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Banks Record Loan Growth on CBN Lending Policy Transactions on domiciliary accounts not prohibited, says apex bank Obinna Chima and Goddy Egene The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to banks last year to increase lending to customers has started yielding

fruits as loans disbursed by six banks that have released their unaudited results for the fourth quarter 2019 rose by 21 per cent, from N5.674 trillion in 2018, to N6.849 trillion. Besides, the apex bank

yesterday dismissed news making the rounds that it has banned domiciliary accounts’ transactions. The CBN had last year raised banks’ loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) to 60 per cent and

afterwards 65 per cent, with a deadline of December 2019. The policy was to encourage lending to SMEs, retail, mortgage and consumer lending. THISDAY’s analysis of

the six banks that released their unaudited and audited results for the fourth quarter that ended December 31, 2019, showed an increase in the level of loans and advances. The banks are Zenith Bank

Plc, FBN Holdings Plc (First Bank), Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, FCMB Group Plc and Wema Bank Plc. While the banks gave loans Continued on page 54

NDIC Liquidates 425 Financial Institutions in 30 Years... Page 10 Monday 24 February, 2020 Vol 25. No 9086. Price: N250

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Boko Haram’s Threat against Buhari, Empty Boast, Says Military Urges international community to block funding sources for terrorists President condemns attacks on Adamawa, vows to rout insurgents soonest Omololu Ogunmade and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The military at the weekend dismissed the threat issued against President Muhammadu Buhari by the leader of Boko Haram insurgents, Abubakar Shekau, not to visit the Northeast. Director of Defence

Information (DDI), BrigadierGeneral Onyema Nwachukwu, told THISDAY that Buhari was free to visit any part of the North-east at any time as troops are on the ground all the time in the region to ensure his safety along with that of other Nigerians. Continued on page 54

FG Probes Video of Threatened W’African Manatee in Delta

State threatens to prosecute culprits

Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The federal government is to investigate a video that has gone viral showing a Manatee, otherwise known as sea cow, being dragged on the streets in Delta State. Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, in a tweet yesterday

in which she said the government would probe the animal abuse, described the incident as a show of shame. The Delta State Government also condemned the maltreatment of the animal and threatened to prosecute those found culpable. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration Continued on page 54

TOAST TO OSCAR-WINNING LUPITA NYONG'O... L-R: Senator Daisy Danjuma; Oscar-winning actress, Lupita Nyong'o, and award winning writer, Chimamanda Adichie, when Chimamanda hosted Lupita to a dinner in Lagos...weekend kunle ogunfuyi

South-west States to Pass Amotekun Bill This Week... Page 10

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Senate to Consider Bill to Create State Police Ekweremadu presents legal document tomorrow

Deji Elumoye in Abuja Following the rising wave of security challenges facing the country, a member of the National Assembly, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West), has resolved to sponsor a bill for the creation of state police as one of the ways of addressing the security issues across the country. Ekweremadu, who is a former Deputy Senate President as well as three-time Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee (20072019), also faulted the idea of community policing currently being canvassed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu. The bill entitled: "A bill for an Act to further alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of State Police and other related matters (2020)”, a draft of which was sighted by THISDAY, has been slated for first reading at Tuesday's plenary of the Senate. The bill seeks to establish the Federal Police, State Police, National Police Service Commission, National Police Council, and State Police Service Commission for the states. The bill is seeking to create a state police to maintain law and order and provide state police services at the state level. The federal police, on the other hand, will be responsible for the maintenance of public security, preservation of public order and security of persons and property throughout the federation and also provide state policing for any state that is unable to operate a state police until such a time it is able to establish one. Other provisions of the bill, which seeks to address fears of possible abuse, especially by governors, include a proposal for the appointment of the Commissioner of Police of a state by the governor only

on the advice of the National Police Service Commission and subject to confirmation of the House of Assembly. Also, a Commissioner of Police of a state may only be removed on the grounds of misconduct and serious breach of policing standards, among others, provided that such removal is approved by two-thirds majority of the state House of Assembly. Although the governor may give to the Commissioner of Police lawful directives with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary, the Commissioner of Police may request that the matter be referred to the State Police Service Commission for review and the decision of the State Police Service Commission if he feels that such order is unlawful or contradicts general policing standards or practice. And the decision of the State Police Service Commission will be final. The bill also proposes a bi-annual re-certification review of the activities of State Police by the National Police Service Commission to ensure they meet up with approved national standards and guidelines of policing and that their operations do not undermine national integrity or promote ethnic, tribal or sectional agenda or marginalise any segment of the society within the state. It further proposes the representation of the federal government (appointed by the National Police Service Commission), the National Human Rights Commission (who must be indigenes of the respective states), the Public Complaints Commission, the organised labour, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, among others, to check abuse. The State Police Service Commission shall be responsible for recommending the

appointment of a Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police to the National Police Service Commission in addition to appointment, discipline and removal of members of the state police below the rank of the Assistant Commissioner of Police. According to the bill, the National Police Service Commission shall be responsible for supervising the activities of Federal and State Police as well as prescribing standards for training, criminal intelligence data bases, forensic laboratories and render assistance to the State Police in areas as may be requested by such State Police. Meanwhile, Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the Senate committee on Environment, has advised the presidency to embrace state police in order to address the foundational problem of security rather than what he described as “patchwork in the

name of community policing”. The lawmaker who spoke at the weekend said the failure of the current police arrangement was responsible for the formation of the South-west security outfit, Amotekun, and other security structures like Neighbourhood Watches/ Vigilantes as states tried to find a way to fulfill the primary purpose of government, which is the security of lives and property. He said: “I sympathise with Nigerians. I have been on this state police or decentralised police matter for over 10 years now, but nobody cared to listen. Today, we are facing the consequences. I think we are living in denial. The security situation is so bad and the bad news is that it is going to get worse until we do the right thing because we are not dealing with it at all. “Nigeria lives as a federal state. We accepted before independence that what is suitable for our circumstance

is federalism. We need to look at others practising federalism. In those other places, the way they deal with security is to decentralise it. The idea of forming a federal system of government is that you have accepted that you have so many diversities. To respect those diversities, you have to come into a loose arrangement to do things in a way that is peculiar to the people. “ He described community policing as a distraction, saying that is not what Nigeria needs to tackle insecurity. “They are not going to put men on ground. What they are telling us is that they need to address lack of trust and confidence. That is what community policing is all about. The Inspector General came to us (Senate) and told us they were going to get volunteers who would be giving police information, find out what their challenges are, why do they not trust the police, to build their confidence. That’s what they

are saying, but our people don’t seem to get it. But if you have a federal system, you ought to have a complete architecture that can deal with the security situations in a complex manner”, Ekweremadu stated. He added that state police existed in Nigeria during the colonial era and throughout the First Republic until it was abrogated by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon due to abuse by regional governments. Ekweremadu, however, said it was “a huge mistake because what they ought to have done was to come to the table and find a way to solve the problem of abuse as the State Police Bill now seeks to do instead of throwing away the baby and the bath water, thus putting everybody in the present troubles”. On the issue of funding, the senator reiterated that it would not be compulsory for every state, but for those that could afford it.

RETURNING GLORY TO GOD... L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie OmoAgege, at a thanksgiving mass, by the Omo-Agege, in Eﬀurun, Delta State, yesterday

Supreme Court Hears APC’s Request to Review Bayelsa Judgment Wednesday Ozekhome condemns attack on Justice Odili Davidson Iriekpen The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for Wednesday, February 26, in the application by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking among others, a review of its February 13, 2020 judgment disqualifying the party’s candidate in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, David Pereworimin Lyon. The announcement came just as a constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described the attack on Justice Mary Peter-Odili as dangerous for the independence of the Supreme Court. It was gathered yesterday that the Registry of the Supreme Court has communicated the date of hearing to parties in the case. It was, however, not clear whether or not respondents to the APC’s application have filed their responses. In the application filed on February 20 by its team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the APC wants the Supreme Court to

set aside some portions of its judgment. They include where it “wrongly” held that the Federal High Court disqualified its governorship candidate along with its deputy governorship candidate and where it held that joint ticket of its candidates was vitiated by the disqualification of the deputy governorship candidate and that both candidates are deemed not to be candidates in the election. It is also the APC’s prayer that the Supreme Court sets aside the portion of the judgment where it ordered INEC to declare as winner of the governorship election, candidates with the highest number of lawful votes and where it ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Lyon and issue a fresh one to the candidate who had the highest number of lawful votes. The APC argued that it was wrong for the Supreme Court to have voided its candidates’ participation in the election, because the judgment by

the Federal High Court, which disqualified its deputy governorship candidate, was stayed as at when the election was conducted. It also wants the Supreme Court to set aside the “wrong” interpretation given to its judgment and the subsequent execution by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is APC’s contention, among others, that the Supreme Court, in its judgment, misinterpreted the November 12, 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which it (the Supreme Court) affirmed. The APC argued that the Supreme Court acted without jurisdiction and denied it (the party) fair hearing when it proceeded to disqualify its governorship candidate even though the Federal High Court, in the judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which the apex court affirmed, refused the plaintiffs’ prayer to disqualify Lyon. The party also faulted the interpretation given to the Supreme Court judgment

by INEC in deciding to issue a certificate of return to the candidates of the PDP. The APC queried the premises on which the Supreme Court disqualified Lyon when the Federal High Court did not grant the reliefs for his disqualification. It accused the Supreme Court of acting without jurisdiction by disqualifying its candidate and breaching its right to fair hearing. Meanwhile senior lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has described the attack on Justice Mary Peter-Odili as dangerous for the independence of the Supreme Court. He said it was sickening that Justice Odili’s residence was singled out and attacked by hired political hoodlums, miscreants and thugs, just for merely carrying out her judicial functions of heading a fivemember panel that delivered the judgment sacking the Governor-elect of Bayelsa State. Justice Odili had chaired a five-man panel of the Supreme Court that sacked David Lyon of the APC as Bayelsa State

governor-elect on the grounds that Biobarakuma DegiEriemienyo, his running mate, presented forged credentials to INEC. In a statement sent to THISDAY, Ozekhome berated the attacks on Odili, saying that the attack was “highly condemnable, provocative, uncalled for and is certainly dangerous for the independence and courageous decisions template of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which is the apex court.” He lamented that Odili was singled out and attacked by hired political hoodlums, miscreants and thugs, noting that Odili did not even write or deliver the lead judgment. He said, “The lead judgment was written and delivered by the Justice Ejembi Eko. “More significant is the fact that the entire judgment was a unanimous decision and pronouncement made by the entire five members of the Supreme Court panel that heard the matter. “Why would she be singled out just because she is from

Rivers State, near Bayelsa State?” Ozekhome said. The senior advocate stated that the attack on Odili was not an ordinary one as it should not be ignored and swept under the carpet. He urged the police and authorities to investigate the attack and bring anyone found culpable to book. He said, “The government, through the DSS, the Inspector-General of Police must immediately rise to the occasion and fish out the ignoble perpetrators that committed this heinous crime and this desecration of the citadel of Justice. “They must be singled out and prosecuted immediately; and where found guilty, be given adequate punishment that they richly deserve. “No attempt must be made by any political party, or by any person or group of persons, however so highly placed, to intimidate the judiciary and beat it to submission in such a way and manner that decisions of courts are procured by the executive or political fiat.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

South-west States to Pass Amotekun Bill This Week Oyo, Ondo, three others hold public hearings today Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan, James Sowole in Akure, Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo, Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti and Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta Barring all unforeseen circumstances, the bill for the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), a regional security outfit codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’, will be passed into law this week in the six South-west states, THISDAY has learnt. In preparations for the passage of the bill, it was also gathered that Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun and Osun state Houses of Assembly will hold public hearings on the draft bill this week. Ekiti State is ahead of these five states as the state legislature had since passed the bill into law and is awaiting the assent of Governor Kayode Fayemi. Investigation revealed that Ekiti State is waiting for the other states to conclude work on the bill so that the governors will assent to the bill simultaneously. The Lagos State House of Assembly had committed the bill to the House Committee on Information, Publicity, Security and Strategy for a public hearing scheduled for today (Monday). To accommodate Amotekun, the state government had proposed a bill for the amendment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).

The bill is entitled: ‘A House of Assembly Bill No. 5 Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) Amendment Bill 2020 and for Connected Purposes.’ THISDAY gathered that the Oyo State Assembly will today also hold public hearing on the bill, which was sent to it by the executive. The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, who confirmed this development to THISDAY, added that the bill will be passed into law after the public hearing. "The bill will be passed this week, like other states in the South-west, the House would on Monday organise a public hearing on the bill. So, latest by Tuesday or Wednesday, it would be passed," Adedoyin said. In Ondo State, the bill, which has passed second reading at the state House of Assembly, will also be subjected to public hearing today. The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, Mr. Jimoh Dojumo, confirmed the development to THISDAY at the weekend. In Osun State, the Chief Press secretary to the state governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, also confirmed that the state lawmakers will hold a public hearing on the matter this week. According to him, until the state legislature passes the bill into law, there is nothing the

government can do for now. The Ogun State House of Assembly is also expected to hold a public hearing on the bill today. Speaking exclusively with THISDAY, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Kunle Somorin said: “The state government has approved the draft bill setting up Amotekun and the bill is before the state House of Assembly. “It is the lawmakers that will determine whether it is the police or the army that will train the Amotekun personnel. Such a decision should naturally come with the passage of the bill.” He added that the government had not got to the stage of recruiting personnel for Amotekun, noting that such

would follow once the bill is passed by the House and signed into law by the governor. Also, Special Adviser on Security to the Governor of Ekiti State, Brig. Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd), said Fayemi would assent to the Ekiti State Security Network Bill along with other South-west states. He said the governor was desirous of being on the same page with other states and that must have accounted for the delay in assenting to the bill, which the House of Assembly has passed into law. "The governor had while receiving the draft bill from the Attorney-General of the state, said the bill would be signed into law across the six states in the South-west simultaneously. "I believe this must have caused the delay in the process

of signing the bill into law apart from the fact that the governor has been having a busy schedule," he stated. Meanwhile, Christian leaders under the aegis of International Christian Conscience Initiative (ICCI), has commended the governments of the Southwest for the formation of Amotekun, noting that the level of insecurity in the region has become worrisome. The group stated this in a communiqué after a meeting in Lagos at the weekend. In the communiqué signed by its Coordinator, Prof. Olakunle Macaulay and Secretary, Rev. Moses Ajayi, the ICCI said since the federal government could not ensure the safety of lives and property, the constituent states were in order to wade in.

“If the federal government that has a responsibility to protect lives and property cannot discharge the function effectively, then the states should act. “The truth is that the federal government has failed to stem the tide of kidnapping and raping that lately stalked the southwestern territory of the country. This is evident in the inability of the police to bring the situation under control; therefore, the Amotekun is an alternative police, since the police have proved inefficient to meet public expectations,” Macaulay added. He advised the federal government to increase the police personnel, saying that most communities are underpoliced while modern weapons should be provided for them to make them efficient.

NDIC Liquidates 425 Financial Institutions in 30 Years Says depositors of 18 failed banks fully paid Ndubuisi Francis and James Emejo in Abuja The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has liquidated no fewer than 425 financial institutions in the last 30 years of operations, as at December 2019. NDIC, which was established by Act 22 of 1988 (now NDIC Act No 16 of 2006), commenced operations in 1989. A breakdown of the liquidated 425 institutions indicates that 51 were deposit money banks (DMBs), 325 microfinance banks (MFBs) and 51 primary mortgage banks (PMBs). The corporation, which was set up as a risk minimiser, also said it successfully paid all the depositors of 18 DMBs (both insured and uninsured) through efficient and diligent liquidation activities. The commission, however, noted that payment of depositors of Fortune International Bank, Triumph Bank and Peak Merchant Bank was suspended as at the end of 2019 due to a litigation challenging the revocation of their operating licences. The Assistant Director, Insurance and Surveillance Department of the NDIC, Mr. John Kayode Abiodun, gave the data in a presentation at the 2020 Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) forum in Abuja. He said: “Through efficient and diligent liquidation activities, the corporation has successfully paid in full the deposits of the customers of 18 DMBs, (both insured and uninsured) while payment to depositors of Fortune International Bank, Triumph Bank and Peak Merchant

Bank was put on hold as at end of 2019 due to litigation challenging the revocation of their operating licence. “The effectiveness of the NDIC’s efforts in failure resolution had been impaired by a number of constraints and challenges which included: delays in revocation of the licences of terminally distressed banks; depositor and creditor apathy and ignorance (delay in filing claims); recovery of debts owed the failed banks.” He identified the challenges facing the corporation as the “legal actions of owners of closed banks; protracted litigations; disposal of low quality physical assets of the closed banks and provision of timely liquidity support.” He said banks are legally empowered to debit accounts of indebted customers held in other banks to defray their liabilities. The CBN recently approved a framework allowing the banks to access accounts of indebted customers to offset their indebtedness. The initiative, which is made possible by the biometric verification number (BVN) technology, was aimed at addressing the persistent issues of non-performing loans occasioned by rising loan default as well as enable the banks to increase lending to boost the real sector. The financial institutions have been averse to advancing credit to the private sector, particularly those considered too risky, including agriculture and small businesses, citing their tendencies for defaulting on repayment plans. Continued on page 58

SIR, WELCOME TO EDO... Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left) and former President Goodluck Jonathan, during Jonathan's visit to the governor in Benin City....yesterday

Medical Consultants Begin Nationwide Strike Today Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has restated its resolve to begin a nationwide strike from today over the refusal of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to withdraw its circular demanding that clinical lecturers in medical schools must possess a PhD degree as a prerequisite for career progression. Addressing a press conference in Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday, the consultants who had given an ultimatum to NUC since January to withdraw the circular, said there was no going back on the strike, which will involve total withdrawal from teaching undergraduate medical students. It, however, added that it will continue to attend to patients in the hospitals. President of MDCAN, Professor Kenneth Ozoilo, said: “We are deeply appalled by the fact that the NUC, through no less a personality than its Executive Secretary (ES), would stoop so low as to resort to lies and outright falsehood to advance its vested position. Referring to a media publication in which NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, was quoted as saying that the circular never prescribed PhD as a requirement

for them (clinical lecturers) to teach in the colleges of medicine, Ozoilo said, “This is a distortion of the contents of the circular.” He added that the claim by the NUC executive secretary that the circular only said that PhD is desirable but not necessary for progression in medical education “is an outright lie.” Ozoilo said: ”Page 1 paragraph two line five of the NUC circular NUC/ES/138/ VOL.63/52 of December 24, 2019 explicitly stated that the PhD is for career progression, especially for those in the academia. The implication of this is that those who wish to lecture must acquire a PhD to be able to advance in the system where heretofore, they did not. “Again, in paragraph 9 of the publication, the ES is quoted as saying that if you are a consultant, you will continue to be promoted, but if you have a PhD, your promotion will be faster. This is disinformation designed to deceive the general public. In nowhere throughout the 13 paragraphs of the twopage document of the NUC is this stated or even faintly implied. “On the contrary, section iii (a) of the circular goes ahead to provide that for candidates with full fellowships of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), the West

African College of Physicians (WACP) or the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), the course work shall be waived. However, they shall be required to submit and defend a thesis for graduation in 24 months. If full fellows (including professors of medicine) require PhD, to what rank will they be promoted? “Also, for those not yet in the professorial cadre, none of the scenarios painted by the ES in paragraph 9 of the publication (to hasten promotion) is captured anywhere in the said circular. The ES is quoted as saying PhD is recommended but not compulsory. But the circular says PhD is for career progression: who is fooling who? “Obviously, this duplicity and insincerity on the part of the NUC is not new as it has underpinned the attitude with which they have related with us over the years concerning this matter. This is what has sadly made it impossible to make any meaningful progress on this issue and has led us to where we are on it today.” Ozoilo also lamented the display of pride by the commission in which it equated MDCAN to students. He said: “Equally tragic is the combative stance of the ES, who rather than seeking ways of reaching a reasonable resolution, prefers to carry on

in the manner of an overlord who is being irritated by lowly minions not worthy of his attention. “This explains the air of superiority on display and the choice of equating clinical lecturers (including professors of international repute) to students not worthy of consideration in decision making. Hopefully, this will help the discerning public understand why, two months into this imbroglio, the NUC has not deemed it fit to dignify any of our communications on this issue with a response, not to talk of any meaningful engagement.” Ozoilo explained that there was no basis for the comparison between fellowship and the PhD, adding that “it is an established fact that the curriculum content of the fellowship far outstrips that of the PhD.” According to him, “while the PhD is a predominantly academic pursuit, the fellowship is both academic and professional and as of today, is the minimum qualification required to practice as a specialist and to teach medicine.” He said while the union was not against its members acquiring PhDs, it objected to mass production and enforcement by fiat for its acquisition.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°Í˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

COMMENT

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

ISSUES IN DIASPORAVOTING

Diaspora voting has the potential of changing the leadership narrative in the country, argues Tony Ademiluyi

igerians in the diaspora constitute a sizeable chunk of the Nigerian population and a majority of them play more than an active role in the quest for good governance in the country. The ruinous economic policies of the military led many of them particularly the best and the brightest to flee the country in their quest for economic liberty. During the struggle for democracy, many members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) particularly those resident in the United Kingdom and United States fought the military junta of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and late Sani Abacha for the revalidation of the June 12 election adjudged as the freest in the nationâ€™s chequered electoral history and for the Khaki boys to go back to the barracks. Their population runs into millions and they contribute billions of dollars to the Nigerian economy on an annual basis. Many of them came back home after the military locust years to take part in the return to civil rule where their wealth of experience was brought to bear in the countryâ€™s governance. There has been a recent clamour by many of them there to vote for the candidates of their choice in forthcoming elections. They cite Senegal as an example of a country that has set the precedent in Africa and wonder why their dear country cannot follow suit. Their dream was short-lived when the Senate and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) threw spanner in the works of their long-held dream. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru was quoted in a national newspaper as saying, â€œThere are so many things that are involved in diaspora voting. It is not as if we are opposed to diaspora voting as a parliament but there are so many challenges and issues that have to be resolved first. First, we need to have accurate data of Nigerians that constitute diaspora. We need to know their population and who is qualified to be a Nigerian in diaspora.â€? Basiru noted that the local elections in the country are usually confronted with numerous challenges especially when few numbers of votes are needed to determine the winner of an election, particularly at the state levels. He said, â€œFor instance the Sokoto governorship election where the margin between the winner and the runner-up was very slim, who will be the beneficiary of the votes from the diaspora especially when the winner would be determined by the votes from the diaspora? We also have to determine who constitute the diaspora. Are they only Nigerians in Europe, America and Asia or are we also going to recognise Nigerians who are living in the African countries? There are speculations that the population of Nigerians in Sudan, Niger, and Chad alone are running into millions. We also have Nigerians residing in other African countries. So, will all those millions of Nigerians there be allowed to vote under the diaspora voting? â€œAnother issue to determine is that, is it only those who genuinely emigrate and legitimately living in those country that would be

WHY SHOULD THE SYSTEM ALLOW THE INFLOW OF FOREIGN CURRENCIES INTO THE COUNTRY BUT PREVENT THE SAME PEOPLE FROM EXERCISING FRANCHISE IN A COUNTRY THEY HOLD SO DEAR TO THEIR HEARTS?

regarded as diaspora? Are we talking about the documented and non -documented Nigerians that are living abroad? â€œNow, because of the nature of our elections, in which of the elections would the Nigerians in diaspora vote? For instance, we talk about the local government election. Will the diasporans vote in such elections? How are we going to determine the local government they are voting for? Will they also vote in the National and state assembly elections? How are we going to determine the constituency or the lawmakers they are voting for? Is there any machinery in place to determine that? The answer is No! â€œIn the governorship election, are they going to vote according to their state of origin? The fact is that we donâ€™t even have any arrangement or records in place to determine that, at least for now. So, it is not just enough to say we are legislating on diaspora voting but we have to find a way to address the serious issues that could hinder the process before coming up with any legislation that would give it a legal backing.â€? INEC also ruled that diaspora voting was unconstitutional and it wonâ€™t be feasible in 2023 as it was alien to Nigerian law. The problem of Nigeria since independence has been that of leadership. Diaspora voting has the potential of changing the leadership narrative in the country as majority of them wonâ€™t be easily swayed by bags of rice or sewing machines. Many of them have achieved a certain level of financial independence and will be at an advantage over majority of Nigerians resident in the country to be able to vote wisely. Let us cast our minds back to when Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory and Prof. Pat Utomi contested in 2003 and 2007 respectively. A sturdy vote from the diaspora may have upset the apple cart in their favour. Even the recent noble attempt by Omoyele Sowore to have emerged as the nationâ€™s president may have flown with diaspora voting. What is the red chamber afraid of? The same body blocked the attempt by some political activists to have independent candidacy. The nation is badly in need of a Lee Kuan Yew or Mahathir Mohammed kind of leadership and realistically speaking, only diaspora voting can guarantee that. This is a globalized age where curtains and barriers have been broken down through the power of the internet and it is scandalous for the Nigerian voter to be kept for hours in the scorching sun under the guise of voting for their preferred candidates. Electronic voting is the future and INEC should stop acting like the Luddites of the 19th century England who tried to stop the machines from operating during the industrial revolution as they feared that they may be made redundant if they allowed them to operate. Why should the system allow the inflow of foreign currencies into the country but prevent the same people from exercising franchise in a country they hold so dear to their hearts? Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos

HUNGER AND SENSE OF SECURITY Victor C. Ariole writes that hunger blinds the security sense of individuals

ven Pyrrhic victory leads to graveyard peace and the military knows that to a point that it acknowledges that community policing is the best approach to ensuring holistic internal security of Nigeria. The Chief of Army Staff said it that their constitutional role is to secure the sovereignty of Nigeria and that their intervention whence accomplished requires the police to take charge. However, the Nigerian situation like he said had entered into terrorism in perpetuity as other existential issues that ought to be tackled by good governance and anticipatory intelligence action had been neglected since the Maitasene uprising started in Kano. And as long as good governance that tackles the weak ideological bent of some people who are looking for territories, or a given part of the space, to express their belief is not contained, there will always be terrorism and it is even everywhere now in Nigeria, Lagos inclusive. General Ibrahim Babaginda says it smacks of weak intelligence gathering and lack of the presence of intelligence officers in the Nigerian security architecture. General Abdusalam supports that assertion. And the chief security adviser General Mungono wonders why a chief of staff could direct on security issues. What is a sovereign state when its citizens are deprived of the basic needs of livelihood out of wrong governance process as the Emir of Kano continues lamenting of poverty and illiteracy in the north. Every day over three million barrels of oil are pushed out of the bowel of Nigeria soil amounting to

over $150 million notwithstanding lack of intelligence intervention that allows over three million barrels to escape accountability within the shores of Gulf of Guinea. Nigeriaâ€™s gold and diamond and precious stones are sold outside the shores with connivance of the elite that partakes in the governance and no plausible intelligence to stop it or allow the yield to benefit the entire populace where over 100 million live below poverty line. Known fact is that customs could make over N1trillion a day if the sea ports are allowed to thrive or put in proper use. In effect, if well managed, every Nigerian is not supposed to have below $1.50 in his pocket thereby reducing the poverty level; and it is by allowing them find their level in the economic value chain such ports activities enable. Within Lagos that habours about 10% of Nigerian population, the current restriction or ban on Okada and tricycle had shown that hunger blinds the security sense of individuals. And hunger could be the greed of the elite for more acquisition, or the absence of food for the poor. How can the rich sleep well when money given to them to provide infrastructure to allow people to work is embezzled; or used to buy luxury items? Suddenly, you see private vehicles showing up for transportation as if they were parked somewhere waiting to create a condition to allow them come out for business. From Unilag gate to Unilag junction the fare is now N200 from the normal N50 or N100 Okada ride. From Obalende to Adeola Odeku the same, as new private vehicles take over the road.

The ladies who were helping themselves out of formerly regulated and organized power-bike ride are now seen mostly at the night clubs and the stripe dancing corners. A friend stopped at Obalende Bridge as a lady waved and I told him it was dangerous. What was the lady asking for; money to buy fuel. Just visit the environs of Victoria Island and you notice how hunger can force many people to ignore night marauding risks. Even the former Okada or tricycle riders are turning to street traders as you move in traffic around the Bonny Camp area. Like the expected attitude, one of them gave a bus driver a N50 bottled water and he was told to meet the conductor to take his money, a language not understood and he threatened with a knife. The understood language is: ride on my Okada even if I do not know where you are going, and at the end tender the money that has the colour I know, gaskiya, no too much talk. So, the water seller wants money handed to him with no talk. At a given hotel not quite known by name, new survival process was being worked out for them by the same exploiters Lamido worries about. For sure, new activities are to be introduced even if it means security-prone ones. Some â€œagberosâ€? are now claiming to be â€œmarkersâ€? for the operators of new private vehicles seen plying the Eko hotel bus stop to anywhere in the axis to new market or elsewhere, and you must give them money. And they could develop to something else if intelligence is lacking in knowing how to handle the explosive illiteracy and unskilled humans on the prowl in Lagos. Ndume, on the floor of the Senate, once

said that the only way he could help the constituency he represents is to purchase Okada for them and send them to thriving towns to eke out a living with no cultural grounding or orientation for them. It is done without knowing that some of them are either Chadians, Nigerians or Sudanese as one returnee from Yemen just mentioned in a bus we boarded from Obalende to Eko Hotel, as he the raised alarm when a supposed pregnant woman with veil from face to toe came in and protested that he would come down if the woman was allowed to board the bus. Hunger is going to drive many people to behave like people behave in Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic if the governance process in Africa continues to be rudderless and tends more reactive instead of proactive risk governance. Like the chief of Army Staff said, people are being paid to fight and grab territory for some people who veil such insurrection in an ideological shade. It happened in Sudan, it is still happening there; it happened in Central African Republic and it is still happening there. Cameroon just ignored them and allowed Nigeria to waste its resources on the territory it just ignored, and as the Chief of Army Staff said, instead of being there with Nigerian soldiers on the Joint Defense Mission, the Cameroonians and Chadians preferred being on Nigeriaâ€™s territory and allow Nigerian soldiers waste in Cameroon or Chad. He has to stop that joint efforts on that basis; and one is not seeing that ab initio intelligence was lacking. Ariole is Professor of French and Francophone Studies University of Lagos

T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020

EDITORIAL ENDEMIC POVERTY IN THE NORTH The north should invest massively in education

or the umpteenth time, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, stirred the hornet’s nest last week while speaking on the endemic poverty and loss of family values that have become prevalent in the North. Against the background that the root of the festering Almajiri system is the production of many children without commensurate economic power to take care of them, the emir called for the arrest of individuals who bring forth children that end up on the streets. But the emir also spoke to the leadership failure that has made the problem to fester. Sanusi’s warning came following a recent report titled, ‘Advancing Social Protection in a Dynamic Nigeria,’ by the World Bank which painted a gory picture of abject poverty ravaging the North. Based on a study on poverty index in Nigeria from 2011 to 2016, the World Bank reported that poverty in the North has continued to escalate, accounting for 87 per cent THE ECONOMIC WOES ARE of the entire poverty LARGELY A CONSEQUENCE rate in Nigeria. “We have been saying OF FAILURE TO this for 20 to 30 SUBSTANTIALLY years. If the North DEVELOP THE HUMAN does not change, the CAPACITY TO COPE North will destroy WITH CONTEMPORARY itself. The country CHALLENGES is moving on. The quota system that everybody talks about must have a sunset clause,” Sanusi said in Kaduna while advocating a massive investment in education by the northern governors. Almost a year ago at the 4th edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment summit, Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote echoed similar sentiment on the frightening scope of poverty in the region. “It is instructive to know that the 19 northern states, which account for over 54 per cent of the country’s population and 70 per cent of its landmass, collectively

generated only 21 per cent of the total sub-national internally generated revenue in 2017. Northern Nigeria will continue to fall behind if the respective state governments do not move to close this development gap,” Dangote said.

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

hat the north requires multi-level backing from the private sector to fund the requisite investments to create jobs and eradicate poverty is not in doubt. But it is also true that the economic woes are largely a consequence of failure to substantially develop the human capacity to cope with contemporary challenges. It is alarming, for instance, that the north is lagging behind in the area of literacy as the region accounts for the country’s largest number of out-of-school children. Without education, these children end up constituting a burden to the society as they are easily inﬂuenced and goaded into crimes. We are already reaping the consequence in the insurgency in the north-east that has crippled social- economic activities in the zone and left it poorer. Thousands of lives have also been lost to the crisis which has resulted in the displacement of many communities and millions of our people, who are now sheltered in Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps that dot many parts of the north. Therefore, we advocate aggressive infrastructure development in the North. Schools in large numbers, from elementary to tertiary levels should be built and funded. Incentives that will motivate children to attend schools and stay in schools should also be provided. Cottage industries and small scale businesses should be encouraged as these will go a long way in reducing poverty. However, there can be no sustainable solution if there are no deliberate moves to address irresponsible procreation. A situation where the number of wives and children a person has is seen as an expression of pride as demonstrated by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Doguwa, recently, will only continue to fuel poverty.

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SECURITY CHIEFS AND NATIONAL SECURITY

igeria’s worse kept secret over the past four years is that the security chiefs have been factionalised, fractionised and different sections therein have been tied to feuding groups seeking dominance within the Buhari administration. I recall being at the security summit organised by the Eighth Senate when the former head of the Department for State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura lamented that it would be difficult to improve national security as long as feuding continues to define the relationship between the security chiefs, some of whom were not even on talking terms. In other words, throughout the life of the Buhari administration, there has been no cohesion in the security team and that has been a factor in making it difficult to address the numerous security challenges facing the country. I suspect that at the root of the crisis is the lack of a clear hierarchy between the security chiefs. At the top, the commander-in-chief is in charge. Below him, I wonder what the roles of the national security adviser, minister of defence, chief of defence staff and chief of army staff are in terms of the pecking order. It’s a complicated situation, as the chief of army staff, for example, should be the lowest on the above list but is he so in practice? After all he is the principal actor fighting the war. How does he relate to the other service chiefs? I will avoid going into the rumours circulating but suffice it to say the question of hierarchy and the chain of command is important in building cohesion. Under the Jonathan administration, there was a clear power centre through which the commander-in-chief was issuing

orders and passing on resources. It was Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the then national security adviser, who it turned out, was also the nerve centre of corruption in that administration, as we were to find out when he was charged to court in 2015. Maybe the president grew a dislike of the office because his own NSA, Major General Babagana Mungono, does not appear to outsiders like me to have the vast powers associated with Colonel Dasuki. In fact, he appears to be quite marginal and isolated in the scheme of things and is seldom seen hovering around the president. It will be recalled that in 2016, General Monguno was locked in a fierce rift with Lawal Daura, the former directorgeneral of DSS. Technically, Lawal Daura was a subordinate to Monguno, in his capacity as the overall coordinator of national security, yet for several years, the duo rarely interacted with one another. The battle lasted until Mr. Daura was dismissed from office in August 2018, sources said. It was clear that, at that time, the powerful one in the first phase of the administration was indeed Lawal Daura, until he crossed a red line and lost the job. As nature abhors a vacuum, someone had to step in to provide leadership. It was at this level that the bombshell emerged this week that the power centre had moved from the NSA to the DG of DSS and finally to the civilian chief of staff to the president, Abba Kyari. Moving forward, the commander-in-chief needs to stop the drift into chaos. First, he needs to urgently address the matter of hierarchy, chain of command and reporting/pecking order within the security sector. His security chiefs must work in harmony and synergy. Felix Oladeji, Lagos

CHILDREN SHOULD NOT SUFFER

ver the last week, one of the biggest stories in the local newspapers has concerned a private catholic boys school, St. Kevins. The articles relate to the school’s management, its culture and past actions seemingly being ignored. Since a TV report on this last Monday, a number of staff are no longer on staff. There is no suggestion of criminal activity however in the resignation of the headmaster, the deputy principal standing aside and with the director of studies, the dean of sports and another teacher having their employment ‘concluded’. There are two interrelated matters that have occurred in what could be seen as a toxic cultural environment. The first is a group of the boys, on public transport, have been filmed singing a misogynistic, degrading chant showing their attitude to women and yet surely most of them would have mothers, sisters and maybe girlfriends. This type of behaviour suggests a poisoned culture that must be condemned by the school.

The second was a historical event of child abuser, a volunteer coach now convicted, for which the headmaster wrote a positive report which was presented at a court hearing. At this stage the coach had been caught out, so it is not the right thing to support them. The two matters are unforgivable and suggest that there are concerns with the culture of the college. It is not always possible to spot the child abusers as about 40 years ago I taught with a brother from this religious organisation and I never noticed any concerns. Similar stories occur far too frequently and should serve as a warning of how toxic some male cultures can be. The #metoo movement has brought many individual cases of abusive males into the light. This school’s story has shown how groups, often of males, can also be so abusive. We need to bring such matters into the light, stop the abuse and destroy the cultures that allow these things to occur. Remember that children are our future. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY Ë¾ MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

M O N D AY D I S C O U R S E

Heading for an Anticlimax Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Adedayo Akinwale write that the exciting series of events following the 2019 Imo State governorship election may be heading for an end that will disappoint a critical mass

Muhammad

Yakubu

Uzodinma

Ihedioha

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T H I S D AY ˾ MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020

MONDAY DISCOURSE

Dodo

Advocates Initiative from taking a position on the verdict of Supreme Court on the 2019 Imo State governorship election. They posit that the apex court’s judgement was one-sided. The groups said neither Ihedioha nor Uzodinma met the requirement of Section 179 (2), which stipulates that the winner in a governorship contest must have the highest number of valid votes and should also have a spread of 25 percent of the votes in two-third of the local governments in a state. “From available facts, whereas 25 percent of votes in 18 LGAs is the minimum requirement to emerge as governor in Imo state,” said Liborous Oshoma, the Publicity Secretary of Youth Arise for Nigeria, “Emeka Ihedioha only secured 25 percent in 14 LGAs and ought not to have been returned in the first place. Shockingly, Senator Hope Uzodinma who secured 25 percent in two local government areas was declared by the Supreme Court as a governor on the basis of simple majority controversial votes from 388 units without consideration of the constitutional requirements of spread, despite the concurrent findings of both Tribunal and Appeal Court.” He added that, “Neither the APC nor the PDP candidate met these constitutional requirements. We are expecting that the Supreme Court will order the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct another election for the two main candidates to the governorship seat in the state.” Ihedioha’s request to the Supreme Court to review its own judgement first came on February 18, 2020 but was adjourned to March 2 because his lawyer, Mr. Kanu Agabi, filed an application stating that he needs a little time to file some processes before the court. Lawyers to Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not oppose the application. The seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, after listening to all the parties, adjourned the hearing to March 2, 2020. Much of disagreements that arise from political gladiators and end up in the courts arise from liberty taken by the leadership of political parties to subvert their own constitution; especially during the processes in choosing candidates to represent the party in various elections. Though, INEC has a duty to monitor these processes in the political parties, and may be culpable in the ensuing debacle that attends the electoral process, the political parties take the major blame for refusing to abide by the rules, even those set by itself. These political parties find it difficult to follow their party’s constitution in the conduct of party primaries. The politicians also conduct themselves in the most unbecoming

Agabi

manner, appearing to have sworn to a secret oath never to be on the same page with the principle of free, fair, transparent and credible elections. They have made election a do-or-die affair and in most cases they have the guns and political thugs to thank for their electoral victories. Prior to the 2019 elections, INEC was dragged to court over 800 times, because political parties refused to observe their constitution during the conduct of primaries. This implies that the electoral umpire was involved in over 809 cases on pre-election matters and 807 cases on post-election litigations. Amongst the post-election cases, especially the governorship elections that had been decided by the Supreme court included, Osun, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Imo and of recent Bayelsa states, among others. While the Supreme Court had been praised to high heaven in some of its decisions, it has equally received knocks on others too. If the judgement of the Supreme court on Osun and Kano governorship elections were referred to as miscarriage of justice, its recent judgement on Imo would go down as one of the most controversial in history. The Supreme Court had on January 14, 2020 removed Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Imo State governor and installed Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his replacement. A seven-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, had in its January 14, 2020 judgement removed Iheodioha as the Governor of Imo State and declared Uzodinma as the winner of the last governorship election in the state. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the lead judgment upheld Uzodinma’s appeal ruling that the votes polled in 388 out of the 3,523 polling units were

Oshoma

excluded in the final results declared by INEC in the state. The Supreme Court held that Uzodinma emerged winner of the election after the addition of the excluded votes. The judgement largely a shock to many and led to pockets of protest by the main opposition party in Imo, Taraba, Abia and Ogun states. The party did not stop at that, as its leadership took it further by making their grievances known to the United Nations and embassies of the European Union and France in Abuja. The leadership of the party alleged regression of democracy under the government of the APC, adding that critical democratic institutions like INEC, National Assembly and Judiciary have been compromised. After registering their displeasure through the protest, the party and Ihedioha filed an application seeking the reversal of the judgement. The Supreme Court therefore fixed March 2, 2020 for the hearing of the application filed by Ihedioha seeking the reversal of the judgement which removed him as Imo governor. A lawyer in Ihedioha’s legal team, Mr. Edidiong Usungurua, confirmed that parties to the case had been served with the notice for the hearing. But there are indications that the scheduled proceedings may not proceed to the substantive hearing on Tuesday, due to the fact that the respondents to the application had yet to file their replies to the application. The respondents are Uzodinma, APC and INEC. A Supreme Court official who preferred anonymity said that, “even if the respondents file and serve their replies on Monday, the applicants - Ihedioha and his party, PDP, may still ask for time to which they are entitled to file their responses to the replies of the respondents. So, there is likely to be further adjournment of the case before the application can be finally heard.”

Another dimension to these debates was introduced by some advocacy groups like Movement for the Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria, Cadrell Advocacy Centre, Youth Arise for Nigeria and Constitutional Rights Advocates Initiative from taking a position on the verdict of Supreme Court on the 2019 Imo State governorship election. They posit that the apex court’s judgement was one-sided. The groups said neither Ihedioha nor Uzodinma met the requirement of Section 179 (2), which stipulates that the winner in a governorship contest must have the highest number of valid votes and should also have a spread of 25 percent of the votes in two-third of the local governments in a state

Nevertheless, Ihedioha, through his lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), a former Attorney-General of the Federation, had on February 5, 2020 filed an application before the court seeking “an order setting aside as a nullity the judgment delivered by this Honourable Court on the 14th of January 2020 in Appeal No. SC.1462/2019 and Cross Appeal No. SC.1470/2019.” Ihedioha’s application anchors on Section 6 (6) of Nigerian Constitution and Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act 2004, that the judgment was obtained by fraud or deceit, adding that the apex court was misled to give the judgment. He and his party alleged that Uzodinma and his party fraudulently misled the apex court into holding that 213,495 votes were unlawfully excluded from the votes they scored in the governorship election held on March 9, 2019. Ihedioha argued that Uzodinma admitted under cross-examination that he was the person, and not INEC, who computed the result that gave him the 213,495 votes alleged to have been excluded from his total votes in the election. He said: “The fraudulent nature of the additional votes was demonstrated by the fact that the total votes cast as shown in the first appellant/respondent’s computation was more than the total number of voters accredited for the election and in some polling units more than the total number of registered voters. “The fraud was also demonstrated by the fact that the result computed by the first appellant/respondent showed only the votes of the first applicant and the first appellant/respondent without specifying the votes scored by the other 68 candidates who participated in the election.” Ihedioha and his party also claimed that the judgment sought to set aside is a nullity in that it was delivered without jurisdiction. They claimed further that having regard to Section 140 (2) of the Electoral Act as amended, the appellants/ respondents divested the court of the relevant jurisdiction to declare the first appellant/respondent as the winner of the election by branding or stigmatizing the entire election as invalid. The PDP and Ihedioha also argued that the judgment sought to be set aside is a nullity in that it was given per incuriam. They said by Exhibit A1, the total number of voters accredited for the election was 823, 743 while the total valid votes cast was 731, 485. The inclusion of 213, 695 votes for the first appellant/respondent, they argued, made the total number of votes cast at the election to be more than the total number of votes accredited for the election. The applicants also, among other grounds, argued that the judgment of the Court of Appeal dismissing Uzodinma’s petition as incompetent continues to subsist as the appeal against that decision was not considered by the apex court.

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FEATURES

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

Resurgence of Boko Haram Attacks in North-east Chiemelie Ezeobi, Sunday Ehigiator, Ayodeji Ake and Chiamaka Ozulumba write that the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the North-east, which has claimed hundreds of civilians and soldiers, undermine repeated claims by the military that the group has been decimated

Relics of one of the attacks

Vehicles burnt by Boko Haram in Borno state where they recently killed 30 persons

Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum during his visit to the scene were Boko Haram burnt 30 people to death in their cars while sleeping

Corps (NYSC) member, Abraham Amuta, who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents. Recently, he reportedly rejected an offer to be freed by the terrorists, claiming he has now embraced Islam and Boko Haram ideology as his new religion.

around 8:30pm before launching their attack. On August 15, three Nigerian soldiers were killed and others injured during a gun battle with insurgents in Molai Village on the outskirts of Borno. It took the intervention of the air force fighter jets to repel the terrorists.

June On June 12, the sect attacked Kareto Village in Borno, where they killed a commanding officer, and other soldiers of the 158 Battalion. Shortly after the attacks, the terrorists relocated to Fuchimiram Village, six kilometres West of Kare. On June 16, at least 30 persons were killed and 42 injured in multiple explosions in Borno after three suicide bombers, one male and two female, detonated explosives at a local tea shop and a Cinema centre in Konduga, where football fans were watching a match on TV, at around 9pm.

September On September 8, five local farmers were shot dead while working on their farm at Shamawa Village in Konduga LGA. On September 15, Boko Haram fighters staged gun and suicide bomb attacks on a military camp outside the perimeter wall of the University of Maiduguri. When the sect staged an attack on the soldiers, they were repelled, forcing one to detonate his suicide vest.

n the past months, specifically from April 2019, there has been a consistent resurgence and escalation of Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) attacks in the North-east (NE). Already, the renewed onslaught by BHT has claimed hundreds of lives, especially that of soldiers, who are often the first buffer in the line of attack. It is therefore no gainsaying that the intensified and repeated attacks in recent times undermine the repeated claims by the military that the sect had been decimated. For years, and even in recent times, with the numerous successes they recorded, the military has maintained that the rampaging sect has been contained, but the recent resurgence has put paid to those claims. Although Boko Haram no longer controls swathes of territory in the NE as it did in the height of insurgency in 2014, the recent attacks underscores the continued threat the sect poses to the region. Globally, the threat posed by terrorism cannot be understated. Accordingly, nations have evolved various approaches to tackle the menace with mixed results depending on the country and nature of the threat. Nigeria has not been an exception when the rise of the sect assumed international notoriety in 2009. Regrouping Boko Haram Forces World over, the military and security forces battle one major challenge: regrouping terror forces. Although Nigeria continues to suffer the same fate in its fight against the BHTs, there is no doubt that the military

has considerably recorded some successes by reclaiming lost grounds, pushing them back into the arid desert and sometimes, even crippling their sources of weaponry. But despite these measures, the terrorists keep inventing new strategies to stay afloat. While they have been sacked from the caliphates they had arrogated to themselves, they still unleash pockets of violence in some areas, especially through suicide bombing, and most recently, the resurgence and attacks in Borno State. According to security analysts, the insurgents are pulling off almost-daily attacks. As if that was not enough, they cut off power from the national grid. Failed Promise Nigeriaâ€™s war against the extremist group is supposed to be over by now if one was to have believed the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was contesting for presidency in 2015. Done with his first term and a year into his second term, Boko Haram still roars. It so appears that they posses even more sophisticated drones, with their armoury well stocked. Chronology of Attacks from April 2019 to February 2020 Since the commencement of hostilities, the casualty figures have expectedly been high. Here are some of the attacks and its resultant consequences. April In April, a former National Youth Service

July On July 28, dozens of mourners were killed by BokoHaram at a funeral in Borno. The gunmen reportedly arrived on motorcycles and in vans and opened fire on the mourners. The attack was said to be a reprisal of the death of 11 members of their sect. August On August 6, two female suicide bombers killed three civilians and wounded eight others in Mafa, about 30 miles east of Maiduguri. The suicide bombers entered the town with a group of local women who had gone to fetch firewood for cooking, they waited until

October On October 14, the sect again launched an attack on Babban Gida, the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Council in Yobe State. Dressed in army camouflage, they stormed the council in nine Toyota Hilux and first attacked a military formation shooting repeatedly before proceeding to break some food stores. November On November 18, Jihadists killed four Nigerian soldiers and a member of a local self-defence group in an ambush outside the town of Marte in the Lake Chad region. Although the Nigerian army said its forces thwarted an ambush by jihadists close to Marte, but they did not give any death toll.

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FEATURES

Emergency workers and sympathisers after a bomb blast tore through the city

Mourners attacked by Boko Haram during a funeral ceremony in Borno State

Soldiers who foiled a suicide bombing attempt December On Saturday, December 15, Boko Haram gunned down 19 cattle herders outside Fuhe Village, near Ngala close to the border with Cameroon. The herders had earlier repelled an attack by Boko Haram fighters who invaded the village to steal livestock, killing one of the militants. Giving chase again, this time around, the herders were overwhelmed and subdued by the sect. January On January 8, 2020, at least 15 people were killed when the sect launched an attack on Magumeri Town in Borno. They stormed the town in 11 vehicles and killed eight local militia members, six residents, and a security officer. The gunmen had hit the town with anti-aircraft guns and various caliber of arms. Also on January 8, no fewer than three soldiers were killed in an intense fighting between the army and the sect around a key garrison town in the Lake Chad area. The soldiers died when an army vehicle burst into flames after a car filled with explosives rammed into a convoy. A patrol team was attacked near Monguno, but the patrol was quickly reinforced and the attack was repelled. Though there were fewer casualties on the Nigerian troops through vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), many Boko Haram Terrorists were however eliminated during the encounter. On January 21, Boko Haram cut off Maiduguri from Nigeria's national power grid. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), confirmed in a statement that the insurgents had damaged the electricity equipment serving the state capital and its environs. On January 31, a girl detonated a bomb, killing three boys at an Islamic seminary in Muna Dalti, on the outskirts of Maiduguri. The teenage suicide bomber walked up to the group of boys who were just ending their lessons and â€œblew herself up in their midst. Four others were injured. Moments earlier, another young girl stormed into a house in the area and detonated her explosives, injuring one person and destroyed the house totally.

February On Sunday, February 2, a major tragedy was averted at the Sabon Tasha branch of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) in Kaduna as a middle-aged man was caught with what is suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device. The incident coincided with the day General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, led members on a prayer walk to decry insecurity in the country. On Sunday, February 9, not less than 30 people were killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in a night attack on Auno village on Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway. The villagers while narrating their ordeal, said many other residents were abducted in the siege. Also, 18 vehicles comprising trailers, buses and cars were burnt by the insurgents. The burnt persons were those that could not get into Maiduguri as the gate to the town was shut against them having failed to arrive before the 5pm deadline. That incident raised a lot of hullabaloo and rightfully so. On February 12, hundreds of residents of Jiddari Polo in Maiduguri metropolis fled their homes into the city following sporadic shootings suspected to have been masterminded by Boko Haram sect. The incident came barely few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari visited the state for sympathy visit. On Friday, February 14, Korongilum community in Chibok LGA of Borno was attacked by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. Locals were just returning from their farms when the attack happened. On Friday, February 21, soldiers engaged in a fierce gun battle with the sect who invaded Garkida, a town in Gombi LGA of Adamawa State. Many persons, according to the reports, were feared killed by the invaders who announced their entry into the town by shooting indiscriminately. Armyâ€™s Take Maintaining his stance that the sect has been degraded, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, speaking in a recent interview with THISDAY and Arise News TV, said the military has defeated insurgency in the North-east, but is now facing the challenge of terrorism. He said even though insurgency had been

defeated, terrorism would remain in the country for years. â€œWe must differentiate between insurgency and terrorism. I have tried to tell them at the National Assembly. Someone said three local governments are under Boko Haram. How? These guys are not controlling any territory. They attempted to establish their territory, caliphate in Gwoza but they have not been able to because they were flushed out. That is insurgency. They are not holding any territory. â€œTypically, that is the end if insurgency. But what of terrorism? Terrorism will outlive you and me and probably everybody in this house because terrorism, since it started, just like armed robbery, like kidnapping, burglary, cultism, it would continue. These are all smaller parts of terrorism. It is when it goes higher that you have arsons. â€œWhat is happening now is just criminality. Since last year, we have not given them any respite. They are now blocked. They no longer have access to food; their movements are constrained; they no longer get the fuel they needed easily because we have strangulated them. They are now in depressed state; so, they go out with vengeance to attack commuters, abduct individuals and target certain religious persons just for their propaganda. This is also is one of the Boko Haram terroristâ€™s strategy â€“ propaganda.â€? Call for Sack of Service Chiefs On January 29, 2020, general security lapses in the country forced some senators to call for the sack of service chiefs and the resignation of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Adamu. In a rowdy session, the lawmakers who made the demand for the sack of service chiefs in their respective contributions to the discussion on the security situation in the country during plenary, were Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, as well as Senators Musa Sani, Betty Apiafi, and Solomon Adeola. While Sani called for the resignation of the police boss, Apiafi and Adeola asked the president to remove the service chiefs. According to the lawmakers, the service chiefs should be replaced since they do not have new ideas in fighting insecurity in the country. That was just one of the many calls for their sack. Across board, security experts, civil

society organisations and even Nigerians have all echoed the call for their sack, especially in the wake of the resurgence. Presidency's Response Given the clamour for the sack of service chiefs, on February 15, the presidency cautioned against comments misleading the public and inciting protests against the heads of military institutions. The Presidentâ€™s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who gave this warning, said it became necessary in view of the reported plan to hire crowd to demonstrate against the service chiefs. Shehu, who urged the media to remain unbiased and discerning in their reporting, instead of becoming unwitting tools in the hands of the opposition. Further rejecting the call for sack of the service chiefs, the presidency on another occasion insisted that the armed forces are doing a great job deserving the support and appreciation of all Nigerians. Speaking on the NTA network â€˜Good Morning Nigeriaâ€™, Shehu also re-echoed the earlier stand that the crisis in Libya is responsible for the resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the North-east. He said those calling for their sack do not have the kind of information at the disposal of the president, adding that the armed forces are doing an enormously good job, but the challenges have mounted because of factors extraneous to the region. He said: â€œEuropeans for their competing interests in Libya were dropping weapons into villages in Libya. A lot of these elements have found their way into ungoverned spaces in the Sahel. Could it be better with the sacking of the service chiefs? â€œThe president as the commander-in-chief is not a novice in the first instance. He was a military commander, a military head of state and the latitude of opinions intellectual, security, military available to him is not available to most of the critics. So, it is wrong of them to interlope in a way and begin to speak on matters of which they do not have the competence to pass judgement. I hope I donâ€™t seem arrogant but I am stating facts as they are.â€? While the military must be given accolades for the successes they have recorded so far, new strategies must be mapped out in this revolving menace of insurgency.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

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Quick Takes â€˜Wâ€™ Initiative Launches Campaign

LEADERSHIP CHANGE

L-R: Registrar, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR), Dr. David Walker Ogogo; new President /Chairman of the Council, Mr. Seyi Owoturo; Ag. Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Uduk, and immediate Past President, ICMR Mr. Bayo Olugbemi at the inauguration of the new governing council, investiture of fellows and induction of associates of institute, held in Lagosâ€Śrecently SUNDAYADIGUN

Lawmakers Move to Investigate Flight Diversions Chinedu Eze The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has summoned aviation agencies over the recent diversion of Lagos bound foreign flights to neighbouring West African countries. The Committee, which is headed by headed by Hon. Nnolim Nnaji of Nkanu East/ West Constituency of Enugu State, is to investigate the development which it described as embarrassing to the image of the country within four weeks. THISDAY gathered that the directive of the House was sequel to the adoption of the motion on the, â€œUrgent Need To Complete The Installation and Upgrade

AVIATION of Landing Equipment at the Nationâ€™s Airport to Enhance Safety in Our Airspace,â€? brought by Hon. Wale Raji of the Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos State. The agencies which include the Nigerian Airspace management Agency, (NAMA), responsible for the provision and maintenance of major navigational aids across the country, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) that ensures that the runways and the landing lights are up to standards at all times and, of course the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) which regulates all the agencies as well as every other service

provider, including the airlines in the sector, are to appear before the committee on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. The Committee recently summoned the agencies on the same issue when the British Airways diverted its Lagos bound flight to Accra, Ghana, to explain the reasons for such development which the agencies claimed had to do with the airlineâ€™s standard operating procedure, (SOP). At the meeting with aviation agencies, the Managing Directors of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), Captain Fola AKinkotu and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigerian, (FAAN) Captain Rabiu Yadudu, had told the committee that the weather was not such bad that

could warrant British Airwaysâ€™ pilot to divert to Ghana, adding that several other foreign flights landed in Lagos at the same time the pilot chose to divert to Accra. Akinkotu had further assured that NAMA was making efforts to calibrate the category three instrument landing system, (ILS) recently installed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA) to enable pilots land at near zero visibility. The House, consequent upon the motion also mandated the committee to collaborate with the agencies and the various stakeholders in the aviation industry to ensure that all the Continued on page 24

Opeke: Digital Transformation Will Enhance Nigeriaâ€™s Growth Emma Okonji The CEO of MainOne Broadband Company and Chairperson of the 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan Committee, Ms. Funke Opeke, has stressed the need for more investments in Nigeriaâ€™s digital transformation drive in order to boost the countryâ€™s economic growth. She cited the federal governmentâ€™s target of connecting 70 per cent of Nigerians to broadband services by 2025, through the five-year National Broadband Plan (NBP) initiative, Opeke, who made the call in her opening remarks at the 5th edition of Nerds Unite 2020,

ECONOMY an annual event organised by MainOne for tech professionals, held in Lagos at the weekend, said in the last 10 years, MainOneâ€™s investments in digital transformation have changed the way businesses were managed in Nigeria and beyond. â€œWith more investments in digital transformation, contents will be available everywhere and the search for talents will not be limited to few cities in Nigeria. â€œMore government services will be online and contents will increasingly be available in local languages. More Nigerians will be online and Nigeria will be a big player in online transactions

and communications. â€œThrough content development, new jobs will be created to drive the Nigeriaâ€™s digital economy, and we can achieve these with 4G broadband access,â€? Opeke said. According to her, MainOne in 2015, launched the MDX-i data services in Nigeria, â€œand that was the tip of the iceberg about investments in digital transformation in Nigeria, because in the near future, Nigeria is expected to have several data centres spread across the country to meet the high demand for data centre services in the country.â€? â€œWith investments in digital transformation, the future is already here with us and MainOne is preparing its customers to take advantage of the digital

transformation and leverage the new technology that MainOne is offering. â€œToday, MainOne has launched its cloud services to further prepare customers for the digital transformation. The cloud services will help customers reduce cost by eliminating the purchase of certain hardware that could support their business, when they plug into MainOneâ€™s cloud service offerings.â€? The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, who represented the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami at the event, said: â€œThe

Access Bank Plcâ€™s â€˜Wâ€™ initiative has launched a new television advertisement to create awareness on the loan product specially designed for its women owned businesses. The campaign encapsulates the vision of the bank to empower women from all walks of life by encouraging them to take advantage of the W power loan to grow and sustain their businesses. â€œThecampaignwhichhasbeenunveiledondigitalplatformsandbroadcast onTVin a series of high-proďŹ le commercials, features two lead characters: â€˜LadyWplayed by renowned singer Aituaje (Waje) Iruobe andToluTplayed by actress and On-Air personality, Omotunde (Lolo1) Adebowale. â€œBoth ladies seem to be at opposite ends of a string as Waje, the gogetterwhojumpedattheWpowerloan,seizedtheopportunityprovidedby Access Bank to grow her business quickly but Lolo1 kept procrastinating,â€? a statement from the bank explained. On her part, the â€˜Wâ€™ Initiative Coordinator, Access Bank, Mrs. Ayona Trimnell said: â€œWe are letting the world know that we are committed to giving women access to ďŹ nance. â€œA number of ďŹ nancial institutions talk the talk- there are a number of programmes out there but actually providing the funds is challenging and froth with many obstacles. With high interest rates, other barriers to entry, so many women businesses cannot thrive. â€œIn a country where almost 50 per cent of entrepreneurs are women, we cannot aďŹ€ord to sweep this huge opportunity under the carpet. This TVAd clearly shows Access bank is putting a stake on the ground and we are committed to ensuring that women have access to ďŹ nance.â€? The â€˜Wâ€™ Power loan TV Ad campaign also showcases the beneďŹ ts attributed to being a member of the â€˜Wâ€™ community.These beneďŹ ts include a number of capacity building initiatives and networking opportunities.

Ecobank Hosts Regional Trade Forum

Ecobank Nigeria is to hold its 2020 regional trade forum in Lagos. The forum taking place in March, will be a two-day event, providing the opportunity for exporters and importers within Africa to exhibit their products in a marketplace scenario with panel discussions by highly experienced and diversiďŹ ed stakeholders and leaders of thought in the industry. AnnouncingtheTradeForuminLagosovertheweekend,theHead Trade Finance of Ecobank Nigeria Mr. Sunday Abah, said Ecobank would use the forum to unveil its comprehensive trade solutions to its existing and prospective customers, by sharing the various payment methods available to facilitate cross border trade throughout its network across Africa. According to him, Ecobank recognises the role of exporters and importers in driving economies through trade. â€œBy creating a networking forumforimportersandexportersviathetradeexhibitionslatedfortheďŹ rst day of the forum, the bank extends support to stakeholders in export and import businesses. â€œEcobankâ€™s trade products and solutions are designed around two broad areas:Trade ďŹ nance which enables customers beneďŹ t from adequate and well mitigated credit facilitation in the area of Import ďŹ nance, export ďŹ nance, bill discounting, trade loans, distributor ďŹ nance, structured trade and commodity ďŹ nance amongst others. â€œAlso we do Trade Services, which gives our customers the advantage of speedy turnaround time and error free processing of Import Letters of Credit, Import collections, Customs bonds, Export collections and regional trade services amongst others,â€? he noted.

Firm Holds Summit on Advertising

As part of eďŹ€orts to accelerate growth in Nigeriaâ€™s marketing communications industry and propel all-round relevance of the industry, the management of 789 Marketing, an online marketing communications portal,hasconcludedarrangementtoorganiseanindustryeveningsummit with the theme: â€œAdvertising and the Power of the Nigerian Story.â€? TheeventwillholdďŹ rstweekinMarchinLagos.TheChiefPressSecretary to Lagos State Governor, Gboyega Akosile, will be the special guest of honour at the occasion.The lead paper for the evening would be presented by the Chief Creative OďŹƒcer, Noahâ€™s Ark Limited, Mr. Lanre Adisa, while the CEO, Frutta Juice and Services, Onyekachi Onubogu; Group Head, Communications and External AďŹ€airs, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi; and Vice President, CSR and Communications, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, among others, would discuss the paper.

â€œWe will not move forward if we cannot pay the right tariffs for consumption of electricity. I want to assure Nigerians that there is no relationship between poverty and payment of electricityâ€? MD/CEO, TCN

Continued on page 24

Mr. Usman Mohammed

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BUSINESSWORLD LAWMAKERS MOVE TO INVESTIGATE FLIGHT DIVERSIONS acquired landing aids, category 3 ILS and other supportive equipment were installed at all the designated airports without further delay to forestall incidences of flight diversions from the nationâ€™s airspace. The committee was equally directed to determine whether the passengers affected by the diversion would under existing laws be entitled to compensation from either the aviation agencies or the airlines. The Director, Consumer Protection Directorate (CPD), NCAA, Adamu Abdullahi, had in reaction to the inclement weather, said flight delays and cancellations are unavoidable in the global aviation industry, adding that the regulatory agency would ensure that the rights of the flying public were not trampled upon by airlines and other organisations in the sector. Apart from safety and OPEKE: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WILL ENHANCE NIGERIAâ€™S GROWTH

Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami at the event, said: â€œThe vision of the federal government is to transform Nigeria into digital economy, and to achieve the vision, NITDA has identified four strategic pillars. â€œAfter Nigeria slide into recession in 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari came up with policies that will help diversify Nigerian economy from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. â€œThe federal government has therefore identified ICT as an enabler in diversifying the Nigerian economy.â€? Speaking on Nigeriaâ€™s readiness to embrace digital transformation during a panel session at the Nerds Unite 2020 event, the CEO, Verve International, Mr. Mike Ogbalu, said: â€œNigerian cannot talk about digital transformation with adequate cloud service offerings because cloud computing is not only an alternative, but a sure way to achieving digital transformation.â€?

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

NEWS

NEXIM Bank, Katsina in Talks for N2bn Export Facility James Emejo in Abuja

region as a whole.â€? However, the Managing Director/Chief, NEXIM Bank, Mr. Abba Bello, said the Bank had already identified sesame seed and to some extent, hibiscus which it intended to finance towards value addition before exporting to other countries. Assuring the governor and his team that they would be able to access the funds soon, he noted that the bankâ€™s programme is in line with the federal governmentâ€™s determination to bring people out of poverty adding that this was

why, â€œwe decided to go down the value chain and finance both micro and small enterprises which are in the value chain for export.â€? Bello, said Katsina was particularly of interest to the Bank because the state, â€œproduces so much sesame seeds but thereâ€™s no processing capacity and that is part of our programme.â€? He said part of NEXIMâ€™s support to every state going forward would be production of whatever crop to value addition before export so as to ensure that, â€œwe create some processing within

every state and for Katsina, we will do sane for sesame.â€? The NEXIM Bank Boss stated that going by its Produce Add Value and Export (PAVE) initiative, Katsina could process sesame into oil for export and create about 1,000 direct and over 5,000 indirect jobs. â€œIn doing this we ensure that we are not just exporting our commodity but we are creating employment for our people which is in line with the mandate of the Bank,â€? he said. He also said the Bank would be

willing to partner the stateâ€™s bid to develop a 800 hectares- Green Zone to boost infrastructure and investments. Responding to the governorâ€™s enquiry on expediting access to the Export Development Fund (EDF), he noted that â€œWhy the 40 per cent is still outstanding is not about documentation but the nature of agricultural produce that if you missed the window then you might as well wait on to the next window adding that â€œWe are committed that this year we must not miss that window.

The Katsina State government is currently seeking a N2 billion credit facility from the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) to harness its non-oil export potentials towards economic diversification of the state. The Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, said the partnership became inevitable in order to create infrastructure that would attract more investors into the state as well as ensure value addition to the production of sesame seeds which it has comparative advantage over other states. Speaking when he paid a courtesy visit to the management of the Bank recently, Masari said: â€œWe are basically here to find out how to fast track the remaining 40 per cent requirement to access the fund because this money is meant for development at the rural level that will make commodities available.â€? Masari, alongside some of his commissioners, said the state had been able to satisfy about 60 per cent of the requirements for the facility and sought to know what could be done to meet all the demands for the credit which he said would help to boost job creation in the state. He said: â€œRight now, we are working to see how we can start processing the sesame seed for export and Katsina is by the window of the trans-African highway: you go through Katsina through Djibia to Niger republic. So we are properly positioned to L-R: Partner / Head,Tax Regulatory and People Service, KPMG, Mr Wole Obayomi; Director - General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze; participate actively in the economic Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, and Chief Executive Office, Afya Care Nigeria Limited, Mr Tosin affairs not only of Katsina but the Runsewe, during KPMG tax breakfast seminar held in Lagos... recently ETOP UKUTT

SENSITISATION FORUM

Siemens Pledges to Tackle Nigeriaâ€™s Power Challenges Chinedu Eze Siemens Limited Nigeria has said it has the capability to solve Nigeriaâ€™s protracted power sector challenges with the proposed decentralisation of the sector. It noted that Nigeriaâ€™s current power system is riddled with inefficiencies that has made power generation, distribution and supply in the country complex. Siemens said it is developing innovative and disruptive energy solutions, targeted at supporting the goal of a decentralised national energy grid fueled by a diverse energy mix including natural gas and biomass which Nigeria has in abundance, as well as other available renewable energy sources in line with the 2030 vision. Speaking on Siemensâ€™s commit-

ment to address Nigeriaâ€™s power challenges, the Vice President Power & Gas, Siemens Limited Nigeria, Mr. Nasir Giwa, said technological advancement has changed the dynamics of power generation and consumption, making it possible for cities around the world to explore decentralised energy solutions from renewable sources. He added that for almost 50 years, Siemens has provided power and gas solutions to customers ranging from government institutions; private customers including independent Power Producers and industrial customers, who are in need of reliable power solutions for their business operations; and residential estates or clusters who want to invest in private energy solutions. â€œOur long-standing mantra,

â€˜Siemens in Nigeria, for Nigeria,â€™ is echoed in every business activity that we conduct in the country, especially in the power and gas sector. â€œWe do not view our activities and operations within the industry as simple business transactions, rather as long-term investments to provide world class solutions to the electrification challenges facing Nigeria, a country which weâ€™ve called home for up to 50 years. â€œThis commitment is what weâ€™ve repeatedly shown by delivering on what weâ€™ve promised on time and on schedule in every power project we have undertaken which our customers within the industry can attest to.â€? He added: â€œSiemens hybrid power solutions are one-stop turnkey solutions for independent hybrid power plants in remote locations. One of our notable hybrid solu-

tions, SIESTART, combines the capabilities of fossil and renewable power generation by integrating our unique Battery Energy Storage Solution (BESS) and providing instant, reliable and sustainable energy. â€œFor renewable energy, we have several steam turbine power solutions which can work as a standalone solution, or in combination with existing gas power solutions in a Combined Cycle approach which yields more power output. â€œAs an alternative to steam tailing solutions with steam turbines, we also offer ORC Turbine Technology which can be used to recover the waste heat from gas power generation in the Small Gas Turbine range (SGT-400 and below) using readily available organic compounds like

cyclopentane, thereby eliminating the need for water required for steam turbines. â€œAlso, with our industrial steam turbines as a standalone, we offer our customers biomass fuel powered solutions which can turn waste matter such as sugarcane residue (bagasse) into energy. â€œThis solution will be very beneficial in Nigeria where we have a large amount of agricultural waste being produced annually.â€? Siemens has worked on several projects in Nigeria, the most recent being the 459MW Azura Edo IPP, the 413MW Phase 1, and 434MW Phase 2 Geregu IPPs, the 276MW Afam V IPP, as well as other private Captive Power Solutions including the Obu Cement Plant Captive Power for BUA, Ibese Cement Plant Captive Power for Dangote.

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)

AfDB Seeks Strengthening of Fertilizer Value Chain The African Development Bank (AfDB) has advised development finance institutions, non-governmental organisations, farmer cooperatives, and the private sector to develop more effective financing solutions for Africaâ€™s fertilizer value chains. The Bank made the call during the Argus Africa Fertilizer

Conference held recently. â€œAppropriate investment and financing of the entire fertilizer value chain has become a precondition for achieving our continental objectives in the area of agricultural development,â€? the Coordinator of the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), Marie-Claire

Kalihangabo, said this during a forum on the side-lines of the conference. AFFM is a Fund managed by the African Development Bank to accelerate agriculture development in line with the Bankâ€™s High-5 priority, Africa Food Security Vision, the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Unionâ€™s Agenda

2063. The Bank and AFFM staff presented tools and strategies to remove pain points in the fertilizer value chains of African countries, including fertilizer guarantee instruments, loans to support fertilizer production as well as access to inputs like seeds and crop protectants. â€œThe success of Africaâ€™s

agriculture agenda requires a synergistic approach that will bring down barriers and silos that are still hampering the development of the fertilizer sector in Africa,â€? Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Mahamadou Nassirou Ba said.

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Bearish Trading Reduces NSEâ€™s Year-to-date Growth to 2% Goddy Egene The year-to-date growth of the Nigerian stock market measured by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) moderated to two per cent last week as the bears maintained their tight grip on the market. The down trend in the market persisted with the market depreciating four out of the five trading days. By the close of trading last week, the NSE ASI had shed 1.3 per cent to close at 27,388.62, while market capitalisation ended at N14.268 trillion. However, the volume and value of trading rose as investors traded 1.499 billion shares worth N17.907 billion in 18,515 deals, up from the 912.175 million shares valued at N12.126 billion that exchanged hands the previous week. Also, trading across sectors was bearish as four out of the sectors tracked declined led by the NSE Consumer Goods Index led the laggards, shedding 6.8 per cent on the back of sustained sell pressures in Champion Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc and Nestle Nigeria Plc. The NSE Banking Index shed 2.6 per cent due to losses suffered by Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and GTBank. In the same vein, the NSE Insurance Index went down by 2.1 per cent, just as the NSE Oil & Gas Index declined by 1.3 per cent. On the positive side, the NSE Industrial Goods Index closed as the lone gainer, chalking up 1.0 per cent. According to analysts at Afrinvest (West Africa), following four weeks of consecutive losses, they expect to see some bargain hunting in early trades this week. â€œHowever, we maintain a bearish outlook in the near term as overall investor sentiment remains weak,â€? they stated. Also, analysts at Cordros Capital said: â€œAmidst continued weak market sentiments, we advise investors to trade cautiously, taking positions in fundamentally justified stocks.â€? Just like Nigerian market, Kenyaâ€™s NSE 20 closed bearishly, as it shed 2.3 per cent. Egyptâ€™s EGX 30 and Mauritiusâ€™ SEMDEX Indices treaded south, losing 1.0 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively. In the same vein, Ghanaâ€™s GSE Composite index lost 0.01 per cent, while the Moroccoâ€™s Cassablanca MASI index was the lone gainer, that appreciated 1.4 per cent as investors reacted positively to a potential UK-Morocco trade deal. Across the BRICS, performance was also bearish as only one out of the five indices tracked appreciated. Chinaâ€™s Shanghai Composite Index was up 4.2 per cent, following efforts by the Chinese government to curb the incidence of the Corona virus. But Brazilâ€™s Ibovespa went down by 1.3 per cent, just as South Africaâ€™s FTSE/JSE All-Share Index went down by 1.1 per cent. Similarly, Russiaâ€™s RTS and Indiaâ€™s BSE Sens indices dipped 0.9 per cent and 0.2 per cent in that order. However, performance in the Asian and Middle East markets ended mostly on the green side as three of five indicators tracked appreciated. Turkeyâ€™s BIST 100 index posted the best gain, advancing 2.8 per cent following a $100 billion bilateral trade agreement with the US. Similarly, Thailandâ€™s SET and UAEâ€™s ADX General Indices chalked

up 2.1 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively. Conversely, Saudi Arabiaâ€™s Tadawul and Qatarâ€™s DSM 20 indices lost 1.7 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively. In the developed markets, the bears ruled as the seven of the tracked markets posted losses. The Hong Kong Hang Seng led the losers with 1.8 per cent fall. Japanâ€™s Nikkei 225 Indices shed 1.3 per cent as investors reacted to the spread of â€œCoronavirusâ€?. Similarly, Germanyâ€™s XETRA DAX, USâ€™ NASDAQ and S&P 500 fell 1.1 per cent apiece. The Franceâ€™s CAC 40 shed 0.7 per cent, while UKâ€™s FTSE All-Share Index lost 0.05 per cent. Market turnover Meanwhile, the Financial Services Industry remained the most traded leading the activity chart with 1.226 billion shares valued at N12.974 billion traded in 11,741 deals. Hence, it contributed 81.79 per cent and 72.45 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Consumer Goods followed with 83.882 million shares worth N3.090 billion in 1,937 deals. The third place was Conglomerates industry, with a turnover of 49.719 million shares worth N104.199 million in 517 deals. Trading in the top three equities namely, Zenith Bank Plc, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc accounted for 636.624 million shares worth N10.123 billion in 4,539 deals, contributing 42.47 per cent and 56.53 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value in that order. In the exchange traded products sector, a total of 1,040 units valued at N3.606 million were traded last week in 12 deals, compared with a total of 1,540 units valued at N137,421.20 transacted the previous week in five deals. A total of 40,469 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N47.681 million were traded last week in 25 deals as against a total of 23,923 units valued at N28.986 million transacted two weeks in 22 deals. Top price gainers and losers A total of 24 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 19 equities in the previous week, while 28 equities depreciated in price, lower than 35 equities in the previous week. C & I Leasing Plc led the price gainers with 26.8 per cent, trailed by AIICO Insurance Plc with 26.2 per cent. United Capital Plc chalked up 17.3 per cent, just as NPF Microfinance Bank Plc gained 11.7 per cent. African Prudential Plc garnered 11.1 per cent, while UACN Property Development Company Plc and Ikeja Hotel Plc appreciated by 10 per cent apiece. Royal Exchange Plc garnered 8.7 per cent while Jaiz Bank Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc gained 7.8 per cent apiece. Conversely, Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc led the price losers with 36.5 per cent, trailed by AXA Mansard Insurance Plc with 10 per cent. Ardova Plc and May & Baker Plc shed 9.9 per cent each. NCR (Nigeria) Plc lost 9.4 per cent, just Champion Breweries Plc declined by 9.2 per cent. International Breweries Plc shed 9.03 per cent, while Nestle Nigeria Plc and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc depreciated by 9.0 per cent and 8.7 per cent in that order.

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UBA Launches â€˜Click Creditâ€™ to Ease Access to Cash for Customers The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has launched â€˜Click Creditâ€™, a time loan designed to address the urgent needs of customers whose salary accounts are domiciled with the bank. As a bank backed by a strong retail franchise with over 1,000 business offices serving 19 million customers, UBA said it introduced the product in line with its mission of creating value for its customers while assisting them to meet up with their urgent needs. The loan product, already being enjoyed by millions of customers in Nigeria would be extended to the bankâ€™s other franchises in Africa, it explained in a statement. The solution is expected to improve the lives of the UBA customers. It is a superfast loan product which would allow qualified customers to apply for up to N5 million loan and pay back over 12 months at an interest rate of 1.58 per cent per month, with no hidden fees. Specifically, salary earners from N25,000 per month who fall between the ages of 18 and 59 can benefit from this facility with no extra fees; no need for collaterals, no paper-work or other difficult issues when it comes to this facility; as customers can even apply via LEO, UBA Mobile Banking and UBA internet banking. UBAâ€™s Group Head of Retail Banking, Mr. Jude Anele, who revealed that qualified customers have begun to enjoy the service, explained that the loan provides immediate access to funds once

eligibility is confirmed in less than a meeting He said, â€œAs Africaâ€™s most innovative and technology-driven financial institution with an array of novel products and services tailored to the needs of its millions of customers, we have launched Click Credit, which is straightforward and more affordable than many other loan products in the market. Its unique feature is that it meets a critical credit need for our customers.â€? Anele while emphasising the critical role that credit plays in any developing and developed society, said it was part of the customersâ€™ financial power where they can be assisted to get the things they need, when they need them without hassles. While explaining that this product is being rolled out first in Nigeria and subsequently in the rest of UBAâ€™s countries of operations; he explained that UBA was committed to ensuring that Click Credit helps the bankâ€™s customers to cover critical needs and set them up for success, having moved past that moment of need. On her part, UBAâ€™s Group Head, Marketing, Dupe Olusola, reiterated that UBA remains focused on empowering its customers to fund their urgent needs. â€œAt UBA, we work hard to be there in the moments that matter to our customers, hence, our huge investment in technology and other facilities to make banking easier and seamless,â€? Olusola explained.

9mobile Deepens 4G Penetration, Expands to 16 Cities Emma Okonji 9mobile has announced the expansion of its 4G LTE deployment to more Nigerian cities as part of efforts to continue offering superior services to its customers. To this end, the company said it has added 10 new cities and towns across Nigeria to its 4G network and upgraded LTE services in existing six cities, increasing the number of cities and towns in Nigeria that now enjoy superior quality service with the mass deployment of 4G technology to 16. The 4G LTE expansion drive will be implemented in Aba, Abuja, Nasarawa, Calabar, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Onitsha, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Uyo, Aba and Ogun.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos, at the weekend, to announce the expansion, Acting Managing Director, 9mobile, Mr. Stephane Beuvelet, identified the unique benefits available to customers with the 9mobile 4G LTE, including a low latency rate for high-speed connectivity and planned redundancy to minimise downtime impact. According to Beuvelet, â€œApart from bringing 4G to these new cities, our 4G internet comes with the lowest latency rate in the market that guarantees the best speed results. â€œThe 9mobile network is purposely set up with adequate redundancies to neutralise the impact of shocks during downtime situations like the recent West-Africa fiber cuts experienced across the industry.â€? He further assured of sus-

tained investments into the networkâ€™s general infrastructure base to guarantee best-in-class experience for its customers. Commenting on the deployment, Acting Director, Marketing, 9mobile, Mr. Layi Onafowokan, disclosed that the implementation of 4G in additional locations would ensure customers enjoy high-quality services. He said this was possible because 9mobile had earlier enhanced its RAN technologies to address network congestions and improve user experience across the country. â€œAccess to 4G LTE will further enable millions of our customers to make clear and crisp calls as well as have access to faster Internet for browsing and online experience at all times,â€? he said. Onafowokan, added that as an innovative and customer-friendly

telco, 9mobile would continue to deepen 4G penetration across Nigeria as well as empower its customers to be able to do more. â€œTo this end, he stated that over the next three months, 9mobile customers stand a chance to win fantastic prizes including sewing machines, power generating sets, grinding machines, refrigerators, pressing irons and free airtime among other freebies in the raffle draws that will be held as part of activities to create awareness of the 4G LTE deployment. 9mobile recently increased investment in the deployment of cutting-edge technology across its value chain to deliver improved quality of service. The availability of a 4G network in these communities will open a whole new world of experience and possibilities for new and existing

Huawei Donates Educational Materials, Others to School Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Minister of Interior and former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has chosen to affect the lives of the students of Ogedengbe High School of Sciences, one of the oldest serving schools in Ilesa, Osun State by providing them new science laboratories, internally generated electricity, water supply, tables and chairs. The handover ceremony was attended by the Minister; the Osun State Speaker, Timothy Owoeye; the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Pius Akinyelure, and the executive management of Huawei Technologies Company Nigeria Limited - Managing Director, Mr. Eric Zhang Lulu and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Kelvin Yangyang. Aregbesola, emphasised the importance of education, science and technology to the development of any society. â€œEducation remains the best way for a firm to plough back into community. The better the education, the better the outputâ€Ś An investment in science and technology is an investment in a certain assured existence. It is unimaginable what will be the state of a people without science and technology. The world is going to be owned by those who know how to use technology,â€? a statement

quoted him to have said. He added, â€œeducation is the most important human development programme and the foundation for any other development that can be undertaken in the human society.â€? The minister, while speaking about the contribution of Huawei to Nigeria said, â€œHuawei is a global tech giant and has been operating in Nigeria for over two decades and has proven itself as a trustworthy ICT partner for Nigeria. Huawei has been very supportive of the development of Nigeria through technology innovation, knowledge transfer, talents training and CSR activities such as this. We will continue to work with Huawei to better the lots of all Nigerian citizens.â€? â€œThe company in fulfilment of its corporate social responsibility has undertaken some projects which include reequipping the schoolâ€™s laboratories with electrical materials, demonstration platforms, gas, and water, white screen teaching boards, chemical apparatuses, and provision of water supply and sanitation facilitiesâ€? Lulu, in his goodwill message, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to give back to Nigeria. He said, â€œHuawei has been operating in Nigeria for 21 years now and we can say that Nigeria is great country filled with many great talents.

BREAKFASTMEETING

L-R:ManagingConsultantPedabo,AlbertFolorunsho;DeputyManagingDirector,Meristem,SuleimanAdedokun;Chairman,WABECOCompany,ChiefS.I.C Okoli; Founder,Telnet Group of School, Dr Joseph Ariyo; former Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry(BoI), Waheed Olagunju, and Managing Director, MeristemStockbrokerLimited,SahheedBashir,attheMeristemWealthManagementBreakfastSession,heldinLagos...recently AKINYELEABAYOMI

Igboegwu Highlights Benefits of Ijegun Port City Eromosele Abiodun The establishment of the Ijegun Port City has brought rapid development and increased the overall storage capacity for petroleum products, thus reducing the incidents of shortages, the founder, Westron Properties Nigeria Limited, George Igboegwu has said. The Ijegun port city was developed by Westron Properties, an engineering and maritime investment company, with the aim of bridging the gap in the demand for port facilities and reduce the congestion in Apapa ports. As part of efforts to provide facilities for the community and the port city, the company has constructed a 1-kilometer road, bridge and water channel, to be inaugurated by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa this week.

In a chat with newsmen in Lagos, Igboegwu said the emerging port city of Ijegun is a private initiative born out of necessity. â€œOur company was involved in industrial fishing and became caught up with delays at Apapa port together with the traffic gridlock along the axis. Our fishing trawlers could not find not find adequate b birthing facilities in Lagos-the main market for their products. â€œWhile searching for solution to the problem, we stumbled on the calm waters and natural harbor of Ijegun and we decided to explore the maritime potential with the active cooperation of government,â€? he said. He said with greater corporation from the government, the port city, which currently absorbs 25 per cent of the 60 per cent of the nationâ€™s petroleum products would

now be able to absorb 50 per cent. On why the company wants to expand the facility, he said, â€œThe demand for port facilities in the ever - growing city of Lagos has seen an exponential growth in the last few years. The resultant effect is that even the addition of Tin Can Island port could still not meet this demand. â€œThis has led to the chaos Apapa has turned into, with the nation losing billions of naira on daily basis. Effort by the government to ease the pain of Apapa has not yielded the desired result.â€? The Westron Properties chairman noted that the issue of requisite infrastructure for the new city had been a recurring problem over a long period. Igboegun, said various parties and companies with interest in the new city,

mostly under the umbrella of the Ijegun Tank Farm Association, had over time been making their individual contributions towards the development of infrastructure in Ijegun. Speaking on why the company invested in the construction of the onekilometer road and the bridge, he said, â€œThe new bridge and road represent some of our contributions towards bridging this infrastructural gap in the new city. It is our hope that with the combined effort of both the private and public sectors, the city will see further growth, making significant contributions towards relieving the Apapa problem. â€œIt is projected that our present additional development in the area will see a further growth of 30 per cent in this new city. â€?

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Leading with Impact During Slow Growth Hamid Ayodeji The operating context of Nigeria is currently characterised by volatility and dynamism, but offers a prospect for profitable growth for strategic leaders. However, not every executive is visionary and possess people skills, yet there is a need for both hard and soft skills to succeed. Most leaders have â€œhard skillsâ€?. That is to say, the technical knowledge required for their positions. Soft skills, on the other hand, are a rarity. By learning self-awareness and improving the chances of success while managing change, businesses can become a source of competitive advantage, survival and profitable growth. That is why at the forthcoming TEXEM, UKâ€™s â€œleading with personal impact during slow growth,â€? executive development programme, scheduled to take place at in Lagos, from 4th to 5th March 2020, participants would learn all this and so much more. World-renowned Professor Roger Delves would deliver this programme. Currently a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and educated at the University of Oxford, Professor Roger is Associate Dean and Professor of Practice at Ashridge Executive Education, Hult International Business School. His special interests include helping others to understand the roles of authenticity and emotional intelligence in leadership and team engagement. Thus, applying TEXEMâ€™s tested, proven methodology and track record of training over four thousand executives, Delves will share practical insights on Impactful Leadership and strategies for Optimum Performance in an era of slow growth. Delves, a seasoned and first class coach, would share valuable wide-ranging insights

Delves on how to be an effective and authentic leader. Professor Roger Delve is not only an accomplished academic, but he has also worked with brands from P&G, General Foods, Mars Masterfoods, Johnson Wax, Bosch, Sony and Sterling Health, helping to create award-winning advertising that moved products. Professor Roger has been on the London board of the global top ten agency DMB&B. Also, Delves recently co-facilitated a report

for EFMD (The Global accreditation body for leading business schools such as Insead and London Business School) on Innovation in Leadership exploring innovations in leadership development. Thus, Delves would share practical insights on why it is vital to think through the actions and decisions you make each day to ensure you improve the trust and credibility between you and your team. Acknowledge your mistakes and errors in judgment, take full responsibility for your choices, and make promises you are sure you can keep. Most companies are passing through dire socio-economic turmoil characterised by poor financial performance, low morale and limited creativity, to survive and succeed in the long run, they require exceptional leadership. Therefore, the TEXEM, UKâ€™s leading-withpersonal-impact executive development programme delivered by world-renowned Professor Roger Delves would help participants think innovatively. This programme will help them find ways to overcome the instinctive response that disproportionately emphasises dimensions such as cost reduction while ignoring sustainable success. Delvesâ€™ inspiring track record and experienced approach to executive development, which includes teaching and coaching extensively internationally and in the UK would help participants develop actionable insights on how to strengthen organisational leadership and successfully respond to change. During this forthcoming TEXEM programme, participants would learn to: r*EFOUJGZ IPX FNPUJPOBM JOUFMMJHFODF DBO strengthen your organisational leadership r6OEFSTUBOE IPX B HSPXUI NJOE TFU IFMQT to obtain the best performance from team members

r&YQMPSF UIF DSJUJDBM SPMF PG SFMBUJPOTIJQT within and between teams, within stakeholder environments and across an organisation r&ODPVSBHF BOE TVTUBJO B DVMUVSF PG JOnovation in your organisation. r EFOUJGZ BOE BEESFTT UIF IJOESBODFT UP high performance within teams and the role of the leader in addressing them r&OHBHF TUBLFIPMEFST GPS TVDDFTT r %FWFMPQ UFBN BOE PSHBOJTBUJPOBM DVMUVSF and behaviour for success r -FBE DPNNVOJDBUF BOE EFMJWFS DIBOHF in a volatile socio-economic context. This TEXEMâ€™s forthcoming programme would provide the platform to network, enhance social capital and equip participants with all the skills needed to inspire their team and organisation to achieve lofty goals sustainably. It will help them inspire, influence, and persuade stakeholders, as well as show them how to establish psychological safety, a vital prerequisite for all teams to grow and flourish. It will help participants lead their team better because they would have become more emotionally intelligent, a better culture curator and enhance their capacity to communicate their vision, mission, and goals. â€œYou can register individually or as a group if you would like to share the knowledge with your colleagues,â€? it added, saying the programme is for â€œSenior executives and executive team members in public, private and third sector with significant management responsibilities. â€œChief executive officers, chief operating officers, chief administrative officers, chief accounting officers, chief financial officers, chief technical officers, chief publicity officers, chief information officers, chief procurement officers, chief marketing officers, senior vice presidents, general managers, top human resource professionals, and divisional directors or leaders.â€?

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Uduk: We are Working on Attracting More Companies to Capital Market The Acting Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Mary Uduk, in this interview spoke about development in the capital market in 2019. She also expressed optimism that the Finance Act 2020 will stimulate activities in the capital market, even as she urged the power distribution and generation companies to take advantage of the market to raise long term financing to enable them address their funding needs. Obinna Chima and Goddy Egene present the excerpts: Are there policies you think the federal government should initiate to support the growth of the capital market? I want to say that we appreciate the Finance Act that was recently introduced by the federal government. For those of you that have read the Act, you will see that there are a number of initiatives that are in support of the capital market. We were expecting more because we have been working on some of those initiatives for many years with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other relevant stakeholders. The government has through the Finance Act answered some of our prayers. There are others that we thought they would have done like the issue of taxes but they gave us what they thought we should have; we will continue to push for more tax reductions in different areas. We also expected that government will give us some palliatives for some companies to encourage them to come to the market. We are still working with government to ensure those are done and this is just the beginning as the Finance Minister said. You donâ€™t have to wait for government or National Assembly to repeal some bills or come up with new ones, it will take years, but now with the Finance Bill which as we learnt is going to be annual, we will start again to work towards next year. The focus is on driving investments and for us to do that we must bring capital into key areas, the issue of tax incentives is very critical. In terms of infrastructure funds, government canâ€™t fund infrastructure so private sector would do that. So, we should be able to have infrastructure funds and investment of course should enjoy tax incentives. Private equity funds that also drive investments in SMEs, Venture Capital, etc, these are critical areas and the government can look at. Private equity funds operators who invest in core areas of the economy like mining, agriculture should be granted certain incentives, so theses incentives will drive inflows of capital into those areas having more incentives that would drive investors into the market. The core thing there is the area of tax bringing people into the tax base. What is SEC doing to increase new issues in the market? As we speak we have a market Committee going round engaging some of these companies to come to the market. We also have a standing market committee that is driving this issue encouraging and engaging other companies to come and list in the market. Donâ€™t forget that these companies are private companies that are family companies, so it takes a lot to get them to come to the market. We also found out that other jurisdictions have same issue. I remember discussing the same issue with Saudi Arabia when we had Africa and Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) meeting and one of the things they said was they had to reduce lots of their requirements to get these companies to come and list by starting them with what we call equivalent of our second tier market and then gradually moving them into the main market. We are also looking at what the requirements are that the companies find hard or difficult to comply with, we will work with them to ensure that we see what they can work with to bring them to the market. In addition, we are also working with the exchanges, in other jurisdictions. They also have something like a clinic where the exchanges and regulator would assist those companies to comply with those requirements especially on the issue of governance because that is very key. The exchanges and the regulator will work with

Uduk those companies to assist them to comply on the issue of governance. We would also engage other government agencies willing to comply with the listing requirements. Some of those companies are almost ready to comply with the listing requirements. On the issue of governance, I know in some instances they have to comply with all of the governance provision, some jurisdictions are looking at it critically with a view to determining what aspect of governance they could step down for some of these new companies. May be we

As we speak we have a market Committee going round engaging some of these companies to come to the market. We also have a standing market committee that is driving this issue encouraging and engaging other companies to come and list in the market

should begin to do same. In respect of LNG we have been engaging NNPC and we had a meeting with LNG and I am sure when they are ready they will come. What is the current situation in terms of unclaimed dividends? For new dividends issued now we donâ€™t have problems with them. What we have are the legacy issues that have been there and also the issue of multiple subscription in those days. As long as people donâ€™t come to claim their shares it will be difficult to wipe out unclaimed dividends. We have been working with the brokers to get in touch with these people who bought shares in different names to come forward and claim their shares. It will be difficult to wipe out those unclaimed dividends. If I have shares and I donâ€™t come forward to claim them either because I had forgotten the names with which I bought them, as long as they are not claimed, it will be difficult to know where to send these dividends to. So they are still the legacy issues that we are trying to combat. But for the new dividends today that are being issued, we donâ€™t have problems there. For that reason, we have been working with the registrars, we have been working with the brokers to get in touch with these people who bought shares in different names to come forward and claim their shares. I know that

we have had a lot of engagements with the brokers and registrars in respect of that. We are trying to resolve the legacy issues and to this end, we are engaging the registrars, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), the brokers to update the records in the system. Last November, we issued a circular directing all stakeholders to update their records in respect of their clients and that information should include the BVN numbers. At the time the shareholders invested their money there was no BVN number, so we have now directed the brokers to update their information. This information will be sent to the registrars and CSCS and the issues will be addressed. We believe that if that is concluded, the issue of unclaimed dividends will be addressed. So, most of the issues we are having are with legacy issues and the only way we can solve it is if we update our own records and the stock broking firms update their records. And we also said in that circular that if any client does not update his records he will not be allowed to trade. When are we likely to see the listing of the power distribution companies and the generation companies? CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

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UDUK: WE ARE WORKING ON ATTRACTING MORE COMPANIES TO CAPITAL MARKET We are also looking at the derivatives market, the rules have been exposed to the market and it would soon be approved and out, so very soon we hope to have an exchange traded derivatives in the market. So all these are to deepen the market, improve liquidity in the market, make the market more vibrant, make the market more attractive for investors The Discos and Gencos were supposed to operate for about seven years because government had reasoned that at that time they would be ready to come to the market. We know that government is doing a lot to clean them up and to bring them up to speed, to get them ready for the market. It is only when they come to the market to raise long term financing that they will have the money to operate well and be attractive to investors. But for now they are not ready and when they are ready you will know. We are engaging them and working with BPE for them to be able to come to the market. At what stage are we presently in terms of the demutualisation of the market? They have the demutualisation plan and everything is being taken step by step. We just gave an approval in principle and they have a court order to hold an AGM and a notice has been published. So we are following the principles and the rules as the SEC had issued and also the demutualization Act, letâ€™s be patient as we are waiting for it to take place. Are there plans for recapitalisation of capital market operators? Recapitalisation should happen for the market to be better. If we have say 20 or 50 big firms playing as opposed to what we have now which is 255, the market would be better. We want strong firms, so itâ€™s something that should happen. We need well capitalised firms as opposed to the situation we have now, Letâ€™s work towards what will make it happen. A number of other sectors are recapitalising and so we are asking capital market operators to think about it because sooner than later it would have to happen. What is the SEC doing in the area of investor protection? For investor protection, we ensure that no one takes your money away in an illegal manner and the protection is not that somebody will compensate you. A regulator will also tell you try to diversify your portfolio, try to talk to experts and their different vehicles of investments so in one way or the other they will have effect of the market cushion on their wealth. What is your assessment of the market last year? 2019 was a good year for the SEC. A lot of people like to refer to the negative returns in the equities market, but we think that does not define the year. We made a lot of efforts towards resolving the issue of unclaimed dividends; we have finally come out with the rules around derivatives market we believe will deepen our market and will make more securities products available for trading on our market, will provide participants with risk management tools. We have also brought out a few more rules on Central Counterparty (CCP) and also supporting the derivatives market and then rules around collective investment scheme (CIS) so that we make them better to be able to attract more investors. Itâ€™s been an eventful year and we are happy with what we have done this year and we look forward to a better 2020. What were the milestones recorded by the regulator last year?

Uduk We have gone very far in solving the unclaimed dividends problem, thatâ€™s a big milestone for us. We have engaged the NIBSS to make use of the BVN and we have got the CSCS and the registrars working towards reducing it and there has been a marked reduction. More importantly, we know that there would be no future unclaimed dividends, there would be no addition to the unclaimed dividends profile and we count that as a success. We believe that once we solve the identity issues that we have presently, the problem of unclaimed dividends will be a thing of the past. Also we have continued with our education of the market, we are making more efforts towards awareness on what stakeholders need to know to make the market more attractive, make it better and protect the investors more. In the area of Ponzi schemes, how much did the SEC do last year to ensure that unsuspecting Nigerians are not defrauded of their hard earned money? The problem of Ponzi schemes continued last year and unfortunately Nigerians still invest in these scams. Last year we identified and closed a lot of them, we thank the police, the EFCC and all the authorities that cooperated with us in closing these schemes. They still remain attractive and that is why we are intensifying efforts to educate the public. They are just there to defraud Nigerians and that is why we keep enlightening the public. We will close them down and their promoters would be made to face the law. The SEC would continue to work to protect investors and also to ensure these schemes do not see the light of the day and even when they do they are closed down quickly. Ponzi schemes thrive all over the world, itâ€™s not a Nigerian problem. They tap into human greed coupled with the current economic situation. People see it as a way they can easily get out of poverty, it can also be as a result of not being aware of what investments options are out there. That is why the SEC and the entire capital market community have this year intensified efforts at investment education. People need to know that itâ€™s easy to open a money market account, a mutual fund account, get stocks and things like that. We want the market to be easier, more accessible and we also want to have more products. We want a deeper market and we believe that with these combinations it will reduce the number of Ponzi schemes coming up and reduce the

number of investors putting their money into Ponzi schemes. What measures have been taken by SEC to rebuild conďŹ dence of retail investors in the market? We are doing a lot to boost investorsâ€™ confidence in our market. But I want to say that both local and foreign investors are very good for the market. Investorsâ€™ fears can be of two folds, firstly they could be afraid because they feel that capital market operators will mismanage their investments, secondly is looking at the volatility of the market that makes investors skeptical. For the first scenario, we have a number of initiatives that we have put in place to boost investorsâ€™ confidence. We have the e-Dividend mandate system, the Direct Cash Settlement as well as multiple subscriptions in place. For the second category, investors have to take ownership of their investments. They have to be able to monitor their investments, attend Annual General Meetings as well as read the annual reports sent out to them. Investors are also protected through the National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF) Risk Based supervision that enables the SEC to supervise the operators to ensure that they do not do what they are not supposed to do. The Complaints Management Framework enables investors to know where to complain to and how long it takes for such complaints to be resolved. For those of the investors that are averse to risk, they should get their financial advisers to advise them properly on where to invest. We also advise retail investors to invest in Collective Investment Schemes and Mutual Funds because those are managed independently by professionals and they are diversified thereby reducing risks. We are committed to protecting investors in the work we do. We will keep working on our rules and the possibility of amending them when the need arises, we want more transparency in the market so that investors will feel comfortable and the market can be better. During the last Capital Market Committee meeting, the Investor Education Committee came up with quite a few things. They are doing few initiatives, that they are doing and continue to do, the first as you may know is the inclusion of Capital Market Studies in basic and advance school curriculum, that is the secondary and primary school. So the trust

now is to begin to prepare teachers guidelines, and also we are now looking at the university curriculum so that people understand capital market from the basics as they go through their education. Another thing is the e-dividend issue, so far we have about 2.8 million accounts mandated for e-dividend and we are looking to increase that and also, we want more people to be aware of what it is and that you can get your dividends directly into your own account, we hope that or we believe that will increase or improve market confidence and make a lot of retail investors return to the market. We are also introducing new products, as you may be aware we are trying to build a commodities market. We believe that Nigeria is ripe for vibrant and a robust commodities market. So there has been engagement with the stakeholders so such as the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, to establish standards for our commodities, so that we can create market and build market for it. We have a commodities ecosystem world group that has come up with all those very incitement recommendations on what we need to do to have a good commodities market. We are also looking at the derivatives market, the rules have been exposed to the market and it would soon be approved and out, so very soon we hope to have an exchange traded derivatives in the market. So all these are to deepen the market, improve liquidity in the market, make the market more vibrant, make the market more attractive for investors. What are your expectations and outlook for Nigerian capital market in 2020? The future for the Nigerian capital market is related to the outlook on the general economy. Various estimates of economic growth indicate the Nigerian economy should grow by about three per cent in 2019. We also expect positive growth in 2020 as the economy improves. Furthermore, the federal government presented the 2020 budget and it was approved in record time, which is a landmark compared to previous budgets. The budget is expected to sustain growth and affect the capital market positively. As you are aware, the Capital Market Masterplan (2015-2025) guides the policy decisions of the Commission and we expect to further consolidate on the gains of implementing some of our initiatives. Specifically, we expect to ensure the market operates more effectively and rules and regulations are prompt in protecting investors.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

IMAGES

L-R: Vice President, ANDRiTZ Hydro GMBH of Austria, Mr. Anton Schindele; Group Managing Director, Mascot Associates, Mr. Chucks Ndukwe and Regional Sales Manager, ANDRiTZ, Mr. Markus Kainberger at the signing of a contract by ANDRiTZ to rehabilitate Jebba Unit 2G6, in Abuja...recently PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

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Photo Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ Email Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜Ë›Ă‹Ă”Ă‹Ă–Ă‹ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari receives a working document from the Chairman and Leader of the Delegation, Senator Abu Ibrahim during an audience with the Chairman Board of Trustees Council for New Nigeria Initiatives (CNNI) held at the State House, Abuja...recently PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

L-R: Council Member, Nigerian Bar Association-Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), Mena Ajakpovi; Coordinator legal services, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mohammed Umar; Chairman, NBA-SBL, Seni Adio SAN; Executive secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote; Treasurer, NBA-SBL, Chinyere Okorocha; and Vice chairman, NBA-SBL, Ayuli Jamide during a courtesy visit by the NBA-SBL council members to NCDMB to discuss a partnership towards the development of legal services in Nigeria, held in Lagosâ€Śrecently

L-R: Minister of State, Ministry Works & Housing, Engr, Abubukar Aliyu; Hon. Minister of Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola,SAN ; Chairman, Board of Directors,FMBN, Dr. Adewale Adeeyo; Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya presents keys to one of the beneďŹ ciaries, Abubakar Tijani during the Commissioning of Gombe State Investment Housing Estate Under the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Estate Development Loan at the Project Site, along Dukku Road, Gombeâ€Śrecently

L-R: Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy AďŹ€airs, Hon. Aisha Ahman-Pategi; Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Mrs Abimbola Adesanmi; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Vocal Person, NHGSFP, Hajia Basirat AbdulRazaq; Deputy Chief of StaďŹ€, Olubukola Babalola; and Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Adenike Afolabi Oshatimehin at the opening session of a 2-day stakeholders workshop on the NHGSFP in Ilorin... recently

L-R ; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and the former Ogun state governor , Chief Olusegun Osoba during the courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa , Abuja...recently

L-R: Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Muhammed Bello Abubakar; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu, during the visit to the minister by Abubakar in Abuja...recently

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L-R: Chief Financial OďŹƒcer, Phillips Oki; Ag. Managing Director, Stephane Beuvelet and Ag. Director, Marketing, Layi Onafowokan at the media launch of 9mobileâ€™s 4G LTE roll-out in 16 cities held at the telcoâ€™s head oďŹƒce in Lagos..recently PHOTO: KUNLE OGUNFUYI

L-R: Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Ogbere; Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjapko; Governor, Sen. Douye Diri; and Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere, during State Assemly â€˜s key oďŹƒcers visit to Government House, Yenagoa...recently

L-R: Business Development Manager BIC Nigeria, Yemi Ojo, 6th place winner in Africa, Oscar Ukonu and Trade Marketing Manager BIC Nigeria, Patrick Bello at the presentation of gift to the Nigeria winners of BIC Art Master Africa 2019 Edition in Lagos...recently

L-R: Chief Business Development OďŹƒcer, Falck Prime Atlantic, Folake Soyannwo; Managing Director/CEO, Falck Prime Atlantic, Ayo Otuyalo; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote; Manager, Marketing/ Communications, Prime Atlantic, Aderonke Adebanjo; and Business Development Specialist, Prime Atlantic, Isioma Okoh, during the visit of NCDMB Management to Falck Prime Atlantic training facility in Ipara, Ogun State...recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Minister for Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu; and Commissioner for Infrastructure; and Public Utilities, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, during the launch of Ekiti State Open Defecation Free by 2022 Roadmap and ďŹ‚ag oďŹ€ of Campaign on Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet â€œ in AdoEkitiâ€Śrecently

R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and Osamuyi Iredia, at the funeral mass in honour of Late Chief Sam Iredia, in Benin City...recently

L-R: Managing Director, Family Homes Fund, Femi Adewole; Managing Director, Nigeria Mortgage ReďŹ nance Company Plc , Kehinde Ogundimu; Managing Director, Eximia Realty Company Ltd, Hakeem Ogunniran; President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, Surveyor Ugochukwu Chime; and Managing Director, Innovative Risk and Investment Solutions Limited, Prof Charles Inyangete, at the oďŹƒcial unveiling of The Mews, an estate built by Eximia Realty Co Limited in Katampe Extension, Abuja....recently PHOTO: JULIUS ATOI

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í˛Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Interswitch, American Express Partner on Amex Cards Emma Okonji Interswitch Limited at the weekend announced its partnership with American Express (AmEx), to expand the usage and acceptance of American Express Cards across Nigeria for online transactions. The partnership with Interswitch would enable American Express Card members to transact, using a wide range of merchants, who process payments through the Interswitch platform, for a range of travel, retail, hospitality and dining expenses, as well as ATM withdrawals. The partnership will also allow Interswitch to integrate its network of merchants in Nigeria into the global American Express network. As part of the agreement, Interswitch would assume responsibility for managing American Express merchants in Nigeria, while bringing new merchants onto its platform. Previously, American Express

Card members could only use their cards at select locations across the country. This new partnership broadens that acceptance to Interswitch merchants, ATMs and websites nationwide. Announcing the partnership, Divisional Chief Executive Officer for Payment Processing at Interswitch, Akeem Lawal, said: â€œAmEx and Interswitch are aligned in our desire to provide fast and secure payment solutions and transactions across Nigeria. With this new partnership, we are improving AmEx Cardmember access to a convenient and secure network, which also benefits our merchants who will gain new opportunities presented by an expanded user base. â€œBy remaining card scheme neutral, Interswitch will continue to explore innovative partnerships that will benefit consumers and retailers alike.â€? Lawal, also reiterated the commitment of Interswitch to reliably cater to its valued

merchants, to reinforce the companyâ€™s mantra of â€˜Transaction solutions you can depend onâ€™. He recommended new merchants to join the Interswitch platform, highlighting that the addition of American Express cards can help to expand their businesses. Vice President and General Manager, Global Network Partnerships in charge of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for American Express, Vivi Galani, said the new partnership reinforced American Expressâ€™s role as a leading global network. She said: â€œWe are excited to be partnering with Interswitch, a well-respected pan-African financial technology company, to continue to grow our presence in Nigeria. As we partner with leading banks and financial institutions around the world, we are bringing the powerful backing of the American Express network to Cardmembers and merchants by expanding acceptance of our Cards.â€?

Sterling Bank Moves to Enhance Support for Entrepreneurs Sterling Bank Plc has announced the creation of The Business Hub (TBH) in Lagos, as part of its effort to support and promote small scale enterprises (MSMEs) and skills development in Nigeria. The Business Hub was created in line with the bankâ€™s strategy to create an enabling environment for young people to grow their businesses with each hub location customised to fit a sector. The first space located at Adebola House, Ikeja is focused on growing the Fashion Industry and has in the hub a co-sewing space providing fashion business owners with a sewing machine, ironing table and weaving

machine for as low as N2,000. A statement also explained that the hub also has a meeting room, lounge and a modeling agency in it. The Head, Strategy of the bank, Khafil Animashaun, said the bank realised that more needed to be done to support small businesses beyond financial advisory and as such the bank created the hub as a safe and serene community where young people can ideate, develop and build their businesses. â€œWe understand that part of our economic development lies on the ingenuity of small-scale enterprises. â€œWe believe it is our role to

contribute by creating a platform that allows that ingenuity thrive by helping the teeming populace upskill and achieve their business dreams despite the daunting economic situation.â€? Animashaun said. Animashaun, added that Sterling would replicate this across the country to ensure that more business owners get this opportunity. She also added that the hub would organise free monthly trainings, financial advisory, printing and storage services for its members and she was sure that young business owners would find the environment inspiring, supportive and well- managed.

Mastercard Foundation Expands Youth Development Programme Oluchi Chibuzor Mastercard Foundation has announced the expansion of its Young Africa Works programme in Nigeria to over $500 million. The programme would focus on increasing young peopleâ€™s work in agriculture, digital and creative sectors. The Nigeria Hub joins Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Uganda, where the organisation is building a broader presence of the Foundationâ€™s work in Africa guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty. Speaking on the latest development, Nigeria Country Head,

Mastercard Foundation, Mrs. Chidinma Lawanson, explained that, â€œPartnering with financially sustainable and highly scalable social enterprises, like Babban Gona, which is part-owned by the farmers they serve, will give us the momentum to take Young Africa Works to scale.â€? Lawanson, who has over 24 years of experience in development finance and commercial banking, further explained that, â€œthe Babban Gona model uses training and education, access to financing, and a gainful source of income to ensure young people have the tools and skills they need to prosper.â€? In Nigeria, the Foundation would continue collaborating with

its existing partners while identifying new partners to reach its overall goal of 10 million Nigerian young people, especially young women, in work opportunities by the year 2030. The President and CEO, Mastercard Foundation, Reeta Roy, said technology was changing the nature of work in Africa and around the world. According to him, â€œThe continent is in the early stages of a technology revolution, and in some cases, Africa is leading with innovative business models through the widespread use of mobile technology and smartphones, which will create growth and work opportunities for millions of young people.â€?

Stanbic IBTC Seeks Improved Customer Satisfaction Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has unveiled the addition of a new feature: â€˜paycodeâ€™ to its @ease wallet. The Paycode feature was introduced to give customers the opportunity to withdraw cash from their wallet on an ATM or from an agent at any location nationwide without using a debit or credit card. Customers can open a Stanbic IBTC @ease wallet using the last 10 digits of their phone number

through its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) application. The wallet can also be opened via the Stanbic IBTC @ease Mobile App, ATMs and agents at any location nationwide. A statement from the bank, said it remains committed to providing seamless financial transactions to Nigerians, hence the addition of Paycode to the @ease wallet. â€œTo generate a Paycode,

customers can log in to the @ ease wallet through the Mobile App or USSD, select â€˜Withdraw Moneyâ€™ and choose â€˜ATMâ€™ as the withdrawal channel; enter the amount to withdraw followed by a withdrawal 4-digit PIN to authorise the transaction. â€œThe customerâ€™s @ease wallet will thereafter be debited with the specified amount and fees while an 8 to 12-digit Paycode will be sent via SMS.

L-R: Head Marketing and Corporate Communications, FBNHoldings, Mr. Tunde Lawanson; Chairman, Shareholders Association, Oyo State, Mr. Bukunmi Ogunwale; Company Secretary, FBNHoldings Mr. Seye Kosoko; Zonal Chairman, Shareholders Association, South/West, Mr. Eric Akinduro; Head, Investor Relations, FBNHoldings, Mr. Tolu Oluwole, and Second Vice Chairman, Shareholders Association, South/West, Adedokun Adekunle, after a visit of a delegation from FBN Holdings Plc to members of the association in Ibadanâ€Śrecently

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 Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ Ă™Ă–Ă“Ă?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ÍŻÍąĎą

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2020

The price of OPEC basket of fourteen crudes stood at $58.94 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $58.35 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

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

MARKET NEWS

Capital Market Regulators, Operators Urged to Tackle Infractions Goddy Egene Capital market regulators and operators have been told to put more efforts in tackling market infractions , insider trading and deluge of unclaimed dividends in other to boost investorsâ€™ confidence. Professor of Economics, Babcock University, Ogun State, Prof. Segun Ajibola, gave the task while speaking at inauguration of the new governing council, investiture of fellows

and induction of associates of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) in Lagos. According to Ajibola, market infractions such as manipulations, insider trading and challenge of unclaimed dividends could hardly happen if operators and regulators were fully alert to their responsibilities. He said that ICMR members must maintain spotless registers of shareholders by devising means of updating the registers

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

regularly to tackle identity management problems in the country. Ajibola, who spoke on: â€œService with integrity-A promise that must be kept,â€? said ICMR must maintain accurate information of shareholders, adding should resolve ownership matters that may arise in the event of death and provide a way of dealing with unclaimed dividends. â€œThese are onerous tasks in the midst of identity management problems the country is

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

still grappling with,â€? Ajibola stated. He noted that the composition of investors and shareholders in the Nigerian capital market indicates shareholders, whom members of ICMR were out to protect were mostly middle and retired people. He therefore stressed that the ICMR and other regulatory institutions should provide maximum protection for investors and their shares. According to him, ICMR should remain

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

committed to offering service to their numerous stakeholders with integrity. â€œIt will be disastrous to every stakeholder if the operators compromise integrity in their dealings with members of the public. â€œNigeria capital market is still largely underdeveloped compared with many of the countries with similar level of economic development. â€œAll hands must be on deck to drive the capital market and sustain the growing level

O F

of confidence in the market by the public,â€? Ajibola said. He noted that if operators and regulators alike play their catalysts roles, the synergies between the capital and money markets would assist the current financial inclusion strategy. Ajibola stated that this synergy would help in cultivating savings habits, promote the much needed investment culture in the country.

2 0 / 0 2 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

New President of Institute of Capital Market Registrars Pledges Improved Services Goddy Egene The new President/Chairman of Council of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars ( ICMR), Mr. Seyi Owoturo has assured investors and other in the nation’s capital

market of improved services going forward. Owoturo gave the assurance while speaking at inauguration of the new governing council, investiture of fellows and induction of associates of the Institute of Capital Market

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

Registrars (ICMR) in Lagos. He commended the contributions of his predecessor, Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, noting that the registrar business has been influenced by the rise of financial technology(fintech). According to him, with the integration of

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 20Feb-2020, unless otherwise stated.

technology into the finance industry, registrars stand the chance to improve the quality of services they provide to their clients and shareholders. He stressed that the effect of Fintech in the financial industry cannot be downplayed.

“The world is going digital and everyday there is a technological invention designed to solve a problem and ease our lives as humans. With the integration of technology into the finance industry, we stand the chance to improve the quality of service

we provide for our clients and their shareholders,” he said. The ICMR boss pledged to work with regulators and self regulatory organisations in the industry for better development of the market and economy in general.

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 152.15 155.69 3.40% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 6.28% Nigeria International Debt Fund 322.36 322.36 3.04% 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 0.90 0.91 6.96% ACAP Income Funds 0.76 0.76 34.00% 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 6.76% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.47 2.52 0.35% 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 6.22% Anchoria Equity Fund 103.11 103.48 1.14% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 4.20% 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 15.52 15.99 1.34% ARM Discovery Fund 350.63 361.20 1.50% ARM Ethical Fund 30.21 31.12 3.86% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.71% 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 100.69 101.39 4.79% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.98% 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 1.97 1.97 17.48% 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 0.08 0.06 7.86% Paramount Equity Fund 12.30 12.51 -1.78% Women's Investment Fund 111.61 112.44 1.01% 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 6.86% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 103.96 104.54 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 113.43 114.11 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.94 0.95 1.34% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.37 1.37 3.47% 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 N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1,325.60 1,326.71 2.67% FBN Balanced Fund 148.72 149.87 1.29% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.64% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.46 120.84 1.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.13 121.50 1.08% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 127.01 128.63 -2.40% 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 8.82% Legacy Debt Fund 3.69 3.69 1.03% Legacy Equity Fund 1.14 1.16 0.34% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.09 1.09 0.59% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.23% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 118.67 119.22 10.23%

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 6.33% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.25 2.28 4.45% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 10.21% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 140.72 141.24 12.77% 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 1.19 1.22 2.46% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,116.79 1,116.79 1.68% 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 9.67 9.77 -1.30% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.11% 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 1.62 1.64 30.63% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 13.68 13.78 20.23% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.06% PACAM Equity Fund 1.14 1.15 PACAM EuroBond Fund 103.64 105.51 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 135.07 137.87 8.26% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.02 1.02 1.52% 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 3.04% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.92% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.81% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 1.32% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 2.89% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.98% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 2.37% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.86% 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 -0.22% United Capital Bond Fund 1.76 1.76 1.54% United Capital Equity Fund 0.70 0.71 -1.34% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.56% United Capital Eurobond Fund 112.95 112.95 0.97% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 0.32% 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 10.36 10.52 0.98% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.65 11.80 0.42% Zenith Income Fund 23.04 23.04 3.68% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.22%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.45 120.09 52.41

-64.35% 0.83% 0.69%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.24 95.33 74.13

9.34 97.37 75.53

6.14% 3.09% 0.56%

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

3.54 4.99 12.84 11.86 177.83

3.58 5.07 12.94 12.06 179.83

-0.16% -15.39% 5.69% 14.01% -5.27%

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.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

CITYSTRINGS

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Ă—Ă‹Ă“Ă– Ă?Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă–Ă“Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă¤Ă?Ă™ĂŒĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ Í‘Í™Í‘Í”Í™ÍšÍ‘Í’ÍšÍ“Í–

A Season of Fires in Anambra David-Chyddy Eleke reports that since October 2019, it has been one fire incident after another in Anambra State, mostly involving petrol tankers, which necessitated a clarion campaign by stakeholders for measures to be put in place to stem the tide

An oďŹƒce in Idemili South Local Government Area council in Ojoto, after it was gutted by wildďŹ re

n October 16, 2019, a major disaster hit one of the biggest markets in Onitsha, Anambra State, when a petrol tanker carrying petroleum product lost control and fell at Upper Iweka. The incident did not attract much attention in the area until close to an hour later, when shops in Ochanja Market, about five kilometers away from Upper Iweka where the tanker had fallen, went up in flames. The liquid content of the tanker which poured into a drainage canal had flowed down to Ochanja Market from where it came in contact with fire and exploded. At the end of the day, goods worth hundreds of millions were razed from uncountable shops, while about five persons, including a nursing mother and her newborn, lost their lives in the fire. The incident was such a tragic one it attracted attention from all across the country, turning the scene as a tourist site, as people trooped to catch a glimpse of how it had happened. Just days after the incident, another fire broke, also around the Enugu â€“ Onitsha expressway, in the same city, when another petroleum tanker which was parked in a fuel station awaiting discharge of its product in the early hours of the morning, suddenly started burning. The fire extended to a nearby mechanic workshop where it razed over 20 vehicles in two automobile mechanic workshops. Since after the incidents, more fire incidents have been registered in Onitsha, Awka and Nnewi, the three major cities in Anambra State, most of which resulted in the loss of lives and property. In several communities in Anambra, fire incidents were also registered,

including the recent gutting of old spare parts market in Obosi, in which a trader who is said to own three shops rushed to the scene of the fire in the dead of the night, collapsed after seeing his wares go up in flame, which eventually led to his death. In Ojoto, Idemili South Council Secretariat and Nnewi North Council Secretariat, vital documents of the council were on February gutted by fire emanating from burning refuse and burning bush respectively. Also, in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in the area was also destroyed by fire, with several vital documents lost to the fire. Following this incessant outbreaks, stakeholders have been seeking a way

Human life is precious and very important. People should be safe and secure in their business place. That is what deďŹ nes good society. An organised society must care of its citizens wherever they are

to stop it, leading to campaigns among citizens in the state. It is believed that since October 2019, over 50 cases of fire of various degrees have been registered in the state. But the Anambra State police command insists that only 25 cases of fire have been registered within the period. The state police commandâ€™s spokesperson, SP Haruna Mohammed said, â€œBetween October 16, 2019 till date, the command has recorded about 25 cases of fire incidents officially reported as follows: six cases involving trucks, 10 cases involving residential buildings, two cases involving markets, two cases involving schools, three cases involving government offices, one case each affecting a church and hotel respectively. He added that, â€œthe Commissioner of Police, CP John Abang is hereby urging "Ndi Anambra" and residents alike to endeavour and take preventive measures in order to avert or minimise cases of fire outbreaks ravaging the state.â€? He revealed that statistics by the command showed that the major causes of fire incidents in Anambra State are basically harmattan fire, electricity or power surge, careless handling of gas cookers, over-speeding by tanker drivers, overloading of trucks and potholes etc. Abang cautioned the public against bush burning, reckless driving especially by trucks laden with inflammable substances, and overloading, which incessantly cause electric sparks when in contact with EEDC cables hovering across the highways. As part of the preventive measures, he enjoined residents of Anambra State to always switch off all electronic appliances in their homes and various offices when not in use to avoid electric power surge. Meanwhile, seeking a means of

prevention, a philanthropist, Dr Obiora Okonkwo rather took Anambra State government to task over the incessant fire, insisting that the state government has a big role both in sensitising the people on ways of preventing fire and also tackling incidences of fire. Okonkwo, who was recently at the Automobile Spare Parts market in Obosi, which was recently gutted by fire said: â€œ It is sad that one person died here. Human life is precious and very important. People should be safe and secure in their business place. That is what defines good society. An organised society must care for its citizens wherever they are. You people pay taxes, rates, and duties to the government which is good. â€œGovernment uses that to work for the people. But I canâ€™t see the presence of government in this market. Government has not done anything here. I canâ€™t see it. I also observed that there are so many young men in this market working hard to earn their living. I have never seen a gathering of young men like this except in the stadium where they gather to watch football match. You people need special attention. You need special provision. We have a foundation called Pro-Value Foundation. We look into issues concerning the young people and their welfare.â€? Rendering his support, Okonkwo who is the founder of Pro-Value Humanity Foundation and a strong contender for the Anambra State governorship position said he plans to use his foundation to launch a massive sensitisation campaign in the state on ways to avoid fire outbreaks. On his donation, he said, â€œTo be sure that the tempo of this rebuilding work is sustained, I will give you one trailer load of cement. Youâ€™ll receive it between now and Monday.â€?

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Í˛Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

CRIME&SECURITY

How Navy Arrested 33 Suspected Oil Thieves, Three Vessels in Delta

Some of the arrested suspected oil thieves Sylvester Idowu in Warri

igilant operatives of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS Delta), Warri, within three weeks, have arrested 33 suspected oil thieves in different operations around Escravos offshore in Warri South-west Local Government area of Delta Sate. The operations, which was carried out between January 15 and February 12 this year, also led to the arrest of three sea going vessels namely MT Nely, MT Madam Esther and MT De-Praise as well as a wooden boat and a badge. According to sources, the patrol teams of NNS Delta first observed that the Automatic Identification System (AIS) of the vessels were switched off, which attracted suspicion that triggered the curiousity of the naval operatives. It was learnt that on boarding the vessels, the navy personnel discovered that they were laden with crude oil, AGO also known as diesel amongst others without valid documents from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Handing over the suspected oil thieves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials for further investigations and prosecution on Monday, the Commander of NNS Delta, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, who was represented by the Executive Officer, NNS Delta, Navy Captain Anthony Victor Kujoh, confirmed that the suspects were arrested at different locations off Escravos rivers in the past three weeks. He also confirmed that substances

One of the arrested vessels handed over by NNS Delta to EFCC operatives suspected to be illegally produced AGO and suspected stolen crude oil were found aboard the vessels while the crew members could not produce any valid documents from the regulat-

ing agencies authorising lifting of the products. "From preliminary investigations, we discovered that the vessels did not have any valid oil lifting approval from

NNPC and DPR. We also discovered that the vessels changed their names thrice without any valid papers, also no valid NIMASA sea faring certification at the time of arrrests", he said. Dewu therefore warned criminals to stay clear of the area of responsibilities of NNS Delta noting that Nigerian Navy was poised to block all escape routes to criminals in the Nigerian maritime environment. A Principal Detective Suprintendent of EFCC, Benin Zonal office, Richard Ogberagha, while receiving the suspects and vessels, said investigations had already commenced into the circumstances surrounding the vessels, their crew members and the products found on them. "We have just taken over the vessels, MT Neli, MT De-Praise and MT Madam Esther with a Cotonou boat. We have also taken over the crew members. So we have already commenced investigations by working with officials of DPR to start sounding of the vessels to determine the quality of the products. Samples will be taken and quality analysis will be done. "We are going to interview the suspects and find out the extent of their involvement and how they came about the products. We will brief you subsequently on the development as the investigations progress", he assured. The handing over ceremony last Monday took place barely five days after another vessel, MT Fendercare 1 was handed over to the officials of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) having been caught under similar circumstances but without any stolen oil products.

IPCR Proposes Traditional Method to Fighting Banditry Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

n appeal has gone to the public and government to adopt the traditional methods of addressing banditry and violent conflicts which have become common feature in Nigeria. The Director General of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Bakut T. Bakut made this plea during the advocacy meeting for tolerance and peaceful coexistence for traditional and community leaders in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

The advocacy was organised by the institute in collaboration with Hon Micah Yohanna Jiba, the lawmaker representing Bwari, AMAC Constituencies in the House of Representatives. Bakut noted that some of the violent conflicts occurring at inter personal, group and community levels required traditional approach of handling. Bakut, who was represented by the Director Democracy and Development Studies, Emmanuel Mamman, said the advocacy meeting was organised to create awareness in traditional and community leaders to effectively carry

out their age-long pivotal role in conflict resolution and peace-building in their communities. He asked traditional rulers, as custodians of culture and tradition to play specific roles and functions in the provision of safety and security to communities, noting they can also play enormous role in the resolution of disputes over land, boundary, chieftaincy matters, marriages and herdsmen violence among others. â€œThere is need by the community leaders to adequately respond and prevent conflicts from becoming violent. The traditional leaders should be able to

build social cohesion, unity and peace in their communities. â€œThere can be no development if there is no peace; tolerance is one way of negotiating solutions to problems and traditional rulers are expected to be mechanics,â€? Bakut said. One of the participants, Chief Japhet Akawu described as one of the high points from the advocacy meeting the appeal to youth to embrace peace by not always taking the law into their hands. Akawu, who is the Village Head of Tasha 1, Juwa Chiefdom said when the people are tolerant they will achieve peace.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Coronavirus Puts Global Economic Recovery at Risk, Says IMF The deadly coronavirus epidemic could put an already fragile global economic recovery at risk, the IMF warned Sunday, as G20 financial chiefs voiced “real concern” over its economic ripple effects. Global growth was poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 percent this year, up from 2.9 percent last year, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said after a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Riyadh. But the projected recovery was “fragile”, she warned, amid global alarm over the spread of the new virus across multiple countries even as Chinese authorities lock down millions of people to prevent its spread, with major knock-on effects for the world economy. “The COVID-19 virus — a global health emergency — has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the recovery at risk,” she said in a statement.

The virus has now claimed 2,442 lives in China, cutting off transportation, disrupting trade and fanning investor alarm as businesses are forced to close their doors. Paris on Friday announced a host of measures to assist French companies affected by the fallout from the epidemic. “We are ready to take any additional measures if necessary to cope with a possible worsening of the impact on the global economy,” said French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who attended the G20 talks. “The risk is now confirmed, and so is the impact on the global economy, and it is a real concern for all G20 members.” EU economic affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said the G20 was ready to react with “pro-growth policies” to alleviate the downside risks. “The main risk is the outbreak of the coronavirus and the

consequences that this outbreak” could have are tied to the duration of the epidemic, Gentiloni told reporters in Riyadh. At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the first Arab nation to hold the G20 presidency, financial leaders also discussed ways to achieve consensus on a global taxation system for the digital era.

Several gathered leaders called for an international agreement to tax digital giants — a key bone of contention between the US and several European nations — by the end of 2020. But the impact from the new coronavirus outbreak formed the core of the discussions, along with an action plan to shield the world

economy — already facing a slowdown. The gathered financial leaders vowed to “enhance global risk monitoring” of the outbreak, according to the G20 final communique. “We stand ready to take further action to address these risks,” it said. Georgieva told the Riyadh

gathering that the outbreak would shave about 0.1 percentage points from global growth and constrain China’s growth to 5.6 percent this year, in a baseline scenario. “I reported to the G20 that even in the case of rapid containment of the virus, growth in China and the rest of the world would be impacted,” she said.

…Italy Records Three Death An elderly cancer patient became the third person known to be infected with the coronavirus to die in Italy, health officials said on Sunday, as the number of people contracting the virus continued to mount. The death of the woman in a hospital in the small city of Crema in Lombardy, the centre of Italy’s coronavirus scare, followed that of a 77-year-old woman on Saturday and a 78-year-old man on Friday,

the first victim of coronavirus in Europe. The head of Italy’s civil protection department, Angelo Borrelli, said during a news conference that 152 people had now tested positive for the virus, including the three deceased. The cancer patient had been hospitalised for a few days, said Lombardy’s health chief, Giulio Gallera. “She’d been tested and

they already knew she had the coronavirus,” Gallera said, adding that it was too early to know whether the virus was the actual cause of death. The deaths, and steadily rising cases of infected people, have prompted a series of security measures to try to check the spread of the contagion. Eleven towns — 10 in Lombardy and 1 in Veneto — are under lockdown, with residents

prohibited from leaving. Regional authorities have ordered gathering spots, such as bars, restaurants and discos to close. Schools throughout the affected areas are to remain closed next week. Most of the cases in Italy are in Lombardy, a prosperous region in the country’s north, and can be traced back to a 38-year-old man whom authorities have called “patient one.”

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY, ͺͼ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

PAGE FIFTY FOUR BOKO HARAM’S THREAT AGAINST BUHARI, EMPTY BOAST, SAYS MILITARY This is as the president yesterday condemned the insurgents’ attacks on Garkida in Adamawa State at the weekend, and sympathised with the families of the victims. The military also urged the international community to curb proliferation of arms and block the sources of funding for terrorists, saying that 75 per cent of illegal arms in Africa are in Nigeria, Congo, Central African Republic, Mali and Sudan.

Shekau, in a nine-minute video released last week, had mocked Buhari after his recent visit to Borno and warned him not to visit Maiduguri again or risked being attacked. He also threatened the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Patami, for vowing to block the communication facilities of the insurgents. Besides, he asked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, whether he

had become weary of leading the war against insurgency. Buratai had in a letter to war commanders in the North-east at the weekend, congratulated them for their gallantry, stating that with their renewed vigour, the war would be won in a matter of days. However, just about the time Buratai wrote the letter to the troops, the insurgents launched fresh attacks on Adamawa, burning police barracks, churches and the home of Buhari’s classmate,

Major-General Paul Tarfa (rtd). However, Nwachukwu described Shekau as a rat moving from one hole to another. He said: "Our president is free to go to anywhere in the North-east whenever he feels like. Our troops are dominating the ground. "I have told you the major terrorist strategy is hit and run; target women, soft targets and take off. That was why I called Shekau a rat. He is running about,

FG PROBES VIDEO OF THREATENED W’AFRICAN MANATEE IN DELTA has also vowed to clamp being dragged on bare Delta Condemns Also, the Delta State down on the illegal sales ground to a cruel fate Maltreatment of Sea Government has condemned of endangered wildlife by some ill-informed/ Cow, Threatens to what it described as inhuman products in a move perceived uninformed youth. I strongly act by some youths against Prosecute Culprits as a precautionary measure condemn this act. the captured Manatee and against the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus disease. Manatees are "large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals that measure up to 4.0 metres, weigh as much as 590 kilograms and have paddlelike flippers." They are occasionally called sea cows, as they are slow plant-eaters, peaceful and similar to cows on land. They often graze on water plants in tropical seas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), classified Manatees as "Vulnerable" in its Red-list for threatened species and stressed the dire need to preserve, rehabilitate and care for them. In a trending video, described by many as "distressing’’, ‘’distasteful’’, “disgusting’’ and ‘’horrific,’’ a captured manatee was being dragged on bare ground by some youths yesterday. Reacting to the maltreatment of the animal, Ikeazor said: “My attention has been drawn to a very distressing and distasteful video of a captured manatee in the Niger Delta region

"It is sad that manatees remain one of the most heavily hunted aquatic mammals; the repeated occurrence must be of great concern to us all "The Ministry of Environment will increase efforts in wildlife conservation and working with relevant national, state agencies and conservationists, especially in coastal regions to protect and conserve endangered marine species and their habitat’’, the minister stated in her twitter handle, @ sharon ikeazor. She added that an awareness campaign must be carried out in the Niger Delta and coastal regions to educate the people to protect the Manatee due to its importance in the nation’s biodiversity and its ecological importance. "But at the same time, an alternative livelihood must be developed as an incentive to the coastal people to protect and not hunt manatees; we must gather widespread support and develop a specific conservation strategy for manatees in Nigeria.

A manatee captured by youths in Delta State

hiding himself in holes. He does not have what it takes to confront the armed forces of Nigeria.” He explained that Shekau and his terror group had become factionalised, depleted and defeated, adding that the armed forces cannot be cowed by terrorists’ ranting. "The Armed Forces of Nigeria cannot be brought to their knees. That's the truth. Boko Haram, having been defeated, I have told you why you must agree

with me that Boko Haram has been depleted before they started fresh efforts to self-regenerate by embarking on recruitment drive. "Between 2015, 2017 and 2018, Boko Haram was completely depleted; the leadership was in turmoil. That was why they were factionalised; that's why Shekau lost grip on the group and that was why Albanawi took over.

threatened to prosecute those found culpable. It said the actions of the youths were an embarrassment to the state against the animal, which it said is among protective sea animals. In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, the state government frowned on the actions of the youths which negates the Bonn Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. The state government warned that anyone caught hunting protective animals within the state, would be arrested and prosecuted in line with relevant laws of the land. “Let me re-emphasise that it is against the law for those in the habit of killing animals that are protected by the law. “Anybody caught killing such animal will be jailed because we cannot continue to watch people destroy our nature out of ignorance “Rather than kill such animals, people are advised to render help to them to return to their natural habitats where necessary,” it added. The state government said the Ministry of Information would partner its Environment counterpart and other government agencies to carry out intensive campaigns on

the preservation of these endangered protective animals. Meanwhile, the FCT administration said it would clamp down on the illegal sales of endangered wildlife products in a move perceived as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease. The threat followed reports indicating an upsurge in the sale of products derived from wildlife within the capital city. The Acting Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Chukwuemeka Prospect, issued the warning at a meeting between him and the stakeholders on wildlife management. According to him, Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) that seeks to protect fauna, flora and wild animals. He expressed worries at the scale at which these derivatives of wildlife were sold on the streets of Abuja, while also restating the readiness of the administration to end the practice. Director, Monitoring and Enforcement of Abuja Environment Protection Board, Dr. Hassan Abubakar, also said the populace as well as the perpetrators must be sensitised to desist from illegal sales.

mainly, the rise in non-oil receipts. But aggregate outflow from the CBN during the period, according to the CBN, was $15.57 billion, indicating a decrease of 3.9 per cent and 2.7 per cent below the levels in the preceding quarter of 2019 and the corresponding period of 2018, respectively. “The decline in outflow, relative to the preceding quarter reflected, mainly, the decline in third party MDAs transfers and interbank utilisation. Overall, foreign exchange flows, through the bank in the review period, resulted in a net outflow of $2.27 billion compared with net outflow of $3.67 billion and $0.19 billion in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2018 respectively,” it added. According to the report, aggregate sectoral foreign exchange utilisation in the fourth quarter of 2019 stood at $11.43 billion, indicating a decrease of 17.4 per cent, below the level at the end of the third quarter of 2019. It, however, rose by two per cent above the level in the corresponding period of 2018. The invisible sector accounted for the bulk (64.3 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed in the review quarter, followed by the industrial sector (15.1 per cent). Others were manufactured

products, 8.3 per cent; minerals and oil, 6.5 per cent; food products, 3.8 per cent; transport, 1.4 per cent; and agricultural sector, 0.6 per cent. “Total non-oil export earnings received through the banks during the review period amounted to $0.96 billion, representing a decrease of 37.8 per cent and 12.7 per cent relative to the levels at the end of the preceding quarter and corresponding period of 2018, respectively.

Continued on page 58

BANKS RECORD LOAN GROWTH ON CBN LENDING POLICY and advances amounting to N5.674 trillion in 2018, the value increased to N6.849 trillion in 2019. A breakdown of the loans and advances indicated that Zenith Bank Plc recorded the highest growth in term of value, while Fidelity Bank Plc recorded the highest percentage growth. For instance, Zenith Bank Plc gave out a total of N2.306 trillion loans in 2019, indicating a growth of 26 per cent from N1.823 trillion in 2018. First Bank gave out a total of N1.877 trillion in 2019, showing a growth of 11.5 per cent, from N1.684 trillion in 2018. Also, Fidelity Bank recorded N1.127 trillion loans and advances in 2019, up by 32 per cent compared with N849 billion in 2018. Also, FCMB gave out N718 billion in 2019 as loans as against N633 billion in 2018, showing an increase of 13.4 per cent while Stanbic IBTC recorded N532 billion loans in 2019, showing an increase of 22.8 per cent above the N433 billion posted in 2018. Wema Bank increased its loans and advances by 14.6 per cent from N252 billion in 2018 to N289 billion in 2019. Analysts at Cowry Asset Management Limited, said the CBN’s policy would lead to an uptrend in credit growth to the private sector in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“We feel that the sustained increase in credit to the private sector, which was induced by CBN’s policy of higher loan to deposit ratio–its increase from 60 per cent to 65 per cent took effect from January 1, 2020 –,should stimulate real sector growth in Q4 2019. In addition to the restriction on Open Market Operations (OMO) sales to deposits money banks (DMBs) and foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) FPIs, we expect credit to private sector to further rise with a resultant growth in production output,” The analysts added that the low yield environment, which has “made borrowings affordable to corporates, individuals and government,” will also give businesses an opportunity to expand. The Co-founder at Cardinal Stone Partners Limited, Mr. Mohammed Garuba, while commenting on the policy, said: “Banks were set up primarily to intermediate and that is what the CBN is trying to make them do, not to be buying treasury bills and bonds. So, banks are gradually being made to do their primary job. “So, now we would start seeing economy-reflective financial performance. Banks were focused on deposits, which they channel into treasury bills and you say you are a bank. Now, the central bank is more focused on banks

playing their intermediation role.” The CBN had decided in the interim to retain the minimum LDR ratio for commercial and merchant banks at 65 per cent. It based its decision on what it described as remarkable increase in credit to the private sector. The deadline for banks to achieve a 65 per cent LDR elapsed on December 31, 2019, with sanctions applied on those that defaulted. However, the central bank said failure to achieve the target would continue to attract levies of additional cash reserve requirement of 50 per cent of the lending shortfall of the target LDR on or before March 31, 2020. CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had said the credit conditions in the banking system had since improved due to the policy. According to him, banks are now able to recover delinquent loans from customers’ accounts in other banks. Emefiele said the measures had placed Nigerian banks in a much better position towards supporting a stronger economic recovery.

Transactions on Domiciliary Account Not Prohibited, Says CBN Meanwhile, the CBN has clarified that the news

making the rounds that it has banned domiciliary accounts’ transactions was false. The central bank said the clarification became necessary so as to address the uncertainties surrounding the operations of domiciliary accounts. CBN, in a statement yesterday by its Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said: “The bank has not prohibited the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by Deposit Money Banks. “Only electronic fund transfers into domiciliary accounts can be transferred from such accounts while cash deposits into such accounts can only be withdrawn in cash also.” Okorafor urged stakeholders and other interested parties to always endeavour to seek clarification on issues and avoid speculative tendencies, which are detrimental to the financial system. According to the CBN fourth quarter 2019 economic report, aggregate foreign exchange inflow into the central bank during the period amounted to $13.29 billion, showing an increase of 6.1 per cent over the level in the third quarter of 2019. But it decreased by 15.9 per cent below the level in the corresponding period of 2018. The development, relative to the preceding quarter reflected,

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MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Bayelsa Dep Gov Breaks Silence, Denies Allegation of Certificate Forgery Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, yesterday denied presenting a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to aid his qualification. Ewhrudjakpo, who spoke through his counsel, Mr. Clement Kekemeke, in Abuja, explained that NYSC made a spelling error on his surname, adding that he later wrote to the NYSC, notifying it of the error and asking it to correct the mistake and reissue him one with his correct name. He said the NYSC later corrected it and reissued him with an exemption certificate bearing his correct name. Kekemeke said, “The position of my client is that he never forged NYSC exemption certificate.” A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Benjamin Youndiowei, had dragged him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the INEC before a court, claiming that Ewhrudjakpo had issued a forged certificate to the INEC to aid his qualification as the running mate of Mr. Douye Diri, who currently is the Governor of Bayelsa State. But Ewhrudjakpo has insisted that at no time did he falsify his NYSC Exemption Certificate, explaining that he would not have even contemplated such action when his academic documents are genuine. He admitted that there was a typographical error which he complained to the NYSC office, adding that it was corrected even before he contested for the office of a deputy governor to Senator Diri Douye. The deputy governor who displayed the original of his credentials, said that justice would soon silence those bent on dragging his name in the mud,

explaining that the allegation was a public issue before he was nominated as running mate to the newly inaugurated governor of the state. “Sometimes in 2019 preparatory to the National Assembly elections, and specifically that of Bayelsa West Senatorial District, where Senator Ewrudjakpo represented until he was sworn in as deputy governor; one Ibisene Afamkolo took him to the Federal High Court and commenced a suit by way of originating summons accusing him of presenting a forged NYSC Exemption Certificate. “While dealing with that matter, being a pre-election matter; at a point, it became statue-barred, having exceeded the period of 180 days within which it ought to have been dispensed with by virtue of the provision of the 1999 Constitution. “The next thing that followed was that truly on the certificate presented to INEC by my client in his form CS001, which is the nomination form, his surname was mis-spelt. Instead of Ewhrudjakpo, the name was mis-spelt as Ewhrudjakpa. After the matter was struck out and even though my client had earlier applied for the correction of this mis-spelt name, he was further bored by that matter by re-applying again for the issuance of a new certificate. “He applied again, drawing the attention of the NYSC to the error on his surname and seeking a re-issuance of a correct certificate. Consequently, the NYSC responded and reissued a fresh certificate correcting our client’s name, reflecting the surname now as Ewhrudjakpo, being the issuing authority that has the loci standi to replace an erroneously issued certificate. That put the matter to rest.” Kekemeka stated that based

on the complaint on the error, a new exemption certificate was issued to the deputy governor

and that the matter had been put to rest following the issuance of a fresh exemption certificate

by the NYSC. However, he said that because of politics, the matter

again resurrected much to the disappointment of all who knew the true position of things”.

UNVEILING GREEN CHAMBER MAGAZINE…

L-R: Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Bello Aminu Masari; Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin kalu; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege during the unveiling of Green Chamber Magazine by the House of Representatives in Abuja...weekend

S’Court Can’t Review Kano Governorship Case, State Govt Tells Kwankwaso: The Kano State Government has said former Governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, is “ignorant of judicial procedure” for asking the Supreme Court to review its verdict which affirmed Abdullahi Ganduje as governor. The Supreme Court in a decision delivered on January 20, dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, who claimed the election was marred by

irregularities. Last Wednesday, Kwankwaso led some members of the PDP from the state to the national secretariat of the party, asking the leadership to support the call for a review of Kano State governorship election case. Reacting to the move, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Muhammad Garba, in a statement, said: “Kwankwaso’s call is a clear testimony of his total obliviousness on the

jurisdictional procedures that affirmed Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as elected governor.” Garba said the former governor has no grounds to call for a review because the PDP suffered a “glaring defeat” at the apex court. “What the Supreme Court ruled was the affirmation of the judgment of the tribunal and Court of Appeal. That is to say, the PDP failed woefully to prove their case and that is the substance of

the case. Therefore, there is no basis what so ever for review of Kano case,’’ he said. The commissioner said Kwankwaso is driven by the recent applications for the review of the Supreme Court judgments on Imo and Bayelsa states’governorship cases, which he said, cannot be compared with that of Kano. He added that the judiciary would not overturn its decision.

Border Closure Has Reduced One Killed, Others Injured as Thugs Invade PDP Meeting in Delta Smuggling of Textile Fabrics, Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba invaded the political meeting The meeting was said to control by a team of policemen, at the premises of one of the be in preparation for the which was on patrol in the area Says PDP BoT Chair One person was killed and two party’s local leaders, shooting forthcoming ward congress at the time of the incident. John Shiklam in Kaduna

Life Patron of the Textiles Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NTMA), Senator Walid Jibrin, has said the closure of Nigerian borders has tremendously reduced the rate of smuggling of textile fabrics into the country. Jibrin, in a statement after his unanimous election as the Life Patron of the NTMA at its annual general meeting in Kaduna, said smuggling and lack of regular electricity supply were the major challenges facing the textile industry. Jibrin, who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that the industry is in dare need of adequate electricity supply to aid its production, noting that 70 per cent electricity used by the companies were from generators. He said: “Smuggling and lack of regular electricity are the most challenging problems facing the textile industry. “If the issue of smuggling of textile materials is curtailed to

the barest minimum and there is regular power supply, the textile industries would be revived. “It is also important to collaborate with the Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN) for alternative source of electricity supply in order to address the problem of power supply.” He said the federal government was losing a lot of revenue as a result of the activities of smugglers. “The industry also appreciate the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for giving support to cotton production and textile industries to produce made-inNigeria uniforms for the Armed Forces, Immigration, Customs, and Prison. “The Bank of Industries (BoI) has done very well in giving loans to the industry. Once the industry is revived, there is guarantee for adequate employment in Nigeria,” he said. Jibrin commended NTMA for electing him as its life patron after serving as the grand patron of the association for 45 years.

others left with bullet wounds when some hoodlums alleged to be political thugs invaded the venue of a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Emu-Unor in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend. The thugs reportedly

indiscriminately and causing confusion as people ran for cover. The man killed in the incident was identified simply as Onyeka, who was, however, believed to be one of the alleged thugs who stormed the venue of the meeting.

of the party. “They came in large number apparently with the intention to disrupt the meeting, and in the process, they started shooting, but the bullets hit one of the thugs,” a source said. The highly charged situation was eventually brought under

At least one of the thugs has been arrested by the police, who also took the corpse of the deceased to a morgue. When contacted yesterday, the Delta Police Command spokeswoman, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident.

Govt Nabs Fake Doctor Who Worked in State Hospital for 11Years The Kaduna State Government has said it has nabbed a suspected fake Medical Doctor, Mr. Saidu Ahmed Ya’u, who has been in the employment of the state for 11 years. The State Ministry of Justice has charged Ya’u before the Chief Magistrate court for certificate forgery and impersonation. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Justice, which was signed by the Attorney General of Kaduna State, Mrs. Aisha Dikko, the state government stated that the accused has been remanded at the Kaduna Correctional Facility until March 16. The statement further said that the First Information Report (FIR)

indicated that Saidu has been working as a medical doctor for more than 11 years as a staff of the Ministry of Health. According to the Attorney General, Governor Nasir El Rufai had ordered the Ministry of Health to investigate Saidu, following a petition alleging that the accused has been working with fake certificates. The Ministry of Health set up a four-member committee to investigate and verify the certificates and institutions that Saidu claimed to have attended as well as verify his registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The statement stated that the

committee found out that the accused forged the certificates, which he presented to the government to enable him secure employment with Kaduna State Ministry of Health. ‘’Information gathered from Ahmadu Bello University(ABU) Zaria and MDCN also reveals that Saidu was neither admitted nor graduated from the university and was not registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,’’ the statement added. The Attorney General further said that when the FIR was read to the defendant, Saidu claimed that all the charges against him are false. The Director of Public

Prosecution opposed the bail application made by the defendant’s counsel. According to the DPP, the allegations against the defendant are very weighty, adding the exceptional circumstances for admitting such offenders to bail have not been complied with, in line with Section 174 of Kaduna State Administration of Justice Law 2017. The statement said that the director requested for a date for further mention, in order to enable him to conclude investigations on the matter and the court adjourned the matter to March 16.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Oshiomhole’s Intolerance May Scuttle Peace Move, Says DG PGF Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Director General of Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has warned that the perceived intolerance of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, may scuttle the efforts of the Chief Bisi Akande-led National Reconciliation Committee, which the party set up. The committee was recently inaugurated to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and foster unity within the party. Lukman, in a statement yesterday and entitled: “Chief Bisi Akande APC National Reconciliation Committee: Our

Leaders should Unite to Rebuild the Party,” said the crisis rocking the ruling party has reached a stage whereby the competence of members of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) to provide leadership to ensure victory in every election has been eroded. He described the party’s NWC as a very efficient trojan horse that opens the backdoor for electoral victory to political opponents. Lukman said since 2015, conducts of primary elections within the party had been rancorous in virtually all the states, adding that the NWC, which is saddled with the leadership responsibility of managing all internal processes, has been unable to do so.

SERAP Sues House, Gbajabiamila over Plan to Spend N5bn on 400 Exotic Cars The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 192 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and all members of the House from spending an estimated N5.04 billion to buy 400 exotic Toyota Camry 2020 cars for principal officers and members. SERAP is also seeking a court order to restrain and stop the National Assembly Service Commission from releasing any public funds to the House of Representatives to buy the vehicles, estimated to cost $35,130 each, until an impact assessment of the spending on access to public services and goods like education, security, health and clean water, is carried out. In the suit filed last Friday, SERAP and the concerned Nigerians argued that Nigerians have a right to honest and faithful performance by their public officials including

lawmakers, as public officials owe a fiduciary duty to the general citizenry. They also argued that it is illegal and unconstitutional for members of the House of Representatives to choose to buy expensive and exotic cars while encouraging Nigerians to tighten their belts and to patronize Nigerian brands. The plaintiffs further noted that it is illegal for House members to reject cheaper and equally reliable options, especially when many Nigerians still live in “chronic poverty” and “many state governments are unable to pay salaries of workers and pensions”. “If the members of House of Representatives take their duties to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged among us seriously, including their duties to judiciously spend public funds, they would not have voted to spend over $35,000 per car, especially given the current economic and financial realities of Nigeria,” the statement added.

NYSC Warns Prospective Corps Members against Fake Certificates OghenevwedeOhwovoriolein Abuja Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Shuiabu, has warmed foreign graduates, especially those coming from fellow West African countries not to come to orientation camp with fake certificates. Shuiabu, in a statement yesterday by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, warned prospective corps members with fake credentials to stay off its orientation camps across the country - as the scheme gets set for the 2020 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course. NYSC added that anyone caught especially graduates from the universities in WestAfrican sub-region with the intent to undermine the integrity of its mobilisation process with fake certificates would be arrested and prosecuted. “NYSC scheme had put necessary mechanism in place to curb the

enrolment of fake graduates for the orientation course, and would continue working diligently in that direction. The scheme has made tremendous achievements in the fight against unqualified graduates who try to infiltrate the scheme. “During the 2019 Batch ‘C’ online registration, over 20,000 foreign-trained Nigerians uploaded their results online. However, during the physical verification exercise, just 3,420 showed up, having been forewarned that anyone caught with fake certificate would be prosecuted,” he said. The statement added that the scheme recently had a meeting with the registrars and Student Affairs Officers of some African universities and read the riot act to them, including the vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of corps producing institutions in the country on the need to sanitise the mobilisation process.

He noted that the inability to resolve problems associated with management of 2015 elections had been compounded with more problems from 2019 elections. He attributed the party’s loss of

Adamawa, Oyo, Bauchi, Sokoto and Zamfara States to the internal crisis besetting APC. Lukman said the challenges of internal democracy and fair competitive practices during candidates’ selection processes

in the party remained a dream, adding that the problems associated with candidates’ selection process has produced what could be regarded as an electoral college. According to him, though

citizens can vote, the Supreme Court would eventually determine the winner, all as a result of poor management of candidates’ selection process by the ruling party.

ROYAL VISIT…

L-R:Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi; Etsu Patigi/Vice Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II; Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Etsu Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullahi Ndakotwa; and Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril; during a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Ilorin…weekend

Lagos Records Massive Drop in Fatal Accidents after Restriction of Motorcyclists The Lagos State Government has affirmed that there has been a massive drop in the rate of fatal accidents involving commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’, since the restriction of their movements in six local government areas comprising of 475 routes, including major roads, highways and bridges across the State. A statement issued yesterday by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso disclosed

that data from the state Police Command confirmed that Okada-rider accidents reduced from 19 in January 2020 before the restriction order to one between February 1 and 20. “The February lone accident, which happened on 02/02/2020 at about 1200 hours, involved a Hovo Sino Trailer with registration number GWL-315-XA, driven by one Shaibu Abdullahi, allegedly knocked down a Bajaj Motorcycle with registration number SMK386-QA along Sagamu Road, by

Cele Bus-Stop, Ikorodu,” the commissioner said. Giving further details about the incident, he added that “the rider, named Walbe Deshi and his passenger, also identified as Sadiq Seyok, sustained severe injuries and were taken to Ikorodu General Hospital for treatment where the rider later died”. Omotoso pointed out that the current situation is a radical departure from the casualty rate between January and December

2019 when there were 168 commercial motorcycles accidents involving 226 victims, leaving 201 persons dead. While reiterating the present administration’s resolve to ensure the safety and security of all Lagos residents, the commissioner gave the assurance that the palliative measures being rolled out by the state government will provide enduring and permanent solutions to public transportation problems in the state.

Rivers N’Assembly Caucus Blames APC for Attack on Justice Odili’s Residence Adedayo Akinwale inAbuja The Rivers State National Assembly Caucus has called on Nigerians and the international community to hold agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) responsible should any harm befall Justice Mary Odili or any member of her family. The caucus in a statement issued yesterday and jointly signed by Sen. George Sekibo and Hon. Kingsley Chinda condemned in clear terms the

daring attack on the Abuja residence of Dr. Peter and his wife Justice Mary Odili by sponsored thugs of the APC following the judgment of the Supreme Court in the Bayelsa State governorship election. The caucus also condemned the silence of the federal government and security agencies over what it described as an ‘audacious act of primitivism and grave threat whereby placard-carrying thugs invaded the privacy of the Odilis

and erected barricades against their residence for no other reason than the fact that Mrs. Odili participated in the Bayelsa State governorship appeal as one among a five-man panel which heard the appeal and reached a unanimous decision that sacked the APC candidate’. It recalled that in 2015, Rivers State was the victim of unfavourable judicial decisions where 15 out its 16 members of the National Assembly were sacked.

It added that as painful as the decisions were, there was no recourse to self-help or threat of violence against any of the Justices who sat on the appeals. According to the caucus, “This latest wanton shamelessness constitutes a new dimension in the ongoing assault against the judiciary, and, once again, underlines Nigeria’s inexorable degeneration and descent into rapid lawlessness.

Osinbajo, Lawan, Okowa Preach Unity Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, called for concerted efforts by Nigeria to make the country more united. They spoke at the Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun, during a thanksgiving service by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. According to them, with collective efforts and determination, Nigeria would be better.

Osinbajo said, “with the steadfastness in the Senate, we will get it right in the country. “Omo-Agege is committed and we thank God that we are here with our brother to celebrate.” Senate President, Lawan, while lauding Omo-Agege for his “courage”, said, “as a diverse people with different ethnic and religious backgrounds, we should work together to make Nigeria better.” On his part, Okowa said that there was a lot of work to be

done and stressed that while Nigerians should be committed to serving God, they should also be committed to serving the nation. “Today is a big day not just for you, Senator Omo-Agege, but for the people of Delta Central and the entire state. “Whatever you are was made possible by God and we thank you for remembering to appreciate God because it is never late to give thanks to God. “There is a lot of work to be done in our state and the country;

we should render service to God and mankind. “I urge Deltans in the National Assembly to bring the much you can to Delta even as you work for our nation for it to be progressive,” he said. Earlier in n his sermon, Very Rev. Fr. Mario Ozele, had said that Jesus required His followers to forgive those who wronged them. According to him, Jesus requires his followers to be different from the people of the world.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

NRC Rules out Concession of Abuja-Kaduna Railway Olawale Ajimotokan and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation ((NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has disclosed that the federal government has no plan to concession the operations of Abuja-Kaduna Railway to private business operators. Rather, he advised private interests to collaborate and acquire coaches and bid for licence to enable them move passengers and goods on the same route. Okhiria made this submission at the Infrastructure Dialogue with the theme: “Rail Infrastructure Rebirth: Catalyst for Nigeria’s Economic Potentials” held in Abuja. He explained that government had ordered 30 new locomotives to be delivered before the end of the year for movement of

passengers and goods on the Abuja-Kaduna as well as the Lagos-Ibadan routes. Ten of the coaches, consisting of two locomotives (diesel motorcars unit) and eight coaches would be operated between Lagos-Ibadan, while another 10 would ply Abuja-Kaduna line. The dialogue was held to address the infrastructural funding gap in the railway sector in addition to why it’s incumbent to fast track the passage of the Railway Bill, which is before the National Assembly. To plug the gap, the Managing Director of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Chidi Izuwah, urged the federal government to fashion out a comprehensive planning and design solutions across all sectors of the country’s infrastructure

value chain. He noted that private sector participation should be accelerated to deliver the desired goals as obtained in developed countries

given that government lacks the resources to address the infrastructural deficits in the country. He said the key takeaway from

the dialogue was the emphasis on the public private partnership in line with ICRC Act and national policies on PPPs to drive infrastructure. He noted

that the current infrastructural deficit would subsist except government prioritised and deepened PPP in key areas of the economy.

Ondo 2020: I’m Not Threatened by Any Gang-up, GIVING GLORY TO GOD… L-R: Wife of Vice Chancellor, Delta State University, Prof. Ebele Egwunyenga; her husband, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga; and Delta State Says Akeredolu Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, at a thanksgiving reception organised by the VC at the university premises, Abraka ... weekend The Governor of Ondo State, Mr. in the forthcoming governorship Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, said poll. But the governor’s CPS, in Umahi Orders Arrest of Two Aides for Alleged Murder he was not threatened by any gang-up against his re-election bid. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye in Akure, the governor said the gang-up will crumble like a pack of cards. About seven chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the Unity Forum have shown interest in the governorship position. While the party’s primary election had been fixed for July this year, the governorship election will hold on October 10 according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Akeredolu was reacting to the lawmaker representing Ondo North Senatorial districts, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, who said the APC chieftains are united against his re-election. Boroffice had said the APC Unity Forum, which comprises aggrieved members would present the standard-bearer of the party

a swift reaction, said: “Governor Akeredolu is not a desperate politician.” The statement reads: “He is not threatened by any gang-up in respect of the 2020 governorship race. “His belief in the sanctity of the people’s backing remains unshaken. “Just as Government of Ondo State led by Oluwarotimi Akeredolu believes in the right of all qualified persons to aspire to be governor, it is perhaps, untoward on the part of supposed leaders to be unrestrained in the pursuit of their ambitions. “Our initial perception of the pernicious outburst of the senator was to ignore him because such was misguided. “At best, empathy was most desirable for a man whose lust for excessive mischief has severally spurred him to paths of perfidy against his Southwest kinsmen.

I’m a Miracle Gov, Says Diri The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday dubbed himself a miracle governor. Diri was sworn in as Bayelsa State Governor on February 14, 2020 following the Supreme Court’s disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. David Lyon and his Deputy, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over alleged discrepancies in Degi-Eremienyo name. “I christen myself a miracle governor,” he told reporters in Abuja. “I christen myself a miracle governor. At a point everybody gave up. We were the only party (PDP) the APC could not approach. We filed in court. The only place we had hope was in the judiciary. “The case between APC and APC was thrown out. The APC applauded the Supreme Court and on Thursday February 13, 2020 the hammer came,” Diri said. He added,” We were in the wilderness and a torturous journey but here we are a miracle governor. They attempted to use the so-called federal might to impose somebody on Bayelsa. There were those who said there

will be no governor in Bayelsa State. To the glory of God Bayelsa State has a governor. I am indeed a miracle governor.” On his agenda for the state, Diri said that he was part and parcel of the immediate past government in the state and did not need to be told where to start. He noted however that principally, his administration would focus and re-energise the economy of the state to make it more vibrant. He said that they would work to refocus Bayelsans from being civil servants alone. Diri who assured that they knew where they were going said that education would also be top priority of his administration. On the Supreme Court ruling that disqualified the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate David Lyon and his deputy Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, he said that PDP did not take forgery case to court. Diri said, “What we took to court was a case of false information. The onus was on him to prove how and why he had the multiple names. We did not institute a case of forgery. It was a case of false information.”

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi has sacked two of his aides for their alleged involvement in murder during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) councillorship primaries on February 21. The governor also directed the police command in the state to

arrest the two aides for possible prosecution. The directive was contained in a statement signed and issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala, in Abakaliki, the state capital. Ugbala said the affected

aides were the Coordinator of Ubeyi Development Centre of Afikpo North Local Government Area, Mr. Uche Ibiam, and the Technical Assistant on security, Mr. Ibiam Ogbonnaya. “The governor further directs security agencies to carry out investigations and

prosecute all those found guilty in the crime in accordance with extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The governor assures Ebonyi people of their safety and his readiness to sustain the peace and tranquillity reigning in the state,” he said.

UNICEF, EU to Provide 25,000 Youths With Skills in Borno Michael OlugbodeinMaiduguri Twenty-five thousand internally displaced youths in Borno State are slated for skill acquisition programme of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and European Union. The programme, which is a partnership between the Borno State’s Agency for Mass Education (SAME) and UNICEF, is supported by the European Union. The programme, which is expected to train youths in batches over the next three years, is aimed at empowering indigent young people

with vocations so they can return to school or support their children and community in the uptake of education services. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of vocation centres in Maiduguri at the weekend, Education Manager of the UNICEF Borno Field Office, Dr. Nasser Kaddoura, said youths living in communities in Hawul, Gwoza, Mobbar, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Monguno and Jere Local Government Areas will be empowered with skills in painting, shoe making, interlocking, poultry farming,

sewing and catering. Kaddoura, who disclosed that over 1,000 Borno youths have enrolled in the first three-month cycle of the programme across five local government areas of the state, stated that opportunities to earn income would boost school enrolment and literacy rates among conflict-affected young people in the state. He said: “This intervention is a part of the resilience component of an EU project to strengthen communities in Borno State to demand education. As UNICEF continues to support the state

government in providing quality education to children in many communities, adolescents and young adults who go through the skill acquisition project will recognise the invaluable place of literacy even in commerce. They would become champions of education in their communities.” Also speaking to poultry farming trainees at the event, the Executive Secretary of SAME, Alhaji Ali Mustapha, said: “When we say there is no money in circulation, we have skills in circulation. I want to advise you to follow up your customers with phone calls.

Don’t Take over Osun Groove Road, CACOL Begs FG Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has appealed to the federal government to shift ground on its decision to take over the road leading to Osun sacred groove and banning of vehicular movement within the groove. CACOL’s Executive Chairman and National Coordinator of C-GATE, Comrade Debo Adeniran, made the appeal during

a peaceful demonstration staged by members of the group in the groove in Osogbo, Osun State capital, to register the group’s discontentment over the decision of the federal government to hijack the road and convert it UNESCO property. He explained that confiscating the roads without the provision of another alternative would amount to unfair treatment on the people who are plying the road for their daily economic activities.

“We learnt that this road will be confiscated by the federal government and it would turn out to be an unfair treatment if the road is taken away from the people who have been using it for their economic activities without replacing it with another one. “We don’t mind if the Ministry of Tourism and Culture is taking interest on the road and expand it to fulfill their aspirations, maybe for exposing

our cultural heritage beyond Nigeria, but they should not make people to pay for such enterprise because everything we are doing supposed to be of benefits to the ordinary members of the society. “We should not do anything that would put our economic activities into jeopardy. So, if they want to take over the road, they should construct another one that would take them to their places of work.

Ekiti to Investigate, Prosecute Teachers for Alleged Rape of Students Victor Ogunje in Ado-Ekiti Ekiti State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, has threatened to investigate and prosecute some teachers reported to have allegedly raped some female students in some secondary schools in the state. Fapahunda, who expressed the state government’s concern at a

meeting he held with the state Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) at the Ministry of Justice Academy, hinted that the planned investigation would be done in conjunction with Ekiti State Police Command. The commissioner called for a meeting with the NUT to formally inform them of the ongoing joint investigations by his ministry and

the state police command over allegations of sexual violence in schools. He also expressed resentment over the incessant incidents of sexual molestations in secondary schools across the state. He, however, revealed that preliminary investigations by his office showed that some of the members of NUT were raping their

students in at least three secondary schools in the state. Fapohunda, who stated that the establishment of the Sex Offenders Register in the state backed by the leadership provided by the First Lady, has created awareness among the population? He said this has resulted in an increase in complaints of sexual violence to his ministry.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Insecurity: Catholics to Wear Black Attires in Protest Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja Catholic Church faithful in Nigeria have resolved to observe this year’s Ash Wednesday by donning black attire to show their displeasure over growing insecurity in the country. The march on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of 40-day fasting and sacrifices for Christians, has been described as a sign of mourning and solidarity with the victims of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country. The church, in a statement by the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to be read at Catholic Churches on Wednesday, described the solemn event as part

of the church’s moral responsibility. The statement signed by the President of CBCN, Bishop Augustine Akubeze and Secretary, Camillus Umoh, said: “As a mark of mourning for all our brothers and sisters who have been victims of the most recent wave of violence against Christians, we are to dress in black and offer our prayers and penance for their repose. We invite the universal church and all Christians to join us in prayers for our dead brothers and sisters and for peace and security in Nigeria.” It tasked the federal government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties of the citizens, saying “The consequences, should they succeed, will be healthier not only

for the West African sub-region but also for Africa as a whole.”

The Catholic Bishops appealed to the international community to

come to the aid of the Nigerian government in the fight against

daredevil terrorists, who want to destabilise the country.

Deregistration of Political Parties: HDP Files Contempt REPORT DELIVERED… Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Chief Executive Officer, Main One/Chairman, National Charge against INEC Chairman L-R: Broadband Plan Committee 2020-2025, Ms Funke Opeke; and Committee Secretary/Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Chuks Okocha in Abuja Following the expiration of 48hour ultimatum issued to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to rescind the deregistration of some of the political parties in the country, the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has applied for a form 48 contempt of court order against the INEC chief. HDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Sanni Usman, said the process of committing the INEC chairman to prison for his overt and flagrant disobedience to subsisting enrolled judgement order of perpetual injunction against the commission to his full knowledge under the hand and seal of his Lordship AFA Ademola of the Federal High Court on October 20, 2014 in suit No. FHC/ABJ/ CS/825/2012 in HDP vs the National Assembly and INEC

has commenced. HDP spokesperson added that judgement was given in favour of the said order of perpetual injunction not appealed against till date. Accordingly, he said HDP filed form 48 as issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja dated 13/02/2020, which stated: “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the judgement order to wit: that an order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants, their agents, servants, and or privies, howsoever from further acts, publications, or pronouncement, obstructions, de-registering, de-listing and or interfering with the operations and activities of the plaintiff (HDP) as a duly registered political party in Nigeria as provided by the constitution of Nigeria, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”

NDIC LIQUIDATES 425 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN 30 YEARS But whether banks have the legal rights to access as well as debit their customers’ other accounts had been subject of dispute in recent times. However, Abiodun said commercial banks could do so now following the introduction of the policy that empowered them. He explained that the right of banks to debit its debtors were already contained in their terms of services with customers. He also stated that the practice was geared towards bringing sanity to the banking system. “Yes, it is legal. Some of us don’t read when we are opening our accounts. Some of these conditions and terms that are in the paper when you are opening your account contain some of these provisions that if you are owing a bank then the bank has a recourse to take the money from the other bank that you have money. “Even if they are not there

in written words, banking practice calls for that if you have an account with another bank in your name and in your right and it is traceable with this BVN, wherever you have an account is already known. “I am not talking of a situation where you have a joint account with somebody or a company account that you are a signatory but the one in your right and in your name. The information on the BVN will bring everything together. “So by banking practice, you cannot be owing somewhere, it amounts to crime- you cannot be indebted and you carry gold necklace, beautiful clothes and you’re dancing at a party and spraying money and yet the bank that you are owing is already suffering or being liquidated. Definitely, common sense says that money can be transferred and used to offset your indebtedness,” he said.

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Ubale Masks, during the submission of draft report by the committee to the minister in Abuja…recently

BOKO HARAM’S THREAT AGAINST BUHARI, EMPTY BOAST, SAYS MILITARY

“That’s why he was endorsed because Shekau couldn’t deliver. Why was Albanawi deposed? It is simply because, he couldn’t deliver. Why was Mamman Nuhu eliminated? He was eliminated because he was not delivering and as a matter of fact, he was even compromising. “But the fact is that they could not meet the force of the armed forces of Nigeria,” he added. Nwachukwu said the group’s ultimate ambition was to have a caliphate in Nigeria but the military frustrated the dream. “Nigeria is not a ground for any terrorist caliphate. It’s not happening. That’s why we keep telling you that these guys are not holding any territory in Nigeria,” he stated. The defence spokesman also gave an insight into the location of Shekau and his gang. “Where they are is in the Lake Chad Basin where they have surrounded themselves with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines. What they do is hit and run. “They hit soft targets to project themselves as being virile and potent. The strategy is to make themselves unreachable. We can conduct ground offensives to dislodge them and take over the place of course but what will be the outcome, there would be a lot of fatalities. “They keep running in and out of the place, running across the border and running back. It is a hit-and-run kind of a thing.

That was why I called Shekau a rat. He is running about, hiding himself in holes. He does not have what it takes to confront the armed forces of Nigeria,” he said. He also queried the sources of funding for terrorists, saying that the international community must as a matter of urgency interrogate terror financing. He stated that West Africa must not allow global terrorism to take root in the sub-region. “There is a turn of events in the North-east. We must not allow it as a nation. For global terrorism to come and project itself, to have a grip on our land, we must never allow it. “As a sub-region, we must not allow global terrorism to come and establish its roots here. It must never be allowed. The international community must address the issue of arms proliferation. “How can we cope with the fact that three quarters of illegal arms are in Africa? They are in Mali, Sudan and Nigeria. They are in Central African Republic; they are in Congo. “These are issues that should be interrogated. We are talking about funding. Who is funding global terrorism? Who are those behind it? I told you that the situation in the North-east has taken a new turn because of the efforts of ISIS to save the face of global terrorism by coming to establish a root in West African sub-region,” he said. He called on the international community to pay urgent attention to the situation.

He added: “We need to look at these issues. When we look at the international level, efforts must be made to checkmate arms proliferation. “We have made great efforts from the strategic perspective of our country, border closure, intensification of border monitoring and surveillance but what is the international community doing to prevent illegal acquisition, manufacturing and sales of weapons, light and small weapons and firearms?” Buhari Condemns Attacks on Adamawa, Vows to Rout Boko Haram Soonest Meanwhile, President Buhari at the weekend condemned Boko Haram attacks on Garkida inAdamawa State and sympathised with the families of the victims. The president also vowed that “in the coming weeks, Nigerians would witness an aggressive campaign to rout Boko Haram once and for all.” Buhari, who said the federal government would not abandon any part of Nigeria to their fate, also claimed that Boko Haram’s attacks on soft targets now are mere expressions of its frustrations. A statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, last night, said the president commended what he described as the gallantry of the members of the armed forces whom he said went after the insurgents and repelled the attacks. The president also said the frequent attacks by the terrorists on innocent civilians in recent times were a mere

ploy to portray themselves as strong and fool the publi “These attacks on soft targets by the terrorists are obvious signs of frustration because my administration has significantly weakened Boko Haram’s military capability to invade and hold Nigerian territory unchallenged. “Our gallant forces deserve our appreciation for repelling the attackers but they must go beyond this point. They have our full support to go after the terrorists and have them pay a huge price. I want to assure the country that terrorists will continue to face the combined power of our military until they give up their mistaken ways. “These occasional and episodic attacks on poor civilians by the terrorists are mere propaganda efforts to portray them as strong in order to fool the public into believing that they haven’t been militarily weakened by our gallant troops,” he said. The president argued that since the advent of his administration, Boko Haram’s plan to occupy Nigerian territories and hoist their flags had been frustrated. He promised adequate funding for security and appealed to Nigerians to give required support to the military in its battles against insecurity. “Security will continue to be well funded despite the competing needs of social services. I appeal to Nigerians to continue to support our troops in their gallant efforts to protect the citizens and secure the country,” Buhari added.

Police Arrest One Serial Burglar, 17 Others for Cultism Sunday Ehigiator The Ikorodu Division of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Ganiu Solomon suspected to be a serial burglar in Ikorodu area of the state. The 37 years old who was arrested on February 21, according to a statement signed by the state police spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, came after series of complaints of break-in incidents received from residents of the area by the police.

According to him, “On February 21, 2020, at about 1p.m., detectives from Ikorodu Police Station arrested a serial burglar, one Ganiu Solomon, 37, of No. 5 Okuku Street. Ota-Ono Ikorodu. “He was arrested in connection with series of complaints received from residents of Ota Ono area in Ikorodu on burglary and stealing. All the complaints received indicated the same modus operandi, suggesting the fact that the crime is perpetrated by the same syndicate.

“One of such cases was reported on November 4, 2019, at about 6:33 p.m. by one Nkiruka Ezeokobe of Mojisola Sari Street Ota-Ono, Ikorodu. “The suspects mostly break into residential buildings when the occupants are away or must have slept. They passed through the ceiling and windows-removing the burglary proof on the windows. Items recovered from the suspect included one Samsung phone valued at N235,000, one gold necklace valued at N150,000

among others, as well as the tools they use in burgling houses. “They are part of the items stolen from Nkiruka. The suspect confessed to the commission of the crime. Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to arrest other members of his gang.” In another development, 17 suspects have been arrested by the police operatives from Ijora Badia Police Station on offences bothering on cult rivalry and possession of dangerous weapons.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Dangote Injects over N63bn to Boost South-east Economy Bennett Oghifo The President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has so far invested over N63 billion to the South East economy of Nigeria by having trucks built for him at the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) in Enugu. Dangote’s trucks are assembled by a Chinese company, Shacman Trucks, through its Nigerian franchise holder, Transit Support Services Limited (TSS), which has an arrangement with ANAMMCO to use its production lines. This was stated by the Chief Executive Officer, TSS, Mr. Frank Nneji at a Press conference held at ANAMMCO in Enugu State, recently. Nneji, who is also the Managing Director, ABC Transport, stated that the partnership with Dangote had been on since the past five years through their subsidiary, TSS, which he said is the number one Chinese truck maker. “I remember more than five years ago when we started the local assembling of Shacman Trucks; we had actually received a mail from Nigerian Automotive Council that Dangote was looking for locally produced trucks or people who had capacity to produce trucks locally for his needs despite the fact that Dangote could import his trucks fully built irrespective of the duty,” he said. “We got there and we were able

to engage the Dangote Group, giving the opportunity to test out our trucks of about 49 units we already produced. Between 2016 and 2017, we went into an arrangement by offering Dangote our logistic solution to enable him get the trucks seamlessly and to also engage the huge capacity available in the South-East of Nigeria, here in ANAMMCO,” he said. ANAMMCO is a plant built and commissioned in 1980, by the federal government, which used to be in collaboration with Mercedes Benz. The Auto Industry had since gone down over a long period, prior to the inception of the automotive policy, he said. “The coming back of ANAMMCO was actually as a result of the auto policy, which is also one of the benefits. Another and major benefit is the benefit of Dangote’s patronage in identifying the plant that has the capacity in the South-east, he stated. “Dangote has given us the opportunity of producing these trucks locally, instead of importing them, and you know what this does for us here in the South-east,” he said. “The ANAMMCO plant was shut down, and there was no activity until Shacman came here and we had an agreement; so we started skeletally. Until we offered the logistic solution to Dangote and the production facility of ANAMMCO, before operation

commenced in 2016,” he said. Nnaji stated that the agreement of 2016 gave rise to the signing of a pact for the production of 500 units of trucks. This initial capacity surge brought about the coming back of ANAMMCO workers who had been at home. Some local suppliers of parts, lubricants, electrolytes, and lots more, come back to work, doing business. “This is Enugu, and we use the Onne Port to bring in these goods and of course, we have people complaining that the port is moribund, which is not so, as all containers are directed here,” he said. Since 2016 till now, courtesy of Dangote Group, Onne Port has had over 3,000 containers coming into this place, so you see how we explore capacity by utilising the local capacity available due to Dangote Group patronage,” he said. “Each time we approached Dangote, he gives consideration to the South-East, for the sake of ANAMMCO, that we should always have something to do here, and we feel that is a way Dangote Group is keeping the South-East economy running,” he said. According to the National automotive Policy, Enugu and Nnewi has been designated as the automotive centre for the South-East because of the stay of ANAMMCO over a period and the presence of technical capacity.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

NAMA Inaugurates Navigational Aids in Lagos, Abuja Airports Chinedu Eze in Lagos and Kasim Sumaina in Abuja Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has commissioned its newly installed Category 3 Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Runway 18 Right, Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos as well as Runway 22 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. NAMA also disclosed that a flight commissioning of the newly installed DVOR (Doppler Very High Frequency OmniDirectional Radio Range) in Lagos has successfully been carried out just as routine flight calibration has also been carried

out on Runway 18 Left in Lagos. NAMA, in a statement by its Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) to this effect has been disseminated accordingly while calibration of navigational aids in other locations across the country is in progress to ensure all navigational aids in Nigeria that are due for calibration are covered. “In spite of initial hitches, it is gratifying to note that Runway 18R in Lagos has been certified for CAT 3 just as Runway 22 in Abuja with the newly acquired calibration aircraft by the Aviation Ministry. Both facilities are

now fully operational,” he said. While pledging a timely calibration of navigational facilities going forward,

Akinkuotu said the availability of our flight calibration aircraft would ensure that NAMA is able to carry out calibration as and when due.

Earlier in February, international carriers diverted flights to Accra in Ghana when Harmattan haze lowered visibility and the ILS at the

Runway 18R was not functional. The airlines and aviation agencies lost estimated N5 billion during the period.

Fayemi to Sign Agreement on New Minimum Wage Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would before the end of February 2020 sign the agreement on the implementation of the new minimum wage and consequential salary adjustment with the organised labour in the state. This assurance was contained in a statement signed by the state Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Kayode Fatomiluyi, and Secretary, Gbenga Olowoyo, yesterday. The negotiation on the new minimum wage could not be signed before the end of 2019 as directed by the federal government due to the inability of the government delegation and labour to reach a common agreement on the matter. The statement clarified that discussion on the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential salary adjustment negotiation in the state has reached 90 percent exuding confidence that it will be assented to on or before the end of February 2020.

According to the statement, “The negotiation of the minimum wage and consequential salary adjustment is receiving adequate attention and with tremendous progress, and by this development, the completion and eventual signing of necessary documents will be completed before the end of February 2020. “As a matter of fact, the technical sub-committee and the enlarged negotiation committee have done greatly which led to the extent that Fayemi has to personally intervene on February 18, 2020. “However, the determination of the leadership of Labour in the state is to arrive at a situation where whatever agreement signed with the government will not have a backlash that will force the state to use two federal allocations to pay one month salary, hence, we have to be broad-based in our approach and agitation. “To this end, whatever Labour will agree will be for the best interest of the workers and the state.”

CREATING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES…

L-R: Members of Creative, Hospitality and Tourism Group, National Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) , Alhaji Muhammed Saharawiji; Chairman, Chief SP Phillips; Secretary, Ms Bimbo Balogun; and other members, Mr. Olawale Oyero; and Mr. Fawale Abass, after the inaugural meeting of the NACCIMA ‘s Creative, Hospitality and Tourism Group, in Lagos...recently

Lagos Lawyer Drags FG to Court over Border Closure Dike Onwuamaeze A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Umeh Ezeh, has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos, to declare the federal government’s partial closure of Nigeria’s land borders null and void. In a Suit No; FHC/L/ CS/265/2020, which was filed by the law firm of Mr. Emeka Odikpo and Associates for the applicant, Ezeh, against two respondents, namely the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the applicant sought the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and his rights under

the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, which he claimed to have been breached by the partial closure of the border. Ezeh asked the court to declare that the 1st respondent (NCS) does not have the legal power to declare “partial closure” of Nigerian land borders and consequently direct that lawful goods cannot be exported or imported by lawful means through Nigerian land borders. Another declaration sought by the applicant is that the directive of the 1st respondent that lawful goods cannot be imported or exported through Nigerian land borders, even upon payment of

the appropriate duties and taxes violate Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Revised Treaty of Economic Community of West African States. He also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally from enforcing the order of partial closure of the land borders in Nigeria with respect to goods that are not subject to any prohibition from importation into Nigeria, save upon the enactment of a valid law by the National Assembly. Counsel to the Applicant, Mr. Emeka Odikpo, argued that “the

directive or order made by the 1st respondent banning the importation and exportation of goods through the land borders is not a law validly made by the National Assembly and as such cannot have force of law. Odikpo submitted that “the shocking thing about this order is that it is not based on any written law known to man.” The applicant, therefore, prayed the court to determine “whether the 1st respondent or any other authority (apart from the National Assembly) can lawfully make an order that lawful goods cannot be exported or imported through Nigerian land borders.

Ayodele Fayose, where the idea of a consensus chairmanship candidate was mooted. The party reiterated its commitment to free, fair and transparent congress where all officers of the party are elected according to the constitution of the party. In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, yesterday, the party cautioned leaders of the party from

engaging in meetings that can cause confusion and disharmony among the party members The PDP stated that any leader who does this has a motive aimed at bringing the party to its kneel rified that “the meeting that took place at Senator Clement Awoyelu house in Ado Ekiti, where the issue of consensus chairmanship candidate for the party came up, doesn’t enjoy the approval of the party in the state, hence it is declared an aberration

and whatever decision taken there is null and void. “The clarification becomes necessary in order to correct the erroneous impression that the meeting was called on behalf of the party. “The convener of the meeting, the former state Governor, Fayose, was expected to let the gathering know that the meeting was his personal idea instead of creating the impression that it was an official party meeting.”

PayoffViolates Anti-corruption War, Congress: Ekiti PDP Rejects Consensus Option Oyo ALGON Tells Makinde Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan An end may not be in sight to the crisis between the Oyo State chapter of the Association of Local government of Nigeria (ALGON) and the state government as the association has condemned the suggestion by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, to pay off its members, describing the idea as antithetical to the war against corruption. The association in a letter written to the counsel to the state government, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, through its lawyer, Mr. Kunle Sobaloju, and made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the suggestion is a disservice to the people of the local government areas and the state in general, to collect financial compensation in lieu of their constitutionally guaranteed tenure. It, however, expressed appreciation to the government for recognising and acknowledging their mandate as the democratically elected officials of the 33 local council

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti areas and 35 local development areas respectively by offering to pay them their salaries. The letter read in part: “We refer to your letter dated February 20, 2020, and have brought the contents of the said letter to the notice of our clients which they have considered; and by this letter, we wish to communicate their response to you. “We have our clients’ instruction to express their appreciation to His Excellency for recognising and acknowledging our clients’ mandate as the democratically elected chairmen and councilors of the 33 local government councils and 35 LCDAs in Oyo State by offering to pay them their salaries and allowances due. “However, our clients consider it a disservice to the people of their respective local government areas and the entire people of Oyo State to collect financial compensation as proposed by you in lieu of their constitutionally-guaranteed election tenure.

The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the offer of consensus candidacy being pushed by a section of the party to elect members of state, local government and ward executives in the April 2 congress of the party. The party dissociated itself from a meeting called at the weekend by a group loyal to former state Governor,

Group Hails Pantami on Digital Economy Digital Economy Media Volunteers (DEMS Volunteers), a non-governmental group leading nationwide awareness/ campaigns on digital economy, has commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for the vigour and zeal he has shown towards achieving a digital Nigeria. The Director General, DEMS Volunteers, Prince Stan Okenwa, in

a press statement at the weekend, noted that the recent submission of a National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 report in less than three months after the steering committee was inaugurated, was another confirmation that Pantami is on a fast lane hence the industry should rally round him to achieve the goals. DEMS Volunteers also lauded the committee chaired by the MD/CEO, MainOne, Ms. Funke

Opeke and Co-Chaired by the former Executive Commissioner Technical Services at NCC, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, while NCC’s Executive Commissioner Technical Services, Mr. Ubale Maska, served as the Secretary of the Committee. Okenwa said that the committee proved themselves worthy of the national assignment by ensuring the report was not delayed but delivered on record time. “We followed up the progress

report while the NBP Committee was on course for two months; deliberating on issues as they relate to the national broadband, with focus on how to penetrate the underserved and unserved areas in the country and drive the Nigerian digital economy. At some points, the Minister, out of his tight schedules, paid them visit, and took notes of progresses and areas of concerned raised. This is commendable.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2020 â€¢ T H I S D AY

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24, ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ihonvbere Presents Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Sports in Afuze Duro Ikhazuagbe A bill for the establishment of a Federal University of Sports in Afuze, Edo State has been tabled before the Federal House of Representatives. The Member Representing Owan Federal Constituency, Prof. Julius O. Ihonvbere presented the bill before the lower chamber of the National Assembly recently. A copy of the bill obtained by THISDAY gave graphic details of why the town famous for its role in the prominence of old Bendel State in Nigeria’s sports should become a university town. “As I speak today, there are about 70 units of two-bedroom flats in Afuze “Low Cost Houses” though some are in a deplorable state with perimeter fence built by Brig. Gen. S.O. Ogbemudia (retd.) in 1972 that were given to the National Sports Commission in 1986, but were not put to use. He recalled how then Military Governor of the Old Bendel (now Edo and Delta states), used the Afuze camp to create a crop of sports men and women that were amongst the very best in the world at the time. However, due to lack of attention to the facility by successive government, the facility has been left to rot while the fortunes of the country in sports have waned, resulting in fruitless journeys to the Olympic Games and other global sports spectacles. “The National Council of Sports, the highest policy making body for sports in Nigeria in its February 18th, 2019 meeting held in Kaduna articulated a draft policy document for the Federal Government, and advocated for the establishment of Sports

Centres for the training and development of Sports personnel with record of high performance in the six (6) Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria. This has never been implemented. “The Sports College at Afuze is the oldest sports institution in the country saddled with the responsibility of training and developing Coaches, Sports Managers and Athletes for the State and the nation at large. However, it lacks facilities, technology and quality programmes to produce athletes, sports managers and professionals that can compete in the contemporary world,” observed Hon. Ihonvbere. While stressing on the economic importance of upgrading the facility to a federal university, Hon. Ihonvbere said: “Mr. Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, for instance, in Europe, erstwhile studies show that the Sport sector accounts for 1.76% (€175 billion) of the European Gross Value Added (GVA = Gross Domestic Product + subsidies – (direct, sales) taxes), that means that it contributes more to the economy than agriculture, forestry and fisheries combined. “If you also add all the sectors that are influenced by sport, the share of sports of the European GVA is 2.98 % or almost 300 billion Euro. “In addition, sport related employment represents 2.12 % of the total employment in Europe, which is about 4.5 million. Germany has the highest number of sport jobs at 1.15 million, UK over 610,000 and France with more than 400,000. The European Commission also states that the sport sector has proved to be especially resilient

Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt Secure Taekwondo Olympic Tickets Six countries, including host Morocco and Africa’s most populous nation Nigeria, secured Olympic tickets for Tokyo 2020 on the opening day of the on-going African Qualification Tournament. The spread of the medals acutely reflects the difficulty and competitiveness of the Olympic qualification process, as well of spread of taekwondo development across the African continent. Morocco and Egypt secured two Olympic tickets each while the remaining four tickets were won by Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon. In the female -49kg, the number one and two seed, Egypt’s Nour Abdelsalam and Morocco’s El Boutchi, lived up to expectations to emerge as the category’s Olympic ticket holders. In the female -67kg, current African Champion and the number one seed, Egypt’s Malak Hedaya joined the number three seed, Nigeria’s Elizabeth Anyanacho as the category’s Olympic ticket holders. In the male -58kg, the number one seed Morocco’s Omar Lakehal and Ethiopia’s

Solomon Demse emerged as the category’s Olympic ticket holders. In the male +80kg, number two seed Cote d’Ivoire’s Seydou Gbane joined Gabon’s Anthony Obame to emerge as the category’s Olympic ticket holders. Day two will see battle in the remaining four Olympic weight categories, including male -68kg, male -80kg, female -57kg and female +67kg. Current African Champion, Nigeria’s Chinazum Nwosu and Nigeria Open gold medalist, Ifeoluwa Ajayi represented Nigeria in the female -57kg and male -68kg respectively. 105 athletes from 35 countries are currently battling for 16 Olympic tickets for the world’s most prestigious sporting event, with eight of those Olympic tickets already earned on day one of the qualification tournament. For the Taekwondo event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, there are a total of 128 slots available to be secured – 120 for qualification places, four for the hosts – Japan and four tripartite commission invitation places.

during economic crisis, which makes it even more important for the European economy and attractive to job seekers. I strongly believe that when passed into law, the university would be a landmark in repositioning sports as a major revenue earner and employment provider in the country. It is no wonder that sports business is becoming a core contributor the economics of most nations.”

He listed the gross earnings of some accomplished sports men and women across the various sporting events globally to be by far larger than the annual budget of some states in Nigeria, as well as some African states. “For example, the Nigerian born British pugilist, Anthony Joshua is worth a hefty $60,000,000, equivalent of N21, 600, 000,000:00, Don King who is

just a boxing promoter is worth $150,000,000:00 equivalent of N 54,000,000,000: The list is endless as the huge amounts of money earned by sports men is mind blowing,” he concluded. In 1972 the then Military Governor of Bendel State, Brigadier General S. O. Ogbemudia established a College of Physical Education in Afuze. It was commissioned same year by

the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, thus laying a solid foundation for sports development in Nigeria. In 1981, the Governor of Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Ali, upgraded the College to an A-Level grade certificate awarding institution (Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE)) in Physical and Health Education.

ACCOMPLISHED GUNNER…

Gabonese International Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrating his brace in the 3-2 defeat of Everton yesterday

NPFL: Plateau United Stifle Lobi Stars Attack to Stay Top Plateau United earned a gritty goalless draw away to top position rivals, Lobi Stars to retain the top spot on the log after Match-day 21 games of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) yesterday. In another top draw fixture, River United nicked a 2-1 win against Kano Pillars to move into second place, above Lobi Stars. In Lafia, struggling Nasarawa United stunned cup holders, Enyimba to halt the Aba side’s recent surge that saw them go unbeaten in four games. In Port Harcourt, Konan N’gouan opened scoring for the Pride of Rivers in the 20th minute when he converted from the penalty spot before Emotan Cletus sealed all three points for Rivers United with an 87th minute

goal. Rabiu Ali got a consolation for Kano Pillars in the 91st minute. In Uyo, Akwa United missed the chance to close the gap on third placed Lobi Stars, managing to grind out a late goal to draw 1-1 draw with relegation threatened Warri Wolves. Jumbo Wisdom scored the all important goal for Wolves in the 70th minute from the penalty spot while Ndifreke Effiong rescued the points for the Promise Keepers. Akwa United remain fourth on the table while Warri Wolves move up to 16th. Enyimba’s winning streak came to an end yesterday as they lost to relegation threatened Nasarawa United. Enyimba thought they had taken the lead when Dare Olatunji put the ball

into the back of the net in the 17th minute but he was judged to be in an offside position. However, it was Nasarawa who took the lead when Chinedu Ohanachom showed some exceptional predatory instincts to score from close range after Haggai Katoh’s low effort hit the bar. Hagai Katoh completed a brilliant performance by scoring the second goal of the match in the 89th minute. Jigawa Golden Stars came from behind to beat Wikki Tourists 2-1 and gave a boost to their determined fight to avoid relegation. Promise Damala gave Wikki Tourists in the second minute but Ibrahim Saleh equalized for Jigawa just after the break.Abdulahi Lala completed the come-back for Jigawa who are still in the

relegation zone despite the win. There were also nil all draws in Agege and Akure. Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu returned to his old ground at Age with Heartland to share points with MFM that gave him his coaching stripes in the league. Rangers drew 0-0 also in Akure with Sunshine Stars.

MATCHDAY 21 Nasarawa 2-0 Enyimba Rivers Utd 2-1 Pillars Jigawa 2-1 Wikki Adamawa 2-1 IfeanyiUbah Katsina 1-0 Abia Warriors Akwa Utd 1-1 Wolves MFM 0-0 Heartland Lobi 0-0 Plateau Sunshine 0-0 Rangers Dakkada 0-0 Kwara Utd

AHEAD OF 2020 POLICE GAMES

Police Give Athletes Best of Two Worlds, Says Frank Mba The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba has described the force as the best place for sportsmen and women to achieve their full potentials and dreams. Mba, a deputy commissioner of police said at the weekend that the NPF structured the career of serving sports women and men in such flexible way that they can “eat their cakes and have them.” He further admitted that they are always encouraged to have the best of their sports and policing careers respectively.

Speaking ahead of the 12th edition of the Police Games scheduled to hold between February 29 and March 7 in Awka, Anambra State, Mba confirmed that a total of 31 sports would be competed for at the events to take place in four centres in the state. Mba added that police athletes are always encouraged to get to the peak of their respective sports careers. “There are many examples to show that we are always ready to boost our athletes. We grant those exceptional leave of absence and when

they retire, we reabsorb them into the service. “This is a huge contribution to development of sports and that is why we want to use the forthcoming Police Games to identify new talents and nurture them to the top,” stressed Mba. He also admitted further that there were plans to use the Games in Awka not only to prepare the police athletes for the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Benin but also to begin the process of bringing out athletes that would take over from

great police ambassadors like Chioma Ajunwa, late Sunday Bada and Samuel Peter. A total of 12 zones will be competing at the games with all zones having three states each except zones 2 and 6. Zone 2 comprises only Lagos and Ogun while Zone 6 (Calabar) comprises four states. Rojenny Sports Complex and the NYSC Camp are some of the centres to host 31 sports in the forthcoming competition in Anambra State.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 24,ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

MONDAYSPORTS H E AV Y W E I G H T U N I F I C AT I O N

After Destroying Wilder Tyson Fury Sets Sight on Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury appeared to have given a nod to fellow heavyweight British boxer Anthony Joshua during his rematch with Deontay Wilder which he won with a knock out in Las Vegas early hours of yesterday. The Gypsy King defeated Wilder in their rematch to claim the WBC Heavyweight title after a seven round blitz of the American. Fury dominated the fight throughout and it has since been revealed the Bronze Bomber only won one round on the judges scorecards across all three adjudicators. Wilder had to be taken to hospital after the fight as he was bleeding out of his ear. Fury will now have his eyes set on a unification fight with Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles. Fury sent a subtle message to AJ during his Las Vegas bout. The 31-year-old Mancunian wore a green and white gumshield during the fight with Wilder with the word ‘Nigeria’ written across it. The mouth guard is thought to be referencing Joshua’s Nigerian heritage that he is incredibly proud of. Joshua even has a tattoo of the African country on his right shoulder and registered for a national ID card and

passport in Lagos last week. Joshua also showed his respect to his heavyweight rival on Instagram after the fight yesterday, posting a picture of Fury donning the gumshield, alongside the caption: ‘Gladiator’. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has however said that he has spoken to AJ and that the Watford-born fighter will do ‘anything’ to fight Fury and unify the division. Hearn insisted he is now determined to get Joshua into the ring with Tyson Fury, admitting it is the one fight his prized asset wants to take on next. Joshua has been linked with a Fury clash for some time, though had always played down the prospect due to the Gypsy King’s time away from the ring. Now, Fury is back and better than ever before, having blown away Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas to be re-crowned heavyweight champion of the world. Joshua is due to face Kubrat Pulev in June but is ready to sidestep that to make the fight everyone wants and agree to an all-British showdown with Fury. “I’ve already spoken to AJ and he wants to go into this fight next,’ Hearn declared to UK’s talkSPORT in the

Tyson Fury displaying the gumshield with Nigeria’s green white green ﬂag in reference to Anthony Joshua as his next opponent

aftermath of Fury’s win. “We have to make this fight happen. We will never, ever get the chance for two Brits to fight for an undisputed heavyweight world championship. “I promise you we will do everything we can to make this fight. It has to happen.” Wilder now has a 30-day window to take up a rematch option in the bi-lateral

PREMIER LEAGUE

Ighalo Fires Blank as Man Utd Beat Watford to Move Fifth Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo had only ten minutes of action yesterday against his former club Watford as Manchester United raced to a 3-0 victory to climb to the fifth spot on the English Premier League log. He was an 80th minute substitute for Anthony Martial but failed to find the back of the net to celebrate his return to the Premier League after his January transfer deadline signing for the Red Devils on a six months loan. Bruno Fernandes’ first Manchester United goal set his new club on their way to a comfortable 3-0 home win against relegation-threatened Watford. Fernandes, a £47m January signing from Sporting Lisbon, converted a 42nd-minute penalty after he had been taken out by Watford keeper, Ben Foster. The goal ended a 236-minute wait for a United home goal in

the Premier League after they had failed to score against Burnley and Wolves. Anthony Martial scored an excellent second after Troy Deeney had a goal ruled out by VAR for handball in the build-up, with 18-year-old Mason Greenwood lashing home his 11th of the season 15 minutes from time. After beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday, it was only the third time this season that United had won successive Premier League games. While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have now moved into the top five, Watford remain second from bottom. Elsewhere, Diogo Jota made it five goals in two games as Wolves reignited their chase for a Champions League spot with a 3-0 victory against basement side Norwich. The Portuguese forward was

at his lethal best in recording a hat-trick in the 4-0 Europa League victory over Espanyol on Thursday and he took just 19 minutes to add to his tally for the season. Initially it seemed Matt Doherty’s assist would be ruled out for handball but replays showed that the ball bounced against his stomach. When the chance was presented to Jota he turned in one movement and struck a low shot through the legs of Tim Krul. Jota’s second was also reviewed by VAR. The striker was offside when the ball was initially played into the area but drifted back onside to tap in Romain Saiss’ volleyed cross. He came close to a second successive hat-trick as Wolves made it 3-0 soon after the break. His low strike thundered off the post but the loose ball was turned in by Raul Jimenez.

Odion Ighalo (right) trying to go pass goalkeeper Ben Foster during the Manchester United English Premier League clash with Watford at Old Trafford … yesterday

PHOTO: gettyimages

agreement with Fury, which would set up a blockbuster trilogy clash in the summer. Hearn acknowledges that Wilder is highly likely to take up the rematch, given his current lack of high calibre options following the humilation. “I don’t think anyone wants to see a third fight because it was that conclusive but we will see if he exercises that

clause,” Hearn added. “I probably expect Wilder to do that – I don’t see where else he has to go. “But our mandatory (IBF) challenger, Kubrat Pulev, is also promoted by Bob Arum, like Tyson Fury, so there is a very easy manoeuvre there if Wilder doesn’t accept the rematch to go straight into this undisputed fight in the summer. That is what we have

to push for initially.” Giving his own view on the situation, Fury’s promoter Arum added: ‘The question is directed to Deontay Wilder. “He can opt out of a third now and get himself together and do it again next year in which case Tyson Fury will keep himself busy with other opponents. If he wants to go ahead, that’s what the contract says and we will honour that.”

Edo Dep. Gov to Flag off MASVI Invitational Cycling Tour in Owan West Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu, will flag off the maiden edition of the MASVI Invitational Cycling Tour on Saturday, February 29th, 2020 Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area, Hon. Frank Ilaboya, disclosed this at the weekend in a parley with sportswriters in Benin City. He said the Deputy Governor who is in charge of sports in the state was elated about sports development in Owan West particularly cycling. “The Deputy Governor is quite impressed with the sports development in Owan West and has promised to perform the flag off ceremony of the Cycling tournament. In fact, he has also extended his appreciation to the CEO of MASVI & Sons Nigeria Ltd, Mr Moses Ajayi, for “helping out to train the athletes for the National Sports Festival holding in Benin from March

21st to April 1st 2020.” The MASVI Invitational Tournament is designed to empower the youth in Owan West as well as train Edo State cyclists ahead of the National Sports Festival coming up in March. Only last year, the former chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos branch, sponsored the referees course in his domain with over 30 participants drawn from the South-South states and neigbouring Ondo State. Over 70 Cyclists drawn from eight states of the federation are expected to take part in the one-day tour of Owan West. The male cyclists are to ride 100 kilometres while the female will do 80 kilometres. The routes will take them through Ozalla, Uhonmora, Eme Ora and Avbiosi New Site. From Avbiosi, the riders will hit

Uzebba to Okagboro where they will make a detour to Okpuje and back to Uzebba before riding to Sobe, via Ifon for the final destination. Meanwhile, ahead of the MASVI/Owan West Cycling Classic Tour scheduled for this weekend Ilaboya at the weekend set up a six-man Local Organizing Committee (LOC). The Committee, which has the Council Secretary, Hon. Odion Daniel Iruobe as the Chairman, was charged with the responsibility of organizing a successful and hitch free competition. Other members of the Committee include; Esther Ovbioje (Supervisor for Youth & Sports), Usman Omokhagbor (HOD Socials), Ehigai Williams (HOD Information), Hassan Otinau (CPS to Chairman), Mr. Izedonmi Humphrey (Sports Schedule Officer) and Mr. Edekin Imezua, the Council’s Sports Officer.

NOGIG 2020 Competition Begins The much anticipated 2020 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) officially began yesterday following a colourful opening ceremony at the Chevron Recreation Centre, Gbagada. There was a lot of fanfare as athletes and officials swarmed the exclusive arena in the early hours of Sunday to witness the grand opening ceremony which was witnessed by top officials of all the participating companies. Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Malam Aminu Zaria presided over the affairs of the day. In his opening address, Zaria enjoined the athletes not to forget the real essence of the games which, in his words, “keep

fit, cultivate friendships and connectivity among workers in the oil and gas sector.” He said the games were also staged to enhance the production capacity of the workers in the industry. “In the next one week, we are going to showcase our best who will compete among each other and we will present to Nigeria, a healthy workforce for enhanced productivity.” The LOC boss also informed that two sports; Badminton and Volleyball will feature for the first time in this year’s games and the participating companies too had increased from 10 to 12. Zaria also said very soon, “the physically challenged members

of staff of our various companies would be made to also feature in their special events of NOGIG in order to give opportunity to everybody” The first medal at the games was won by Leye Falade, GM(Production), NLNG who defeated Mr. Ed Ubong, MD, Shell Nigeria Gas 2-0 in an exhibition Table Tennis match. It was the climax of the opening ceremony which also featured cultural dance. Hostilities will begin this morning with Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Scrabble and 8-ball pool holding at the Chevron Recreation Centre Gbagada while competition in Squash, Table Tennis and Tennis will begin at Ikoyi Club 1938.

Monday February 24, 2020

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MISSILE

ANED to FG “The truth of the matter is that the federal government is owing the Discos N1.728 trillion in tariﬀ shortfall as at December 31, 2019. So what is he saying?” – Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) revealing that the federal government’s indebtedness to Discos is N1.728tn as at December 31, 2019.

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Bayelsa: Thou Shall See the Land But Will Not Set Foot on It

“T

hen Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said.” (Deuteronomy 34: 1-5) The biblical quote above aptly describes the events that took place a few days ago in Bayelsa State. This story starts with the murmuring and complaints of the children of Israel against Moses and his brother Aaron, over the fact that they could not find water for them to drink, not to talk of their livestock. They voiced their regret over setting out on the journey to die in the wilderness. When Moses and Aaron went to seek God’s face in a bid to solve the problem, He instructed them to speak to the rock to produce water. In a rage of anger and frustration, Moses rebuked the people calling them rebels. Instead of speaking to the rock as he was commanded, he hit it twice with his rod. The rock still brought out water for the children of Israel. God was unhappy with the duo and pronounced a punishment on them. They would not set foot on the promised land! Aaron died shortly after while Moses continued to lead the people towards the promised land. Just when the land was in sight, God ensured that he saw the land with his eyes but kept to His promise that he would not set foot on the land. His life was taken after he was shown the city. This is a pathetic fate, indeed, but one which has been the lot of many personalities in history! David Lyon could be regarded as the latest of modern-day individuals who have suffered the fate that befell Moses in biblical times. He was the candidate of the APC in the last gubernatorial elections held in Bayelsa state, on November 16, 2019. He, indeed, won the election over his closest rival, Senator Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His landmark victory was the first time any other party, other than the PDP, was wining the governorship elections in Bayelsa since the advent of the Third Republic. The primaries of the PDP divided the party sharply. The former governor had insisted on giving the ticket to Sen. Diri, who is said to be his cousin. He was said to himself have an eye on taking over, on the expiration of his governorship tenor, the senatorial seat that was, at that time, occupied by Sen Diri. Other leading political figures in the state, including the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, reportedly preferred other candidates. Having finally emerged as the candidate of the party, Senator Diri had the arduous task of overcoming fierce opposition which had gone into alliance in support of his APC rival. He stood little chance and was roundly defeated at the polls. While all this was going on, many people did not know that there was a pre-election matter, which Senator Diri had instituted at the High Court, challenging the legality of the APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Sen. Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo on grounds that he submitted forged documents while registering for the election. The High Court agreed with Sen. Diri and disqualified Sen.

Lyon Eremienyo who immediately proceeded to the Court of Appeal. The appeal Court upturned the verdict of the lower court and cleared the APC candidate, a few days before the election. PDP proceeded to the Supreme Court which gave judgement on February 13, against the APC Deputy Governor-elect, and proceeded to also nullify the candidature of the Governor-elect also, declaring that their joint ticket was tainted by the said forgery. INEC was instructed to withdraw the Certificate of Return from the APC and give it to the candidate in the polls with the next highest votes and that satisfied the constitutional spread, which was Sen. Diri of the PDP. Bear in mind that the Supreme Court decision was announced just 24 hours before the swearing in ceremony of David Lyon as Governor. It was very painful to watch videos of David Lyon rehearsing for the impending Swearing In Ceremony, taking salutes and riding in the ceremonial vehicle, in preparation for an inauguration that was never going to happen. By the next day, someone else who did not do any rehearsals and who in all probability might not have known he would be governor, was sworn in. It is not our purpose here to question the propriety or lack thereof, of the Supreme Court pronouncement since we are not “learned” and would not be in the position to subject the verdict to legal scrutiny. There are, however, a few things that we do not need to be ‘learned’ before we can analyse them. Our objective here is to examine those issues that have arisen from the saga. The first is the matter of fairness. Is it fair for the sins of one person to be visited on another? We know someone would refer us to the issue of joint ticket and some sections in the 1999 constitution. We have heard that argument several times but there is still a lot that needs to be considered. Our concern is that in the past, particularly during the 2015 gubernatorial elections in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu died in the middle of the exercise and his Party was permitted to replace him. Since the ticket was joint, why did his Deputy not step in to complete the election? References have also been made to a precedent in Bauchi state where a Deputy Governor was disqualified and fresh elections were ordered by the Court. Legal experts have, however, argued that the two cases are not the same. Besides, the verdict was from an Appeal Court and in law, the Supreme Court is not bound

by the decisions of lower courts. Whichever way we slice and dice it, this column stands on the widely accepted rule that it is against the law of natural justice for an innocent person to suffer for the sins of another person. In view of this, we hold strongly the view that the electoral act needs a comprehensive reform. The issue should be revisited urgently by the National Assembly. We have also been informed by those who know better that the issue of joint ticket is a constitutional matter. We are told that Section 187 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, ties the fate of a Governor with that of his deputy and that until a candidate nominates his deputy, he cannot be deemed to be properly nominated for an election. As the electoral act is being reviewed, the lawmakers should not forget to amend that section of the constitution to reflect the popularly held view that “the soul that sinneth shall die”. We are aware that it is the job of the political party to screen candidates, but we are also aware that sometimes, due to pressure, either of time or the interest of other political bigwigs, parties don’t do a good job of it. Another issue of interest is this, considering that this candidate had run several elections in the past, up to the level of becoming senator, the party would naturally expect that if he was qualified to stand previous elections, it was unlikely that he won’t be qualified for the last election. Just like it is done in the National Assembly, he would simply have been asked to “take a bow and go”. While the party would suffer the consequences, the greatest losers in this unfortunate situation are the electorate whose will as expressed at the ballot box is flung through the window by the judiciary, while those not duly elected by popular ballot are imposed on the people through technicality. Two other matters that are worthy of notice are as follows; first, we have heard lawyers refer to Section 140(2) of the electoral act, which says that a Tribunal or Court should not award victory to someone who came second in an election but should order a fresh election. Other lawyers counter that the section refers to post election and not pre-election matters and that “Tribunal or Court”, does not refer to the Supreme Court. What can we say in this matter, since we are not ‘learned’? The second is still on the political parties. We were told in the past that it was the party that won elections and not the candidates. Those who know better tend to disagree on this matter. Some school of thought argue that it is no longer the law as the electoral act had been amended by Section 141 to the effect that no one can be declared a winner in an election in which he did not participate in all its stages. Another school of thought however, points to the nullification of that clause by a Federal High Court judgement which is yet to be challenged, since that judgement was delivered in 2011. In voiding the sections, the judge held that it amounted to legislative tyranny for the judiciary to be told by the legislature, what judgements to give and what not to. We believe that these are still areas that the review of the electoral act should not ignore. A big elephant in the room which may not have much to do with the matter in focus is the issue of electronic smart card readers. Analysts have accused the Supreme Court of encouraging electoral malpractices and brigandage by its pronouncements on this subject matter. The position of the Supreme Court is that because the electoral act did not specifically mention the use of card readers, the only way to prove over voting; a euphemism for electoral fraud and

manipulation, is through the Voters Register. This means that if you choose to write fictitious results, just ensure that the number is not over the number of registered voters. So, it doesn’t matter if someone died before the elections, if the person was in hospital or if the person simply decided not show up on Election Day, once his or her name is on the register, he is assumed to have voted. This position by the apex court seems to embolden election riggers and render the efforts of INEC to sanitise the electoral process, ineffective. What most people have not averted their minds to, is that holding this position simply means that both the elections held by INEC in 2015 and 2019 should be declared void and of no effect. The simple reason is that all the elections were held with the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) which could only be read by the Smart Card Readers. Anyone who didn’t have a genuine PVC as read by the card reader would not be allowed to vote. As the legislature moves to amend the electoral act, it should not forget this all-important item. We shall go even further to recommend that electronic voting should be introduced instead of just electronic accreditation. Now, before we conclude, let’s go back to Bayelsa. A key question is whether the sacked Deputy Governor-elect forged documents? Maybe he did, and maybe he didn’t. One thing that is clear though, according to the judgement, is that there were discrepancies in the names on different certificates he presented, from his First School Leaving Certificate ,to his West Africa School Certificate all the way to his degree certificates. The only name that seemed to remain constant was “Degi” which at some point changed to “Adegi”. Other names that featured were, BIOBRAGHA; BROKUMO;BIOBARAKUMA WANGAWA; WANAGHA, ERKMIENYO; WANAGBE, BIOBAKUMA and EREMIENYO, which he claimed in one of his several affidavits, was a Chieftaincy title. There are obviously some problems here. It is not impossible that the name changes had to do with changes in religion, but that information was not available on the affidavits which by the way tended to contradict each other. Could the certificates be genuine and in which case, it would be the names that should be dealt with? It is only the man that should explain. Of course, in the context of the governance of Bayelsa State, that has become a moot point. Finally, there is also an issue of conflict of interest that was cited, culminating in the protest at the residence of Justice Mary Odili, the Chairman of the Supreme Court Panel that heard the case. While the issue of occupying Her Lordship’s residence smacks of self-help, we believe that the legal team of Sen. Edegi was rather tardy in dealing with the issues. The protests after the fact were totally unjustified and unnecessary. We were all witnesses to the diligence with which the Atiku team handled its own matter of a similar nature. They protested immediately, the Chairmanship of the Appeal Panel that was going to hear the case at the Appeal Court. Their grouse was that the then Chairman’s husband was an APC Senator. Similarly, the APC team should have rejected the Chairmanship of the panel as the husband of the Chairman is a leader in PDP. The action and protests are just like applying medication to the dead - an exercise in futility. Our sympathy goes to Mr. David Lyon who worked very hard and secured victory, only for his Deputy to turn around and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Our prediction is that his day shall surely come provided he does not give up.

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