BusinessDay 28 Jun 2020

Chaos reigns on LagosObasanjo Badagry expressway as recommends road collapses again post-pandemic measures to get Nigerians, economy back to normal 9 6

Can the Economic Sustainability Plan forestall looming recession?

Innocent Odoh and Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja

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nxiety has gripped Nigerians over fear of another round of economic downturn

following the devastating twin impacts of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and low oil prices.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) exacerbated the

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FCMB Pensions challenges market leaders with acquisition of AIICO Pensions

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Vol 1, No. 318

How coronavirus amplifies Nigeria’s suppressed problems ‘Health, education sectors must be improved upon’

See page 2

Edo, Ondo guber polls: How crisis may rob APC of two strategic states

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Experts knock JAMB over ‘offensive’ cut-off mark 13

Liverpool end 30-year title wait to claim £150m Premier League prize money

Panelists at MTN ASAP’s Drug Convos.

Drug Convos is an initiative of MTN Foundation as part of its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) and was supported by BusinessDay, MTVBase and Nigerian Entertainment (Netng). Among the panelists were Frank Aigbogun, publisher/editor-in-chief, BusinessDay Media Limited, and Sunday Dare, minister of Youths and Sports.

Covid-19 claws deeper into Nigerian elite Claims some, sends many into isolation AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

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a d l y, N i g e r i a ’s healthcare system has over the years been grappling with institutional and

infrastructural decays due to continuous neglect by both the Federal and State Governments.

This, observers believed, accounts for the reason government officials, including President Muhammadu

Buhari as well as other rich and powerful in the society, seek medical help abroad especially in Europe.

Nigeria, Africa’s oil rich economy with close to 200 million population, has out of negligence, failed

to develop its healthcare system as only less than 10 percent of its annual budgets is allocated to cater for the development of the healthcare system.

For instance, out of the total N9.45 trillion budgeted for 2020 by

the Federal Government, only about N427.3 billion, which is equivalent to 4.5 percent of the total budget, was allocated to the health system.

Pundits believed that See page 3

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How coronavirus amplifies Nigeria’s suppressed problems ZEBULON AGOMUO and CHUKA UROKO

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s bad as coronavirus is as a disease, it has helped to challenge human intellect, redirect thinking and elevate capacity for sound reasoning. Though the novel virus has done the balancing act of humbling the powerful and mighty, it has also increased man’s capacity for suffering and endurance.

In Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s largest economy, besides exposing how weak and empty most of the country’s institutions are, the virus is also, in a very poignant way, amplifying long-suppressed problems in the country.

“Nigeria is one country where systems that offer essential services either do not function at all or they function haphazardly or both. One of such systems is health. Another is education,” Cyril Emeh, a public health worker, told BDSUNDAY on phone, stressing that “the nation’s health system is in hospital.”

Emeh noted that living in good health and giving one’s children good and quality education come at great cost because, according to him, “it is easy to live and die in Nigeria without any safety net or any form of support from government.”

Back in 1983, almost 40 years today, a military junta led by late Major General Sani Abacha, after a palace coup that ousted a civilian government that had Shehu Shagari as president, told the world that Nigeria’s “health system is in shambles”, describing the country’s hospitals as “mere consulting clinics.”

The education system in the country has been a weeping child for many years and this is reflected in the agitation and protestation of teachers at all levels-primary, secondary and tertiary- who at one time or another have embarked on industrial action to press home their demand for an improved system.

That the wealth of an individual or a nation is measured by the health of the citizens does not make any meaning to Nigeria and the managers of its affairs. Similarly, that the prosperity of any nation depends, largely, on the development of its human capital makes little or no sense to this country.

This explains why investment in these two important aspects of the country’s development has, rather than improving incrementally, has dwindled with each passing year, peaking in reduction with the return of democratic rule in the country 21 years ago.

It was recently noted that health

and education spend in Nigeria was among the lowest in the world. To fund these crucial sectors, Nigeria will have to raise the amount of revenue it generates.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, in its latest economic health check of the country, that diversifying government’s revenue base, increasing non-oil revenues, and securing oil revenues, will all be critical.

“Identifying two or three bigticket items could lift revenue sustainably and in a timely manner—other reforms could follow,” said Amine Mati, IMF mission chief and senior resident representative in Nigeria.

According to the report, public services and infrastructure in Nigeria are under considerable strain. Globally, Nigeria ranks first in the number of children out of school. Infant mortality is also high—12 percent of all children who die under the age of five are Nigerians.

At 1.7 percent and 0.6 percent of GDP, levels of spending on education and health are among the lowest in the world, and insufficient to address growing challenges. To meet these large spending needs, greater resource mobilisation is critical. With rapid population growth that could make Nigeria the third most populous country in the world by 2050, these issues will intensify if left unaddressed.

It also noted that there is a very limited breathing space with the revenue base; too low to address the current challenges.

At 3-4 percent of GDP, Nigeria’s non-oil revenue mobilisation has been one of the lowest globally, reflecting weaknesses in revenue administration systems and systemic non-compliance.

For corporate income tax, less than 6 percent of registered taxpayers are active. Estimates on payment compliance in the case of value added tax (VAT) vary between 15 and 40 percent, and Nigeria raises less than 1 percent of GDP in VAT revenue, compared to almost 4 percent of GDP in the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Tax exemptions and

incentives are narrowing the base.

International evidence shows that a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 12.75 percent is associated with a significant acceleration in growth and development of state capacity.

It would allow increased expenditure for economic development and reduce budget exposure to oil revenue volatility.

Living in denial It is worrisome that the country is carrying on as though there is no tomorrow to work and hope for. Public office holders, more or less, concern themselves with only issues of the moment and do little or nothing to improve on bad or challenging situations. To make matters worse, these public office holders either disregard or feign ignorance of existing problems.

The Health Minister, Osagie Ehanire, was recently asked if health workers were being paid ‘hazard allowance’ for the job they are doing,” in tackling the coronavirus pandemic, and he said he was “not aware.”

Ehanire added that whether during a pandemic or not, handling emergencies is a “standard job they (health workers) do every day.”

As he said so, his interviewer, House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, cut in. “I thought you said coronavirus is novel? How is it a standard job they are doing?” to which the minister replied: “they are screening for temperature.”

The Speaker pressed on. “They don’t screen for coronavirus every day. They’ve never done it before.

It’s the most infectious disease in the world. The answer to my question is that they are not being paid a hazard allowance.”

“I’m not aware” was again the minister’s response.

“You should be aware. You dropped the ball there,” Gbajabiamila chided as lawmakers met with the leaders of Nigeria’s team tackling the coronavirus.

At the same event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made a controversial statement on Nigeria’s health sector.

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Task force

(PTF) on COVID-19, said he only realised how bad Nigeria’s health infrastructure was after he was appointed to head the team. The meant he did not know the country’s health system was as bad as he had just realised.

“I can tell you for sure, I never knew that our entire healthcare infrastructure was in the state in which it is until I was appointed to do this work.

“If developed countries of the world are stretched despite their good capacity, then Nigeria needs to improve its own.

“My prayer is that Nigeria’s situation does not escalate to that extent because the country lacks what is required to handle the situation,” Mustapha told the leadership of the National Assembly.

What these mean for poor Nigerians is that there is a clear leadership deficit in the country, which the coronavirus has once again brought to the fore. What it means is that many government appointees are clearly detached from the job they are supposed to be doing, while tending to fill their pockets.

It also simply means that they are not in touch with the people at the grassroots. Their own brand of politics is elitist. The only contact they have with the people is, perhaps, during election when they come down to the base level of the ladder so that the people will help them to climb.

Weighed down by culture of corruption An article first published in Mail & Guardian on May 2, 2020, by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, was referred to as “Covid-19 Corruption.” The explanation is that the outpouring of funds and supplies from the region’s governments and international partners presents new opportunities for corruption.

The author recalled that “In early April, Uganda arrested four top government officials following reports that they inflated Covid-19 relief food prices. Judging from the experience from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, there is a high risk of more pilfering and extortion across the region.

In 2019, Sierra Leone initiated a long-overdue investigation to uncover what happened to millions of dollars earmarked to support the country’s Ebola response.

Transparency International, this month, warned that “corruption often thrives during times of crisis, particularly when institutions and oversight are weak, and public trust is low.”

In Nigeria, there have been a welter of allegations against some government officials and those saddled with the responsibility of disbursing funds to fight the pandemic. They are being accused of dipping their fingers into the till.

Orange juice intake essential for boosting immunity, says expert

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strong immune system is needed for combating the rampaging Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, just as regular intake of orange fruit juice is essential for building the immune system. This was the view of an expert, Olusola Malomo, the Publicity Secretary of Nutrition Society of Nigeria.

The expert who stated this in his monthly health dialogue, an initiative supported by CHI Limited, observed that though there are still relatively few studies on the effect of nutrition on the human immune system, Harvard Medical School said that deficiency in Zinc, Iron, Copper, Folic Acid, Vitamins A, B6, C (which is contained in large quantity in fruit juice) and E have negative impacts on immune responses. He added that fruit juice contains the vital micronutrients needed to boost immunity.

He also said that there has been a sharp increase in the demand for pure fruit juice, especially the orange category, which he said could be attributed to the immune-boosting power of orange juice. “Peter McCaffery, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Aberdeen, said Vitamin C, which is contained in orange juice, helps to strengthen the immune system to fight off bacteria and virus infections like the one the world is currently grappling with,” he stated.

Malomo added that the shopping lists of households across different parts of the world, including Nigeria, have revealed remarkable changes, with CNN reporting that the United States retail sales of orange juice jumped about 38 percent in the four weeks ending on March 28, 2020, when compared to the same period last year.

Narrowing it down to Nigeria, he said that there has been surplus demand for pure fruit juice in the country, pointing out that “during the five weeks the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun were on lockdown, shops and supermarkets had run out of orange fruit juice.”

The expert, however, revealed that the intake 100% pure fruit juice is just one out of the other ways to boost one’s immune system. According to him, there are several other things one can do to achieve this – adequate sleep, thorough cooking of meat, maintaining good hygiene, moderate intake of alcohol and regular exercise.

“There are lots of herbal mixtures on the shelves of local stores with labels containing ‘support immunity’, ‘immune booster’ etc.

So far, there is no evidence that such substances can strengthen immunity,” Malomo cautioned.

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News ACP urges Buhari, Covid-19 claws deeper into ...

IGP to fish out killers of Abuja pharmacist Continued from Page 1

Ngozi Okpalakunne

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ssociation of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) to identify and bring to book the killers of Pharm.

Sunday Ike. A statement signed by the ACPN chairman, Sam Adekola and the national secretary, Bose Idowu which was made available to BDSUNDAY, explained that Pharm Ike, who was the association’s incumbent national publicity secretary, was killed last week at his pharmacy premises in Abuja. “ Th e l a t e Ph a r m .

Sunday Ike, a diligent and passionate community pharmacist, was on duty as a frontline health worker rendering pharmaceutical care services to save other people’s lives when sons and agents of darkness cut short his live.

“Our evaluation of the various postulations in the media and the Nigeria Police where this ugly incident has been portrayed as a robbery incident in the ‘shop’ of a businessman is both worrisome and depressing because even those who anchor reportage and others who normally should provide redress are

obviously not conversant with the true status of Pharmacies as health facilities in Nigeria,” the release stated.

Recalling that many pharmacists have been murdered in the recent past, ACPN in the release stressed the need for Pr e s i d e n t Bu h a r i a n d the 36 state governors to direct the InspectorGeneral of Police and the Commissioners of Police in all the states to set up special Security and Police Squads to ensure more rigorous surveillance of pharmacies and other health facilities in the ultimate public interest.

ACPN also called on all well-meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers and spiritual leaders to come to the aid of the association in the bid to tackle the escalating menace of attacks on their members.

“With utmost respect to the President and all other apparatus of state security, this is a minimum demand from government to reassure Pharmacists and other health workers that government does not take our safety for granted.

“If this call is unheeded, government at all levels may risk a gradual withdrawal of pharmacists and other relevant personnel from the frontline duties of ensuring the wellness, vitality and good health of the nation,” the release stated.

not until the outbreak of dreaded coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Nigeria , government’s response to matters that affect the public has always been lethargic.

The ferocious fight

by Nigerian government against the spread of coronavirus shows how concerned the elite class is about the ravaging plague.

Until the advent of the coronavirus, elected political office holders and ministers were used to seeking medical help outside the shores of the country amid decayed and decaying health infrastructure.

Today, despite multibillion naira pumped into the fight against the virus, members of the elite class are daily falling victim by either contracting or dying due to complications from the virus.

P r e s e n t l y, a g o o d number of governors, business tycoons, commissioners and other highly placed Nigerians have been bitten by the bug of the Covid-19.

Just on Thursday, the news of the demise of the 70-year-old Abiola Ajimobi, immediate past governor of Oyo State, filtered in.

Ajimobi had been on a life support machine since Friday June 19, 2020 at First Cardiology Hospital i n Ik oy i , La g o s , a f t e r slipping into a deep coma following coronavirus complications.

According to source close to the former Oyo governor, the late Ajimobi had a lungs surgery since being rushed to the Lagos

L-R: Kehinde Ayo-Kasumu, past president, Rotary Club of Lagos; Abiodun Osiyemi, out-going president; Dare Adeyeri, in-coming president, 2020-2021 Rotary year, holding the Club’s Charter certificate, and Ehi Braimah, past president, during the club’s handover ceremony in Lagos.

hospital but made no progress while his kidneys also failed.

Be f o r e h i s d e m i s e , doctors treating Ajimobi, informed his family that his situation defied every medical intervention and that only a miracle could bring him back to life.

A day after, exactly on Friday 26 June, 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa confirmed that one of his daughters tested positive for coronavirus. Okowa added that he and his wife, Edith, were now selfisolating for the next 14 days.

Ea r l i e r o n Mo n d a y June 15, 2020, it was also reported that a Senator representing Lagos East in the National Assembly, Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo, died after battling with Covid-19.

Osinowo popularly known as Pepperito, an All Progressives Congress (APC), lawmaker, who died at the age of 64, was a former member of Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years.

Before his death, Osinowo was admitted at the special intensive unit of Lagos Cardiologist Ce n t r e , Ik o y i , w h e r e dignitaries with COVID-19 complications were treated.

Another report had it that three days earlier, he was taken in at the Yaba Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) before his death on Monday, June 15.

Before then, exactly in May 2020, it was reported that Kehinde Ayoola, the Oyo State Commissioner f o r En v i r o n m e n t a n d Natural Resource, also dead at the age of 55 from complications from Covid-19.

Meanwhile, exactly on April 17, 2020, late Abba Kyari, the most powerful chief of staff to President Buhari, died from Covid-19 complications after a nearly month-long battle with the virus.

The late chief of staff was said to have contracted the coronavirus on an official trip to Germany in March.

He was confirmed with the virus on March 23 when it was reported that late Kyari also had underlying conditions.

Before his death, late Kyari was widely known as the de facto president owing to reports that he decides who gets access to the president.

Aside the late

politicians, several states governors including Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State had at one point or the other, contracted the virus.

For Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who is presently in isolation tested positive for coronavirus as stated on the Abia State Government’s Twitter handle, his result came out negative following his test on May 30.

Governor Ikpeazu submitted another sample on June 4, which turned out to be positive and has been receiving healthcare by a team of medical practitioners.

Observers say if it were only in Nigeria that the killer virus was, these high and mighty people would have since relocated abroad with their families, leaving the poor and hapless Nigerians at the mercy of the virus.

Adeyinka Ojo, a medial practitioner, who lamented the dilapidated medical facilities in Nigeria, told BDSUNDAY that government after government in Nigeria has failed to invest in the development of hospitals and other health facilities.

Ojo, who believed that outbreak of Covid-19 has taught both high and mighty the lesson on the need to build a better health infrastructure in Nigeria, said that if not the lockdown and other movement restrictions that comes with Covid-19, many politicians like the late Abba Kyari, Ajimobi and others would have been flown abroad to seek medical help.

According to her, many Nigerian political elites are now seeing the importance of putting their houses in order for the raining days. “ Th e y h a v e l o o t e d our God given wealth to better their lives and their generations unborn with no consideration to providing the infrastructural amenities that common Nigerian citizens need,” said a public affair analyst, who gave his name Gbenga Adio.

Ad i o, w h o s t a t e d that there is no pity for politicians that died due to Covid-19 complications, said that most of them did not contract the virus in Nigeria as many of them

have been gallivanting about even with the escalating reports in Europe and America B D S U N D AY c a n recall that Osahon Enabulele, president of the Commonwealth Medical Association said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin, Edo State, that health sector funding both in the state and at federal levels were poor, compared to other countries.

According to him, if government provides good health facilities in the country, majority of the people, who travel abroad for treatment, would be treated here in Nigeria.

“Healthcare funding has been a very sour point in our economic history. The Nigerian healthcare sector needs good facilities in order to function well.

Ap a r t f r o m t h e n e e d for hospital equipment, doctors need training and research to enhance the development of new procedures for better services,” he said.

He further called on the federal and state governments to invest in healthcare delivery system to make the citizens benefit more from health services.

At i k u Ab u b a k a r, a former vice president of Nigeria, (1999-2007) said earlier in April 2020 that the outbreak of this pandemic has vindicated organised labour’s long time agitation for improved investments in the nation’s healthcare system.

“There is no doubt that when the world comes out of this depressing anguish, governments will look around and see the absolute necessity to increase spending on healthcare, human capital development, better standard of living for the people and all those other topical issues,” he said.

Ac c o r d i n g t o h i m , “We are all witnesses to the reality today that governments across the world have fallen short of the requirement to keep people safe and healthy if there is a sudden and unexpected shock.

Meanwhile, after the news of Ajimobi’s filtered in, some Nigerians took to social media platforms especially twitter to express their anger on the failure of government officials to develop infrastructure in Nigeria.

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NDLEA seeks support to dismantle drug smuggling networks in Nigeria … Marks 2020 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE

T Bashir Jamoh (left), director-general, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), with Adewale Adeyanju, president-general of Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), at the celebration of Day of the Seafarer 2020. The event was held at NIMASA Headquarters.

Seafarers are Key to humanity’s survival, wellbeing amid COVID-19 - Jamoh … As NIMASA marks seafarers’ day, doles out palliatives

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irector-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh, has disclosed that there are policies in the pipeline to improve the quality of training and certification, as well as remuneration for the country’s seafarers. Jamoh stated this in Lagos during a webinar hosted by NIMASA to mark the Day of the Seafarer.

A statement signed

by Philip Kyanet, head, CorporateCommunications, NIMASA, said that the session attracted local and international participants, with the key speaker and consultant at Transbasin Limited, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Karen Ogidigben Onimisi, and Nigerian Labour Attaché at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Switzerland, Essah Aniefiok Etim, calling for better welfare and support for seafarers.

The Director-General of NIMASA stated, “Policies

are in the pipeline to improve the quality of training and certificates we give to the seafarers. We are taking steps to standardise the curriculum of our training institutions in line with international standards.

“We are also working on increasing the remuneration of our seafarers. These policies would be announced as soon as we complete work on them.”

He said seafarers were among the most courageous people in the world, stressing that the theme for this year’s Day of the Seafarer, ‘Seafarers are Key Workers,’ is a “testament to the fact that the world cannot do without seafarers. Seafarers hold the key to humanity’s survival on a day-to-day basis. They hold the key to our wellbeing in this time of COVID-19 period.”

Jamoh praised seafarers for sustaining the global supply chain, distributing urgently needed medical supplies with enormous risk to their lives and families. “ Th e s e a f a r e r s a r e unsung heroes; they are

also our invisible heroes.

We see their handwork every day and everywhere in agricultural machinery, the food we eat, and the unbroken run of the manufacturing base, despite the global lockdown.”

The Director-General spoke on the challenges faced by seafarers amid the coronavirus pandemic, including stringent work conditions in some countries, movement restrictions, lockdowns, crew change difficulties, fatigue and seasickness, and disruption of contracts.

But he said, “As a regular, we have taken steps to alleviate the suffering of the seafarers. NIMASA was among the first government agencies to declare seafarers as being on essential duty, and we published this in a marine notice. We also issued COVID-19 guidelines to incoming ships towards ensuring that there is no importation of the virus by sea.

“NIMASA was the first in West Africa to issue a COVID-19 marine notice.

L-R: Festus Uzo, chief of staff, Enugu State; Miletus Eze, attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, and Joy Ezeilo, a professor, during a march to the Government House by women in Enugu State led by WACOL in collaboration with ActionAid and Global Affairs Canada to demand accountability and justice for women and girls, victims/survivors of Sexual Gender-Based Violence and the effective implementation of the Enugu State VAPP Law, 2019.

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has solicited for the support of the maritime industry stakeholders in the area of intelligence and information sharing to enable it dismantle drug smuggling networks across West African region.

Speaking in a message to mark 2020 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Omolade Faboyede, director in charge of seaport operations, said since mid- 2000, West Africa has emerged as a transit point for trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe such that United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) estimated that $1.25 billion worth of cocaine passed the region in 2010 alone.

She raised alarm that there has been massive movement of Cannabis Sativa from Ghana to Nigerian waters, adding that there are 200 million illicit drug users worldwide.

On behalf of Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd), chairman /chief executive of NDLEA, she noted that maritime stakeholders support has become very crucial because drugs are

usually concealed in bulk cargoes, containers, cars, freight vehicles, trailers or coaches, ship hull and speed boats in connivance with port staff.

While stating that drug trafficking tarnishes the image of a country, impact negatively on the security, and economy, Faboyede said that Nigeria must have the political will to tackle drug trafficking by strengthening and funding agencies like NDLEA. According to her, about 190,000 people die yearly to illicit drugs, which shows that drug trafficking, is a threat to human live, national development and security.

Faboyede listed the commonly trafficked drugs to include Cocaine, Heroin, Morphine, Cannabis Sativa and Crystal Methamphetamine, and that they can be trafficked by air, land and sea.

“Drug trafficking through the sea has been a security problem for all countries of the region because it involves the movement of large quantity drugs. The trafficking of narcotic drugs by sea has virtually become an industry comprised of many individual and enterprises of varying sizes. It is an attraction for major international criminal organisations and terrorist,”

she said.

Fa b o y e d e s a i d t h a t this year’s theme, ‘Better Kn o w l e d g e f o r Be t t e r Care’ depicts the need for improved understanding of the world drug problem and foster greater international cooperation for countering its impact.

Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the National Association of Government Approved Fr e i g h t Forwarders (NAGAFF), said NDLEA has manifested capability and capacity to deal on the menace of drug abuse and its attendant fallout in Nigeria.

Ac c o r d i n g t o h i m , before the establishment of NDLEA, Nigeria was a transit hub in the ring of international drug cartel but the coming of the agency has helped in fishing out drug offenders going by the long list of arrests and seizures recorded.

WhilepledgingNAGAFF’s continued support to the agency, he pointed out the need to continue to engage with Organized Private Sector and other responsible partners with a view to achieving its core mandate.

On consequences, Faboyede, stated that drugs have health concerns that can change how the brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices.

Residents raise alarm as Ariaria, Aba, goes underwater GODFREY OFURUM, Aba

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riaria area of Aba, especially UkwuMango axis, may soon be submerged if Abia State government fails to evacuate flood water from Ifeobara basin.

Abia State government embarked on a project to recover the natural water basin around Ifeobara, which links roads such as old express, Faulks Road, Omuma, Port Harcourt and Uratta Roads that are strategic to Aba. The project handled by Sitraco Construction Company, is designed to pump out water from Ifeobara basin to Aba River, to stop flooding of Ariaria and its environs, which is an important business corridor in Aba. However, five years into the project, the Ifeobara basin is yet to start pumping out storm water from Ariaria area to waterside as planned, thereby exposing residents of Ariaria and its environs to heavy flooding.

A three day downpour, which started Monday, June 22,2020, further exposed

the flood prone area, thereby sacking people from their homes.

Flood has crippled commercial activities as well as human and vehicular movements around the Ifeobara basin, which is close to Ariaria International Market.

Residents explained that the situation has been with them for many years, but got worse with the overflowing of the Ifeobara basin, following the three days downpour.

They noted that the 5.6 kilometer drainage, been constructed by Abia State government, at Ifeobara basin, to pump out storm water from Ariaria area to the Aba River, is not functioning, while the basin has overtaken by weeds. According to the residents, “the Ifeobara Basin project has been abandoned,

as the contractors have not been seen for about a year.

They said that the abandoning of the project has made them hopeless, as flood is now causing untold hardship with negative effects on lives and properties.

They stated that the submerged neighbourhood has made it impossible for residents to access their homes after every business day.

They added that most adjoining streets, which are now blocked, have been taken over by fearsome miscreants.

Moses Igwe, a resident explained that they have tried their best to tackle the flood with their own local knowledge, but the situation remains the same.

He stated that flood has sacked many families, submerged homes and made it extremely difficult for families to even come out from their respective homes.

“From Omuma road, the abattoir (slaughter) at Old Express, down to Francis Street, Olumba Street and the entire Ukwu Mango Street, no place is safe from flood. We’re leaving in a disaster zone.

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News Feature Rivers set for agric revolution as Wike’s aide lists 12 agric projects for sale

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IGNATIUS CHUKWU he Rivers State government says by selling off about 12 agric projects it inherited, the administration has kick-started an agric revolution.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Msirim, said in a statement in Port Harcourt, recently that Governor Nyesom Wike’s prowess in project execution extends to agriculture.

The N3.4billion Songhai farm project in Tai Local Council Area is top on the list and could be the first to be snapped up. Others named by the government include the Buguma Fish Farm, the Onne Fish Farm, the Nonwa Fish Farm, the Andoni Fish Farm, the Ubima Fish Farm, the Opobo Fish Farm, the School-to-Land Farm at Kpah, the Poultry Breeding Farm and Hatchery at Atali, the Lifestock Breeding Farm at Elimgbu, the Rumudomaya Feedmill; and the School-to-Land Authority Farm at Egbeda.

The only agric project that was not on the list for sale is the DATCO Cassava Processing Plant in Afam which is said to be almost ready for commissioning.

The government did not disclose how the revolution may proceed after the successful sale of the listed projects.

Giving hint, however, the commissioner said: “What many do not realise is that Governor Wike is also applying the same strategic astuteness and administrative acumen, which has defined his infrastructural and other sectoral accomplishments for the benefit and betterment of Rivers people in the last five years, to the Agricultural sector as well.

“At the inception of his second tenure on May 29, 2019, Governor Wike made it clear in his inauguration address to Rivers people that, apart from oil and gas, Rivers State also has a vast agricultural potential, which has remained largely untapped for decades and it was about time the green revolution was embraced as a strategic measure for achieving economic diversification, job creation and food security for the State and for Rivers people.

“In addition to the other operational initiatives and incentives which the government intended to put in place to boost the sector and encourage investment in commercial agriculture and allied businesses, Governor Wike also made a firm commitment that his administration would complete the multi-million-naira cassava processing plant and concession all idle state farmlands to private sector investors for commercial cultivation.

“Being a leader who keeps his promises, Governor Wike,

on Thursday, May 28, 2020, the very last day of the first year in his second term, took a firm and bold step towards fulfilling the Agric agenda, when he toured the Rivers State Cassava Processing Company located at Afam, Oyigbo Local Government Area, where completion work had been going on quietly, to inspect the structure and facilities. Satisfied with what he saw, the Governor assured Rivers people that the plant will soon come on stream.”

He went on: “The Rivers Governor also confirmed that the State Government has 70 percent equity share in the project which is in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria and the company when fully operational would employ 4,500 persons and also boost agriculture in the state.

“We are quite happy that this project which was initiated by the previous administration in 2012 and abandoned, has come to the stage of completion. When we came on board and saw the usefulness of this project to our economy, we did not hesitate to release funds to complete it.

“Let me commend the management of this plant for fast-tracking the completion and the novel initiative that will use mobile machines to collect cassava from the farmers at their various clusters.

This, will no doubt, reduce the challenge of logistics and increase

farmer participation,” the governor stated.

“Governor Wike then assured that the project which was about 90 percent complete at the time of the visit would have been commissioned in June 2020 if not for the COVID-19 pandemic which has negatively impacted global economy. The implication of course, is that the Rivers State Cassava Processing Company, Afam, is already set for full operations and would produce about 45 thousand metric tons of cassava flour daily, while about 12 thousand metric tons of cassava tubers would be needed for collection by its mobile plants from farmers around the state for processing.

“It would be recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike, in his address to mark the first anniversary of his second term in office, assured that: “In line with our promise to refocus on agricultural development, we are at the verge of completing the Datco cassava processing plant, with guaranteed off-taker opportunities for over 3000 local cassava farmers, and inspiring capacity to stimulate the cassava revolution in the State and related industries and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our people”.

“The cassava processing plant when in full operations therefore, would also increase income for small holder farmers by providing an enabling environment for

them to sell their cassava tubers and with the already favourable prospect of the over 4, 000 jobs it promises, the coast is now clear for creating all round employment for youths and farmers and subsistence sufficiency for all the staples and products derived from cassava in Rivers State.

“The Rivers State Executive Council also approved the renaming of the part State owned cassava industry at Afam to the “Rivers Cassava Processing Company Limited”. The change became necessary because one of its partners, Datco, which hitherto owned 28percent equity holding, changed the name it used in 2011 on the contractual agreement, which made it cease to be a recognised entity.”

The commissioner stated that on June 4, 2020, in fulfillment of the pledge the governor made at the beginning of his second term, the Rivers State Executive Council approved the concessioning of existing agricultural facilities in the state to investors who are interested in bringing their expertise to bear in harnessing the

potentials in the sector. Governor Wike disclosed that the decision of the council is predicated on the fact that the state is being driven to become the agricultural hub in the south-south region.

Shedding more light on the decision of the State Executive Council, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Fred Kpakol, said that the available farms would be advertised and publications made in newspapers, to invite potential investors in the Agric sector, adding that the investors would be expected to indicate interest in any of the agricultural facilities existing in the state, which include fish farms and multi-crop school-to- land farms in the 23 local government areas of the state. The ultimate mandate of the investors who want to key into the agricultural programme of the government would be to achieve food security and generate employment for Rivers people.

The information boss took a swipe at the opposition, saying: “One would not be surprised to

discover that the first impression which the list of Rivers Stateowned farms and Agricultural facilities to be concessioned must have created, especially in the camp of the opposition in the state, was arguably a sense of misplaced euphoria and the assuaging of their petty nostalgic hangover, having already shouted themselves hoarse in the last five years, with allegations and misleading narrative that the Governor Wike administration had willfully refused to reactivate the operations of some of these farms, which were set up by the last administration, because of political reasons.

“But nothing could be farther from the truth, as Governor Wike had constantly and at every appropriate occasion, acknowledged the projects commenced by the previous administration and those also abandoned which necessarily needed to be completed in the interest of Rivers people and for the betterment of Rivers State, especially in the area of Agriculture.

“To be sure, Governor Wike has displayed great leadership maturity and political magnanimity when it concerns Rivers interest and this was evidenced on two ground breaking occasions; first in 2017, when he rolled out the drums for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and joined him in Commissioning the Indorama Fertilizer Plant in Eleme and secondly in 2018 when he welcomed with open arms, the then

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, a stalwart of the APC, who had come to lay the foundation for the construction of the Fertiliser Train 2 of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited.

“Indeed, that visit had been prophetic as Senate President Saraki had openly endorsed the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for a second term when he declared that Wike will be in office in 2021, when the Train 2 of the Fertiliser Plant would be commissioned. This endorsement certainly had not gone down well with those who have quite unfortunately decided to appropriate projects meant for the good of Rivers people to themselves, to massage their battered egos and define their fading epoch, but Governor Wike has quite admirably refused to join issues with them, beyond setting the records straight.”

Msirim pointed at what he called fundamental constraints which Wike administration has Continues on page 15

6 Inside Lagos

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Sunday 28 June 2020

Chaos reigns on Lagos-Badagry expressway as road collapses again Stories by JOSHUA BASSEY

I

s there any governance in this part of Lagos?

Can we call this road?

These were the questions asked rhetorically by Matthew Ayodele, a retired soldier, on Sunday, June 21, after his Toyota Venza car got stuck in one of the several gullies that dot sections of the LagosBadagry Expressway.

Ayodele was driving toward the former Volkswagen Motors bus stop from Iyana-Iba when his car sank into the ditch which was concealed by murky waters.

According to the retired army officer, his journey that Sunday from Agbara had been relatively smooth following the recent intervention of the Federal Government, from Agbara to Igbo Elerin. But that was where

it all ended.

The stretch of Igbo Elerin to Volkswagen has become a nightmare for motorists, as

this section has completely collapsed. The condition of the road has been made worse by the continuing

rains. The gullies have sunk deeper, enough to swallow a saloon car.

Particularly troubling,

according to Ayodele, is the stretch from Lagos State University (LASU) to Iyana Iba and Volkswagen. This has triggered unprecedented hardship on commuters and motorists who ply the international route.

It has resulted in disruption of vehicular movement, to the extent that motorists now spend upward of two hours between Igbo Elerin and Volkswagen. This short journey should not take more than 10 minutes.

In the bid to help themselves out of what has become a big mess on the road, motorists have resorted to driving against traffic flow (one-way). The result is total breakdown of law and order, as LASTMA officers posted to that axis to control traffic have become helpless.

At Volkswagen bus stop, men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are cash-

ing in on the situation to make brisk ‘business’. Every motorist driving one-way must ‘drop’. But the distraught motorists struggle to pass; they are heard muttering words to capture their frustrations with a system that has refused to work for them.

The Lagos State government under the administration of Babatunde Fashola (now minister of works and housing) started reconstruction works on the road in 2008. The former four-lane expressway was redesigned to ten lanes with provision for light rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the middle. But ten years after the flag off of the reconstruction works, stretching over three different administrations, the road remains a nightmare for motorists, commuters and residents of Nigeria’s largest commercial city.

Shorter travel time beckons as OshodiAbule Egba BRT corridor ready

LASG targets reduction in illegal development in Lekki

… as Lagos shops for bus ‘captains’

L

W

ith hundreds of its high capacity buses trapped in port now cleared, Lagos State is seen tidying up plans for the eventual roll out of Oshodi-Abule Egba Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.

Checks by BDSunday show that the BRT route which construction started in 2017 and stretches 13.68 kilometres from Abule Egba to Oshodi, is now completed.

Some of the 820 buses imported by the past administration of former Governor Akninwunmi Ambode for its Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) had for more than a year been trapped in the port on account of import duty and accumulated demurrage. The current administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Oul had appealed for President Muhammadu Buhari’s interven-

tion to retrieve the buses.

The state government plans to put 200 buses on the Oshodi-Abule Egba road to be operated by a licensee, whom a source from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), said was being engaged.

Ahead of the BRT roll out, the state is already shopping for “bus captains” (drivers) with a minimum qualification of SSCE/O’Level Certificate to operate the buses.

A source at the state ministry of transportation told BusinessDay on Wednesday that all was set for the roll out. “All we’re waiting for is a date convenient for Mr Governor to officially flag it off,” said the source.

The BRT will reduce journey time on the road by almost 75 percent, according to a projection by LAMATA. Currently, com-

muters spend an average of two hours in peak traffic periods: 7am to 10am and 5:30pm to 9:30pm traveling this distance in the yellow commercial buses, paying between N300 and N350 per trip. The buses will run on the segregated route carved out from the existing Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and will run 25 to 35 minutes.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in January this year, visited to see the level of work on the BRT route. Sanwwo-Olu had told reporters that the scheme would be ready by May, this year, with 200 buses to flag off operations.

“This BRT corridor was conceived with the intention to address congestion and transportation challenges along the OshodiAbule Egba corridor. We are fully back on this project and we are pushing the contractor to step up the pace of work on it. Once it starts operation, this will significantly bring relief and reduce traffic congestion and transportation problems along this route.

“We are hoping that by the end of May, we should complete the entire phase 1 of the BRT infrastructure along this route,” he said, but the outbreak of COVID-19 altered the planned flag of the scheme in May.

…seals 42 buildings

agos State government says on it targets meaningful reduction in the incidence of illegal building construction as it extends its special enforcement operations to the Lekki axis.

Commissioner for physical planning and urban development, Idris Salako, who is leading the operation, stated that it was high time the menace of illegal development and collapse of buildings became a thing of the past in Lagos.

This, he said, has also become necessary to protect the built environment for posterity.

“This explains why we must stop those who are bent on jeopardising the Operative Development Plans of Lagos State by not tolerating any form of illegal physical developments in the state” he said.

Salako emphasised that the government would continue to seal erring properties, enforce compliance and even go ahead to prosecute where necessary.

He stated that the special operation began in Lekki phase1 on Tuesday, June 23, when 19 buildings were sealed, bringing to 42 the total number of buildings so far sealed in the highbrow estate.

He explained that the properties were sealed because they lacked planning

permit, demolition permit and stage certification.

The commissioner urged property owners in Lekki phase 1 and other parts of the state to ensure that they do the needful by complying with the physical planning laws of the state and avoid the embarrassment of having their properties sealed.

Salako also urged those whose properties were sealed due to these infractions to contact his ministry to perfect their documents.

Visitation panel submits report on LASPOTECH

T

h e La g o s S t a t e Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) visitation panel set up by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to unravel both the immediate and remote causes of the lingering crises in the polytechnic has submitted its report.

The panel submitted the report to the special adviser

to the governor on education, Tokunbo Wahab, on Thursday.

The panel was constituted in October, 2019 in accordance with the extant law of the Lagos State Polytechnic 2012, Section C111 (subsection 1-5).

The committee which was chaired by Adelowo Afolayan, on behalf of the members appreciated the

governor for the opportunity given to them to work freely in finding solutions to the age-long crisis in the school without government interference.

Responding, the special adviser, Wahab thanked the committee and also assured them of government’s implementation of the report as recommended by the panel.

Sunday 28 June 2020

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BDSUNDAY 7

Focus

The Nigerian Health Sector COVID realities in green on white

A tale of a poor African country’s struggles with a mighty pandemic - Is the “Happy End” possible and how?

E

Mories Atoki, CEO ABCHealth

Georgios Radaglou, Partner Climax-X

ver before COVID-19 hit West Africa, Nigeria’s health sector was already facing huge challenges – the country is one of the biggest contributors to Africa’s disease burden and the more astute have traced this to years of wrong spending priorities and a cultivated leaders’ attitude of “Dirt can’t kill African man”. Some say financial mismanagement of allocated funds for the health sector paired with unbridled corruption and incompetence further exacerbate the pursuit of those wrong priorities. Amidst the Global COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government even decided to cut the health budget from N44.4bn to 25.5bn whilst allocating N27bn to the renovation of the Nigerian National Assembly building complex (source: Daily Post 03.06.2020).

It could be time consuming to trace the issues but in order to provide the necessary perspectives, it is essential for one to understand that Nigeria, at its best of times, has only committed 4.5% of its national budget to health, which is less than a third of the Abuja Declaration of 2001which committed to 15% of the Annual National Budget.

Worse still, after subsequent years of low budget implementation, it is fair to say that less than this 4.5% gets spent wisely at any given time and even worse, a substantial portion of the released funds end up being misappropriated. Corruption thus significantly undermines efforts to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.

As if that was not already enough, the COVID-19 crisis met Nigeria with depleted financial reserves in addition to a sudden collapse of Oil prices, cutting the inflow of revenues for the FG financial apparatus by almost 90%.

While the current pandemic has revealed its intention of staying around for a long time, the ugly reality of the immediate past of our battles with ill-health on multiple fronts including communicable diseases (CDs), noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), tropical diseases (TDs) and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) keeps haunting us.

Front line organizations and institutions tasked with improving health outcomes in the country must commence support to aid the efforts and mitigate the risks and hazards to the Nigerian society by engaging in continually effective actions including but not limited to: 1) Campaigning for an open-

ing of the borders for imports of quality food (basically protein), improve customs and import procedures, eliminate middlemen by finding ways to sell at lower prices to the end consumer.

2) Providing cheap, qualitative and rapid response test kits in abundant quantity and help the quick identification and instant response to infected persons timely and spatially and only in second level with expensive and rare PCR machines and tests, which apparently limits Nigeria’s testing ability significantly 3) Providing the necessary personal and collective protective equipment (PPE&CPE), such as face shields, sneeze guards, quality nose masks, quality disinfectants (sanitizers with above 65% alcohol and medical spirit) and many more at real cost and in sufficient quality to the “exposed professional groups” and sectors identified.

4) Embarking on a massive and concerted sensitization campaign directed at the public to ensure the imbibing of safe and best practices towards limiting spread 5) Engaging the heads of public and private sector institutions, organizations and businesses to extend work-from-safe locations policy in a bit to further reduce citizens’ movement 6) Combat corruption in the Health sector to reduce cost and increase efficiency and quality of service.

In a midterm approach, the exposed sectors need to have health & safety concepts and strategies as well as proper monitoring in regards to COVID-19 mitigation measures and programs while the training of the exposed professionals and essential service providers must

be thoroughly planned and executed on a continually effective basis. This could be addressed with ‘train the trainer’ systems to achieve a pyramid-like cascading effect of the knowledge needed.

In a long-term approach, a campaign to support the repatriation of “dormant” Nigerian capital, stashed in offshore accounts

by Nigerian entrepreneurs and politicians to be utilized for the public good. This initiative should be supported by FMoF and CBN incentives (tax - and legal amnes-

ties), documented and channeled to support the restructuring and improvement of the Nigerian Health Sector whilst in parallel the ability and processes for investments in the Health sector must be optimized and boosted in combination with a boost in qualification and training of the Health sector workers.

There are organizations which have already started activities in this direction – they should be supported by every stakeholder in the “Nigeria project”.

8

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Exploring the prospect of ICT

Publisher/Editor-in-chief

Frank Aigbogun

editor Zebulon Agomuo DEPUTY EDITOR John Osadolor, Abuja MANAGING DIRECTOR Dr. Ogho Okiti EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS Fabian Akagha EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGY, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS Oghenevwoke Ighure ADVERT MANAGER Ijeoma Ude MANAGER, CONFERENCES & EVENTS Obiora Onyeaso BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (South East, South South) Patrick Ijegbai COPY SALES MANAGER Florence Kadiri DIGITAL SALES MANAGER Linda Ochugbua GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (North)

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GM, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (South) Ignatius Chukwu HEAD, HUMAN RESOURCES Adeola Obisesan

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Sunday 28 June 2020

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Tayo Ogunbiyi Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

W

ithout doubt, the Information and Communication Technologies, ICT, sector remains a fast growing area with limitless possibilities for national and international development.

Today, the sector offers enormous empowerment opportunities to diverse people across the globe.

It is, however, sad to note that despite the boundless opportunities it presents, fewer people, particularly girls, are actually getting involved in the sector. The erroneous notion that the ICT sector is a majorly male enterprise still holds sway in many nations of the world.

Research has shown that males dominate most highly rated jobs in the sector. On the average, the research illustrates that women accounts for 30 per cent of IT operations technicians, a mere 15 per cent of ICT managers and only 11 per cent of IT strategy and planning professionals.

Presently, there is a shortage of some 2 million IT professionals in the world. Therefore, encouraging more girls to take interest in ICT, through training and skills development can help deal with that deficit.

According to experts, there would be two million more ICT jobs available than ICT professionals all over the world in the next decades. In order to ensure that more girls take hold of the platform, especially in our clime, we need to empower more school girls and young women to explore opportunities in the ICT sector.

With the number of school girls opting to study technology-related disciplines on the decline in most countries worldwide, encouraging more girls to opt for career in the sector, would, no doubt, help inspire more girls to consider a future in Information Technology.

Presently, there is a shortage of some 2 million IT professionals in the world.

There are convincing economic factors for engaging more girls in the sector. For one, every initiative that could help in reducing the male-female employment gap is good for economic growth.

In Europe, for instance, research has shown that the bridging of the male-female employment gap has been a key factor for socio-economic growth in the last decade.

Similarly, in the Asia and Pacific region, limiting job opportunities for women is costing them over $46 billion annually. In the Arab

world, a World Bank research has equally revealed that the gender gap in economic prospect remains huge. A recent research from the World Economic Forum, WEF, indicates that countries that have successfully bridged employment gap between males and females, offer better prospects than those that do not.

In Nigeria, there is limited information on the level of girls’ involvement in ICT. But the fact that the field is still a growing one in the country is enough for one to reach a conclusion that the sector is still a virgin one for girls.

Now that the rate of unemployment in the country has become rather critical is the time for governments and other stakeholders to creative devise strategies that could attract more girls and, indeed, boys into the sector. To this end, governments need to place a premium on promoting ICT skills in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

The curricula need to reinforce each other at different levels, from computer camps for prehigh school or secondary school students, to ICT classes for high school students’ right through to mentoring and sponsoring. This needs to be complemented by investment in vocational training.

In same vein, governments across all levels need also to invest in on-the-job and industry-based training initiatives with a focus on promoting advanced ICT skills.

This could be done in partnership

with the private sector.

In order to bring about a significant increase in girls’ and women’s engagement and employment across the board in the ICT sector, schools need to ensure that students are aware about the frequently developing nature of the knowledge economy and that learning does not stop once basic education is completed. Equally, public and private organisations need to offer a more mutual workplace experience that constructively engages workers through the provision of opportunities that ensure constant training and re-training programmes.

It is equally important that parents, teachers, career guidance counsellors and employers effect a shift in mindset to acknowledge that ICT careers are an important and viable opportunity for girls.

Perhaps more importantly, women who are already successful in the sector need to mentor girls and young women. They could do this by organizing seminars and other programmes that could enhance the popularity and acceptability of the sector among girls and young women. It is in doing this that gains made so far in the sector could be effectively secured.

We need to encourage more girls to take to careers in ICT. It would help solve lots of socio-economic problems in the society. For this to become a reality, stakeholders need to devise useful strategies that could galvanize the interests of more girls in ICT.

Imo Itsueli Mohammed Hayatudeen Afolabi Oladele Vincent Maduka Opeyemi Agbaje Amina Oyagbola Bolanle Onagoruwa Fola Laoye Chuka Mordi Mezuo Nwuneli Charles Anudu Tunji Adegbesan Eyo Ekpo Wiebe Boer Paul Arinze Boye Olusanya Ayo Gbeleyi Haruna Jalo-Waziri Clement Isong

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State OfTheNation Obasanjo recommends post-pandemic measures to get Nigerians, economy back to normal ...says Nigeria may collapse without restructuring, effective security of lives, property RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has recommended a set of six socio-economic measures for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigeria’s government expected to be undertaken post-pandemic as part of measures to fast-track Nigerian economy and Nigerians’ healthy living and wellness back to normal.

Although, Obasanjo had earlier blamed and condemned shoddy handling of COVID-19 cases by various levels of government in Nigeria which he described as being “ill-prepared and poorly equipped to tackle and respond to the pandemic, he however decided to itemise cogent measures to be adopted to get the country back to normalcy post-pandemic.

Speaking through a virtual medium at the 2020 Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture held in Abeokuta on Friday by Abeokuta Club on the theme: ‘COVID-19 and Nigeria Security Issues: The Way Forward’ Obasanjo said that cogent efforts should be made by the Nigeria’s government to ensure that food availability and security are guaranteed as well as job security within the ambience of needed innovation, science, technology, digitisation and artificial intelligence in such a way that the economy would greatly benefit post-pandemic.

He said, “Suffice it to say for now that we find ourselves in Africa in general and in Nigeria in particular in a situation of a pandemic we are ill-prepared for and poorly equipped for. We, fortunately, had the benefit that it had ravaged China, Europe and the US before it became a serious problem in our continent and in our country.

“We learned some lessons of how those advanced societies attempted to cope with the pandemic. We learned some lessons and we had some time to prepare for the onslaught. We also had the cooperation and collaboration of World Health Organisation, WHO, an organization that had done a great work in the face of inadequate global collaboration to work together in order to stem the tide of the menace of the pandemic as countries seem to be working in silos.

“Six areas need quick attention now and in the immediate postpandemic. The first is food availability and security. The second is employment and job security. The third is change in the pattern and style of living including travelling.

The fourth is innovation, science, technology, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence. The fifth is local content, raw materials and substitutes. The sixth is diversification of the economy and enhancement of export commodities.

“It is up to us to take these six areas very seriously. With good

Olusegun Obasanjo

leadership and right policy and with the public and private sectors working together, and the civil society joining hand, all the six areas can be taken care of and we can safely put the pandemic behind and move the country forward.

“I hope that Africa, as a continent, will emerge economically stronger from COVID-19. For us in Nigeria, we have no alternative but to get it right. Otherwise, the future will be worse than the present that is uncertain and bleak with economic downturn and pervasive insecurity.”

On the pervasive insecurity of lives and properties in almost all the 36 states and the six geo-political zones of the country, Obasanjo declared neither the inactiveness and docility of Muhammadu Buhari-led Nigeria Government nor the discrimination among Nigerians based on ethnicity would help would matter as critical issues facing Nigeria and Nigerians at present could sink Nigeria if quick and concrete moves were not taken towards reasonable reforms and effective security of lives and property in all geo-political zones.

He said: “Over the last two weeks or so, there have been comments and remarks about the state of insecurity in the country occasioned by criminality and acts of lawlessness that are brazen and outrageous with seeming government powerlessness to act effectively. These with other willful and unhelpful acts of government at the centre had made some governors to devise means of enhancing security within their States and their geo-political zones.

“Other people had called for correction, according to them, of the ‘Mistake of 1914’ while others are talking of proclamation for the ‘Sovereignties and Self-determination of Indigenous Peoples of Nigeria’. I believe there is need for a bit of clarification and understanding of the situation to avoid confusing the situation further.

“First, I believe that all ethnic groups who form the constituents of Nigeria are all indigenous to Nigeria. And the United Nations Declaration of 2007 on Indigenous Peoples may apply in countries like the United States of America, New Zealand, Australia and similar countries where there are distinctions between indigenous and settler peoples, but does not really apply to Nigeria.

“Our problem is of a different nature emanating essentially from government’s orientation, policies, competence, performance and delivery and gross inadequacies in these areas. Some people describe it as ‘collapse of governance at all levels!’ When what was not happening before begins to happen, you must try to find out why. And as far as security is concerned, governments carry lion share of the responsibility if not the entire responsibility as individuals can only act within the laws made and enforced by governments.

“My personal conviction is that, with the experience we have had operating the current Constitution where we have seen some important aspects of the Constitution being breached willfully and wantonly and with the centre seemingly being overwhelmed by the issue of security, with crying need from different quarters for reform of the basic structure of Nigeria’s federating units, there is need for the repositioning of our country for the purpose of unity, equity, competence, good governance, security, stability, healthy competition, justice, fast socio-economic development and making Nigeria undisputed regional leader.”

He further said: “As a regional leader, Nigeria must always be at the table and be an effective contributor to global decision-making process and adequate share in worldwide division of labour and global resources, I remain firmly convinced that without reform of federating units, as I will like

to satisfy those who may not like the word ‘restructuring’, Nigeria will remain insecure, unstable, non-progressive and stagnated at best or disintegrated at the worst.

I have not lived for the demise of Nigeria nor for its destruction or incapacitation in any form. Rather, I have lived to make and see a great and united country.

“I shrink from the use of some words and language, i.e. mistake of 1914; Nigeria as a geographical expression or its existence is an artificiality. There is no country that does not have history of togetherness, build up, reform or structural and component building as a geographical expression.

“What matters is how the leaders and the led work together harmoniously, cooperatively, inclusively and equitably together.

Such togetherness must be devoid of domineering spirit or tendencies, disregard or disrespect of any component and with observance of, and respect for fundamental human rights. Merit, competence and sincerity must be maintained by leaders at all levels to keep things running selflessly, honestly and with utter dedication for the best for all and not for a few or a section.”

The former president further said: “If any proclamation is meant to achieve this objective, I wish it every success. I cannot see myself as a builder of Nigeria becoming a destroyer of it but neither will I do anything or fail to do anything that will perpetually suppress and enslave my children and their children in the land of their birth, Nigeria, which I love, nor will I want other peoples’ children to be so enslaved or shackled and their horizon limited by the place of their birth in Nigeria which is God ordained.

“The issue of Nigeria’s future as a result of our current security situation must not be taken nonseriously as I see it as a matter of life and death for our country which must not be toyed with. I very much believe that God created Nigeria to lead the black race as the Americans lead the white race for now and the Chinese lead the brown or yellow race. We must do everything to actualise the plan of God for Nigeria not minding the great crises of the past and gross under-performance, incompetence and failure of the present.

“This makes me ask the question, “Is 1914 a mistake or the act of God through the instrumentality of man?” I do not believe God makes a mistake and He has His hands in the affairs of any man or woman and in the affairs of any nation. God is purposeful and His mystery may not be easily comprehensible. Nigeria, to me, is a creation of God for justice, fairness and equity amongst its component parts.

“Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security which in itself is serious enough to make restructuring imperative. The South-West Governors cried out and devised

Amotekun as a solution or partsolution. We are yet to see how successfully that will be operated.

Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no State and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure. Criminality is the order of the day. And it cuts across the entire nation.

“Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians no matter their tribe, language, religion, geographical location, gender, age or social position. If we are all held hostage by criminality of Boko Haram, terrorists, herdsmen/farmers, bandits, kidnappers, militants, armed robbers, then we all have common ground to seek common solution by putting aside governance collapse, incompetence, failure, insincerity and insensitivity and chart a new stable, enduring and generally sustainable basis and platform for Nigeria Federation.

“What is permanent and constant in life are change, reform and re-adjustment. To avoid change when it is necessary is to avoid progress. Inflexibility is a sign of a sick mind especially in the face of overwhelming evidence for change. People often refer to history and the past to justify their rigidity. My position has always been, remember history but don’t be shackled by it nor become its hostage.”

“For me, I don’t want to inherit the enemies of my father, that is part of history. My father’s time and life are different from mine.

Circumstances do change and only fools will not know and acknowledge that. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other past leaders have lived their lives at their own times.

“They have done their best and they should be respected for their service. And if in our own time we only have to live the way they lived and only be guided by what they believed and did without any change, then we might as well not have been born because we add nothing to improve the situation and to make the society better.

“That will be utterly wrong and unfortunate. If we all have to agree to make Nigeria our country, and not only Yoruba country, Ibo country, Fulani country, Ibibio country, Gbashama country, Urhobo country, etc., we have to change our mindset, our attitude, our orientation and embrace inclusiveness and equal opportunities, equity, justice and love.

“If we only dwell on others’ mistakes of the past and cover up our own, Nigeria will be at best stagnated or at the worst destroyed as an entity. Those who cannot feel comfortable in the company of other ethnic or religious groups, have no business in aspiring to leadership of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation like Nigeria.

They will do great harm to the entity and, in fact, become security risks.

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Politics Appointment of caretaker committee: Implications for APC

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Iniobong Iwok

he political intrigues in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continued last Thursday just as the National Executive Committee (NEC), based on the recommendation of President Muhammadu Buhari, dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) while a caretaker and convention committee headed by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni was inaugurated.

Recall that in the last few weeks the APC has been rocked by a leadership crisis which had aggravated and fragmented the party into two camps.

Judging from events in the last few days it had become apparent that the battle for the soul of the party by the two camps led by deputy national secretary of the party, Victor Giadom and the party’s vice-chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta, who had been chosen to act as national chairman of the APC in the absence of now demised former governor of Oyo State Abiola Ajimobi was capable of scuttling the party’s chances in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States if not checked.

Giadom, apparently acting with the backing of some leaders in the APC, had kicked against the appointment of Eta, saying that he was the legally recognised national chairman of the APC. He had moved swiftly to annul the screening process that disqualified the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki from the party’s primary and ordered for a fresh screening.

Lawyer to Giadom, Wole Afolabi had issued a statement to counter the announcement of the late Ajimobi as the acting national chairman.

Afolabi maintained that the judgment that was upheld which led to the suspension of Oshiomhole, said his client was to act as the National Chairman of the party.

The order according to Afolabi was issued by the FCT High Court, but his claim was disputed by leaders of the party disowning Giadom, and insisting that Giadom’s membership of the NWC ceased when he resigned to contest the Deputy Governorship position in Rivers State.

The same week, an Abuja High Court granted Giadom the right to act as the National Chairman of APC for two weeks.

In an ex-parte application, Giadom had sought the leave of the court to take-over the running of the secretariat of the party in acting capacity and chair meetings of the NWC until the determination of the motion on notice.

Giadom through his counsel, Afolabi, had said he was the authentic acting National chairman of the APC, because he was the highest ranking official following the ruling of the Court of Appeal which upheld Oshiomhole’s suspension and declared all his actions since his suspension, null and void.

According to him, “The order was given the same day that the Court of Appeal earlier gave Oshiomhole a temporary respite by staying the execution of the said order suspending Oshiomhole.

Muhammadu Buhari

Adams Oshiomhole

“Now that the Court of Appeal has affirmed the order of suspension, it is only proper that the Order recognising Chief Victor Giadom is implemented.

“Consequently, we have written to all law-enforcement agencies,” Afolabi had said.

Meanwhile, since the dissolution of the NWC and inauguration of the caretaker committee Thursday, there have been different interpretations on the implication for the party ahead of the coming gubernatorial elections.

It is believed that the decision of the President to dissolve the party’s NWC did not go down well with loyalists of the National Leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It is believed that caretaker committee chairman, Buni, Abubakar Bagudu, governor of Kebbi State, and Nasir ElRufai, governor of Kaduna State and Transport Minister, Chibuike Amaechi belong to the same political camp that allegedly opposed to Tinubu.

The move by President Buhari to attend the NEC meeting convened by Giadom and went ahead to dissolve the party’s NWC is seen to favour a certain power bloc in the APC. However, it appears the members of the Eta-led dissolved NWC are not happy over the decision and are ready to fight, threatening to take legal advice before deciding the next line of action.

In a statement jointly signed by Eta, and Waziri Bulama issued over the weekend in Abuja after a meeting by 18 out of 21 dissolved NWC, just after the Giadom convened NEC meeting in Abuja on Thursday, reiterating its earlier position that Giadom has no authority whatsoever to convene a meeting of the NEC of the party.

According to the statement, “Article 25(B) of the Constitution of the APC is explicit that only the National Chairman or the National Working Committee (NWC) is given the prerogative of summoning meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party either for statutory quarterly meetings or for emergency meetings.

The same provision of the constitu-

tion makes it compulsory for a notice of minimum of 14 days in respect statutory quarterly meetings and 7 days in respect of emergency meetings “We note that Chief Victor Giadom had convened and conducted a virtual meeting purportedly to be a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of our party wherein certain far reaching resolutions were purportedly reached.

“While the National Working Committee is studying the unfolding drama, it will be consulting with stakeholders and a team of lawyers on the next line of action”.

Although the APC has been having some internal wrangling at the national level and some state chapters in recent times which culminated in the party’s dismay performances in some states in the 2019 general election.

Observers believed the party should have put its house in order and not allow the crisis to degenerate, especially at this time.

For example, the party lost all its elected public office holders in Zamfara State, after The Supreme Court ruled that the APC did not conduct valid primaries in the build up to the 2019 general election in the state.

The Supreme Court had upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, which ruled that no valid primaries were conducted by the APC in Zamfara State.

The Court in a unanimous judgment by a seven-member panel decided that a party that had no valid candidate cannot be said to have emerged winner of the recently conducted general election.

Prior to the 2019 election, the APC in Zamfara State had been engulfed in internal crisis and factionalised into camps that Supreme Court judgment was just a confirmation.

Similar situation was witnessed in Imo State, where disagreements over the party’s gubernatorial candidate among leaders led to the dismal performance of the APC in the 2019 election in the state, although the party through what some observers described as a controversial Supreme Court judgment later reclaimed

the governorship seat.

Also, a similar situation was witnessed in Rivers State last year where the Rotimi Amaechi and Magnus Abe-led APC camps could not agree on a gubernatorial candidate after staging two parallel primaries.

Opinions of political watchers are divided on the composition of the caretaker and convention committees in the APC, and the party’s chances in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo States gubernatorial elections?

“The party is in crisis; one would have thought they would apply wisdom in managing the crisis. They should have applied consensus in resolving the crisis rather than sectarian action to manage it.

Beyond that the Tinubu camp has threatened to call the President’s bluff; but if they can do that, it remains to be seen.

“With the way it is going now, the crisis would only degenerate further and it would confirm what people are saying that the APC would not be there in 2023,” Silvester Odion, a political science lecturer in the Lagos State University (LASU), said.

Odion, however, added he could not say if the caretaker committee would be able to resolve the crisis among members in some states including Edo and Ondo State, to aid the party’s electoral success, stressing that elections in Nigeria were not easy to predict.

According to him, “Personally, it is not easy to say if this caretaker committee would help the party emerge victory in the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo State, because we are not practising democracy, you cannot predict election here, it is hard, but based on what is on ground it seems Obaseki would win the election.

“Sections of the state have been ruling for 15 years now, now it seems Edo South and North would join force with the Governor,” Odion added.

Tinubu’s influence in APC from the formation of the party, and contribution toward its electoral success financially and otherwise have never been in doubt however, with the recent tune of events there are questions if he would be willing to continue to fund the party toward electoral success in the forthcoming elections.

With few weeks left to the gubernatorial election in Edo State, and as the candidates and political parties settle down to campaigns after the conclusion of parties’ primaries elections, observers say the Buni-led caretaker committee has a huge task in uniting the dissenting voices in the party to put their differences aside and work towards the party’s victory.

“I am not surprised, when political parties do not run on ideologies, but on interest, there are bound to be head-on collisions. Obviously, the merger which resulted in the carnation of the APC was oxygenated by one interest to grab power.

“But the brokers of the deal did not ask; after we took over power what next?

How do we manage it? How do we manage the pool of interests? And how do we deliver good governance to Nigerians,” Fredrick Nwabufo, political analyst, said.

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Politics Edo, Ondo guber polls: How crisis mayrob APC of two strategic states James Kwen, Abuja

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he crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have a boomerang effect on the party’s performance at the September 19 and October 10 Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections, respectively.

If this happens, APC would lose the two strategic states to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The states are strategic based on their geopolitical zones.

While Edo is from the South-South geopolitical zone and the only state from the oil-rich region that was until recently been governed by the ruling party, Ondo is one of the states in the South-West zone that is predominantly controlled by APC. The South/South geopolitical zone comprises Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo as well as Rivers State, and with the recent defection of Governor Godwin Obaseki to PDP, the entire zone is now under the control of the main opposition party.

On the other hand, the South-West geopolitical zone is made up of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States and except Oyo; all of them are governed

by APC. Edo, which was less than two weeks ago governed by APC with Governor Obaseki in the saddle, was the only state in the South-South zone where the ruling party got 45percent votes in the 2019 presidential election.

According to result of the 2019 general election, APC lost the presidential poll in the entire the oil producing region to the main opposition PDP. The results showed that in Akwa Ibom, APC scored 175, 429 votes, PDP got 395, 832; Bayelsa, APC obtained 118, 821 and PDP scored 197, 933; in Cross River, APC polled 117, 303 while PDP garnered 295, 737; Delta, APC scored 221, 292 votes, PDP got 594, 068, and in Edo, APC obtained 267,842 whereas, PDP scored 275, 842.

Shortly after the general elections, APC was engulfed in crisis in Edo State due to feud between a former governor of the state and immediate past National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole and the incumbent, Obaseki.

Though there was bad blood between Oshiomhole and his successor for but it became more visible during the inauguration of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly when 15 out of 24 members, ‘loyal” to the former governor were not inaugurated while nine said to be loyal to the present governor were inaugurated.

Since then, crisis has continue to loom in the party between the Obaseki and Oshiomhole camps, culminating into the recent disqualification of the Edo Governor from participating in the APC in the last Monday governorship primary election through the machinations of Oshiomhole whose anointed candidate, Osagie IzeIyamu had emerged the standard bearer.

Consequently, Obaseki jumped ship and joined PDP alongside his Deputy, Philip Shuaibu, appointees, some elected

Mai Mala Buni, APC caretaker committee chairman

officials and chieftains of the APC. Obaseki left no one in doubt that Oshiomhole pushed him out APC when he told journalists he decided to resign his membership of the APC because Oshiomhole was “scared of educated people because he did not go to school and hate those who have something to offer citizens”.

He said: “You remember that, in my last tweet, I said that I’ll make a decision after my disqualification was announced

by APC. I said I would make a decision after consulting with the leadership and my supporters in Edo State, and also have informed the President.

“I’m just here today to inform you that I have formally decided to resign my membership of the APC. Having done that, I will now announce in the next few days my specific line of action and on what platform I will be contesting the gubernatorial election.

“I am sure the whole country knows what has gone on with me, the party Chairman and the party leadership which culminated in my disqualification as a gubernatorial aspirant. Upon that unfortunate decision by the Chairman of the APC, I’ve decided to go and seek my gubernatorial aspiration on another platform”.

Despite initial hurdles and judicial encumbrances, Obaseki last Thursday emerged consesus candidate of PDP for the Edo governorship race as the other aspirants, Gideon Ikhine and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as well as Ken Imasuagbon, stepped down for him.

The governor would now slug it out with his ‘political wife’ (to quote Dino Melaye), Ize-Iyamu who he roundly defeated in 2016 and as many political observers said, the same feat would be repeated on September 19.

A political observer, David Lawal who is conversant with the Edo political environment noted that especially with the removal of Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu is left with no political backing to challenge Obaseki at the polls.

He said: “even with Oshiomhole onboard as the National Chairman of APC, it was not going to be easy for Ize-Iyamu not to talk of now that his new found god-

father has no political bearing or Federal backing which they were relying on”.

For Ondo State too, APC is facing internal wrangling, capable of denying it victory as many political actors even in the party are not comfortable with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu leadership and would not want him to get second term ticket.

The crisis reached a climax last week when the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi and other top echelons of the party defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) shortly after he was blocked from going out of the Government House by security operatives.

While submitting his resignation letter at the APC secretariat in his ward, Ajayi said that the reason for his decision was public knowledge.

“I am here to officially announce to you that, as from today, I cease to be a member of the APC. I came to tender my resignation letter to the ward chairman.

The reason I am taking this action is known to all of you.

“I listened to the advice from all supporters across the state; Ese-Odo Local Government will continue to witness peace and progress.

“It is a painful thing that I’m leaving the APC, but there is time for everything. As a Nigerian, I have the fundamental freedom to belong to any party or group.”

“As I said earlier, everybody all over the world knows why I left the APC. Some hours ago, you all know what happened to me at the Government House, but I am a man of peace”, he said.

The defection of Ajayi came with permutations that he would be fielded as PDP candidate for the September 19 Ondo governorship election as his membership of the party was a major boost to its political calculations.

This was confirmed by the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus who said the deputy governor and the other 34 defectors from APC would add value to the PDP which would take over the state after the governorship election.

“The APC has damaged the security and the economy of the Nigeria. Everybody has seen that the APC is taking us to nowhere. I believe Ajayi is coming to the PDP to add value and to make difference.

“We in the PDP do believe the constitution of the country and the constitution of our party. We are one family. Ajayi is not coming to alter any rule. There would be free and fair primary. Everybody has equal right in the party. We are not going to impose any aspirant on others because our target is to take over the state,” Secondus stated.

Beyond that, there is serious disagreement among aspirants for APC governorship ticket in Ondo, including Governor Akeredolu, Olayide Adelami, Ifeoluwa Oyedele, Sola Iji, Akinsehinwa over many issues, particularly the mode of primaries.

While APC is yet to decide on the mode of primaries, most of the aspirants, except the governor who has not indicated preference for any method, are calling for direct primaries for which the governor may not have control.

APC crisis: PGF Boss urges Caretaker to expel sacked NWC for any legal action James Kwen, Abuja

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he Director General, Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman has advised the Governor Mai-Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to invoke relevant sections of the party’s Constitution and expel members of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) if they take any legal action against the party.

The National Executive Committee of APC on Thursday dissolved the warring Oshiomhole-led NWC and 18 out of the 20 members said they were consulting stakeholders and a team of lawyers on the next line of action.

But Lukman said the convention Working Committee should consider invoking provisions of Article 21 of the party’s Constitution which deals with discipline of members of the APC and take advantage of the now discovered micro powers of ward leaders.

According to him, the section empowers the party to expel members who take it to court without exhausting internal mechanisms of conflict resolution The PGF Boss in a statement said, based on the constitional provision, those members of the dissolved NWC who attempt to institute legal actions against the decisions of NEC should be appropriately sanctioned.

“We have a Convention Working Committee that will manage the party for a period of six months and organise a National Convention to elect a new leadership, it can be said that the crisis will be resolved.

“Given that a section of the dissolved National Working Committee is threatening legal actions against the decision of the NEC, what does this mean? It simply means that a section of the dissolved NWC is working against the party.

“It is the responsibility of the Convention Working Committee to ensure that all the rascally conducts of party leaders that characterised the APC leadership conflict are brought under control. We should on no account tolerate conduct of any leader of the party, which makes them more associated with activities of bandits who don’t respect any rule or any leader”, he stated.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari move move on protracted APC crisis, Lukman said: “Without attempting to compel or force anyone, he was able to broker peace in the party. Instead of displaying authoritarian methods, he followed conventional democratic processes of presenting recommendations and allowing members of NEC to decide. Rather than being a dictator as he is always accused of, he displayed excellent democratic credentials.

“With the way the NEC played out, we should ask the question, why did it take this long to hold the NEC? The simple answer is because we have locked ourselves with leaders who become the problem. The fact is, the President was able to discharge his responsibility as the moral authority of the party because he freed himself from all the leaders who were the problem. It is only because of that he was able to see the true picture and accordingly make recommendations that can solve the problem. These were recommendations that didn’t defeat anyone but favour everyone, which confirms the President’s status as ‘belonging to everybody and belonging to no one’.

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Politics What Buhari needs to make positive marks in the next 18 months, by Salvador Moshood Salvador, a former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in this exclusive interview with INIOBONG IWOK, speaks on the state of the nation and what President Muhammadu Buhari must do for his administration to succeed. Excerpts:

I

I have not taken one contract from anybody. I say it every time. What is the big deal about all this? The best thing is to think of what to do for our people and how to move forward?

It has been 21 years of democracy. What is your assessment of the progress made? don’t see anything to celebrate about this democracy; democracy is government of the people for the people and by the people. I know what I am talking about, because I have MSc in Political Science. How can we say this is democracy when we rig elections, where we have instituted stealing, defrauding of government, putting government money in our pocket, where you don’t care that money budgeted for education is diverted; is that democracy? Where a huge amount of money is set-aside for sectional people in the budget and you are saying this democracy is for the people.What is there to celebrate? I can’t understand this; every zone has their leaders, you can imagine how articulate the mandate Edwin Clarke broke out on Democracy Day was saying how this government is sacking their people and replacing them with Northerners.

Look around, who is doing it for the Yorubas? There is nobody, and when the masses come out and say; let go to war, we are the one that would be used for the war, therefore, let our leaders use their brain. Nobody is fighting for us here in the Southwest; it is not just to talk and allow the poor masses to suffer.

But Yemi Osinbajo is a Yoruba man and Tinubu is a leader of the ruling party?

My own is that nobody speaks for the Yorubas. We have articulated all these shortcomings and put them together to be forwarded to the government; nobody wants to talk for us because they have ambition.

But are you saying Tinubu and the rest have not been talking?

It is difficult for anybody who has ambition to talk; in the past they did, not now. Why can’t the government do things right; it is only when this is done that we can move forward.

I have a group called Conscience Forum, it is an NGO; it is for this kind of thing; if anything affects the Igbos, we would come out and talk; if it affects the Northern man, we would come out and talk about it; if it affects the South-South man we would also come out and talk.

I am the treasurer of Yoruba Unity Forum. You can ask Goodluck Jonathan the kind of pressure I gave him; Senator Anthony Adefuye used to talk, but now everybody just keep quiet and things are going wrong.

What is the way forward then?

I am sad you can imagine what is happening in America; since I was small I have been hearing about KKK and now they are in power. When they killed that black man and their President did not apologise to them, it shows the directive on the killing comes from the authority; you don’t need to be told. When they were protesting the George Floyd killing, other blacks have also been killed, the Covid-19 show that blacks are the highest people infected in the U.S; they would just treat the white and

INEC says they are ready for electronic voting in 2021. What is your take?

If they are very realistic about it, ok; it was because they said they wanted to use electronic voting that I contested for Senate in 2011, we started the election, I was leading seriously, but around 1pm they cancelled the election with one nonsense reason and conducted it again within a week or two just because they were unable to distribute money to their people on time, against someone that has no money.Is that the way to use power? And you are saying the government of the people for the people and by the people. Nigerians too have their blame; it is money, money and money. Anybody that does not have money in Nigeria is dead, they worship money, you come and they would all see a thief and stand up; it is so bad to the extent that it is not only politicians, civic servants too are involved, politicians are seasonal thieves.

You would go to a programme, an Imam would sit down and be lying, even pastors just because they gave him money; we have to go back if we are serious.

Moshood Salvador

allow them to go and the black are treated shabbily; that is racism.That is why they did not keep quiet; everything the man has been doing from day one shows racism.He became President just by manipulation of the system; that is why he can’t stay there in peace.

You can see what is happening there, you would see the response to people’s demand when they were demanding for the scrapping of the police.

The council quickly removed the status of slave traders that has been there for decades; it is different from what is happening here; if such happens they would just say ‘ok go and form a committee’ and that would be the end of the matter.

Imagine authorities giving some people money to protest what is bad. But what happens here makes me sad and withdrawn from politics.

So, Mr. President needs people that would project his name; all these people he is appointing I really don’t know.

It is sad someone contests for legislative position and he would be running after contract; all he thinks is to be running after juicy committees.

When you are saying democracy is to go with culture; culture is a way of life of the people; what is our orientation here? It is corruption, it is culture plus environment, when you switch on the television, what they are showing is this man stealing ten million, EFCC took this man to court and he was granted bail.

You can see them put people in jail and they are released and they go back to the Senate and sit down again.

What is your take on the honour for the late MKO Abiola by the President?

It is good they honourAbiola at the end of the day, but to me I have been blaming Abiola right from day one. I don’t know what he wanted in politics.If you are so interested in politics; if you have so much money and you have extra, put it aside and be buying, garri and be giving them.

But Abiola wanted political power?

Political power indeed; once you leave them, you don’t attend to them they would not come to you and your company, maybe you just have to be attending their functions and when you can’t attend you give them apology.

Abiola was a very useful brain and successful man, but he allowed people to push him; the people that pushed him are still enjoying until now; they enjoyed themselves with the military and they are now enjoying democracy.

Once all you haveis gone, you would not be able to speak to the people that you are crying for. I sympathise with the man and I appreciate the honour to him and thank the government for that.

What lessons are there to learn on the annulment of that election?

I talk about culture; this is the orientation they are giving young Nigerians that you have to be corrupt, rig elections.To get there, start dealing with the opposition; opposition is part of democracy, but now it is the ruling party that is talking against themselves. I am a member of the ruling party; once I am not happy with what they are doing, I would say it.

Do you believe in zoning the presidency in 2023?

We should go back to the constitution on that and know what to do. If the constitution is not specific, hold the constitution responsible. Power would come to the South if they are ready for that.

But are there insinuations about Bola Tinubu being interested in the presidency in 2023?

Well, that could be speculation, I don’t know, Tinubu has not told me he wants to contest for the president of Nigeria, those putting up his name now could also do the same for anybody tomorrow.

Buhari is five years in office. What is your assessment of his administration?

Apart from insecurity, I have just come back from a tour of some states, I felt bad for our roads in the Southwest, but some areas that I saw I can see that they are serious and what to do something but the people around him, he has to overhaul them and he has nothing less than 18 months, even less than that, after that forget it.

What is your take on the current crop of federal lawmakers?

The people are going there for the aim of making money; in the four years, they want to make money; there is no time for them to think about you, the crop of lawmakers we have are repetition.

It could also be good when they spend a long time there and get experience but most of them are there through godfathers; it is in Lagos that we had a lawmaker that was there for 12 years without any contribution.

They hold constituency meetings and know what affects them, through that they can generate bills and motions.

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Feature Experts knock JAMB over ‘offensive’ cut-off mark ...Say, decision dangerous for standard of education KELECHI EWUZIE

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any people believe that the standard of Nigerian education is falling.

For many years now, there have been calls on government at all levels to take pro-active actions that could return the country to its lost glory, education-wise.

But the recent announcement of 160 as cut-off by Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) for admission into the university for 2020/2021 academic year has elicited angry responses from many Nigerians who described as a sign of dangerous thing coming for Nigeria’s education sector.

One of the prominent voices that spoke against it is Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, a former vice chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), who suggested that it should be 250 for university and 200 for Polytechnic.

He observed that lowering cut-off mark to 160 would reduce quality of education as well as quality of graduates tertiary institutions would produce.

Ibidapo-Obe is not the only educationist concerned of the downward dive on the required cut-off marks for entry level into citadel of higher learning in Africa largest economy.

“It is bad enough that our educational standard has deteriorated terribly and caused our system to be viewed as a joke, pegging the cut- off mark to 160 is capable of causing a ripple effect on the standard of education in the country,” says Maurice Onyiriuka, an educationist.

Onyiriuka observes that d e c a d e s o f g ov e r n m e n t underfunding of education has left the sector to solve 21st-century problems with an educational system designed for the 19th century.

He opines that Nigerian economy, which is currently fragile because of Covid-19, depends on the ability of the fresh graduates to contribute to building the economy. “It is very embarrassing to hear that JAMB would consider 160 as a cut-off mark when we should be encouraging high performance.

Onyiriuka said that rather than a reduction of cut off mark, JAMB should work with the government to improve Nigeria’s educational system, adding that an improved educational system would deter Nigerians from travelling abroad for education.

“Dropping JAMB’s cut-off mark only increases the level of mediocrity in our educational system and this will eventually cause more students to seek quality education abroad,” Onyiriuka said.

BDSUNDAY search shows that Coronavirus pandemic has in a dramatic way s h ow n h ow u n p re p a re d Nigeria’s education system is for the 21st-century environment driven by innovation and digital technologies.

This was as the sector has been one of the biggest losers since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic forced governments to closed down schools and disrupted academic activities across the country.

A cross-section of stakeholders who spoke to BDSUNDAY lampooned JAMB, accusing the board of seeking to further degrade the country’s already degraded education system.

According to them, the decision to peg the cut off mark at 160 will discourage

excellence and promote mediocrity in the country’s pivotal education sector.

Anayo Alaoma, an educationist, told BDSUNDAY that pegging cut-off at 160 would encourage laziness and lower the standard of education in the country.

According to him, “This will only reduce the level of performance of the students. I believe students should be made to read more but this low peg cutoff will only make them idle, especially as regards their academic performance” “JAMB’s decision to reduce the cut-off to 160 could have a multiplier effect on the already lower standard of education in the country.

It would have made sense if rather than peg it at 160, JAMB management pegged the cut-off range from between 200 to 250” Commenting on the cutoff mark as announced by JAMB, Abosede Adekoya, an education stakeholder decried the disturbing reduction in cut off marks by the examination board, adding that this negates her expectation about standards of gaining admissions into tertiary institutions in the country.

To her, “I used to think that passing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) reflects candidate’s intelligence to

an extent, but now to secure admission at 160 marks leaves a wrong impression”, “I want JAMB to raise the benchmark in order to give room for those who really studied hard and passed the UTME, to be given admission. Reducing the cut-off mark to 160 will only benefit lazy students and contribute to the fallen standard of the education”.

Jamb while reacting to the backlash over the cutoff marks, informed candidates not to rely on the set benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions.

Fabian Benjamin, head of media said meeting its cutoff mark was not a guarantee for admission, explaining that there were other different factors for consideration for admission.

Benjamin in a weekly news bulletin released to the media earlier in the week noted that “The undue attention to the socalled national minimum UTME score (UTME cut-off point), is a major source of failure of many ill-informed candidates who assumed that they have finally attained the benchmark having achieved the so called minimum national score or “cut off point’ for admission.”

Micheal Edwin, a concerned parent, questioned JAMB’s motive for wanting

to further destroy the nation’s education by abysmally lowering the cut-off marks and then in the same breath warning against relying on the cut-off marks.

Edwin said this inconsistent stance by JAMB in handling the issue around the reduction of the cut-off marks would only worsen academic performance in tertiary institutions.

He further noted that although the reduction in the minimum cut-off marks is a sharp deviation from the norm of the past when competition for placement into tertiary institution was stiff, he did not expect it to have been reduced to such level.

Analysts opined that what managers of the nation’s education space should bear at the back of their minds is that among the on- going industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is the call for an improved standard of education.

According to them, “We shouldn’t expect things to get better in our education system if we continue to place low premium on academic excellence. No matter the eventual amount of funding or the extent of the provision of facilities for learning and research in our universities, the requirements of entry for prospective students still count”.

14

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Sunday 28 June 2020

Interview ‘Govt must see private developers as partners, not competitors to cut housing deficits’ Although he started as an Agronomist, having studied Agronomy at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Armstrong Tope Akintunde combines interests, portfolios and responsibilities, first as the Executive Director, Special Projects at Suru Group Limited and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aerofield Homes Limited. In this interview with RAZAQ AYINLA, Southwest Bureau Chief, Akintunde declared that for Nigeria to massively cut rising housing deficits, government at various levels must see private developers as partners and not competitors and work towards unhindered access to lands, quick processing of title documents and other approvals as well as controlled prices of building materials, among others. Excerpts:

D

ifferent administrations have been talking about low-cost housing units for people and the prices of building materials are increasing on daily basis; how realistic is this promise?

To achieve low-cost housing in the Nigerian nation requires more than juicy rhetorical commentaries but a well-laid out, conscientious and concerted efforts by the government. The government’s plans of lowcost housing project must put into consideration the activities and the contributions of professionals and artisans in building, as well as manufacturers and stockists of building materials.

The cluster of these classes of people, committed and selfless government officials or representatives will lead to attaining such goal.

It must be taken into consideration that no matter how genuine the intention is or how strong the drive may be, if the prices of building materials are not controlled or managed, the idea will never come to fruition. It will be comparable to winking in the dark, because, if the prices of building materials are exorbitant, the possibility of building low cost housing will be frustrated, thwarted and a mission impossible.

No doubt, Nigeria has been battling with housing deficits to the tune of 20 million housing units; how best can Nigeria - public and private sectors - bridge the deficit?

The method of bridgi ng t h e d e f i c i ts i s rea l i sa b l e w h e n g ov e r n m e n t ’ s commitment to the aspiration is well-thought out and pursued vigorously. One, government should make reasonably the price of lands available to private property investors. This will forestall the presence of the class of people called land grabbers or area boys who are fond of making some financial inducement from builders before they can commence building at their sites. Two,

- kintunde A

government should also encourage private housing investors by giving them some waivers in the areas of official payments, such as C of O ( Certificate of Occupancy), construction charges etcetera as this will not only reduce cost of buildings but also give them confidence of government’s support. Additionally, knowing that we have land developers here and there, government could partner with some tested and result-orien ted on es among them, because, as it is often said, government alone cannot do it all.

There has also been problem of building collapse across the country; what would you ascribe to the causes of incessant building collapse in the country?

Building collapse has become a recurrent decimal in the land because of the selfishness and less-seriousness of both builders and government on the grounds that many of them are not doing the necessary things.

A builder wants to use the materials for one building to build two or three houses.

The government officers who are to supervise and inspect the property or standards of materials to be used and are not ready to go to the sites to inspect them or the construction works once the builders are ready to settle them. There had been reported cases of building approval done in the offices without the officers charged with such responsibility going to sites but merely relied on the information supplied by the builders. Additionally, reports abound that many potential homeowners employing quacks who only adopt trial and errors instead of professional builders who are seasoned with building experience. As long as standards are compromised and supervising authority is lackadaisical, collapse building experience will continue.

As a Developer and Builder, how do you rate Nigerian disposable income ratio to home ownership in this country. What is number of an average Nigerians who earn between N20,000 and N100,000 monthly to owning a befitting home, considering the rising cost

of housing?

As a Developer or Builder, one must confess and state it bluntly that no Nigerians earning between N20,000 to N100,000 who can really afford a home with the ever increasing cost of living: education, transportation, health and feeding. Besides, the cost of building materials is daily increasing. The only way these classes of people could do to own homes is by co-operative arrangements, other self help projects or by government’s supports in the form of mortgage or some form of allocations in which the costs are deducted from their salaries.

We have been able to surmount the problem because of our realistic and focused approach to the home sector. We prioritised the sector, and so deployed all efforts required. As earlier enumerated, housing programme, particularly low cost ones are realisable with dedication, determination and genuine drive by the government and government’s officials. If all the issues highlighted above are complied with, then the problem is surmountable.

It is also apposite for gove r n m e n t t o c re a t e s a t e l lite towns or settlements in which case reasonably priced lands are procured, built, with provisions of schools, markets, good road network and other facilities that would make such places conducive for the residents.

What are the real challenges in the industry and how do you surmount them as a major player in the country?

Nigeria’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are faced with many challenges which have stunted their growth and development.

Some of these challenges are poor infrastructural facilities, inadequate funding and lack of access to capital, weak managerial and entrepreneurial skills, limited demand for their products and services, and competition from foreign products.

Among these challenges, the most restricting is the inadequacy of funds and lack

of access to capital. Indeed, most of the other problems could easily be resolved with sufficient finance. Our financial institutions typically wait for entrepreneurs to become successful before they take any serious interest in their b u s i n e s s e s . H ow ev e r , n o m a t t e r h ow c re a t i v e a n d innovative they are, these entrepreneurs often cannot meet the strict credit risk acceptance criteria of banks.

So, with all these challenges highlighted in the industry, what is your firm doing to correct the perceived anomalies and help develop Nigeria’s real estate industry?

Nigeria has suffered the paradox of economic growth w it h o u t d eve lo p me n t fo r many years. Many economists often lament what they have come to describe as our ‘job-less growth’. While all macro-economic indices point to an economy which is truly growing and there is noticeable improvement in our public infrastructure, especially power and roads, unemployment still remains a challenge. With our huge population comprising mainly youths, this is worrisome and a great threat to our posterity. Nigeria needs to achieve a quick-win solution that ensures that most of our employable citizens are gainfully engaged.

We must harness the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial acumen of our people in our battle against u n e m p l oy m e n t . We m u s t empower our entrepreneurs to be in the position to create jobs on a large scale. However, as our institution want it to grow across the federation, having been a business entrepreneur myself and having been a resource person in several training programs for entrepreneurs, as a matter of priority, we intend to establish a worldclass academy for the training and development of young entrepreneurs in the nearest future. It shall be a centre of excellence which others would want to emulate.

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Interview Rivers set for agric...

Continued from page 5 had to contend with and which those shouting at the rooftops for him to reactivate the projects will not tell you. He said it would have been foolhardy to continue with some of these projects when they are not viable.

Revolution He said, however, there’s no doubt whatsoever that with the decision of the Rivers State Executive Council to concession the state-owned farms and Agric facilities, Wike is not only fulfilling his pledge to make Agriculture the developmental plank on which his second term would ultimately be anchored, he has also hit the ground running in the implementation of this exciting Agricultural revolution, with the revamping of the Rivers Cassava Processing Company Limited which will no doubt now serve as a catalyst towards attracting quality investors to key into the reactivation agenda of the other listed farms.

He declared: “The employment potentials which these projects hold for Rivers youths, when fully concessioned and operational, are simply amazing. The bandwagon and trickle down commercial benefits which each of these projects will deliver in their various locations, will transform these communities into throbbing and vibrant hubs not only for Agriculture, but indeed for small and medium scale business chains and entrepreneurial clusters, which will spring up and thrive all across the state.

“With the decision to concession these government-owned farms and Agric facilities, Wike has not only astounded his critics and detractors with his proactive pragmatism, he has once again displayed that extraordinary brilliance in project engagement and delivery, which has hallmarked his administration.

“The visionary astuteness of his administrative acumen, when fully delivered with the other legacy projects, will definitely put Rivers State ahead of its contending counterparts as a model trail blazer, especially in the transformational agenda of embracing Agriculture, not only as the veritable tool in delivering enduring sustainable progress and development, but also in increased youth employment and collective economic growth.

“The global importance of Agriculture in providing a viable and practical alternative for diversification, against the backdrop of the diminishing resource and influence of oil and gas, which was glaringly exposed with the outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic, with the dramatic crash in oil prices, has further revalidated the excellent post-modern decision of concessioning the Rivers State government owned assets for greater utilization and value maximisation and no set of government owned facilities could be more viable and attractive to potential investors at a challenging time like we are faced with now, than the listed farms and Agricultural projects.

‘Customers are at the heart of our business and drive us to do better’

DStv recently won the most admired Media Brand in Africa in the recent Africa Best Brands Awards.

John Ugbe, managing director for MultiChoice Nigeria speaks with ANTHONY NLEBEM on Pay TV business in Nigeria amid a tough operating environment. Excerpts:

D

Stv was recently awarded the Most Admired African Brand in Nigeria by Brand Africa. How has the brand been able to maintain leadership in the Nigerian market?

We have been in Nigeria for close to three decades and we started from having a single channel to the multi-channel strategy we now run.

MultiChoice is a dynamic business that is built on innovation both technologically and in the way we serve our customers. Our customers are at the heart of our business and they drive us to do better on an ongoing basis. We are always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to improve our customers’ overall experiences with quality products and services.

DStvnewpackageshavebecome a form of succour for the middle and low-income earners in Nigeria. At what point did the company realise that it was necessary to make the move/capture that market?

We are constantly driven to ensure that customers are satisfied with the overall quality of our services. The new packages are exclusively curated from Naija, for Nigerians based on customer feedback, and driven by great programming and affordable prices. We wanted to make options available to our valued customers so that they can choose a subscription plan that best fits their needs and budget.

We know how competitive the market is now, and how difficult is it to achieve customer loyalty.

What are some of the steps the business is taking to consolidate its position as one of the most admired brands in Africa?

For us at MultiChoice, there are certain fundamentals we don’t compromise because we know if we keep those elements in focus and stay consistent, we’ll not only survive the business environment, we will thrive. Number one is keeping the customers at the centre of all we do from both the pricing and content standpoints. We are always listening to customer feedback, challenging and asking ourselves hard questions on how to delight our customers. So we focus on getting the best content and constantly evolving with technological innovation.

DStv is home to some of the favourite channels and programs.

How has the business been able to create content that resonates with Nigerian audiences consistently?

What is the secret?

Data and customer feedback, both of which provide insight into what people want and how they want it. We cater to the market not only from a pricing perspective—

John Ugbe

we have a variety of subscriptions, from affordable to premium, so that we do not leave anyone out—but also by taking region and language into consideration.

We have AfricaMagic channels in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. We also study the trends, establish what needs there are, and introduce programmes that meet our audience’s demands. We are also blessed to have a multicultural and diverse country like Nigeria that

“

As Africa’s biggest storyteller, we are committed to giving back to the communities where we operate by using the power of entertainment to give hope, enrich lives, and bring people together especially during these uniquely difficult times

is so rich with history, culture and tradition. This diversity constantly inspires great storytelling. We are also blessed to be surrounded by a great number of creative talent that are available to develop and produce these stories.

It’s been close to three decades since MultiChoice began operations in Nigeria, how has the business evolved to its current stage?

MultiChoice Nigeria has been in the country for 27 years and from the beginning, we believed in bringing the best entertainment to people’s screens. We are a video entertainment company, so even if it meant initially bringing in foreign content, we then started developing much more locally produced content—music, movies, sports— that meet international standards.

Over the years, we have been able to build a local business, one that both imports and exports content.

Corporate Social Responsibility is a key part of the MultiChoice brand, what are some of the CSR initiatives the company has launched in recent times?

MultiChoice has consistently leveraged on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities to connect with the market and enrich lives. Our corporate focus is to positively impact and enrich the lives of our audience through the work that we do. During the outbreak of this Covid-19 crisis, we committed N1.2 billion to support Nigeria in

fighting the deadly virus through donations to the Federal and State governments, broadcasting public service announcements across the continent in English, Pidgin, Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa and also airing the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC’s) helplines across 10 channels on DStv and GOtv. We also went a step further by opening Free-to-Air stations so that subscribers can watch even when their subscription ends and launched the Hallelujah, Easter and Sunna channels to ensure that during this era of social distancing, various faiths could still worship from the comfort of their homes.

The recently held Hope for Africa Benefit Concert by One Africa Global Foundation in partnership with MultiChoice to raise funds for medical practitioners and support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was a success.

What informed the partnership?

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many and disrupted economic activity, increasing the threat to food security and children’s survival and wellbeing.

As Africa’s biggest storyteller, we are committed to giving back to the communities where we operate by using the power of entertainment to give hope, enrich lives, and bring people together especially during these uniquely difficult times.

The concert was important not just because we are raising funds for frontline health workers, but it is also a reminder that we are one and all in this together.

Nigerians as a people are known globally to be passionate sports fans. Their passion for the European football leagues especially is second to none on the continent. How has MultiChoice as a business contributed to the development of sports in the country?

We have developed various sports over the years. For the Nigerian League, we invested an average of Seventy Million Dollars ($70m) for about seven years, in developing the league, while also commissioning experts in the field to build capacity for its administration. An overture that continues to be beneficial to the industry to date. We also made it possible for our local leagues to be watched on SuperSport across the country, growing audiences and love for the sport in Nigeria. We have made significant investments to encourage the development of sports, such as Basketball, GOtv Boxing, and through Let’s Play, Football, Cricket and Rugby. We will continue to make great entertainment more accessible to Nigerians by delivering quality sports and local content to our customers.

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HOW How doDOyouYOU bidBID An AN ANGEL GOODBYE? angel goodbye?

worrying over childbearing and to just keep trusting God while helping other couples through their own fertility journey. As I prayed and mulled over the idea, I felt peace and that was how the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation was born!” said Ibidun.

The news of her death on the 14th of June 2020, came as a shock! It wasn’t the first state in Nigeria she went to help set up COVID 19 centres and I couldn’t comprehend how she just died in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Nevertheless, there are two events I choose to pick and share in remembrance of Ibidunni Ighodalo.

At the 7th edition of our annual w o m e n ’s c o n f e r e n c e t h a t I coordinate, titled Inspiring Woman Series, I had sent her a message and ‘harassed’ her. Telling her I would love to see her lovely face in the hall to encourage me. Despite her busy schedule, she made time to come and I was delighted to see her.

She waited till the end and we took amazing pictures together.

By the time she was coming for the 8th edition, she came as a speaker.

The theme for that edition was “Can she have it all?”. Trust me when I say she did justice to the topic. Many who attended haven’t recovered from the depth she went into, sharing her struggles with

KEMI AJUMOBI

T

hat is the word that b est qualifies her…

Angel! She is loving, c a r i n g , s u p p o r t i v e, understanding, conscientious, homely, calm, generous and selfless.

Ibidunni Ighodalo was MD/CEO of Elizabeth R, incorporated in 2003 as an event management company committed to fulfilling clients’ needs and expectations through unsurpassed services and creative thinking. Being aware of the dynamic environment in which they operate in, and recognizing the increasing

need to incorporate the ‘wow’ factor into every aspect of event planning, they pride themselves in being able to differentiate between an ordinary and an exceptional event. Hence, the distinguished array of clients they provide services for.

The multitasking Ibidunnni was also the Founder of The Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF). IIF is a non-profit organisation created to raise awareness on issues pertaining to infertility and to provide grants for couples that require fertility t re at m e nt s s u c h a s In Vi t ro Fertilization (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination.

“I made up my mind to stop

EDITOR Kemi Ajumobi Email: kemi@businessdayonline.com TEAM: Desmond Okon Osaromena Ogbeide Designed by Aderemi Ayeni

child bearing, being a pastor’s wife, holding on, encouraging others, her decision to support other women hoping for children, the testimony of the successful IVF procedures for the parents her foundation sponsored and so much more.

The second memory that is very dear to heart is with Daniel. Daniel is a young boy I picked from the streets. He professed his love for the talented and award winning gospel singer, Frank Edward’s songs while I did a live video on him and Frank saw it and asked that I and Daniel meet up with him.

We did and his life made a 360. He

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SWEET POTATO SweetPORRIDGE potato Porridge dressed him up in Gucci outfits and Nike face cap and canvas. He was so happy. Frank promised to take care of his education and all.

Daniel didn’t have a place to stay and while we were thinking of what to do, Ibidun reached out to me and ask that Daniel and I come over to her house.

I drove him there and she was so glad to see him. She hugged him

and promised him he would be fine.

Daniel was put in her orphanage home and he was properly cared for. Because he had stayed long on the streets, he began to manifest wrong signs that were capable of influencing the other children in the home. Ibidun never gave up on him and she did not tell me. She ensured Daniel was doing fine in the home, not until he began schooling and

those traits came up again. That was when she told me. The strength to stay positive on Daniel made me respect her more. Daniel was later handed to the state government for rehabilitation, but her kind gesture to a boy she never knew can never be forgotten. She has done so for several others. It was just Ibidun’s way of life, to be an angel on earth.

I have not stopped to ask “why?”

Ibidun, how did you come into our hearts and leave us so soon?

How? If tears could bring you back, I certainly won’t be writing this because you would be back already.

I would have cried you a river. The thousands of messages on social media, from people who know you and people who never met you but have been impacted by your life is beyond words. You were loved by many, both far and near.

You have taught us to love and be loved, you have shown us that you can be a queen and yet humble, you have demonstrated that it is okay to be classy and God-fearing, you have proved that beauty is deep and beyond the outward, you have shown that hard work pays, we have learnt patience from you, we have learnt self-effacement from you, you have shown us that the sky is big enough for everyone to soar, from you we have learnt to be the best at what we do.

Watching the burial ceremony was torturing, the tears wouldn’t stop flowing from my eyes, I kept asking “Why? How? You?”...Watching her daughter speak about her mum, watching her sing with Nathaniel Bassey, watching her younger brother go up the stage to ‘support’ his sister, watching Pastor Ituah sing heart pondering songs and doing his best to be strong...every part of the program touched my heart in ways that words alone cannot quantify, and I know it felt same for many others too.

Until she was laid to rest, I was in denial. Nevertheless, I am comforted knowing you have truly found rest in the arms of God. I pray that God gives Pastor Ituah Ighodalo the grace to bear this loss, that the children be safe and protected by God, that her family and friends be strengthened to embrace this reality, and that all Ibidunni stood for be remembered as a legacy to live by.

Till we meet again to part no more, rest on angel, you will be painfully missed!

Nigerians questionquestion Nigerians Police’s competence police’s competence handle rape cases Totohandle rape cases …Case study: Seyitan andSeyitan DBanj …Case study: and DBanj DESMOND OKON

T

he recent discovery that Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, a Nigerian musician known as Dbanj, had arrested one Babatayo Seyitan who accused him of rape has cast doubt on the ability and competence of the Nigeria Police Force to handle rape cases and further dented the force’s already fragile reputation for enforcing the law.

Describing the incident as an act of intimidation, Nigerians now wonder if the police can be trusted to effectively handle matters of rape when a case is reported and questioned if it would be appropriate and safe to report rape when the occasion arises.

“This disgraceful police-led incident happened in real-time, in public.

Zero fear. Zero shame. (It’s) time to never tell a Nigerian woman to “go to the police to report rape”. And let the Nigerian police shut up, as there is no greater enabler and perpetrator of this in Nigeria,” said Elnathan John, a novelist.

Babatayo, a Nigerian woman, made a rape allegation against the singer on Twitter a few weeks ago, and was later arrested by men of the Nigerian police force attached to the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) based at Sodipo Command, lkeja Lagos on the evening of June 16, 2020.

She was detained overnight by the police on trumped-up charges made by the man she accused of

rape. While in detention, her phone was allegedly confiscated and her tweets accusing Dbanj were deleted with the exception of a tweet stating she would like to move on from the incident.

Reacting to the event and calling on the Inspector General of Police, The Lagos State Police Command and the entire Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) described the development as an act of intimidation and coercion with the aid of law enforcement agents.

But Babatayo is just an addition to the list of survivors intimidated with the backing of the security outfit. Maryam Awaisu, one of the conveners of ArewaMetoo, shared a similar situation in which she was arrested and brought to Abuja from Kaduna by the IRT. She was threatened with detention, death, and rape on the way to Abuja.

They wanted her to apologize. She also received threats that she will be hunted and killed for raising the issue of gender-based violence against girls. Busola Dakolo also had an a similar experience where the police showed up unannounced and tried to arrest her at her home.

Given the distasteful pattern, Nigerians seem to have lost their trust in the police, which has been described as an enabler of rape in flagrant obsequiousness.

“Unfortunately, this is beyond enabling rape, it’s simply a battle of socio-economic stratifications. The Nigerian police usually align with the high and mighty of our society regardless of which crime is alleged, the poor are on default guilty no

matter how innocent they are...,” Chuks Cyprian, a Twitter user said.

Ironically, The Police had re-echoed its commitment to the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls. It also promised to and opened a unit to address SGBV related matters in police stations across the country.

However, the development may have ebbed its public confidence.

“This is why you have people who don’t come out to speak up because if they do, who will believe them?

What proof do they have?” said Hannah Agunkejoye, founder of Ladies Helpline “It depends to a large extent if the police can be trusted. Those police officers are not trained. If a rape victim reports rape, she is already traumatised and looking for succour and justice…so, they are not trained professionally to handle it. And these police officers, sometimes, can be swayed by powers that be. So, it’s who has the power to influence the police,” she adds.

On the creation of SGBV units in police stations she said it’s critical to have designated officers who are trained to handle such matters in the units, unless, the whole process of going to the police will be watered down.

Seyitan recently filed an official statement reinstating she was raped and seeking for justice, narrating what she went through while she was ‘arrested’. We trust that at the end of it all, only the truth will speak.

Time will tell.

MEALS TO ENJOY

BY CHEF EBUNOLUWA JAMES

COCONUT CREAM VEGGIE Coconut cream veggie Pasta PASTA

ake this yum comforting sweet potato porridge as a break from the norm. Great if you’re a weight watcher.

Simple pasta dish the kids will love.

M RECIPE • • • • • • • • • • • •

3 big potatoes 1tsp tumeric 1/2 tsp curry powder (optional) Chicken seasoning cube Salt/ black pepper 2 carrots 2 green bell peppers 3 birds eye chilli (shombo) 1 onion 1 small zucchini 2garlic cloves 2tbsp Vegetable oil

PREPARATION 1. Boil sweet potatoes with garlic and tumeric till very tender.

2. Add the first veggies to the potatoes, onions, car rots, peppers.

3. Season to taste and add a knob of butter to finish the porridge.

4. Enjoy.

RECIPE • • • • • • • • • • • •

500g pasta twists 1tsp paparika 1/2 tsp green cur r y paste (optional) Chicken seasoning cube Salt/ black pepper 4 Fresh tomatoes 3 birds eye chilli (shombo) 1/4 cup desiccated coconut 2green pepper 1 onion 1cup coconut milk 2tsp canola oil

PREPARATION 1. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for about 7mins, not completely cooked.

2. In a hot pan, add oil, onions, desiccated coconut, coconut milk and season.

3. Add veggies onions, carrots, peppers, tomatoes.

4. Add in the pasta and toss till sauce is incorporated into the pasta. Add double cream if you like it more creamy.

5. Fry one egg or choose what protein you love best and Enjoy!

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TheWorshipper Rape: Parents must teach their boys to be responsible - Olowolafe The Government of Ekiti State recently established the State Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) to serve as a free, one-stop, survivor-centred initiative that prioritises the rights and needs of survivors of sexual violence. In this interview, Rev Fr Peter Olowolafe, the chairman of CAN, Ekiti State speaks on the societal implication of sexual violence. Excerpts by SEYI JOHN SALAU There seems to be a growing concern on rape in Nigeria at the moment, especially as the church now appears attractive to rapist; what do you think is responsible for this? ape and sexual offences have always been perpetrated in the country long before now; just that people now speak up more about it these days.

Sexual offences are not usually committed in the open. Since Churches are empty and desolate due to the Covid-19 sit-at-home order, the perpetrators look for hidden places and unfortunately, the church has become one of those places.

This is rather an unfortunate situation that we are in, but we know for sure that God is on our side. We must acknowledge the reality of sin and moral problems in our world and also acknowledge that God did not create the world with moral problems. Let us also be aware that God is intolerant of all sins and moral failures, and these attract the wrath and judgment of God in due course. However, it is painful and regrettable that the house of God should ordinarily become a place for devilish activities.

Ekiti State government and the Ministry of Justice kept to its word of naming and shaming rapists in the state; do you think this would be enough to put a stop to it?

Naming and shaming rapists are not bad steps at all.

Because of public image and embarrassment; it may serve

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Rev Fr Peter Olowolafe

Naming and shaming rapists are not bad steps at all. Because of public image and embarrassment; it may serve as a panacea to curb this evil act

as a panacea to curb this evil act. Nevertheless, naming and shaming are not enough, especially on social media because not everyone is on social media where it is mostly circulated. It can only reduce.

Most people commit crime because they thought they won’t be caught. I therefore, suggest general social orientation for families. Similarly, God must be acknowledged as a just and morally-pure God who has zero tolerance for all that is sinful and immoral. Sin attracts serious anger of God and for the mere

fact that sin may not be punished immediately does not mean that a sinner can get away with it if he or she fails to repent.

It may no longer be news to note that man is living in the world fraught with so many moral problems. It will only amount to pure irresponsibility for any man to deny the existence and reality of sin and moral failure among human beings on earth. Sin and moral problems have become a major setback in our world and this has affected human society no matter the level of scientific or technological development or sophistication. Men all over the world are confronted with the reality of sin and moral problems.

It must also be noted that sins or moral problems escalate every now and den.

Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, rape cases have been on the increase; what could be responsible for this?

People are idle. An idle hand is the devil’s workshop. These perpetrators have always been around, just that the COVID-19 lockdown gave them opportunity, which is being enhanced with the lack of understanding of the meaning of consent in sexual relation. And much more, every young girl is available at home doing virtually nothing, plus no moral and religious instructions from the religious leaders to constantly put people in check about their actions and inactions. It is also significant to realise that God allowed nothing to escape the written word both the negative and the positive are included in

His word so that He may be true and all men may be liars. We see that God allowed the cases of sins and moral problems to be recorded in the Bible even as it involved the saints, not just the sinners.

La s t w e e k Su n d a y, w e celebrated Father’s Day in an unsafe environment for our young girls, mothers and wives is the day worth it when we can’t make them feel safe around us?

Yes, it is worth celebrating.

It is a known fact that every responsible father or brother is overprotective of his daughter or sister. The problem is owed to the fact that while training our daughters to be responsible and perfect most times, we fail to teach our boys, responsibility.

We must teach our boys that they aren’t superior to the girls just because of their gender.

They should not see the opposite sex as a conquered territory where they can do whatever they want. In other words, the female gender is not means to an end for male gender sexual satisfaction.

We can’t close our eyes to the fact that boys are being raped as well. Pride will not allow men to speak up when they are being raped.

Finally, what is your message to men making a difference in their home against gender violence?

Every man should live by example. Be a responsible teacher to your sons. Treat your wife with respect and honour, and your son will learn that. The bible says, God created them male and female (Genesis 1:27).

So, girls are not inferior to the

Only true salvation and deliverance can save from immorality - Olukoya

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he General Overseer o f Mo u n t a i n o f Fi r e and Miracles Ministry (MFM), Daniel Olukoya h a s w a r n ed ag a i n st s e x u a l immorality, stating that only true salvation and deliverance can save the victim. “Any sex outside

marriage opens you up for an invasion from the pit of hell. It constructs a bad foundation for your marriage.”

Olukoya stated this in a recent message where he shared his experience in ministry on the issue. Tagged, ‘power against

spirit husbands and wives’ the MFM overseer stated that those going against God’s command by having sexual intercourse outside marriage are most susceptible to having spiritual husband or wife.

“Spiritual husbands or wives are sent to torment people in their

marriages. They are not visible to people except they are revealed by the Holy Spirit,” said Olukoya.

He opined that many Christians fail to heed to this warning until it becomes an unbearable burden and begins to wreck their lives, family, business and relationship

with God. According to Olukoya, the believer’s body is the temple of God; hence there is no way a p e r s o n w i l l d e f i l e Go d ’s temple without having to face the consequence, if the person remains adamant.

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TheWorshipper Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali

info@yomikasali.com

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had a beautiful time on my Instagram Live program over the weekend and shared my thoughts on the subject of Internet Fraud, most of my followers share my sentiments on the subject and we actually agreed that it is something that shouldn’t be discussed within the church walls because it’s simply a ‘no brainer.’

However, I noticed that the conversation strayed into Money and Morals which my associates and I

Battle of the giants; morals and money ruminated over the two issues and concurred without debate that these Two are Giants today battling for the Control of humans. Sadly, it looks like One is Winning the battle and the other losing grounds daily without hope of recovery except something is done fast.

Let me Inspire you today with the very popular scripture on Money and Morals; many of us haven’t seen this passage in that light but that’s actually what Apostle Paul was trying to drive into Timothy’s mind and spirit, I will paraphrase the scripture to make sense in our today’s language below; ‘for the love of money is the root of all evil...’

– (1 Tim 6 v 10) ‘It’s the love of money that is the cause of all moral issues in this world...’ (Yomi Kasali’s Version) ‘d love of moni na im dey mek pesin chuk hand inside all kain of yama yama tins’ – (Pidgin) The above says a lot between Money and Morals.

I’ll be doing a sermon series on the Battle between these Giants controlling and influencing humanity in the coming month but let me briefly share my thoughts on what we can do to get our morals

NEWS MTN, Netng partner to create awareness on drug, substance abuse SEYI JOHN SALAU

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TN Nigeria , the telecommunications company, has announced a partnership agreement with Netng and some media outfits seen at creating awareness against substance abuse in commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with an unfiltered conversation about the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among Nigerian youth.

MTN partnered with MTV Base, BusinessDay, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to host a Drug Convos on Thursday, 26 June, 2020.

With the current restriction on movement, MTN leveraged its digital platform across spectrum for an online Drug Convos to discuss everything around drug abuse, from addiction to how firsttime users get hooked.

A statement from the telecommunication company said the collaboration with

Netng was based on its status as a leading voice in Nigerian pop culture and the number one source of entertainment for young people, hence the partnership to reach youth with this important message in a language they can understand via various digital media channels.

MTN’s Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) was launched in December 2018 as a multi-stakeholder intervention aimed at creating awareness about drug and substance abuse, and discouraging first time users from taking the first step to possible addiction.

A 2018 survey by NOIPolls concluded that marijuana, codeine, and alcohol are the most abused substances in Nigeria, “particularly amongst teenagers and young adults aged between 15 – 29 years.”

However, in 2019, MTN through ASAP visited secondary schools to have open discussions about the dangerous effects of substance abuse among young people who fall into the most affected demography.

back on track. We must rebuild the Moral Institutions in our society like in every other society. These Institutions have been destroyed

by Money and those who are on the side of Money have thrown Morals out of their lives because of the Love of Money.

There are at least 5 very powerful Moral Institutions that have been destroyed in Nigeria and until we rebuild them, we may struggle to have a country where Merit is King, Character is Honoured, Competence is Embraced, Corruption is Loathed, Evil is Condemned, Crime is Reduced, Lives are Protected and Women are not Abused.

5 Moral institutions to rebuild Home: We cannot over emphasizetheplaceofHome Training in the moral development of a child. I first learnt

not to lie from home, my parents slammed me when I stole, I was taught not to fight from home, I learnt Respecting elders from home, etc. It is sad that parents have failed their children and have left their home training responsibilities. Money talks not Morals in most homes today.

School: Immediately after we leave our homes, we go to school and the teachers not only taught us academics but also Moral Education.

They drove it into us through songs in local languages, teachers used to ‘cane’ us for coming to school late, we didn’t cheat during exams, we didn’t take another person’s pen and writing materials, we observed what was called ‘punishment’ in those days in school. However, today, our parents pay for ‘special centres’ for their children and ladies give sex for grades; boys are all cultists etc.

Traditional institutions: Our kings, Obas and Ezes were custodians of our traditions and cultures, but the English man came and told us to throw them all away, some weak and feeble leaders that had inferiority complex embraced western culture for local culture. That is why our young people put their pants way below their waste; they wear gold chains like gangsters; they use the F word as if it’s okay to do so; they have imported a different culture in the name of civilization and some ladies are even trying out Ultra-feminism in the name of Civilization. Shame on us!

Religious institution: This is the point where I weep always, because even if all others fail, those who are closer to God and teach us God’s word should never let Money also corrupt their values and weaken their Morals.

The church has also failed us all, since we stared preaching prosperity messages in a bid to compete with businessmen (whose work is profit driven and ours isn’t) by buying private jets and living outlandish lifestyles.

The church is supposed to be the biggest Moral Institution,

but it has become a Business Enterprise where they teach you how to make money.

POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE: This is where the West are far better than us; they see those in political leadership over them as Moral Leaders hence when one is found wanting, the Media will pile pressure on such until he resigns. The standards are very high for them but ours is a Comedy House of Shame; politics without values, and the people love it so.

Let me stop here and get feedbacks from you. If you have been Inspired, kindly drop me a note and I hope to reply you once I get it.

Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement and also follow me on my Social media handles below: Instagram: @yomi_kasali Twitter: @yomi_kasali Facebook: www.facebook. com/revyomikasali Youtube: www.youtube.com/ revyomikasali Be Inspired!

Rev Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos.

How Coca-Cola $17m intervention help salvaged COVID-19 response across Africa SEYI JOHN SALAU

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n helping the most vulnerable and preventing the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) towards contributing to the recovery of local economies, the CocaCola System and the CocaCola Foundation, under the ‘In this Together’ initiative has so far commited approximately $17m across Africa in response to COVID-19.

Across Africa and in partnership with NGOs, Coca-Cola in Africa, and its bottling partners (the “Coca-Cola System”) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), have been deploying

a range of resources, including capabilities, funds and products to support governments, communities and local economies in their urgent efforts to contain the spread and impact of the Coronavirus since its outbreak on the continent.

The Coca-Cola System is committing US$13million to support the continent through the various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has given grant amounting to about $4 million to international and local NGOs, such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Amref Health to procure

and distribute personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other critical needs for frontline workers and to help fund ICU-enabled ambulances in places like Mauritius and Madagascar.

The Coca-Cola system also donated to National Solidarity Funds in South Africa, Morocco and Djibouti while additional funds were allocated to boost awareness and mobilization to help stem infections in vulnerable communities across Africa.

In addition to suspending all commercial advertising of its brands and deploying its marketing and trade assets, including social media channels, product labels and point-of-sale materials,

to amplify COVID-19 messaging; the Coca-Cola System is providing funding and other forms of support to help bolster the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the retail, hospitality and recycling sectors,whohavebeenamong the hardest hit businesses across the continent.

The Coca-Cola company is also working with some NGOs and social enterprises, including Givefood.ng in Nigeria, Gift of the Givers in South Africa and National Di s a s t e r Ma n a g e m e n t agencies to provide food parcels for vulnerable families whose livelihood has been disrupted by the lockdown and other restrictions.

Kwara govt embraces tree planting initiative SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin

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h e Kw a r a St a t e Government has endorsed the tree planting initiative to protect and sustain the environment as well as boost the economy.

Th e s t a t e De p u t y Governor, Kayode Alabi made this known during a tree-planting ceremony at the Bundies Therapeutic Garden,

General Hospital, Ilorin.

Alabi advised residents of the state to be environmental and health-conscious, just as he emphasised the importance of tree planting to making the community green and clean.

Alabi had while assuring the determination of the government to make the environment habitable for all, he reminded everyone to be conscious of Covid-19 pandemic.

Ea r l i e r, Mu h a m m a d Saifudeen the Commissioner o f En v i r o n m e n t s a i d the state government through the Ministry of Environmentwouldembrace environmental-friendly ideas capable of improving the environment and the state.

Saifudden added that the ministry had read the riot act to perpetrators of tree felling for charcoal production, dumping of refuse in gutters and rivers and littering of the

environment.

He, therefore, called on all to jealously protect the environment as the government will clamp down on violators.

Acting Chief Medical Director, General Hospital, Ilorin, Bola Abdulkadir appreciated the innovation of Bundies Care saying, the Therapeutic Garden would not only help the patients and their relatives recuperate, but it will also help the staff relax.

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Sunday 28 June 2020

SundayBusiness The benefits of Container Farming Food & Beverages With Ayo Oyoze Baje

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ne of the bright sides of the Lockdown, attendant to the coronavirus pandemic is the challenge it has given to several entrepreneurs, critical thinkers and risk takers to look deep inwards and bring out the best in them.

Since the issue of food security is one of the most pressing needs of mankind, it is little of a surprise that not a few Nigerians are coming up with innovative approaches to modern, technologically-driven farming practices.

For instance, over the past four months the social media has been inundated with posts on such new ideas on agriculture. While Adebest Farm Poultry Ltd and Able God farming company boast of the production and supply of quality

eggs of various sizes, the evercreative Baef Epperson comes up with turmeric, mint, spring onion and ginger spice production.

Joining the fray is Topfeeds Ventures which prides itself as an agric production company that produces poultry and fish feeds, in addition to providing customer service focused on expert advice.

That is, for the farmers to grow healthier, bigger and fast-growing animals.

In a similar vein, the Poultry Cage Supplier enterprise is into the supply of automatic layer chicken cage system, broiler floor feeding system as well as the automatic pullage cage system with a capacity of between 5,00010,000 chickens. Onits part, Farmignite uses hybrid species of plantain called Cameroon giant that produces bigger plantains over a shorter period of time.

As for Nigerians interested in the export of farm products such as palm oil, ginger, bitterleaf and ugu, ADG’s Exportation Tutor is there to do the needful. And who says there is no money to be made from modern farming? Only recently, it came to the fore that one Yemisi Iranloye invested a sum of N1 billion for the production of industrial starch in Oyo state.

Today, she smiles to the bank earning N1.2bn every year as her company supplies starch to Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nestle Plc and Yale Foods.

The focus of this column therefore, is to bring to the public sphere, on weekly basis the varied experiences of Nigerians who have become self-dependent as

forward-looking farmers. It is in the light of this that I bring before you, the interaction with Muhammad Adebola. Read through and gain from the processes of his business venture.

Questions & answers

Let us meet you briefly (your profile) I am Muhammad Adebola – a development worker. Executive Secretary/CEO, Foundation for Leadership, Ethical Evolution & Sustainable Development (FLEESD). Our Foundation focuses on the actualisation of UN-SDG in Nigeria. We are currently in partnership with NACCIMA, FACAN and IBM, among others, creating linkage between institutions, technology and end-users to accelerate the SDG among the rural Nigerians for wealth creation. We also engage in leadership training targeting the youth as a strategy to prepare for them for Governance. The chair of our Board of Trustees is His Excellency, Dr. Ahmed JODA, CFR. What gave you the inspiration to start this project, when and where?

The Container Farming (CF) is just one of the projects we handle to empower Nigerians to generate incomes from their small spaces including backyards, for food security and poverty alleviation. It is also known as Urban Agriculture because it is ideal in the cities, where land is a constraint. We are in partnership with other stakeholders. Our NGO was motivated to start promoting it as a result of the COVID-19

pandemic encouraging our people to go into the business during the lockdown, to make them generate incomes through small, medium scale production systems, using locally available resources.

What are the Vision and Mission statements of your company?

Our Vision Statement is to make everyone productive, efficient, effective and earn happy livelihood while our mission is to facilitate partnership linkage across institutions, technologies and our people, for improved life What were the initial challenges and how did you overcome them?

For the CF, nothing as serious as the limitations of the COVID-19 regime and protocols Tell us about your staff recruitment process and training?

FLEESD has a small workforce of 6 on pro-bono services as most of our activities are based on partnerships.

How do you source your raw materials?

There are a number of farms that multiply the seeds which can be planted over and over again.

In other cases, they are imported.

What are the unique attributes of Container Farming and your marketing programme?

CF is ideal where land is a constraint; high yield varieties, food security, revenues; technical knowhow, capacity building and technology transfer; higher returns on investment, and income generation, food security and poverty eradication.

What exactly do you want

the government to do for you to boost your production?

States and Local Government can adopt it for youth empowerment purposes.

What is your piece of advice to Nigerian youths on agriculture?

Our youths should be encouraged to embrace agriculture. Governments on the other hand should invest in agro-industrial parks with supporting rural infrastructure and also provide cheap credits and guarantees to attract the youth and private sector investors. This will create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth, reduce crime rates, boost food security, and reduce poverty.

What are your plans for the future of the company?

Our NGO is planning to deploy IT through our partnership with IBM to train 120,000 youth on the Digital Nation Africa (D-NA) and create a digital platform for the youth across the value chain in agriculture, WASH and Climate Change. In this bold programme, CF will be one of our key technologies.

Conclusion This laudable initiative, if adopted by most of the states and the local councils will go a long way in creating youth employment and enhancing Nigeria’s food security status.

Baje is Nigerian first Food Technologist in the media ayobaje@yahoo.co.uk; 07068638066

Smartphone review: Tecno’s latest spark 5 with five cameras, more angles Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson

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ecno Mobile’s newly launched Spark 5 smartphone which as the name suggests, is the fifth device under the brand’s Spark mobile line-up. It has given Nigerian mobile phone enthusiasts something new to get excited about with its impressive technology upgrades.

Out of the box, the Spark 5 comes in two colour variations; the Holiday Blue and Star-Studded Orange colour variations, which allow for vivaciously interesting choices to pick from.

Large screen for maximum view Th e Sp a r k 5 ’s s c r e e n i s impressively massive and elegant.

The device comes with a 6.6 Dot in screen with a super immersive display, an industry leading 90.2 percent perfect screen ratio and a screen resolution of 720*1600 HD that will totally transform users’ experience. With this,

movie lovers, gamers and even vloggers will enjoy unhindered, unfettered fun in whatever form they choose.

Better picture quality Here is the X Factor for TecnoSpark 5. For the first time on a Spark device, the Spark 5 spots a set of Quad AI Rear Cameras. The device is equipped with a 13-megapixel rear AI Quad camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. The device also features six flashlights with four situated around the back camera and a dual front flash that makes the

device absolutely fearless of dark light, promising clearer, brighter and more charming pictures with bursting colours no matter how dark the environment is.

Users can also enjoy close-up photography with a 4cm macro photography mode that enables them to capture small and minute details. Additionally, the device includes AI HDR technology to increase dynamic range beyond what is captured by the camera’s sensors, allowing users to take photos with a higher dynamic range, fewer noise and clearer details.

Summarily, with Spark 5’s newly upgraded algorithm AI Camera 3.0 and AI scene detection, photos taken by the device will be much more impressive and attractive under any scenario.

Longer lasting battery power With Spark 5, you can literally forget about your power bank. The Spark 5 Series packs a punch with a powerful 5,000 mAh battery, so that consumers can run powerful applications and multiple tabs without the need to constantly recharge. The high-performance device that runs on HIOS 6.0 allows for a wide range of user customisation without requiring rooting the mobile device. The operating system is also bundled with utility applications that allow users to free up memory, freeze applications and limit data accessibility to applications. With the device’s dark mode, the phone also gives users more battery time and decreased blue light emission, reducing eye strain.

Other features on the Spark

5 include Bluetooth 5.0 which makes connecting one device to other easier and transferring f i l e s f a s t e r, a n d 4 G LT E capacity for smooth high-speed browsing.

In terms of storage capacity, the Spark 5 is available for sale in a sizeable 2GB ROM+ 32GB RAM and an expandable memory capacity of up to 128GB through an SD card.

Tecno says it’s targeting trendy students who love fashion with the Spark series, but the phone has quickly risen to fame with young working professionals and middle-aged folks.

The Spark 5 comes in 2 variants; Tecno Spark 5 Air and Tecno Spark 5. Both variants feature Tecno’s HIOS 6.0 built on Android Q, and is available at a price range of 47,000 Naira and 49,000 Naira respectively.

If you are expecting my verdict on the Spark 5, considering its sleek look and feel, camera , battery, high performance and price, I will rate it an 8/10.

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SundayBusiness COVID-19: Time for NMRC to impact mortgage market more

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s Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact negatively on global and local economies, all sectors are feeling the heat. Mortgage market is not insulated from this.

For players in this market, fear of a new wave of mortgage default is palpable. In an economy where work places have been badly affected with some workers losing their jobs and others in deep pay cuts, this fear is not misplaced.

As household income dips, people are less inclined to make deposits or take loans. Mortgage banks which thrive on customers’ deposits are also unwilling to give out loans, where possible, for fear of default. This simply says it all that, with coronavirus, everybody is a victim.

Liquidity is a major issue today for mortgage banks and their operators, and this is why experts are saying that Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), with its mandate to increase liquidity in the mortgage system, should do more this time by encouraging more mortgage origination.

When the NMRC was established, central to its mandate was to change the mortgage market narrative so that the major barrier to owning homes in Nigeria would be removed by bringing more people into the mortgage net by making mortgage accessible and affordable. Right now, it is not.

Over time, the mortgage refinancing company has been busy forming alliances, raising bonds, refinancing mortgages, signing partnership agreements, going into joint ventures with private sector operators and state governments. Though it has not been easy, the company is not resting on its oars.

Riding on the relative success it has achieved since its establishment, the company is out on an aggressive drive towards the adoption of a model mortgage and foreclosure law by the various state governments in the country.

This is part of efforts at growing a mortgage system that will drive housing affordability. Key pilot states for the mortgage law include Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kano and Ogun states.

What the company is driving

at, according to one its directors whose primary mortgage bank is a major shareholder in the company, is to get various states houses of assembly to pass foreclosure laws as a prelude to mortgage-backed affordable housing delivery.

This is good news for home seekers who may need mortgage facility because foreclosure law, upon adoption, aims to fast tract the process for creating legal mortgages, ensuring timely resolution of disputes and creating an efficient foreclosure process.

Over the years, the company has demonstrated uncommon resolve to live out its mandate with refinancing of some mortgage institutions including Imperial Mortgage Bank Limited—a primary mortgage bank— whose existing mortgages were refinanced to the tune of N1 billion.

Mortgage operators have described this refinancing as a milestone and, according to Ben Akaneme, Imperial Mortgage’s managing director, “this is an outstanding achievement in the march towards the realisation of affordable and single-digit inter-

Talking Mortgage with CHUKA UROKO (08037156969, chukuroko@yahoo.com)

est rates for mortgages in Nigeria.

He assured that the bank would continue to strive to achieve its mission of enabling easily accessible and affordable mortgages to Nigerians in order to ensure housing for all.

NMRC came into the Nigerian mortgage market on a very high pedestal, promising a major shift in the interest rate regime in the market. But the authorities of the company have said that, though it is a partnership between the government and the private sector, the company operates as a private sector-led institution, relying on the market to determine interest rate on mortgage loans, meaning that the rate that applies to commercial loans also applies to its mortgage.

“The desire of NMRC, the Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) is to achieve single digit interest rate, but we are not there yet because the market does not allow single digit interest rate”, said its former CEO, adding, “as it is today, we cannot meet the single digit interest rate until we are able to reach that point where the market allows it”.

Right now, the company is working under market conditions hoping that, over time, as the market deepens and grows, the issue of single digit interest rate will be expected.

Though the company assures that whatever the rate is today, its desire is to drive it down to single digit, Nigerians, especially home seekers, expect the company, more than ever before, to do more this time when liquidity has become a big issue for players—the primary mortgage banks (PMBs).

Can the Economic Sustainability Plan...

Continued from Page 1

f e a r o n We d n e s d a y when it warned of a more intense looming economic recession, lowering its earlier projected 5.4 percent economic contraction in 2020. This was a reversal of its earlier forecast of -3.4 percent.

Ni g e r i a h a s h a r d l y recovered from the last recession in 2016, which ruined many businesses and led a chain of crisis the current government is grappling with.

The IMF made this projection in its World Economic Outlook update titled ‘A Crisis Like No Other, An Uncertain Re c o v e r y ’ a n d u r g e d Nigeria and others hit hard by the pandemic to brace up for the challenge and implement good policies to ameliorate the grim consequences of the pandemic.

The IMF projection may have coincidentally triggered swift response from the Nigerian government, which on We d n e s d a y, J u n e 2 4 apparently took the gauntlets. The Federal

Executive Council (FEC), approved N2.3 trillion stimulus recommended by the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) chaired by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo which recently submitted its reports to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The plan is to support the Nigerian economy in the face of the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 and some of its goals is to “create jobs, put money into the economy and hopefully stop it from slipping into recession.”

It was also aimed to “support small businesses and prioritise local content”.

According to media aide to Osinbajo, Tolu Ogunlesi, the NESP is a 12- month ‘transit’ plan between the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) and the ERGP successor plan currently being worked out.

Th e N E S P a p p e a r s ambitious in its contents but experts have advised on the discipline, tact and strategy required to make the plan successful otherwise, the consequences of a failed

could better be imagined.

Speaking with B D S U N DAY, Jo h n s o n Chukwu, CEO, Cowry As s e t Ma n a g e m e n t commended the government for the newly developed plan as it is critical to spurring the needed growth in the nation’s economy especially at a time like this.

He said: “Considering the current state of the nation, this plan fits in to ensure the desired growth and revamp the economy again, we must commend the government for the effort”.

Ch u k w u h o w e v e r, s t r e s s e d o n implementation, adding that there is need for strict monitoring and frequent measure up of action plans to ensure it is successfully implemented.

“We are never short of good plans as a nation but the problem is always on poor implementation.

What I will say is that the plan should have specific deliverable items, there should be smaller action plans to aid implementation”.

O t h e r

recommendations of the plan include- A mass Agricultural programme, which is expected to bring between 20,000 and 100,000 hectares of new farmland under cultivation in every state of the federation and create millions of direct and indirect jobs; Extensive Public Works and Road Construction programme focusing on both major and rural roads and using locally available materials like limestone, cement and granite; Mass Housing programme to deliver up to 300,000 homes annually, engaging young professionals and artisans who form themselves into small and medium scale businesses within the construction industry, using indigenous labour and materials, and installation of Solar Home System, targeting 5 million households, serving about 25 million individual Nigerians who are currently not connected to the National Grid.

Aliu Hassan, an Abujabased economist, in his response said that the plan is a welcome development as it seeks to address the

major issues of poverty, unemployment and local production, especially for the SMEs. S p e a k i n g f u r t h e r, Hassan charged the government on implementation strategy, saying that most economic plans have failed over the years due to lack of competence and technical knowhow and corruption among delegated personnel.

“I am personally glad about this project; it goes a long way to show that the government feels what the public is going through at this time.

“We see businesses collapsing; we see increase in job losses, even the average Nigerian can barely go on three square meals daily as everyone is struggling to pull through this period, but these and more have been highlighted in this Sustainability plan”.

H o w e v e r, a n o t h e r public affairs analyst, Ka t c h On o n u j u ( Ph D Economics) dismissed the plan, stressing that the government of President Buhari does not have any plan for Nigeria because

the government is allegedly full of corruption and cannot sustain any serious plan.

He said: “The government does not have any plans. Look at the kind of corruption going on in the government.

The government went on a borrowing spree to spend and not to improve the economy, so, there is no hope in the plan as the country is already in recession.”

Another expert, Majeed Dahiru, advised that the nation tread with ‘cautious optimism’ in the coming days. He said that judging by antecedents, the issue of implementation has always been the challenge of Nigeria and not good ideas.

“NESP contains a lot of good measures that will help protect the Nigerian economy from recession and help boost prosperity.

The challenge however is implementation,” he said.

He expressed doubts over the discipline needed to carry out the plan even as he advised that Nigeria must reform it’s governance system if the nation would work.

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SundayBusiness LG’s iconic InstaView refrigerator hits sales milestone of one million units worldwide …Customer-focused innovation underscores technological leadership, strong position in global refrigerator market

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G Electronics’ p r e m i u m InstaView Door-in-Door™ refrigerator hit a milestone this month when it reached one million in sales worldwide since its introduction in 2016. With an average of more than 700 units sold every day, this largecapacity refrigerator from LG is now available in approximately 150 countries in six continents.

LG Electronics’ premium InstaView Doorin-Door™ refrigerator is designed to deliver an elevated culinary lifestyle, striking the perfect balance between form and function. It boasts stylish aesthetics and practical features that have won recognition from some o f t h e w o r l d ’s m o s t prestigious design awards such as Red Dot Design Aw a r d a n d i f De s i g n Award.

“This milestone is a testament to LG’s ability to develop differentiated, high-quality products that have propelled us to the top of the ranks in many home appliance categories,” said Dan Song, president of LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution C o m p a n y. “ To d a y ’ s

appliances include as much technology as a computer or smartphone and our customers have extremely high expectations of them.

Our advanced technology and customer-first approach is resonating with consumers who have made InstaView one of the fastest-selling refrigerator brands as long as refrigerators have existed.”

LG I n s t a V i e w g e t s its name from the refrigerator’s chameleonlike panel in the door that can be transformed into a transparent window with just two knocks on the glass. This allows users to see what’s inside without opening the door, reducing cold air loss.

Along with InstaView, Door-in-Door™ provides easy access to favorite drinks and snacks while minimising exposure of the main refrigerator compartment to room temperature air, helping to decrease cold air loss by more than 41 percent.

To satisfy growing global demand of InstaView r e f r i g e r a t o r s , LG h a s added the convenienceenhancing feature to more refrigerators in its lineup, including FrenchDoor and Side-by-Side,

among others. What’s more, popular InstaView technology can now be found in other LG appliances such as the LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar and ThinQ™ Range.

LG ’s n e v e r - e n d i n g quest to add value to its refrigerators through useful innovations has led to the development of more technologies designed to create a more efficient and more pleasant culinary life. For example, Smart Care+ utilises LG ThinQ™ AI to keep food fresh longer, lower energy costs, and deliver a more personalized service.

By a n a l y s i n g d a t a collected over several weeks, the intelligent appliance can detect usage patterns allowing it to lower its temperature prior to times of heavy use in order to better maintain its set target temperature. Smart Care+ leverages the same data to reduce energy waste, automatically putting the refrigerator in Save Mode during periods of infrequent usage. And with Craft Ice™, dinner hosts can pretend to be experienced bartenders, mixing the perfect drinks with round ice to liven up any cocktail.

Subscribers applaud impact of ‘Glo Cloud’

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lo Cloud, which was unveiled recently by N a t i o n a l Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Company, Globacom, to enable customers to easily back up their digital activities such as documents, music, photos, videos and others has been commended by Nigerians for its usefulness in online businesses.

Subscribers, especially those with online needs have attested to the quality of Glo Cloud, a personal full quality storage application, which they have found useful especially in the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

According to them, the product came in handy, especially during the lockdown period when many workers operate from home and students are also learning online. It is also used effectively for personal storage needs, including sharing of heavy videos and pictures.

Through Glo Cloud, subscribers have the opportunity to store their digital contents up to the size of their subscriptions. The app allows Glo data users to automatically back up, retrieve and share digital content from their cloud accounts exclusively. “For instance, if a customer subscribed for 50GB, he or she will be able to store up to 50GB of content”, Glo explained.

At the launch of Glo Cloud, the company said, “We are in a digital age where people develop loads and loads of personal, social and business content which they wish to store and retrieve whenever and

wherever they want. Glo Cloud provides a safe and secure place to store such content. Apart from the problem of having enough storage space on phones or laptops, the Glo Cloud customer is assured of the safety of his documents or contents if he loses his phone or computer”.

Speaking on Glo Cloud, a Lagos-based surveyor, Iyke Kujemmi, attested to the uniqueness of the product, which he said has helped him store large files containing his customers’ properties.

According to him, “My children who engage in home schooling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic also store their lesson notes on my device using Glo Cloud”.

Id e m u d i a Li n u s i s another Glo subscriber who is enjoying Glo Cloud.

According to him “Glo Cloud offers a fast and powerful search and creates automatic albums to rediscover or organize past memories.

Albums can then be shared with others to invite them to add their photos”.

Also, Abeokuta-based d i g i t a l p h o t o g r a p h e r, Monica Johnson, confirmed the effectiveness of the app.

Monica said she searched f o r ‘ G l o Cl o u d ’ f r o m Google Play after which it was downloaded and she subsequently subscribed to the required pack by registering for the service”.

She said the app has been of immense benefit to her, adding that she makes movies from photos and albums and also edit photos with special effects and stickers. “In addition to these, the app enables me to access or retrieve my digital content

anytime from all my devices”, she added.

Another Glo customer, Lagos-based Bridget Apata, said, “I have for long sought a telec ommunic a tions solution to my need to store salient files and documents. Glo Cloud app came handy,” adding that the ease of storage that the app provides is second to none. She stated further that her children also use Glo Cloud for school work and personal needs.

According to Globacom, customers can subscribe for 50G storage at the rate of N250 per month, and also N990 for 2 terabyte storage per month. However, an unlimited storage on Glo Cloud goes for N1, 990 per month.

While regular data charges will apply for upload and download of the content through the internet, Globacom explained that customer’s available airtime balance will be charged for the subscription fee for Glo Cloud service and any other charges the customer may incur in connection with the use of the service. It added that regular data charges will apply for using internet to upload and download the content.

To join Glo Cloud, Glo said customers should apply through https://glocloud. gloworld.com or send sub Glo Cloud on 7671 shortcode to receive the link https://glocloud.gloworld. com and click to subscribe or simply dial *577# and choose Glo Cloud to subscribe.

“Glo Cloud is available to both prepaid and postpaid customers,” Globacom concluded.

Why consumer preferences have changed now - Aromesule Obinna Emelike

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n the face of the challenges posed by the impact of coronavirus, businesses are adversely affected as many companies are now struggling to stay afloat after the lockdown.

Ho w e v e r, Te s s Aromesule, a certified business and leadership coach/trainer, is proffering solutions on effective ways to re-strategise for improved business, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e Fa s t Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector.

Speaking in an interview, Aromesule, who has over 18 years professional experience from several multinational companies across account & brand management, sales, marketing communication, supply chain & distribution,

revealed that in this post pandemic era, consumer preferences have changed as buying choices are now driven by necessity for everyday essentials.

The development, which companies must take seriously, according to her, implies that companies must respond by restrategising their sales and marketing approach and operations generally.

“FMCG companies need to move away from transactional selling to a more empathic and relationship-based way of selling”, she advised. “ M o r e t h a n e v e r, empathy must begin to feature in the core values of any FMCG company that wants to retain or increase market share. They should strive to first win the ‘heart share’ before they can secure the mindshare and subsequently the pocket

share of the average consumer’.

The certified business coach, who has helped launch some brands in Nigeria, and grew global brands across sub-Saharan Africa, Europe & America, decried the current disruption in the supply c h a i n o f F M C Gs , b u t maintained that there is hope for the sector.

“FMCG businesses are

Aromesule

driven by volume, and with the current disruption, which translates to lower disposable income, we are bound to see a dip in this segment, although not as dire as other segments considering that this segment covers the basic essentials of living.

Disposable income is also shrinking for a lot of consumers so the winner in this market is the one who is able to draw the correlation and see beyond the consumer into the effect of the current season on the psychology and mindset of the consumer”, she explained.

While many think the food industry is booming now and fear that manufacturers may not be able to meet the huge demand, Aromesule noted that manufacturers are rising to the current challenge but more needs

to be done especially in the area of food processing and quality assurance.

“There are many issues in the manufacturing sector today, especially within FMCG that hinder operation including; high cost of production, operational cost, logistics, distribution, low sales margin/profit, access to fund to scale operation among others. So, it is a two- wa y str eet in my mind’s eye. If we want more from the manufacturers, we should invest more in that segment”, she advised.

Go i n g f o r w a r d , s h e thinks that FMCGs should be mindful of the segment of the socio-economy their products are targeted at and the size of that market to enable them meet the right demands.

Reacting to the restriction on importation amid the inability of farmers

to meet local demand, she said farmers can produce enough to feed the nation without importation, but that many farmers are still in medium-sized subsistence farming.

“When you look at farming alone without value addition there is so much you can do. The winning model would be to go beyond just farming corn or cassava for instance to also making garri or cornmeal from the produce, that is value addition via processing.

Logistics is another one, the cost of moving produce is still relatively high, and most times the extra cost is passed on to the consumers.

I would also say closely tied to logistics is insufficient channels of distribution.

We n e e d t o e x p l o r e possibilities of logistics hub driven by technology”, she concluded.

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BDSUNDAY 23

BrandsOnSunday SPOTLIGHTING BRAND VALUE

Menace at Mile 2, a big challenge to FG, Lagos State In this report, Daniel Obi looks at the menace at Mile 2 in Lagos State, expected impact of open defecation at Mile 2, the effect of parking of tankers on bridges. He determines that the solution is opening of other sea port for use by tanker drivers nationwide.

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ile 2 is perhaps the craziest suburb zone in Lagos State.

Th e z on e i s simply chaotic, disorderly and jumbled in spite of its centrality and connection to other parts of Lagos and to other West African markets through Cotonou in Benin Republic.

Mile 2 is simply the opposite of orderliness and organisation as almost everybody has appropriated himself or herself the creator of law, the enforcement and disobedience to law, the position of tax collector, and the government all at the same time. Some individuals can begin to extort money either from motorists or hawkers by just wearing a self-imposed uniform.

At Mile 2, some touts are agents of the ‘police’ for certain purposes. So, don’t be surprised when somebody in mufti arrests you.

Compared to other areas in Lagos State, Mile 2 is characterised by well-known flagrant disregard to anything civil. Laws especially on traffic, open defecation and the law against operation of motor-cyclists are obviously ignored.

In early February, this year, Lagos State government for the umpteenth time banned the use of Okada. Many operators of okada in other areas complied with the order, but Mile 2 was different as the operators were bold to continue their operation. Again, many of them both trained and untrained are unruly, violent and riding against traffic. To them, obeying traffic signs or wearing helmets was non-existent in an area considered chaotic. Official figures show that between 2016 and 2019, more than 600 deaths and 10,000 accidents involving Okada and Keke were recorded in the state.

In Mile 2, driving against traffic is common and commercial buses are seen blocking the road to pick passengers, thereby causing untold gridlock. In fact, those who are driving in their normal lanes are seriously warned not to hit the traffic offenders.

In Mile 2, almost everybody, including petty traders, commercial drivers, tanker drivers, okada riders, the street boys (agbero) operate as if there is no government overseeing the zone.

Surprisingly, it is an area where your phone or hand- bag

would be snatched in the afternoon and the thieves will be bold to ask the victim “what can you do” in the presence of passersby who will ignore the incident.

At Mile 2, you are simply on your own. Pilferers operate with boldness.

Workers and businessmen, on daily basis dread crossing Mile 2 to access other parts of the state such as Lagos Island, Apapa, Oshodi, Aspamda and Alaba International, Okoko and Badagry. The hours spent on traffic by commuters, largely caused by rudeness of trailer drivers, carelessness of commercial drivers, weakened law on traffic and bad roads give commuters goose pimples which impact on their health.

Mile 2 is so central that it leads to Nigeria’s two biggest sea ports, Tin Can Island and Wharf where major activities of Nigeria’s import and export take place. The seaports handle over 70 percent of Nigeria’s import cargoes but accessing the ports to perform import or export is a nightmare for clearing agents, customs and workers.

Accessing other areas easily through Mile 2 is practically impossible as tanker drivers heading to the ports have boldly blocked both sides of the very dilapidated road leading to Apapa.

Therefore it takes commercial and private vehicle owners an average of 3 hours to pass through Mile 2 to access Apapa or other areas.

The indiscriminate parking of tanker drivers on major roads leading to Apapa has not only

contributed to the menace at Mile 2 but has caused persistent traffic gridlock for other commuters. The tanker drivers have practically blocked the major road leading to Apapa port without any worries.

This situation at Mile 2 has apparently defied Federal Government and Lagos State solutions as the governments’ interventions at Mile 2 over the years have not yielded the expected result.

Various state governors in Lagos had on several occasions given orders to tanker drivers at Mile 2 and its environs to oper-

This situation at Mile 2 has apparently defied Federal Government and Lagos State solutions as the governments’ interventions at Mile 2 over the years have not yielded the expected result

ate orderly. But this has not been obeyed. The present governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo Olu, during his campaign promised to bring orderliness at Mile 2 and Apapa axis. But nothing much has been achieved in the area.

Also other roads leading to Apapa such as Ikorodu road through Funsho Williams Avenue (formerly Western Avenue) to Ijora to Apapa, are parking lots for tankers, a situation which is causing pressures to commuters and the bridges on those roads.

Experts affirm that the parking of trailers on the bridges can weaken the bridges and cause repairs with scarce resources.

Today, Nigeria is reviewing its 2020 budget due to the slide in oil price caused by international shocks and Covid-19.

Practically, orders at Mile 2 are not obeyed. For instance, both Federal and state governments have on several occasions given orders to tanker drivers to be disciplined, instead they become more undisciplined.

“Several times, the state government has banned the operation of motorcycles for commercial purposes, but Mile 2 is different as motorcyclists operate within the area unperturbed without law enforcement agents challenging them. It appears Mile is under different government”, a commuter who noticed the menace at Mile 2 said.

Obviously backed by powerful individuals who are owners of the trucks, the truck drivers are daring, intimidating anyone including police and other traffic

officials who dare to challenge them. It takes the force and the wielding of guns and ‘koboko’ (canes) by the army and Navy to control them.

These tanker and trailer drivers who wait for several weeks to get to the tank farms to load petroleum products or lift containers now use Mile 2 environment such as the roads and gutters as toilets. Horrible!.

The parks at Mile 2 are also home to many other homeless people who either sleep under the bridge, inside containers, abandoned rickety vehicles or shanties. They also defecate in open places.

The drivers and their motor assistants hardly take their bath for as long as they park on the roads. They buy water from hawkers; wash their faces and legs early in the morning and prepare for the crawling journey to Wharf. For excretion of faeces, it is done anywhere they find convenient.

“We look for public toilets but when we don’t see, we take our bath on the road early in the morning”, Ibrahim Raufu who was by the driver’s side of a numberless 40-feet truck which was lifting container to Ojota, in Lagos told BusinessDay. “For toilet, we do it in nylon bag and throw it in a nearby bush, gutter or in any heap of dustbin”, Raufu who was relating his life as a truck driver said while giving a smile that suggests that they don’t have alternative.

He said the drivers and their assistants hardly sleep in the night or they sleep in turns for security purposes. “When one person is sleeping, the other person will be awake. If you sleep too much, thieves can remove your motor battery or other useful things. So you have to be watchful.”

The defecation on the road side is an impending health danger to the Mile 2 environs.

Mile 2 is chaotic, worsened by menace of tanker drivers because the country has failed to use other sea ports for entry of goods. It has over the years concentrated on the use of Tin Can and Wharf ports. This has compelled trailers from various states to drive to the area without enough parking spaces for businesses.

From Mile 2 through to the dilapidated road leading to Apapa will continue to be in shambles, disorderly and chaotic until Nigeria opens other sea ports for use by other tanker drivers.

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Sunday 28 June 2020

Travel How Dubai as a destination is beefing up efforts in flight against COVID-19 IFEOMA OKEKE

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oronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proven to have surfaced in central China and began spreading globally was declared a pandemic by The World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. It will therefore not be farfetched to state that Covid-19 was global before it was declared a pandemic.

With lockdowns, social distancing, wearing of face masks & protective gears, curfews and worldwide panics, the world is changing in front of our eyes. In essence, the “old world” is vanishing and a “new world” is currently passing through birthing stages.

Thus, the world will definitely not be the same after the dust settles due to the global effect of Covid-19 on governments, academics, businesses and civil societies. The pandemic’s abrupt emergence and imprint has led to a re-evaluation and analysis of political, economic, financial projections and risk assessments for 2020 and the 2020s decade because, unfortunately, the pandemic is both a health and economic problem.

As the world moves in an entirely new direction, the government of Dubai has taken great proactive steps in protecting its citizens and tactically reopening the economy.

Dubai, one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates, is a center for regional and international trade in the areas of Tourism, Trade, Aviation, Real Estate and Financial services.

As of 17 June, over 3 million people have been tested since the outbreak of COVID-19. In April, Dubai already launched a mobile testing service to carry out free coronavirus screening at home for the elderly and most vulnerable, after slightly easing strict confinement measures. The “Mobile Laboratory Units” are converted ambulances fitted with auto-sterilization equipment, thermal scanners and safe storage cabins for samples.

They play a key role in reducing pressure on hospitals amidst the COVID-19 crisis and help protect people at high risk. A large number of health care workers have been deployed to screening centers and there were 14 drive-through testing facilities available.

The government of the UAE has been extremely proactive in implementing many preventative measures in order to contain the spread of the virus. So much so, the UAE ranks number 11 regarding the safest countries in the world for COVID-19, according to Forbes magazine announced on 5 June 2020.

This is a testimony to the efficiency of the national health system and the country’s readiness to tackle the virus.

Events were suspended from 15 March 2020 onwards until further notice with the sole aim of ensuring the safety of guests and staff.

Th e Gl o b a l Me g a Ev e n t EXPO2020 will now run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. A delay that will allow all participants to safely navigate the impact of COVID-19, and will also allow the World Expo to focus on a collective desire for new thinking and identify solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time.

Selected scheduled passenger flights resumed from 21 May 2020 and tentative plans are in motion to recommence regular flights in July as demand for international travel returns, pending the lifting of travel restrictions not just in the UAE, but also in other countries.

Authorities are preparing for a full reopening of UAE’s borders, subject to the removal of travel restrictions by implementing a series of strategic measures in conjunction with federal counterparts designed to ensure the virus does not enter the emirate through its sea and land ports.

To safeguard and sustain the Aviation industry, Dubai Tourism is working with all relevant bilateral organizations to have a coordinated approach to the gradual re-opening of businesses as well as with Emirates, flydubai, other partners and relevant authorities to support the planned reopening of routes.

The Dubai Health Authority conducts regular screening and tests of all passengers coming into the city through all its terminals and special health and safety protocols are in place at the airport. At Dubai International airport, gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees.

Thermal scanners monitor the temperature of all passengers and employees stepping into the airport. Physical distancing indicators have been placed on the ground and waiting areas help travelers to maintain the necessary distance during check-in and boarding. The airport team has also installed protective barriers at each check-in desk to provide additional safety reassurance to passengers and employees during interaction over the counter.

All Emirates aircrafts undergo enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes in Dubai after each journey. On board Emirates’ flights, seats are pre-allocated (online check-in is not available) with vacant seats placed between individual passengers or family groups in observance of physical distancing

protocols.

Emirates has also modified its inflight services for health and safety reasons. Food and beverages continue to be offered in the form of bento-styled boxes to reduce contact between the crew and customers during meal service, and minimize risk of interaction.

The personal boxes provide customers with sandwiches, beverages, snacks and desserts. In addition, every customer will receive an Emirates hygiene travel kit containing a mask, gloves, wipes, and sanitizer.

In terms of key messaging, the main aspects after the opening of boarders are health, safety and security. In this phase, it is specifically important to inform travelers about the updates from the destination. Especially, the regulations and

restrictions put in place by main government bodies such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP).

The Federal, Central Bank and Dubai government made available economic stimulus packages and initiatives including reducing fixed operating costs of operations with cuts in utilities by 50% for malls, rents etc., deferments and cancellation of government fees and fines and easing access to capital for short-term cash relief, reducing interest on loans and deferment of financial obligations to banks.

Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) launched an AED 100 billion comprehensive Economic Support Scheme for retail and corporate customers and Dubai Government launched an AED 1.5 billion economic stimulus package for three months to support companies and the business sector in Dubai.

The stimulus package developed by Dubai Government includes 15 initiatives focused on the commercial sector, retail, external trade, tourism and the energy sector.

To foster trade, shopping mall operators are working closely with their shopping mall tenants to ensure that they are in a strong position to provide customers with unforgettable shopping experiences and waived rent fees for their tenants for the duration of the period government mandated store closures.

In the Hospitality sector, Hotels are open and continue to operate rigorous sterilization and disinfection procedures. Online and in-room check-in/check-out are recommended where hotels have e-commerce capabilities.

As a preventative measure, hotel operators must undertake contactless temperature screening for guests before completing the check-in process. Hotel staff are required to go through daily temperature checks and to follow stringent guidelines from Dubai Municipality.

COVID-19 tests are optional for people with no symptoms, and can be done as per hotel policy and adherence to stringent protocols of health and safety issued by Dubai Municipality (DMHS) and Dubai Tourism such as mandatory temperature checks for all onsite staff, compulsory wearing of masks for staff who are in direct contact with customers and practice of social distancing.

Saunas and wellness treatments are currently not open for use. In addition, pubs, bars, and nightclubs are also not operating as a precautionary measure. Minibars are not in use; refreshments are ordered via in-room dining.

However, hotels are using a gradual phasing model re-launching facility operations under a stringent health and safety guidelines and procedures that will be in place to ensure seamless, but safe experiences for all guests.

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Travel Summer without vacation Obinna Emelike

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o doubt, the year 2020 is unprecedented. It will go down in history as a year the world did not travel.

While 2019 ended with a track record of 1.5 billion tourists that traveled round the word on tourism purpose, translating to a +4 percent growth, the year 2020 has seen less travels and decline of -44 percent from January-April alone. The decline, which is still lingering, is occasioned by the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and efforts at curtailing the spread of the virus, especially travel restrictions and lockdown.

Before the pandemic, there were forecasts of growth in global tourism arrivals by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and other authoritative bodies and experts who hoped to see 2020 surpass the 1.5 billion tourists’ track record of 2019.

But that dream seems unrealistic this year as the recovery of global economies and tourism is just kicking off, while the decline is still persisting.

It would be recalled that April was expected to be one of the busiest times of the year due to the Easter holiday, but the boom in tourism business did not happen because of the impact of Covid-19.

According to the UNWTO, the nearuniversal introduction of travel restrictions led to a fall of 97 percent in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year.

Now, the world is making efforts at boosting the recovery of economies and tourism, especially for summer holiday.

Moreover, since mid-May, there has been an increase in the number of destinations announcing measures to restart tourism, especially the European Union and

An empty beach on Caribbean Island countries like Spain and France because of the huge revenue they make from tourism receipts during summer holiday business window. The measures include the introduction of enhanced safety and hygiene measures and policies designed to promote domestic tourism.

According to Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general, UNWTO, who has been campaigning for tourism recovery, “We therefore welcome the steps undertaken by both the European Union and individual countries including France and Spain to support tourism economically and build the foundations for recovery.”

Sadly, there may not be sum-

mer this year as Covid-19 is still much around and many people are still keeping safe.

Currently, Europeans are opening and targeting summer holiday to restart their economies. Reyes Maroto, the Spain’s Tourism Minister, hinted in an interview that the country would open to receive visitors from July as the country ramps up its lockdown easing. Of course, tourism is a critical part of the country’s economy as Spain is the world’s second-most visited nation and normally draws some 80 million visitors per year.

As well France has since opened to some European countries and will fully open on July 1, 2020.

But some Europeans are facing tough checks when arriving in France and Spain, where they face two weeks quarantine, similar to the United Kingdom’s two-week isolation period imposed on foreign visitors. Across the world, other top destinations are imposing some tough checks, which may discourage many wishing to getaway for summer after many weeks in lockdown.

According to The Connexion, a French online news portal, travel within France is likely to be encouraged, but sunbathing and far-flung international travel will likely remain banned, as uncertainties persist.

As well, the likes of Dubai,

Thailand and Portugal are also parading safety measures amid tough checks for intending holidaymakers. With the rising cases of the virus in Africa, many holidaymakers will not be looking to the direction continent for holiday now, amid safety concerns.

Considering the challenges, safety and logistics concerns, many holidaymakers are likely going to postpone summer till 2021, especially visitors from outside Europe, including the outbound African tourists.

But some travel experts think that the move by some destinations is selfish and risky as safety of visitors and protocols, means of transportation, issues of quarantine on arrival, among other challenges are not yet settled.

“The dust has not yet settled. Covid-19 is still very much around. Holidaymakers should forget 2020 summer and prepare for hopefully Christmas holiday and 2021 summer. The Europeans that are advertising their destinations for summer will see less people this time because safety is priority now than fun”, Olakunle Amao, a destination manager, said.

In the same vein, Jude Onuka, a travel expert, thinks that many are rethinking holiday and giving priority to safety now.

“How do you expect me to be quarantined at my own cost for 14 days in a foreign land all because I want to go on holiday?

I rather boycott the vacation until normalcy returns. There will be summer in 2021”, Onuka said.

They insisted that beaches, resorts, top attractions would be empty this summer as holidaymakers are scared of flying now, they fear crowded places, and doubt safety protocols destinations put in place, making tourism recovery to linger.

New data shows impact of Covid-19 on tourism as UNWTO calls for responsible restart of the sector

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s tourism slowly restarts in an increasing number of countries, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released new data measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. UNWTO emphasizes the need for responsibility, safety and security as restrictions on travel are lifted. The Organization also reiterates the need for credible commitment to support tourism as a pillar for recovery.

After several months of unprecedented disruption, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer reports that the sector is beginning to restart in some areas, most notably in Northern Hemisphere destinations. At the same time, restrictions on travel remain in place in a majority of global destinations, and tourism remains one of the worst affected of all sectors.

Against this backdrop, UNWTO has reiterated its call for governments and international organisations to support tourism, a lifeline for many millions and a backbone of economies.

Restarting tourism in a responsible way is a priority, UNWTO insists.

The gradual lifting of restrictions in some countries, together

Tourists at one of Ethiopia’s famous landmarks with the creation of travel corridors, the resumption of some international flights and enhanced safety and hygiene protocols, are among the measures being introduced by governments as they look to restart tourism.

Speaking on the development, Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general, UNWTO, said, “The sudden and massive fall in tourist

numbers threatens jobs and economies. It is vital, therefore, that the restart of tourism is made a priority and managed responsibly, protecting the most vulnerable and with health and safety as the sector’s number one concern. Until tourism’s restart is underway everywhere, UNWTO again calls for strong support for the sector in order to protect

jobs and businesses. We therefore welcome the steps undertaken by both the European Union and individual countries including France and Spain to support tourism economically and build the foundations for recovery.”

While April was expected to be one of the busiest times of the year due to the Easter holidays, the near-universal introduction of

travel restrictions led to a fall of 97 percent in international tourist arrivals. This follows a 55 percent decline in March. Between January and April 2020, international tourist arrivals declined by 44 percent, translating into a loss of about US$195 billion in international tourism receipts.

At the regional level, Asia and the Pacific were the first to be hit by the pandemic and the worst hit between January and April, with arrivals down 51 percent in that period. Europe recorded the second-largest fall, with a 44 percent drop for the same period, followed by the Middle East (-40 percent), the Americas (-36 percent) and Africa (-35 percent).

In early May, UNWTO set out three possible scenarios for the tourism sector in 2020. They point to potential declines in overall international tourist numbers of 58 percent to 78 percent, depending on when travel restrictions are lifted. Since mid-May, UNWTO has identified an increase in the number of destinations announcing measures to restart tourism.

These include the introduction of enhanced safety and hygiene measures and policies designed to promote domestic tourism.

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‘My book is a medley of the serious, light hearted, and still connected to a central theme of smuggling’ After over two decades of service in the Nigeria Customs Service amid many feats including the first female to attain the position of Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, KOFO OLUGBESAN, who retired in 1995 has put down her wealth of experience and thoughts in a book she titled ‘Smuggling: The Crime, The Law’. In this interview with OBINNA EMELIKE, the lawyer and author examines smuggling as a crime, including the sociological and legal aspects of it and proffering solutions.

Congratulations on your book. Is this your first book and how do you feel as a firsttime author? he first edition of my book was published in 1993 whilst an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). At the material time I wrote the book, I was the Assistant Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). It is not in doubt that feeling and intensity of feeling depends upon how badly one wanted something and being a writer was my conviction.

So, when my first book was published and launched in 1993, a feeling of accomplishment surrounded me. I could not believe that I have become a published author.

As at the time of the first publishing of the book in 1993, there was no internet in Nigeria, which later came in 1996. However in 2020, because of the lockdown; I had ample time to work on the digital publishing of the book, which is now available on Amazon. I see this as one of the gains of COVID-19. I am presently working on the second edition of my book, which will come out later this year. I am thrilled and super excited

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a few losses due to lacuna in the law of smuggling. I decided to put my experience and thoughts down in a book examining the crime itself, i.e. sociological and legal aspects of it and proffering solutions.

about the digital version of my book, which is currently available on Amazon.

Considering your busy schedules while in service, how did you make out time to write the book?

Writing a book is a flair and also a conviction. I see it as an opportunity for me to share my experience and thoughts with others, as I want to leave this world better than I met it. Hence, I was able to create time to pen my thoughts.

What are the sections and pagination for easy read?

Yes the sections and pagination is for easy read. Pagination is the automated process of adding consecutive numbers to identify the sequential order of pages. My book is made of two parts, Part I is made of sensational events, which are actual happenings and not fictions, whilst Part 2 examines the various legislations on smuggling.

Why did you title the book, ‘smuggling: The Crime, The Law’?

I titled the book, ‘Smuggling: The Crime, The Law’ based on my experience as a high ranking officer of the service.

Whilst in service, I cham-

Considering your over decades experience in the Customs and law, how big is smuggling in Nigeria and why are efforts at curbing it yielding less results?

Smuggling in Nigeria is a big business because it covers other areas including human trafficking, arms smuggling, products smuggling among others. Efforts at curbing the same may be yielding less results due to new innovations by smugglers to beat the system, and also the lacuna in the law to step up the interdiction have not been fully addressed.

Kofo Olugbesan

pioned the drug interdiction after an in service course on tax administration in the United States. In the course of the training, I came about drug smuggling, which was alien to Nigeria. I brought back the experience of the training and was able to make the first drug seizure in the earlier 80’s.

Now realizing that we have identified a drug smuggling ring in Nigeria, I wrote a memo, which led to the setting up of the drug unit in Nigeria Customs Service, which later metamorphosed into NDLEA. Throughout the period, the unit headed by me handled over 314 drug cases with

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circumstances.

Kate played by Banke Amole-Adams, is a sexually dissatisfied Christian wife that has never really enjoyed sex with her husband but has not been able to communicate this to him. She can share her problems with her close friend Judith (played

by Moyo Ola-Oludiya) and leaders in church but not with her husband. In a bid to address the issue, she considers using pornography to spice up her sex life. An unplanned pregnancy further complicates her life as she struggles between doing what she knows is right and the easy option of an abortion that will make the problem go away.

Fred, Kate’s husband, played

by Eric Amole Adams, is unemployed. He is a spiritually sensitive man with a strong passion for evangelism and soul winning. However, he is somewhat

Who do you recommend the book for?

My book despite being a medley of the serious and light hearted is still connected to a central theme, SMUGGLING, THE CRIME, THE LAW. I recommend my book to law students, legal practitioners, legal drafters and all other people interested in the profession of law. I also recommend it for the young generations to understand the menace of smuggling.

When are we expecting another book from you?

I intend to write about my other experiences in my second edition, which will be coming up later in the year.

YOS Records unveils LBee, new sensation

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Film Review Title: The Smell Producer: Free Gift International Director: Ayo Yoloye Duration: 90 minutes he Smell is a new movie produced by Free Gift International Film and Theatre Ministry scheduled for release on their YouTube channel FREEGIFT TV on July 12, 2020.

The movie, directed by Ayotunde Yoloye, is a bold initiative, which delves into the realms of an issue that many people are involved in but few want to talk about. Sex! If ever there was an issue that people need to talk about, it is the issue of sex, their sexuality and dealing with sexual pressure (from within and without). The Smell talks about it. The movie, which was shot on location in Lagos in 90 minutes, chronicles the lives of the members of two families that are connected and intertwined by a series of bizarre but yet not uncommon

Is it possible to write on smuggling without indicting border security personnel?

No, it is not impossible to write on smuggling without indicting border security personnel. This is due to the fact that in the border areas, smuggling is not seen as a crime but a way of life and it is something that is passed from one generation to another.

In fact, most warehouses are situated around the border areas and trading goes in and out of the ‘’Artificial Borders’’. It is also true that there are no barracks for officers’ accommodation, and they have to rely on rented quarters, which may belong to smugglers. However, efforts are tremendously being made by the government to provide more living quarters for security personnel to avoid dependency of security officials on locals for accommodation.

inhibited by his weakened financial position and therefore sometimes finds it difficult to put his foot down on issues in his family, particularly when dealing with his wife who is the breadwinner of the family.

Mary aged 15, is Kate’s daughter played by Deborah Agboye, in her first appearance on screen. She is under pressure from her peers to lose her virginity like them. Mary struggles internally not to bow to the pressure but deep down is curious to learn more about and experience the pleasure of sex. Her parents are not talking to her about it so the closest people she has to give her guidance are her friends and Akpan, her parent’s houseboy played by Francis Olorunyomi who is constantly looking for young girls he can sleep with.

His gentle mien makes him

the ultimate (unsuspecting) sex predator.

Kate’s neighbor, Deaconess Mary played by Favour Abraham, is a woman who is on fire for the Lord, always actively involved in one programme or the other for the church or ministry. She appears to be in full control of her life, has a happy marriage and a reasonably good relationship with her husband. She is the go to person for many believers for counsel on marital issues particularly on sex related matters. Her husband, played by Chester Osagie, is a respected elder in the church. He is a strict disciplinarian who keeps his children and indeed all young people around him on a tight leash, a role his wife really appreciates since her commitment to ministry takes a toll on her time for her children.

he Nigerian music scene and the evergreen afro, jazz and highlife style of music has witnessed a terrific entrance as YOS Records, an indigenous record label with an administrative office in United Kingdom, reveals Ojelade Olanrewaju Oluwafemi is popularly known as “LBee” to the stage.

The crooner who was born in the city of Lagos to a journalist and a businesswoman is a product of Talent, Style, and Art. In a statement from the management of YOS Records, the chairman, Yinka disclosed that LBee and YOS are two inseparable brands built not only to entertain but to inspire its audience with unique and undiluted tunes.

Yinka added that the label’s collaboration with LBee and other artistes are focused on rewriting the narrative of young talents thereby giving meaningful direction to young and upcoming talents in Nigeria and beyond.

LBee stated that music is his truth and the lyrics depict his emotional state. His music is expressive and an instrument that brings joy, sadness, or san-

LBee

ity to the craziness that comes with life. His strong points are versatility as well as his sonorous and unique voice which he uses to serenade his audience.

“My Music is a fusion of Afro, Jazz, and Highlife. Most importantly, my music is truth-carrier.

“I use my musical platform to inspire my listeners in Nigeria and beyond as well as bring a ray of hope to Talents yet to be uncovered”.

LBee released “Fortune and Fame”, a song he featured 9ice, in “September 2018”, with a follow-up music video in “January 17th, 2019”. Since then he has gone on to release “Santorin” in 2019 and the new rave of moment “Yellow Light” in 2020.

Yellow Light was produced by music producer Jhazzy.

Sunday 28 June 2020

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CapitalMarket FCMB Pensions challenges market leaders with acquisition of AIICO Pensions TELIAT SULE

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he merger and acquisition breeze is gradually blowing across the nation’s pensions industry. Earlier, LeapFrog Investments, an emerging market-focused private equity fund, and Helios, another private equity fund, bought different stake in ARM Pensions Managers.

The latest acquisition deal now involves FCMB Pensions which is set to acquire 96 percent stake in AIICO Pensions, as the two organisations involved in the deal have notified all the stakeholders. According to the statements released by both firms, the deal, which amount is yet to be disclosed, will see AIICO Insurance Plc sell 70 percent of its shareholding in AIICO Pension Managers to FCMB Pensions Limited while other AIICO Pensions’ shareholders will sell 26 percent of their stake to FCMB Pensions, thus bringing the proportion of the AIICO Pensions to be acquired to 96 percent.

“AIICO Insurance Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that AIICO has entered into discussions with FCMB Pensions Limited, for the sale of 70% stake in its Pension Management subsidiary, AIICO

United Capital Board meets July 14 to review H1 2020 results

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he Board of United Capital Plc will meet in Lagos on Tuesday July 14, 2020 to consider among other things the Company’s H1, 2020 Results. In accordance with the NSE Rule Book, the Closed Period for trading in the shares of the Company will commence on Friday June 26, 2020 in respect of the H1, 2020 Result.

Hence no director, person discharging managerial responsibility, employees with sensitive information, Advisers and consultants of the Company and their connected persons may directly or indirectly deal in the securities of the Company until 24 hours after the release of the H1, 2020 Result to the Nigerian Stock Exchange and by extension, the general public.

Pensions Managers Limited to FCMB Pensions Limited. The proposed sale is AIICO’s stake of 70% and other shareholders stakes of 26% thus bringing the cumulative sale of 96% stake to be purchased

by FCMB Pensions.

“At the conclusion of the proposed sale, AIICO Pensions shall cease to be a subsidiary of AIICO Insurance Plc. The proposed transaction is subject to the approvals of the National Pension Commission and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. We shall notify the Nigerian Stock Exchange once the relevant approvals for the transaction are received. Dated this 25th day of June 2020”, according to the statement released

by AIICO Insurance released to stakeholders last week.

BusinessDay Research & Intel-

ligence Unit (BRIU) wanted to know the strategic edge this move will the acquiring institution, and found that, among many other benefits, FCMB Pensions will gain more market share and higher contribution to industry profit.

As at April 2020, the total assets of Nigeria’s pensions industry stood at N10.58 trillion. In terms of categorisation, N1.12 trillion of the assets were classified as existing schemes; N1.29 trillion belonged to close pension fund administrators, while retirement savings accounts were worth N8.16 trillion.

The top five pension managers in the country accounted for 76.7 percent of the industry profit in 2018. Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers made 40.6 percent of the industry profit in 2018 and 39 percent of the same metric in

2017. It was followed by Zenith Pensions Custodian that made 13 percent of the industry profit in 2018 and 14.3 percent of the same metric in 2017.

First Pension Custodian, UBA Pensions and ARM Pensions accounted for 8.6 percent, 8 percent and 6.6 percent of the industry profit in 2018 and while in 2017 their shares of the industry profit were 9.2 percent, 7.6 percent and 6.4 percent in that order.

AIICO Pensions, the institution to be acquired in this deal, made N317.3 million and N219.4 million as profit after tax in 2017 and 2018 respectively representing 0.7 percent and 0.4 percent of the industry profit in those years.

Also, FCMB Pensions made N1.03 billion PAT in 2018 and N879.5 million PAT in 2017 to account for 2.1 percent and 1.8 percent of

the industry profit respectively in those years.

When the deal is eventually consummated as parties still await approvals from the regulatory institutions, FCMB Pensions’ contribution to industry profit will increase to 2.5 percent, meaning that if the target of the firm is more market share, other rounds of mergers and acquisitions might soon follow.

“In the financial industry, size matters. Your size dictates the kinds of transactions you can pull and synergy you can form with other market players. So, this deal is targeted at getting more market share”, an analyst who pleaded anonymity, said.

FCMB Pensions is one of the PFAs in the country licensed by the National Pension Commission. It has over N330 billion assets under management which are made up of retirement savings accounts, retire accounts as well as privately managed pension funds for institutions. As a member of FCMB Group, FCMB Pensions has over 350,000 pensions contributors in about 48 locations across Nigeria.

AIICO Pensions has over 240,000 pension contributors with assets under management worth N120 billion. The parent company, AIICO Insurance Plc is a market leader in life insurance, retirement services and non-life insurance services.

Conoil, Mutual Benefit grow first quarter 2020 profit TELIAT SULE

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onoil Nigeria last week announced a 14 percent rise in revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020. Earnings from the sales of petroleum products rose to N139.8 billion in March 2020 up from N122.2 billion in the corresponding quarter in 2019. All sales were made within Nigeria from three strategic business units which include white products, lubricants and liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The white products segment is involved in the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), Low-pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and Automotive Gasoline/grease Oil (AGO). The products under the lubricants segment are lubricants transport, lubricants industrial, greases, process oil and bitumen.

Products traded under LPG segment are liquefied petroleum gas - bulk, liquefied petroleum gas packed, cylinders and valves.

in March 2020, white products generated N132.57 billion representing 95 percent of the total earnings while lubricants generated N7.18 billion which amounted to 5 percent of the total revenue.

Similarly, 96 percent of the cost

of sales was incurred in the white products segment while 4 percent was incurred in the lubricant segment.

Profit before taxation was N2.8 billon for the quarter, representing 8 percent increase over N2.6

billion made in the corresponding quarter of 2019. Profit for the year rose by 11 percent to N2 billion in March 2020 compared with N1.8 billion in March 2019.

Mutual Benefits Assurance realised N5.58 billion as gross premium written at the end of the first quarter of 2020, which was slightly lower than N5.73 billion made in Q1 2019. Net premium income for the quarter was N4.29 billion as against N3.70 billion in March 2019.

Net underwriting income stood at N4.56 billion in contrast to N3.87 billion in March 2019. The underwriting profit for the first quarter of 2020 rose to N2.56 billion up from N1.78 billion in corresponding quarter in 2019.

Profit after tax inched up to N931.8 million from N889.7 million at the end of the first quarter of 2019.

Conoil closed last Friday at N21 per share which represented a year to date gain of 13.5 percent. also, Mutual Benefits Assurance closed at N0.22 per share representing 10 percent year to date gain.

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Insight Towards inclusive human development in Sub-Saharan Africa Introduction

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he notion of inclusive human development cannot be overemphasized in developing and emerging markets in general given the prevailing inequalities that continue to persist in lower to middle income countries globally. Specifically, there are four main factors in scholarly andpolicymakingcircles that motivate this paper on the poverty tragedy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), notably: (1) the growing exclusive development in the sub-region; (2) evolving literature on the relevance of the middle class in sustainable development outcomes; (3) paradigms shifts in the conception of governance in light of contemporary dominantmodelsofeconom icdevelopment;and (4) gapsintheliterature.

To be sure, these factors, which articulate the fact that “Output may be growing, and yet the mass of the people may be becoming poorer” (Lewis,1955),are expanded in chronological order. First, in the post-2015 development era, one of the most challenging policy syndromes to Africa’s development is exclusive development.

Accordingly, the reduction of inequality is central to most sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This concern about povertyisevenmorerelevanttoSSAbecauseapproximatelyhalfofthecountriesinthesubregion did not achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) extreme poverty target. It is important to emphasize that the number of people living in extreme poverty consistently increased across the sub-region despite more than two decades of economic growth resurgence.Thepovertytragedyisthereforetraceabletoexclusivedevelopmentbecausethe response of poverty to economic growth is a decreasing function of inequality.

The importance of promoting shared prosperity inthepost-2015development agenda in SSAissupportedbytheconclusionsofBicabaetal.(2017)whoarticulatethatifpovertyisto be reduced to a threshold of below 3% by the year 2030, governments of countries in the sub-regionwillhavetopayparticularattentiontoinclusivedevelopment.

Secondly, the relevance of middle income status and the middle class in economic developmenthasbeenarticula tedinanumberofscholarlyfronts,notably: Historical views establishing that the middle class is crucial for the economic development of technically advanced countries in Europe and North America (Adelmanand Morris,1967;Landes,1998). Contemporary scholarly perspectives have documented the importance of the middle class in, inter alia: alleviating poverty (Easterly, 2001); ameliorating social evolutions (Sridharan, 2004); consolidating institutions (Birdsall, 2007a), entrepreneurship and innovation activities (Banerjee and Dufflo, 2008); institutional reforms (Loayza et al., 2011); promoting democracy (Kodila-Tedika et al., 2016); and boostinginclusivedevelopm ent(Birdsall,2010).

Thirdly, consistent with Asongu and Le Roux (2019), the middle class is crucial in the understanding of the two dominant contemporary models of development, namely, the WashingtonConsensusandtheBeijingModel.Thelatterisdefinedas “statecapitalism,deemphasized democracy and priority in economic rights” whereas the former is defined as “private capitalism,liberal democracy and priority in political rights” (Asongu, 2016a).

The literature isinaccordancewiththepositionthatasustainedmiddleclassiscrucial for political governance to be sustainably demanded by the population. Hence, for political governance (i.e. a priority of the Washington Consensus) to be sustainably achieved, economic governance (i.e. priority of the Beijing Model) should take precedence in policymaking.

China has produced a burgeoning middle class within a historically shortperiod of time (Asongu and Ssozi, 2016). In summary, the narrative supports the view that political governance should be a longer-term goal for African countries compared to economicgovernancewhichshouldbeashort-term-

goaltobuildthemiddleclassnecessary forasustainabledemandforpoliticalgovernance.

Thisstudyextendstheunderlyingstrand ofliteraturewithintheframeworkofinclusivehumandevelopmentbyattemptingtoanswer thefollowingresearchquestion: RQ1: How do low-income and middleincome countries complement political and economicgovernanceininfluencinginclusiv ehumandevelopmentinSSA? In order not to bore readers with information that may not necessarily be easy to digest, I will make a concerted effort to organize therestofthe paper asfollows.Section2 briefly discussesthedataandmethodology while the empirical results are covered in Section 3 capturing only the key takeaways.

Section 4 concludes with implications.

Data and methodology 2.1 Data The paper examined a panel of 49 countries in SSA for the period 2000-2012 with data from5sources,notably,the: (1) WorldGovernanceIndicatorsoftheWorldBankforgovernanceindicators; (2) World Development Indicators of the World Bank for income levels and control variables; (3) Financial Development and Structure Database of the World Bank for some controlvariables; (4) United Nations Development Programme for the inclusive development variable; and (5) principalcomponentanalysis(PCA)forcompositegovernanceindicators.

Thetemporalandgeographicalscopesofthestudyareconstrainedbydataavailability. Considering recent African development literature and the motivation of this study, the inequality-adjusted human development index (IHDI) is used as the outcome variable. ThesixgovernanceindicatorsfromKaufmannet. al.(2010)arebundled withPCA forcompositeindicators,notably: •political governance (proxied by political stability and “voice and accountability”), whichistheelectionandreplacementofpolitical leaders.

• economic governance (measured with government effectiveness and regulation quality) understood as the formulation and implementation of policies that deliver publiccommodities;and •Institutionalgovernance(proxiedwithc orruption-controlandtheruleoflaw),which is defined as the formulation and implementation of policies that deliver public commodities.

To ensure there is no ambiguity and in line with other scholarly works, the income level classification is consistent with the World Bankincomegroups.The seare:highincome,$12,276ormore;upp er-middleincome,$3,976- $12,275; lowermiddle income, $1,006-$3,975; and low income, $1,005 or less. Four control variablesareadoptedtoaccountforvariableom issionbias,namely,grossdomesticproduct (GDP)percapitagrowth,privatedomesticc redit,remittances,andforeign directinvestment (FDI) inflows.

2.2. Methodology 2.2.1 Principal component analysis: PCA is a technique that is used in empirical literature to reduce highly correlated variables into a set of smaller uncorrelated PCs. Theprocedure for adopting the main PCs is theKaiser(1974)criterion,whichsuggeststha tPCswithaneigenvaluegreaterthanoneand reflectingabout70%ofthetotalvariationsho uldbeselected.

In summary, politicalgovernancehasan eigenvalueof1.671andreflectsatotalvariabil ityof 83.50%. Hence, 85.50% of information contained in “voice and accountability” and political stability is captured by the composite political governance indicator.

In the same vein, economic governance reflects 93.90% of common information in government effectiveness and regulation quality and has an eigenvalue of 1.878.

The institutional governance composite indicator is informational and not used in the empirical analysisinlightofthefocusofthestudyoneconomicgovernanceandpoliticalgovernance. The PC-derived composite indicators can provide robust estimates.

P.C: Principal Component. VA: Voice & Accountability. RL: Rule of Law. R.Q: Regulation Quality. GE: Government Effectiveness. PS: Political Stability. CC:

Nnanna

Control of Corruption. Polgov (Political Governance): First PC of VA & PS. Ecogov (Economic Governance): First PC of RQ & GE. Instgov (Institutional Governance): First PC of RL & CC. Empirical Results Table 2 presents the empirical results.

While Panel A shows how low-income levels modulate governance to influence inclusive development, Panel B discloses findings on how middle-income levels modulate governance to affect the same outcome variable. The left hand-side and right hand-side of both panels focus on respectively, political governance and economic governance. In order to assess the overall impact of the relevance of income levels in moderating governance for inclusive development, net effects are computed from the unconditional effect of governance and the conditional impact resulting from the interaction between income levels and the corresponding governance dynamic.

For instance, in the first column of Table 2, the net effect of low-income levels in modulating political governance for inclusive human development is 0.021 ([0.031× 0.632] + [0.041]). In the computation, the mean value of low-income countries is 0.632, the unconditional effect of political governance is 0.041 while the conditional impact from the interaction between low income and political governance is -0.031.

In the same vein, in the last column of Panel A in Table 2, the net impact of low income in modulating economic governance for

inclusive development is 0.022 ([-0.063× 0.632] + [0.062]). In the computation, the mean value of low-income countries is 0.632, the unconditional effect of economic governance is 0.062 while the conditional impact from the interaction between low income and economic governance is -0.063. *,**,***: significance levels of 10%, 5% and 1% respectively. Bilaid: Bilateral aid.

LI: Low Income. MI: Middle Income.

PG: Political Governance. EG: Economic Governance. GDPpcg: Gross Domestic Product per capita growth. FDI: Foreign Direct Investment. OLS: Ordinary Least Squares. R² for OLS and Pseudo R² for quantile regression. Lower quantiles (e.g., Q 0.1) signify nations where inclusive human development is least. na: not applicable because at least one estimated coefficient needed for the computation of net effects is not significant. The mean value of Low Income is 0.632 while the mean value of Middle Income 0.367.

It is important to note that the findings of OLS and QR are distinct in terms of significance and magnitude of significance because the OLS findings vary throughout the conditional distribution of inclusive human development. This heterogeneity confirms the relevance of assessing the investigated linkages throughout the conditional distributions of inclusive human development.

The following findings can be established.

First, low income modulates governance (economic and political) to positively affect inclusive human development exclusively in countries with above-median levels of inclusive human development. It follows that countries with averagely higher levels of inclusive human development are more likely to benefit from the relevance of income levels in influencing governance for inclusive development.

Second, in Panel B, the importance of middle income in modulating political governance to positively affect inclusive human is apparent exclusively in the median while the relevance of middle income in moderating economic governance to positively influence inclusive human development apparent in the 10th and 75th quantiles.

Third, from the OLS results, regardless of panels, income levels modulate economic governance to affect inclusive human development at a higher magnitude, compared topolitical governance. This finding is logical in the light of the definition of economic governance which is conceptually more associated with inclusive development

compared to political governance. Accordingly, economic governance is the formulation and implementation of policies that deliver public commodities, which include education and health amenities captured by inequality-adjusted human development.

Fourth, the significant control variables have the expected signs. Accordingly, except for remittances, the other variables involved in the conditioning information set positively affect inclusive human development.

Concluding remarks and future research directions The literature is consistent on the view that close to half of the countries in subSaharan Africa (SSA) did not achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) extreme poverty target. Moreover, the number of people living in extreme poverty have been increasing in the sub-region since the mid-1990s. This paper complements existing literature on dominant development paradigms (i.e. the Washington Consensus versus the Beijing Model) by assessing the role of income levels (low and middle) in modulating governance (political and economic) to influence inclusive human development. The empirical evidence is based on interactive quantile regressions and forty-nine countries in SSA for the period 2000-2002.

The following main findings are established. First, low income modulates governance (economic and political) to positively affect inclusive human development exclusively in countries with above-median levels of inclusive human development. It follows that countries with averagely higher levels of inclusive human development are more likely to benefit from the relevance of income levels in influencing governance for inclusive development.

Second, the relevance of middle income in modulating political governance to positively affect inclusive human development is apparent exclusively in the median, while the importance of middle income in moderating economic governance to positively influence inclusive human development is apparent in the 10th and 75th quantiles.

Third, from the OLS results, regardless of panels, income levels modulate economic governance to affect inclusive human development at a higher magnitude, compared to political governance. Policy implications are discussed considering the post-2015 agenda of sustainable development goals and contemporary development paradigms.

The benefit of low-income levels in modulating governance (political and economic) to positively affect inclusive human development is a positive function of inclusive human development. It confirms the hypothesis that the response of poverty to development is a decreasing function of inequality in the perspective that countries with comparatively higher levels of inclusive development will benefit more from the ability of low income countries to leverage on governance to affect inclusive human development in the post-2015 development agenda. This conclusion is in line with Bicabaet al. (2017) on the importance of reducing inequality for shared economic development if SSA is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.

Furthermore, irrespective of income levels, income modulates economic governance to affect inclusive human development at a higher magnitude than political governance is evidence of the fact that focusing on economic governance will engender more inclusive development benefits compared to political governance. Hence, prioritizing economic governance will be more beneficial for inclusive development compared to the corresponding benefits from prioritizing political governance. It is important to note that the motivation of this write up, political governance is a priority for the Washington Consensus while economic governance is a priority for the Beijing Model. Future studies can use relevant estimation approaches to assess country-specific cases to provide more targeted policy implications.

Prof. Joseph Nnanna Chief Economist, Development Bank of Nigeria

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Business Interview ‘There must be collaboration between government, businesses to have thriving real estate in Nigeria’ Innocent Meckson Okoro is the brain behind M. I. Okoro & Associates Estate Surveyors & Valuers, an indigenous professional real estate cum housing development consulting firm. In this interview with Ngozi Okpalakunne, Okoro, who has been in the business of estate management for over three decades, speaks on a number of issues, including the interesting and challenging aspects of the business, and the need for government at all levels to make land and funding available to reduce housing deficit in Nigeria. Excerpts:

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aving b een into real estate management for more than three decades, how would you describe the practice of the profession in Nigeria?

It is quite interesting and very rewarding too; most importantly, one is using it as a platform to render services to humanity, Federal Government, state and local governments, and reducing the housing deficit in Nigeria through efficient real estate consulting.

It has also been very exciting when one realises that one’s direct involvement in one way or the other has contributed in housing Nigerians. I will also say that it has not been a bed of roses throughout ; there have been so many challenges just like in every aspect of life particularly in Nigerian environment. This is our country, we don’t have any other country; so, one has to remain fixed and boldly too, facing the challenges to make sure that one continues to do what one has been trained to do.

One of the challenges is the inaccessibility to land. Land is not so free that you can assess; if you want a land in this country, you have to buy the land, government cannot willingly give you any land to develop unless where government is directly interested, they can do that under Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Acquiring land most at times is very expensive; you will have to pay for different taxes, money for drainages, roads, money for creating infrastructure such as water, electricity, among others. When you put all of them together, it is moving towards 50 percentage of cost of developing a house, which of course, will impact on the final price that the consumers will pay.

This is a very serious challenge, but we cannot say no, we cannot run away because we are not getting it so smooth, but we will continue to do what we are doing interfacing with the government and other policy makers with the view to finding solution in this problems.

Another challenge is finance; everything concerning real estate is capital-intensive. So, most times, one requires money to accomplish one’s goals in delivering some houses for the public.

Apart from the high cost as a result of lack of infrastructural facilities and inaccessibility to land, another challenge is getting funding from the bank in Nigeria, the only Mortgage bank we have is Federal Mortgage Bank and that bank is not enough to

from engaging in fraudulent activities all in the name of practising real estate management.

As long as government cannot stop them, instead the government asked them to register so when they commit crime they will begin to chase them; how many have the government been able to chase? Some of these quack agents collect people’s money as landlords and run away. No estate professional can do that, because our professional body will never allow you to do that; they will punish you, they will close your office and they will stop such an individual from existing and that one is stronger than the corrective measure that the Lagos State government wants to take.

Okoro address the housing problems of Nigerians and till date, there is no reasonable mortgage bank that Nigerians can boast of that will help in giving loan facility to people who want to buy houses; if you go to commercial bank to lend money, commercial banks source their money on short time bases and real estate development is on long time bases, so they find it difficult to use short time money to lend for long time development.

In fact, when banks were directly involved in property development, the reasons most banks collapsed is because of using short time funding to lend for long time sources like funding for houses and things like that.

I find it difficult to understand why the Federal Government or state cannot think of establishing primary mortgage institutions or they can name it anything they want, they can name it mortgage societies; l do not know why insurance houses cannot use their long time life insurance earnings or investments to channel in to mortgage societies, mortgage banking that could be able to lend money to public and turn that money

around over a long time. It is a very serious defect, Government has not address it and it is only government that can do it, or so create enabling policies so that private individual can invest on Commercial bank to invest in modern institution one thing I have leant almost thirty years of my profession Nigerians, both government, business people, corporate organisations will like short time fix for everything, that is why government or corporate organisations find it difficult to plan for long time, something we plan today and make profit tomorrow, life is not like that. So, this is a real problem, not to real estate management, but also to other issues.

Why can’t Nigeria invest in petroleum refinery in Nigeria, why carrying the code oil to outside country, refined it there make their money and come back to sell to Nigerians at high price.

Every regime of government in Nigeria is making a very big mistake and it is a continuous circle, there is no solution. I do not know the reason generation of people will continue to make one particular mistake.

Lagos State government came up with a policy that all estate management agents should register with the government; what is your take on this?

They have the right as a government to stop the rate of criminality among estate agents in the state; don’t forget l am not sure that this matter is addressing to people like us because we belong to Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, we went to university and we belong to a professional body and that professional body is supposed to be fully in charge for anything that has to do with land and real estate in Nigeria, but because of the problem l mentioned before, Nigeria is a country where people who supposed to formulate policies are not serious about it and they are not doing anything about that and they allow the practice of real estate to become all comers’ affair.

I think what government should do is to begin to stop people who are not qualified to be in the practice to go into the profession. No amount of government policy other than what l have said that will stop criminals

One of the goals of MDGs is the provision of houses for all by the year 2020; how would you assess government effort in fulfilling this?

As far as l am concerned, nothing is happening in terms of such provision, but that is not to say that all hope is lost. When we talk of making housing available for all, there should be a deliberate action on the part of government. The fact remains that the government cannot do it alone.

There is need for private public partnership, cooperate organisations, individuals, even churches.

Churches make a lot of money; why can’t they also embank on social housing? They can give housing loans to their members.

In what ways has COVID-19 affected your practice and how have you been able to navigate the situation?

There was a complete lock down from the month of March.

It was about a month ago when the government created a partial lock down and even with that, the interstate lock down also limited the movement of people.

And such limitation in people’s movement, one way or the other affected businesses and appointments with people.

People who are living in houses will not pay their rent, they will tell you that they have not been going to work because of the lock down, so if they can use the lock down as an excuse for not paying their house rent, which is genuine, it affected our profession.

But it is not all that bad, what is important is life, l believe that once there is life, we will all go back to our businesses and it is a global issue, it is not something limited to Nigeria.

Talking about myself and how it affected me, no bank will want to give loan.

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Sunday 28 June 2020

Health&Science ‘Quality sleep boosts the immune system, important in the fight against COVID-19’ The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it social, economic and health challenges. Each aspect of the challenge calls for a collection of innovative solutions both new and old. NNENNA NINA CHIGBO, vice president of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) outlines the relationship among quality sleep, a strong immune system and resistance against infection. She spoke to ANTHONIA OBOKOH. Excerpts:

E

xperts are proposing various ways of boosting the immune system in fighting the novel coronavirus. What is the link between healthy sleep and a strong immune system?

Documented evidence shows that certain cells that help fight infection in the body increase significantly during sleep. During quality sleep, hormones that help our body are better regulated.

On the other hand, lack of sleep can cause long term issues such as a lower immunity and it can increase your risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart and cardiovascular issues and obesity.

These complications increase your risk of contracting viral diseases like the COVID-19.

Give us more details on how sleep builds the immune system. What is the biochemistry behind this?

According to the National Sleep Foundation when it comes to your health, sleep plays an important role.

While more sleep won’t necessarily prevent you from getting sick, skimping on it could adversely affect your immune system, leaving you susceptible to a bad cold or case of the flu. Remember that COVID-19 is a severe case of the flu.

Without sufficient sleep, your body makes fewer cytokines, a type of protein that targets infection and inflammation, effectively creating an immune response. Cytokines are both produced and released during sleep, causing a double whammy if you skimp on shut-eye. Chronic sleep loss even makes the flu vaccine less effective by reducing your body’s ability to respond.

To stay healthy, especially during the influenza season, get the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep a night. This will help keep your immune system in fighting shape, and also protect you from other health issues including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

If your sleep schedule is interrupted by a busy work-

week or other factors, try to make up for the lost rest with naps. Taking two naps that are no longer than 30 minutes each —one in the morning and one in the afternoon—has been shown to help decrease stress and offset the negative effects that sleep deprivation has on the immune system. If you can’t swing a half-hour nap during the workday, try grabbing a 20-minute siesta on your lunch hour, and another right before dinner.

Of course, there’s more to boosting your immunity and guarding against illness than getting ample sleep. It’s also important to practice smart stay-healthy strategies such as washing your hands with soap regularly, avoiding close contact with people who are obviously under the weather and talking with your doctor about getting an annual flu shot. And remember: Even if you do come down with a case of seasonal sniffles, you’ll be able to bounce back faster if your body is wellrested.

What are sleep disorders and how do comfortable

mattresses and beddings help prevent them?

Sleep disorders are changes in sleeping patterns or habits that can negatively affect health such as restless leg syndrome, jetlag, and narcolepsy.

Sleep is important for health and poor sleep impairs function. Sleep is critical for the proper functioning of the body, including immune function, tissue healing, pain modulation, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, learning and memory.

Sleep disruptions occur across the life span and in individuals with various conditions that are typically treated by physical therapists.

Good quality mattress determines a great deal how well you will sleep. The body needs to align well with the mattress - not too soft and not too hard. A bad mattress can affect the spine and cause damage to the body.

Secondly, when you are not comfortable on your mattress it will affect the quality of your sleep and can be detrimental to your physical, mental health and overall quality of life.

The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) recently set up a coronavirus (COVID 19) committee, what is meant to achieve?

The NSP set up a 20-man COVID-19 taskforce committee with representatives from the six geopolitical zones.

The essence is to support the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 in combating this novel virus in Nigeria.

We are raising awareness on the laid down protocols to mitigate the spread of the infection and advise the government on better multidisciplinary approaches to the management of the COVID-19. More so, we are advising the PTF on discharge protocols and follow up for the people infected with the virus.

Many of the cases in Nigeria are asymptomatic and therefore our approach must differ from what obtains in other climes. We are also advising on the use of exercise and quality sleep to boost the human immune system to prevent infection in the first place.

What are the steps taken by the NSP in terms of enlightenment on the current COVID-19 pandemic and have there been areas of collaboration with corporate organisations?

The NSP has through the national taskforce initiated the formation of state taskforce committees in the 36 states and Abuja to replicate what we doing at the national level.

We have been engaged in massive media campaigns on COVID-19 and on the role of physiotherapy. Indeed, prescribed exercises can play in the prevention and management of COVID-19.

We have offered the PTF technical advice and manpower to fight COVID-19.

We have collaborated with big organisations like Mouka foam in creating jingles that convey the importance of preventive measures like using quality sleep to boost the immune system.

What inspired the collaboration between the NSP and Mouka on the issue of boost-

ing the human immune system in fighting infections?

The NSP already endorsed Mouka foam due to the good quality of their products. Both parties are also helping the federal government in fighting this pandemic so we decided to work together in some areas.

To what extent is the level of partnership, in terms of awareness creation, and what would be the intended effect on the populace?

NSP and Mouka are collaborating to raise awareness and in so doing equip the populace with relevant information that can help boost the body’s immune system. The expected effect is fewer cases of COVID-19 to be recorded in Nigeria

How do quality mattresses help to improve mental and body performance which leads to a strong immune system as part of the benefits of quality sleep?

When you sleep well, you feel better. Why? This is attributed to the increase and peaking of those cells that protect you against diseases. Your hormones also function better.

Now a good quality mattress will help you achieve this. When you sleep well, your mental clarity and overall mental state are improved.

Sleepless nights leave you grumpy and restless the next day. Note that a bad mattress will also leave you sore and induce inflammation and pain in your body.

What do you think the citizens can do for themselves in addition to what is already in place, such as awareness creation, preventive measures, restriction of movements, among others, to combat the spread of the deadly disease?

Exercise, a balanced diet and quality sleep. These three can be added by the individual to complement what the government is doing.

They should also follow all laid down guidelines like social and physical distancing, wearing of face mask and hand hygiene.

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BDSUNDAY 31

Sports

Liverpool end 30-year title wait to claim £150m Premier League prize money Stories by ANTHONY NLEBEM

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iverpool are crowned 2019/20 Premier Le a g u e c h a m p i o n s thanks to Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Manchester City which ended the Reds’ 30 years title drought.

Winning the Premier League brings with it all sorts of concomitant financial rewards, but the immediate prize for the champions is currently in the region of £150 million.

Jurgen Klopp’s men sealed a 19th league title for the club with a record seven games left to play after second placed City’s defeat left them 23 points adrift.

Liverpool had moved within two points of the title with a 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.

Their 28th win in 31 league games this season prompted Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to declare “now is our time to win the league” and 24 hours later his wish was granted.

Liverpool take home £150

million prize money as Premier League champions for 2019/20 season.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds can finally celebrate the Anfield club’s maiden Premier League triumph.

Liverpool’s coronation has been on the cards since Christmas but was delayed and even under threat due to the corona-

virus shutdown.

Klopp, who has restored a winning mentality to Liverpool with his brand of “heavy metal” football, was watching at home. The German manager already led the club to the Champions League title last year, but this will widely be regarded as the moment he truly brought Liverpool back to

the pinnacle of English football.

Klopp described guiding Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years as “more than I ever thought possible”.

“I have no words,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

“It’s the best thing I can imagine and more than I could have ever dreamed of. It’s unbelievable. Much more than I ever thought would be possible.”

The German, who was wearing a Liverpool shirt during his interview and was visibly emotional, added: “Becoming champions with this club is absolutely incredible.

“It is an incredible achievement from my players... and a pure joy for me to coach them.”

Klopp arrived Anfield in October 2015 following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers and with the club 10th in the Premier League.

He led Liverpool to a sixth European Cup last season and has now ended an even longer wait to become champions of England.

“I felt from day one when he came in the door he changed everything,” said Liverpool captain

Jordan Henderson.

“We followed him and believed him. It’s been an amazing journey. I’m hoping there is more we just stay hungry, keep wanting more and following him.

“The biggest thing is no matter what we all follow him, believe in him and he’s taken us to this point. This wouldn’t be possible without him.”

Liverpool won the Champions League last season under Klopp and can now beat Manchester City’s Premier League record of 100 points in a campaign if they are victorious in five of their remaining seven matches.

“Liverpool have played an incredible season. Well deserved,” Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side won the title in the previous two seasons, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Two seasons ago we were 100 points and they finished more than 25 points behind. Last season they didn’t recover the distance and this season they went the distance.

“We have to learn from this season and improve for the next one.”

How HiFL and Stanbic IBTC created remarkable virtual football experience amid Covid-19 lockdowm

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t’s no longer news that the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) has been a breath of fresh air for the local sports. Indeed, since its advent in 2018, it has taken sports in the land and collegiate football to be to laudable heights with its innovative twists and new dimensions that will surely continue to change how people view its relevance to sports development in Nigeria going into the future.

The needed growth in grassroots sports development can only be attained when adequate resources are efficiently mobilized in order to sustain its impact and engender needed results. The expected outcomes are especially in terms of the number and quality of athletes and sports stakeholders springing up in the country and representing at international competitions.

PACE Sports & Entertainment Marketing, organisers of the Higher Institutions Football League, HiFL has been at the forefront since 2018, opening a plethora of opportunities for resources to be mobilized for grassroots sports development culminating in its current level of remarkable success in conjunction with its enviable list of partners including industry regulators and corporates such as Stanbic IBTC. Stanbic IBTC’s support for HiFL is helping to change the face of collegiate football in Nigeria with the introduction of the virtual invitational games. The leading financial services group remains keen in its determination to help grow and develop a vibrant and productive youth population.

This is in an era where just a handful of corporate bodies have seen the need to muster much required backing for sports of any

kind in the country. Notably, Stanbic IBTC, HiFL’s marquee sponsor saw the futuristic opportunities inherent in developing grassroots sports activities and has keyed in with HiFL to keep the games running and the entertainment livelier.

Stanbic IBTC’s collaboration with HiFL is changing the face of sports entertainment with the advent of the e-invitational football tournament. With new pedestals occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has briefly switched the field battles into console wars as it features a selection of the finest gamers in universities across Nigeria.

The foremost financial service group brought fun and glitz to the virtual football tournament through the Stanbic IBTC @ease wallet. The promotional activations gave fans the opportunity to win delightful giveaways for watching and joining the conversations on the final match of the e-invitational on social media.

The Stanbic IBTC @ease wallet entails the use of an electronic wallet designed to meet the lifestyle needs of Nigerians, especially the unbanked, underbanked and multi-banked using a unique combination of technology and agent network. This campaign has always given Nigerian collegiate football fans the opportunity to reap benefits that come with the @ease wallet as well as giveaways during HiFL events. A case in point is the 2019 SuperFour matches at the Agege Township stadium where fans won major prizes simply by dialling *909# and following the prompts.

The Chief Executive Officer – Stanbic IBTC, Yinka Sanni believes that HiFL’s past editions have set

L-R: Chief Operating Officer, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Olamide Adeyemo; Head, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC, Samuel Ocheho; Director, PACE Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Sola Fijabi; Head, Marketing and Communications, Stanbic IBTC, Bridget Oyefeso and Corporate Communications Manager, Stanbic IBTC, Usman Imanah after conclusion of the partnership agreements for the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) in Lagos recently.

a standard that is commendable and easy to relate with as the company’s partners while prioritising its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes that focus on youth-centred activities. The group also supports access to inclusive, quality education and the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities. This has helped the group to continue to focus its support in Africa by harnessing the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution while keeping faith with developmental efforts in concentrated sectors.

“As a company, one of our objectives is to engage the youth through initiatives, which will contribute to talent moulding and character-building. We have committed in long term to this project because we sincerely believe it is

much aligned with what we do – creating viable opportunities and moving people and businesses forward”, Mr Sanni opined.

Meanwhile, over the past few weeks HiFL made staying indoors more interesting in the wake of the lockdown directives prompted by the pandemic. The invitational e-tournament with #PlayIndoors, being the first of its kind in sports entertainment in Nigeria comes with an essence of presenting the finest gamers across these eight universities as part of efforts to keep people entertained while keeping safe at home.

These gamers who represented their respective schools in a group of eight tournament used football clubs in the top flight of the Spanish League, La Liga against opposing collegiate teams. There is little doubt

that sports enthusiasts are familiar with invitational tournaments but adopting it to gaming is a new phenomenon in sporting experience in Nigeria. This whole new experience that the organisers and sponsors of HiFL e-invitational brought to the front burner indicates that the need to keep sporting activities alive in tertiary institutions in Nigeria can indeed be addressed.

With the right sponsorship mindset, many inadequacies can easily be managed.

The tournament, also proudly supported by Bold Drinks in a strategic partnership with HiFL harnessed the opportunity that the lockdown provided to contribute to the growth of the e-Sports industry in the country.

The tournament, in its knockout-style elimination climaxed to Super Four Finals. The winners in the group of eight eventually tussled for the kings of the collegiate e-footy crown. Lead City Gladiators, represented by Arogz outlasted all comers to emerge as champions after defeating FUTA Tigers 5 – 4 on penalties after the thrilling match ended one goal apiece after extra time.

UI Pioneers claimed the last podium spot in the maiden tournament after its triumph over DELSU Titans two goals to nil in the thirdplace match.

The e-invitational tourney featured the most dexterous gamers from the invited tertiary institutions who competed from the comfort of their homes while they strictly adhered to government directive on staying at home providing succour and entertainment to everyone as they observed social distancing.

Proving once again that sports is a useful panacea for social ills.

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Nigeria’s poll-y-tricks as the common man’s woes

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t was only a matter of time for the simmering, intra-party storm rocking the ship of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) political party to tear it apart. From the outset in 2013, its formation was not based on any enduring political philosophy. Rather, it came with the agenda to oust the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alleged of massive corruption in the corridors of power.

The APC therefore, climbed the pedestal of power buoyed with a well-articulated campaign slogan of ‘change’, making a lot of fanciful promises to the long-suffering Nigerians. Indeed, it pledged to offer a paradigm shift from the era of squander-mania to that of accountability with the mantra of Integrity. And millions of the voters believed in the party.

But five years down the line, the political market whirlwind has unveiled the self-seeking dramatis personae, once hidden behind their mesmerising masks! Not only have the likes of Bukola Saraki, Dino Melaye and their sympathizers jumped ship back to the PDP, sometime ago, but the face-off between the cabal in the presidency and the Jagaban of Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with his ‘boy’ Adams Oshiomhole has inadvertently led to the temporary emergence of Victor Giadom as the acting chairman, backed with a court ruling. That was before the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

Not only has the decision to dissolve the National Working Committee (NWC) been taken but a Caretaker Committee has been set up, headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. The committee will run the affairs of the party for six months. The implications, according to political pundits, is that the decision has pulled the carpet off the feet of Adams Oshiomhole returning as APC chairman. It has also weakened Tinubu’s touted presidential ambition. As a revered political strategist, what is next for him and his legion of supporters? The unfolding highwire political drama will be interesting. And only time will tell.

“I have taken time to study the package called APC and come to realise that it won’t work. And any serious politician who knows his onions would not want to be in a ship that is bound to crash.”

- Modu Sherrif It should however, be noted according to Adeniyi Bashiru in his work on the topical issue of intra-party conflicts that they have always been part and parcel of the pot pourri of our political landscape, long before Nigeria’s political independence in 1960. It has only worsened over the decades.

In the words of Muhammed (2008:11), “The intra party conflict has remained a predominant feature of partisan politics in the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Virtually all major political parties in this republic are afflicted with the virus of internal crisis.”

Echoing the position of Muhammed in the year preceding the 2015 general elections, Olorungbemi (2014:248) avers that, “Since the inception of the present democratic rule in 1999, political party organisations were transformed into a battle field characterised by hatred, enmity, victimisation and suspicion resulting from bitter struggles among party members in their quest to achieve public and/or personal interests”.

Interestingly, the formation of the APC on 6 February, 2013 was as a result of intraparty conflicts in some other parties. It came forth upon the merger of the then All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Before then, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had the country’s political scene in its firm grip. Apart from winning the presidential elections, it controlled both the

Senate and the House of Representatives. In addition, it also controlled some state governments, including various states’ Houses of Assembly and Local Government Councils. It was therefore, believed that with such formation, the APC would learn from the mistakes of the PDP. But has it? The answer is obvious.

With only one-and-six months in political control, in the second term, the querulous issue of the tussle for the soul of the party reared its ugly head. In fact, Tomi Ikimi, who was the catalyst during merger talks between the different factions, resigned from the party on 26th August 2014. His position was crystal clear.He accused the National leader of the APC, Tinubu and his group for foisting ‘strange leadership’ on the party.

Put in its proper perspective, Ikimi’s resignation was because of the leadership crisis that came as a spin-off effect of the National Convention of the party held in Abuja on 13thJune 2014. In a detailed letter sent to the then Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, dated 27 August 2014, he openly accused Tinubu of “hijacking the party for his personal aggrandizement”.

A lot of murky water has since passed under the political bridge between then and now. For the critical observers of the country’s turbulent polity, who are devoid of political partisanship but driven more by how people-oriented good governance could be enthroned in Nigeria, the current intra-party squabbles bedeviling the APC throws up more questions than answers.

For instance, would it eventually assist to bring out the best of leaders to grow the nation’s economy already besotted by debilitating debts and the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Will it reduce the huge cost of accessing political leadership and by extension, reduce the humongous pay package of

AYO OYOZE BAJE Baje is Nigerian first food technologist in the media and author of ‘Drumbeats of Democracy’

our political office holders? Will it engender inter-ethnic peace and harmony? That is not all.

Will political instability, occasioned by power-poaching, intra-party intrigues, subterfuge and gambits within and between political parties assuage the common man’s pains? Will it not ignite crimes via armed political thugs to cause chaos and anarchy, especially during the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states and subsequently during the presidential and state governorship elections as we approach 2023?

One’s averred position therefore, is that the type of democracy we currently practise is antithetical to the wishes, dreams and aspirations of the average Nigerian. A democracy that pauperises the citizenry but makes billionaires out of once well -known street hustlers, touts and thugs within four years or less; who break the rules with impunity, is not the best for us.

A democracy built on lies, false promises, nepotism, religious and ethnic sentiments, using the force of intimidation to cow the opposition and silencing dissenting voices is far from the dreams and desires of our founding fathers for this potentially great nation.

The time to restructure this tottering and crumbling edifice, to be rebuilt by a set of selfless, patriotic, intelligent, focused leaders, who see the country as one, and are driven by the national interest, is now, not tomorrow.

Oil & Gas sector as long-term strategic tool for national development OLUGBENGA ABIMBOLA OREDEKO

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simple puzzle posed at Nigerians usually reveals that the Oil and Gas sector is only considered by the majority of the people as a money-making industry; not one in dire need of reforms and repositioning for better performance.

This obvious, albeit wrong, perception of the sector may be simply justified in a situation like Nigeria, where a single sector, among many others of the economy, has survived solely, shouldering the fiscal burden of the government for decades in a manner that seems so seamless.

This has stimulated forgetfulness in our authorities that even as a vehicle meant to drive robust economic growth, the sector will still require an engine in its good condition, well fueled and controlled by someone who has mastered the trade of driving it.

This sums up the case with the Nigerian oil and gas industry today. The ‘easy’ proceeds which is yet not qualified as easy money from the sector have overshadowed the consciousness for the need to always refine its structure and reform its architecture to reflect global dynamics in the sector.

Consequently, the need for aggressive drive towards refocusing the oil and gas industry as a long term strategic tool for national development has never been more pressing for Nigeria as a mono economy depending solely on oil proceeds for about 80percent of government revenue.

This, then, boils down to such issues as the need to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) without further delay. Non-passage of the bill has remained a bottleneck to the inflow of investment into the sector. If this assertion is considered irrelevant because of existing in-

vestment levels that we already have, how do we meet up with emerging different national and global dynamics of today and tomorrow?

The dillydallying in passage of the PIB alongside various unfavourable fiscal and regulatory frameworks, stakeholders are holding estimated $100 billion worth of projects to ransom in the nation’s oil and gas sector. This must be addressed as quickly as possible to chart the growth path for the sector.

In addition, the country has been shortchanging itself for too long with its lack of functional local refineries. Even if Nigeria was never an oil-producing country, the level of petroleum products consumption in the country should have made a business case for establishment of local refineries.

Note that there are four major refineries in Nigeria, namely; Old Port Harcourt Refinery with capacity to produce 60,000 bpsd, commissioned in 1965; Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company with daily capacity of 125,000 bps, commissioned in 1978; Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, having 110,000 bpsd capacity and commissioned in 1980; and New Port Harcourt Refinery, built with 150,000 bpsd capacity and commissioned in 1989.

Thus, the total installed capacity is 445,000 bpsd. Unfortunately, these plants in the last 15–20 years reportedly had a poor operating record with average capacity utilisation hovering between 15 and 25 per cent per annum; and consequently, 70–80 per cent of the national petroleum products demand is met through import.

For instance, Nigeria imported 19 billion litres of petroleum products in 2019 alone costing more than N1.13 trillion. With this level of consumption and possible rise in coming years, the economy will be denied more

benefits from the sector as a long term strategic tool for national development should local refineries remain moribund and as white elephant projects.

Particularly, this will be visible in form of capital and labour flights, as the sector accounts for a paltry 0.01 per cent of employment in Nigeria despite contributing lion shares to government revenue and the country’s foreign exchange wallet.

Although, NNPC’s Port Harcourt refinery ranks third in Africa coming after Algeria’s Skikda Refinery with 356,500 bpsd and Libya’s Ra’s Lanuf Refinery with 220,000 bpsd as first and second on the list, yet this is challenging to Nigeria as Africa’s largest oil producing country, and more so, unbalanced with 80 per cent utilization failure of its old refineries.

It is noteworthy to recognize Dangote refinery’s 650,000-bpsd capacity expected to become operational soon.

However, it is still too early to see how this will rescue the country given that the business will run to serve various markets, and most definitely the profitable ones.

Reposition the oil and gas sector is more pressing now because the economy is stagnating, growth is slowing and a recession is imminently dangling upon the global economy like a cloud.

Rising from a recent virtual meeting, experts in the Nigerian oil and gas sector came up with a communiqué, which aptly captures my thoughts on the need to reinvent the sector as a tool for economic prosperity of the country.

The communiqués reads in part: “Crude oil price would eventually stabilise as the global economy gradually picks up this is due to the fact that price volatility is

an inherent characteristic of the Oil and Gas industry.”

There is however, a pervasive concern that the nation may not learn from this present experience based on patterns deduced from previous oil price crash scenarios.

The present pandemic-induced economic crisis occasioned by the fall in crude oil price is as a result of obsolete and inappropriate policies that regulate the petroleum industry; lack of ‘will’ by government to use resources from oil and gas to facilitate development of industry value chain & other sectors of the economy; over-dependence on foreign technology; and exportation of raw materials rather than refined products.

Funding of the 2020 national budget in the current crisis is a huge challenge attributed to the fact that Nigeria runs a petro-dollar economy (53 percent revenue of 2019 budget was provided by foreign exchange from oil and gas industry).

The country’s oil and gas industry has not witnessed new exploration in the last decade as criticalstakeholderssuchasinvestors,hostcommunitiesandthegovernmentremainunsatisfied with the current path the industry threads.

Diversification and re-invention of the economy from a sole petro-dollar source is highly imperative to insulate the country from the effects of future price volatilities.

Without further ado, I believe we are not oblivious of the pressing need to refocus the oil and gas sector to boost Nigeria’s economic future, the questions begging for answers however are: do we have the ‘will’ to take the step? When will it happen?

Oredeko is a Drilling Engineer and he works with one of the multinational Oil and Gas companies

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