THURSDAY 1ST APRIL 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

W’Bank Revises Nigeria, Others’ Growth Forecast to 3.4% Nume Ekeghe The World Bank has revised its growth forecast for SubSaharan Africa (SSA) from -5.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent growth for 2021. The Washington-based institution, in its latest Africa’s

Pulse, titled: ‘The Future of Work in Africa: Emerging Trends in Digital Technology Adoption,’ anticipated that the continent would grow between 2.3 per cent and 3.4 per cent in 2021, after a two per cent contraction last year. However, the report noted

that a slower spread of the virus and lower COVID19-related mortality, strong agricultural growth and a faster-than expected recovery in commodity prices has helped many African economies weather the economic storm induced

by the COVID-19 pandemic. It said economic recovery was also hinged on reforms that would create jobs, encourage investment and enhance competitiveness. In the report, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa, Mr. Albert G. Zeufack, said:

“African countries have made tremendous investments over the last year to keep their economies afloat and protect the lives and livelihoods of their people. “Ambitious reforms that support job creation, strengthen equitable growth, protect the

vulnerable and contribute to environmental sustainability will be key to bolstering those efforts going forward toward a stronger recovery across the African continent. “Growth in the region is Continued on page 8

FG: Defence Estimates Delay Extra Budget for Security Equipment, Vaccines... Page 6 Thursday 1 April, 2021 Vol 26. No 9489. Price: N250

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Recruitment Based on Equality of States, Zones, Says Army... Page 5

Britain Expresses Concern over Nigeria’s Worsening Insecurity, Offers to Help US accuses FG of human rights abuses Says can’t confirm casualties at Lekki tollgate shootings Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Micheal Olugbode in Abuja Britain has expressed grave concern about what it described as the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria and pledged to help the country tackle insecurity. The UK’s Minister of Armed Forces, James Heappey, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, expressed worry at the

deteriorating security situation in the country, adding that London was keen on helping Nigeria win its fight against insecurity. They spoke at different fora during engagements in Abuja between Monday and yesterday. Britain's pledge to help Nigeria combat insecurity came just as the United Continued on page 8

Gunmen Attack Soludo, Kill Three Policemen, Kidnap Commissioner David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, escaped death by a whisker yesterday as gunmen attacked him in his hometown, Isuoﬁa in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. However, they killed three policemen attached to Soludo, a governorship aspirant on the platform

of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and abducted the state Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr. Emeka Ezenwanne. THISDAY gathered that Soludo was attacked during an interactive session between him and Isuoﬁa youths. A source told THISDAY Continued on page 8

HOLDING FORTH... President of the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan (left), and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) during a meeting with the National Assembly leadership and All Progressives Congress leaders in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

FG Expects 70m Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine through AU... Page 5

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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

FG Expects 70m Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine through AU First consignment to arrive in July

Onyebuchi Ezigbo with agency reports The federal government is expecting about 70 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J & J) COVID-19 vaccine this year through the African Union (AU), the Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, has said. AU and Johnson & Johnson on Sunday signed a historic COVID-19 vaccine procurement agreement for 400 million doses of the single-shot vaccine. The vaccine procurement agreement was expected to allow all AU member-states, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), set up last November 2020 under the chairmanship of South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, to have access to 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, with the potential to order an additional 180 million doses. Shuaib told Reuters yesterday that Nigeria would receive the first batch of 30 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in July. “We’re hoping that we’ll be able to get up to 70 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson this year. This is yet to be finalised but these are some of the advanced conversations that

are going on between Nigeria and the African Union,” he said during an interview in Abuja. Nigeria previously said it had applied for 41 million doses of vaccines through the AU, comprising Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson shots. But Shuaib said the proportion of AstraZenca doses was likely to be reduced by the delays. “Some of the allocations that we were supposed to get for the AstraZeneca will be replaced by the Johnson and Johnson,” he said, adding that this was yet to be finalised. Shuaib said there was no evidence of adverse side effects in Nigeria and the AstraZeneca vaccine would continue to be used for eligible people aged 18 and above. Shuaib stated that he expected the supplementary budget to be presented to lawmakers within the next two weeks. The vaccines would be made available to African countries through the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), over a period of 18 months. Under the AU agreement with Johnson & Johnson, Ramaphosa was expected to tour the facilities of Aspen Pharma in Port Elizabeth with Johnson & Johnson executives to inspect preparations for the production of the vaccine. The production of the vaccine at the facility would

be a massive boost for jobs in South Africa. The transaction was made possible through the $2 billion facility approved by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which

also acted as financial and transaction advisers, guarantors, installment payment advisers and payment agents. “The successful conclusion of the agreement was made possible by the support of

the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), who supported the negotiation process with Johnson &

Johnson. UNICEF is also acting as procurement and logistics agent. “The AVATT was supported in terms of advice on various aspects by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” it added.

MINISTERS AT WORK… L-R: Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi; Minister of Power, Mr. Mamman Saleh; and National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja…yesterday

WTO Predicts 8.1% Growth in Trade for Nigeria, Others Okonjo-Iweala urges Nigeria, others to embrace renewable energy sources Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has forecasted that Africa’s share of the volume of the world’s merchandise export and import will increase by 8.1 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively in 2021. It also projected a 2.6 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the continent in 2021 and 3.8 per cent for 2022. The predictions were made in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday by the Director-General of the WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the virtual “WTO Press Conference on Trade Forecast for 2021 and 2022 and Review for 2020." Okonjo-Iweala, at another forum yesterday, also called on Nigeria along with other nations to embrace renewable energy sources to curb the threats that products of carbon-emitting origin pose to the world. The WTO forecasted that global trade would return to its pre-pandemic trend by the fourth quarter of 2021, if vaccines production and distribution are accelerated. It forecasted that world merchandise trade volume would grow by eight per cent in 2021, after falling by 5.3 per cent in 2020, which it described as a smaller decline than previously estimated. It, however, projected that trade growth would likely slow to four per cent in 2022. It also projected that world GDP at market exchange rates

should increase by 5.1 per cent in 2021 and 3.8 per cent in 2022, after contracting by 3.8 per cent in 2020. The WTO said: “Short-term risks to the forecast are firmly on the downside and centred on pandemic-related factors. These include insufficient production and distribution of vaccines, or the emergence of new, vaccineresistant strains of COVID-19. "Over the medium-to-long term, public debt and deficits could also weigh on economic growth and trade, particularly in highly indebted developing countries.” Okonjo-Iweala stated that access to COVID-19 vaccines would be the best stimulus to global economic recovery and vowed that poor countries would never be made to stand in a

queue waiting to get vaccines while 70 per cent of available vaccines are administered by only 10 countries as stated by the World Health Organisation. The WTO’s review of the global merchandise trade in nominal dollar terms showed a decline of seven per cent in 2020 while commercial services exports declined by 20 per cent in the same year. It attributed 35 per cent contraction in trade in fuels in 2020 to falling oil prices, adding that travel services were down by 63 per cent in 2020 and would not be expected to fully recover until the pandemic waned. Okonjo-Iweala also said the blocking of the Suez Canal by a container ship, which hundreds of ships stranded or forced to go around the Cape of Good

Hope at additional costs to their journey, has been projected to affect global trade by $10 billion per day. The WTO projected two alternative scenarios for trade 2021. It stated: “In the upside scenario, vaccine production and dissemination would accelerate, allowing containment measures to be relaxed sooner. "This would be expected to add about one percentage point to world GDP growth and about 2.5 percentage points to world merchandise trade volume growth in 2021. Trade would return to its pre-pandemic trend by the fourth quarter of 2021. “In the downside scenario, vaccine production does not keep up with demand and/or new variants of the virus emerge

against which vaccines are less effective. Such an outcome could shave one percentage point off of global GDP growth in 2021 and lower trade growth by nearly two percentage points.”

Okonjo-Iweala Urges Nigeria, Others to Embrace Renewable Energy Sources Also yesterday, Okonjo-Iweala called on Nigeria along with other nations to embrace renewable energy sources to curb the threats that products of carbon-emitting origin pose to the world. Speaking alongside other world leaders at the virtual opening session of the International Energy Agency

Recruitment Based on Equality of States, Zones, Says Army Dismisses allegation of favouring North in trainee-officers' recruitment Kingsley Nweze in Abuja The Nigerian Army yesterday debunked allegations that candidates from the North dominated the list of those successful for the Short Service Commission 47 Selection Board recruitment. The Short Service Commission was for the recruitment of

graduates of various disciplines to join the officers' corps of the army. The army, in a statement yesterday, said it strictly complied with the federal character policy in the recruitment, adding that an equal number of candidates were selected from each state of the federation, except in rare instances.

The Director of the Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, said in the statement that each state got eight slots, while each of the six geographical zones got two slots. It stated that given the criteria selected to pick the successful candidates for the Short Service Commission 47 Selection Board,

whose list was published on March 26, 202, the North couldn't have dominated the list while the South-east had the fewest candidates. “Accordingly, an equal number of eight candidates were selected from each state of the federation except in rare instances where a Continued on page 8

(IEA) “Net Zero Summit,” she said climate change remained a global public issue, which could undermine the role of trade as an engine for economic growth. Okonjo-Iweala said climate change threatened poverty reduction and was a risk to all countries. She stated that the WTO was embarking on initiatives to encourage international trade on renewable sources of energy to tackle carbon emission threats. According to her, pushing for environmentally-friendly goods and services and making them accessible and affordable will be a major step forward for the global community. She said: “Take renewable energy for example, it's being talked about and in just a decade, solar, biotech and wind power have become the cheapest sources of electricity in many markets. “The cost of solar energy, for example, has decreased by 80 per cent since 2010, jobs in the renewable energy sector was around 11 million worldwide in 2018 and are expected to quadruple in 2050. “Trade has played a key role in turbo-charging these developments by unlocking investments, fostering innovation and allowing the movement of goods and services around the world.” Okonjo-Iweala said the recent action of the United States in rejoining the Paris Agreement was encouraging, noting that the WTO will continue to support trade rules that underpin the greening of the planet.

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FG: Defence Estimates Delay Extra Budget for Security Equipment, Vaccines Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government yesterday attributed the delay in the submission of a supplementary budget for the procurement of security equipment and COVID-19 vaccines to the National Assembly to the non-submission of the estimates for the purchase of military hardware by the Ministry of Defence. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, told reporters after the Federal Executive (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, that her ministry had met with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),

General Lucky Irabor, and the three service chiefs on the need to submit the estimates for the military hardwares so as to include the cost in the proposed supplementary budget. The minister stated that the security chiefs were yet to furnish her office with the details but expressed hope that the estimates would be submitted soon "For the military hardwares, we have met with the service chiefs and the chief of defence staff. They are supposed to aggregate their request for review amongst themselves and then pass it to Mr. President; then it will be sent to us. So, we are waiting for the information of the aggregate requirements,"

she added. She, however, said the supplementary budgetary estimates for COVID-19 vaccines prepared by her ministry and the Ministry of Health were ready. She said: "Sometime in January, the president, based on the request by the Ministry of Health, gave an approval in principle for the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to prepare and take to the National Assembly a supplementary budget for COVID-19 vaccination. “The submission that was made to Mr. President at that

time was in the sum of N399 billion, but included in this N399 billion was a N103 billion for building of primary healthcare centres. So, we've worked with and met several times with the ministry. “We've agreed to back out from this building of primary health care centres. That can wait till later. So, there's still a provision of N396 billion for COVID-19 vaccinations for 2021 and 2022." Ahmed stated that Nigeria was expecting about 43 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from donors adding that Ministry of Health officials have been mandated to come up with the total number of vaccine

donations being expected to guide the government in its plans to buy more vaccines. "There have been some delays because we expected the ministry to confirm the vaccines donation that Nigeria is expecting. We are expecting a total of not less than 43 million doses of vaccines. So, they are supposed to find out when those ones will come because if we are going to get the donated vaccines, and at the speed of the current rollout, we have to slow down on what we're buying ourselves. “So, the ministry is working with partners that are donating these vaccines. So, we see the timelines of the donations and

see the gap that the government needs to fill in 2021. "But we have already provided to the ministry funds to enable them roll out the four million vaccines that have been brought already into the country, and the vaccination process is ongoing. “So for us is still work in progress. We hope in the next couple of days, we'll have clarity on the schedule of vaccines expected from donors and then we will now be able to firm up what the government has to provide for in 2021. And therefore the 2022 component we will provide it during the 2022 appropriations," she said.

South-east Senators, CAN Demand Arrest of Perpetrators of Ebonyi Killings Deji Elumoye in Abuja The South-east Caucus of the Senate and the South-east Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, and heads of other security agencies to fish out those responsible for the recent killing of 16 people in Ebonyi State communities. They warned that the crime must not go unsolved and unpunished like others before it. The Senate Caucus in a statement yesterday by its Leader and former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described the act as unfeeling. “This act is most unfeeling and gruesome; and we condemn it in totality. But more importantly, this must not go unpunished like others before it. “It is imperative to warn that the Nigerian state is fast delegitimising itself by its failure to discharge the primary purpose of government, which is security and welfare of the people, as clearly prescribed in Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution,” it said. The statement said widespread killings and other violent crimes had continued to worsen nationwide because the perpetrators were never arrested or prosecuted. “Therefore, this is particularly a call on the Inspector General of Police and the heads of security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the Ebonyi killing to book expeditiously. To do otherwise will amount to further loss of government’s exclusive power of coercion to non-state actors and brigands, leaving citizens and constituent parts of the country with no option than to further resort to self-help” it said. The Caucus also condoled with the government and people of Ebonyi State on the incident.

CAN also described as “gruesome and unwarranted” the murder of no fewer than 16 indigenes of three communities in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by attackers suspected to be herdsmen. Rising from its emergency meeting in Enugu, the CAN South-east zone said it was stricken with grief over the murder. In a communiqué signed by the Chairman of CAN in SouthEast, Bishop Goddy Okafor, the association expressed shock at the level of carnage in Ebonyi State. “We are indeed in deep grief that lives of innocent people were terminated in such a gruesome manner without any form of intervention from security agencies. “This came at a time we were yet to recover from a similar report from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. “We are drenched in tears and sorrow and that is why we are demanding that the perpetrators must be brought to book. “We read in the media that Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says he knows those behind the dastardly act, so the government should go after them with every force of law to serve as a deterrent to others. “Wherever these people are, whoever they are, security agencies must fish them out and have them face the consequences of their actions. These two incidents must not be swept under the carpet like previous ones,” it added. It described the latest killings as a wake-up call to the South-east governors as “it now appears that the zone is indeed under siege as no day passes by without one form of similar incident or the other."

YELLO IN ALAUSA... Chief Executive Oﬃcer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Karl Toriola (left), and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during a courtesy visit of the company’s management team to the governor...yesterday

OPEC Committee Meets Over May Oil Volume Cuts Barkindo insists forecasts remain uncertain Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) convened yesterday ahead of the 15th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting today to review the volume of oil cuts for May. The JMMC is expected to oversee the compliance of OPEC+ participants with oil production quotas and revise how underperforming countries are offsetting their production shortfalls from previous months. After the meeting, the alliance of oil producers is expected to decide whether or not to lower output quotas or further extend the current level of production cuts, which in March stood at

7.05 million barrels a day (mbd). However, the production quotas in April will decrease to 6.9 mbd due to a slight increase in oil production granted to Russia and Kazakhstan. Delivering his address at the 28th JMMC via videoconference, OPEC Secretary-General, Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, called for caution, noting that uncertainties still surrounded global crude oil demand. He recalled that a year ago, the oil industry was at a precipice, with economies in lockdown, oil demand dropping by more than 20 mb/d and WTI plummeting to the negative territory. Barkindo commended the commitment that the group of producers has shown to the decision to cut supply,

with strong conformity to the adjustments, as well as support for the compensation mechanism, stressing that it has been responsible for the recovery so far recorded. He said: “The positives offer hope, but we need to remember that the environment remains challenging, complex and uncertain, with the market volatility we have witnessed in the last two weeks of March a reminder of the fragility facing economies and oil demand.” He reiterated that expectations for global economic growth in 2021 are now higher at 5.1 per cent, compared to 4.8 per cent at its last meeting, driven by additional US stimulus measures as well as a continued acceleration in the recovery in Asian economies.

“However, we should not be out smelling the flowers just yet, and this forecast may be revisited. It is surrounded by uncertainties, including the prevalence of COVID-19 variants; the uneven rollout of vaccines; further lockdowns and third waves in several countries; and inflationary pressures and central bank responses,” he added. Barkindo said oil demand prospects in the second half had remained relatively steady, reflecting expectations for a stronger economic recovery and positive impact of vaccination rollouts. On the supply side, he stated that non-OPEC liquids for 2021 will grow by almost 1 mb/d, compared to expectations of 0.7 mb/d at its last meeting.

Air Force Airlifts COVID-19 Materials to 14 West African Countries

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the airlifting of COVID-19 medical relief materials donated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the support of donor partners like Team Europe, the Germany, United Nations Development Programme and Deutsche Gesellschaft Fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ. NAF said in a statement

yesterday that the relief materials, which would be distributed to the 14-member nations of ECOWAS, Nigeria inclusive, were in response to the spread of the second wave of COVID-19. The statement by the spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the donor partners supported the West African regional bloc to alleviate the impactof the pandemic on their peoples. Leader of the ECOWAS

Delegation and Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Finda Koroma, at the kick-starting of the airlift of the relief materials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, said the need for essential medical supplies became necessary to enable ECOWAS countries to cope with the increasing cases of infection in the wake of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that the first

ECOWAS support to memberstates was in August 2020 and the efforts helped in ameliorating the shortages experienced in some vital materials required to curb the spread of the pandemic. She thanked the government of Nigeria and the ECOWAS COVID-19 champion, President Muhammadu Buhari, for the logistics support to ECOWAS in the airlift of the relief materials. Koroma thanked the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air

Marshal Oladayo Amao, for the approval given for the NAF C-130 aircraft to distribute the items to ECOWAS countries. In his remarks, Amao, who was represented by the NAF’s Director of Operations, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ayoola Jolasinmi, stated that the NAF considered the airlifting of the items a privilege and a worthy contribution to a noble cause. While assuring the ECOWAS Commission of NAF’s commitment towards the

success of the operation, he reiterated NAF’s readiness to always fulfill its constitutional role of "military assistance to civil authority" whenever called upon to do so. The statement said 4,000 kilogrammes of relief materials, which included laboratory diagnostic kits, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), intensive care equipment as well as miscellaneous medical accessories would be airlifted by a seven-man C-130 aircraft crew.

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Advertisers Seek Engagement Over Proposed Fine on Foreign Advertorials Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG), an umbrella body comprising advertising, media, marketing activation and out-of-home media agencies as well as broadcasting company groups, yesterday called for more consultations on the planned imposition of an N100,000 fine on adverts played on foreign media channels. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, had stated that there would henceforth be a fine for advertisements broadcast on foreign-owned channels and production of content abroad by advertisers, insisting that brands that run adverts during foreign matches must compulsorily advertise during Nigerian premiership games. He further stated that brands that produce their advertising materials abroad will pay a fine of N100, 000 each time such adverts are

run, adding that advertising materials promoting Nigerian brands must be directed and authored by Nigerians inside the country. But in a statement jointly signed by the President, Advertising Association of Nigeria (AAAN), Mr. Steve Babaeko, President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mrs. Bunmi Adeniba and President, Media Independents Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), Femi

Adelusi, the coalition noted none of its members was carried along before the decision was reached. Other signatories included the President, Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Emmanuel Ajufo, Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Sa’am Ibrahim and the President, Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Mr. Tade Adekunle. The group urged the minister to engage the industry players

and practitioners more and explore collaboration on issues like the foregoing before making pronouncements that can significantly impact the industry. The advertisers urged the minister to understand that they put their advertising investment where Nigerians are drawn to, noting that media decisions are driven by the consumers’ interest, passion, inspiration and aspirations. According to them, CNN and other international

news channels are watched by Nigerians locally and internationally explaining that the world is now a global village and Nigerians do not only live within their physical boundaries. They argued that Nigerianbased news channels and contents developed locally are also consumed across many countries beyond its borders, with no special fines and levies imposed on companies who place adverts within them.

added. The report urged African countries to speed up their recovery by ramping up efforts to support their economies and people in the near term, especially women, youth and other vulnerable groups. “Reducing countries’ debt

burdens will release resources for public investment, in areas such as education, health and infrastructure. "Investments in human capital will help lower the risk of long-lasting damage from the pandemic which may become apparent over the longer term

and can enhance competitiveness and productivity. “The next twelve months will be a critical period for leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area in order to deepen African countries’ integration into regional and global value chains," it stated.

and was about to round-off his lecture, when sounds of gunshots were heard outside the Civic Hall venue. He said he escaped unhurt when the stampede ensued.

Attempts to reach the state police command's Public Relations Ofﬁcer, Toochukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were unsuccessful as at press time.

W’BANK REVISES NIGERIA, OTHERS’ GROWTH FORECAST TO 3.4% forecast to rise between 2.3 and 3.4 per cent in 2021, depending on the policies adopted by countries and the international community. "A second wave of COVID-19 infections is partly dragging down the 2021 growth projections, with daily infections about 40 per cent higher than during the

first wave.” He stated that while some countries had a significant drop in COVID-19 infections due to containment measures adopted by their governments, other countries were facing a spike in infections. Real GDP growth for 2022

for the region was estimated at 3.1 per cent. For most countries in the region, activity will remain well below the pre-COVID-19 projections at the end of 2021, increasing the risk of long-lasting damage from the pandemic on people’s living standards, he

GUNMEN ATTACK SOLUDO, KILL THREE POLICEMEN, KIDNAP COMMISSIONER that the attack led to a serious stampede in Afuzo area of Isuoﬁa. Soludo has been enjoying popular support in his governorship race in the state.

An aide of Soludo, Hon. Pauly Onyeka, who is a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, told THISDAY that his principal was safe and in

an undisclosed location, after he was whisked out of the venue of the event. Soludo, who later spoke to THISDAY last night, conﬁrmed the abduction

of Ezenwanne. He said he was delivering a lecture to about 1,000 youths, when the attackers struck. He stated that he had spoken for about 45 minutes

BRITAIN EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER NIGERIA’S WORSENING INSECURITY, OFFERS TO HELP States, in a report released yesterday excoriated Nigeria over its human rights records but said it could not confirm the accurate figures of causalities during the shootings at Lekki Tollgate last year. “We are extremely concerned about the deteriorating security situation. “I mean Nigeria is facing a lot of problems everywhere – in the North-east, terrorism; in the North-west, banditry, kidnapping; in the Middle Belt, the farmersherders conflict; in the South, the Niger Delta conflict everywhere. “And the secession movements in the South-east. So, Nigeria is really struggling,” Liang told journalists yesterday in Abuja on the sidelines of a reception to welcome home the 2019/2020 UK Chevening Scholarship beneficiaries. Laing said the UK government had been helping the Nigerian military with training, campaign planning and how to counter improvised explosive devices. “Well, we are here to support and help. We have the military team here, who came here after the Chibok girls were kidnapped actually. We are still here, training the Nigerian military, helping them to do campaign planning, how to counter IEDs,” Laing said. She added that the recent visit of the UK’s Minister of Armed Forces, James Heappey, during which he interacted with the Nigerian government at the highest level, including the service chiefs, also showed the commitment of the UK government to assist Nigeria in combating insecurity. Laing, however, urged the federal government to be specific about the support it needed from the UK and what the UK can offer. “So, we are here for a long time. This is a Nigerian partnership. Your insecurity becomes our insecurity if we don’t help you tackle it. So, we are here and we are trying to do our best to support you,” she said. Chairperson of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged

the Chevening scholarship beneficiaries to use the knowledge and skills gained for Nigeria’s development. Earlier, Heappey, during his meeting with Nigerian service chiefs, committed the UK to assist Nigeria in tackling the growing insecurity, especially terrorism. A statement by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of UK said Heappey, who visited Nigeria on Monday, met with Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; and the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum. ‘’Minister for the Armed Forces said the UK would continue to work closely with Nigeria to address the current security situation. He discussed future Nigeria-UK opportunities to strengthen cooperation, including further UK Ministry of Defence assistance for Nigeria. He also stressed the importance placed on human rights in our engagement’’, the statement stated. The UK said the minister’s visit had demonstrated the importance of the UK-Nigeria partnership across a range of foreign policy and defence objectives. It added: ‘’The UK’s recently launched Integrated Review – our most significant review of foreign, defence, development and security policy since the end of the Cold War – clearly identifies Nigeria as a priority partner for the UK. ‘’The UK has a long history of defence engagement in the West Africa region, and an enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and those deployed with the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram. ‘’Programmes within this engagement seek to explore ways to strengthen our relationship and to identify areas where the UK can support the Armed Forces of Nigeria and regional partners

in their efforts to bring stability to the region.’’ During his discussions, Heappey said the UK would continue to work closely with Nigeria to address the current security situation. He also discussed future Nigeria-UK opportunities to strengthen cooperation, including further UK Ministry of Defence assistance for Nigeria, while stressing the importance of human rights in the country’s engagement. The minister also outlined how the UK was committed to working with Nigeria and other regional allies in West Africa to tackle violence in the Lake Chad Basin and emphasised the importance to the UK and Nigeria of maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. He stated that the UK remains keen on exploring opportunities to do more work with Nigeria on these issues. He added that the UK looks forward to joining Senegal in cochairing the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (FOGG) this year while also emphasising how the UK is committed to supporting Nigeria with reforming national and regional structures and processes. Heappey said: “Nigeria is an important and valued defence partner for the UK. Our two countries face many shared threats, from violent extremists like Boko Haram, to serious organised crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. “The UK is committed to working with our Nigerian friends to tackle these threats and enhance security and stability across West Africa.”

US Accuses Nigeria of Human Rights Abuses The United States, in a report, "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020’’, released yesterday by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, has excoriated Nigeria over its

human rights records. In the report titled, ‘’'Nigeria 2020 Human Rights Report, Executive Summary,’’ the US accused Nigeria of ‘’significant’’ human rights abuses, which include: unlawful and arbitrary killings by both government and non-state actors; forced disappearances by the government, terrorists and criminal groups; torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government and terrorist groups; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions. However, the reported stated that the US could not confirm the number of casualties at the Lekki Tollgate shootings that occurred last year. “Accurate information on the fatalities from the shooting remain fuzzy because apart from “Amnesty International which reported 10 persons died during the event, no other organization was able to verify the claim,” it said. When contacted to react to the report, Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, referred THISDAY to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. “Please get across to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. He is to react to issues that have to do with the government. He is in a better position to answer your question,” Adesina said. But efforts to reached Mohammed yesterday were futile as he neither picked calls to his telephone line nor respond to a text message sent to him. The 102-page report also accused the federal government of ‘’arbitrary detention by government and non-state actors, political prisoners, serious problems with the independence of the judiciary, arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy, serious abuses in an internal conflict, including killing and torture of civilians; serious restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet, including the existence of criminal libel laws.’’ The report also indicted Nigeria

for ‘’substantial interference’’ with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, in particular for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex persons; severe restrictions on religious freedom; serious acts of corruption; trafficking in persons; inadequate investigation and accountability for violence against women; the existence or use of laws criminalising consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults; and the worst forms of child labour. The US stated that even when the federal government took ‘’some steps’’ to investigate alleged abuses by police, including the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) and military forces, impunity remained a significant problem. ‘’There were reports of further progress informally separating and reintegrating child soldiers previously associated with the Civilian Joint Task Force, a non-governmental self-defence militia, which received limited state government funding. ‘’Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa continued attacks on civilians, military, and police; recruited and forcefully conscripted child soldiers; and carried out scores of personborne improvised explosive device attacks--many by coerced young women and girls--and other attacks on population centres in the North-east and in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Abductions by Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa continued,’’ the report added. The report said even though consistent with the constitution, the federal government had continued to turn to the armed forces to address internal security concerns, due to insufficient capacity and staffing of domestic law enforcement agencies. It said there were reports that members of the security forces committed human rights abuses. The report stated: ‘’Civilian authorities did not always maintain effective control over the security services. The insurgency in the North-east by the militant terrorist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa

RECRUITMENT BASED ON EQUALITY OF STATES, ZONES, SAYS ARMY state did not have the required number of eligible candidates to fill its eight vacancies. In such an instance, the vacancy will be filled by a contiguous state from the same geopolitical Zone. “Following this number allocated per state, the South-

east, which is made up of five states, was entitled to 40 candidates. "However, two extra vacancies were allocated to the geopolitical zone thereby making a total of 42 candidates instead of 40. The North-central, for instance, has seven states

(FCT inclusive). Taking eight candidates from each state in the geopolitical zone gives a total of 56 in addition to two extra vacancies as was also allocated to the South-east gave the total of 58 candidates. “It is therefore quite

uncharitable and blatantly divisive for any media organisation to whip up sentiments from such a straight forward exercise conducted by the Nigerian Army in the best interest of the Nation,” the statement added.

The army urged the public, including journalists, to always seek clarifications from the Army Headquarters whenever in doubt and desist from allegations that would be defamatory to the military and injurious to Nigeria’s unity.

continued. ‘’The groups conducted numerous attacks on government and civilian targets, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, widespread destruction, the internal displacement of more than two million persons, and the external displacement of somewhat more than an estimated 300,000 Nigerian refugees to neighbouring countries as of December 14.’’ On the alleged controversial killings at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, last year, it said ‘’accurate information’’ on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. US said: ‘’Impunity remained a significant problem’ in the security forces, including in the police, military, and the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS, police, and military reported to civilian authorities but periodically acted outside civilian control. ‘’The government regularly utilised disciplinary boards and mechanisms to investigate security force members and hold them accountable for crimes committed on duty, but the results of these accountability mechanisms were not always made public. ‘’Police remained susceptible to corruption, faced allegations of human rights abuses, and operated with widespread impunity in the apprehension, illegal detention, and torture of suspects.’’

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THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PDP Fixes Zonal Congresses for April 10 Ejiofor Alike The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) informing the commission that

it had scheduled its North-west, South-west and North-central zonal congresses for April 10, 2020. In the letter dated March 31, 2021 and signed by the National Chairman of the

Panic as NAF Aircraft on Routine Mission in North-east Disappears from Radar Chiemelie Ezeobi There was panic last night as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that was on routine mission in the North-east lost radar contact. Although details were still sketchy at press time, the aircraft was deployed to support troops at one of the theatres of operation in the Northern part of Nigeria. NAF could not locate the aircraft as at last night. In a terse statement issued last night, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed the incident. “A NAF aircraft on routine mission in support of own troops at one of the Theatres of Operation in the Northern part of Nigeria has lost radar contact.” The DOPRI, however, noted that efforts are currently

ongoing to locate the aircraft, adding that more “details to follow”. It would be recalled that seven NAF officers had died in air crash last month and were buried at the National Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, Abuja. The men died in the Beechcraft King Air B350i which crashed a short distance from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after reporting engine failure. The deceased include the Captain, Fl Lt. Haruna Gadzama; Fl. Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist); Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist); Fl. Sgt. Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sgt. Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Sanwo-Olu Approves Body Cameras for Law Enforcement Operatives Segun James Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has disclosed that law enforcement operatives in the state will wear body cameras when carrying out operations. The governor said this groundbreaking plan for the enhancement of security and safety in Lagos State would help reduce issues of extrajudicial a ruins by security operatives. Sanwo-Olu also approved a mass training for the state’s law enforcement personnel on the use of body cameras, ahead of the deployment of the digital tools for security operations across the state.

The three-day training, which will commence in May, would be facilitated by the State’s Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), headed by Prince Oyekan Falade. After the training, all state-funded law enforcement officers will be commissioned to wear body cameras for their operations. Sanwo-Olu, according to a statement issued yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the move would improve transparency and accountability in the activities of law enforcement agencies, and put the state government in a better position to respond to security challenges in real time.

Policeman, Three Others Killed in Delta Bank Robbery Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the loss of one of its men during a robbery attack on an old generation bank at Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday evening. The state police command spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe (a DSP) said that a suspected member of the armed robbery gang and another person believed to be a bank customer were also killed during the incident. Edafe, who denied social reports that at least five persons lost their lives during the armed robbery attack, said the deceased policeman was

in the team mobilised to the scene as re-enforcement. Aside the policeman and two other casualties, one vehicle reportedly used by the criminals and one AK- 47 rifle were recovered from the scene of robbery operation, the police spokesman. Millions of naira was allegedly carted away by the robbers who invaded the Issele-Uku branch of the bank located in the busy heart of the town. Eyewitness account claimed that the heavily armed criminals invaded the bank in three vehicles at about 5p.m. and holding hostage bank workers for over an hour while they ransacked the bank.

PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, and the National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, the main opposition party also disclosed the venues for the congresses. According to the letter with reference number: PDP/DOM/ GF.2/VOL.IA/21-031 and

addressed to the chairman of INEC, the South-west zonal congress will hold in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, while the congresses for North-west and North-central will hold in Kaduna and Makurdi, respectively. The letter, which was

obtained by THISDAY, also reminded the commission that before the new date was fixed, the PDP had earlier written to notify it of the initial suspension of the congresses. “Please note that all our party activities shall be in accordance with the Nigeria Centre for

Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines on COVID-19 as they concern social/physical distancing of people gathering in one place. While thanking you for your usual cooperation, please accept the assurance of our highest regards,” the letter added.

SEVEN HEARTY CHEERS…

L-R: Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde; Governor Seyi Makinde; President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke; his wife, Rev. Tokunbo Oke; President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Supo Ayokunle; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; and his wife, Olori Rasheedat Adetunji, at the thanksgiving service to mark the election of Oke as the seventh PFN national president in Ibadan, Oyo State…weekend

APC Extends Membership Registration, Revalidation Plans verification of members Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) may have approved the indefinite continuation of the ongoing party’s membership registration and revalidation, THISDAY has learnt. Sources within the ruling party told THISDAY yesterday that after the completion of the membership drive, the National Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party would embark on the verification of the registered members to ensure the details in party’s membership register are correct and genuine. The exercise, which started on February 9, was scheduled

to end yesterday. However, the ruling party has officially maintained graveyard silence and refused to clarify whether or not the exercise would be extended. A top APC official said while the caretaker committee was working towards the June deadline for holding a national convention to usher in a new National Working Committee (NWC), it would seek extension if there was any need to do so. He stated: “This committee wants everybody to see, even the doubting Thomases, the most extreme critics will see that what we are doing is real. “Talking about 30 something million people and you have to verify whether it is real.

You have to check the NIN number, you have to check the fingerprints, you have to check if the INEC card they have given is real; that is what we are talking about here. Never in the history of this party will you be sure that these are your members. “You don’t expect us to come and lie; if we have need to extend, we will go to the public and give them the reason to do that. Meanwhile, we will keep the deadline of June.” Also, another party source told THISDAY that the exercise has been extended and left open. The source added that the registration is ongoing and that it’s possible it would last for

another month or so. The source said: “The exercise has been extended. It is still a continuous exercise because some people came today (yesterday) to collect materials. Like someone from Abia State, Chief Emenike, came to collect materials for 17 local governments in Abia. Which this means is that the exercise is still in progress.” Asked if the exercise was extended for a specific period, he added: “They only made it open; maybe for a month or whatever. It is still in progress. There is no statement stating exactly when the exercise will end. There is no statement about that; it is still an open something.”

No Accurate Information on Lekki Toll Gate Incident, Says US Segun James The Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 2020 involving the Nigerian Army and #EndSARS protesters has attracted the attention of the United States in its “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020’’, released yesterday by the United States - Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour. In the report titled ‘Nigeria 2020 Human Rights Report, Executive Summary,’ the United States declared that “accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available,”

as at the end of 2020. The report alleged that the Nigeria police, army, and other security services sometimes used force to disperse protesters and apprehend criminals and suspects. According to the report, police officers engaging in crowd-control operations attempted to disperse crowds using non-lethal tactics, such as firing tear gas, before escalating their use of force. The report noted that on October 20, 2020, the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to

protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organisation was able to verify the claim. “The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma. A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds,” the report explained.

United States further said the Nigerian government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate. It also noted that as the end of last year, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate. The report added that in August last year, a military court-martial convicted a soldier and sentenced him to 55 years in prison after he committed a homicide while deployed in Zamfara State.

Police Kill Bandit, Recover Firearm in Niger The Niger Police have shot and killed a bandit and recovered one AK-47 rifle from him in Tashan – Barau village of Rafi Local Government Area of the state. Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Adamu Usman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna,

yesterday. Usman said that on March 30 at about 15 :25 hours, a team of Operation Puff-Adder 11, attached to the command acted on a credible intelligence that a group of bandits on motorcycles was sighted heading toward Pangu-Gari in Rafi local government area. He said that the team

mobilised to the location and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle at TashanBarau village, along Tegina/ Minna road. He said that one of the bandits who was later identified as Mohammed Garba of Ungwan Sani, Sabon Mariga area of Rafi local government area was shot, while one AK-47 rifle and an unregistered Bajaj

motorcycle were recovered. The commissioner said the corpse of the criminal had been deposited at a hospital mortuary. He assured members of the public that the command would continue the onslaught against bandits and called on the residents to always give useful and timely information to security agencies.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FEC Okays N30.77bn Infrastructural Projects in Five Ministries Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has approved the execution of infrastructural projects worth over N30.77 billion in five ministries and the FCT. The benefitting ministries are: Power, Aviation, FCT, Finance, Budget and Planning and Transportation.

The approval was given yesterday at the weekly virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held at the State House, Abuja with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presiding. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Minister of Power, Mr. Mamman Saleh, said his ministry presented two

Again, Gunmen Kill Police Officers in Akwa Ibom, Four Others Missing Okon Bassey in Uyo Akwa Ibom State Police Command yesterday expressed worry over the constant unprovoked attacks on security officers in the state. Gunmen last Tuesday attacked and killed Commander of the state Police Command’s Quick Intervention Unit , CSP Ben Ajide and two others, while four others were still missing. According to a statement issued yesterday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, the latest killing of the police officers took place in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state. The PPRO said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Amiengheme Andrew was deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack on security personnel who were out maintaining the peace in the area on March 30, 2020. The attack, he noted led to the demise of Ajide, who was the Commander of the Command’s Quick Intervention Unit and two others, while four others were missing. “In recent times, in Essien

Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, security personnel, particularly, the Nigeria Police, Akwa Ibom Command have come under persistent unprovoked attacks, leading to deaths and destruction of property, a trend which is totally absurd and unacceptable. “Whereas the remote and immediate causes of these unprovoked attacks are unknown, a discreet investigation is underway to unravel same and seek lasting solution. “The CP hereby deeply condoles with the deceased families and wishes to assure same and members of the public that the Command under his watch will not be deterred in carrying out its assigned constitutional mandate and will do all within its powers to bring perpetrators to book,” the PPRO said. The Police Boss called on members of the public to volunteer useful information, re-assuring that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality. He equally tasked all critical stakeholders to be united and form a formidable front in order to bring the menace to an end.

IG Launches Police Radio to Enhance Community Policing Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday launched the Nigeria Police 99.1 FM Radio, which he said would enhance the relationship between the police and communities. Speaking while inaugurating the police radio located at the National Institute of Police Studies (NIPS), Jabi, Abuja, the IG said on assumption of office as the “20th indigenous Inspector-General of Police, we introduced some strategies to combat crimes and stabilise security across the country. “As part of the implementation processes, we appreciated the need to bolster partnership and good working relationship between the police and the people in our various communities”, he said. According to the IG “one of these strategies is the construction and setting up of this community-based radio station, the Nigeria Police 99.1FM Radio, which is targeted at bringing the police closer to the people”. He said the radio station was

a product of the community policing initiative, which emphasised smooth information flow aimed at strengthening the bond between the citizens and the police. The IG said the frequency modulation radio had since commenced test transmission in line with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) code and operational regulations. “The radio station will serve as a veritable avenue for the Nigeria Police to engage, enlighten and inform the public on policing activities and other security-related matters. “It will also air phone-in programs to involve the citizens in the security of their localities especially on ways to spot and report crimes and other necessary steps to take in the event of a crime or security emergency”, he said. He noted that the medium of mass communication would enhance the interaction and people-oriented programs which would help strengthen policecitizen relations as well as serve as a trusted point for resolution of complaints by citizens

memoranda to the Council, which cumulated to a total sum of N10,730,393,742, adding that they were both approved. He said: “One, it approved the payment of the claims and the variation of onshore and offshore cost of the existing contract for the construction of 1×1 50 MBA three 31, 32, 33 KV sub-stations at Damaturu and 1×330 KV land by extension at Gombi in favour Msssr Kadlak International Limited in the sum of $1,621,423.88 cents plus N102,905,606.7.

“The other one is the approval of the contract for the design, manufacturing and supply of four fabricated sub-stations of 2×100 MBA 132 33 KV power transformers with complete accessories for deployment to Damaturu, Potiskum, Biu, and Maiduguri for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in favour of Msssr Kidon T Good Electric Company Limited and Incomtel Engineering Limited in the sum of $24,387,850.22 cents plus

N1,475,204,584.34. Altogether, it is N10,730,393,742.82”. Also speaking, Aviation Minister, the Senator Hadi Sirika, said Council, approved the sum of N10,594,057,618.20 inclusive of VAT 7.5 per cent for the provision of Airport Management Solution for the international airports of Abuja, and that of Lagos and Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. It awarded the contract in favour of Messrs Arlington Securities Nigeria Limited, with a completion period of

12 months. On his part, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented at the briefing by Information Minister, Alhaji Mohammed, said he presented five memoranda to Council, all of which were approved. According to him, the five memoranda, which touched on both the rail and maritime sectors of the ministry’s purview, had contracts cumulating to a total of N7.038 billion.

IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE…

L-R: Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Establishments, Training and Pensions, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle; and Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri- Okunola, at the official launch of the state’s Learning Management System (LMS), in Lagos… yesterday ETOP UKUTT

Bandits Kill Eight, Injure Four in Kaduna

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Eight people have been killed while four others were injured in the unending attacks by bandits on communities in Kaduna State. The latest killings, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, took place in communities in Chikun, Giwa and Kajuru Local Government Areas of the state. Aruwan said six of the victims lost their lives when

the bandits shot at their vehicle, which summersaulted. The statement said: “Eight people have been killed, and four injured by armed bandits in separate attacks dotted across Chikun, Giwa and Kajuru local government areas. “These were outlined in reports made by security agencies to the Kaduna State Government. “At Kan Hawa Zankoro, near Ungwan Yako in Chikun LGA, armed bandits shot at a vehicle, which then somersaulted,

leading to the death of six persons, and leaving four others injured. “Those who lost their lives in the crash are listed as: Aisha Bello, Uwaliya Alhaji Shehu , Ramatu Sani, Muhammad Shehu, Aminu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Abdu”. Aruwan added that those injured include Zainab Alhaji Usman, Surayya Bello, Khalifa Sani and Ushe Sani. The commissioner said, “in another incident, armed bandits attacked locals at Iburu

in Kajuru LGA, and killed one Amos Yari. “Furthermore, armed bandits invaded Hayin Kanwa village, Fatika district, Giwa LGA, and shot dead one Alhaji Sule, a business man in the area, after he resisted their attempts to kidnap him.” The statement said, “Governor Nasiru El-Rufai received the reports with sadness, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those slain, while sending condolences to their families. He also wished the injured a speedy recovery.”

Anti-cultism Law: Lagos Police Arraign 60 Suspects

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned 60 suspected cultists before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, yesterday, March 31, 2021. The suspects who arrested at various points and communities in the state were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo with the new Lagos State Anti-Cultism Law, 2021. They were arraigned on 13 count charge including conspiracy, murder, cultism,

unlawful possession of firearms and breach of public peace under the new Lagos State Anti Cultism Law, 2021 and Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. The PPRO said, “The Commissioner of Police had coordinated some raids and operations around the state,

especially, in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State to go after cultists and hoodlums who have been terrorising the entire state and bring them to book. “The police boss confirmed that the new law is a blessing and catalyst to eradicate cultism across the length and breadth of the state as the law caters for many loopholes in the previous laws pertaining to cult-related matters in the state. He further appreciated the Government

and the good people of Lagos State for making the law a reality that is now applicable in the state. “CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore, charged the Divisional Police Officers and commanders of operational units to be on their toes and make sure that the state is rid of cultism and other social vices since the command enjoys the enabling platform and framework to operate and discharge its duties as expected.”

Lawan Calls for Local Production of COVID-19 Vaccine

Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, yesterday called for concerted efforts by the government and the parliament to find resources for Nigerian scientists to collaborate with international agencies to develop COVID-19 vaccine. Lawan made the call at the public presentation of a research work on legislative responses to the COVID-19, in Abuja. He said it would take some time for the National Assembly and

the government to provide what would be called adequate health facilities across the country, and stressed the need for the country to consider vaccine production, which is becoming a necessity for almost every country. “I listened to a Nigeria scientist who is based in the US yesterday and he said it would require only one year for a Nigerian project to get its own vaccine. “And the vaccine is not supposed to be for Nigerians only and that is why we need international collaboration,’’ he said

Lawan also warned that Nigeria would be able to get 70 per cent of its citizens vaccinated, as the USA and EU are trying to ensure that no vaccines left its shores until it was able to vaccinate its citizens enough to provide immunity. He said: ‘’India that produces quite a lot of vaccines with over one billion population is also controlling and stopping exports. Where does that leave us? “Nigeria has the capacity in terms of the human resources to some extent, even though we have lost most of our good ones to the developed

world. But some of them are very patriotic. ‘’It is inevitable. Otherwise, Nigeria may not achieve the immunity in the next four or five years with our over 200 million population. And this is not a fact based on any scientific research. I don’t want to be misquoted. I am assuming that if it would take the US up to probably the end of this year to achieve 70 to 75 per cent of vaccination for those that are within the age bracket, some developed countries may be looking at next year.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021

COMMENT

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

HATS OFF TO OKOWA

Delta State capital, Asaba, is undergoing remarkable transformation, writes Angela Okafor

overnor Ifeanyi Okowa came to power in 2015 with a strong pledge to develop Asaba the capital of Delta State. Not many people took him seriously for one obvious reason. They did not believe him. Politicians are masters of tricks and empty promises. Whether on the campaign podium or inauguration stand, they say whatever thing that catches their fancy, all to deceive the “gullible” masses. Okowa particularly stirred curiosity, on that fateful day of May 29th as he took oath of office before the Chief Justice of Delta state, Hon. Justice Marshall Umukoro. Standing with a huge Bible in his hand, the Owa Alero-born politician announced that he would forward “to the Delta State House of Assembly within one week of inauguration” an executive bill tagged “Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Bill, 2015.” The bill, according to Governor Okowa, was intended to transform Asaba into a befitting state capital. Since 1991 when the state was created, Asaba had remained nothing short of a glorified village. Hence, Deltans received the promise with cautious optimism. Successive governments in the state had tried to improve Asaba. The administration of the first civilian leader of the state, Chief Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, now late, laid foundation for development. His successor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori also made efforts before he handed over to Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, who built the Asaba Airport and the new government house. But then Asaba by structure and topography remained a sorry sight almost run over by flood. It lacked good roads, modern architecture and other critical infrastructure necessary for effective government business. It was generally mocked as a glorified state capital with the poorest social amenities within the six states of the Niger Delta, coming only second after Yenagoa in Bayelsa. Okowa faced the lamentable parlous condition of Asaba under the worst political climate in the annals of the multi ethnic state. He came to power when oil, the mainstay of Nigeria‘s economy had fallen to an all-time low of 12 dollars a barrel, a hopeless situation exacerbated by huge wage bill of Delta work force. Who can forget the economic state of Nigeria, particularly Delta in 2015 and how the governor painstakingly tried to explain himself to Deltans? Many did not believe him, rather, he earned the uncharitable sobriquet of “Ego Aria” (no money) by all and sundry. He was not deterred. Deploying exceptional ingenuity in managing a complex season of economic recession, the governor rolled out a comprehensive work plan for Asaba under the template of capital development agenda. To change the face of the city, he mobilized bulldozers to strategic points clearing and expanding. By the time the machines quietened down, columns and columns of roads running into several kilometers have emerged across Asaba, decorated with giant street lights and gardens. Okowa has replicated this road magic in satellite towns and communities around Delta. A feat that had since earned him a popular nickname “Road Master”. A multi-billion-naira storm drainage system had also been put in place to solve, for the first time, perennial flooding of Asaba. Even before the project is completed, residents are already heaving a sigh of relief.

A MULTI-BILLION-NAIRA STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM HAD ALSO BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO SOLVE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, PERENNIAL FLOODING OF ASABA. EVEN BEFORE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY HEAVING A SIGH OF RELIEF

The horror inflicted on residents by heavy floods each time it rained is now a thing of the past. The Maryam Babangida road reconstructed by Okowa and commissioned by Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in March 2020 is particularly salutary given its socio-economic importance with its location in the business district of Asaba. While inaugurating the 1.88 kilometre Mariam Babangida Way in Asaba, Tambuwal described Governor Okowa as “a sound, pragmatic and accommodating leader who has the people’s interest at heart.” He added that the Governors’ Forum and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have much regard for the Delta governor as a man with the grace to handle difficult tasks. The Direct Labour Agency (DLA) road, one of the longest roads in Asaba was recently commissioned by former Senate President and ex-governor of Kwara State, Rt.Hon. Bukola Saraki amid pomp and pageantry, another glorious feather on Okowa’s cap. If you know Asaba very well, you would know the pains residents and business owners went through on this particular road. Expansion and elongation of Okpanam road remains another achievement residents of that area will not forget. Madonna College road is another road that has helped to open up the state capital as even adjoining streets are feeling the impact of the Road Master. A Court of Appeal complex has opened in Asaba, courtesy of Governor Okowa. A development that now places the city among the prestigious league of state capitals with such legal monuments. Before now, those seeking Appeal court judgements had to travel to Benin in Edo State. Okowa had not only ended this practice with all the risk factors but also enhanced the dispensation of justice for the good of Deltans. The Asaba Airport built by the previous administration of Uduaghan came as a laudable initiative. But it faced teething problems resulting in its down grading by aviation authorities. Today, the Okowa leadership has reversed all that as the airport is now fully functional, fitted with ultra-modern facilities and excellent tarmac to welcome big airplanes including trans - world airliners. Few weeks ago this same administration took a bold step to position the airport for optimum service and continuity through concessioning. According to Governor Okowa, the consortium would pump N28bn into the development of the Asaba airport as the investors handle the concession for a period of 30 (Thirty) years. The private managers of the airport had already paid the sum of one billion Naira to the Delta state government as revealed by the Commissioner for finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, while the agreement will see Delta earning 100 million naira annually from the mouth-watering deal. Within the past five years of governance, what perhaps stands as Okowa’s greatest legacy so far is Delta State Civil Service Secretariat located on Maryam Babangida way. The gigantic building is a multibillion-naira wondrous architecture. Apart from the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, no other civil service Secretariat is bigger than Delta’s in Nigeria. The elegant structure will accommodate all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Asaba. This will not only help speedy running of administrative duties but also block loopholes in government expenditures regarding rents. Okafor wrote from Asaba

WHEN JUDICIARY GOES ON TRIAL

The NJC, NBA and other stakeholders should work for an upright judiciary, writes Olusegun Adeniyi Continued from the back page s sordid as the foregoing may appear, nobody should imagine this is only an APC problem. Internal democracy is alien to all our political parties as can be glimpsed from a similar problem in Cross River State involving the PDP. In a split decision of four to three, the Supreme Court in February dismissed the appeal filed by Stephen Odey challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal which declared Agom Jarigbe the validly-nominated candidate for Cross River Senatorial District. But the role played by the judiciary was, to put it mildly, very suspicious. Why, for instance, was Jarigbe’s case filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, rather than in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State where the contentious PDP primary was held and the venue of the by-election? Then there is a glaring abuse of court processes by the use of interim exparte orders. As its name implies, an ‘interim’ order is a temporary order but has long become a potent tool in the hands of Nigerian politicians to checkmate being denied justice or compel compliance with a ruse. As absurd as it may sound, however, we should not blame Jarigbe. He evidently won the primaries but the PDP panel gave victory to his opponent, apparently to appease a number of powerful people in the state. Jarigbe may therefore have reasoned that those behind his travail were in control of the judicial arm in Calabar, including the Federal High Court. What saved the day for him was the curious judgement he got from Port Harcourt. In a dramatic development on 17th December last year, just 24 hours after the Clerk of the National Assembly had sworn-in Odey as a Senator, the Court of Appeal

sitting in Abuja declared Jarigbe the duly nominated PDP candidate for the election. And that has been affirmed by the apex court. How do you run a country like that? The challenge at hand is the absence of internal party democracy. In fact, the most lucrative enterprise for party members is to be saddled with the assignment of primaries in the states. This explains why most election cases are those that challenge the conduct/management of party primaries and nomination of candidates. Party primaries are replete with manipulation of membership registers, total disregard for their own constitutions and guidelines as well as blatant corruption and imposition of candidates, especially by governors. That Nigerian politicians refuse to see the danger of subverting democracy is very clear. Where they don’t resort to litigation, they disrupt well-organised elections by INEC, using thugs as it happened in Ekiti State two weeks ago. What is sad about Ekiti is not just that lives were lost but also that the constituency (Ekiti East 1 State Constituency) is one of the smallest in Nigeria. It covers half of just one local government with only five Wards, 39 polling units and 23,670 registered voters. If this trend continues unchecked, one can only imagine what will happen during the governorship election next year involving the entire state or in the 2023 general election involving the entire country. Meanwhile, INEC has been statutorily restrained by the provision of Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act from exercising any discretion on the candidates being sponsored by a party. This is to ensure that INEC is apolitical. Fine. But the spurious court verdicts don’t help the commission either. Sadly, the Supreme Court which ordinarily has the duty to hammer against judicial rascality in lower

courts has been dragged into the mess by its own internal contradictions. We now have a situation where people who come fourth in elections are able to become governors by the benevolence of judicial officers. Or as it is the case with Imo North Senatorial District, thousands of people will turn out to vote yet four months after, they would have no representation at the National Assembly. At the end you ask yourself, why bother to vote? In the course of interrogating this same vexatious issue last year, I made allusion to why democracy, according to Ross Feingold, is considered the most legitimate form of government, essentially because the power of choice rests with the people. “But when this power dynamic is altered and citizens lose their influence, the legitimacy of the system is threatened.” In a situation where politicians no longer campaign but rely on the court to get to power, that is no longer democracy. It is instructive that most of the cases to which INEC has been dragged were pre-election matters which arose principally from the (mis)conduct of party primaries. But the greater problem is the confusion being created by Judges. Both the National Judicial Commission (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as well as other critical stakeholders should work together to save our judiciary from this shameful conduct. To file frivolous cases, lawyers after filthy lucre will breach civil procedural demands and get such cases assigned to and heard by their accomplices on the bench. While we must put an end to such unholy alliances, there is also an urgent need to bring post-party primaries’ litigations under the electoral law. This will eliminate forum shopping and court manipulation and also deal with the issue of proliferation of orders and judgments emanating

from different courts of coordinate jurisdiction. With that, INEC can then be free from being served with different kinds of order. While political parties must wean themselves of bad behaviour in the conduct of their primaries to nominate candidates for elections, both the Constitution and the Electoral Act require amendment. We cannot continue with a situation in which Judges veto the choices of the electorate on the basis of technicalities such as how names are written on certificates. If this democracy is to survive, it is imperative that the judiciary as an institution and judges as individuals are not only impartial to those who appear before them but also that the wider public have the confidence that cases affecting their well-being will be decided fairly and in accordance with the law. As a cornerstone of democracy, any judiciary that doesn’t serve constitutional goals is a problem for the society. It’s worse when Judges are perceived as not acting fairly, reasonably, and in preservation of public trust in the rule of law. That sadly is the state we are in Nigeria today and it calls for a lot of soul searching by judicial officers. Proliferation of court cases with similar cause of action at different locations of courts of coordinate jurisdiction indicates forum shopping and may point to the fact that justice is now cash and carry. This can only encourage jungle justice. However, the greater responsibility lies with the political class. Which is why the APC, as the ruling party, should be restrained in making claims it cannot substantiate against judicial officers at the apex court. In their own enlightened interest, they must begin to accord the judiciary the respect and dignity necessary for judges to do their work without being dragged into partisan politics or having their reputation sullied.

T H I S D AY • THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021

EDITORIAL ECONOMY: BEYOND THE WAR OF WORDS The authorities should address high rate of unemployment and poverty

he war of words between the Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over Nigeria’s economic indices is needless. It is important that the federal government focuses on the message rather than the messenger. In the statement that drew the ire of the presidency, Atiku had said: “In a situation where we are simultaneously the world headquarters for extreme poverty; the world capital for out-of-school children, and the nation with the highest unemployment rate on earth; there is a very real and present danger that we might slip into the failed states index – God forbid!” It is difficult to fault Atiku. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently released its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report which indicated that the Nigerian economy grew by 0.11 per cent in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2020 from the previous quarter’s growth rate of -6.1 per cent. This represented the first positive quarterly growth in the last three quarters. While government officials and praise singers backslap one another, many Nigerians believe there is really WHILE IT IS SOOTHING nothing to rejoice THAT NIGERIA EXITED about. As experts RECESSION, IT WOULD have pointed out, DO THE GOVERNMENT the economy actuA LOT OF GOOD TO ally suffered a 1.92 ESCHEW THE NEEDLESS per cent full-year CHEST-THUMPING AND contraction in 2020. GET TO WORK ON THE For the record, the REAL CHALLENGES economy slipped into CONFRONTING NIGERIANS a ‘technical recession’ by the end of the third quarter of 2020, having earlier reported two consecutive negative GDP growth in the second and third quarters. At the end of June 2020, GDP growth rate was -3.62 per cent and by the third quarter it had worsened to -6.1 per cent. While the federal government and its officials continue to gloat over the Q4 2020 GDP report indicating that Nigeria had exited recession, economic indices do not indicate that there

Letters to the Editor

are positive developments to crow about. It is trite that any growth in the economy that has no reference to the change in demographics, particularly population, would have told an incomplete or partial story. As some analysts have argued, in dealing with growth, a more useful measure would be GDP per capita, which measures output per head in the country, over a period of one year. Nigeria has a current GDP per capita of about $2250. South Africa, the second largest economy in Africa has a GDP per capita of $5,300, while Botswana, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are $7,230, $7,400 and $12,400 respectively.

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

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

ccording to the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, multidimensional poverty encapsulates deprivations in many dimensions, including lack of education and job, poor quality of work and threat of violence. These are some of the stark realities that confront Nigerians. While it is soothing that Nigeria exited recession, it would do the government a lot of good to eschew the needless chest-thumping and get to work on the real challenges confronting Nigerians. It is an unassailable fact that so many things have gone downhill under the current administration. The NBS’ statistics reveal that 98 million out of 200 million are wallowing in multidimensional poverty. Inﬂation has gone to the roof. Unemployment has also skyrocketed by nearly 400 per cent since 2015, spiking from 6.75 per cent in the third quarter of 2015 to 33.3 per cent in the last quarter in 2020. The federal government must realise that this is no time for empty platitudes over economic recovery. It is time to focus on achieving measurable growth that is also inclusive. More attention should be focused on jobs and reducing the high rate of unemployment and poverty. Above all, it is time to address the crushing debt problem, exacerbated by incredible debt service obligations that gulp over 60 per cent of government’s revenue. That is unsustainable and we must deal with it.

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

The Future Of Nigerian Youths

he 2020 #EndSars protests against police brutality which rocked the nation during the pandemic lockdown showcased the potentials and resolve of the teeming youth in Nigeria to drive political change and demand for good governance. Their use of the internet, digital platforms and social media to organise and stage the protests showed not only social and political awareness but creativity and alignment with global trend of democratic civil disobedience to effect political and social change. The acephalous nature and message-centric rather than people-centric approach adopted by the peaceful protesters points to a deeper yearning for broader political change to reflect the realities of the average youth in Nigeria away from police brutality which triggered the protests. Mass unemployment, collapse of public education, widening inequality, etc., are some of the underlying issues that were triggered by the #endSARS protests which compelled a lot of youths to join the protests. This is 2021, the #EndSARS movement has lost traction and even though the searchlight of attention has been beamed on the issues raised by the movement, sustainable efforts have not been made to ensure these issues are dealt with decisively. A look at youth movements around the world will reveal that stronger political actions beyond peaceful protests need to be taken by young people to engender the change they yearn for. The 2014 “Occupy Central” and “Umbrella protests” in Hong Kong was led by young people who wanted greater autonomy and changes to the way Hong Kong is governed by China. They were demanding greater democracy for the territory and protested against highly restrictive electoral reforms. This culminated in 2016 legislative elections that saw young people bonding together and forming pro-democracy political

parties that won a record 53% of seats in the Hong Kong Legislative council including the election of Mr Nathan Law, a 23- yearold student who was one of the leaders in the umbrella protests. Mr Law was quoted after his victory as saying “Young people have a sense of urgency when it comes to the future.” Nigerian youths will do well to channel this alacrity towards engaging the platforms that political parties present. After all the best way to change the system is to do so from within the system; to obtain the Nigeria we want young people will need to venture into governance. The emergence of Bobi Wine as a strong opposition figure in Ugandan politics threating the rule of the est ablishment is a clear marker of the sway young people have in politics. George Weah rode on the mantra of youth votes to rise to power in Liberia and even Joe Biden focused his campaign to elicit for young black votes in America which eventually tipped the scales in his favour. Elections are due in Nigeria by 2023, that’s more than enough time for Nigerian youths to really effect the political change the country and the teeming youth population needs. The #EndSARS energy needs to be translated into political action, young people need to engage the political process and political platforms (political parties) more and eschew political apathy. Politics is a numbers game and 42% of Nigeria’s population is made up of young people, getting involved in the process will ensure more young and youth friendly candidates gets into governance. We’ve done the protests in a remarkable and historic fashion. 2023 is the time for more politically correct actions. With a strong youthful population of 42%, our political choices are not limited to the two major political parties. Chinonso Kenneth, Research Assistant, HipCity Innovation Centre

We Hate Mondays

arfield the cat hates Monday and now so do I but for different reasons. At the end of our street there is a medical centre, normally a positive for the street, but since they started doing COVID checks recently it has very much become a negative but only on Mondays. One specific country requires a COVID free status before you can fly there and the only flights there at the moment leave on a Wednesday so a COVID test must be done on Monday to get a result on Tuesday to fly out on Wednesday. This seems okay but they have to line up in their cars to get the testing and once the small car park fills, they flow down the rest of the street and around the corner. This would only be a minor inconvenience if they did not block every driveway and most of the street and refuse to then move out of your way. There have been many loud voices and much tooting. Since when have people become so self-important that they think they can inconvenience others and not try to do the right thing? We already have so much to fear from COVID and the way so many people handle it that we should all work together rather than look after our own interests first. Please try to be fair to everyone. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

POLITICS

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

‘I’m Speaking with APC’s Highest Authority over National Chairmanship Seat’ Igbawase Ukumba was among a group of journalists who interacted with Governor Abdullahi Sule on issues of political and economic development in Nasarawa State

ith the gale of defection from opposition political parties into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, the state is presumed a one party state. How do you intend to manage all the stakeholders? One person cannot take the credit for that. I think since we came in as an administration, we have worked as a team and we have displayed fairness as an administration. We have been very truthful. We don’t have anything that we are hiding. What we say is what it is. We don’t deceive people; we don’t say anything untrue. We just say everything from the heart. I think that has helped us. What I mean by that is we keep saying we are an inclusive government. And since we are inclusive, it has to show that we are inclusive. We have had areas; we have the records that did not vote for us but they are citizens of Nasarawa State, and we have qualified people from there to hold certain positions, we gave them the positions. So that is our own way of inclusiveness. Anytime that there is an opportunity to discuss about the interest of Nasarawa State, we invite beyond our party. We invited people from other parties. Anytime an opportunity for some kind of intervention comes to Nasarawa State as a result of either the challenge of the economy or so, we share with everybody. So, we have indicated in words and actions that we are actually a government for all. Therefore, if something like that is happening; where people are leaving other political parties to come to us, we thank God that we have seen this. And also in our own part, we believe very strongly in our display of action of what we say. In recent times, you advised APC to look at the direction of the defunct Congress for Progressives Congress (CPC) and Nasarawa State for the position of its national chairman. What efforts are you making to realise that? When you advice, then you start to campaign. I think we have gone beyond advice now. We are campaignning. I have encountered the major stakeholders in the APC that we strongly believe that what we are asking for is fair. What we are asking for is not too much for the party to do. What we are asking for will actually keep the party together. So that is what we have been saying. I will tell you I have gone far beyond just making a plea. I have gone to stage of making consultations, speaking with the right people who are supposed to be part of this. Speaking with all the decision makers. Speaking with the highest authority of the party, especially speaking with my colleagues, the governors. Some of them who went to Abuja will tell you I had a meeting with them to towards midnight. And it was all connected to that. I have been trying everything to ensure that we plead for this position to come to Nasarawa State. Apart from agitations that the APC national chairmanship position should go to Nasarawa State, CPC is agitating that the position be zoned to the North Central before coming to Nasarawa State. Are you also on the same page with the CPC or otherwise? Yes, I am going on the full swing. I didn’t want to go half and stop. I am saying that I strongly believe it should come to North Central and Nasarawa State. I always add that. I didn’t want to stop at coming to North Central without mentioning Nasarawa State, because that is why I said am going full swing. And we have justification for that. We are not just saying that for the sake of saying it. APC is actually a product of an alliance. An alliance between three former independent political parties. The ACN, ANPP and the CPC. The two former members of the alliance have

And when those who are inspecting the site to recommend whether they should do it, we impressed them more than any other because we were prepared for it. We became very, very committed to it and we are more prepared. That is why they selected Nasarawa to be the pilot.

Sule all produced twice the national chairman of the party. But the only one that has not produced so far is the CPC. And if you are talking of the CPC, Nasarawa State is the only state with the CPC that went into the alliance. So, that is the justification that we have. But I don’t want to just stop at that. I keep saying let it come to Nasarawa State because I don’t want people to feel that the person I am looking for the position, may be because of one reason or the other, is not the right person. So, let it come to Nasarawa State. Give us in Nasarawa State. You have to be fair to CPC first because it was the only state that joined the alliance. When it comes to us we will look for it. Right now I think we have gone out full swing; we are campaigning for people. We want people like Tanko Al-Makura to take it. And we are not hiding it. You are one of the governors in the country to embrace the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP). What is the reason for your embrace of the Programme? Let me correct that impression. Actually what people didn’t understand is that the livestock was there before our administration came in May, 2019. Before we came in, 24 states had

already indicated interest and Nasarawa was one of those states. What I did was to align with everything of the administration of Tanko Al-Makura. Everything Tanko Al-Makura has started, I didn’t abandon. I tried to build on it. The NLTP was one of it. Nasarawa State was one of the states that was there. When I came and saw the reality of our treasury, I saw the reality of our security, I felt very strongly that this will help Nasarawa State greatly. There are other states that didn’t have to wait for NLTP. Like Kaduna for instance, like Zamfara for instance because they have the resources. They have gone beyond waiting for NLTP. They went ahead and started. And when they started in reality, it is the same with what NLTP is doing. We are going to develop a site. And this site we are going to have abattoir on the site, we will have schools for the people, we will have police stations for the security of the people. We will have different kind of grasses and we will have water on the site. Everything that they will have. And everything cost money. And that is what NLTP is about to do anyway. So, since we didn’t have the money and we still don’t, instead of waiting until we have the money then I became more interested and more aggressive for NLTP So that the NLTP will come.

I have tried as much as possible to expantiate and to explain what we meant in that area so that people don’t panic that Boko Haram have just moved from Borno to Nasarawa State because that is not what happened. What happened was that around 2016 a group Dar ul Salam actually sent parking out of Niger State and they didn’t find any other place to come and settle but Nasarawa State. So, they came to Hutu in Toto Local Government; a very virgin area. The village where Bassa used to be. Since Bassa are no longer there, they settled there. That is what happened

Your administration entered into an agreement with a private entity in respect of the Peninsula Estate.This is coming after 30 years. What are the derivable beneﬁts of the partnership? With the Peninsula Estate you have mentioned, we came actually and inherited a site with a lot of controversies. And it didn’t start with the first executive governor of the state, that is Abdullahi Adamu. It started far before he became the governor; in fact, it started from Plateau State. Some of the areas were been allocated to multiple owners. Then there was an area that some of them were not compensated. So, many different problems. But you see during the era of Tanko Al-Makura, he started by constructing road networks there so that it will operate more like another site of services. So, that large pieces of land were going to be partitioned and allocated to individual owners for them to pay. It is similar with what we inherited with the Orange Market. When we came, the Orange Market was about to be partitioned, we completed it. And in line with the policy of the government at that time, we allocated them. After the allocation that we had done, it wasn’t a very good experience in the sense that the development is not ongoing right now. So, in two years after the allocation, a lot of the people are looking for other people to sale the allocation to. I think only about three or four people out of over 100 plots of land are actually constructed. So, in reality the state government is still burdened in the fact that they are the ones that continue to pay for the maintenance of the place and we had already allocated. A lot of the allocations, the people have not yet come to pay the fees to collect the allocation papers. These are the situations we found and we say we won’t do the same. So, that is the driving force by us saying that let us look for a housing developer who will come in and build all the houses and sale to people. You know if it is a housing developer, most likely he will borrow the money so he better build houses that can easily be sold. By building the houses we will now begin to generate revenue for the state government. If we had done site and services at the Peninsula, we would have been generating roughly about N2 billion. With this particular arrangement we have, by the time they finish building the houses and all the houses had been completed, all the houses are sold at the rate they are giving, we will be generating about N9 billion. So, it is either we collect N2 billion now and put in our pocket or to wait a little bit further and generate N9 billion. And we say we will wait a little bit for the houses to be completed and be sold because we believe that our land is now developed. Nasarawa State has set up the houses, citizen of Nasarawa State can go and work in those houses. The commercial area that can be developed, people from Nasarawa State can go and work there and things like that. That is what we are looking forward to. We are looking at the economic exercise that is going on there rather than just the monetary part of it. So, that is the idea of carrying it out that way. From all indications now that we have finished and we are in the process now of getting the facility, fencing the place and starting the construction, so it will most likely go fast. Most likely it will be developed before seeing Orange Market being developed. So, that is the situation. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021

POLITICS DISSENTING VOICE...IN HIS OWN WORDS ‘Rot Was the Hallmark of the OkorochaYears in Imo’ Time to Stop the Hate

Mr. Ralph Nwosu, Commissioner for Works, Imo State holds a conversation with Amby Uneze on the eﬀort of his ministry to meet up with the ‘Three R’-Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery-mantra of the Governor Hope Uzodinma administration if they had started from the beginning because for a four-year government, you don’t have upto 12 months construction window bearing in mind the rains, you have to devise a means of embarking on construction to meet this period to the benefit of the people. The contractor was doing classical construction, but the rains met them, the earthwork became bad, it turned into custard on the road and people were yelling. They did not realize that they ought to do their stone base at the same time in order to avoid what happened. Now where is the 50 percent they did? If you are given a job, you work with the development partners and if that was done, today we would have been talking about taking off from Federal Poly and not the beginning at Naze Junction.

Nwosu

he roads in the state are gradually being tackled as your administrationenters its ﬁrst year, where do we go from here? We do not have to sound like broken records, bemoaning our fate, what we need is to face challenges and see what we can do to ameliorate the situation. When we came, we saw MCC Road, Assumpta Road, World Bank Road, we met the Relief Market road, we met Douglas Road, and even World Bank Road that were not in good shape, and we tackled these roads with swift action. Today, what we have on the ground is far better than what we met. From Assumpta Road going to the General Hospital, Assumpta to World Bank with a spur at Federal Secretariat are all constructed. If you go to Relief Market Road you will agree with me that no government in the past had touched that area. Go there now, it is constructed with street lights, walk ways; all modern facilities are there as we speak and that is what we replicate on all the roads we are constructing. Go to Dick Tiger Road, it is done with walkways and street lights. Of course the tunnel we are doing is almost 85 percent completed. It is terminating into the Otamiri River. And once we finish that all the problems of flooding on MCC Road and Trans Egbu axis are gone once and for all. Look at Douglas Road upto Naze Roundabout; it has not been there before because nobody could believe that you can drive through Douglas Road all through without hitches, all those things are gone, the traffic is smooth as we speak. What we are doing with urban renewal will marvel you. We have flagged off the road that had given us a headache, that is, the Naze Federal Poly- Ihiagwa-FUTO- Obinze road. That particular road is where the viral members of the society are staying; you have a large population of students living there. That road was awarded to a contractor by the previous government just as we met other 28 roads being constructed but they abandoned them. We inherited them and because government is a continuum, we must work with what we see on the ground and since we have the best intention, we continue on them because they are very important to our people. There was so much outcry about that NazeFederal Poly-Ihiagwa-FUTO Road that was initially awarded by Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s administration with almost 50 percent work done before the Supreme Court sacked him. Why did this government not continue from there? That road was awarded and N980 million was paid to the contractor. They did the drains and earthwork of about 6.8 kilometers, and they had started construction on the bridge. It was a 14 kilometer road. If you are doing construction you must benchmark what you are doing and

Is there any plan to recover the excess money paid to the contractor for the work not done? Of course, we have notified the bank. Like I told you, government is a continuum, the other government did the right thing, they got APG (Advance Payment Guarantee), that is a performance bond. We don’t have any business with the contractor but with the bank, we have notified the bank. Bear in mind we have to pay for what we can see and measure. If you are talking about the earthwork, we cannot pay on what we cannot see and measure, maybe the rains washed them away, that is their business. Roads construction happens to be what people see and feel by any government, especially your government that prides itself on three R-mantra of rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery, what is your government doing to ensure that the roads you are working on are perfect? It is a practical thing, go and see the roads we have constructed and gauge the quality and the facility around them. You know, at the time we came, we met COVID-19 when we were trying to articulate what to do and the contractors also did not give us the required confidence, they were like scared and we gave them the assurance to work and by the time we persuaded them to move to site lockdown came in. It became very difficult for them to get the materials to work with, even Dangote cement was also difficult to get and by the time they settled for the materials, rain met us. Thank God we continued and under the rains how do we manage cement stabilization, do the earthwork, do the stone base and all that? Now our stone base is super and the finishing is equally superb, it can last for 20 years, go and check. Any road we are doing we want the best for our people. The Governor in his wisdom, called me to work with him, I must give my best so that posterity will remember a certain governor who put in his best to work for Imo people. Some of us will make sure that the right thing is done, that is why I commend the Governor for appointing a world class consultant, Delliot to engage the Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe roads. These two major roads you just mentioned are very important to our people, I hope it is not going to be like the former administration of Okorocha that used sand and block to divide the roads and concluded that it had dualized them? This company is going to take care of the whole stretch of the two major roads, from beginning to the end. Orlu-Owerri road is 34 kilometres dual carriage way and OwerriOkigwe is 68 kilometres single carriage way. We are going to get nine metres with shoulders and well-paved sides. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Campaign against Diri

Benson Agadaga, Chief of Staﬀ, Bayelsa State Government House sues for peace from political opponents of Governor Douye Diri and urges them to stop distracting him from the important job of providing good governance for the people

hat began as simple measured steps in engagement with citizens in Bayelsa State, to develop awareness on how agriculture and its value chain could turn lives around, has spurred a scale of productive activities that the underlying ‘support system’ from our country’s apex bank has been tailored to achieve. It is good news to the development- and empowerment-oriented management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that beneficiaries of its Anchor Borrowers Scheme in this state have performed satisfactorily as to necessitate further expansion of opportunities for citizens under the bank’s Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS). It is also good news to the Government of Bayelsa State that lives are being appreciably transformed through well-targeted initiatives that it has consistently spotlighted. CBN’s records, as presented by its Yenagoa Branch Controller, Mr. Francis Ene Asuquo, show that the output of poultry farmers who received N600 million has been remarkable, with a number of them now operating as suppliers of eggs to neighbouring states. Another set of 2000 beneficiaries received N2.2 billion, and their appraisal by the bank is positive. That the state government has been a focused facilitator, having effectively keyed into the Anchor Borrowers Scheme and into the AADS was applauded by its management team. In testimonies of the CBN team during a courtesy visit to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, CBN’s Head of Development Finance, Mr. Stanley Oruyeigha, disclosed that a N3 billion agricultural loan of the bank is being managed directly by its own personnel and that Bayelsa State Government has no part to play in disbursement. According to him, N1.438 billion has been disbursed directly to 3,500 farmers, who had undergone appropriate screening. He said: “There are no issues with the N3 billion agricultural loan to Bayelsa farmers. The first tranche of N1.5 billion was meant for infrastructure and that includes land clearing. No contract of N40 million was paid to anyone.... I want to emphasise that no money is missing nor was any money shared. The Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme is already a success in the state and it is on course.” Through policies, personnel appointment, resource channeling and lots more, Diri has practically proven that his administration is purpose-driven with the development of agriculture as a priority. He takes every opportunity to reiterate commitment to growth and development of that sector in the state, and providing support to farmers via profitable channels. Despite the evident strides made to date, a handful of ill-intentioned individuals have tried to use the scheme as means of maligning the governor and discrediting the revolution that he is championing in the state. Absolutely unfounded allegations of fraud and money diversions found their way into the social media space recently. The misleading report was shockingly purveyed by someone, who as an appointee of the last administration, had access to legitimate sources, both within and outside the government to vet information and facts. It is unbelievable that such baseless allegations, particularly aimed at key figures in the government, could be concocted and published. What’s more, the fellow threatened to sue anyone who dared to contradict him. Challenged by men of conscience, using social media, too, the hack failed to initiate legal action against those who contradicted him. He was arrested and charged to court. As it turned out, he had no facts - and cut such a pathetic figure in the dock. He was remanded in prison, and resorted to sending emissaries to the offended parties, functionaries of the state government, for forgiveness.

Diri Bible scholars among us will note that the parable of the wheat and the tares holds a dimension to our understanding of such mischief. Christ gave this parable immediately following the parable of the sower. Notice what He said: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. “‘So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” The servants said to him, “Do you want us then to go and gather them up?” “‘But he said, “No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” (Matthew 13:24-30). Jesus told this story to point out that there are people in society and government whose mission and vision is calumny and blackmail. While there is wheat, there are also tares. We do not know who is who, necessarily, but the Bible teaches that “by their fruits, you shall know them.” We always will have people who infiltrate our ranks, the Ananiases and Sapphiras and the Judas Iscariots—the satanic agents that undermine the good news of prosperity by the Diri administration. They can simply explore their privileged access to get clarification on any issue they are concerned about. Rather they use their access to the farm to sow tares. They choose a negative path and elect to allow themselves to be used as pawns by the detractors of good governance. Whenever he or his administration is faced with destructive criticism or below-the-belt punches, Governor Diri tells his aides, “Keep working, your results will silence them.” He has often called for collaboration from everyone both friends and foes to move Bayelsa forward. Economic diversification and wealth creation for the state are of utmost importance to this administration in order to tap our potential in different sectors and not only relax on the benefits derivable from being an oil producing state. It is therefore expedient that all destructive criticisms and smear campaigns against a transparent government cease as it would only reduce the pace at which progress is made. Rather all and sundry should seek to engage the hand of fellowship always extended by the administration to help move the state forward. This whole pitiful attempt at defamation further strengthens the unwavering determination of this administration to succeed and make good on the mandate given to it by the good people of Bayelsa state.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯ, ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Rebuilding Destroyed Police Formations in Mbaise During the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, several police stations in the three local government areas in Mbaise, Imo State, were damaged. Since then, there has been little or no police presence in the area. Amby Uneze captures the efforts by Mbaise Global Foundation to rebuild the structures

hat most Nigerians saw as a harmless clamour that started in faraway Lagos and some other major cities in the country, suddenly snowballed into an unimaginable crisis. The #EndSARS protest initiated by some concerned Nigerian youths and celebrities to voice out against the constant harassment, maiming and killings some of them suffered in the hands of a notorious and dreaded unit of the police force code named Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), now disbanded, was unfortunately hijacked by some political interests which attracted hoodlums that nearly brought the country to her knees. Little did anyone believe that such protest would lead to another lockdown of the entire country, after the unfortunate experience of the lockdown the world went through as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic for about seven months in 2020. The #EndSARS protest that spread like wildfire across the country spread its tentacles in the three local government areas (LGA) of Mbaise land: Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise. Historically and culturally, though, Mbaise consists of five clans, two each in Aboh Mbaise and Ahiazu Mbaise while Ezinihitte clan also constitutes the LGA. As large and populous as the three local government areas are, there is one definite affinity that brings them together. The unity that binds them together is as strong as stone. This is mainly attributed to hardwork and resourcefulness among the people of Mbaise, who speak the same dialect of Igbo language and have one culture. They gather under one umbrella, that is, the Ezuruezu Mbaise, the apex socio-cultural organisation – where all important decisions concerning the Mbaise nation are taken. Culturally, the world-class annual celebration known as “Iriji Mbaise (Mbaise New Yam Festival) on every August 15th is a masterpiece that brings together all Mbaise sons and daughters from home and abroad as a sign of unity, honour to fatherland, and during which they map out plans for development. Usually during this all-important annual festival, their sons and daughters invite their friends and well-wishers from far and near to witness the colourful event which has gained world recognition. One significant point that needs to be highlighted is the ability of Mbaise people to pull resources together with the purpose of achieving an important task. Often the people do not wait for government, be it, local, state or federal to attend to their immediate needs. As industrious and community oriented as the people are, they usually form a common group among themselves and contribute to rehabilitate, build or achieve a task that ordinarily government would have done. To them, government is the involvement of every individual to develop one’s area, especially when it concerns the issue of security. At the twilight of the #EndSARS protest, serious damages were done to some police stations in the three local government areas of Mbaise. These damages were carried out by hoodlums who are yet unknown. With the philosophy of ‘rebuilding where you live’, the Mbaise Global Foundation (MGF) rose to the occasion and decided to lead the effort of Mbaise people to rebuild the burnt police stations. MGF is a nonprofit organisation set up to act as a vehicle to raise and manage funds for Mbaise development. The foundation was founded in 2020 by some Mbaise sons and daughters in Nigeria and the diaspora as a strategy to implement the Mbaise Strategic Development Master Plan which was produced and published by Mbaise Leadership Forum (MLF) in 2019. The Master Plan which outlines an ambitious road map aimed at transforming Mbaise into a first-class community in a third world country by the year 2050, covers various development sectors such as Health, Education, Security, Power/Energy, Innovation/Technology, Environment, Women and Youth Development, Culture & Tourism, etc. According to the Executive Director of MGF,

Burnt police station in Mbaise

Newly built police station by MGF in Mbaise

L-R: Executive Director, MGF, Mr. Chris Ohanele; Vice President, Mbaise USA, and Director, Strategy and Operations, MGF, Ezeji Chief Alozie Aguwa; Chairman, MGF Board of Directors, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh; and Board Secretary, MGF, Mr. Ike Nwaobasi

Mr. Chris Ohanele, "some communities have vigilantes which are serving a useful purpose but do not have the power to prosecute suspected criminals. Only the police can do that. To facilitate the return of police personnel to Mbaise, Mbaise Global Foundation supports the initiative of Mbaise people to renovate the damaged police posts and associated facilities. Currently, fundraising is going on and renovation work has since started." The foundation is registered in Texas, USA as Mbaise Development Foundation (MDF) and with the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.) in Nigeria under the name Mbaise Global Foundation (MGF). The Board of Directors of the foundation was constituted with members from all the five clans in Mbaise. The Chairman of the Board is Dr. Sylvester Ugoh, former Minister of Education and Minister of Science and Technology, while the

Deputy Chairman is Mr. Frank Nneji, OON, MD/ CEO of ABC Transport Plc. The board consists of 28 members, including incumbent Presidents of Ezuruezu Mbaise, Mbaise USA, and Mbaise Union Europe. Currently, they are Barrister Cy Anyanwu, Chief S.O.S. Echendu, and Hon. Kingsley Njoku, respectively. In a message, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Sylvester Ugoh said “We in Mbaise believe that all of us, at home and abroad, have to contribute to the development of our area. Our vision is that the Mbaise Global Foundation (MGF) will be the vehicle through which funds for the execution of major development projects in Mbaise will be raised. This, therefore, necessitates that the various substantial organisations of Mbaise sons and daughters, world-wide, should each have a stake in MGF.”

Routine running of the affairs of the foundation is the responsibility of the Executive Officers. They are: Mr. Chris Ohanele, Executive Director; Ezeji Alozie Aguwa, Director of Strategy & Operations; Mr. Frank Ihekwoaba, Director of Finance; Chief Anogwi Anyanwu, Director of Treasury; Barrister Emeka Ibe, Legal Adviser; Dr. Linda Imo, Director of Women Development; Engr. Bruno Iwu, Director of Youth Development; Prince Dyke Anyanwu, Director of Public Relations; and Mr. Ike Nwaobasi, Board Secretary. Mr. Ohanele confirmed that “MGF has donated N6 million to the three LGAs in Mbaise towards the renovation effort. Each local government area has since received N2 million.” he said. The contribution of MGF is part of the funds also being contributed by individual Mbaise sons and daughters everywhere. "However, it is very disheartening that after such a laudable effort by MGF and other Mbaise people to rebuild and modernize these police stations after the #Endsars attack, some yet-to-be-identified hoodlums came back to attack the Divisional Police Headquarters in Aboh Mbaise and razed it again. This unfortunate action took place on February 25, 2021 at about 7pm. "MGF and Mbaise people remain undaunted though and are determined that hoodlums will not have the last word on a matter of such importance as security. As an indication of the resolve of MGF, Mbaise USA which is one of the major pillars of the Foundation, has committed a large amount of money towards security in Mbaise. Other Mbaise people around the world have also continued to donate funds towards this self-help effort to ensure security in Mbaise. "Membership of the foundation consists of, and is open to, Mbaise organisations that share the vision of MGF and are willing to collaborate. Currently, member organisations are Ezuruezu Mbaise, Mbaise USA, Mbaise Leadership Forum (MLF), Mbaise Union Europe, Ikoro Global, ILMI (International Liaison of Mbaise Indigenes), Mbaise Top Seed Club, and Okpu Mbaise Global Association. There are varying degrees of commitment by member organisations. Efforts are ongoing to deepen that commitment. "As part of the structure of the foundation there will be Advisory Councils charged with the responsibility to review, prioritize, and propose projects for the approval of the Board. Advisory Councils will cover the various areas of development earlier mentioned such as Health, Education, Security, Power/Energy, Innovation/Technology, Environment, Women Development, as well as Youth Development, Culture & Tourism, etc." Due to the urgent security situation in Mbaise and across Nigeria, MGF in 2020 set up the Security Advisory Council, codenamed CHEKWAMBA. The chairman of CHEKWAMBA is Brig. Gen. Joe Osuji (Rtd.). He is assisted by three co-chairmen from the three LGAs - AIG Charles Ugomuoh (Rtd.) Aboh-Mbaise; Air Commodore Peter Gbujie (Rtd.) Ahiazu; and Barrister Louis Alozie (SAN) Ezinihitte. These co-chairmen are closely involved with the fundraising, fund management, and renovation. The Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of MGF, Mr. Frank Nneji, OON, and the Chairman of Associated Bus Company Plc (ABC) Transport is closely monitoring the progress of the initiative. For Chief Alozie Aguwa, Director, Strategy & Operations of MGF, “It’s expected that as MGF continues to attract new affiliate organisations, its true position as an economic conduit for development will be rapidly realised. I am quite optimistic about the future prospects for Mbaise considering the opportunities presented by the establishment of MGF, a brainchild of Mbaise Leadership Forum that was initiated by Mbaise USA some years back”, he stated. Communality is the word that unites the people of Mbaise and over the years they have worked hard to maintain the collectiveness which guides them in all they do. No wonder, people from other climes envy them and insinuate all kinds of words to tarnish their hard-earned global image. But the name-calling does not affect the peoples’ eagerness to do more towards development of their communities and local government areas.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͱͯ˜ 2020

#THISISNIGERIA - Rotimi Fawole

THE SECOND QUADRANNIUM OF GAMBRACH: END SCARS!

n the land of Jirriah, where King Gambrach reigned over the 37 Kingdoms, from the Iron Throne of Boo Jar, there was a division of the King’s Constabulary known as SCARS. SCARS was an acronym and lo, it stood for Subhuman Constables Against Robbing Sitizens. Yea, it should have been SCARC, as ye well know that ‘citizens’ is spelt with a C. But the King who inaugurated this unelite unit did so in a time of scarcity and did not want to give his detractors the opportunity to say he created both SCARC and scarcity. Yea, was he a cerebral king. But we digress. SCARS was created as the arm of the constabulary that would defend the people of Jirriah against robbers and bandits. The constables who filled its ranks were those who failed the Humanity and Empathy modules at Constabulary College – by design, so they could deal ruthlessly with the menace of crime. And gaddem, how it backfired! You see, lacking in Humanity and Empathy, the SCARS commanding elite quickly came to the conclusion that the best way to save the Jirrians from the scourge of robbers and bandits was to rob the people themselves, before the robbers. They called it the Hammer for Headaches Strategy. Thus it was that SCARS began to relieve the people of their wages, their dignity, their virtue and their blood. The people

rechristened them the Subhuman Constables Against Revelling Sitizens for behold, all one had to do was look like one was enjoying life a little too much and he would fall into their trap. And if he did not have the means to satisfy their vampirous thirst, it was quite possible that, like in the ancient times of the slavedealers, such a person would never be heard from again. Time and again, the people cried out to Gambrach and the Nassholes, “deliver us from SCARS!” but the Many Years’ Disease meant Gambrach heard them not and the Nassholes gave no gaddem, for they hired the SCARS as their personal bodyguards. If the wailing was loud enough, the Head of the Constabulary would re-call the SCARS from the highways, that the people might have respite for a few days, but in no time they would be back again. Thus it was that on three occasions, Bashally, one of the King’s Spining Quills, announced to the people, “thy King has heard thee despite the Many Years, and the SCARS shall trouble thee no more.” But it was an ofege. Finally, in the second year of the second quadrannium of Gambrach, the Neests of Phemmi rose with a loud cry, declaring “It is enough! SCARS is scarring our lives, our pscyhes and beings. No more SCARS, no more scars. End SCARS!” And the cry rang throughout the 37 kingdoms, from Ekonnos, to Canodonia, to Ekitilopia, to Oshunlonica all demanding an end to SCARS. Yea, they sent word and shekels to the

Neests of Phemmi saying, “do with our coin what ye must, that we be saved from a life of SCARS!” From all over Jirriah, the shekels poured in, even from Jirrians in the dayasporata. And with the coin, Queen Effle Kay and her fellow Neests bequeathed succour, refreshments, security, repair and morale upon the crowds of people demanding full and final reprieve from SCARS. Mefilius, warden of the Iron Bank of Boo Jar saw it and was greatly troubled. Gambrach summoned him on the fifth day, asking “How have the Neests of Phemmi amassed so much shekelage in such a short time?” “Your Majesty,” replied Mefilius, “it seems to be the work of the Social Medianites and the Digital Perusites; feeling cool with themselves, communicating and coordinating like a government. If not that it were completely legal, it would be high treason!” “Can the inflows not be blocked?” “Majesty, I am thy intellectual slave but bankers never reject money deposits. This is not like geographical borders, O King.” “Okay, how about withdrawals then? Money that cannot be withdrawn cannot be spent,” countered Gambrach, slightly irritated. “Now that is a most excellent idea, Great King. I shall throttle them.” Lo did Mefilius give the order to all the Copper Banks (Garantease, Zany, Hack Sex and all the other copper banks) to encumber the

Neests of Phemmi. The King of Twilistia, Samurai Jax, saw all that was going on in Jirriah and it gave him a constipation most severe. Wherefore he sent for his Twilistian meisters to engineer a solution for the Jirrians. And thus it was that the walls of Twilistia collapsed for half a dozen hours and none was able to send word to another. And there was no gaddem chill in the land. But then the walls were rebuilt and Twilistia stood again and with this came the revelation that King Samurai Jax had blessed the Neests with verificato certificato and appointed a sigil unto the tagging of hashes for the ending of SCARS. Behold, the agitation took off with renewed vim and vigour and lo, was the cry heard across all the four corners of the earth, “End SCARS” and “halt Constabulary capriciousness”. The Head of the Constabulary squirmed as he saw the rising tempers. “My King, permit me to inform the people that we have proscribed SCARS, taken them off the King’s highways and replaced them with an all new unit called SCRAPS – the Subhuman Constables Really Against Plundered Sitizens.” “This is a great idea!” declared Gambrach. “Give them SCRAPS!” The people heard it and maigheeeeurd, THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE GADDEM CHILL IN ALL THE LAND! -Rotimi Fawole is a Lawyer and Satirist

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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Quick Takes Ericsson Wins Awards

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PAC Asset Mgt Gets Recognition

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

L-R: Founder, Leading Ladies Africa (LLA), Francesca Uriri; LLA #100 Woman Honoree, Oluwabukunmi Oyebisi Adeaga-Ilori, and Group Chief Marketing Oﬃcer, Appzone Group, Efosa Aiyevbomwan, during the Leadership By Design Summit held in Lagos... recently

Experts Highlight Cybersecurity Risks, Call for Robust Regulation Stories by Emma Okonji Cybersecurity experts have identified the associated cyber risks in the financial service space, even as they stressed the need for a regulatory agency to implement the country’s Cybercrime Law that was passed in 2015. The experts who spoke at a webinar organised by the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), an advocacy group on cybersecurity awareness and data handling, called on financial service providers and other organisations that handle large data of customers, to consider putting the right measures in place in order to safeguard their operations. Speaking on the theme: “Cyberthreat Landscape:

ICT Financial Services 2021 and Beyond,” Cybersecurity Lawyer, Basil Udotai said Nigeria’s Cybercrime Law remained the only civil law in Nigeria that did not follow the pattern of legislative proceedings for enactment of laws. According to him, “Nigeria does not have an agency on cybercrime that is vested with authority to enforce the country’s Cybercrime Act that was signed into law in 2015. What Nigeria has is a distributive law enforcement framework, which allows other law enforcement agents like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Police, and others to enforce their own cybercrime rules.

“The risk in this is that each law enforcement agency will be working to implement its own laws like Anti-Money Laundry Act, Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, among others, while deviating from the implementation of the real cybercrime law of the country.” He said there was need for the establishment of an agency of government whose role would be focused on implementation of the country’s Cybercrime Law, in order to address the current challenges of cybercrime and insecurity in the country. Deputy Governor, Financial Systems Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, who was represented by the Director of Information Technology (IT) at CBN, Mrs.

Rakiya Mohammed, said cyberattacks, data theft and other digital-related threats have been systemic risk concern for stakeholders across multiple sectors. The risks, she said, have consistently featured in the global risk report that is usually published annually by the World Economic Forum. According to her, “The emergence of new technologies like Machine Learning, Internet of Things (IoTs), Artificial Intelligence (AI), have further amplified the risk exposures, especially through the rapid increase in broadband access. Online criminals have continued to prey on citizens through online scams and cyber-attacks, Continued on page 26

Mobile Money Accounts Hit 1.2 Billion The GSMA, the global association that represents the interest of mobile network operators, in its latest annual industry publication titled: ‘State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money,’ has revealed an acceleration in mobile transactions last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdown restrictions limited access to cash and financial institutions. The report found that the number of registered accounts grew by 13 per cent globally in 2020, to more than 1.2 billion, which doubled the forecast. According to the report, the fastest growth was recorded in markets where governments provided significant pandemic relief to their citizens. The report stated that to

TELECOM minimise the economic toll of COVID-19, many national governments distributed monetary support to individuals and businesses. “The value of government-toperson payments quadrupled during the pandemic, with the mobile money industry working hand-in-hand with administrations and NGOs to distribute social protection and humanitarian payments quickly, securely, and efficiently to those in need. “Facilitating this type of direct income support payments is one example of how mobile money provides a financial lifeline to underserved communities. Mobile money providers have also provided

in-kind support, including the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitising gel at agent counters,” the GSMA stated in the report. Analysing the report, the GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer, John Giusti, said: “We see that mobile money is a powerful tool for expanding the financial inclusion of women in low- and middleincome countries. “This year’s report, however, found that across markets, women are still 33 per cent less likely than men to have a mobile money account. “The GSMA and its members are committed to closing this gender gap by addressing the barriers that prevent women from accessing

and using mobile financial services.” According to him, closing the gap would require a collaborative and concerted effort, since many providers have committed to increasing the proportion of female customers. “One example of an innovative approach to this is launching micro-entrepreneur products that can be used in markets where women represent the majority of vendors and customers,” Giusti said. Addressing the increase in global financial equality, the report stated that for the first time, more than $1 billion was sent and received in the form of remittances globally every month via mobile money. Continued on page 26

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Autochek Launches Online Marketplace

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“Nigerian needs broadband that is affordable, sustainable, reliable and available in the remotest parts of the country, and broadband should be seen as a basic human rights of the people of Nigeria because of its many benefits” CEO, Airtel Nigeria,

Mr. Segun Ogunsanya

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD EXPERTS HIGHLIGHT CYBERSECURITY RISKS, CALL FOR ROBUST REGULATION malware, among others. “The financial sector is particularly susceptibility to cybercrime, given its crucial roles in financial intermediation in a highly connected financial system. CBN is committed to strengthening its regulatory and supervisory framework for cyber risk and vulnerability testing for the banking sector.” A cybersecurity expert, based in the United States of America, Dr. Austin Ohwobete, who presented a paper, listed the different cyber-attacks such as webbased attack, third party attack, insider threats attacks, and advised organisations to put resilient structures in place in order to understand the nature of attacks and when attacks are about to happen.

MOBILE MONEY ACCOUNTS HIT 1.2 BILLION Despite early fears that transactions would decline as people worldwide suffered job losses and income cuts during the pandemic, it remains clear that those in the diaspora continue to support family and friends back home. As a result, the total value of transactions increased by 65 per cent to an annual total of $12.7 billion in 2020, the report added. It further said that in working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the GSMA remained committed to reducing inequalities among countries when sending money internationally. According to GSMA’s research, mobile money provides an affordable channel for connecting people to vital financial resources. The mobile money ecosystem has been strengthened by an increasing number of strategic partnerships established between money transfer organisations and mobile money providers. In the area of driving regulatory change, the report explained that as the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted people’s lives and weakened economies, regulators responded with a variety of measures aimed at reducing the impact.

NEWS

Marketers Upbeat about FG’s Autogas Policy Peter Uzoho Marketers of petroleum products in the country are keying into the alternative fuel policy of the federal government which seeks to move many Nigerians away from using high cost petrol to the cheaper and cleaner gas for powering their cars. The federal government is currently pushing the transition from petrol to either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for vehicles and generators as a systematic way of reducing the obsession for petrol and to cushion the effect of deregulation of petrol pricing. The Group Managing Director of Rainoil Limited, Mr. Gabriel Ogbeche, said the policy which is being supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with the N200 billion infrastructure investment fund for marketers, was going to add significant value to Nigerians. “That’s the policy that marketers are keying into, and that’s the policy that I believe is going to add a lot of value to the populace, and this is the policy I will encourage everyone to key into,” Ogbeche stated recently at a webinar organised by the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC). The virtual session in which Ogbeche featured as the guest speaker, focused on “Deregulation and Sustainable National Energy Future through Natural Gas.” He pointed out that though, the autogas policy was a good one, the challenge was how to ensure that autogas stations were

readily available and accessible in every part of the country like petrol stations. He said to achieve that, Nigeria would require initial investment of over N600 billion, a need that prompted the CBN to come up with the intervention fund for marketers. Ogbeche said: “So, government now came up with a programme to spend about N200 billion on infrastructure, to fund this Autogas roll-out by marketers, so that marketers can be encouraged within a very short time, as a matter of fact, within the next six months, to roll out minimum of

2000 CNG filling stations across the country. “And government is seriously driving this policy. A meeting was had a few days ago where very top government officials came together to commit to this policy, to give marketers this fund at a very favourable interest rate, so that people can have access to CNG and rely less on petrol. “So that, at that point, petrol can hopefully be deregulated. So that is the policy that government is running right now.” However, the Rainoil boss, who stressed the need for Nigeria to eliminate gas flaring, lamented

that Nigeria was still playing big in gas flaring despite measures put in place by government to reduce the rate of flaring by oil producing companies. He noted that almost 8 billion cubic metres of gas was being flared in the country annually by oil companies, adding that Nigeria remains the seventh largest gas flaring nation in the world, “and unfortunately, this gas is money.” According to him, Nigeria lost N300 billion to gas flaring in seven months in 2020 alone. Ogbeche attributed the continuous flaring of gas by oil

companies operating in Nigeria to the meagre fine they are meant to pay as penalty for flaring gas. According to the revised penalty for flaring gas, the gas flaring fine for companies which produce 10,000 barrels of oil per day or more is $2 per 1,000 cubic feet of gas, while the fine for companies producing less than 10,000 barrels a day is $0.5 per 1,000 cubic feet. This, Ogbeche believed, “is at best, a slap on the wrist”, as the oil producing companies prefer to just pay the meagre fine and carry on with their gas flaring activity than harnessing the gas.”

ENHANCING DOCKWORKERS’ WELFARE

Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup (right), and Managing Director, PTML Terminal, Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, Mr. Ascanio Russo, during the signing of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on minimum standards for dockworkers held in Lagos…recently

‘Africans Unwilling to Quit WhatsApp, Despite Cybercrime Threats’ Stories by Emma Okonji Africa’s mobile users are getting worried about the increase in cybercrime threats, considering the mobile risks and the potential for digital identity theft. Despite the concern, they are not willing to quit the several WhatsApp platforms they belong to, because of their love for their favourite messaging platforms and applications, according to a recent research report released by KnowBe4, the African official site for security

awareness creation. The poll conducted by KnowBe4 revealed that awareness of cyber risk was on the increase, stating however that convenience overrides risk when it comes to WhatsApp data privacy concerns. The poll was carried out among over 700 smartphone users in Nigeria, Mauritius, Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco and Botswana. The KnowBe4 Mobile Users in Africa survey gauged the opinions of Africa’s mobile users on the recent decision

by WhatsApp to update their terms and conditions, sharing metadata with the rest of the Facebook group of companies. The survey found that not only did the majority of the respondents across Africa intend to continue using WhatsApp; but also, that their favourite alternative to WhatsApp was Facebook Messenger. Analysing the report, Senior Vice President, Content Strategy and Evangelist Africa at KnowBe4, Anna Collard, said the recent WhatsApp privacy policy spurred public discus-

sions, which resulted in more consumer awareness about their privacy rights as well as brought more visibility to alternative tools such as Signal, Telegram, and others. According to Collard, “It is interesting to see that while most mobile users are concerned about their online privacy, Facebook Messenger, which was listed as the top alternative chat app, collects much more data than WhatsApp. This indicates that there may be a lack of understanding about the actual risks and implications

of the new policy.” The imminent WhatsApp privacy policy change revealed some shifts, however, with 24 per cent of respondents saying they were no longer allowed to use WhatsApp for work and 62 per cent saying they were ‘somewhat concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about the new privacy policy. Around 7.7 per cent of respondents said they had, or planned to cancel their WhatsApp accounts, with this number rising to 15 per cent among South Africans respondents.

FG Urged to Support Digital Video Broadcasting, LTE Technology Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) has called on the federal government to support the emerging technology on Digital Video Broadcasting and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in order to ensure that both technologies co-exist to fasttrack digital transformation in the country.

Guest speaker at the Institute’s 8th Fellowship Conferment and Award ceremony, Stephen Okpanachi, in his paper presentation, called on relevant government agencies to uphold the protection ratio of Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial (DVBT2) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks for a flawless

co-existence. According to him, there are areas of growing interests in the use of the spectrum and studies of the interference of the two services are required as previous studies failed to explore Nigeria’s case. The paper presentation titled: Study of Coexistence between DVB-T2 & LTE Networks in the Digital

Dividend Band in Nigeria, he identified the significant of such study to include: Providing ways to maximize the use of limited spectrum; Predicting future scenarios and the consequences of deploying both services, and Providing practical guidelines for efficient & reliable service in Nigeria. DVB is the extension of the

television standard DVB-T, issued by the consortium DVB, devised for the broadcast transmission of digital terrestrial television. DVB has been standardized by ETSI while LTE is a standard for wireless data transmission that allows for the download of favorite music, websites, and video at a faster rate than with the previous technology, 3G.

Asst. Editor, Money Market

Nume Ekeghe

Senior Correspondent

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) ××ËØßÏÖ ÎÎÏÒ (Energy) Reporters

ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) ÏÞÏÜ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

USAID Financial Initiative Will Strengthen Governance, Says US Ambassador The recently launched ‘State2State’ initiative by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), will further strengthen governance and empower Nigerian citizens, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard has said.

USAID launched a new State Accountability, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity to strengthen subnational governance systems in six key states across Nigeria. The five-year, $72 million State2State Activity is expected to improve how these states plan

and budget, raise revenues, increase civil society participation, and oversee service delivery in the health; education; and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors. The activity will begin operations in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe

and Sokoto states and later expand to other states. State2State works primarily at the state level, but also supports federal institutions and local government areas by strengthening government processes like public financial

management and procurement; monitoring and evaluation related to delivery of services; increasing responsiveness to citizen priorities; and improving capacity to manage societal conflict through prevention, mitigation and reconciliation.

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 1, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Tackling Unemployment The New Normal and Rise with e-Commerce of Gig Economy The rising rate of unemployment in Nigeria The new normal, which has changed global can be addressed through e-commerce, writes economy strategies and individual way of life, Emma Okonji has given rise to gig economy that is gradually shaping global workforce, writes Emma Okonji

igeria is currently mired in the throes of a worsening unemployment tide. The situation is so bad that out of every three Nigerians one of them is unemployed, according to current statistics. Precisely, Nigeria’s unemployment profile currently stands at about 33.3 per cent, according to the latest statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report, which was released last month showed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020 to 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020, which translated to about 23.19 million unemployed Nigerians, This does not take into account millions of underemployed Nigerians. According to NBS report, “During the reference period, the computed national unemployment rate rose from 27.1 per cent in Q2, 2020 to 33.3 per cent in Q4, 2020, while the underemployment rate decreased from 28.6 per cent to 22.8 per cent. A combination of both the unemployment and underemployment rate for the reference period gave a figure of 56.1 per cent. “This means that 33.3 per cent of the labour force in Nigeria or 23,187,389 persons either did nothing or worked for less than 20 hours a week; making them unemployed by our definition in Nigeria. This is an additional 1,422,772 persons from the number in that category in Q2, 2020. Using the international definition of unemployment, the rate was computed to be 17.5 per cent.” Many analysts and commentators have posited that government alone cannot solve the unemployment challenges, despite its status as the biggest employer of labour. Indeed, the overwhelming position is that 21st Century economies are built on the spirit of private enterprise, with government expected to support and provide the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, and in so doing unleash the power of entrepreneurship in creating more employment opportunities for the teeming youth population. e-Commerce The foregoing calls to mind the yet-untapped potential of the e-Commerce sector in reversing Nigeria’s disastrous unemployment profile and specifically, the laudable efforts of e-Commerce companies like Konga, Jumia and others. Konga is a Nigerian-owned player, which has defied a myriad of hurdles and challenges in operating environment. Most likely, Konga is possibly the largest employer of quality human capital in Nigeria in the next five years and may be the highest single tax payer if given a chance to survive by government during this incubation period. According to Dr. Hassan Kuja, an economist, “Having taken a critical look at the Nigerian eCommerce sector in the course of my academic thesis, I remain convinced that if Nigeria had at least three other entities as dedicated to the empowerment of the Nigerian youth as Konga, we would be telling a different story in terms of our current unemployment

nightmare for our brilliant youth population.” Konga runs a fusion of online and offline retail which has delivered so much value to Nigerians, employment-wise. The management of the company, which came under new ownership in 2018, has hardly hidden its desire to saturate every nook and cranny of Nigeria with its presence, by citing at least one Konga store in each local government in the country. Going by the current number of local governments in Nigeria, the e-Commerce company is looking at a whopping 774 physical stores – a very ambitious project by any stretch of the imagination. Already, Konga is on its way to achieving this feat, which would make it arguably the biggest employer of labour in Nigeria. Even with the number of stores powered by technology it has at the moment across various states in Nigeria, Konga is creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians. These stores are manned by Nigerians through and through – with Konga also particularly embracing the policy of employing indigenous members of the community/states in each of its store locations. Logistics To its credit, Konga also runs its own internally-owned logistics company through which many have secured gainful employment, with a huge number of staff and other essential delivery personnel regularly being employed to manage Konga’s growing fleet of trucks, buses, cars and motorcycles. This is not to mention other existing subsidiaries within the Konga group including its CBN-licensed mobile money platform, KongaPay and online travel agency, Konga Travel which has created massive opportunities for many. In July 2020, Konga relaunched YUBOSS, its reseller scheme under the new name – Konga Affiliate. Through this scheme, Konga extended an offer of creative employment to millions of smart unemployed and under-employed Nigerians, by giving them an opportunity to earn unlimited income by partnering with the company. The initiative further offers successful affiliates, some of whom reside in unreached and under-served parts of the country, a chance to rise through the ranks and become part owner of a Konga franchise store. There is no doubt that very few organizations in Nigeria can provide such opportunities for correcting the worrisome unemployment statistics staring us in the face. Till date, Konga has nurtured thousands of digital netizens in its never-stopping conveyor line, with many of them eventually taking their skills to other foreign countries – Germany, Canada, Russia, among many others, all of whom have come to rely on and feed off Konga’s supply line of digital talents. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

he outbreak and spread of COVID-19 pandemic has brought about the new normal, where daily activities have shifted online and majority now work from home. The new normal, no doubt, has created new line of digital jobs, while impacting positively on some existing jobs like the gig job, where most people in Nigeria and across Africa, now take pleasure in doing part-time jobs that are digitally inclined. Today, there are thousands of educated Nigerians, including some with regular day jobs, working as on-demand drivers on platforms like Uber and Bolt. Some people have even said that driving for these platforms pays better than their day jobs. The gig economy A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organisations hire independent workers for short-term commitments. The term “gig” is a slang word for a job that lasts a specified period of time. Examples of gig employees in the workforce could include work arrangements such as freelancers, independent contractors, project-based workers and temporary or part-time hires. Gig jobs are mostly driven by emerging technologies, through digital apps, and there has been a trend toward a gig economy in recent years. There are a number of forces behind the rise in short-term jobs. For one, the workforce is becoming more mobile and work can increasingly be done remotely via digital platforms. With gig economy, freelancers can select among temporary jobs and projects around the world, while employers can select the best individuals for specific projects from a larger pool than what is available in any given area. Ride-hailing platforms Ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt are the poster child of the gig economy, which is a catch-all term used to describe online marketplaces that have emerged over the last decade for short-term and freelance work. These marketplaces typically focus on niche services such as transportation, food delivery, content writing, music production, graphics design or programming. These fully digital marketplaces try to create a market by matching people who need a service/product (the buyer) with service providers/independent workers (the seller) who can provide these services on request. Meanwhile, the platform handles everything from payments to ratings for the buyer and seller. A report by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), estimated that the global gig was worth $4.5 trillion in 2018, with the US unsurprisingly being the largest market with 53 million gig workers and total gig spending of $1.3 trillion. Given the value of gig economy across Africa, Nigeria inclusive, the Chief Executive Officer

of Trium Venture Capital, Adedeji Olowe, said: “Across Africa, the gig economy platforms take different forms. For example, there are Kobo360 and Lori Systems, two companies that have each raised at least $37 million to connect people with third-party truck drivers on-demand. Lori Systems estimates that the African haulage market is worth $180 billion annually.” According to him, “There is also SweepSouth, which has raised $6 million from investors, and Eden Life, which provide on-demand home cleaning services, among many other things, in South Africa and Nigeria, respectively. “But there are also other platforms for professional services like accounting, graphics design, programming, content writing, among others. One notable name is Andela, the Mark Zuckerberg-funded company valued at $700 million in 2019. Although it has tweaked its model significantly, Andela connects experienced African developer talent to international companies with salary opportunities above the local market rates. “There are other platforms connecting skilled workers to international clients, including Toptal, UpWork, Paydesk and Fiverr, an $8.6 billion company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2019.” Prospects and challenges However, with the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020 and COVID-19 control measures, the global economy tumbled. The lockdowns, particularly full lockdowns, grounded mobility and forced many people to isolate themselves at home. Business temporarily shut down physical operations, and employees started working from home. But not every job can be done from home, and that’s definitely the case for many gig workers offering ride-hailing services. Ride-hailing suffered as ride orders plummeted globally, affecting the earning power of many gig workers. For instance, in the second quarter of 2020, Uber’s gross booking volume declined by 35 per cent compared to the previous year. Other platforms such as Kobo360 and Lori Systems worried about the impact of government lockdowns, with Kobo360 warning that 3,000 of its truck drivers in Nigeria stopped working until they got clarity on the mobility restrictions. In African countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Kenya, Uber and Bolt swiftly introduced logistics services, which were classified as essential services by the government, to keep these companies and their drivers in the business. But this was not enough. And because gig workers are not employees, they are not eligible for steady salary payments, paid leave, insurance and health benefits. The experience was scary for many, with several news reports early in the pandemic proclaiming the gig economy was dead. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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Sony Pictures Partners MTN to Launch ‘Sony One’ App Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has announced the launch of ‘Sony One’ – an app platform developed in association with MTN Nigeria. Sony One provides a selection of SPT film and television favourites, making them available through special MTN mobile data packages. MTN users can stream a selection of SPT content and rent the latest Hollywood blockbusters through the app at affordable prices. New users also have access to a 3-day free trial. The partnership is in furtherance of MTN’s resolve to continue to provide a superior digital experience for customers and make life brighter. Speaking on the launch, the Executive Vice President, Networks and Distribution for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEEMA), John Rossiter, who oversaw the development of the app at SPT said: “Sony One is tailor-made to the increasingly flexible way we see media being consumed in Nigeria and across Africa. “The launch marks the first step in an inspiring journey for

Mastercard Rolls out First Digital Programme in Nigeria, Kenya Nosa Alekhuogie As part of Mastercard’s commitment to connect women in Africa to opportunities that will enable them to make a living and follow their passion,Mastercard has rolled out its first digital Girls4Tech Connect programme in partnership with Junior Achievers (JA) in Nigeria and Kenya. According to a statement released by the technology company, the initiative offers activities and a curriculum built on global science and math standards. It also incorporates Mastercard’s deep expertise in technology and innovation, enabling students to discover a range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers such as fraud detective, data scientist and software engineer. Starting as a hands-on, inperson session run by employee volunteers, the programme has expanded to cover topics such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with enhanced access to its STEM curriculum through a digital learning experience ‘Girls4Tech Connect’ as the COVID-19 pandemic led to a global surge in online learning. The Director, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard sub-Saharan Africa, Ifeoma Dozie, in the statement, said: “We are incredibly proud of the strides that we are making with Girls4Tech Connect, in Sub Sahara Africa. The success of the programme in Nigeria and Kenya last year, indicates that there is a strong need for this kind of intervention, where our future female leaders are given the opportunity to be exposed to new STEM career possibilities.”

SPT. We have spent a couple of years reviewing and evaluating effective ways to serve our excellent SPT content to, and engage with, this hugely important continent. It is fantastic to launch this platform, and there is no better partner to launch with than MTN in Nigeria.” Also speaking, the Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria, Srinivas Rao, said: “We are proud of our association with Sony Pictures Television. This partnership aligns with our GoodTogether philosophy; with it, our customers, who are at the heart of everything we do, will be assured of quality international content, including movies, music and favourite shows all in one app.” Users will have access to four plan categories including streaming bundles that offer data and access on the Sony One service, binge plans that offer affordable streaming service on the app, rental plan for content on the app as well as content only plans.

Group to Boost Africa’s Corporate Startup Accelerator Programme Stories by Emma Okonji To develop the potential of startups driving the internet economy, Telecel Group has opened applications for the ASIP Accelerator Programme powered by Startupbootcamp AfriTech. The programme helps startups achieve 18-24 months of growth in just three months. Now, the next generation of early-stage African tech startups disrupting a wide range of industry sectors are being sought. Technology sectors such as FinTech, InsureTech, AgriTech, eCommerce, HealthTech, and CleanTech are not only solving some of Africa’s most pressing problems, they are also contributing significantly to the continent’s economy. The programme initiative is expected to further boost the Internet economy that is set to

reach 5.2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, contributing about $180 billion to the African economy. According to Telecel Group, 10 startups would be selected to participate in the program that would give them access to expert-led masterclasses covering scaling fundamentals, from the business model canvas, and lean methodology, to fundraising. They will also receive tailored mentorship from carefully selected mentors who will provide hands-on support and valuable introductions. Plus, they will be connected with venture capitalists and angel investors from around the world and get to meet the leading corporates in their industries for pilot projects and partnership opportunities. “Over and above all these, the successful start-

ups will receive €15,000 in cash and have access to over €500,000 in exclusive partner deals from leading technology providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, HubSpot, and SendGrid, amongst others. “The three-month programme will conclude with a digital Demo Day during which startups will present their newly scaled up solutions to hundreds of investors, corporates, mentors and press attendees. Notably, the participants will continue to receive support long after the Program ends via the Alumni Growth Program which offers access to alumnionly events, deals and tailored introductions,” Telecel Group said in a statement. Twenty-nine startups completed the first Startupbootcamp AfriTech Programme and 90

per cent of participating startups are still operating and scaling at impressive rates. It is expected that 40 per cent must have raised follow-on rounds of funding, with the average increase in valuation being 10 times since their demo day. In addition to corporate partner, Telecel Group, Programme sponsors include Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, Hubspot, VC4A and Cloudworx. There are a limited number of slots for additional corporate Founding Partners to join the consortium. These partners will have the rare opportunity to help determine the key challenge areas that will be the focus of the programme’s startup scouting and sit on the exclusive selection committee that will choose the top 10 startups to participate in the programme.

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 1, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Leveraging Customer Data for Growth Acceleration Raheem Akingbolu writes on how businesses can leverage on customer data to drive sales and accelerate brand growth in the market place

irst-party customer data is the most valuable data businesses own and is the starting point for any form of customer engagement. Now more than ever, the need for businesses to own and manage first-party data could be the difference between staying in business or going under. Customer behaviour is dynamic and ever-changing as well as the landscape within which they operate (for instance the impact of COVID-19). The first step towards understanding and responding to customer needs is through data – to prevent churn and increase lifetime value. First-party data refers to information business owners collect directly from their customers from various touchpoints - CRM, actions or interests demonstrated across their companies’ websites or apps, customer feedback and completed customer surveys. First-party data is usually consented and so privacy concerns surrounding it is minimal. Over the years customer journey has become a multiplatform and multi-device, such that their footprint goes across various touchpoints including desktops, mobile phones, TVs, apps, watches and lots more – thereby creating the need for Advertisers to have a unified view of each customer. With the help of a number of tracking methods – including the use of third-party cookies, advertisers have been able to collect data and follow customer journeys and tailor ads to suit their preference and interests. However, with customers’ increased attention to data privacy, stricter regulations to enforce compliance and phasing out third-party cookies, the ability to track customers and serve personalised Ads this same way is significantly threatened. Speaking to THISDAY on how businesses could be able to leverage First-party data to serve personalised ads without third-party cookies, the Chief Executive Officer at Terragon, an enterprise marketing technology company, Mr Elo Umeh, said while third-party cookies are being phased out, first-party cookies, which businesses legitimately use to collect customers data, are here to stay and will play a prominent role in serving personalized ads. He said: “Businesses that have had the foresight to invest in platforms like Terragon’s CDP to collect and manage their customer data have started to see significant growth based on improved business intelligence directly ascribed to insights generated by our CDP. “They’ve been able to extract more value from their existing customers, acquire new customers through look-alike modeling against the over 108 million profiles available on our CDP and lower the cost of acquisition through targeted campaigns executed via the various online (web) and offline

(mobile) channels available on the platform,” Speaking further, he pointed out that Facebook which by design is the world’s largest repository of verified first-party data has listed Terragon as a partner for its Conversions API - a solution Facebook developed to prepare businesses for a post-cookie world. “Interestingly an article by Forbes Agency Council states that “Facebook is in the best position to directly benefit from the transition away from thirdparty cookie data. Facebook can

fill the cookie gap by serving as a “digital identity” source.” They state this because of the sheer amount of verifiable firstparty data they have - over 2 billion active users as at Q4 2020. This partnership adds credence to the work we have done, the value we have been adding to Businesses we’ve worked with over the years as well as our strong Data Governance,” he stated. According to THISDAY findings, a number of solutions have been developed

by various stakeholders and experts to solve for this new reality without cookies and they all have a common consensus, which is the need to leverage First-Party Data to enable personalisation of Ads to customers. This further highlights the importance and need for Businesses to invest in software capable of aggregating and managing data in a privacy-compliant manner such as a Customer Data Platform (CDP). On savvy brands demonstrating the importance of first-party data, the Teragon CEO added that his company’s Customer Data Platform (CDP) was used by a top global FMCG Brand in Nigeria to surpass its target of building a verified database of their customers with 1 million first-party data. “Owing to the success of the previous target, the brand is currently in discussion with us to grow that database to 4 million this year. A number of

Top Tier banks have also been using our CDP to enrich their first-party database for various levels of customer engagement including cross-selling and upselling their products and they have reported an improvement in returns on their Ad spend.” A CDP is designed to pull data from multiple sources and touchpoints and create a 360-degree view of each customer. This allows for personalised and contextual advertising. For instance, to market a specific brand of beer to male customers in the East during a premier league football match, as against a female in the North; or promote travel insurance to a Bank customer who just made a payment for a flight ticket. On what is unique about the Terragon CDP, Umeh adds, “No one knows Africans like we do. We are the only Africa-founded Customer Data Platform (CDP) Company in the market today and the only Africa-founded

CDP partner for the Facebook Conversions API. “Our unique Telco integrations give us access to over 108 million consumer profiles, driving our enhanced market relevance and reach by offering seamless offline (mobile) and online (web) channel access and continuous data ingestion. “With these very strong Unique Selling Propositions, some of the largest digital platforms from Google, Facebook, Telcos such as MTN, and several others have given a nod to our platform” The Terragon CDP utilises Artificial Intelligence (AI) and well modelled Machine Learning (ML) to allow Advertisers create lookalike audiences that mirror their best customers, thereby expanding their reach (beyond their existing customers), giving a higher chance of conversion and minimises the limitation of solely using first-party data for campaigns such as lead generation.

T H I S D AY ˾ APRIL 1, 2021

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Cargo Airport: Positioning Anambra for More Investment David-Chyddy Eleke looks at the Anambra International Cargo Airport being built by Governor Willie Obiano, and how it can help position the state for economic prosperity

he people of the South-east are very well known for their involvement in economic activities, but Anambra people have also distinguished themselves as chief among others states in the zone in the area of business. With Onitsha, which is popular for its economic activities, also known as the commercial capital of Anambra State, while also playing host to the largest market in the entire West Africa, and then Nnewi, which is the state’s industrial hub, and also known as the Japan of Africa; one cannot but acknowledge the ingenuity of Anambra people in business. The Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has however commenced a strong move to further boost the business ingenuity of the people of the state, through the construction of an international cargo airport that will receive and also export processed goods from Nigeria to other parts of the world. Recently, the Joint National Assembly Committee on Aviation, comprising of members of the Senate and House of Representatives led by Senator Smart Adeyemi were at the site of the cargo airport project on oversight duties, and could not help but marvel at the enormity of the project and the quality of the job being put in place. Adeyemi who led other senators and members of the House of Representatives from the aviation committee on the tour said, “I have been privileged to travel to a lot of countries, and each time I am in any airport around the world, I take out time to see what they have. I can attest that this is a massive project, and what you have just done is opening Anambra up economically. “By doing so, you are also helping to open Nigeria up economically too. Aviation is key to development of any place. If you talk about economic development you must talk about aviation.

The cargo airport under construction

“I am not in doubt that apart from the length of the runway, the quality of the project here is key, especially being that it is a cargo airport that can take all manner of aircrafts. South -east are very enterprising people, and you have provided a platform for this region to reach its potential. I will tell you that whoever that will succeed you will have a job to do. “The job will be to make this airport viable and not just for passengers but also for cargo. That person must start thinking of how to realise this. You have set the pace for your successor. I had been opportune to read about your exploits in the exportation of vegetables and other farm produce in Anambra State, and I believe that the inauguration of this airport will further open frontiers for more businesses for the people of the state, both in importation of good, and the export too,” Adeyemi said. Adeyemi was not the only one who was sure

that the project would impact on the businesses of the people of the state. The Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji was also optimistic of the impact the project would make on the people. He commended the state government for the project and charged them to ensure the completion of the airport as promised. Days earlier, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captian Musa Nuhu who was at the site for inspection had said, “I am amazed, almost speechless at the level of work and the level of compliance with our regulatory requirements and also with international standard and recommended practices. “We have gone round the airport. We have a runway of 3.7km, with a runway safety area on both ends of the airport of about 1,000 metres. “There is no airport in Nigeria that has a

racer area of 1,000 metres at both ends of the runway, with two taxi ways. We have gone to the tower, the control tower is amazing, if not one of the best control towers in Nigeria today.” Though it is an election year in Anambra, with the governorship election coming in months, the opposition parties and even aspirants to the governorship seat on the platform of opposition parties have not failed to compliment Obiano on the quality of the project. For instance, Senator Uche Ekwunife, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation, who joined other senators to inspect the project expressed happiness at the vision of the governor. Ekwunife said: “Irrespective of political affiliation, when you see a good work you commend it. I want to commend you, my governor; to say that I am proud of this project is an understatement. I am truly very proud of this project. “I want to say that for any viable business to thrive in any state, aviation is very critical. And I believe that this is a very very viable project and it’s a legacy project. I commend your government, but let me particularly commend your Commissioner for Works. Because no matter how good the intentions and the vision of the governor are, if the commissioner for Works is not doing well, it will affect this project. I saw the determination, the hard work, and the zeal when he was taking us round. “I want to commend him. I commend the entire team that is putting up this project. On behalf the good people of Anambra Senatorial District that I am representing in the Senate, I want to express our good wishes to you and your government.” NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

P&G’s Oral B Brand, Partners FG Raheem Akingbolu In furtherance of its commitment to promoting oral health and hygiene, Procter & Gamble (P&G) Nigeria, through its Oral- B brand is partnering the Federal Ministry of Health to celebrate this year’s World Oral Health Day through community outreach in Jiwa Community, at the Federal Capital Territory. The outreach will offer oral health awareness, free dental

checks, and a month’s supply of Oral B toothpaste and toothbrushes to members of the Jiwa Community. Commenting on the initiative, the P&G Senior Director for Africa, Global Government Relations & Public Policy, Dr. Mrs. Temitope Iluyemi, revealed that Procter & Gamble is excited to continue the partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health to promote oral health and hygiene in

Nigeria, stating that the Oral B brand has over the years partnered with dentists across the country to elevate the role of oral health of over 10 million Nigerians through its Mobile Dental Clinic Program, “Oral hygiene should not be overlooked, most especially in terms of its effects on the general health and nutrition of people. Effective oral care reduces infection and promotes health, thus the need to drive

awareness. The World Oral Health Day presents an opportunity to amplify this oral health drive which our brand has actively driven through the year.” She further encouraged Nigerians not to underrate the effect of poor oral hygiene as it can negatively affect confidence and social skills. “Oral health is very essential to human’s general health and wellbeing”, she explained.

While commending P&G for its efforts in promoting oral health, the Director of Dentistry Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Bola Alonge, in her remarks noted that “proper oral health practices are important to ensure good general health. A lot of people have not had dental checks. As a result, we need to leverage this World Oral Health Day to drive oral health sensitization at the grassroots especially in

areas with limited access to quality health care. She added: “This is why we partnered with P&G and Oral-B on this community outreach where dentists will be available to conduct free oral health check for community members who will also a month supply of Oral-B toothpaste and Oral B toothbrush. The outreach will also include oral health training for the community leaders and other members”.

Advans Expands Operations, Targets MSMEs, Individuals Raheem Akingbolu Advans La Fayette Microfinance Bank has expanded its Nigeria market with the unveiling of a new Lagos office, thereby increasing access to its products for MSMEs and individuals in

the country. According to the management of the company, the Advans Group has banking services trusted by over a million clients in nine African and Asian countries. In Nigeria, the bank started full operation in February 2013, and has built a strong client

base and strong financial services experience, being able to answer to all the financial needs of micro, small and medium scale businesses. Speaking on the bank’s expansion drive at the event in Lagos, recently, the Managing Director/CEO, Gaetan Debuchy, stated that the company was

always excited to launch a new branch. “Ikorodu branch is our 16th branch in Nigeria, and the 4th in Lagos. As we continue our network expansion in 2021, we plan to open 9 new branches! Our objectives are to be closer to businesses, serve more clients effectively, and have more

positive impact on Nigerian businesses. I invite all business owners in and around Ikorodu to join us and experience our quality service,” he said. Debuchy went on to say that customers are at core of all their innovative solutions, such as: affordable individual and group loans for up to

N75m with flexible collateral requirements, savings and term deposits with very high interest rates, secure debit cards, a reliable mobile app, insurance, mobile tellers, cheques, and Agency banking services (in collaboration with over 200,000 Opay/Paga partner-agents across Nigeria).

IMAGES

L-R:Director, Economic Intelligence of the State Service, Dr. Olufunke Amos and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state during the graduation ceremony of the Special Intervention Squad SIS course 6 of National Institute for Security Studies,in Abuja...recently

L-R; Chairman, house Committee on Foreign Aﬀairs, Hon,Yusuf Yakub; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe during a 2 Day public hearing on incessant malpractices associated with Deplomatic posting and deliberate draining of resources in the Ministry of foreign aﬀairs headquarters in Abuja...recently

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Photo Editor ÌÓÙÎßØ ÔËÖË Email ËÌÓÙÎßØ˛ËÔËÖË̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙ×

L-R:Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Demji Bankole; President Muhammadu Buhari and Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel , at the State House Abuja...recently STATE HOUSE.

R-L; President International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kebbi chapter Barrister Kudirat Shuaibu and the First Lady of Kebbi state , Dr Zainab Shinkaﬁ-Bagudu during the conferment of award to the First Lady of Kebbi State by the association for her eﬀorts against gender based violefnce (GBV) in Kebbi State.. recently

Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello (right), and Chief Executive Oﬃcer, National Troupe of Nigeria, Comrade Tar Ukoh, during the inauguration of the “Peacock Orchestra” in Abuja....recently R-L:Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle and Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mr Aliyu Abubakar, during the latter’s visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja...recently

L-R: Chief of Staﬀ to the President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya; National President ,PFN, Bishop Francis Wale Oke; and National Administrative Secretary, PFN, Pastor Akinola Akinwale, during the visit of Bishop Francis Wale Oke to National PFN Secretariat in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R; Director-General of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Henry Awuregu-Nduka; Deputy Managing Director of Fidan Investment Limited (FIL), Mr Tony Chinemelum; and Marketing Manager of FIL, Mr Nduka Onyeka, during the tour of FIL stand at the ongoing 32nd ECCIMA International Trade Fair in Enugu ...recently

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 1, 2021

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ ÒÓÏ×ÏÖÓÏ äÏÙÌÓ ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Prerequisite forExclusiveBreastfeedinginMultipleBirths AsmotherswithmultiplebirthsinLagoscommunitiescontinuetolivewiththechallengeofexclusivelybreastfeedingtheirbabies,experts recommend sustainedexpressing andproper positioning of babies, as well as patience as a prerequisite, Rebecca Ejifoma reports

Mrs. Ajala-Moses and her triplets

hen 29-year-old Favour Williams set out for childbirth, having multiple babies was not part of her plans, partly because none of such existed in her lineage – at least, none that she was aware of. After tying the nuptial knot, Favour and her husband, Chukwuemeka, said their plans were to have three children. But the family, who occupy a single room apartment at Babalola Crescent in Alaba area of Lagos State, quickly expanded from two to five. In 2019, she had her first child – a baby girl, who is exactly two years and three months old. As a concerned new mum in Alaba area of Lagos State, she went about for vital information for her baby on adequate nutrient, bonding and protection from childhood diseases. “The doctor told me I should only give my baby breast milk, no water, for six months”. With this knowledge, Williams, a teacher, set her heart to practise exclusive breastfeeding for her other babies when they come given that exclusive breastfeeding for babies makes them smart, strong, and healthy. While she planned not to relent, her zeal was soon tested on Friday, February 5 this year when she became mother of twin girls. Indeed, in the case of Williams, her spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. This is as she soon realised that single birth and multiple births come with different handouts. “I can’t do exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for them. They eat a lot.” Favour Williams is one of several mothers in Nigeria feeding her babies with a blend of formula milk and breastmilk. While many mothers complain about milk not flowing enough to feed twins, Favour, an Abia State indigene is not in that league. For her, constant intake of pap and milk are her source of refilling. “I take enough pap with milk and sometimes tea. I drink the pap morning or night.” Over time, personal and indirect experiences of these mothers have shown that exclusive breastfeeding does not only benefit babies and mothers, it also saves money for buying tins of baby formula almost within days. In the case of Williams, she buys each infant formula between N2,300 and N2,500 , whereas in her first birth, she didn’t spend money on infant milk for six months. Like Favour, Mrs. Ogechi Cynthia is a mother. It was a Friday evening. Mrs. Ogechi Cynthia Miracle still had her baby powder around her neck as I walked into her living room on the first floor. “The babies are sleeping”, she whispered to her two boys – aged seven and four – who leaped with screams of delight as they got back from school. Sharing her experience with THISDAY, “I did exclusive for my first child only for one month. I did for my second child for three months. But for the twins, it is not easy”, she sighed, glaring at the window. Miracle is a mother to four children – three boys and a girl. She had her twins on Tuesday, December 22 last year – both sexes. Together with her kids and her husband, a dark skin senior

Mrs. Miracle and her twins

police officer, they find comfort in their Ikoyi residence in the state. Truly, this young mother and caterer insisted on her desires to do exclusive breastfeeding, but she couldn’t attempt it, as her twins “suckle almost all the time”, she mumbled, “after one month exclusive, I stopped”. In her words, “I can’t do exclusive for the twins. I tried it for a month and I couldn’t cope because they are always sucking,” adding that “every five minutes this one will cry. As I’m dropping this one the second one will cry,” she said, walking towards the room to check on her crying babies. And because she couldn’t cope with their frequent demands, Miracle capitulated, “I had to introduce milk. Even when I got to the hospital and explained, the nurse said ‘Okay, they can cope since they are two’.” Obviously, Miracle’s twins are among the list of 83 per cent of children under six months that are not being exclusively breastfed as stated in the NDHS of 2013. Mrs. Kemi Ajala-Moses is a proud mother of four – all girls. Her first daughter is 10 while her triplets are one year and three months old. Unlike other mothers with multiple births, Ajala-Moses did exclusive breastfeeding for her triplets for one month, and quit. Sitting with her in her provision store on the ground floor of a two storey-building at Atere street Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja area of Alimosho Local Government Lagos, Ajala-Moses said she had her first child, a girl, 10 years ago, and had her triplet, all girls, last year. “I did exclusive for my first child. I didn’t do exclusive for my triplets; they are three. “I decided to do exclusive. I even said I would not change my mind if I had twins. Eventually, God gave me three,” as she stressed their increasing cravings. While this trader pitched in that she would stop breastfeeding her one year six months old triplet at age two, they have always enjoyed a blend of baby milk and breast milk. Interjecting as her triplet toddled into the shop “buying baby food is something else. People give me at times: my brother in-law gives me cartons of formula milk. When they got to age one, they stopped drinking baby milk,” she says, carrying two of the triplets on both laps while the other grappled her by the legs. Indeed, these three mums with multiple births have same need-to exclusively breastfeed their babies but because of the inherent challenges associated with it, they relied on infant formula to complement breast milk. Beneﬁts As seen on its website, the World Health Organisation (WHO) explained the countless health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. It assured that breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs in the first six months of life. The benefits are: it shields against diarrhoea and common childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, reducing the risk of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Meanwhile, WHO describes exclusive breastfeeding as a process where children receive nothing but breastmilk for the first six months of life for

Mr. & Mrs. Miracle carrying their twins

Mrs. Favour Williams

optimal growth, development, and health.

reporter, “breastfeeding is a lot of work; the baby won’t tell you I’m going to feed for 10 minutes, five minutes. No, they feed until they are satisfied. “In the early days, they may not be able to suckle for too long because their stomach is a bit small so it can take just a little maybe about 10 to 30 minutes”. In his words, babies have to feed more often. “As they grow, they can feed for longer period of time because their stomach is also expanding,” harping that “you may have a bit of rest in between. You must resign to the fact that you shouldn’t be in a hurry”. As an authority in mother and child health, Asaolu lent his voice, “Get a good, comfortable sitting position, because patience is key. Once you know you are expecting multiple births, your doctors should prepare you for breastfeeding by checking your nipples, advising and talking to you about breastfeeding methods so that it won’t be a challenge when the babies eventually come.” He further amplified the importance of expressing once the breast milk starts to flow. Express and store in the fridge. “You can’t be feeding 24/7; you need to rest. At times when you know that you can’t put the baby to breast someone can feed the baby on your behalf with the expressed breast milk.” He revealed: “In fact in some cases the milk flows so much that people now are thinking of establishing a breast milk bank; that actually happens outside the country like UK, US and others. That is to tell you that the breast can produce so much if you do the right thing.” To express and save and breast milk, Asaolu, describes it as “quite easy to store”. According to him, “You put it in the fridge; it can last for 24 hours and anytime you want to feed just bring it out. Leave it under room temperature for about 30 minutes it will warm up because you don’t want to feed the baby with cold milk.” However, the gynaecologist has a word for mothers, “When the baby is not feeding that is not the time to start entertaining guests; you are doing the work of two mothers. That is the time to go and rest.” Also noting was the challenges people have when they have two babies, Asaolu, said they feel the milk is not coming; the milk can never be enough; they won’t have the time to be able to breastfeed two babies; and then for some people they just believe tiredness. “All these are things that can easily be surmounted,” says the obstetrician. While the three mothers seem unhappy about breast milk not flowing enough to feed the babies, the expert listed fluids like custard, Quaker Oat, and lots of drinks. “That helps as well. It helps lactation a great deal. Don’t forget that a large percentage of breast milk is water, then you now have the nutrients to compliment that and that is what nourishes the baby.” The gynaecologist suggested a minimum of four months exclusively breastfeeding for twins, and a minimum of three months for triplet, after which mothers with multiple births can introduce baby formula. For mothers like Miracle, Williams and AjalaMoses, the expert advocated that they must express breast milk, exercise more patience, as well as ensure proper positioning of babies if they must exclusively breastfeed their babies.

NDHS Survey According to NDHS 2018 survey, children who are not exclusively breastfed are missing out on the 29 per cent of children under six months who are exclusively breastfed in Nigeria. This is a considerable increase from 17 per cent in 2013. Whereas the 2013 Demographic Health Survey of four countries shows in Gambia, 47 per cent of babies are exclusively breastfed; 34 per cent in Mali; Sierra Leone remains at 32 per cent, while Liberia records 55 per cent. Sadly, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Gambia are yet to attain the Organisation’s Global Nutrition Target of 50 per cent EBF prevalence by 2025. Whereas, the NDHS recommended to mothers that complementary foods (infant formula among others) should be introduced when a child is six months old to reduce the risk of malnutrition Expert Proffers Solution Getting the solutions from an expert like Dr. Oluseyi Asaolu, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Wuse District hospital Abuja, was anything but strenuous. Indeed, this expert could relate with the women’s needs, obstacles, and resolve to complement. He responded to THISDAY over the phone on a Friday morning, “For twins,’ he chipped in without stuttering, “exclusive breastfeeding could be possible most of the time, but triplets is difficult”. The expert added: “if a woman is a first timer and has multiple births as her first babies it could be a little difficult in the initial stages because it takes a while before breast milk starts to come. That may be due to many things.” Explaining further, Asaolu stressed the need to “check the mothers’ nipples, positioning of babies, timing and all that; they may not be used to that because once they give birth automatically the body tells the brain ‘let the milk come’. “The milk automatically is let down into the breast.” In the words of the gynaecologist, there is a reflex called the suckling reflex. “Once the baby latches on the breast and starts to suckle, it tells the brain to send more milk to the breast. As long as the baby keeps doing that, milk will start to come.” “However”, he cautioned, “If the nipple has an issue either by virtue of being flat or by virtue of positioning the baby in the wrong way and the mother already has wounds around the nipple, the milk reflex will not come”. While noting that milk would probably not easily come to the breast, the expert said “If you’re doing exclusive, you’ll get a little tired and frustrated, the baby too will get hungry and worried the more. “Thirdly the baby also feels food should come and starts grappling on the nipple instead of just latching on it and that predisposes,” emphasising that not minding the baby has no tooth, the gums are as sharp as anything – you start seeing wounds around the mother’s nipple, which can be very painful. “That also makes the mother a bit reluctant to put the baby to breast on the bruised side, and so it becomes more of a vicious cycle.” Having practised for 21 years as an expert and nine years as a gynaecologist, Asaolu shared, “I usually tell my clients”, the obstetrician told this

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 1, 2021

NEWS

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

FoundationSettoUnveilSubsidedHealthcare Premarital Genetic Counselling (Part 1) forWidows, Pregnant Women,Children The King Ogunremi Foundation, a non-profit Organisation is set to unveil plans for its commencement of the ‘KOF Medical Centre’ which will provide subsidised healthcare for widows, pregnant women and children. "DDPSEJOH UP ,0' 1SPKFDU Coordinator, Umendu Onyekachi, the idea was born following a recent research carried out by the NGO to assess the conditions of the available basic health facility JO *UJSF DPNNVOJUZ .VTIJO -PDBM (PWFSONFOU "SFB PG Lagos State. The foundation also conducted an impact assessment of the existing infrastructure and discovered that there is a

need for improved health care delivery as provided by the G government, and essentially with support/partnership from the private sector. i*O EPJOH TP UIJT XJMM SFEVDF the current spate of maternal mortality rate in the community, and improve access to quality health care by residents. “We are focused on three thematic areas as end result of UIF QSPKFDU XIJDI BSF BDDFTT UP Comprehensive Quality Primary Healthcare Services; Preventing and Managing Disease Reducing Unnecessary Disability and Premature Death of 8PNFO BOE $IJMESFO u *O UIJT MJHIU ,0' XJMM PO 4BUVSEBZ .BZ áBH PGG UIF *OJUJBUJWF EVSJOH JUT "OOVBM

8JEPX "TTJTU 1SPHSBNNF POF PG UIF UISFF NBKPS FWFOUT PG the organisation. Stakeholders slated for the event are; Mushin Local Government Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Bamigboye; *UJSF 3PZBM 'BNJMZ 8BSE Councillor; Representatives of the Christian and Muslim communities; Designated Senior Healthcare Workers; Chairman, Community Development Committee; Chairman, Landlord "TTPDJBUJPOT .BSLFU 8PNFO amongst others. KOF comprises highlyskilled and purpose-driven individuals whose aim is to develop systems that will aid the growth and development in every segment of the society.

SON: 60 Million Nigerians Benefit from Society for Family Health Services Onyebuchi Ezigbo ÓØ ÌßÔË Society for Family Health 4') IBT SFBDIFE NJMMJPO Nigerians with service, information and products through its outreach health programme JO The organisation is currently working in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, where it deploys health system strengthening and innovative market approaches to improve services in the private and public health sector. Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) while presentJOH *40 DFSUJàDBUF UP 4') JO "CVKB MBTU XFFL said SFH has worked hard to achieve their vision of ‘healthy lives for all’ and the quest to improve health outcomes by ensuring communities have access to affordable, quality and gender sensitive health service and commodities’. *U TBJE UIF PSHBOJTBUJPO JT very much situated currently at the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, where it deploys health system strengthening and total market approaches to unify the

private and public health sector, Scaling and Essential Package of Health Service (EPHS) offering of good quality to all Nigerians. The organisation which is working in partnership with communities, governments, donors and the private sectors was founded thirty-five years ago has grown to become one of the largest and most respected NGOs operating in Nigeria. SON noted that the organisation is expected to move further in the quest to gain maximum standard, adding that there would be periodic assessment of audits to make sure that SFH is consistence in gaining the required standard. On the issue of purchasing of sub-standard products, SON said many people are not aware of how harmful taking substandard products could be to the body system. *U FYQMBJOFE UIBU POF PG UIF NBKPS SFBTPO JOEJWJEVBMT JOEVMHF in taking substandard products may be due to economic reasons. The organisation assured that measures are being put in place to ensure that importation of

sub-standard products would be nipped in the bud through the 40/ $POGPSNJUZ "TTFTTNFOU 1SPHSBN 40/$"1 TDIFNF "DDPSEJOH UP 40/ UIF scheme will allow it to test all products coming into the country and ensure that the quality of these products meets the required standard before being granted permit to enter the country. *U GVSUIFS TBJE UIBU UIF FOGPSDFment and compliance directorate will undertake market surveys and testing of products to ensure that products found wanting are traced back to the manufacturer/producers to get them rectified. Managing Director SFH, %S 0NPLIVEV *EPHIP TBJE the certification is a further affirmation of their unshaken commitment to provide the highest standard of service and care to the communities for whom their loyalty stands. He also said that SFH do not see the certification as an end but rather a clarion call to continue improvement of their management and operational practices.

Nigerian Medical Professor Emerge One of America’s Best Physician 2020 Nigerians in diaspora, fueled by passion to succeed, make global impact and the inherent resilience in them continue to record phenomenal successes on international scale in a wide range of fields. 5IF MBUFTU JT 1SPGFTTPS *ZBMMB Elvis Peterside, a Nigerianborn medical doctor who has CFFO OBNFE POF PG "NFSJDB T Best Physicians for the year CZ UIF 64 /BUJPOBM $POTVNFS "EWJTPSZ #PBSE and Todaysbestphysician.com. Dr Peterside is a Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatalogy at the University of Pennsylvania Medical school and a Consultant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, considered one of the best children’s hospitals in the world where he has worked GPS PWFS ZFBST He was until recently the Medical Director of the Neo-

OBUBM *OUFOTJWF $BSF 6OJU BU the University of Pennsylvania Hospital and the President of the Philadelphia Perinatal society. He is a recipient of many awards from his colleagues and professional associations in the US. His area of expertise is in the care of complex surgical neonates, infants needing extracorporeal support and babies with Chronic lung disease. He graduated from the 6OJWFSTJUZ PG *CBEBO JO BOE IBT QSBDUJDFE medicine in four contiOFOUT PG "GSJDB &VSPQF "TJB BOE /PSUI "NFSJDB 1SPG *ZBMMB 1FUFSTJEF is among Nigerian professionals who constitute the most celebrated diaspora community in the US.

Nigerians are top on the table of the most highly educated of all diaspora HSPVQT JO UIF 64 XJUI per cent holding at least a bachelors degree compared XJUI QFS DFOU PG UIF UPUBM foreign-born population and QFS DFOU PG UIF 64 CPSO QPQVMBUJPO BDDPSEJOH UP data from the Migration Policy *OTUJUVUF More than half of Nigerian JNNJHSBOUT QFS DFOU XFSF most likely to occupy management positions, compared XJUI QFS DFOU PG UIF UPUBM foreign-born population and QFS DFOU PG UIF 64 CPSO population. Nigerians also dominate the creative art sector in the US. Most recently President Biden has appointed more Nigerians to sensitive political offices than any other diaspora community.

ast week we talked about genetic disorders at those diseases that are caused by the presence of a mutation in a gene. They cause varying levels of discomfort from mild, severe and some could even be fatal. We will be discussing some of the facts to note about premarital genetic counselling and common examples of genetic disorders. Facts to note about premarital genetic counselling (PGC): r (FOFUJDT IBT BO JNQBDU PO IFBMUI PG individuals, their offspring and future generations. r " HFOFUJD EJTFBTF FWFO XIFO XFMM NBOaged still constitutes a huge burden to the family of the patient. 1($ JT BO JNQPSUBOU UPPM JO UIF r detection of genetic disorders in the reduction, of their incidence among offspring. r *U JT POF PG UIF NPTU JNQPSUBOU QSPDFTTFT for prevention of congenital anomalies, medical and psychosocial marital problems. r 1($ JT POF PG UIF JNQPSUBODF N easures which can help reduce the incidence of genetic diseases most especially in case of old paternal and maternal age. r *U QSPWJEFT BO PQQPSUVOJUZ UP JOUFSWFOF according to the identified risks. r 5IF JOUFSWFOUJPO JODMVEFT USFBUNFOU of disease such as infections, modification. The World Health Organization has recommended several measures for the prevention of genetic disease such as health education, screening to identify individuals or couples at risk. Who Should Have Genetic Screening "OE $PVOTFMMJOH r $PVQMFT XJUI GBNJMZ IJTUPSZ PG genetic diseases such as Cancer, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Preterm baby, Down syndrome and Congenital heart diseases. r .BUFSOBM BHF PMEFS UIBO ZFBST r "MM DPOTBOHVJOFPVT NBSSJBHF NBSSJBHF between couples of same kinship or ancestors. Depending on the degree of relationship the chances of genetic abnormalities ranges GSPN UP r 8PNFO XJUI SFDVSSFOU BCPSUJPOT PS miscarriages. r *OEJWJEVBMT XJUI HFOFUJD BCOPSNBMJUJFT Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Blood genotype is one genetic factor that plays an essential role in one’s health, specifically the presence or absence of the

sickle cell gene. SCD can be a seriously debilitating medical condition caused by abnormally shaped red blood cells. The gene GPS OPSNBM CMPPE HFOPUZQF JT UIF i"u HFOF however; the sickle cell gene is indicated by i4u 5IPTF UIBU BSF CPSO XJUI 4$% DBSSZ UXP i4u HFOFT BOE BSF DMBTTJàFE BT 44 5IJT PDDVST XIFO B DIJME JOIFSJUT POF i4u HFOF from each parent. With SCD, the red blood cells that would ordinarily be disc shaped are changed to a crescent or ‘sickle’ shape. This affects their flexibility and ability to pass through narrow blood vessels and supply oxygen to other cells and tissues. The disease can bring about a number of health complications such as leg ulcers, gallstones, lung crises, and pulmonary hypertension or vision QSPCMFNT *OEJWJEVBMT XJUI UIJT EJTFBTF may suffer severe pain and discomfort through-out their lives. Currently, the only permanent cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant which comes with a number of limitations. Studies show that TJDLMF DFMM BOBFNJB BDDPVOUT GPS VQ PG VOEFS àWF EFBUIT JO JOEJWJEVBM 8FTU "GSJDB DPVOUSJFT 8)0 5IF XPSME IFBMUI PSHBOJ[BUJPO SFDPSEFE UIBU BU MFBTU infant deaths form sickle cell anaemia in 8JUI NJMMJPO DBSSJFST PG UIF 4JDLMF DFMM HFOF JO /JHFSJB *U QPTFT B TJHOJàDBOU UISFBU UP UIF IFBMUI PG UIF QPQVMBUJPO *U JT recommended that sickle cell patients (SS) not bare children with a carrier of the sickle DFMM HFOF "4 CFDBVTF PG UIF DIBODF of having a child with the disease in each pregnancy. However, a sickle cell patient (SS) can marry an individual with no trait PG UIF EJTFBTF "" UIFJS PGGTQSJOH XJMM POMZ CF DBSSJFT PG UIF TJDLMF DFMM HFOFT "4 Down syndrome Down syndrome is a main cause of congenital heart disease and mental retardation JO DIJMESFO *U IBT B DIBSBDUFSJTUJD TFU PG GBDJBM and physical features as well as being associated with an increased risk of leukaemia, defects of the immune system, dementia and congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal USBDU *UT NBKPS DBVTF JT UIF QSFTFOU PG BO FYUSB DISPNPTPNF BOE PUIFS EVQMJDBUJPOT of small regions in the chromosome. Due to symptoms like poor muscle tone, children with Down syndrome often have a slower rate of development than the average child. Other physical symptoms include: flattened facial profile, upward slating eyes, wide and short hands. Some characteristic cognitive and behavioural limitations of individuals with Down syndrome BSF TIPSU BUUFOUJPO TQBO QPPS KVEHFNFOU and impulsive behaviour, slow learning and delayed language development. These may all lead to slow cognitive development rate which could be combated by early intervention TO BE CONTINUED

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 1, 2021

NEWS

Adolescents Responsible for 10 million Unintended Pregnancies Onyebuchi Ezigbo ËØÎ Folalumi Alaran iØ ÌßÔË About 10 million unintentional pregnancies among adolescent age group of 15 to 19 years occured between 2019 and 2020 in developing countries. According to a report by UNICEF, evidence showed that one in five young women was married off before the age of 18 adding that every seven minutes, an adolescent is killed due to violence somewhere in the world. Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who gave the statistics in his speech to mark the International Adolescent Health Week, also quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) study, noting that suicide is sadly the third highest cause of death among this age group, while about 10-20 percent have mental health condition.

He said: “It is estimated that about 10 million unintentional pregnancies occur yearly in the developing world among 15-19 year old adolescents, while complications of pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of mortality. “Evidence shows that, one in five young women is married off before the age of 18 and that every seven minutes, an adolescent is killed due to violence somewhere in the world.” The minister said the leading health challenges among adolescents and young people in Nigeria, from the report of a situation analysis conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health 2019, “are issues of; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH), mental health disorders, substance abuse, Nutritional problems, violences and injuries, physical disorders and chronic conditions such as asthma,

sickle cell disease disorders, and oral health problems, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. “Adolescence is the period of transition from child-hood to adulthood, built on the critical foundation of health investment in childhood towards a healthy adulthood”. According to Ehanire, rural-based and economically disadvantaged adolescents bear huge burdens of maternal morbidity and mortality, high unmet SRH needs, poor knowledge of contraceptive and inadequate access to appropriate sanitary materials, among others. In-addition, he said about 35 per cent of adolescent girls and 10 per cent of adolescent boys have had sexual experience while 32 per cent of adolescent girls and, 34 per cent of adolescent boys used a condom at the last sex with a non-marital, non-cohabiting

partner within the last 12 months (NDHS, 2018). He also said COVID-19 pandemic has directly and indirectly affected adolescents “with long term morbidity and mortality; limited access to essential services, including SRH services; increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices, with attendant psychological consequences perpetuated by negative masculine gender roles”. Ehanire said about 22 per cent of the population of Nigeria is made up of adolescents, whose demographic strength present opportunities that can be tapped accelerating sustainable development and Universal Health Coverage, leaving no one behind. The International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) is an annual health campaign marked every third week of March and

consists of active participation in events to inspire adolescents and key stakeholders to advocate for a structured transition into adulthood. The selected IAHW colour of ‘lime green’ represents the high energy and passion of adolescence! This year’s theme - “Adolescent Resilience in the Face of a Pandemic”, celebrates the tremendous resilience and adaptability of adolescents, despite the challenges and uncertainties they have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic”, Ehanire said. On its part, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) said the theme for the week this year “Resilience in the face of Pandemic” is apt, adding that it describes the enormous abilities of adolescents to rise up to the challenges and the impact of COVID-19.

It said COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore some of the persistent challenges adolescents face such as- the silent pandemic of genderbased violence, the prevalent stigma adolescents experience in accessing FP services and the hurdles adolescents and young people living with HIV have to overcome in accessing treatment. “However, adolescents have risen up to the negative impacts of the pandemic through their sheer innovation and determination to be part of the COVID-19 solutions especially through the utilisation of technology and social media. “For us at UNFPA, we are firm believers in harnessing demographic dividends through quality investments made in adolescents and youth so that they can reach their full potential,” it said.

Report Reveals Nigeria’s Alarming Protein Deficiency Status The report of a recent research survey has revealed that Nigeria’s protein deficiency situation is approaching alarming proportions. The report, Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2020, was unveiled at the Protein Deficiency Webinar Series 8, themed: “The Nigerian Protein Deficiency Awareness Report 2020: Unpacking the Numbers, Exploring the Issues”. In presenting the report, Mr. Obaro Agalabri, the Service Line Lead (West Africa), IPSOS Channel Performance, revealed that 45 per cent of respondents do not consume protein daily and this is more prevalent in the North-east and amongst the lower socioeconomic class. The survey was conducted by IPSOS, a leading market research company that carries out in-depth analyses of various issues, such as health statistics, population demographics and other related fields. According to Mr. Agalabri, “Nigerians are consuming a minimal amount of protein daily due to the poverty level in the country. “ The recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that less than half of the working population is unemployed, a situation that no doubt reduces the purchasing power of households and general food purchases.” Quoting the NBS report, Obaro explained that about 40 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, implying that more than 82 million Nigerians live on less than $1 a day. He noted that the average cost of protein per meal is N80, and that the majority of Nigerians would have to use more than 68 per cent of their income in purchasing protein foods to get enough. The Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2020 revealed that there is a gap in protein consumption across Nigeria with cost and household income levels as the main

hindrance to adequate intake of protein in the country. Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo, chief lecturer, Department of Home Economics, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, a panelist at the Protein Deficiency Webinar, stated that the cost of food is a problem that makes people underfeed. She noted that the average Nigerian eats food just to get satisfied without taking into consideration the nutritional content. This makes food consumption patterns to lean towards carbohydrates in Nigeria and due to this protein deficiency is still prevalent in the country. She advised that a way to curb this is by consuming protein-rich foods like soaybeans, eggs, beans, groundnuts and so on. She strongly advised that children should be prioritized in protein consumption in every home. Another panelist, Prof. Adetunji Kehinde, provost, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, Oshogbo, stated that the agricultural sector has the potential to alleviate protein deficiency in the country. He argued that farmers should be supported with appropriate incentives to motivate them to produce more protein-rich food. There should be policy evaluation and intervention to curb the nutrition deficit in Nigeria, he added. Dr. Adepeju Adeniran, National Co-chair at Women in Global Health Nigeria, who moderated the panel session, said that soyabean is a good source of protein. She lamented that the Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2020 showed that a large number of Nigerian infants and young children are malnourished. To curb this, she called on Nigerians from all walks of life to use healthy food plate in meal planning.

Refresher training of oﬃcers of Lagos State Health Scheme in preparation for the roll-out enrolment of the informal sectors into the scheme

Nephrologist Urges Nigerians to Drink More Water for Healthy Kidneys Rebecca Ejifoma Consultant Nephrologist and Head of Clinical Services, Healing Stripes Hospital, Dr Adedamola Akinsiku, has harped on the importance of adequate rehydration, as he said regular consumption of water saves the kidney. The expert made this known during an interview session with THISDAY to mark World Kidney Day 2021 with the theme, “Living Well with Kidney Disease”. In line with the theme, Akinsiku said, “To live well with kidney disease, adopt and abide by the eight golden rules for optimal maintenance.” Among the eight golden rules is adequate rehydration. “I go about with water more

often than not. We live in the tropics; it is a bit more humid here. So we lose more fluid than we realise and we don’t ingest adequate amount.” He reminded Nigerians that part of the functions of the kidney is to process water in the kidney. “So, there is a huge difference between water and soft drinks,” he emphasised, “We need to drink adequate water”. He also mentioned the need for checking the blood pressure regularly. Others are: avoid herbal concoctions, ingesting agents that are unorthodox and can’t be vouched for; avoid painkillers, over-the-counter medications; smoking; and excess alcohol. Akinsiku emphasised: “If you notice your urine foams

a lot just like detergent – yes, our urine will naturally foam a bit. It is the change in the severity that matters. When it foams a lot especially for alcoholics they see it foam from the regular, go for check.” He, however, outlined symptoms of kidney disease. According to him, one of the common ways moderate to advance kidney tends to present is that patient keeps feeling unwell, weak, and unable to function optimally. “People term it as malaria, hence, use anti malaria and painkillers which worsen the condition.” The nephrologist, therefore, spoke against over-the-counter medications and painkillers that cause harm to vital organs like the kidney. While explaining the harm such medication does

to the kidney, the nephrologist recounted, “Last week, I saw an elderly man who had orthopaedic complaints and was placed on NSAIDs painkillers, analgesics. He developed kidney failure. Now he is doing dialysis.” According to Akinsiku, this is highly preventable if they had not given the man painkillers. “There are different classes of pain killers. It will have been better if they gave the ones that are kidney friendly than giving the ones that are deleterious or nephrotoxic.” Therefore, to champion healthy kidney and living well with kidney disease, the expert recommended to Nigerians to keep in constant touch with specialists who will monitor them.

T H I S D AY ˾ , APRIL 1, 2021

PERSPECTIVE

Enugu Ramps Up Epidemic Preparedness with New IDH Laurence Ani The approval of some vaccines and the ongoing inoculation across countries may offer a real glimmer of hope that the world is at the cusp of turning the tide in the fight against Covid-19, but the sense of exultation has been somewhat subdued at best. This is understandable. Nothing in recent history has exposed the vulnerabilities of public healthcare globally, and reinforced the imperative of creating a robust response to pandemics as Covid-19 has done. In the coming decades, the pandemic will remain a cautionary tale serving as a reminder of the risk that the outbreak of a disease in a seemingly remote region could pose for public health worldwide. The lesson learnt, hopefully, through the pandemic’s emergence and inexorable spread globally is that it is always better to take actions to curb possible future medical crisis even when the risk of one occurring is minimal. The uncanny prescience that underlie the extensive rehabilitation of public health facilities in Enugu State several months before the outbreak of Covid-19 shows the state’s governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had fully grasped this imperative. So, when Enugu State recorded its first two cases of Covid-19 on March 28, last year, health officials were by no means in a bind. A major significant post-Covid-19 measure taken by the Ugwuanyi administration was the re-repurposing of the well-equipped Enugu State Medical Diagnostic Centre as an isolation and treatment centre for Covid-19 patients. Others include the renovation and equipping of isolation and treatment centres in Nsukka, and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu. But by far the most remarkable demonstration of the Enugu State government’s commitment to a long term Covid-19 strategy is the redesign, reconstruction and equipping of the former Colliery Hospital, and designation as Enugu State Infectious Disease Hospital. Sitting on about two acres of land with a backdrop of rolling hills and a bird’s eye view of the city’s outline, this facility is concrete proof that Enugu State won’t be lulled into complacency even when the pandemic is no longer deemed a threat. The sheer scale of the projects needed to create a complete turnaround of public health facilities, can be gleaned through the paradox that each completed rehabilitation seems to call attention elsewhere to a situation similar to the facility that had just received some facelift. The Ugwuanyi administration has substantially addressed the funding deficits that had for decades plagued public healthcare and crippled its capacity to cater to basic health needs and respond to emergency situations as it should. In 2019, for instance, the National Bureau of Statistics listed Enugu among 10 states with the most expenditure on health. The launch of Universal Health Coverage in the state is also anchored on the drive to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible to a larger population. It is gratifying that even when governments were compelled to carry out a downward

Newly-built Infectious Disease Hospital, Enugu

Gov. Ugwuanyi

review of their budgets in response to the Covid-19-induced economic slowdown last year, the capital expenditure for health was not pruned down in Enugu State. The state’s 2021 budget reflected a similar trend, with budgetary allocation for health projects taking a substantial share, like the new ESUT Teaching Hospital complex, Igbo Eno, scheduled for completion in the current budget cycle. Significantly, this extensive retooling

has not only been in a structural sense. In anticipation of the manpower needs which the expansion of facilities and increased patient traffic will entail, there has been a sustained recruitment of doctors and other cadres of health professionals, with a large proportion deployed to health facilities in rural communities. The robust expansion of health facilities since the outbreak of Covid-19 has both created an elaborate containment strategy for the pandemic, and an evidently sufficient capacity to respond to unforeseen public health emergencies. An example is the recent outbreak of yellow fever in some communities in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, where the state’s health ministry scaled up its vaccine unit and intensified public vaccination in affected communities. Such swift response helped nip the outbreak in the bud, and prevented its spread further. Although the success of governments’ actions in the health sector may sometimes not be easily discernible owing largely to the intangible nature of outcomes, there are statistics, however, that validate the impressive transformation Enugu State’s health system has undergone. For instance, according to the last report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Enugu State’s doctor-patient ratio of 1:1,812 is the fourth best in the country, coming only behind the Federal Capital Territory (1 doctor to every 1,267 resident population), Edo State (1:1,416) and Lagos State (1:1,709). Although Enugu’s

figure (indeed, every state in the federation) fell below the desirable doctor-patient ratio of 1 doctor to every 1,000 recommended by the World Health Organisation, the commitment that Ugwuanyi has demonstrated towards enthroning a quality and affordable healthcare suggests the state can actually attain that threshold. The desire to bequeath a reliable and affordable public healthcare system was, also, what inspired the simultaneous facelift given to both Poly General Hospital and Udi General Hospital in 2019. That upgrade has given the former Poly Clinic the needed expansion befitting of its status as the second busiest public health facility in the state, boasting an expertise and equipment that bespoke cutting edge technology. The requisite political will so far demonstrated by the Enugu State governor is the impetus behind the ongoing reconstruction of general hospitals in Nsukka, Awgu, Oji River, Nkanu West, Igbo-Eze North council areas, and construction of additional cottage hospitals and primary health centres across the state. Their completion will be a step nearer to actualizing a part of the Governor Ugwuanyi administration’s goal to enthrone an enduring public healthcare system that caters to the need of the populace. ...Ani, former editor of ThisDay - The Saturday Newspaper, and Saturday Telegraph, is a senior communications aide to the governor of Enugu State.

LASG, NACA Empower 180 Vulnerable, Persons with HIV/AIDS with Vocational Skills Rebecca Ejifoma The Lagos State Government in partnership with the National Agency of the Control of AIDS (NACA) has empowered 180 vulnerable indigents, and Persons Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Lagos communities with various economic skills. The beneficiaries were trained for three days on sewing, bricklaying, painting, baking, cooking, and arts among others. The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who described the skills as wealth creation, noted that “these are skills that can

take us out of poverty. As you return, start practising a trade. “Now that you are empowered, it will keep you off the streets, and help you contribute to the productivity of the economy of the nation”. While stating his passion for the youth, the governor, represented by the CEO Lagos State Control AIDS Agency, Monsurat Adeleke, said: “he is passionate about the youth and he continues to target and roll out interview just to empower the youth at any opportunity he gets. We are gearing towards the elimination of new infections

of HIV in 2030”. “Just last week”, she reminisced, “we collaborated with the ministry of wealth creation; they were marking the world Artisans Day. “ELSACA has been collaborating with them since last year. The governor procured about 1500 sterilising kits just to target the hairdressers and barbers. We know that the youth constitute about 43 per cent of our population and they have the highest prevalence.” For the DG of NACA, Gambo Aliu, this initiative is simultaneously holding in five

pilot states: Adamawa, Enugu, Jigawa, and Nasarawa in this intervention on empowerment for HIV/AIDS prevention. He added: “Hopefully this year, we will expand to other states, but I’m happy to say this empowerment has trained youths that are between ages 18 to 35 with skills that are ready to – get out and get other jobs.” Noting that the empowerment scheme has trained 900 people so far in the last two weeks, Aliu said the hope is that this training would pave way of empowering youth and empowering people that are at risk of HIV or are vulnerable.

“These are the age group – 18 to 35. Empowering them will take them away from HIV, because we know poverty is one thing that brings people closer to HIV. Insecurity is also one thing that brings people closer to HIV,” he maintained. Sadly, HIV/AIDS continues to be a disease of global interest with the global target to end AIDS by 2030 and Nigeria has achieved significant strides in the fight against the disease. The national prevalence which was previously 3.4 per cent by the National HIV and AIDS and Reproductive

Health Survey 2012 (NARHS Plus II) is now reportedly 1.5 per cent among adult HIV with a projected estimate of 1.9million people living with HIV. This is according to the National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS 2018), a national householdbased survey that assessed the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other related health indicators in 2018. With this, Aliu beckoned on other young Nigerians to come out and know their HIV status, urging them to shun stigmatisation.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯ˜ 2021 39

THURSDAY, ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY 38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FSDH Merchant Bank Appoints Smith CEO, Ambah Retires Obinna Chima FSDH Merchant Bank Limited has appointed Mrs. Bukola Smith as its new Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer. She is to take over from Mrs. Hamda Ambah who will retire from the bank with effect from April 27th, 2021. According to a statement from the Lagos-based financial institution, Ambah will be retiring after 28 years of service to FSDH, including four years and three months as the Managing Director. “She joined FSDH very early in its discount house days and is now retiring a little over eight years after the company became a merchant bank in 2013. “Succeeding her is Mrs. Bukola Smith, whom the Board of Directors of FSDH Group has appointed as the incoming MD/

CEO of FSDH Merchant Bank,” the statement added. It revealed that the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria on the appointment has been secured. Smith holds an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK, and a B.Sc. Economics from the University of Lagos. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and an Associate Member, Certified Institute of Pensions (Nigeria). She brings 28 years of progressive experience in the industry with a track record of strategic execution and leadership. She was appointed Executive Director, Business Development at First City Monument Bank

(FCMB) in 2017 and held several other leadership positions since she joined FCMB in 2006. In her most recent role, she was responsible for the bank’s 200 branches across the country, as well as the public sector, business banking, agriculture and transaction banking divisions. “Under her, the bank’s SME-focused team moved from fifth position in the industry to first position in 2019 (KPMG Customer Service Report 2020) within three years. “In addition, she established the FCMB Women in Business Desk (branded SheVentures) which supports female entrepreneurs. She also set up FCMB Trustees and FCMB Custody, both of which broke even in the first year of operations and are building traction in the asset management field. Smith

BUA Cement Explains N72bn Profit Goddy Egene The Managing Director/ CEO, BUA Cement Plc, Yusuf Binji, has said the resilient performance of the company in 2020 was due to well instituted contingency plan, which ensured that they remained largely immune to economic disruptions such as production, supply and distribution shocks resulting from the lock down. He added that shift by investors to alternative asset classes and the low rain fall recorded during the year also assisted, adding that, “More importantly, our product offerings played a vital role, with more customers being increasingly able to appreciate and differentiate how tailored our products are

towards meeting their cement requirements, especially in terms of quality and product support, among other features.” According BUA Cement performance for the year 2020 witnessed a 13.3 per cent rise in cement dispatched to 5.1mmt, which resulted in a 19.3 per cent rise in revenues to N209.4 billion. He said driven by the need to prioritise efficiency led by innovation, a continued focus on cost containment measures and despite the devaluation of the naira, which impacted pricing of some input costs, operating profit increased by 14.8 per cent to N82 billion. Consequently, Profit after Tax (PAT) increased to N72.3 billion, from N60.610 billion in 2019.

The directors recommended a dividend of N2.067 per share, showing an increase of 18 per cent above the N1.75 dividend paid in 2019. Binji said: “In line with our goals to become the leading cement manufacturer with significant eco-friendly footprints, we set out key strategic targets to enhance growth and transform our operational processes towards a cleaner and more efficient company. “We are delighted to have achieved a significant number of these set targets including the construction of the Kalambaina line-3, where we remain on course to commission the plant in 2021.”

NSE Celebrates Aig-Imoukhuede Goddy Egene The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday hosted its ExOfficio, National Council, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, to a digital closing gong ceremony in celebration of his years of meritorious service and contributions to the growth of the exchange. With the successful completion of demutualisation, the NSE has transitioned from a memberowned company to a company owned by shareholders, bringing to an end the leadership of the National Council. Speaking at the event, the Chairman, NSE, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, said it was a pleasure to celebrate Aig-Imoukhuede

for his exemplary stewardship as first Vice President, President and Ex-Officio of the National Council for over seven years. “The transformational groundwork he laid made it easier to succeed him as Council President and avidly pursue the vision to build a world-class exchange. “Furthermore, I would like to thank him for his wise and valuable counsel to the NSE over the years which were instrumental in the attainment of demutualisation and will continue to guide the entire Group in this new era,” he said. In his remark, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, also thanked Aig-Imoukhuede, for the hands-on experience and

business expertise with which he hds contributed to the growth of the NSE over the years. On his part, Aig-Imoukhuede said: “It has been a wonderful journey over the past seven years. “Serving in this prestigious role will always be a highlight in my career and I feel greatly privileged to have worked with amazing colleagues at the National Council, the Executive Committee and staff of the exchange. “I must also thank the dealing member community, issuers, the investing public, regulatory bodies and all other stakeholders who contributed in one way or the other to our progress over the years, particularly our aspiration to demutualise.”

Fashola Defends FG’s Borrowing Emmanuel Addeh ÓØ ÌßÔË The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has visited the Abuja-Keffi and Akwanga-Makurdi expressway for an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of work on the critical inter-regional arteries. Speaking during the inspection, the minister said anyNigerian who has issues with the federal government’s borrowing should know that some of the monies were being spent to revamp the country’s deteriorating roads. Fashola stated that the ultimate objective of the expansion of the Abuja- Keffi expressway was to ultimately reduce traffic

congestion and travel time for commuters, adding that the road would be built to international standard. The minister maintained that the government has a lot of work to do, but was being constrained by the paucity of funds, reason borrowing has become inevitable. “The main purpose of the Akwanga to Makurdi highway, which we flagged off about two years ago, and is one of the roads being funded with the China EximBank loan, is that it is very critical and strategic for linking the north central to the north east, and from there to other parts of the country. “For those who have issues

about borrowing, they can come and see what the borrowing is being used for; all of the people who are working here would probably not have this job without that borrowing “Because we have a lot to do, we don’t have enough to do them at the same time. So this is part of the dualisation project construction of a brand new highway to complement the existing one,” the minister stated. Fashola said the residents of Mararaba -Nyanya would soon see that all the sacrifices they had to endure would be worthwhile, citing the Abuja Keffi expressway as having attained 45.8 per cent completion.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͱͮ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $63.37 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $62.86 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zaﬁro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

THURSDAY, ͹˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

UAC of Nigeria Returns to Profitability, Recommends 120 kobo Dividend Goddy Egene UAC of Nigeria Plc (UAC) has announced its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2020, showing a profit of N3.927 billion as against a loss of N9.256 billion in 2019. The top-line showed a revenue of N81.357 billion, up by three per cent to N79.202 billion in 2019. Profit before tax stood at N5.121 billion in 2020, while

PAT printed at N3.927 billion. Earnings per share was 92 kobo compared with negative 183 kobo in 2019. The board of directors therefore recommended a dividend of 120 kobo. It comprises 65 kobo ordinary and 55 kobo special dividend. Commenting on the results and corporate actions, Group Managing Director, Fola Aiyesimoju, stated: “UACs objective is to generate attractive long-term,

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

risk-adjusted returns for our shareholders. I am delighted that the board approved N7.1 billion in capital returns to shareholders via a mix of dividends and REIT units totalling N2.47 per share or a 28.3 per cent return at current market values. Over the last 12 months, we faced a recession, civil unrest, and significant changes to the way we work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of

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these headwinds, we executed our key priorities, implemented initiatives relating to UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), strengthened management, and returned the group to profitability.” Aiyesimoju explained that as part of the partial exit from UPDC, UAC received N6.6 billion net cash proceeds and 649 million UPDC REIT units valued at N3.6 billion.

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

“ I am excited that we are unlocking value for our shareholders via a special dividend,as well as, the unbundling of UPDC REIT units which, if approved by regulators, shareholders and sanctioned by the court, will see UAC’s shareholders become direct holders of units in UPDC REIT. Going forward, our focus remains on creating shareholder value and we continue to prioritise growth, scale, and simplicity to achieve

O F

this.We will explore acquisitions as an avenue to accelerate growth,” he said. According to him, apart from its partial exit from UPDC, UAC also divested eight stake in MDS Logistics Limited to our joint venture partner, Imperial Logistics. This, he said, reduced UAC’s ownership from 51 per cent to 43 per cent. MDS Logistics is now classified as an investment in associate.

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THURSDAY MARCH 18, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Terrorists Tactically Taking over the North, ECWA Cries out Seriki Adinoyi in Jos The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has raised the alarm that terrorist groups are tactically expanding their activities and making incursions into other parts of the northern region of Nigeria. Addressing a press conference in Jos, Plateau State, yesterday on the insecurity ravaging the country, ECWA President, Dr. Stephen Panya, said: “Boko Haram and ISWAP have destroyed tens of thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, and many Christians and Christian communities have been deliberately targeted and

destroyed. “It is clear that these terrorist groups are gradually but tactically expanding their activities and making incursions into other parts of the north and even beyond, and the apparent lack of unity in the fight against these terrorist groups and the inability of the government to deal decisively with them within the shortest possible time has emboldened them to do more havoc.” He warned that the deteriorating security in Nigeria in which farmers are unable to go to their farms for fear of attacks will further destroy Nigeria’s already depressed economy. The cleric explained that agriculture is the mainstay

of the economy in terms of employment and strategic contribution to the general wellbeing of the citizens, “and considering that unemployment fuels greater insecurity as many of the jobless youths resort to criminality, Nigeria will continue to experience a vicious cycle of insecurity if the challenges are not quickly addressed.” Panya observed that Fulani herdsmen and farmers have always had conflicts, which were easily resolved, but that the magnitude and dimension the recent conflicts have taken

shows that there is more to it than mere conflict over water and grass. “What we see today is simply terrorism under the guise of herders/farmers conflict. Unless these Fulani killer herdsmen are treated as terrorists, the situation will continue to persist. Also, the seeming silence of the government on their activities gives the impression of a tacit support akin to what happened between the regime of Omar Al-Bashir and the Janjaweed terrorists in Sudan. It is a wellknown fact that this unholy

alliance was what eventually led to the emergence of South Sudan. We must not allow this situation to repeat itself in Nigeria,” he further warned. He said the Miyetti Allah as a group has been the official and most vocal voice and force behind the activities of the killer herdsmen. “They have not only given justifications for their terror activities but work hard, in addition to narratives by some highly placed government officials, to sell them to both local and international communities as the victims of the recent

bloodshed in Nigeria. “But the calibre of weapons they use and the sophistry of their operations leave more questions than answers. It also leaves one baffling how, for the first time in history, the ‘supposed victim’ is highly armed with military grade weapons while the ‘supposed hostile communities’ are littered with mass graves, refugee camps and high economic impoverishment as a result of paying millions of naira in ransom for their kidnapped relatives, if at all they are lucky to receive them alive.”

Senate Committee Accuses Solicitor-General of Disbursing N4.16bn without Due Process Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Senate Committee on Public Account has uncovered how the Solicitor-General of Nigeria, Dayo Akpata, allegedly disbursed N4.16 billion judgement debts vote without due process. The committee chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide uncovered the violation of due process by the Solicitor-General following a query by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF). In the 2016 budget appropriation, the National Assembly appropriated N460 million for the judgement debts, while in 2017, another N10 billion was appropriated. However, based on the record from the Federal Ministry of Justice, N5.3 billion was released within that two years by the federal government and N4.16 billion was disbursed to 52 beneficiaries. There is no explanation on how the remaining N1.17 billion was spent by the ministry-

whether it was returned back to Federation Account or not. The committee then issued a query to the ministry which read: “Examination of Budget of the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of N460 million was appropriated for the payment of Judgment Debts for 2016 and N10 billion appropriated for 2017, totalling N10.460 billion. Further examination revealed that the committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the fund was dissolved after 2013 financial year and is yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations. “However, the ministry has been disbursing this sum without a committee in place, as well as lack of controls, which could lead to loss of public funds. The SolicitorGeneral of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice is requested to immediately constitute the committee as required, otherwise the provision of Financial Regulation 3106 on irregular payments should be invoked.”

Communal Clash Claims Three Lives in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benincity

Three persons have been reportedly killed in a clash involving two communities of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. The crisis, as gathered, has grounded commercial activities in the affected communities. The recent communal clash, it was learnt, was over a piece of land between Uhonmora and Sabongida communities, which began last Sunday. It was gathered that trouble started when some persons from Uhonmora went to measure a piece of land at the boundary of the two communities, and were attacked in the process by some persons from the other community. In the process, some persons got injured during the attack while their vehicle and motorcycle also got damaged. According to a source, this necessitated the youths from Uhonmora to carry out reprisal

in the Sabongida community the following day. As at last Tuesday evening, three persons had been confirmed dead in the communal clash between the two Owan West communities. Consequently, commercial activities have been grounded as youths from both communities blocked the busy Ifon - Iruekpen federal road for the past three days, thus, preventing motorists from going through the communities. The member representing Owan federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, has called for the warring faction to embrace peace. Ihonvbere, who stated this in a statement, said: “I am unhappy over this ugly incident that has created unrest, tension and closure of business activities in Owan West. “This is coming at a time when we should be joining hands to mobilise resources to empower our women and youths.

IT’S NICE MEETING YOU...

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (left), and the Director General, National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari, during the DG’s visit to the Naval Headquarters in Abuja... yesterday

Number of Nigerian Returnees from Saudi Arabia Rises to 1,071 in Three Days Michael Olugbode in Abuja With the latest arrival of a new batch of 418 Nigerians from Saudi Arabia, the figure of those returning to Nigeria from the Arab country in the last three days has risen to 1,071. While leading the intergovernmental agencies to receive the returnees, the Director, Consular and Legal Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bolaji Akinremi, disclosed that 255 and 398 returnees arrived in Nigeria last Monday and Tuesday respectively.

Akinremi said the reintegration exercise was made possible through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, to create a smooth rehabilitation process for the returnees. He commended all other agencies like NAPTIP, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), NIMC, FCT Pilgrims Board and Public Health for their ‘wonderful’ coordination alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to him, the rapid

testing method for COVID-19 detection was carried out while the returnees were profiled into states and gender. He said against previous arrangement where each of them would stay in the camp for seven to 14 days, the maximum number of days to stay at the camp is now three days before they would be released to meet their family members. Akinremi assured the returnees that the accommodation at the camp has the basic amenities which include a 24-hour medical

service to look into the welfare of the returnees before they are rejoined with their families. He said a token amount of N20,000 was given to each of the returnees for their transportation while free meals and toiletries were supplied to all of them. Representing the Chairman of NIDCOM, Hon. Abike DabiriErewa, Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, welcomed the returnees, and promised that everything would be done to make them comfortable in their country.

Kano Strange Disease: NAFDAC Presents Preliminary Result of Clinical Test to Ganduje Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Director-General of the National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, yesterday presented a preliminary result of a clinical test of the substances causing strange illness in Kano State. Adeyeye made the presentation during a courtesy visit to the

state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at his office in Kano yesterday in the company of the Director of Enforcement of the agency, state Coordinator of NAFDAC, and former President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, among others. She said: “There are five substances involved in this development. Out of them, only three were registered and

the remaining two were not registered. We still wonder how they came into the country, as our investigation reveals that they were not imported into the country through our ports.” Explaining that “some of those substances are poisonous,” she said: “When one takes them, he or she would find it very difficult to breathe normally. That is close to death,” she told Ganduje. Indicating how seriously

the agency takes the matter, the professor disclosed that there are six directorates on the issue engaged in trying to define coherent and scientific explanations for it. According to Adeyeye, “The substances have citric acid. We also went to two companies that have the registered substances; though their substances are registered, we still put them on hold to avoid certain things until

FG, IOM Facilitate Return of 21,000 Nigerian Migrants Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The federal government, in collaboration with the International Organisation Migration (IOM), has facilitated the voluntary return of over 21,000 Nigerians stranded in Libya, Niger, Mali, Europe and other countries. The Head of Sub-office

of IOM in Benin-city, Edo State, Wintana Tarekegn, who disclosed this during a town hall meeting on ‘Safe Migration’ held in the city yesterday, noted that the body was currently implementing several awareness-raising intervention in the country with other organisations. Tarekegn said: “IOM in

coordination with the federal government has facilitated the voluntary return of over 21,000 Nigerians migrants stranded in Libya, Niger, Mali, European countries and other transit and destination countries. “The IOM, the United Nations migration agency, is currently implementing several awareness-raising interventions

in Nigeria, including Migrants as Messengers (MaM), designed to create positive behavioural change among potential migrants and their families and friends to make safe and informed migration related decisions as well as promote the positive impact returning migrants bring to their home communities.”

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 • T H I S D AY

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Again, FG, Resident Doctors Meet Today N’Assembly intervenes in dispute Deji Elumoye, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Udora Orizu in Abuja The federal government and the leadership of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have resolved to meet again today - Thursday, to conclude agreement on the terms of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at addressing the demands of the doctors. The leadership of the NARD also yesterday met behind closed-doors with the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Health to discuss the impending strike by the doctors. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who briefed journalists after the marathon

meeting, said various committees had been set up to resolve all issues concerning the doctors. The resident doctors had threatened to begin strike today, April 1, 2021 over unfulfilled agreements. However, in a bid to stop another industrial action in the health sector, the federal government yesterday convened a meeting with the Doctors. THISDAY gathered that the meeting ended at about mid night with most issues addressed before both sides decided to adjourn the meeting till today so that an agreement could be signed on the withdrawal of strike ultimatum by the doctors. On the issue of the nonpayment of outstanding hazard allowance to the doctors, the federal government said that it had asked the Chief Medical

Officers of the tertiary health Institutions to ensure that they submit proper documentation to the ministry. Speaking at the opening of the talks yesterday, Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige said the meeting became necessary due to the breakdown of dialogue between the doctors and their parent ministry, the Federal Ministry of Health. But the minister said that due to the global health emergency resulting from the outbreak of

COVID-19 pandemic, doctors and other health workers were not expected to withdraw their services no matter the reason. According to him, no less than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s population currently faced threat of illness due to COVID-19 pandemic and might need urgent hospital attention. He told the aggrieved doctors that that strike action was not an option considering the raging threat of COVID-19 on Nigerians and its imposed restrictions on the government .

“We are in a very bad period health wise the world over and Nigeria is not an exception; so, we have to think about the generality of Nigerians because right now, 80 per cent of Nigerians are our patients because of the COVID-19 pandemic; so, we have to look at the issues that way and see how we can get the best out of this situation,” he said. In his remark, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdullahi Marshi who represented the minister,

said that a meeting was held last Thursday with the doctors to resolve the issues. He explained that the parley with the leadership of NARD was able to iron out all the issues, adding that what remained was to get the doctors to accept to drop their strike ultimatum. On his part, the national President of NARD, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi said the association was looking forward to the resolution of the dispute at the meeting.

Labour, Activists in Nigeria Resolve to Form New Party Ahead of national elections and beyond, progressives across Nigeria have met in Abuja with a resolve to form a mass workers and labouring masses’ political party. According to a statement issued yesterday by activists, Prof. Toye Olorode, Jaye Gaskiya, and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the forces behind the new movement were drawn from trade unions, civil society, students, farmers and peasants from across the 36 states of the Federation. The promoters said the new movement would wrestle Nigeria from a rainbow coalition of dishonest, corrupt and reactionary politicians currently driving the country to a shipwreck through mass corruption and exploitation of the primordial fault lines for personal fortunes.. The new movement said it would replace hope with despair by uniting the working people and the masses beyond the narrow prism of ethnicity and religion with the hope of attaining a new Nigerian renaissance. The new group was named The Peoples’ Alternative Political Movement, with a

socialist ideology tailored to transform the new-colonial Nigerian economy. “The new movement will build a new country based on justice, equity and protection of the dignity of mankind irrespective of ethnicity, faith or creed. We shall make Nigeria great again and put the country back on her status as the giant of Africa’, the promoters said as part of their mission statement. Falana, labour icon and co-Chair of the Committee, Olorode and Committee Secretary, Gaskiya a foremost activist said the communiqué was issued by some 30 groups that convened the meeting. The movement expressed worry that Nigeria, characterised by extreme poverty, arms proliferation, religious intolerance, the rise of hate and ethnic nationalism was moving towards social upheavals due to exploitation of the people, greed and avarice of a spineless political class that has reached its wits end. The meeting had in attendance present and past labour leaders with a diverse presence of peasants and farmers unions from across the country.

Again, Lagos Extends Deadline for Filing of Individual Tax Returns In furtherance of the commitment to continuously mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on taxpayers in Lagos State, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended filing on Individual Annual Tax Returns by an additional two weeks starting from April 1 to April 14, 2021. In accordance with the provisions of Section 41 of the Personal Income Tax Act LFN 2004 as amended, all taxable person(s), including self-employed, employees, professionals, in Lagos State to file their individual annual tax returns for 2020 Year of

Assessment. According to the Executive Chairman, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, “statutorily, the filing of Individual Annual Tax Returns expires on March 31 of every fiscal year, and attracts penalties for defaulters. Taxpayers are thereby urged to take advantage of this extension to perform their civic obligation. The extension of the deadline is in response to appeals made by taxpayers as well as an attempt to assuage the effect of the pandemic on the taxpayers and residents of Lagos State.”

MEDIA PARLEY…

L-R: Media Adviser to Imo State Governor, Hon. Oguwuike Nwachuku; Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Rex Anunobi; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba; and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. COC Akaolisa, addressing Government House Press Corps at the Exco Chambers, Owerri…yesterday

Buhari Condemns Attempted Coup in Niger Republic Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned in strong terms the recent attempted coup in Niger Republic, saying “any illegal effort to depose a democratically elected government is not only despicable, but also unacceptable to democratic governments around the world.” The Media Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued yesterday quoted President

as speaking in a telephone conversation with Mahamadou Issoufou, his counterpart and outgoing President on the situation in Niger Republic, during which he warned that “the international community is hostile to the change of government by violent and unconstitutional means.” President Buhari said: “It is utterly naive to attempt the removal of an elected government by force. Military political adventurers should respect the will of the people and respect constitutional

order. “I’m particularly concerned about the negative impact of coups on African stability, peace and progress. Nigeria cannot be indifferent to these dangers to Africa. Coups are out of fashion and the involvement of the military in violent change of government is doing more harm than good to Africa”. He urged African leaders to “remain united against coups under whatever guise or form,” warning coup plotters to learn lesson from history on

the consequences of instability caused by violent takeover of governments. President Buhari used the occasion to congratulate the President-elect Mohamed Bazoum on his election victory and the outgoing President’s commitment to orderly and peaceful transfer of power. The Nigerian leader also applauded the Niger’s security forces for suppressing the onslaught against the democratically elected Government of the people of Niger Republic

Imo Women’s Protest against Ohakim Paralyses Court Activities

Amby Uneze in Owerri

The legal battle between a former Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and an Abuja-based business woman, Mrs. Chinyere Amuchienwa, took another dimension yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, as protest by a group of Imo women under the umbrella of Coalition of Civil Society Groups stopped the court from sitting over the case earlier scheduled for the day. As early as 8 a.m., the women had assembled at

the entrance of the new Imo State High Court complex in New Owerri, carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Ikedi Ohakim must face his criminal cases’; Ohakim, injustice to a woman is injustice to all, as well as Cletus Ilomuanya’; ‘What’s your interest, are you Ikedi Ohakim?’ among others. The protesting women also demanded the stepping aside of the presiding Judge handling the matter, Justice I.G Chukwunyere, maintaining that they were not comfortable with her adjudicating on the case.

The leader of the women, Mrs. Mercy Agulana, while addressing journaliats, said they have come to show solidarity to their fellow woman, who they claimed her rights have been violated. “Ohakim as a former governor has brought shame to himself; why is he running away from the court? He called the police, but his is now running away from the same police he invited. We thank the Inspector General of Police (IG) for not putting the woman to shame, thank you for stepping into the

matter. “Ikedi Ohakim must make himself available for proper justice, and we advise Ilomuanya to stop poking his nose in what does not concern him, or he will get consumed in it,” Agulana said. Speaking also, another woman leader of group, Mrs. Faith Mbagwu, expressed dissatisfaction in the action of Ohakim against Amuchienwa, insisting that for peace to reign, let Ohakim settle amicably with the woman instead of washing his dirty linen in the public.

Umahi Declares Curfew in Ebonyi Warring Community

Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, has declared a dusk-to- dawn curfew in Effium community as part of the measures to restore peace in the area. The declaration was contained in a press statement

that was issued by the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, in Abakaliki. The governor gave the order shortly after his visit to the community and announced that military and police have been fully deployed to man all exit and entry points, including forest and bushes. The statement reads in part:

“The Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Mr. David Nweze Umahi, has ordered dusk to dawn curfew in Effium with immediate effect as part of efforts to restore peace to the area. “Therefore, miscreants and hoodlums including machineries who are hiding in the forest and bushes are advised to vacate the community immediately in

their own interest as security agents have been directed to route them out. “Also, those who are in the habit of raising false alarm to distract and divert attention of security agents are by this announcement advised to desist from doing that as such person(s) will be tracked, arrested and prosecuted as one of those promoting the crisis.”

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Niger APC Denies Receiving N450m from Ex-gov Aliyu in 2015 Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied receiving N450 million from former Governor of Niger State, Mr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, in the run up to the 2015 presidential and governorship elections. The party also said that

it did not receive physical or moral support from the then People’s Democractic Party, which was the party in power in the state at the time. The Chanchaga Local Government Chapter of the Peoples’ Democractic Party (PDP), in a communique released at the end during a

2023 Elections: ADC Calls for Third Force

Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Ralph Okey Nwosu, has warned that Nigeria would be doomed if any candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the next presidential election in 2023. Nwosu, who spoke yesterday on the Morning Show of ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said that the country is faced with a grim situation as its politics and democracy is declining on a daily basis. “As of today, our President has gone out for medical treatment. For the last six years, the President has spent more than half of it going overseas for foreign treatment and no proactive measure has been taken to ensure that our health sector is working. “Sometimes people like me feel particularly offended because we struggled to get the military out and now look at all the leaders and core politicians we struggled with, some of them have become the governors and when they get there they become the richest

persons in the polity in their states. Is that the democracy and what we fought for?” he lamented. The national chairman of the ADC, however, suggested that it is the third force that would save the country. “We have taken time to build the ship and synergy. Nigerians have been sensitized. They see everything going on. It’s obvious we are poverty stricken. We also have the issues of security challenges. We, politicians didn’t mobilise Nigerians who did the #EndSARS protest and that is just a tip of the ice berg showing that the youths are saying enough is enough. “This is happening and you want to start taxing them? The money we have is not being transparently used. The leadership in place has not created the culture where Nigerians will feel a strong commitment to their country. “The problem of the Nigeria is not about its citizenry doing what they are supposed to do but that the leadership is failing to do what it should. If the appropriate leadership is in place, the resources to put Nigeria right and make Nigeria a superpower economy within the next 20 years is there,” he said

No Renewal of Resident Permit without Proof of Tax Payment, Says NIS Boss Michael Olugbode in Abuja The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, has said henceforth no resident permit would be renewed in Nigeria without the proof of tax payment. Babandede said the NIS was working with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to ensure that all foreigners, no matter the length of their contract, as long as they earn salary, must pay tax. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, Babandede said the era of some foreigners invading taxation in Nigeria even as they collect big pay package, was over. He said: “Now the renewal of resident permit is with evidence of payment of tax. Whoever works in Nigeria and collect salary must pay tax.” He added that technology put in place would make it impossible for anyone to earn, especially foreigners, without paying tax. Babandede said no one can escape anymore, lamenting that

the issue of fake marriages between foreigners and Nigerians ladies carried out to evade payment for resident permit has been on the increase since 2020. He disclosed that a Chinese and some Egyptians have been already with fake marriage certificates, noting that the cases are thoroughly being investigated by a department in the NIS which specialises in such matters. Babandede warned Nigerians to desist from entering into ‘contract marriage’, as it is illegal and a means of denying the government revenue by some criminal minded foreigners. The Comptroller General said the NIS was worried that many Nigerians in diaspora, who have made payment for international passports, have not yet be captured due to closure of some missions in some countries. He said it is sad that in United Kingdom alone, over 20,000 Nigerians are affected because of the closure of Nigerian High Commission in the country.

recent stakeholders meeting that was held in Minna, the state capital, announced the suspension of the former governor, Babangida Aliyu, from the party for alleged anti party activities, which included giving N450 million to the APC before the said election. It said the former governor worked against the victory of the presidential candidate of the PDP, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and the governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Umar Mohammed Nasko in 2015.

Reacting to the allegations yesterday in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna, the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Mr. Khaleel Ibrahim Aliyu, advised the PDP not to draw the ruling party into its crisis. “We wish to state categorically that the APC in Niger State did not receive any financial or moral support from former Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, in 2015 or thereafter,” he said. Ibrahim Aliyu claimed that a large chunk of APC supporters

were arrested and detained during the 2015 election, adding that the “landslide victory enjoyed by the APC in the election was a show of love from the people.” The legal adviser said that the APC considered the allegation “as an act of defamation of character orchestrated by the PDP in Niger State using the PDP Chanchaga Local Government Chapter as a tool to discredit the dividend of democracy being enjoyed by the good people of Niger State, which

is targeted to put the state in bad light.” He, therefore, asked the PDP o expunge the offensive part of the statement and apologise to it (APC) within 48 hours or face legal action. The legal adviser asked supporters of the party throughout the state “to remain steadfast and exercise readiness to embrace the dividend of democracy, which would be continuously rolled out by the APC led government in the state.

PAYING HOMAGE...

L-R: Chairman, Arepo Area Community Development Committe, Mr. Ganiyu Kazeem; Olu of Arepo, Oba Solomon Atanda Oyebi; and Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Waheed Odusile, during the commissioner’s courtesy visit to the monarch as part of the ceremony to kick-start the reconstruction of roads in Journalists’ Estate, Arepo, Ogun State... yesterday

INEC Announces Date for FCT Area Councils Elections Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced February 12, 2022, as the date for the elections in the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The three-year tenure of the six chairmen and 62 councillors will expire in May 2022. The FCT is the only part of the country where INEC is responsible for the conduct of local government election.

According to a statement issued by the National Commissioner of INEC and the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, this was as a result of the meeting held by the commission. He said the decision was by the virtue of Section 108(1) and (3) and 113(1)(a) and (b) of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended) or the elections in all area councils of the FCT, which stated that the area council elections shall be held on the same date

and time throughout the FCT. Okoye said: “This shall take place not earlier than 150 days before and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder. “Furthermore, by Section 113 of the Electoral Act, an area council shall stand dissolved at the expiration of a three-year period starting from the date the chairman took the oath of office, or when the legislative arm of the council was inaugurated, whichever is earlier.” He explained that the

chairmen and councillors of the councils were elected on March 9, 2019, and sworn in on the May 19, 2019, and by paragraph one of the commissions guidelines and regulations “where the end of the tenure of FCT Area Council does not coincide with a general election year, the election to the office of the chairman, vice-chairman and councillors of the area councils shall hold on Saturday closest to 100 days to the end of the tenure of the elected officials of the area councils.”

FCTA Disburses N3.7bn to Area Councils, Stakeholders Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has allocated the total sum of N3.7 billion to the six Area Councils in the FCT and other stakeholders as share of statutory allocation for the month of February 2021. The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, stated that there was a drop in the month of February allocation when compared to that of January. Aliyu was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, at the 151st

Joint Area Councils Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting. He revealed that in the month of January, the total sum of N3,825,254,760.45 billion was disbursed to the six area councils and other stakeholders, while the sum of N3,736,038,550.20 billion was allocated to the six area councils and other stakeholders in February, explaining that there was a shortfall from the federation account. The figures released indicated that the sum of N2,079,975,846.79 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils,

while the sum of N1,656,062,703.41 billion was disbursed to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N3,736,038,550.20 billion. However, the distribution to area councils shows that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) received N383, 682, 526.40 million, while Gwagwalada got N381,434, 001. 86 million, and Kuje received N323,721, 864.08 million. Similarly, Bwari Area Council received N321,822,935.51 million; Abaji got N341, 336, 690.16 million, and Kwali received N327, 977, 828.78 million. Furthermore, distributions

were made to other stakeholders including primary school teachers, N1,284, 373, 922.70 billion; 15 per cent Pension Funds, N226, 478, 989.57 million; one percent Training Fund, N37,360, 385.51 million, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution took N107, 849, 405.63 million. Adesola, who commended all the stakeholders for showing understanding in the distribution of the monthly allocation, however, assured them that other pending issues would be addressed at the next JAAC meeting.

Akwa Ibom LG Chairman Raises the Alarm over Circulation of Arms Okon Bassey in Uyo Following series of attacks occasioned by protracted boundary conflict, indigenes of Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State are now openly parading their communities and farms with weapons, the Chairman of Ini LGA, Mr. Isreal Idaisin,

has alleged. Worried by the development, he has cried out to the federal and state governments to intervene in the protracted Nkari boundary crisis. Idaisin lamented the age-long attack on the people of Nkari community by the neighbouring Usaka Uko community in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State.

He maintained that the crisis has over the years conditioned the minds of the indigenes to resort to self-protection. Idaisin in an interview yesterday noted that even women and children from Nkari community now go to farm with either short or long riffles. He warned that the situation,

if not nipped in the bud, would breed a future generation of bandits who may become thorns in the flesh of the government. “The daily crisis we have in Ini LGA is the Nkari crisis. The people there, including women and children, now go about with weapons to protect themselves.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

14 Aspirants Jostle for PDP Guber Ticket in Anambra Party extends sale of forms

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Fourteen governorship aspirants have so far paid and obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship ticket of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra State governorship election. The aspirants include the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in 2017, Mr. Tony Nwoye who defected

Ogun Pledges to Complete Arepo, Journalists’ Estate Road in Record Time Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta The Ogun State Government has reiterated its commitment to rehabilitate and complete the Journalists Estate road in Arepo, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state. This is just as it assured residents of the estate that the 2.35 km road linking it to the Lagos-Ibadan expressway would not be abandoned, but would completed in record time. The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, stated this while on an inspection of the commencement of the rehabilitation work on the road. Akinsanya maintained that the project, which would be delivered on time for the use of the people, would have a covered drainage for the use of pedestrians as well as other road furniture. According to him, “This project is not going to be abandoned because the contractor is fully funded. We are going to do everything humanly possible not to

inconvenient the people, but at the same time, we need to get the work done. “This is a dualised road with median and street lights. The water will be channeled to the proper location and into the canal. Also, along the way, there will be a lay-by for transporters. The drain would be covered to serve as a walk-way, and the face of this place will change very soon.” While calling on the residents of the estate, especially journalists, to ensure they document the changes in the area, as well as ensure that they serve as the eyes of the government on the project, Akinsanya assured the people that within the time frame allocated for the contract, the project would be completed and delivered. “This is an affirmation that a promise made is a promise kept. As far as Governor Dapo Abiodun is concerned, we want to assure our people that within the time frame allocated for the contract, it will be completed and delivered,” he said.

Katsina FRSC Arrests 120 Traffic Offenders Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has arrested over 120 offenders for violating different traffic rules and regulations across the state between January and March 2021. The Sector Commander, Mr. Ali Sule Tanimu, who unveiled this to journalists at a press conference to commence the 2021 Easter special partrol yesterday, said the motorists were arrested for overloading, speeding, dangerous driving, route violation, light sign violation, worn-out or expired tyres among others. Tanimu also announced the deployment of 400 men and officers of the corps and 137 special marshals to ensure safer road and quicker response to emergencies during the Easter festivity. He said three life-support ambulances would also be deployed for the exercise to ensure effective management of expected upsurge in human and vehicle traffic during the period. He explained that the personnel would be deploy to critical locations to checkmate traffic, ensure lane discipline and avert what he termed dangerous overtaking and

over speeding by motorists plying roads within the command’s areas of coverage. Tanimu, who identified Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto route as a corridor of high traffic during the weeklong Easter celebration, added that the officers would ensure full implementation of road traffic regulations. He said: “We will synergise with all other security agencies to ensure the success of the exercise. We will be as alert as ever on any emergencies as our ambulance in Katsina will be placed on alert as well as our road side clinic in Koza and Malumfashi. “We are going to leave no stone unturned to ensure the success of the exercise. Accordingly, anyone who is a regular traffic violator should have a change of heart as enforcement will be total.” Consequently, he admonished road users, especially those in Katsina State, to cooperate with men and officers of command to ensure a crash-free journey during the Easter celebration and beyond. While applauding the state government and people of the state for their support, the state FRSC boss said the business of safety is a collective responsibility of all and sundry.

to the PDP and has now joined the governorship race for the November 6 election. The main opposition party has however extended the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms from the earlier stated date of Wednesday, March 31, 2021 (yesterday) to Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Nwoye told THISDAY

yesterday that he paid N26 million for the compliance, expression of interest and nomination form for the governorship election. He was the APC governorship candidate in the governorship election in 2017 but lost to the incumbent governor, Mr. Willie Obiano. Over 13 other governorship aspirants from Anambra State

had paid and collected their nomination forms. Those that collected the nomination forms are Senator Uche Ekwunife; Dr. Obiora Okonkwo; Mr. Chris Azubuogu; Wintson Udeh; Valentine Ozigbo; Godwin Ezeemo and Emeka Atiaba (SAN). Others that obtained the governorship forms are:

Chidi Onyemelekwe; Godwin Maduka; Mrs. Genevieve Ekwochi; Ifedi Okwenna; Ugochukwu Uba; Walter Okeke and Tony Nwoye. According to a statement by the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), the deadline for the purchase of the gubernatorial nomination forms was March 31 2021.

OUR DEMANDS...

Representative of Persons Living With Disability (PLWDs), Mr. James David Lulu (left), and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Constitution Review Committee, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during the presentation of memoranda by the APC youth, women and People Living With Disability at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja… yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Enugu Completes 1,355 School Projects in 17 LGAs To rehabilitate Aguobia-Nomeh school, others in next phase Enugu State Government under the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said it has carried out 1,355 verifiable projects in various primary and secondary schools across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, under the State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) and Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), in line with its vision to improve the learning condition of the students. The state government disclosed that besides recruiting over 7,030 primary and secondary school teachers, it also procured and distributed over

50,000 classroom furniture and other learning tools for school children and their teachers across the state. It revealed that it supplied and installed computers to 490 primary and secondary schools; science equipment to 151 secondary schools, and constructed and renovated classroom blocks, offices and hostels, among others, under the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB). Speaking on the recent call for urgent repairs of classrooms by Aguobia-Nomeh community, in Nkanu East LGA, the Chairman of ENSUBEB, Mr.

Ikeje Asogwa, stated that though six school projects had been successfully carried out in Nomeh community, “Aguobia -Nomeh Community Secondary School is presently captured in the action plan of the projects to be embarked upon by state government in this season”. ENSUBEB chairman listed the school projects executed in Nomeh community to include “reconstruction of 12 classroom blocks at Station Primary School Nomeh, which was done in two phases; construction of three classroom blocks with an office at CPS Nomeh; construction of three classroom blocks and an

office at St Patrick Primary School Nomeh; and construction of four classroom blocks at Onuode Primary School, Nomeh”. Asogwa disclosed that in spite of decay of educational infrastructure the present administration met on ground in 2015, “the Government of Enugu State in collaboration with Universal Basic Education Commission Abuja, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) has transformed the education sector in the state and enhanced the quality of learning, conducive environment and productivity

Ajang Appointed New Bishop of Lafia Catholic Diocese Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Monsignor David Ajang as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Lafia. Monsignor Ajang’s appointment would fill the vacuum created in the diocese last year following the appointment of Bishop Matthew Ishaya Audu as Bishop of the

Metropolitan Catholic Arch Diocese of Jos. Audu announced Ajang’s appointment at a chrism mass at the St. Williams Catholic Cathedral, Lafia. Ajang was the Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception Parish and Dean of Zaramaganda. He was born on March 31, 1970, in Zaria, in the Diocese

of the same name. After his primary and middle school education, he attended the Saint John Vianney Minor Seminary in Barkin Ladi (19821987). As a Seminarian of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos, he carried out his studies in philosophy at the St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi (1987-1990), and in

Theology at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (19901994). He was ordained a priest on December 3, 1994, and incardinated in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos. He was subsequently awarded a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome (2002-2004) and a doctorate from the University of Jos.

APC National Chairmanship: Sheriff Seeks Nasarawa Gov’s Support Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has indicated interest to contest for the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman at the party’s national convention in June, 2021. Sheriff, who is a former national chairman of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this yesterday in the Nasarawa State Government House in Lafia, when he visited the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, to consult him and solicit for his support. He, however, explained that he would be going into the race only if the position is zoned to the North-east

part of the country, adding that having been a senator, governor for eight years and a former national chairman of the PDP, he possesses all the qualities to effectively manage the affairs of the APC. Sheriff said he was fully aware that the Nasarawa State governor was canvassing support for the APC national chairman to be zoned to North

Central and Nasarawa State, assuring him of his support if that happens. The former Borno State governor, who is a foundation member of the APC, commended the Nasarawa State governor for the transformation going on in all the sectors of the state economy, and urged him to maintain the tempo.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

Sultan Urges Traditional Rulers to Support Policy on Ethics, Integrity The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged traditional rulers in

the country to support the implementation of the recently approved National Ethics and

Ekiti Monarchs Reject FG’s Grazing Plans No fewer than 80 traditional rulers in Ekiti State have rejected the federal government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), insisting that the new scheme is still the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA). They described the new livestock plans as a land grabbing initiative. In a letter to the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the royal fathers, under the aegis of Majority Obas of Ekiti Land (MOBEL), said the scheme would bring about Fulani herders’ occupation of their land. MOBEL Chairman and the Olomuooke of Omuo-Oke Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Otitoju; Secretary and the Onikun of Ikun-Amure Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Olusola; and 79 traditional rulers, signed the letter, dated March 25, 2021 and titled, ‘Rejection of the proposed Federal Government’s livestock

scheme in Ekiti State by MOBEL’. They said NTLP was unacceptable to them and as well their subjects. “We vehemently oppose surrendering/acquisition of our land to be used as grazing reserves for herdsmen under the proposed NLTP,” they said. The Ekiti State Government had pledged to reactivate the grazing reserves at Oke Ako and Irele Ekiti for the NLTP in the state. But the monarchs opposed the move, saying: “We are mindful of the security implications and consequences which will be inimical to the security of our people, knowing full well that the majority of our populace are predominantly peasant farmers. “We are also not unmindful of the antecedents of some of the Fulani herders wherever they cohabit with their hosts.

Govt Lacks Power to Issue Road Worthiness Certificate, Appeal Court Rules The Court of Appeal sitting at Asaba, Delta State capital, has just affirmed the judgment of the High Court, Ughelli, also in the state, declaring that the Delta State Government lacks the power to authorise and demand the payment of levy and issuance of Road Worthiness Certificate in respect of private vehicles. Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem on March 12, 2021, while delivering the judgment in appeal No: CA/B/333/2017, stated that he found no merit in the appeal and therefore affirmed the decision of the trial court. According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment, the court further stated that “Before drawing the curtain on this judgment, I need to remind public bodies and public

officers that a public body or public officer vested with statutory power must take care not to exceed or abuse its or his power. It or he must keep within the limits of the authority committed to it. This is to prevent arbitrariness and the rule of man rather than the rule of law. “The Vehicle Inspection Officers went beyond the powers vested in them by the Law and the RTR by violently stopping the private vehicle of the Respondent on a public highway using menacing tactics and dangerous implements to demand a certificate of roadworthiness which the said vehicle is not required to have. Such conduct sends a wrong signal to the citizens who may adopt such strong-arm tactics as a means of settling disputes.”

Obi: Anambra Yet to Pay My Entitlements Since I Left Office David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, Mr. Peter Obi, has declared that the state government has not paid his entitlement since he left office seven years ago. Obi spoke during an interactive meeting convened by the Anambra State Chapter of the

PDP for national, state, local government and ward officers of the party in preparation for the forthcoming governorship election in the state. He said: “Since I left Anambra State Government seven years ago, I have not been given anything, not even a sachet of water by this government. I still go about my duties, giving donations to schools.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RINO EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE FOR FAMILIES

1, MARANATHA REVIVAL, NEW OWERRI, IMO STATE, NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notiﬁed that the Trustees of the above-named organisation have applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for their Incorporation under Part“C”of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: ANYANWU CHIDI MIKE Chairman ONUOHA NNAEMEKA STANLISTUS Secretary THE OBJECTIVES ARE: To promote and develop sustainable skills among men and women in Africa. To eradicate extreme poverty and reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in Africa. To foster mutual love, peace and marital success among people by organizing small communities that offer support Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Chairman

Integrity Policy, a brainchild of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Orientation Agency. Abubakar said this during the plenary session of the 12th general assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria held in Kano,

according to a statement on Wednesday. The policy was presented to the Council by the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN). Sultan said, “Traditional rulers have a key role to play in governance, including the promotion of government policies. Whatever you support succeeds.” He noted that the support

of traditional rulers in the distribution of the polio vaccine led to the successful eradication of polio from the country. He, therefore, called on the royal fathers to support the ICPC and NOA, to ensure a successful implementation of the policy. Owasanoye said the support and collaboration of the traditional rulers would restore the lost values of honesty and

integrity the country was known for. Owasanoye added that the support and cooperation of traditional rulers in the implementation of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy “will bring about the success of the policy.” The Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, said the focus of the policy were the seven core values it contained.

ALL EYES ON GUBER POLL...

L-R: Member, Anambra State House of Assembly; Hon. Osita Egbuna; former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; and state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ndubuisi Nwobu, during an interactive meeting of the party in Awka ...yesterday

NEXIM Shifts Focus to Women, Youths, SMEs with N10bn Seed Fund The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has shifted its support to women and youth exporters with a seed fund of N10 billion under a new programme coined ‘Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF)’. The bank also announced a partnership with Afreximbank under which $50 million Project Preparation Fund (PPF) would be mobilised for Nigeria. The objective of the PPF, it said, is to provide technical assistance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including those promoted by women and youths towards presenting

bankable proposals thereby improving their access to funds. The Managing Director/ Chief Eexecutive Officer of NEXIM Bank, Abubakar Abba Bello, made the revelations in Abuja on March 30, 2021, at the launch of WAYEF. In his address during the programme, Bello said the launch of the facility was in commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day, which is celebrated globally on March 8, adding that WAYEF would increase women and youths’ participation in the global export market. The event also featured a

capacity building session on the theme: ‘Unlocking Export Market Opportunities for Women and Youth’, where women and youths, who were engaged in profitable export businesses were invited to share their experiences as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. Bello explained that the bank has provided enormous support for many exportoriented industries that are high employers of women and youths such as cashew, Shea, hibiscus, ginger among others, where a lot of women are involved in cleaning and

packaging of the products for export. He said WAYEF would provide more financial support for women and youth-owned businesses operating in the various aspects of the export value chain under a more dedicated and focused arrangement. According to him, “WAYEF, however, seeks to do more by supporting women and youth-owned businesses operating in the various aspects of the export value chain under a more dedicated and focused arrangement.”

Diri Awards Scholarship to another First Class Law Graduate Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has offered scholarship to another first class law graduate from the state, Miss Pere Esther Amazige. Miss Amazige, who graduated from the Rivers State University in Port Harcourt, is the second female Law graduate to bag the scholarship after Miss Ebizi Eradiri that had a double First Class at the Niger Delta University and the Nigerian Law School. Diri made the offer yesterday

while receiving Miss Amazige and her mother, Mrs Joy Amazige, in Government House, Yenagoa. The governor, who assured her of his administration’s preparedness to sponsor her education up to doctorate level in any university of her choice within and outside the country, congratulated her for achieving the feat against all odds. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor saluted

Amazige’s courage and resilience, pointing out that she was not deterred from achieving her dreams by her father’s death. “You have a lot of offers in the United Kingdom to go for your Master degree. Let me on behalf of the government declare that your admission in or outside the country will be taken over by the state government even up to Ph.D level. “I use this opportunity to advise our young ones not to be

discouraged by the circumstances they find themselves. Esther lost her father while in secondary school. Nothing can stop you when you are determined to achieve your dreams. “Let Esther be your role model. With all the daunting challenges she and her mother faced, she remained focused and today we are celebrating her success. I urge the youths to learn from her success story.

Libel: MFM Registers N500m Damages against Blogger in UK Court A United Kingdom High Court of Justice has registered the N500 million damages entered in favour of Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Ministries and the church’s general overseer, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, by an Ogun State High Court

against Maureen Badebo - a UK-based blogger. The judgment was registered on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. MFM, the judgment of the Hon. Justice A. A. Adeyemi has become, for all intents and purposes, judgment of

the Queens Bench Division and will soon be executed on the judgment-debtor, Maureen Badejo, in that country. “The judgment of the High Court of Ogun State delivered on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 by which damages of N500

million was awarded to MFM and the General Overseer, Dr. Daniel K. Olukoya, against Maureen Badejo for aggravated libel, has been duly registered in the High Court of Justice in the United Kingdom,” the statement explained.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

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

No Plans to Move National Sports Festival to Abuja, Says LOC Chairman Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Edo State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 20th National Sports Festival, has refuted

insinuations in some quarters that the sports fiesta, tagged Edo 2020, will be moved to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. Shaibu who was led by the Director of Facilities, Edo

AFCON 2021QUALIFIER

“33” Export Lager Beer Thumbs Up Eagles’ Qualification for Cameroon 2021

Osimhen who emerges Man-of-theMatch pockets N1million The Super Eagles have been congratulated for finish top of Group L in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. In what was their first competitive match in Lagos in 20 years, the three-time African Champion Super Eagles, with strong support from “33” Export Lager beer trounced the Crocodiles of Lesotho 3-0 to maintain their unbeaten run into the 33rd edition of AFCON which will hold next January in Cameroon, Even though Gernot Rohr’s men had long qualified for the continental premier event, “33” Export Lager Beer still propelled the team to go for victory in the last match with its “Operation 3-3” campaign

State Sports Commission, Victor Edokpayi, to inspect facilities for the sports festival, reassured stakeholders that the state was ready to host the Games, scheduled to kickoff on April 2, 2020. The deputy governor also visited Team Edo at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium where the athletes were being tested and vaccinated against coronavirus (Covid-19), ahead of the Games opening ceremony. During the visit, Shaibu said: “The rumours that the Federal Ministry of Sports wants to take the games from Edo to Abuja is not true as the minister and the permanent

secretary have denied it. “I spoke with the minister who said he didn’t release any statement of such, likewise the permanent secretary. Edo State is hosting for the love of the nation and national interest to help our athletes shape up to win at the Tokyo Olympics games,” Shaibu reiterated. On the state’s readiness to host the competition, he noted: “We are hopeful that the games will go on but only to the extent that we are funded. We are ready. We have gone round the facilities because we believe that we will be funded; that is why the competition equipment is

being unveiled and installed. “The equipment for Edo 2020 are the latest sporting equipment and the type they will meet in the Tokyo Olympics, which is why the contingents will be camping in Edo. We are ready,” concluded the Edo State deputy CEO. He said the state has concluded vaccination of Edo athletes and they are now going through PCR screening for Covid-19. Addressing the state’s athletes, Shaibu maintained: “We are hosting to win and we must win clean without using drugs or cheats. We trust you and know you will

make us proud: we will not do anything to give us a bad name. Our junior brothers, Delta State are already boasting that they will win; we will tell them that we are their senior brothers and will clinch the most gold medals to win the game.” Facilities inspected include those for Wrestling, Boxing, Gymnastics, Judo, Kung fu, Karate and Swimming; Lawn Tennis Court; Basketball facilities at wire road; Storage facility; LOC Secretariat Staff office; Office of the Secretary General of LOC; Conference Hall for Press conferences and Indoor Sports Hall in Etete, among others.

and the players did it in grand style with three goals that also resonate the brand’s connect with football. Victor Osimhen who was the toast of the fans in the stadium, emerged as the winner of ‘Man of The Match’ prize which carries a one million Naira value. The lanky Osimhen was adjudged the best in the pool by top media personalities in the stadium. He was presented with a cheque of One million naira after the game on Tuesday night. Osimhen, who scored Nigeria’s opening goal of the night shared the top scorer chart in the qualification tournament alongside Zambia’s Patson Daka

Edo State’s team celebrating after defeating Kaduna Cricket Team yesterday at the Edo Boys High School in Benin, Edo State, on Wednesday March 31st

The Head Media, Digital, PR & Sponsorship, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Wasiu Abiola (Left ), presenting the ‘Man-of-the-Match prize to Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, on Tuesday night at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos after Nigeria’s 3-0 win over Lesotho

Edo Crowned National Men’s Cricket Champions Edo State’s men team outran their Kaduna State counterpart with 57 runs yesterday to emerge champion of the National Men’s Cricket Championship in Benin City, Edo State. Team Captain Peter Aho, a prominent member of the National Under-19 Cricket World Cup team last year in South Africa said the team owed their victory to discipline and the huge measure of support that they enjoyed from the Edo State Cricket Association. “We give the glory to God and we thank all our mentors and the leadership of the Edo State Cricket Association that have sacrificed and encouraged the team to this height, we dedicate this victory to them,” observed Aho. President of the Federation, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya, said the event has served its

purpose. “We set out to, among other things use this event as a platform for the best players in the country to showcase their skills” Ukwenya said apart from the impressive displays, the opportunity to have more players drawn into the pool to be camped for the national assignments that the country would be involved in later in the year is very key. “The national coach, Asanka (Gurusinha), has watched every matched of this encounter with a team of selectors, and soon our national camp will open for the assignments ahead with some new players invited based on their performance here.” Team Kaduna finished as runner up while Lagos won the third placed game. Mustapha Yussuff (of Lagos) was named the bowler of the series for bowling 16 wickets in four matches.

MTN Reinstates Commitment to Super Eagles It is no longer news that the Super Eagles, three-time AFCON champions defeated the Squirrels of Benin Republic at the AFCON qualifier match last weekend. What is news however is the massive support the National team received from MTN Nigeria to facilitate their trip to Port Novo and back. According to reports, MTN

Nigeria provided two boats and seven crew members in addition to insurance policy covers required for the team to embark on the national engagement. The Gernot Rohr-led team took off and docked at the Falomo jetty in Ikoyi, Lagos, which was built by the telecommunications service provider for the

Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA). CEO Karl Toriola said: ‘MTN is a big supporter of Nigerian football, and we appreciate the opportunity to further our support for the sports, the players, and the fans.’ Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigerian Football Federation says MTN’s

support towards getting the Super Eagles to Port Novo on Friday, and back to Lagos on Sunday, was ‘invaluable’. ‘We thank MTN Nigeria specially for making the journey possible. And we look forward to even more support from them, and other well-meaning Nigerian businesse.

Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: Organisers to Accredit Only 25 Journalists In line with Covid-19 protocols and working with the Lagos State Safety Commission and relevant agencies, organisers have announced that only 25 journalists will be allowed to cover the 2021 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon race and Press Conference. Head Communications and Media for the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Olukayode Thomas, explained that the decision is in strict compliance with laid down rules by the

Federal and State ministries of health and other relevant agencies. Thomas said the usual applications for media accreditation will not be entertained this year but a rigorous selection process will be adopted to select 25 media platforms to cover this year’s race as well as the press conference. “There will be no accreditation process for journalists this year, we would only be selecting 25 media platforms with a pedigree in athletics and

road races reporting to cover this sixth edition” Thomas explainer Now in its sixth edition, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the biggest oneday event in Africa usually attracts over 100,000 runners but the number has been reduced to just 300 runners for the 2021 edition slated for April 10 “As we already know, the number of runners was trimmed down from almost 100,000 to just 300 elite runners, this is the reality we find ourselves

in, so we appeal to everyone to bear with us at this time” he added Thomas revealed that the accredited journalists must also adhere to the protocols of Covid-19 by wearing their face masks at all times and also observe the mandatory social distancing “We won’t even be entertaining interviews at the finishing line, all audio-visuals and pictures will be disseminated via all our platforms so our people can use them appropriately,” he assured.

THURSDAY APRIL 1, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

ThursdaySports TRANSFER

Man City Give up on Messi Pursuit Manchester City have reportedly abandoned their ambitious move to bring Lionel Messi to the Premier League and have now deemed the whole episode as ‘case closed.’ City for some time have stood as favourites to be

Messi’s next suitor should be make an emotional exit from the Nou Camp, after expressing his desire to embrace a new challenge last summer. Messi’s attempt to leave the club failed and now, under new manager Ronald Koeman and

....Target Haaland as Aguero’s Replacement Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola is targeting Erling Braut Haaland as Sergio Aguero’s replacement - but there are other options if he misses out on the Norwegian, and they include England skipper Harry Kane. On Monday it was announced City’s record goalscorer Aguero will leave the club at the end of the season. Guardiola has had a plan to bring in a new striker for some time now, which meant Aguero was likely to have even less playing time than he has had recently. The finality over the Argentine’s future does leave City clear to pursue replacements. And no matter who they eventually sign, it will be one of the biggest deals of the summer. It is no surprise 20-yearold Haaland is at the top of Guardiola’s wish-list. The Norway and Borussia Dortmund forward has become the most coveted young number nine in Europe through his sheer weight of goals and he will be looking to add to his tally against City in their Champions League last-16 tie.

Erling Haaland....new target for City

Only prolific Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has scored more than Haaland’s 21 goals in the Bundesliga this season, while earlier this month he reached 20 Champions League goals in only 14 appearances. However, signing Haaland is not straightforward. His controversial agent Mino Raiola seemed to be suggesting the striker would be on the move this summer when in a recent interview with The Athletic, he told a story of an unnamed player who, together with his parents, he decided to leave with his club despite interest from elsewhere. The player then suffered two ligament injuries, which virtually ended his career. “Sometimes football is a train that passes by,” he said. “You can say ‘let’s take the next train’. But sometimes the next train doesn’t come.” Yet there are reasons why a transfer in the summer of 2022 would make more sense. Haaland’s Dortmund contract does not expire until 2024, although it is thought to contain a release clause of 75m euros (£64m) that can be activated next year. In addition, financial constraints around Barcelona and Real Madrid are likely to take two of the most attractive potential destinations out of the equation this summer. Still, if Haaland does leave, Chelsea and Manchester United will want to be kept abreast of developments and there are no guarantees City is where he will end up, even though his dad, Alfie, played for them. In an interview with BBC in February, Raiola said: “Only a maximum of 10 clubs can afford to buy (Haaland) and give the platform you would like after you’ve been in Dortmund… and four of those clubs are in (England)

South Africa Sacks Coach Ntseki after AFCON Ouster The South African Football Association (SAFA) has fired Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki after the side failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon that will take place early next year. Bafana lost 2-0 in Sudan on Sunday, a result that saw them finish third in their qualification pool behind Ghana and the North African nation. SAFA CEO, Tebogo Motlanthe, said yesterday that the National Executive Committee (NEC) has voted in favour of parting ways with Ntseki, who had been mandated to qualify for the continental finals. “We are here to convey the message of the NEC, who have mandated us to apologise to the nation on their behalf for the teams’ failure to qualify for the upcoming AFCON,” Motlanthe insisted.

“Everyone worked around the clock to ensure we would qualify. Emotionally, it has affected the country. The expectation was we would qualify and do well in the finals. “(As such) the NEC has responded in favour of parting ways with the coach. The Technical Committee will give us direction on what will happen now (with a new coach] but we hope to reconvene next week to deliver the process going forward.” Ntseki was appointed in August 2019 after Stuart Baxter had led Bafana to the quarterfinals of the Nations Cup in Egypt. He was in charge for nine games, winning four of those against Sao Tome e Principe (twice), Sudan and Mali. There were also draws with Ghana and Namibia, and defeats to Ghana, Zambia and Sudan.

the returning president Joan Laporta, Messi appears to be enjoying his football once more and looks set to stay. According to Spanish publication Sport, City were very interested in signing Messi last summer but ‘they are throwing in the towel, convinced that the Argentine will renew with Barca.’ The report details that ‘City will be signing a forward this summer to replace the departing Sergio Aguero,

and the candidates are Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku.’ City have made no secret of the fact that they are on the search for firepower, after confirming on Monday that all-time leading goalscorer Aguero will move on at the end of the season once his contract expires. City were widely expected to bring Messi to the Premier League, after the superstar told Barca last year that he wished

to exercise his option to leave for free. Messi sent the Spanish giants an official burofax outlining that he wanted to bring his time at the Nou Camp to a close, though Barca stood firm and successfully argued that such a deadline for notifying them of this intention had passed. Messi has knuckled back down this season despite being forced to stay and has got back to his majestic best, currently leading the way in

the La Liga goalscoring charts with 23 goals and eight assists from 26 games played. Barca have rocketed up the table as a result, and now sit in second place just four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Sport add in the report that Paris Saint-Germain now remains the ‘only alternative to force Messi away from the Nou Camp from June 30,’ should he once again decide to tell his boyhood club he wishes to leave.

Manchester City players celebrating a victory this season. After their unsuccessful pursuit of Lionel Messi, they have turned attention elsewhere

AFCON 2021 QUALIFIERS

CAF Postpones Benin, Sierra Leone Decider Till June The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponed Africa Cup of Nations qualification encounter between Sierra Leone and Benin Republic will now take place during the June international window. The Group L fixture initially billed for Tuesday, March 30, at the National Stadium, Freetown did not take place owing to a Covid-19 controversy. However, both teams will now square up against one another in three months’ time – a game that will determine the last team to secure a place for Cameroon 2022. “The Africa Cup of Nations

organizing committee has decided to postpone the above-mentioned match to the next FIFA international window scheduled for June 2021. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding,” a post from Benin Football Federation Facebook page read. Although Michel Dussuyer’s men arrived at the match venue, they refused to leave their bus after being told within an hour to kick-off that star player Steve Mounie, alongside five others had tested positive for the virus. The Squirrels did not accept the results produced by their hosts claiming the tests taken

72 hours earlier turned out negative. “We arrived at the stadium in Sierra Leone to learn that—bizarrely—five starters have Covid. What a comedy sketch!” defender Emmanuel Imorou tweeted. “We did our own tests 72 hours before the match as planned,” he added. “After the time of the trip, we were tested again in Sierra Leone, and five positive results…the captain, and players from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.” Benin Republic also echoed their dissatisfaction with how events turned out in Freetown. “What is currently happening

is a disgrace for African football,” they wrote on their official Twitter handle. “We hope that the Confederation of African Football will take its responsibilities and— especially—take measures following these decisions.” The Squirrels lost 1-0 the last time out to Gernot Rohr’s Nigeria, while the Leone Stars recorded a 0-0 draw in Maseru, Lesotho. Dussuyer’s side needs a draw to guarantee their place in the biennial African football showpiece, while victory for John Keister’s team will send Sierra Leone through.

CBN JNR TENNIS

Emefiele Pleads with Parents to Allow Kids Start Tennis Early Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has pleaded with parents to cash in on the opportunity being offered by apex bank by encouraging their children to start tennis at tender age. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2021 Central Bank of Nigeria Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos last weekend, Emefiele who was represented by acting Director,

Corporate Communication of CBN, Osita Nwamsobi, described the championship as the timely platform for Nigerians to achieve tennis greatness. At the event which held at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan Lagos, Seun Ogunsakin 14, was the centre of attraction at the 2021 edition as he won the Boys 14 and U-16 titles in one day to pocket the sum of

N100,000 education grant. Popularly refered to as “ Nadal” by his fans, Ogunsakin dismissed Joshua Maxwell 9-0 in the U-16 boys category to emerge champion before stopping Ganiyu Mobarak 9-2 in the Boys 14 and under class to emerge double champion in two categories in one day. It was therefore not surprising that he was crowned the most outstanding male player of the

championship. What Ogunsakin gained was lost by his younger brother, Seyi Ogunsakin who was not that lucky as he was dethroned by Onyekachi Ogunjiofor who beat him 9-7 in the Boys U-12 category in a game that he was supposed to have won easily if not for several unforced errors. Murewa Egbeyemi defeated Malcolm Osaji 9-7 to claim the Boys U-10 crown.

GOTV BOXING NIGHT 22

Everybody’ll Enjoy My Fight Except My Opponent, Boasts Gonze Anambra State-based heavyweight boxer, Timothy ‘Nsiefinagaije’ Gonze, has boasted that everyone will enjoy his fight at GOtv Boxing Night 22 except his opponent, Segun “Success” Olanrewaju. Gonze, who is scheduled to make his bow at GOtv Boxing Night on 2 April, said he is delighted to be part of the event for the first time and he is ready to show the national, sub-regional and continental boxing audiences

what he can do. Speaking from his base on Thursday, the boxer said his opponent will not last the distance. “Olanrewaju is a good boxer, but I’m better. He will not last the distance. That fight will be enjoyed by everyone who watches it except my opponent, who will be in pains for the few rounds he will last,” he raved. Gonze, who has had two previous fights, winning both

by technical knockout, said he is particularly thrilled at being chosen to fight at GOtv Boxing Night. “It is important to thank the sponsors, GOtv, and organisers, Flykite Productions, for making this possible. It shows that they cast their nets far and wide to provide Nigerian boxers with opportunity and exposure. I intend to seize this chance with both hands and make it count,” he said.

GOtv Boxing Night 22 will be headlined by two World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fights featuring Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde and Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu against opponents from Ghana and Tanazania. Babatunde will take on Tanzania’s Mkalekwa Salehe Omari for the WBF International welterweight title, while Oladosu will fight for the WBF Intercontinental super featherweight crown.

Thursday, April 1, 2021

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“Our women now plunge into feminism nowadays. They can’t even keep their husbands anymore. Is that a good thing? These women are schooled but a lot of wives now can’t even cook—one thing that a woman should be good in so as to be able to keep her husband” – Vetetran actor, saying feminism is alien to African culture.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

When Judiciary Goes on Trial F

ollowing the 5th December 2020 Imo North Senatorial by-election to replace the late Benjamin Uwajumogu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared victory in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) without proclaiming a winner. This was due to a multiplicity of cases by APC members claming to be the party’s candidate and the various reliefs they were able to procure from different courts. But in a recent petition signed by the party’s acting National Chairman and governor of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, APC accused Supreme Court Justices Mohammed Dattijo, Abdu Aboki and Helen Ogunwumiju of conspiring with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to deliver the senate seat. This grave allegation has already elicited a response from the apex court with dire implications for the people of Imo North and democracy in Nigeria. Announcing the suspension of proceedings in the appeal by Chukwuemeka Ibezim regarding his dispute with Ifeanyi Ararume, Justice Mohammed Dattijo—who led a fivemember panel of the apex court—said APC has called to question his integrity and that of two colleagues. “Let me confirm to all counsel in this matter that the Interim National Chairman of APC had written a petition against me and two other Justices of this court, namely Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki” said Dattijo. “They alleged that my humble self had led my two brothers to attend a meeting with members of the PDP to strategize on how to subvert the outcome of this case. I must say that this is most unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this country. This is a reckless and irresponsible statement. If they have honour,

CJN, Tanko Muhammad let them substantiate their allegations and I will not stay a day longer in this court. So, this matter is adjourned sine die,” meaning indefinitely. The problem began on 5th September last year when factions emerged from the seven-man committee established by the APC to conduct primaries for Imo North senatorial election. Chaired by Senator Ajibola Bashiru with Samuel Ogbuku as Secretary, other committee members included Jibrin Gada, Bello Kumo, Umar Gana, Mohammed Saba and Godfrey Ejim. At the end of the exercise, two APC senatorial candidates emerged. While Bashiru led the secretary and two other members to declare Ibezim winner, the remaining three

committee members gave victory to Ifeanyi Ararume. The party headquarters threw its weight behind Ibezim and submitted his name to INEC. But several politicians, including those from parties that ordinarily had no dog in the fight, went to court with all manner of cases. That was how the judiciary became a pawn in the political chess game. In the Nigerian legal system, there is only ONE Federal High Court. There is also only ONE Court of Appeal. That has not stopped our politicians from instituting cases involving same parties at different locations of the same court. On 6th November 2020, the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri disqualified Ibezim and declared Ararume the APC candidate in a case filed by Lady Uchenna Ubah. This case proceeded to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and both overturned the verdict which then left the coast clear for Ibezim. But in a case filed by Tony Elebeke on 4th December 2020, another Federal High Court sitting in Abuja disqualified Ibezim, thus technically giving the ticket to Ararume 24 hours to the election. This judgement was affirmed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja. However, we must remember that the Owerri panel of the Court of Appeal (in the case filed against APC by Lady Ubah) had earlier upheld the election of the same Ibezim. Were different facts presented before the two panels? Similarly, the Supreme Court that had earlier validated the election of Ibezim in the Ubah case against APC disqualified him on this latter case thus effectively giving the ticket to Ararume. Were different facts presented before the Supreme Court too? That of course was not the end of the court drama. On 8th March 2021, an interim

order was sought at the FCT High Court to compel INEC to recognize Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, the PDP candidate, winner of the election. This is forum shopping by another politician who had actually filed a similar case at the Election Petition Tribunal that is still pending. However, the Judge was also clever. Apparently in a bid to buy time for the matter to be decided either by the Supreme Court or the Election Tribunal, he adjourned the case. On 18th March, 2021, without waiting for the appeal pending at the Supreme Court, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja declared Ararume winner of the election. On the same day, an Interim Injunction was obtained from the High Court of Imo State, restraining INEC from recognizing Ararume as the candidate for the election. Curiously, the case was filed by a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). What is APGA’s interest in APC internal issues? Obviously a case of hand of Esau, voice of Jacob! Interestingly, before the Imo North Senatorial contest became enmeshed in litigation, the APC screening committee had disqualified Ibezim and the decision was upheld by the party’s appeal panel. Somehow, somehow as we say in Nigeria, it was the name of this same disqualified aspirant that the party sent to INEC as APC candidate. With that, the commission is helpless because by design, our politicians have protected themselves, regardless of how they circumvent their own internal processes. Section 31 of the Electoral Act says that once a party submits the list of candidates, INEC has no power to reject or disqualify “for any reason whatsoever”. r/05& 1JFDF DPODMVEFE PO QBHF

Amatala and Other ‘Unforgotten’ Children

espite protestation from my friend, Waziri Adio who has been her greatest supporter and encourager right from the beginning, I had warned my wife when this whole idea started three years ago that on no account should it get to the media. I promised financial support and when necessary rally close friends but it should always be our own way of giving back to the society in a quiet way. When Ms Tolu Salami, a Masters degree holder and job seeker, joined to assist in managing the ‘school’, I should have seen a red flag with the opening of a Twitter account. But with a followership of just 75 comprising family and friends, I never thought much of it. Then the photograph of Amatala, a two-year old who was in the habit of loitering around the ‘school’ premises with book in hand, changed everything! Within a few hours, the Twitter account had attracted more than a thousand followers with many people asking how they could support the initiative. When Waziri told me he was going to blow my cover about the project as a follow up to the tweet, I really couldn’t care anymore. But I have so many people to thank for the way my wife is gradually transforming the lives of 54 children, 17 young adults and

their parents through an informal project she was compelled to register and now goes by the name Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI). It’s a long story but let me share the key points. There were many ramshackle shanties around our house in Asokoro with inhabitants whose children were just roaming the area. On a particular day in 2018, a pregnant woman flagged down my wife as she drove past, asking for help. Her husband had asked her to move her things from their abode and she needed someone to intervene. Upon investigation, the conflict stemmed from her refusal to give him the N5,000 she had saved from her petty trading to send Haruna, her first son whose father is late, to school. When my wife discussed the matter with me, she followed up with a proposition: Why don’t we take up Haruna’s education? I agreed instantly. Then she added, ‘What about the other kids? We need to do something about them as well.’ She told me she had discussed with parents and they expressed willingness to have their children (14 at the time) in school but had no money. I told her to go ahead with whatever she planned, promising to provide the financial resources. I know I have good friends I can always count on. My wife took my word as a license to construct two classrooms in a make-shift

structure on an empty land within the area. But the moment the 14 pupils were enrolled and one teacher employed, we had many children showing up, looking all scruffy and tattered. And we could not turn them back. We hired two more teacers. Just as I was getting worried by the financial implications as the number of pupils kept increasing, my friend, Folorunsho (Foli) Coker, added a new idea. Following his appointment as Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Coker arrived Abuja in 2017 to take accommodation beside the ‘school’. He fell in love with the children and inquired about people behind the idea. When he got to know I was involved, Foli called me to suggest, “Segun, your wife has to go beyond teaching those children. They deserve at least one meal a day. I will support you.” That was how meal became part of the project. We soon introduced the ‘extension school’ with the sole purpose of providing after school support to struggling students from government owned secondary schools, particularly in Mathematics, English and basic science. We also serve them lunch and the number grew from the initial eight to 17. One of them emerged the president of his school’s mathematics club, another became the best overall student in mathematics. It was like a dream come true

when we offered a full boarding scholarship to two of them who recently completed their junior WAEC and others are working so hard to benefit from this opportunity. We have since extended the ‘school’ from two to seven classrooms, five teachers, several volunteers. And from the beginning, we promised that we would give those kids the best education so they undertake excursion visits, have movie days and many professionals come in from time to time to fire their imaginations. But the most fulfilling for me is that our three children love the idea and treat those NFI children, all of whose names they know (I know only a few) like siblings. For proper documentation, my wife was advised to register the ‘school’. It was at the point of registration that she was told that if we were providing uniforms, bags, shoes, socks, stationary, one meal a day and everything, we couldn’t register it as a school. They said it had to be registered as an NGO. That was how the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) came to be. There are currently 54 registered pupils but there are 83 more on the ‘Waiting List’ (those that could not be accommodated) and 17 ‘extension school’ students. r/05& *OUFSFTUFE SFBEFST DBO HP POMJOF GPS UIF SFNBJOJOH QBSU PG UIF TUPSZ

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