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First Bank, Polaris Bank Bounce Back CBN’s patience with FirstBank, support for Polaris, pay off One year after merger, Access Bank offers deals, says social media posts doctored

Obinna Chima FBN Holdings Plc, the holding company of First Bank of

Nigeria Limited and other subsidiaries, recently released its full year 2019 and its first quarter 2020 financial results,

which showed enhanced earnings across a number of key metrics, driven majorly by the impressive performance

recorded by the bank.

In the same vein, the recently published audited results of Polaris Bank

Limited for the year-ended December 31, 2019, after one year of operation, showed that the financial institution has

bounced back to profitability.

Industry analysts attributed Continued on page 8

Ahmed Joda: No Country Has Left Poverty Through Foreign Investment… Page 5 Sunday 3 May, 2020 Vol 25. No 9155

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Anxiety in Kano over Continuing Deaths, People Leaving Ancient City in Droves FG escalates deployment, opens three additional mobile test centres Kano, a litmus test in battle against pandemic, Atiku posits If only we’d shut down earlier, number won’t stop climbing till June, July, says Fayemi NCDC reports 220 new cases, total now 2,388 confirmed cases, 385 discharged and 85 deaths SGF: With everyone’s cooperation battle is winnable Osinbajo optimistic Nigeria will come out stronger Buhari commends media for role in fight against virus Our Correspondents Anxiety has continued to mount over Kano State, especially its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, believed to be responsible for the growing number of deaths recorded daily in the state.

People of the state are now living in fear of the unknown, many have started to leave the ancient city in droves and may be inadvertently spreading the virus to neighbouring states.

Relatedly, yesterday the federal government escalated its containment efforts by opening additional three mobile testing centres to strengthen the war against the virus in the state.

Curiously however, Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, has despite the disturbing situation in the state, relaxed the lockdown order for

Ramadan purposes, with increased deaths in the last 24 hours, including the passing of the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila and the state’s Head of Communications, UNICEF, Malam Rabiu Musa. These have further heightened fear of residents.

Particularly worrisome many of the almajiris who have left the city have tested positive to the coronavirus.

Also, in obedience to Islamic injunctions, which prescribe immediate burial for Muslims, the cause of a majority of the deaths have been largely unknown, fuelling speculations between some unknown and unverified illness and the ravaging COVID-19 because testing is not being done.

But the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Continued on page 5

Edo 2020: Guber Aspirants Decry Plot to Destabilise APC... Page 61

ROYAL INTERVENTION AGAINST COVID-19...

L-R: Chairman, Ekiti State Traditional Council / Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi; Ekiti State Governor; Dr. Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi (left); and Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; during his visit and presentation of locally fabricated motorised fumigators to the governor, in Ado-Ekiti... yesterday

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Ahmed Joda: No Country Has Left Poverty Through Foreign Investment Says only Nigerians can delovep Nigeria, cites Dangote's world’s largest refineries Obinna Chima Elder statesman, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, has called on Nigerians to be passionate about the development of their country, saying foreign investment has never taken any country out of poverty. Joda said only Nigerians could truly develop the country, as it was not in the interest of any foreigner to develop Nigeria.

In a note sent to THISDAY via a text message, the boardroom guru said for more than 10 years, he had been advocating the need for Nigerians to be committed to developing the country.

Joda hailed President of Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his dedication to

Nigeria’s development. He said if the country could have more people like Dangote, Nigeria would be a better place. “In short, I always say, create 10 to 15 Dangotes and see what will happen in our country,� he stated.

The retired Permanent Secretary said he had been talking to many people in government to realise that the only way to eradicate poverty in the country was to empower Nigerians to prosper and build the economy.

He said, “There is no country in the world that has moved out of poverty by foreign direct investments. Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia etc., all invested in the people and local capacity.

“They thought out of the box and disregarded FDI. See where they are today. I hope we learn and decide to invest in our people and country. We have more resources than most parts of the world.�

Joda emphasised the need for the federal government to empower Nigerians and guide them to, “become what we want, and if any of them is going astray, then seize everything and then reinvest in another.� He said a system could be put in place to monitor anyone government invested in and modalities set up to make the initiative succeed.

He stressed that before Dangote ventured into the cement business, the two biggest cement companies in the world were

operating small plants, with the biggest at the time doing about 300,000 MT per annum.

The two companies were Blue Circle (UK) and Lafarge (France), which later merged.

Joda stated that the companies were producing only small quantities of cement in Nigeria and preferred to flood the country with cement from all over the world. “They were flooding the market with cement from their other plants around the world, at the same time, they were looking at us eye to eye, telling us that they are investors in Nigeria,� said Joda.

He pointed out that Dangote saw opportunities in the sector, got involved in the industry, and

decided to increase capacity of the plant he bought to 2,000,000 MT per annum.

Thereafter, he built a new plant of 5,000,000 MT per annum. “The next thing that happened is that all other companies had to follow suit,� Joda explained.

He added, “Today, we have capacity to export cement. The above is a complete local investor.

He has seen the opportunity that the foreigners knew, but was never in their interest, and he took the opportunity. “I can assure you, Dangote doesn’t have any more knowledge than those companies, nor is he smarter than them.

It is simply an opportunity he took because he is interested and cares about Nigeria.

“Secondly, the same Dangote is building one of the largest refineries in the world in Nigeria.�

Joda also said Dangote “is not smarter than Shell, Mobil, British Petroleum, Total, Agip etc. The issue is that all these companies have been operating in Nigeria for more than 60 years and never saw it fit to build a refinery (except a 20,000 or so refinery in Port Harcourt by Shell in the 60s) for the same reason as above. “Instead, they prefer to take the crude oil to the refineries around the world, refine it and then sell it back to us. Real reason: they don’t care about you, me or our country. They will rather keep us where they want us.�

ANXIETY IN KANO OVER CONTINUING DEATHS, PEOPLE LEAVING ANCIENT CITY IN DROVES Kayode Fayemi, yesterday, said the current spate of community spread of COVID-19 could have been averted had the country shut down its borders earlier than it did in late March.

Fayemi, who said the situation has though not affected the commendable response of the Nigerian governments at all levels to the challenge posed by the pandemic, however hinted that the numbers would not stop climbing until sometime in June or July, when the curve would begin to flatten.

Yesterday night at 11. 55pm NCDC disclosed that 220 new cases had been confirmed bringing the total cases so far to 2388, while those discharged stood at 385 and deaths so far stood at 85. Lagos top yesterday confirmed cases with 62 new cases, followed be FCT with 52 cases, Kaduna 31, Sokoto 13, Kebbi 10, Yobe 9, Borno 6, Edo 5, Bauchi 5, Gombe 4, Enugu 4, Oyo 4, Zamfara 3, Nasarawa 2, Osun 2, Ebonyi 2, Kwara 2, Kano 2, Plateau 2.

This notwithstanding, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has said the battle against COVID-19 was winnable but with the full cooperation and support of the Nigerian people by adhering to all the safety rules and protocols.

In the same spirit, VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, while participating in an annual event, The Platform, hosted by Pastor Poju Oyemade and which held its first online edition in lieu of the COVID-19 challenge, said Nigeria and Nigerians would get through this phase together, much stronger economically and as a people because of their resilience.

Not unexpectedly, however, President Muhammadu Buhari, while celebrating the World Press Freedom Day today, recognised and commended the Nigerian media "for the good work they have done, and are still doing," as the country intensifies the fight against COVID-19.

But commenting on the state of the nation as far as the battle against the virus

is concerned, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Saturday, drew attention of the nation to the situation in Kano, which he referred to as a litmus test in the concerted efforts to defeat Covid-19.

Also, in a move that showed increasing capacity in the fight against Coronavirus, the Edo State government claimed it had screened over 40,000 persons in the state for Covid-19, albeit leveraging a strategic partnership with private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies to complement the screening exercise ongoing across designated government centres.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opposed moves by the House of Representatives to pass the Infectious Disease Control Bill without recourse to the laid down procedure of public hearing to allow Nigerians participate in the process of making the law.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said, "This is especially as the bill seeks to prescribe clauses on critical issues, particularly that of vaccination, which has become globally controversial in the face of raging conspiracy theories on the COVID-19 pandemic."

Ganduje, who announced the relaxation of the lockdown order by twelve hours in a week, meaning six hours each day from 10am to 4pm on Mondays and Thursdays, made this known at a press briefing organised by the State Taskforce on Covid-19, held at the Government House, Saturday.

He added that all the major markets in the state would remain closed, except Ya'nkaba and Ya'nlemo markets, where vegetables and fruits are sold.

Ganduje further stated that all supermarkets in the state would be allowed to operate within the six-hour timeframe, adding that customers must follow the Covid-19 protocols before they access the places.

"We have provided facemasks to be distributed to the people. I directed chairmen of the local government to also provide the facemasks for their people. Afterwards,

we will make it compulsory to everybody to wear it," he said.

He also expressed hope that with the increase in testing centers, the state would stamp out the pandemic, announcing that Aliko Dangote had donated mobile testing centers with capacity of testing 400 samples in a day and 1000 sample in a week.

"The more we are getting the test, the more people who contracted the virus would be exposed and the more we stamp out the disease in our state.

"What we just want is for the public to adhere strictly to the protocols of the COVID-19 and abide by the lockdown order in order to break the chain of the transmission," The governor also assured the public that the more they abide by the lockdown order, the more the government would be relaxing the directive as it monitors the situation.

Unfortunately, the governor is believed not to have paid deserving attention to the increasing number of deaths in the state, which observers believed were caused by COVID-19, even though the state refused to admit it was true.

The Emir of Rano, who died yesterday at a hospital in the state, passed away at the age of 74.

Turakin Rano and House of Representatives Member of Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure, Alhaji Kabir Alhassan Rururm, confirmed the death Rururm said the late emir, who was survived by 17 children and two wives, would be buried this evening (yesterday) in the emirate.

Son of the Kaduna State governor, Bello El-Rufai, took to his Twitter handle @B_El-RUFAI to mourn the late monarch, when he wrote: “May the gentle soul of the Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar, rest in peace. May Allah SWT grant his family the fortitude to bear this loss.

It’s tragic news everywhere we turn.�

The UNICEF representative, also away at the age of 60 and his death was confirmed, according NAN, by his son, Musa Rabiu. “My dad died at about

3.am on Saturday, after battling sickness for a few days. Although we noticed symptoms we suspected to be of Coronavirus, the result of the test conducted is not out yet. “A week ago, he complained of a sore throat and malaria, but after a few days, of medication, he became normal. A few days later, he complained that he was finding it difficult to breathe. “He also complained that no matter how short he walked, he lost his breath. So, he was taken to the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Dala, on Friday, where he gave up.�

He was immediately buried according to Islamic rites.

Shedding more light on what the country could have done differently, to stem the climbing numbers, Fayemi explained that, “We could have shut down earlier.

Everything that came in came from abroad. We didn’t get Coronavirus here. “So, if we had shut down, say like March 1, the situation could have been different.

Malawi that is said to have the best record now in terms of Covid-19 shut down since February. “So, between February 27 and March 29 is a pretty long time of traffic into Nigeria across all the airlines. And by the time we shut down the borders, we already had too many in,� he explained, insisting the government wasn’t doing badly still in the management of the situation.

Fayemi’s views, however, tallied with those of his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who said days ago that the delayed closure of the country’s borders, seaport, and airports, including the failure of returnees to selfisolate, caused the spread of COVID-19. He spoke this during an Instalive interview with CNN on Wednesday.

Apart from shutting down the borders a bit late, another factor Fayemi reckoned could have accounted for the high number of new cases was the testing capacity of the country, which made it difficult to ascertain the number of carriers and non-carriers. “After that, our testing capacity is also limited. We

have five testing centres across the country. There are two in Lagos; one in Abuja; one in Ede in Osun and one in Irua, Edo. That’s all. But that also affected, because we couldn’t tell who had it or did not.�

Importantly, the Ekiti governor said, evidence suggested that, “The number is still on the upswing and will continue till June/July. That’s why the inter-state boundary shutdown is more important as against the intra-state approach.�

Fayemi said it was the same thinking that informed NGF’s suggestions to the president before his last address to the nation on the things that needed to be done, noting that the president bought into all their ideas and adopted them.

On his part, the SGF, Mustapha, while soliciting cooperation with the confidence that the battle was winnable said, “We’re not losing the battle and doing all we can. But the battle is not certain. However, as long as we have the cooperation and support of the Nigerian people, we’ll flatten the curve. “And what do we need to flatten the curve? Observing physical distancing, wearing facemasks and staying safe at home except it is an essential trip that needs to be made.

We must understand that this is an uncharted terrain and there’s nothing other than taking it a step at a time. “We’ll get on top of this. I have no doubt. The prediction is that it would continue for a long time until we find a vaccine or able to build immunity. But, for now, let’s join hands together. There’s been a major disruption in our lives and we must cooperate to defeat Covid-19.�

Charging Nigerians to be resolute in the fight against a common enemy, Osinbajo, who was optimistic that the country and Nigerians would come out of it stronger, contended that,“There are a lot of challenges but they offer significant opportunities for us to turn things around.�

According to him, “I am very confident that Nigerians, with our resilience, our strength and our innovation, we will go through this in

great shape,� reeling off some of the federal government’s efforts to address the economic fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically on how the country could transform the challenges caused by the pandemic into opportunities for economic diversification and job creation, Osinbajo said prioritising use of local resources and creating local jobs in the construction and allied industry, amongst other things, would be critical in sustaining the economy in the post COVID-19 era. “We have to prioritise the use of local resources in all public works. In road construction, for instance, it is cheaper to build concrete roads using limestone than spending resources on the importation of bitumen. We have limestone in abundance hence we should be looking in that direction. The road from the Apapa port to the Lagos –Ibadan expressway is being built with cement and is of high quality. “In the housing sector, where we have a huge deficit, we need to focus on using local resources to build houses and in the process we will be creating opportunities for young engineers, architects and builders etc.�

In the area of agriculture, the vice president said government’s initial policies had saved the country from the huge forex burden of food imports and related activities. “We think that by ramping up agriculture, especially, small holder agriculture and improving the value chain, especially in storage and processing facilities, more jobs will be created for many young people. “We have found ourselves in a situation, where we realise that the way to go is to support the creation of the jobs in agriculture and reduce food imports and ultimately, address the issue of unemployment and food shortages. What we must do as much as we can is to change the narrative about Nigeria and provide more jobs.�

Still on how to mitigate the fallouts of the Covid-19 Continued on page 8

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NEWS FIRSTBANK, POLARIS BANK BOUNCE BACK the performance of FirstBank, the leading subsidiary in FBN Holdings, which five years ago had non-performing loans (NPLs) of about 18 per cent to the indulgence and patience of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). FBN Holdings’ NPLs has dropped significantly to 9.7 per cent as at December 31, 2019.

On the other hand, the performance of Polaris Bank, which was created from the carcass of the defunct Skye Bank, was attributed to the support the bank has been getting from the central bank and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

FBN Holdings For the FirstBank Group, its five-year financial summary (2015 to 2019), showed a 2,024 per cent growth in profit after tax, from N2.95 billion as of December 2015, to N62.67 billion as at the end of 2019. In the same vein, the holding companies’ total assets increased by 48 per cent in the five-year period, from N3.973 trillion in 2015, to N5.870 trillion as at the end of 2019.

Also, FirstBank Group’s gross earnings as at the first quarter of 2020 was N151.0 billion, which was 15.6 per cent higher than the N130.5 billion realised in the comparable period of 2019; while its profit after tax was N21 billion, up

by 54.4 per cent, compared with N13.6 billion recorded same period in 2019 and total assets of N6.67 trillion, which increased by 13.7 per cent as against the N5.87 trillion realised at the end of December.

But for the holding company, as at the end of 2019, FBN Holdings Plc posted gross earnings of N627 billion, which was an increase of 6.7 per cent compared with N587.4 billion in 2018. Net interest income moved from N285.3 billion to N290.2 billion, while non-interest income rose from N132 billion to N159.2 billion.

Impairment charges fell 41.5 per cent to N51.1 billion from N87.5 billion, while operating expenses rose 18.3 per cent to N314.7 billion from N266 billion. As a result, profit before tax (PBT) grew by 30.9 per cent to N83.6 billion in 2019, from N63.9 billion in 2018, while profit after tax (PAT) rose 26.5 per cent to N73.7 billion compared with N58.2 billion. Earnings per share grew from 161 kobo to 195 kobo, out which the board recommended that 38 kobo be paid as dividend to the shareholders.

A further analysis of the results showed that customers’ deposits rose 15 per cent to N4.019 trillion, up from N3.486 trillion. Similarly, loans and advances to customers rose 10.9 per cent to N1.852 trillion, from N1.671 trillion. Total

assets stood at N6.203 trillion, indicating a growth of 11.4 per cent from N5.568 trillion. FBN Holdings extended the positive performance to the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, in which it posted improved results. The unaudited results also showed a jump of 62 per cent in profit after tax in Q1 of 2020, to N25.7 billion, compared to the N15.8 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2019. Its gross earnings also climbed to N159.7 billion, up by 14.5 per cent, compared with N139.4 billion in the comparable period of 2019.

FBN Holdings’ Q1 results also showed that total assets stood at N7 trillion, up by 13.2 per cent, compared with N6.2 trillion recorded at the end of 2019.

The Group Managing Director of FBNHoldings, Mr. UK Eke, said the performance so far was a further testament of the turnaround of the holding company’s business. “The current situation demonstrates the importance of the deployment of appropriate technology and effectively validates our recent investment in enhancing our capacity in technological innovation and digitisation of our products and services,� he added.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan said: “As we commence the execution of the earlier phase of the new 2020 – 2022

strategic plan, we are all aware that we are living through unprecedented times. However, I am confident that we are well equipped to handle the headwinds. “We have invested heavily in the last three years to establish our digital banking footprint and with a network of over 53,000 agents across Nigeria as well as over thirteen million customers actively transacting on our digital platforms (FirstMobile and USSD), we have built capacity to continue to offer gold standard services to our customers while safeguarding our staff through the pandemic.�

Polaris Bank Polaris Bank Limited recently published its audited financial results for the year-ended December 31, 2019 after one year of operation. The bank recorded gross earnings of N150.8 billion and a profit before tax (PBT) of N27.83 billion as at December 31, 2019.

Also, its total assets stood at N1.1trillion in the period under review, with shareholders’ fund of N83 billion. Its total customers’ deposit stood at N857.8billion, while total loans and advances was N261 billion.

Its capital adequacy ratio was 14 per cent as of December 31, 2019, return on assets (ROA) at 2 per cent, return on equity (ROE) is 33 per cent, return on sales (ROS) at 18 per cent, and

liquidity ratio at 81 per cent.

The Chief Executive Officer, Polaris Bank, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, said, “The emergence of Polaris Bank on September 21, 2018, has heralded a new dawn as it laid the foundation for institutional competitiveness and service innovation in Nigeria’s challenging banking space. “Our strategy, which anchors on rebuilding the franchise and strengthening the balance sheet position, provides enablers for ongoing initiatives towards lean operations and efficient balance sheet management devoid of capital erosion risks. “We shall continue to run an ethically governed bank upholding sound risk management practices and proactively taking measures to mitigate the impact of the adverse business environment while the board and management continue to guide the bank towards a path of sustainable growth.�

One Year after Merger, Access Bank Offers Disengagement Deals to HR Contracting Companies One year after the merger with then ailing Diamond Bank, the management of Access Bank is offering disengagement deals to HR contracting companies that provided services to branches closed in locations where they

had two branches as the bank moves to tame costs in a postCOVID world where many banks worldwide are reviewing banking models. The CEO of U.K lender, Barclays Bank, Jes Staley stated recently that post COVID banking models have changed forever as people get used to working digitally from home making brick and mortar and big offices models unsustainable going forward.

It was this new normal that Access CEO Herbert Wigwe attempted to discuss with staff when clips of his presentation was altered to portray him as going for mass sack of employees, according to senior bank officials. According to Mr. Amaechi Okobi, Head of corporate communications of the bank. “The presentation was doctored to give a wrong impression and shared on social media in an attempt to blackmail the bank. We are reviewing all options as we need to support all staff through these challenging times while ensuring efficiency and value in our new normal...We will continue to support all staff and stakeholders,“ he said.

According to Staley having thousands of banking workers in big expensive city offices "may be a thing of the past."

He stated that about 70,000 of Barclays' staff worldwide are working from home due to coronavirus lockdown measures. An indication that banking has change forever.

ANXIETY IN KANO OVER CONTINUING DEATHS, PEOPLE LEAVING ANCIENT CITY IN DROVES pandemic such as inflation, Osinbajo said government would focus on improving productivity and improving food stock across the country. “If you can ramp up food production and the logistics of bringing food to the urban centres, inflation will be controlled to a large extent,� he said, adding that boosting agricultural production for export purposes and supporting the mining sector would also bolster the country’s foreign exchange earnings and reserves.

President Buhari has however recognised the role of the Nigerian media and commended them "for the good work they have done, and are still doing," as the country intensifies the fight against COVID-19.

Buhari, a statement by his media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, stated, recognised the role of the press in educating and informing the public in the face of the desperation of the Coronavirus to overrun humanity. “We cannot overemphasise the role of the media in keeping people informed and educated on the pernicious virus, which has no friend or foe. It simply seeks to mow down anyone and everyone in its path, and public awareness is very important, lest we become like sitting ducks.

The media are doing this quite effectively,� he said.

He, however, charged them to remain steadfast “till we get to safe harbour, when the world, and our country are finally free of this greatest health challenge in recent history.�

Reflecting on the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day tagged: "Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation," Buhari noted that Nigeria has what he described as a very unhealthy experience of disinformation,

fake news and hate news, which he said were purveyed by people using the media platforms, particularly the digital variant and regretted the adverse effects of fake news in the society.

"They don’t mean well for us, and no country can afford to close its eyes to the evil disinformation can cause. In a plural polity like ours, it has the potential to rupture relationships, sow seeds of discord, and set on the path of destabilisation. “When fake and hate news are added unabashedly, it can only signpost doom. I urge the Press to use the occasion of World Press Freedom Day to see how this can be vigorously tackled," the president was also quoted.

President, therefore, pledged to remain committed to the ideals of freedom of the press, pointing out that democracy thrives better in an atmosphere of transparency, as opposed to opacity. “We appreciate the cooperation we have enjoyed from the media in tackling the Coronavirus, and look forward to same, post Covid-19, when all hands must be on deck to repair the damages done to our economic and social lives, “Buhari stated.

But sharing his concern on the Kano situation, Abubakar, who drew the attention of the nation to the development in the state, which he would rather term a litmus test to winning the battle against Covid-19, called on the federal government and all the agencies involved in the fight against the pandemic to collaborate with the Kano State government to stem the spread.

Atiku stressed that checkmating the pandemic in Kano was one sure way of ensuring the safety of people in the surrounding states to Kano, other parts of the North and the country.

While expressing his deepest condolences over the spate of deaths in the state in recent times, he counseled that efforts should be geared towards providing plausible explanation of the situation for the good of the people of the state.

In the same stretch, Abubakar has expressed sympathy and solidarity with the family of a media mogul, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi and members of his family, who tested positive for Covid-19.

The former vice president however called on all wellmeaning Nigerians to put the matter of the speedy recovery of Dokpesi and his family, and other victims of the Covid-19 pandemic in prayers.

Atiku described Dokpesi as a patriotic and law-abiding Nigerian for the way he cooperated with the NCDC to carry out the test on him, his staff and entire family when it was earlier discovered that his son had tested positive.

He noted that Dokpesi was not among those people, who because of their position and influence shied away from performing a civic duty, sayimg, "He is indeed a role model worthy of emulation".

Edo Screens Over 40,000 persons for COVID-19 The Edo State government yesterday claimed it had screened over 40,000 persons in the state for coronavirus, allegedly leveraging a strategic partnership with private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, which complemented the screening exercise ongoing across designated government hospitals.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of the state disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, saying the government had

adopted a robust and scientific approach to tackling the Covid-19 pandemic since its outbreak.

He claimed embarking on massive screening and testing of residents was a strategy to get a clearer picture of the spread of the pandemic in the state.

According to him, the screenings are conducted in designated Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs); mobile post screening centres that move across the 192 wards, as well as private medical facilities. “We have made tremendous progress, especially in the areas of screening, testing and improved awareness of our citizens. Working closely with private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, we have been able to screen over 40,000 and tested over 350 persons. “Our improved efforts at screening and testing are the reason the number of cases is rising. As we aggressively push to screen our minimum target of 500,000 people and test 15,000 individuals in the next few weeks, we may record an astronomic rise in the number of cases.� “We advise everyone to get screened at the numerous screening centres across the state. Our screening centres also offer free medical checkup, free multivitamins and facemasks. I am confident that we can beat this virus in Edo State if we take the necessary precautionary measures.�

He said evidence from its epidemiologists suggested that Covid-19 cases would continue to rise until it peaks late in June this year. “We can reduce the spread of the virus by enforcing existing social distancing rules, maintaining good hand washing hygiene and wearing masks in public places. This evidence has undoubtedly informed the decision by

the federal government to impose a nationwide curfew.�

Meanwhile, Obaseki has taken inventory of facilities, drugs and medical equipment at the Central Medical Store, Benin City, as the state ramps up efforts to check the spread of coronavirus.

The governor, who led other government functionaries on the inspection tour, said the Central Medical Store was strategic as the state received donations in the wake of the pandemic. “I want to have a firsthand experience on what we do when we receive these donations; how we keep them, how the records are kept and how drugs are utilised.�

He noted that as part of the state’s response to Covid-19, the government was assessing how drugs and medical equipment were received, stored and dispensed.

PDP Opposes NCDC Bill, Insists on Public Hearing The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday opposed moves by the House of Representatives to pass the Infectious Disease Control Bill without recourse to public hearing to allow Nigerians participate in the process of making the law.

Those who sponsored the bill are the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu.

Some of the controversial aspects of bill include section 23, which stipulates the "arrest of persons on the streets suffering from infectious diseases.

An enforcement officer, police officer or any authorised officer may apprehend and take, any person suffering from any infectious disease whom the officer finds on any street, public, place, shop

or public transportation to a hospital.

Section 24, which empowers enforcement officer to order destruction of house, building or anything states: (1) An enforcement officer may obtain an order of court to destroy any building in which a case of infectious disease has occurred, or of any article or thing, which may be considered necessary in the interest of the public health.

(2) Any such order will be carried out in such manner, and by such person, as the enforcement officer may direct.

It was, however, gathered that the Speaker insisted on abridging the House rules for a quicker passage of the bill.

But the PDP considered moves to shut out Nigerians from public debate on such a crucial legislation as ominous and raising suspicions of sinister objectives as the nation combats the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Ologbondiyan said the PDP was alarmed that such an approach was already worsening public mistrust in the polity as well as heightening apprehension over the intentions of the presiding officers of the House of Representatives and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration at this critical time.

The PDP insisted that Nigerians must be carried along in the decision making process of such a critical legislation, which seeks to make provisions that would directly affect their health as well as the overall safety and wellbeing.

PDP stressed that anything short of that would be counter productive and capable of breeding an avoidable public resistance, especially, given the deepening fear and anxiety in the polity over the COVID-19 Continued on page 9

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ÍťËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R

NEWS ANXIETY IN KANO OVER CONTINUING DEATHS, PEOPLE LEAVING ANCIENT CITY IN DROVES pandemic.

The main opposition party, therefore, counseled Gbajabiamila to review his position and allow for public hearing on the bill.

"Our party also urges our lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and Senate to stand firm against the passage of the bill until there is a public hearing to get the inputs of Nigerians into the proposed law," PDP stated.

Anambra Begins Search for People with Covid-19 Symptoms Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has said his government would begin aggressive search for people with symptoms related to Covid-19 in communities across the state.

The governor stated this in a statewide broadcast Friday night, saying this became necessary, as the lockdown in the state has been eased.

Obiano told citizens of the state that two testing centres had been approved for the state by NCDC, and that once the centres become operational, most citizens of the state would be tested for the pandemic.

"I am delighted to announce that so far, we have conducted 72 tests on samples out of which one only returned positive. And that one was the Index Case, who has been treated and discharged.

"So, at this moment, there is no active Covid-19 case in Anambra State. As a result of this, our next battlefront with Covid-19 is to mount an active search for people with Covid-19 symptoms in all communities in Anambra State.

"The NCDC, WHO and UNICEF have assured us of their support to ensure the success of this effort. So, I implore you to cooperate with our specially trained Covid-19 team, when they visit your community by giving useful information that would help them to get the necessary samples for testing."

Obiano assured the people not to panic, saying it has been repeatedly proven that the pandemic was not a death sentence.

He said the government had taken some careful steps to ease the state from lockdown, after five weeks on keeping everyone indoors.

While the state boundaries would remain closed, traders can return to the market, teachers to school (without pupils), and civil servants to their offices, all with the use of facemasks.

He advised citizens to immediately bury their loved ones, who die, with a view to holding elaborate ceremonies for them later, in other not to over stretch the health facilities in the state.

Enugu Govt, Stakeholders Embrace Guided Relaxation The Enugu State Government and other stakeholders in the state like the security agencies, leaders of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association and Ogbete Pharmaceutical Dealers Association, have unanimously resolved that there would be a partial and

guided reopening of Ogbete Main Market.

This decision was part of the outcome of a meeting between Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the state, leadership of the market associations and the security agencies, held at the Government House, Enugu.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof.

Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, disclosed that the schedule for the partial and guided opening of the Market would be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8am and 2pm Daily This included the pharmaceutical dealers, provision sellers, restaurants and wholesale food sellers.

Other resolutions reached at the meeting, included “That the Market is open to shop owners only, to enable them serve their customers outside the Market. That under no circumstance shall customers be allowed to enter the Market and that the Akwatta Section of the Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, remains closed. “That all shop owners entering the market must wear protective facemasks, maintain/observe proper personal hygiene and physical/social distancing protocol as stipulated by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), including regular hand washing with soap or sanitizer. “That for the avoidance of doubt, no customer is allowed to enter the Ogbete Main Market, except shop owners, who will only act as vendors to their customers outside the Market. “That the security agencies are hereby directed to enforce these decisions and any violation will be dealt with according to law. That these measures will be renewed on weekly basis.�

Osun Discharges Index Case, Records Another Fatality Thirty-eight days after he was taken in, the Osun State, yesterday, discharged its Covid-19 index case after testing negative twice for the virus.

This is as the state recorded another Covid-19 fatality, a patient in her late 60s, at its isolation centre in Asubiaro, Osogbo.

The discharged index case had arrived Osun from the United Kingdom before being taken into the Isolation Centre, and subsequently to the care facility, where he had been receiving medical care until his full recovery on Friday.

Similarly, three health workers in the State who tested positive for Coronavirus had also tested negative for the second time and had become free from the virus.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu made this known in a statement on Saturday.

Isamotu recalled that the health workers had last Wednesday, tested negative for COVID-19 but had to be subjected to a second round of test, in line with the protocol of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

He revealed that the State government received results of the index case and those of the health workers on Friday evening from the

NCDC accredited Testing Centre, the African Centre of Excellence in Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede. "With the development, the total number of active cases in the State is now eight," Isamotu disclosed.

Speaking on the latest death, the commissioner said, "On a sad note, we lost a COVID-19 patient in her late 60s at our isolation centre in Osogbo. We pray God grant her eternal rest and give her family the fortitude to bear the loss," he said.

Isamotu urged frontline health workers to always use their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when discharging their duties and reiterated that only accredited isolation and treatment centres in the state were the ones allowed to attend to suspected COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, a traditional ruler in the state, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, Tegbosun III, has urged the federal government to support the state government financially in its bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The monarch asked the federal government to either wave the debts of the state or support it with fund so as to be on sound footing in the post COVID-19 experience.

Olowu, at a press briefing during the flag-off of Olori Fatima Adeola Makama Oyelude 2nd Community Empowerment Initiatives, said the fact that residents of the state had not trooped out to demand for financial assistance did not mean they were not suffering.

Ogun Extends Lockdown Till May 10 Ogun State Government has extended the period of lockdown in the state till Sunday, May 10.

Governor Dapo Abiodun also vowed to ensure strict enforcement of the 8pm to 6am daily curfew as announced by the federal government with the force of law.

Governor, while addressing the Media in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on the COVID-19 situation in the State, noted that the extension was in consideration of the one week of grace given to the state by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor stated that the usual relaxation window given to the people to conduct business activities and restock food items, would come up Monday May 4, Wednesday May 6 and Friday May 8 respectively, beginning from 7 o'clock in the morning till 5 in the evening.

"The extension of the lockdown will end on Sunday May 9, taking into consideration the initial one week grace by the President.

The relaxation window will be on Monday May 4, Wednesday May 6 and Friday May 8.

"This will give our people time to conduct necessary economic activities and get to their homes before the commencement of the daily curfew. For the avoidance of doubt, the curfew is from 8pm to 6am and will be strictly enforced", he emphasised.

Giving the COVID-19 situation in the state, Abiodun said the number of confirmed

cases had doubled as 56 cases were reported on April 30 as against 35 last week, adding that eight cases had been discharged, while 47 active cases are receiving treatment from state medical personnel.

"The increase in the number is as a result of increased testing capacity and fast turnaround. Also, most of the new cases are as a result of influx of immigrants from the land borders and those from other States.

"A Joint Task Force of transporters and security agencies has been inaugurated to ensure that drivers and passengers wear facemask and enforce strict compliance on the inter-state travel. There will be no inter-state travel for persons living in Ogun State and working in any other State, including Lagos," he clarified.

While warning that government would not tolerate any act of sabotage on inter-state travel by those on essential services, Abiodun said "vehicles on essential services should have five passengers including the driver, who must show prove of their connection with the vehicle and service the vehicle provides".

Oil Firms Donate Delivery Van, Other Items to Delta Delta State Government's efforts at containing the COVID-19 pandemic received a boost at the weekend as a group of oil companies operating in the state donated a Nissan pickup van, facemasks and various food items in support of the government's initiatives towards cushioning the impact of the Coronavirus.

Leader of the team, Mr. Williams Eboh, Community and Health Liaison Manager, Midwestern Oil, presented the vehicle and facemasks to Dr. Austin Obidi, Chairman, Delta State Medical Related Donations for COVID-19 Response and his team at the Central Hospital, Asaba, yesterday.

The group's gesture was in response to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's call for support from corporate organisations and good-spirited individuals towards a collective fight against the Coronavirus disease, Eboh noted.

He listed the cluster companies (eight oil firms operating in the state) as including Midwestern Oil, Sun Trust, Newcross, Platform, Energia, Oando, Chorus and Pilla Oil. The oil companies had at different times donated food items to their respective host communities to cushion the impact of the disease.

Obidi, who received the items on behalf of the state government, thanked the donors for the gesture and called on "other corporate citizens" to support the state in this fight.

Victims of Farmers, Herders Clash Get Palliatives The federal government has through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) commenced distribution of additional palliatives to victims of gun attacks as well as herders/

farmers’ crisis in Benue State.

Head, NEMA delegation, Mr. Suliman Mohammed stated this on Saturday in Makurdi, during the flag off, saying victims from seven local governments would benefit from the palliatives.

Mohammed, who is also the Chief Planning Officer, NEMA headquarters, explained that the palliatives were part of FG’s support to the victims of the crisis as well as cushion the effect of COVID-19 on them.

He explained that Benue State witnessed series of gunmen and herders’ attacks between 2017 and 2019, prompting the FG to approve series of palliatives for the victims.

He named the benefiting local governments to include Makurdi, Logo, Gwer West, Guma, Agatu, Kwande and Okpokwu respectively.

Earlier, House of Representatives members for Makurdi/Guma Mr. Benjamin Mzoudo and his counterpart from Logo, Ukum and Katsina-ala, Comrade Richard Gbande commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the palliatives the victims.

Police Intercept Sokoto Travellers at Osun-Ibadan Boundary Men of the Nigeria Police have apprehended 11 travellers from Sokoto State, who defied the inter-state lockdown order of the Oyo State Government, in their bid to sneak into Akure, Ondo State.

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, has, however declared that the travellers would not be released to the Sokoto State Government until they undergo Covid-19 tests, adding that the tests had begun already.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Sina Olukolu, who briefed Governor Makinde on his arrival at the Gbagi Police Station, where the culprits were detained overnight, said the travellers were apprehended at the Asejire Dam axis of the Ibadan-Osun boundary, adding that they claimed that they were travelling from Sokoto enroute to Akure, Ondo State.

While noting that the travellers would remain isolated until the results of their Covid-19 tests were received from the state, Makinde said: "We are not able to explain how they got here in the first place, because there is inter-state lockdown throughout the country. They claimed they came from Sokoto and they must have passed through so many states.�

The governor also explained that he has given directives to the effect that the travellers would be kept isolated in Ibadan until the results of their Covid-19 tests are received.

He said he was in touch with the Sokoto State governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and that the travellers would be sent back to Sokoto State, adding that the state would intensify ongoing strategies for inter-state lockdown.

"I am also in discussion with the governor of Sokoto State. We are more than likely going to return them

to Sokoto," he added.

Driver of the bus, who identified himself as Muhammad Idris, said they passed through old roads and bushes from Sokoto to Niger and Kwara and then got into Ogbomoso, from where they entered Ibadan.

He added that they were going to Akure "to reconcile with their family members."

Kwara Records 2 New Covid-19 Cases Kwara State government on Saturday night said it has recorded two new positive cases of Covid-19.

The government had earlier on Friday announced three new cases, while announcing the relaxation of the lockdown.

With the two fresh cases, it thus brought the total to 16 with two persons already discharged.

The two new cases emerged on Saturday, when the state government had already begun aggressive contract tracing as a result of three new cases recorded on Friday.

Spokesman of the Technical Committee on Covid-19, in the state, Rafiu Ajakaye, who confirmed the development, said the two new cases were not recorded through community transmission.

"Not through community transmission, please. They are from our previous cases and have always been under close watch before the test confirmed their status".

Ajakaye said on Friday, "Dear Kwarans, we are not out of the woods. Just today, Kwara has recorded three more new cases of COVID-19.

That takes us to 14 confirmed cases in Kwara.

"Of these, 12 are active as we had earlier discharged two.

All our cases are stable and in the best spirits. We want to emphasise that one of the three new cases was imported while the remaining two are contacts of our earlier cases.

"Aggressive contact tracing has since begun. This incident of another imported case explains why we are now deploying military personnel to man our borders while police and other security agencies maintain their hold internally."

Senator Ubah Distributes Palliative in 21 LGAs Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has commenced the distribution of palliatives across the 21 local government areas in Anambra State as part of measures to alleviate the effects of the pandemic.

Ubah, who represents Anambra South in the Senate said this period is unsettling and difficult for Anambra people as the disruption of their daily sources of livelihood and economic activities has impacted their ability to meet their basic needs.

He said this necessitated the need to combine public health efforts with palliative measures so as to prevent hunger and food insecurity from creating further health and social challenges in the state.

He assured the people that he has put in place capable hands and structures that would ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives across the state.

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MAY 3, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R

EDITORIAL

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

COVID-19: OF LIVES A ND LIVELIHOODS While a prolonged lockdown of the economy is unsustainable, a premature reopening could trigger a spike in infections that will endanger many

A

s Nigerians grapple with the challenges of halting the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown imposed in the past five weeks across the country has triggered more than a handful of socio-economic problems.

From the inability of many daily income earners to fend for themselves to the use of brute force against defenceless citizens by some security personnel, to reports of hoodlums and armed gangs latching on the lockdown to break into homes and shops, the impact is breathtaking. But as we take stock of the current efforts to curtail the growing spread of the virus, it is also important that we look at the road ahead.

While the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was charged with providing palliatives to poor Nigerians affected by the stayat-home restrictions, their efforts were hampered by a lack of synergy with the states and a deficiency in the register of poor people that were targeted. Besides, the ministry was overwhelmed by the challenges of an enterprise that requires enormous funding as well as manpower resources at very short notice. Fortunately, many public-spirited Nigerians and organisations came in to fill the gap.

Church and community groups, town hall associations, corporate bodies and individuals have in recent weeks supported the less-privileged of our society. This is a positive fall-out of the health crisis that we will like to see continue as we build a more compassionate society where citizens rally to tackle social problems, bearing in mind that government cannot do everything.

Meanwhile, in Lagos and Ogun States as well as in the Federal Capital Territory, the lockdown imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari since 30th March ends this evening amid some apprehensions that would need to be addressed. The security agencies have to be on the alert for the growing anti-social activities and fashion

out appropriate response mechanisms. This is because ours is a society brimming with an army of unemployed youth. However, beyond the issue of livelihood and tackling the security challenges, we also have to deal with the more urgent need to save lives.

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Whatever sacrifices we need to make to defeat this pandemic should be considered worthwhile

Letters to the Editor

T

his is one period we will never forget in the annals of our contemporary history. No other event in the next few years will define our collective fortunes in the future as much as this pandemic. On all sides, we are being confronted by the hydra-headed invincible enemy that threatens the lives of hundreds of our citizens and the livelihoods of even more. Everyone is feeling the heat. We are all dancing to the beat of a situation that would have been better managed if the welfare of Nigerians was taken seriously in the years before. The time when we ought to be enjoying the shade is when we are distributing the seeds, more so, wrongly.

Unless we are determined to deceive ourselves, we cannot say that public funds have been put to the best use during this period.

We have stretched our limited

S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS OLAWALE OLALEYE, TOBI SONIYI 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 DIRECTORS ERIC OJEH, PATRICK EIMIUHI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 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

s more and more Nigerians get tested, there has been an increase in the number of people afflicted with COVID-19. The number of deaths also continues to spike, especially in Kano where a 14-day lockdown was declared by the president last week. In Kogi and Cross River states where the governors have chosen to play with the lives of residents, fears are welling up, just as the exchange of ‘Almajairi’ children between and among some northern states has become a major risk factor at a period more than a hundred health workers have been infected by the virus.

In all, it is clear that there are difficult days ahead and at some point a choice may have to be made between individual liberty and the need for public safety.

But such critical decisions also come with trade-offs. While a prolonged lockdown of the economy is unsustainable, a premature reopening could also trigger a spike in infections that can overwhelm our fragile health system, particularly now that more cases are being discovered. It is perhaps for this reason that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Friday reiterated its call on the federal and state governments to discard plans to embark on gradual easing of the current lockdown. “The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced a 100% increase in infection rate in just a week,” said the NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile. Experiences in states like Mississippi in the United States are similar.

It is thus apt to ask: Is the time appropriate to ease the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as in Abuja? In our present circumstances, will it not be more helpful to put in place an organised national lockdown?

In as much as we do not discount the socio-economic implications of such decision in a country where majority live by the day, we are also mindful of the implications of a premature decision that could prove counterproductive. Whatever sacrifices we need to make to defeat this pandemic should be considered worthwhile. But it would require the support of all religious, traditional and political leaders - as well as the interventions of other critical stakeholders.

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 (950- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive.com along with the email address and phone numbers of the writer.

Now That We Are in Trouble resources so thin in the name of giving palliative to the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This is not a condemnable scheme in itself but in reality, what we have created is a platform where the money goes from hand-to-hand in an atmosphere that defies all the safety guidelines that we have been encouraged to adhere to.

We have created bigger problems by trying to resolve one. The failure in this regard is largely due to the absence of a useful national identity database. My recommendations on this matter are highlighted in the essay, National Identity and the Question of Poverty.

The experience of the recent weeks has not left us without the expected do-as-I-do-not-as-I-say disposition of government officials.

When you expect a considerable level of decency or exemplary

leadership, they take the bar even lower. And then there are also the ones who put their faces everywhere like we are in the election campaign heats. The level of denigration of the common man is so despicable that one would not expect it to come from their so-called leaders. If some had their way, they would have put their faces on the distributed grains so the beneficiaries never forget to whom they are to be indebted.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are in trouble. But the trouble is not in the mere fact that we are not in the best place; no country is. The trouble is a lack of sensitivity to our new reality. We are spending money we don’t have with complete disregard to transparency and accountability. And in the midst of all, the citizens are the ones paying the higher price. This experience is the best

appraisal we will ever get on the much-mouthed economic diversification with all the numbers in the cloud. If the noise about the diversification had any substance, the recently-approved $3.4 billion emergency loan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would have just been an option, not the only option. The crude oil that didn’t let us think has now given the biggest surprise. I hope the lessons are being taken.

Business, or better put, politics, as usual, will not take us further than this, except to a total collapse. Many may argue that we are already in a state of total collapse. That may be largely true but we have a great opportunity before us to recalibrate our national bearing and prioritize the things that matter.

Nothing can be done now but that doesn’t excuse the fact that we can start to alter our national beat to one that the majority of Nigerians can comfortably follow. We have a great opportunity to rewrite our history. Now that we are

in trouble, let us, more than ever, be determined to ensure that we will come out of this stronger and be committed to the enhancement of the welfare of Nigerians. Let’s get serious as a country. Enough of self-deceit.

When this COVID-19 episode becomes history, Nigerians will not forget. We will remember the jokes that were made about social distancing and lockdowns. We will remember how we begged our leaders to show leadership. We will remember how we copied the right things, wrongly. We will remember an important lesson that we cannot run from the woes we create. We will remember that we are only as safe or comfortable as our neighbours. We will remember the loved ones we lost during this period. We will also not forget those who went beyond the call of duty to bring succour to their fellow countrymen.

––Samuel Akinnuga, Lagos.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž Y 3, 2020

NEWS

11 Acting News Editor ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹ Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ E-mail: Ă‘ĂŒĂ™ĂŁĂ?Ă‘Ă‹Ë›Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă‹Ă˜Ă—Ă“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—ËœÍ¸Î€Í¸Î€ÍšÎ Î€ÍžÍ˝Î Í¸ Ě™Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš

Employers Ask FG to Reduce Expenditure with No Impact on National Devt t Say fiscal discipline key to reducing cost of governance t Lament zero operations in aviation, hospitality, others Gboyega Akinsanmi The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to reduce all federal expenditures with no direct impact on national development.

NECA, a platform for over 3,500 private sector employers nationwide, also urged the Buhari administration to institutionalise fiscal discipline, without which it argued, would be impossible to block or substantially reduce the cost of governance.

The association welcomes the decision of the federal government to implement the 2012 report of the Presidential Committee on Reform of Government Agencies popularly knownastheOronsanyeReport.

NECA made these recommendations in a statement by

itsDirector-General,Dr.Timothy Olawale, commending the federal government for approving the implementation of the report submitted to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

On August 18, 2011, Jonathan inaugurated the seven-member presidential committee to re-

ROYAL SUPPORT AGAINST COVID-19...

L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Ogun State Deputy-Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele and her principal, Mr. Dapo Abiodun when Ooni donated some motorised fumigators to Ogun State at the Governor’s OďŹƒce, Oke-Mosan...Wednesday

structure and rationalise federal parastatals, commissions and agencies under the chairmanship of a former Head of Service, Dr. Stephen Oronsanye.

The committee submitted an 800-page report to the Jonathan administration on April 16, 2012, in which it recommended the abolishment and merging of 102 government agencies and parastatals.

With the devastating effects of the COVID-19 and its consequent lockdown on the national economy, Buhari had approved theimplementationoftheOronsanye report, which stoked the fear of massive retrenchment in the federal civil service.

Beyond Buhari’s resolve to implement the Oronsanye report, NECA’s director-general acknowledged the significance of its implementation, though emphasised the need to institutionalisefiscaldisciplineinorder tomeaningfullyandsustainably reduce the cost of governance at the federal level.

Also,Olawalerecommended that the federal government should deliberately reduce other leakages arising from over-bloated retinue of aids of politicalofficersandexpenditure profile with no direct national development impact.

He, equally, recommended that the federal government “must, as a matter of urgency,

fast track the deregulation of the down-stream oil sector and re-chart the course for rapid diversification of the economy. Herein lays our path to national economic and social renaissance.�

He said the president “has taken the bold step of approving the implementation of the Oronsanye report, about eight years after its submission to the last administration.

According to him, over the years, NECA had reiterated that the implementation of the report “is fundamental to the institutionalisation of operational efficiency and reduction of government expenditure in the long term. “It is worrisome that with over 250 institutions, parastatals and agencies of the federal government, the average cost of governance in Nigeria remains among the highest globally.�

He warned that the Oronsanye report “should not suffer the fate of the Ahmed Joda Panel Report and the Allison Ayida Report of 1995. Both reports made bold attempts in recommending the rationalisation of federal agencies and parastatals.

However, NECA’s directorgeneral observed that the Joda and Ayida reports suffered fatal fate because of the lack of political will to implement them.�

NACCIMA Wants FG to Probe Diesel Pump Price Stagnation Gboyega Akinsanmi The Nigerian Association Of Chambers Of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (NACCIMA)hasaskedthefederal government to investigate why the crude oil price crash did not affectthepriceof automotivegas oil (AGO).

NACCIMA,anumbrellaorganizationforallaffiliatechambers ofcommerceandindustryinthe country, added that the prices of diesel,haveremainedunaffected

bythedevelopmentsintheinternational oil market.

In a letter to the DirectorGeneral, Federal Competition andConsumerProtectionCouncil (FCCPC),MrBabatundeIrukera, the body asked the agency to investigate the stagnation in the pump price of diesel.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National

PetroleumCorporation(NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Abdulkadir Saidu were copied in the letter dated 29th April 2020.

Thefour-pageletterwassigned bytheDirector-GeneralofNACCIMA,Mr.AyoolaOlukanniand itsNationalPresident,MrsSaratu Aliyu.

The letter explained how the outbreaksofCOVID-19plunged manyoftheworld’soilproduction

Reject FCC Chairmanship Nominee, Chidoka Tell Senate Tobi Soniyi A former Aviation Minister, Chief Osita Chidoka, has called on the Senate to reject the chairmanship nomination for the board of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

He said the nomination did not reflect national character and was a violation of the constitution.

In a statement, Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) said the nomination of the new chairman from the north (Kwara State) and the Secretary also from the north (Taraba State) was a violation of Section 4 of

the Federal Character Commission Act. The legislation, he said, states: “Where the number of positions available cannot go round the states of the federation or the Federal Capital, the distribution shall be on zonal basis. But in the case where two positions are available, the positions shall be shared between the northern and southern zones.�

He said that this has always been the tradition that Chairman and Secretary are from the north and south respectively, for which reason the past governments including that of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

had appointed northerners as chairmen and southerners as secretaries.

Chidoka said: “When Mr. President appointed Mohammed Bello Tukur, the Legal Adviser of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as the Secretary of the Federal Character Commission many thought it was to pave way for the first southern chairman of the commission. That was not to be. Instead in a rather brazen act the penultimate Ag, Chairman Mallam Shettima rather than handover to a southern commissioner handed over to the secretary of the commission.

countries into limbo, through closures and general financial uncertainty in China and other major oil and gas consumers.

The letter said the decline in production had precipitated a near-identicaldeclineinoilprices.

It said: “Figures from economic forecasters reveal that the price per barrel of oil has collapsed in thelastfourmonths,fromapeak of $64.58 on January 5 to $20 on April 1.�

Thelettersaidthedrophasoccasionedtwoperiodsofdecline:a

fallfrom$47.80to$30.16between March 5 and 9 as well as a fall from $33.33 to $20.23 between March 13 and 18.

It noted that Buhari had approved the reduction in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) from N145 to N125 and accordingly directed the NNPC to effect the change with the mandate to respond to any furtheroilmarketdevelopments.

It said the price reduction was implementedinlinewiththeprice modulation template approved

in2015,whichwasdesignedtobe costreflectiveinlinewithmarket dynamics, saying the president reduced pump price of petrol due to the need to stabilise the nationeconomyandproviderelief to ordinary Nigerians.

Despitethedownwardreview ofpetrolpumpprice,NACCIMA’s letter lamented that the prices of the other imported petroleum products, particularly diesel, had not been unaffected by the developmentsintheinternational oil market.

Again, Acute Water Scarcity Hits Katsina Francis Sardauna Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă“Ă˜Ă‹

Acute water shortage has again hit residents of Katsina metropolis despite the installation of two pumping machines at Ajiwa water works by the state government.

Across the metropolis, THISDAY observed that long queues of water vendors at commercial borehole centres were rife even at Government Reservation Areas (GRAs).

The Ajiwa water treatment plant,wasconstructedandcommissioned in the 1970s, and was later neglected by the previous administrations despite serving as the only source of water to the state capital and its environs.

Before Governor Aminu Masariassumedoffice,previous administrations had attempted

to resolve the issue of perennial water scarcity often experienced in the ancient city during the dry season but to no avail.

But THISDAY investigation revealed that most residents now lived at the mercy of water vendors for their daily water supply.

Findings further revealed that the worst hit areas are Shagarilow Cost, Kofar-Kaura, Rafindadi, Kofar-Sauri, Sardauna Estate and Sabon-ungwar, Kofar Sauri, Layout, Dandagoro, Goruba road, Abatour and Sabon Titin-Kwado.

Due to the water shortage, THISDAY observed that commercial borehole operators had increased their rates by 50 per cent. While owners of private boreholes now charge between N10 and N15 as against N5 per

25-litre jerrycan.

Residents, who spoke with THISDAY yesterday, blamed the biting water scarcity on irregular tap water supply and negligence by the state government to address what they termed inflammatory scenario.

The residents, who defied the lockdown order imposed by the state government in search of the essential commodity, said a 25-litre of water now costs N35 to N40 in some areas.

One of the residents, Tukur Ibrahim, said the state government “has ordered us to remain indoor for 14 days because of COVID-19, but they are not supplying water to us. The government has not addressed the problem, but up till now nothing has been done�.

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SUNDAY MAY 3, 2020 •T H I S D AY

SUNDAY MAY 3, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

OPINION Preventing COVID-19 Transmission in Urban Slums Locating testing facilities in urban slums will enhance early detection of the virus and limit community transmission, writes Akinyinka Omigbodun

F

rom where it was first reported in Wuhan in the Peoples Republic of China in December 2019, the pandemic of the SARS-CoV-2, or Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), caught the entire global community unawares, inflicting a deadly blow on the global economy. It has also impeded human migration and mobility, altered politics in various jurisdictions and shattered the normative structures of international relations. The inadequacies in global health systems have been exposed through the pandemic as the virus overwhelmed celebrated health systems in the global North, with a huge number of deaths. Creating fear among the rich and unsparing of the poor, COVID-19 has infected more than three million people globally and it is said to have been responsible for more than 200,000 deaths.

As of 2 May, 2020, Nigeria had 2,170 confirmed cases, 351 recoveries, and 68 deaths spread across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With COVID-19 in Africa, and Nigeria in particular, the apprehension of many has been about how the frail health systems would respond to this major health emergency. To contain the spread, Nigeria’s federal government placed Lagos and Ogun States, and the FCT on total lockdown for over one month, with the attendant socio-economic consequences on livelihoods, health and other forms of insecurity. Although there is hope that this lockdown will be phased out in those states from May 4, 2020, the evidence of community spread of the virus poses a new challenge which policymakers and COVID-19 task forces at the state and federal levels need to examine closely. This is particularly challenging, given the health and crowded situation in urban slum communities.

In this piece, we share the results of the stakeholder engagement undertaken by the University of Ibadan Urban Health Research Team consisting of Prof Akinyinka Omigbodun, Prof Eme Owoaje, Dr Funke Fayehun, Dr Olalekan Taiwo, Dr Doyin Odubanjo and Dr Motunrayo Ajisola. This research on improving health status in slums was commissioned by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. We engaged stakeholders in the slum communities of Bariga, Idi-Ikan, and Sásá communities in order to gain insight into their awareness of the virus, coverage of slum communities by government’s COVID-19 task force teams and what ought to be done to bridge the gaps and limit the spread of COVID-19 at the research

sites. Understanding these issues will assist the governments to make evidence-informed policy interventions to tame the spread of the virus in the urban slums of Lagos and Oyo States. The findings indicated poor adherence to social distancing and scarcity of facemasks, while health care providers lacked essential protective kits.

Bariga, Idi-Ikan, and Sásá slum communities present different scenarios in relation to how they are affected by coronavirus. While Bariga is in Lagos and has been under a total lockdown for more than one month, Idi-Ikan and Sásá in Oyo State are only partially lockeddown which affords residents to move about during daylight hours.

However, all sites suffer similar neglect in terms of access to quality healthcare. Bariga has 1934 households with 14 health centers while Idi-Ikan has 1617 households and 36 health facilities. Sásá has 1755 households with 32 health facilities, consisting of one public primary health centre, one maternity home, two private clinics, five herbal and spiritual centres, one optical centre and 23 patent medicine stores. The preponderance of patent medicine stores as places where residents seek healthcare is also the case with Idi-Ikan and Bariga. This implies that there is limited number of qualified health personnel to guide and advise slum dwellers on the best approach to safeguard their health.

While residents in the three slum communities initially adhered to movement restriction orders, they could not continue to stay indoors after about 10 days owing to deteriorating socio-economic circumstances. As a fishing community, fishing households in Bariga survive with fish sales but other artisans and their households were badly hit by the loss of their daily earnings. While money is scarce, available goods have become more expensive. The housing situation in the slums leads to poor observance of social distancing in the communities. While some increased the frequency of hand-washing

While residents in the three slum communities initially adhered to movement restriction orders, they could not continue to stay indoors after about 10 days owing to deteriorating socioeconomic circumstances

in their homes, scarcity of water prevented the majority from observing this preventive measure. Bariga residents complained of the scarcity of facemasks and hand gloves, which meant that the few that were available were too expensive for them to purchase.

Adopting a rational choice approach to life decisions, they used available money to buy food rather than buying facemasks or sanitizers. Palliative intervention came from non-governmental organisations but this is grossly inadequate for these vulnerable populations.

COVID-19 has reduced the number of patients who approach health centres for care in the slum communities. This is partly due to the fear of contracting coronavirus in the health facilities following news that some frontline health workers had become infected while treating patients. Many people who became ill did not have sufficient money to pay for health services. According to health care professionals in these communities, sick patients only came when the illness had become severe. The danger is that this new attitude may facilitate community transmission should any of the patients become infected with COVID-19 and refuse to present it for care.

Health care professionals in Bariga, Idi-Ikan, and Sásá primary health care centres reported different interventions from their state governments which has had an impact on their service delivery.

While Lagos State had organised preparedness programmes on COVID-19 for health sector workers, this was yet to be implemented in Oyo State. In all three sites, health workers complained of insufficient numbers of personal protective equipment (PPE) to shield them from infection. Consequently, they had stopped organizing health talks in Ibadan slum communities while Bariga had paused labour and delivery services because they could not provide 24-hour services. Worse still, stigma may make it more difficult to screen for COVID-19 in slum communities. Patients referred to COVID-19 test and isolation centres were reluctant to go due to the social implications. There is, as yet, no COVID-19 testing centre in any of these slum communities in spite of their large population and high level of mobility.

––––Professor Omigbodun is the principal investigator of the project in Nigeria.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

Will An Eased Lockdown Make Us Sleep Easy?

Ayodele Okunfolami argues that food security is overriding factor

W

hile the world awaits a vaccine or a serum, staying at home seems to be the most potent weapon against this novel coronavirus. Although the causes and spread of the pandemic is still unfolding, the infodemic is that the less physical contact we have with ourselves, the less likely the infectious disease disperses. The use of lockdowns, which was China’s way of containing the virus that broke out in Wuhan, is coming at a high cost on the overall global economy. Crude oil and commodity prices are crashing to single digits. Retail stores and sports franchises are counting their losses and unemployment figures are skyrocketing.

Bullish Donald Trump is pushing for the reopening of the American economy against scientific advice and spirit of the federal constitution that gives individual states power to do so.

Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, who coincidentally is a Trump ally, coughed his way through his address as he joined unmasked protesters demanding that lockdowns imposed by states be lifted.

Both Trump and Bolsonaro want an urgent end to the lockdown because they draw strength from the progress of their respective macroeconomies.

All around the world, industries are itching to normalize commercial activities but experts are calling for caution so as not to trigger a resurgence that may be worse.

The story in sub-Saharan Africa is a pinch different. Aside the fact that their economies are small and open, meaning that they are affected by foreign economic stimuli but can’t generate a shock that affects others, they have over time being poorly managed. So, in their attempt to combat, control and contain coronavirus, African governments copied and pasted the lockdown model as they often do other imported solutions without considering their individual peculiarities. Since coronavirus arrived Africa late, the continent had considerable time to observe how other more developed nations handled the raging pandemic. And as cases increased, African governments began imposing guidelines to the resistance of the populace. African governments were forced to be highhanded as citizens looked for ways their livelihoods were not bartered for the fewer lives that are being lost to the pandemic. In fact, a Malawian court blocked the government’s lockdown plan to protect the poor.

Africans urge to relax lockdowns shouldn’t be compared to that of other continents. First is that most of these nations have either bent or flattened their COVID-19 curves unlike in Africa where numbers are

still exponentially approaching the peak. Secondly, Africans have seen the way citizens of those nations were pampered during their respective lockdowns, they are seeing how orphaned they were rendered. Then thirdly, those overseas lands have better health facilities to cope with any setback in cases, not Africa.

But while Nigerians were supposedly at home, COVID-19 numbers in the country were geometrically increasing which raised questions on why the rush to ease the lockdown. Nigeria’s problem is less about the early easing of the lockdown but the effectiveness of the lockdown in the first place. Because the social and economic infrastructure to sustain a lockdown is lacking, Nigerians were unable to stay at home throughout the extended period as every activity is essential. They had to leave home to go and fetch drinking water and fuel to power generators. And even before coronavirus, the average Nigerian is subsistent, surviving on the margins of his daily income while the employment and full renumerations of those on monthly pay are threatened.

It is this battle between health security and economic security that I perceive led to the government’s decision to begin relaxing the lockdown. Besides the authorities themselves gave the citizenry moral reasons to flout the stay-at-home with the disproportionate manner they distributed the palliatives and their obvious defiance of the social distance, self-isolation and burial protocols they set. The lockdown was also seen as a waste of time as fumigation of public places didn’t take place neither were massive tests done to ascertain the actual state of pandemic in the country.

With all these and the many trembles suffered before this corona earthquake, Nigerians shunned government directives and took personal responsibility of their lives. Where this was so glaring were the vigils kept in the lockdown states of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja by men in fear of anticipated dozen-sized robbery gangs that come to raid their communities. The most notorious of these goes go by the name One Million Boys in the Lagos area and they have a decade history of terrorizing neighbourhoods by robbing them of their possessions, raping and causing injuries.

Knowing their house locks, burglary fittings, iron gates and local gatemen couldn’t save them, adult males (some of whom are landlords), on hearing rumours that these bunch of criminals were coming to ravage their localities, took up the challenge by staying up nightly at junctions to find a way of waylaying them if they arrived. With machetes and other rudimentary weapons,

they grouped themselves around bonfires in disregard to social distancing as their form of defending their homes against the miscreants. The wives and sisters at home in the sweltering heat of those nights without power supply kept awake in prayers for their safety. It was a sobering story.

Security in Nigeria in times like this ought to be taken more seriously and citizens must support security agents as much as possible; however, the Nigeria Police who are quick to shoot lockdown violators, is the most decrepit. They are mediocrely recruited, ill-equipped, poorly paid, untrained, shabbily adorned, understaffed and accommodated in unhabitable dwellings. So, relying on them at dire times like this is useless as they too take cover for their own safety.

That the police are yet to nip this One Million Boys’ and other gangs terrorizing innocent citizens freely is a pointer that our overall security architecture needs overhauling. That the bandits had the effrontery to send messages ahead of their raids should tell the police that security is more about intelligence gathering and not about mounting checkpoints or harassing youths with laptops, dreadlocks or tattoos. It is not even about buying additional automobiles and weaponry neither is it about establishing Amotekun that was also not there to protect Lagos and Ogun residents.

To make Nigerians sleep with both eyes closed does not require prolonged constitutional amendment submits at tax payers expense nor is about using quota system to employ more constables. That citizens turned themselves into vigilantes is also an indication that community policing is the way to go.

With simple streetlights that function, nefarious activities are curbed. With accountable investment in CCTV cameras, viable database and proper urban planning with standardized zip codes, there would be a deterrent to crime.

Finally, food security is national security. It was not only the COVID-19 figures that increased during the extended lockdown: 20 million Nigerians were added to the 90 million that live below the bread line. Scary! With the daily livelihoods of motor park touts, artisans and the like suspended for over a month, one can only guess that some took advantage of everyone’s presence at home to hide under the generic One Million Boys to eke out a life. Now that the lockdown has been eased, they can at least return to their daily hustles. Maybe then we can sleep. Maybe.

––Okunfolami wrote from Festac, Lagos.

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

15

LETTERS

FIGHTING COVID-19:THE MADAGASCAR EXAMPLE

T

he late Afrobeat Maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang a hit song titled ‘Colonial Mentality.’

Some of the words in the evergreen song went thus: ‘Dem don release you but you never release yourself.’

He lampooned the African elite and Middle Class for not looking inwards to solving the problems of the continent but rather the ridiculous act in outsourcing their solutions to the west who in the end give them what doesn’t take into careful consideration their local peculiarities.

The world is battered left, right and centre by the COVID-19 which began as an innocuous virus from faraway Wuhan. Nobody thought during the New Year Celebrations of this year that it will metamorphose into a global pandemic which will greatly overwhelm the west with her hitherto world class medical facilities.

Nigeria is still waiting for a vaccine from the west with the lockdown being a copycat syndrome from the same west that they still ‘worship’ close to six decades after obtaining political independence from Great Britain.

While we are waiting with bated breath for the ‘Almighty’ vaccine to come, our African brother – Madagascar has taken the bull by the horn by critically having

President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar an introspective look at their natural resources to tackling the pandemic. Their scientists used herbs to make a cure for the dreaded disease and the elixir has worked despite the initial criticism by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the use of the herbs to find their cure.

Their President Andry Rajoelina stood his ground and insisted that the local scientists had what it takes to get the cure for it. He ignored the WHO’s warnings and provided the enabling environment for them to

operate.

Rajoelina’s rare trait of able leadership which has long eluded Africa paid off as the herbal cure is now responsible for ensuring that the country is now a hundred percent free of the virus and there are talks of increasing their capacity of the production so that they can export it and diversify her revenue base.

The President ensured that his people got the drug free of charge as his contribution to fighting the pandemic.

But what is Nigeria doing to fight the ailment? The

scientists are not holed up in one place to find a home -grown cure to it. What we have is daily briefings from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and some nauseating unsolicited text messages. This hasn’t stopped the figures of both the people infected with it and the deaths from it from increasing at an alarming rate. President Buhari has addressed the nation twice during the hilarious lockdown and he hasn’t told Nigerians of the government’s plan to mobilize her scientists from Nigeria and the Diaspora in finding a solution to the challenge whether it’s through the western medicine or with the use of herbs.

Our country is littered with a vast collection of herbs. You just need to drive round to see how these herbs that can be converted into medicine are wasting away with reckless abandon because of visionless leadership.

It is not enough for the government to create mass awareness about the ailment.

She should go a step further by ensuring that the intellectual property of her teeming number of scientists is put to good use in the best interest of the nation. Who says that Nigeria cannot massively export the cure if it’s in the form of herbs to the rest of the world? Why must we be satisfied in being a mere dumping ground for substandard goods

A Pandemic Compounding Our Woes

S

ometime, in the olden times, as recoded in the Bible, all inhabitants of the earth were destroyed by a great deluge except those who entered Noah’s ark.

In modern times, pestilences, plagues, and pandemics have continued to afflict mankind, putting them at a great risk of suffering extinction. Till now, we do remember the Bubonic Fever and Spanish Flu, which decimated the population of the world at different times.

Perhaps, pestilences or pandemics are ways designed by nature to check the exploding human population. Today, the population of the world is put at over seven billion people.

China, which is the most populous country on earth, witnessed the outbreak of a viral disease called COVID-19 in the Wuhan Province. It caused the deaths of thousands of people there, and instilled fear in us. Although the disease didn’t spread beyond Wuhan, it got to Europe and America, causing unimaginable number of fatalities. Spain, Italy, and Britain have recorded deaths of thousands of people. In almost every European country, lockdown has been imposed to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In USA, especially in New York, which is densely populated, the disease swept through it killing thousands of people. Some cities in America have restricted the movement of people in efforts to flatten

the COVID-19 curve. The USA President, Mr. Donald Trump, who is known for his acerbic tongue and intemperate language, blamed WHO for being China-centric. Consequently, President Trump said that the US would withdraw its financial aid to the world health body. And it is alleged that China was complicit in the global spread of the disease owing to its non-transparent method of handling the disease. And conspiracy theory has it that China manufactured it in its laboratory.

Sadly, now, the pandemic is ravaging the world while we eagerly await the production of vaccines and drugs for the treatment of the disease.

In Nigeria, Lagos and Kano States have become epicenters of the disease owing to their dense populations. Other states have recorded cases of the disease with its attendant fatalities.

So, in order to check the spread of the virus in Nigeria, the federal government has locked down Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun. Other state governments have executed measures, which include closure of markets, schools and offices to stem the tide of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

More so, movement of people is restricted as interstate travels are prohibited.

However, the lockdown of the country has inflicted economic hardship on a great majority of Nigerians, who

eke out their livelihoods daily by working as artisans, bus drivers, traders, and others.

Now, they groan under the burden of lack of basic necessities. And, today, not a few Nigerians go to bed on empty stomach.

Before the COVID-19-induced lockdown, the Nigerian economy was contracting as it’s a mono-economy that is based solely on proceeds of oil-sale for its survival. Nigeria has no welfare packages or security safety nets to cater to the needs of the hopeless and hapless, who are caught in the web of the COVID-19 lockdown. The palliatives, which are distributed by government and wealthy individuals, are grossly inadequate for Nigeria’s teeming population of poor people.

The corollary of this is the spike in crime waves as evidenced in the emergence of the “one million boys gang” which has been terrorizing Lagos.

Some weeks ago, in Anambra State, tempers became frayed when security operatives killed a man while enforcing the lockdown order.

The swift and judicious settlement of the matter doused tension in the area. But the security operatives have backed down from their use of high-handedness in enforcing the lockdown.

And, the Anambra State Government has suspended the lockdown of the state and ordered the reopening

of markets as it’s said that the virus does not exist in the state. The government’s action, which is aimed at reducing the financial hardship of the people, has elicited commendations and condemnations from a broad section of the people.

It is a given that the continuous lockdown of Anambra will lead to restiveness and bloodshed, which will outweigh the calamities COVID-19 can unleash on the people. The Anambra government balanced the advantages of the lockdown against the disadvantages of the lockdown before it took the monumental decision to unlock the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has halted the health tourism and foreign trips of our leaders, should open their eyes to the crying need of reinvigorating and revamping our dysfunctional healthcare delivery system. Most government owned hospitals do not fit the bill of the types of hospitals we need. If there is exponential rise in cases of COVID-19 disease in Nigeria, our hospital facilities will be overstretched and they’ll be overwhelmed.

COVID-19 is a viral apocalypse, which is keen on causing the extinction of the human race. So, it behooves us to seek ways to curtail the spread of the disease by abiding by WHO’s guidelines on COVID-19 prevention.

––Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

from the west and lately from China? Why can’t this ‘cursed’ continent have a local clone of a Lee Kuan Yew model of leadership that can drive her from being a third world to a first world nation?

It is sad that our successive leaders are bereft of pragmatic ideas that can move the continent forward.

Even if the vaccine for the cure is found, the ruthless capitalist west will not give it freely to Nigeria and the remaining countries of Africa excluding Madagascar. For them its business just in a similar way that China is making a killing running into billions of dollars from the global nightmare. Where does that leave Nigeria who is currently bogged down with foreign loans that the next generation may not be able to repay?

Necessity is the mother of invention goes the age-long cliché and the stark reality staring Nigeria in the face is the misery that will come to her as a result of the oil price

crash. For how long with the Giant with the feet of clay be an import-dependent nation?

For donkey years, pundits have been leading a loud clamour for the diversification of the economy in order to avoid the curse of oil. Now it is crystal clear that the chickens have come home to roost as things are so bad that we are facing an uphill task in selling our crude oil.

We need a leadership that can see opportunities in crisis and this Covid-19 can be one such rare opportunity to tap into the trillion-dollar healthcare sector which has an inelastic demand.

Nigeria should learn from Madagascar as the new world order is shifting away from wealth inherent in natural resources to one embedded in human resources.

Nigeria should wisely prepare herself for this new world order so as not to be left behind in the race for economic prosperity.

––Tony Ademiluyi, Lagos.

The Future of Work

M

y first travel outside Nigeria was to the South East Asia, specifically to Brunei Darussalam. But I transited briefly in Dubai before getting to Malaysia where I obtained the visa to enter Brunei.

That was in 2007 when I was admitted to the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on account of a Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Scholarship to pursue graduate study in public policy.

Since then, I have gone to the region on more than four occasions for media related trainings, conferences or workshops.

These travels afforded me contacts and friendship with professional colleagues from that region. One of them is Nabeel Tirmazi, a programme Manager with the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD).

The Kuala Lumpur Malaysiabased AIBD is an institution I consider an alternate university in my media career grooming especially since 2008 when I first participated in AIBD flagship programme, Asia Media Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Recently, I got chatting with Nabeel. I told him my fascination with Asia is that it combines the realities of African development and opportunities of Western advancement.

"That makes Asia a bridge between the West and rest of us in Africa", I added.

Nabeel agreed with me as he chipped in that, “for me the fascination lies in African culture which is still unexplored by Asians", adding, "So definitely it's

need of the time".

Our conversation was around half past six in the morning here in Nigeria, because Malaysia is plus eight hours GMT. I told him, "It must be past Zuhur there now and it's just less than an hour ago I observed Subuh here". He complimented with a 'Yes' and this opened an opportunity dimension to our conversation.

"That makes it easy for me to be cross continental", I said, thinking aloud. "Can you imagine working distantly for an Asian media from Nigeria?

This is the opportunity of communication. What this suggests is I can earn three incomes", as I observed that in US or Canada, they were still early in bed at that time.

Nabeel wanted more explanation on my thesis as he asked, "earning more come?"

I explained, "just thinking of possibilities of communication technologies. Empowering!”

Let's assume this interaction is with an Asian editor who is producing his publication right now, and I'm just rising in Nigeria preparing for my normal or official engagement.

Later in the day, just as I'm winding up work here in Nigeria I'm engaging with a Canadian or American media".

"Allah is indeed great. He opens the doors of his mercies to all who are willing to seek Him. It's really amazing to me.

––Abdulwarees Solanke, Assistant Director, Strategic Planning & Corporate Development, Voice of Nigeria.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

The Story Stinks It is interesting to hear that North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un has been seen at a fertilizer factory

as the stories of his possible death had a smell of horse manure.

––Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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MA ͻ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

INTERNATIONAL COVID-19 Pandemic and Nigeria-China Relations: CriticalIssuesandChina’s InternationalResponsibility(1)

C

oronavirus, renamed COVID-19, is an issue that has been largely underestimated in virtually all the strategic calculations of most countries of the world, for many reasons. For instance, the genesis of the epidemic, now redesignated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a pandemic, can be traced to a book publication in 1981. In other words, the virus has been in existence before COVID-19. Thus, the renaming of the virus cannot but be partly to underscore the novel character of the virus, as distinct from the old ones.

In this regard, before 2019, there were two types of coronavirus. As explicated by Principi N., Bosis S., and Esposito S., in their article, entitled “Effects of Coronavirus Infections in Children,” and published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 16, No. 21, February 2010, pp. 183-188, “Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs) have been known since the late 1960s as a group of viruses capable of infecting human and animals; they cause respiratory, enteric, hepatic, and neurologic diseases that, in some cases (especially when they infect the young), can be severe. However, until the pathogen identified as the cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was isolated, the previously known HCoVs HCoV-229E and HCoV-OC43) were considered to play a marginal role in pediatrics.’

This quotation is simply to underscore three main points: that COVID-19 should be differentiated from the already existing coronaviruses and that there are two main categories of the existing coronaviruses. And more importantly, the objective of the quotation is also to ask questions about the true origin of COVID-19, before situating COVID-19 as a critical challenge in Nigeria-China bilateral ties.

And true, discussions on COVID-19 have witnessed the emergence of three main schools of thought: the Divine School, which suggests the manifestation of the Word of God as contained in the Holy Bible (Isaiah 26: 21-22; Psalm 91, etc); the Science School, which posits that COVID-19 originated from wildlife, and therefore, rejects all the conspiracy theories; and the Political School, which sees COVID-19 as man-made and as an expression of weaponisation, particularly as a bio-chemical weapon of mass destruction which international law prohibits.

Without iota of doubt, the three schools have tenable arguments. However, the main controversy surrounding the origins of COVID-19 is what now has the potential to also seriously threaten international peace and security in an unprecedented manner, especially in light of the introduction of arguments of racism, ethnicism, and power superiority. Put differently, the competition has prompted one fundamental question: is COVID-19 man-made or wildlife in origin? This question is apt here because it is one of the bases of a new international political re-strategy that is in the making in the maintenance of global peace and security, and which also is a major dynamic of the controversy surrounding the visit of some Chinese medical personnel to Nigeria.

COVID-19 Origin: Scientific or Politicomilitary?

The proponents of the scientific arguments have it that the origin of COVID-19 is wildlife, that it is neither biblical nor political.

According to a joint statement published in the Medical Journal Lancet of February 2020, a group of 27 scientists stated that they ‘stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin.’

The statement notes further that ‘scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2), and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife.’ Consequently, they submitted that ‘conspiracy theories do nothing, but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against the virus.’

On the basis of these scientific arguments, three further postulations can be submitted. First is that the Wuhan-400 virus conceived in 1981 (vide infra) is yet to be manifested, or that it is still in the making. Secondly, the COVID-19 being investigated is completely different from the man-made coronavirus still in the making, the peculiarities of which are also given below. Thirdly, there might be an element of untruth in the presentation of the

VIE INTERNATIONALE with

Bola A. Akinterinwa Telephone : 0807-688-2846

e-mail: bolyttag@yahoo.com

wipe out a city or a country, and there wouldn’t be any need for expensive decontamination before they moved in and took over the conquered territory.’ Many issues are raised in the foregoing quotations: first, which country is referred to as conquered territory? Second, in which way is Wuhan-400 different from today’s COVID-19? Third, is Wuhan-400 produced for purposes of acquiring a specific territory? Is it a bio-chemical weapon for national self-defence? Fourth, if the Chinese scientist, Li Chen, had not deflected to the United States with Chinese files, who would have easily known about the development of biological weapons in China? Fifth, which of the big powers can beat its chest in the open today that it is not similarly and currently developing biological and chemical weapons contrary to the provisions of international law?

It is against this background of controversy over the genesis of the virus and the new political controversy generated from it, that we will situate the analysis of COVID-19 in Nigeria-China relations and the issues generated from it: invitation of Chinese doctors to Nigeria; mistreatment of Nigerians in China; and China’s international responsibility.

COVID-19 in Nigeria-ChinaTies

Xi-Jinping, China-President correct situation, either in the 1981 publication, or as told by the scientists who opt to be patriotic more politically than scientifically.

But, whatever is the case, at the level of the political school of thought, tracing the genesis of the virus to a book publication in 1981, necessarily gives the impression that the virus is manmade. The 1981 book, entitled, The Eye of Darkness, is authored

by Dean Koontz as Leigh Nicholas. It is published by Pocket Books and paginated into 312 pages. It is generally considered to be the main genesis of COVID-19. In the book, a discussion amongst three interlocutors (Tina, Carl Dombey, and Elliot) took place. The discussion focused on the philosophy, and particularly, the morality of biological weapons.

Even though Tina gave the impression that she was not interested in the subject matter, Carl Dombey explained that, to understand the subject matter well, there was the need ‘to go back twenty months.’ This means that the author of the book was referring to around September 1979 since the book was published on May 10, 1981. Carl Dombey has it that ‘it was around that time that a Chinese scientist, named Li Chen, defected to the United States, carrying a diskette record of China’s most important and dangerous new biological weapon in a decade.

They call the stuff ‘Wuhan-400, because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside of the city of Wuhan, and it was the fourhundredth viable strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research centre.’ Put differently, the man-made origin can deductively be established with Carl Dombey’s submission.

More interestingly, the characteristics of Wuhan-400, as reported, were as follows: it ‘is a perfect weapon. It afflicts only human beings. No other living creature can carry it. And like syphilis, Wuhan-400 can’t survive outside a living human body for longer than a minute, which means it can’t permanently contaminate objects or entire places the way anthrax and other virulent microorganisms can. And when the host expires, the Wuhan-400 within him perishes a short while later, as soon as the temperature of the corpse drops below eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit.’ But what do these features identified by the Chinese scientist mean to the third interlocutor, Elliot?

Elliot believed that ‘the Chinese could use Wuhan-400 to

In the battle against COVID-19 and quest for improved foreign relations, Government should maximise efforts at acquiring foreign assistance, on the basis of the principle of non-alignment, non-discrimination against any source, and taking advantage of the pandemic as a challenge and opportunity of building a greater Nigeria. Put differently, the ultimate objective of the ongoing COVID-19 efforts should not be limited to COVID-19 eradication only, but also to making Nigeria greater in knowledge and understanding, wealthier in per capita income, and better in national outlook in the post-COVID-19 era. COVID-19 should be taken as a catalytic agent for national mobilisation and unity, national development and leadership of Africa. The death of our compatriots, at this perilous time, should not be allowed to be in vain. Consequently, lessons from COVID-19 should be learnt and translated into a concrete national movement against the pandemic. It is within this context that the challenges, mistreatment of Nigerians in China and China’s international responsibility will be explicated next in this column

As aforementioned, COVID-19 has raised three critical issues.

The first is the controversy over the invitation extended to Chinese doctors to come to Nigeria to assist in the anti-COVID struggle. True, Nigeria has the highest number of COVID-19 casualties in Africa. The Government of Nigeria has asked the Beijing authorities to assist it in containing the pandemic in Nigeria. The Chinese responded favourably. Apart from the offer of medical supplies, they sent a medical team to Nigeria. However, informed medical public opinion in Nigeria opposed the idea of accepting the Chinese doctors, fearing that the Chinese doctors might be carriers of COVID-19 or that the Chinese doctors might have a devilish agenda for the people of Nigeria.

This fear is quite absurd and does not reflect the high level good relationship currently existing between Nigeria and China.

The Chinese can be considered devilish, but why should their devilishness be detrimental to the protection of their national interest? In other words, we are saying that it cannot but be illogical for the Chinese to want to send doctors to come to Nigeria to harm Nigerians and at the same time to want the Nigerians to be killed to also protect the Chinese and their interests in Nigeria. The issue of the invited Chinese has generated serious controversies.

First, there were the allegations of lack of transparency on the part of the Federal Government on the visit of the Chinese medical team following its arrival in Nigeria, and sincerity of purpose of Government in the management of the entire pandemic. As regards lack of transparency, it was the leader of the caucus in the House of Representatives, Honourable Ndudi Elumelu, who warned on Monday, April 6, 2020 that ‘bringing in medical personnel from the hub of the hub of the pandemic will expose the nation to further danger.’ In the words of Honourable Elumelu and his group, President Muhammadu Buhari should ‘rescind the decision and jettison all plans to import doctors from the hotbed of the plague into our country at this critical time.’

Honourable Elumelu and his group argued that ‘Nigerian doctors and nurses are doing well so far in managing the scourge,’ and therefore, they expressed fears that ‘bringing in Chinese medical personnel, whose status, intentions and scope cannot be easily ascertained and controlled is totally against our national interest.’ Honourable Elumelu’s suggestion is unfortunate, because he failed to see China as a new development partner of Nigeria.

Additionally, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria acknowledged the positive role of China in the war against COVID-19, but opposed the invitation to the Chinese doctors at this material time. The Trade Union ‘sincerely appreciate[s] the Chinese authorities for releasing their doctors and some of their best hands, despite the catastrophic effect the virus had on the country recently.’ However, the Trade Union noted, ‘it is important to state here that the minimal number of people infected and deaths is a proof that we are not doing badly in our effort to handle the situation.’

And more importantly, the Trade Union admits that ‘truly, the Chinese authorities have done well by not recording more cases in their country. It is novel and also shows their pro-activeness and commitment to crises.’ If the Union believes in the proactive character and commitment of the Chinese, why should it still ‘insist that we do not need them now; rather, we shall continue to adhere to the precautions reeled out by the health professionals to make the job easy.’ Is the Union’s show of patriotism appropriate in this case? (The Punch, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, p.29).

And most importantly, there is also the opposition of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to the invitation of Chinese doctors to come to Nigeria. The opposition, without scintilla of doubt, has some valid logic. As explained by the President of the NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, Nigerian doctors are highly motivated and are already doing well in the management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. There is no need for the Chinese to come to Nigeria, and really if there is the need, experiences can be shared through modern technology like Skype.

(See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

BUSINESS

Editor: Kunle Aderinokun 08033204315, 08111813084 Email:kunle.aderinoku@thisdaylive.com

Succour for the Economy Nigerians may now heave a sigh of relief with the $3.4billion (about N1.3trillion) financing bailout the country recently received from the International Monetary Fund coupled with N8.9billion debt relief from Germany. According to the IMF, the financial support will help limit the decline in international reserves and provide financing to the budget for targeted and temporary spending increases aimed at containing and mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic and of the sharp fall in international oil prices. However, the ability of the country to secure similar financing support from other development partners around the globe will provide a greater succour for its people. Bamidele Famoofo reports IMF to the Rescue

W

ith the $3.4billion (about N1.3trillion) emergency ďŹ nancing support approved for Nigeria by the executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and N8.9billion debt relief from Germany, the hope of survival for Africa’s most populous nation amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic is almost certain.

But the country, which is the biggest economy in Africa, needs more assistance such as it got from the IMF to ďŹ nance its budget and to ďŹ nance priority projects in the economy in the ongoing ďŹ scal year 2020.

The IMF ďŹ nancial support will help limit the decline in international reserves and provide ďŹ nancing to the budget for targeted and temporary spending increases aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic and sharp fall in international oil prices.

Explaining the rationale behind the IMF decision, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, Mr. Mitsuhiro Furusawa, in a statement issued following the executive board’s discussion of Nigeria said:“The COVID-19 outbreak—magniďŹ ed by the sharp fall in international oil prices and reduced global demand for oil products—is severely impacting economic activity in Nigeria.These shocks have created large external and ďŹ nancing needs for 2020. Additional declines in oil prices and more protracted containment measures would seriously affect the real and ďŹ nancial sectors and strain the country’s ďŹ nancing.â€? “Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, Nigeria’s economy was facing headwinds from rising external vulnerabilities and falling per capita GDP levels. The pandemic—along with the sharp fall in oil prices—has magniďŹ ed the vulnerabilities, leading to a historic decline in growth and large ďŹ nancing needs,â€?

Furusawa added.

According to IMF, the immediate actions of the federal government to respond to the crisis are welcome. “The short-term focus on ďŹ scal accommodation would allow for higher health spending and help alleviate the impact of the crisis on households and businesses. Steps taken toward a more uniďŹ ed and exible exchange rate is also important and uniďŹ cation of the exchange rate should be expedited.â€?

Meanwhile the IMF Executive Board made its offered recommendations on post-Covid-19 measures to be taken to put the economy on a sustainable footing after the pandemic.

Furusawa noted:“Once the COVID-19 crisis passes, the focus should remain on mediumterm macroeconomic stability, with revenuebased ďŹ scal consolidation essential to keep Nigeria’s debt sustainable and create ďŹ scal space for priority spending. Implementation of the reform priorities under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, particularly on power and governance, remains crucial to boost growth over the medium term. “The emergency ďŹ nancing under the RFI will provide much needed liquidity support to respond to the urgent BOP needs. Additional assistance from development partners will be required

Ahmed

to support the government’s efforts and close the large ďŹ nancing gap.The implementation of proper governance arrangements—including through the publication and independent audit of crisis-mitigating spending and procurement processes—is crucial to ensure emergency funds are used for their intended purposes.â€?

In a related development, the government of Germany, one of Nigeria’s major creditors in the European Union (EU) block disclosed that it has granted the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari a debt relief to the tune of N8.9billion, a gesture, which economic analysts considered timely for the country.

The German Intervention The German government said it had successfully campaigned for the G20, the Paris Club and creditor countries in favour of a debt moratorium for nations heavily affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.

Besides, Germany announced the provision of additional â‚Ź5.5million (N2.2billion) to the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund managed by the United Nations to continue life-saving aid in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

It said the fund was for the drilling of wells, construction of sanitation facilities, rehabilitation of buildings or construction of shelters for internally displaced persons and other victims of insecurity in the North-east. “This brings Germany’s contribution to the NHF to a total of more than â‚Ź 29million since it became operational in May 2017, making Germany a major donor to the NHF over the past three years,â€? the German mission said in the statement.

It noted, “In 2020, the German treasury relieves Nigeria of debt repayments amounting to â‚Ź22.4million (N8.9billion). This comes in

EmeďŹ ele

addition to Germany’s support to the COVID-19 response on a global level and the support provided by the European Union to partner countries in Africa worth ₏3.25billion (N1.3trillion).

German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, justiďŹ ed the gesture of his country to Nigeria, stating:“Clearly, the current crisis goes beyond national and even continental borders and can only be fought effectively in a cooperative way. We need more international cooperation, not less.â€?

A Look Inward The 2020 Appropriation Act approved a total of about N1.6 trillion as new borrowing to part-ďŹ nance the deďŹ cit in the budget. This was made up of N794.99 billion domestic borrowing and N850 billion external borrowing.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant effect on the world economy and the international capital market, the federal government reappraised its borrowing plans and decided that it would be more expedient to raise the N850 billion, earlier approved as external borrowing, from domestic sources. According to FG,“The conversion from external to domestic is to ensure that the implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Act is not jeopardised by lack of funds. Thus, the N850 billion is not new or incremental borrowing, rather it is an amendment of the source of borrowing from external to domestic. With this change, the total new domestic borrowing under the 2020 appropriation becomes N1,594.99 billion which is the same as the total new borrowing in the 2020 Appropriation Act.�

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded requests to the Senate and House of Representatives to convert

the source for raising the N850 billion from external to domestic. The Senate approved the request on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, while the approval of the House of Representatives is expected. Upon approval of the request by the House of Representatives, the Debt Management OfďŹ ce will issue FGN Securities in the domestic market to raise the N850 billion, thereby providing high-quality investment opportunities for the investing public.

Pragmatic Move To encourage ďŹ scal discipline, the federal government has disbursed N43.42 billion (about $120.6 million) as performance-based grants to 24 eligible states on the basis of the results achieved in 2018 under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank-assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results, which is wholly ďŹ nanced with a loan of $750 million from the International Development Association (IDA), a member of the World Bank Group.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, explained that the disbursement followed the participation of the 24 eligible states in the recent Annual Performance Assessment (APA) carried out by the OfďŹ ce of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) as the Independent VeriďŹ cation Agent (IVA) in collaboration with a third party ďŹ rm, JK Consulting Limited and the SFTAS Programme Coordination Unit (PCU).

Out of the total amount, Kaduna State achieved the highest number of results (nine) and got the highest share of N3.96 billion, while Katsina and Benue got the lowest amount of N540 million each.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

OIL BUSINESS AND BANK LOANS

Oil & Gas Firms Grapple with Huge Debt Burden as Prices Crash As oil prices hit rock bottom at the international market, Demola Ojo takes a look indigenous operators’ massive exposure to the financial sector and concludes that dire times lay ahead if urgent steps are not taken quickly to save the sector from imminent collapse For the upstream segment, the general crash in global economic growth has contained demand just as competition among oil reliant-economies has flooded the market with products leading to falling prices.

Initially, when prices started to plunge at the end of January 2020, EIA had forecast that Brent crude oil prices (the equivalent of Nigeria’s Bonny Light) would average $43/barrel in 2020, down from an average of $64/barrel in 2019. The forecast had also gone on to predict that oil will average $37/ barrel during the second quarter and then rise to $42/barrel during the second half of the year, but all that projections have fallen flat as Brent crude, the equivalent of Nigeria’s Bonny Light, currently trades at $12 per barrel, well below industry expectations, forecast, planning and production costs Beyond this, there is also a horde of unsold inventory given the shutdown of most global economies on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given this scenario, liquidity of most Indigenous oil concerns has already been severe as a result of the loss of material cash flow due to the global energy crisis occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

This disruption has a dire consequence for the local players in Nigeria’s upstream and downstream oil and gas industry, who are fighting to maintain operations and margins

Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva

T

he COVID-19 outbreak has profound implications for many sectors, and the oil and gas industry is no exception. In fact, the prevailing mood in the oil and gas industry is one of anxiety and concern.

Even before the pandemic disrupted financial markets, upended supply chains, and crushed consumer demand across the global economy, oil-industry leaders were not optimistic about 2020. The industry was already on high alert, and executives expressed pessimism across all geographies and price points.

But fast-forward a few months, and the oil and gas outlook has gotten dramatically and suddenly bleaker with the continuous shutdown of key economic centres in Europe, America, and South-east Asia on the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus.

Indeed, the industry is now on red alert as demand has plummeted and loans obligations of players in the industry remained unpaid.

This unforeseeable humanitarian and financial crises have rendered previously planned strategies for 2020 redundant, leaving oil and gas businesses exposed or rudderless as their leaders confront a disorienting future and vulnerable workers worried.

For many in the oil and gas industry, the glass is half empty. The mood among respondents to our executive survey is sober across geographies and price points, and the pockets of optimism seen last year have steadily evaporated.

The survey of the industry indicates that players may have to shut down if the global lockdown persists and government does nothing to help operators.

To this end there is need for the industry to be rewired, especially as it is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy as the major revenue earner for government. In other words, there should be a conscious policy intervention, especially on the issue of debt overhang arising from the global energy crisis and its impact on indigenous Nigerian upstream

oil and gas players.

Covid-19 Flashpoint for Disruptions in Oil Market COVID-19 could spur the biggest economic contraction since World War II, hitting every sector from finance to manufacturing and to hospitality. Yet energy, because of its supply and demand sensitive nature, is particularly vulnerable.

The average market capitalisation of oil and gas companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange dropped significantly before the outbreak of COVID-19 and has witnessed much steeper decline than that of the overall stock market in the first quarter of 2020.

Particularly, the bane of the downstream section of the local industry has often been linked to failure of the fiscal authorities to come up with market-driven reforms such as the implementation of Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), removal of subsidies on petroleum resources, revamp of local refineries and adoption of flexible exchange rate system.

Loan Exposure to Nigerian Banks Nigeria’s banking sector is the second largest in sub-Saharan Africa behind South Africa.

Total assets were worth over N40 trillion in September 2019. But with crash in oil prices in the wake of COVID-19, small and midsized Nigerian banks may be constrained to rebuild capital levels going forward as it would be difficult for businesses to repay loans, including oil companies.

Presently, many indigenous oil and gas producers in Nigeria are struggling to stay afloat, as prices of their products have fallen below production costs. This is just as they are failing to meet their debt obligations to deposit money banks. The result is that their portion of non-performing loans in the banking industry is threatening the soundness of the nation’s banking sector.

The oil and gas sector represented about 30 per cent of Nigerian banks’ gross loans at end-3Q19. Accordingly, loan quality is highly correlated to oil prices, as seen during previous oil price shocks in 2008-2009 and 2015-2016. Though impaired loans have decreased since 2017 due to rising oil prices as well as recoveries and write-offs, the current shock could lead to a significant increase.

Any closures of oil fields due to a collapse in global oil demand would exacerbate the impact.

The biggest problem local upstream operators face to today is the apparent mismatch between their loan exposure and the significantly dwindled revenues due to the Coronavirus pandemic. With sub $20 per barrel prices for crude, these companies are in dire straits. Average cost of production per barrel in Nigeria is about $30 per barrel due largely to high cost of operation and security related expenses that are peculiar to the Nigerian environment. The burden of managing community restiveness has been practically left to these operators alone. The Trans Forcados Pipelines and the Nembe Creek Trunkline through which most of these operators evacuate their crude are often the target of militant attacks leading to incessant force majeures. However, the loan agreements with these indigenous players were structured in a manner that does not provide for force

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

OIL BUSINESS AND BANK LOANS Oil & Gas Firms Grapple with Huge Debt Burden as Prices Crash majeure. Interests on these loans continue to mount regardless of the reality on ground.

A chief executive of one of the indigenous companies who spoke on the condition of anonymity said banks needed to be more sensitive to the plight of their customers. He maintained that moratorium on principal alone would not be sufficient as the operators simply cannot pay the interests for now. He called out the banks for striving to make profit in an economy where the companies they are funding are going under. According to him “banks need to put their skin in the game and realise that this is a symbiotic business.

All stakeholders must partake in the shared losses at this time so that when the rebound occurs, we equally share in it.’’ As at the beginning of the year, tier-one banks were estimated to have had an oil exposure of over N4.33 trillion, meaning banks could be forced to make trillions in loan loss provisions and impairments as bonny light oil prices have fallen from around $66 at the start of the year to as low $12 per barrel.

The impact of current situation would lead to weaker earnings in 2020 if the oil loans, especially the upstream oil loans are fully provided for. In other words, banks may have to declare losses at the end of the year despite modest results released in Q1.

Reflecting its expectation that banks will face material pressures from the weaker operating environment in the coming months, Fitch recently downgraded three Nigerian banks’ Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B’ from ‘B+’ and placed all 10 Nigerian banks’ Viability Ratings and IDRs on Rating Watch Negative. It explained that the resilience of banks’ asset quality, profitability and capital during the economic downturn would influence, among other considerations, how it resolves the Rating Watches.

Meanwhile, reports have it that commercial banks are set to begin the recovery of N6.125 trillion borrowed by oil firms to braze themselves amidst the sector’s recapitalisation fears. The banks have reportedly issued correspondences to oil firms, marginal filed operators and downstream operators, as debts in the sector, according to a 2018 CBN financial stability report, showed that N1.235 trillion had been added to the sector’s debt profile since 2016 when it stood at N4.89 trillion. “Banks are beginning to takeover collateral tied to the loans,� says a management staff of one the marginal field oil firms as banks followed up on the correspondence sent to his firm.

Mitigating Inherent Risks to the Economy Upstream Oil Industry to Banks The current demand and price crisis in the oil and gas sector, which started in February 2020, has gone on for almost three months now with a lot of upstream oil industry players already defaulting. Consequently, since global demand is not expected to increase significantly in the near term, crude oil prices will remain low throughout this second quarter, putting Nigeria banks at risk to oil companies’ exposure once again.

Most commentators on the topic say mitigation efforts on the inherent risks to the economy should look at what was done or not done during the 2015 – 2017 price crash since the same scenario is playing out once more, noting that non-involvement of government in the oil industry exposure of 2015 – 2017 had huge impact on both the companies and the economy.

They canvassed that a moratorium on debt repayments should be worked out between banks and oil-producing companies in Nigeria to cushion the effects.

On the part of oil majors, they should adopt leverage and hedging strategies against lower prices, which would determine their chances of survival as well as the size of the hit to their lenders.

The determining factor, according some analysts, would be whether or not producers hedged when oil was above $60 and that a number of more conservatively managed firms would be dragged into restructuring discussions with their lenders if the current level is maintained beyond a couple of months. “Depending on how long this thing lasts, high-cost producers could suffer. If it lasts for a long period, then they will be in trouble because most of them need the oil price to reach above $40 per barrel to break even,�

CBN Governor, Godwin EmeďŹ ele

one of them said.

They recommend that oil companies should appeal to their lenders that the current operating environment is a case of force majeure, which could buy them time.

They strongly advocate the involvement of both fiscal and monetary authorities to mitigate and contain the crisis in the oil sector.

They however, noted that that volatility could bring its own opportunities for those who have avoided excessive borrowing. “The oil price crash creates openings for cash-rich and under-leveraged players to pick up ‘quality producing or near-producing assets at a significantly lower price’ than previously.�

Policy Intervention to Stave-Off Collapse of Indigenous Upstream Players The government cannot sit on the sidelines and watch the banks and the oil operators wade through the current turmoil in the oil market. The fiscal and monetary authorities should evaluate their non-involvement in the 2015 – 2017 crisis and come out with relevant policies to sustain the oil companies throughout this coronavirus-induced price crash as well as stave off a recurrence in the future.

Monetary Policy Option The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Bankers Committee should work out a moratorium on debt repayments by local oil-producing companies as long as the coronavirus lockdown lasts. This would create a win-win position for both the banks and the oil companies without adversely affecting their operations. There should also be a restructuring plan for the companies to

exit the bad-loans overhang, thereby creating buffers for recovery as the global economy gradually opens up.

While banks focus on negotiating with local oil companies to restructure their loans in line with current realities, it is expected that all banks will migrate a significant portion of oil companies’ exposure due within the next 12 months from stage 1 to stage 2. That should be based on the IFRS 9 requirement on expected credit loss because the probability of default variable has increased and the small companies would most likely default.

These should be codified into a guiding policy by the CBN, which could include regulations on single obligor limits for oil industry operators.

Fiscal Policy Option The fiscal policy option should include bail-outs or tax concessions to indigenous oil producers in order to aid recovery and help advance the government’s push for local content and a connection of the upstream oil sector with the local economy going forward.

The fiscal option should also include removal of subsidy so that the local downstream section to be market driven.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has already hinted a bailout for U.S. oil companies that have been hard hit by a recent historic dive in crude oil prices.

Trump tweeted his support for the industry after crude oil futures prices dove into negative territory on Monday for the first time ever, a signal that the drop in demand from the pandemic-shuttered economies around the globe had outstripped the production cuts from OPEC, Russia and the U.S. companies that have moved to rapidly idle oilfield op-

erations. The Nigerian government should consider this as well.

Since plummeting demand is the source of the problem, so to create demand the Federal Government should revamp local refineries to promote local demand for crude.

Conclusion A prolonged lockdown, low demand and crash in oil prices would not only affect the oil firms, but government, the banks and the general economy. The financial health of energy companies based in Nigeria and their efforts to service their debts is extremely vital to the banking industry and government earnings.

Just as the drop in crude oil prices is expected to breach federal government’s 2020 projected revenues, the commercial banks are not exempted from this effect because there could be an extension of moratorium periods and loan repayments and a significant drop in new debt to oil companies as Nigerian banks seek to proactively prevent a 2015 oil crisis dÊjà vu. This would surely lead to a fall in the interest and non-Interest income banks have projected to earn from oil companies.

The financial approach used by Nigeria’s local oil companies against lower oil prices would affect their chances of making it through and negatively affect their financial lenders.

The fiscal and monetary authorities should intervene to save the local oil industry, which is the mainstay of the economy.

Once the dust settles on the current crisis, the oil and gas industry would face a rebound albeit slowly and government should intervene for the industry to come back to pre-2014 market conditions.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

BUSINESS PERSONALITY

Abdul Samad Rabiu, Going the Extra Mile for Humanity Abdul Samad Rabiu is a name that readily comes when matters relating to manufacturing, agriculture and infrastructure development as well as humanity are at play. Lately, Abdul Samad, a scion of the late Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu, took his philanthropy a step further by making an unprecedented intervention in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. That benevolent act of Rabiu, the chairman/CEO of BUA Group, towards financing the COVID-19 cause is yet unparalleled. Kunle Aderinokun writes

C

OVID-19 continues to take the world by storm with its debilitating ravages, but efforts are being concerted by countries and the World Health Organisation to stem the tide of the scourge. In Nigeria, the federal government through the health authorities including the ministry of health and the NCDC with the active coordination of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 as well as the state governments are working round the clock to flatten the curve of infected people.

As at Saturday night, the number of confirmed cases was 2388.

Apart from the government’s special funds dedicated to the fight against the pandemic, donations have been pouring in from the private sector including corporate bodies and individuals. Called the Coalition against COVID -19 Relief Fund (CACOVID Relief Fund), the Initiative, being coordinated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), currently has in its kitty a total donation of N27.160 billion.

On top of the list of 123 donors, comprising individuals and organisation, to the CACOVID Relief Fund are Mr. Tony Elumelu, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Access Bank, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Guaranty Trust Bank, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu and BUA Group, Mr. Femi Otedola and Chief Mike Adenuga.

Of all these donors, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the chairman/CEO of BUA Group and his company, stand out.

The philanthropist and his group’s donation pledge of N1 billion was redeemed late March by way of a confirmed funds transfer to the COVID-19 relief fund account with CBN. The N1 billion cash contribution was followed by donation to nine states of medical and emergency kits and supplies including face masks, testing kits, safety goggles, gloves, personal protective gear in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in Nigeria.

Not done, the company announced additional donation of N300million to Sokoto, Edo and Ogun States. A statement noted that this was done to assist in galvanising a coordinated response and adequate preparedness in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in these states.

The donations to Sokoto and Edo States were on behalf of BUA Cement, the group’s cement subsidiary, which has its major operations in those states whilst Ogun was also selected as a beneficiary due to its proximity to Lagos, which had been the epicenter of the virus in Nigeria.

According to Rabiu, although these states had been identified for this intervention in the first instance, “BUA is monitoring the situation closely and is also looking at other states that may need additional help.� “We will continue engaging with these states and relevant partners

Founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu

including the NCDC in the areas where they need support to win this fight against COVID-19,� he added.

The chief executive appealed to other well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies to join hands in supporting the efforts to put the virus in check in Nigeria, financially and otherwise. “Our country needs us now more than ever. This is the time to come together and support.�

True to his words, Rabiu led BUA Foundation to give additional N3.3 billion grant to the COVID-19 fight.

With the contribution, the battle against the scourge received the fillip to perform the unimaginable. The belief is that it is only a matter of time, Nigeria will get a better handle of the highly contagious virus and set the land free of the scourge.

In a letter to the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, dated April 24, 2019 and signed by Rabiu, the industrialist expressed deep concern about the increased rate of spread of

the coronavirus especially in Kano and Lagos, regardless of collective efforts to curb its spread and effects in Nigeria. While commending the leadership shown by the taskforce as well as the NCDC in this COVID-19 fight, he acknowledged more needed to be done.

Given this scenario and as a result of recent unfortunate happenings in Kano, which many believe is fastbecoming the epicenter of the virus, he said the foundation decided to commit N3.3 billion to the cause.

According to him, the fund was to support a working group made of the Presidential Taskforce, NCDC, and other stakeholders in equipping two existing permanent facilities in Kano Lagos states- whilst collaborating with the teaching hospitals in those states. “To this end, I am immediately committing and making available – through the BUA Foundation, two grants of N2 billion for the Kano-based intervention and N1 billion for Lagos State being

the epicenter of this virus in Nigeria. A sum of N300 million will also be made available immediately in cash to the Presidential Taskforce to assist with logistical and operational activities of the taskforce. This grant is in addition to BUA’s earlier contributions to the private sector-led CACOVID coalition and donations to other states,� he noted.

Rabiu, who is the founder of BUA Foundation, tasked the working group to use resources at its disposal to ensure these facilities to be determined by the working group are fully equipped in the shortest possible time. “I believe this will effectively help to expand the scope of interventions, ongoing research as well as support already stretched medical facilities dedicated to this fight.�

BUA’s N3.3 billion donation is in addition to the N1 billion earlier contributed.

The philanthropic spirit in Rabiu and his kindness pushed him to donate

45

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

BUSINESS PERSONALITY Abdul Samad Rabiu, Going the Extra Mile for Humanity

Several brand new Ambulances and pick- ups donated by BUA Foundation to Kano State COVID-19 Taskforce to tackle rising cases of infection in Kano

more funds- to a number of the states earlier reached and even extended to additional states- totaling N600 million. From the fresh N600 billion, Lagos received N200million while Ogun, Kaduna, Rivers and Kwara got N100 million each. Besides, Sokoto, which earlier benefitted the sum of N100 million was granted additional N300million. The BUA Foundation has, during this period, also provided foodstuff for one million people in Kano. This is different from the provision of some foodstuff to the Noella Foundation/FoodClique’s COVID-19 emergency foodbox initiative in Lagos, which has been able to make available about 600,000 meals to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To date, Rabiu/BUA is the single largest contributor to the COVID-19 pandemic relief fund and Kano, where he hailed from, is infested with ‘unexplained’ disease, suspected to be coronavirus. This generous gesture, yet unparalleled, is a challenge to the sons and daughters of Kano and the North as well as the array of billionaires in the country to contribute their quotas and in some cases, do more, to save lives of Nigerians.

Rabiu’s philanthropy didn’t start with the COVID-19 pandemic fight; he is one of the largest private donors to the North-east, building of Schools, health facilities and water supply projects in Edo and Sokoto states. His benevolence dates back

to the era before the establishment of BUA Foundation. Through his BUA Foundation, he has built a 7,000-square-meter paediatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and commenced the ongoing development of N7.5billion 200-bed specialist hospital in Kano State. Besides, he constructed the Centre for Islamic Studies at Bayero University Kano amongst several others.

Ranking as the third most richest person in Nigeria with a networth of about $3 billion, Rabiu, who was born on August 4, 1960, is a seasoned businessman and industrialist. He sits atop BUA Group, a conglomerate with interests in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.

The group, which started in 1988 as BUA International Limited, a relatively small company, established for the sole purpose of commodity trading, now boasts having in its fold, BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, BUA Oil Mills Limited, BUA Ports and Terminals Limited, BUA Cement and BUA Estates.

In 2001, BUA acquired Nigerian Oil Mills Limited, which was at the time, the largest edible oil processing company in Nigeria. In 2005 Rabiu, who was a two-time chairman of Bank of Industry, set up two flour milling plants in Lagos and Kano. By 2008, BUA, under his leadership, inaugurated the second largest sugar refinery in sub-Saharan Africa. Thereafter, in 2009, he acquired a controlling stake in the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (Sokoto Cement) and commenced the construction of the over $1billion cement manufacturing complex in Obu-Okpella, Edo State commissioned in 2015, which is currently the single largest non-oil investment in South-south Nigeria and has a current capacity of 6million metric tonnes per annum.

Other recent investments by the company include the $300million Lafiagi Sugar Estate project as part of the Nigerian Government’s Backward Integration Plan for the Sugar Industry; a $350million investment in a new cement plant in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria, the development of Nigeria’s first limestone granulation plant and a 1million tonnes fertiliser blending plant. In 2020, Rabiu merged his privately owned Obu Cement Company with the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, where he already held a controlling stake in a $3.3billion transaction. The resultant company from the merger, BUA Cement, is currently the third largest company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange by market capitalisation.

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž ÍťËœ 2020

46

BUSINESS/MONEY

Polaris Bank, Strong in Performance Indicators Polaris Bank Limited recently published its audited financial results for the year-ended December 31, 2019 after one year of operation. Save for a bit of legacy issues that are already being addressed, from all indications, things are looking up as the bank is strong in profitability and has significantly expanded in assets. Kunle Aderinokun reports

T

he Nigeria’s economy has been going through a spell of challenges in recent years.

The banking industry, being the lifeblood of the economy, is directly affected.As a matter of fact, the slump in prices of oil, on which the economy depend for its major income, has perennially taken its toll on government’s operations and by extension, economic activities of the country, with the banks taking the major brunt. Specifically, the debilitating impact triggered by the oil & gas industry’s sorry state, which was occasioned by oil price crash at the international market between 2014 and 2016, escalated the non-performing assets of some of the commercial banks, causing their operating capitals to be eroded. The oil crash saw Brent crude price plummeting to below $50 per barrel from $115 per barrel as at the second half of 2014.

In fact, as at the end of first quarter of 2016, the adverse impact of oil volatility on Nigeria’s foreign earnings was evidenced in the retarded accretion to the foreign reserves. Coupled with scarce foreign currencies - especially the United States dollar, which forced the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to discourage importation, particularly of goods that could be produced locally- and the attendant pressure on the naira, the commercial banks were troubled.

Given this scenario, some quoted banks, including FCMB Group, First Bank Holding, Diamond Bank Plc (now part of Access Bank), Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and the then Skye Bank Plc, sent notices of profit warning regarding their 2015 full-year audited financial results to the stock exchange, for compelling reasons given the prevailed unfavourable economic condition. Profit warning is a statement issued by a company advising the stock market that profits will be lower than expected.

Although the Nigerian banks have since recovered from the then oil shocks with the industry’s total assets at about N44 trillion by the end of 2019, the current crisis in the global oil market caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic poses a fresh threat to the country’s economy and banks. It is, however, expected that the impact will now be minimal on the banks’ bottom lines as many of them have restructured their risk assets to be less vulnerable to the whims and caprices of crude oil.

From the Rubbles ]Despite the fact that its legacy bank was adversely impacted by the global oil crisis and pressed heavily by the consequences of the ensuing loan impairments, Polaris Bank has started strong.

Following the defunct bank’s predicament, the CBN effected key changes in its board and management effective 4th July 2016. The changes, the apex bank explained, were related to the chairman, all non-executive directors on the board as well as the managing director, deputy managing director, and the two longest-serving executive directors on the management team. The board and management, then reconstituted, but still holding sway at Polaris Bank, has Alh. M. K. Ahmad, former director-general of National Pension Commission, as chairman and Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru, a seasoned banker and former Lagos State commissioner for finance, as managing director.

In 2018, immediately after the transition to Polaris, the bank worked with a team of first-class advisers to develop both corporate strategy and corporate transformation blueprints to provide direction for the bank into the future and define its corporate and strategic aspirations. While KPMG served as anchors to the project apart from working on business transformation; they

challenging banking space.�

He added that, “Our strategy, which anchors on rebuilding the franchise and strengthening the balance sheet position, provides enablers for ongoing initiatives towards lean operations and efficient balance sheet management devoid of capital erosion risks.�

On the new corporate governance regime, Abiru gave the assurance that, “We shall continue to run an ethically governed bank upholding soundriskmanagementpracticesandproactively taking measures to mitigate the impact of the adverse business environment while the board and management continue to guide the bank towards a path of sustainable growth.�

Adetokunbo Abiru

also looked at cost optimisation-it was necessary to realign the institution’s corporate footprint especially as this had not been done after the merger with Mainstreet Bank (formerAfribank); EY carried out a deep and detailed review of PolarisBank’stechnologyinfrastructureanddigital transformation needs. This was an important exercise given that investment in technology had stagnated in the precursor institution for over five years. Insight Communications worked with Polaris on brand transformation, while Deloitte advised on tax issues. Adetokunbo Abiru also engaged leading Nigerian consultancies to advise on specific value-adding areas including RTC Advisory Services,Agusto and Co. and Financial Derivatives Company. The bank also worked with leading payments company, Interswitch,on aspects of technology strategy and organisational learning.

More than a year after its take-off, Polaris Bank has grown tremendously in assets and strong in profitability. In all indices, the bank has performed better and its business can be described as sustainable.

Financial Status After its first year of operation, Polaris Bank, last weekend, published its 2019 audited annual statement and financial results, which is IFRS9 compliant. According to the results, positive performance was recorded across most major key prudential ratios: capital adequacy, liquidity, non-performing loans which is significantly in compliance with stipulated regulatory requirements.

Alook at the financial statement revealed that the bank declared gross earnings of N150.8 bilion and a profit before tax (PBT) of N27.83 billion as at December 31, 2019. Also, the bank amassed total

assets of N1.1trillion at the end of the 2019 financial year with a shareholders’ fund of N83billion. In the areaofdepositmobilisation,atotalofN857.8billion was collected as deposits from customers in the review period, representing a marginal decline from the previous level of N861 billion.Available information on the bank revealed that despite the pay-down of outstanding legacy obligations of over $200million (N77billion) within the period, the bank’s deposit stood at N857billion and still ranked the bank among the top 10 in the industry.

Analysts believe the slight drop in deposits was actually positive--as a result of the bank restructuring its deposit base from high cost fixed deposits to low cost current and savings account balances....that is more stable and sustainable and more profitable for the bank.

Likewise, the loan book stood at N261billion in December 2019 providing the bank with the desired headroom to accommodate the required growth in risk assets to support the nation’s economic growth.

The positive results are declared in a highly challenging business environment which has pushed many businesses to cut down on their operating expenses. Analysts believe the bank’s remarkable achievement within a span of one year of operation is a clear validation of regulatory-induced interventions in the nation’s history. They also posited that the bank may be winning the confidence of the banking public to have garnered such magnitude of deposits and realised the level of earnings and profit within a short period of time.

Commenting on the financial performance, Abiru said, “The emergence of Polaris Bank on September 21, 2018, has heralded a new dawn as it laid the foundation for institutional competitiveness and service innovation in Nigeria’s

Ratio Analysis At N82.9billion, the bank’s capital is in multiple of the regulatory minimum of N25billion. With a capital adequacy ratio of 14 per cent, the bank is providing sufficient capital buffers to customers and other counterparties.

Apart from strong capital adequacy, the bank’s other ratios are equally impressive-return on assets (ROA) at 2 per cent, return on equity (ROE) is 33 per cent, return on sales (ROS) is 18 per cent, and liquidity ratio at 81 per cent. These ratios demonstrate operating efficiency, strong inherent capacity for profitability and returns to stakeholders, very comfortable liquidity and asset efficiency.

According to RTC Advisory, the bank’s cost to income ratio of 59 per cent, is well in line with industry averages and further reinforces the institution’s underlying reality of operational and cost efficiencies, which is a significant achievement in view of its legacy constraints. “One remaining legacy challenge, perhaps understandably,isthatthebank’snon-performing loans (NPL) ratio is 46 per cent. Even though the management has brought this ratio down to this level from around 80 per cent at the time of the regulatory intervention, it is evident that the work of the management of Polaris Bank to clean up its inherited loan portfolio must continue until NPLs are within acceptable benchmarks.

However given their success over the last three years in loan recovery, collateral documentation and cleaning up the portfolio, they appear to be on course to a successful portfolio repositioning,� they asserted.

The RTC Advisory analysts asserted further that, “With the exception of its NPL ratio (which as we have noted is understandable given its context and legacy challenges, Polaris Bank’s ratios compare favourably with the leading Tier 1 and Tier 2 banks and are in virtually all cases better than industry averages. ROA at 2 per cent is at par with Zenith Bank; ROE at 33 per cent is competitive against all Tier 1 banks with the exception of GTBank; ROS at 18 per cent ranks third behind only Zenith and GTBank benchmarked against Tier 1 banks; and the bank’s Cost to Income ratio is as mentioned earlier well within industry averages.�

Commendation Overall, RTC advisory noted that these results are commendable especially given the institutional, industry and environmental contexts and when reviewed along with the strategic and business transformation accomplished within the bank. “Asthebank’sCEOMr.TokunboAbiruexplained in internal bank communication which we have reviewed, “...I am confident to state that our bank hasindeedstabilised and is now headed towards our purpose which is to become a “Top Retail Bank� in Nigeria. This was demonstrated by our collective and sustained performance trajectory in 2019...our prudential ratios-capital adequacy and liquidity ratios are now in full compliance with stipulated regulatory requirements.

A

WEEKLY PULL-OUT

3.05.2020

PROF. DURO ONI INSIDE STORY OF A DRAMA PROFESSOR

His pleasant persona places him on a plane unrivalled. Understated in looks, he possesses the charm that eludes a galaxy of star actors and actresses. In the sometimes surreal, effervescent world of drama and arts, his illustrious credentials shimmer and tower above many others.

But his effusion is found in humility and simplicity. Were he a rock star, he’d be one of the world’s finest. Had he ventured into Hollywood, Idris Elba would grow green with envy watch him act. Prof. Duro Oni may not command a cult following, have a celebrity halo or named among the pantheon of legends, he remains an enduring figure in Nigeria’s scholarly firmament. Funke Olaode sums up the stages and scenes of this compelling character at the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos.

P

rof. Duro Oni. No glitz. No glamour. Instead, when you meet the professor, you’re filled with awe by his grace, gumption, genuineness, and genius.

He’s a true-blue academic, intellectually-driven, scholarly-inspired and understatedly phenomenal. Even these adjectives have only scratched the surface of Prof.

Oni. At 68, with enchanting childhood nurtured in the ben of Minna, Oni has a penchant for the arts. The eclectic man of letters is imbued with the capacity to make the complex, simple. He finds great strength in the seeming weakness of simplicity and humility. It was

deliberate.

The Osun State native knows much about this and he’s willing, in unassuming fashion, to tell more about his life, ideals, and milestones. As an introduction, he informs whoever cares to listen: “I consider myself a man of simplicity. I relate well to people of different backgrounds and status. I feel at home with the high and mighty, with colleagues and also with my younger and junior staff. I consider people who have airs around them as suffering from some complex proving that they are superior to the other person. No matter what office I hold, I operate an opendoor policy,” says Prof. Oni. Oni’s parents hailed from Osun State

but the scholar was born in Minna in the present-day Niger State. He has fond memories of his parents, even his grandparents. Wushishi offered him a canvas of colourful episodes to reflect on and his parents and grandparents were as actors on a stage whose performance later impacted on his life’s ideals and path.

Recalling his childhood, he said, “My father worked for the Nigerian Railways Corporation in Wushishi before he established his own business in Minna and got into produce buying.

My mother also ran a small restaurant at the railway station in Minna and was also an active member of the Young Women’s Christian Association of the

Anglican Church and served as the secretary for some 20 years.”

He adds, “My parents met in Minna and got married there. My mother’s parents also lived in Minna and ran their own businesses (there too).

“My parents were very enterprising and I believe I may have inherited some of that from them. In terms of discipline, my father’s favourite words were: ‘Remember the son of who you are.’ It carried a lot of weight and meaning and indirectly telling you that you had to stay on the path of righteousness.”

Prof. Oni pauses momentarily after reminiscing about his parents. At this point, it’s not hard to imagine the twinkle, in his focused eyes, that lights up his studied face.

“It was a very pleasant childhood,” he discloses with delight when asked about his growing up.

Then, Prof. Oni shares some bits of his life’s history. As he tells his magnificent story, it’s moderated by heavy understatement. The professor, despite the good life he has enjoyed as a kid and the level he has attained in life as an adult, has remained modest, humble and simple.

“We lived in our own house,” Oni says. But admits: “My father was quite wealthy and he drove us to school.

“I also had a bicycle that I could ride to school. My maternal grandfather was also said to have been the first person to own a car in Minna! My parents and grandparents all owned houses in Minna. Because of the nature of our school and the close-knit community in Minna, we spoke English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo in school and at home.”

As he speaks on, you’ll notice how life and his parents had prepared him for a happy future and great achievements.

“In Kaduna, my school was close to the Nigerian Defence Academy,” Prof.

Oni recalls. “So many of my classmates and schoolmates went to the academy and became top-ranking military officers. All (of them) are retired now though. Because of my upbringing in the North, most of my very close friends are from the North. You can find them in the judiciary, civil service, military, and academics.”

Born December 15, 1952, Prof.

Oni’s academic journey began at St. Peter’s Primary School in Minna from 1959 to 1965. Afterward, he attended St. Peter’s College, Kaduna from 1966 to 1970. In 1971, he was admitted into the University of Ibadan and went to California Institute of the Arts for his master’s, graduating in 1983. He came back to his alma mater to have his PhD. Today, he is one of the most soughtafter professors of creative arts in Nigeria and abroad.

With a countenance characterized by a smile, his lips rise, spread, lower with reminiscences. As he narrates the episode of his life that he believes was life-defining, prof. Oni says: “I did a lot of school dramas, radio and television dramas at the then RTK (Radio/ Television Kaduna) with producers that included Dan Awodoye, Ambrose Anejo and Adamu Augie.

“We had weekly appearances on radio and television and we were paid three pounds per episode, which was a lot of money then. I also participated in

ASSISTANT EDITOR OLUFUNKE OLAODE/funkola2000@gmail.com

48

T H I S DAY, T H E S U N DAY N E W S PA P E R Ëž ÍąËœ 2020

COVER

The Nigerian Who Put Calling Ahead of Financial Gains the British Council Drama workshops in Kaduna. The workshops were for professionals but my involvement was considered sufficiently high to have been invited. I never wanted to be anything else, but a dramatist.�

That he never wanted to be anything else but a dramatist was strange at the time. In fact, his desire and dream to be a dramatist earned him scorn rather than a pat on the back. it was a golden era when most people took pride in medicine, engineering, and law. But be a dramatist?

Only Prof. Oni can explain what happened next. “I did not have any problems convincing my parents,� he says with nostalgic delight. What else could stand in his way? There appeared to be nothing. “But,� explains Oni, “a lecturer/ uncle, who was of the opinion that drama as a career would mean my working for Baba Sala (Moses Olaiya)’s comedy group.� That was a dampener. But trust the young Oni. Continuing, the professor says, “I took a little time to explain to my mother (now deceased) the career opportunities open to me and she supported me. She was of the view that I was sufficiently bright to study any course, and if I chose drama, then it was fine with her.�

A little digression: Oni may want to hide. The truth, however, is as a youngster he was very brilliant and studying hard was second nature to He acknowledges: “My nickname as a child was ‘Ori ni iwe wa’; intelligence is inborn. With modesty, I was not hassled to study as I always excelled in school.�

To cut the long story short, at the age of 24, Prof. Oni joined the then Centre for Cultural Studies of the University of Lagos, which was a research and performing arts outfit.

With his intellectual and academic prowess on display, he earned a federal government scholarship to the California Institute of the Arts.

Over the last 46 years, Prof. Oni has continued to display brilliance as a distinguished scholar and an outstanding administrator. He was appointed the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) from February 4, 2013, to February 3, 2017; the Dean, Faculty of Arts from 2009 to 2013; professor and head of the Department of Creative Arts from 2006 to 2009.

That’s not all. Oni is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts in the UK. He served on the University of Lagos’ governing council for eight years.

He was also the pioneer director of the Confucius Institute, from 2008 to 2009; the director of the Centre for Cultural Studies from 1992 to 1997.

In a career spanning more than 40 years at the University of Lagos, Prof.

Oni initiated and developed two programmes (Creative Arts, Theatre Arts, Music and Visual Arts) at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil. and PhD levels and a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Studies.

He was also the director general/ CEO of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) between 2000 and 2006; the special assistant/adviser to the Minister of Culture and Social Welfare/Youth and Sports from 1990 to1992. An academic of repute, Oni has at least books and over 60 articles published in reputable journals and chapters in books in the areas of Theatre Arts Design and Aesthetics, Dramatic Literature and Criticism, Management, Cultural Studies and the Nollywood/Nigerian films.

The professor is also a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artistes (SONTA), an advisory board member of the National Association

Prof Oni with wife, children and grandchildren

of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), and a senior overseas fellow of the Ferguson Centre, Open University in the United Kingdom.

Looking back on all this, Prof. Oni says: “My first appointment at the University of Lagos in 1992 was at the then Centre for Cultural Studies of the university which was established in 1975 when Prof. J. F. Ade Ajayi was the vice-chancellor. I felt that it was time for the centre to move from being a research and performing arts centre to a degreeawarding one. “I, therefore, initiated and chaired a committee to fashion out a degree programme in Creative Arts with the three arms of Theatre Arts, Visual Arts and Music.

The department was approved eventually and took off in 1998. Four years after the establishment, I also chaired the committee for the programme to be extended to postgraduate studies for the Master’s, M.Phil and PhD. Since then, we have graduated thousands of first degree, hundreds of Master’s and some 40 PhDs. I supervised seven of the PhDs and currently have five candidates on the programme.�

Speaking further, Oni notes, “As for the B.A. Chinese Studies Degree Programme, I was appointed the pioneer director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Lagos in 2007. As the director of the institute, which was devoted to Chinese language and culture, I felt that being located in the university that we needed to expand the scope. So, as the dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lagos, I constituted a committee that comprised scholars in language and literature and we got Soochow University in China to partner us on the 1+2+1 B.A. Chinese degree programme. The students spend the first year at the University of Lagos, the second and third year in China and the fourth and final year back at the University of Lagos. We have recently reviewed the programme to 2+1+1 (two years in Unilag, one year in China and a final year back in Unilag). We graduated six sets of the B.A. Chinese Studies degree programme under the old scheme and would commence the new one once the coronavirus pandemic is halted.�

Since 1976 he’s been working at Unilag. “I joined the institution just before I turned 24 and by the grace of God, I’ll turn 68 in December this year. It has been great being here all this time. I have made my modest contributions to the university and perhaps

Life in academics is a calling. Financial rewards are by the way. When you see your students do well, it is the most satisfying reward.

Some of my former students are now my colleagues in Unilag and other universities in Nigeria and abroad more important, the university has been good to me. It has assisted in advancing my career and my development,� he says with a sense of satisfactory sobriety.

Seeking greener pastures is often an irresistible allure. Prof. Oni, however, focuses more on his calling than the pastures lusher and greener on the other side.

In his characteristic simplicity, the prof says, “Life in academics is a calling.

Financial rewards are by the way. When you see your students do well, it is the most satisfying reward. Some of my former students are now my colleagues in Unilag and other universities in Nigeria and abroad.�

He discloses that his staying power is being relevant. “One has not been on the same spot in over four decades. There has not been a dull moment in my life and career.�

Professor thinks Nollywood has the potential as the next cash cow to boost Nigeria’s GDP. “Yes. The arts and entertainment

are interwoven. This is the reason we established the Department of Creative Arts with the three arms of theatre arts (which incorporates film studies and entertainment technology), visual arts (which encompasses painting, graphics, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, etc) and music (which ranges from voice, piano, choral, instrumental, classical and contemporary, etc). All our programmes are backed with solid theoretical grounding and exposure to the practice. “Our students create jobs on graduation. Nigeria’s GDP was revised upward with the incorporation of the creative economy. We have a comparative advantage in the areas which we can continue to build on. I have been involved with some research work with the King’s College, the University of London since 2016 and it is focused on the African Creative Economy. Before then, we worked on Nollywood and the African Diaspora with the Ferguson Centre (2006-2015),�

Oni points out.

However, he doesn’t believe Nollywood has reached its peak. “Are we at the peak? Certainly not,�

Oni admits. “Even Hollywood has not reached its peak. Growth is a common human phenomenon. You have to keep growing even beyond the skies.�

An outstanding arts scholar, Prof. Oni’s marriage can be considered a work of the art: he met his wife at a national festival, FESTAC ’77. He met beautiful and lovely Francesca, who is from Ogoja, Cross River State. After a seven-year courtship, they wedded in 1984 and together, they have four children: Yemi, Duro Jr., Dele, and Dolapo. They are all graduates of the University of Lagos. Oni and Francesca have four grandchildren. “You never really quit academics,� says the professor not in a melancholic resignation to fate but in triumphal admission that he’ll continue to conquer as many frontiers ahead of him as he repeats: “It’s a calling and a lifelong career. By the grace of God and God sparing my life to witness it, I will retire from the service of the University of Lagos at 70 years on the 15 December 2022.�

When the curtains come down, Prof. Oni wants to be remembered as “a man who spent his time trying to be of assistance to his fellow human being�.

ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

49

High Life

with KAYODE ALFRED 08116759807, E-mail: kayex2@yahoo.com

...Amazing lifestyles of Nigeria’s rich and famous

Game Changer...As Omoregie Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi: Making Difference in Line with Ogbeide-Ihama Set to Make Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila‘s Mandate of “Nation Building�

Loud Impact

E

do State has in recent times enjoyed the attentive eyes and ears of the media and her numberless minions.

Those eyes have grown extra-large and the ears a little perkier with Omoregie OgbeideIhama’s declaration of his intention to run for the Edo State gubernatorial seat, under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

With the pandemic sweeping across the country, numerous folks have embraced the changes it has wrought and taken to maximising their lot to the expense of their fellows. It was Honourable Ogbeide-Ihama that spoke out against this inconsiderate merchandise in Edo State, and relieved the burden on his people. That was a taste of the cream to come, and the people had best pay attention.

Honourable Ogbeide-Ihama’s proďŹ le justiďŹ es his aspiration. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Benin and an MBA in Oil and Gas Management from the Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, Scotland, Ogbeide-Ihama wears enough academia to stand shoulders-tall with other candidates. He surpasses most, however, with notable corporative stamps notarized to his name.

Ogbeide-Ihama has worked in various capacities in the corporate suite.

As a drilling engineer, he worked with Exxon Mobil and earned enough repute and experience to advance his own links in the chain of enterprise that is the oil and gas sector. In public service, Ogbeide-Ihama has also been a diligent presence, especially when he served the Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives as Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism. At the moment, Honourable Ogbeide-Ihama also serves in several committees, including Environment and Habitat; Ports, Harbour and Waterways; Power; Basic Education; Housing; Capital Market; and Public Petition.

Since he started serving as a House of Reps member in 2015, OgbeideIhama’s approach to handling issues has emerged as a blend of personal and corporate experiences, and the wisdom and reputable philosophies of Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Samuel Ogbemudia, Ambrose Alli, Adekunle Ajasin, Lateef Jakande, Sam Mbakwe and Lee Kuan Yew. The truth of this is seen in his Oredo Constituency: in the roads constructed, the schools built, the health facilities provided, the pipeborne water and countless other infrastructures.

Ogbeide-Ihama

Said Stan Lee, with great power comes great responsibility. History is littered with instances of the use of power and ability with regard to responsibility and duty. The truth, however, is that devoir and duty are acquired burdens, and therefore can be abandoned at any time; it takes a special strength to stay dutiful. Having said that, Fatima GandujeAjimobi is doing incredible work with her initiative, ‘Lets Talk Humanity Initiative’.

Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi is taking very seriously her place as a well-to-do and thriving leader and person of privilege (POP).

Since coming of age and being introduced to the public, her wits have earned her equal admiration and envy in high and low circles.

All that grew to new proportions with her Initiative and Foundation.

Lets Talk Humanity holds a distinctive position among the non-profit organizations currently operative in Nigeria. Founded by Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi, the initiative is geared towards under-privileged children, women and youths from all race and tribes across Nigeria and Africa.

The distinctiveness of Lets Talk Humanity takes strength from the fact that its operations have already unified numerous children, women and youths with the necessities of

Fatima

life, including food, shelter and safety. About 1500 women entrepreneurs, for example, were recently empowered by the Initiative in Kiru and Bebeji LGAs of Kano State.

Another instance of Lets Talk Humanity

Initiative was the provision of boreholes and a generator for water delivery in Badna community of Nasarawa State, a project that was targeted towards 1000 households.

There was also the case of minor surgeries performed for 800 school children in Imo State, with hearing aids gifted to 300 of them; and a fully equipped e-library for 2500 disabled pupils of Tudun Maliki Special School in Kano State; and more and more.

Fatima Ganduje-Ajimobi is the last daughter of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. She is also the Special Assistant on Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the latter role, Lady Ganduje-Ajimobo is also bench-pressing more than her weight, especially with the Honourable Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila’s guiding hands.

As Honourable Speaker, Hon. Gbajabiamila is himself bench-pressing more than is meet, having taken it upon himself to include the fiscal biceps and brawns of foreign organisations in bearing the burden of Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria. Here is a man whose efforts are already revolutionising the operations of non-profit organisations, maximising the objectives of their ventures and redirecting the fruits thereof towards the few parches of underdeveloped and underutilised social and economic soils that still remain.

BUA Boss Does It Again, Donates Another N3.3 Billion Bring his Donation to about N 7 Billion to Fight COVID-19

Rabiu

Billionaire Founder of the BUA Group and the BUA Foundation, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has become the poster boy for genuine magnanimity, ingenuity and philanthropy in Africa’s most populous nation. The enigmatic, pragmatic and eclectic boardroom leader and billionaire businessman couple of weeks ago demonstrated his determination to save millions of Nigerians from the cusp of calamity as the coronavirus pandemic ravages Nigeria halting everything in its tracks.

In addition, to the N3 billion in cash, food items, medical supplies and infrastructure

that business icon donated to the government, Abdul Samad Rabiu has in a breathtaking style redoubled his efforts to help his fatherland contain the COVID-19 pandemic by making available through BUA Foundation N3.3 billion.

This is a humongous contribution especially when businesses in the country are on the verge of collapse, liquidation and obliteration.

But you know which billionaire is made of steel in moments of crisis as the one COVID-19 pandemic presents. Abdul Samad Rabiu didn’t bat an eyelid in making the N3.3 billion available, making a total of almost N7 billion donated by him. It must be mentioned that though he’s always ahead of the pack, his extraordinary generous giving isn’t in competition with any other entity. Largehearted, the BUA Group visionary has always been driven by the passion to make a difference and give to the needy. By this act he has shocked the billionaire club into silence. He is proving that his Forbes ranking isn’t a fluke either.

Observing with deep concern, the increased rate of spread of the coronavirus especially in Kano and Lagos despite concerted collective efforts to curb the spread ad effects of the virus in Nigeria, Abdul Samad Rabiu decided to commit a N3.3 billion-grant to a working group made of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the NCDC and other stakeholders

in equipping two existing permanent facilities in Kano and Lagos states whilst collaborating with the teaching hospitals in those states.

Society Watch gathered that the commitment is immediate through the BUA Foundation, making two grants of N2 billion for the Kano-based intervention and N1 billion for Lagos State. In addition, a sum of N300 million will be made available immediately in cash to the presidential task force to assist with logistical and operational activities of the task force. The financial support is in addition to BUA’s earlier contributions to the private sectorled CA-COVID coalition and donations to other states.

The BUA Foundation also announced it released the cash sums of N600 million to the following states today: N100 million each to Kwara, Kaduna, Ekiti, Rivers and a sum of N200 million to Lagos State - distinct from th N1 billion health infrastructure intervention grant being provided to equip a permanent health facility in Lagos. These new contributions are also in addition to BUA’s earlier disbursement of N1 billion to the CACOVID Private Sector Coalition and N100 million each to Sokoto, Ogun and Edo states as BUA continues to champion the fight against the virus in Nigeria.

So Sad! How Former Beauty Queen, Helen Prest’s Husband, Tosin Ajayi, Died Death, regardless of what anybody has to say about it, is an enemy. It is the single most brutal force of nature with the capacity to terminate dreams and initiate nightmares. As hearts break in sorrow and compassion for Helen Prest at the demise of her husband, it is imperative that the exultation of Tennyson be not forgotten: although man is made weak by time and fate, he is strong of will; to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Before death played its card, Dr. Tosin Ajayi was the husband and sweetheart of Nigerian lawyer, writer and former beauty queen, Helen Prest-Ajayi. By all accounts, theirs was a happy and fulfilling match and fellowship. And then death came.

Reports from the inside state that Dr. Ajayi had been sick for a while now.

Only recently was the weight of that illness realised by commiserative folks.

Although prayers were raised in his honour, Ajayi died of diarrhoea in Lagos.

Until his death, Ajayi was an

honourable, diligent and affable man.

Although trained in the medical profession at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and bearing a Master’s of Science in Cardiology from the National Heart and Lung Institute, (NHLI) Imperial College, University of London, Dr. Ajayi had a catholic personality. Reports on this account describe him as employing his bedside manner in and out of the theatre room – a temperament that endeared him to patients, family and friends.

Ajayi will be remembered for more than his scalpel and stethoscope. His Foundation alone, the Africa Future, testifies to this fact. The most recent campaign on this front was launched on October the 1st, 2019. This campaign was the culmination and result of his desire to see women and new-born babies properly catered for in terms of nutrition and nourishment.

Ajayi has impacted more lives than is registered in hospital records. He is behind the introduction and use of Teleradiology (the transmission of radiological patient images, such as x-rays, for sharing and further studies)

Ajayi

in Nigeria. Besides, countless projects in information technology, health reforms and capacity building – as they are related to healthcare – are to his credit.

The man lived. Though death has come and gone, the man really lived.

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Adebayo Adeoye bayoolunla@gmail.com; 08054680651

After Their Husbands’ Deaths, Who Will Console Funlola Abayomi-Jolaoso, Nkiru Anumudu And Helen Prest-Ajayi?

Akanbi

Top Oyo Politician, Adesoji Akanbi Warms Up For Birthday Come May 6, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi will once again show his humane side as part of activities lined up to mark his forthcoming birthday.It was gathered that the respected member of the National Assembly, who is famously called SOJ, plans to celebrate the birthday quietly at home with his amiable wife and immediate family members.

It was further gathered that the Okanlomo of Ibadan, would, however, continue with his offering of various items as palliatives to associations and members of the public, which he has started since the beginning of Ramadan.

It will be recalled that he shared many relief packages to hospitals, associations and markets on April 3, when he celebrated his 27th wedding anniversary with his amiable wife, Zhikrah, CEO of Libragold Group, by distributing COVID-19 palliatives to cushion the effect of the coronavirus lockdown.

Akanbi is the founder of the Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi Foundation RAAF. It will be noted that, at the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country, his Foundation, Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, pioneered the donation and distribution of palliative items, by firstly donating cash to UCH Ibadan in March, followed with food stuff and hand sanitizers to the general public.

As the Founder and financier of Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi Foundation (RAAF), many corporate organizations, orphanages, widows and youths have benefited from his educational scholarships, skill acquisition and empowerment programmes The RAAF skill acquisition centre in Inalende Ibadan, Oyo State will reopen with 250 already registered students in various skills, ranging from computer training, event planning, phone repairs, tie and dye, soap making, agropreneur etc; Once the COVID-19 effect drops and the atmosphere is clear for free movement.

Speaking on the planned birthday celebration, he said: “Regardless of whether I am celebrating birthday or anniversary, this is my own way of connecting with my people, and I am always delighted in giving back to my people because this is the only thing that gives me that desired peace and fulfillment. This year is just different. COVID met hunger, Ramadan now caught up with it, so this distribution of palliatives has been an ongoing thing since Monday 23rd March. “In our own way, we have been reaching out by distributing cash, food stuff and preventive materials in form of hand sanitizers and face masks. We hope to continue as long as our resources can accommodate our reach.�

Death has never been kind. It snatches where it could, take people whether old or young, virtuous or villainous. Death never pretends to care or distinguish; so brazen that it is overhung and palpable in everyday life. Now, it has ended a most indelible and incandescent chapter in the lives of three high society queens – Helen PrestAjayi, Nkiru Anumudu and Funlola AbayomiJolaoso. Death has ripped away a part of them, the part that they most loved and laboured to hold on to forever. It is now just these women against the treachery of the world.

Helen, a former beauty queen who was crowned Miss Nigeria in 1979, lost her husband, the stupendously wealthy Dr. Tosin Ajayi, a highly sought after medical practitioner and founder of the popular First Foundation Medical Centre, which entered national and international consciousness back in 1986 when the late publisher of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa was rushed there after a parcel bomb exploded on him. Ajayi and his hospital’s efforts to revive Giwa endeared both to Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Ajayi died Sunday, April 27. The cause of death was not disclosed. A respected businessman with interests in many lucrative pies like telecommunications (he once held the franchise of Siemens in Nigeria) and real estate among others, Ajayi trained as a medical doctor at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

Helen, an Obafemi Awolowo Universitytrained lawyer who also holds an LL.M from the Kings College, London, married Ajayi after her first marriage to Jimmy Davies, a businessman, collapsed. Theirs was a whirlwind union that stood the test of time. Aristocracy met sheer elegance on feet and together, they had a blissful union that was the envy of many. Sadly, Ajayi’s death has now ended a fairytale lifestyle in

retirement from the hustle and bustle of business and baby-rearing (as all their kids are now adults) that Helen must have envisioned and looking forward to especially as she is also in the twilight of a most remarkable and indulgent life. Helen is, however, not the only one in this despondent boat.

Nkiru Anumudu is one of the most enduring and endearing fixtures on the social scene for the past almost three decades, and one of the names that readily come to mind when preparing the guest list for a high octane soiree. The very fashionable Nkiru loves to have a whale of a time and God blessed her with a wealthy husband, Willy, an auto magnate, who ensured that she never missed out on any latest fashion accessory. The hazel-eyed, hat-loving beauty became bereaved as Willy, the proprietor of Globe Motors, passed last Tuesday after falling illand was tested for COVID-19 but the result turned out to be negative. The publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, announced the death in a post on Twitter, stating, “One of Nigeria’s biggest car dealers, Chief Willy Anumudu has died at 68.�

A statement by the Managing Director, Globe Motors, Victor Oguamalam, averred, “The management and staff of Globe Motors regrettably announce the untimely death of our founder and Chairman, William Anumudu. This occurred subsequent to complications arising from a protracted illness. Further statements and all related arrangements will be announced by the family.�

The grief is no less profound for Funlola, the adorable wife of Abayomi Jolaoso, a businessman and socialite who passed Wednesday, April 29 after a debilitating ailment that had rendered him absent from the social scene for several years.

A thoroughbred silverspoon who rocked the Lagos social scene with his friends like Femi Otedola, Kola Abiola, Segun Sebanjo, Diji Vera-Cruz and Segun Awolowo Jnr among others, Abayomi was the

Helen Ajayi

chairman/CEO of Safequip Nigeria Limited, a security and ICT consultancy firm with office in Ikoyi, Lagos. He was in his late 50s. Abayomi’s father, Ambassador Olujimi Jolaoso OFR, died in September 2016, aged 91. He served at various times as Nigeria’s ambassador to the then Western Germany, Congo, Liberia and the United States. He was also a Consul General in New York. He was conferred with the national honour, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2000, and was the Babatolu of Egbaland and Maiyegun of Ilugun.

For Funlola, life will never remain the same again with the death of her major support system and with whom she rocked the social scene since their mid-20s. No wonder she is understandably going through the numbing gamut of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Relatives and friends who knew how much they cherished themselves are pleading with her to celebrate, rather than mourn her beloved husband’s death.

Akintunde Ayeni to the Rescue

Ayeni

Nature, it is said, abhors a vacuum. Guess famous herbal medicine practitioner, Prince Akintunde Ayeni has finally grasped the full effect of this Aristotle fact. For so many years, this gentleman bestrode the alternative

medicine sector like a colossus to the extent that he became a staple for international media organizations like BBC and CNN, who ran a documentary on his exploits. But as he turned a pathfinder to so many other interested herbal medicine practitioners, he unknowingly yielded the space and relaxed. While he was quiet, foreign herbal products took over and seized the market. In fact, at a time, there were rumours swirling at the grapevine suggesting that he had quit the business due to competition. But the growing concern on the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus globally, rocking Nigeria inclusive, has jerked Ayeni, who is the National President of the Herbal Society of Nigeria, back into action for a research into a remedy to the virus.

Ayeni , popularly known as Yem-kem, is recognized as one of the few individuals who have put the country on the world map, particularly through the practice of traditional medicine.

He is one of the few trado-medical practitioners who have re-invented the trado-medical system of healing. At a point, many had thought that he was out of business, particularly after cutting down on his presence in the media space and also reducing his company’s 48 branches to 7 across Nigeria.

But close sources, in chats with Society Watch, have dismissed the claim, saying the famous trado-medicine practitioner is doing well.

According to one of the sources, “Before

now, he was doing consultations across Nigeria. But he later set up a factory in Ogun State, where he now manufactures drugs. “This made him go on a low profile, thereby fueling speculations that he is experiencing a reversal of fortune.�

Since the break of the deadly COVID-19 virus in Nigeria, the Pathfinder Hotel boss has been charged with the duty of finding a lasting trado-medical cure to the deadly virus.

He and his team are said to have gone into a research in partnership with the Arole Oodua, Ooni of Ife, HIM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

The source further said: “Yemkem is getting closer to proffering a lasting solution to the virus with our local herbs. “In a few months from now, the company will announce its result to the general public. “He is currently working on herbal formula to find a lasting solution to the pandemic. The vaccine will boost the immunity to fight against the virus. He and his team are close to getting a result and working closely with NAFDAC in trial phase and getting a certification from the board. “In the next few months, the vaccine will be ready for human consumption.

Adesuwa Ogiozee Still Waxing Strong Adesuwa Renee Ogiozee , owner of the popular Adesuwa Motors International, is one of the few women who have successfully etched their names in the minds of lovers of exotic automobiles in and outside the country. For the graduate of the Delta State University, Abraka, her foray into the auto business started after her car was stolen and later recovered in Dallas, United States, a few years ago.

As fate would have it, that particularly unforgettable experience in the US had gingered her interest in the auto business.

Since she opened shop, Adesuwa, who bagged a degree in Theology from the Christ For The Nation Institute Dallas, Texas, has grown in leaps and bounds, winning some laurels along the way.

The Edo State-born paragon of beauty and multiple award winner, who is currently studying Medical Administration, flaunts the record of over

3000 car sales across the continent of Africa.

In 2019, Adesuwa, who is often described as an accidental businesswoman, in partnership with her sister , Tracy Tolota, ventured into automobile parts business under a sister company, 5 Star Auto Part.

Under the leadership of Adesuwa, her auto company has been involved in several successful car shipments, clearing, car parts business without any record of fraud or tainted reputation.

A multiple award winner, Adesuwa won the Business entrepreneur of the year 2018 as well as Ladies in businesses achiever of the year award. She was equally honoured as Heritage Business Executive of the Year 2019, at a classy award organized by Heritage Awards Africa. Asides the auto business, she is a compassionate soul who has done a lot in the area of service to humanity.

Ogiozee

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Me I don’t even know what to say or do again. This whole thing don tire me. If you see the fear in my body you will pity me. I am not looking handsome again as my skin has gone ashen with worry. This virus just keeps growing.

We are now at about 1,532 as at the time of writing and with the easing of lockdown only God knows how many will be knocked down with this thing. As usual I have tried to black out all Covid news for my sanity. I am a hypochondriac which means that even when I no sick I go dey feel sick. All the symptoms of the Covid, I have seen everything finish in my body and more. So for people like me, it is more of a psychological trauma which in some cases could even be worse than those who have come down with the illness. Fear let me to go and drink TCP because I was feeling I had sore throat and my Kabiyesi friend told me he had been using TCP to fight sore throat from his mother’s womb. I forgot he said gaggle my people na so I go drink o. I almost die. See me, want to

with JOSEPH EDGAR ̥͸Π͸Πͽ͝ͺͽͿΠ̢͚

Curfew for Virus? kill myself even before the poor people wey get the Covid. Anyways all these stories is to tell you guys that I did not bother to listen to the President’s address, I was not in the mood for slow motion talking. I just cover myself under duvet they pray to God to help this country.

Confusion want to kill us. First, they say face mask cannot help, now they say we should all wear face mask. They say na 14days symptoms now they say some people no get symptom but will just be passing it down the line. So you can imagine my state when I saw the speech and learnt that we were doing an easing of the lockdown and then imposing dusk to dawn curfew as if the virus was a coup plotter. I just tire for this country; don’t they know that the virus is invincible and as such cannot be regulated or

entered into a negotiation? All the funny talk – time to go to market, time to close from work, kinds of companies to open, numbers of staff to attend as if we have an agreement with the virus and he has a copy of the agreement and will abide by its own terms of giving waivers to the people with permission to move. We have not started o. So virus will see you on the road and you will now say, ‘sorry sir, its 10am you can’t catch me’ or ‘sorry sir, I am a banker and as such I have permit to be outside so pass by’. The confusion is scarier than the illness and I am not blaming anybody talkless of the Government who has really tried if you must ask me. Just that this virus is a tough customer. We will defeat it but till then, The Duke is under his duvet. That is what I told the Duchess who went to go and be wearing skimpy thing to

Muric

Bala

Cole

MURIC‘S STATEMENT OFF THE MARK If someone talk too much, they might go and be doing fatwa on someone head and that is why I will choose my words. The statement that has been credited to this body by reports that I have read is to say the least quite unfortunate. They have been quoted as saying that the thing that is happening in Kano is such that it has been aimed at reducing the Muslim population. If not that I do not have power for fight, I would have come out blasting but because of the situation in the country let us just let this one pass with small retribution. My brother wey dey for MURIC this has nothing to do with Muslims or anybody for that matter.

These are lives needlessly being lost over some funny leadership. We do not know what they are dying of, no official explanation and all we are hearing is that they are relying on ‘verbal autopsy’ whatever that means I am yet to understand. Please as a very strong voice, you should be rallying your members who happen to be leaders in this state to stand up and be counted. Kano can destroy the rest of this country if whatever is happening there is not culled or abated urgently. I stopped analysing this pandemic when it entered Kano for very obvious reasons. We have not seen the effectiveness of a SanwoOlu in kano or the determination of a Makinde and the smartness of Fayemi talkless of the creativity of that short guy in Cross River in kano.

I don’t even know what we are seeing in Kano, all I just know is that this has nothing to do with the statement that has been credited to you guys by various reports. Kindly stop playing

games and come to the table so we can work together. Pease if someone cough twice in the night wetin that one mean?

refereeing to here is my own o. The one that says, let me fight my own battles. I hear he has been receiving death threats prior to this. Himself get mind, how can he be looking for this kind of trouble at this time? I hereby appeal to the respective state governors, the Federal Government and anybody in authority to kindly step in and save this boy from impending doom. Na beg. Thank you.

MUBARAK BALA - LET GOD FIGHT HIS BATTLE It is beginning to look like Facebook is a dangerous place now. As I was about to write this column, the news of the arrest and arraignment of one journalist who had ranted about something against some government officials on Facebook just hit me.

Me I don’t even know how to use the thing sef. I am just looking at them.

Now this story of this Mubarak fellow who says he is an atheist and went ahead to form one society like that in support of his views. They say they have arrested him for blasphemy.

That some of these things still happen in Nigeria of today is baffling. I have read the write up and the man did not mention any God’s name o. So for all you know he could have been talking about the stone he is worshipping in his bedroom at least the one I read o.

Maybe he has mentioned a specific God in other write ups that is leading to all these. I don’t even want to go to all that matter of freedom of speech and constitutional right to worship as long as he was not forcing or killing people who do not believe in his position. I just want to say sorry.

Please leave the boy alone. We have more problems in this country than carrying this one to add to it again.

The man say he no believe in God, let God deal with him na. Let us not fight for God. You can see that I am refraining from using the other name to call God before they come and carry me to join the boy. The God I am

TONYE COLE’S ULTIMATE SEARCH I had not heard from my brother since he went into self-isolation so I reached out. The man no answer my calls or chats, I just leave am. I was sure he was ok since nothing had been reported. Then suddenly he reached out and talked about all he was doing at this time to support government in sending out palliatives. The discussion then as usual went straight into the need to carve out a new wave of leadership for the country. He talked very passionately about enthroning a new crop of political leaders that would be driven by ideology and the need to craft policies for the common good. The idea now took root – collaboration between his Foundation and the Duke of Shomolu to convene the largest virtual discussion on new leadership as a way forward for the giant of Africa. This session would pull speakers from all over the world and would not be partisan. It would be mostly academic as it would aim to fashion out an ideological framework that is home grown and would better direct political discuss and movement going forward. I was happy and he was happy. The

Buhari

come and try me because of lockdown- I just say every man to himself o. This lockdown is not for that one, please leave me go and bring the dettol let me drink instead be like say my throat dey itch.

The TCP did not work. I will not come and carry Covid. I no dey house.

Suleman

sad thing is that my job is now to bring out an initial framework that would guide the planning and my brother, the fear that is in my body now ehn has paralysed my thought processes. Shebi I just told you guys that Duchess swing pass me, I just look am like person they look cold food. No energy. The fear of Covid has killed the libido. Please if person get headache small for one side of him head, what is that? Should I call NCDC? APOSTLE SULEMAN – STOP THE DANCE My brother can you just stop? This is no time for grandstanding and playing to the gallery. Jumping up and seeking permission from government to go cure Covid patient is to say the least irresponsible talk. It is making a mockery of an illness that has killed thousands globally and is ravaging our land. Some of these games should have limits na. If you truly can cure the patients, do you need permission? Shebi you will work into the place and do your wonders na. But why is it that you are seeking permission for Covid? Have you finished curing the other illnesses that abound abi is it the WHO grant or the private sector donations you are eyeing since obviously tithes have fallen? Oga, please carry this your break dancing and go somewhere else and play it. This is not the time for jokers. We have a serious problem in our hands right now.

Shebi the witches and wizards have answered you go there and fight.

Real joker.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

SPECIALREPORT

The Incident Commanders: Presidential Task Force led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, briefing the media on COVID-19 situation report

COVID-19: The State of States’ Response (1) By tomorrow, Monday, May 4, the nation will commence a gradual opening up of the system as announced by President Muhammadu Buharinearlyaweekago. Thiscameafteraboutfive weeksofshuttingdownthenation–withfocusonAbuja,LagosandOgunStates–to enable leaderships at all levels contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic with regards to the peculiarity of their situations. Evidently, it was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea, but because something had to give and given the burgeoning pressure on the Buhari leadership, especially, that the weight of the lockdown had begun to tell poorly on the economy, the president embraced the hardest choice or so to speak. That is not to say, however, that the war against Covid-19 had been subdued let alone won; it was just that the president,perhaps,hadonlyactedontheapproachingrealitythatthevirusmaynotonlybewithhumanityforaverylongtimeaswithmanyof its kind, but has come to stay. Therefore, the next phase of the battle and as being waged in other climes, is learning to live with the virus, chiefofwhichiscultivatingalifeofsoundhygieneandadheringtothesafetyrulesasadvisedbymedicalexperts,particularly,theneedto observe physical distancing. Of course, man has not relaxed its quest to finding a permanent solution, as Covid-19 appears the biggest threat to humanity at the moment, adjusting to the times is the in-thing, going forward. Although Nigeria is plagued by many challenges – fromitspopulationtolackofdata,itsnaturalfaultlinesaswellasweakeconomicandpoliticalfabrics–itistritetosaythatthePresidential Task Force, empanelled by President Buhari in the wake of the pandemic has not been doing badly, even when there are obvious rooms for improvement and better showing in other instances. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and his team have been doing all within their powers and with the resources available to confront the challenge that has locked down everything in almost two months, albeit with promising signs that the battle is winnable. This is why a focus on the states has become imperative to assessnotonlythelevelofpreparedness,particularly,theresponselevelofeachofthestatestothechallengethatcaughtmanynapping.

Therefore, this special report from all the outstation correspondents of THISDAY across the 36 states of the federation, though short andtight,highlightssomeoftheeffortsofeachofthestatesaswellastheircurrentstateofplayincludingwhathascometobeknownas the invaluable assistance and collaboration from their federal counterpart. After reviewing the reports of our state correspondents, the Continued on Pages 53-55 EDITORS of THISDAY give theirverdictsintheeditors’scoreboard

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ÍąËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ Ëž THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER

SPECIALREPORT Ëž ͚̓ΠË? ËŞ ̢̥͚ Ëž Continued from Page 52 Lagos: Firing From All Cylinders Reporter Segun James As the model state, both in terms of the first case recorded in the country as well as the management of the coronavirus, Lagos has maintained an enviable capacity in the overall effort to tame the monster.

This, as the nation continues to witness a steady rise in the virus, Lagos, last week commissioned a 118-bed Isolation and Treatment Center located within the premises of the Gbagada General Hospital. The commissioning, however, brings to eight, the number of such facilities across the state.

Within the three-floor facility are dedicated intensive care isolation unit, ventilators, monitors, respirators, mobile x-ray, ultrasound and oxygen amongst other ultra-modern medical equipment.

As at yesterday, 26 more carriers: 14 males and 12 females, including 2 foreign nationals – a Polish and a Filipino, have been discharged from the Yaba and Onikan Isolation facilities.

The patients, 14 from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and 12 from the Onikan Isolation Centre were discharged having fully recovered and tested negative to COVID-19 in two consecutive readings. With this, the number of confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos is now 225.

Sanwo-Olu Thus, to keep hope alive, especially for the essential health workers, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has continued to commend the state health team responding to the COVID 19 pandemic, has also approved a plethora of incentives in appreciation of their efforts.

Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said recently in an interview with THISDAY, is not only prepared for the worst, but clearly hoping for the best given all that his administration had so far committed to the fight against Covid-19.

Sanwo-Olu represent one of the big revelation of the coronavirus pandemic. His response has been excellent, displaying all the attributes of a leader in term of crisis.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Excellent Leadership

Ekiti:LeveragingCapacityandLeadership Reporter Victor Ogunje Reports coming from Ekiti State indicated that over 70 suspected Covid-19 patients had been tested out of which eight were positive from the results released by the NCDC. Going by the statistics released by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade during Covid-19 task force press briefing on Wednesday, Ekiti at present has five active, one dead and two discharged cases of Coronavirus infection.

All the five patients are presently being treated at the state’s isolation centre located within the premises of ObaAdejugbe General Hospital,Ado Ekiti.

According to the Commissioner, blood samples taken in Ekiti were being taken to Ede, Osun State for testing and evaluation.

Another member of the Task Force and Information Commissioner, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua, said despite the fact that private individuals and corporate Fayemi organisations were making donations to the fight against the scourge, finance and influx of people through the borders remain the greatest challenges besetting the state.

Olumilua identified defiant nature of many Pastors to the total cancellation of congregation in places of worship as another challenge being experienced in the fight against Covid 19. But in all the leadership style of Governor Kayode Fayemi, which recently earned the state a second place in terms of response to the challenge, coming after Lagos, during a general evaluation of states, has left the state trudging on despite the many roadblocks. Governor Fayemi has shown a very strong determination to containedthe crisis. He has been very proactive.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Very Good Leadership

Cross-River:No-Case,Becausenotexting Reporter Bassey Inyang At the moment, Cross River State is one of the 36 states of the country, where no official case of the Covid-19 has been recorded, although the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has attributed this to the small number of samples sent by the state for testing.

As of March 2020, there was a suspected case, which turned out negative, just about the result of less than ten samples that the state has sent out for testing at the Federal Medical Centre in Irrua, Edo State.

Cross River has no test centre for Covid-19, neither does it have a well-equipped Isolation Centre, except that in the last couple of days, the state has commenced work at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel with a view to using it as its Isolation Centre in Calabar, just as it is working to establish another one on Ogoja in the northern part of the state.

The only available Isolation Centre at the moment is a 4-bed facility with just two ventilators at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), a development, which informed the hospital, the owners of the facility, to appeal to the federal government to expand it to a 20-bed facility with 20 ventilators. But the state says its priority and strategy Ayade are different from those of other states, because it shares borders withAkwa Ibom State, Eboyin State,Abia State, Benue State and the Republic of Cameroon where cases of Covid-19 has been recorded officially.

Governor BenAyade has said it on many occasions that the strategy of his administration remains shutting down its borders, making the use of facemasks compulsory, discouraging crowded churches, mosques and other places of worship.

In reality, the governor is not really promoting social and physical distancing of persons as he has spoken openly against it, and argued that the facemask is enough defence against the spread of the Covid-19. InAyade Cross River, there are no cases of the virus because he is not testing. He talks a lot and easily reminds you of motion without movement.

SCOREBOARD: Very good on face mask production and mobilisation, very poor on testing

Edo:StrivingtoBalancetheEquations Reporter Adibe Emenyonu Since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in Edo State, about 297,000 persons have so far been tested, while some 200,000 persons have been screened.

Out of these figures, 44 persons have been confirmed positive of the virus while 31 confirmed carriers are still on admission. Besides, some 10 other persons have been discharged and three deaths recorded so far. The state government have continued to respond to the situation as the are unfolding in the same manner not different from others, who understand the weight of the challenging at hand, which includes decent isolation centres, provision of protective gears and enforcing the safety rules among others.

The main challenge, however, remains late testing, a major factor that has also led to an increase in number of recorded cases and casualties as at the time of going to press. Just yesterday he announced that Edo had 40,000 people this he said was achieved in partnerhip private hospital.

Obaseki

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership

Benue:MaintainingaSafeGuard Reporter George Okoh Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Benue State Government and its agencies have swung into action to ensure the deadly virus is contained.

The government had immediately the pandemic broke out in some states, inaugurated a committee known as the Covid-19 committee, saddled with the responsibility of educating, informing and curtailing the disease.

The team, headed by the Deputy Governor, Engineer BensonAbounu, had quickly established an Isolation center at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in anticipation of any index.

Governor Samuel Ortom of the state also responded by shutting down all schools in the state, markets as well as places of worship and eventually imposed a curfew from 7pm to 6am.

The state, however, recorded its first index case, when a woman who arrived the country from the United Kingdom tested positive and was isolated at the teaching hospital.

Due to lack of any testing facility in the state, her samples along with many other suspected cases were Ortom taken to the NCDC lab inAbuja. So far, that’s the only index case in Benue, which has since recovered.

Despite the effort of the state government, adherence to directives has been poor. Markets and residents close to markets have defied the directive of keeping distances. The state is also facing the challenge of lack of testing and protective materials. There have also been cries of lack of food from residents as the palliatives from the state government were not enough to go round.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership

Osun:RespondingtoCapacityDemands Reporter Yinka Kolawole The total Cases of Covid-19 in Osun is 34 and this is cumulative of samples collected over a period 3 weeks. But the Covid-19 patients so far discharged were 19 while the total number of patients undergoing treatment stood at 12.

As at the evening ofApril 27, 2020, a total number of 340 samples had been collected out of which 34 were confirmed positive, 19 treated and discharged, two died, active cases now 13. Commissioner and Special Adviser to Governor Gboyega Oyetola on health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu and Dr. Olasiji Olamiju respectively had hinted that the two deaths recorded in the state were people who returned to the state from Lagos.

The appearance of the duo before the House gave them an opportunity to intimate the parliamentarians with the state of isolation centres, number of deaths recorded and present condition of those, who are in the isolation centres among others.

However, the response level of the state as well as the challenges being faced, were viewed against Oyetola the backdrop of the economics implications of the lockdown on the people.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž MAY 3, 2020

SPECIALREPORT Ëž ͚̓ΠË&#x; ËŞ ̢̥͚ Ëž ĂŁĂ™Ë? NotClosingtheGapsYet Reporter Kemi Olaitan Between late March when Oyo State recorded its first index case of Coronavirus and now, not less than 775 people have been tested with 21 cases positive, 10 discharged, two fatalities, one transferred to Lagos and eight active cases in the state.

While the state government has put various measures and policies in place to curtail the spread of the pandemic such as having isolation centres in Jericho and Olodo, both in Ibadan while there are two testing centres, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and that of the Lekan Salami Stadium,Adamasingba, jointly operated by the state government and a non-governmental organisation, Citizen4Citizen, the state Task Force headed by Governor Seyi Makinde, has not lived up to the expectations of the people.

With discordant tunes coming from members of the task force, the number of those tested is insignificant for a state, whose population is over six million people.

Governor Makinde while personally acknowledging some of the challenges faced by the state, said out of those tested, the state currently awaits the result of 300 due to a shortage of reagents to process Makinde COVID-19 tests.

But the governor claimed the state was already in the process of acquiring more reagents in the shortest possible time to enable them clear the backlog. Makinde is providing a breath of fresh air in his Leadership style.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Very Good Leadership

Abia:TestingCapacityastheBane Reporter Emmanuel Ugwu Abia State was free of Covid-19 pandemic untilApril 20, 2020, when two sick septuagenarians tested positive for the disease. The state is now fighting hard to contain the spread.

Abia has no testing centre but the spokesman of the Covid-19 Committee, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, said over 60 tests had been done by the state so far and only the two index cases have come out positive. No Covid-19 related death has been recorded inAbia as the two index cases are presently receiving treatment in isolation centre.

Before Covid-19 index cases surfaced inAbia, the state had rolled out measures aimed at containing the spread. It closed its borders on March 28, 2020 and followed it up with total lockdown announced

by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with effect fromApril 1, 2020.Adusk to dawn curfew was imposed on the state with effect fromApril 27, 2020. The state has three isolation centres while arrangement is on for a fourth inAbia North zone. Government has procured and distributed sanitizers and facemasks.

In fact the governor has boasted that the state was self-sufficient in facemasks, which is locally produced in the commercial city ofAba. Wearing of facemask in public has been made compulsory and three mobile courts were inaugurated on Monday to try and sanction defaulters. Aside from absence of testing centre in the state, government is also grappling with the issue of insufficient ventilators should the number of index cases with critical conditions increase. Contact tracing in the three designated local governments of Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Ukwa West has continued to pose difficult challenge for the state health officials and epidemiologists. Though over Ă•ĂšĂ?ËäĂ&#x; 200 contacts have been traced and isolated so far, there were reports of resistance in some communities. But Governor Ikpeazu has taken a drastic measure to tackle the problem. He has directed security agents to assist the health officials and threatened to sack transition council chairman and traditional ruler of any community that denied access to health officials while those resisting access would be prosecuted.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Average Leadership

Kaduna:StrugglingWithaClear-cutApproach Reporter John Shiklam Kaduna State has two laboratories for the testing of COVID-19. Located in Kaduna and Zaria, the laboratories are, according to the Commissioner of Health, Dr.Amina Balani, had been accredited by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

She said an “IncidentAction Plan was developed and the Infectious Disease Control Centre (IDCC) was upgraded in terms of infrastructure, specialised equipment and personnel to make it capable of managing COVID-19 patients that may need critical care.�

The commissioner said a total of 125 people were tested out of which 14 people tested positive, including the governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. However, six patients had recovered while eight are still being treated, adding that, so far, no death has been recorded in the state. Also, as part of their response to the challenge, the commissioner disclosed that over 22,000 people had been trained on various components of COVID-19 prevention protocol or its management, noting also that the training involved health workers, community leaders, religious and traditional leaders as well as security personnel among others. But going forward, the state government has further extended the lockdown for another 30 days to curb the spread of the disease, while making the wearing of facemasks compulsory in offices, markets, commercial vehicles and other public places.

In addition, the government had banned travelers coming in or going out of the state while mobile Ă–Ě‹ĂœĂ&#x;Ă?Ă‹Ă“ courts had been set up to summarily prosecute

Continued from Page 53

violators of the restriction of movement in the state.

But the greatest challenge in the state is that many people are not adhering to the social distancing rules against the spread of the disease. He has proved himself willing to take tough and unpopular decisions to contained the deadly virus.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Excellent Leadership

Anambra:KeepingaLowProfile Reporter David-Chyddy Eleke Anambra State, as at Saturday,April 25, 2020, said it had sent a total of 69 samples to the National Centre for Disease Control. This is in spite of the estimated seven million population of the state, making the percentage an abysmally low one.

Governor Willie Obiano of the state, who disclosed this during a state wide broadcast, said only one of the samples came out positive, and the patient has also been treated of the ailment and discharged, while 36 of his contacts, tested negative, making the state Coronavirus free, presently.

The state has neither witnessed any deaths from Coronavirus nor cases of patients, who are still in hospital. The governor however stated that one more result was still being awaited.Adjudging the state presently free of the virus, he has relaxed the lockdown, calling for churches, markets and other public places to open for business, while observing the use of facemasks, hand washing with sanitizers ĂŒĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ and social distancing.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Average Leadership

Sokoto:TacklingRisingCasesofCovid-19 Reporter Onuminya Innocent Sokoto State, the seat of Caliphate, has so far recorded 19 confirmed cases of Covid-19, barely one week the first index case was discovered.

In a statewide broadcast by GovernorAminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Tuesday night, revealed that 67 people were tested at the Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, out of which 19 were tested positive to the virus. He also added that three people who had underlining health issues such as diabetes, asthma and hypertension, also died of the pandemic.

The governor called on the people to remain calm as government was working hard in collaboration with the NCDC to contain the pandemic.

Chairman, Task Force Committee on Covid-19 in the state and Commissioner for Health, Dr.Ali Inname, said the virus was spreading at an alarming rate and stressed that Usman Danfodio University teaching hospital laboratory has been activated as a testing centre. He added that the state had trained 279 staff and overcame 3000 responses from volunteer health personnel in their bid to proactively tackle the pandemic.

But THISDAY gathered that the state was facing the challenge of isolation centre as the two centres, the Amanya infectious hospital and NYSC Orientation Camp at Wamakko, were grossly inadequate for the state.

Another challenge is that the sample taking for testing has not been enough compared to the people, who had direct contact with the infected persons.

Tambuwal There’s also the porosity of borders with Niger Republic, which witnesses daily influx of foreigners into the state. Tambuwal have been slow to react to the virus spread.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Average Leadership So far

Niger:GraduallyFlatteningtheCurve Reporter Laleye Dipo So far in Niger State, only two coronavirus cases have been recorded. One of the cases from Tegina has however tested negative in the first test carried out on his sample and could be released from isolation if the second case is also negative. The result of the test for the Limawa positive case is still being awaited. Generally, over 151 cases have been isolated in the state with 62 of them on forced isolation by the Covid-19 task force while the others were on self-quarantine.

THISDAY learnt that as at Monday last week only five cases are left under quarantine as all others have been discharged. The state, in line with the regulation of the NCDC, does not carryout tests but forward samples to the laboratory inAbuja for such examination.

The state has been under first partial and now total lockdown in the last five weeks as a step taken by Bello government to contain the spread of the disease.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership response so far

Kwara:RunningWiththeTide Reporter Hammed Shittu

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž MAY 3, 2020

55

SPECIALREPORT Ëž ͚̓ΠË&#x; ËŞ ̢̥͚ Ëž It is not overstating the obvious to say that the Kwara State government has taken strategic measures at curtailing the spread of the Covid-19 across the 16 local government areas of the state. The development came up against the backdrop of the recent confirmation of eleven Covid-19 cases in the state especially, the one that died at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, after his return from the United Kingdom, where he attended the graduation of one of his children.

However, as atApril 27, the confirmed index cases of the pandemic stood at 11 while the active cases also stood at 9 and two discharged.Also, the number of the pending test cases in the isolation centers in the state stood at 168 while the negative tests case was 214. But the state has yet to record any death.

Deputy Governor and Chairman of the technical committee on Covid-19, Mr. KayodeAlabi has been working round the clock to curtail the spread of the pandemic disease. Among such strategic measures put in place was the total lockdown of the state.

The lockdown covers no vehicular movements, closure of borders linking the state, sensitisation and enlightenment campaigns in both radio and television, establishment of mobile court to try violators of the lockdown and increase in the number of isolation centers like Sobi Specialist hospital, NYSC camp, Hajji camp, and Offa General hospital. The only challenge being faced by the state government was compliance to the lockdown order as some of them Abdulrazaq used the period of their nights to travel to other parts of the state and other adjoining states of Kogi, Oyo, Osun and Niger, among others, which hitherto posed a serious threat to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership So Far

FCT:Test,Treat,TraceandIsolate He is aggressive in testing with federal might and he is treating and isolating people and so far with few deaths. In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, the Federal Capital Territory,Abuja, through the Emergency Epidemic Response Committee, had tested 3,403 persons across several communities in order to locate carriers of the virus. The FCT has 173 people, who are infected with COVID-19 virus, ranking the Territory the second behind Lagos as the place with the highest number of cases in the country.

So far, 36 persons had fully recovered from the disease, having been discharged from the two coronavirus isolation centres at the National Hospital,Abuja, and the University ofAbuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada. Presently, there are three fatalities and 138 active cases, with many responding to treatment.

Amember of the FCT Emergency Epidemic Response Committee, Dr. Josephine Okechukwu, identified several challenges faced in dealing with the pandemic and the response level of the residents of the FCT. Okechukwu, who is Director of FCT Public Health Department, lamented the attitude of the people, who still believed that coronavirus was a hoax, saying the response committee had been embarking on sensitisation to change that attitude.

She also stressed that whenever the committee received calls about suspected cases of coronavirus, it went to sites to collect samples and whenever the tests turned out positive, the response team referred the victims to the treatment centres and also carried out community tracing of people infected with the virus. She, however, lamented that on several occasions, the health workers were attacked when they visited some inaccessible communities to investigate suspected cases, while some patients deliberately moved to other locations to avoid treatment after learning of their Covid-19 status.Another challenge Musa Bello is that people in some FCT communities, sometimes mistake the response team as officials in charge of distribution of palliatives and foods and often rushed out to receive them, only to pelt them with anything in sight when they realised their real mission. On the whole the Minister of FCT has been very organised and upfront in the battle to contain the virus and keep at bay from the territory. He has shown good leadership.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Very Good Leadership

Katsina:DedicatedtoAggressiveContactTracing Reporter Francis Sardauna In Katsina State, the state government has collected 287 samples and from the 227 released, 40 of the samples were positive with two deaths. The 40 confirmed cases are currently on admission at the Isolation Centres in the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, and GeneralAmadi Rimi Specialist Hospital.

GovernorAminu Bello Masari disclosed this while briefing journalists in Government House. He also said, “We have identified a total of 455 contacts with the following distribution: Daura Local Government 156; Katsina 52; Zango 16; Mai’Adua 6; Sandamu 3; Dutsi 1; Ingawa 1; Baura 1; Mashi 1; Dutsin-Ma 110, Mani 20; Batagarawa 46; Safana 32. “Among the earlier admitted cases, seven have turned negative with one being negative for the second times. The second negative is due for discharge. Hopefully, the Masari other six if returned negative for a second time within the week, they shall also be due for discharge.�

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Good Leadership

Nasarawa:BattlingtoContainCommunityTransmission Reporter Igbawase Ukumba In Nasarawa State, there was no testing facility at the time of filing this report as the state takes suspected cases to either Jos in Plateau State or the Federal Capital Territory,Abuja.

Commissioner for Health,Ahmed Yahaya, told THISDAY in a telephone interview, that about 200 persons have so far been tested in the state with only one person testing positive and has been hospitalised at the DalhatuAraf Specialist Hospital (DASH), where she is responding to treatment.

According to the commissioner, “Nasarawa State’s response to containing the virus is being pursued

Continued from Page 54

with vigour as six Isolation\Sample Collection Centres have been completed and put to use, while COVID-19 task force has been inaugurated in all the 13 Local GovernmentAreas of the state. Yahaya x-rayed some of the challenges confronting the state in the fight against the pandemic to include influx of people resident in the COVID-19 affected states into the state, as well as the porous land borders of the state.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Average Leadership

Kano:AMessoftheMatter

Sule

Reporter Ibrahim Shuaibu The the number of infected persons in Kano State has continued to rise by the day with 38 persons being confirmed positive of the Covid-19 late Tuesday night. This is amid the killer strange illness that had claimed almost 700 souls in the last two weeks.

The latest 38 number of confirmed persons in the state brought to the total number of carriers of COVID-19 in Kano to 115. Out of the 115, three people have lost their lives.

Coordinator of COVID-19 Task Force Committee, Dr. Hussaini Tijjani, said before 38 people were confirmed positive, 283 samples were sent to Abuja for analysis. He also added that as at Tuesday, the Task Force received 457 alerts, out of which 25 persons turned out to have the symptoms related to COVID-19.

Hussaini added that the state COVID-19 Task Force has received manpower support from the Ganduje NCDC, promising that the Task Force would continue to trace contacts and ensure that every suspected person gets tested. Afew days ago, Hussaini had raised the alarm over three people, who were tested positive for the COVID-19 Pandemic, abandoned their homes and ran away. The Task Force is currently on their trail. This was just as GovernorAbdullahi Umar Ganduje, expressed fear over community transmission of the deadly virus, but has continued to urge residents to abide by the rules of the lockdown and stay safe. For too long he lived in denial, and still lives in denial of what is killing his people. His poor leadership costing lives.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Weak Leadership, Disaster

Adamawa:ContendingWithCasesofUnknownOrigin Reporter Daji Sani The total index cases confirmed inAdamawa State have remained two with no fatality.Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, in a statewide broadcast on Tuesday said, when the state thought it had tremendous progress making sure that the first index case was inching towards complete recovery, he received, another devastating update that out of the eight samples pending at the NCDC Referral Lab in Abuja, one had turned out positive.

He said the challenge in the second index was that it was not linked to the first index case. “Last week, we sent eight samples toAbuja. Five were direct contacts of the index case as traced; while 3 were new suspicious cases who were showing signs and symptoms. “More disturbing is the fact that the victim is a Medical Doctor in one of our hospitals in Mubi, who must have had contact with many people in the course of discharging his duties lawfully. This indeed placed on our shoulder, a herculean task of contact tracing, which is not only tedious, but also strenuous. While the contact tracing is no doubt daunting, more scaring is the fact that we Fintiri may be sliding into the most dangerous phase of the pandemic, which is community transmission of the virus,� he said.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Average Leadership

Ogun:StandingUptotheChallenge Reporter Kayode Fasua Like his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Ogun State Governor, DapoAbiodun, is the Incident Commander in the state’s efforts at flattening the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic. So far, six persons had been discharged from the state’s isolation centres, having obtained a clean bill of health to join their families. This however leaves the state with only three active cases. Abiodun, in a statement, said as part of concerted efforts to curb further transmission of the virus, the government had strengthened its tracing process. “So far, we have identified 210 persons, who had contacts with the positive cases, out of which 110 underwent the required 14 days quarantine period.

Only 2 of this number tested positive, while the remaining 108 tested negative on completion of the quarantine period,� he said, adding that 100 other persons were still observing the quarantine period. “We thank God, Ogun State has been able to manage the pandemic effectively so far and surpassed the global average for tested cases and transmission.

The global average is one positive case to three new infections, but in our case, it is one positive case to Abiodun one new infection. “But, even with the relatively lower number of positive and active cases, we will leave no stone unturned to prevent further infection, spread and death from the dreaded virus. By the grace of God, we will record a zero number of cases soonest,�Abiodun assured. Ogun has just installed the first State fully funded Molecular Laboratory in the country. The laboratory is at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, and awaiting the accreditation of the NCDC to commence full operation.

Calmly rose to the occasion and has been meticulous in planning. His containment strategy is robust.

EDITOR’S SCOREBOARD: Very Good Leadership

ARTS & REVIEW A

PUBLICATION

03.05.2020

TONY ALLEN: GONE WITH THE BEATS! TonyAllen,whowithFelaAnikulapo-Kutico-createdAfrobeat–amovementinmusicthathasnowbecomeoneofthemost influentialinpopularmusic–departedthislifelastThursday,April30.Yinka Olatunbosun reviewshislifeandtimes

T

ony Oladipo Allen had his last breath on April 30, a date known globally as the International Jazz Day. Though the news of his death was a shock to many, it was no surprise that it would happen on a significant day in history even if it was just a few months to his 80th birthday. Last December, his pre-80th birthday was celebrated in Lagos amidst a close-knit music family including jazz influencers such as the Founder, Lagos International Jazz Festival, Ayoola Shadare and the master flutist, Tee Mac Omatsola Iseli.

Allen was a most sought-after drummer of his generation especially by foreign media. He is famously regarded as “four-in-one" drummer because after his exit from Fela's band in 1979, he was replaced by four drummers. In his book, This Fela Sef, the broadcast journalist, music critic and Fela's first manager, Benson Idonije revealed how Allen came to join Fela's band. Of course, his career in music started before he met the iconoclast Afrobeat musician.

“For percussion, I went to Chief Ladebu's Western Hotel at Mushin on the mainland of Lagos, where the great highlife composer and lyricist, Adeolu Akinsanya was playing at the time, leading the Western Toppers Band. From there, I picked Tony Allen the drummer,” he recounted. Allen also had a stint with Victor Olaiya and the Cool Cats band. But he was headhunted after Fela had tried so hard to get a drummer that could really play jazz.

The music experiment called Afrobeat which constitutes a defining moment in his career is indeed a product of Fela's jazz background and Allen’s highlife experience. Fela was blown away by Pino's soul popularity and needed to change the direction of his music. Pino's music was fashioned after James Brown; and he was fast dominating nightlife in Lagos. With Allen's ingenuity with the drums, Fela created the new sound known as Afrobeat.

This fact was also validated by another documentarian and culture enthusiast, Tam Fiofori who wrote in his piece, “AfroBEATS and Rhythms" published by BookArtVille on March 25, 2020.

“Tony Allen is an exceptional and naturally gifted trap drummer, with the extraordinary ability as from the sixties to be a pulse-4/4 jazz drummer; a very rare breed of jazz drummer, capable in Sun Ra’s words, of achieving the distinctive “shuffle beat,” in jazz. Hence, Fela as the CEO of the music and Tony Allen as the Executive Director of rhythms were able to create the novel, now global, musical genre of AFROBEAT.” Though a self-taught drummer, Allen honed his craft by studying the works of other music greats such as Art Blake, Max Roach and Kenny Clarke. From 1964 till 1979, Allen

In a tribute message, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) acknowledged the contribution of Allen to music across several generations of artists, describing him as ‘one of the greats of Nigerian and African music.’

Allen played with Fela and made classics such as Alagbon Close', 'Everything Scatter', 'Expensive Shit', 'Yellow Fever', 'Zombie', 'Kalakuta Show', 'Sorrow Tears And Blood' amongst others.

Allen began creating his own sound and by 1975, he recorded his debut album, 'Jealousy', the first of three made with Fela’s Afrika 70 and produced by Fela. 'Progress' followed in 1976, 'No Accommodation For Lagos' in 1978. In 1979, he left Fela's band and formed his own band, Tony Allen and the Afro Messengers and developed another genre, Afrofunk.

His final studio collaboration with Kuti was on an album made with American vibraphonist Roy Ayers, 'Africa Centre Of The World' (1981). After relocating to Paris, Allen recorded with King Sunny Adé, Ray Lema and Manu Dibango. Allen recorded N.E.P.A. in 1985 and developed his own hybrid sound, Afrofunk. He released Lagos No Shaking in 2006; His album entitled Secret Agent was released in June 2009 by World Circuit.

“Tony in many ways influenced many of the great drummers who emerged on the music scene in Nigeria in the 1970s and 80s such as the great Mosco Egbe who shaped Sonny Okosun’s Ozzidi sound, Mike Umoh who was on drums for many years in Bongos Ikwue’s ‘Groovies’, Richard Ayodele Cole who played with the likes of Victor Uwaifo and Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s Goldtrain Orchestra, Rockie of the Elcados and Kabassa bands and of course the Cameroonian born, Mambo who left Geraldo Pino’s band to join Fela’s Egypt 80.

He played the drums in Angélique Kidjo’s Grammy Award winning 2019 album, Celia, and had a collaborative album with Hugh Masekela titled ‘Rejoice’ which was released this year,” Chief Tony Okòroji, Chairman, COSON, wrote.

A music promoter and CEO, The Grey Company, Tony Domo Martins also extolled the legacy of Allen in music.

“Tony Allen introduced the unique drum beat which became the identity of the Afrobeat genre. The brand of music became popular all over the world even to this day. Good night sir and may God grant eternal rest. A Legend is gone!”

American-Nigerian Rapper, Jinenna was one of the first to pay a tribute in a tweet a few hours after his death was announced by his manager.

“Rest In Power, Tony Allen, The Godfather of Afrobeat Rhythms. Thank you for giving us the sound that would change our lives and our destiny as a people.”

Shadare, the founder, LIJF, who organised “Lagos No Shaking Homecoming Concert" for Allen in December 2019 said that Allen would have been in this year's edition of LIJF if not for Covid-19 outbreak that grounded every concert and festival.

“Tony Allen wasn't just a great musician or drummer but a great human being personally. He had no airs about him and could collaborate with anyone and he did. Big stars which he shared the same stage with and young upstarts which he was willing to nurture, a very rare trait for Nigerian musicians of his generation. He was gentle, kind, generous, accommodating, approachable, smart and gifted. He was a good human being first and foremost.

“I am happy I was able to celebrate him here in Nigeria last December but I am also pained because we had just really started to get to work together on projects for what we termed the Tony Allen Afrobeat Legacy Project: Afrobeat meets Afrobeats. We will miss him but his music lives on in our hearts,” he said.

VISUAL ARTS

AT HOME IN ANTWERP AND SURVIVING THE TROUBLED TIMES

AsuddenannouncementofalockdownbytheBelgiangovernmenttostopthespreadoftheCoronaviruspandemicdisruptsGodfreyWilliams-Okorodus planned projects for this year, which include exhibitions in Lagos and Cotonou.Weeks into the lockdown, he discovers new ways of keeping himself busy and productive. Okechukwu Uwaezuoke reports his plans. “All my plans were in disarray, Just before the lockdown, Williams-

N

igeria beckoned.

For Godfrey WilliamsOkorodus, it was just another one of those trips that had become an annual ritual.

“Every year,” he explains. “I am inAfrica several times to see my family, friends and collectors, and

also arrange workshops as well as continue plans with my collaborators on my proposed plan to build a museum to house my Ifa divination objects collection.”

All was set for this trip. His flight ticket had been bought and his bags, almost packed. Then, on Wednesday, March 18, the Belgian government announced a six-week lockdown and upset

Williams-Okorodus standing before his works

I had to call off all the meetings I had arranged in Cotonou and Lagos,” the 1992 University of Benin graduate of fine and applied arts laments.

Well, he hasn’t fared so badly during the six weeks of the lockdown, which has now been extended into the seventh week.At first, he was miffed by the level of paranoia among the people. This expressed itself in the initial panic buying and the inane information shared on many social media platforms.

Okorodus had sold two paintings to a London-based collector. This collector graciously paid him even before collecting the works, because he had said that he would bring them over to him. Equally helpful was the fact that the Belgian government paid businesses that had to close down for the lockdown.

(Reader should See concluding part on www.thisdaylive.com)

EDITOR OKECHUKWU UWAEZUOKE/ okechukwu.uwaezuoke@thisdaylive.com

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

CICERO

Editor:Olawale Olaleye Email:wale.olaleye@thisdaylive.com, SMS: 08116759819

IN THE ARENA

Covid-19: It’sTime toTake Responsibility When the four-week lockdown to stem the spread of COVID-19 was on, Nigerians groaned and demanded it be lifted. Even with one-week extension, it will be finally over tomorrow. Samuel Ajayi writes that the implication of this is that citizens now have to take personal responsibility in arresting the community spread of the dreaded virus

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hen President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation on Monday, April 13, and announced a two-week extension to the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States as well as Abuja to further stem the spread of the dreaded Covid-19, many

Nigerians groaned.

To them, they could not wait for the initial two weeks to be over so they could get their lives back and begin to earn a living. In fact, from the ever-creative Nigerians, there were memes and short videos to show how disappointed they were at the extension.

However, experts were of the opinion that it was the best decision to have been made by the authorities. Dr. Jay Osi-Samuels, Director of Laboratory Services of AIDS Prevention Initiative for Nigeria (APIN), and also the Contact Person for APIN for the fight against COVID-19 told THISDAY that from the medical expert point of view, it was the best thing to do.

He stated that the nation, as at then, had not done enough tests to suggest that the lockdown could be lifted even if partially.

“As a medical person, I would say we need to extend the lockdown so that the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control can carry out as many tests as possible. We have to know that we still have a long way to go compared to other countries that have been carrying out tests and the cases keep increasing,” Samuels told THISDAY. He added that the human being in him would have suggested that the lockdown be lifted going by the discomfort that people had been facing since it was imposed. He explained, however, that the medical person in him would not suggest it. This was before the second lockdown.

Apparently bowing to pressure and coupled with the fact that the nation has no resources to give palliatives to as many people as required and provide for their basic Buhari addressing the nation on the situation report one-month total lockdown while in Ekiti State, Governor Kayode needs under the lockdown, the President only added one week to Fayemi, said no vehicle would be allowed into the state for at least the initial four weeks in the two states of Ogun and Lagos and the two weeks.

FCT had spent under lockdown.

Even with all these, businesses would reopen in Lagos by What this means is that there would be partial lifting of the Monday and in most parts of the country. While the measures lockdown from tomorrow May 4, 2020. Even with the lockdown, put in place by both the federal and state governments, ordinarily, there are still stringent conditions still in place, both from the federal should stem the spread of the virus, the problem is the implementagovernment as well as the state governments. tion and enforcement of these measures.

During his presidential broadcast on Monday, April 27, the Prominent among these measures are the one that affect President ruled out the resumption of religious gatherings as well as social ones. In other words, there would not be more than 20 people transportation. This is because even when there was total lockdown, many of these commercial motorbikes and tricycles were operating, allowed per gathering. especially, in densely populated areas of the state.

The President also announced that there would be a nationwide They usually operated in the evening from 5:30pm till very late curfew from 8pm in the evening to 6am in the morning except those on essential services like medical personnel. There is also a ban in the night. This was due to the fact that as a result of fatigue, law enforcement agents would have relaxed their patrols to catch the on inter-state traveling until further notice while Kano State, which has recorded almost 800 strange deaths in the last two weeks, had a much-needed rest before they resume again in the night. And this is the reason, according to medical experts, that the nation is recording two-week total lockdown imposed on it by the President. community transmission of the virus.

The Lagos State government also ruled that commercial buses A source told THISDAY on Friday that three health professionals must not carry more than 60% of their full capacity, while tricycles, popularly known as keke, would not be allowed to carry more than in a government hospital in one of the densely populated local government areas of Lagos State tested positive to the virus. two passengers.

They were suspected to have caught the virus from a woman, There is a complete ban on commercial motorcycles for at least who came to the hospital and no one knew she already had the a week to observe the trend of new Covid-19 cases. The state virus. As expected, all those who came in contact with the woman government also announced that schools could not resume for now were tested. While a majority did not test positive, three of those and warned private school operators not to toy with the idea of who tested positive were the doctors but surprisingly, did not come re-opening their schools for normal classes. in contact with the woman in question.

In Kaduna State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced a

“What this meant,” a medical source told THISDAY, “was that they could have gotten the virus from outside before coming to the hospital, and where else? Some of these personnel operate private hospitals and it was possible they picked their virus in their hospitals.

“What this means is the prevalence of community spreading of the virus and what this imposes on us, especially with the partial lifting of the lockdown, is that everyone is now responsible for his or her own safety and staying away from the virus.”

This is exactly the issue. Lifting of lockdown does not mean that all the safety precautions stipulated by health authorities have also been relaxed. These include social distancing (which still remains the most potent measure against contracting the virus), hand washing, wearing of face and nose masks (which has now been made compulsory in Lagos State), sanitising one’s hand and above all, staying at home, where there is no reason to go out.

The implication of this is that, it has now become a personal responsibility of all to stay at home if there is no reason to go out, lockdown or no lockdown.

As Dr. Samuels told THISDAY, “until vaccine is found and administered, governments across the world cannot continue to keep people at home. There is a social and economic pay. Covid-19 is with us for now. Therefore, the responsibility has shifted to the people themselves to keep and stay safe and behave responsibly.”

With lockdown officially over tomorrow, everyone has become his own health police. It goes beyond government now and hinges more on the side of personal responsibility.

P O L I T I CA L N OT E S

Governor Fayemi, That’s a Nice One!

E

Fayemi and Adeoye

kiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, last week, pulled off a good one, when he recognised a certain father, Mr. Femi Adeoye, who refused his son access to the house for just returning to Ekiti from Lagos after defying the lockdown orders, especially, that he could not also ascertain his Covid-19 status.

Not only did Fayemi recognise him, he also made him an Ambassador of the Covid-19 Response Team, whilst at the same, suspended the security man,

who made the video with the sole aim of making a mockery of the otherwise disciplined and principled father.

Spare a thought and imagine Mr. Adeoye at the border of Ekiti, then, he would be a major pain in the skin of the allegedly compromising security agents across the country. What Fayemi has done is to encourage good deeds by recreating a society that recognises the principle of reward and sanction in its quest for egalitarianism. With choices like this, hope is on the horizon!

THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Ëž MAY 3, 2020

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BRIEFINGNOTES Mustapha: Doing His Best in the Circumstance Itistheproverbialdilemma,tobecaughtbetweenarockandahardplace.BossMustapha,chairmanofthePresidential Task Force set up to combat the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, is walking a tightrope, writes Demola Ojo

O

n March 9, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed a Presidential Task Force for the control of the Covid-19 disease in the country, a few days after Nigeria confirmed its index case. The intergovernmental committee was instituted in preparation for what the President described as “the unlikely but probable major outbreak of the disease in the country, which will require a multi-sectoral inter-governmental approach as advised by the World Health Organisation.�

Chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, with a mandate to deliver on its assignment in six months, the PTF includes the Ministers of Health, Interior, Aviation, Humanitarian Affairs, Education and Environment; the DirectorGeneral of the Department of State Services, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and the World Health Organisation Country Representative.

Mustapha’s choice as chairman by the President was fitting, considering his role as SGF, which is to ensure the effective coordination and monitoring of the implementation of government policies and programmes, with all cabinet matters going through him. If you ask him though, he would probably tell you how onerous his new assignment is, as we wade deep into the uncharted waters that this pandemic is.

A little under two months into the task set before the PTF, the confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease has risen from the Italian index case to about 2000. Unfortunately, there have been some casualties, including the Chief of Staff to the President, the late Mallam Abba Kyari.

However, despite the countless challenges, the PTF has helped in staving off what – at a point – was projected to be an impending public health crisis. Based on the advice of the task force, Lagos State (the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria), Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory were placed under a lockdown by the President.

This has helped in slowing down the spread of the virus, but with the adverse effect of significantly hampering economic activity. After a month of total lockdown, something had to Mustapha...Fiercely embracing the challenge give.

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to all countries of Lives and Livelihood the world bar a few, and all states in Nigeria recording confirmed In his latest address to the nation on Monday, April 26, President cases (apart from Cross River and Kogi), focus needs to shift to how Muhammadu Buhari announced the lifting of the lockdown in best to live with the virus while reducing its effects until a cure or Lagos, Ogun and Abuja on May 4, and a subsequent nationwide vaccine is discovered. curfew from 8pm to 6am for the following two weeks. In the tough trade-off between lives and livelihood, the President decided Beating the Virus to walk the middle ground of a partial lockdown with a phased The importance of ramping up testing in the fight against return to a semblance of normalcy. the coronavirus can’t be overemphasised. It is inevitable that with Mustapha later elaborated on the federal government’s plan to increased testing, positive results will keep rising, at higher rates restart the economy over the next six weeks in three tranches of two than present. weeks each.

However, the more positive results (with a large number According to Mustapha, the PTF has designed sector-specific expected to be asymptomatic), the lower the mortality rate, and guidelines in line with the President’s directive. The strategy is the easier it is to shift the narrative from fear and fear-mongering designed to reduce the pains of socio-economic disruptions while to recoveries, the famed resilience of Nigerians, and creative ideas strengthening the public health response, which would ultimately to beat the invisible enemy by domesticating strategies that have induce the recovery of the economy and provide succour to the worked in other climes, while also coming up with local and poor and vulnerable. unique solutions.

In its most simplistic form, the decision to restrict movement Constant communication has to be the weapon – continually was a choice between protecting lives or saving livelihoods. The preaching a change in lifestyle by improving personal hygiene initial decision to place Nigeria’s commercial and administraand protecting the vulnerable among us. Physical distancing and tive capitals on lockdown was certainly the best at the time, as wearing of facemasks are to be the new normal. Facemasks have recommended by the WHO in the face of this novel virus and its been a part of East Asian apparel for years, especially in China unpredictable attributes. and Japan. The Lagos State Government is on to something by The point of a lockdown is to localise an outbreak and stop encouraging its citizens to bring their creativity to the fore and make it from spreading further. Failing this, the secondary reason is to fashion statements with their masks. slow the spread through community transmission while a more Just as important – if not more – is the campaign against sustainable strategy is developed.

stigmatisation. Stigma has held back those with symptoms from quickly seeking medical help, which results in infecting more people. Effectively communicating that in most cases – there is nothing to fear – is crucial. Early detection is fundamental to fighting off the virus.

Focus on Therapy

In the fight against COVID-19, hunkering down and hoping for a vaccine to be developed is not a strategy. Vaccines take time, and that is when they’re successfully developed. In the early days of HIV, a vaccine seemed just months away. Decades later, humanity is not closer to finding one. Also, the successful development of a COVID -19 vaccine, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be readily available.

In the meantime, focus needs to shift to effective therapies, while the search for a cure or vaccine continues. These include both local and international options to be considered based on merit and potential, rather than bias. Indigenous medical personnel and researchers need to be encouraged and incentivised in this quest.

Citizens need to be repeatedly educated on the need for individual and communal responsibility. It’s every man for himself, but also realising that any human institution is only as strong as its weakest link.

The health of your neighbour is just as important as yours; the virus does not discriminate based on class, gender, ethnicity or religion, neither does it play dice. Just like Mustapha and the PTF, everyone has to take responsibility and do the best they can in the circumstances.

NOTES FOR FILE

Managing Security Amid Covid-19

Buhari

It’s no news that the world, in a very long time, is currently faced with the same menace – Covid-19 – that threatens humanity in a single shot. But the good news, also, is that humanity as one single race has come together, IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ DQ HTXDOO\ ORQJ WLPH WR ÀJKW EDFN DQG ensure victory.

But while the war against Covid-19 rages on, other DVSHFWV RI KXPDQ OLYHV DUH QRW H[SHFWHG WR VXÍžHU QHHGOHVV RU UDWKHU LQGHIHQVLEOH QHJOHFW 2QH RI VXFK LV WKH VHFXULW\ RI OLIH DQG SURSHUW\ RI WKH SHRSOH ZKLFK WKRXJK KDG EHHQ D SUHVVLQJ FKDOOHQJH LQ 1LJHULD EHIRUH &RYLG VKRZHG XS

This, therefore, is a form of appeal to the leadership to UHYLHZ WKH VHFXULW\ VLWXDWLRQ DQG ÀUP XS WKH ORRSKROHV LQ YLHZ RI WKH UHFHQW VXUJH LQ FULPHV ,W LV XQEHOLHYDEOH WKDW LQ VSLWH RI WKH ORFNGRZQ DQG VHFXULW\ RSHUDWLYHV SODFHG LQ VWUDtegic locations across the country, men of the underworld still operated freely and got away mostly with their crimes. :KLOVW WKLV UHPDLQV VKRFNLQJ DQG LQH[SOLFDEOH LW FKDQJHV QRWKLQJ WR FRQWLQXH WR GZHOO RYHU VSLOOHG PLON EXW rather, ponder the way forward. Truth is that the poor state RI VHFXULW\ LQ 1LJHULD KDV RQO\ EHHQ IXUWKHU H[SRVHG DW WKLV time and government must rise to the challenge.

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THISDAY, THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER ˾ MAY 3, 2020

CICERO/ONTHEWATCH

Is Umahi a Dictator in Disguise?

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, needs to be called to order, writes Ojo Maduekwe

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hen Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi ordered security officials to shoot on sight anyone infected by the Coronavirus that tried to escape from isolation centres in the state, there were divided opinions as to the justification of the order.

The debate was whether he went overboard, or was being decisive in responding to the crisis.

Considering that the Covid-19 pandemic has depleted the world population by 219,287 and counting as at April 29, 2020, there were people, who argued that any infected person that refuses to quarantine is a health risk, and therefore, it’s justifiable if tough measures were taken to ensure the preservation of the wellbeing of others.

Understanding Umahi’s actions or policies through measures he’s taken to fight the Coronavirus in Ebonyi would be difficult; however, when other past and recent actions are considered, it becomes easy to see that many of the governor’s actions that were sometimes disguised as tough and decisive, were nothing but dictatorial.

In October 2019, the governor was said to be on his way back to the state capital, Abakaliki, from his Uhuru, Ohaozara hometown, when his convoy reportedly met a roadblock along the Onicha road in Onicha Local Government Area of the state by mourners at a wake-keep.

The following day, while narrating the incident to some guests, governor Umahi decreed that, “Next time the ADC should order a shoot.”

Not satisfied, he also ordered a ban on wakekeeps in the state from extending beyond 10pm. “I want it to be announced that henceforth, no wakekeep should go past 10pm. If you must pass 10pm, take a written permission from the chairman of the local government.”

According to him, if a problem occurs from the wake-keep, both the chairman and the person that requested for extra-time will be held responsible.

A recent event once again has proven that Umahi may have some streak of dictatorial tendencies in him. In a statewide live broadcast, he stated that he was banning for life, the state correspondent of the Sun newspaper, Chijioke Agwu, and his Vanguard counterpart, Peter Okutu, from entering the Ebonyi Government House or any other government facility within the state.

The journalist’s offences were simply doing their job. Mr. Agwu did a report on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state, and Mr Okutu reported on an alleged military invasion of the UmuogodoakpuNgbo community in Ohaukwu local government area.

While the governor ordered the arrest of Agwu, the Ohaukwu LGA chairman, Mr. Clement Odah, in the footsteps of governor Umahi, ordered for the arrest of Okutu.

The International Press Centre (IPC) was right in describing the journalist’s arrest as “executive lawlessness”, and asked anyone who feels aggrieved to exercise right of reply or better still, seek redress in court. Anything other than that is dictatorial, more so when the governor threatens members of the press with “koboko” (horse whip).

Criticising Umahi’s action, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the Constitution guaranteed the press the right to freedom of expression, as well as the right to impart and disseminate information.

According to the association, the ban was an unfortunate and sad reminder of the rule by force under the military regime.

When he masks his actions as fighting for the “common man” (or in another demeaning phrase that he used, “a smaller person”) like he did with the roadblock incident, unknown to the governor, he reveals another side of himself – a deceitful side.

It is not the safety of the people that would push him to order for the indiscriminate shooting of the same people, who elected him to serve. Rather, as he insinuated, it is his bruised ego.

“It is very illegal to block the governor. And if anybody is killed in the course of that, it is allowed in law,” the governor was reported as saying.

A bruised ego is what would make a governor, over a minor incident, boast that those he’s supposed to govern would “go to prison”, and then summon the chairman of the affected LGA, House of Assembly members and coordinators and his Senior Special Assistant on Security to identify people, who blocked the road for a peaceful wake-keep.

It seems the public should be more concerned with happenings in the state. In the early part of March 2020, the governor in a 13-point communiqué signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kenneth Ugbala, directed security agencies in the state to “shoot at sight and possibly kill anyone who tries to kill any Ebonyian.”

Umahi...a character to watch out for The reason was to stem a communal clash by youths of the two communities of Ohankwu and Amana over a contentious ownership of a mining site in the area.

Gradually, what is being witnessed could be the unmasking of a dictator in Ebonyi, a state where the governor could order an arrest for simply observing a loved one’s wake-keep, order the extrajudicial killing of people at any given event, and then try to ban for life journalists, who report happenings in the state

from accessing public facilities.

Even though he’s bowed to pressure by recanting, for the governor to even consider that he could take away by an executive fiat the media’s right to freedom of expression leaves much to be desired.

This is why the press must intensify its watchdog role, because a governor, who sees the media as “a child” that he can “beat with one hand and bring back with the other hand” surely has more dictatorial tendencies than he is currently exhibiting.

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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

CICERO/INTERVIEW

Dikwa: How We Saved FG from Losing N700b to Fraudulent Practices Dr Mohammed Kyari Dikwa, the immediate past Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Federal Ministry of Finance, BudgetandNationalPlanningshareshisexperienceasapublicofficerwithjournalists.Tobi Soniyi wasthere.Excerpts

Y

ou are a member of the two professional bodies of accountants – ICAN and ANAN- which is rare.

What informed your decision to combine the two?

There is a seeming battle of supremacy between members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and their Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) counterparts.

Most ICAN members see ANAN members as inferior accountants because of the impression that they have not gone through rigorous training.

I wanted to make a point that both are achievable and equally important, and the intention was to bring the two bodies together so that the rivalry issue will be solved. There are advantages of being a member of ANAN and also a lot of advantages of being a member of ICAN. You cannot be a member ANAN unless you have a degree or HND in accountancy or associated degrees. You have to go to the School of Accountancy in Jos, Plateau state, but sometimes they give direct or honorary membership to people which angers ICAN because when you are talking about a profession, you need people to undergo a process for them to become certified members.

You do not allow people to come from the top simply because they are in a position of authority. That is why ICAN does not issue direct membership. As far as ICAN is concerned, you must follow the process no matter who you are. And the process of becoming an ICAN member is very rigorous. You do not need to know anybody, just your performance and hard work would make you be a member of Dikwa ICAN, meaning you need to study and then sit for the exams. You do not know where the exams are marked and people that mark scripts are changed every year. Whatever your scores will be published. It is not a question of whether you know somebody or not, and really the courses were very vast.

ANAN, which I did in 2000, wasn’t so strict because they just started and they were looking for members. That time, the exams were not that rigorous, but I know ANAN has gotten tough now I also realized sentiments and biases were created as far as the Federal Civil Service is concerned. Some people will say look at this man/woman, he/she is a member of ICAN or look at this man/woman, he/she is a member of ANAN. Based on this needless rivalry, I decided to be certified by the two bodies so that nobody can tell me you belong to this or that. I am for all, and that way, I will remain relevant wherever the pendulum swings.

In what ways did you contribute to national development as Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning?

I was the pioneer Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. I was also the pioneer Director (Special Duties) in the ministry. And what we have done was to strengthen the operations of public financial management reforms and initiatives like GIFMIS, IPPIS, Whistle Blowing Policy, PICA, Efficiency Unit, Cash Management, Policy Voluntary Assets and Incomes Declaration, etc.

Out of the numerous departments in the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, I only supervised three departments and one agency. The remaining ones were supervised by my colleague, the Permanent Secretary in charge of Finance. I am very proud to have supervised the three departments and one agency. I was able to ensure that the agency was given about 30% of its budget within that period.

Also, one of the priorities of President Muhammadu Buhari was to see that government brought home displaced Nigerians, especially those in neighbouring countries. So, what I did was to call the officials of states in the northeast to come up with a mass housing programme that will make it possible for those displaced persons to be returned to their towns and villages.

Through this programme, each state was going to undertake a massive housing programme in conjunction with the Family Homes Fund. In addition to that, there are additional houses being constructed currently. I will forever remain grateful because Mr President, through the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, gave me the opportunity to help solve a major crisis that had affected over 80,000 people that were

For every office that I occupied in the last 18 years, I tried as much as possible to document my experiences and what the public servant should know. In that regard, I have produced over 17 publications which civil servants now use as reference materials for the purpose of examinations and research.

displaced in Cameroon alone. The second outstanding issue was to make sure that the funds meant for the North-East Development Commission were released promptly to enable take-off. I knew and still know the implications of what is happening there, and I was mindful of Mr President’s desire to reduce the level of poverty and bring peace back to the northeast. We had to work hard to find and release funds quickly for them to start work immediately. The most prominent achievement I had as Permanent Secretary Special Duties was the prompt payment of salaries, overhead cost, capital cost and debt servicing up to December 31, 2019. On the Whistle Blowing Policy, I set up a Committee comprising security agencies which include; DSS, NPF, ICPC, EFCC, etc. to come with a bill to strengthen the operation of the policy. When I was leaving, I handed over everything to the Honourable Minister, and I believe she will forward it to the Federal Executive Council for approval. This is because we need the policy backed by law so that people would have confidence in the system and be protected should they assist the government in uncovering any wrongdoing.

As a Permanent Secretary, how did you relate with your ministers?

I had an excellent working relationship with the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning. I really have tremendous respect for her because I knew the Honourable Minister for about two decades now. When I came into the Federal Civil Service in 2003, I was nominated to serve on the board of NITEL, and she was there running the accounts department. When she became the Chief Finance Officer of MTEL, I was also a board member and chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee of MTEL. We later moved to NEITI where I was a board member, and she was our Executive Secretary. When she became Honourable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, I was in the Federal Ministry of Finance as Director (Special Duties) for three years, and when she came in as the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, I was Permanent Secretary (Special Duties).

She is very articulate, honest, hardworking and straightforward in her general dealings with issues. I have really learnt a lot from her.

I have worked directly with about seven Honourable Ministers of Finance, starting with Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Shamsuddeen Usman, Dr Mansur Mukhtar, Mr Olusegun Aganga, Mrs Nenadi Esther Usman, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s second coming, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Mrs Zainab Ahmed. I had a very good working relationship with all of them. No barrier or protocol. I had direct access to them. They felt they needed somebody who has the institutional background and that they needed me to be working with them directly.

Give us an insight on how you get involved in the conceptualization and execution of programmes such as GIFMIS, IPPIS, TSA and Whistle Blowing Policy?

Before I joined the Federal Civil Service, I served as the Accountant-General of Borno state and Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Finance. I had a background and sound knowledge about financial reforms. When I came to the Federal Civil Service, most of these reforms were not put in place, and nobody was even thinking about them. When the then Accountant-General of the Federation left, and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo took over the mantle of leadership, we came up with ideas on how to make those financial reforms institutionalized at the federal level.

Dankwambo and I were state Accountants -General of Gombe and Borno states, respectively. In fact, we are close friends and co-authored a book titled “Private and Public Sector Concerns for the Accountant.” We came up with a lot of ideas on the reforms and asked the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to assess the ideas and see if they were in line with global best practice because we didn’t want a situation where the ideas we came up with could not be accepted globally.

Interestingly, the World Bank and IMF showed great interest in our ideas of public sector financial reforms. Meanwhile, many other countries had already implemented some of these reforms. We started with the computerization, the GIFMIS and then the IPPIS. On the issue of IPPIS, we were concerned that there were a lot of ghost workers on the payroll, a lot of duplications and double payments, outright inflation of salary figures and so on. We computerized payments using the biometric data capture, and so on. There was a lot of resistance because of the fear of the unknown. Civil servants using the payroll system to defraud the government also put up a strong resistance, but we refused to put off the reforms. We engaged in serious sensitization and enlightenment campaign, and at the end of the day, we were able to scale through. I did not expect that the process would take government more than 15 years to implement despite the different types of machinery we put in place to ensure speedy implementation.

But you were able to do it in less than 15 years?

Yes! Most of these things had to be fast-tracked. The resistance was so much, and that was what delayed most of the implementation. But we pushed the programmes through. These include the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) that encourages transparency and accountability in public expenditure in line with global best practices. We also came up with the Treasury Single Account (TSA). I drafted the first circular on the TSA which was signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. We categorized the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) into eight groups: those that were fully-funded by the government and draw their funding from the budget of the Federal Government, MDAs that were partially-funded (they generate their revenue but also have a government funding component), and those that were not funded completely. There were also revolving funds corporations, and some companies, which are treated under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

The idea of the Treasury Single Account is that government funds should be channelled and linked with sub-accounts. These subaccounts are then maintained by MDAs to enable them to know what they are paying in and withdrawing from the subaccounts at any given time. Because of the volume of transactions carried out at the same time, you will find it difficult to tell what exactly the MDAs are doing.

If you look at section 80 sub-section 1 of the Constitution, Consolidated Revenue Account is the account that is constitutionally recognized which gives the government a clear overview of what it has at any given time. So, one of the reasons for having the Treasury Single Account was to have a consolidated view of government resources at any time, online, real-time. Another reason is to reduce the charges by commercial banks.

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NEWSXTRA

Edo 2020: Guber Aspirants Decry Plot to Destabilise APC Okunbo denies anointing any candidate Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Amid political undercurrents rocking the party ahead its primary, two governorship aspirants of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu yesterday decried plot by some individuals to destabilise the party.

But the Chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, Captain Hosa Okunbo yesterday dissociated himself ripple in the party, clarifying that he never promised to fund any governorship candidate for the 2020 governorship candidate in Edo State.

In separate statements yesterday, the duo lamented that some people were plotting to cause disaffection among the governorship aspirants of the APC in the state.

A meeting held on Thursday in Benin City with a plan to produce aimed a consensus aspirant to face the incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki ended in a deadlock.

In a write-up after the meeting, Mr. Sebastian Okungbowa, claimed to be Odubu’s supporter, indicted Okunbo, APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu of plotting to manipulate

the process in favour of Ize-Iyamu.

But Ize-Iyamu, who contested the 2016 governorship race on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed that some persons had sponsored articles and other media contents against aspirants seeking the ticket of APC including Odubu, Dr Chris Ogiemwonyi and General Charles Airhiavbere.

He said the articles “are products of a campaign hatched by those seeking to cause disaffection and disunity amongst the aspirants who are jointly committed to the ultimate objective of returning Edo state back on the path of growth

and development after four years of misadventure. “Some people terrified of the camaraderie between the aspirants seeking to obtain the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, Edo State Chapter, have commissioned writers and other bloggers unknown to the Ize-Iyamu campaign organisation to generate contents aimed at disparaging aspirants. “I, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu holds in the highest esteem, Odubu, Ogiemwonyi, Airhiavbere and the other aspirants and remains committed to the agreed accord amongst them.�

Odubu, the state’s former deputy governor, apologised to the affected leaders, though said he “did not authorise such a despicable write up.

Okunbo, Tinubu and Oshiomhole are men of impeccable character and I have uttermost respect for all of them.� “The former deputy governor warned that nobody should under any guise associate him with anything that would cast aspersion on their hard-earned reputation.

He said the author of the write-up “is not known to me neither does he have my authority to do what he did. I did not authorise this piece directly or through any of my agents that was intended to cast aspersions on the integrity and highly earned reputations of the leaders under reference.�

Likewise, Okunbo denied involvement in the state’s partisan politics

in a statement he personally issued yesterday, noting that he should not be dragged into the politics of selection of a consensus aspirant amongst the five aspirants loyal to Oshiomhole.

Okunbo, a billionaire oil magnate, equally denied the report that he had pledged to fund Ize-Iyamu’s campaign and that he had already introduced him to the APC leader.

Okunbo said his attention had been drawn to the attempt by some unscrupulous persons to drag his name into the murky politics of Edo’s forthcoming governorship polls, scheduled for later this year.

He said: “It is, from all intents and purposes, infantile, silly and odious. It is the height of mischief and evil to drag a man who has been quietly minding his business into the political arena, which he has chosen to distance himself from.

Gbagi Urges FG, States to Increase Health Sector’s Funding Tobi Soniyi

RESPONSE FROM AISHA ...

The Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Administration, Dr. Hajo Sani (right) presenting medical supplies and food items to the Minister of Women Aairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen (left) on behalf of First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari’s pet project, Future Assured Project in Abuja ... recently Ë?

Foundation Guarantees N100m Loan for Small Businesses Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Chineto Ozigbo Foundation, a charity organisation helping small and medium businesses overcome the impact of COVID-19, on Saturday said it founder, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo would guarantee a loan of N100 million for small businesses in Anambra State Likewise, as part of measures to alleviate hardship and cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has commenced the distribution of palliatives across the 21 local government areas in Anambra state.

The General Manager of the foundation, Mr. Izuchukwu Oraelosi said Ozigbo announced this intervention in the businesses ecosystem of the south-eastern state shortly after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) unveiled N50 billion COVID-19 Intervention for households and businesses.

Oraelosi said Ozigbo, a former President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Transcorp Plc, was offering a personal guarantee to enable struggling businesses in Anambra access the CBN fund.

He said: “Through his charity and in partnership with VFD Microfinance Bank and Akalabo Microfinance Bank, Ozigbo would be offering help with putting a loan

application together to businesses that wished to apply for the CBN’s COVID-19 loan. “For applicants who are successful, Ozigbo would provide a guarantee of up to N100 million to enable them access the funding. “Our founder has almost two decades of banking experience under his belt has seen, firsthand, how struggling entrepreneurs find it difficult to access loan facilities because of difficulties in presenting a guarantee. “Driven by a deep passion to develop small businesses, which is the livewire of our economy, our founder has taken this uncommon and bold step to help these businesses access the funding they need to survive

this difficult time. “The CBN loan is being administered solely by NIRSAL MicroFinance Bank. It is important to note that foundation is not partnering with CBN or NIRAL. Apart from the awareness we provide, we are offering support to businesses in Anambra who come to us by way of advice on packaging their applications and a guarantee for those who need it. This service is offered at no charge to the loan applicants�, he explained.

Through his foundation, Ozigbo has donated food items, hand sanitizers, facemasks, educational and relief materials worth over N20 million in the entire 177 communities and over 60 markets in Anambra.

Ihedioha Didn’t Budget N800m for OfďŹ ce Renovation, Says Ex-SSG A former Secretary to the Imo State Government, Mr. Uche Onyeagucha yesterday disputed claims by the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma that his immediate past predecessor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha appropriated N800 million for the renovation of governor’s office.

Onyeagucha, also, faulted Uzodinma’s claims that his administration increased the state’s internally generated revenue from N600 million to N1.2 billion within the period he assumed office.

He clarified these claims in a statement he issued yesterday in response to some issues Uzodinma raised in

a state broadcast he addressed to mark his 100 days in office.

In a statement titled Uzodinma lied about his 100 days in office, former SSG said Uzodinma’s allegation that Ihedioha administration appropriated N800m in the 2020 Budget for the renovation of the Governor’s Office “is a sham and smacks of ignorance. There is no such subhead.�

He noted that Uzodinma’s assertion that he raised the state’s IGR from N600m to N1.2 billion amounted to brazen and flagrant misrepresentation of a well-documented income data of

a state, unfitting of a governor.

According to him, the truth is that Ihedioha administration “met the IGR at N250 million and scaled it up to N1.187 billion as at December 31, 2019. Ihedioha stated this articulately in his January 1 state broadcast that the IGR had risen to over N1 billion.�

Again, Onyeagucha said Uzodinma lied to the people of Imo State by informing them that his administration tackled flooding challenge in Owerri.

He noted that a government that was inaugurated during the dry season like Uzodinma’s regime “cannot lay claim to grappling with

flooding that is yet to manifest. “Ihedioha administration came into existence at the peak of the rainy season. The submerged nature of Owerri at that time forced him to take extensive steps towards confronting the situation,� former SSG explained.

He said: “Through ENTRACO, the state government desilted Owerri Municipal towards galvanizing the blocked drainage system and it yielded desired results.

The government also mobilized relevant professionals who brought their expertise to bear in combating Owerri flooding.�

A former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, has advised the federal and state governments to use the current covid-19 pandemic to address the poor funding of the country’s health sector.

He particularly called for increased funding and investments in Nigeria’s health sector.

Gbagi, who spoke with the media in Abuja, also counselled the federal and state governments to implement their policies on the pandemic with human feeling through the provision of economic stimulus and palliatives for Nigerians.

He noted that increased investment and funding of the health sector had been imperative in reviving Nigeria’s economy in a post-COVID-19 period. “The pandemic has exposed Nigeria to the fact that the country has not met the basic requirements for a functional healthcare delivery system. There are yawning gaps in the country’s healthcare delivery. “Our health sector has suffered from the combination of poor investments and capital flights in terms of medical tourism by

public officers and political office holders. “The current coronavirus pandemic should take us to the drawing board by massively investing and funding the health sector at all levels,� said Gbagi, who was the Minister of State for Education during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He also advised governments to consider investment in the manufacturing and production of critically needed facilities such as ventilators, face masks, sanitisers and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the country.

Such investments, according to him, will stop capital flight and create jobs and wealth for the citizens.

Gbagi, a renowned industrialist and former Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, has been at the front line of creating health awareness in Delta State through series of community healthcare trust funds established by the Gbagi Foundation.

One of such community healthcare trust funds is the N10 million community primary healthcare fund for physically challenged persons in Delta State.

Police ConďŹ rms Kidnap of Nasarawa Second Class Monarch Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia Authorities of the Nasarawa State police command Saturday confirmed the kidnap of a second class traditional ruler in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji.

Magaji, who is the Aran Akye, was reportedy kidnapped in his palace on Thursday evening at Ugah town, about 20 kilometres from Lafia, the state capital.

The spokesman of the Nasarawa State Police command, ASP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed that the monarch was kidnapped in the night.

He said: “However, we are using our intelligence in trying to locate and secure the release of the monarch. But we are not aware whether ransom was demanded from the family.�

A witness, who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity, said a dozen of men stormed the palace brandishing AK 47 riffles, scaled through the fence and fired many shots into the air and thereafter abducted the traditional ruler and fled on motorcycles.

Meanwhile, a family source said that the kidnappers have made contact with the family of the kidnapped monarch on Saturday morning demanding N50 million ransom.

According to the source, the gunmen had allowed the paramount ruler to talk with his family before they zoomed him off to unknown destination.

THISDAY also gathered that the gunmen had taken the GSM phone of the monarch’s son which they used to contact his family.

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SUNDAYINTERVIEW Bolaji Akinyemi

Akinyemi

Blame African Leaders for Chinese’s Inhuman Treatment of Black People Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), was also the Minister of External Affairs under the regime of President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. He is, perhaps, Nigeria’s leading voice on foreign policy issues and Africa in the 21st century.

In this interview with Gboyega Akinsanmi, he calls for an emergency conference of African leaders devoted solely to discussing Africa-China relations in the light of China’s renewed racist inclinations against Africans and black people in general. Excerpts:

L

ast week, the federal government accused China of racism and discrimination against the black people, especially, Nigerians living in the Asian country. Is this appropriate in a 21st century?

Let me start this way. I am very aware of the propaganda competition for African minds going on between China and the United States.

I am very much aware that the Western world is panicking about the Chinese incursion into Africa. Also, I am very aware that the Chinese themselves are trying to put the best foot forward. Against the background of this propaganda competition, I have been very much upset about the videos that have been coming out of China.

I am very much upset even about the videos that have been coming out of Africa itself. I saw a video this morning (Saturday, April 25, 2020) that showed a Chinese man with his hands around the breasts of two naked African girls. These girls are about the age of 10 or 12. To me, as a black man, I found it very insulting. So, I have come to the

conclusion that though there is a propaganda war going on between China and the United States for the minds and souls of Africa, the Chinese behaviour has actually become very appalling.

Let the Chinese deny that they are not discriminating against Nigerians, Africans or black people in their country.

Let the Chinese deny that they are not giving loans to African countries, knowing that they cannot repay. Let the Chinese deny that they are not taking over the running of airports and the running of police forces in East Africa. Let the Chinese deny that they have not adopted racist policies in what I have considered the recolonisation of Africa in the 21st century.

This, to me, is appalling. All these things are to me unacceptable. African leaders must unite against it. However, I know African leaders are to be blamed, because nobody is forcing them to put their countries in these situations.

Nobody is forcing them to allow the Chinese establish colonies in Africa. Even in Nigeria here, there are Chinese towns allover. There are Chinese, who are even involved in

some of our local markets. This is not American propaganda.

With these scenarios, how should African leaders and Nigeria handle the situation?

First of all, I think there should be an emergency conference or summit of the African Union. Fortunately, it can now be done through Internet services or e-conference. With the outbreaks of Covid-19 worldwide, African leaders do not necessarily have to go and gather in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the headquarters of the African Union (AU). The Chinese even built the edifice for the AU. What an insult! That summit should be devoted to discussing one item: discussing Africa-China relations. I believe free and frank discussion should take place.

One of the decisions that should be reached at the conference is that African leaders should stop going to Beijing, China for the Summit of on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). This summit makes African leaders look like slaves lining up to be refilled by the Chinese leaders. That should be the first resolution. Second, African leaders should

T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R ˾ MAY 3, 2020

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SUNDAY INTERVIEW t BLAME AFRICAN LEADERS FOR CHINESE’S INHUMAN TREATMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE no longer sign any economic agreement that allows China ship thousand of her own citizens to Africa. Chinese are even doing manual labour in Africa. That violates our local content law.

Third, African leaders should insist that China should sign agreement with the African Union or with individual African countries to cover the treatment of Africans in China. Fourth, African countries should educate, inform or sensitise their own citizens, who purposely go and subject themselves to inhuman treatment in China. The Chinese are not forcing Africans to come to their country. Africans are going there to trade, and there should be limit to things that can be done, that should be endured or that should be tolerated even by the Africans themselves.

If proven that China’s recent racist inclination breached the 1969 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, can African countries, specifically Nigeria, consider legal action against China?

Let us not go as far as that as of now. If Africa is to sue any country, where Africans are ill treated in the world, believe me, they will end up suing even 50 per cent of the countries in the world. So, let us not go that far. The next step is bilateral approach. If it is not going to work, then, we should consider going to the United Nations. We should look at the prospect of tabling this issue at the UN General Assembly, because it will lead to condemnation.

Obviously, China will have to rethink their policies.

Nobody wants to be named and shamed. I have listed steps that African countries can take both in their own countries and in their bilateral relations with China. Let us start with this approach. I am sure you have seen the video of the meeting between the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Chinese Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingiian.

That was a good step taking on bilateral basis. I hope you have listened to some comments of the Honourable Minister, Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama. I think that African decision makers are becoming aware of the need to mount a pushback against what China is doing in Africa.

The Responsibility to Protect is a global political commitment, which all member states of the United Nations endorsed in 2005 to address growing concerns about crimes against humanity. In the light of the videos we have seen and the reports we have read, how should the Chinese authorities take their obligation under the UN Charter henceforth?

First, the Chinese authorities should be aware that this kind of things going on could do irreparable damage to their reputation in Africa. Chinese are showing the kind of arrogance and colonial mentality that Africans have gone through before, especially, at the period of colonisation. But China should be aware that this is the world of the 21st century and not the world of the 19th and 20th centuries.

And the things they think they can get away with are no longer possible in the world of the 21st century.

They will not get away with it. It will damage their relationship with Africa. I think Chinese President Xi Jinping, needs to be aware that Africans, at different levels, are very upset about inhuman treatment of Africans in China. China should be aware that Africa has alternative. It is true that our relationship with the West has not been an entirely brilliant one. There are also issues in the African relationship with the West. I admit that, but it is not as bad as what the Chinese are showing.

Similarly, the Chinese should be aware that African countries could exercise their rights of reciprocity or retaliation. Actually, we, Africans, are more educated now than we were two centuries ago. We can no longer tolerate what we tolerated from the West two centuries ago from any foreign country or power – be it China or the United States. I believe this is one of the things that China should be aware of that Africa could retaliate. It is better not to start relating with us that way.

You just mentioned that African countries have other alternatives. What are those alternatives?

Is it a must we trade with China? If there is a need with China, we can trade with the Chinese world. However, we can trade with other parts of the world. That is an alternative. Like I said, our economic relations with the West need to be fine-tuned. But it’s there. It is an alternative.

In an increasingly dynamic global system, how should Nigeria and by extension other African countries handle their relations with the world henceforth – either China or the West?

Honestly, we should regard this coronavirus pandemic as God-given opportunity for us to sit down and develop an economic template that allows us to be less dependent on the rest of the world. As a former Minister of External Affairs and a globalist in attitude, I also recognise that there is probably a level or a red line within which each African country should not allow itself to fall. A situation, in which you import toothpick from China, handkerchief from China or any country for that matter, should be regarded as unacceptable.

I think each African country, especially, those who have industrial base, should develop local industries. African countries should develop economic templates that will help build up national factories or national industries that will produce goods rather than simply export one material. Let them start producing industrial goods, which they themselves can start exporting after they have satisfied their local markets.

This can even be done through fiscal or financial policies that allow the government of each country to assist in building up these factories and industries.

In this part of the world, it appears we have leaders that can hardly see beyond today. In addition, the rate at which the global powers are flooding Africa has beclouded most African leaders to see beyond their status as suppliers of raw materials. What can African leaders do to realise the agenda you have set for them?

The leadership we have in Africa is as a result of three interrelated factors. The first factor deals with the behavioural pattern of the people themselves. This factor should not be ignored if we must get out of this cycle. At the election time, we do not go beyond our ethnic nose. We always hear people say it is our turn. He is our brother. He is from our clan. He is from our ethnic nationality.

This, to me, is appalling.

All these things are, to me, unacceptable. African leaders must unite against it. However, I know African leaders are to be blamed, because nobody is forcing them to put their countries in these situations. Nobody is forcing them to allow the Chinese establish colonies in Africa

As a result, we ignore national policy initiative and manifestoes that are out there. Once elections are over, we take back our thinking cap again. We then think rationally.

But at the election time, it is a question of “he is my brother.”

That is not the way to elect good leaders. Second, perhaps apart from South Africa, there is no African country, where elections are free, fair and transparent. That is the function of the leaders. That is also the fault of the leaders.

So, on the one hand, there is the fault of the people. On the other hand, the leaders are the cause of the challenges on the continent. That explains the kind of leadership we have. Perhaps, I should add a third factor. That is the interference in our electoral process by the foreign countries.

Virtually all foreign countries or powers are interested in the evolution of African leaders, who will do their bidding when they assume offices. They often inject funds supporting non-governmental organisations (NGOs), indoctrinating the NGOs and interfering in our electoral process through the NGOs. These factors give us the kind of leaders we have in Africa. It is right when people doubt if anything good can come out of the present leaders of African countries.

Amid all these challenges, how do we manage the aggressive scramble for the minds and souls of African countries?

We need to continue to leverage the power of the media.

Through the media, we need to continue to push back. The media must be involved in educating, informing and letting people know that right is right and wrong is wrong. In addition, we must not make attempt to mask the wrongness of personnel or policies through dubious justifications.

African leaders, especially, those from the ECOWAS, have started requesting for debt forgiveness from the Chinese authorities. Is that request necessary or justifiable in the light of the current global economic crisis occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic?

The request is justifiable. It is also possible. But I do not think the ECOWAS leaders should limit their demand to China alone. I think several important people, especially Nigerians, Africans and in the rest of the world, have made debt forgiveness or debt cancellation a global issue. The Coronavirus, a pandemic ravaging the world now, is a justification for the bilateral and multilateral loans whether from the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or China. It is rightfully justifiable to ask for debt cancellation on global basis.

Is regional or sub-regional approach to debt cancellation the best? Or should sovereign states on the continent adopt their own individual approaches?

In my answer to the last question, that is why I took it all the way from the IMF to the World Bank Group. This is a global response to a global pandemic. A global approach strengthens our hand in the negotiation that will follow.

Sunday May 3, 2020

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Olawale to FG “It is worrisome that with over 250 institutions, parastatals and agencies of the federal government, the average cost of governance in Nigeria remains among the highest globally” – Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Dr.Timothy Olawale calling on the federal government to push though with plan to scrap or merge some departments and agencies.

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With COVID-19, You’re on Your Own

S

ometime in 2019, I got a text message from Mallam Abba Kyari, the late chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was on a visit to the UK. It was very short: “Simon, I’ll be in London this afternoon. If you have the time, let’s catch up over coffee.” Why not? There were plenty issues of interest to discuss. He was well-rounded: a sociologist, lawyer, former editor and former bank MD. You hardly get such a robust, resourceful and multi-disciplinary assemblage in one person. He never shied away from an argument, even if he would withhold sensitive information for obvious reasons. I often looked forward to these sessions. We always argued like gentlemen.

As a student of development, I like holding private “policy sessions” with top government officials. I like to learn about the challenges to policy development and deployment that may not be in the public domain. I gain deep insights for my commentaries. My chosen path in life is to constructively contribute, from my little corner, to Nigeria’s development. Rather than just saying there is a problem, I love to say there is a solution. While I have no interest in politics (either by election or appointment), I love making inputs into the policy process. I feel gratified whenever my ideas make sense to policy makers. I spent a year studying the role of good governance in development at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK. It was not by mistake.

When I arrived at the restaurant somewhere in central London for the appointment, Kyari typically welcomed me with a book. It was ‘The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator’, authored by Timothy C. Winegard, a professor of history and political science. It is a fascinating read on the history of the mosquito: how the tiny insect has determined the fates of empires, nations and economies. The mosquito, Winegard wrote, has played a greater role in shaping the human story than any other living thing on this planet. Fun fact: the mosquito has killed an estimated 52 billon people out of the 108 billion that have lived since human existence. That’s nearly 50 percent!

After our usual review of issues around the world — from politics to economy to religion — I tabled the first item on my agenda. I told him I was happy Buhari was paying sustained attention to agriculture. We are all agreed that this was the way to go. At least, we would become self-sufficient in rice sooner or later. “But there are important sectors where I am not feeling the Buhari government,” I said. He looked at me keenly, without attempting to interrupt. I continued: “We are increasingly wearing African print but the fabrics are imported. Buhari is not doing much about the textile industry. Reviving the industry will solve a million problems.” I rested my case.

Let me paraphrase his response: “Well said, Simon. You are thinking textile. I am thinking cotton. We have to revive the comatose cotton industry first. If not, the problem will only be half-solved. If the textile factories are still importing the input, we will be losing out in the value chain. We will still be exporting jobs and also depleting our reserves. We have to be strategic about it. The ministry of trade and investment and the central bank are working on cotton intervention. You can confirm from the minister or the CBN governor.” Later in the year, the CBN announced a loan of N19.18 billion (at a single-digit interest) to cotton producing firms to retool their processing plants.

Buhari “You are thinking textile. I am thinking cotton.”

I have continued to replay this Kyari line in my head as COVID-19 turns the world upside down. The central message was not lost on me: let us be in control of the value chain as much as possible. Of what use is outsourcing the supply of the raw material when your land can grow cotton, employ Nigerians, conserve your forex and enable a massive cottage industry?

We can import the machines and the spare parts since we can’t manufacture them, but why import the cotton? Why not enable cotton farming as part of the entire chain and create a solid, sustainable foundation for the textile industry to fully take off again?

Now that COVID-19 is distorting the world economic order, Kyari’s words have come to mean much more than growing cotton to me. While it makes sense to control the chain of production as much as possible, it is now becoming an imperative for self-preservation. When the chips are down, you are actually on your own. It is “everyman” for himself. With the whole world in trouble, the instinct in every country is to first kill their own coronavirus before helping others to kill theirs. No wonder they tell you in pre-flight announcements that in the “unlikely event” of loss of cabin pressure, fix your own mask first before fixing your child’s. I can see clearly now.

As the pandemic has taught us, relying on imported raw materials or finished products has left many countries vulnerable. As soon as India got hit by the virus, the government announced that it was restricting the export of pharmaceutical products. India is reputed as the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Its pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50 percent of various vaccines used globally, 40 percent of generic medicine in the US and 25 percent of all medicine in the UK, according to Indian Pharmaceuticals Industry Report (April 2019).

Over 80 percent of the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS globally are made in India.

Basically, the whole world is at the mercy of India.

Even at that, Indian pharmaceutical companies also rely on raw materials from China, the country where the novel coronavirus was born. China halted export to protect its own people. India had to adjust. Yes, globalisation allows you to have your living room in Ghana and the kitchen in Vietnam, but when trouble starts — as we have seen with the pandemic — you are on your own. American companies with factories in China and other Asian countries are having a rethink. The almighty US having to desperately rely on medical supplies from other countries

is something they probably never imagined.

We are all seeing the world differently now.

We are learning the hard way.

“You are thinking textile. I am thinking cotton.” I don’t know Kyari’s view on globalisation — for some reason, we never got to discuss this throughout our fantastic, decade-long friendship — but I could smell some reservation, perhaps because of our peculiarities. Let me quickly add that I am pro-globalisation — insofar as every country is allowed to protect itself within reasonable limits. But I do not subscribe to the underlying philosophy of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which seeks to limit developing countries to producing just raw materials while forcing them to import finished products under “free trade” rules. If we stick to this, we will be doomed forever.

No country can be an island. That is a given. We will always need one another. No country can produce everything it consumes.

But countries are now seeing how vulnerable they are when they are not in considerable control of vital aspects of their economy. US and EU companies like outsourcing production to China, Vietnam, Bangladesh and other Asian countries because of cheap labour and lower taxes.

They are learning new lessons. Globalisation has always been under attack: a sizeable number of people have been left behind because of job losses, and the resultant discontent has led to xenophobia and ultra-nationalism. COVID-19 has added another dimension.

“You are thinking textile. I am thinking cotton.”

With this COVID-19 experience, I would suggest that Nigerian pharmaceutical companies start thinking seriously about how they can be less dependent on foreign inputs, particularly for the generic drugs. They should start investing heavily in research and development. Let it not be said that Nigerians cannot get paracetamol to buy because a factory in India or China cannot export the raw material. We cannot be in total control of the production chain but let’s reduce our exposure. I don’t know if this partly informed the thinking of Kyari (who died of COVID-19 complications last month) on the textile industry but it must now become a factor.

The big lessons Nigeria needs to learn in all these COVID-19 challenges are not just the perils of globalisation and the uncertainties associated with regional co-operations, or even the dangers of importing cotton to manufacture textile. We should not allow this crisis to waste. Other countries will learn and start doing things differently. We should not be left behind. We need to seriously and urgently rethink how we organise our economy and politics. It would be tragic if this pandemic comes and goes and the only thing Nigerians can remember is the number of dead bodies. We should be able to say we learnt this, we are adopting that, and we are implementing this and that.

For governments, COVID-19 is the ultimate doomsday scenario involving the entire world: health crisis, revenue crisis and socio-economic crisis all rolled into one. Now that we know this is possible, we need not just to prepare but also to adapt. For instance, we are waiting to get test kits from abroad while the Senegalese are producing theirs. We can do it. After all, we are trying to make our own ventilators. Also, we are saying we don’t mind importing herbal remedies from Madagascar. Can’t we produce ours? Our problem is that we think in parts and not in whole. “You are thinking textile.

I am thinking cotton.” Remember: when the chips are down, we are on our own.

And Four Other Things…

THE UNEASE When President Muhammadu Buhari announced that the lockdown would be eased from May 4, I was relieved but apprehensive. The socio-economic tension in the land would be eased. But COVID-19 has not even peaked in Nigeria yet, so we do not know what is in store. Lifting the lockdown can lead to an explosion in cases, by which time we would not be thinking about socio-economic tension again but the avalanche of funerals. As I said in my previous article, we are caught between a rock and a hard place. I would advise Nigerians that in addition to other precautionary measures, they should avoid touching the face with their phones. They should also not spit in public. Tips.

KANO CARNAGE I’m really worried about Kano state following a litany of “strange deaths” without medical reports. Not so long ago, I saw a video of young men demonstrating and passionately singing “babu korona” (“there is no coronavirus”). I understand the protest was endorsed by the educated and the uneducated. Now that people are dying in large numbers without medical attention — and most importantly, without COVID-19 tests — we are left to panic over what is killing them. Could it be complications from the disease? Could it be some other epidemic? Governor Abdullahi Ganduje always scores F9 in my books. Mind you, I’m a generous marker.

Disaster.

HERBAL CURE Can African herbs cure the coronavirus disease? It’s been an interesting debate since Madagascar President Andry Rajolina launched a herbal remedy weeks ago.

Branded COVID-organics, the medicine contains artemisa, a plant used in treating malaria. It was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research. As long as it is logically proven that it cures the disease, should there be any basis for argument?

I grew up in the village and took a lot of herbs to attack common illnesses, such as malaria, and I can testify that they worked.

We should support all the remedies that can tackle this deadly disease — as long as they are scientifically certified. Simple.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION It was nice listening to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at a virtual conference on Tuesday. He said the federal government is looking beyond conditional cash transfer in tackling the poverty challenge. He also said something about support for informal sector. Given that most Nigerians operate in the informal sector, this is great news.

However, I still want more work done on the small and medium scale businesses. It is not so much about financial support — which is equally important. But those who want to do business are being discouraged by draconian and extortionist government agencies. I have written a lot on this.

Solving this problem alone can grow the economy. Urgent.

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