THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2020

At 20.89bn Litres, Nigeria’s Petrol Imports Hit Six-year High South-west takes delivery of 6.24bn litres North-east gets 1.4bn litres Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja Nigeria imported a total of 20.89 billion litres of petrol in 2019, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated

yesterday.

Of this figure, the Southwest took delivery of the highest number of trucks, 170,464 or 6.24 billion litres, while the least, 30,963 trucks or 1.4 billion litres went to

the North-east.

This figure represented a six-year high after the country had imported 20.14 billion litres in 2018, representing a five-year high.

Statistics showed that the

17.3 billion litres of petrol imported in 2017 represented a four-year low.

The NBS report, released yesterday, also indicated that 5.15 billion litres of diesel as well as 128.11 million litres of

Household Kerosene (HHK) were imported within 2019.

Diesel importation had declined for the second consecutive year in 2018 to 4.23 billion litres from 4.27 billion litres in 2017.

In 2016, diesel importation was 4.6 billion litres, indicating a nine per cent slump in two years.

However, in 2019, it rose to Continued on page 8

FAAC Shares N2.6tn in Four Months as Revenues Slump...Page 5 Thursday 21 May, 2020 Vol 25. No 9173. Price: N250

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Sultan Urges Muslims to Comply with Social Distancing as Govs Relax Restrictions Again, IG directs police top brass to exempt journalists, others on essential service from curfew Lagos doctors begin stay-at-home protest COVID-19 cases increase by 284 to 6,677 with 1,840 discharged, 200 dead 80% of Nigeria’s cases don’t need hospital care, says epidemiologist Catholic archbishop asks FG to consider herbal remedies 292 stranded Nigerians arrive from Saudi Arabia Chiemelie Ezeobi, Martins Ifijeh, Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos Kingsley Nwezeh, Olawale Ajimotokan, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos As some governors in the northern part of the country

are relaxing restrictions, occasioned by the onset of COVID-19, to enable their citizens to celebrate the Eidul-Fitr festival this weekend, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar Continued on page 8

Reddington Crashes Cost of Open-heart Surgery in Nigeria Now $90,000 less than US hospitals’ $100,000 charge Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie Open-Heart surgery is now cheaper in Nigeria than in

foreign countries, surgeons that successfully performed the recent complex medical Continued on page 8

BONDING...

National Security Adviser to the President, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (left), and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof.

Ibrahim Gambari, during the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja...yesterday godwin omoigui

Court Declines to Stop Deliberation on Infectious Disease Bill...Page 6

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

FAAC Shares N2.6tn in Four Months as Revenues Slump

Obinna Chima The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) shared a total of N2.616 trillion among the three tiers of government in the first four months of 2020, figures compiled by THISDAY have shown.

The amount was four per cent higher than the total of N2.504 trillion shared among the federal, states and local governments in the first four months of 2019.

However, the amount of money shared among the three tiers of government is expected to drop significantly as Nigeria faces the challenge posed by the sharp decline in crude oil price as well as the economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oil contributes 90 per cent of the country’s exports, 30 per cent of banking sector credit and 50 per cent of fiscal revenues.

A breakdown of the total amount shared so far by FAAC this year, showed that while in January, N647 billion was distributed among the federal, states and local governments; in February they got N582 billion; N781 billion in March and N606 billion in April.

The Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited and a member of

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Advisory Council, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, recently predicted that Nigeria’s oil revenue was likely to decline by between 70 per cent and 80 per cent this year, representing between $15 billion and $17 billion fiscal gaps.

The country recorded crude oil and gas export sales revenue of $434.85 million in January, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said recently.

According to Rewane, the country’s other domestic revenue sources have also been negatively affected

by COVID-19, adding that government revenues have been under intense pressure. “The federal government is struggling with the reduction and elimination of subsidies without sparking social unrest.

Tax collection, mobilisation and prudent management of tax revenues will be topmost priorities. “Total external debt has risen to $31 billion and will climb further with more lending from multi-laterals to $36 billion. Debt service burden is already in excess of 96 per cent of independent revenues and terms of trade to deteriorate sharply in 2020,� he added.

He explained that export prices have been down by

EFCC Denies Corruption Allegations against Magu Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday rebutted allegation that its acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, owned property and evaded service of court summons over a matter long decided by the judiciary.

A statement by the commission entitled: "Desperate Blackmailers, Allies of Corrupt Elements in Smear Campaign against EFCC, Magu," said the allegations were the handiwork of politically-exposed persons based abroad.

The commission stated that it was taking steps to institute legal action against media platforms used by the blackmailers against the commission and its chairman.

"For his courage, consistency and never-say-die spirit, Magu, would undoubtedly, have a tribe of hard critics, cynics, and bitter foes. However, it is uncharitable to link him with the ownership of some buildings belonging to other individuals with verifiable addresses.

"It is even ridiculous to allege that he shied away from being served a fictitious writ of summons over a matter long decided by the judiciary," the statement said.

The EFCC added that it was focusing attention on the antics of some few elements in the social media, employing desperate antics of blackmail, and smear campaigns against

the successful war being fought against corruption by the commission and its chairman.

"As a law enforcement agency, the EFCC has enough facts about the sponsors of such insidious campaigns. It is an unflattering fact that corruption will always fight back and the commission is not surprised that such a campaign could be coming from some overseasbased, politically-exposed and disgraced elements being investigated for unnerving acts of corruption," it said.

The statement signed by the spokesman of the commission, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said: "The commission is on the trail of all the blackmailers and paid agents of darkness armed against it. Massive investigations of the platforms being used and their promoters have commenced.

"Facts about their operations shall be made known to the public and outcome of investigations being carried out shall also be released to the public."

It said appropriate legal actions were being taken against bloggers and their promoters embarking on a campaign of calumny against the commission.

"The EFCC, its helmsman and entire workforce would not be dismayed or distracted in any way. The task of fighting corruption is sacrosanct and no reactionary antics of detractors will succeed against the commission."

60 per cent; import prices by 15 per cent while oil export volume was estimated to fall to 1.3 million barrels per day.

He added that the country’s buffers remain low with high vulnerabilities. “Oil dependent economies like Nigeria and Angola will be badly hit by the twin shocks of COVID-19 and dwindling oil prices,� he stated.

The Director-General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Dr. Baba Musa, also stressed the need to diversify the country’s revenue base.

He noted that over the years, the mantra has been to diversify the economy, but despite that, there has been a heavy reliance on oil as a major source of revenue. “But if you look at most of the developed economies, most of them are driven by the taxes they collect. So, in our tax system, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Nigeria’s tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is far below Africa and even West African average. “So, what is required is that now all those loopholes in

terms of revenue collection, we need to block them,� he added.

The Founder, Foundation for Economic Research, Prof.

Akpan Ekpo, also urged the federal government to always prepare what he termed a non-oil budget, in order to be able to avoid external shocks. “What I have been saying for years is that anytime we have high crude oil price, we should always see it as a windfall, save a lot of the revenue and target it for spending on infrastructure.

I worked with Anthony Ani when he was Minister of Finance and we planned to do a non-oil budget. “If you look at the Nigerian economy, oil contributes only 10 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the non-oil sector contributes 90 per cent. So, we can actually do a non-oil budget. If we had been doing it for years, we would have gotten used to it, so that if the oil price does well, it becomes like a windfall. Let us demystify the oil sector because oil may finish one day,� he had said.

STILL ON THE PANDEMIC...

L-R: Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mr. Benedict Alabi; Coordinator, Osun/Oyo CACOVID, Dr. Timothy Arowoogun; the Governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, and other state oďŹƒcials during the inauguration of the 160-bed Osun COVID-19 Isolation Center in Osogbo‌yesterday

FG Promises Transparency in Award of Marginal Oil Fields Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Sarki Auwalu, yesterday assured Nigerians and the international business community that the federal government’s next round of bids for the country’s marginal oilfields would be open and transparent.

Speaking during a web conference organised by the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), with the theme “The Nigerian Oil and Gas Landscape: A World of Opportunities for Investments and Partnerships,� Auwalu said it was understandable why Nigerians seemed to be impatient about the upcoming award of the fields.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, had said last week that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the marginal field bid rounds, adding that it would increase the national crude oil production level when the cut imposed by

the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is lifted.

Auwalu added that for 17 years, the country had not had any such rounds and urged operators to ignore any announcement that is not directly from the DPR as some fraudsters were already circulating fake documents on the social media.

He explained that the agency will hold conferences before the announcement of the award of the marginal fields, just like it did before the implementation of the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO) recently.

He said: “There's the issue of marginal fields that is currently ongoing. There are a lot of fake documents in circulation. I am the director, CEO of DPR. We are yet to issue any guidelines. Anything in circulation right now is absolutely fake. “Let me take advantage of this forum to let people know that DPR will never do such a

thing for something that will bring opportunities to Nigeria in secrecy. It is only on social media and you can see how our documents are. “DPR has a unique way of presenting any guidelines and it will be done that same way MISTDO was announced.

We will have conferences. We know people are hungry to invest during this exercise and we are ready and we will do it."

Auwalu added that the next rounds will not only be transparent, but will be applauded by industry players. “There are lots of questions on marginal fields, but people need to know that this is an opportunity for Nigerians.

The marginal field is not something we can shroud in secrecy. Nigerians deserve to know because this has been 17 years that it was last done.

So people are hungry. They will be given the opportunity to prepare and participate�, he said.

On the hitherto low standard of technical training

in the industry, Auwalu noted that the modus of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Warri, Delta State, was being reviewed to emphasise skills, rather than academic knowledge. “Nigerian government thought it wise to establish the Petroleum Training Institute, not for knowledge but for skills. Unfortunately, over the years, they turned it into a knowledge-based institution, competing with polytechnics and universities. “We are reversing that so that as a youth, you can go and acquire your degree, but you must have the skills.

Just yesterday, we signed an agreement between Shell (SNEPCo), DPR and the PTI to establish a diving institute.

How many divers in Nigeria are Nigerians? We don't have them. “Meetings are on to upgrade the diving platform in PTI to an international standard so that our youths can work anywhere in the world,� he said.

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Court Declines to Stop Deliberation on Infectious Disease Bill

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court yesterday declined to restrain the House of Representatives from considering the Infectious Disease Bill, sponsored

by Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The court's refusal was a sequel to the failure of the plaintiff, Senator Dino Melaye, to serve court processes on the respondents as ordered by the court last week.

Melaye, who represented Kogi West in the Senate until 2019, had approached the court on May 4 to challenge the bill on the ground that if allowed, it would breach his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

He, in addition, filed a motion ex-parte dated May 13, 2020, praying the court

for an interim order directing parties in the suit to maintain status quo ante belum, pending the hearing and determination of the application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights suit.

However, the court in a short ruling last week had directed him to put the respondents on notice, adding that the respondents must appear in the court yesterday to show cause why further proceedings in the bill should not be halted.

The respondents include Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector General of Police (IG).

When the matter came up yesterday, the clerks of both the National Assembly and the House of Representatives as well as the AGF were absent

from court and not represented by their lawyers.

However, a lawyer, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, who announced appearance for the speaker, said Gbajabiamila was yet to be served with any process, or court order in respect of the suit.

Reacting, Melaye's lawyer, Mr. Nkemakolam Okoro, urged the court to order parties to maintain the status quo in order to protect the subject matter and prevent a situation of foisting a “fait accompli� on the court.

In refusing this request, however, Justice Ojukwu stated that her order of last week summoning the respondents to show cause why they should

not be restrained from taking further steps on the bill was predicated on the service of all the respondents with the required court documents. “Since the condition precedent has not been met, I would rather hold that the matter proceeds to the hearing,� the judge ruled.

While ordering that the speaker be served through Ajulo, Justice Ojukwu adjourned till June 1 for hearing in the main suit.

Melaye, who is currently challenging the election of Senator Smart Adeyemi at the Kogi State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, in the main suit is asking the court to

intervene by striking out certain sections of the proposed bill, which he claimed if passed would breach his fundamental human rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

According to the applicant, sections 3(8),5(3),6,8,13,15,16,17 ,19,23,30 and 47 of the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020, breach and or are likely to breach his fundamental rights as provided for in sections 33, 34,35,37,38 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 4, 6,7,10,11,12 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap

A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Articles 2(3),7,8,9,12,17,21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,1976, Articles 3,5,8,9,10,12,13,17 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948.

"Except by the intervention of this honourable court, through this application for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the applicant, the fundamental rights of the applicant would be breached if the offending provisions of the bill are not deleted before the passage of the bill by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria," he told the court.

Buhari Removes Suspended NECO Registrar, Dismisses Four Directors Laleye Dipo in Minna

President Muhammadu Buhari has removed the suspended Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Charles Uwakwe, and four directors of the examination body.

The four others dismissed are: Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), Mr. Bamidele Olure; Head of Procurement Division, Dr. Shina Adetona; Deputy Director, Mr. Tayo Odukoya; and Head of Legal/ Board Matters, Mr. Babatunde Aina.

The five had been on suspension for over two years.

The letters announcing their removal made available to journalists in Minna on Tuesday evening were signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Sunny Ochono.

Ochono said Uwakwe was removed for "violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) and pursuant to PSR 030402 and part 1 schedule 4 (i) of NECO Establishment Act." The termination of the appointment of Uwakwe took effect from the day he was suspended from office according to the letter.

Part of the letter reads, “after due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against you and some management staff of the council, Mr. President in the exercise of his powers, has approved your removal as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty.�

The dismissal of the other staff was contained in a separate letter with reference NO: FME/S/1419/C.3/T/98, dated 11th May 2020, also signed by Ochono.

The letter stated that “after due consideration of the financial report of the Review Committee, Mr. President has approved the recommendations as follows:

“Mr. Bamidele Amos Olure, Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), dismissal from the service with effect from the date of his suspension from office having been found guilty of financial impropriety and not qualified to Head the Finance and Accounts Department�.

The letter also stated that Adetona was dismissed from service with effect from the date he was suspended from office for acts tantamount to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records pursuant to PSR 030402 (b & t).

He is also to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a & b) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) (2007) for flagrant violation of PPA 2007 as Head of Procurement and misleading management on procurement.

Also, Odukoya was dismissed from service for acts of serious misconduct which violates PSR 030301 and PSR 030402 (q) (t) (w).

He is to be prosecuted in line with section 58 (5) (a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act (2007) for flagrant violation of the Act. The letter, therefore, directed NECO to commence the process of recovering illgotten benefits/gains from Odukoya who acted as director of a company (M/S I-web Solutions) while in service of the government.

Aina was dismissed from service for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which violates Section 2609 (a) of the Financial Regulations (FR) and PPA (2007) part X section 55 (2) - (4) and section 56, which are tantamount to serious misconduct pursuant to PSR 030301 (g), PSR 030402 (a) and PSR 030402 (m).

The letter indicated that the dismissal of Aina from service is without prejudice to the investigation being carried out by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on the sale of the NECO Guest House.

SECURITY MATTERS...

Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Abdullahi Sule (left), and his Benue State counterpart, Dr. Samuel Ortom, during the joint security council meeting at Yelwata in Benue State...yesterday

FEC Approves N2.923bn for Oil, Gas Facilities in Cross River Okays N896.9m for Anambra bridge, N623m for NCS computers Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N2.923 billion contract for the provision of infrastructure for the manufacturing of oil and gas components at Odukpani, Cross River State.

Briefing reporters after the virtual FEC meeting in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, said the total contract sum of N2,923,480,976.70, including tax, was awarded to Messrs Kinetic Electro-Mechanical Limited with the completion period of 15 months.

Sylva, who said the project would serve as an additional infrastructure facility for the manufacturing of oil and gas components in National Oil and Gas Park, added that upon completion, the project would boost capacity in oil and gas sector, provide job opportunities for Nigerians and boost economic activities in Odukpani.

He said: "Today, council approved the provision of water and fire service equipment in the National

Oil and Gas Park to be sited in Odukpani, Cross River State in the sum of N2,923,480,976.70.

"The oil and gas scheme is to provide an environment, a corridor for citing industries that would produce components locally for the oil and gas industry. Of course, these parks will create jobs and also increase local capacity and participation in the oil and gas industry.

"When completed, it will also boost capacity in the oil and gas for sector; provide job opportunities for Nigerians and boost economic activities in the Odukpani area of Cross River State."

In his own briefing, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the FEC also approved the augmentation of the contract sum of N896,863,516.25 for the construction of Oseakwa bridge in Anambra State.

According to him, the contract was awarded to Messrs Horizon Construction Limited for the construction of a 90-metre long bridge with two kilometres approach road for the duration of 12 months.

Mohammed explained that the contract had earlier attained 87.91 per cent completion level before it was stalled in 2012 by flood, which he said ravaged the vicinity of the project.

"It appears flooding was not envisaged at the time of the award and thus necessary provision for its containment not made in the contract sum," he stated.

The minister added that the council approved N610 million for the construction of Faculty of Health Services at the Plateau State University, Bokkos.

He said the memorandum for the contract presented by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, sought council approval for the construction, equipping and furnishing of the faculty as well as the approval of N114,357,600 for the purchase of furniture and equipment.

"The Minister of Education today presented a memo seeking approval of council for the award of contract for the construction, equipping and furnishing of a faculty of health sciences in Plateau

State University, Bokkos.

"It was awarded at the cost of N610,355,221.82 and the completion period is for 52 weeks. Also, procurement of furniture and equipment was awarded at N114,357,600 and the completion period is 12 weeks," he said.

He explained that the council approved another memorandum by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, seeking the approval of another N623.7 million for the procurement of computers and printers for zonal and area commands of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

"The Minister of Finance presented a memo for the award of contract for 1,200 units of colour printers and desktop computers for human resources and accounting management systems across zones and area commands of the Nigeria Customs Service, which was approved. “The sum of the contract was N623,700, 000 for the 1,200 desktops and computers for the use of the customs service all over the country," he said.

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PAGE EIGHT REDDINGTON CRASHES COST OF OPEN-HEART SURGERY IN NIGERIA procedure on Mr. Oluwatoyin Adebiyi at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos, have said.

The surgeons, who spoke yesterday on Arise News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said the cost is much lower than in hospitals in India, the United Kingdom and the United States, where many Nigerians currently travel to in search of better healthcare services.

Although the doctors said Adebiyi’s heart surgery was not the first successful heart surgery in Nigeria, they explained that his case was the first complex heart surgery ever in Nigeria because of the nature of the full blockage in his heart, coupled with the leakage of a major valve in his heart system that led to his kidney failure twice, during the process of the surgery.

The trio from Reddington

Hospital, Prof. Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Olutunde Lalude and Dr. Michael Sanusi, who led the procedure, said heart disease patients who hurriedly travel to India and other countries for surgery, could actually get the same result in Nigeria at a relatively lower cost, when compared to additional travelling and accommodation costs outside of Nigeria.

According to Lalude, who is the Group Managing Director of the hospital, the cost of heart surgery remained highly expensive because of the sophisticated medical equipment and infrastructure that is needed. “There are times when you will need up to 19 specialists to carry out heart surgery on a single patient and each of them needs sophisticated machines to achieve a result, and the patient needs to be

put in intensive care before and after the operation and all these are quite expensive in relation to cost.

"But cost varies from country to country. In the United States, for instance, a successful heart surgery can cost between $70,000 and $100,000. In India, the cost is less than $70,000, but in Nigeria, specifically at Reddington Hospital, we have been able to achieve successful surgery at a cost far less than what is obtainable in India,�

Laude said.

According to his colleague, Adeleke, the same procedure costs $10,000 at Reddington.

He, however, explained that Nigeria needed an insurance-based approach for the payment of hospital bills as against the out-of-pocket expenditures incurred by the patient, adding that healthcare is expensive everywhere.

“America spends $3.3 trillion yearly on its healthcare delivery system, which is about 18.5 per cent of her GDP and the UK spends about ÂŁ130 billion yearly. For Nigeria to achieve a successful healthcare delivery system, the government needs to spend a significant amount of money and allocate a heavy budget for healthcare system in the country,â€? Lalude stated.

Adeleke, who is a heart surgeon, said he had to work with other doctors to begin open heart surgery in Nigeria as soon as he returned from the United States.

According to him, “To get the cost right, we did the comparative cost of the totality of what Nigerians spend on heart surgery in India, including the cost of air transportation and accommodation and we decided to charge $10,000

per surgery and since then, we have maintained that cost, which is far cheaper than what is obtainable in the UK, US, and India. “Our cost could even be reduced further, but we do not produce any of the medical equipment in Nigeria. We have to import everything under the foreign exchange policy, including valves and each valve cost $2,500, as at the time we commenced open heart surgery in Nigeria, but today the cost of one valve has dropped to about $1,500, because we buy more of the valves now, based on the fact that more Nigerians are beginning to have their heart surgeries done in Nigeria.

"A good insurance scheme will help to further reduce the cost of open-heart surgery in Nigeria.�

Speaking on heart-related

diseases among Nigerians, Sanusi, who is also a heart surgeon, said the common heart disease in Nigeria is the congenital heart disease, which is about 0.1 per cent of the total population.

He added that this is a situation where one out of every 1,000 children has a hole in the heart, which could later lead to heart blockage as the child grows old, if not detected early enough.

Sanusi, therefore, called for collaboration between the public and the private sectors.

He equally called for a significant investment in the healthcare delivery system by the government. “We need significant investment in infrastructure that will attract increased volume of trained medical doctors in special medical fields,� Sanusi said.

In addition, the South-south accounted for 83,100 trucks with a total of 3.29 billion litres of petrol, or 16.01 per cent while the South-west took delivery of 170,464 trucks with 6.24 billion litres, representing 30.35 per cent of truck-out volume for the year.

Annual petroleum import stood at 20.89 billion litres while the daily average was estimated at 57.24 million litres for the year under review.

There was a rise in petrol importation in 2018, after the

previous four-year low of 17.3 billion low in 2017.

Diesel importation also declined for the second consecutive year in 2018 to 4.23 billion litres from 4.27 billion litres in 2017.

Importation of diesel in 2016 was 4.6 billion litres.

However, comparing a five-year historical growth trend in the importation of the commodity recorded a 22 per cent increase in diesel importation between 2014 and 2018.

AT 20.89BN LITRES, NIGERIA’S PETROL IMPORTS HIT SIX-YEAR HIGH 5.15 billion litres, according to NBS. In the case of HHK, previous data showed that its importation increased to 537.6 million litres in 2018 after it had dropped for the fourth consecutive year to 340 million litres in 2017. The importation had increased by 58 per cent year-on-year in 2018.

Within the last five years to 2018, kerosene importation had declined by 82 per cent.

In 2014, the total volume of kerosene imported was 2.93

billion litres, while it stood at 537.million litres in 2018, and in 2019, it was 128.11 million litres.

According to the Petroleum Products Importation Statistics for Full Year 2019, released by the statistical agency, 1.07 billion litres of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), 45.98 million litres of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and 526.06 million litres of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) were imported as at the end of last year.

The zonal distribution of

truck-out volume for 2019 further showed that 20.58 billion litres of petrol, 5.16 billion litres of diesel, 270.22 million litres of household kerosene, 1.05 billion litres of ATK, 84.53 million litres of LPFO and 734.21 million litres of LPG were distributed nationwide.

A further breakdown of the statistics indicated that the North-Central received a total of 87,606 trucks of petrol translating to over 3.67 billion litres, representing 17.87 per

cent of total import in 2019.

The North-east got a total of 30,963 trucks with a combined volume of 1.40 billion litres, accounting for 6.81 per cent of the total delivery.

The North-west received 80,240 trucks, which accounted for 3.65 billion litres of petrol, representing 17.77 per cent of petrol import and distribution.

The South-east received 51,424 trucks with 2.30 billion litres of petrol in 2019, representing 11.19 per cent.

SULTAN URGES MUSLIMS TO COMPLY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AS GOVS RELAX RESTRICTIONS III, has admonished Muslim faithful to adhere to the federal government’s protocols on social distancing, wearing masks and handwashing in order to stay safe.

The Sultan’s advice came on the day the pandemic’s confirmed cases increased by 284 to bring the total figure to 6,677.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that released the figures last night, 1, 840 patients have been discharged while 200 have died.

In a tweet on its verified Twitter handle, it said out of the new cases, Lagos State recorded 1,999 followed by Rivers State with 26 while Oyo had 19, Borno and FCT eight, Plateau seven, Jigawa six, Kano five, Abia two while Ekiti, Delta, Kwara, and Taraba have one each.

Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Mohammad Abubakar (Jigawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe) had relaxed the restrictions imposed on their states to check the spread of the virus much against the strident advice of the federal government against the lifting of the ban on large congregations, including religious ones.

Muslims are marking the end of the Ramadan fasting tomorrow and would congregate at their Eid praying grounds on Saturday to commemorate religious rite.

But in a statement by the Deputy Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Salisu Shehu, yesterday, the Sultan, who is also the spiritual leader of Muslims and the PresidentGeneral of the council advised the faithful to adhere to the rules of whichever state they

find themselves, saying even where lockdown is relaxed, they should tread with caution. “As the month of Ramadan is gradually coming to an end and the Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching, it is crucial to reiterate that we are living in unusual times when almost everything normal has become abnormal, including social gatherings and large congregational prayers,� he said, adding: "Therefore, Muslims are enjoined to note that Eid-ul-Fitr is not a compulsory religious activity (fard) and at no point should it be observed if doing so will undermine the fundamental purpose of Shari’ah: security, a multifaceted concept which includes personal, community, national, environmental and health components, among others.�

He added: “Muslims should, therefore, act according to the established protocol in their various communities and locations in Nigeria during the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. In places where restrictions have been lifted from congregational prayers, Muslims should observe their Eid prayers while still taking necessary safety measures regarding personal hygiene, facial masks, and social distancing.

"It is even advisable that in such places, massive gatherings at one Eid ground in a big city should be avoided. Rather the Eid could be performed in area-Mosques to avoid unmanageable crowds.

"However, in places where the ban on large congregational prayers and socio-religious gatherings is still in force, Muslims are directed to be law-abiding while appreciating that intentions supersede actions and actions are judged on the basis of intentions, as Prophet Muhammad said. “Muslims are advised to be law-abiding in all circumstances, while praying

to Allah fervently in their various homes, if that is what the situation requires, to forgive our sins and heal the world from destructive and disruptive diseases like Coronavirus. “Certainly, people all over the world at large and Nigeria, in particular, are under intense pressure and the sooner the pandemic is over, the better for us all.�

Apprehension over Status of Frontline Security Personnel Meanwhile, there has been apprehension over the COVID-19 status of security operatives who have been on the frontline of enforcing the lockdown directives issued by the federal government to flatten the curve of the pandemic, THISDAY has learnt.

THISDAY gathered that some of the security operatives have tested positive for the virus, and have been isolated and quarantined, just as several others have opted for self-medication.

While one naval officer has died after the Nigerian Navy tested 1,300 officers and men, the army and the police authorities have isolated their personnel, who tested positive for the virus.

This is coming as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday directed the Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to give maximum effect to the presidential directive on the exemption of journalists, medical personnel and other workers on essential service from the ban on interstate movement and curfew imposed across the country.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha,

and Mohammed resolved the issue of the essential workers after the Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, had detained journalists and medical workers for several hours on Tuesday.

Also, fresh fact has emerged that 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria do not require hospital care before they would be cured of the disease.

THISDAY had reported that a lieutenant commander with the Nigerian Navy (NN), Chike Okoro, deployed in the Naval Pay Office in Lagos had died from underlying complications of the virus.

Further investigations have revealed that the navy is not the only service with personnel on the frontline who have been affected.

In Lagos, the army, civil defence, and the police have had their personnel tested positive for the virus and have been in the isolation centres receiving treatment.

However, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, who debunked claims that several of his men were positive, said nonetheless, the navy had put workable measures on the ground.

He said the navy mandated its personnel on joint operations to comply with all regulations on COVID-19 prevention, adding that a taskforce pays unscheduled visits to ensure compliance.

He said: "Nose mask is compulsory. The command also produced pocket sanitisers that they gave those of us in the field with a strict warning to ensure we use it especially those who cannot avoid touching their faces. “From the numbers we have tested so far, only eight confirmed cases have been recorded and so, you can see

that eight out of 1,300 doesn't translate to many.

"We have been taking precautions. We have been calling Lagos COVID-19 response to make sure that we do the test because of the nature of our work. “We have been sending samples for test and I can tell you that so far, we have tested 1,300 personnel, not counting their family members and only eight are positive.�

He explained that most of the confirmed cases were serving in the medical centres, suggesting that might be the source of the infection.

Daji said: “Because of this, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas procured 1,800 PPEs and we distributed them to all our medical personnel in Lagos.

"You know they have to touch and see patients and most of these patients are civilian patients that come to our hospitals because of the modern equipment we have in our hospital.

"The CNS directed that every medical personnel before they see any patient, must have their personal protective equipment.�

Daji said the command was being proactive and was not under pressure, adding that it had built isolation and treatment facilities at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, following predictions that cases in Lagos might rise to 120,000 by July.

"We already had isolation centres that accommodate two in a room and there are 78 rooms, which we have been using to quarantine our personnel that returned from abroad before the airports were closed.�

Also, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Olu Irefin, said the division had only recorded a case of a female soldier who

was receiving treatment.

He said precautions were immediately taken to prevent the spread because the personnel of the division were part of the larger society.

He said: "It is not true that many of my personnel have COVID-19. We have our COVID-19 response team formed by the Armed Forces of Nigeria and our isolation centre in Yaba. We have all the testing equipment and kits. We have been carrying out testing of our personnel once there is suspicion.�

Also, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Odumosu said only two of his men were confirmed to have COVID-19 and that they had been treated and discharged.

He said: "You should know that there are many police formations in Lagos. When they say police in Lagos, it does not necessarily mean Lagos State Command.

Continued on page 9

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THURSDAY, ÍşÍšËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Akeredolu, Makinde Appoint Commanders for Amotekun in Ondo, Oyo States Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan and James Sowole in Akure Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu and his counterpart in Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde have appointed commanders for the Amotekun corps in their respective states.

Two months after he signed the Amotekun bill into law, Akeredolu has appointed Chief Adetunji Olu Adeleye as the Corps Commander,

Ondo State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps.

Adeleye retired as Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Other appointments approved by Governor Akeredolu were Mrs. Toyin Akinmoyo- Senior Special œœ’œÂ?Š—Â?ČąÂ?Â˜Â›Čą Â˜Â–ÂŽÂ—Čą Ä›ÂŠÂ’Â›ÂœÇ˛Čą Mr. Bosun Oladimeji as Senior Special Assistant Publication, Hon. Albert Akintoye as Senior Special Assistant for

Public Utilities.

A statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Segun Ajiboye, said the governor wished the new appointees successes in their various assignments.

On his part, Makinde, has appointed the duo of General Ajibola Kunle Togun and retired Colonel Olayanju Bisiriyu Olayinka as chairman and commandant, respectively, of the Oyo State Security Network, codenamed

Amotekun.

The governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant (Print Media), Mr. Moses Alao, indicated that the retired –’•’Â?ÂŠÂ›Â˘ČąÂ˜ÄœÂŒÂŽÂ›ÂœČąÂ Â’Â•Â•ČąÂ˜Â&#x;ÂŽÂ›ÂœÂŽÂŽČą the initiative, which was put in place to check insecurity in the state.

Makinde signed the Amotekun Bill into law in March, with the government having procured vehicles and other equipment for use by

Â?‘Žȹ œŽŒž›’Â?¢ȹ ˜žÂ?Ä™Â?Čą Â Â‘Â’ÂŒÂ‘Ç°Čą he noted, was set up to Œ˜–™•Ž–Ž—Â?Čą Â?‘Žȹ Žě˜›Â?ÂœČą ˜Â?Čą other security agencies in the state.

The new chairman of the ˜žÂ?Ä™Â?Ç°Čą Ž—Ž›Š•ȹ ˜Â?ž—ǰȹ›ŽÂ?’›ŽÂ?Čą from the military having served as Director of Military Intelligence and former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service (now Department of State Services).

Similarly, the newly

appointed commandant of the Oyo State Amotekun ˜žÂ?Ä™Â?Ç°Čą Â˜Â•ÇŻČą •Š¢’—”Šȹ (rtd), has several years of experience in the military, having served as Assistant Director, British Military Advisory Training Team, Defence Headquarters, ‹ž“ŠDzȹ Ž™žÂ?¢ȹ ‘’ŽÂ?ČąÂ˜Â?Čą Â?Šěȹ (Logistics), Headquarters 2 Div, Nigerian Army, Ibadan and Sector Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Plateau State, among others.

SULTAN URGES MUSLIMS TO COMPLY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING AS GOVS RELAX RESTRICTIONS “We have CP Railway Command, Maritime, CP Airport, CP SFU, CP AntiFraud, among others and they have personnel too.

"But if you are referring to my command, I can tell you that only two persons had the virus and they have been treated and discharged."

Again, IG Directs AIGs, CPs to Exempt Journalists, Others on Essential Service from Curfew Following the backlash that greeted his directive that journalists and other essential workers were no longer exempted from the ban on interstate movement and nationwide curfew, the IG yesterday ordered Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) to give maximum effect to the presidential directive on the exemption of workers on essential service.

He said medical personnel, journalists, firefighters among others on essential services remain exempted from the lockdown rules.

A statement issued by the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja said the IG ordered the police managers to ensure compliance with the presidential directive on restriction of inter-state movement with a specific charge to allow essential service workers to proceed without restriction.

"Following unending inquiries on the status of essential workers in respect of the due enforcement of the national curfew and inter-state movement restriction orders emplaced by the federal government, it has become necessary to clear all ambiguity on the position of the Nigeria Police Force especially as it relates to persons on essential duties.

"The Force wishes to state that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and frontline role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of Essential Service Providers particularly as it relates to efforts to curtail and contain the COVID-19 pandemic," it said.

The statement signed by the Force PRO and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Frank Mba, clarified: “All essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, firefighters, etc remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as

the national curfew."

"Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu has directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police to give maximum effect to these orders and extend due courtesies to essential service providers so affected and also ensure that personnel deployed for the enforcement duties respect the fundamental rights of the citizens."

It said the IG urged all workers who fall within these categories not to take undue advantage of their positions and privileges to advance other purposes not connected with the performance of their duties within the stated period.

Mustapha and Mohammed had on Tuesday determined the issue of essential workers.

Director of Communications at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (OSGF), Mr. Willie Bassey, told THISDAY yesterday that Mustapha, who incidentally is the Chairman of the PTF, stayed awake from Tuesday till early yesterday morning to read all the complaints filed by the journalists.

Bassey said that the SGF had noted all the grouses listed by the journalists and had referred all the complaints to the police authority for them to recognise that as essential workers, journalists, with valid means of identification are to be exempted from the presidential order imposing a curfew.

80% of Patients in Nigeria Don’t Need Hospital Care, Says Epidemiologist The COVID-19 Epidemiologist of Africa Centre for Disease Control (AfCDC) and a consultant to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Olayinka Ilesanmi, has stated that 80 per cent of COVID-19 patients in Nigeria do not require to be hospitalised before they would be cured of the disease.

Ilesanmi made the statement yesterday when he presented a paper for Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, with the theme “Safety Consciousness with Efficient Service Delivery: The Way Forward in the Midst of COVID-19.�

The Comptroller, Lagos State Command of Nigeria Immigration Service, Comptroller Doris Braimah, said the purpose of the event was to educate immigration officers and personnel who

are also frontline workers as far as COVID-19 is concerned, on how to manage safety in their work environment and maintain efficiency and productivity.

When THISDAY asked the epidemiologist to clarify his statement that most Nigerian cases of COVID-19 do not require to be taken to hospital, he said: “But this is not to deemphasise the use of hospitals.

However, the majority, like 80 per cent of those with COVID-19 so far do not need hospitalisation. Those really in need of hospital care are those with a severe situation.

They need the hospital just for them to be monitored in case there is a complication or their situation progress to severity.�

He said that those who do not manifest severe conditions could be isolated at their homes and be monitored once in a while. “Once it is severe that person must need hospitalisation. Severe infection cannot be fought without the use of medication and other hospital care,� he said.

He also said that he has witnessed COVID-19 patients recover without taking any drugs, explaining that “in the treatment of patients for COVID-19, the drugs that are being used are not specific drugs that are meant to treat the illness itself. Most of them manage the symptoms of the disease and also take care of other complications that could arise. So, a few patients, even without the use of medication, have recovered from COVID-19.�

Ilesanmi attributed such recovery to factors like “the level of the immunity of body to fight the infection accounts,� adding that the disease “is also a novel virus and the strain also could help because most of the people having COVID-19 will definitely have the mild conditions.

Only very few, which is less than five percent, are in severe condition.�

North Accounts for 70% of New Infections, Govs Lament In another development, the Northern State Governors Forum has lamented that the region now accounts for about 54 per cent of the national cases and 70 per cent of new infections of the virus in Nigeria.

This was the resolution of the forum at its fourth teleconference meeting held yesterday to review

the region’s COVID-19 response, and deliberate on other matters relating to its progress and development.

The resolution was made available to journalists in Jos by the Director of Press to the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Simon Lalong, Mr. Simon Macham.

Lalong appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari’s military intervention to tackle banditry in the region.

On the profiling and evacuation of Almajiris, the forum observed that so far, there had been appreciable progress as many states had transferred Almajiris to other states and also received their citizens without any problem.

They resolved to continue with the exercise by strictly following laid down protocols for their profiling, quarantining, testing, transportation, handling, and taking over as well as reintegration.

On enforcing closure of interstate boundary roads, the governors again expressed disappointment that despite several measures that had been taken, including presidential orders, there were still violations in this regard, where people move from one state to another through compromise and use of illegal routes.

Catholic Archbishop Asks FG to Consider Herbal Remedies The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos Diocese, Alfred Adewale Martins, has called on the federal government to consider herbal remedies in the quest of a cure for COVID-19.

The cleric made the appeal yesterday during a press conference held at the Holy Cross Cathedral Hall in Lagos.

He said herbal medicine was known for its potency against several diseases.

Martins said Madagascar’s herbal solution was an indication that Nigeria could develop its own remedy through traditional means. “Herbal medicine has its healing effect and I think it is important that the government gives local practitioners and researchers the opportunities to research into the use of our local herbal roots and come up with remedies from them for this Coronavirus pandemic,� he said.

According to him, “We have heard these local remedies curing different types of

diseases before, and it is only appropriate that they are given a chance to prove their efficacy at this point in time. “We understand that there is a need for test and validation of local herbs.

Madagascar has developed its own and was embraced by the federal government. “That has created the urgency for our government to pay attention to the development and promotion of our own indigenous herbal products and remedies offered by others that will lead to an end to COVID-19 pandemic in our country.�

MURIC Wants Palliatives for Imams, Pastors In another development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked state governments to consider giving palliatives to imams and pastors to cushion the effect of COVID-19 measures on them.

In a statement issued yesterday, MURIC’s Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said the palliatives would address the agitation to reopen churches and mosques. “The open demand by certain religious leaders for their places of worship to be reopened lends credence to the pressure clerics are going through,� he said. “Even the recent decision by some state governments to reopen religious centres is not unconnected with subterranean agitations from clerics in the states- deserted for weeks, the house of God longs for warmth. “The impact of the economic nosedive on imams and pastors cannot be overemphasized, particularly for a country whose proletariat is overworked, underpaid and overtaxed.�

Akintola said the realities of the Nigerian economy call for government’s attention particularly as they affect keepers of the house of God.

Lagos NMA Commences Sit-atHome Protest Despite the intervention of the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police Force, the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) commenced sit-at-home with effect from 6 pm yesterday to protest the incessant harassment of its members by security agencies enforcing COVID-19 curfew in the state.

Chairman of the Lagos State branch, Dr. Saliu Oseni, told THISDAY last night that the state government was in talks with the association, but that it was yet to arrive at a decision. “So, in the meantime, we have commenced our sit-athome. The decision to suspend it cannot be taken only by me. We are still discussing it with our members. When we arrive at something you will know,� he added.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, told THISDAY that the differences the police had with the state chapter of NMA had been resolved, and that he believed the proposed sit-at-home action would not hold.

He said: “The state has been able to placate the association.

We are sure they will not go on with the proposed strike.

The police have also engaged with them and have promised they would no longer be harassed. I think we have all come to an understanding.

So, everyone is good now.�

292 Stranded Nigerians Arrive from Saudi Arabia Less than two weeks after 256 Nigerian voluntary returnees arrived in Nigeria from the United Arab Emirates, through the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the federal government has announced that it has received a batch of 292 stranded Nigerians from Saudi Arabia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, who tweeted from his verified twitter handle yesterday said that the returnees were doing well and had all settled down in hotels for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

He noted that the evacuees with a large number of nursing mother and children were flown to Abuja on Tuesday.

Onyeama tweeted: “We received 292 evacuees stranded in Saudi Arabia yesterday.

The Saudi government transported them to Abuja. A large number are nursing mothers and children and they are all comfortably settled in hotels under the mandatory 14 days quarantine,� he tweeted.

The country had successfully evacuated Nigerians from United Arab Emirate (265); United Kingdom (253) and the United States (160).

The latest returnees bring to 970 the total number of stranded Nigerians who have been evacuated.

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THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020

POLITICS

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

‘There’s Glaring Degree of Opacity in Accounting for COVID-19 Funds’

Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Anambra State governorship election in 2017 and reviews the performance of the federal and state governments on the COVID-19 pandemic, among other pertinent issues, with David-Chyddy Eleke ow have you coped with the COVID-19 challenges and lockdown?

By God’s grace I’m well.

I have been in Awka since January. Like everyone else, I was affected by the lockdown and focused on keeping safe. Naturally, I have also worried about my family and dependents, staff, friends and constituents in terms of their safety and subsistence. I managed to use the lockdown period productively to complete work on my forthcoming books. However, these are still very difficult, disturbing and interesting times.

H

about the infection rates. The distrust gap is huge, more so as the overall fiscal response seems to be centrally managed. I personally get the sense that most of the responses we are witnessing are transaction-driven not publicinterest driven. We have extant cashless policy, yet FG is dispensing cash publicly. There’s a glaring degree of opacity in accounting for a COVOD-19 funds at all levels, perhaps with a few exception. So the perception that it’s “all about making money” is not farfetched.

Also, it borders on criminality for some public officials to attempt to get rich off the present national crisis.

You have been very outspoken during the COVID-19 crisis, offering policy advice as well as constructive criticisms.

Do you think the governments -federal and state -have given Nigerian citizens enough incentives to comply with the lockdown order imposed to control the ravaging Coronavirus from spreading in the country?

Doing well is relative and depending on the applicable standards. If you posed that very question to Nigerians on the streets and markets, you will get very mixed responses; mostly negative. But my role as a private and attentive citizen is to offer honest advice and constructive criticism, without grandstanding or politicizing the issues. Both the Federal Government and state governments responded constructively to the COVID-19 pandemic within the scope of their governance abilities. But as a nation our overall response has been very weak. Some states passed with flying colours, while other states failed woefully. We have also witnessed some draconian measures. But overall, we failed in healthcare delivery; we failed in communication; we failed in education and orientation; we failed in mobilization and logistics and we failed in our responsibility to protect the average citizen. As I’ve said before, the COVID-19 pandemic has debunked illusions, unraveled myths, and shredded soft power of big and small nations. It has upended normalcy and unfolded a very dysfunctional and chaotic world. Nigeria is no exception. In Nigeria, the COVID-19 revealed the waning strength of government.

Are you worried that both the federal and state governments are not giving account of COVID -19 funds?

There is an element of opacity in the way the funds are being segregated and handled.

This is quite in contrast to how the FG handled the 2012 flood disaster. There was clarity and transparency in handling the funds and donations. Presently we read of and hear lots of donations and pledges being announced, but no transparent record of how the funds are being disbursed or spent. That amounts to fiscal irresponsibility. Some states have set up committees, published funds received and funds spent in the spirit of full disclosure.

Others have not. Such dichotomy in fiduciary practices, duties and responsibilities has created room for speculation, for mischief and indeed for official malfeasance. The situation is sufficiently worrying.

With the number of suspected COVID-19 positive cases on the increase daily across Nigeria, what other measures should have been adopted by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), federal and state governments to control the rising trend, vis-a-vis lockdown, curfew etc?

There is no denying that Nigeria lost invaluable lead response time. We underestimated the power of this unseen enemy that respected no boundaries. As a nation the pandemic caught Nigeria totally unawares and unearthed our limited national capacities and competencies in various sectors. Whether within the NCDC or outside, we had neither the vaccines nor ventilators. We also did not have isolation and treatment centres, despite the numerous university teaching hospitals in this country. The only practical option left to us, was containment and mitigation; and both required effective communication. But we also failed in that regard. Stark evidence exists of a huge trust deficit as reflected by the collective failure of our leaders in persuading the national population to comply with stipulated public safety measures. Also, the government’s inability to take the hardheaded decision to lock down the nation totally and longer, after putting the correct palliative and testing measures in place, was a clear policy and systemic failure. There was clear absence of national resilience strategy and

Obaze synergy. We have not utilized our scientists effectively or explored possible local remedies like Madagascar and Senegal. If not, why would Kano state export infected Almajiris to other states? Why would some states suppress or hide their infection rates? In terms of successes and failures, all the numbers are not in yet. People are still being infected daily, people are dying daily; thus the scope of our failure is still being reflected in the hard numbers of continuing infections and rising fatalities.

Painfully, we are not yet out of the woods and I’m deeply troubled that palliative and mitigation measures being put in place are largely transaction-driven. If not, why has FG not disbursed funds directly to the states and the states not disbursed cash and food palliatives directly to the people? Where is NEMA, SEMA and the social welfare agencies?

It is regrettable that some policymakers and bureaucrats at federal and state levels see the response to the pandemic as business as usual; even as people are dying daily from infections and from hunger. It’s most regrettable that the national leadership initially tackled the pandemic perfunctorily.

So how satisfied are you with the prosecution of the COVID-19 war by Nigeria? Also there’s some controversy

in some quarters over figures of number of those who contracted Coronavirus in Nigeria. Some argue that bogus daily infection figures are released by the Federal Government just to get foreign aid.

Is it all about making money as believed in some quarters?

I’m far from satisfied. First, we must admit that the overall intervention at the federal and state levels was mostly ad hoc, not holistic and therefore not robust. Since the COVID-19 mitigation measures started, a lot of figures have been bandied around; N2 trillion for the SIP palliatives, N500 billion economic stimuli package, N27 billion plus raised

by CACOVID Team, etc., yet the selective intervention and palliative measures on the ground are not commensurate with these amounts. It all seems like fuzzy math. Why would Lagos State get N10 billion in “technical support” and Kano State not get the same amount for “technical support” or “financial support” or “manpower support” or “facility support”, or whatever FG wants to call it?

Why hasn’t FG disbursed mitigation funds equally among the affected 34 states? Why is the FG undertaking the task of feeding school children at home? Those are local government responsibilities. Understandably, most people are now skeptical about FG figures relating to monies donated and disbursed and even

PDP needs is to put its best foot forward in order to wrestle power from the ruling party. For PDP to succeed, it must present its best candidate and a united front, the zone from which the candidate emerges notwithstanding.

The risk we face is the possible polarization and fracturing of the party over the so-called zoning arrangements.

If I recall correctly, since 1999 PDP aspirants from the three Senatorial zones have always competed for the governorship ticket. It happened in 2013 and again 2017, so I don’t think it will be any different in 2021. Yet the inherent danger will manifest, if the South decides to allow their zone to scuttle the chances of a PDP candidate who is not from that zone. Were that to happen, the PDP will remain in the doghouse and in opposition for another four years and perhaps, beyond

How would you react to the increasing internal human migration and flouting of restriction of movement and lockdown order by federal and the various state governments as means of checking Coronavirus spread? Also Anambra State Government mapped out measures — some shrouded in controversy- to help mitigate the spread of Coronavirus in the state, do you think the governor has done well in handling the situation?

I spoke earlier about absence of synergy and lack of coordination. I also talked about failure in communication and civic orientation. You cannot ask people who are uninformed to take their civic responsibility seriously. Our people feel that government lie to them all the time. If frequently, the government cries wolf; now there’s a wolf no one believes them. It ought to have been evident to the FG and to the states that a collaborative approach was needed. Going it alone was not an alternative. We seem to be closing the door of the barn long after the horses have bolted. Now the entire nation is infested. I can assure you that the 36 states of Nigeria all have COVID-19 carriers, even if they are untested and unidentified. Monitoring and mitigation measures adopted by Anambra are not peculiar, other states like Rivers have done the same. The devil is in the style and details of implementation.

COVID-19 is seen in some quarters as a conspiracy directed against President Trump to trample the U.S. economy so he can lose grip and fail his second term bid. As a retired U.N. Diplomat, what is your view on this matter?

This is another speculation that falls within the realm of conspiracy theory. Is COVID-19 pro-democracy or anti-democracy?

Does the pandemic distinguish between democrats, socialists, and communists?

Really, we ought not to dignify such assertions with answers.

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

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020

POLITICS

‘It is Either Obaseki or No Other Person for Edo Governorship’ Hon Matthew Iduoriyekevwen was once a member and Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly. He was also at a time, a Commissioner, representing Edo State on the Niger Delta Development Commission board. A two-time governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP. Iduoriyekevwen who has now decamped to the APC is presently, the Chairman of Governor Godwin Obaseki-led APC, Mobilisation Committee. In a dialogue with Adibe Emenyonu, he assured that the governor will clinch the APC ticket for his second term

H

ow far have you gone as the chairman of Governor Obaseki ‘s faction of the APC saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing and reconciling members ?.

I was appointed with other members of the party and we are about 41 in number. In carrying out our duty of mobilizing members we also talked to people who are members of the party that may have one grievance or the other. The committee is still working.

The job is to mobilize people for a political party and for them to believe in your ideology and aspiration. The job is made easier because of what the government is showcasing in terms of achievements. So it has been a little bit easy for us because the government as it were is doing well in the area of trying to reposition the state economically through infrastructure, building of capacity and strengthening all aspect of the state. Either through agriculture, health or education, the government is just putting solid foundation in place that if we as Edo people come together in the next 45 years outside of Lagos and Ogun state, I don’t think there is any state in this country that would be ahead of Edo in terms of industrial development and building of capacity of the workforce in the state. If you look at everything the governor is doing right now and if the pace is sustained without any distraction or interruption, the GDP in the state would increase massively and there will be more inflow of development. So, for me, that makes the work of mobilizing very easy because most places we go to you can point at one project that is on-going. The governor as a technocrat doesn’t believe in making noise but he believes that your result will show and today that is very obvious for the people of the state and a lot of people want him to succeed.

There would be election later in the year. What effort is your committee making to ensure that the crisis in the APC is amicably resolved?

Talking about crisis, you should also know that in basic economics, human needs are insatiable. A lot of people are driven by ambition, they want to be governor. You all know I had wanted to be governor, I had done governorship primaries twice in the PDP before coming to the APC but what is the main reason I want to be governor is to see that the state is properly positioned both in infrastructural development and economic growth. Why I am not interested in governorship at this time is because some of the things I would have done as governor, Obaseki is already doing and surpassing them. In some areas, the governor has contacts because of his background that I didn’t have so it is normal for me to allow him explore those things and maximize the potential that he has in developing the state but sadly other people don’t see it that way. They just want power not that they are going to do anything differently. For some, their ambition becloud their sense of fair judgment; for them if they cannot get it, lets destroy the family house. For those who are reasonable even if there are issues within the same family the best thing to do is to secure the house first from external

Iduoriyekevwen aggression before coming back home to reconcile and reunite everyone instead of opening the doors for invaders to come and take over simply because you want to be the head of the family. I think every genuine member of the APC in Edo state should go beyond personal political ambition and look at what is the best for us, first as a party and as Edo people. I have reached out to so many persons on the other side, but what they tell me as far as I am concern is just personal quarrel. ‘Oh, Obaseki was supposed to give me XYZ.’ Everything they say is centre around ‘me, me and me.’ When I joined the APC, I didn’t ask the governor to do anything for me but what was important to me was to see a better Edo state, we don’t want a distraction for the government. Those on the other side fighting the government don’t mean well, it should not be about me occupying the driver ’s seat. The question we need to ask is if Obaseki is doing what is acceptable to majority of the people and the answer is yes but some of them have made it look impossible to close ranks with them and like I said all their quarrel are personal as far as I am concerned. You see, when you make political quarrel personal as if the man has killed your wife, then reconciliation becomes difficult. You do not expect that things would be done the same and expect different results, everybody wants politics to be played the way they are used to. Government is not doing so much and few persons are being empowered at the expense of the vast majority of our people, making few persons billionaires and the same persons do not have investment in the state to accommodate unemployed persons in the state. Our way of thinking has to change if we want Edo state to progress. For people like us that are above 50 years of age we are already on our second half of life and in actual fact, how many of us can live up to 90 years? Most people they say lived well died at the age 80 or 90, so the proper thing to do is make sure those coming

behind us find easy place. Look at the history of Dubai, in 1960 Dubai was a complete desert, in 1980, it has just one skyscrapper but in 2020 it has almost 200 skyscrapers and changed completely because the Ruler of the country choose not to eat the seed yam like many Arab countries that had oil like Dubai. In 1960, 100 percent of Dubai income was from oil but as at today oil accounts for just 5% of Dubai national income because Dubai had a man who dared to do things differently. If you eat your seed yam in the time of planting, don’t expect anything during harvest. I think what Obaseki is doing now is planting the seed yam instead of eating it, we must have foresight for our children and future. As far as I am concerned Obaseki has done enough to consolidate what he has done so far.

In the light of the political forces against Obaseki how confident are you that he would pick the APC ticket as primaries draw nearer?

Well, with this COVID -19 pandemic and if INEC does not change anything I do not see how the governor will not win the primary either direct or indirect because party members are the one going to vote and the votes are going to be counted. Nobody is going to seat in one place and write results, unless they don’t want to have APC anymore in Edo state. You must also feel the pulse of the citizens of this state. Who will make election easier for us to win, it is either the governor or no other person. Who are those persons that we are hearing so far that want to become the candidate of the party? Looking at the genuine membership of the party because I have been going round, the governor will win the primary with a landslide.

What if the governor loses?

How is that possible? Are they going to write the results from the sky? It is party members that would vote.

What does he have to show in terms of achievement to win?

I am surprise you are asking me this question. There are so many things the governor has done that even the blind can see and the deaf can hear. Let’s look at the basic ones, before Obaseki, how was movement in places like Ring road, Ekiosa market, it was almost impassable, was there no government then in Edo state? Was it that the governors didn’t have capacity or power to do it? They lacked the courage. Today, we have a clean and organised city centre. Look at the road to my village in Amagba, the government has done the road and it takes less than 10 minutes, same thing with St. Saviour road. So, as far as I am concern, Edo state is the largest construction site in the South-South. Look at the quality he has brought to our education, yes, we already had red roof but the red roof doesn’t teach students, now we have to built capacity of the teachers to deliver with modern educational tools. In the area of agriculture, the state is today accessible for investors.

Is it the industrial park, Azura or Ossiomo power plant? In the next one year, Edo people will enjoy full electricity.

Today, we have night flights in Benin with about 5 new planes coming into the city. Obaseki’s achievement are so numerous and glaring. Those who say they want to be governor don’t have the capacity and I am far better than them. People like us want Obaseki to come back and consolidate on what he has done.

As an experienced politician, are you not disturbed that people are joining forces with Edo Peoples Movement (EMP), a group within the APC opposed to Obaseki’s second term bid almost on a daily basis?

Well as far as I am concern EMP is not APC, they are still members of the APC and I don’t want to use words that make it impossible for us to reconcile with them. I still see them as people that will become reasonable at some point to see the need to consolidate on the gains of the party. Like I said earlier, all they want is power; they don’t have anything new to put on the table. In their campaign they tell you when I become governor I will respect party leaders, where has Obaseki disrespected party leaders? When I am governor I make ‘Agbero’ (touts) that have been driven away come back, who wants to live in a society dominated by ‘agberos’? We don’t want to be like those Israelites that says lets go back to Egypt? Who wants to leave decency for dirt? If I may ask those people going to EPM who are they?

Somebody was a commissioner and for some reason the governor decided to reshuffle his cabinet and your responsibility is taken away and new people are brought to inject fresh idea and the next thing such a commissioner teams up with people and starts fighting the governor. People should know that the mere fact that you have an appointment doesn’t make you better than others. A lot of people have more capacity than you. It is just an opportunity. Do you know the population of Edo people with better qualifications that don’t have the opportunity to serve for 12 months? So, when people say the other side, they are those fighting for stomach infrastructure.

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COMMENT

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

COVID-19: NO TIME FOR COMPLACENCY

Salihu Tanko Yakassai urges all to support the Kano State government till the deadly disease is contained

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n late December 2019, an epidemic broke out in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China with devastating consequences to the lives of the people and the economy of the country. From the epicentre of Coronavirus in Wuhan, the disease has spread far and wide to countries in all the six continents, claiming over 315, 000 people world-wide, thus becoming a pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). As of today, almost five million people have been infected by the virus. Countries like the US, Italy, Spain, the UK and Ecuado are the hardest hit with hundreds of thousands of people going to the great beyond. And sadly, the infections and death toll are still counting as if on a vengeance for what no one knows!

Even before the virus came to our shores, the federal and the 36 state governments had taken some necessary preventive measures to control the dreaded virus, which the WHO lauded. Happily enough, despite our large population, less than 7,000 people have been infected with about 200 mortalities.

But this feat as commendable as it is should not be a cause for complacency. There should be no let or hindrance until we see the back of this monster. Any slacking, irresponsible behaviour or recklessness at this time may likely lead to more devastating consequences for our lives and the future of our nation. This is more so with the recent warning by the WHO that Africa risks being the next epicenter of COVID-19 if these stringent measures are not sustained.

Even advanced countries like the United Kingdom, the US, Italy and Spain have been over-stretched and overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the infections and the high death rates despite their high technologydriven healthcare system, ultra-modern infrastructure and well-trained health personnel. The gory sights of dead bodies in body bags is a stark reminder that the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic is a collective responsibility of all and sundry – not that of the government alone.

In Kano State, the government had taken all necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the state even before the first index case was recorded with the closure of all public schools, establishment of a task force committee on Coronavirus under the headship of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the appeal fund committee under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano to assist the victims and provide relief to the poorest of the poor, the closure of all public offices, the banning of passenger buses coming to the state, the one-week lockdown of the state, the provision of isolation centres for the quarantine and treatment of those infected, the closure of markets and banning of congregation in mosques and churches, among others.

The Executive Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR had to personally intercept some vehicles conveying many people from coming into the state upon receiving intelligence reports that some people had been flouting the lockdown order.

WE SHOULD STOP LIVING IN DENIAL ABOUT THE MORTAL DANGER OF THIS PANDEMIC, SHUN BASELESS MISINFORMATION IN THE GUISE OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AVOID GATHERING OF PEOPLE OF WHATEVER NATURE, AND EMBRACE SOCIAL OR PHYSICAL DISTANCING

However, in spite of all these commendable efforts and measures, in the last few weeks, Kano State has seen a spike in the number of infections and is now the second in the country after Lagos State with 842 cases and 36 deaths while 119 have so far been discharged as of 20 May, 2020.

This sad scenario can be attributed to the irresponsible attitude of flouting lawful instructions, breaking lock-down restrictions, rumourmongering, and politicization of issues, when what this dangerous time demands is that we all come together, shun politics and collaborate to confront this pandemic and avoid any attempt at creating panic among our people.

Many have paid scant attention to the fact that the novel Coronavirus has no effective cure or vaccine yet. What health professionals could only do is to strengthen the immune system of the infected in order to escape from the deadly jaws of the COVID-19 disease.

As we wage this war against the pandemic sweeping across the entire globe like a raging bush fire, we should realize that wars are prosecuted and won only through deliberate collective and concerted efforts. We should stop living in denial about the mortal danger of this pandemic, shun baseless misinformation in the guise of conspiracy theories, avoid gathering of people of whatever nature, embrace social or physical distancing, strictly comply with the government’s stay-athome directive which is not as stringent as in other states, wear face masks and practise personal hygiene by regularly washing our hands with soap and water, using hand sanitizers if available, and, wait for this, constantly praying to the Almighty to hearken to our cries for the end of this pandemic.

I wish to also use this important medium to call on our dear compatriots to help the administration of Dr. Ganduje to fight this virus. Let us be responsible enough and shun any form of negativity for the pandemic to be brought to its knees in the state, the country and the world at large for this is a matter of life and death.

Lastly, it is indeed commendable to say that despite the challenges initially witnessed in Kano especially with the issue of lack of testing centres and high mortality rate in the state, the government in collaboration with the federal government’s Ministerial Task Force coordinated

by Dr Sani Gwarzo, as well as support from other stakeholders like World Health Organization (WHO), Kano has now fully stabilised and is leading in the fight against COVID-19 in terms of pioneering policies being implemented in the state as corroborated by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, at the FG’s Task Force press briefing of 14th May, 2020. Indeed, such collective action by all stakeholders in Kano has yielded the desired results in turning the tide in the state, and as such we urge all to continue to support the state government till the deadly viral disease is contained.

Yakassai is Special Adviser, Media to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje

IT’S TIME TO FIX PUBLIC EDUCATION

Policymakers should increase budgetary allocation for education to enable our schools compete on the global stage, writes Akin Olaniyan

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igeria has always been an interesting case. It’s the richly endowed country that is also home to some of the world’s poorest. It is where sprawling mansions exist in close proximity to slums. For some unexplainable reason, we have struggled to transform the mineral and human endowment into a better quality of life for all Nigerians. Inequality has been a permanent feature of our nation, the rich-poor divide being one of the most dispiriting.

Right from independence in 1960, when we seemed to replace one group of ‘lords’ with another, democratic politics and prebendal politics have been, what Richard Joseph, famously termed ‘one side of the same coin.’ Since 1987 when he made those observations in his book, ‘Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria: The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic,’ politics has become the most lucrative business in the land and elevated government officials or anyone close to them, thereby furthering inequality. This elitist system leaves the majority struggling to get anything close to a decent living.

The mansions, big cars, and private jets have mostly defined inequality, but private education has lately become another feature of the widening gap between the rich and poor.

Embraced first by the rich and the middle-class, private education is preferred because of the belief that it gives the student a shot at a good life. The idea is simple: a good education will grant access to the good life and open the door to the elite, pampered class. Until 20 – 30 years ago, public schools guaranteed this social mobility. I am in the generation that knew only public schooling, and I confess they were great in those days. I recall my time in Ilesa Grammar school in the early 80s and the fact that we had teachers from the Commonwealth, including those from Canada and India.

My experience at the University of Ibadan from the

mid-80s was no less enriching, but my children have known nothing but private schooling.

Most of the public secondary schools and universities in our time had the human and infrastructural capacity, which helped to provide quality at reasonable costs. However, years of misplaced policy, neglect, and mismanagement have turned most public schools into shadows of themselves. It looks as though policymakers and the schools stood still at a time of rapid technological changes and increasing demand for school places.

Most of our tertiary first-generation institutions, like the University of Ibadan, are particularly worst hit, a lot of them looking worse than they did when some of us were there.

The constant closures due to protests and labour disputes worsen a bad situation. Students enrol now not sure of when they would graduate; the result being that sometimes, four-year programmes don’t finish in six or seven years. Even though there is no evidence to suggest that private schools are necessarily better, most parents are happy that their wards can at least finish academic programmes on schedule. I doubt, though, if any parent will question the quality in some of those private secondary schools and universities; otherwise, they won’t be attracting the level of patronage we are seeing. The only danger, of course, is that the worsening state of public schools could further the inequality because hundreds of thousands of otherwise promising students are either denied access to quality education or when they manage to secure places, delayed for longer than necessary. Not only do many of those whose parents can afford private schools move faster, but they also end up abroad for graduate studies, further stretching their advantage. This is important because top companies appear to favour those with degrees from foreign schools in recruitment.

If the case of public schools was bad, Covid-19 threatens to make it worse. Lockdown learning is

proving to be a measure of social inequality with the children from affluent homes and neighbourhoods enjoying full timetables and those from poorer families getting no home lessons. The lockdown imposed to curtail the spread of the virus means Churches, Mosques, businesses, and schools are closed. This disruption to normal life has challenged leaders and exposed the shortcomings of those who are either not prepared for change or lack the capacity to cope with it. While some are complaining about the lockdown, others have embraced it and are utilising technology to keep their companies, schools, and churches going. It should worry us, especially where our children’s education is concerned, that those willing to embrace the change are making progress during lockdown while others wait. I am impressed that some secondary schools are organising tutoring online, using Zoom and WhatsApp and that some higher institutions like Babcock University have concluded plans to conduct semester examinations online. While this is commendable, and knowing that most public schools are ill-equipped for anything but in-person tutoring and supervision, the question is: would Covid-19 further inequality?

This is a question that should be of interest to us all since increasing globalization has made education a measurement of a nation’s ability to compete in the future. The world is shrinking every day, and top firms have a pool of talents from across the globe to pick from. You don’t even get in that pool unless you have received what can be considered standard education and training. Nigeria already lags in this regard, falling behind other African countries in funding for research and development as well as research output. The frightening thing is that we even risk dropping further behind others in this allimportant race due to our inability to adapt to meet the challenges of Covid-19. For instance, while most of our universities are closed, South African schools were quick to decide to move teaching online. You

cannot but be impressed with the detailed arrangements. Telecoms companies were persuaded to make 30Gb free data available to students for a month to enable them to attend online classes via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Some schools made laptops offers to students who needed assistance in that regard.

The result of such quick thinking is that the students have only missed the few weeks it took for the schools to set up and move lectures online. This is where the approach taken by the likes of Babcock is commendable and why the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the National Universities Commission (NUC), must rethink their policy on tertiary education in Nigeria.

Covid-19 has shattered social relationships as we know it and may alter the way we worship, do business or study permanently.

Forward-thinking policymakers must ask: what if restrictions on social gatherings last longer than anyone can imagine? If the lockdown continues into 2021, for instance, would our tertiary institutions remain locked till then? We need to learn from those who are adapting in an exemplary fashion and act fast. Some institutions are already making preparations on the assumption that Covid-19 is the new normal, and in the absence of anything to prove otherwise, that should be a model for everyone. The California State University, America’s largest four-year college system, announced last week it is cancelling most in-person classes in its 23 campuses from September. As we approach the next school session, others may well follow the lead.

The University of Johannesburg last Wednesday held a virtual graduation ceremony, again signalling the readiness to work with this new normal. With available technology, nothing should stop business meetings, church service, and tutoring.

Olaniyan is a communication specialist and PhD candidate at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020

EDITORIAL THE ANAMBRA COMMUNAL CLASH The government should ensure enduring peace returns to the communities and beyond

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o fewer than 50 persons were abducted during the communal clash last week between the people of Omor and Umunbo villages in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra States, while 300 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. It took the arrival of a combined team of the men of Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army and National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to put the fierce battle under control. This development does not bode well especially at this critical time when the nation is contending with the challenges brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, as we have said repeatedly, these frequent communal conflicts also highlight the prevalence of illicit weapons in the hands of non-state actors in Nigeria.

It is all the more unfortunate that whereas Africa has been ranked as the continent with the highest rate of non-state violence in the world, Nigeria is very notorious for ethnic and communal clashes. Nigeria is also ranked as the country with THE FREQUENT the second highest VIOLENT CLASHES ARE cases of non-state INCREASINGLY HAVING violence in the world.

DESTABILISING IMPACT A previous report by Human Rights Watch ON GOVERNANCE, THE revealed that between ECONOMY AND THE 2003 and the year SOCIETY AT LARGE 2013, no fewer than 10,000 lives were wasted in various clashes involving communities.

In recent years, states such as Taraba, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Kwara, Cross River and Anambra, to mention but a few, have been the hotbeds of deadly communal clashes which have sent thousands of our people to their early graves. Instructively, unlike communal clashes in the North which usually occur between different ethnic groups, the clashes in the South are often between people of the same tribal stock with common language and cultural heritage and almost

Letters to the Editor

always continue from generation to generation.

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

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

owever, one of the most disturbing situations in Nigeria is the perceived indifference of the government towards violence among citizens. That perhaps accounts for why the country lacks any known and effective conflict resolution mechanism. This has continued to fuel conflicts among citizens. This trend is also the reason land disputes have continued to result in violence for decades despite the existence of National Boundary Commission. Failure of governments at various levels to bring perpetrators of violence to justice has also continued to oil the wheel of these clashes and other forms of violence in different parts of the country. If citizens are conversant with government commitment to punish perpetrators of violence, they will hardly result to arms struggle at the slightest provocation.

Added to this is the prevalent loss of a sense of value for human lives in the country.

Against this background, we task the authorities in the 36 states to put in place a conflict-resolution mechanism which should be effectively explored to resolve brewing conflicts between communities before they develop into full blown violence. The National Boundary Commission should also be alive to its responsibility. These frequent violent clashes are increasingly having destabilising impact on governance, the economy and the society at large. Aside the people that are being killed or maimed and property being destroyed, several families are today dislocated with countless people physically and psychologically maimed for life.

We urge the Anambra State government to move in quickly to resolve whatever may be the problem between Omor and Umunbo communities. On the national level, there is also the urgent need to develop a framework that will enable the country to effectively respond to any crisis and safeguard lives and property. Even more fundamental, there is need for a holistic approach that not only addresses some of the root causes of this violence over land disputes in our country – the issue of growing poverty that has created an army of idle hands.

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

Nigeria In A Zoom New World! t $POUJOVFE GSPN CBDL QBHF owever, if the fixation of the moment is about raising money to meet immediate needs, then we are unwittingly mortgaging the future. Given current efforts to sell prime assets to fund the 2020 budget, it is obvious that there is too much preoccupation about today with little or no consideration for tomorrow. “We are currently reviewing the Privatisation Work Plan for 2020 to determine the transactions that are feasible within the fiscal year in view of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 health pandemic. We should be ready by the end of next week,” Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) Director General, Alex Okoh, told The PUNCH last week. While I am not opposed to privatisation, questions remain as to where else we will look for money when we finish selling these assets. Perhaps low-hanging fruits could serve us at a time like this.

In 2012, the then president and chairman of the governing council, Chartered Institute of Project Management of Nigeria (CIPMN), Dr Victoria Okoronkwo estimated abandoned projects in the country at N12 trillion. Listing projects by geopolitical zones, Okoronkwo said the South-east had 15,000 of such abandoned projects; South-west, 10,000; South-south, 11,000; North-west, 6,000; North-central, 7,000; North-east, 5,000 and Abuja, 2,000. A year earlier, March 2011 to be specific, President Goodluck Jonathan had instituted a Presidential Projects Assessment Committee (PPAC) headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu.

According to the Bunu committee, 11,886 abandoned projects that would cost an estimated N7.78 trillion to complete littered the country at the time. Not surprisingly, that report on abandoned projects was also abandoned by the government that established the committee. In December 2015, I advised President Buhari to “seek specific solutions to each of the projects, even if it means giving some of them away to stakeholders in the private sector at bargain prices so that they can, at least, be put to use and in the process, add some value to the economy.”

I hope the government will now consider that proposition in light of the current reality. From north to south, our country is today littered with these

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abandoned projects that can be leveraged at a time we should be plugging all areas of waste. In the Niger Development Commission (NDDC) alone, the report of the Isaac Jemide-led presidential committee on project execution, covering the period 2005 to 2011, said that of 609 projects, 222 (36.5%) were completed, 102 (16.7%) were ongoing and 285 (46.8%) were abandoned at various levels of completion. These projects were said to be completely outside the statutory operational scope of the NDDC that has now become a citadel of scandal, no thanks to the antics of an overbearing minister who is seeking equity with unclean hands.

Meanwhile, I must commend President Buhari for his efforts to keep the ship of state afloat in these difficult times. Long before COVID -19, the ICT Ministry was changed to Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy with the president and many officials now holding virtual engagements. Since the world is changing so dramatically, it is important for government to also prepare citizens to ensure we cope and compete effectively. Behavioural change and effective communication are key to achieving those objectives. Sadly, at a time when we all need to come together to chart the way forward, a culture of indifference to our nation and mutual recriminations about our challenges seems to have overtaken the land.

What Nigeria needs today are dreamers both within and outside government who can look beyond petty prejudices to come up with practical ideas for the advancement of all. For sure, when COVID-19 is eventually dealt with, a much-diminished private sector in our country, many of our ever-enterprising young men and women as well as the enlightened civil society will move along with the rest of the world on the digital highway. The challenge of the moment is that when Knowledge Nigeria advances, the government, at all levels, must not be left stranded, buried under a mountain of decrepit files and old rules.

Should that happen, more than 80 percent of our population will most likely be trapped in the rubbles!

Olusegun Adeniyi, Abuja

You’re Fired, Hopefully

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he worldwide COVID-19 pandemic is being treated by the world’s leading medical experts and being mistreated by the world’s leading non-medical expert President Donald Trump. Surely the world should follow the advice of medical experts although in the social media environment we are being misled. Donald Trump has apparently stated that he is taking the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a possible protection against coronavirus even though there are warning of possible serious, even fatal side effects. A proper FDA approved medical treatment is researched, tested and checked for side effects long before it is available on the shelves. This is a proper treatment for malaria but as of the moment there is no proof that it works for COVID-19 although some initial testing is being undertaken. Please do not trust the internet for medical advice unless it is an official site.

This is not even the worst Trump medical proclamation as that comes from his son Eric who is describing the pandemic as a political smoke screen to prevent his father from campaigning in the manner that he considers the best approach, large crowds full of enthusiastic supporters. None of the 90,000 people who have already died will get to vote for Trump nor anyone else. Eric’s suggestion that …And guess what, after 3 November, coronavirus will magically…’ is offensive and simply wrong. Again, listen to medical experts and not businessmen and never reality television personalities.

The is never enough ways to repeat the message - listen to medical experts not politicians and do have the vaccination when it becomes available.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FEATURES

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

Dele Momodu, My Publisher, at 60 Ehi Braimahi

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riting a special tribute in honour of Bashorun Dele Momodu as he clocks 60 years can fill a book because of his versatility, prodigious talents and multi-dimensional nature: husband, father, man of style, journalist, friend, teacher, mentor, fashionista, motivational speaker, networker, humanist, entrepreneur, writer, media consultant, politician and publisher of Ovation, an international celebrity magazine, which is loud for a purpose. The magazine which is arguably Africa’s response to Hello! -- the UK magazine noted for celebrity and royal news -- gives publicity to people all over the world with a special focus on Africa.

I was honoured twice by Ovation with special reports and a generous splash of photographs when I turned 50 and when I became President of the Rotary Club of Lagos. Now, Momodu presides over Ovation Media Group (OMG) comprising Ovation International, Ovation TV and The Boss (online newspaper). He was also instrumental to the founding of ThisDay newspaper because of his close relationship with Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the founder and Chairman of ThisDay. Ovation was a child of circumstance founded in 1996 by the birthday celebrant and man of the moment when he was in exile in London.

During those dark moments in Nigeria’s history, General Sani Abacha was our maximum ruler and military dictator who always wore his famous dark glasses. Fear and terror gripped the land; you could be arrested at that time for just sneezing; yes, for just sneezing or coughing. Abacha’s goons did not even trust their own shadows much less hapless civilians who were terrified by Abacha’s reign of terror. Having accused Momodu as one of the brains behind Radio Kudirat, they went after him but he was lucky to have escaped to London through Ghana. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Chief Momodu is a man of the people. As young men back in the day, we worked mostly as journalists and we also loved the good life – in our worldview, we saw life as an action-packed movie. Even with my background as a science student and mathematics graduate of the University of Benin,I took interest in writing and journalism.

I remember now, with nostalgia, that I couldn’t contain my excitement when my first article was published in the National Concord as an undergraduate. The late Prof Chike Obi, renowned mathematician and human rights activist, reacted to the article by sending me a letter and some speeches written by him – there was no internet and email communication at that time.

I also made regular editorial contributions to The Observer newspaper in Benin. I was 24 years old when I shifted base from Benin to Lagos after my national youth service in Awka, Anambra State on the invitation of Dr Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase, one of Nigeria’s prolific sports journalists, and publisher of Sports Souvenir and Complete Football. Dr Ojeagbase – he gave me first job in Lagos and remains one of my mentors -- and late Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Mike Awoyinfa and host of other distinguished journalists inspired me. I enjoyed their bold and incisive columns and, deep down in my heart, I wanted to write flowing prose like them; prose that smelt like roses.

In the vibrant company of young and upwardly mobile young professionals in the 1990s, you would find Momodu, popularly known as Bob Dee, his call name; Mayor Akinpelu, Femi-AkintundeJohnson, Kunle Bakare, Dr Reuben Abati, Zeb Ejiro, Segun Arinze, Matthias Obahiagbon, Segun Joseph, Charles Omoighe, Barbara Soky, Moji Danisa, Clarion Chukwurah, Victor Eiremiokhae, Seye Kehinde, Steve Ayorinde, Dan Akpovwa, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Michael Effiong, Azuh Arinze, Fellyx and Mozzyes and so many other friends. We lived like brothers and congregated mostly at Niteshft, the upscale and celebrity nightclub on Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos that was the toast of very important people. Our chief host was the tireless and irrepressible Ken-Calebs Olumese (Lord have mercy!) who was known to all patrons as Guv’nor. The high and mighty partied all night at Niteshift. We also enjoyed

Momodu

the music and performances of Sir Shina Peters, Lagabja, KWAM 1, Obesere, Felix Lebarty, Mike Okri, Sunny Neji and many other artistes.

Niteshift, famously branded as a celebrity hangout that endured for over 25 years, became our second home, if you get my drift.

On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, just head to Niteshift and you will find us there socializing, networking and dancing to good music. Guv’nor Olumese instantly warmed up to this young group of ‘happening guys’ and became a friend, adviser, mentor and benefactor.

As young men with plenty of energy writing for different entertainment magazines and newspapers, Glamour Boys of Nigeria (GBN) was formed to hold us together and help us achieve a higher purpose in life. GBN was also formed to give us a sense of community in Niteshift and I was privileged to be the association’s first President.

Chief Momodu was the connector of the group but working mostly from the background. He is always calm, affable, reliable and dependable.

There was no need to pose for each other as we were all hustlers in Lagos. Momodu had just resumed work at Weekend Concord edited

by Mike Awoyinfa; the paper sold hundreds of thousands of copies because of the special and professional treatment of human angle stories and our birthday celebrant regularly produced exclusive stories for the paper. Momodu later worked as Editor of Classique magazine, published by the late May Ellen Ezekiel,before striking out on his own to set up a media consultancy.

In our halcyon days in Lagos, Momodu and I had a common fence between our apartments in Ikeja on Olaide Tomori Street where I lived – a one room apartment in the popular face-me-I-face-you building where the landlady charged me N60/ month. Not many people will remember that Momodu sold Wonder Loaf using his Volkswagen Jetta – Kola, Chief Abiola’s son, gifted him the car -- from Abiola Bakery.Bashorun Momodu’s relationship with the Abiola family will also fill another book. He was very close to late Chief M.K.O Abiola, publisher of the Concord Group of titles including community newspapers, who regarded him as his own son. When Chief Abiola was denied his mandate after he was clearly the presumed winner of the Presidential election that held on June 12, 1993, Chief Momodu joined the struggle to ensure that Chief Abiola re-claimed his mandate.Unfortunately, Chief Abiola died under mysterious circumstances and Chief Momodu went into forced exile. Bob Dee wants a just and egalitarian society; he regularly advocates for visionary leadership in his insightful weekly column, The Pendulum in ThisDay, so that Nigeria

can become a better place. Bob Dee is loyal to his friends and he values integrity. On two occasions, Chief Momodu recommended me for employment in two separate organisations about 25 years ago.

Although I did not work in those places, they are two unsolicited interventions in my personal life that I can never forget. Chief Momodu has a large heart but he is largely misunderstood by people who do not know him well. What they usually see, from my dip stick survey, is a “flamboyant praise singer, busy body and soldier of fortune� but they are wrong. Sometimes on social media, you see posts that misrepresent what Bob Dee truly stands for but I concede that they are entitled to their opinions.

It is not every day you turn 60; family, friends, colleagues, associates, staff and well-wishers should roll out the red carpet in their private spaces and celebrate Bob Dee, a great mind and an affectionate Nigerian on his auspicious birthday.

By the very nature of his job, Chief Momodu will always be in people’s faces and he chose a career path right from day one to work with the rich and famous – he engages them and tells their stories in captivating formats using multi-media channels, especially Ovation International. At the end of the day, it is all about perception management and being a media manger himself with a retinue of associates and staff around the world, Chief Momodu knows what to do. By the way, he is an active social media influencer with an incredible number of followers on his Twitter handle, and I always wonder how he finds the time to respond to all his messages.

In normal times, Chief Momodu’s 60th birthday soiree would have been loud for a purpose. I have imagined many times over in my head how the multiple celebrations would have taken place in Nigeria, Ghana, USA, Canada and the UK. But COVID-19 has derailed those plans or we can comfort ourselves by saying the parties have been postponed. The guests list would naturally have been rich with ‘who is who’ in Nigeria and beyond. It would have been a world class event in Lagos reminiscent of Platinum Weddings, an Ovation Media brand.

Chief Momodu is definitely living life to the fullest by the special grace of God. In our several encounters, he has not disappointed me as a trusted and dependable friend. I doff my hat for his humility, perceptiveness, adroitness and sagacity. We are both supporters of Arsenal, the award winning North London Club (Up Gunners!) and he is a frequent flyer lounging in the prestigious cabins of some of the world’s favourite airline brands. In one of my trips to London about 15 years ago (I was staying in

South East London), My Publisher, as I call Bob Dee, was also in London. He invited me to his home in Cricklewood, North West London and paid for the cab. Oh, Chief Momodu’s hospitality is exceptional and legendary – he treated us to a sumptuous menu and choice drinks in the company of other friends. When I sent the photograph taken from that visit to Bob Dee recently, he acknowledged it and wrote in a WhatsApp message, “Wonderful Lord.�

On several trips to Accra, Ghana, I bumped into Bob Dee and Michael Effiong, a long standing editor of Ovation and trusted employee; to the glory of God, Mike is now a very dependable associate of My Publisher. In those days, we ate and drank at House of Ovation, a celebrity style restaurant and bar thatwas first located in Osu before being relocated to Airport Residential Area. The story of House of Ovation did not end well in Ghana as it was shut down after eight years of operation due to repressive tactics of the authorities. The lesson is straightforward: to do business in other Africancountries, especially Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, Nigerians must shine their eyes; they need courage, patienceand the heart of a lion.

As a top socialite, Bob Dee is a powerful networker, an enigma and a man of immense goodwill; I doubt if there’s any circle he does not have a friend or key contact in Nigeria. When you dine with the movers and shakers, you can never be a poor man if you play by the rules. Like most of us, Chief Momodu was not born with any silver spoon in his mouth; in fact, there was no spoon at all. Bob Dee is not a lazy man and it is evident from his achievements.

When a man is not lazy, it means he works very hard – our “birthday boy� works very hard and only God knows how he gets his energy.

From the dusty streets of Ile-Ife, Chief Momodu worked his way up through hard work and the generous spirit of his benefactors. I agree Bob Dee knows how to throw his weight around to get what he wants – that is fantastic skill.

Our celebrant also knows the value of strategic communications and engagement which he has deployed successfully in his personal and business life. It is not easy to gain access to the high and mighty in society but Bob Dee has the keys to open doors to influential and rich people who belong to different layers of concentric circles – the circumference of each circle reduces as you go up and access becomes tighter.

I enjoy Ovation Carol, the end of year celebration packaged by OMG as a high profile event to the minutest detail with almost flawless execution.

In view of the spiritual dimension of the event and the season of Christmas, I’m not surprised Rev Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, a prayer warrior and amazing philanthropist, has been a major supporter of the colourful show. God bless her.

Bashorun Momodu is also holder several traditional titles both at home and abroad, a reflection of his worldview and cultural orientation.

He was born on May 16, 1960 in Ile-Ife, Osun State to a family of five but he hails from Ihievbe in Owan East local government area of Edo State.

He lost his father when he was 13 years old and he was raised by his mother until she died on May 18, 2007. Momodu proved that he’s a properNaija home boy when he studied Yoruba Language for his first degree and subsequently a Masters degree in English Literature -- he earned both degrees from Obafemi Awolowo University, previously known as University of Ife, in Ile-Ife. He married Mobolaji (nee Adaramaja), his own jewel of inestimable value, in 1992 and they are blessed with four boys, each one a prince charming in his own right: Eniafe, Korewa, Pekan and Yoke.

Let us now charge our glasses with choice cognac wherever you are and raise a toast to the birthday celebrant and Lagos Big Boy who has earned his new status as a senior citizen in blazing glory. Happy birthday Bob Dee. May the glory of God continue to manifest in your life as you celebrate this unique milestone. Your joy will know no bounds and your family will be blessed. Congratulations and best wishes always. t#SBJNBI JT B QVCMJD SFMBUJPOT DPOTVMUBOU BOE NBSLFUJOH TUSBUFHJTU CBTFE JO -BHPT FIJ CSBJNBI!CSBOEJNQBDU OH

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T H I S D AY ˾ MAY 21, 2020

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

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Quick Takes Foundation Donates to Kano Lab

The Danhodi Empowerment Foundation, a non-profit and non-political organisationhasdonated600unitsofPCRdetectionkitsvaluedatN5.1 milliontotheCentreforInfectiousDiseaseResearch,BayeroUniversity, situatedinAminuKanoteachinghospital.

Theequipment,whichiscompatiblewiththePCRmachinecurrentlyinuse at the laboratory, was sent to the state through the Director, Centre for InfectiousDiseasesResearch(CIDR)BayeroUniversityKano,Professor IsaAbubabakar.

ThedonationwasaccompaniedbyaletteraddressedtotheViceChancellor, BayeroUniversity,ProfessorMuhammadYahuzaBello,whoistheChairman ofKanoStateFundRaisingCommitteeofCovid-19.

The founder and Trustee of the foundation, Ghali Musa Danhodi, in a statement, said the Foundation was delighted to be part of the ongoing fightagainstCOVID-19.

“Ourinterventionasafoundationwillbeusedtosupporthealthcarefacilities inKano; theCenterforInfectiousDiseasesResearchBayeroUniversity Kano,”hesaid,addingthatthetestkitsdonatedwillhelpinearlydetection andsupporttoalreadyavailablekitsforthehealthcarepersonnelandthe supportstaffinKanostate.

“We are committed to standing by the people and with the Nigerian GovernmentandpeopleindefeatingCOVID-19,”Danhodifurthersaid

UNITED AGAINST COVID-19

Change Africa Offers Relief Materials

L-R: Chief Oladele Matthew Akinlabi of Igbo Medu-Arigbanla, Orile Agege Local Government; Vice Chairman, Ifeloju CDA, Orile Agege, Abbey Kehinde; Business Head West & Central Africa, Arik Air, Mr. Sylvester Egogo, and Communications Manager, Arik Air, Mr. Adebanji Ola, during the distribution of palliatives by the airline at Agege, Lagos…recently

‘Active Mobile Networks Will Cushion Effect of COVID-19’ Stories by Emma Okonji Ericsson has highlighted the need for organisations to keep their mobile networks running at all times during the period of the COVID-19.

The network company also stressed the need for organisations to maintain their mobile networks as key digital and critical infrastructure during this period.

Ericsson made the observation recently when it organised a media Webinar to discuss network capacity, performance and digitisation as service providers gear up for an unprecedented situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Head of Networks at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Chafic Traboulsi, said Africa’s demand for mobile broadband

TELECOM infrastructure, increased more than the demand for fixed infrastructure in the COVID-19 era. He, however, explained that the development could be traced to the prevalence of mobile broadband infrastructure in Africa, unlike in Europe where fixed network infrastructure is more prevalent, while stressing the need to keep all networks running, both fixed and mobile in this challenging period of the pandemic.

According to Traboulsi: “During these challenging times, service providers are focusing their attention on solving the myriad of challenges that have been created by the pandemic.

“It’s important to ensure that service providers consider the importance of planning and

optimising their networks.

Today’s webinar is our way of staying close to customers and supporting them in managing capacity and performance in this crisis situation.”

As service providers recognise that their services are proving an essential lifeline now more than ever, Ericsson highlighted three major trends that have emerged since the beginning of the crisis to include: Different traffic patterns; Data utilisation on the rise and Higher bandwidth demand.

Giving details of the trends, Traboulsi said different traffic patterns have reduced mobility, changed utilisation patterns, with high concentration on sub-urban areas.

Fixed and mobile telecommunications networks have experienced major shifts in traffic as more lockdowns

mean a decrease of data traffic in urban areas and an increase in sub-urban and residential areas, he said.

In the area of data utilisation on the rise, he said the lockdown puts a dramatic day-long pressure on home connectivity due to work-from-home, online education, among others. He added that as people were moving less, and working from home more, the largest share of traffic increases was being absorbed by the fixed residential networks.

Also, in the area of higher bandwidth demand, Traboulsi said video conferencing, gaming and streaming services saw major increases in use.

A gaming/streaming boom triggers caps on video quality to keep bandwidth at bay, he said.

Continued on page 20

Report: 53% of Organisations’s Data Attacked in 12 Months Sophos, a cybersecurity firm has said about 53 per cent of organisation’s data in Nigeria, suffered cyber-attacks in the last 12 months.

The figure, which came from its recent global survey report, showed that more than half, about 51 per cent of organisations had experienced a significant ransomware attack in the previous 12 months, compared to 54 per cent in 2017.

In Nigeria, 53 per cent of the organisations surveyed mentioned a ransomware attack in the last one year.

According to the report, “Globally Data was encrypted in nearly three quarters, which is about 73 per cent of attacks

TELECOM that successfully breached an organisation, while in Nigeria, it was 74 per cent.

“The average cost of addressing the impact of such an attack, including business downtime, lost orders, operational costs, and more, but not including ransom, was more than $730,000.”

The report, however, warned organisations not to indulge in the payment of ransom, whenever they are attacked and subjected to pay ransom.

The report explained that the state of ransomware attack in 2020, revealed that paying cybercriminals to restore data

encrypted during a ransomware attack would not be an easy and inexpensive path to recovery, stressing that the total cost of recovery almost doubles when organisations pay a ransom.

The survey polled 5,000 Information Technology (IT) decision makers in organisations in 26 countries across six continents, including Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The report further said the average cost rose to $1.4 million, almost twice as much, when organisations paid the ransom.

More than one quarter, about 27 per cent of organisations hit by ransomware admitted

paying the ransom. The survey also revealed that 38 per cent of the organisations that were attacked in Nigeria admitted to paying the ransom.

Analysing the report, Principal Research Scientist at Sophos, Chester Wisniewski, said: “OrganiSations may feel intense pressure to pay the ransom to avoid damaging downtime. On the face of it, paying the ransom appears to be an effective way of getting data restored, but this is illusory. Sophos’ findings show that paying the ransom makes little difference to the recovery burden in terms of Continued on page 20

Change Africa Foundation, an African-focused empowerment nongovernmentalorganisation,hasofferedvariousreliefmaterialsranging frombagsofbeans,garri,onions,kegsofgroundnutoil,cartonsofchicken, basketsofpepper,tomato,spicesanddatasubscriptionvouchers,tofour orphanagehomes.

TheyincludedtheLekkiMotherlessBabiesHome,SoughtAfterOrphanage Home,OliveBloomOrphanageHome,andPeculiarSaintsOrphanageHome.

AllbenefitingorganisationsaredomiciledintheLagosMetropolis,which asoftodayistheepicenteroftheCOVID-19pandemic.

ChangeAfricaFoundationinlastsevenyearshasbuiltitsessencearound cateringtothosewhomthesocietyhasfailedtoempower.Inthelastseven years,thefoundationhasprovidedpracticalsupportthroughhervarious initiativesforvariousorphanagehomesacrossLagos,withsomeofthe previousbeneficiariesincluding,LoveHomeOrphanage,HeritageOrphanage Home, Optimal Orphanage Home and Life Fountain Orphanage Home, allcateringforkidsinLagos Speaking at the presentation of the relief package, the President of the Foundation,OlamideOlabisi,said“Forthepastsevenyears,wehavehad a deep sense of responsibility for orphanage homes in Lagos, through ourKonamiiinitiative.

“So far, we have utilised our network, resources and innovation to raise fundsandsupportforoversevenorphanagesinLagosState.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has called us to a greater action to deliver on our primary vision, as seen with our donation today and I assure you, our foundationwillcontinuetoendeavortobetheprimaryinstitutioninNigeria, proffering,advocatingandutilisingresourcestoprovidelastingsolutions tothechallengesthatorphanagehomesface.”

SystemSpecs to Celebrate Children

SystemSpecsLimitedhasannouncedacallforparticipationinits2020 Children’sDayEssayWritingCompetitionopenonlytochildrenfromage 9to16whoschoolandliveinNigeria.

Themed “Nigeria of my Dream: Making it Happen withTechnology”, the competition will feature junior and senior categories, and participants are to submit entries by email to participate@systemspecs.com.ng on orbeforenoonofMay26,2020.

With only one entry allowed per participant, the email should also bear anattachmentofparticipants’passportphotograph.

Entriesintothejuniorcategoryareforchildrenbetweenages9and12and shouldnotexceed1,000wordswhileentriesintotheseniorcategoryare forchildrenbetweenages13and16andwithamaximumof1,500words.

ExpectedtobetypedinMicrosoftWord,doublespacedwithafontsizeof 12,entriesmustbeparticipants’originalideas–nottheirparents’,guardian’s oranyotherinfluence.Eachentryshouldincludeacoverpagethatbears participants’fullname,dateofbirth,contactaddress,submissioncategory, schoolnameandparent’s/guardian’sphonenumber.Coverpagedetails willnotbeincludedinessay’stotalwordcount.

SystemSpecs’CSRProgrammeAdministrator,AkorAkpenyi,said:“The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition is part of our broader corporatesocialresponsibilitygoalofadvancingcapacitydevelopment forNigeriansacrossvariouslevels.”

“Let me reiterate the readiness of our administration to continue to provide an enabling environment for private industries to strive in the state. An arrangement had been concluded to revive Ire Clay Bricks Limited and other industries in the state” Ekiti State Governor,

Kayode Fayemi

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

BUSINESSWORLD ‘ACTIVE MOBILE NETWORKS WILL CUSHION EFFECT OF COVID-19’ According to him, Ericsson’s network design and optimisation response helps service providers handle the changing traffic patterns to sustain high-performing connectivity through a multipronged approach which covers an immediate network uplift, planning and dimensioning and a virtual drive test.

In the long term, he said safeguarding and strengthening key digital infrastructures, as well as enabling the continuous development of the underlying technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoTs), Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), would be crucial enablers as service providers emerge from the crisis. “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a boom in the use of network-based communication and collaboration tools. “Some of these new and improved solutions will play a key role in saving lives, while others will help save businesses, support public health and welfare services, and ease recovery after the crisis,� Traboulsi said, adding that it has also made it easier to see beyond the efficiency-related, economic benefits of digitalisation and recognise its broader benefits to society and humanity as a whole.

REPORT: 53% OF ORGANISATIONS’S DATA ATTACKED IN 12 MONTHS time and cost. This could be because it is unlikely that a single magical decryption key is all that’s needed to recover.

Often, the attackers may share several keys and using them to restore data may be a complex and time-consuming affair.�

According to the report, more than half, about 56 per cent of the IT managers surveyed were able to recover their data from backups without paying the ransom compared to 44 per cent in Nigeria. Globally in a very small minority of cases of about one per cent, paying the ransom did not lead to the recovery of data while in Nigeria it was in 10 per cent of cases, the report said, adding that the figure rose to 5 per cent for public sector organisations.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

Chinedu Eze (Aviation) Eromosele Abiodun (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Reporters

Nume Ekeghe (Money Market) Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT)

NEWS

Another Subsea Cable for Internet Connectivity in Africa Debuts Stories by Emma Okonji China Mobile International, Facebook, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, have partnered to build 2Africa, another submarine cable that is expected to become the most comprehensive subsea cable to serve the African continent and Middle East region.

The parties have appointed Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) to build the cable in a fully funded project which will greatly enhance connectivity across Africa and the Middle East.

At 37,000km long, 2Africa will be one of the world’s largest subsea cable projects and will interconnect Europe (eastward via Egypt), the Middle East (via Saudi Arabia), and 21 landings in 16 countries in Africa.

According to the organisers, the system is expected to go live between 2023 and 2024, delivering more than the total combined capacity of all subsea cables serving Africa today, with a design capacity of up to 180Tbps on key parts of the system.

2Africa will deliver much needed internet capacity and reliability across large parts of Africa, supplement the fastgrowing capacity demand in the Middle East and underpin the further growth of 4G, 5G and fixed broadband access for hundreds of millions of people.

In countries where the 2Africa cable will land, service providers will obtain capacity in carrier-neutral data centres

or open-access cable landing stations on a fair and equitable basis. This will support healthy internet ecosystem development by facilitating greatly improved accessibility for businesses and consumers alike.

The 2Africa cable has been designed to improve resilience and maximise performance, including the option of a seamless optical crossing between East Africa and Europe. The 2Africa parties and Airtel have signed an agreement with Telecom Egypt to provide a completely new crossing linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the first in over a decade.

Director and Chief Technology Officer of China Mobile International, Jessica Gu, said: “The utmost capacity and faster transmission allows us to satisfy the needs of African nations today and in the future, reflecting our firm commitment to building a global digital life.�

Vice President, Network Infrastructure at Facebook, Najam Ahmad, said: “We are excited to be collaborating with our 2Africa partners on the most comprehensive subsea cable that will serve the continent. “2Africa is a major element of our ongoing investment in

Africa to bring more people online to a faster internet. We have seen first-hand the positive impact that increased connectivity has on communities, from education to healthcare. We know that economies flourish when there is widely accessible internet for businesses. 2Africa is a key pillar supporting this tremendous internet expansion as part of Africa’s surging digital economy.�

CEO of MTN Group’s wholesale operation, MTN GlobalConnect, FrĂŠdĂŠric Schepens, said: “MTN GlobalConnect is delighted to participate in this bold 2Africa subsea

cable project. This initiative complements MTN GlobalConnect’s terrestrial fibre strategy to connect African countries to each other and to the rest of the world. We are proud to be playing a key role in providing the benefits of a modern connected life – a core MTN belief.�

The CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, Alioune Ndiaye, said, “As one of the world’s leading multi-service telecommunications operators and present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East, it was natural for Orange to be part of the 2Africa project.

SUPPORTING ORPHANS

L-R: Vice President, Finance, Change Africa Foundation, Babatunde Awodiji; Vice President, Event Management, Kola Lawal; President, Olamide Olabisi; Proprietress, Lekki Motherless Babies Home, Modupe Adebambo, and Vice President, Projects, Change Africa Foundation, Posi Lawore, during the presentation of relief materials to the orphanage home in Lagos...recently

Firm Announces Double-digit Growth The asset-free logistics marketplace, Dellyman, has announced that it recorded double-digit growth in its operations.

According to the logistics company, it experienced an uptick in all major indices, including a 45 per cent spurt in the number of active customers to 1,586 between March and April 2020, which is 91 per cent growth from January 2020.

It stated that the period also saw a surge in the number of logistics companies to 450, with over 100 verified and active on the platform.

Within the same period in March, Dellyman inked its first major partnership with fintech firm, Opay to boost its delivery

assets by deploying some of the idle motorcycle assets from ORide. This saw an increase in the number of riders on the platform and over 3,000 orders completed by the first week of May 2020,,which is a 93 per cent increase from February this year.

Launched in March 2019, Dellyman set out to solve sameday delivery problem in Nigeria and has since grown revenue 20 times between January and April 2020 with average monthly growth within the same period averaging 145 per cent. It now targets over 5,000 orders in May alone.

The platform has seen 20 average daily customer acquisition,

with at about 38 per cent of the total active customers placing at least one order since coming onboard.

Giving details of the surge in the logistics business, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Dellyman, Mr. Dare Ojo-Bello, said: “The numbers we have seen within the past two months is a concrete validation of our business model. We had initially assumed that it is because of the lockdown alone, but we continue to see even a more increased adoption after the phased easing of the lockdown started. We are now looking to even expand our capacity to be able to keep up with the growing demand.�

According to him, most of the orders have come from online retailers, restaurants and home kitchens offering custom meals such as soups; pharmacies delivering drugs and other medical supplies, computer and electronics retailers, cake and confectionary makers, foodstuffs sellers, marketers dispatching multi-level marketing products and documents. “Logistics is one of the major pain points of electronic commerce in Nigeria. It constitutes the highest overheads for most online retailers making the ecommerce sector unprofitable and accounting for the number one reason many e-commerce firms have shut down in Nigeria.

Some existing e-commerce firms have had to build independent logistics infrastructure, but that comes at an incredible expense threatening the industry’s growth, which is projected to reach $75 billion in value by 2025,� Ojo-Bello said.

The company said it was set to solve these problems specifically by tackling the shortage of logistics assets and providers, especially for long-range last-mile deliveries. It also seeks to provide solutions to the issues of idle capacity due to the inability of logistics companies to connect with available delivery requests, while providing critical robust technology for efficiency of delivery services.

Technology Company Offers Fuel Control Solution Concept Nova, a technology solution company, has unveiled its Fuel Control System (FCS), a diesel management solution to enable essential service providers to eliminate diesel leakage and theft challenges in their day-to-day operations.

The Fuel Control System is a state-of-the-art telematics solution that puts control of stationary and mobile assets in the hands of essential service providers; allowing them to save cost, maintain profitability and meet rising

business demands.

Giving details of the development, the Managing Director, Concept Nova, Mr. Chukwuma Ochonogor, said: “With the erratic public power supply in the country, many essential services providers such as Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs), Pharmaceuticals, Logistics, and Haulage companies and others rely more on diesel for their generators, storage facility, and fleet to stay productive during this period. This is why we are offering our affordable diesel

management solution to help prevent diesel leakage and theft occurrences during offloading and refueling of diesel-powered assets.�

Giving further details of diesel management solution, Admin and Procurement Manager at a Financial Services firm, Mr. Obi Okafor, said “Diesel is one of the top three expenses incurred by my organisation every year as we rely heavily on our generators for constant electricity supply. For some time, we suspected our diesel

suppliers were shortchanging us by not delivering the exact volume of diesel paid for.

Using Concept Nova’s diesel management solution helped us confirm our suspicions, get our money’s worth and save millions of naira.�

Speaking further, Ochonogor said: “To ensure our customers also save cost while enjoying return on investment on every litre of diesel purchased, the FCS provides real-time reports that help businesses remotely monitor and audit diesel us-

age trends for accountability purposes.To enable essential service providers to maintain profitability and meet rising demands, alerts and push notifications about changes in diesel levels are also sent via SMS and email.�

Concept Nova’s Fuel Control solution has helped many businesses address several challenges by driving continuous improvement to business operations and create value geared towards achieving a connected economy.

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BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Chukwudile: Telecoms Has Potential to Address COVID-19 Challenges Chief Operating Officer of Infravision, a telecommunications service provider, Mr. Arinze Chukwudile, in this interview, proffers solution TO how to address economic and business challenges, created by the effect of COVID-19.

Emma Okonji presents the excerpts:

Chukwudile

W

hat are key challenges being encountered by your organisation while providing services to the telecoms industry in Nigeria during this COVID-19 pandemic?

The main issue is that telecom operators reduced their investment and the planned telecom investment is being cut. This affected service providers like us due to decrease in the network rollout. It impacted on our gross revenue and decline in business opportunities. Despite this decline, the operational costs keep on rising because of an increase in material costs, service purchase costs and other unanticipated costs. Under such circumstances, it is most likely that service providers like us will go in high debt and might go into a state of bankruptcy as well. We are therefore appealing that the appropriate authorities in government provide us some kind of relief to sustain our business and keep the job for our people, then we can continue to provide quality of service for the ICT industry.

There has been fears among employees of many organisations in the private sector of possible job loss should the COVID-19 persist. This can dampen the morale of such employees. How does your organisation continue to motivate its employees during this period?

Although there has been news circulating around of some organisations firing their staff, but our organisation has ensured that all our employees so far still keep their jobs and salaries have been paid up till date and in time. Considering that we have our staff widely distributed across different states of the federation, we have tried to stay in touch with our employees through regular emails/video/audio conferences including myself and other management team members to continuously keep them in touch about the situation and enquire of their well-being. Honestly speaking, the situation is bleak at the moment as we don’t know how long we can sustain this. However, we hope that with the anticipated intervention of the government in the Telecoms/IT sector, we can jointly create an enabling environment for the ICT Industry investment, which will ultimately protect the employment of our staff.

What are the likely impact on the national economy due to the risks posed by these challenges?

The obvious impact is reduction in staff

overhead which will lead to job losses in order for businesses to stay afloat. This would result to slower response times thus causing poor network quality and increase in customer complaints. Other sectors that rely on telecoms/ICT network to provide internet services to them such as banks, insurance companies, hospitals etc, will also be affected. As you can see, this would have an overall negative impact on the Nigerian economy and bad user experience. It is widely believed that the COVID-19 pandemic will plunge the world economy into recession. Many countries including South Africa, South Korea, and the Middle East have made investing in the ICT sector as a top priority and part of their strategy towards ensuring that they speedily recover from recession.

This is because ICT has the potential of helping the Nigerian economy to speedily recover from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our plea to the government and private sectors is for them to consider more investments in the ICT industry. In addition, the telecommunications/ICT sector should be considered by the government as a part of critical national infrastructure investment in order to ensure speedy economic recovery/growth.

Since the introduction of the lockdown, there have been reports of increased crime rates in many parts of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. What are the likely measures organisations should take to protect ďŹ eld staff?

This is a big challenge we are facing as an organisation operating during this period because we have many field operations staff who are at risk while going to site to resolve network issues. We had to make special budget for security of our staff this period which has greatly increased our operational cost. Although we have good collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the local community, we still encounter this problem. For example, recently one of our engineers was attacked by hoodlums one his way to site. Fortunately, he did not sustain serious injuries. However, his phone and wallet containing money and ATM cards were stolen. The underlying reason for this is because, many people who earn a daily living cannot go out as a result of the pandemic. Many people are hungry. We are asking the federal and state governments to put in place adequate security measures to protect lives and property during this pandemic period.

How do you think the Nigerian government can be of help in resolving these challenges?

The government can help by making available loan/intervention packages to support struggling businesses or other supportive policy as the incentive for investment. This will motivate the telecom operators to carry out new investments which would in turn provide new revenue stream opportunities for other providers like our organisation in this sector. As at today, we have sent a letter to the Hon Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, duly signed off by 16 MDs of telecom service provider companies to make our appeal officially known.

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

NCS Expresses Worry over Delay in National Identity Process Stories by Emma Okonji The Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body of all IT practitioners in Nigeria, has expressed its worries over what it described as slow response on the part of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in the registration process and issuance of National Identity Number (NIN).

NCS has therefore offered to help NIMC and governments at all levels, in expediting action in the registration process and issuance of NIN. The President of NCS, Prof.

Adesina Sodiya, who made the offer known in Lagos through a statement, said the progress of work on the NIMC project was not good enough and that the management of the current COVID-19 pandemic could be better managed with a good and acceptable National Identity database.

Sodiya said NCS shall support NIMC to create a framework for issuance of temporary National Identity Number using complex data

matching algorithm and facial recognition.

According to him, “This will allow Nigerians to register for NIMC by themselves using a simple mobile phones. The application will be capable of working offline with upload to the central server when the network is available. Nigerians can get their NIN in a “DO IT YOURSELF� framework and from the comfort of their homes. NIMC can still collect and add fingerprints later for the temporary NIN to be permanent, if fingerprint is important.�

Sodiya said NCS and associated organs and partners would collaborate to deliver the platform for NIMC within 180 days, and that NCS would also deliver a robust platform for management of aids, foods, materials, among others, during this pandemic period.

Giving details of collaboration, Sodiya Said: “All the agents and partners of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Non-

Government Organisations, and donors will assist to register Nigerians before giving out aids and foods.

This means such agencies can also track and check if the beneficiaries had received from other agencies before giving out more. “Nigerians should be mandated to make sure they register themselves before they can access aids from government and all donors must register all beneficiaries of their efforts. This is our proposal and simple and pragmatic solutions.This is our professional intervention to solving major National crisis for the benefit and pride of Nigerians. It is time Nigerian professionals prove their worth.�

Sodiya, however, said the proposal would require the support, collaboration, and blessings of NIMC, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other related agencies.

Airtel Nigeria Extends Remote Working to End of May Airtel Nigeria has extended by two additional weeks its remote working policy in a bid to safeguard its employees from Covid-19 and help stem the spread of the virus.

In a memo to employees, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, told employees particularly in Lagos, Ogun State and FCT, the epicenters of Covid-19 infections in Nigeria, to continue to work from home till the end of May. Ogunsanya, urged employees in others parts of the country to observe the nationwide 8pm to 6am curfew, while adhering to whatever restrictions and

laws obtainable in the various states of their operation. He charged all the employees to take responsibility for their health and safety as well as that of their families and colleagues by maintaining social distancing, observing the prescribed hygiene protocols and wearing the appropriate masks whenever they are leaving their homes, if they must.

Meanwhile, some Airtel outlets are open across the country with reduced number of employees in compliance with government regulations.

He charged all the agents in the outlets to ensure contactless interactions whenever possible as they serve the customers. Ogunsanya also

urged customers to download the Airtel self-care app to avail themselves of a world of products, services and selfcare in problem resolutions.

He assured customers that in spite of the challenges, the network is up and running without any major issues. He thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) for providing security passes for the Engineers to move about freely to ensure uninterrupted network availability.

The telecoms company said it would review the situation at the end of the month to determine the next steps with regard to the resumption of work at the offices.

MTN Facilitates One Billion SMS in One Month MTN has revealed that its customers sent over one billion short message service (SMS) within the last one month, during the lockdown occasioned by the spread of COVID-19 across the country.

Prior to the lockdown, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, had asked that telcos “consider giving Nigerians some token airtime and data to ease their pains� during the Covid-19 lockdown, but only MTN and Airtel responded and heeded the appeal.

Both companies decided it was best to offer free SMS. While MTN was clear on the number of SMS per day it was offering its customers, Airtel’s offer came with the caveat that “a fair usage policy applies to prevent network congestion.�

However, in March MTN Nigeria had announced that

its over 70 million subscribers will be able to send 300 free SMS messages per month as part of the company’s Y’ello Hope package created to assist its customers as a result of the economic implications of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

MTN in a statement, said: “Five weeks later, it appears that the free-SMS route may have been the way to go as reports from MTN’s Q1 financial results shows that over one billion free text messages were sent by customers within the first four weeks of introducing the offer. The free SMS package allows MTN Nigeria subscribers across the country to send 10 free SMS daily for 30 days to all networks.�

With the cost of an SMS pegged at N4, MTN is said to have incurred an estimated N4 billion on text messages in the first month alone.

It stated that other incentives available to MTN customers during the period include free 100MB daily to access verified information on health platforms such as Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and educational materials on MTN’s Teens platform, mPulse.

In addition, the company suspended transaction fees for all Cash2Cash transfers via its Mobile Money (MoMo) Agent Network.

MTN Nigeria introduced the Y’ello Hope Package as a broad set of interventions to support its customers and communities in addition to the government’s efforts to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus while ensuring customers remain connected to their loved ones and other critical resources, the statement added.

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Nigeria Needs Urgent Fiscal Sunmonu to Extend Wapic Insurance Legacy Buffers

Buhari

Adeola Adenikiju

C

ovid-19 will hit Nigeria very hard; this is not uncommon with the experience of other countries. The pandemic, though a public health issue has significant economic impacts. For Nigeria, the channels of its impact include, reduced foreign capital flows, including remittances; fall in commodity prices, including oil and gas; and closure of global supply chains and closure of most economic activities due to lockdown policies across the country.

Nigeria is anything but prepared for the pandemic and the sharp fall in oil prices.

We have refused to learn from past cycles of global economic shocks. The unprecedented fall in oil and gas prices couple with other effects of the pandemic, have brought to the fore again, the centrality of oil and gas in the nation’s economy. In my view, it is an illusion that Nigeria economy is a post oil economy on the basis of just one indicator, the share of oil in GDP. Oil remains the major source of government revenue and major source of foreign exchange to finance critical imports and protect the nation’s currency. The performance of other non-oil sectors of the economy is directly or indirectly influenced by global oil market behavior.

The precipitous decline in the price of Nigeria’s crude oil to below $20 per barrel in the international market is a bad omen for the economy. The pass through of the effects of the decline on the economy will be immediate, extensive and significant. This is primarily because we have no buffers to defend the economy. We failed to build fiscal buffers when oil was doing well, failing to meet the NNRC’s 8th Benchmark which warns the government that during the inevitable downturn of oil prices, the buffers are necessary to ‘smoothen domestic spending of revenues.’ We ran down our excess crude accounts without augmenting other forms of capital or savings like the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). The Excess Crude Account (ECA), which was established in 2005, represented first real efforts by the country to have a formal framework for savings from oil rent.

The ECA was designed to smoothen government’s spending which follows the cyclical pattern of crude oil price. The primary source of funding for the ECA is the excess funds from the differential between the realized oil price and the benchmark price, anchored on the Oil Price-based Fiscal Rule (OPFR). Setting the appropriate benchmark price is critical to the ECA achieving its objective of smoothening fluctuations in the economy.

However, the lack of discipline in implementing the framework has contributed to the low yearly inflow that comes into the account especially after 2009. The executive branch, but more often the legislature, have consistently adjusted the benchmark price upwards to increase the fiscal space for increased expenditure, This, invariably reduces the savings opportunities that higher oil price would have presented for the economy.

Not a few analysts are of the opinion that one major reason Nigeria was able to mitigate the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis was the availability of fiscal buffers provided

by the ECA. This provided the government with fiscal space to increase domestic spending needed to reflate the economy, as well as the foreign reserves needed to finance imports and support the naira, even under major negative oil price shock.

However, the lack of fiscal discipline and fidelity to the principle of the oil price-based framework, did not enable the country to have same fiscal leverage to cushion the effect of oil price crash of 2014 as well as the economic effects of the current coronavirus pandemic. Foreign reserves in 2008 stood at US$53 billion, compared to US$34billion in 2014 and US$35 in January 2020.

Covid-19 shuts down global economy and cuts significantly global demand for oil. The cut in demand was exacerbated by oversupply that occurred due to price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia and the failure of OPEC+ members to reach an agreement on needed production cut to manage global oil demand.

These factors plus absence of spare storage capacity to store the excess oil have led to the soft oil price that the country is faced with.

The recovery of oil price is going to be slow as global economy reopens cautiously. This has rendered key assumptions of 2020 budget unrealistic, in particular, the $57 per barrel benchmark price in the budget which made sense last year when the price of oil was above $65/bbl, but not anymore in light of current oil market development. It is good that the government has revised downwards both the oil price as well as the benchmark volume of oil to $30/bbl and 1.78mb respectively. With recent development, the $30/bbl assumed also seems quite optimistic. A conservative estimate around $25/bbl seems more reasonable.

The 2019 budget performance was exceptionally bad. Actual revenue was 50% of budgeted revenue, while actual expenditure exceeded budgeted expenditure. By December 2019, actual budget deficit stood at -N4,838.79 billion as against the 2019 budget estimates of -N2.18 trillion or 1.5% of the budget. The budget deficit largely financed through ways and means is a major cause of inflationary pressures in the country.

Thus, with the significant revenue underperformance in 2019, the low savings in the ECA, there was little elbow room for government for provides adequate financial relief to stabilize the economy during and after the covid-19 pandemic. Nigeria has resorted to external support of over $7.0 billion from the IMF, the World Bank, the ADB and Islamic Development Bank among others. The rising foreign loans are going to add to the foreign debt portfolio of the country which will bring significant economic management problem in the future.

When all these are over, will the government learn from this and other past experiences?

This is the fear of most people. To tackle these concerns, it has become imperative that as the country is planning a successor medium development plan to replace the ERGP, a mechanism for incorporating compulsory savings from the rent from natural resource exports must be incorporated into the plan.

In addition, at least 50% of earnings from petroleum should be devoted to capital expenditure. This will no doubt requires a change in the present constitution to provide for these changes and allow for consolidation of current savings mechanisms into a transparent and effective single source.

There is also need for the diversification of the economy both vertically and horizontally.

The later implies that the country does major value addition to our crude oil and natural gas domestically through establishment of downstream industries using natural gas and crude oil. We should stop exporting crude oil and natural gas in their primary forms.

The wasteful oil subsidy policy of the past should be jettison. In addition, non-profitable government owned assets, like the refineries should be disposed off. The lower levels of government should also develop their own savings mechanisms to protect their economies from the vagaries of the federation account.

-Prof. Adenikiju is of the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics & Law, University of Ibadan, and member, expert advisory panel of Nigeria Natural Resource Charter

Hamid Ayodeji

O

ver its 62 years of existence as a corporate entity, Wapic Insurance Plc, may never have had a more definite plan for its future than at this present time. In the last eight years the company has benefited from a comprehensive corporate transformation programme led by one of Africa’s distinguished business leaders, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede in his then capacity as Board Chairman.

Following Aig-Imoukhuede’s retirement in April this year the Company’s Board of Directors and future direction will be led by Mutiu Sunmonu, another talented leader in the African business community.

Today Wapic Insurance is equipped financially and managerially to compete favourably for insurance sector leadership. The company is totally free from the burden of unpaid claims, outdated operational processes, weak capital base and low brand awareness. Wapic Insurance has totally transformed and is positioned for extra-ordinary exploits in the second phase of its growth agenda.

The man to lead this new phase of transformation, Sunmonu, succeeded Aig-Imoukhuede as Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors.

He is not a new-comer to the art of leading organisations to achieve outstanding performance and distinction. Over the last three decades, Sunmonu has established himself as a respected private sector leader and has become a highly sought-after boardroom player in Africa.

Sunmonu’s track record and multi-sectoral experience are expected to be warmly embraced

by Wapic’s shareholders. It is inevitable that after Aig-Imoukhuede’s outstanding innings, shareholders would want another capable leader to succeed him and sustain the Wapic’s transformation program. With the lot falling on Sunmonu, shareholders are certain that their investments are secure, and Wapic Insurance will continue to grow in leaps and bounds. The confidence in Sunmonu, a former Managing Director and Country Chair of Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria, is well placed. It is a valid deduction from his glittering profile and rich history of performance, locally and internationally.

In his new role Sunmonu is expected to drive Wapic Insurance’s strategic vision at board level while working with the management team, the company is expected to occupy a top three industry position and become a regional leader. It is therefore certain that whilst Sunmonu’s job is cut-out for him, he has the

Sunmono

capacity to build on the achievements recorded during Aig-Imoukhuede’s eight-year tenure as Chairman of Wapic Insurance Plc and take the company to even greater heights. Sunmonu will focus on providing purposeful leadership in his usual style. As the Chairman of Wapic Insurance at this period when governments, businesses and individuals across the world are facing uncertainties because of the ravaging effect of COVID-19, Sunmonu will bring his scenario analysis and contingency planning skills from Shell to deliver results in unusual conditions and situations.

For a visionary to lead the Board of Wapic Insurance on the back of his multi-disciplinary and variegated professional experiences garnered across industries over four decades, can only mean that the company is in good hands. It is a rarity to experience Board leadership succession that matches the quality and profile of Wapic’s baton exchange between Aig-Imoukhuede and Sunmonu.

The succession process is a testament to business leaders who have focused on building entities that will outlast them. Sunmonu is one of the finest and brightest home-bred Nigerian graduates. He graduated from the University of Lagos in 1977 with a first-class degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.

After 36 years of commendable service, Sunmonu retired as Managing Director of SPDC, and Country Chair of the Shell Companies in Nigeria. After his tour of duty as the Country Chief Executive at SPDC, he was appointed the Chairman of the Board of SPDC companies in Nigeria. He is also the current Chairman of the Board of Julius Berger, Imperial Homes Mortgage Limited as well as Petralon Energy Limited and SanLeon Energy Uk.

FG Urged to Increase Public Health Spending by 15% Ugo Aliogo The federal government has been advised to strengthen resource allocation to public health sector in the annual budget by 15 per cent.

According to a statement joined issued and signed by the Country Directors, CISLAC, Auwal Musa and Oxfam, Constance Tchona respectively, the imperativeness of funding the sector could be seen in the current need to improve public health services as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It stated that the ability of a country to address such challenges in the future depends on its present spending to develop the health sector.

The statement further noted that improving the quality of universal public education could be achieved by allocating at least 20 per cent of the public budget to improve access to quality education.

The Directors in the statement called the government to ensure the transparency of the public procurement system by providing a timely and adequate degree of transparency in each phase of the

public procurement circle.

According to the statement, “There is need to ensure transparency in the flow of public funds, from the beginning of the budgeting process throughout the public procurement cycle to allow stakeholders and the citizens to understand government spending priority. “Governments at all levels should develop an inclusive public finance framework with a clear resource mobilisation plan that looks beyond oil revenue. The framework should make provision for the diversification of oil revenue beyond sales of crude and other accruable rent. “More importantly, there is a need for Nigeria crude products to be refined locally, and that entails ensuring holistic overhaul of the nation’s four refineries to function in full capacity and possible building of new ones.

This will prevent the loss of huge resources due to crude swapping. “The federal government should ensure the efficient management of the oil sector by ensuring the passage, assent, and functioning of the Petroleum Industry Gover-

nance Bill as well as the other components, particularly the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill.

This will bring an end to the porous resource mobilization and management regime that dominate the oil sector. Due to obsolete laws and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Nigeria has not been able to harness the potential of its oil tax revenue. There is a need to review all the MoU governing Nigeria oil sector relationships and tax agreements. “There is a need to adopt participatory budgeting systems that allow for the needs and aspirations of the citizens to be captured in the budgeting process.

Active citizens’ participation at all stages of budgeting ensures open budgeting and allows for effective budget implementation. “With improved revenue, there is a need to improve capital spending to drive real economic growth. Governments at all levels should increase public spending to develop infrastructure in education, health, and other critical sectors. This should be done as a matter of policy.�

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For Effective Covid-19 Intervention by DFIs

Marina

Jide Akintunde

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised downward its forecast for global economic growth in 2020. Instead of the initial forecast of 3.3 per cent GDP growth rate, the global economy is now projected to shrink by -3 per cent, due to the acutely negative economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Based on the GDP data from Statista.com, the latest projection by the IMF means the global economy will lose a staggering $5.45 trillion in 2020.

For Nigeria, the growth outlook has also turned negative. IMF’s projection in February of two per cent GDP growth rate, which had accounted for lower oil prices, has now changed to -3.4 per cent. About N8.68 trillion, or $24.1 billion, would be wiped off the Nigerian economy by the end of the year as a direct effect of the novel coronavirus.

Nigeria’s 2020 economic outlook could become worse; it could also get better. The length of the global downturn, and the extent to which the pace of the recovery fuels the rebound of oil demand and prices, would largely determine Nigeria’s fate. A global best-case scenario still needs effective local interventions for Nigeria to avoid apocalyptic economic collapse.

The Nigerian authorities have rightly identified the areas they need to provide interventions during this pandemic: financial relief for the most vulnerable households and access to credit for businesses.

Without data, and in the absence of experience in providing credible needs-based social interventions, official claims of providing relief for the most vulnerable Nigerians have been dubious.

In his first national broadcast announcing lockdown of Abuja and Lagos and Ogun States, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke of government’s intervention in the credit market. Alongside such tenuous initiatives as TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni, he directed three national development finance institutions (DFIs), namely Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and Nigerian Export-Import Bank, to provide a threemonth moratorium on their loans funded by the Federal Government. The President also directed the DFIs to restructure the funding provided them by international and multilateral development banks.

Earlier, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had directed that the interest rate on its applicable intervention funds, which are managed by the DFIs, should be reduced from 9.5 per cent to 5 per cent. The CBN also mandated the DFIs to provide a one-year extension for the repayment of the existing facilities.

Whereas the President made no new funding pledges to the DFIs, the CBN announced ostensibly new N1 trillion in monetary stimulus, and two other funds for small businesses and the health sector.

Ironically, when the additional funding is available to the DFIs, the institutions would have less – instead of increased – administrative capacity to manage the funds, as their income would have been nearly cut in half by the interest rate reduction and because of the moratoriums on repayment of their loans.

In effect, the interventions announced

by President Buhari and the CBN have the same and combined effect of weakening the DFIs. Surely, weaker institutions cannot possibly deliver stronger interventions during a time of crisis.

The weaker situation the DFIs now find themselves could not have been the intention of the fiscal and monetary policymakers.

It must be the inevitable result of lack of design, or a poor effort at it. What the authorities got right, though, was that the DFIs have a strong role to play in staving off a credit crunch in the Nigerian financial system during and in the aftermath of economic crises.

The commercial banks can be expected to respond to the current crisis with characteristic risk aversion. With the current uncertainties on the depth and the duration of the Covid-19-induced economic downturn, commercial banks will prioritise the safety of their assets, instead of aggressive loan expansion. And by keeping the Monetary Policy Rate high, at 13.5 per cent, the CBN also makes it harder for businesses to take more risk. It would be tough for businesses to take pricy loans from the commercial banks to fund projects that now face multiple risks, including weaker effective demand.

But the DFIs are government vehicles, founded to achieve specific economic purposes. These include funding high-risk productive industries or ventures that are essential to broad-based economic growth.

DFIs also help to limit the negative impacts of crises by providing countercyclical financing to smoothen the economic cycles.

Nigeria is well persuaded on these key roles of DFIs. Accordingly, we have created many of these institutions to provide interventional financing for agriculture, industry, non-oil exports, housing and small businesses. Crafting the mandate statements of the DFIs is perhaps the easiest of the tasks.

The more difficult ones are ensuring the institutions are well-led, adequately funded, and that they deliver tangible results. As it is with this crisis response, however, the authorities often toy with the ability of the DFIs to succeed with their mandates.

This crisis presents another opportunity to reposition the national DFIs. The first step is to thoroughly assess and redress the current weaknesses and limitations in their ability to deliver effective interventions. As the country can no longer rely heavily on crude oil sales for foreign exchange revenue, this is the time to ramp up interventions for funding non-oil exports.

For those DFIs that have maturing external funding obligations, as alluded to

by President Buhari, the government should actively support efforts to restructure their facilities. Without agreeing new terms with their creditors, the concerned DFIs could default on their loans, thereby shutting themselves and other Nigerian institutions out from external credit lines.

The CBN should provide more clarity on its new stimulus funding. The N1 trillion fund appears hastily announced. The allocation of the fund across the DFIs that will be involved in disbursing it should be provided as well as the criteria for eligibility by the prospective borrowers.

To promote accountability, CBN’s new variegated funds should be consolidated under a programme with clear measurable targets.

And the timelines for the full disbursement of the funds should be provided. In the next few years, the public should have the records of the repayment of the facilities and the impacts they delivered.

This is not a time for some ineffective interventions. Because the initial containment measures by several countries were weak, Covid-19 has viciously brutalised public health. Inadequate financial interventions will make the economic impacts of the pandemic to be worse than it otherwise would have been.

-Akintunde is the Managing Editor of Financial Nigeria magazine; and Director, Nigeria Development and Finance Forum

How to Become an Entrepreneur Alim Abubakre

A

re you bored with your work or have just been furloughed?

Do you wish to control your own time? Do you have a dream to start a business, employ people, deliver services, and make a positive impact on society, particularly in these unprecedented times?

But do you also feel intimidated and your thoughts shrouded by these fears: r 5IF GFBS PG SFKFDUJPO i:PVS JEFB JT UPP small, leave business for the geniuses.� r 5IF GFBS PG JOBEFRVBDZ i8IP BSF ZPV you can’t do it; business is not for people with low capital and limited connections.� r 5IF GFBS PG CFJOH KVEHFE i#VTJOFTT is not in your family blood, don’t even start dreaming.� r 5IF GFBS PG GBJMVSF i8IBU JG * SVO PVU of capital and fail?�

Well, let me assure you that entrepreneurship is a skill that can be acquired by BOZPOF :PV EPO U IBWF UP CF B TVQFSTUBS to become a businessperson.

Abubakre

that he could pay, Steve jobs persuaded a dealer in computer parts to sell him the components he required to start his work. c) Jobs and a small team worked on building the first Apple PCs in their garage, delivering them on time and making a smooth profit.

The Journey to Becoming an Entred) Apple had been born out of nothing. preneur One could contend that the complex, The journey to entrepreneurship starts volatile, and ambiguous socioeconomic XJUI :06 /P POF JT HPJOH UP à HIU ZPVS environment in Nigeria may make it almost GFBST GPS ZPV :PV NVTU DPOà EFOUMZ DPOGSPOU impossible for a Steve Job to succeed in them and be decisive as you declare: Now Nigeria. Nevertheless, there are still many is the time to start my business journey. If Femis, Ngozis and Razaqs today who are you can, I will advise that you save up a doing well in their business in the nation. year’s worth of your living expense and set aside some investment. This would Scale the Heights come handy on the proverbial rainy day.

Keep in mind that no business can develop Waste no time anymore. Wake up, stand on an indefinite basis. Most companies up, and let your business ideas start tak- are more effective in different sizes and ing a practical, tangible form. This article stages of the firm. For example, if you gives you five factors you must consider desire to establish a big food business, if you want to become an entrepreneur you may realize that starting a four-person and succeed at it. restaurant is relatively easier. However, building a large-scale catering business The Idea may be more difficult. If your long-term Have you ever wondered whether the goal is to be big, your strategy could be ideas that you are passionate about are to start small, then expand later. too small and can’t be developed into a thriving business? Based on my personal Seek help experience, please allow me to mention Build a team even if it means having freethat there is nothing in entrepreneurship lance accountant, human resource advisors, or politics or any other field for that matter sales personnel and IT consultants, some of DBMMFE iTNBMM JEFBu 'PSNFS 1SJNF .JOJTUFS whom may come free from peers, friends and of Britain, Winston Churchill, once said: family. Get an advisory board-This would i/P JEFB JT TP PVUMBOEJTI UIBU JU TIPVME be a group of experienced non-competing not be considered with a searching but at professionals who can help with; ideas, UIF TBNF UJNF B TUFBEZ FZF u :PV OFFE B challenging assumptions and make you steady eye to get your evolving idea on the accountable, shape strategy, motivate and path to a successful business. For example, share contacts. one of the world’s renowned businessman, ‌ And Finally Richard Branson started Virgin Airlines Skill and tenacity are significant facafter he was stuck at an airport in Puerto Rico on his way to the Virgin Islands. With tors that will help you drive safely on fewer passengers going to that destination, the journey of entrepreneurship. To build the flight was cancelled. This inconvenience the requisite skills, you need to come up birthed a business idea in Richard Branson’s with a continuous personal development mind. He saw an opportunity to start an plan. This personal development plan airline that would also fly to the Virgin would entail an honest assessment of your Islands. Thus the birth of Virgin Airlines. strengths and weaknesses as well as how So, never underestimate the power of your to leverage your strengths to address your ideas, especially when inspired by life ex- limitations. A development plan of how periences/problems. Any well-thought-out to improve, for example, your conceptual, business idea that addresses societal issues, digital, communication or networking skills fine-tuned value proposition, clearly stated should have a timeline, say six months, unique selling points and spiced up with and a to-do list. For instance, in the next focus and determination could produce six months, you may need to read more, impressive results. watch more relevant videos, attend some training and look for a mentor. Here are The Starting Point eleven areas that you could consider setting Just imagine: after she gives birth, a up a business: 1. Telemedicine 2. IT 3. Health new mother has no parenting manual. care, 4. Education 5. Renewable energy 6.

How does she begin taking care of her Supply chain 7. Arts & Entertainment 8. child? She starts by trying, fumbling, and Security 9. Fashion 10. Agricultural value learning along the way. The same goes for chain 11.Fin Tech. Good luck! starting a business. The best way is not to shun the emerging idea but to start, fall, -Abubakre (PhD) is a British-based rise, and from the lessons learned, become entrepreneur with an unparalleled pasCFUUFS :PVS BJN TIPVME CF UP FTUBCMJTI B sion for Africa, Academic, and Director venture even when you don’t have all the with active links and engagement with components at a go. The best way to start Africa. He is on the advisory board of the is by selling your idea to people that you London Business School Africa Society, trust to support you. Steve Jobs, the founder lectures in a top 15 UK university and of Apple, had no cash and no clients when founded TEXEM, UK a consultancy firm he established Apple. What he did next is ten years ago which has trained over 4,000 a beautiful example you can learn from: executives in the UK and Africa. In 2010, a) He persuaded a local computer shop Alim was selected as one of the top 100 with payment on delivery to order his Virgin Media emerging entrepreneurs in the UK and accompanied London’s Lord non-existent Apple computers.

C 6TJOH UIF PSEFS IF KVTU HPU BT FWJEFODF Mayor on his entourage to Nigeria in 2015.

24

IMAGES

The Overseer of Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, Pastor Yuhana Buru, receiving COVID-19 jacket shirt, from the Director of Silver Ash Ventures Ltd, Abdullahi Salisu, during the visit of the National Volunteers Group, on COVID-19 pandemic in Kaduna...recently

L-R ; Victims Support Fund (VSF) Volunteer, Adejoke Oluwagbenga-Salami; Concerned Parents/Educators Initiative CPE board member, Mrs. Hellen Essien; Founder, CPE, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde; and a board member(CPE), Mrs. Toyin Sode Idowu, at the victim support fund on Covid 19 Task Force to Balogun village, Sangotedo area of Eti-osa Local Government in Lagos‌recently SUNDAY ADIGUN

Cross section of suspected kidnappers of two Year Old Twins of Alh.Taofeek Akewugbagold during the press brieďŹ ng at Police Headquarter Eleyele Ibadan...recently FELIX ADEMOLA

L-R;Group Head of HR & Admin., Daraju Industries Limited, Mrs Dupe Akindiya; Managing Director/Group Executive Director, Daraju Industries Limited, Mr. Oscar Macaulay; Deputy Governor, Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr Tomi Coker and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industries, Trade and Investment, Miss Sola Arobeke during the donation of Fressia Sanitizers and household items as COVID-19 palliatives by Daraju Industries Limited to the Ogun State Government, Abeokuta, Ogun State...recently

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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

National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Waziri Bulama (left), and National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adam Oshiomhole, during the inauguration of Bulama at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja‌recently

L-R: Professor of lnterveitional Cardiology; Head of the Reddingtion Tristate Cardiology Programme,. Prof. Kamar Adeleke and Consultant Cardiothoraclc Surgeon, Dr, Micheal Sanusi and Consultant Cordidogist, Dr. Okecuckwu Usim at the press brieďŹ ng by Reddingtion Hospital on the performance of ďŹ est complex open Heart Surgery held in Lagos.. recently MUBO PETERS.

Ten pirates who hijacked a ďŹ shing vessel MV HAILUFENG II on the sea are being paraded after their arrest by Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service operatives... recently

L-R: Director of Media & Public Aairs, Ooni’s Palace, Comrade Moses Olafare who Represents the Ooni of Ife; Secretary to State Government, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson who Represents the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri; with Deputy Chief of Sta, Government House, Hon. Peter Akpe, during the presentation of Two Motorised Modular Fumigator for COVID 19 Free Nigeria, to the Bayelsa State Government by Ooni of Ife, at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s Banquet Hall, Yenagoa‌ recently

here flip t the not rent

efor MS is MES stra-

25

T H I S D AY ˾ , MAY 21, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

Edo and the Race against COVID-19 With over 150,000 persons screened, four isolation centres established within two months, deployment of Rapid Diagnostic Tests, and establishment of Intensive Care Units, Edo appears to be the new model in the fight against COVID-19, Martins Ifijeh writes

T

he race to tackling COVID-19 in Nigeria has thrown in several approaches from different leaders in the country, with some diligently following international best practices in the management of the public health challenge, while others, especially in some South-south states, North-central and the far North have proven to become what the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 described as the weak link in the fight against the virus.

Among states that have shown leadership in tackling the scourge is Edo State with its unique approaches and the constant ramping up of capacities to tackle the pandemic.

As at last Wednesday, it has done 150, 000 screening among its residents, tested over 700 persons, established 112 screening centres across the 18 local government areas of the state, established mobile screening centres in all borders of the state, among others.

Sharing his thoughts on this, the Commissioner for Health, Edo State, Dr. Patrick Okundia said in the coming days, the state hopes to do another 200, 000 screening, adding that it targets to do 500,000 within weeks, as this would help in speedily identifying those who may be needing testing.

He said: “Presently, we have done over 700 tests with over a hundred confirmed to be positive. By next week, we hope to have done over 2,500. We have also taken ownership of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits which has enabled us do a high number of tests. Those who meet case definition as advised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are tested using the kit, while confirmation is made through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based test,’’ adding that

Obaseki

this was reflective in the slight rise in confirmed cases seen in the state.

“The key anchors of our response are partnerships, communication and people. As part of measures to address the pandemic in the state, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has ensured that manpower was giving priority. We are training, equipping and motivating frontline workers, as well as providing them with insurance and

special allowances. We presently have four testing centres, 30 ventilators, 112 screening centres, and scores with inventory of drugs, equipment and palliatives. “ The commissioner said the state was tracing and managing every single case or suspected case, as well as providing treatments, developing and tracking scientific models to aid strategic planning, among others. He said more than 5,000 persons

have been recruited, incentivised and trained to coordinate collection and distribution of samples across the state. The Chairman, Presidential Task Force onCOVID-19, Boss Mustapha had said if all states put innovative ideas in place, the country, in no time will be able to address the pandemic.

As at Wednesday, Edo State had 119 confirmed cases of the virus, with 35 persons successfully treated and discharged from its isolation centres, six unfortunately lost their lives, while 78 active cases are still being managed.

Okundia said Governor Obaseki was putting measures in place to flatten the curve, adding that in the coming weeks screening capacity will be scaled up to 5, 000, as this would allow for timely identification of those who are infected with the virus and then remove them from the community as part of measures to halt further spread of the virus.

“We have expanded our isolation and treatment capacities to 350 bed spaces. There are plans to increase this capacity as soon as possible. Our isolation centres are the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, (ISTH), Auchi General Hospital, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Stella Obasanjo Memorial Hospital. We are also setting up new Intensive Care Units; eight bedded ICU in Stella Obasanjo Hospital and four bedded in Edo Specialist Hospital.”

He said the intervention of the state, among other things, involved the distribution of palliatives to vulnerable citizens, improvement in the transportation of samples, materials and supplies, transportation support for frontline workers, improvement in inventory and logistics management, supporting screened individuals with hand sanitisers and face masks, provision of personal protective equipment for health workers, among others.

COVID-19: FG, Global Citizen Launch New Funding Vehicle Stories by Martins Ifijeh As part of additional support to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Global Citizen have launched a new funding vehicle for the country, tagged: the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF).

The fund will enable Nigerian citizens resident at home or in the diaspora as well as international donors pool funds together and directly contribute to Nigeria’s fight against the pandemic.

Announcing this during a virtual meeting hosted by the NSIA weekend, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the fund will provide support to Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities in the fight against COVID-19.

He said: “Nigeria is delighted that the NSIA, together with the world’s leading international advocacy organisation, Global Citizen, and their partners, have embarked on a process to set up a new funding vehicle. This will go a long way to addressing the

present challenges,” he added.

The Managing Director, NSIA, Uche Orji said the COVID-19 pandemic has strained the nation’s health, social and economic systems, adding that the nation’s resolve to work together to contain it remains unflinching. Orji said: “Against this background, we are thrilled to partner with Global Citizen in launching the NSSF, as the fund manager.

“Given the unprecedented nature of this global pandemic, both in its impact and severity,

COVID-19: NAFDAC Reduces Cost of Registration for MSMEs by 80% To mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reduced tariff for registration of products by small businesses for a three month period.

Announcing this during a virtual launch of MSMES Palliative Programme over the weekend, the Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said the gesture will include zero tariffs for the first 200 MSMEs to register their products from the launch day.

She said: “In furtherance to compliance with the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing

Business, as well as proactive response to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, we have instituted palliatives for the micro and small businesses.

NAFDAC is doing this through reduction in registration fees and assisted E-registration via NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS).

“This programme will run concurrently in the six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We are offering zero tariffs for first 200 MSMEs to register their products from the launch day, 80 per cent reduction in tariffs for the registration of MSMEs products for a period of three months, and we will be giving

waivers on small businesses.”

Adeyeye encouraged MSMEs to take advantage of the incentives to massively embark on e-registration of their products, adding that the enterprises can support the agency by adhering to its laws, regulations and guidelines in the course of doing business to ensure quality standards and safety.

On his part, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commended the agency for the strategic response to the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to businesses, especially MSMES in Nigeria. He said: “Given the vulnerability of MSMEs, our response as a government was to find ways of not just giving assistance to existing MSMES.

it is clear that this is a challenge that the public sector cannot tackle alone.

“The virus can only be defeated through careful coordination and collaborative efforts of the public sector, private sector, and philanthropists. @As the pandemic’s impact is unprecedented; so too is the commitment of Nigerians both at home and abroad who have rallied to help one another and stand in solidarity against this deadly virus.”

He said NSSF will be incor-

porated as a nongovernment charitable foundation, adding that in line with global best practices, it will be professionally managed and transparently governed through a strong advisor board comprising eminently qualified men and women to ensure that the funds were effectively used and properly accounted for.

The Chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria, Tunde Folawiyo said: “As we embark upon our work in Nigeria, Global Citizen will mobilize Nigerians, Nigerians in the diaspora, global partners,

together with the philanthropic and private sectors in our nation’s fight against COVID-19.”

On his part, Vice -Chairman Global Citizen Nigeria, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said: “Our efforts must ensure that we are able to envision and meet the demands that will emerge in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is imperative as the nation adjusts to the realities of a changing economy, transitions to a “new normal” and embraces the Nigeria of the future.”

COVID-19; ActionAid Supports 230 Badagry Households with Palliatives No fewer than 230 households in Wesere and Aivoji communities in Badagry have benefitted from the relief materials distributed by ActionAid Nigeria to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The distribution of palliatives in the communities which borders Benin Republic started on Sunday through ActionAid’s local partner, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED). Speaking on the distribution of palliatives in the communities, the Communications Advisor, ActionAid Nigeria, Kemi Akinremi said it was to cushion the effect of lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, which has led to hunger in the communities. She said: “Wesere community is very far from the

city centre and is closest to Benin Republic. Before the emergence of COVID-19, residents of Wesere community had access to basic facilities like healthcare and market in neighbouring country, Benin Republic.

“However, with the closure of the border, they have been unable to access markets for purchase and sales and the distance, bad road leading to the community have made them vulnerable at this time,” she said.

The two communities were also funded by ActionAid Nigeria’s local fundraising initiative.

The Executive Director of HUFFPED, Henry Adenigba said the items distributed as palliatives were decided upon by the communities themselves.

‘‘Women in the community specifically requested for food and we – ActionAid and HUFFPED decided we should provide them with a two-weeks supply which comprises of five kg of rice, 10kg of beans, 10kg of garri, half crate of egg, and other food condiments like a roll of tomato paste, maggi, and salt,” Adenigba said.

The Chairman, Badagry West Local Council Development Area, Joseph Henugbe, while appreciating the organisation for their kind gesture said more needs to be done for the people of the communities.

Henugbe said the palliatives from the government need to be augmented and called on the organisation to keep showing generosity to the communities.

26

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Elumelu: Covid-19 Presents Opportunity to Reset Africa Nume Ekeghe The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, has stressed that the coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world presents an opportunity to reset the African continent to become more productive and self-reliant.

He said on Tuesday, during a high-level roundtable discussions made up of African leaders including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, the Special Envoy of the African Union on Covid-19 and Tidjane Thiam who is also a Covid-19 Special Envoy responsible for mobilising international economic support for Africa. During the session titled: “Resilient World: An African call for a new world order.�

The roundtable which was organised by the New York Forum Institute, also had in attendance

African Heads of States including President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger; President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya; President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire; President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Julius Bio of Sierra Leone.

Elumelu, said he saw the pandemic as an opportunity to reset the continent, pointing out that Africa has all it takes to emerge into a strong digital economy, The UBA Group Chairman advocated a martial plan that would galvanise the entire continent and make Africa less dependent on the ‘circularity of debt’ from developed nations, which according to him, has been a major setback for decades.

He added: “I feel that as we engage the rest of the world in providing relief, we need to look for a more fundamental solution to Africa’s challenges.

I have often argued for a martial plan overtime. “We need to mobilise everyone.

If we have a martial plan that mobilises resources to address particular issues, then we can mitigate against this constant begging for assistance.�

Explaining further, Elumelu said, “The truth is that we have resources to help mobilise people.

As the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we committed to endow $100 million to support young African entrepreneurs and we have been seeing the positive results this has yielded so far. “It is evident that if we can fix access to electricity, ensure stability of the macro-economic environment, ensure prioritisation of the youth, empower our small and medium scale enterprises and fix youth migration, then we are in for a better and more resilient economy’.

Elumelu

MARKET INDICATORS

Fidelity Bank Donates N5m to Kebbi State Onuminya Innocent Ă“Ă˜ ÙÕÙÞÙ As part of its corporate social responsibility, Fidelity Bank Plc has supported the Kebbi State Government in the fight against the coronavirus with N5 million.

The bank made the donation yesterday. It stated that the sum would go a long way in providing palliatives to vulnerable persons.

The cheque was presented to the Chief of Staff Government House, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, by the Regional Manager of the Bank, Mallam Salihu Jibrin, at Government

House, Birnin Kebbi.

He assured the state government that, the bank would be an active partner in the fight against the virus by providing more possible assistance. “Although the donation of N5 million by the bank could be described as a token, it would aid ongoing efforts by the state government in containing the Covid-19 scourge,� he stated.

Argungu, thanked Fidelity Bank for the invaluable gesture, on behalf of Governor Atiku Bagudu and Kebbi state government.

He said all donations received from various sources had been handed over to the state taskforce on Covid-19.

He commended Chairman of the taskforce, who is the Commissioner for Health, Jafar Muhammed and his team for their efforts in curbing the spread of the virus disease.

The Branch Manager, Fidelity Bank, Birnin Kebbi, Musa Isa and the Branch Manager, Sokoto, Bello Aliyu, accompanied the Regional Manager to the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, for the historic presentation of the donation.

FCMB Introduces ‘Top-5-in-5’ Initiative for Entrepreneurs First City Monument Bank (FCMB) recently organised a value-adding initiative to boost the productivity and overall performance of entrepreneurs.

The latest was an initiative tagged, ‘Top-5-In-5,’ a digital video knowledge sharing and capacity building series designed to give SMEs practical insight into different areas of business to inspire them to operate optimally and successfully.

According to a statement, FCMB indicated that the initiative was one more way it aims to add value to Nigerian SMEs and ensure they can truly #ThriveWithFCMB. The bank explained that the series would run for an initial period of seven weeks, with a new episode released every week. “Each episode will feature

accomplished thought leaders and experts across diverse areas of business who will deliver five quality tips in five minutes, to help SMEs explore solutions to specific challenges or pain-points,� it stated. The experts showcased in the series include Managing Director of DCSL Corporate Services Limited, Bisi Adeyemi; Senior Partner at Verraki Partners, Kelvin Balogun; CEO/Founder Naija Startups, Aramide Abe, and Executive Director, Business Development, FCMB, Bukola Smith. Others are Managing Director, CMC Connect, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Chief Operating Officer, TISV Digital, Omotolani Tayo-Oshikoya, and Managing Director, FCMB Asset Management, James Ilori.

Some of the topics are: Building A Sustainable Business that

Outlives You; Differentiating Your Business Through Innovation and Raising Funds For Your Business.

The bank revealed that videos and other information on the series, including a section that offers viewers the opportunity to download useful resources, could be accessed via a designated microsite.

The bank stated that despite the lockdown, it has continued to engage its customers, especially SME operators through free online trainings, capacity building and empowerment programmes. “FCMB has also gone further to support borrowing business customers by providing payment moratoria (loan repayment holiday) during this period to ensure that they can survive, pay their workers and remain in business,� it added.

Ogun First Lady Harps on Support of Families The family unit is strategic in the development process and in curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the society among other aspects of societal welfare.

The wife of the Governor of Ogun state, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, said this in her message to commemorate this year’s International Day of Families, that was celebrated recently.

The day is globally set aside by the United Nations to provide an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic

processes affecting families.

Abiodun, in a statement that was signed by the Press Officer, Office of the First Lady of Ogun State, Kemi Oyeleye, enjoined fathers, mothers as well as children in the families to be united and be more supportive particularly during this period in order to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to her, the family unit has the responsibility of looking out and caring for one another in crisis which she said was key to the focus of the UN on investing in social policies,

protecting the most vulnerable families and individuals.

She reaffirmed her commitment towards alleviating the socio economic status of women in the state as key components of families, emphasising that the distribution of palliatives during the lockdown was a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to the people’s welfare.

The First Lady urged family members to encourage and protect one another at this period by observing physical and social distancing, personal hygiene and living responsibly.

MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͯ͡

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $28.43 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $28.21 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

27

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

MARKET NEWS

All-Share Index Rises Further as Market Sustains Bullish Trend Goddy Egene The Nigerian equities market sustained its bullish trading yesterday as the main index gained 1.03 per cent to close higher at 24,452.23, while the market capitalisation added N130 billion to print at N12.7 trillion. The market has been bullish in the past three days as investors responded corporate actions being announced by listed firms. The bulls were in total control of the market

yesterday as 37 equities appreciated compared with only five that depreciated.

Redstar Express Plc led the price gainers with 10 per cent, trailed by Jiaz Bank Plc with 9.0 per cent. LASACO Assurance Plc chalked up 8.7 per cent just as WAPIC Insurance Plc and Transcorp Plc garnered 6.9 per cent and 5.4 per cent in that order.

However, gains by Dangote Cement Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and BUA Cement Plc boosted

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

the major leap recorded at the market. Market operators said investors were reacting to the N61 billion profit reported by BUA Cement and a dividend of N1.75 per share recommended by the board.

Details of the financial performance showed that BUA Cement recorded revenue of N175.518 billion in 2019, up from N119.013 billion in 2018. Cos of sales jumped from N59.060 billion to N93.075 billion in 2019. Gross profit

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

stood at N82.443 billion in 2019, compared with 59.952 billion in 2018.

The management strived to contain administrative expenses from N12.522 billion to N10.516 billion in 2019. However, distribution and selling expenses soared from N6.081 billion to N11.844 billion in 2019.

Operating profit printed at N71.428 billion in 2019, up from N42.842 billion in 2018.

Net financing cost increased

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

from N3.675 billion to N5.192 billion.

But a tax payment of N5.625 billion in 2019 as against a tax credit of N24.905 billion in 2018, made BUA Cement to end the year with profit after tax of N60.610 billion compared with N64.072 billion in 2018. Based on the performance, the board has recommended a dividend of N1.75 per share.

Commenting on the results, Managing Director of BUA

O F

Cement, Yusuf Binji said,:�

Through the adoption of a focused and disciplined approach, we continue to record strong revenue growth, even as we derive revenue and cost synergies from the merger across: pricing, scale and operational efficiencies; all supported by a sustainable business model and a valueoriented strategy, which have translated to growing market acceptance and is reflective in our margins.�

1 9 / 0 5 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

28

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Women in Finance Nigeria Supports Fight against Covid-19 Goddy Egene Women in Finance Nigeria (WIFng), a platform for advocacy, development and networking of women in the financial sector and other financial roles in Nigeria,

recently announced its intervention projects to support in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

According to the organisation, its first round of contributions was termed the WIFng Covid-19

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

Intervention Food Project which involved the distribution of food packages to indigent Nigerians, specifically widows and elderly persons in Mafoluku, Ijegun and Badiya communities in Lagos.

The second round of the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 19May-2020, unless otherwise stated.

Intervention involved supporting the private sector-led Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) which they executed by giving a donation of N1 million as a contribution towards their activities such as awareness campaigns, the provision of

medical facilities, equipment and supplies as well as the distribution of palliatives to the general public spreading across the six geo-political regions of Nigeria.

In her words, Chairperson of the organization, Toyin Sanni, said:

“Part of our vision at Women in Finance Nigeria is the advocacy and financial empowerment of women so we see this as another opportunity to reach out and be a part of the solution to the fight against Covid19 in Nigeria.”

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.93 0.93 2.71% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 9.91% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.72% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.60 2.66 5.62% info@anchoriaam.com ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 5.86% Anchoria Equity Fund 96.27 96.59 -5.88% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.19 1.19 4.20% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 14.15 14.57 -7.65% ARM Discovery Fund 332.86 342.89 -3.64% ARM Ethical Fund 29.56 30.46 1.66% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.65% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 93.21 93.86 -2.99% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.21% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.25% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 96.86 97.08 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 104.93 105.19 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.26% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.89 0.90 -4.14% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.40 1.40 5.02% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,250.17 1,251.61 3.10% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.25% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 115.05 116.42 -11.59% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.27% Legacy Debt Fund 3.75 3.75 2.67% Legacy Equity Fund 1.06 1.08 -6.10% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.10 1.10 1.95% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A Coral Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH Treasury Bills Fund N/A N/A N/A GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.15% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 119.29 119.86 10.54%

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.49% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.23 2.27 1.82% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 9.23% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 142.79 143.34 -0.43% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.20 1.22 2.83% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,124.14 1,124.14 4.28% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 7.62 7.68 -22.32% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 4.56% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.38 1.40 12.62% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.00 12.05 6.41% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.35% PACAM Equity Fund 1.04 1.05 PACAM EuroBond Fund 94.25 96.43 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 110.74 113.38 -2.64% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 3.72% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 1.37% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 2.88% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -3.93% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 3.26% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -2.60% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.90% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -4.31% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 2.17% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.14 1.16 -5.24% United Capital Bond Fund 1.80 1.80 3.89% United Capital Equity Fund 0.64 0.66 -9.27% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 6.84% United Capital Eurobond Fund 114.73 114.73 2.57% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.06 1.06 -2.90% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.04 10.17 -2.24% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.67 11.79 0.49% Zenith Income Fund 22.46 22.46 1.13% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.77%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

3.40 114.44 52.79

-64.85% 2.22% 1.42%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

8.28 86.03 66.30

8.38 87.81 67.50

-4.90% -7.00% -10.09%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.82 4.10 11.05 10.12 177.55

2.86 4.18 11.15 10.32 179.55

-20.51% -30.39% -8.69% -2.59% -5.41%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.29

16.90%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS XTRA

Buhari, Jonathan Condole with Diya over Wife’s Death President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan have condoled with former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd.), over the death of his wife, Folashade.

Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a statement yesterday that Buhari prayed that the almighty God will comfort the family.

“The President joins family members, friends and associates of Chief Folashade Diya, particularly members of the United African Methodist (Evangelical) Church, in mourning the devout Christian, who dedicated her time on earth to serving God and working for the

good of others.

“President Buhari affirms that the wife of the former Chief of General Staff lived to encourage and inspire many on faith in God, demonstrating love, kindness, and generosity through focus on helping the underprivileged, and counselling many.

“The President prays that the soul of the departed will find rest in God,” the statement added.

In his condolence message to Diya, the former President expressed sadness over the exit of his wife, describing her as a pillar of support to her husband and source of inspiration to many people.

“I commiserate with you, the Diya family, friends,

and sympathisers on the death of your dear wife. I understand that her death is a great loss to you and your family, as she was a loving wife and mother, who was a pillar of support to you and a source of inspiration to many others who came in contact with her.

“Painful as this death is to you and other sympathisers, I urge you not to be discouraged by the sad reality of her exit, as she was a woman of service and faith.

“Her timeline on earth were seasons of devotion to God and service to humanity.

She will be remembered by many as a devout woman, who was a model of love, compassion, and generosity”.

Protesters Storm Power House over Removal of TCN MD Peter Uzoho

The Power House, Corporate Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Abuja was yesterday picketed by protesting staff against the sudden removal of the immediate-past Managing Director of the TCN, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed.

Activities at the complex were disrupted as the entrance gate was put under lock and key by the protesters who accused the

Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, of high-handedness and breach of due process in the removal of Mohammed.

THISDAY learnt that some top officials who arrived the complex early prior to the protest were locked inside the complex while others were not allowed entry.

The protesters under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE)

at TCN branch, demanded the reinstatement of Mohammed.

They threatened to paralyse transmission operations nationwide if their demand was not met.

Mohammed was removed Tuesday night through a statement issued by the minister, who replaced him with Mr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, “as part of continuing measures to reposition and improve the performance of the power sector in the country”.

Benue, Nasarawa Govs Meet over Insecurity Benue and Nasarawa State Governors, Mr. Samuel Ortom, and Alhaji Abdullahi Sule, yesterday met and agreed to jointly constitute security committees at the local government areas in their border communities to check criminal activities.

The LGAs are Guma in Benue and Obi, Keana and Doma in

Nasarawa.

The two governors and their officials took the decision during a joint peace and security meeting held in Yelwata, Benue State.

In a jointly signed communique, they resolved to hasten the boundary demarcation so as to address the lingering ethnic crisis at

their border communities.

The communique also stated that Fulani herdsmen should refrain from trespassing and occupying farmlands and communities in the border areas by obeying the ranching law of the state governments while urging farmers and herders not to take laws into their hands.

PDP Releases Schedules for Sale of Ondo Guber Forms

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released its timetable for the election of its governorship candidate in Ondo State.

According to the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Mr. Austin Akobundu, the sales of expression of interest and the governorship forms would commence on June 22 while the last date for the return of completed forms is June 26, which would be followed by the screening of aspirants from July 2.

The ward congresses to elect a three man ad-hoc ward delegates is slated for July 8.

The ward congresses appeal if any is slated for July 13.

The local government congresses to elect national delegates are slated for July 15 and the local government appeal would take place on July 18 and the publication

of the list of delegates would take place on July 20.

The election or nomination of the party’s governorship candidate is slated for July 22 and July 23 and the appeal on the outcome, if any, would take place on July 24.

The guideline also showed that the certification of the deputy governorship candidate by the National Working Committee of the party would take place on July 27 while July 28 was the last day to submit the name of the governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the last date for withdrawal and replacement of candidates is on August 18 The party said that the last date for submission of agents names of local government officers to INEC is September 24, while election will take place on October 10.

For Edo State, the party

said that the last day for the submission of the completed governorship forms is June 12.

The screening exercise for all those that completed and returned the governorship forms, according to the party, would take place on June 4, while the appeal for those that are dissatisfied with the screening is also June 4.

The National Organising Secretary of the PDP stated further that the ward elections to elect three ad-hoc delegates would take place on June 9 and the appeal for those dissatisfied with the outcome of the process is slated for June 12.

In the same manner, Colonel Akobundu (rtd) said that election of local government delegates to pick national delegates that would elect the governorship candidate of the party would be on June 16 and the appeal was slated for June 19.

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NEWS XTRA

ASUU Condemns Ngige’s Comments on Lecturers’ Strike

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday decried the statement credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, that lecturers are sitting at home playing Ludo game, describing

it as reckless and uncharitable.

The union also said the arrogance of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is manifested through the ‘unclipped mouths of his ministers’.

Ngige had reportedly asked ASUU to suspend its ongoing

PDP Warns against Plot to Foist Emergency Rule on Rivers Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned against any plot by certain individuals working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to orchestrate a security situation and push for imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The party said it has been informed of plots by such power-hungry politicians to sponsor their misguided youths to unleash violence and unrest in certain parts of the state to create an impression of security breakdown so as to validate their plot for imposition of emergency rule in the state.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary,

Kola Ologbondiyan, said such anti-people elements included some individuals who were rejected by the people of Rivers State in the 2019 governorship election as well as their godfathers, “who believe they have the backing of power mongers at the federal level, and now seek to manipulate situations with the COVID-19 pandemic to cause confusion and push their plot to take over the governance of the state through the back door.”

According to the PDP, “It is clear that the actions of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in protecting the state against the spread of COVID-19 are targeted at nothing but to protect lives, and such have continued to yield very positive results.

strike as precondition for renegotiating ASUU/federal government agreements, stating that the lecturers were sitting at home playing Ludo games when they are supposed to be doing research on how to solve COVID-19 pandemic.

But ASUU in a statement signed by its Ibadan Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Ade Adejumo, and made available to THISDAY, said in a clime of responsible governance and leadership, the government will be making moves to meet the demands of the union to get the strike suspended.

He said members of the union have been making giant inventions and playing frontline role in the fight against COVID-19 even when they have to contribute their money to develop ventilators

because they have “irresponsible government that has refused to fund and invest in research.”

Adejumo added that in a saner clime, people like Ngige would have resigned or become ex-minister as a conciliator general of a government that lacks the will to honour Memorandum of Actions (MoAs) signed with the union, maintaining that the pandemic has exposed the wickedness of the leadership of Nigeria that voted eight per cent of its 2020 budget to education as against 26 per cent prescribed

by UNICEF. On the accusation against ASUU by the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Adejumo said the AGF should be bold enough to account for the corruption surrounding the IIPIS as exposed by the union,

stating that the AGF is boasting on trampling on the university autonomy act by forcefully enrolling its members into the fraudulent platform.

He maintained that the AGF should invite Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to arrest those who supplied fictitious names to the IPPIS, stating that members of the union do not prepare salaries nor work in the bursary department of institutions.

According to him, “We are also constrained to respond to the minister’s uncharitable claim that Nigerian academics have been sitting down “at home playing Ludo and drafts and other games instead of conducting research for the discovery of new drugs and equipment to combat COVID-19, which is least expected of

someone who wears the garb of conciliator-general of Nigeria.

Such reckless statement has made him unqualified to stand as third party neutral in labour matters in Nigeria. In saner climes, he would have been advised to resign from his position or be removed in ignominy. Records are available everywhere to show that most meaningful interventions on combating the coronavirus in Nigeria today are still being led by academics in many states with the support of ASUU, even in the face of the general strike. We do this because we are aware of our responsibilities to the society as contained in our principles and laws. Ngige should tell Nigerians how committed is the government to funding research activities in our universities.”

Court Fixes June 2 to Hear Kalu’s Application for Freedom The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 2 to hear an application by a former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking his release from prison.

The motion on notice will be heard by Justice Mohammed Liman.

Orji is serving a 12-year jail term at the Correctional Service Centre in Kuje, Abuja for looting N7.65billion belonging to Abia State.

The Senate’s Chief Whip has hired a 12-man team of lawyers, including six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN)s, to prosecute his freedom bid.

He filed the motion on May 12 asking the court to nullify his conviction.

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, last December 5, convicted Kalu and

a former Director of Finance in the Abia State Government House, Ude Jones Udeogu, of the offence.

Udeogu bagged 10 years imprisonment.

Following Udeogu’s appeal, the Supreme Court on May 8 held that the fiat issued to Justice Idris to conclude the case after he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal was “a nullity”.

The highest Court set aside Idris’ verdict “as it pertains or relates to the appellant (Udeogu)”.

It ordered Udeogu’s freedom and the retrial of his case.

Kalu is contending that no legal basis exists for his continued incarceration following the Supreme Court’s judgment which declared his trial a nullity and freed Udeogu.

Niger Bars Women, Children from Ed-el-fitri Prayers Laleye Dipo in Minna The Niger State Government has barred women and children from the Ed-el-fitri prayers scheduled to mark the end of this year’s Ramadan.

The state government also stated that the prayers must be “brief and precise.”

Muslims throughout the country are expected to mark the end of the one month of fasting either Saturday or Sunday depending on the sighting of the moon.

These measures were announced by the Director General of Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs, Mr. Umar Farooq Abdullahi, who directed that: “The prayers are to be observed in various Juma’at Mosques across the state

with recitation of a short Surat (chapters) and a brief sermon.

Abdullahi said: “Medical guidelines, such as hand washing or hand sanitising, social distancing, and the use of face-masks must be adhered to.

“Muslims are to go home and stay immediately after prayers because all forms of gatherings are prohibited during the festival.

“The public is reminded of the dangers of the COVID’19, and therefore requested to continue to be conscious of the pandemic as a threat to life, property and security.”

The statement was issued after due consultations with Traditional Councils and Islamic Scholars in the state” and approval given by the state governor .

FEAR OF PANDEMIC…

Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (left), and Minister of State for Petroluem , Mr. Timipre Sylva, during the virtual Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ...yesterday GODWIN OMOIGUI

OAU Secures NUC’s Full Accreditation for Law, Dentistry, Others Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation to all the academic programmes in the Faculties of Law, Dentistry, Basic Medical Sciences and Social Sciences of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Ile-Ife.

He said that the NUC, with the statutory mandate to accredit academic programmes in all Nigerian universities, had fully accredited all the programmes.

Reacting to the accreditation, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, lauded the patriotic zeal of the Professor Abubakar Rasheed-led NUC. Ogunbodede praised NUC for giving in its best to ensure that all academic programmes being run by the universities in the country were of international standards.

He also appreciated what he called the institutional spirit of the institution’s Governing Council, led

by Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, the Senate as well as all the departments, faculties and alumni associations.

The vice chancellor said that their commitment had assisted, in much greater measure, in putting all the necessary facilities in place, which eventually culminated in the accreditation of all the courses, particularly those with initial outright denial or partial accreditation.

“With the latest accreditation of 42 undergraduate programmes, all the 107 programmes in the university are now accredited,” he said.

Ogunbodede pledged that his administration would put in more efforts at ensuring the sustenance of the high moral, academic and cultural standards which the university was noted for.He called on stakeholders in the education sector to do all within their powers to assist the university in putting in place more structures and infrastructure.

BudgIT Seeks Investigation of Lagos Speaker over Alleged Misappropriation Peter Uzoho The BudgIT Foundation has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate series of reports directly implicating the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, over misappropriation of public funds.

The foundation said that

Obasa has been accused of financial impropriety and misappropriation of N257 million, N17 million and N53 million while the latest of the same allegation being the receipt of N80 million estacode by himself, his deputy and 17 others for attending a five-day event in Dubai amidst the fight against COVID-19.

BudgIT in a statement yesterday signed by its Communications Director, Damilola Ogundipe, said the allegation corroborated

its claim that the legislative arm of government had been largely non-responsive to the calls for transparency and accountability both at the federal and state levels, and that these present allegations deepened the culture of disregard for transparency in the management of public funds.

Ogundipe said: “it is disheartening that lawmakers, both at the national and state levels, are not being held to the highest standards of scrutiny.

“It has become imperative to emphasise the need for both the national and state houses of assembly to be above board by entrenching a framework for fiscal transparency and accountability.”

BudgIT, however, called on the ICPC and EFCC to be proactive in investigating the foregoing allegations, to show their seriousness in fighting corruption in the country, as well as to elevate public confidence in the government.

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NEWS XTRA

Oyo APC Berates Makinde, State Assembly over N20bn Loan Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Oyo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday came hard on the House of Assembly for the express approval it gave to

Governor Seyi Makinde, to draw a fresh N20 billion “infrastructure loan” from a commercial bank.

The APC described the development as a sour grape in the mouth of the people The state government on

PDP Urges N’ Assembly, EFCC to Investigate Alleged Fraud in Agric Ministry

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the National Assembly to commence investigations into the revelation of the over N48 billion fraud in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The party further stated that the revelation has again exposed the high level corruption and cover-ups going on in the President Muhammadu Buhariled administration.

In calling on the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately commence investigation into the fraud in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the PDP said it is aimed at unraveling those behind the sleaze.

The party said: “The confession

by the queried former Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Umar Bello, that the duplicitous purchase of an uncompleted building for a humongous cost of N7.044 billion passing through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) further exposes the rot that has permeated the Buhari administration.”

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP said it held that such revelation has again shown how the corrupt cabal in the Buhari presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been pillaging the national treasury and fleecing the country of billions of naira through fraudulent transactions in various ministries, departments and agencies, while parading before Nigerians as saints.

Tuesday said it had gotten the nod of the House of Assembly to obtain another loan of N20 billion from a commercial bank in the country that would be spent on infrastructure.

But the APC in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan yesterday by the Oyo State Assistant Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Ayobami Adejumo, described the development as a clear manifestation of the PDP administration’s resolve to subject the state to bankruptcy and thus bring it down to its knees in no time while the governor and a

few people within the corridor of power must have succeeded in enriching themselves and some private institutions where they have interest.

The statement read in part: “It is no longer news that the administration of Makinde has failed to sustain the legacy of prudent and accountable management of resources it inherited from Senator Abiola Ajimobi who left power about a year ago.

“The whole world was again taken aback on Tuesday when it was reported that Gov. Makinde was to get another fresh loan

of N20 billion which was even tied to anything concrete. That brought the sum total of loan facilities already taken, in about 11 months, to over N40 billion.

The previous being a N10 billion infrastructure loan; N7.6 billion Agricultural Loan purportedly for the upgrade of two farm settlements in Akufo and Eruwa and another N2.5 billion Health Loan. All this happened at the same period when monthly federal allocations, refunds from federal government, monetary grants and donations came in simultaneously and without anything to show for it.

“It is recalled the camp of Mr. Seyi Makinde was popular for sponsoring incessant propaganda against the administration of Sen. Ajimobi between 2016 and early 2019 as it kept misleading the public over the state’s debt profile which they maliciously put at over N150 billion. However, a simple check from the Debt Management Office (DMO) indicated that the state debt profile at that time was N90b with evident heavy spending on recurrent expenditure, infrastructure, job creation, security, poverty alleviation and so on.

Kaduna Police Arrest Masterminds STRENGTHENING RELIGIOUS HARMONY… L-R: Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Dr. Muhammad Adam; Chief Rabbi of Israeli Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Israel Uzan; Israeli of Kajuru Attacks Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Shimon Ben-Shoshan; and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy, Mr. Yotan Kreiman, when the Chief

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umaru Muri, said yesterday that some suspects were arrested over the recent attacks in Kajuru, warning Adara, Fulani and other nationalities in the area to stop reprisal attacks.

Briefing journalists at the end of the security meeting in Government House, Kaduna, Muri warned Adara and Fulani to desist from taking laws into their hands, advising Kajuru residents to always report any case to security agencies for prompt action.

Muri said, “We discussed at length last time we met here and today we decided to invite Adara elected and Fulani leaders for this security meeting. With time, we will meet with Adara, Fulani, Hausa leaders and other stakeholders to work for peace in the area.

Reprisal attacks cannot solve

the problem and all concerned should desist from it. Both Adara and Fulani have been warned not to take laws into their hands.

We made some arrests; I can’t tell the exact numbers but we made arrests over the recent incident in Kajuru community.

In no distant time, we will have peace in Kajuru.” he said.

Also speaking, the member of House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal constituency, Hon. Yakubu Umar Barde, said the people of Kajuru should build confidence among themselves for peaceful coexistence.

He added that leaders of the area will continue to preach peace to residents.

Also speaking, the member representing Kajuru at Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Ubankato Tanko, said some people are benefiting from the continued attacks in Kajuru.

Emmanuel Ugwu in Umahia

and Obohia roads, which have been begging for attention over the years, adding that work would commence in a fortnight.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, in a statement made available to journalists in Umuahia, said Ikpeazu broke the cheering news in a live radio programme in Aba. The governor made it clear that every arrangement had been concluded for the commencement of the total reconstruction of the five designated roads in a fortnight.

He attributed the apparent delay in starting work on the roads to the desire of his administration to find a permanent solution to the problems on those roads, hence, the state government had to seek the assistance of international development partners.

Imam was showing a Quran verse to the Israeli officials, during the handover of Ramadan palliatives donated by the Israeli Embassy to the National Mosque in Abuja ...yesterday

Opposition Parties Vow to Shun Hearing on Infectious Diseases Bill

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Following allegation that the House of Representatives was bribed to pass the Infectious Disease Bill, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has passed a vote of confidence on its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, vowing that he will not appear before the committee of the House set up by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to investigate the bribery allegation.

The Ad hoc Committee investigating the allegation

gave Ugochinyere till today to appear before it with evidence of inducement as alleged by him or face parliamentary contempt.

But CUPP at a press conference in Abuja yesterday said it has reviewed the statements issued by its spokesman, including all the statements and conferences, and they were all in line with international best practices expected by the opposition.

Speaking at the conference, CUPP Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation, Mr. Kenneth Udeze, described the investigation as an

attempt to harass and intimidate the opposition parties since the opposition has been putting the government on its toes.

Udeze insisted that before they would engage with the House, Gbajabiamila and Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, must step aside for a neutral person to preside and set up a Committee that would see to the truth of his activities in the sponsorship of the Infectious Diseases Bill 2020.

According to CUPP, “The event at the farce hearing on May 18, 2020, was a clear attempt to intimidate the

opposition and the media as well as ensure they only publish pro-public news.

“Let it be made clear to Gbajabiamila that the Nigerian opposition will not indulge him neither are we ready to massage his ego. We will also not encourage nor support his desecrating the House of Representatives any further.

Therefore, our spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, will not be attending the illegal, and contemptuous sitting of his undemocratic committee led by Hon. Henry Nwawuba.

Condemns Dormancy of Law Reform Commission Ikpeazu Secures N27.4bn World Senate Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, obsolete laws in the country’s for better performance and Deji Elumoye in Abuja stated this during the screening statue books. The committee invariably upgrading our legal Bank Funding for Aba Roads The Senate yesterday expressed of the chairman and three other chairman, however, promised system for effective dispensation concern over the dormancy board nominees whose names that the Senate would expedite of justice.”

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday announced that five roads in Aba would be reconstructed to world class standard after securing international funding for the projects.

He said the sum of N27.4 billion has been secured for the road projects following the successful engagement of his administration with World Bank for funds.

According to him, the global bank released the funds after his administration had paid the required counterpart funding, adding that the people of the state would be very proud of the quality of roads that would be built in the commercial hub of the state.

He named the roads to include Ngwa, Uratta road, Port Harcourt road, Ohanku

of the Nigeria Law Reform Commission which has culminated in the existence of obsolete laws in the country’s statue books.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters,

were forwarded to the Senate last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stressed that the dormancy of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission is a dormant institution largely responsible for the continued existence of

action on the passage of a Reform bill for the commission to be able perform optimally According to him, “Be rest assured that the Senate will work on the bill in getting it passed very soon as a way of strengthening the commission

Speaking in the same vein, a member of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, said: “This commission as the body constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of law reforms is ordinarily supposed to be visible but not visible at all.”

House Resolves Delay in Payment of FCT Health Workers’ Salary Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has resolved the issues surrounding the delay in the payment of salary of some health workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The issues were resolved at a meeting yesterday between the leadership of the House led by it Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire’ Accountant

General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and officials of the health workers.

The health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals are to receive their salary on or before May 22, 2020.

In his remarks at the meeting, Gbajabiamila noted that the House would not fold its arms and watch the health workers embark on strike as they threatened to on May 28.

The Speaker expressed dismay that some health workers, who have been at the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, did not receive their salary and allowances since January.

He said from the information at his disposal, the issues had to do with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, saying equity and diligence must be adhered to in dealing with such issues.

Gbajabiamila commended

the health workers for their sacrifices and patience over the past few months, and assured them that the House would always prioritise their welfare.

Also speaking, FCT Minister, Bello, while thanking the Speaker for his intervention, said the FCT Administration had always paid salaries as and when due, but that with the introduction of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), they have been experiencing some hiccups.

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THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Man Breaks Two Gates, Rams into Ooni’s Palace A yet-to-be-identified man on Tuesday night broke two gates and forced his way into the compound where a house occupied by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was located in his Ile Oodua’s

palace in Ile Ife. Several gunshots were also heard around the palace and a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.

It was gathered that a man driving a Mercedes Benz car

Aggrieved Contractors Storm Agric Ministry, Demand Payments James Emejo in Abuja Aggrieved contractors yesterday besieged the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, protesting non-payment for projects alleged to have been completed.

The group of contractors laid siege to the main entrance to the minister’s office in a desperate effort to voice their grievances.

The ministry has come under the spotlight from the presidency for its failure to pay eligible contractors, resulting in cumulative outstanding contractual liabilities of N48.42 billion.

Only recently, the erstwhile Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Muhammad Bello Umar, was queried by the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi- Esan, over allegations of “acts of serious misconduct” at his former post.

The bulk of the allegations

against him bothered on nonpayment of contractors among other accusations which he denied, and rather blamed his successor, Dr. Mu’azu Abdulkadir, as well as the current Minister, Ahaji Sabo Nanono, for the issues.

Nevertheless, the protesting contractors, who chanted slogans, including the ‘Minister must go; the permanent secretary must go; pay us our money’, rejected all entreaties from security agents and refused to vacate the entrance, insisting to be addressed by either Nanono or Abdulkadir.

They claimed that the refusal of the ministry to pay the debts has had fatal consequences on their colleagues.

They added that the bank loans they obtained from their creditors to execute the various contracts had accumulated heavy service charges, which is already affecting their state of health.

Bauchi Emir Cancels Sallah Durbar The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Sulaiman, has canceled the annual durbar by royal horsemen, popularly known as “hawan daushe”, held a day after Eid-el-fitr (Sallah) in Bauchi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the horse parade is a tourism event organised by Emirs in the North, which attracts thousands of people during the sallah festivities.

Sulaiman said at the stakeholders’ meeting with the state government held yesterday

in Bauchi that the cancellation of the event was necessitated by the global Coronavirus pandemic.

He said the world was faced with the dreaded coronavirus disease, which had caused untold hardship to the people.

“We will do everything possible to see that we stop the spread of the virus in our society.

“Therefore, the annual “ daushe” horse parade is cancelled to ensure adherence to social distancing and discourage all forms of social gathering in the state,” he said.

Diri Inaugurates Committees on Community Policing Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, yesterday in Yenagoa, inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee and Community Policing Committee.

Diri also called for the building of mutual trust between the Nigeria Police and the general public in order to engender effective community policing in the country.

In a press release issued by the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor also commended the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for introducing the community policing initiative as a means to engender peace, stability and development across communities.

He said: “Without trust between the police, the citizens and communities, effective policing is practically impossible.

“The government and

people of Bayelsa State are happy with IGP Mohammed Adamu for bringing policing to the doorsteps of the people in the various communities and local government areas.

“I challenge the Nigeria Police Force to henceforth build that reputation to earn the confidence of the public.

They should use force only as the last resort.”

In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Community Policing Strategy, Mr. Michael Ogbizi, described community policing as a worthy innovation that would enable communities take ownership of maintaining law and order.

The IG said community policing strategy would be adopted in every state of the federation, adding that the new approach to policing would be more transparent and accountable.

with two passengers, had driven to the entrance of the palace some minutes to 7p.m but the security men at the entrance denied the vehicle entry and asked the driver to park.

“But before they could check the vehicle, two of the

passengers had disembarked and ran away, while the driver forced his way in. He hit the first gate and drove straight towards where Ooni lives.

“He also succeeded in breaking the second gate and was already near Ooni’s residence. He later

disembarked. The man was dressed in a long robe and had a dog with him.

“The dog was later shot dead, while the man was apprehended. The man was later taken to Moore Police Station in Ile Ife,” the source said.

Repeated attempts to reach the spokesperson for Ooni, Mr. Moses Olafare, were unsuccessful as calls to his mobile line did not connect, while he had not responded to inquiries through text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

CRIMINALS IN TROUBLE…

L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Douye Diri; Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Mr. Mike Ogbizi; and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Benin, Mr. Dibal Yakadi; during the inauguration of State Community Policing Advisory Committee and State Community Policing Committee, at Chief DSP Alamieyeseighaís Banquet Hall, Yenagoa ...yesterday

Umahi Bans Almajirai in Ebonyi Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi, said he would not allow Almajiris into the state, and consequently banned them in the state.

The ban came as the state records 13th case of COVID-19.

According to him, “We have recorded 13 coronavirus cases shockingly and surprisingly in the state now. The first treatment

centre has a total of 26 facility rooms and in the next seven days, we will be opening ultramodern emergency hospital ward which we are turning to 300-bed isolation centre in Abakaliki.”

Umahi also revealed that one of the patients, a three years old child, has recovered from the virus and discharged after he tested negative twice.

Speaking during the weekly

broadcast on COVID-19, the governor stressed that he was not afraid to say that there would not be Almajiri in the state.

Umahi, while speaking on reports of Almajiris being smuggled into the South-east region, also acknowledged the Northern governors for their cooperation and understanding on the issue.

He said: “We will not be afraid to say that there will

not be Amajiris in Ebonyi State, and I commend the northern governors who said they should go to their state of origin.

“We will not allow Amajiris into Ebonyi State. They should go to their state of origin. We have to begin to tell ourselves the truth as a people.”

He also banned the rearing of cattle around the new government house located inside the Centenary City in Abakaliki.

Anambra Establishes Mobile Court to Prosecute Violators of Guidelines

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Anambra State Government yesterday said it has established mobile courts to prosecute violators of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, said those to be prosecuted included people who failed to wear face masks, those violating the social distancing protocol and interstate travel ban among others.

According to him, “To protect Anambra people from the untoward behaviour of these people, which has colossal consequences, the state government has decided to set up mobile courts in various parts of the state to try offenders.

“The details of how the mobile courts will carry out their duties are being worked out by the Ministry of Justice.

“We will continue to work together to make Anambra State the safest place in Nigeria in every sense of it. God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.”

The commissioner also added that the state government has also decided to set up a COVID-19 Task Force in each of the 326 wards in the state, and that members will be comprised of the Ministry of Health Liaison Officer, the Officer in charge of the main Primary Healthcare Centre in the ward, the youth leader in the ward, the woman leader in the ward, the Development Ward Chairman and the councillor of the ward, who will head the taskforce.

“The taskforces are to take to the grassroots the message of the dangers of COVID-19 and

how to prevent the spread of the contagion.

“In view of the above, members of our various communities are enjoined to provide relevant information to the taskforces in the LGAs and in the 326 wards in the state.

“Relevant information includes the presence of strangers in their midst, the return of persons who have in the last two weeks been to states with high incidences of the coronavirus pandemic and individuals who exhibit such COVID-19 symptoms as dry cough, constant sneezing and shortness of breath.

Bauchi Lifts Ban on Worship Centres, Religious Gatherings Produces 900,000 face masks for distribution

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has lifted the ban that was placed on religious gatherings in the state as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

The lifting of ban, which became effective today (Thursday) followed the success achieved so far in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state as shown

in the massive number of recoveries the state has recorded.

Mohammed made this known yesterday during a stakeholders meeting held at the Command Guest House, Bauchi, where he emphasised that the state has been able to put the pandemic under control, despite the number of infections in the state.

He said: “We are now looking at the possibility of lifting the lockdown completely in the state so that people will go

about their normal businesses starting from Thursday (today).

But we will have to agree with some templates where we will continue with the social distancing and mask wearing will become compulsory” “This decision will be taken by you because the total decision of the lockdown was taken by you. We are just suggesting as a government and on behalf of the government, I am suggesting that as from Thursday, we should lift the Lockdown, even

the one in Katagum.

“People will go about their normal businesses, pray on Friday and if we agree on context and character, so that people will go to Eid. But we will need the support of our royal fathers, so that there will not be much celebrations. We will only achieve what we want to achieve as Muslims, pray and thank Allah for the day. But there will be no horse riding if you agree. This is subject to our discussion here.” he said

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THURSDAY MAY 21, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Uzodimma Slashes RoW Charges for Telecoms to N145 Amby Uneze in Owerri Barely one week after Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State signed an executive order, reducing the right of way (RoW) charges for telecommunication

companies to N145 per linear metre, his counterpart in Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has also slashed the charges to N145.

Uzodimma yesterday, signed an Executive Order No. 002,

2020 significantly reducing the charges from N4,500 to N145 per meter in tandem with federal government policy.

The order explained that, the reduction was a manifestation of the state government’s determination to spur the

telecommunication companies to further invest in broadband infrastructure and to trigger ancillary on-line services, especially in the field of education.

The order further said that

the government was hopeful that the drastic reduction from N4500 of the broadband ROW to N145 per liner meter of fibre, will accelerate the deployment of affordable, and reliable modern high speed connectivity in the state.

The Executive order urged telecommunication companies to note that the state plays host to a vibrant youthful demography located in many tertiary institutions, who form the bulk of the end users of their products

ADC Alleges Executive Incompetence in FG’s School Feeding Programme The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged executive incompetence in the federal government’s school feeding programme, calling on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians and refrain from allocating very scarce resources to unproductive, resource draining projects, all in the name of welfare.

The ADC, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Yemi Kolapo, particularly frowned at the reported spending of hundreds of millions, daily, on school children’s feeding even when schools remained shut.

The party queried the rationale behind such spending at a time temporary spending increases should be targeted at containing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating the economic impact of both the pandemic and the fall in international oil prices.

According to Kolapo, the attempt by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk, to rewrite the absurdity in the minds of Nigerians has further opened up the inadequacies of the current administration in the area of economic management.

The party said, “The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk, as expected, denied reports that the Federal Government was spending N697million, daily, on its school feeding programme. This denial was necessary, considering the heated controversy that trailed the insistence on continuing the project even while schools were shut. “Her explanation, though not totally off point, however, revealed the penchant of the All Progressives Congress government for reckless spending even in the most difficult economic situations.”

The ADC argued that the minister’s explanation that the Federal Government was only spending N4,200 per household, monthly, for 3,131, 971 households was an indirect confirmation of the needless expenditure.

It said, “N4, 200 per month for 3,131,971 households gives a total of N13.15bn monthly, while the daily expenditure comes to N438.5million.

“So, if the N697million daily spending being circulated appears monstrous, is the minister saying that spending N438.5million, in the same vein, is defensible?”

Bayelsa State Government has lamented the failure of the federal government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support it with funds and other logistics in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, criticised the federal government at a meeting he had with the state task force on COVID-19.

Diri said the state had only been receiving support from other corporate concerns and individuals like former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

He said while Jonathan donated 1,000 bags of rice and 1,000 bags of beans, Oba Ogunwusi donated two motorised modular fumigators. Also, former Governor of the state, Seriake Dickson, donated N10 million, while another good citizen, Freeborn David donated 150 face masks, the governor added.

Others are First City Monument Bank, Yenagoa branch, 114 cartons of instant noodles, 979 10kg bags of rice, 80 packets of face masks; Ecobank, 350 10kg bags of rice and 370 5kg bags of Garri; Academic Staff Union of Universities, Port Harcourt chapter, 100 milligrams of 500 bottles of sanitisers as well as the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), 50 bottles

L-R: Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Imo State Governor, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku; Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba; and Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Ikechukwu Sunday Umeh, briefing journalists at the end of Exco meeting at the Government House, Owerri...yesterday

Corps Marshal Tasks FRSC Personnel on Strict Enforcement of Restrictions

Pursuant to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19’s conveyance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on extending the eased lockdown for another two weeks in the bid to further contain and control the spread of the disease for another 14 days, the Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered officers and men across the country to gear up and align completely with the ongoing enforcement of 200 milligram sanitisers. on restrictions and physical Meanwhile, the state distancing amongst vehicle government has decontaminated occupants and carry out the the private hospital where the doctor who tested positive for COVID-19 two days ago was treated. Diri said the hospital had to be closed down and the workers quarantined and tested.

“The doctor, who works at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Peter Uzoho was said to have returned from a trip to Delta State a few days The National Leader of ago,” he said. His case brought the ruling All Progressives to two the active COVID-19 cases Congress (APC), Senator Bola in Bayelsa State. Five previously Tinubu, has congratulated confirmed cases had been Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam discharged after testing negative on his appointment as the in isolation.The governor directed Chairman, Board of Trustees that the presidential directives of of the Tertiary Education Trust inter-state lockdown be adopted Fund (TETFUND).

Tinubu also commended for another two weeks as well Muhammadu as the dusk-to-dawn curfew of President Buhari and the Minister of 8p.m. to 6a.m.

He equally stated that the stay- Education, Adamu Adamu, for at-home order for civil servants on grade levels 01 to 12 be extended for another two weeks as part of strategies to contain the spread Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja of the virus.

The governor, however, directed The Acting Chairman of the state Head of Service to liaise the Economic and Financial with the Permanent Secretary, Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ministry of Health; the Chief Mr. Ibrahim Magu, yesterday Medical Director of the Niger advised Nigerians to be wary Delta University Teaching Hospital of fraudsters using the raging and his counterpart at the Federal coronavirus pandemic to Medical Centre in Yenagoa as well defraud unsuspecting victims. as the Director of Public Health He said fraudsters were on to devise a plan on the gradual the prowl promising innocent return to work of the affected Nigerians access to palliatives civil servants. from the government in a bid

Bayelsa Laments Neglect by FG, WHO Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa

GIVING ACCOUNT OF STEWARDSHIP…

presidential directives with all vigour so as to contribute immensely in flattening the curve of the pandemic.

According to a statement issued by the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal’s directive is to reiterate the commitment of the FRSC towards sustaining existing collaborations with the federal and state governments in the fight against the ravaging virus, and further ensure that the order on restrictions are diligently and effectively enforced with all sense of professionalism, civility and

resilience.

While charging the Commanding Officers to ensure adequate deployment of personnel on all routes, the corps marshal noted that as the corps moves into the first week of the extension of phase one of the eased lockdown regime, personnel must show diligence and ensure total enforcement of all the measures in place.

He tasked personnel to strictly enforce the ban on interstate travels, physical distancing amongst commuters, and policy on use of masks/covering.

He also sustained the initial

order that no vehicle should be allowed to violate the directives.

According to him, except the vehicles and the occupants are accredited essential workers with proof of identification, Commanding Officers must ensure that the vehicles are impounded and the occupants handed over to the Police for prosecution in the Court of Law for contravening the Presidential Order on restrictions, social distance and stay at home.

He therefore advised citizens to comply with the restriction order or face the wrath of the law.

Tinubu Hails Ibrahim-Imam on His Appointment as TETFUND Chairman their prudence in making an excellent choice in the person of Ibrahim-Imam.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Media Office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, the former Lagos State governor said that Ibrahim-Imam was bringing on board the TETFUND board his high cognitive abilities, deep knowledge and immense skills.

The former Lagos State Governor added that the

new TETFUND chairman horned his administrative and managerial skills over years of constant learning, and engagement in the corporate sector.

He said: “From my years of close relationship with him, I know that with his tenacity, courage, conviction, innovative ideas and commitment to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria, he has the right qualities to make a huge difference at this

important organisation.

“I congratulate Alhaji Ibrahim-Imam for this appointment. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for their wisdom and prudence in finding an excellent man for the job.

“I pray for God’s guidance and direction so he can make the right decisions that would positively impact tertiary institutions in our country.”

Palliatives: EFCC Cautions against Scams to manipulate their banking details against them.

“Do not accept calls from unknown person purporting to be in charge of distribution of palliatives on behalf of the federal government or asking you to send details of your bank account,” he said.

Magu, who spoke through the Head, Advance Fee Fraud, AFF Section, Makurdi Office of the EFCC, Philips Stephanie, called on financial

institutions and Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DFNIs), to always apply due diligence in handling online financial transactions to stem the growing rate of cybercrime in the country.

He explained further that there are regulations from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guiding the operations of the Point of Sales (PoS) operators.

He stressed the need for financial institutions and

DNFIs to adhere to the dictates of the law in their operations and warned that the EFCC would not tolerate any breach of extant laws.

The EFCC boss lamented the impact of cybercrimes on the economy, stressing that it was a crime with multiplier effects. “People are losing their jobs on a daily basis as a result of cybercrime”, he said in a statement issued by the commission.

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COVID -19 UPDATE...

COVID -19 UPDATE...

Eight Doctors Test Positive in Zamfara Eight doctors have tested positive for coronavirus in Zamfara State, according to the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Zamfara branch, Dr. Mannir Bature, in Gusau yesterday.

Bature said, “Out of about 80 confirmed cases recorded so far in the state, 10 per cent are

doctors who came into contact with the virus in the line of duty while trying to save lives, especially during emergencies.”

He, however, explained that some of the doctors have been discharged from the hospital while others are responding to treatment.

Bature said 30 other doctors,

who came into contact with their infected colleagues, are in isolation to curb further spread of the virus in the state.

According to him, the

situation has caused a negative impact on the performance of doctors in the state, especially during the pandemic.

“We only have a total of

about 300 doctors in the state, including those at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau as well as other state government’s health facilities,” he added.

Bature, therefore, called on the state government to consider the employment of more doctors to combat the pandemic.

Lagos Discharges 17 Additional Patients Martins Ifijeh The Lagos State Government has discharged 17 additional COVID-19 patients from its isolation centres, bringing to 649 the total number of successfully treated persons in the state.

Announcing this yesterday, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the patients include six females and 11 males, adding that they were

all Nigerians.

He said: “Seven were discharged from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, six from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and four from the Gbagada Isolation Centres. They have fully recovered and tested negative to COVID-19 in two consecutive readings. This brings to 649, the number of discharged cases in Lagos,” he said.

Ogun Vows Strict Enforcement of Interstate Travel Ban SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE...

Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government has warned that there is no exception or privilege accorded anyone, no matter how highly placed, in the ban placed on inter-state travels.

The Special Adviser to the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Security Matters, Mr. Sola Subair, made the disclosure in Abeokuta yesterday.

Subair, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, expressed concern that despite the government spirited efforts to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic through the closure of Ogun State borders against other states, some people still willfully defy the order.

“The state government is committed to protecting the people at all times as well as flattening the curve of the pandemic.

“Therefore, any person or group of people that enters the state, especially during

this period of inter-state travel ban, will be turned back to their state,” he declared.

He charged the security agencies not to hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone caught resisting correction.

Complementing him, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin, said: “No matter where they hide, our law enforcement agencies would fish them out.”

The governor helmsmen’s tough talk came on the heels of last Tuesday’s arrest of four youths from Niger State, who sneaked into the state, having hidden along with their motorcycles inside a truck bearing food items.

They reportedly alighted at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and from there road to Abeokuta, where they hoped to start commercial motor operation.

But they were soon arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

FCT Explains Continued Closure of Places of Worship Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has advanced reasons why places of worship cannot yet be reopened in the territory.

Bello made the explanation during a meeting between the FCTA and representatives of the FCT Christian and Muslim communities, led by the Chairman of the FCT branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Jonah and the Chairman FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr. Tajudeen Mohammed Bello Adigun.

The minister said the FCT was guided by advice from medical experts and guidelines from the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, which had directed that all measures approved two weeks earlier be extended for another two weeks.

He noted that those measures included the restriction on religious gatherings.

“Based on the guidance of the medical experts and consultations with highest authority, the Presidential Task Force gave a decision and communication on the fact that all the measures approved two weeks ago be extended for another period of time to enable organisations, individuals and all of us plan for a gradual opening up of the society” According to the minister, the meeting acknowledged that the primary concern of all leaders and public officials was to save lives and this involves monitoring very closely reports from the health authorities which indicated that after nine weeks of the pandemic and attempts to curtail its spread not much has changed.

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde (left), presenting palliatives to an aged resident during the house-to-house distribution of palliatives in Ibadan...yesterday

WHO Pledges to Intensify Fight against Pandemic The World Health Organisation (WHO) has vowed to use every tool at its disposal to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, its Director General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, has said.

Ghebreyesus spoke at the closing of two-day virtual World Health Assembly in Geneva.

In his speech posted on WHO website, Ghebreyesus said some of the recommendations from the assembly would be shared and be implemented.

“WHO’s focus now is fighting the pandemic with every tool at its disposal.

“Our focus is on saving lives.

At the end of the day, what matters is life. That should be at the centre of everything we do and everything we say.

“I’ve been heartened by the way countries have shared experiences, best practices through our regular Member State briefings and at this Assembly,’’ he said.

The director general said the agency would continue to provide strategic leadership to coordinate the global response and support efforts by countries.

“We will continue providing

the world with epidemiological information and analysis.

“We will continue to keep the world informed and give people and communities the information they need to keep themselves and each other safe.

“We will continue shipping diagnostics, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies all over the world.

“We will continue bringing together leading experts from around the world to develop technical advice, based on the best science.

“We will continue driving research and development

to develop evidence about vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics,’’ he said.

Ghebreyesus, also said the agency would continue to work with countries and all relevant partners to ensure equitable access to the tools to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19.

“We will continue supporting countries to prepare and respond. We will continue working with countries to sustain essential health services.

“We will continue to work day and night to support the most vulnerable countries and populations.”

Oil Workers Account for 60% of Cases in Rivers, Says Wike Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has blamed the rising COVID-19 cases in the state on unscreened oil workers.

He said 60 per cent of infections recorded in the state came from such employees returning from rigs.

Speaking when the management team of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, the governor said

the development accounted for why he insisted that oil workers coming into the state must be tested to know their coronavirus status.

Wike said oil remained the mainstay of the economy and clarified all his actions were not targeted at anybody or organisation.

He recalled that recently the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Base, Port Harcourt quarantined 14 oil workers out which three of them tested positive for

the virus.

He said: “It is not in anybody’s interest to deny people to carry out their official duties.

“Oil is the main stay of the economy of Nigeria and without it we that are in this part of the country will find it difficult to function.

“My concern is that companies should always notify government of workers they are bringing into the state, so that our health officials can

monitor them.

“So, all that we are saying is that we should work together.

But people bring in politics that Rivers State is difficult; they don’t want any oil exploration; that is because people want to play politics.

“People say we don’t want foodstuff and livestock to come into the State. That is not correct.

“What we are saying is that human beings should not be hidden with these items.”

Masari’s Wife Donates One Million Face Masks to Katsina LGs Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Wife of Katsina State Governor, Dr. Hadiza Bello Masari, yesterday donated one million certified face masks to the 34 local government areas of the state to support the government’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other beneficiaries included the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Correctional Centres (NCC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Red Cross and state Ministries.The free face masks were donated

by the governor’s wife through her pet project; Centre for the Advancement of Mothers and Children in collaboration with the management of Green House Katsina.

Speaking shortly after the distribution of the face masks, Mrs Masari said the donation was informed by the necessity of providing face masks to vulnerable groups to ensure their protection against the contracting and spreading of the deadly disease.

She reiterated that the numerous challenges posed

by COVID-19 pandemic have called for support and

cooperation of all and sundry.

She added: “I therefore, urged all beneficiaries to make proper use of it so that the spread of the virus will be curtailed. Let me use this opportunity to remind parents, particularly mothers that there is yet no cure found for COVID-19.

“The only protection against infection with the virus as advised by medical experts is personal hygiene, frequent hand washing, use of face mask and social distancing. As Eid-el-fitr is approaching, parents must ensure that children are not allowed unnecessary visits

and social gatherings”.

The governor’s wife admonished religious and traditional leaders to be more proactive in sensitising their followers and subjects on the dangers associated with COVID-19 in order to tackle it in the state.

On his part, the State COVID-19 Emergency Response Committee Chairman, Mannir Yakubu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Mr. Nuhu Danja, lamented that the novel COVID-19 pandemic had crippled commercial activities in the state.

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THURSDAYSPORTS

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

Dope: Nigeria’s Paralympic Champion, Esther Onyema, Banned for Four Years

Duro Ikhazuagbe Nigeria’s former Paralympic and Commonwealth Games champion, Esther Onyema, 38, has been banned four years by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for committing

an anti-doping rule violation.

Onyema’s dream of adding to the gold and silver medals she won at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020 has however evaporated now as she is no longer eligible to compete in the

sport until May 2, 2023.

The Nigerian para power lifter who won gold medalists in the last three Commonwealth Games in Delhi (India), Glasgow (Scotland) and Gold Coast (Australia) tested positive to 19-norandrosterone found in her urine sample collected at the 2019 International Para Powerlifting competition which held in Lagos.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) : “As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. “The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic

Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code (the Code) to prevent doping in sport for Paralympic athletes, in the spirit of fair play. The Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.�

The drug is one of the substances included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019 Prohibited List under the class S1.1B Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and their Metabolites and isomers.

Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample.

An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete

intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

In addition to the four-year ban, Onyema has also been stripped of the gold medal which she won in the Women’s 55kg competition in Lagos, together with any points and laurels accrued to her.

Oyema who was Nigeria’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast two years ago, has enjoyed a long career at elite level, winning medals at Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.

She narrowly missed a consecutive Paralympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when she was edged out by

Mexico’s Amalia Perez who broke a world record on her way to claiming the top place on the podium.

Onyema however made up for the slip in Brazil by setting new world record in the women’s under-50kg category by pressing 131kg on her final lift at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

None of Nigeria’s para power lifting officials could be reached for an official statement on the development yesterday.

However, the Media Officer of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN), Patrick Ibeh promised an official statement from the Olympic movement for the physically challenged athletes today.

Esther Onyema...banned for four years for dope

Chukwueze Excited with Planned Return of Spanish La Liga Nigeria and Villarreal forward, Samuel Chukwueze, has expressed his excitement at the planned return of action in the Spanish topflight La Liga after two months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With gradual return to football starting with the German Bundesliga last weekend and the group training in England, Chukwueze and his teammates have also started training based on the protocols issued by health authorities.

The Spanish Government has given teams in the La Liga the permission to begin training in the group of ten, as clubs

get set for the restart of the league on June 12.

Chukwueze and his Villarreal teammates have since returned to training with the Super Eagles forward sharing pictures from the session with the headline : “Good to be back.“.

The Spanish La Liga was suspended back in March following the coronavirus pandemic which has ravaged the country and others in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has said he expects LaLiga to resume “soon� behind closed doors.

Samuel Chukwueze has rejoined his Villarreal teammates for group trainings as the Spanish La Liga get ready for restart of the 2019/2020 season disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic since last March

Pulev Claims Anthony Joshua Scared of Him Barca’s ‘Project Neymar’ Fades, as the Brazilian Star Wants Longer Stay at PSG Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, the mandatory challenger to the IBF heavyweight title that Anthony Joshua is holding has accused the British-Nigerian of being scared of him. The IBF title is one of the four heavyweight titles that Joshua is holding.

Fellow Briton, Tyson Fury, holds the fifth heavyweight title organised by WBC. Joshua was originally given a 20 June date to mandatorily defend his IBF title against Pulev, but the fight has been called off owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

But UK’s The Sun has reported that there have been rumours that Joshua and his Matchroom tean are hoping Pulev steps aside so their man can face Fury in an undisputed heavyweight clash.

But Pulev is adamant he is going no where and he is furious that a date has not been set in stone for the title fight.

Speaking about the idea of letting Fury in, the 39-year-old said: “I wouldn’t accept it. “I did it once when I didn’t have to do it for him (Joshua) to have his second match against Ruiz Jr.

“Everything was against IBF’s rules, but I compromised. “I see how people are afraid of me and are trying to face someone else before me. “Thats not how a real world champion should act. “Even Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are coming back to the game to show that they are real warriors, not like him.�

Joshua, 30, defeated Andy Ruiz Jr in a December rematch in Saudi Arabiato win back his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles.

Six months earlier he had lost them when the Mexican delivered one of boxing’s biggest ever shocks with a seventh-round KO win.

Now Pulev is ready to spring his own surprise – and he wants to get the date and venue sorted.

He added: “Enough is enough. “I cant understand why we are still postponing instead of fixing a date and venue and getting to work? I cant wait to win this fight. “A year has passed, and they always have a reason to postpone, not to fight against me.

Neymar’s agent has appeared to shut down rumours linking the Brazilian superstar with a return to Barcelona - claiming his client is likely to stay with PSG because of the impact of the coronavirus.

The forward joined the Ligue 1 outfit in 2017 for a mouthwatering ÂŁ200million from the Nou Camp after allegedly falling out with his teammates and seeking fresh scenery, but in recent years he has looked disillusioned with life in France.

Barcelona are said to be interested in reunited Neymar with the likes of Lionel Messi and

Luis Suarez, a trio which caused chaos for opposition teams when they played together, and have been linked with a big-money move to bring him back.

But Neymar’s representative Wagner Ribeiro said the recent pandemic has completely changed the make-up of the game financially, and believes the player will end up staying at the Parc des Princes as a result. ‘I think Neymar will stay at PSG because the market is difficult,’ he said, as reported

by UK’s the Sun. ‘The economic world of football will change.’

The Nou Camp outfit are said to be desperate to sign a new forward, having been linked with Inter’s Lautaro Martinez and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Neymar would be able to adjust quickly as he is already familiar with the set-up.

Neymar blitzed his way to 105 goals for Barcelona in a successful spell across 186 games as he lifted eight trophies.

But after four seasons with the club he eventually sought to establish himself as one of the world’s elite players and moved to Paris for a world-record fee.

Although he has scored 69 goals in 80 games for the club, he has fallen out with supporters at times with accusations he has not given his all to the team.

However, he recently appeared to turn a corner following his comeback from an injury last year and scored five goals in his last six games.

Earlier this month former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera claimed the Brazil international was the most content he had been since joining. ‘I had dinner with Neymar before the quarantine and he is very involved with the project.

Watford, Burnley Confirm Positive Covid-19 Tests One player and two staff at Watford and Burnley Assistant Manager, Ian Woan, are among six positive Premier League tests for Covid-19.

The other two are at a third club, the details of which have not been revealed.

Players and staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for seven days.

It comes as squads started non-contact training yesterday as the Premier League steps up plans for a restart.

A total of 748 players and staff from 19 clubs were tested.

Norwich City did their tests on Tuesday.

Burnley said Woan was “asymptomatic� and “currently safe and well at home�. “He will remain in close communication with club personnel regarding his reengagement in training once he is clear of the virus,� the club added.

Watford confirmed a player and two members of staff had tested positive but they would not be naming those involved as they had asked for medical confidentiality.

Before the news about Watford’s positive tests emerged, captain Troy Deeney said he would not return to training because he feared for his family’s health.

A number of other team-mates have joined Deeney’s stance in not training and they will follow individual programmes at home. They want reassurances to questions they have around the return to training protocols and the specifics around the spread of the virus. “We’re due back in this week.

I’ve said I’m not going in,�

Deeney, 31, told Eddie Hearn and Tony Bellew on the Talk the Talk YouTube show. “It only takes one person to get infected within the group and I don’t want to be bringing that home. “My son is only five months old. He had breathing difficulties, so I don’t want to come home to put him in more danger.�

In an interview with the Sunday Times, manager Nigel Pearson expressed his own concerns about the situation and said he would not insist on players reporting for training.

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Price: N250

MISSILE Aliyu Tilde to Nigerians “The decision of governments worldwide to ban prayer congregations - from Mecca to The Vatican - is informed by dictates of public safety. The ban will be lifted when it is no longer necessary, upon the right advice of health professionals who take the lead on matters relating to the pandemic. Even in the interest of faith, markets must be opened as long as necessary to avoid scaling up poverty, the partner of unbelief. However, the biggest markets to open are our hearts to reason and our brains to wisdom� – Public commentator, Dr Aliyu Tilde.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Nigeria in A Zoom New World!

T

he African Initiative for Governance (AIG) Advisory Panel meeting last Friday was expected to last no more than two hours. We were still engaged in a robust conversation ten minutes after exceeding the scheduled time when our chairman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, offered one of his usual anecdotes. This time from a 1961 military parade, involving the Regimental Sergeant Major and a late-arriving Adjutant. We knew what was to follow, as he asked Mr A.B. Mahmoud, SAN, to give the closing prayer.

The Zoom meeting was attended by the AIG promoter, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and his wife, Ofovwe from London. Dr Jeya Wilson joined from Geneva, Switzerland.

The CEO, Ms Chienye Ogwo as well as Prof.

Enase Okonedo, Mrs Yemisi Ayeni and Dr ’Dere Awosika participated from different locations in Lagos. Mahmoud and I joined from Abuja while Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister of Ghana, was in Accra. President Obasanjo, of course, chaired from Abeokuta.

Notwithstanding our various venues, this was one of our most productive sessions in recent times.

24 hours later, I joined hundreds of others from across the world for the 60th birthday party of Chief Dele Momodu, aka Bob Dee. Although there was no ‘Item Number 7’ at the end, I will not be surprised if someone is already working on an App by which Jollof Rice can be delivered to the homes of those who subscribe to Zoom parties. Meanwhile, a week earlier, the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr Nasir El-Rufai had virtually inaugurated the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) board. Mr Dele Olojede chaired our inaugural meeting from Stellenbosch, South Africa while the secretary, Ms Zainab Mohammed coordinated from Kaduna with Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Chief of Staff to the Governor. Mr Bilya Bala, Mrs Maryam Uwais and myself were in Abuja with Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, Mr Jimi Lawal, Ms Kadaria Ahmed, Mrs Ndidi Nwuneli, Mr Asue Ighodalo, Ms Lola Shoneyin and Mrs Ibukun Awosika in Lagos. My aburo, Japheth Omojuwa joined from London. It was also a very interesting session that ended with a digital group photograph.

Without doubt, COVID-19 has ushered in a brand new world of communication platforms, including Zoom, Webinar and SKYPE. Virtual interaction minimises travel and will positively impact the environment due to a drastic reduction in human activity.

And while a world ruled by innovation and creativity will give rise to a few winners, there are going to be many losers. My concern is that while other countries are looking at the sectors that will be affected and projecting possible solutions, some of our leaders remain trapped in the business of cutting and pasting Singaporean laws to tackle Nigerian challenges.

In a way, I saw this coming. My 2016 ‘Platform Nigeria’ presentation made the distinction between a ‘luggage economy’ on which our country seems fixated, and the ‘knowledge economy’ that many other societies embrace. The future, I said, belongs to those who will apply “the power of human imagination to use know how and

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami

‘know-why’ to create business opportunities through new entrepreneurship models.â€? In this new economy, I added, “the son of a Yoruba carpenter like me, or the daughter of a Fulani herdsman or perhaps the cousin of an Ijaw fisherman who excels in school and acquires IT proficiency, basic engineering or entrepreneurship skills can break through barriers to quickly emerge with a product or service the mass market wants‌With greater application of knowledge, we can do things much smarter, much more efficiently, and much more productively.â€?

The point I underscored is that we now live in the knowledge economy “and for us to compete in this new world, we must consciously create the conditions that will allow our people to become knowledge workers and knowledge entrepreneurs. Our young people, largely on their own, have shown that they are ready to be active players in and contributors to this age. How do we support them with an enabling environment? And if that is too difficult, how do we ensure we do not impede their progress? Most importantly, how do we guarantee quality education to our young citizens across all strata and ensure that our educational system adapts to the realities of the moment?�

With COVID-19, the chickens have come home to roost, leaving us exposed. In many countries, the 2019/2020 academic calendar was concluded with online classes and examinations. This has not been the case in Nigeria, even though I am also convinced it is within our reach. In September 2014, following the shutdown of schools in the country as a result of the Ebola outbreak, then President of Loyola Jesuit College (LJC) Abuja, Father Emmanuel Ugwejeh, SJ, experimented with Google Classroom (launched only a month earlier on 12th August 2014). Once Ebola was contained, Father Emma decided to make online classes mandatory for LJC students during holidays.

Many parents kicked because it would make nonsense of family travel plans but the LJC authorities won, as they always do in confrontations with parents! I recall my conversation with Father Emma and then Principal, Father Joe-Stanis Okoye, JS on the issue. They argued that compulsory online

classes during holidays would enable the school to perfect the system because a time could come when students might be forced to stay at home for even longer periods.

They wanted LJC to be ready. I have seen the power of visionary leadership in recent weeks with my son fully kitted in his school uniform (teachers ‘inspect’ them) for online classes between 9am and 3pm. They even started their Continuous Assessment (CA) exams yesterday. Since we cannot muddle our way through the challenges of the postcoronavirus world we are about to enter, we need such forward thinking in several areas of our national life.

Last September, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dasuki Arabi, informed us that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the secretariat on implementation of the Oronsaye report white paper to submit their recommendations to the Federal Executive Council for consideration. “Most likely, after that, it will go to the National Assembly because most of the agencies to be scrapped or merged have enabling laws. So, they must look at those laws and repeal them before we have the new agencies,� said Arabi. His words have been echoed by other officials of government on the necessity of implementing the 2012 report of the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, established by President Goodluck Jonathan. It is gratifying that the idea of cutting waste in government predates the COVID-19 pandemic but the situation now calls for greater urgency. The federal government must understand that the Oronsaye report goes beyond scrapping or merging parastatals because it speaks to many issues in our country.

For instance, according to the report, there are 106 public-funded core research and quasi-research centres spread across Nigeria, including a full-fledged institute for the study of Trypanosomiasis. But funding these research centres, each of which has a Director General and a retinue of staff, says much about the importance we attach to knowledge. “In the 2011 fiscal year, the sum of N97,108,917,918 was allocated to all the institutes with personnel and overhead costs accounting for N42,581,362,128 and N10,157,863,826 respectively. Of the N44,369,691,964 allocated to capital, only N10,408,574,488 was for core research activities,� says the Oronsaye report. So, from the N97 billion earmarked for Research Institutes that year, only about 10 percent of the money was expended on core research work with the rest going to salaries and sundry procurements!

While we do not need many of these ‘Institutes’ that are mere cost centres, we must create the environment for research activities, especially in the health sector. COVID-19 is a virus and malaria is a parasite, but there have been many tales to suggest that both preventive and curative drugs for the virus could be found in Africa. Given our experience with tropical diseases, it is in our national interest. At the risk of sounding pessimistic, something tells me that, as with Lassa fever that has become a yearly epidemic killing

hundreds of our citizens, Nigeria could still be dealing with COVID-19 years after the rest of the world has moved on. It is on that basis that the federal government should sponsor research for a cure to a disease we have been told by many ‘experts’ is another name for malaria!

As things stand, our citizens who operate in several of the formal sectors (financial services, including banking, aviation, hospitality, oil and gas etc.) must begin to hope for the best while preparing for the worst. With both oil price and value of the Naira in freefall, we require critical thinking on how to tackle the myriad of challenges that will come with massive job losses and the attendant social pressure. We have seen from the ‘Almajarai’ issue that we cannot continue with irresponsible procreation that is giving us nothing but unproductive population growth. The situation is compounded by reports that human traffickers and CEOs of ‘baby factories’ have invaded many of the Internally Displaced Camps in the Northeast, preying on the desperation of the most vulnerable people in our society. How do we address such social problems, including revamping our health and education sectors?

For sure, no one anticipated COVID19, not least the federal government before the 2020 budget was passed and signed in record time. Now that there is need to adjust, the room for such adjustment is very narrow.

The bulk of our budget has always been recurrent (personnel and overhead) but we have also in recent years added mountains of debt that must be serviced. So, the options are limited, unless we want to sack people, cut salaries or default on debt. The federal government is responding well so far: seeking emergency support, adjusting the budget and planning to cut waste. Looking at the bigger picture, there can be no better time than now to restructure the country—not for the distribution of rent or partitioning along primordial lines as some ethnic entrepreneurs argue, but rather to allow us to harness our enormous potential for the greater good of all Nigerians. r/05& $PODMVEFE PO QBHF

Pastor Niyi @ 60 Adeniyi Ayodeji Ajibola, the founding pastor of the Good Shepherds Pasture (GSP) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Alagomeji-Yaba, Lagos, will be 60 on Tuesday 26th May. But for COVID-19, many of us (in the ‘GSP family’) would have converged on Lagos to celebrate a man of God in the truest meaning of that much-abused title. If and when I grow old enough to write a personal memoir, Pastor Niyi will take more than a few paragraphs because of the critical role he and his wife, Tola, played in my life and that of my family. I know hundreds of people across the world today who feel the same way about the current Provincial Pastor of RCCG Lagos Province 66, Throne of Grace, Obalende. To Pastor Niyi, igba odun, ojo kan!

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