capitalist “exploitation of man by man” led to the creation of workers’ movements and revolutionary philosophies, such as communism.

What is Communism?

Theoretically, the term “communism” denotes “systems of social organisation based upon common property, or an equal distribution of income and wealth.” In current practice, communism is a system of government based on the holding of property by the State, which controls the economy under a one-party political structure.

The concept of communism revolves around the theory or system of social organisation, in which all property is owned by the community, and each person contributes and receives according to their abilities and needs. Communism seeks to create a classless society, in which the major means of production

Origin of Communism The term “communism” came into focus, in the 1840s.

But, Communist societies had been described as far back as the 4th century BCE, when the great Philosopher, Plato, wrote the “Republic”. Plato had described an ideal society, in which the governing class serves only the interest of the entire community. This system was practiced, by the first set of Christians. In his book, Utopia (1516), the English Humanist, Thomas More, envisaged an imaginary society, in which use of money is abolished, while all the people shall renounce the ownership of private property, eat meals communally, make their clothes, and other goods.

Communism was however, populated by Karl Marx, who carefully outlined this system of government with Fredrich Engels in the book, “The Communist Manifesto”, written in 1848. Marx’s embrace of communism, was partly ignited by the inequalities caused by the industrial revolution.

Lenin was later to argue in his “State and Revolution” book (1917), that socialism corresponded with Marx’s first phase of communism, while communism proper was that achieved in the second phase.

Lenin and the Bolsheviks reinforced this distinction, in 1918 (a year after they seized power in Russia). This is why communism is always identified, with the now defunct Soviet Union. It was later, adopted by the People’s Republic of China.

Thus, for much of the 20th century, about one-third of the entire world’s population was governed by communist regimes, usually single party that brooded no dissent or plurality of voices. Party leaders institutionalised command economies, in which the State controlled property, while bureaucrats determined wages, prices and other means of production and distribution of services and goods.

These systems were grossly inefficient, leading to their eventual breakdown.

Today, only China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam, practice communism, even with full adulteration of the original Marxist ideology. Marx, Lenin and Stalin would chuckle in their graves, at this form of communism.

It is thus, clear that Marxism was targeted at abolishing the bourgeoisie (who owned the means of production and earned surplus profit), and replace it with the Proletariat (who sold their labour to the bourgeoisie). Leon Trotsky opposed Stalinism, but embraced Leninism. Maoism (named after Chinese leader Mao Zedong), was crafted after Marxism-Leninism.

For years, in the Western world, many of the young and even some not so young, were attracted by the communist ideology. But, persistent bad news seeping out of many communist lands and the one-way flow of refugees, has left many disillusioned.

Communism has been criticised, from the angle of historical materialism. It is viewed as a kind of historical determinism, which suppresses liberal democratic rights, and the distortion of price signals .

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property. (Karl Marx).

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D I S C O U R S E US Visa Ban: What Implications for Nigeria and Nigerians?

It may take some time for clear reasons to emerge, as to why the United States of America included Nigeria on the list of countries placed on a visa ban, with other countries including Eritrea, Libya and Sudan. While some have rationalised and speculated that it could be the consequence of Nigeria’s interminable war against insurgency in the North East, others opine that, it is the result of Nigeria’s inability or incapability to share information with the United States for border and immigration screening and vetting.

As the effect of this ban bites harder, Daniel Bwala and Felix Eghie Patrick Sugaba share their respective viewpoints on the vexed issue in this Discourse

US Visa Restriction on Nigeria and its Implications Daniel Bwala

T

he U.S government has placed a visa restriction on Nigeria, as one of those countries that failed to meet up with the minimum security standards. The visa restriction policy which will come to effect on 21st February, 2020, has a lot of benefits and implications on both countries. Nigerians can still travel to the US on temporary non- immigrant visas as students, workers, or tourists. When the law goes into effect, Nigerians will no longer be able to obtain visas allowing them to permanently emigrate to the US. The United States Government gave reasons for imposing visa restrictions on Nigerians and five other countries’ nationals. It stated that, Nigeria did not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics.

The US Government also claimed that, Nigeria did not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information, necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US. Nigeria is the only country in West Africa sanctioned by the US Department of Home Land Security, following a review and update of the methodology (performance metrics).

The new visa regime announced by the US government on 31st January, 2020, involves the suspension of the issuance of immigrant visas to Nigerian passport holders, which comes into effect on the 21st of February, 2020. President Buhari's administration has responded by setting up a committee to work with the US Government and Interpol to ensure Nigeria complies with global security standards.

"Nigeria remains committed to maintaining productive relations with the United States and its international allies, especially on matters of global security", spokesman to PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) declared in a statement.

The Idea Behind the Ban The U.S Government is concerned about the safety of its citizens, which is why it has to review some of its policies, like the then age-long practice of going to the U.S to give birth and the baby automatically becoming a U.S citizen. A country that wants to safeguard the integrity of its immigration system and national security, will have to deliberately change some policies. Just like the ban on birth tourism is based on the analysis and data collected from the Federal Prosecution department which has already highlighted

potential security risks, this is already seen as a loophole which has abused the system, and may open the U.S to internal security risks. BBC NEWS reported that; “the birth industry is also rife with criminal activity, including international criminal schemes”.

It is further reported by BBC NEWS that, Acting Homeland Security Secretary, Chad Wolf, told a reporter on Friday that; “these countries, for the most part, want to be helpful, but for a variety of different reasons simply failed to meet those minimum requirements that we laid’’. The laxity of the Nigerian Government in complying with identity management and information sharing policy with the United States, propelled the US into listing Nigeria as one of those countries with high security risks.

President Donald Trump has been fulfilling his campaign promises, which is putting America and Americans first. The reason why the US Government is restricting visas for immigrants, is for security purposes. The US Government is very sensitive to the issue of terrorism, and a lot more.

It claimed that, it is very difficult to access critical information provided by Nigerian travellers, hence, they cannot verify and conduct a proper assessment, as to whether these travellers pose or will pose internal security threat.

The security problem faced by Nigeria as it stands today, could be one of the factors that propelled the US decision. The Nigerian Government on the other hand, has opened its borders to ECOWAS members and other African countries, with no serious measures put in place to check or restrict people’s movement. The borders are so porous, and there are a lot of foreigners who are coming into Nigeria daily, claiming to be indigenous people, especially from the Northern axis. This has a lot of security implications to the nation as a whole, because these individuals can easily apply and secure Nigerian Passports, as there appears to be no Central Data Sharing System which the US and Nigerian Governments can exchange information, or verify the information provided by these immigrant visa applicants.

This has put Nigeria on high risk, as a country where a Terrorists holding a Nigerian passport, can migrate to the US. The current rise of ISWAP activities in Nigeria and their link with global terrorists, is worrisome.

However, Nigeria has been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism with support from the US Government, to overcome this menace; sadly, despite the contribution of the US and other foreign countries, there is little or no result to show.

With the restriction on Nigeria, the Nigerian Government has realised the importance of improving and exchanging information, with the United States.

As reported by NEW YORK TIMES, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, said: “...that included efforts to directly share personal data including immigrants, criminal histories, stolen passport information and suspected links to terrorism with the United States and Interpol member countries’’.

Mr. Onyeama was quoted to have said “Hopefully, once that has been achieved, we look forward to being taken off this visa restriction list”. It is obvious that, the Government is working on it, and once this is done, the visa restriction will be removed, that I believe. Meanwhile, the U.S Government has adopted an immigration policy, that serves their national interest.

According to WASHINGTON POST: “The six additional countries recommended for restriction in the January 2020 proposal, are among the worst performing in the world’’.

In the United States for example, data on citizens and non-citizens are documented for many reasons, ranging from employment, diversity, history and criminal records.

The truth is that, a country like ours that is fighting insurgency, should be very serious, and should not leave any loophole that will give the insurgency any leverage to undermine the country and its image, globally. The US Government is just being proactive, so as to curtail what they think will be a threat to them. However, there are divergent views on the ban. The Silicon Valley view it as detrimental to the US economy, because of the importance of highly skilled immigrants, especially from Nigeria. Some see the visa restriction as been discriminatory against Africa and Africans, while the Tech Industries in the US view it as something that will affect their businesses, and reduce their ability to compete in the global market, because skilled workers may be denied the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. The Nigerian Government has put up a system called the National Identity Card Scheme, which is to address the issue of data and information sharing on individuals, but this is not enough, and we cannot claim ignorance of the fact that, there are lots of instances where foreigners were being arrested with Nigerian passports, which has painted Nigeria in a bad light.

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that: “we are somewhat blindsided with the announcement of the visa restrictions by the US” thankfully “the US officials have also confirmed that we have been able to tick most of those boxes’’. Nigeria needs to double her efforts, in handling immigration.

Implication of the Restriction on Both Countries Since one of the major reasons for the ban by the US, is that Nigeria does not have the global standards of security check system, other countries might want to follow suit to reduce their bilateral relationship with Nigeria, as everyone is conscious of protecting their country. American influence in the world can be domineering and overreaching, as perceived by many.

The US would be negatively impacted by the policy, but the adverse effect would be felt more, by Nigerians migrating to the US. The United States, is a nation of immigrants.

President Trump is the grandson of an immigrant. His wife is an immigrant. The US

Nigeria’s Anxiety Over US Visa Ban is Misplaced Felix Eghie Patrick Sugaba

M Reactions

Daniel Bwala

history is rich with immigrants, some of the immigrants are from Africa and especially Nigeria. Nigerians who have achieved feats, and contributed a lot to the US in various sectors are enormous: 1. Science and Technology Sector of

“THE SECURITY PROBLEM FACED BY NIGERIA AS IT STANDS TODAY, COULD BE ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT PROPELLED THE US DECISION. THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT.......HAS OPENED ITS BORDERS TO ECOWAS MEMBERS AND OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WITH NO SERIOUS MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO CHECK OR RESTRICT PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT. THE BORDERS ARE SO POROUS....”

the US Dr. Osatohon Osemwengie, is a US-based Nigerian drone expert who has seven (7) master’s degrees and three (3) PhDs. He built drones for the U.S army for surveillance, and to fight terrorism. He is also an educationist, and the founder of Open Robotic Unuversity, which is a tuition free engineering degreegranting university, that allows those who have talents to expand their knowledge in various engineering fields. He is also the founder and CEO of Ubiquity Interface Inc. This, amongst others, are the achievements of a Nigerian citizen in the U.S, who migrated via the immigration visa policy of the US. Before Dr. Osatohon Osemwengie migrated to the United States in 1982, he served as an administrator in Collage of Education, Benin City.

Also is Mr. Jelani Aliyu, a US-based Nigerian who lives in Detroit, Michigan.

He is an automotive designer who designs for General Motors, a leading auto brand; Chevrolet, the 2nd biggest car manufacturer in the U.S. This Nigerian is acclaimed to be, the best car designer. It is on that note, that the present administration invited him CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

uch has been said, about the recently announced US ban on visas to Nigerians.

It didn’t come as a surprise, as speculations were rife over the issue, long before it was finally announced.

There has, expectedly, been a plethora of reactions from Nigerians and other vested interests, over the ban. Some welcomed the news, while others despised it. As usual, the Nigerian officialdom was jerked, from its slumber. It went scampering to douse the flames, as if it was oblivious of the sound of the fire crackers that ignited the inferno.

Back in 2018 when the Trump administration placed a ban on citizens of some Moslem countries from entering the US, Nigerians were cautiously relieved that the country was not on the list. We were predictably sceptical, of the magnanimity of Trump towards our country. We chorused hallelujah, nonetheless. But, we did so with measure and restraint, knowing that this “gift of the Greeks”, was too good to be true.

The reasons for restraint in our euphoria, were too palpable to ignore.

The Nigerian Muslim population, was far larger than any other that made the Trump list. North East of Nigeria is home to Boko Haram, the ruthless Islamic terrorist organisation, that is affiliated with other murderous groups like ISIS, Al-kaida and ISWAP. In addition, the so-called “Underwear bomber” who attempted to bring down an American airliner, is a Nigerian.

Given the above, the absence of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on the list, rendered any given reason by the White House suspicious and confounding. As we wallowed in reactions and speculations, what was lost on us was the criterion employed by the Trump administration to determine which country made the list, and which did not.

Nigeria-US Relations Although Nigeria-US relationship dates back many decades ago, there is nothing statistically to show that, Nigeria has benefited tremendously from it. Besides crude oil, US trade with Nigeria can best be described

Felix Eghie Patrick Sugaba

as, infinitesimal. This is what the US Embassy in Nigeria has to say on its web site, about the US -Nigeria bilateral economic relations: “The United States is the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, with U.S. foreign direct investment concentrated largely in the petroleum/mining and wholesale trade sectors. U.S. exports to Nigeria include wheat, vehicles, machinery, oil, and plastic. U.S. imports from Nigeria include cocoa, rubber, returns, antiques, and food waste”.

There is no gainsaying the obvious, that US interests in Nigeria, centres on its crude oil. Even in the words of the US Embassy, it is without doubt, that the trade imbalance weighs in favour of the US. That is not to suggest that, the political stability of Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, is not of paramount interest to the US. This is evident, in her military partnership with the country. Such bilateral security engagements have helped

in many ways to stem the tide of terrorism, and mellowed down other serious security challenges threatening to destabilise the country.

Impact of the Visa Ban The newly announced ban on US Visas to Nigeria did not come as a surprise, given the precarious situation across the country. The security challenges, are enormous. The threats are multiplying, by day. The clouds are gathering. The US and the rest of the world, are watching events in Nigeria.

It is difficult therefore, not to see the new US policy towards Nigeria from the evolving mountainous threat to Nigerian stability.

Be that as it is, it is not immediately obvious what the newly announced ban on US visas to Nigerians, portends.

In spite of the outcry from Nigerians, the implications appear obscured, at least, in the short term. It is instructive CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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US VISA RESTRICTION ON NIGERIA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 back home and made him the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council.

2. The Medical Sector The Nationwide Children Hospital in Ohio, appointed Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian trained medical doctor from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. According to Nationwidechildrens.org, Dr Richard Brilli, Managing Director and Chief Medical Officer of the hospital has this to say about Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye: “we are tremendously delighted to welcome Dr. Olutoye to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, to further elevate the visibility and reputation of one of the best overall children’s surgical programs in the country; that through its clinical care and research, is forging the future of children’s surgery’’. Nigerian doctors are contributing tremendously to the health sector of the US, putting in their best, more than they have done back home.

Also is Dr. Oluyemi Badero, a Nigerian cardiologist based in New York, who was rated by Castle Connolly, an Organisation which makes annual publications of distinguished US Doctors. It named Dr. Oluyemi Badero, among the top US Doctors.

Dr. Olawale Sulaiman, a professor of neurosurgeon and spine surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana in the US, and the list goes on.

3. Sports Sector It will also interest us to note that, by the start of 2017-2018 basketball season, about 17 Nigerian-origin players played in the NBA. Nigeria is the largest country with basketball export, to the U.S. These players are returning back home to train/impact our local basketballers. Nigerian US based basketball players like Alfarouq who played for Blazers, Ejike Ugboaja of Cleveland. Evelyn Akhotor, an WNBA Star who was born in Lagos, returned home recently to camp upcoming young stars.

The American born coach Oliver B. Johnson, popularly known in Nigeria as coach OBJ, discovered Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon in Lagos, who went on to play for Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, and emerged as one of the greatest NBA icons. Stars like Ujiri had made it big in the NBA. Josh Okogie who plays for Minnesota Timberwolves was born in Lagos, before migrating to the US through the now restricted visa.

According to Sahara Reporters, Dr. Nariwoh, a Nigerian, was chosen by the US Department of State’s Global Sports Monitoring Program from among the 16 participants around the world, due to his leadership skills, experience and impact in the U.S sport sector.

4. Religious Aspect According to history, missionaries brought religion to us in Africa. Now the African Christians are exporting their own brand of worship and moral discipline to the US, and other countries all over the world. Most of these missionaries, are from the Pentecostal churches. Nigeria is one of the top leading countries, in international evangelical work. Nigerian Pentecostal mega-churches have sprung up in many cities around the world, and the U.S as well.

These mega-churches with their headquarters in Nigeria and branches in the U.S, do send some of their pastors to minister in those branches. With the current visa restriction, this practice will be crippled.

5. Other Business Ventures The US-Nigeria Council (USNC) is an organisation that is committed to strengthening the business and commercial

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Donald Trump

relationship, between the U.S and Nigeria. The Council is responsible for the long term business partnerships between US and Nigerian Companies, enhancing innovations, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, job creation and the economic development of both countries. Iyin Aboyeji, a US based Nigerian launched Flutterwave, a company with its headquarters in San Francisco, some years ago. The company provides payment technology and infrastructure, that enables banks and world merchants to accept and process payment on web, mobiles, ATM and POS. Stephen Ozoigbo, also a Nigerian who moved to the US, is the CEO of Silicon Valley-Based African Technology Foundation (ATF) who offers mentorship to African entrepreneurs. He is part of the Nigerian communities in the US, who are founding Tech Companies and digital media organisations all over the US, with the sole aim of solving relevant issues and celebrating the feat of Nigerians.

There are quite a number of Nigerians in the Silicon Valley who are solving complex societal problems, through their innovations.

In the aspect of technological innovations, the US has the best market and climate for fostering, and better appreciation of these achievements. The young Nigerians who are very innovative in technology, with the dream of finding a better environment for development and acquiring more knowledge and skills, will be affected by the restriction placed on Nigeria.

The list of successful Nigerians in the US goes on and on, I can only, but mention a few.

"THE US GOVERNMENT IS JUST BEING PROACTIVE, SO AS TO CURTAIL WHAT THEY THINK WILL BE A THREAT TO THEM”

Conclusion Nigerians enjoy adventure, trade, and the joy that comes with contact with a different places. A popular saying in Nigeria goes: “If you go anywhere in the world and a Nigerian is not there, you are advised to leave immediately. Something is certainly wrong!” They establish communities and contribute to the social, political, and economic fabric of the place.

NIGERIA’S ANXIETY OVER US VISA BAN IS MISPLACED that, the ban is said to pertain to immigrant visas (settlement visas) only, NOT tourists, student, artists and other visas. On the surface, it looks as if the impact would be minimal.

Statistics show that, the number of US Immigrant visas Nigerians applied for in 2019, is nothing compared with other types of visas in the same period. But, for the security challenges facing the country, most Nigerians travel on tourist visas, either on holidays or business trips. By tradition, other than skilled workers, not many ordinary Nigerians apply for Immigrant visas, for the purpose of settlement in the US. On the economic front, it is noteworthy that, since the emergence of China and other Asian countries as regional economic powers, focus has almost completely shifted away from the US, and other western countries. The United Arab Emirates has also taken the shine off the US, and its western allies. It has become, the newest world irresistible economic and social hub. In addition, it is served with the world’s best airlines, delivering passenger and cargo services to destinations worldwide, with ease. Subsequently, Nigerian traders have found a viable and more lucrative alternative, to whatever the US may be dangling. The argument by some commentators that Nigeria, being a consumption driven country, would be adversely affected, does not seem plausible given the country’s low import of consumables from the US in the latest past.

However, the mere pronouncement of the policy,

While non- immigration visas such as pleasure visa, business visa, visit visa, medical visa etc. are not restricted, however, sometimes it is the outcome of the non-immigration visa that results in immigration applications.

According to CNN, the Oxford English Dictionary just added a whopping 29 words and expressions of Nigerian English into its lexicon, showing how Nigerian pragmatism and entrepreneurship reflect the people’s embrace of new things, including language and culture.

But, it’s not just about success and innovation. Ordinary families, don’t deserve the harm this ban will cause. The New York Times just published an example of family bonds that will be torn apart, with this new policy change. Republicans say they are the party of family values, but when a family is separated, it is a lost chance to build a future generation on the generosity of the past.

With the addition of Nigeria to its list, the Trump administration’s travel restrictions will affect nearly a quarter of the 1.2 billion people in Africa, according to the Centre for Global Development. Experts warn that, it could harm African economies and create a vacuum that China, Russia and Turkey would fill. A stitch in time, saves nine.

Daniel Hassan Bwala, Esq. LLM (UK), MCIArB (UK), Legal Practitioner, Notary Public and Barrister, Lincoln’s Inn, London (NP)

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

does not augur well for Nigeria. It is an ominous call that weighs heavily on the country’s image, an indictment of the current administration, and a subtle message to international investors. It has the potential of affecting the economy, by limiting the flow of Foreign Direct Investment, FDI from the US and other countries. It will affect international trade between the two countries, in that genuine Nigerian trading partners might feel discouraged by the new visa policy, if Embassy officials double down on the new rules to include other types of visas. Of importance too, is the Green Card lottery policy which facilitated many Nigerians and their families to emigrate to the US, for so many years. By this new policy, the scheme has been rendered moribund. By

“AS USUAL, THE NIGERIAN OFFICIALDOM WAS JERKED, FROM ITS SLUMBER. IT WENT SCAMPERING TO DOUSE THE FLAMES, AS IF IT WAS OBLIVIOUS OF THE SOUND OF THE FIRE CRACKERS THAT IGNITED THE INFERNO”

implication, Nigeria will suffer a huge loss in foreign remittances from the US, that would otherwise have been added to the existing figure.

Meanwhile, it does appear that the new US policy towards Nigeria, is not details specific. At least, not yet. Some commentators allude to, denying Green Cards to US resident Nigerians. If this is so, it is my opinion that, the policy would be difficult to implement, strictly because of specific international laws that guide sacred institutions like marriages, families and their members, which the immigrant visa ban seems to target.

If however, the travel ban is meant to target specific government officials and other political gladiators in the country, one cannot be sure how to measure its toll on such individuals. It is indeed, hard to see how the ban would affect the machinery of governance, given the bilateral relation between the two countries, and the United Nations conventions guiding such relations. The policy is neither connected, nor conditionally attached to existing or future aids, grants, loans and other developmental projects meant for Nigeria, and other countries affected.

It is my opinion that, the fear and anxiety most Nigerians are nursing, is misplaced, to say the least.

It is nonetheless, an advisory for Nigeria to engage the US in negotiations, to find a common ground in this aspect of their bilateral relations.

Felix Eghie Patrick Sugaba, Zurich, Switzerland.

11.02.2020

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FROM THE BACK OFFICE JOY HARRISON-ABIOLA

I

ibejiiya@gmail.com

Law Firms and the “PP” Dilemma

was at the Business of Law Conference 2.0. The Agip Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos was packed full of young, and not so young Lawyers.

We had a tense moment. A young Lawyer stood up, and asked why he should bring a measly 50,000.00 Company Incorporation brief that he obtained through his dint of hard work and from his small sphere of influence, into his employer’s law firm to handle? “Why could he not handle it on his own, and keep the money?”

The reaction was instantaneous - murmuring swept through the hall. I could literally feel the divide in the room. I daresay, the fraction of the divide was 80 by 20. 80% for, and 20% against. While the panelists took the question head-on, several hands shot up in the audience, senior Lawyers seeking to put the young Lawyer who asked the question, right. The young Lawyers in the hall kept the murmuring going, while respectfully listening to the senior Lawyer’s admonition on the subject, but were not quite ready to capitulate.

Meanwhile, from where I sat, I was trying to take the pulse in the room. It became apparent to me that, the PP issue plaguing the legal industry has become pervasive, endemic and systemic. I was curious. What does the Legal Practitioners Act (“LPA”) 1975 amended in 2004 say on the matter?

Further to the “LPA”, what does the Rules of Professional Conduct say on the issue? Can the legal industry, afford to be reticent on the issue? From the back office, I decided to speak with a sample of Lawyers of varying backgrounds and ages at the Bar, and I took the views of a few law firm Managing Partners.

What is Private Practice “PP”?

What is Private Practice (PP)? What does it connote, that is so untoward? The MerriamWebster dictionary meaning of the innocent phrase Private Practice, is simply a professional business (such as that of a Lawyer or doctor), that is not controlled or paid for by the government or a larger company. The practice of a profession (as medicine or law) independently, and not as an employee.

So, how did Private Practice (PP) develop a negative connotation in Nigeria? “PP” is Nigerian English – It is the unethical practice of privately pursuing a competitive business with that of your employer, while still under his employment. Operating a parallel competing business, whilst under full employment. It is a side job – a competing endeavour, which you normally will hide from your employer. Some shades of PP may include - An employee taking part in an activity (circumstance, arrangement, or relation), which brings them benefits that are contrary to their employer’s; serious PP could involve working with an employer’s

competitor – even smaller competitor; or when an employee sends their employer’s client to another business where they own interest; or providing consulting services on the side to a client of the employer; or when an employee accepts a gift from a client in exchange for something, such as discount on the employer’s bill of fees. PP makes an employee have interests or loyalties that are—or at least potentially could be—at odds with his employers.

PP borders on, conflict of interest. Law firms, like every business, put a high premium on loyalty. Conflict of interest, causes an employee to experience a struggle between diverging interests or allegiances - usually affecting their judgement or decision-making at work, or their loyalty to the employer. Such conflicts are generally forbidden, in business codes of conduct. In workplaces, employees want to avoid any behaviour or choices, that could potentially signal a conflict of interest. They are a mark against the employee's reputation, integrity, and trustworthiness, in the eyes of management - who view these as personal benefits, taking precedence over what is in the best interest of the firm. And, it can be enough cause for disciplinary action or termination, especially if the employer has a non- compete agreement in place.

Issues with Private Practice: The Arguments There are arguments for and against “PP.” The arguments for are – (1) It is not PP, if I do not engage in it during my regular working hours. I do it on my time. (2) It is not PP, if I do it for family and friends on gratuity or for pittance. (3) There are no standards or policy of what is allowable.

(4) I only take PPs that my firm considers, loss-leaders. (5) There are many blurred

“IN NIGERIA, THERE IS NO MINIMUM INDUSTRY STANDARD OF REMUNERATION FOR A LAWYER (MY INTERVIEWEES REVEALED THAT, SOME LAWYERS ARE BEING PAID THE NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA’S MINIMUM WAGE – N30,000 MONTHLY). LITTLE WONDER THAT, WHEN THEY FIND “WORK”, THEY ARE VERY HAPPY TO KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES”

ethical lines that allow for breaches, so we are left to our consciences. (6) Profits are not shared down enough anyway, it revolves substantially at the top. (7)There is no transparency on fees anyway – Lawyers are always undercutting each other, on the issue of fees. Even the ad valorem rates of 5- 10% on real estate, disputes etc. have long been compromised, by most law firms.

The arguments against PP – (1) It is unethical. (2) It erodes the bottom-line of a business. (3) It devalues professional services. You undervalue your services, when you do PP; usually it is difficult to price properly, because you and the instructing party know it is PP. (4) PP generally offers less supervision, so professionalism and standards can be easily compromised. (5) If the PP dilemma is not properly addressed, the legal industry may soon become so fragmented, that it may be difficult to hold together (6) By and large, the law favours mobility in the business world. You have a basic right to pursue your trade or calling without restraint, but, as an employee, you owe your employer loyalty. You are obligated to further your employer's business interests, not compete.

The Approach from ‘The Abroad’ In my search for answers, I sought the opinion of a Nigerian born British Lawyer, practicing with a leading London law firm.

He is the kind of co-worker you pray for, the kind you are happy to come to work to – well balanced – very professional and humane. One you can have a healthy argument with, even if you are on opposing camps. We had a very open, and honest conversation. I was curious to know, if he ever engaged in or encountered anyone who did PP in his 14+ years as a Lawyer in the UK. He thought long and hard, and his answer was, “no, I have always been sufficiently remunerated and engaged”.

He explained that, even when occasionally his workload is light, he usually would have more than enough scheduled career development trainings – covering legal and soft skills.

My conclusion from our conversation is that, PP is unappealing to the average UK Lawyer, because he/she is sufficiently remunerated, his/her remuneration is competitive – there is an industry remuneration standard in the UK. Furthermore, the average UK Lawyer is fairly satisfied with his standard of living, and career progression. In Nigeria, there is no mini-

mum industry standard of remuneration for a Lawyer (my interviewees revealed that, some Lawyers are being paid the new Federal Government of Nigeria’s minimum wage – N30,000 monthly). Little wonder that, when they find “work”, they are very happy to keep it to themselves.

Some of these Lawyers abroad first encountered the word - PP, when dealing with their Nigerian colleagues. In Europe, Private Practice means something entirely different. You are either a Corporate Lawyerin house or a Private Practitioner, which is usually the more prestigious and better paid employment for Lawyers in the UK. Also, the legal industry in the UK, is better structured – matters like remuneration, Continuing Legal Education -CLE credits, scale of fees, etc. are regulated. Undisclosed fees are rare, and can lead to a Lawyer being suspended from practice, or even disbarred by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA”) - the regulatory body for Solicitors in England and Wales, if the occurrence weighs heavily on lack of integrity.

The subject of “PP” in law firms, should not be implied or oblique. Many businesses have a code of ethics which includes information on conflict of interest, how they will be handled, what is and isn’t appropriate, etc. And, a good time for employers to make these policies known, is during the hiring process. Additionally, a good idea is to include a non-compete clause, in all employment contracts.

Full disclosure will help? - If an employee is involved with PP or anything which may be at odds with their employer, be bold to seek approval for the activity by disclosing it fully to your employer. You will be surprise it may earn you respect.

What is it with PP in Nigeria?

A business cannot operate, independent of its environment. During my interviews, the sample Lawyers informed me that there is hardly any law firm in Nigeria, that is not struggling with the PP dilemma. So, why is PP so prevalent in our environment?

What does its prevalence suggest about our employers, about our employees, and about the employer-employee relationships in Nigeria?

Is it possible to structure and adapt PP, to the Nigerian business environment? Remove the negative connotation? Baptise it with a new name? Some law firms encourage staff to bring in their work, disclose it, and get a commission, e.g. 10-40% . It will also be a fast track to partnership – it is called origination. Another law firm model, is bring in “PP,” do it using the firm’s resources, and share the fees with the firm e.g. 50/50, 40/60 – a fee sharing arrangement.

Cautious Conclusion The “PP” dilemma boils down to one thing, in my view – the Money. There will always be selfish, self-seeking, self-serving employees and vice versa, selfish, selfseeking, self-serving employers. So, what is the remedy? Invest more in people? Invest in their interests? A law firm Managing Partner told me with pride: “I encourage and invest in the commercial interests of my staff, I patronise them, I buy equity in their businesses and help them structure their businesses for more profitability. That way, when they find competing business prospects, they bring it into the firm”. The jury is out, on this; If our Lawyers are better paid and fully engaged, will that reduce the appetite for PP?

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11.02.2020

The Supreme Court’s Verdict on ALSCON Privatisation, Intransigence and Review by Lower Courts This article by Sunday Jolasinmi re-examines the unending legal tussles between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the BFI Group Corporation of USA (BFIG), which have ensued unabated, especially as they pertain to challenging the finality of the Supreme Court decisions, due process, compliance and non- compliance, with orders of the court

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Background uly 6, 2012, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered its verdict on the privatisation of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), located in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Surprisingly, seven years after the judgement of the Apex Court, a recent order of a Federal High Court, Abuja, committing the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to be remanded in prison for a minimum of 30 days, raises reactions in Nigeria’s judicial system and the general public. In her judgement, Justice Anwuri Chikere ruled that, the Director General had serially disobeyed Supreme Court orders on the ownership controversy of ALSCON. Copious reasons, inform the need to re-examine the unending legal tussles that have ensued unabated, especially as they pertain to challenging the finality of the Supreme Court decisions, due process, compliance and non-compliance, with orders of the court.

Salient Questions The salient questions are: what was the Apex court’s order that was presumed to have been violated? Who complied or did not comply, and what offence did the DG of BPE commit

“NOW, IF IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 235 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED), THE FINALITY OF THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISIONS IS SACROSANCT, WHY IS THE BFIG NOT WILLING TO OBEY THE ORDERS OF THE SUPREME COURT?”

as an individual, in this saga?

Supreme Court’s Ruling To start with, the Supreme Court in its ruling, ordered BPE to provide the mutually agreed Share Purchase Agreement for execution by the parties, to enable BFIG (BFI Group Corporation) pay 10% of the accepted bid price of US$410m within 15 working days from the date of the execution of Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) in accordance with the agreement dated 20th May, 2004, and 70% bid price be paid within 90 calendar days.

It also ordered BPE to accept payment of the 10% of the bid price from the Appellant, within 15 days from the date of signing the Share Purchase Agreement; and also perpetual injunction restraining the BPE or its agents from inviting any further bidding for the acquisition of ALSCON, in violation of the contract between the Plaintiff and the Defendant, and or from negotiating to sell, transfer or otherwise handing over ALSCON to any person or persons, in violation of the contract between the Plaintiff and the Defendant.

Now that the compliance or non-compliance of the BPE with this order has become a subject of concern, what did the agency do? Record shows that BPE reinstated BFIG as the preferred bidder of ALSCON, and also forwarded the draft Share Sale/Purchase Agreement to BFIG for review, via a letter dated October 8, 2012.

BFIG acknowledged receipt, and further requested the audited financial statements of ALSCON and some other documents, which BPE, on October 16, 2012, forwarded to it.

BPE in a letter dated January 29, 2013 offered 77.5% shares in ALSCON to BFIG; and advised BFIG to disregard any other agreement, apart from the draft SPA which reflects the original terms of sale in line with the orders of the Supreme Court.

BFIG in an email dated February 2, 2013 rejected ALSCON’s Sale Purchase Agreement.

Incidentally, when the due process allocated for the agreement execution expired, and after due notice to BFIG, BPE pushed the button for non-compliance. BFIG then returned to the Supreme Court, which on December 3, 2013, struck out the case on the ground of non-compliance.

The unwillingness of BFIG to adhere to the Apex Court’s order, led it to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice

Abdu Kafarati ruled on 30th September, 2014, in favour of BFIG. Dissatisfied, BPE appealed to the Court of Appeal, which in January 2019, set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, and held that Justice Abdu Kafarati gave orders which exceeded his jurisdiction.

Consequently, the Appeal Court directed BPE to provide the mutually agreed Share Purchase Agreement for execution by the parties, to enable BFIG Group Corporation to pay the agreed 10% of the US$410m within 15 working days from the date of the execution of the SPA, in accordance with the agreement dated May 20, 2004, and that the 90% balance of the bid price be paid within 90 calendar days as ordered by the Supreme Court.

BPE complied with the order of the court, with both parties implementing the agreed SPA. BFIG later demanded that the documents which were forwarded to it on October 16, 2012 at its request, form an annexure to the SPA. The Bureau objected, insisting that, some of the documents were not in existence in May, 2004 when the SPA should have been executed, because the judgement of the Supreme Court is unambiguous, and in tandem with the agreement dated May 20, 2004. The annexure sought to be part of the SPA, were not in the contemplation of BPE which is the mutually agreed SPA. The only annexure referred to in that agreement is the BFIG’s post acquisition plan, which was referred to as Schedule A to the SPA. With the committal proceeding against BPE, when will this needless legal tussle end?

Now, if in accordance with Section 235 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the finality of the Supreme Court’s decisions is sacrosanct, why is the BFIG not willing to obey the orders of the Supreme Court? Why are the lower courts entertaining this clear aberration of justice?

It is my candid view that, the lower courts should have directed the parties to purge themselves by complying with the decisions of the Apex Court. Anything short of this, will be an invitation to desecrating the temple of justice. To pursue committal of innocent persons, would amount to a travesty of justice.

Sunday Jolasinmi, Legal Practitioner, Sabon Gari, Zaria, Kaduna State

11.02.2020

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The Superfluous Pursuit in the Ministry of Justice In this article, Dr Kayode Ajulo cautiously examines the issues around calls for separation of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice

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Premise for the Call for Separation here is no doubting that, there is a pending bill before the House of Representatives, for the bifurcation of the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.

The call for separation is premised on the ‘perceived’ influence that the executive arm of Government bears on the Attorney-General/ Minister of Justice. It has been argued in some quarters that, the Attorney-General as the Minister of Justice, does the bidding of the executive at the expense of the citizenry.

The occupier of the office is seen as the Chief Law Officer of the Federal Government, as against his true office as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation.

While it is apposite to recall that this bill for the bifurcation of the two offices was in 2017 before the Senate of the National Assembly, these developments have generated hues and cries from different quarters and strata.

The Senate said the amendment will create an independent office of the Attorney-General, by insulating it from partisanship. The office of the Commissioner for Justice, will also be separated from that of an AttorneyGeneral in the States.

Failure of the Bill This move by the Senate was backed by the House of Representatives, which also voted in its favour. It, however, failed, as it did not get the support of twothirds (24) of the State Houses of Assembly, as required

by Section 9 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (“the Constitution”), which provides that before the National Assembly can pass an Act to amend the Constitution after the two-thirds majority of all the members of each chamber vote in support, at least 24 Houses of Assembly must give approval, by a simple majority.

The renewed call for the separation of the office of the Attorney-General by the House of Representatives which has got to the second reading, has called for an alteration of Section 150 of the Constitution.

In order not to throw out the baby with the bath water, it is important to pensively consider the issues at hand vis-a-vis constitutional provisions.

Origin of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation In the Supreme Court decision in the case of Ezomo v AG Bendel State, the Apex Court enunciated the origin of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation as follows: The office of the Attorney-General was created in England, and the incumbent first called the Attorney-General in year 1461, while the post of the Solicitor-General, dated from 1515. The Solicitor-General is a subordinate of the Attorney-General, and in England he deputises for the Attorney-General if the office becomes vacant, or if the Attorney-General is absent or is ill or is authorised by him to do so. (See: 6th Edition of Hood Phillip’s Constitutional and Administrative Law pp. 334-336).

Similarly, in the celebrated case of AG. Federation v ANPP (2003) LPELR-630(SC), the Apex Court held inter alia per late Hon. Justice Niki Tobi, as follows: “There shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation, who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation.”

It would appear that, the Attorney-General is the only Minister specifically created in the Constitution. Section 147(1) of the Constitution ominously creates, the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation.

In view of the fact that, the office is created in the Constitution, and unless or until the office is abrogated, it will continue in perpetuity. And, any suit by or against the Attorney-General will in law, be absorbed by the office, which never dies unless the Constitution abrogates it.

Section 150(1) of the Constitution provides that: There shall be an Attorney-General of the Federation who shall be the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, and a Minister of the Government of the Federation.

The exact wordings of Section 150(1) of the 1999 Con-

stitution leaves no in doubt that, whosoever is appointed under the section, will occupy two offices – he will serve as the Attorney-General, as well as the Minister of the Government of the Federation.

As a Minister in the Government of the Federation, he would be a member of the cabinet, and consequently, head a Ministry, in this instance, the Ministry of Justice.

In his capacity as the Attorney-General of the Federation, he would represent the Government in all actions against the State.

Arguments in support of the Bifurcation of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Proponents of the school of thoughts that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice should be bifurcated, have advocated as follows: i. The Attorney-General of the Federation, when acting as Attorney-General (AGF), he is answerable to no one but his conscience and the interest of justice, but while in his capacity as Minister, he must take directives from the President and do the President’s bidding, who appointed him. Flowing from the above, it would be difficult for the Attorney-General to be non- partisan. ii. The AGF routinely advices the President and the Government on all matters connected with the interpretation of the Constitution, legislative enactment, and all matters of laws referred to him. He also advices heads of Ministries and agencies of Government often, these issues require the delicate balance of Government actions with the dictates of the rule of law. The AGF is obliged to ensure that the rule of law is not compromised, in any form. This is often a great task, given that Government actions sometimes conflict with the interest of the citizenry. iii. That advanced democracies such as the UK, and some African countries like Kenya and South Africa, have since recognised the potential conflict of interest that could arise from one and the same person performing both functions, and have since come to the reasoned decision to separate the offices. In the United Kingdom, the office of the AGF is separated from that of the Justice Minister. While the Ministry of Justice is headed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice who is a member of the cabinet, the AGF is a non-cabinet Minister, who leads the AGF office.

Arguments Against the Separation of the Offices Having stated that the focal point of the arguments in support of the bifurcation of the office of the AGF and the Minister of Justice is hinged on the need for the AGF not to be partisan, it is important to consider the arguments against such bifurcation, with its succeeding difficulties: i. Meanwhile, those against the separation of the offices argue that, such would amount to jurisdictional questions. It would stall cases in court in seeking interpretations of whom between the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, has “jurisdiction to either institute an action or carry out one function or the other”. ii. Further argue that, true justice can only be achieved,

“AS A MINISTER IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION, HE WOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE CABINET, AND CONSEQUENTLY, HEAD A MINISTRY, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION, HE WOULD REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT IN ALL ACTIONS AGAINST THE STATE”

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN

if both offices are combined. While there is no doubt that the Ministry of Justice, being one of the Ministries of the Government does the bidding of the Government, the role of the prospective AGF after amendment, is yet to be determined.

Inhibiting Factors Having considered the issue of bifurcation of the duties and powers of the AGF and Minister of Justice, the likely issues that will arise will include, the insurmountable hurdle of how the Attorney-General is to be appointed. Is he to be appointed by the Government, the populace via popular election, or by the Nigerian Bar Association?

If the AGF were to be appointed by the President, he is likely to suffer from the same likelihood of bias and deference to the executive arm of Government, that the present occupier is accused of. The idea of the Chief Law Officer, being popularly elected, strips the exalted office from its impartial stance, in the muddled waters of politics.

Leaving the occupier of the exalted office to be appointed or elected by the Nigerian Bar Association violates the concepts of popular representation.

The duplication of the office, might also result in jurisdictional questions stalling up cases at the court seeking interpretations of whom between the Minister of Justice and the AGF is the proper party to either institute an action, or carry out one function or the other.

The consequential duplication of functions which is likely to be the aftermath of its division, leaves much to be desired.

While the reservation of the `separation` bloc is not unfounded, the way out of the tunnel is not in the division of the office, but in the Officer occupying the office himself.

He should remember that, although he is a member of the executive arm of Government appointed by the President, he is to serve as an independent umpire, balancing the welfare of the citizens against that of the State. He should thus, not be scared to tilt the scale of justice to the side where a balance is found wanting. He should be a fearless Minister in the temple of justice, whose blindfold must not be used to perpetrate injustice.

He should also not be afraid to resign his office, if he believes that the State wants him to take a stance or implement a policy, that runs contrary to the principle of the `benefit of the highest number.

Similarly, dichotomy of offices in Nigeria, has not yielded a great deal of improvements. For instance the office of the Accountant-General, the Minister of Finance and the Governor of Central Bank, are battling with the issue of who performs what function, and each not willing to be subservient to the other.

Dr Kayode Ajulo, Legal Practitioner, Managing Partner, Castle of Law, Abuja

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11.02.2020

A2J files N3.215 Billion Suit Against NNPC/PPMC/ FGN over Ossisioma Ngwa Pipeline Fire Explosions This piece by Chinelo Chiweze, Senior Programme Officer, Access to Justice (A2J), chronicles the events that constrained A2J to file a suit against NNPC, PPMC, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in a bid to hold the Defendants accountable, on behalf of those who were affected by the October 12, 2018 explosion of an oil pipeline belonging to the NNPC and managed by the PPMC, within the Ossisioma Ngwa Community, Abia State, which caused devastation to the people and the area

O Introduction

n the 12th day of October 2018, a system 2E petroleum pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Corporation (NNPC) and managed by its subsidiary, the Pipelines Product Marketing Company (PPMC) caught fire and exploded in the Ossisioma Ngwa community of Abia State, resulting in a massive conflagration that burnt and destroyed several human/animal lives and properties, in the community. Alongside the human fatalities, the inferno caused blistering devastation to several residents of Umuaduru and Umuimo villages, as well as residents of Uratta, Umuze and Njiko Umunna Autonomous Communities in Ossisioma Ngwa Local Government Area/ Community of Abia State.

Unfortunately, on October 20th , 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, issued a press statement claiming that the explosions were likely caused by suspected oil thieves. This claim was made well before the Federal Government or the NNPC had conducted a thorough, impartial and independent investigation into the cause, manner and circumstances of the incident, as required under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other International Treaties to which the Federal Government of Nigeria is a party, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Since that unfortunate incident, nothing further, as far as Access to Justice (A2J) is aware, has been published concerning that tragic event, either by the NNPC, PPMC or the Federal Government of Nigeria. All three parties have swept the matter under the rug, leaving thousands of people affected by the explosions, directly or indirectly, to bear alone the brutal and horrifying consequences of that calamity. Even the Federal Government, which has a non-derogatable duty to protect the lives of Nigerian people, did not lift a finger to interrogate the role of the oil establishment in the unfortunate calamities, but chose to side with the impunity with which they behaved.

Access to Justice Intervention On behalf of some of the affected families of the victims of the pipeline explosions, Access to Justice, on Thursday 10th October, 2019, filed a lawsuit against the Pipelines Product Marketing Company (PPMC), the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FGN). The action (with Suit No. HOS/88/2019) was filed at the Ossisioma Division of the Abia State High Court, by Messrs. Joseph Otteh Esq. and Daniel Aloaye Esq. (Counsel).

The lawsuit alleges that the Oil companies were complicit and

“BY THIS LAWSUIT, ACCESS TO JUSTICE AIMS TO HOLD BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE OIL COMPANIES TO ACCOUNT, THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, FOR THE ROLE THEY HAVE PLAYED IN WRECKING AND TRAUMATISING THE LIVES OF MEMBERS OF THE OSSISIOMA NGWA COMMUNITY, AND ABANDONING THEM AFTERWARDS”

negligent in the series of events that led to the pipeline explosions in Ossisioma Ngwa communities that caused large-scale devastation to those communities following the pipeline explosions. It claims that the oil companies, in the aftermath of the occurrence of the tragic incidents treated the victims, many of whom suffered extreme, blistering burns and were at serious risk of death, with cold-blooded indifference: the oil companies did not provide relief supplies or materials, did not offer life-saving medical care or treatment, and did not extend any financial help or compensation to families who desperately needed assistance, or lost bread-winners, neither did they offer the simplest forms of emotional comfort like visiting families affected by the tragedy.

By this lawsuit, Access to Justice aims to hold both the Federal Government and the oil companies to account, through the judicial process, for the role they have played in wrecking and traumatising the lives of members of the Ossisioma Ngwa community, and abandoning them afterwards.

Access to Justice expects that there will, ultimately, be a day of reckoning, for the impunity of both the Govern-

ment and the oil corporations, towards the Ossisioma Ngwa population, and a day of justice for the victims of the pipeline explosions, whose lives have been broken so horrendously and disdainfully by Government and Nigeria’s State oil corporations.

The Claims The reliefs sought by the suit include, in summary form: 1.AN ORDER for the payment of Exemplary/Aggravated Damages against the Defendants jointly and severally, in the sum of N3, 000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira).

2.AN ORDER of Special Damages against the Defendants, jointly and severally, in the sum of N15, 000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Naira).

3.AN ORDER directing the Defendants to pay the Claimants jointly and severally, the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira (N1,200,000,000) as general damages, to alleviate the unquantifiable physical, emotional, psychological trauma and agony the Claimants have suffered, following the pipeline fire explosions, owing to deliberate and/or negligent acts of the Defendant.

Chinelo Chiweze, Senior Programme Officer, Access to Justice

11.02.2020

THE LIGHTER SIDE/15

LEGAL HUMOUR

We Hold Your Brief JUDE IGBANOI jude.igbanoi@thisdaylive.com from International Humanitarian Laws which seek to protect refugees, no law protects illegal aliens who enter Nigeria undocumented.

The fact that it has been happening, doesn’t make it legal. Pursuant to Section 18 (amongst others) of the Nigeria Immigration Act (2015), any person who enters Nigeria illegally, shall be arrested and deported to his country of origin.

For illegal migrants who allegedly voted in the last general election in Nigeria, it is clearly illegal, as the law provides: “Under Section 12(1) of the Electoral Act, those who are below the statutory age of 18 years, aliens, persons registered in absentia, those barred by statute or regulations from registering as voters, and persons who do not ordinarily reside, work or originate from the area covered by the registration are ineligible”.

The operative word in the Act is, Dear B.O., Let me quickly point out to you “aliens”. Rest assured that, Governthat, there is no law that protects any ment, through its relevant agencies, is illegal immigrant in Nigeria. Apart dealing with this issue.

Dear Counsel, The recent ban on commercial motorcyclists, okada riders in Lagos, opened up some worrisome issues that have always agitated my mind.

I got really worried when it was revealed that most of the okada riders, are actually non-Nigerians. I was shocked to hear that, most of them are from neighbouring countries like Niger and Chad. I was even showed a video of these immigrants participating in the last elections, in some parts of Northern Nigeria.

My question is, how did they get into Nigeria, to the extent of owning motorcycles and voting? What law allows this in Nigeria? How did they manage to enjoy protection under our laws?

B.O., Ajah, Lagos.

Why are there more Lawyer jokes than Recruiter jokes? Because, everybody who contacts them hears back from Lawyers. ˾˾˾ Good News: A busload of Lawyers ran off a cliff. The bus was destroyed, and there were no survivors.

Bad News: There were three empty seats. ˾˾˾ A Priest, a Doctor and a Lawyer are playing golf one day, when they get stuck behind a particularly slow group.

After three holes, they complain to the club secretary, who explains, "Sorry, guys, that's a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from burning down last year, so we let them play here for free any time they want to".

"Oh, that's so sad," says the priest, "I'll say a prayer for them tonight".

"Good idea," says the doctor, "I'll contact my ophthalmologist friend and see if there's anything he can do."

"That's all very well," says the Lawyer, "but why can't they play at night?" ˾˾˾ What do you throw to a drowning Lawyer?

His partners. ˾˾˾ What does a Lawyer get when you give him Viagra? Taller. ˾˾˾ What's the difference between a Lawyer and a liar? The pronunciation. ˾˾˾ My Lawyer is a very smart guy.

He earns from my mistakes. ˾˾˾ Two law Partners hire a new Secretary, who just so happens to be young and very attractive.

A contest soon arises between the two Partners as to who can bed her first, even though they're both already married. Eventually one of them succeeds, and his Partner is keen to find out how things went.

He asks, "So what did you think?"

To his surprise, the first Lawyer replies, "My wife is better". Some time goes by, and then the second Lawyer finally manages to seduce the Secretary.

Afterwards, the first Partner asks him, "So, what did you think?" The second Partner replies, "You were right!”.

Adegboruwa Backs Okada, Keke Ban, Urges Government to Provide Alternative Means of Transport Peter Taiwo Lagos-based Human Rights Activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, has expressed his support for the Lagos State Government on the ban of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, popularly called Okada and Keke Napep.

Governor Sanwo-Olu had explained that, the ban was due to security and safety issues, insisting that the decision would not be reversed, despite the public outcry.

Adegboruwa, in a statement, however, urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to provide an alternative means of transport, following the ban

in the State.

“The Lagos State Government recently announced the enforcement of the extant Traffic Law of the State, which has restricted the use of motorcycles and tricycles in certain parts of the State.

“Whereas I support the partial restriction in some areas of the State, especially the highways and urban areas, it is important that sufficient alternatives are provided to ease the burden of commuters, given the traffic gridlock that has recently engulfed the State”, he stated.

The Senior Advocate insisted that, criminals use motorcycles to carry out social vices.

“Reports of robbery, violence, accidents and other social

vices associated with motorcycles especially, cannot be ignored. The environmental impact of motorcycles and tricycles, also lend credence to the restriction.

“I, therefore, urge the Government to provide viable and durable alternative means of transport, so as to alleviate the burden of the people that may be a consequence of the partial restriction.

“The security of life, is surely more important than the temporary inconvenience that may attend the restrictions.

“I, therefore, urge that the restrictions be maintained, and viable alternative means of transport should be provided to alleviate the sufferings of commuters”, he added.

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11.2.2020

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

Íľ Ëœ Í° ÍŽ Í° ÍŽ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 6.33 5.50

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4.50 7.50 8.75

S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

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Quick Takes Aimart Realtors Fetes Customers

CAPACITY BUILDING

L – R: Head, Listing Business Division, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Olumide Bolumole; CEO, Oscar Onyema; Jude Chiemeka, and Managing Director, Meristem Wealth Management Limited, Sulaiman Adedokun, during the Smart Investment Workshop, held at the NSE, in Lagos‌recently

Concerns as Senate President Mulls Fresh Deliberation on PIB Peter Uzoho Some players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and public policy commentators have expressed concern over the latest comment by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, that the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) may have to be drafted from the scratch and a new version presented to the National Assembly for fresh consideration and passage.

Some of the operators and analysts were the Chairman of Entek Integrated Resources Limited/ Lead Promoter of EnergyhubTM, Dr. Amieyeofori Felix; Chairman of the Petroleum Technologists Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Bank-Anthony Okoroafor; and the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Muda Yusuf, in their separate interviews with THISDAY, said such could lead to further delay in the proposed legislation.

According to them, drafting the all-important bill from the scratch and presenting a new version to the National Assembly was unnecessary, arguing that it would lead to further delay and loss of opportunities and investments for the nation.

Lawan, had last Wednesday, during a meeting with a del-

ENERGY egation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Abuja, said the National Assembly had commenced consultation with the executive arm of government on a new version of the PIB to be introduced in the Ninth National Assembly.

He had added that the interface between both arms would birth a new PIB to be drafted from the scratch, passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the president before the end of the year.

But reacting to Lawan’s statement, Felix, said such would further delay the bill, adding that the bill might not be passed even by 2022, if opened up for fresh legislative process.

He pointed out that the delay in the bill had led to investors moving their investments away from Nigeria to other African countries that had more stable and predictive fiscal environment.

Felix said: “For me, as an industry player, I am sure if the Senate opens up that bill again, I don’t think it will finish this year.

Don’t think they can cap it up and sign it by December 31. If they do that, bravo! But knowing Nigeria, that is another round of stakeholders’ engagement.

“So if you are delaying this, what does it mean? What do you want to achieve? How long?

What is wrong with the existing one? How do we amend it? What do we do? People have to sit down and look at this and not just use a fiat.�

He added: “For the sake of the economy, for the sake of Nigeria, we have to ask ourselves, is that the best way to go? Are you sure if you open it up now you can close it by 2022? Can you do that? “And we have to ask them, what is the implication of opening up the PIB again for another stakeholders’ engagement? “What does it mean to everybody? what does it mean to your investment? What does it mean to your short-term, medium-term and long-term projection? What does it mean to your economy? I think that is the way Nigeria should start thinking going forward.�

On his part, Okoroafor, said: “We must strive to pass the PIB and get the presidential assent.

The key is to have the PIB that gives competitive fiscal terms to attract investments and streamline all our fiscal terms to help the country raise revenue and also assure investors of fiscal certainty and win-win situation.�

Also reacting to the issue,

Yusuf said Nigeria cannot afford any further delay in the presentation and passage of the PIB, noting that the absence of an appropriate legal framework had been a major undoing of the Nigerian economy.

According to him, “we have not been able to unlock huge investments, revenues and thousands of quality job opportunities for this reason. The PIB was first introduced to the floor of National Assembly in 2003, over 16 years ago. “Since then, the bill has undergone several reviews and elicited diverse sentiments among stakeholders, making it one of the most contentious bills in recent memory.�

The LCCI DG explained that the importance of passing the PIB was underscored by the fact that the oil and gas industry was very strategic to the economy of Nigeria, and that the industry currently accounts for about 80 per cent of the government revenue and about 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings.

He added: “Today, that revenue is facing a serious risk of shortfall from illegal bunkering, declining demand from buyers, stalled investments in the oil and gas sector and emerging Continued on page 24

Nigeria Plan Cheaper Power Tariff for Niger Republic Chineme Okafor in Abuja Nigeria plans to send cheaper electricity to its West African neighbour, Niger Republic, the Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman, has disclosed.

Mamman, stated this at a recent meeting with the Nigerien Minister of Energy, Mrs. Amina Moumouni, who had complained that the current tariff being charged her country was unbearable.

He had also said Nigeria would always assist her neighbours especially Niger Republic, on power and security.

ECONOMY A statement from his office contained the minister’s comments at the meeting with Moumouni.

He explained that he was going to work with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), through which the country supplies power to the Republic of Niger and other neighbouring countries, to work out modalities and the feasibility of reducing the electricity tariff of Niger Republic.

This, he added will, “alleviate

their sufferings.�

According to Mamman, the power sale from Nigeria to Niger Republic was based on bilateral agreement on basis of the construction of dams along River Niger.

He noted that some concessions were given to some countries along River Niger for Nigeria to supply them power, adding that these countries are not allowed to construct dams along the waterways to allow Nigeria’s hydropower plants to continue to function optimally. “Some of the rivers that sustain our main source of

power supply like the Kainji and Jebba dam, flow from these countries. “So, in exchange for not damming those rivers and preventing them from flowing into the dams, the countries got mandatory supply of electricity from Nigeria,� said Mamman.

Moumouni, according to the statement said they were in Nigeria at the instance of the Nigerien authority to ask Nigeria for a downwards review of the tariff used by Nigeria to sell electricity to her country.

Continued on page 24

As part of the commitment to give customers value with an unforgettable experience, Aimart Realtors, one of Nigeria’s premium real estate management and development company, has commenced a Valentine campaign tagged ‘Love Wins Challenge.’ The online-based activation which was commenced recently, was designedtocelebrate,rewardandre-enforcethecompany’scommitment to providing housing solution to support family bonding.

Speakingonthecampaign,theManagingDirector,AimartInternational, Mrs. Bukola Iluyomade, disclosed that, the campaign was targeted at creatingtheneededdriveforNigeriansirrespectiveofthelevelofearning to desire a home having in mind the solutions available with Aimart.

Sheaddedthat,itisaseasonoflove,andthisexpressioncanbegiven through personal time spent in an exclusive relaxing atmosphere for the love birds. The campaign really is very simple and connotes deep interaction for man and woman not just at this season, even after.

She further disclosed that, for participant to win in the oer, “all you need to do is write a letter with tittle ‘Why I want to Purchase a HomeatAimartRealtorsforMeandMyLovedOne’takeaphotograph/ screen shot of the letter post it on your social media handle and tag @ aimartrealtorsng on Instagram and @aimartrealtors on twitter and facebook with #loveWins. The most compelling entry will be picked as winner by the team.â€?

Firm, Isaac Emokpae Unveil Partnership

It was an engaging creative expression as R&B Communications, Ikoyi, Lagos, one of Nigeria’s preeminent communications agencies, unveiled its 2020 Creative Partnership with notable Nigerian visual artist and photographer, Isaac Emokpae.

Billed as ďŹ rst in a series of annual collaborations between R&B Communications and Nigeria’s foremost creatives, ‘The Idea Loom’, is Isaac Emokpae’s interpretation of the synergy between R&B Communicationsanditspublics;auniquecallforunison,harmonyand sustainability in business. Speaking at the event, Emokpae described ‘The Idea Loom’ as “homage to ideas; a celebration of thought and its power, which when properly weaved and harnessed can achieve great and far-reaching consequences.’The Executive Director of R&B Communications, Adeoye Omotayo, explained that R&B PR has enjoyed a very long, deep and meaningful relationship with Nigerian arts, culture, ďŹ lm, music and entertainment over the years.

He said: “We are therefore honoured to have top talent from this growing sector treat our walls and our space as canvas for showcasing the incredible work that they do.�

Speaking further, Partner Chair of R&B Communications, Remi Okunlola, explained that ‘The Idea Loom’ “will adorn the walls of our HQ for the next 12 months, when another of the nation’s foremost creatives will be invited to shine their creative oodlights on the next 12 months of our collaborative endeavors.â€?

R&B Communications is parent of R&B Public Relations, a top class Communications agency; Ghost RB,aworldclasscreativeAgency;R&BMedia,contentdevelopment agency;R&BTechnologies, augmentingbrandsusingtechnology;andR&B ACE, supporting Arts, Culture& Entertainment with Communications.

Emokpae is a ďŹ ne visual artist who uses the most simple application of varied media to evoke deep psychological reection. A constant student of duality, the question of how human souls interact forms the basis of his works. “Friends, associates and clients of R&B Communications are hereby invited to view Isaac Emokpae’s work at their convenience over the next 12 months,â€? Okunlola said

S’Africa’s Reserves Rise to $45.1bn

South Africa’s net foreign reserves rose to $45.147 billion in January from$44.897billioninDecember,ReserveBankdatashowedonFriday.

But gross reserves slipped, decreasing to $54.613 billion at the end of January from $55.058 billion in the previous month.

The forward position, representing the central bank’s unsettled or swap transactions, swung to a positive balance of $547 million in January after a negative balance of $64 million previously, according to Reuters.

“All the ingredients are there for Africa to bolt away from decades of poverty and become a developed economy.

Demographics and natural resources are two ingredients to transform President, Afreximbank,

Prof. Benedict Oramah

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD CONCERNS AS SENATE PRESIDENT MULLS FRESH DELIBERATION ON PIB

technology in renewable energy.

“We are of the view that the government should not be oblivious of the rapidly evolving nature of the dynamics in the global oil and gas industry.

“We are concerned about the face of rapidly evolving competition in the global oil and gas market, and the increasing challenges such as insecurity and uncertain investment climate.

“The policy uncertainty around the oil and gas sector continues to undermine the confidence of investors in the sector. It is of interest to note that several oil producing and service companies have left the country on account of these challenges.”

Yusuf, pointed out that recent feedback from operators in the oil and gas industry showed a number of concerns, among which, according to him, were that the “Niger Delta region remains a dangerous place to operate for oil companies and this add to operating cost.

“Special security arrangements such as provision of convoys, security support and flight operations currently add around 12 per cent to Joint Venture (JV) costs; government finds it difficult to meet its own share of Joint Venture (JV) funding obligations.

NIGERIA PLAN CHEAPER POWER TARIFF FOR NIGER REPUBLIC She said: “My present mission in Abuja is based on the exemplary bilateral relations between our two brotherly countries for the supply of electric energy for more than 40 years, following the construction on the Niger River of Kainji and Jebba dams owned by Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd. (MESL) in Nigeria, where the Nigerien Electricity Company is a shareholder.”

“Regarding the tariff for TCN transportation services, it turns out that the sale price for the supply of electricity is significantly increased, estimated at about 70 per cent. This increase is unbearable for Niger as it stands,” Moumouni explained while appealing to Nigeria to also help her country tackle insecurity mostly occasioned by the nature of its borders.

NEWS

NNPC Modifies Crude Swap Scheme Chineme Okafor in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that it adjusted its crude oil-for-product swap scheme known now as Direct Sale-Direct Purchase (DSDP), to include not just oil volume allocated for domestic consumption, but also from the volume accruing to the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS)-Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT).

The NNPC equally noted that under-recoveries or subsidy accumulating from its supply of petrol below the market price were charged to the federation account in the case of the domestically inclined DSDP and the National Fuel Support Fund (NFSF) in the case of the extended DSDP. The corporation uses the DSDP programme to supply petrol and keep its pump price at the government regulated price of N145 per litre.

A note obtained from the October 2019 edition of the corporation’s financial and operations report disclosed this information.

It explained that: “DSDP has been adjusted to include daily crude allocation from federation (domestic), FIRSPPT crude and extended DSDP. This is reported retrospectively from July 2018.

“Under recovery for DSDP (domestic) is charged to the federation account. Under

recovery for flush volumes and extended DSDP is charged to the National Fuel Support Fund (NFSF).”

In October 2018, the NNPC had disclosed that it has a $1.05 billion worth National Fuel Support Fund which it set up to ensure stability in the petroleum products supply.

It had made the disclosure in the light of an accusation by the National Assembly that it had a $3.5 billion fund saved to secretly subsidise importation of petrol.

From its October report, the corporation indicated that Nigeria lifted crude oil in the categories of FIRS-Production Sharing Contract (PSC), Department of Petroleum Resources-PSC, federation export and domestic crude allocation.

The total volume for the lifting between October 2018 and October 2019, according to the corporation were 3,330,334,274; 749,169,328; 4,144,098,171 and 7,653,977,583 barrels.

It explained that: “In

October 2019, 1,631.86 million litres of PMS were supplied into the country through the DSDP arrangement as against the 1,926.81million litres of PMS supplied in the month of September 2019.”

Similarly, between October 2018 and October 2019, it noted that 18,347,625,969.72 litres of petrol were supplied into the country through domestic DSDP and 4,374,822,670.72 litres through the extended DSDP In context, it stated that: “In September 2019, NNPC

lifted 10,665,632 barrels of crude oil from the daily allocation for domestic utilisation translating to an average volume of 355,521 barrels of oil per day in terms of performance.

“In order to meet domestic product supply requirement for the month of September 2019 the 10,665,632 barrels in its entirety were processed under the Direct-Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme while no deliveries to the domestic refineries for processing.”

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

L-R: First lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Executive Director, Business Development, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Bukola Smith;Wife of the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs.Victoria Oluomo, and Commissioner forWomen Affairs & Social Development, Mrs. Funmi Efuwape, during a capacity building programme for OgunWomen in Business organised by the bank in partnership with the State Government and Office of the First Lady, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

Group Gives FG Ultimatum to Restructure Amnesty Programme Sylvester Idowu in Warri Palpable tension has enveloped the Niger Delta, particularly amongst oil and gas industry workers following the emergence of a new militant group, the Niger Delta Sea Disciplines (NDSD).

The NDSD is threatening oil operations if the federal government fails to honour its three point demands.

The group’s demand include payment of their 23 months pending stipends; restructuring of the Am-

nesty programme as well as sack of the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Prof.

Charles Dokubo.

The NDSD, in a statement signed by Gen. Solomon Akonkon and issued in Warri, said the present Amnesty Programme, as presently managed, has lost focus and track of its objectives hence ex-militants being owed stipends, scholarships of beneficiaries not paid,

empowerment programmes skewed again ex-militants amongst other complaints.

The NDSD consequently gave the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to restructure the management of Amnesty Programme to meet the purpose of its establishment failure which will attract dare consequences.

The group warned that if President Mohammadu Buhari and other critical stakeholders in his administration fail to replace Dokubo within the 21-day ultimatum and pay all their

outstanding allowances, they would then be left with no other option than to go back to the creeks.

Even though the group said its initial agitations would be peaceful with protests across the Niger Delta region and Abuja if the federal government fail to heed its demands, operators in the oil and gas industry are not comfortable with the development.

The NDSD maintained that Dokubo should be replaced with a competent person that was part of the struggle that

informed its creation.

It observed that the continued stay of Dokubo, as boss in the Amnesty office, was already breeding bad blood among Niger Deltans, noting that region could not continue to experience incompetence and unsatisfactory performance.

The group noted that their demand for Dokubo’s sack was hinged on the fact that those who fought for the Amnesty programme now receives the alleged painful strokes of abandonment and alienation.

NIPCO Appoints New Management Team to Drive Expansion Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor ((Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

Peter Uzoho NIPCO Plc, an integrated oil and gas company has approved the appointment of new helmsmen to drive company’s operations and expansion.

The company appointed Suresh Kumar as its new Managing Director with effect from February 1, 2020.

Kumar, replaces Sanjay Teotia, who is now the Managing Director of NIPCO Gas Limited, with the mandate to drive NIPCO’s operations and expansion moves across

the country and to properly harness its potentials in the gas sector Also appointed into the executive management cadre of the company is Roka Chiranjibi, who doubles as the Chief Operating officer as well as Chief Finance Officer.

He was formerly the chief finance officer of the company.

According to a statement issued by NIPCO through its Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Lawal Taofeek, Kumar has been a very key member of

NIPCO’s top management and leadership for about 15 years, serving as immediate past chief operating officer overseeing the entire terminal operations and ancillary activities including interface with relevant government agencies in the industry.

The statement added that Kumar has over two decades of cognate industry experience, having worked diligently with hands-on knowledge with two immediate past managing directors of the company, and is now expected to propel the organisation

with innovative ways in its quest for continuous growth .

“The new MD has been a major driving force in the entire operations of the company especially in his last position as chief operating officer, which seems to have prepared him for this onerous responsibility as well as making him a natural next in line to pilot the company to greater heights.

“The appointments are geared towards increasing the stake of the company especially at the retail end of the business with a view

to maximising the inherent benefits in the downstream sector of the industry,” it added.

Reacting to his appointment, Kumar was quoted in the statement as pledging to run an open administration with top notch management of resources in the overall interest of stakeholders.

He commended the sagacity of the outgoing MD, Sanjay, describing him as an industry guru whose wealth of experience would definitely give the company an additional fillip in the hydrocarbon realm.

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BUSINESSWORLD

ENERGY

How Power Discos Continue to Fail Consumers Areview of six quarterly regulatory reports on activities in Nigeria’s electricity market has shown that electricity consumers still get the short end of the stick from their Discos, Chineme Okafor reports

S

ix of the most recent quarterly reports on activities in Nigeria’s power sector which the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) published on its official webpage have exposed the repeated failures of the regulatory agency in making sure that the Discos deliver efficient electricity services to their customers.

The reports which covered the period between January 2018 and June 2019, explained that service interruptions, poor voltage, load shedding, inadequate metering, prevalent practices of estimated billing, disconnections and delayed connection of consumers back to supply networks were predominant features of the services the Discos rendered to their customers.

Apart from the poor services, the NERC’s report also indicated that the health and safety records of the Discos were abysmal, resulting in electricity-related deaths of 152 workers and consumers in the six quarters, as well as 54 injuries recorded by the Discos.

However, the reports showed that the NERC, the regulator of the market, repeatedly failed to take sufficient regulatory actions to address these failings. It also had series of unresolved complaints which customers lodged at its 30 forum offices located in 29 states of Nigeria.

Metering and Billing System According to the NERC report, 52.80 per cent of the complaints lodged by consumers in the second quarter of 2019, were on metering and billing and 47 per cent in the last quarter of 2018.

“The metering of end-use customers has continued to be a priority of the Commission.

Of the total of 8,881,443 registered active electricity customers, only 3,811,729 (42.92 per cent) have been metered indicating that 57.08 per cent of the end-use customers are still on estimated billing,” said the NERC report.

It added that in comparison to the first quarter of 2019, the numbers of registered and metered customers increased by 40,642 and 17,834, representing 0.46 per cent and 0.47 per cent increases respectively.

The NERC stated that the increase in the number of registered customers could be attributed to an on-going enumeration exercise by the Discos through which illegal consumers of electricity would be captured on their billing platforms.

With regards to the increase in metered customers, it explained that it, “is mainly

attributed to the roll-out of meters under the Meter Asser Provider (MAP) scheme,” adding that while some Discos have just finalised their procurement processes for MAPs, few of them have actually started metering under the scheme.

Stating its concerns, but without actually taking measures to remedy the continued practice, the NERC said that, “the additional 17,834 end- use customers’ meters installed during the second quarter of 2019 are insufficient to achieving the goal of closing the metering gap,” in the market within three years.

Furthermore, it explained that, “The 11 Discos nationwide received a total of 145,959 complaints during the second quarter (of 2019), indicating 1,603 complaints per day compared to 1,688 complaints received daily in the preceding quarter.

“The Discos’ customer complaints centred on service interruption, poor voltage, load shedding, metering, estimated billing, disconnection, delayed connection, among others.”

“The number of complaints on metering and billing decreased significantly during the quarter under review but still dominates the customer complaints. Metering and billing accounted for 52.80 per cent (i.e., 77,063) of the total complaints received during the second quarter of 2019 as against 60.96 per cent (i.e., 92,626) recorded in the first quarter of 2019.

“This implies that, on average, 847 customers complained about metering and billing per day

This implies that, on average, 693 customers complained about metering and billing per day in the fourth quarter of 2018. Another issue of serious concern is service interruption, accounting for 17.3 per cent of total customer

in the second quarter of 2019. Another issue of serious concern is service interruption, accounting for 9.86 per cent (i.e. 14,396) of the total customer complaints received during the quarter under review,” the NERC explained.

For the last quarter of 2018, the NERC said that although the number of complaints on metering and billing decreased, it still dominated the customers’ complaints.

“Metering and billing accounted for 47 per cent (i.e., 63,791) of the total complaints received during the quarter under review as against 53 per cent (i.e., 68,749) recorded in the third quarter of 2018.

“This implies that, on average, 693 customers complained about metering and billing per day in the fourth quarter of 2018. Another issue of serious concern is service interruption, accounting for 17.3 per cent (i.e. 23,603) of the total customer complaints received during the quarter under review,” it explained.

Poor Health and Safety Practice Another salient failure of the commission and Discos in the six quarters was their inability to imbibe efficient health and safety practices, thereby resulting to many deaths and injuries of workers and third-party.

In its protests against this, the NERC also alleged that the Discos even put up some forms of resistance against compensating relatives of such casualties. In context, the regulator stated that approximately three persons died every week in the second quarter of 2019 from this.

It noted that: ‘The health and safety performance of the operators declines during the second quarter of 2019 as the number of deaths and injuries increased significantly from the preceding quarter.

“This implies that approximately three persons died of electrocution weekly in the second quarter of 2019.”

According to the report, 37 people died while 18 were injured in Q2-2019, while 10 deaths and seven injuries were recorded in Q1-2019.

Any efforts to address situation?

Somewhat throwing its hands in the air, the regulator said in the report that it has set up regulatory mechanisms to address the situation, but these have from the same report yielded no tangible results.

For instance, it said that, “in line with its mandate to ensure licensees’ commitment to safe energy delivery, the commission, during

the same period, commenced hearings on some of the incidences involving various health and safety breaches,” but could not conclude them because, “the complexity of many of the cases,” meant that enforcement actions and appropriate penalties in each case could not be finalized.

It also stated that it has continued to work on a framework for penalties and compensations guidelines which would end discretionary payment of compensations to victims or victims’ families by the Discos; this framework has however remained incomplete because it often said this in its previous reports.

To address the complaints raised by customers on metering and billing, service interruption and others, the NERC also said that it has continued to monitor the complaint handling and resolution process adopted by the Discos to intervene when necessary, but its forum offices have according to the report not recorded impressive resolution turnaround times.

For instance, in the second quarter of 2019, it explained that the offices received a total of 2,856 complaints, including 1,586 pending complaints from the first quarter of 2019 from customers.

“This shows 6.65 per cent increase from the 2,678 complaints received during the preceding quarter. The forum offices in Ibadan Disco’s franchise area received the highest number of complaints. This is not surprising as Ibadan Disco had the lowest resolution rate (76.63 per cent) of customers’ complaints during the same period.

“On the other hand, Yola forum office received the lowest number of complaints during the same period. However, the forum offices in Enugu Disco’s franchise were among those that received a large number of complaints despite its (Enugu Disco’s) claim of having 96.30 per cent resolution rate – the second-highest resolution rate among the Discos,” it stated.

Similarly, in the last quarter of 2018, the NERC report said 2,939 complaints from customers who were unsatisfied with the Discos’ services and decisions were lodged at its offices, adding that this excluded the 1,117 outstanding complaints carried over from the preceding quarter.

“Out of the complaints lodged at forum offices during the quarter under review, about 49 per cent were resolved (with or without a hearing) as against 43 per cent of the complaints resolved during the third quarter of 2018,” it said.

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NNPC/Chevron JV Inaugurates Classroom Blocks in Delta Community Sylvester Idowu in Warri In line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joint Venture in collaboration with Delta State government has inaugurated a six-classroom block for the use of pupils of Abe 1 primary school in Aruakpor-Umah community in Uvwie Local Government area of Delta state.

The six-classroom block, with other facilities, was funded by the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC/CNL JV)

and executed under a Project Specific Agreement (PSA) basis by the Aruakpor-Umah community.

The community awarded the contract to one of its own, Pyrammidt Company Nigeria Limited in December 2017.

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Esimaje Brikinn, said the project was one of the social investments made by the NNPC/ CNL JV’s to improve the welfare of the people in its areas of operations and beyond.

He thanked the Delta State government for approving,

managing and creating the enabling atmosphere for the successful execution of the project and also commended the Aruakpor-Umah community for good project execution.

Brikinn, who was represented by the Area Manager, PGPA Field Operations, Mr Sam Daibo, stated that, “Through partnership with the government of Delta State as well as community stakeholders, we have been adding significant values to people’s lives through our corporate responsibility and community engagement initiatives. “This is the trail of goodness

we leave behind in every community where we operate.�

The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary education, Chief Patrick Ukah, who was represented by the Chief Inspector of Education, Uvwie Local Government Area, Mrs. Jane Awoyinka, expressed appreciation to NNPC/CNL JV’s commitments to its Social Responsibility by giving back to communities around its operational areas adding, “I am aware of several similar projects in the area of educational support by the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture and I commend the company

for not relenting on its efforts to execute its social responsibility programmes.�

Similarly, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRH Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso (JP), (OON) Abe 1, accompanied by his most senior Chiefs, thanked the NNPC/CNL JV for the laudable achievement adding that he was impressed by the speed of execution.

He urged other citizens and corporate organisations to emulate the sponsors in improving educational and other infrastructural development in host communities.

Other projects sponsored by

the NNPC/CNL JV for communities around CNL’s Warri Office include: the Ekpan Women Development Center; E. Library at Ubeji; Mother & Child Hospital in Sapele; the Aruakpor-Umah Road Electricity project; the Edjeba Solar Powered Water project and the Osubi Solar powered water project which have been commissioned.

The Joint Venture has also made good progress on the Ekpan Surgical Theatre/Call Rooms. In addition, there is an NYSC Science Teacher’s program at Ekpan Secondary School, Effurun.

EY W’Africa Appoints New Leader EY has appointed Anthony Oputa as the new Regional Managing Partner for the West Africa and Nigeria Country Leader, effective 1 July 2020.

With the appointment, Oputa will become a member of the EY Africa Executive Leadership.

According to a statement, he is to succeed Henry Egbiki, who is the current Regional Managing Partner for West Africa and Nigeria Country Leader, a role he assumed in 2005.

Egbiki, would retire as the Regional Managing Partner for West Africa and Country Leader Nigeria on June 30, 2020.

Oputa joined EY as the Financial Services Sector Leader and Chief Operating Officer for West Africa in August 2018.

Since joining EY, he has demonstrated his passion and ability for growing and enhancing the EY brand in the market.

Prior to joining EY, he was the Deputy Assurance Leader in one of the big four professional services firms. He is a highly respected professional with over

20 years’ experience and focus on the Financial Services Sector.

Congratulating Oputa over the appointment, Egbiki said: “I am delighted that Anthony has been chosen to succeed my role. He is well qualified and positioned to take on the role of a Country Leader and Regional Managing Partner for West Africa. “I am confident that Anthony will take the EY brand to greater heights and continue building a better working World for our clients, our people and our community�.

The statement added: “Though he has a primary focus on offering a broad range of assurance and business consulting to the financial services industry, he possesses deep knowledge and understanding of other sectors as well as markets in West Africa. “Anthony has worked with a portfolio of local and multinational clients including some of the largest banks in Nigeria and West Africa, providing assurance and other advisory services and dealing with technical issues.

Firm Secures Additional $31m Funding Emma Okonji TLcom, an Africa-focused venture capital firm, has announced that it has secured an additional $31 million for its TIDE Africa Fund, bringing its sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focused fund to $71 million.

The latest investment round attracted international interest, with TLcom confirming participation from the UK based CDC, IFC as well as South Africa’s Sango Capital and Belgium’s BIO. The team, which included the former Nigeria’s Communications Technology Minister, Dr. Omobola Johnson, now expects to make an additional five to six investments in pan-African companies over the coming 12 to 18 months from seed to later stage, as well as ensure capital resources for follow-on rounds for TLcom’s existing portfolio.

TIDE Africa is one of the most active funds operating in Sub Saharan Africa since its first close in 2017, with six companies in its portfolio,

including Andela, Kobo360, Twiga Foods, Ajua, Terragon Group and uLesson. Over the last 12 months, TIDE Africa has raised over $150 million for African startups. Last year TLcom Capital was named Africa Technology Investor of the Year at the PE Africa Awards.

Speaking on the new investments in its TIDE Africa Fund, the Nairobi-based Founder and Managing Partner at TLcom, Maurizio Caio, said, “It is time for Africa Venture Capital (VC) to graduate into a world-class asset class that can generate massive returns. We are excited to bring on board new strategic institutional investors, such as CDC, IFC, Sango Capital and BIO into the fund that share this view. Attracting international investment from such renowned backers into the African VC space reflects the recognition of the work the TLcom team has already achieved in connecting some of the continent’s strongest entrepreneurs with the capital they need to scale.�

STRATEGY SESSION

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami (left) and the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr.

‘Women Critical in Food Value Chain’ Oluchi Chibuzor The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, has stressed the need for more women participation in agricultural food value chain.

According to him, engaging more women in various agricultural activities would ensure sustainability and food security in the country.

Nanono, disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Women Agro-Allied Farmers Association (NIWAAFA) in Abuja, recently.

He stated that in recent times, women have shown to be leading participants in agro-processing, milling of groundnut, processing cassava into flour and chips in order to meet their needs and also improve the economy of the country. He, therefore, urged NIWAAFA to integrate

more women both in the rural and urban areas, cutting across states of the federation into the association. He cited the examples of the Fulani women selling milk and also other woman traders, trading in agricultural commodities, adding that the association should get more vocal people, so that they will politically, economically and socially be recognised in the country. According to him, “the federal government has set up

five milk processing factories across the country and would establishing more of them.�

The minister noted the challenges facing women farmers in Nigeria, such as the inability to stand on their own and get financing for what they do.

He, therefore, promised to link them up with some donor agencies that are gender sensitive in order to assist them to access loans to enable them acquire other farming tools.

FMN Rewards Trade Partners Raheem Akingbolu Barely a month after Flour Mills Nigeria (FMN) Plc rewarded some distributors with delivery vans, another set of top distributors have also been rewarded with delivery trucks, to facilitate the movement of the company’s products across the country.

According to the company, the move, however, was imperative to address the challenges of logistics in the manufacturing sector by boosting productivity, supply chain network and enhancing local capacity while also ensuring Returns on Investment (ROI).

Speaking at the distribution of the 30-tonne delivery trucks to five distributors in FMN office in Lagos, recently, the Managing

Director, Foods Division, FMN, Mr. Devlin Hainsworth, explained that the award was to mark a new chapter and the biggest future ahead, while recognising the hard work and partnership of the dealers as a special landmark.

He explained, “What makes us different is our long-term and innovative approach to partnership. We have a dynamic and interdependent relationship with our partners and this has resulted in the sustained growth of our businesses.�

The FMN Managing Director, Foods Division noted that the company was also marking its 60 years of feeding the nation by recognising the relationship with its key dealers. “We have grown with the country for 60 years, so the award underscores

the commitment to continue to develop our relationship with our key dealers as we feed our nation every day, which is what FMN does.� Hainsworth, said this was the success the company has had in feeding the nation for 60 years, noting that the partnership with customers was growing from strength to strength.

He noted that the delivery trucks would bring more business opportunities and unlock the needed potential to operate in the market. “We have made breakthrough in partnership, breakthrough in fulfilling our promises and that is why we are presenting the trucks to our customers.�

Also speaking, the National Sales Operation, FMN, Business

to Business, Mr. Jeevan Bansal, said the delivery trucks would go a long way to enhance the supply chain network of distribution, while assuring that they would move from passive distributors to more active distributors with market engagement. Bansal, commended the beneficiaries, adding that the move was a towards the company’s commitment to grow with the dealers to the next level. “Their success is our success; we want to ensure we go one step forward with our retailers. “Today’s world is about time and speed. This is to help them; the faster you get your products to the market, the better. It will help them ensure the products get to the wider audience and consumers.�

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Port Harcourt Residents Move to Use Facebook as Unifying Factor Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, have unveiled plans to use Facebook as a platform to return the city to the ideals of its Garden City status. This is as a former banker and co-ordinator of The Extra

Steps Initiative (TESI), Eugene Abels, has emerged winner of the 2019 of Port Harcourt City Facebook Personality Award.

Abels beat two other nominees and social media influencers, Ibiba Okunye and Kennedy Friday, to win the award.

Speaking at the presentation

of the award yesterday in Port Harcourt, Convener of Unity House Foundation (UHF) and initiator of the award, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, said the essence of the award was to encourage Facebook users not to see the platform as a battleground.

He noted that Port Harcourt, the Garden City, had an ideal

that what they are seeing is the ideal and want to make it their way of thinking and of doing things. “The younger generation should be told that originally in Port Harcourt people may disagree but it was usually disagreement on issues, ideas. It never got to insults or fisticuffs.

of accommodation of every body and different shades of opinions, but expressed disappointment that the ideals were fast dying. “I am saddened because my generation has destroyed what was left of the ideals of Port Harcourt. Unfortunately, the next generation even thinks

The spirit of love and sharing was always there,� he said.

On how the award was instituted, Wali said: “Sometime last year, in one of my posts, I just thought that a time has come for us to make the best out of Facebook platform and what it actually represents.

CEOs to Speak at SAIPEC Peter Uzoho Chief executive officers and senior executives from over 20 national oil companies in Africa have confirmed to speak at the fourth edition of Sub Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference

(SAIPEC) organised annually by the Petroleum Technologists Association of Nigeria (PETAN).

The conference is scheduled to hold from February 25 to 27, 2020, at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Among the speakers at the

event are the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NDCMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote; Chief Executive Officer, SociĂŠtĂŠ Nationale

d’OpÊrations PÊtrolières de la Côte d’Ivoire (Petroci), Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Ibrahim Diaby; Chief Executive Officer, ENH, Mozambique, Mr. Omar Mitha; and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Kofi Koduah, amongst others.

In a statement by the Chairman of the conference organising committee and General Secretary of PETAN, Mr. Ranti Omole, in addition to an extensive conference programme, a sell-out exhibition, featuring 120+ exhibitors have been confirmed.According to

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Omole, also new for SAIPEC 2020 are several additional features including the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) African Content Series Day on February 26, followed by the SAIPEC Awards and Women in Industry on February 27.

28

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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30

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT NLNG’s Finima Nature Park Moves Closer to Ramsar Site Recognition Bennett Oghifo

N

igeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has received a Letter of Nomination from the Federal Ministry of Environment to make Finima Nature Park, a conservation park managed by the company, a Ramsar Site of

International Importance.

Finima Nature Park is a 1,000 hectares land of freshwater swamp forest lying along Nigeria’s southern coastal area on Bonny Island, Rivers State. The park was designated an internationally acclaimed centre for Wetland Education and became a member of Wetlands Link International in

2019. This made it one of the 350 Wetland Centres globally and the second in Nigeria, according to a statement by NLNG’s Manager, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Sophia Horsfall..

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for

L-R: Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) Council member and NLNG Director, Mrs. Cordelia Agboti; NCF Chairman, Chief Ede Dafinone; NLNG General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Eyono Fatayi-Williams; Director of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Tiamiyu Sikiru; and Director General, NCF, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano, at the presentation of Letter of Nomination for Finima Nature Park, established by NLNG, as a Ramsar Site of International Importance… recently

varying periods of time during the year, including during the planting season.

NLNG is owned by four shareholders, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented

by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49%), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).

The letter was presented to the company by the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, who was represented by the Director of Forestry, Mr. Tiamiyu Sikiru, during a visit by the ministry officials to NLNG’s Plant site and Finima Nature Park on Bonny Island to celebrate 2020 World Wetlands Day. The park, managed on behalf of NLNG, by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), was established in 1999, as part of NLNG’s response to global environmental concerns and the need for a more sustainable environment.

A Ramsar site is a wetland designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention which is an intergovernmental environmental

treaty established by UNESCO in 1971.

The Letter of Nomination is the company’s last requirement for the attainment of Ramsar Site status, having met all the other conditions, including being a haven for migratory birds and a Wetland Education Centre. “On completion of the process, Finima Nature Park will be listed as one of the 2,300 sites in the world.”

Receiving the Minister at the NLNG Plant, the General Manager for External Relations and Sustainability, Mrs. Eyono Fatayi-Williams, said NLNG is committed to ensuring a sustainable environment that will cater for the younger population, as well as those unborn. She stated that NLNG fully understands the importance of wetlands as a means to reducing the carbon footprint of the Oil and Gas Industry’s activities in Bonny.

“The philosophy underpinning the Nature Park, which acts as a carbon sink through the CO2 sequestration abilities of the vegetation, also aligns with our contribution to the reduction of gas flaring in the country through our commercialisation of natural gas which would

otherwise have been flared,” she said.

While giving assurance of NLNG’s commitment to protecting the park and boosting activities to encourage eco-tourism, which will impact positively on socio-economic life in Bonny, Mrs Fatayi-Williams also remarked that NLNG places significance on the preservation of plant and animal species found in the wetlands of the park.

Presenting the Letter of Nomination, the minister, Chief Ikeazor, said, “I have endorsed the instrument for designation of Finima Nature Park as a Ramsar Site of International Importance. I want to thank NLNG for establishing Finima Nature Park. The park shall be known globally as “Finima Nature Park” and will increase the number of Nigeria’s Ramsar Sites of International Importance to 12.”

Other guests at the presentation include the Chairman of NCF Council, Chief Ede Dafinone; NCF Director-General, Dr. Muhtari Aminu-Kano; member of NCF Council and a director in the NLNG Board, Chief (Mrs) Cordelia Agboti, among other NCF officials.

Veritasi Homes’ Camberwall Court to Provide Affordable Housing Fadekemi Ajakaiye Veritasi Homes’ Camberwall Court is the beginning of the company’s flagship affordable housing scheme, its officials have said.

A statement by the company said the project was designed “to ensure that Nigeria’s middle class and low-income earners

can own a home. Located in the heart of Abijo GRA along the Lekki-Epe expressway, Camberwall Court is an urban apartment development designed to reflect the magical merge of form and function.

“Camberwall Court is an apartment development project conceived and executed to reduce the gap between young

Nigerians and the opportunity to own property in the nation’s urban cities.”

Head of Marketing, Veritasi Homes, Tobi Yusuff, said, “It’s not every day you get the opportunity to reserve a world-class home with just a million naira.”

Chief Executive Officer and founder, Nola Adetola, expressed

‘Dearth of Women -Led Tech Start-Ups is Costing Us All’ Muhammad Nabil Africa’s technology start-up scene is vibrant – and growing fast.

There are currently over 640 active technology hubs across the continent, and according to Partech Africa, start-ups raised $1.163 billion raised in equity funding in 2018 – a 108% year-on-year growth. Topping the list are fintech start-ups, who raised $132.75 million in 2018 – enjoying 39.7 percent of all funding.

Despite this momentum, however, there’s a concerning trend: Globally, women-led start-ups only receive two percent of all venture capital (VC) funding – and the picture within enterprise tech is dimmer. Additionally, of all start-ups, only 22 percent are founded by at least one woman. Africa-specific data is lacking, but sources suggest only nine percent of start-ups have women-leaders, and female-led South African start-ups receive only 4.5 percent of all funding.

Female-led start-ups are in short supply. And, where they are available, they often lack the investor backing to scale. The result is a significant loss of

insight, perspectives, development and solutions, which affects us all.

African tech start-ups are renowned for building solutions to some of the most complex challenges. This often stems from having first-hand experience of the problem, and knowing best how to solve it. In Nigeria, payment technology company Flutterwave enables Africans to build global businesses that can accept and make any payment from anywhere in the world. Their goal is to see that any merchant can process their payment with ease. By aggregating payment services from multiple gateways and placing them under one platform, Flutterwave is also helping international merchants more cost-effectively navigate the local market by embracing alternative payment methods, such as mobile money.

Technology like this is set to completely redefine the way we interact with the world. But if technology is only being created by a portion of the population, how effective will it really be?

Without the input and contribution of women, how many challenges and opportunities will

go unnoticed, or only partially met?

Innovation needs diversity Microsoft recently partnered with Sehat Kahani, a tele-health start-up founded by two women, Dr. Iffat Zafar and Dr. Sara Khurram, in Pakistan. As doctors themselves, they noticed a recurring “doctor-bride” trend, where only 23 percent of female medical graduates in Pakistan become registered physicians.

The others either move abroad, or stop practicing after marriage due to socio-cultural pressures and household responsibilities.

Yet, Pakistan is in desperate need of doctors, with a doctor-patient ratio of 1:1200.

Sehat Kahani developed a platform that pairs these female physicians with patients in need of healthcare. Patients receive affordable and quality care virtually using tele-medicine, while female physicians are able to remain active, working at home on their own hours to effectively balance family life.

-Nabil is Partners and StarUps Strategy Lead at Microsoft 4afrika

his enthusiasm that the project would set the trail for affordable housing in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

“Young couples and young professionals deserve to own homes and we are committed to making that a reality in Nigeria,” Adetola said.

He stated that Camberwall Court presents a unique combination of aesthetics, functionalities, and afford-

ability, adding that “with just N1million investors can reserve their apartment in Camberwall court, Abijo.

“It requires N11million to complete payment on beautifully finished one-bedroom flats, while N15million will cover payment for a two-bedroom flat.”

He said the three-bedroom flats go for N20 million and that investors can also take

advantage of the payment options available.

Featuring a splendid layout, visitor’s park, smart card access, renewable energy, and round-the-clock surveillance, Camberwall court boasts of modern amenities such as designated parking space, welllandscaped green areas, gazebo area for meetings, solar-powered street light among others, the statement said.

Africa, Continent Revolutionising Skills Gap Ibrahim Youssry At Microsoft, we believe that technology is a powerful force for good in a rapidly changing world. We have a responsibility to bring everyone into the digital economy, and this will only happen if the right skills are available to enable the digital future.

We are committed to helping every person and organisation in the Middle East and Africa prepare for the digital revolution. Microsoft is enabling a knowledge-based economy in the region by redefining education, empowering youth and closing the skills gap through a combination of partnerships, trainings, real-world experiences and online classrooms.

Jobs are changing, skills continue to evolve Being home to one quarter of the world’s population (1.86 billion), the Middle East and Africa could supply the next generation of this workforce, but are we ready to fill these roles of the future?

There’s a skills gap crisis and rising unemployment in MEA.

One third of the population are the youth, while 40 percent of employers cite the skills shortage as a major constraint to company growth. Just 38 percent of young professionals believe their education has prepared them for the workplace. Urgent efforts for closing the continent’s skills gap will be needed, and addressing these challenges at the very core level, is imperative.

Workplace of the future It’s not enough to be thinking of ways to fill the current skills gap – we must also rethink how we skill for future jobs that don’t even exist today. Consider this: nearly 75 percent of students today will do jobs that do not currently exist. Skilling for future generations is about how we create professionals from all walks of life who will help deliver future innovations and drive business with Microsoft technology.

It starts with our youth Efforts across MEA are focused on our youth population to ensure that technology can benefit all youth to become tomorrow’s leaders. Over the

past three years, Microsoft has provided learning opportunities to 9.8 million African youth through strong partnerships and programmes. We work with non-profits, governments, educators and businesses to help organisations, school districts and educators in MEA build their capacity to offer computer science and digital skills training.

Since 2017, the Digital Skills programme has upskilled 4,8 million underserved youth in Africa, rendering half-a-million youth employable and supporting the direct employment of over 27,000 youth, providing 2,680 internship opportunities, while enabling over 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs to establish their own businesses.

In Nigeria, the Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative provides digital skills training to half a million youth through a ‘train the trainer’ programme reaching 5,000 trainers from 10 states across the country.

-Youssry is Regional General Manager, Middle East & Africa Multi-Country Region at Microsoft

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Moves to Commence Recycling of Bad Naira Notes Obinna Chima The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it will soon commence the recycling of unfit banknotes.

It explained that presently, unfit banknotes in Nigeria are destroyed, under strict security and environmentally sustainable manner. The Bank disclosed this in a notice on its website.

Section 18(d) of the CBN Act 2007 authorised “The Bank to arrange for the destruction of currency notes and coins withdrawn from circulation under the provision of section 20(3) of the said Act or otherwise found by the Bank to be unfit for use.�

However, it pointed out that,

in pursuance of its sustainability initiatives, it has reviewed, “the current method of banknote wastes disposal through open air burning with the aim of adopting more environmentally sustainable method thereby reducing its carbon foot print.�

It added: “Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into reusable objects to prevent wastage of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, minimise energy usage, avoid probable air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling). “It has been identified as the most environmentally sustainable method of banknote waste disposal that could be explore. In

this mode, the banknote wastes would be recycled by converting the wastes into useful products.

Recycling of banknote wastes would enhance economic activities in the country in addition to environmental sustainability.�

Therefore, the CBN, “is seeking proposals from accredited recycling companies interested in utilising paper banknote wastes in its recycling process.

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit competitive proposals from reputable companies that can recycle CBN paper banknote wastes into useable products that can be beneficial to the nation while adhering to Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Standards.�

TEF Disburses First Tranche of $5m AfDB Fund Peter Uzoho The founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony Elumelu, has congratulated the African Development Bank (AfDB) and its President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on their commitment to African entrepreneurship, with the disbursement of the $2.5 million seed capital to the AfDB-sponsored beneficiaries of the 2019 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

The $2.5 million was released at the weekend, with the remainder expected to be disbursed to the entrepreneurs in the first quarter of 2020.

A statement explained that the AfDB commitment followed the recent $8.5 million disbursement from the United Nations Devel-

opment Programme (UNDP) to 2,648 entrepreneurs in the Sahel region and Africa more broadly. These further accelerated the economic empowerment generated by the TEF. In 2019, the Foundation significantly increased the scale and reach of it impact, with the number of beneficiaries of its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme rising from its annual commitment of 1,000, to 5,150, in collaboration with global and African partners. “With its commitment to strengthen small and mediumsized enterprises and develop young entrepreneurs, AfDB joined the growing list of global development institutions benefiting from the TEF’s unique model of identifying, training, mentoring and funding entrepreneurs and

start-ups across Africa. “The partnership demonstrates the implementation of the AfDB’s ten-year “Jobs for Youth in Africa� strategy, launched in 2016, to support the creation of 25 million meaningful jobs across the continent. “The partnership illustrates TEF’s willingness to share its infrastructure and know-how, with others who share the mission to empower young African entrepreneurs and TEF’s goal of creating millions of jobs, as well as generating billions in revenue, to catalyse economic growth across the continent,� it added.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications to the 2020 cohort of its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme on TEFConnect.com, Africa’s digital hub for entrepreneurs.

Gyan-Tawiah: Africa, An Important Part of Cummins’ Agenda The Director of Distribution, Africa and Middle-East, Cummins Incorporated, Mr. Kwame Gyan-Tawiah, has stressed that Africa is an important part of the US fortune 500 global power company.

Cummins’ business portfolios cut across designing, manufacturing, distribution and servicing of diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Cummins West Africa Limited is the company’s subsidiary in Africa with Nigeria and Ghana as major countries of its operation in the continent.

Speaking in Lagos at the company’s customers’ engagement

forum/facility tour, Gyan-Tawiah also noted that the Cummins had seen talents in Africa and would like to empower them to drive its business in the continent.

He explained that the facility was built to ensure that the company’s customers in Nigeria were given excellent service delivery, stressing that Cummins was interested in the country it operates in.

He said: “We have not done all these for ourselves but for our customers. For Cummins, if we talk about our stakeholders, it is the customers first and our employees second, then every other thing that a businessman thinks about follows. And so, we will continue to be that way.

Those are our values. “There are people who will

like to find out whether Cummins is interested in the country that we operate in. This facility is housed on the land size that is bigger than anyone that Cummins facilities are on, apart from our factories in the world. So for Cummins, Africa is an important part of our agenda. If you look around, because we believe in local talents, every member of the leadership here is a Nigerian except one, even that one is still a West African. “We try to grow talents where we operate and for us, Africa is paramount. So as we do our business here, we also want to make the talents of African to be able to manage the business, because Cummins know that Africa has got talents to be able to do that. And that is what they feel�.

Goxi Microinsurance Commences Operation Goxi Microinsurance Company Limited, first stand-alone microinsurance company under the guidelines of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has been launched.

The company which was unveiled in Lagos, recently, aims to improve lives and support micro and small businesses in line with its institutional mandate.

Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of Goxi Microinsurance, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said the company was set to blaze the trail with delivery of responsive insurance policies

through flexible and innovative structures. He added that low income Nigerians in rural and urban communities needed a bouquet of insurance cover for their lives, farms, shops and assets. Ehigiamusoe said: “The establishment of Goxi Microinsurance Company Limited is in line with our institutional mandate of improving lives and supporting micro and small businesses. It is our conviction that low-income people and owners of micro and small businesses require robust risk mitigation services. “By the nature of their slim economic base, the targets of

Goxi MicroInsurance Company Limited, low-income people and micro and small enterprises are highly vulnerable. The death of a bread winner in a low-income household can be devastating.

Fire in the market place can wipe out the entire assets of an owner of micro and small businesses. “Access to insurance cover is therefore vital to efforts to address poverty and expand the frontiers of finance. Microfinance and micro-insurance are complementary services that are very effective in addressing the challenge of poverty.

Founder,Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony Elumelu (right), with the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, during the 2019 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum, held in Abuja‌recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

11,007,422.79

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íľ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $55.11 a barrel on Friday, compared with $55.72 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ​ͯ˜ 2020

MARKET NEWS

FBN Holdings Reduces Impairment Charges by 52%, Posts N62bn Profit Goddy Egene FBN Holdings Plc has reported a profit after tax of N61.947 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019, showing an increase of 3.8 per cent compared with N59.667 billion posted in 2018.

The financial conglomerate ended the year with net interest income of N286.388 billion, up from N284.168 billion. However, despite the jump in operating expenses from N147.976 billion

to N190.364 billion in 2019, FBN Holdings recorded a higher bottom-line, basically due to significant reduction in impairment charges. Specifically, impairment charges declined 52 per cent from N86.911 billion to N41.711 billion in 2019.

But the reduction in impairment charges did not come to many market operators as a surprise as they said it is in line with the bank’s assurance of improved risk management strategy.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

The Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. UK Eke, had last year said the despite the difficult operating environment, they remained resolute in delivering on their guidance across key metrics including their commitment towards a single digit nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio by the end of year.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of First Bank and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, had last year said

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

that the material progress in their legacy NPL resolutions clearly reflected their resolve towards achieving a single digit NPL ratio by year end.

Speaking to THISDAY in an interview last month, Adeduntan said that when he assumed office in 2016, part of what he said was that they were going to strengthen their risk management capabilities with the goal of reducing the NPLs. “I said it would be a two-

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

prong approach, we would strengthen those capabilities to ensure that we don’t create or reduce NPL. No matter good your risk management capabilities are because by default the kind of business we do, loans must always go bad from unexpected things.

My plan was to revamp risk management capability and the entire risk management architecture to ensure that we keep new NPLs to the barest level possible. And myself

O F

and my team were going to focus on the already existing NPL and then work down to the levels that are in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria regulation.

“What we have achieved is successfully reposition the risk management system of the bank and today I am particularly very proud of what we have achieved and it is a combination of the two that has ensured that we have pushed the NPL to single digits,” he said.

1 0 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

34

˾ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Lost 124bps

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϭ͘Ϯϰй ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ Ăƚ 1,185.75 points following losses in MTNN (-1.7%), GUARANTY (-0.7%), and NESTLE (-ϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϰ͘ϱй ŽĨ

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

the index.

Sell-ŽīƐ ŝŶ ĞůůǁĞƚŚĞƌƐ ƌĂŐ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ŽǁŶ ϭ͘ϭй dŚĞ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ ŽƵƌƐĞ ďĞŐĂŶ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ ŽŶ Ă ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŶŽƚĞ ĂƐ ƐĞůů-

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Price Change Index to Date

1,185.75

-1.24%

-19.2%

18.6%

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

115.00

-1.7%

29.5%

9.5%

5.5%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

298.90

0.0%

14.1%

0.0%

0.0%

ROE

ROA

137.7%

13.8%

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

4.9x

0.7x

6.5%

17.6%

13.7x

23.1x

2.6%

7.3%

3.6%

ŽīƐ in NESTLE (-10.0%), MTNN (-1.7%) and GUARANTY (-0.7%) drove

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

29.30

-0.7%

10.8%

-1.3%

0.3%

32.9%

5.4%

4.4x

1.4x

9.4%

22.6%

the All-^ŚĂƌĞ /ŶĚĞdž ĚŽǁŶ ϭϬϱďƉƐ to 27,773.20 points. Consequent-

4 Zenith Bank PLC

19.85

0.3%

6.9%

6.7%

6.1%

24.3%

3.4%

3.1x

0.7x

14.1%

32.1%

1,242.00

-10.0%

4.2%

-15.5%

-15.5%

82.9%

26.3%

21.1x

17.4x

5.1%

4.7%

170.00

0.0%

5.4%

19.7%

19.7%

47.8%

23.1%

7.5x

3.4x

9.4%

13.3%

ly, zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ ϯ͘ϱй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ േϭϱϯ͘ϲďŶ

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC

ƚŽ േϭϰ͘ϱƚŶ͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĨĞůů

7 Access Bank PLC

9.65

-1.5%

4.1%

-3.5%

-4.5%

22.7%

2.2%

2.4x

0.6x

5.2%

41.3%

ϯϰ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ϲϵ͘ϵй ƚŽ ϮϬϬ͘Ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϭ͘ϵďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

7.70

-0.6%

3.1%

7.7%

6.9%

18.7%

2.0%

2.8x

0.5x

11.0%

36.4%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

5.85

-2.5%

2.6%

-4.9%

-10.0%

10.3%

1.0%

4.1x

0.3x

4.4%

24.6%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

51.50

0.0%

units) and E/d, ;ϭϴ͘ϲŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ǁŚŝůĞ MTNN ;േϰϲϮ͘ϯŵͿ͕ E/d,

2.4%

-12.7%

-12.7%

10.2%

4.6%

24.0x

2.5x

4.6%

4.2%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

15.05

-1.6%

2.8%

-1.6%

9.1%

50.3%

23.4%

15.1x

0.7x

;േϯϲϵ͘ϭŵͿ ĂŶĚ NESTLE ;േϮϲϴ͘ϱŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

605.00

0.0%

2.3%

-8.0%

2.2%

14.4%

9.5%

3.9x

0.5x

6.6%

25.6% 18.4%

ĂĐƟǀĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ & E, ;ϯϱ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ dZ E^KZW ;Ϯϰ͘ϲŵ

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

38.00

0.0%

1.9%

-7.3%

-5.0%

27.3%

4.1%

5.4x

1.3x

5.2%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

22.80

0.0%

1.2%

15.7%

15.7%

3.6%

1.3%

17.7x

0.6x

5.3%

8.50

0.0%

0.9%

-10.5%

-10.5%

-114.4%

-7.5%

15 International Brew eries PLC

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

6.6%

7.6x

5.6% -33.1%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

7.10

0.0%

1.0%

9.2%

8.4%

13.8%

1.0%

2.3x

0.3x

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŽĨ ϲ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ŽƵƌ

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.13

-1.8%

0.8%

3.9%

5.4%

13.4%

1.5%

2.1x

0.3x

5.2%

46.6%

ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ůŽƐƚ͘ dŚĞ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ;нϬ͘ϵйͿ and Industrial Goods (+0.8%) indi-

18 11 PLC

133.20

0.0%

0.6%

-9.9%

-9.9%

24.1%

10.9%

5.4x

1.2x

6.2%

18.4%

ĐĞƐ

ŐĂŝŶĞĚ

ĚƵĞ

ƚŽ

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ

43.9%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

68.00

0.0%

0.8%

22.3%

22.3%

19.1%

13.5%

11.8x

2.2x

4.6%

8.5%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

13.40

0.0%

0.5%

-1.5%

-4.3%

19.6%

11.6%

8.0x

1.6x

8.5%

12.6%

1.2x

9.5%

in LAWUNION (+8.1%), WZ ^d/' ;нϵ͘ϯйͿ ĂŶĚ h D Ed (+1.7%).

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

0.99

0.0%

0.5%

0.0%

-7.5%

Conversely, the Consumer Goods (-4.7%) index lost the most owing to

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

15.00

0.0%

0.3%

-31.8%

-27.5%

-5.6%

-3.5%

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

30.20

0.0%

0.4%

0.5%

0.5%

4.9%

2.6%

15.7x

0.8x

5.3%

6.4%

1.88

-0.5%

1.6%

3.3%

9.2%

1.1%

2.1x

0.2x

7.4%

47.3%

price weakness in NESTLE (-10.0%) and VITAFOAM (-ϳ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ

24 FCMB Group Plc

3.0% -4.9%

(-0.8%) and Oil & Gas (-Ϭ͘ϲйͿ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĂůƐŽ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ůŽƐƐĞƐ

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.69

0.0%

0.3%

-15.1%

-11.1%

10.0%

0.9%

4.5x

0.4x

in GUARANTY (-0.7%), & E, (-2.5%), ^^ (-1.5%) and K E K (-

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

8.50

0.6%

0.3%

-1.2%

-4.5%

-24.5%

-11.3%

4.4x

0.5x

7.6%

22.9%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

6.00

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

17.5%

7.0%

4.9x

0.8x

7.5%

20.3%

4.0%

4.2%). Similarly, losses in MTNN (-1.7%) dragged the AFR-ICT index (1.0%).

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

12.5x

1.9x

1.1%

11.1x

0.9x

0.0%

0.2%

-3.5%

-3.5%

8.8%

2.0%

13.9x

1.3x

3.45

-4.2%

0.1%

-13.5%

-13.5%

14.5%

2.6%

1.5x

0.2x

0.4%

0.4%

16.5%

5.8%

18.1x

3.1x

7.7%

5.5%

13.1%

13.1%

26.7%

3.4%

2.8x

0.7x

8.9%

35.8%

0.69

-2.8%

0.1%

-6.8%

1.5%

9.0%

0.9%

5.6x

0.5x

4.3%

17.9%

18.55

0.0%

0.1%

2.5%

3.1%

7.6%

1.3%

17.1%

11.2%

0.0%

37 Beta Glass PLC

70.00

0.0%

0.1%

30.1%

30.1%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

2.00

0.0%

0.1%

1.0%

1.0%

4.05

0.0%

0.0%

-17.3%

-17.3%

ǁŝůů ĚŝĐƚĂƚĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ

T o p 10 G a i n e r s T ic k er

year Fixed Rate Unsecured Climate- ƌĞĚĞŶƟĂů 'ƌĞĞŶ ŽŶĚ͘

-1.4%

6.4x

1.2x

2.0%

10.3%

2.8%

8.7x

0.8x

11.5%

38.2x

3.7%

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

SOVR EN IN S

0.22

10.0%

T R A N SEXP R

0.89

9.9%

NP FM CRFB K

1.23 0.59

P ric e C hg %

FB NH

35.9

-2.5%

T R A N SC OR P

24.6

0.0%

9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

18.6

0.3%

9.3%

UA C N

14.2

0.6%

J A P A ULOIL

0.24

9.1%

F ID ELIT YB K

11.7

-1.8%

LA WUN ION

1.20

8.1%

FCM B

9.1

-0.5% 10.0%

0.33

6.5%

SOVR EN IN S

8.6

UP D C R EIT

3.40

6.3%

UB A

6.9

-0.6%

sŝƚĂĨŽĂŵΖƐ share price was adjusted downwards yesterday for a 42k

WA P IC

0.35

6.1%

ET ER N A

5.6

-2.3%

ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ͕ dž͘ĚŝǀŝĚĞŶĚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ŝƐ ŶŽǁ േϱ͘ϬϯŬ

C OUR T VILLE

0.22

4.8%

UN IVIN SUR E

5.0

0.0%

T o p 10 L o s e r s

day: :ĂƉĂƵů Kŝů Θ DĂƌŝƟŵĞ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ WůĐ ;hŶĂƵĚŝƚĞĚ &z͗ϮϬϭϵͿ͗ Revenue fell

T ic k er

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

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

1242.00

-10.0%

M TNN

462.3

-1.7%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.56

-9.7%

Z EN IT H B A N K

369.1

0.3%

M A YB A KER

N EST LE

P ric e C hg %

2.02

-6.9%

N EST LE

268.5

-10.0%

27.3% Y-o-Y to േϳϬϭ͘ϵŵ͖ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ƌĞƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ƉƌŽĮƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ǁŝƚŚ OA N D O

3.45

-4.2%

FB NH

212.1

-2.5%

ƉƌŽĮƚ ĂŌĞƌ ƚĂdž ;W dͿ ŽĨ േϰϬ͘ϲŵ ĂŌĞƌ ƉŽƐƟŶŐ Ă ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ േϲ͘ϯŵ ŝŶ &z͗ϮϬϭϴ͘

J A IZ B A N K

0.67

-2.9%

UA C N

120.2

0.6%

WEM A B A N K

0.69

-2.8%

GUA R A N T Y

78.7

-0.7%

FB NH

5.85

-2.5%

WA P C O

54.9

-1.6%

ET ER N A

2.10

-2.3%

UB A

53.2

-0.6%

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

2.6%

Vo lum e

CHA M S

,ŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚƐ ŽĨ ^ŽŵĞ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ŝƐĐůŽƐƵƌĞƐ ŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ zĞƐƚĞƌͲ

15.7%

1.5x

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

P ric e

ĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶŬ WůĐ ŶŽƟĮĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƟŶŐ ƉƵďůŝĐ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ P R EST IGE

1.4x

-100.0%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

>ƵdžĞŵďŽƵƌŐ ^ƚŽĐŬ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĂĚŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ŝƚƐ േϭϱďŝůůŝŽŶ ϭϱ͘ϱй ϱ-

7.2% 67.3%

0.2%

and D z < Z (-ϲ͘ϵйͿ ůĞĚ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ tĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƌĞůĞĂƐĞƐ

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJΖƐ ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĐƟŽŶƐ

13.0%

0.2%

and EW&D Z& < ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ǁŚŝůĞ NESTLE (-10.0%), >/E< ^^hZ (-ϵ͘ϳйͿ

ĂďŽƵƚ the market.

8.0% 9.0%

0.0%

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC

;нϵ͘ϵйͿ

6.4%

7.0%

0.2%

session as 17 stocks advanced ƌĞůĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ĂŶ ĞƋƵĂů ϭϳ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ďĞƐƚ dZ E^ yWZ

15.9%

14.9%

13.00

35 Forte Oil PLC

(+10.0%),

4.9%

15.8%

22.50

34 Wema Bank PLC

SOVRENINS

4.9%

0.2%

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

ƌĂƟŽͿ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘Ϭdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ Ϭ͘ϵdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ in the previous trading

were

0.3%

0.0%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ

performers

0.0%

6.95 107.00

31 Oando PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

49.85

22.4%

F ID ELIT YB K

2.13

-1.8%

F LOUR M ILL

47.1

0.0%

NA HCO

2.74

-1.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

24.9

-1.8%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Oluwarotimi Ashimi | oashimi@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

35

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

NSE, Meristem List Benefits of Exchange Traded Funds Goddy Egene Officials of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Meristem Wealth Management Limited, have identified Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) as a viable investment option for investors, particularly younger players who are

new to the capital market.

Speaking at a workshop organised

by NSE in partnership with Meristem in Lagos, the Chief Exchange Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said with the market witnessing low yields, they have seen an increasing appetite for equities, and ETFs present

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

investors with an alternative channel to maximize investment and minimize the risk that comes with investing in equities.

“Today, the NSE is the second largest ETF market in Africa with a current market capitalisation of N6.9 billion. From a single ETF

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 07Feb-2020, unless otherwise stated.

tracking the price of Gold in 2011, the market has deepened with 10 ETFs currently offering exposure to equities, fixed income, commodities as well as thematic and smart investment solutions. The ETFs market segment is radically reshaping the assetmanagement industry; gradually

eclipsing old-fashioned stock pickers given its ability to replicate passive investing styles.”

According to him, the exchange is resolute in its goal to collaborate with market stakeholders to not only increase listed ETFs but also provide the necessary sensitization and capacity

building that will boost activity in the market.

Also speaking, Head, Asset Management, Meristem Wealth Management, Mr. Taiwo Yusuf, noted that ETFs are inherently designed to give investors access to a wide range of viable assets.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 152.73 156.16 4.56% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 2.95% Nigeria International Debt Fund 321.82 321.82 2.46% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.88 0.89 4.89% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 33.81% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.43% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.47 2.52 0.37% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.53% Anchoria Equity Fund 104.32 104.70 2.29% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.18 1.18 3.39% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 15.80 16.27 3.13% ARM Discovery Fund 354.87 365.57 2.72% ARM Ethical Fund 30.18 31.09 3.77% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.32% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 19.61% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 8.16% Paramount Equity Fund 12.56 12.73 0.12% Women's Investment Fund 113.17 114.06 2.45% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.89% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 104.65 105.21 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 114.25 114.92 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.92% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.99% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,181.18 1,182.67 1.62% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,320.01 1,321.21 2.24% FBN Balanced Fund 151.09 152.27 2.91% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.21 120.52 0.81% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.87 121.18 0.87% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 127.36 129.04 -2.13% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.83% Legacy Debt Fund 3.68 3.68 0.77% Legacy Equity Fund 1.15 1.17 1.56% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.43% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,120.81 3,155.56 4.62% Coral Income Fund 3,107.28 3,107.28 13.36% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 7.81% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.59% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 118.71 119.19 10.11%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.72% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.27 2.30 5.24% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 11.40% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.65 141.18 12.71% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.21 1.24 4.06% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,112.30 1,112.30 1.27% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 10.34 10.44 5.50% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 6.37% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.40 1.42 14.41% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.52 12.61 10.82% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 8.35% PACAM Equity Fund 1.14 1.15 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.34 110.22 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 131.01 134.95 8.97% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 1.21% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 3.55% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.71% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 3.93% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.11% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 4.57% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.24% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 3.90% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.69% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.20 1.22 -0.01% United Capital Bond Fund 1.75 1.75 1.17% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -0.56% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.89% United Capital Eurobond Fund 112.45 112.45 0.52% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.15% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.59 10.75 3.25% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.76 11.91 1.36% Zenith Income Fund 23.01 23.01 3.51% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.44%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.20 122.22 52.31

-66.85% 8.65% 3.86%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.54 97.33 75.78

9.64 99.41 77.19

9.57% 5.25% 2.79%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

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

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.66 5.42 13.09 11.70 175.68

3.70 5.50 13.19 11.90 177.68

3.12% -8.22% 7.71% 12.51% -6.34%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.69

17.60%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

36

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Coronavirus: Death Toll Hits 910, 40,000 Infected Globally 97 people died in one day Globally, a total of 910 people have been confirmed to have died since the outbreak of the dreaded novel coronavirus.

Only yesterday, 97 people died from the virus in China.

The fatality toll from the coronavirus has officially surpassed the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, which claimed 774 lives in 2003 Also, around the globe, more than 40,500 infection cases of the virus have been confirmed, with the majority of the cases from China.

Yesterday, China’s health ministry said another 3,062 cases had been reported over the previous 24 hours, raising the Chinese mainland’s total to 40,171.

Also, new cases were reported in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, the U.K. and Spain.

More than 360 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China.

European authorities are assiduously working to contain the spread of the virus by tracking down people who

came into contact with those infected. The U.K. cases of infection has doubled from four to eight, as the government announced new powers to detain people suspected of having the virus.

Spain has also reported its second case of infection. The first case was a German tourist diagnosed a week ago in the Canary Islands off northwest Africa.

Spain’s National Micro-biology Center has said that authorities are working to identify everyone who came into contact with a British man whose case was detected in Mallorca, a popular vacation island in the Mediterranean Sea. Japan reported six more cases among 3,700 passengers and crew aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the number of infections on the vessel to 69.

The figure takes the tally on board to 135, showing a rapid rise in the outbreak on the ship docked in the port of Yokohama.

The new cases are an American passenger in her 70s

and five crew members – four Filipinos and a Ukrainian.

South Korea reported a new case in a 73-year-old woman whose, raising its total to 27.

Vietnam reported its 14th case, and Malaysia its 17th case.

Assessing Nigeria has a high risk country to the importation of the novel coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO), over the weekend has said it will be supporting the country with diagnostic tools, equipment, and stock piles like the PPE masks, protective clothing, some equipment and sample collection materials, etc., that we will need to monitor response.

Recall that the federal government said that it will spend N620m special intervention fund to monitor, detect and contain the coronavirus. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on health, on the level of his ministry’s preparedness to manage the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.

37

˜ ͹͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS

NFF Dumps Refurbished Ogbemudia Stadium for Sierra Leone Clash Uyo, Asaba stadiums on standbys

Femi Solaja After several weeks of speculations, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), May have shelved the idea of playing Super Eagles first international match of the year at the refurbished Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Edo State.

The refurbished stadium with a sitting capacity of 19,500 stands as one of the best in the country today and is equipped with the latest facilities.

It was due to be formally opened with the Super Eagles’ Day-four match of the ongoing AFCON 2021 qualifying round clash with Sierra Leone on the 22nd of March, 2020.

However, THISDAY last night confirmed from a top official of the Glass House in Abuja that the ancient city of Benin which last staged Super Eagles match in 2011 against Boswana which ended goalless with Late Stephen

Okechukwu Keshi in charge of his first match as gaffer, may have to wait for another time.

“We have a strong bond with Edo State Government and this explained why we’ve had many events in Benin lately but due to some reasons, this important match against Sierra Leone will not hold in the new stadium,” the top official said in a telephone chat last night.

With Benin no longer in sight, THISDAY learnt that the NFF is looking in the direction of either the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State or Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Both stadiums hosted Super Eagles’ matches in the past. Uyo Stadium in particular was were Eagles secured their qualification to the 2018 World Cup in Russia The Asaba ground became new home to the Super Eagles lately following the massive support the team enjoy from Gov. Ifeanyi

Okowa.

Delta bankrolled the sent forth match for the Super Eagles to the last AFCON tournament in Egypt where they claimed the bronze medal.

Although no clear reason was given for why NFF decided to move the Sierra Leone game from

the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, THISDAY checks revealed that it may have something to do with the forth coming National Sports Festival (NSF) which the state will host next month to early April.

Physical infrastructure needed for the games are being completed at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium

with base for the track being laid, as the football pitch is ready.

Work at the lawn tennis section is completed, while the swimming pools are being furnished.

Organisers of the festival have scheduled the football events at other designated venues leaving the edify to stage only track and

field events, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

With the Uyo and Asaba as options for Eagles, NFF have at least two weeks to communicate the new venue to CAF as well as the visiting team in accordance with the tournament rules and regulations.

Dare Tips Team Nigeria Wrestlers for Medal Haul at Tokyo 2020 The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare, has reiterated that the impressive performance of Nigerian wrestlers in recent outings has strengthened the hope for Nigeria medal haul in the sport at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He stated this during an inspection tour of the Wrestling Gym in Bayelsa State. The Minister said he was excited to be in the state to identify with wrestling as one of the country’s most successful sports.

He congratulated the team that competed in Algiers for an incredible performance.

“Odunayo (Adekuoroye)

is now number one, we also have Blessing (Oborodudu) doing well. The wrestling team outings have been fantastic from Italy a couple of weeks ago to Algiers, excellent performances.

“They have brightened our hope for medals at the Olympics and we celebrate these young agile wrestlers.

“We are at the theatre of wrestling, the home of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation where Nigerian athletes really camp, I am impressed with what I have seen and also impressed with the efforts being made to complete the outstanding project here,” stressed the minister.

Zenith Bank Hails D’Tigress for Winning Olympics Ticket The Management of Zenith Bank on Monday showered praises on the national women basketball team, D’Tigress, for winning a ticket to the 2020 Olympics Games billed for Tokyo, Japan.

D’Tigress grabbed the precious ticket at the Olympics qualifiers which took place between February 6 and 9 in Serbia. After beating Mozambique by 85-51 points in their first match the results of other matches were only academics for the back-to-back African Champions. The Group managing Director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said the outfit was particularly elated because the women basketball team has displayed so much consistency in recent time.

He said: “This team won the last two Women AfroBasket and they played in the quarterfinal of the World Cup and now won

the Tokyo 2020 ticket.

“We are so happy about this progress in the team which also show that the girls are gradually joining the best teams in the world stage.” Musa Murjanatu of Air Warriors who was the MVP in the final of the 2019 Zenith Women’s Basketball League was part of the team that won the ticket in Serbia.

Evelyn Akhator, who was also in team was a product of Zenith basketball league.

Chioma Udeaja, Nkechi Akhasiki, Upe Atosu and Nkem Akaraiwe are other prominent Zenith league players who at some point also feature for D’Tigress.

“It is a thing of joy that our annual Zenith league is yielding dividends for the country. We are really happy and we expect D’Tigress to continue to make more progress in the basketball world,” Onyeagwu added.

Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) Board Member and FIBA Zone Three President, Col. Sam Ahmedu ‘rtd’ (left) and D’Tigress Player, Ndidi Madu displaying a dummy of the qualification ticket earned by the Nigerian senior women’s team at the 2020 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia...at the weekend

Buhari Congratulates D’Tigress on Qualification for Tokyo 2020 Team end qualifier on a high Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday felicitated with the female Basket Ball team, D’Tigress, on its qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, urging them to remain focused, determined and energised for a good outing at the tournament.

The president, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, commended the sportsmanship and resilience of the team all through the qualifying stages, and training sessions, saluting their courage in always putting out their best as they represent the country.

Adesina said being the current African Champions, Buhari believes that the team

already has the talents that can make global impact in the forthcoming event, assuring that the federal government would ensure proper preparation and mobilisation for all their outings.

He also said the president commended the team’s officials and the National Basket Ball Federation (NBA) for the discipline and motivation of the D’Tigress.

Meanwhile, D’Tigress ended their FIBA Olympics Qualifiers Tournament on a high despite a narrow 71-76 points loss to world champions- USA at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall Sunday nightin Belgrade, Serbia.

Inspired by Otis Hughley, the team came out determined

to prove a point and show Basketball aficionados that the Nigerian ladies could compete with anybody in the world as they put up a performance that many will talk about for a very long time to come.

D’Tigress dominated the first half, 21-20, 19-6 as they went into half time 40-26points which many across the world will find hard to believe for a long time to come.

USA came out fighting in the third quarter to narrowly pick the game 24-17 as the D’Tigress held on to 7 point lead heading to the last quarter where USA completed their comeback.

Ezinne Kalu who was voted as one of the group’s top five players alongside Ana

Debovic (Serbia), Leia Dongue (Mozambique), A’ja Wilson (USA) and Nneka Ogwumike (USA) once again led the team with 17pts, 8 assists and 4 rebounds.

Victoria Macaulay had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist while Evelyn Akhator after failing to score against Serbia on match day 2 dropped 10 points and 4 rebounds.

Despite the height disadvantage of the D’Tigress, the team out-rebounded USA after collectively picking 43 rebounds as against 36 rebounds by USA. Nigeria also stole the ball 13 times as against 5 by their opponent. Players and coaches on Monday depart Belgrade for their various clubs in Europe and USA.

2020 GTBANK LAGOS POLO

Sao Polo Lifts Open Cup, Alchemy Claims Silver Cup Leighton Sao Polo, on Sunday edged Shoreline 9-8 to emerge champions of the Open Cup of the GTBank Lagos International Polo Tournament.

The finals, which have in attendance the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai among the dignitaries, marked the end of the opening week of the prestigious 2020 Lagos polo fiesta.

The much anticipated final

week pitching a record 20 teams is expected gallop off today with Low Cup and the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup titles up for grabs. There will also be two subsidiary cups, the Italian Ambassador’s Cup and the Independence Cup, to be contested for.

Both sides are +12 handicap for the Open Cup final and it was Leighton Sao Polo team formed by Bowale Jolaosho,

Seyi Oyinlola, Martin Juaregui and Manuel Crespo took to a flying start with Argentine seven-year goaler Crespo netting twice before Ashraf Yahaya halved the deficit of a bumber-to-bumper five chukka match.

Fellow Argentine Pipi Greguoli +4 levelled the match with a sensational goal which brought the crowd to their feet but Crespo would not

be outshined as he registered another goal.

Shoreline was completed

by Adebayo Karim and Julio Santiago Estrada and they kept the pressure on their opponents all through but they eventually fell short losing 9-8.

In the preceding match, Khalifa Adams inspired Lagos Golden Alchemy to a 6-0 victory over Ibadan Eleyele to win the Silver Cup.

38

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢T H I S D AY

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ T H I S D AY

39

Tuesday February 11, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Falana to FG

“When this same president, as a military Head of State, came in 1984, December 31, and said our hospitals had been reduced to consulting clinics; it was a confirmation of the struggle of the Nigerian doctors. So, Beko and others thought he meant well and after six months, there was no improvement, they went on strike that paralysed the medical sector” – Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, calling on Nigerians to demand improved health care from the regime of President, Muhammadu Buhari.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

The Coronavirus Challenge, Nigeria and Other Responses

T

he biggest threat to our collective humanity today is not the suspected threat of a Third World War, but a corrosive, debilitating, murderous pathogen known as new Corona Virus. The fear of a World War III was fuelled by tensions and differences among key super powers dictating contemporary geo-politics notably: the US, China, Iran, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, South Korea and the entire Middle East.

But while relationships with the world’s power axis will always have implications for global peace, security and stability, the biggest and the most urgent threat by far is the outbreak of a new strain of the Corona Virus, in Wuhan, China which has within a short space of one month shown the vulnerability of man, the conflict between man and biology, and the limitations of science in the face of an immediate, accidental, unforeseeable, pathogenic onslaught.

The first case of Corona Virus was reported just before the Chinese Lunar New Year 2020 celebrations, and since then, the new virus has defied both man and science. On January 28, the highest number of reported cases was reported, but by Monday, February 10, that had jumped exponentially to 97 casualties per day and total cases in excess of 40, 000, with 908 persons reported dead. The statistics and the sero-prevalence rate seem unprecedented, far worse than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome of 2003 which claimed 774 lives. The World Health Organization has classified the new Corona Virus as a public health emergency of international concern, a delicate, diplomatic phrasing which barely stops short of declaring the nCoV-2019, as it is otherwise known, a global pandemic - considering the fact that mainland China, especially Wuhan, a city of 11 million people and the Hubei province in general, remain the epicenter – 99% of reported cases are in mainland China and out of the total number of deaths, only two have occurred outside China.

The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has commended China for its efforts at prevention and containment, even if the Politburo, the highest political body in China has had to express regrets for “failing” the people. The truth is: China is overwhelmed. Businesses have been affected, the stock market is down, lives are threatened, over 40 million people are in quarantine. China is engaging the world as the epicenter of a crisis, the global economy is likely to be affected given China’s strategic importance, and yet nobody knows when the Corona virus will ease off, or when scientists will find a cure. It is not only China that is at risk, it is the entire world. Our civilization is under threat and of course, the tragedy is man-made. These are the cold, uncomfortable facts as at the time of this writing. The Corona Virus has brought the entire world to the precipice of uncertainty and disaster. It reminds us collectively of our mortality and the common humanity and vulnerability that we share.

Globalization turned the world into a small village, technology erased distances, but in the face of a global scourge like new Corona Virus, the world has turned into a much smaller village. Most of the people and countries that are taking precautions against Corona Virus don’t even know where Wuhan is on the map.

Some people ate snake meat or is it Pangolin or bat meat in Wuhan and they got infected with a virus – animal to man transmission,

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Enahere which has now spread to over 27 countries and mutated as a deadly human-to-human communicable disease. China which is ordinarily regarded as a major superpower has suddenly become a pariah nation. Countries have issued travel alerts to their citizens: do not go to China, and those who are in China are being evacuated and whoever arrives from China is immediately quarantined for two weeks.

This is the same China that only recently engaged the United States in a trade war. The same China is now the diseased nation that nobody wants to touch. Imports from China have been suspended. Trips to China have been put on hold. China’s tourism industry is bound to suffer. Who wants to go to a country where a virus is on rampage, and the air is polluted? It is not for nothing that the media in Europe has dubbed the Corona Virus, the China Virus – an average Chinese citizen would not like that - but the truth is that the new Corona Virus wears the toga of a nationality. Before it, there was the Swine flu (2009), Polio (2014), Zika (2016), Ebola (2014, 2019) but it is the new Corona Virus that has obtained a national passport and an identification tag of notorious universal recognition. This may have translated into racist conclusions about Chinese identity and cuisine. I have heard allegations that the Chinese eat anything and everything, including animals that are considered a taboo in many cultures – Bats?

Cockroaches? Rats? Snakes? Millipedes and centipedes? Monkeys? Pangolin? E-eeish! It is said that the Chinese have brought this latest biological dissonance upon humanity because of their unusual culinary taste. I know people who have simply opted to stay away from anything Chinese in the meantime, until there is some certainty about what exactly is going on. I wanted to order food from a Chinese Restaurant the other day. I was quietly reminded of Corona Virus. I had no option but to restrain my palate. I wanted Chinese balm, a popular product in Nigeria, a few days later. I was also advised to be careful. I ignored that advice. The labelling of everything Chinese as an item crowned by a virus is exaggerated and overblown. But as Nigerians would say in pidgin English: who wan die?

This is probably why every country and institution is taking precautions. The United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Singapore

and New Zealand have had cause to evacuate their citizens from China. Airlines including FinnAir, American Airlines, United, Cathay Pacific, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Air Asia, and Lufthansa have either stopped flights to China or reduced their Chinese operations by 90%. The effect is that supply chains have been disrupted with consequences for trade performance. The global economy is bound to slow down in the long run if this situation persists. But what is perhaps more relevant to us should be this: How prepared is Africa and particularly Nigeria? I don’t think Africa is prepared at all, and we are likely to be worst hit should the virus make an effective landing in our continent.

For now across Africa, we have only heard of suspected cases: in Ghana where there were two suspected cases involving a Chinese and an Argentine who returned from China, but the result was negative in both cases. Suspected cases in Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Botswana have also proven negative. The only reported case of infection involving an African is that of a Cameroonian student living in Wuhan.

Kenya has taken steps to evacuate its students in China. Mozambique has suspended its visa on arrival policy. Africa and South America seem insulated from the scourge so far. But for how much longer? The Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday was extended, in the face of the outbreak of the virus, but that holiday ended yesterday, Monday, February 10. Using that as guide, if there was any Chinese living in Africa or doing business in Africa, he or she is likely to return to base after the holiday. In the last decade or more, Sino-African relationship has grown tremendously, China seeking to fill a vacuum inadvertently created by the EU and the United States, has increased its scope of influence in Africa through friendly loans, investments and cultural outreach. It is not an accident that African leaders at the just concluded 33rd AU Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa expressed solidarity with China! The Chinese presence in Africa is unmistakable and it is quite pronounced in a country like Nigeria where the Chinese are involved in significant sectors of the economy including oil and gas, telecommunications, manufacturing, infrastructure, SMEs and retail trade. This week, all the Chinese who went home on holiday will start returning one after the other.

When the story of the Corona Virus broke, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was most unusually proactive, which I think is commendable. The Federal Ministry of Health quickly followed suit, to educate Nigerians about the threat of the Corona Virus.

Preventive guidelines were announced, and a travel advisory was issued. This is indeed commendable, even if the efforts were not translated into local, indigenous languages, that is - the languages of the majority of Nigerians. The campaign has thus far been so elitist and restricted. In due course, the Nigerian authorities further announced that the Federal Government had established eight isolation centres as follows: in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and seven states of the Federation - Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, Delta, Cross River and Kano. The problem is that nobody knows exactly where these isolation centres are located.

The relevant authorities tell us that in preparing for the Corona Virus which has

not yet been reported in Nigeria, they are relying on the protocols and infrastructure already put in place in 2014 to combat the Ebola Virus. In 2014, Nigeria was confronted with the Ebola Virus crisis, introduced to the country by a traveler from Liberia who came to Nigeria to seek spiritual cure for Ebola.

Knowledge and experience can definitely prove useful in everything including a biological and pharmaceutical crisis such as Corona Virus.

But has Nigeria done enough or is Nigeria prepared? I don’t think so. There is definitely no evidence that we have enough medical counter-measures to protect the medical and public health personnel who are supposed to man our ports. A gentleman who just returned from Chicago reported on live television and I have no cause to doubt him, that the situation at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos, to cite a specific example, is chaotic and below standard practice. Government officials pretend to check for high temperature and other symptoms but they are not protected.

Nigeria has not made any provision for medical counter measures. Nigeria is sending medical personnel and Ministry officials to the ports to put them at risk. Until we have another case of Stella Adadevoh, like Li Weliang, the Chinese whistleblower who paid the supreme price for Corona Virus, the Nigerian government is not likely to wake up. That is unacceptable.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health and state governments have to do a lot more. I will comment on the latter. As at this moment, only three states – Lagos, Ebonyi and Ogun out of the 36 states of the Federation would seem to have shown interest in the Corona Virus prevention campaign. We expect every state of the Federation, close as they are to the grassroots, to take up the campaign and inform the populace appropriately. At the national level, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health will also need to address what has become around the subject of Corona Virus, an “infodemic crisis” – that is the crisis of conspiracy theories and misinformation and hazardous false information.

Is the Corona Virus a biological weapon?.

Really? Is it a strategy by big pharmaceutical companies to enlarge market and increase profit? President Donald Trump and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have also been linked to the conspiracy. Does that make sense?

We have also been told that eating garlic or drinking a bleach concoction can help prevent a Corona Virus infection. Is that true? The Nigerian agencies are yet to respond to this.

They should. They should take the additional step of addressing the spiritual question which determines everything in Nigeria from politics to business. Is Corona Virus a spiritual affliction or biology gone awry? If care is not taken, Nigerian shamanists, prophets, traditionalists and pastors will soon take advantage of the uncertainty to claim that they had predicted the occurrence of the virus and that, indeed they have the solution. Government should immediately arrest anyone who mouths such idiocy. Our only hope is that the Corona Virus will never make its way here, but as the Boys Scouts motto states, we should “Be Prepared”. The bad news is that there is no effective treatment for the virus. And a worse virus may soon show up, leaving humanity effectively at the mercy of disease and the environment.

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