TUESDAY 29TH JUNE 2021

PIB’s Passage50,000mt ThreatenedofasMaize Stakeholders SeekPrice FreshArbitrage Alterations CBNEarly Releases to Curb

TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021

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James Emejo in Abuja Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approved the A weekhasbefore the latest deadlineofto 50,000 pass Nigeria's release metric long-awaited tonnes of maize toPetroleum 12 major Industry Billto(PIB), demands producers control the for big changes, including from price of the commodity. community leaders seeking an

The bankshare saidof yesterday increased revenues, that rolloutinto of couldthe pushlatest its passage the from the late commodity this year, four sources Strategic Maize Reserve have told Reuters.

The last-minute (SMR) under thewrangling Anchor over the bill, which aims to Borrowers’ Programme modernise Nigeria's petroleum (ABP) to companies would industry and attract a be the third intervention by shrinking pool of global fossil

the CBN in recentdollars times. has fuel investment It stated that disappointed thosethe whorelease hoped of the grains is aimed at the political alignment of the checkmating presidency andthe the activities National Assembly wouldhoarding break the jinx of middlemen the that has stalked the overhaul product to cause artificial efforts scarcity.for 20 years.

Among the changes are CBN spokesman, Mr. Osita proposals to publicly sell

Nwanisobi, confirmed the shares in the Nigerian National release of the Corporation grains in a Petroleum statement and yesterday and (NNPC) implement market-based prices for that gas expressed optimism to thepower. release would crash Reuters reported at the price of maize, that reduce acrimonious meetings in pressure on the market, and the Abuja during the week, make the product directly community leaders revived

available to producers, demands tofeed increase their thereby reducing produced the price share of petroleum oftheir poultry feed.to 10 per cent, in regions Hefrom added that up 2.5 per cent.as part oil ofCommunities the bank’s with financing exploration in CBN Northern framework, the would Nigeria's Chad region continue Lake to facilitate the and the middle of the country funding of maize farmers are also seeking a greater share

and

processors

through

of oil revenues. the ABP commodity The National Assembly goes association, private/ on recess in early July, so if prime anchors, state the package is not and approved governments, Maize within the next two weeks, itAggregation cannot become law until Scheme September.

Continued on page 10

Continued on page 10

Okonjo-Iweala Seeks Lower Trade Cost to Boost Africa’s Economic Recovery...

AMCON Replies NICON Investment Limited, Says Hotel is for Sale... Page 8

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Tuesday 29 Thursday 24 June, June, 2021 2021 Vol 26.

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Smuggled Petrol Rises to 42m Litres Daily NNPC Cries Out MACRON HOSTS AFRICAN BUSINESS CHAMPIONS...

Says subsidy hits N150bn monthly

President Emmanuel Macron (left); and Commander, Legion D’Honneur France, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., in Versailles Castle…yesterday litres.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja With the menace now Nigerian National Petroleum gaining more momentum and Corporation (NNPC) yesterday illegal dealers more daring, the lamented the escalating oil company stated that the incidence of petrol smuggling subsidy that the government across Nigeria’s borders, which pays on petrol every month, it puts at a whopping 42 in order to keep the pump price of petrol stable at N162 million litres per day.

The corporation said the per litre now hovers between unbridled smuggling has N140 billion and N150 billion.

The development has made increased Nigeria’s estimated GMD/CEO, Access BankofPlc., daily consumption 60Mr. Herbert Wigwe (left), President Emmanuel Macron and Chairman, BUA L-R: President Emmanuel Macron; GMD/CEO, Access Bank Plc., Mr. Herbert Group, President Emmanuel former on page 10 Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, at the Choose Wigwe; President, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and million litres to 102Macron millionof France andContinued France Summit in Versailles, France…yesterday Billionaire businessman, Mr. Gilbert Chagouri Governor, Bank of France, Mr. Christian Noyer

Presidency Replies Critics, Washes Hands off Media Bills

PDP Warns Matawalle, Vows to Challenge his Defection in Court Call Mohammed to order, stakeholders urge Buhari

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

The presidency has washed its Chuks in Abujaattempt hands Okocha off the current by the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Press The Peoples Council (NPC)Democratic Act and Party (PDP) Broadcasting yesterday the National cautioned Governor Belloa Commission (NBC) Act, move, mediaofstakeholders Matawalle Zamfara and other have State againstNigerians his planned condemned as an attempt

to gag the press.

In a swift response, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and thetoNigerian defection the Union All of Journalists (NUJ) have Progressives Congress urged President Muhammadu (APC), stressing his Buhari to call the that Minister defection amounts to a of Information and Culture, decision to vacate office as Alhaji Lai Mohammed to order, the minister no lawaccusing allows him to cross

over to any other party with

Continued on page 10

the governorship mandate has dissolved the state’s said that the 1999 law as it is subject to legal statutorily given to the executive council as a constitution as altered interpretations. main opposition party. PDP precautionary measure. has no provision for The party said it was watching developments also informed the governor Addressing a press independent candidate. that his defection would be conference yesterday, the He specifically stated in Zamfara State as they challenged in the court.

National Publicity Secretary, that the PDP will test the Secretary the Government Mr. Boss Mustapha (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari during the10 Federal The maintoopposition partyof the Mr.Federation, Kola Ologbondiyan, defection in a court of Continued on page

STATE OF THE MATTER...

Executive Council in Abuja…yesterday

godwin omoigui

Sultan of Sokoto: Tribal Politicians are Bent onSays Tearing Nigeria We Have Tribal War on Our Hands, Gumi...

Page 5 Apart...

five times the commitment Because you deserve more we will refund you 5 times the transaction fees if we don’t reverse a failed instant transfer in one business day.

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NEWS Sultan of Sokoto: Tribal Politicians

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email ejiofor.alike@thisdaylive.com. 08066066268

are Bent on Tearing Nigeria Apart Calls for equal freedom, rights for all Nigerians

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday accused those he labelled as tribal politicians of working for the disintegration of the country, under different guises.

The sultan, in a speech at the Northern House of the Representatives Caucus retreat on the Petroleum Industry Bill, said in Abuja that they were promoting divisive agenda despite the fact that the country was passing through multiple challenges and the government trying its best to improve the situation.

He added that Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live peacefully and pursue their legitimate businesses in any part of the country they so choose, be it in the market or in the forest.

He said: “Today, tribal politicians are bent on tearing the fabric of our nation apart under different guises. As patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians, we should not hold our arms and watch them destroy our unity. I, therefore, urge you, grassroots politicians, to continue to support the government’s efforts in restoring peace and stability across the country as no nation can prosper under chaos.

“All Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live peacefully and pursue their legitimate businesses in any part of the country they so choose, be it in the market or in the forest.

“We must reject all illconceived schemes that are divisive, schemes that are setting Nigerians against

fellow Nigerians. We must abhor laws that are capable of causing inter-tribal or inter-regional disharmony.

All men are created equal and the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct.”

On the PIB, Abubakar said Nigeria’s economy had for more than five decades remained dependent on oil, despite the fact that the world is moving away from oil to clean energy.

He stated that it was of great importance for the National Assembly to treat the PlB as a priority before it is too late.

According to him, God has blessed Nigeria with abundant hydrocarbon resources but the nation is yet to fully discover and tap these resources due to suboptimal regulations.

Abubakar said while the country continued to talk about poverty, unemployment and the attendant insecurity, the nation was sitting on billions of barrels of hydrocarbon from Sokoto Basin to Chad Basin, and from Gongola to Bida and Benue Trough Basins untapped.

He added that the country should have a PlB that would encourage massive hydrocarbon exploration in those frontier basins, a PlB that would attract foreign investors to bring their funds and develop the resources.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the PIB was one of the most topical pieces of legislation before the National Assembly, stressing that he knows the lawmakers would want to be part of this important history.

He said there was a need for the parliament to

put in place a legislative framework that creates a system that is not only globally recognised, but timely and apt in order to promote economic engagements within and outside the country.

Gbajabiamila added: “The only legislation on the ground now that regulates the oil and gas sector in Nigeria is the old 1959 petroleum bill. In a nation that is so developed on the African continent, and the global business we operate in the 21st century, a piece of legislation that took effect as far back as 1959 is not only obsolete but complete trash that cannot be practicable to develop our economy with.

“Of course, it may not be possible to avoid sentiments, but it is the belief of the leadership of the ninth House of Representatives that our sentiments must be tied to the mutual co-existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“It is our belief that our diversity should be our source of strength. It is our belief that our differences must not be translated into expressions of disunity among ourselves. If we look at all these things the best way they should be looked at, I believe that it will make Nigeria grow and continue to take the lead on the African continent.”

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said petroleum had been a major part of the country’s history, especially in its role to provide the much-needed resources for governance to operate at all levels.

He stated that since December 2008 when the

PIB was first introduced into the National Assembly, it has not been passed into law, majorly because of the need to capture every interest.

Mustapha said in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to leave a lasting legacy by building a sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s growth, he forwarded a revised Petroleum Industry Bill to the National Assembly.

He said this was in line with a major aim of safeguarding the long-term macroeconomic stability of the economy.

Mustapha said it was gladdening that the passage of the Deep off Shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing

Contract Amendment Bill of 2019 served as a befitting signpost that the National Assembly would deliver on this promise.

He said: “As you finalise the bill, I would implore you to take a careful look at some of the areas that have proven contentious over time. These include; governance structure to balance community concerns of giving too much emphasis to oil companies and very little to host communities, oil and gas, royalty and taxes, provision of a favourable environment for future investment and the launching of new projects or increasing transparency in the operations of the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

Because the truth about it is that every community has claimed that they are not part of what is happening around them.

“So, if there is increased transparency in the affairs of all the players in the oil and gas sector, we would have very little contentions like critical market reforms needed in optimal exploitation of the untapped potentials of the Nigerian oil and gas sector.”

Mustapha assured the gathering of the federal government’s continued support to the legislature and to look forward to a PIB that will put Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic growth.

PROMOTING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP… President, Afrexim Bank, Prof. Benedict Oramah (left) and Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, during a public-private sector partnership meeting in Abeokuta…yesterday

Justify Your Elevation, CJN Tells New A’Court Judges Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, yesterday charged the 18 newlyappointed justices to justify their elevation to the Court of Appeal.

He said during the swearing-in of the justices in Abuja that litigations were on the rise due to “several novel crimes” being committed in the country.

He stated that while the judiciary is constantly on its toes to address the challenges of increase of cases in the dockets of judges, the onus is on the justices to face the challenges.

He added: “You must redouble your pace to catch up with the expectations of the litigants. As judicial officers, you have a divine mandate on earth that you must discharge with unveiled honesty and

sincerity.

“You must give a good account of yourselves to justify your elevation to the Court of Appeal.”

He said the figure of the newly sworn-in justices was unprecedented in the history of the Court of Appeal, adding that it is an indication of the times that the country is in.

“Several novel crimes are being committed in the country that has now made

litigations to go on a steady rise.

“This underscores the undisputed fact that Nigeria ranks among the most litigious countries in the world.”

The CJN also urged the new justices not to accept juicy but destructive gifts that may get them into trouble, adding that their reputation matters much and counts in their rise to honour and fame.

“Let me point out unambiguously that in life, gifts and wealth that are not worked for, which are by extension undeserving, are always wrapped in calamity and destruction.

“Flee from them and keep your heads high above the murky waters of corruption so that you can be conveniently counted among the very best in the Nigeria judiciary.

“You must, against all odds,

conduct your affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on you,” he said.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had in March recommended the elevation of the 18 justices from the high court to the Court of Appeal.

President Muhammadu Buhari subsequently approved their appointment in April.

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Oil Price Nears $77 to Hit Three-year Level IPMAN directs members to shun proposed nationwide strike

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The price of crude oil continued its rally yesterday with Brent, Nigeria’s oil benchmark, nearing $77, before receding later in the day on the back of data indicating an increase in COVID-19 cases in Asia, one of the world’s biggest fuel consumers.

This is coming as the Western Zone of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed all depots and petrol stations to ignore the threat of a strike by the national body and ensure free flow of the distribution of petroleum products in the Southwest.

Brent hit a more than two-and-a-half-year high earlier in the session, climbing to $76.60, its highest since October 2018, but later retreated to $75.98 a barrel later in the day. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the United States crude, was 10 cents, or 0.1 per cent, lower at $73.95 a barrel.

The rise in the price of the commodity comes in a week the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, OPEC+, is scheduled to meet to discuss the possibility of easing supply and allowing members pump more oil.

On increasing oil prices, the commodity is rising for the sixth week as fuel demand has continued to rebound on strong economic growth and increased travel, while crude supplies remain tight as OPEC+ maintains production cuts.

From May to July, OPEC+ has been gradually easing those curbs, adding 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) to the market and will again meet on July 1, with observers betting that the cartel could decide to add further barrels in August.

On the demand side, the key factors OPEC+ will have to consider are strong growth in the United States, Europe and China, bolstered by vaccine rollouts and economies reopening.

But rising COVID-19 cases in Asia have put a modest dampener on the outlook as Indonesia is battling record-high cases, Malaysia is set to extend a lockdown and Thailand has announced

new Covid-related restrictions.

Also, Iran and the United States are expected to resume indirect talks on reviving a pact over Tehran’s nuclear work.

An agreement could lead to a lifting of U.S. sanctions and more Iranian crude on the market.

Physical oil markets are screaming for more supply as prices are rising in the North Sea, the key region that’s central to the value of many oil transactions, while differentials for Nigerian grades have also made notable gains.

The major challenge to opening the taps may be Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s top producer, which has so far proceeded cautiously as the oil market’s structure continues to indicate tighter inventories and the global oil market calls out for a substantial increase in supplies.

The 23-nation OPEC alliance has restored roughly 40 per cent of the almost 10 million barrels of daily production it shuttered when demand collapsed last year.

Rising prices have been a dilemma for Nigeria whose additional revenues from crude oil have been continuously wiped out by payment of subsidies, which the NNPC put at about N94 per litre as of last week.

However, the rising price of oil coincided with questions over the revelation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in April that it was set to deduct N111.966 from

that month’s revenues, due in May. Data from the national oil company’s presentation to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) obtained by THISDAY showed that N61.966 billion was eventually debited for the month, with zero remittance to the joint account.

It wasn’t clear why the corporation was unable to contribute any funds to the Federation Account for that month despite subtracting just N61.966 billion instead

of the earlier disclosed sum of N111.966 billion.

But when contacted for clarification, the NNPC told THISDAY that it wasn’t within its remit to make comments on the matter, directing that the ministry which oversees the distribution of the country’s monthly allocation (Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning) should be in the right position to throw light on the matter.

Ironically, in a month that the NNPC deducted N126.2 billion, which

is May revenues, distributed in June, it made a contribution of N29.647 billion to the joint Federation Account.

On Monday, THISDAY exclusively reported that the corporation would make another N114.2 billion deduction from the joint fund in July from June revenues, having already withdrawn the sum of N126.2 billion for May, for what it called payment for subsidies.

Similarly, it deducted N25.374 billion in

February, N60.396 billion in March, N61.966 billion in April, while N126.298 billion was deducted in May, more than quadrupling the first debit of N25.374 billion.

Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Dr Kennie Obateru, when asked to comment on the issue, responded: “ Please, obtain the information you seek from the appropriate federal government ministry as the NNPC is not best suited to divulge such information.”

WELCOME ONBOARD…

Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), and new Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Nigerian Air Force, Enugu, Air Vice Marshal Frank Goodnews Okparah, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Enugu…yesterday

Osinbajo Hails Youths’ Innovation, Resilience Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the federal government is encouraged by the resilience and innovation of young Nigerians across different sectors and is committed to doing more to support their growth and prosperity.

He spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the 4th National MSME Awards, which was the climax of a week-long celebration of excellence, hard work and innovation in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in

Nigeria.

Twelve MSMEs won awards in different categories, while Gombe State was recognised as the best state in the ease of doing business rankings.

Osinbajo, who reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to small businesses, commended the creativity of the 2021 winners of the awards.

According to him, the awards have inspired many young entrepreneurs to greatness and some of the stories are simply incredible.

He urged those who didn’t make it this year

not to give up, and expressed satisfaction with the interest shown in the awards since its inauguration in 2018.

He said: “Let me leave you with President Muhammadu Buhari’s words of commitment to MSMEs in Nigeria: he said we will continue to stand by you, to support you and create opportunities for you to grow and prosper.

“This year, we also have a selection of outstanding winners. Our MSME of the Year, “Bold Artistry”, is a company with a team of young and creative artists working on improving the arts

industry by introducing polystyrene to their works. With this, they have created impressive artworks and are providing jobs for many budding artists.”

Osinbajo added that the federal government’s interventions in the MSMEs space over the years have been geared towards creating jobs, ensuring growth and making them more viable.

“It has become a prominent feature in the annual event calendar of the MSMEs community in Nigeria, attracting thousands of prospective business

owners, established entrepreneurs, regulators and financiers. In the first edition of the awards in 2018, 500 applications were received. I am told that over 10,000 entries were received for this year’s edition alone.

Clearly, the interest shown in the awards by Nigerian entrepreneurs has been tremendous,” he stated.

He thanked all governors who hosted MSMEs Clinics in their states supported the building of one-stop shops for MSMEs and also those who provided suitable buildings for the shared facilities for MSMEs.

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Nigeria’s Financial System Safe, Says CBN

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured Nigerians and others of the safety of the country’s financial system.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said yesterday in Bauchi at a two-day CBN Fair with the theme: ‘Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development,’ that the apex bank was ready to listen to Nigerians in order to know how best to serve them with the aim of improving the

financial system as well as supporting small and medium-sized businesses.

Emefiele, represented by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, said the purpose of the fair was to create awareness of the policies of the bank and to build confidence in the financial system.

He called on the participants to speak out in order to assist the CBN to know the areas of the intervention that needed to be improved upon.

In his remarks, the Secretary to Bauchi State Government (SSG), Ibrahim Hashim, said the government would continue to collaborate with the CBN in order to ensure that the people of the state benefited from the various interventions of the apex bank.

Hashim, represented by

the Director, Research at the Government House, Bauchi, Chiroma Ahmed, said the priority of the government was to bring people out of poverty and provide employment and source of livelihoods to unemployed youths and women.

The SSG commended the CBN for making it possible

for Nigerians to have easy access to loan facilities a development he said had changed the financial process and narrative of the country.

The CBN branch Controller in Bauchi, Idris Haladu, stated that the CBN would continue to be accessible to make enquiries on the interventions available to

the public.

Haladu who was represented by the Branch Head of Banking Services, Adamu Isa, said the CBN would listen to the beneficiaries of the various intervention programmes to enable it to know what next steps to take to achieve the set objectives of the programme.

One Killed as Kaduna Students Protest over Hike in School Fees

John Shiklam in Kaduna

An unidentified student of the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, in Jema’a Local Government Area of the state, was yesterday shot dead while protesting alongside others against an increase in school fees by the stateowned institution.

The deceased had joined his colleagues, who were protesting over a hike in school fees, when security operatives made attempt to disperse them.

One of the protesters, who preferred anonymity, said they came out to protest over the increase in school fees when they met security operatives outside

the college.

Meanwhile, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has reacted to the killing of the student protester.

A statement yesterday by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, stated that the governor has commiserated with the family of the deceased.

It said: “The Kaduna State Government is awaiting full reports on Monday’s protest by students of the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.

“In the preliminary report received so far, one student lost his life and some others were wounded, while three security personnel also

MISSION TO BENIN…

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), and British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Benin City…yesterday

sustained injuries.

“The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, condoled with the family of the student that lost his life

and wished the students and operatives who sustained injuries speedy recovery. The government of Kaduna State also

wishes to debunk reports that it deployed security operatives to suppress protesting students. KDSG is awaiting briefings to

while five others sustained varying degrees of injury and have been evacuated by the air component of OPHK to a medical facility, where they are currently receiving medical attention,” it said.

The army stated that the general area within FOB

Bula Yobe was calm and under the control of troops while further exploitation by the resilient troops was ongoing.

It said the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, had lauded the troops for their synergy and quick response,

enable it to understand the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate violent incidence in Gidan Waya.”

Army Kills 12 Suspected Terrorists, lose Soldiers in Borno Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Army yesterday said 12 insurgents and two soldiers were killed when troops clashed with terrorist groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

A statement said troops of 152 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of Operation Hadin Kai on Sunday killed the 12 terrorists, who attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operational Base at Bula Yobe in Borno State.

The statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.

Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the terrorists attacked the location via an unsuspected crossing point, but were repelled by the vigilant troops.

“The land troops, in their usual dexterity swiftly and decisively engaged the

terrorists, subsequently forcing them to retreat, having lost initiative.

“The troops sustained the firefight and successfully neutralised 12 terrorists with several others fleeing with gunshot wounds,” it said.

The troops captured

one gun truck, one selfpropelled Gun-9, one Dushika gun and one mounted QJC Machine Gun. Other items captured are one light machine gun and five AK 47 rifles.

“Sadly, during the encounter, two soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice,

which is in tandem with the ongoing rejigging of the counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast.

He charged the troops to maintain the tempo and hold their ground, to deny the terrorists freedom of action.

COVID-19: FG Bans Travellers from South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda Zambia Extends restriction to India, Brazil, Turkey

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has slammed a travel ban on passengers arriving from five African countries as part of measures to mitigate a potential third wave of COVID-19.

The countries are South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia and Zambia.

The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Mr. Boss

Mustapha, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, also announced the extension of measures taken a few weeks ago, denying entry into Nigeria to passengers who had visited Brazil, Turkey and India within 14 days preceding their arrival to the country.

Mustapha said the ban on a visit from those countries would now be extended by another four weeks before it is subjected to further

evaluation.

Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the decision was warranted by concerns and the dangers associated with the importation of such virulent COVID-19 strains to Nigeria.

He expressed concern that South Africa for example, recorded over 100, 000 cases of COVID-19 infections in the last week while

20,000 was recorded in the last 24 hours.

He urged members of the public not to lower their guards yet because of reported spikes in some countries and concern over the third wave in some countries.

The PSC listed the four major variants of concern across the world as Alpha (United Kingdom), Beta (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India).

He reiterated that the six-month ban imposed

on the first batch of 100 Nigerian travellers that violated the COVID-19 protocols is almost complete.

He reassured Nigerians that although the PSC had received appeals from some of the inbound passengers, whose travel documents were barred, sanctions will be imposed on violators of measures put in place to protect them and safeguard the country.

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PDP WARNS MATAWALLE, VOWS TO CHALLENGE HIS DEFECTION IN COURT

JONATHAN: INABILITY TO MANAGE NIGERIA’S DIVERSITY CAUSE OF GROWING TENSIONS

unique circumstances and come up with the right form of government,” he said.

His address duringof theplans event, concern reports which held both tovirtually by Matawalle cross and physically in Abuja, was over to the APC. titled: “Redefining Democracy: “The PDP categorically Yearnings of the Minority in cautions Bello Matawalle a Democratic Setting.” toJonathan know that plans statedhisthat he amount decision the to decided to to a honour invitationoffice to speakasonno the state vacate law of the nation, despite likely allows him to crossthe over to misinterpretation of his treatise, any other party with the out of his respect for the host, governorship mandate Mr. Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), statutorily given to does the and because a society that PDP through the of ballot not respect the rule law would anarchy where box, asbreed already established life becomes brutish and by the nasty, provision of short, 1999 making Constitution real progress the difficult. (asAccording amended) the to him, and in Nigeria, standing judgment of the the complications associated Supreme Court,” it said.of with the marginalisation minority groups and tribes According to the PDP, were identified years “A combinedmany reading ago Section and efforts of 221have of been the made across generations to 1999 Constitution as the solve the problems, including pronouncements of the the Willinks Commission set Supreme in Faleke up during Court the colonial era. v. He INEC is clear added(2016) that although the Federal Character in holding thatCommission it is the (FCC) is a product of such efforts, it has not fully rectified the anomalies, having been tailored to deal with mainly the civil service.

Jonathan said: “The Federal Character Commission over (MAS) as well as been the many decades may have doing its best toAgricultural give everyone Commercial fair representation and a fair Credit Scheme (CACS). sense of belonging, According to but there the

are still many who feel that this agency of government has not fully addressed the political party that stands challenges of accommodating minorities. for election, that votes “This in is election because belong it has scored managed to pursue with to the political party varying degrees of success and thaton the candidate emphasis the civil service. nominatedmany to contest an However, are ofatthe electionthat byithis party, acts opinion does not really go far enough, it currently only as the since agent of his does not address inequalities party.” in political into The PDPappointments also further sensitive areas such as cautioned members the of military and public sector the National Assembly as appointments.” well as members of now the He stated that Nigeria Zamfara State ofHouse of faces the challenge managing diversity and minority Assembly not tointerests, allow and even in the parliament, themselves to be pushed it has been struggling with into losing their seats the task of accommodating as the provisions of like the disadvantaged groups constitution are very clear women and people with in barring lawmakers from disability.

He carpeting, traced the except country’s cross in problems to its a situation of foundation, a division saying the growing in the that political partydissent upon cannot be divorced from the which platform they were country’s failure to manage elected. its differences and play down “There is lines. no division in on its fault “From the PDPthetoindependence warrant a and post-independence crisis, the coups and the counter-coups and the different republics to date, the swelling disenchantment is the fallout of our inability to manage our diversity and downplay our taking advantage of that the differences.

It is obvious calls for fragmentation supply gap to hikeseem the to be getting louder among price of the commodity. some segments of ourpeople nation.

He assured the

“This is because we have not been able to positively harness and harmonise our enviable size of andany the ingenuity defection of our of our people and project our lawmakers,” it said. greatness,” he stated.

The party But beyond urged the Matawalle asfrom wellsome as grandstanding members the National quarters, theof former president stated that Nigeria needs to and State Assembly from unite and face the problems Zamfara State to take that have been holding it down, caution. further pinning it down to “a Matawalle had benefitted failure to properly manage fromdiversity a Supreme Court our and harness decision which, voided our potential.” the of country the APC Forprimaries a multi-ethnic to make Jonathan said in theprogress, state and declared that must be conscious the there election of athe then effort to give a democratic sense ruling party candidates in of fairness, equity and justice the guarantee 2019 general election and minority groups void. to the political space. access The apex that court had He added the refrain that Nigeria is potentially consequently directedgreat that was of tune, the the going partyout with the asnext younger had of begun to highest people number votes query whether Nigeria will ever shouldwithin be declared the operate its full capacity. winner, paving the way “By now, we should be for all the PDP candidates, running an advanced economy and the social system that and including Matawalle standard servicesin thatthe support came second poll that economy justelected like other to be declared by nations like Singapore or Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates who share the same political and economic evolution with us. However, we are lagging behind so far away from them. tonnes rice ofpaddies “The of stories these directly to millers last countries clearly confirm week.the journey to the that transformation of a nation The direct allocation from

does not take a lifetime. That Nigeria still remains potentially great after over 60 years of independence showsNational that there the Independent are fundamentalCommission lessons in the Electoral political (INEC).evolution of our nation that we have not really learnt,” The PDP argues now that he said. the position to it According to belongs him, although and not there is aMatawalle. school of thought Meanwhile, there are which blames the country's colonial experience its indications that for the seeming deputy backwardness, governor while of the proposition may have Zamfara State maysome not element of truth, Nigeria was defect withcountry the governor. not the only that was The deputy governor colonised. isHe thesaid sona of the former second school of thoughtSecurity blamed the huge National Adviser, size of the nation, describing it General Aliyu Gusau as the dilemma of the whale, (rtd). which is feared for its weight, A source at itsthe PDP and yet dies by weight.

National Secretariat He added: “I share said the the partyof many has political gotten sentiments commentators at the crux confirmationthatthat the of our challenge of national deputy governor has transformation is thewith problem refused to defect the of our political and governance governor structures and the inability to The governor had last harness our diversity towards monthprosperity. sacked all the shared commissioners because of “I believe that from independence, the of political the fear that some them evolution of leadership in Nigeria has been too concentrated along tribal and religious lines and that is still haunting us today.”

He said it was the reason he conveyed a national conference local production capacity in 2014 which sought to look and funding support at the political leadership from the CBN, structure, saying that theunder nation itscurrently Anchor Borrower is trapped in the

dilemma of an “imperceptible giant” that needs to work harder to realise it's destiny.

Henotsaid what will go to the APCmany with countries might be doing him. better Nigeria was that Also, than it was gathered that they had developed systems some senior government and institutions that ensured officials may recruitment not defect that the political with Matawalle. process offered a space for all, Meanwhile, the National including the minorities.

“Where the minority feels Working Committee that they ofarethe not PDP relevant, (NWC) has there's always tendency approved thethe dissolution to fulfil their destiny with a of theapproach.

Zamfara State different This is the Executive. beginning of the unending According and toresistance the agitations movements acrossofthe world,” spokesperson the PDP, he added.

“The decision is in line He decried the winnerwith the provision of takes-all approach to politics, Section 29 (2)(b) of the stressing that enough space PDPbeConstitution must created for those 2017 who (as amended).” may be at a disadvantage, a situation that hasurged fuelled the The party all practice cross-carpeting in party ofleaders, critical the country because there’s stakeholders and teeming usually nothing for the loser. members of our party in He also stated that bestowing Zamfara state maximum powers should, on one by this, maybenot guided individual be the accordingly. right form of government.

Accordingquestions to Jonathan,from the Fielding inequity in the polity runs from the federal to states to local governments and even in wards where certain minorities can never dream of becoming top leaders because of their areas of origin.

MAGPAMAN, Dr. “Looking to the future, I Edwin Oche, can say that our leaders had can stated CBN’s do a lot that more the to eliminate massive investment in ethnic sentiments in our society,

the federal government of its readiness for talks following the suspension of its operations on June 5 for deleting the president's tweet, warning the Igbo of a potential repeat of the civil war that might result from the escalation in insurgency traced to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Besides, the federal government accused Twitter of being part of a plot to destabilise Nigeria for allegedly

However, Twitter users got a legal cover to continue tweeting, despite the federal government’s threat to prosecute violators of the ban on using the platform, as the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja restrained the federal government from imposing sanctions, or doing anything whatsoever to arrest or prosecute any Nigerian and media houses using Twitter, pending the hearing and determination

the federal government suspended the operations of micro-blogging platform, under the National Security Act, Terrorism Prevention Act, Cyber Space Act and Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

He referred to the provisions of Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution as altered, which he said left no one in doubt that the provisions of Section 39 of the constitution on freedom of expression was

of protecting the rights and freedom of other person.”

The minister also justified the Twitter ban by relying on Section 3 of the National Security Act. He quoted the section as charging the State Security Service with the duty to preserve the nation’s internal security and prevent and detect within its borders any crime against its internal security.

He stated that the ban

on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years.”

He interpreted the “support” in the sub-section 1 to include incitement to commit a terrorist act through the internet or any electronic means or through the use of printed materials or through the dissemination of terrorist information.

He added that Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be

enthrone merit and build a system that gives citizens equal opportunities to excel.

“There hasOlogbondiyan to be a united, newsmen, strong and cohesive Nigerian said that what happened nation patriotic citizens at theof Supreme Court for any structure or system in 2019 is different to yield the promise offrom our all other defections as it shared prosperity,” he added. isEarlier, only political Gadzama,parties who that sponsor candidates praised Jonathan for averting bloodshed by handing to elections and over that peacefully to his successor had there is no provisions for said that in every candidates democracy, independent majority rule was endorsed and in the constitution. guided by the constitution, He insisted that PDP will which also protects the rights test defection in court of thethe minorities. stated eventually that the ifHe Matawalle participation of persons defects. belonging the minority On the toother cases in of public affairs and in all aspects governors defecting, he of the political are essential to blamed ittheir onidentity fear as and preserving a intimidations as some of minority.

Hegovernors added that democracy is the in question likely develop and endure haveto soiled their hands. when all membersthat of society He maintained these are free to participate and defections were not based influence political outcomes. onAside the love of the people from Jonathan, but due to pecuniary other dignitaries at the interest of thethe concerned event included National President of the Nigerian governors.

Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Mohammed Bello; Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Mr. Onofiok Luke, former Attorney-Generalthat of of COVID-19 the Federation and Minister affected food chains of Justice, Mr. Mohammed and (SAN) production as Adoke and members well as agriculture of the diplomatic corps. as a

CBN RELEASES 50,000MT OF MAIZE TO CURB PRICE ARBITRAGE

warehouses across Programme (ABP), as farmers will maintain TORIFAN statement, the identified MOHAMMED, MALAMI,that FASHOLA, OTHERS MEET TWITTER OVERwell SUSPENSION as expectations that 16 states of the federation reasonable regime recipients ofofthe grains funding not absolute. andpricing promoting last of a suit before it.

(Media), Office the Minister the COVID-19 pandemic followed the earlier sale of the products. included Premier Flour October's According to him,managed the right #EndSARS protests, of Information and Culture, will be better of paddy aggregated as The Buhari apex considered bank had Mills, to free expression within the an Again, FG Defends Mr. Segun Crown-Olam, Adeyemi, the that globally, the country loan repayment under the contemplation of Section 39 to oust himtofrom Attorney-General of the agenda while responding the Suspension, Grand Cereals, Animal Says should be able to right in andofformiddlemen condoning ABP to millers from the makes it a qualified achieve FederationAmobyn and the Minister activities Care, and power, of Expression at least 25 aforementioned million metric of the People released of Biafra Freedom of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Indigenous rice pyramids unveiled in light earlier in January, Hybrid Feeds.

Section 45, which allows Leader, Mr. Nnamdi Not Malami (SAN); the Minister (IPOB) tonnes (MMT) before the Absolute Niger, Kebbi, Gombe and 300,000 metric tonnes of Others are Obasanjo restrictions of civil liberties of Communications and Kanu, tweets inciting attacks Ekiti States. end of the year. maize, a move which Farms, Zartech, Dr. Wacot, the public security personnel in led the The federal government has in Digital Economy, Isa on addedinterest. that in the Earlier in February, maize They to the reduction in the again Sayeed Pandagri Relying on Section 45 (1) of Pantami; Farms, the Minister of South-east. justified the suspension short-term, the price of farmers had of criticised commodity.the of Alsoof the yesterday, Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey price Novum and Mr.Premium the operations Twitter the 1999 Constitution, he said: maize, which had hit agitations by some groups Onyeama; the Minister of federal Also, government, the bank, again, in a in Nigeria, insisting that the “45 (1) Nothing in Sections Farms. the38, roof recent times, 39, in 40 and 41 of this Works and Housing, Mr. the suspension of freedom of expressionof is not for the importation the 37, renewed move to address Reacting to the defended will drop within three Constitution shall invalidate Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Twitter's operations in the absolute. commodity, describing it the rising cost of food development, law months that is reasonably and the Minister of State the for country, saying it was done asMohammed, who any to four with the a calculated attempt prices theinNational the Security market appeared National President Mr. of under justifiable input a democratic Labour and Employment, before the House modalities in place to to further hinder maize partnered withPrevention the Rice of Representatives Joint society: (a) in the interest the of FestusMaize KeyamoAssociation (SAN), will Act, Terrorism achieve price reduction. production in the country. farmers Association of (MAAN), Dr. Act, joinNigeria Mohammed in the talks.

Cyber Space Act and Investigative Committee on defence, public safety, public Also,publicthe They, however, with order, moralityNational or public The engagement and(RIFAN) Allied Matters Suspension,said yesterday of Nigeria to Twitter Bello Abubakar,followed urgeda Companies President of letter from Twitter informing (CAMA).27,000 metric told current in health or; (b), the purpose the improvement lawmakers that distribute middlemen to desist from Act

ABP had boosted maize production from eight of Twittermetric was pursuant million tonnes to to security reports of SSS. about 20 millionthemetric Mohammed added: tonnes within “Furthermore, the three right years. to freedom of expression Hethe said local farmers on Twitter platform is further qualified

by Section had the capacity to 45 of the constitution light grow enough in maize of to the provisions support of Section both 5(1) and (2) of the Terrorism industrial and local Act of 2011. use For clarity, the consumption. section reads: He had person said: “Today, “Any who knowingly in any manner we shouldn’t have directly or indirectly this solicitsif been discussing or support for the notrenders for the challenges commission of an act of encountered the terrorism; or toduring a terrorist COVID-19 pandemic. group, commits an offence “If not advent under thisfor Act the and is liable

whole both locally and internationally, we will the purpose of the notprimary be talking about government. the price increase in Mohammed stated We that from maize per bag. will the purview of the Companies not be talking about the and Allied Matters Act, 2020, increase flour as it regulatesinthefeeds, operations of allcompany the derivatives aand foreign in Nigeria, Twitter is not and licensed to do from maize others. business the country.

“It’s a in global issue and to him, having asAccording an association, we failed to register as a separate are dealing with it and entity in Nigeria, as required strategically at by Section 78 (1)looking of CAMA the 2020, ways to ameliorate Act Twitter cannot do business in thebycountry or the problem engaging exercise any powers of a the federal government registered company. and CBN and other Mohammed said the partners to ensure we operations of Twitter in the come out of it.”

Nigerian social space was not legally permissible when it was used in airing information that endangered the lives and security of the majority of Nigerians.

He said the principles of the law were clear on the

AMCON Replies NICON Investment,

Limited Says Hotel for Sale

BUHARI SENDS N895.84BN SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL TO SENATE

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja be funded through facilities sourced from the World Bank

and available new facilities.

Asset Management Buhari said the Corporation of Nigeria supplementary budget was (AMCON) has debunked promoted by the need to make what it for described as and the provision procurement false advertorial, which administration of COVlD-19 was published in some vaccines.

“The newspapers availability on of leading COVlD-19 which vaccinesclaimed and the Monday, procurement terms that NICON is were not still for uncertain as at the time of sale. finalising the 2021 budget.

In a was no statement Hence, there provision issued yesterday, the in the 2021 Appropriation Act for the procurement and Receivership/Manager administration COVID-19 for NICON of Investment vaccines.

Limited, Global Fleet Oil “However, the Federal Gas Limited, Ministry of DIG HealthTaiwo and Lakanu (rtd), the the National urged Primary public to disregard this Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has misleading advertorial

because NICON Hotel is now developed a COVID-19 for sale.programme for the vaccine country.

Under to the vaccine According him, programme, of eligiblea the hotel 70% is under Nigerians are to be vaccinated Receivership/Manager between 2021 and 2022. appointed byour AMCON “In addition, security following a protracted and law enforcement agencies court battle urgently need to between procure AMCON equipment (Plaintiff/ additional and other resources in response Applicant) and the trio to prevalent security of the NICON Investment challenges across the country.

Limited, Global Fleet Oil “The Ministry of Defence & Gas Limited and has carefully scrutinised these Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim all the of procurement needs, which whom are defendants military authorities claim to the minimum in represent suit No: FHC/L/ requirements CS/776/2016to secure for our the country andofaddress current recovery N69.4billion external and internal security debt owed AMCON. challenges," he added.

HePart recalled that required Justice of the funds R.M. Aikawa of the will also be used to meet

Federal Court, the federalHigh government’s Lagos Division who commitment to treat additional 50,000 patients under the presided over the matter Nigeria Comprehensive on November 4, 2020, AIDS Programme in States ordered AMCON to (NCAPS), due to the reduction take possession of the in the amount provisioned in following properties 2021 Appropriation Bill by belonging to NICON the National Assembly.

Investment Limited, “In order to address the urgent of oxygen Global problem Fleet Oil & availability in theand country Gas Limited Mr. and avoid the potential Jimoh Ibrahim together loss of lives, provision was with for theappurtenances made procurement and thereto andofall moveable installation new oxygen properties plants nationwide contained and repairs of oxygen plants in FCT therein. hospitals.

Lakanu listed the “It is also necessary to properties, which provide additional funds AMCON for public was serviceordered wage to take overto tocater include: adjustment for NICONwage-related Investment sundry issues

Limited’s building at in the health and other sectors, which if notMuhammadu resolved can Plot 242, add to the Way, prevalent sense Buhari Central of instability in the polity," Business District, Abuja; Buhari stated.

NICON Limited’s Of the Hotels N895,842,465,917 building, N45.63 Plot 557, Portproposed, billion is Harcourt Crescent, off for the COVlD-19 vaccine programme, which will be Gimbiya Street, Abuja; sourced existing World NICONfrom Lekki Limited’s Bank loans No. and 5, other grants building, Customs totalling US$113.22 million.

Street, Lagos; Property at Buhari said: “The balance No. 25B and 25C, Kayode of N37.93 billion required for Abraham vaccines, Street, Victoria COVlD-19 salaries Island, Lagos; Abuja and other health-related expenditures totalling Hotels N41.69 International billion and the building N48.20 billion– Limited’s recurrent components of No. 3, Hospital Road, defence/security expenditure Lagos as well as NICON will be funded by drawing building No. 40, Madeira N135 billion from some Street, Maitama, Abuja Special Reserve/Levy Accounts, whichofwill be and a host other

assets. as revenues to captured He Federal noted that it was also the Government of Nigeria (FGN). on record that attempts “We propose to fund the made

by Jimoh Ibrahim balance of N722.40 and others to set billion aside for capital expenditure on the order of the court, defence/security and capital which gave AMCON supplementation from new possessoryin the order over borrowings, absence of any the supplementary assets of therevenue three sources. defendants in the “Understandably, needs matter was summarily currently abound in many dismissed Justice other sectors.as However, R.M. have Aikawa made the by we limited the court on November supplementary budget proposal just these critical 4, 2020, to subsists. and emerging areas of need “Therefore, AMCON due to our reserves the severe right tofiscal sell constraints. the assets as provided “All other needs would be in the to AMCON Act deferred the 2022 budget, as amended,” Lakanu which we plan to present in added. of this year.”

September

Continued on page 11

TOP GAINERS FIDSON VITAFOAM REDSTAR VERITASKAP CHAMS PLC TOP LOSERS AIRTEL MBENEFITS CORNERSTONE

NGN NGN 0.46 5.06 0.12 13.60 0.32 3.67 0.02 0.24 0.01 0.21 NGN 75.30 678.00 0.03 0.38 0.04 0.51 LEARNAFRICA 0.07 1.01 IKEJHOTEL 0.06 0.91 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,420.00 Volume: 218.271 million shares Value: N2.726 billion Deals: 3,524 As at yesterday 22/6/2021 See details on Page 31

% 10 9.6 9.5 9.0 5.0 % 10 10 7.2 6.4 6.1

MONDAY JUNE JUNE 29, 28, 2021 2021 •• TTHHIISSDDAY AY TUESDAY,

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NEWS

Build Nigeria, World Not Ready to Take 240m Migrants, UN Tells Youths Michael Olugbode in Abuja United Nations Deputy SecretaryGeneral, Mrs. Amina Mohammed has called on Nigerian youths to use their God-given skills and talents to build the country and stop the condemnation of situation in the country.

Mohammed was quoted as giving this advice at an event in Abuja over the weekend, according to a statement signed by the National Information Officer, UN Office, Nigeria, Oluseyi Soremekun.

In the statement titled, ‘Be proud of Nigeria, don’t condemn her, don’t lose hope- DSG Amina J. Mohammed tells young Nigerians,” the UN top brass said: “You have got education, you have the tools, and you have a huge future ahead of you, and you are condemning yourself before you start on that journey. Do not do that!

Be proud of Nigeria your country; do

not condemn her and do not lose hope.

“If you think Nigeria is worse than better, then how are you going to turn it around?” She asked, stating that: “If you do not want to build this nation, I do not know where you want to go. I can assure you the world is not ready to take 240 million Nigerians.

Therefore, let’s think about how to salvage it together.”

She has words for the young men and women who are quick to compare Nigeria with other countries, asking them rather to compare Nigeria with other countries with equal population and that had independence at the same time.

She asked that: “Do not compare apples with oranges.”

She added that: “With every right comes an obligation to tell the truth.

But the truth in many cases comes in different colours, depending on who is telling it. As an educated person, your statement has an impact on people’s

lives. Some people take you seriously because you are educated and in the university.”

Mohammed counseled them to be sure of their statement and always weigh the implications of their words as there are opportunities to collectively

make things better in Nigeria.

She said: “Young people must get involved. There is no reason to throw stones at any institution of government unless you are willing to get into that government and do something about it. It might take you

a lifetime, but it does require people to make the sacrifice.”

She added that: “If enough of us are pushing in the right direction, there will be a big difference.”

Amina Mohammed calls on youths to use skills, talents to build Nigeria

Michael Olugbode in Abuja United Nations Deputy SecretaryGeneral, Amina Mohammed has called on Nigerian youths to use their God-given skills and talents to build the country and stop the condemnation of situation in the country.

PTAD Receives £26.5m Repatriated Pension Funds James Emejo in Abuja The Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, yesterday said the directorate has received the sum of £26.51 million, which was repatriated from the United Kingdom.

She explained that the pension funds had hitherto been under investment with Crown Agents Investment Management Limited based in the UK. She said the funds would be used to settle part of the accrued arrears owed to its pensioners worth over N120 billion.

The PTAD boss further pointed out that the repatriation was made possible by the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari and series of meetings between the PTAD management, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) and Crown Agents.

Ejikeme, in a statement said:”This development is indeed a very happy and welcome development for our senior citizens and it represents another demonstration of the importance that the Buhari- led federal government places on the welfare of pensioners.”

Three Confirmed Dead in Benue Petrol Tanker Explosion George Okoh in Makurdi Three people have been confirmed dead and many others injured after a petrol-laden tanker exploded at Amoke community of Apa Local Government Area of Benue State yesterday.

The explosion, which was said to have occurred as a result of brake failure of the tanker, happened barely two months after two similar explosions took place in Oshigbudu in neighbouring Agatu LGA of the state in April.

A local source disclosed that the oil tanker exploded at exactly 7:15 a.m., adding that it exploded three metres before Ugbokpo, the headquarters of Apa LGA. “It is happening few weeks after two similar explosions in Oshigbudu, Agatu LGA, which resulted in the death of 11 people, injuring seven

others, destroying houses and property worth millions of naira. Apa and Agatu both share border and the newly constructed federal road,” our source, who simply gave his name as Olikita, said.

He explained further that the cause of incessant explosion on the road is still unknown, but opined that it could be as a result of the narrowness of the road and several sharp bends on it.

When contacted, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in charge of Benue State, Yakubu Mohammad, confirmed the report, saying three persons, including the driver of the tanker, lost their lives in the accident.

Mohammad, who blamed the accident on brake failure, however, noted that the fire, which raged for some hours, had already been under control at the time of this report.

EFCC Docks Five Sokoto Officials for N553.9m Pension Fraud Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Sokoto Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned five senior officials of the Sokoto State Primary Education Staff Pension Board before Justice Muhammad Muhammad of the Sokoto State High Court, Sokoto, on a 27-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, forgery, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of the sum of N553,985,624.10.

An EFCC statement listed the defendants to include the Director of Finance and Supply, Hassana Moyi; Secretary, Abubakar Aliyu; Deputy Director, Halliru Ahmed; Accountant, Kabiru Ahmed and Dahiru Muhammad Isa, Cashier.

One of the counts reads: “That you Abubakar Aliyu while being the Secretary of Sokoto State Primary Staff Pension Board, Hassana Moyi while being the Director of Finance

and Supply, Primary Staff Pension Board, Haliru Ahmed while being the Deputy Director, Finance, Primary Staff Pension Board, Kabiru Ahmed while being the Accountant, Primary Staff Pension Board and Dahiru Muhammad Isa while being the Cashier of Primary Staff Pension Board sometime between 2017 and 2019 in Sokoto, Sokoto State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being entrusted with dominion over money for the payment of pension and gratuity, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N553,985,624.10 (Five Hundred and Fifty Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Four Naira, Ten Kobo) in violation of the mode in which such trust was to be discharged and thereby committed Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law CAP 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law”.

CONGRATULATIONS… Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya Receiving the Golden Medal in Ease of Doing Business from Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo during the 4th MSME Award in Abuja...yesterday

House Begins Probe of $30bn Revenue Leakages Summons FIRS Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency, yesterday commenced an investigation into the $30 billion annual revenue leakages, which was said to have been lost by Nigeria from 2005 to 2019.

The House had at the plenary on March 6, 2020, adopted a motion to investigate the disbursement of foreign exchange

by the Central Bank of Nigeria and other agencies with a view to determining the exact amount that may have been lost by the government.

The motion which was sponsored by Chairman House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke centered on the urgent need to rescue the country from over $30 billion annual revenue leakages.

Speaking at the hearing, Chairman Finance, Hon James Faleke and Chairman of the committee on Banking & Currency, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, said the leakages arose from payments on account of foreign

currency denominated contracts by companies in engineering, procurement, marine transportation and likewise foreign exchange allocation to companies from sources such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), autonomous interbank domiciliary and over the counter purchases for the importation, payments of foreign service vendors, dividend repatriation foreign loan/interest payments.

The lawmakers expressed concerns that the value of Naira to the US Dollar was dropping drastically, despite the enormous inflows of Capital importation

and Foreign Direct Investment over the years.

According to them, the investigation was necessary due to the growing problems in the financial management of the country’s resources.

The lawmakers said they will extensively review all of the infractions among others, to ensure that all federally collectible revenues are not only identified and recovered, and as well sanction companies involved in the other non-civil infractions in order to serve as a deterrent to potential classmates of the affected companies.

$8.4m Final Forfeiture Suit: Patience Jonathan Knows Fate October 7 Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday adjourned till October 7, 2021 to hear a motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking the final forfeiture of the $5.78million and N2.4billion linked to a former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The EFCC said in a statement that it had filed an application for the forfeiture of the money warehoused in Skye Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc, respectively in 2017 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

Following an ex-parte application

by the EFCC, Justice Olatoregun had, on April 26, 2017, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the money.

Dissatisfied with the order of the trial court, Mrs. Jonathan alongside other respondents, LA Wari Furniture and Bathes, had first approached the Court of Appeal and subsequently the Supreme Court to set aside the order of the lower court.

However, both the appellate court and the apex court affirmed the order of Justice Olatoregun.

Midway into the conclusion of hearing on the motion for the final forfeiture of the said sums, Justice Olatoregun retired from

the Bench in 2019.

Consequently, the Chief Judge of the Federal High court re-assigned the matter to Justice Chuka Obiozor for hearing.

Justice Obiozor, however, could not hear the case before his transfer to the Federal High Court, Benin , Edo State.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, narrated to Justice Ringim how far the matter had gone.

Oyedepo said: “This matter is a non-conviction suit instituted before your learned brother, Justice Olatoregun now retired, where we

prayed for the final forfeiture of the sum of $5,781,173.55, warehoused in Skye Bank Plc and N2,421,953,502.78, property of LA Wari Furniture and Bathes in Ecobank Plc. “It was instituted and an interim order was granted on April 24, 2017, upon which it went up to Supreme Court and an application for its final forfeiture was moved.

But the trial judge didn’t deliver the judgment before retiring.

“It was upon that fact that the file was transferred to the registry, where it was re-assigned to the former judge and subsequently your Lordship.”

Two Die as Secondary Students Go on Rampage in Ogun

Kayode Fasua in Abeokuta

Commercial activities and vehicular movements were yesterday paralysed in some parts of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when secondary school students of two public schools engaged each other in a violent attack over the death of two of their colleagues who were killed during a gambling session.

Senior secondary students of the Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Saje, reportedly invaded Ilugun

High School located within the Federal Housing Estate (FHE) in the Saje axis of the metropolis to avenge the death of their colleagues allegedly stabbed to death at the previous week’s gambling bout.

THISDAY’s investigations revealed that the BBHS students, who were armed with guns, cutlasses, broken bottles and assorted charms, among other dangerous weapons, invaded Ilugun High School and started shooting sporadically in every direction and chanted antimanagement songs to warn the

principal and teachers to stay off.

The incident forced teachers and students of the school to run in different directions so as not to be caught up in the crisis, which later spread to all adjourning streets of the metropolis.

Shop owners, who had earlier opened for businesses also hurriedly closed down and scampered for safety, while vehicles and commuters also deserted the area for fear of being affected by the incident.

One of the shop owners in the area, who managed to return after

security operatives had taken over the situation, told THISDAY that the students of the two schools were last week involved in gambling of which those of the BBHS won massively at the expense of their colleagues in Ilugun.

The gambling, however, degenerated into a conflict, during which “two BBHS students were stabbed with broken bottles.”

One of the stabbed BBHS students reportedly died last Friday, while the second one died yesterday.

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COMMENT

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

Sirika And The Aviation Sector Musa Wada writes that the minister of aviation has performed remarkably well

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he Montgolfier brothers in 1783 gave our world what then and now stands out as its most amazing and exciting gifts when they developed the hot air balloon and conducted the first untethered flight in the sky!

But only very few people could have imagined what vistas of opportunities it would open up, and/ or what kinds of people would create what kinds of niches for themselves out of it. The aviation industry has come to represent a significant aspect of our lives in more evolving ways than was ever imagined simply by facilitating mobility. The big deal about the aviation industry lies in its provision of mobility as typified in its pillars of transport (air, inland and maritime) as a major leverage for global socio-economic fabric. They underpin social connections and facilitate access to goods and services, including trade, jobs, health care and education. In today’s world, the focus for the aviation industry is fast evolving and exerts a far greater demand on human and systemic abilities in terms of dynamism, efficiency, speed, interconnectivity and accessibility. Therefore, the main issue for the sector in Nigeria is to keep up with the trends of development and to ensure their sustainability.

The aviation industry in Nigeria has come a long way, having witnessed about 75 years of operational existence characterized, over the years, by the industry’s own peculiar cycles of booms and wanes resulting majorly from its management and leadership profiles and styles. Nonetheless, the industry in Nigeria has, despite the serial cases of mismanagement, corruption, and general inefficiencies, remained resilient and evolving. Recent strides noted in the industry attests to the fact that greater potential abound in the Nigerian aviation industry. Thanks to the transformational initiatives of Senator Hadi Sirika, the Aviation Minister. With his very one of a kind, honest, nationalist, intelligent and fiercely committed approach to the responsibilities of his office as the minister of aviation, Senator Sirika has, indeed, distinguished himself in the holistic manner he has been driving innovative advancements in the aviation sector. Evidently, his professional experiences and expertise have guided the careful and calculated ways through which he has so far attempted to coordinate measures for addressing age-long inefficiencies that have buffeted the sector. A keen observation of what the senator has accomplished since he assumed his duties in the aviation ministry, particularly the implementation of innovations, will lead one to the conclusion that the minister is working from his experiences; working to change the old order that appeared to frustrate him during his days of active flight operations. Good, humane thoughts, if you ask me – to let others not suffer now that destiny has placed him at a vantage position to take steps to redress the anomalies from which he had suffered at appoint in his career.

Senator Sirika’s most outstanding record is his realization that government operates in a continuum, and that, for whatever reason, abandoning projects initiated by others before would not

SENATOR SIRIKA’S MOST OUTSTANDING RECORD IS HIS REALIZATION THAT GOVERNMENT OPERATES IN A CONTINUUM, AND THAT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ABANDONING PROJECTS INITIATED BY OTHERS BEFORE WOULD NOT ONLY BE WASTEFUL AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE BUT WILL GREATLY DETRACT FROM HIS MISSION AND VISION OF REVIVING THE STAGNATING AVIATION SECTOR

only be wasteful and counter-productive but will greatly detract from his mission and vision of reviving the stagnating aviation sector and setting it on a path of global competitiveness, and ensuring above the board service delivery. This personal philosophy of the minister has been demonstrated in several scenarios including the determined efforts to complete about 40 projects variously stalled from previous authorities under the purview of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology. The minister and his equally dedicated team amazingly exceeded the 30% milestone targeted for the Q3 of 2020 in effectively bringing these stalled projects to fruition even as the 2021 outlook for the activities remains quite upbeat. As a way to facilitate investment processes in the development of the aviation industry in the country, the minister saw the need to sustain the concession of certain aviation facilities. In this regard, the aviation ministry continues to superintend over the concession of frontal aviation facilities such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the Port Harcourt International Airport, Aminu Kano and the Enugu International Airports where considerable milestones have been achieved in the concessional arrangements. Essentially, in line with the set road map, barring no interference of force majeure, the trajectory also looks bright for attaining the 2021 Q4 deadline set for the finalization of the concessional programmes.

When it comes to setting and meeting deadlines, the minister remains outstanding. We cannot forget in a hurry the rehabilitation works undertaken at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at Abuja some two years ago. Other key deliverables for which notable milestones have been recorded consistent with the road map are the establishment of a national carrier, development of a scheme for the continuous maintenance and optimal use of airport facilities, a proactive strategy for the development of a functional PPP arrangement for further integration of the private sector into the aviation industry. The ongoing transformation is a big step in terms of the changes that we witness in the sector over the last three to four years, but the phenomenon in all of that is the business acumen of the leadership.

It would be recalled that Mr President made a pledge to lift about 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2029. This pledge automatically translates into a directive for the MDAs and their drivers. In this regard, the Minister of Aviation takes this directive seriously and is taking steps to support the aspiration of Mr President by exploiting the diverse and multi-layered opportunities in Aviation to generate the desired level of economic growth, job creation and facilitating international trade and tourism as well as other value-chains. For this to materialize, we need innovation not just by memos but by such pragmatic and dynamic leadership at work in the Aviation Ministry.

Wada wrote from Abuja

Periscoping Mahmood’s New INEC The electoral body is increasingly toeing the path of credibility, writes Suleiman Abubakar

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or sometime now, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shown a more thorough, proactive and disciplined approach towards its electoral responsibilities. Aside from being proactive, the leadership seems to have reformed the operations of the electoral body by putting in place a calendar of activities that spells out its planned programmes from now till 2023 when the general election will hold. From e-voters registration, which is a new innovation to swell its ranks of activities, to physical voters’ registration, voters’ education, and the conduct of isolated elections and bye-elections, the electoral body has been on its toes to ensure credibility and transparency of its operations. The peaceful conduct and outcome of a couple of bye-elections and stand alone elections has given a vista of hope to participants in the electoral process. The credibility of INEC is being gradually restored even at a time that some of its operational structures face serious challenges in the hands of arsonists.

INEC’s latest style at setting agenda for its electoral engagements is a good way to avoid fire brigade approach to handling the herculean task of managing electoral activities. Its conduct of Edo and Bayelsa elections was a further indication of how much it is poised to deepen the electoral process to ensure credible, free and fair electoral contest. It has also set the dates for all future elections; Anambra, Ekiti, Osun in 2021 and 2022, and the general elections slated for 2023. That is a good and organised way to plan for elections. It gives the commission the rare opportunity to carry out its responsibilities in good time to avoid overcrowding of activities.

Aside from being resolute in its decision, its impartial role is becoming tellingly instructive. We

are beginning to see a new INEC that does not give a damn about ruling or opposition party, and that is firm in its position on any electoral matter. It is gradually regaining strength, capacity, comportment and resilience which are needed as shock-absorbing resource in the management of elections in a volatile political landscape such as Nigeria’s.

As part of ways to clean up the system, the commission wielded out about 74 political parties, who in its estimation, fell short of the conditionalities of being viable political parties. That exercise has not only reduced the cost of running elections, it has also helped to reduce the cumbersomeness of the ballot paper, making room for time saving, as the average voter makes his choice on the voting day.

Eighteen political parties make for a more manageable size in terms of infrastructure for handling them, materials for elections and getting feedback on a number of issues. INEC did not only pursue the litigation to the Supreme Court, it insisted that the law must apply in dealing with political parties, to strengthen the democratic process and ensure that only viable parties field candidates for elections.

Its capacity to engage with all the parties involved using the platform of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has been most rewarding. It has engendered a more robust relationship between the electoral body and the political parties, thus promoting trust, collective bargaining, confidence building and constructive engagement. Overhauling the electoral process through the pruning down of the parties has made for serious political engagement.

In the build up to the 2023 political contest, INEC must be seen to sustain its present efforts of agenda setting. The real problem that may drag it backwards is the fact that about 70% of senior level national commissioners and resident electoral

commissioners would be exiting the commission.

Their tenure would be expiring between October 2021 and 2022, thus exposing the commission to the “inexperience” of those who will replace them shortly before the litmus test of a general election.

INEC must be thinking in futuristic terms, to dispense with most of its activities before their experienced hands exited, especially the technical aspect of their all important engagements. The nomination of Lauretta Onochie, President Buhari’s aide to serve in the electoral commission would cast a slur on the impartiality and objectivity of the electoral body should the Senate endorse her nomination.

That is most likely going to raise credibility issue as the 2023 general election approaches. Nominations to the commission should be devoid of persons whose partisanship is in doubt. The appointment of Lauretta Onochie, will no doubt, rubbish whatever positive image the electoral body has built for itself in recent times as well as undermine its integrity, credibility and neutrality.

The commendable role the commission played in the 2019 electoral debacle in Zamfara State as a result of incomplete primary election process by the ruling APC, etched its name in gold as being truly an impartial arbiter in the management of elections.

Such capacity to look at the various actors in the face and doing the right thing is what is expected of an impartial electoral body. INEC does not only have the powers to midwife electoral process, it is also constitutionally empowered to wield the big stick where there are infractions in the conduct of party primaries and mismanagement of party finances. The ongoing Anambra gubernatorial primaries by the three political parties; APGA, APC, PDP, present another litmus test to INEC at ensuring that the primaries are conducted within

the labyrinth of the law. Political parties must not only assist INEC to make the processes lawful, they must insist that their primary elections follow the provisions of their respective party guidelines and constitution. Curiously, all the three dominant political parties in the Anambra gubernatorial election have issues with their primary elections thus far. The responsibility has fallen on INEC’s shoulders to do the needful in compliance with the enabling electoral laws.

INEC leadership deserves every bit of encomium thus far in the studied and organised manner it has contended with its responsibilities. Professor Mahmood Yakubu has not only shown his capacity, resilience and intellectual fecundity in the management of the electoral body, he comes across as an egghead who surely understands the enormity of his assignment and his place in the annals of Nigeria’s troubled history. Getting experienced hands to join him in the process of cleaning up the Augean stable is a task that would help deepen the democratic process. Mahmood alone cannot do the job. He surely needs competent, able and resultdriven hands who are genuinely altruistic and not those who are ready to desperately undermine the process for their selfish end. We are seeing a new INEC that assuredly knows its onions, one driven by objectivity in its dealing with political parties without minding whose ox is gored. That should be the feeling as we gradually approach the 2023 general elections and other election in a season of voter apathy and declining interest in the politics of choosing those to represent us. To sustain voters interest, INEC and the political parties must carry out an elaborate voter education program to inject new thinking into our electoral process.

Abubakar wrote from Ilorin

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EDITORIAL Poverty: Beyond the numBers’ Game The authorities should try and get their maths right

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to know those it had lifted out of poverty.

Against the background that the Anchors Borrowers’ Programme is experiencing severe difficulties as many of the beneficiaries are sinking into debts since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pertinent question remains: how did the president come by his figures in the first instance?

n a bid to reduce the overwhelming poverty in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari last week inaugurated the National Steering Committee of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS). It is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. “If India can lift 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016, Nigeria can surely lift 100 million out of poverty in 10 years,” said the president who reiterated his commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

Meanwhile, we are concerned that this administration may be playing games with numbers. While marking ‘Democracy Day’ on June 12 this year, the president sensationally claimed that the federal government had already lifted 10.5 million Nigerians, among whom are farmers, small-scale traders, artisans, and market women, out of poverty. No evidence is available to back up the figures. Indeed, an economist with the Lagos Business School, Prof Bongo Adi, said the claim was misleading. “The World Bank uses the living standard ALL AVAILABLE DATA, measurement INCLUDING THOSE FROM survey. It does it for THE WORLD POVERTY every developing CLOCK, REVEAL THAT NIGERIANS ARE ACTUALLY country every two or three years,” he said.

WORSE OFF DURING THE Barely three days PERIOD, WITH AT LEAST after the presidential 10 MILLION MORE OF OUR statement, the World NATIONALS IN POVERTY Bank released its own figures to the effect that the rising prices of goods had pushed about seven million Nigerians into poverty in 2020, five million more than its earlier projection as population expansion outpaced economic growth.

Apparently in response to the World Bank, the federal government is now working from answer to question. Umar Bindir, national coordinator of the Social Investment Programme (SIP), one of the two projects touted as instrumental to the claim, said the agency would start an assessment of the programme

Letters to the Editor

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T 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 OGED ENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT PATRICIA UBAKA-ADEKOYA

here is no doubt that many Nigerians are being tipped into poverty daily because of the searing economic situation, worsened by insecurity across the country. In its 2019 poverty and inequality report, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said at least 83 million Nigerians were living below the national poverty line. Since that report, the economy has experienced a recession in the second and third quarters of 2020. The growth in the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 was nothing compared with a population that is growing at a 3.2 per cent annually.

Besides, food inflation, a major component of determining poverty level of a country’s population has hit the roof, rising from 13.51 per cent in January 2019 to 22.72 per cent in April 2021.

In terms of unemployment, even if we stick to official figures, over 23 million Nigerians are out of jobs presently as against 21 million in 2020.

Many employers of labour have shut their doors or scaled down their activities because of the growing insecurity in the country coupled with the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. All available data, including those from the World Poverty Clock, reveal that Nigerians are actually worse off during the period, with at least 10 million more of our nationals in poverty.

While we need private sector investments to create jobs and eradicate poverty, it is obvious that we are already reaping the consequences of the insecurity that has crippled social-economic activities, especially farming, in several parts of Nigeria. The earlier we address that challenge, the better for the country. And the way to do that is not by the federal government deluding itself with dubious figures.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

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.

Lastma officiaLs as endanGered sPecies

ecently, two officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Osazu Segun Godwin and Adeniyi Hakeem, were hacked by some Lagos commercial bus drivers in the Anthony area of Lagos State.

The duo, according to the General Manager, LASTMA, Olajide Oduyoye, were attacked by drivers of Suzuki commercial buses popularly known as ‘Korope,’ and others at Anthony Village, Oshodi. Oduyoye explained that Godwin and Hakeem were attacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons by the drivers, and the development led to the death of Godwin.

According to Oduyoye, trouble started when a commercial bus driver with registration number FKJ 452 YC, plying Bariga to Oshodi, via the Ikorodu Road axis, was apprehended for contravening the traffic law of the state.

Infuriated by the officer’s action, the driver, an alleged ex-convict, with some other drivers, pounced on the officers, overpowered, and eventually killed the deceased. Oduyoye said that the sad fact about the whole saga was that the two LASTMA officers were in mufti and on their way home, having completed their morning shift, before the ugly episode occurred.

In response to the distressing situation, the Lagos State Government has declared a zero tolerance for such uncivilized conduct by members of the public against LASTMA officers while on duty.

According to available data, 18 LASTMA officials were killed in 2018 alone; while 24 were debilitated by ‘hit-and-run’ vehicles and violent attacks in the same year. This has become a recurring evil.

For instance, on December 15th, 2016, a LASTMA official in charge

of the Apapa axis, Mr. Olatunji Suraju Bakare, was killed in broad daylight. He was gruesomely murdered by irate mob that undressed and dropped him inside the drain, before lynching him to death.

It is, indeed, ironic that LASTMA officials, who are employed to ensure Lagos residents have a pleasant motoring experience, have suddenly become objects of undue assaults and barbaric attacks by the same people whom they are being paid to serve.

With over three million cars and 100,000 commercial vehicles on the roads, Lagos daily records an average of 227 vehicles per every kilometer of roads. This makes it imperative for the government to establish LASTMA in 2000.

In-spite of the difficult environment it operates, Lagos residents have continued to feel the impact of LASTMA’s good job as areas hitherto notorious for traffic gridlocks during peak periods now relatively experience free flow traffic.

On its part, the government has continued to ensure that LASTMA is abreast of the latest and best global trends in traffic management.

Consequently, it had organized a series of training for LASTMA personnel in order to serve as a role model to other states in the country. It is important to state that some states in the country have established their own traffic management outfit tailored after LASTMA. LASTMA officials have been trained on incident management, traffic management and modern road traffic arts among others. The government is desirous of creating an attitudinal change and rebranding LASTMA officials. Part of the training objective is to provide the basic knowledge and skills necessary to accurately monitor and manage the road in order to reduce travel time and ensure an effective traffic control plan for the safe movement of people and goods.

However, regardless of doing its utmost to ensure sanity exists on Lagos’ roads, no other government agency has been most vilified, maligned and misjudged like LASTMA. The war of attrition between motorists, security operatives and LASTMA officials have been so heightened, culminating in brutal attacks, unwarranted hostility and needless deaths of LASTMA officials. Always ignored, however, is the fact that the failure of motorists, most especially commercial drivers, to obey simple traffic rules and regulations often lead to traffic snarl that gives room for social miscreants to rob motorists of valuable items and vandalism of cars. It is no longer news that, in Lagos, some motorists are fond of contravening traffic laws. For instance, the BRT lanes are strictly meant for BRT buses, but other motorists prohibited from using the lane flout the rule with impunity.

Aside from this, some commercial bus drivers are quite lawless. They not only drive against traffic, they usually carry more than the required number of passengers, stop to pick passengers at un-designated places and over speed among many other dangerous acts. Whenever they are apprehended by LASTMA officials, they resort to harassing, and even beating them up.

Nevertheless, as with other regulatory and enforcement agencies, it may not be unusual to find a few bad eggs among LASTMA officials.

The government is not unaware of this as it has always made efforts geared towards solving the problem of black sheep in LASTMA. Recently, a corrupt LASTMA official, who was caught in the act, was not only dismissed, but prosecuted by the government and eventually jailed.

Tayo Ogunbiyi, Deputy Director, (Public Affairs) Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos

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politics

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

Farouk Lawan’s Wages of Filthy Lucre

The fall of the famous former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, who was last week convicted by the court will be a reference point as a person who was not conscious of how to adequately manage his popularity, Davidson Iriekpen writes

Farouk

Otedola

Keyamo

Adoke

or Farouk Lawan, his conviction and sentence to seven years in prison last Tuesday by an Abuja High Court was like falling from grace to grass.

If anyone were to ask him how fast fortunes change, his answer will probably be “faster than the speed of light”.

From being a high ranking member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the ad hoc House Committee on Oil Subsidy Probe, which had led to him being tipped as a good contender for the 2015 governorship election in Kano State, to being a convict, Lawan can only watch helplessly as he cools off in his prison cell.

Until he was caught in the controversy of the bribe money he allegedly demanded from popular oil magnate, Femi Otedola, Lawan, the the four-term member representing Bagwai/ Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State, was a constant face in the lower chamber since 1999. His popularity knew no bounds.

As Mr. Integrity in the House, he was influential and also made headlines. So powerful was he that he championed the removal of the first female Speaker, Patricia Etteh, over an allegation that she misappropriated public funds even when it later became clear that there was really no misappropriation.

With such a lofty reputation, not only was there no hiding place for him when the lid on his alleged complicity in a bribery scandal involving Otedola during an oil subsidy probe blew open, his conviction has really worsened his downfall.

Looking transfixed, the former federal lawmaker watched helplessly as Justice Angella Otaluka sentenced him to seven years imprisonment after convicting him on the three-count charge on which he was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Lawan’s troubles started when in 2012 when as Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc House Committee on Oil Subsidy Probe, he was accused of demanding $3 million from Femi Otedola to remove theh name of his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud in 2012.

However, when it was as if the allegation was going to be swept under the carpet, in 2013 the now Minister of State Labour, Festus Keyamo, then into private practice gave the Nigerian police a one week ultimatum to prosecute Lawan.

When the ultimatum given to the police lapsed, the activist lawyer proceeded with his threat to personally prosecute Lawan and Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, for alleged bribe taking.

After a media report that the police had concluded investigation on the alleged crime and had passed its findings to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Keyamo again sent a draft charge against the accused to the AGF, Mohammed Adoke, to prosecute them; failure of which he threatened to commence a private

prosecution against the politicians.

He said: “The position of the law is that, before I commence private prosecution, you should be given the opportunity to prosecute or to decline to prosecute,” Keyamo was quoted as having said, “I expect the AGF to reply to my request by the close of business next Tuesday, January 29 2013 to enable me determine my next line of action.

I sincerely hope you will make your decision one way or the other as any indecision on your part will amount to a refusal to act as held by the Supreme Court in the case of Chief Gani Fawehinmi V. Col. Halilu Akilu & Anor: In Re: Oduneye reported in 1987 (4 NWLR) P. 67. In that case, it will be all-clear signal I require to file the Charge.”

Consequent upon this, he was arraigned on seven counts of bribery. The charge was later amended to three counts.

The case then dragged on slowly. THISDAY gathered that the case when through five judges.

At each point when the case was making progress, Lawan and his counsel would petition the Chief Judge of the FCT for the judges handling the case to be withdrawn on the grounds of bias.

In 2018, after his no-case submission was dismissed, Lawan proceeded to the Court of Appeal which in 2019 unanimously dismissed his appeal for lacking in merit, and asked him to return to the High Court to continue his trial.

When the case came back to the fourth judge, Justice Otaluka, another petition surfaced. This time, he urged the Chief Judge to disqualify her for having personal interest in the matter. His complaints were mainly the alleged refusal of the judge to adjourn the trial on different occasions to enable his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to handle his defence.

“In my view of the harsh and unfair manner, as well as the apparent and consistent prejudice exhibited by the judge in handling my case, especially by her refusal to grant me an adjournment, so that I will be represented by a counsel of my own choice, and her expression that she must quickly conclude my case, leaves me with no doubt that she has a mindset to hurriedly convict me at all cost for reasons best known to her”, Lawan added.

But the ICPC lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who thought they have had enough of the pranks and gimmicks, petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, accusing Lawan of using frivolous allegations to stall his trial. Awomolo, in his letter that was received by the AGF on June 8, 2017, stressed that Lawan had become “notorious for making undeserved allegation when he feels he is likely to lose”.

The prosecution lamented that the case was always transferred by the Chief Judge whom it said never gave it the opportunity to make

input with a view to drawing his attention to “antecedents of the defendant and the damage to the case of the prosecution”. Stressing that every transfer implied the commencement of fresh trial before a new judge, it decried that the developments had been “very frustrating, discouraging and oppressive on the prosecution”.

The first turning point in the case was when Boniface Emenalo, Lawan’s co-accused was made a prosecution witness. Second, was when Otedola himself, mounted the witness box.

While giving evidence as the fifth prosecution witness, Odetola said the defendant had demanded $3 million from him with a threat to indict his company. He said he quickly reported the issue to the Department of State Services (DSS) and was given $500,000 in marked notes, and planted a camera in Otedola’s house. At the end, the video clip showed Lawan collecting a parcel from the businessman.

On the directive of the judge, the video which lasted for about three minutes was played in the open court by the prosecution counsel, Awomolo.

According to Awomolo: “My lord the video I just played are those of Mr. Femi Otedola and Hon. Farouq Lawal, where there was an exchange of parcel at Otedola’s house in Aso drive, Abuja”.

The DSS Principal Officer in charge of Technical Operations, who recorded the video, Mr. David Ojataha, in his evidence-in-chief, told the court that he was saddled with the responsibility of recording the video by the DSS owing to his background as an Electronic and Telecommunication Engineer.

However, Lawan’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, while cross-examining the witness, said that the device used in playing the CD had no imprint of time and event in the video. He consequently contended that there was nothing to show that what the defendant collected from Otedola was bribe money. Lawan’s lawyer equally insisted that there was also nothing in the video to suggest that bribery was discussed because such words like “bribe” was not heard in the video. All his points fell on deaf ears.

At the end of all the submissions, in delivering her judgment, Justice Otaluka noted that the evidence listed and submitted before the court by the prosecution remained unshaken during cross-examination. She added the conduct, responses and submissions of the defendant and witnesses in the case established the charge in count two, which was that Lawan collected $500,000 as bribe to exonerate Zenon Petroleum and Gas from the fuel subsidy probe report.

The judge held that the prosecution “has beyond reasonable doubt, established the elements of the charge in count two”. She noted that the evidence tendered by the defence “were not accorded any credibility and not worthy of belief” for being inconsistent.

F

Lawan’s troubles started when in 2012 when as Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc House Committee on Oil Subsidy Probe, he was accused of demanding $3 million from Femi Otedola to remove theh name of his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of oil companies allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy fraud in 2012. However, when it was as if the allegation was going to be swept under the carpet, in 2013 the now Minister of State Labour, Festus Keyamo, then into private practice gave the Nigerian police a one week ultimatum to prosecute Lawan. When the ultimatum given to the police lapsed, the activist lawyer proceeded with his threat to personally prosecute Lawan and Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, for alleged bribe taking. After a media report that the police had concluded investigation on the alleged crime and had passed its findings to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Keyamo again sent a draft charge against the accused to the AGF, Mohammed Adoke, to prosecute them; failure of which he threatened to commence a private prosecution against the politicians

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

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politics

Adediran Exploits Novel Funding Strategy to Weaken Tinubu’s Grip on Lagos

Vanessa Obioha writes that a group of people who identify themselves as Friends of Jandor have their work cut out as they embark on a crowdfunding initiative to support the Lagos4Lagos Movement

Tinubu

R

ecently, friends of AbdulAzeez Olajide Adediran, convener of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, launched a crowdfunding initiative to drive the vision of the party. Led by the Director, Media and Strategy for the movement, Seun Soyinka, the friends are convinced that Jandor (as he is widely called) is the man that will deliver Lagos from what it perceives as a one-man political stranglehold.

It is no news that Jandor has positioned himself as the man that will wrestle political control of Lagos from the National Leader of his party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.

His vision began to unfold six years ago but gathered steam last year. Currently, the Lagos4Lagos Movement reportedly has over 60,000 active foot soldiers. This number is exclusive of members who have expressed interest in joining or linked to the movement in one way or another.

Although this is still a far cry from the over 20 million people that live in Lagos, the movement finds hope that it has established a presence in every ward in the state.

Grassroots engagement has been a key strategy for the movement to revive interest in electoral voting as well as alleviating poverty in poor communities. Structures were set up to address each target group in the state but collapsed in April when he inaugurated the 51-member state executive of his movement.

Despite the grassroots engagement, Adediran needs financial backing to achieve his ambition. He has constantly maintained that he will not fall by the wayside, by engaging in the nepotism game of godfatherism — a prevalence in Lagos politics that he greatly condemns at every opportunity in his campaign. He has also constantly denied getting support from the supposedly Tinubu rivals, believed to be behind his audacious move. Again, he dismissed the thoughts, claiming that he will not seek the blessings of any political godfather, either spiritual or financial to achieve his mission.

Adediran

But it seems the political movement has reached the financial juncture where it must decide on how to raise funds for the movement as 2023 draws near. His friends, some of whom have been with him since 2015 are throwing their weight behind him to realise his dream for Lagos. They are not fazed by the constant opposition that continues to confront them, some of which have seen members suspended in the last local government election primaries in the state. They are motivated by the response of the people in the grassroots area and believe that if they can get smaller groups to buy into their vision, they are already a step closer to reaching their goal.

Borrowing a leaf from advanced

countries like the US where politicians engage the support of the public through crowdfunding, the friends of Jandor are expecting that Lagosians who really care about the state will drop a kobo to see Adediran’s vision come to life.

“The perception has always been getting a war chest or having the blessings of a godfather but Jandor depends on the support of the people of Lagos,” said Soyinka. “We want to leverage crowd-funding where we can get buy-in from all Lagosians to contribute and support the governorship project and own it.”

“We want Lagosians to have a say in the politics of Lagos State,” said Kingsley James, a member of the

Called Lagos4UNDLagos, the initiative is amplified by various messages such as ‘2023: The Year Lagos Gained Independence’, ‘Finally, Lagos is Under a New Management: Yours’. How these messages will translate to a financial contribution to the initiative will unfold in subsequent days. First, the move is a bit foreign to most people who are used to collecting from politicians rather than giving to politicians.

It is a common sight to see politicians wooing electorates with cash and foodstuffs as election nears. This form of bribery, while condemned by a large percentage of the electorate, still pervades in every nook and cranny of the country. It speaks volumes of the poverty spread across the country.

Moreso, trust in All Progressives Congress (APC), the party to which Jandor belongs, has waned over the years, but the convener of the Lagos4Lagos Movement has always maintained that his umbilical cord is not permanently tied to the party

movement.

Called Lagos4UNDLagos, the initiative is amplified by various messages such as ‘2023: The Year Lagos Gained Independence’, ‘Finally, Lagos is Under a New Management: Yours’.

How these messages will translate to a financial contribution to the initiative will unfold in subsequent days.

First, the move is a bit foreign to most people who are used to collecting from politicians rather than giving to politicians. It is a common sight to see politicians wooing electorates with cash and foodstuffs as election nears. This form of bribery, while condemned by a large percentage of the electorate, still pervades in every nook and cranny of the country. It speaks volumes of the poverty spread across the country.

Moreso, trust in All Progressives Congress (APC), the party to which Jandor belongs, has waned over the years, but the convener of the Lagos4Lagos Movement has always maintained that his umbilical cord is not permanently tied to the party.

Yet, the great task for the movement as it embarks on the crowdfunding project is convincing people to part with their money.

The movement is not ignorant of the economic hardships but noted that “the poor state of our social infrastructure is a consequence of our actions. Collectively, we are all to blame,” said Soyinka.

“Because at some point or the other, we have been indifferent, because we believe that our votes won’t count at elections. And because we have been indifferent, we have encouraged and fortified dictatorship. If what happened in that last local government elections in Lagos primaries wasn’t dictatorship, then I wonder what dictatorship is. We have autocrats, despots masquerading as democrats.

When do we say enough is enough?

So we are putting this together to share with residents of Lagos that it is important they align with the process.

If you want to change anything, you have to be part of it,” he concluded.

20

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021

FEatures

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

Clarion Call for Peace Championed by Women

Rebecca Ejifoma writes that the clarion call for peace in the South-east region was the thrust of the recent national press conference organised by the Credible Igbo Women Initiative

S

ince January this year, the Southeastern part of the country, with Imo State topping the list, has been bequeathed daily harassment, intimidation, extrajudicial killings of the youth, funerals, hysteria, trauma, displacement of people, public unrest, and endless nightmares, among others. These were the words of distraught mothers at a recent forum in Lagos.

While suing for peace, the women who spoke on the aegis of Credible Igbo Women Initiative, held a naational press conference tagged "Presentation of Facts in Pursuit of Peace in Igbo Land".

Condemning the incessant killings in the South-east, they charged the federal government to embrace dialogue and negotiations with the youth.

Held in Lagos, the conference was borne on the thrust of the tsunami that was unleashed on the region, especially Imo, after the death of a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, in the state on May 30 this year.

Among them were representatives from states and factions including Abia, Anambra, Anioma Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers, Ohaneze Ndigbo Lagos Chapter, Ohaneze Ndigbo South-west Chapter, and market men and women Association South-east and South-south.

Collectively, they suggested to Buhari, the military, police, and other security agencies to stop the killings, withdraw the troops deployed in the South-east and dialogue with secessionist agitators in the region.

Call for Fairness Noting that this unpleasant scenario has exhumed the ugly memories of the civil war that snatched her childhood and botched her innocence over 50 years ago, legendary singer Onyeka Onwenu, decried, "When we tune the TV stations, we see bodies. How did we get here? How do we get out of this? We want peace and we bring peace. Stop the killings. Stop it now."

Clad in a black dress like a few others as a symbol, the One Love singer expressed, “We came here together with one thing in our mind: peace, love and equity. Something dreadful is happening in the South-east right now.

I happen to come from Imo state and I know what people are passing through there. Please, federal government, stop the killings.

"Some people want to agitate for a referendum, it is their right. Some people want to cry out that they are being marginalised, it is their right.

Listen to them. You may not agree with them, but they have the right to speak. We are begging, we are asking, please let’s sit down and talk about what is going on. Let’s call our people who are agitating, who are not happy with the situation and talk to them.

Nigerian government let’s talk. Pull out the troops from Igboland."

Notwithstanding, she clarified that Ndigbo (Igbo people) are not Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). "I know what people are going through. Don't tag Ndigbo as IPOB. Put the issue of IPOB on one side. But don't tag us as people who came out to destroy government properties. We are not that way. We want and need peace, progress. We are willing to work for it."

The social activist, while addressing the aggrieved audience, reminded the presidency of those armed herdsmen.

"What about those who carry guns on farms? It's not fair. We are good people," lamenting further, "It's so difficult to keep quiet. Please stop killing our children. Living in Nigeria is becoming difficult indeed, hazardous. Let's sit and talk with our young people. We

(Third L-R) Onyeka Onwenu, Clarion Chukwurah, and Elvira Silas flanked by other women at the national conference in Lagos

are humans. We feel the pain".

Onwenu soon reminisced about her life abroad. "I went to school in the US for 10 years. I wasn't discriminated against for being an Igbo. I am an Igbo woman and I'm proud to be. How can I come to my own country and be discriminated against? You have reminded many of us why we mustn't go back to where we are coming from.

I lost my childhood as young as 13.

I lost cousins, friends of my family.

Who I am today is shaped by that experience - good or bad."

"Today", she declared, "I represent every woman that is in pain going through loss of their children. Why are we going through this again?

Nigerians are hardworking and they excel everywhere in the world. Why can't our children come back and excel here?"

In addressing the youth, she appealed “I want to use this opportunity to reach out to our young people to embrace dialogue. Please, come let’s talk. We will hear your griefs. We will stand with you, with Igbos and the good people of Nigeria. We are Igbos. If you don't want to love us back as Igbos at least accept our right to live. We want to live. We want Nigerians to live together. We are blessed, talented.

This is our Nigeria."

Quickly on the heels of her speech, Nollywood veteran, Clarion Chukwurah, who couldn't hold back her tears, reminded the president of why he is in the position of leadership. "I will talk to the president directly. You said you would speak to us in the language the Igbos will understand. I don't think that's why God put you there. When you return to your maker one day, what will you tell him? Please, we are all pleading, stop the killings now. We are women, mothers and sisters. Stop the killings," she lamented.

Grievances At the conference, Elvira Silas read the CIWI communique written and assented to by Igbo mothers in Nigeria against the unwarranted killings. "We condemn the notorious killings by the security operatives, and militarisation of Igboland and apparent threat by the FG to use maximum force in dealing with the problem of insecurity in the south east," while calling on the federal government to convoke a security conclave forthwith and stop the bloodletting and remove the killer squad from Igboland. No more killings, no more brutality, no more harassment

and intimidation of our children.

It continued: "The alarming level of insecurity in Igboland and in Nigeria, generally, has resulted in lives being wasted daily. Reckless spilling of the blood of our children by security operatives with impunity everyday, and the militarisation of Igboland and apparent threat by the FG to apply maximum force in dealing with the problem of insecurity in Igboland."

CIWI further reminded the FG that the fact that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in section 14(2) states unequivocally that the security and welfare of the citizens shall be the primary function of the government.

The communique further read in part, "The FG is obliged to protect all the peoples of Nigeria including Igboland which is currently under heavy armed attack by air and land, daily. We are deeply saddened by the wanton destruction of public facilities and the targeted killings of security operatives and public servants by unknown gunmen and extend our condolences to their families and loved ones."

The CIWI, in its statement, vehemently condemned the activities in Igboland by both known and unknown gunmen, arsonists, and brigands whose actions are clearly calculated to create an atmosphere of civil unrest. "For the avoidance of doubt, these are not our children, and they are not acting under the authority of Ndigbo.

"The sustained political instability in Igboland has resulted in the breakdown of law and order with the aberration of our innocent children being dragged out of their houses, cars and even pedestrian walks, captured, arbitrarily branded IPOB members by security forces and with impunity, often summarily executed without trial. Those captives that survive the ordeal are subsequently displayed to the press as proof of the security forces’ success," it observed.

As read aloud, CIWI bemoaned that their children are thus daily dehumanised to the extent that concerned citizens such as Archbishop Obinna of Owerri Archdiocese have raised the alarm on unidentified corpses in the morgues.

Such concerns, it emphasised, have been reiterated by corporate bodies including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) which has decried the grossly overcrowded detention centres in Alaigbo.

"Our farmers have lost their means of

livelihood and at times even their lives because of the invasion and destruction of their farms by herdsmen and their cattie due to the federal government’s stance on open grazing. This situation can no longer be tolerated.

"We note that the systematic neglect of our youths over the years through lack of social and financial incentives, scholarships, and skills acquisition support, have resulted in mass unemployment and distortion of the social fabric. We observe with deep concern that the market men and women continue to suffer greatly in the hands of security forces in Igboland with the result that markets and shops are often under lock and key and are constantly looted with impunity."

Demands In their demands, the women urged: "We call on the FG to take urgent action towards restoring our confidence in the security forces. Hence, we respectfully demand FG to convoke a security conclave forthwith. Stop the bloodletting.

No more killings. No more brutality.

No more harassment and intimidation of our children. Enough! Remove the killer squads from Igboland. Console and compensate the men and women whose children met their untimely death in the hands of the gunmen, both known, and unknown. Console and compensate widows and widowers whose spouses met their untimely end in like manner."

They demanded that the FG provide financial and social incentives to enable "Our children start afresh. Provide our children with a level playing field. No more discrimination! No more favouritism! Embrace Diversity and inclusion sincerely, and thereby empower everyone with the possibility of achieving their fullest potential whether in the public or private sector, irrespective of tribe, creed or association".

As mothers, Silas read on, we bear the brunt of avoidable loss of lives and property. We are broken and tired of burying our children. Therefore, we cry to the federal government to save our souls and let peace reign in our land again.

Unanimously, the women and mothers implored the president to hear their plea while enjoining artists across the country to rise and say no to the killings all in an effort to keep "their sons, brothers, cousins, husbands, and uncles alive and productive. "Peace for all. Prosperity for all. Coexistence for all," they chorused.

21

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021

features

Connecting Nigerians in Underserved Communites

Chiamaka Ozulumba reports on how MTN’s Rural Connectivity programme is connecting 20 million Nigerians in underserved communities

A

report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an affiliate of the United Nations, concerned with the functioning of global telecommunications, revealed that only 51 per cent of the world's population was online as of 2019.

The organisation had freshly launched its facts and figures report titled Measuring Digital Development: Facts and figures 2020 report, where it estimated that only 51 per cent of the population were online as of 2019. This suggests that in a population of over 7 billion people, about 3.7 billion were without connectivity to the Internet.

This means that 3.7 billion people are denied the numerous opportunities that the internet provides. They are not allowed access to information available to all across the Internet.

This figure was higher than the previously estimated figure of 3.6 billion, which was the figure given in the Measuring Digital Development: Facts and figures 2019 report.

This has been a worrisome affair among bodies and organisations tasked with connecting individuals across the globe, which is why companies with mandates to expand connectivity have been most noteworthy in recent times.

At its Annual General Meeting which took place on Monday, June 7, 2021, MTN announced that it was extending telecommunications coverage to millions living in underserved and unserved communities across Nigeria. This initiative is run under its rural telephony programme.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had reported that there were still about 114 access gaps that would have housed about 30 million Nigerians. This meant that these 30 million Nigerians were without basic telephony service.

Recently, it was reported that there were

MTN CEO, Mr Karl Toriola

126,078,999 internet users in Nigeria in Q4 2019. The number of internet users in Nigeria increased by over 10 million between 2020 and 2021. Internet penetration in Nigeria stood at 50.0 per cent in January 2021 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). These new figures were largely due to initiatives such as MTN's Rural Connectivity programme.

MTN also impacted the lives of 20 million Nigerians living in areas that do not have

access or have little access to Internet coverage. This initiative, which was launched in 2020, kicked off as MTN identified more than 3,000 locations across Nigeria, where it would roll out coverage over the next three years.

Currently, more than 583 live rural sites have been installed across the country. More than half of these were installed in 2020, during the initial rollout. Some of these rural sites include Kurba in Bauchi State, Agbiyi

Umuede in Abia State, Tobolo in Ogun state, Tudun Faila in Sokoto State, Uzo Uwani in Enugu state amongst many others.

Living up to its brand slogan ‘Everywhere you go’, MTN plans to install more than 1,000 new sites every year. Staying on course, the company hopes to have completed the full rollout at the end of 2022, covering all the locations it Identified.

“Together, we are deploying infrastructure that will accelerate connectivity and aid the consistent rollout of low-cost connectivity solutions in these areas that have non-existence or limited network coverage and broadband services,” the company stated.

Commenting, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola said, “Mindful of the unique responsibility we have to keep Nigeria and Nigerians connected to the people they love and the information, services, and technology they need, we will continue to invest in the resilience of our network, accelerating the expansion of our 4G coverage and rural connectivity programme.”

Speaking about the brand’s performance, the CEO explained that the company experienced an increase in revenue in areas like voice, data, and service.

“Service revenue grew by 14.7 per cent, in line with our medium-term targets, driven mainly by voice and data revenue. Voice revenue growth was 5.9 per cent, and although this was subdued in the second quarter due to COVID-19 induced restrictions, we saw a pickup in momentum into H2. Data revenue rose by 51.2 per cent, with increased data usage and traffic. To accommodate this and enhance service quality, we focused on capacity upgrades and 4G population coverage while expanding our investments in rural connectivity. Our 4G network now covers 60.1 per cent of the population, up from 43.8 per cent in 2019,” he said.

Rise, Fall and Liquidation of Africa's Premier Carriers Rebecca Ejifoma

T

he Rise, Fall and Liquidation of Africa’s Premier Carriers: Nigerian National Shipping Line and Black Star Line by Dr. Edmund Chilaka has been recommended to everyone who operates in the maritime space and whoever is interested in national and global development generally.

The book, which is the culmination of a Ph.D. research on the activities of the first two shipping lines to be floated by the governments of Ghana and Nigeria in 1957 and 1959, bridges a critical gap in their understanding for the maritime space. It examines and analyses the establishments, the efflorescence, the collapse and liquidation of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).

This is according to the Chairman of the occasion, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, who added, "This is the first comparative work that enables us to compare and draw lessons from the operations and activities of the two companies".

While emphasising the need to address issues such as ethics and commitment to the common goal, Iheanacho, the Chief Host, harped on the need to support a man like Chilaka, who wants to remind "Us of our past and direct our future".

In the book, the author surveys the problem historically and offers feasible options for a return to profitable ventures in sea trade by West Africans.

Hence, he believes that scholars, policymakers and investors will find the book insightful and captivating while former employees of the NNSL and BSL, their families and other stakeholders and aficionados will discover much empathy and nostalgia in its pages.

Meanwhile, the reviewer and Head of Department, History and Strategic

Studies, University of Lagos, Prof.

David Aworawo, called everyone to

celebrate a book that should have been published years ago. "I must congratu-

late the author for putting together this work. The depth of knowledge shown in the shipping business itself is commendable."

He expressed that the NNSL understands the general subject of shipping and the venture to prepare Nigerians for future ventures when the book is read. Continuing, he said, "We want to export our trade goods, and be able to provide jobs for our people".

In his remarks as one of the chief launchers, the Executive Chairman of Comet Group of Companies, Musa Danjuma, described it as a historic occasion of reviving the spirit of Nigeria's indigenous shipping industry by the launch of a well-researched book on the activities of the defunct NNSL and Black Star Line (BSt).

He, therefore, enjoined the federal government through its relevant ministries and parastatals, especially the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Petroleum Resources, Agriculture, Water Resources, NIMASA, NNPC and NCDMB, to synergise and vigorously implement all the enabling laws, especially the NIMASA Act, the Inland Shipping Cabotage Act and the Law on National Content, to encourage and empower Nigerian shipping lines to carry Nigerian cargoes, going forward.

Danjuma, however, remained positive that the era of wholesale reliance on our crude oil wealth would soon pass away and the maritime sub-sector is ever vibrant to yield huge sums of foreign exchange and other benefits if indigenous operators in the maritime industry are proactively supported to increase their levels of operation and participation in the market.

The executive chairman further commended the author for a wellresearched work of this nature which closes the information gap for the practice of a knowledge-based industry in Nigeria’s maritime trade.

22

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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AY •TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021 TT THH HIIISS SDD DAY AY •TUESDAY, •TUESDAY, JuNE JUNE 29, 22, 2021 2021

BUSINESSWORLD MONEY MONEY MARKET MARKET OVERNIGHT OVERNIGHT OBB OBB

R R A A T T E E S S 19.25 19.25 18.75 18.75

REPO REPO

CALL CALL 1-MONTH 1-MONTH 3-MONTH 3-MONTH

A A S S 18 18 18.50 18.50 20 20

A A T T

S S& &P P INDEX INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL LEVEL 1-DAY 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE MONTH-TO-DATE

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

JJ U U N N E E 520.51% 520.51% 0.71% 0.71% 2.42% 2.42%

11 8 8 ,,

S S& &P P INDEX INDEX 1/4 TO 1/4 TO DATE DATE YEAR TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

2 2 0 0 2 2 11 -6.

-6. 85% 85% -- 22.34% 22.34%

EXCHANGE EXCHANGE RATE RATE N411//1US DOLLAR* N411//1US DOLLAR* *AS *AS AT AT LAST LAST FRIDAY FRIDAY

Quick Takes

AfDB Covid-19 Fight AfDB Appoints Vice AfDBStrengthens Appoints Dunford Dunford Vice President President

GLAD TO DEAL MEET YOU SEALED SEALED DEAL

to the Bayelsa Federal State Government, F. Benson; Executive Chief Operating United Nigeria LL-R: – R:Secretary Permanent Secretary, Ministry ofKombowei Finance, Budget and NationalDirector/ Planning, Aliyu Ahmed;Officer, Minister, Zainab L-R: Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Kombowei F. Benson; Executive Director/ Chief Operating Officer, United Nigeria Airlines(UNA), Osita Executive Okonkwo; Director Administration, Linus Awute; and Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice,visit Bayelsa Ahmed, and Chief Officer,of Exchange (NGX) Limited, Mr. Temi Popoola, during a courtesy to State, Airlines(UNA), Osita Okonkwo; Director ofNigerian Administration, Linus Awute; and Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State, Biriyai Dambo, during signing of an MoU onminister Service Agreement between Bayelsa State Government and UNA at Bayelsa International introduce NGX’s newthe management to the in Abuja… recently Biriyai Dambo, during the signing of an MoU on Service Agreement between Bayelsa State Government and UNA at Bayelsa International Airport, Bayelsa State...recently Airport, Bayelsa State...recently

NNPC, Deepen Effortsinto NEITI NEITI Seeks Reconciliation Unravel Assets Owners NNPC’sOil, JV Gas Partners’ Accounts

Stories by Emmanuel StoriesinbyAbuja Emmanuel Addeh Addeh Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja in Abuja The Nigerian National PetroThe Nigeria Extractive (NNPC) Industries leum Corporation The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Nigeria Extractive Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has called on Joint Venture (JV) Industries Initiahas called Transparency on Joint Venture (JV) partners of thehave Nigerian National tive (NEITI) vowed to partners of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ramp up efforts at unravelling Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to reconcile million actual ownersaa of$183.07 the country’s to reconcile $183.07 million discrepancy in their 2019 transport oil and gasinassets as transport well as discrepancy their 2019 accounts. ensuring accounts.contracts transparency latest report on the in In theits sector.

In its latest report on the oilGroup and gas industry Director covering Managing oil and gas industry covering 2019, NEITI noted that whereas of theNEITI corporation, 2019, noted thatMallam whereas a total Kyari, of N571.41 was reported Mele who spoke at a total of N571.41 was reported transportation fees by the aas workshop as stakeholders' transportation fees by the JV the partners in the year under on Extractive Industries JV partners in the year under review, NNPC’s financial stateTransparency Initiative review, NNPC’s financial(EITI) statement indicated it was actually Annual Progress Reporting ment indicated it was actually $334.34 convened million.

(APR), $334.34 million. by NEITI, The transparency initiative, in noted that his commitment The transparency initiative, in its 12th cycle report on the oil to in the itsbeneficial 12th cycleownership report on the oil and gas industry, therefore called industry was unwavering. and gas industry, therefore called onKyari, both parties to reconcile the who was represented on both parties to reconcile the $183the million difference toGroup ensure by corporation’s $183 million difference to ensure that theManager, discrepancy is sorted General Governance, that the discrepancy is sorted out in next report.

Risk & the Compliance, Mr. Chris out in the next report.

Akamario, said the NNPC will

make sure that banks both at the localENERGY and international ENERGY levels are involved in the “A totalattempt sum of $517.41 million renewed to embrace “A total sum of $517.41 million wasculture reported transportation the of as openness in the was reported as transportation fees by the JV companies.

Of sector. fees by the JV companies. Of this amount, NNPC confirmed “We are going toconfirmed continue this amount, NNPC $334.34 to work million. with NEITI to deepen $334.34 million.

“A total of $183.07 million beneficial ownership disclosure “A total of $183.07 million is Nigeria’s under reconciliation by the in oil and gas is under reconciliation sector, by the NNPC. NNPC should conclude beyond statutory ownership NNPC. NNPC should conclude the detailed reconciliation.

This in Corporate Affairs Comthethe detailed reconciliation.

This should be carried out on a regular mission records. should be(CAC) carried out on a regular basis as a mechanism for checks “We also goingfor to checks work basis asare a mechanism and balances,” noted. with NEITI the to report implement and balances,” the report noted.

The initiative furtherin asked contract transparency the The initiative further asked the Department of Petroleum sector and cooperate with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) toNigeria’s reconcile NEITI to broaden Resources (DPR) to reconcile the disparity in its reporting annual progress in the disparity in reporting its reporting processes which it said poses line with the requirements of processes which it said poses a challenge on representation the global EITI,” Kyari stated. a challenge on representation ofStressing NNPC data that organisahas been that both of NNPC data that has been systematically disclosed. tions have come a long way systematically disclosed. should align its reportin “NNPC the EITI implementation “NNPC should align its reporting systems the DPR, journey, hewith stated thatbeing the ing systems with the DPR, being the entity statutorily responsible symbiotic relationship between the entity statutorily responsible for two metering in was the industry,” the entities for metering in the informed industry,” it added. by the strategic positions they it added. both occupy in the country’s

oil and gas sector.

Recently, the“We Group He added: are Managing confident Recently, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam to say that our engagement Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, had called with NEITI is leading us on to Mele Kyari, had called on International Oil Companies the place Nigerians want us to International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the be.

With the support ofcountry NEITI, (IOCs) operating in the country to be more accountable to the we are ableaccountable to close out on to be more to the Nigerian people and not issues just to most of the outstanding Nigerian people and not just to their respective shareholders and in our operations which have their respective shareholders and companies. become recurring decimals in companies.

Speaking on thereports.” third day past NEITI audit Speaking on the third day ofInthe Nigeria International his comments, Executive of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Secretary NEITI, Dr. OgbonPetroleumof Summit (NIPS) in AbujaOrji as head Nigerians of the “Chief naya and Abuja as urged head of the “Chief Executive Officers’ Roundtable”, stakeholders in the country’s Executive Officers’ Roundtable”, Kyari had stated that although oil, gas and mining sectors oil to Kyari had stated that although oil companies plying their trade in celebrate achievements, companieskey plying their trade in the country have progress and aa responsibility milestones the country have responsibility to their home that have beencompanies, recorded they and to their home companies, they must also strive incorporate exemplified byto annual must also strive tothe incorporate the interest of the government progress reporting. the interest of the government and its people.

“The essence of this gatherand its people. had said: “For instance, ingHe is to broaden the scope of He had said: “For instance, my partners we will expect EITI annual here, progress reporting my partners here, we will expect thatNigeria. they operate that in The responsibly, APR is about that they operate responsibly, that they are transparent to all us, reporting, showcasing andof they are transparent to all ofcelus, not just to the shareholders of ebrating the good work being not just to the shareholders of the external naturegovernment , but also to done by various the external nature , but also to agencies, civil society organ-

isations and companies that us and even to Nigerians. are contributing to deepening us and even to Nigerians. “ And in as you do this,extractive they will reforms Nigeria’s “ And as you do this, they will expect you to produce at the least industries. expect you to produce at the least of “We costs that is possible,that because there of costs acknowledge that is possible, because what that means is we thatneed there’ll are challenges, but to what that means is that there’ll be more taxreport revenues also document, and and celebrate be more tax revenues and also probably better for the our efforts and margins key milestones probably better margins for the national oil company.” in the process of addressing national oil company.”

Government entities covered these challengesentities so as to build Government covered by theearn report include the Federal trust, investors’ confidence by the report include the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and attract desired investment Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), DPR, NNPC and the Nigerian into economy,” stated.

DPR,our NNPC and theOrji Nigerian Content Development and MoniAlso Development speaking, EITI AnContent and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). glophone Country Manager, toring Board (NCDMB).

Niger Delta DevelDr.Others Mikeare: Uzoigwe, explained Others are: Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), that theCommission APR provides the opment (NDDC), federal ministry of finance, opportunity for stakeholders federal ministry of finance, Central Bankhow of Nigeria (CBN) to evaluate EITI impleCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Office isoftransforming the Accountant mentation the and Office of the Accountant General of of the Federation. operations member countries General of the Federation.

“NEITI further recommends extractive landscape.

“NEITI further recommends that NNPC should carry out The Director General, that NNPC should carry out detailed reconciliation on National Oil Spill Detecdetailed reconciliation on transportation revenues regularly tion and Response Agency transportation revenues regularly (NOSDRA), Dr. Idris Musa, Continuednoted on page 24 in his comments, that Continued on page 24 his agency will work to deepen EITI reporting in Nigeria.

Stakeholders StakeholdersSeek SeekSupport Supportfor forNEMSA NEMSA’s ’sStandards StandardsEnforcement EnforcementEfforts Efforts

FG Approves Award of Bayelsa Oilfield to New Owners ENERGY

Stakeholders in the Nigerian Stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) The federal government has Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) have calledthe for support for the approved handing have called for support forover the Nigerian Electricity Management of the Atala oilfield, a revoked Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) drive asset hitherto bydrive the Services Agencyowned (NEMSA) to enforcestate standards in the power Bayelsa government, to to enforce standards in the power sector. new owners, Halkin Exploration sector.

The stakeholders who spoke and Production Limited.

The stakeholders who spoke during a roundtable meeting for A letter to that effect sighted during a roundtable meeting for legislature and judiciary on the by THISDAY legislature andindicated judiciarythat on the the enforcement of technical field, Oil Mining Leasestandards (OML) enforcement of technical standards and regulations, mandate, roles 46, approved for transfer andwas regulations, mandate, roles and responsibilities NEMSA after the Director, of DPR, Mr. and responsibilities of NEMSA included the Minister State, Sarki Auwalu, copied aof included the Minister ofmemo State, Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba; to the Minister of Petroleum, Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba; Chairman, NEMSA Mr Timipre Sylva, Governing notifying Chairman, NEMSA Governing Board, Mr.directive Suleiman Yahaya; him of the which had Board, Mr. Suleiman Yahaya; Chairman, Senate Committee been given aSenate nod byCommittee President Chairman, on Power, Senator Muhammadu Buhari.Gabriel on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam, and Managing Director Tagged, “ Application to AsSuswam, and Managing Director of NEMSA, Mr.Marginal Peter Ewesor. sign the Atala Field of NEMSA, Mr. Peter Ewesor.

Others former Chair(OML 46)were to aaHalkin” with Others were former Chairman, House of Representatives reference to PRES/88/MPR/72, man, House of Representatives Committee onapproved Power, Patrick the request was by the Committee on Power, Patrick Ikhariale and former Chairman, Ikhariale and former Chairman,

ENERGY minister who duly commented

to that effect.

Senate Committee on Power, The DPR had earlier anSenate Committee on Power, Philip Aduda. nounced the revocation of 11 Philip Aduda.

In his comments, Jedy-Agba of the 13 marginal fields licences In his comments, Jedy-Agba members of the oil judiciary iturged issued to indigenous firms urged members of the judiciary and legislature to assist in enforcto build capacity and promote and legislature to assist in enforcing participation the standards, noting that the Nigerians ing the standards,ofnoting that it is in the interest of the entire in it isthe in oil thesector. interest of the entire nation.

The licences were originally nation.

The minister the ministry issued in 2003,said revalidated in The minister said the ministry of power was working were with 2013, and the companies of power was working with lawmakers to strengthen the expected to bring the fields into lawmakers to strengthen the extant Act guiding the sector, production in five years, but extant Act guiding the sector, noting it deadline, would address as of thethat 2018 most noting that it would address a lot problems in the power of theof including Atala, a lot offields, problems in the power sector. remained inactive. sector.

“It has been observed that The letter to Sylva showed “It has been observed that NEMSA’s attempts to enforce that the president had approved NEMSA’s attempts to enforce thesethe standards havefields met with that marginal be these standards have met with resistance ononsome occasions re-awarded discretionary resistance on some occasions whichtois qualified attributed to lack of basis which is attributedcompanies to lack of adequate knowledge given about the with consideration to adequate knowledge about the agency,” he said. agency,” he said.

Also speaking, Suswam, Also speaking, Suswam, said a lot of changes hadof taken the operators the saidprevious a lot of changes had taken place since fields the enactment of the the respective subject to place since the enactment of the law, stating that it was time to demonstration and law, stating thatofittechnical was time to rework itcapacity since new entities have financial and payment rework it since new entities have emerged. of applicable Good and Valuable emerged.

“So what we are trying to Consideration (GVC).

“So what we are trying to do“The is toHonourable put up an Minister Act that do is to put up an Act that comprehensively covers all sectors of State Petroleum Resources comprehensively covers all sectors of the power industry. New issues (HMSPR) is respectfully invited of the power industry. New issues have from those entities to notearisen that Halkin Exploration have arisen from those entities thatProduction have been taken (Halkin) over by and that have beenLimited taken over by private companies. has expressed its interest in Atala private companies.

“You also know thatiswe now marginal field which one of “You also know that we now haverevoked the renewable sector, the assets.energy have the renewable energy sector, which was stated not covered in2019, what “Halkin that in which was not covered in what we have in the reform Act. All of the company, through one we have in the reform Act. All of these are going to companies, be covered,” of its subsidiary these are going to be covered,” he stated. the approval of received he stated. also noted the Senate theHe of that Bayelsa Oil Heboard also noted that the Senate would look Limited at areas of conflict Company would look at areas of(former conflict between the mandates NEMSA operators of Atalaof to between the mandates offield) NEMSA and the Nigerian Electricity farm-in 41 per cent of the and thetoNigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), field through the execution Regulatory Commission (NERC), with a view to sorting them out. with a view to sorting them out.

“These are things to be “These are things to be comprehensively covered inand the of farm-in agreement comprehensively covered in the Electricity Act. The first service reading field management Electricity Act. The first reading of the bill haswith been read already agreement of the bill has been BOCL. read already and wecompany are goingclaims to the second “The have and we are going to the to second reading, over which I think will invested $60,000,000: 00 be to reading, which I think will be done before we in go onprocess. recess,” revive the asset done before we gothe on recess,” he noted.

The company further states he noted.

Inthe his presentation, Ewesor, that to submit an In hisdecision presentation, Ewesor, explained that there are issues expression interest field explained of that thereon aretheissues of poor electrical equipment was based on the review ofand an of poor electrical equipment and substandard electrical materials, independent audit of the asset’s substandard electrical materials, adding that had Persons resolved reserve andNEMSA Competent adding that NEMSA had resolved to tackle them head-on. report,” noted. to tackleitthem head-on.

He statedadded that the agency Auwalu that the He stated that the agency was optimistic about having the department’s assessment of was optimistic about having the new Act enacted, adding that the the Halkin indicated that new Act enacted, adding that the enforcement of the Low company has theNational potential to enforcement of the National Low Voltage Standards of government immediately bring the field to Voltage Standards of government would beginand from July. with production progress would begin from July. to him, fullAccording development of no theequipasset, According to him, no equipment would bedrilling allowedof to come including the ment would be allowed to more come into Nigeria from next month wells and production utilisation into Nigeria from next month

of the field’s gas resources.

Continued on page 24 Continued on page 24

TheAfrican African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced the The BankGroup Group’s (AfDB) shareholders The African Development Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced the appointment of Dr. Beth Dunford as its Vice President, Agriculture, have shown strong support for as theitsBank’s proposals to tackle appointment of Dr. Beth Dunford Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development. appointment effective the Covid-19 pandemic as theThe continent facesbecomes the possibility of Human and Social Development.

The appointment becomes effective from July 1, 2021. a from thirdJuly wave of infection amid poor vaccine access.

1, 2021.

A statement national ofofthe This emergedexplained from thethat 56thDunford, AnnualaaMeetings theUnited Bank A statement explained that Dunford, national of the United States of America, brings extensive experience to this role.

She has Group.

The three-day included the to47th meeting of States of America, bringsevent extensive experience this role.

She has held senior levelofleadership positions in the US government, where the Governors the African Development Fund, the Bank’s held senior level leadership positions in the US government, where she managedlending large and complex programs, working with the private concessional she managed large andarm. complex programs, working with the private sector, civil society, and multilateral institutions, as well Part of the proposal, accordingand to bilateral a statement, was that the sector, civil society, and multilateral and bilateral institutions, as well as with African governments, to deliver agricultural, social and human Bank act as a conduit for International Monetary Fund (IMF) as with African governments, to deliver agricultural, social and human development impact at scale. special drawing rights, which it would then on-lend to African development impact at scale.

Prior to her appointment, Dunford worked as the Assistant to the countries.

Prior to her appointment, Dunford worked as the Assistant to the Administrator the U.S. Agency for International Development’ s AfDB Groupin Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, proposed Administrator inPresident the U.S. Agency for International Development’ s s) Bureau formechanism, Resilience and Food Security, as well asone, the an(USAID’ African stability modeled on a European (USAID’s) Bureau for Resilience and Food Security, as well as the for Development for Feed the Future, the U.S. toDeputy act as Coordinator a firewall against external shocks.

Deputy Coordinator for Development for Feed the Future, the U.S. government’ s global hunger and food security Adesina also pledged that the Bank wouldinitiative. strengthen support government’s global hunger and food security initiative.

“In this dual role, she coordinated Feed thepandemic’s Future across multiple to African countries they tackle the economic “In this dual role, sheas coordinated Feed the Future across multiple U.S.health government agencies, oversaw a $1 billion annual budget and and impacts.

U.S. government agencies, oversaw a $1 billion annual budget and leveraged of direct said private annually.

In Looking millions ahead, Adesina thesector Bankinvestment would invest heavily leveraged millions of direct private sector investment annually.

In capacity,vaccine she also coordinated a $2.3 Feed the Future inthis domestic and billion in Africa’s healthcare this capacity, she alsomanufacturing coordinated a $2.3 billion Feed the Future presidential initiative across 11 US government agencies and forged system, noting that only 51 per cent of public health facilities have presidential initiative across 11 US government agencies and forged partnerships within the private sector at basic water and sanitation, and onlyand 31 civil per society cent oftargeted healthcare partnerships within the private sector and civil society targeted at reducing hunger and poverty. facilities electricity. reducinghave hunger and poverty.

“Shepresident also led USAID’ s technical and regional expertise focused The underlined the fact that Africa imports 60-70 “She also led USAID’ s technical and regional expertise focused on improving agriculture-led growth, resilience, nutrition and water per cent of itsagriculture-led pharmaceutical drugs. on improving growth, resilience, nutrition and water security, ” the statement added.

On thesanitation final dayand of hygiene, the meetings, Adesina said: “The lives security, sanitation and hygiene, ” the statement added.

President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Adesina of 1.2 billion of people in Africa are at risk… weAkinwumi must give hope President the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina was delighted to appoint Dunford asVicethat President lead the tosaid thehe the vulnerable, by ensuring everyto said hepoor, was delighted to appoint Dunford asVice President toAfrican, lead the Bank’s work Agriculture, Human andaccess Social Development. regardless of on their income level, gets quality healthcare, Bank’s work on Agriculture, Human and Socialto Development.

as well as health insurance and social protection.”

YBR Clinches YBR Clinches USAID’s USAID’s YPE4AH YPE4AH Account Account Creative solutions company, Yellow Brick Road (YBR), has been Creative solutions company, Yellow Brick Road (YBR), has been

appointed by theReleases Development Alternative Incorporated (DAI) as Coronation 2021 Bank Report appointed by the Development Alternative Incorporated (DAI) as its partner to manage the branding and communications campaign

its partner to manage the branding and communications campaign for the USAID funded to Advance Urban Coronation Asset Youth-powered Management Ecosystem has released its report on for the USAID funded Youth-powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH).

Nigerian banks titled: “Nigerian Banks, Resilience Built In.” Adolescent Health (YPE4AH).

Thereport programme, which seeks to improve the earnings health and well-being The showed that Nigerian banks’ been The programme, which seeks to improve the health andhave well-being of unmarried, out-of-school, urban adolescents Lagos andprofitKano, remarkably resilient over theurban interest rate cycle,in their of unmarried, out-of-school, adolescents inwith Lagos and Kano, by increasing access to and giving a more holistic context to issues ability improving over time. by increasing access to and giving a more holistic context to issues surrounding family planning, was

by First Ladycompared of the Federal Also, theirfamily stockplanning, values was are unveiled remarkably cheap to surrounding unveiled

by First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari,whowasrepresented Ghanaian and Kenyan bank stocks.

RepublicofNigeria,Dr.AishaMuhammaduBuhari,whowasrepresented by Senior Special Assistant the President administration (office The report, written byto Ani andon Czartoryski of by Senior Special Assistant toOpe the President onGuy administration (office of the First Lady) Dr. Hajo Sani in February, 2021.

Coronation Research, examined what has happened within of the First Lady) Dr. Hajo Sani in February, 2021. five-year contract, awardedintothe YBR, would see the company the The Nigerian Banking industry last 10 years.

The five-year contract, awarded to YBR, would see the company provide themargins project, especially around “It is aoverall uniquestrategic 10-yeardirection study ofto and profitability provide overall strategic direction tothe the project, especially around social & behavior change, brand identity, partner marketing and other ofsocial six listed banks: Zenith Bank; GTpartner Bank; marketing Access Bank; FBN & behavior change, brand identity, and other areas of communication.

Holdings; UBA, and Stanbic IBTC. areas of communication.

The company described the appointment testimony “These banks have adapted successfully as to further many changes in The company described the appointment as further testimony to its increased presence the behaviour change communications interest rates over the 10in from 2010 to 2020.

Therefore, to its increased presence inyears the behaviour change communications sector, the successful of rates its social impactthe division they arefollowing well-positioned for thelaunch rise in in 2021,” firm sector, following the successful launch of its social impact division in Abuja inin 2019. explained a statement. in Abuja in 2019.

“While underlying growth in assets has been elusive, especially Stakeholders Support for LAAC Conference when data are adjusted for inflation, profitability has generally Stakeholders Support for LAAC Conference Stakeholders in Nigeria’ s aviation industry are already keying into improved.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry are already keying into preparations Leagueequity of Airport and Aviation Correspondents “The returnfor onthe average (RoAE) and return on average preparations for the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Conference slated July 28, 2021. have both converged assets (RoAA) of the six for banks studied (LAAC) Conference slated for July 28, 2021. conference with theme: ‘Nigeria Aviation Industry: ManageandThe improved over 10the years.

The conference with the theme: ‘Nigeria Aviation Industry: Management, andappears Regulation, theunder-appreciated 25th edition in the series and would “ThisPolicy trend to’’ is by investors, ment, Policy and Regulation, isbe the 25th edition in the series and would be held Lagos.shows the positive investment potential in the and the in report be held in Lagos.

While the Ministry of Aviation has indicated interest to be part of sector,” Research Analyst Coronation Research, Guy WhileSenior the Ministry of Aviation hasatindicated interest to be part of the event, all the aviation agencies, including: Nigerian Civil Aviation Czatoryski said. the event, all the aviation agencies, including: Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority(NCAA),FederalAirportsAuthorityofNigeria(FAAN),Nigerian Authority(NCAA),FederalAirportsAuthorityofNigeria(FAAN),Nigerian AirspaceManagementAgency(NAMA),AccidentInvestigationBureau, AirspaceManagementAgency(NAMA),AccidentInvestigationBureau, Nigeria(AIB-N)andtheNigerianCollegeofAviationTechnology(NCAT), Nigeria(AIB-N)andtheNigerianCollegeofAviationTechnology(NCAT), Zaria have equally expressed their desire to be fully involved in the Zaria have equally expressed their desire to be fully involved in the whole arrangements.

Gartner Peer Insights has recognised Huawei OceanStor whole arrangements.

Expressing theiras commitments the forthcoming event, the NCAA All-Flash Storage Customers'to in its 2021 Gartner Peer Expressing their commitments toChoice the forthcoming event, the NCAA said it would always support the league at all times.

Insights 'Voice of the Customer.' said it would always support the league at all times.

Huawei Gets Recognition

The OceanStor All-Flash Storage scored 4.8 out of 5 points on the annual Gartner Peer Insights platform and was recognised by different industry customers for its excellent performance and user experience. This made Huawei one of the three recognised global storage vendors.

“This is landmark Gartner Insightsissue is an online platform of ratings and “This is a aPeer landmark issue for Ecobank, and the reviews of IT software and services that are written and read for Ecobank, and indeed indeed the of this first Sustainable bysuccess IT professionals and technology success of this first Sustainable decision-makers. It includes Tier 2 testament more 350,000is reviews in 355 markets, which come Tierthan 2 issuance issuance isverified testament from end-users who have experience purchasing, implementing, to our clear strategy ,, solid to our clear strategy solid orpositioning using the product or service. Vendors with high customer across the positioning across the panpanratings are named a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice, thus African banking space as African banking space as well well helping IT leaders make more as our deliberate and long informed purchasing decisions. as our deliberate and “To date, Huawei haslong received 93 verified reviews from term on sustainable term focus focus sustainable customers in on various industries around the world, such as finance and carriers.

Group CEO, ETI, Group CEO, ETI, Ade Ayeyemi Ade Ayeyemi

24

T H I S D AY •TUESDAY, •TUESDAY, JUNE JuNE 22, 29,2021 2021

Business/moneyguide BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS NEWS

Osinbajo Lists FG’s Achievements TCN Establishes New Transmission Region in Kano in Infrastructure Development

NEITI SEEKS RECoNCILIaTIoN IN NNPC’S JV PaRTNERS’ aCCouNTS

as a mechanism for checks and balances,” the document stressed.

The report further disclosed that in 2019, Shell Petroleum Stories

by Emmanuel Development Company (SPDC) Addeh in Abuja produced 78 million barrels, Aiteo had 11 million,Prof.

ErotonYemi was Vice President, 10.6 millionhas barrels, New cross Osinbajo enumerated produced 6.1 million and Chevron the achievements of this addrilled 60.4 million barrels. ministration in infrastructure In addition, it showed that development.

Agip producedthat 5.9themillion, He stressed infraMobil’s share was 92.7 million, structure development were Total of drilled million, Belema part the 41 efforts to lift 100 had 2 million, Seplat million Nigerians fromproduced poverty.

1.3Osinbajo, million while Pan Ocean Oil who was repreproduced 000 barrels oil sented by 469, the Minister of of State for Works the year.and Housing, Mr. for The totalAliyu, barrelsspoke produced in Abubakar while 2019 was 310 as opposed delivering hismillion keynote address to the 314 Annual million in the previous at Conference of year.Nigerian Of thisInstitute quota, of NNPC’s the Estate share wasand 180.8 million(NIESV), barrels Surveyors Valuers in 2019,took while the JV partners which place in Abuja. had a cumulative sharesome of 129.4 According to him, of million barrels. the infrastructure included Nembe CreekofLine, theAiteo’s commencement the Shell’s Bonny terminal, 156Km Lagos IbadanTotal’s rail Amenamand all the declared force service completion majeure during the period. and commissioning of 327 to the report, losses kmAccording Itakpe–Warri Standard due to theft sabotage totalled Gauge Railand after 33 years of 42.2 million barrels and was abandonment by previous valued at $2.7 billion, using an administrations. average of $65.6 but He added thatper thebarrel, ongoing was 11 million barrels less than construction of Kano-Maradi the loss recorded in 2018. railway, commencement Also, the total losses were 27.1 of work on Port-Harcourt million barrels railway in 2015, 101.05 in Maiduguri lines, 2016, apparently at the height of ongoing negotiation on the restiveness in the Niger gauge Delta, Ibadan–Kano standard 36.4 million in 2017 and 53.28 rail projects and the Abuja million in project 2018. which was light rail

completed in 2018, were some STaKEHoLDERS major landmarks of the current SEEK SuPPoRT foR administration.

NEMSa’S STaNDaRDS On roads, he said the ENfoRCEMENT EffoRTS government created the Presidential Infrastructure if it failed to meet the required Development Fund (PIDF), voltage standard, adding that investing over $1 billion in NEMSA organised the roundtable three flagship projects: the to further educate the lawmakers Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and the judiciary on the mandate Second Niger Bridge and the of the agency.

Abuja–Kaduna roads.

To promote safety, Ewesor Osinbajo called electricians on the said NEMSA certifies institute to consider ways to too to “ensure only competent partner with people government at and qualified carry out all levels to optimise benefits electrical jobs in Nigeria.”

The agency, he said, inspects, tests and certifies all electrical materials and equipment to ensure sound use.

“The national assembly The e Director, of actually passed aDepartment resolution that Petroleum Resources (DPR) Mr. NEMSA should follow up to Sarki Auwalu, reiterated the ensure that all has structures under commitment of the organisation power lines are demolished,” to hesupport said. investments in the

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Transmission Company

several work centres, all housing a total of 13 transmission substations (TS).

They include the Kumbotso station, Danwith Agundi, Dakata , advocacy stakeholders Tamburawa , Kwanar both in the public andDangora private ,sector Wudil,to Kankia , Katsina, Daura, promote legislation Dutse, that willHadejia, provide Azare, supportand for Gagarawa. the company.

“The new Kano region currently has ongoing transmission substation projects which when completed would further increase bulk capacity the Unittransmission of the Ministry, Dr. in Aisha new region,” the statement added.

Mohammed, revealed that Accordingefforts to the TCN, thebeing new conscious were Kano would madetransmission in respect ofregion accessibility, further improveand operational affordability securityef-of

ficiency within the region and enable TCN engineers to readily access and resolve technical issues within the new region.

“Before the and creation of the new Occupancy 2,230 consents Kano region, land majortransactions, decisions to secondary had to bethat referred to Kaduna adding the titles can be region used for bydirectives, holdersand to supply access of materialsloans weretosometimes investible start new

surveyors and valuers in implementing the valuation of federal government assets for purposes of International Public Sector Accounting Standard delayed due to logistic From Kaduna.

(IPSAS).

“The proximity of the new In his welcome address, region would radically reduce the President of the institute, downtime and eliminate time Mr. Emmanuel Wike said the lost when materials have and to association had positively beprogressively conveyed fromimpacted the Kaduna the region,” thelandscape wholly owned Nigerian withfederal several government entity achievements and stated. contributions.

He added that the conference would provide opportunities for networking, expansion, deepening of knowledge and professional development.

in real estate for the of the Nigeria (TCN)sector has carved benefit oftransmission the nation. region out a new He the listed areas from old potential Kaduna area, of partnership include the bringing to 10,tothe number of the company’s regional Buhari led administration’s operations centres. vision to take 100 million businesses or grow existing In his speech, the Minister land tittles.

The creation of poverty the Kanoin of Works and Housing, Mr Nigerians out of Fashola disclosed that ones, thereby expanding the transmission region, the TCN 10 years since government Babatunde Fashola, who was between July 2018 and May economy. stated, became owis looking up necessary to investment He disclosed that the represented on the occasion by 2021, the ministry processed inginfrastructure to the rapid economic andto the Director, Special Projects and issued 4,628 Certificates of Ministry was engaging estate in as a tool industrial the development realising vision. being witnessed within the Kano State He mentioned National and itsHousing environs Programme as well as Social the diligent implementation (NSHP) which is a component strategic plan. of TCN’s the national post-COVID According to the organisaEconomic Sustainability Plan tion, theasNigerian (ESP) anotherElectricity area of Grid Maintenance, Expansion partnership. and Rehabilitation Programme The vice president explained (NEGMERP) enabled theto that the planhas was created TCN complete some ongoaccelerate ongoing efforts by ing government projects and to invariably the improve increasing the housing. number of access to social substations the axis.

He addedwithin that government A statement by the General intended to stimulate local Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, production by engaging small Mrs.medium Ndidi Mbah, stated that L-R: Financial Secretary, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Justus Adejumoh; Head, Legislative and Government Relations, Nigerian and size construction Kano totransmission region Communications Commission (NCC), Bashir Bello; Treasurer, NITRA, Chioma Ezike; Chairman, Chike Onwuegbuchi; Director, Public Affairs (NCC), Dr. Ikechukwu firms produce construction has under inputs suchitsassupervision tiles, nails, Adinde; Head, Online Media and Special Publications, Grace Ojougboh; Secretary, NITRA, Chidiebere Nwankwo; and Head, Media and Public Relations, NCC, Trudone sub-regional and dy Tony-Awusaku, during a courtesy visit and award presentation by NITRA to the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC in Abuja... recently doors, windows office and paint as well as building affordable houses across the country.

According to him, the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) was crecompanies (Discos) would then would have completed the Olamilokun; pointing out that CEO the completion 90 per cent completion The Delta the Power Hold- reached atedNiger to develop secondary L-R: Manager Chevron, Mrs. Bola Mapaderun; &Founder, Intimately Mine, Mrs. Ronke her husband/Group connect and distribute the light to hook up to the national grid of the sub-station was delayed ing Company (NDPHC) Ltd stage. market to refinance mortgages, Managing Director, Conybird Group, Akinbola Olamilokun; and Managing Director, Air Pearl Travels, Mrs. Deola Kosoko, consumers in Nasarawa and the inauguration will take electricity due Mine to the outbreak of the Oyedele, who expressed has saidNIESV the 330/132/33KV asking to undertake during the unveiling of Intimately at Ikeja... recently KOLAWOLE ALLI. PHOTO:

COURTESY VISIT

NDPHC Sets for Completion of Lafia Sub-station WE ARESeptember OPEN FOR BUSINESS

sub-station project in Lafia, Nasarawa State, will be completed by September, 2021.

Executive Director Networks, NDPHC, Mr. IfeOluwa Oyedele, who disclosed this during an The African Union has said inspection of the project , said that by 2040, African countries work on the substation had

satisfaction with the progress and quality of work at the sub-station noted that the project was one of the legacy projects of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. local vaccine manufacturing He explained that the company in Africa would both answer had maintained its original design,

COVID-19 pandemic.

Oyedele further explained that the company had carried out more than 90 per cent work on the project and was putting finishing touches to hook up the partnership with institutions sub-station to the national grid. across Africa and the globe “By September, the company

place as soon as the president approves a date,” he said.

He added that all stakeholders in the power sector were working together to see the completion of the “If these essential conditions project, pointing out that are met, it may indeed be when completed, distribution

State and environs. He stated that the project would facilitate rapid growth in socio-economic activities in the state and attract foreign investors who would create jobs that would eventually Trade Area (AfCFTA) and change the standards of living the African Medicine Agency of residents of the state.

Africa Projects 60% Vaccines Production by 2040

would produce at least 60 per cent of the vaccines they use as opposed to the one per cent manufactured in the continent currently.

In a communique Emmanuel Addeh inissued Abujaby the Partnerships for with agency report African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) Task Force andbiggest made Egbin Power Plc, the available to journalists, the in Africa’s most populous nation, union stated that developing plan to raise $1.8 billion to more

than double generation capacity as it seeks to boost output and export electricity to West African countries.

The company is looking at a oil and gasofindustry the combination debt and to equity benefit of funding all stakeholders. to meet the requirements Auwalu when a ahead of the stated start ofthis construction delegation Portland work in thefrom second quarterGas of

a health security imperative and bring benefits in terms of improved livelihoods and economies.

It noted that though a complex undertaking and next year. not without the situation “The plan isrisk, to raise the fund presents a unique to be available to opportunity kick off,” it for action unprecedented said in an and email, without givsupport from as governments ing more details the funding across the continent, as firmed well as arrangements are being

as well as the private sector.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for increased vaccine security and self-reliance. Expanding vaccine manufacturing in Africa The first phase of the expanrequires multiple groups of sion project will begin with stakeholders to of step forward the construction open-cycle in ordernext to endorse or perform turbines year and will be the various roles required completed with a closed cycleto unlock this opportunity. by 2025, it said.

possible to establish a sustainable vaccine development and manufacturing ecosystem and thus ensure Africa has timely access to the vaccines it needs to protect and secure public an increase in gas supply. health.

Africa’s largest economy has “This is a multi-year effort.

13,000 megawatts of installed We have taken the first steps electricity-production capacity, withonly theabout expression of a clear with 4,500 megawatts ambition for the continent for dispatched to the grid daily, in 2040,because as well asofarticulating the part dilapidated potential intermediary stages transmission infrastructure. onThe that journey and defining government’s privatisation clear near-term prioritiestotosell get agency is now proposing under way,” network the AUinnoted. the transmission a bid

Egbin Power Seeks $1.8bn to Expand output

up, a Bloomberg report noted.

Egbin Power Plc, owned by Sahara Group, plans to build the second phase of its 1,320-megawatt power plant by installing DPR, efficiency specifically the area “high gasincombined of gaspower development. cycle plants,” that will A statement

by Head, Public produce an additional 1,754 Affairs of DPR, Mr. Paul Osu, megawatts electricity.

The company acquired the power plant in 2013 when the government disposed of stateowned electricity generation and distribution assets to the private Auwalu reiterated the federal sector to make them efficient and to attract the investment needed It noteditsthat some steps government’s declaration of to improve capacity. help curb blackouts.

It hit the already being taken, the, ‘Decade Gas,’ as very were The government of President generation peak of of 970 megawatts stressing the need to take timely, stressing that it will on the asset this year helped by Muhammadu Buhari is targeting

DPR Reiterates Support for Investment in Oil, Gas

in company with their technical quoted Auwalu as reassuring open an array of investments advantage of current mopartners from Turkey, Negmar the delegation of the depart- for Nigeria's gas resources, mentum, while securing Shipping Investment paid him ment's commitment to creating including gas to power, gas long-term political commita visit in his office in Abuja to opportunities for investments to people, gas-based indus- ment, acceleration of existing continental efforts such tries, delivery autogasinand other the service foster collaboration and explore and the nation’s infrastructure andas your day gas to that Theenabling Ministerbusinesses describedinthe Works and Housing Minister, African Continental Free infrastructure development.

Nigerian oil and gas industry. business opportunities with national assets are experiencBabatunde Fashola has urged induction of the new members day tasks”.

(AMA) to help overcome regulatory and infrastructure barriers; The communique stated that technology transfer will be key to unlocking vaccine improved electricity supply as manufacturing while Africa a priority for the West African builds its R&D capabilities, nation, where poor maintenance insisting that Intellectual and a lack of investment has left Property (IP) of is not always the population about 200 the most significant barrier million chronically under-served. and canboosting be unlocked with the Besides local supply, right enabling environment.

Egbin plans to sell power to “Funders are eager neighbouring countries throughto support; manufacturers the West Africa Power Pool, a speneedinstitution additional support cialised of the Economic with project Community of Westpreparation; African States Africa has talent; both (ECOWAS) established to create building and a capability common electricity market for attracting the return of the region, the company said.the diaspora will be important; concerted efforts to achieve demand certainty are critical to making the opportunity attractive large, to manufacturers,” extremely especially stressed. inthe the organisation areas of legislation, little

fashola Wants Surveyors to Explore Technology, Innovation

estate surveyors and valuers in the country to explore modern technology and innovation in the practice of their profession.

The Directors-General of the Fashola, who spoke in Abuja World Health Organisation as a special guest at the 44th (WHO), the World Intellectual induction ceremony of newly Property Organisation (WIPO) registered professionals was and the World Organrepresented

by Trade the Minister isation haveHousing, agreed State for(WTO) Works and to enhance support to Mr. Abubakartheir Aliyu.

to fully practice estate surveying and valuation as timely, especially at this critical time that the infrastructure in Nigeria is the Director Generals ofand the undergoing re-engineering WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom rehabilitation.

Ghebreyesus; WIPO, Daren “As newly inducted estate Tang, and Dr. Ngozi surveyors andWTO, valuers, I implore Okonjo-Iweala. you to explore modern technology noted in that acutely andThey innovation enhancing conscious of the professionalism and shared good

“Your responsibilities have now been increased as the thrust of government is about infrastructure, which requires The statement added: “We professionals like you to help underscored ourand commitment drive her interest safeguard universal, equitable ittoagainst wastages” he said access COVID-19 vaccines, The to minister also charged the therapeutics, diagnostics, and new professionals to look at the other healthand technologies —a potentialities contributions commitment anchored the their work can unlock at thisin time

ing a huge deficit.

He noted that the ESV board has so far registered up to 4,000 practitioners, 4,000 health firms andchallenges. accredited about 35 “Withinof higher this learning existing institutions cooperative we and charged framework, it to ensure agreed enhance and focus that the to stock of valuers is our support in thethe context increased to meet needsof ofthe thepandemic nation. through two specific initiatives.

“The challenges are

recognition by the public as well as invasion of the industry by unlicensed and non-professionals amongst others he said. address thethat pandemic accordHe assured the expression statementbyadded. ofingly,” interestthe submitted the They explained that the of first professionals for valuation workshop in the series would works in all federal secretariats be a the workshop technology across country,on was already transfer andthe licensing, schedgoing through procurement uled for September. processes.

WTO, Others Outline Further Collaboration against COVID-19

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent

Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents

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

Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

members battling COVID-19.

This, they intend to do by collaborating on a series of workshops to augment the flow of information on the The Department of Petroleum pandemic and has by clarified impleResources (DPR) menting a to joint platform for its decision request for daily tripartite technical assistance to stock records from members member governments relating of the Independent Petroleum to their needs for medical Marketers Association of technologies.

Nigeria (IPMAN).

This wasSuleja/Abuja contained Unit, in a IPMAN, had threatened to embark an joint statement signedon by

responsibility to communities across the world as they confront a health crisis of unprecedented severity and scale,action “we over pledged to industrial alleged bring the extent the extortion by full officials of theofDPR, expertise and resources of with the Chairman of the unit, our respective institutions to Yahaya Alhassan, saying that bear in ending the COVID-19 DPR’s request for daily transaction pandemic improving the records fromand filling stations was health and well-being of all unacceptable. people, everywhere “IPMAN has no otheraround alternathe other globe.” tive than instructing our

understanding that this is an urgent moral imperative in need of immediate practical action.”

In thisnot spirit, they members to load fromagreed Suleja to build further their depot in Niger State toon express long-standing to our frustrationscommitment after all efforts WHO-WIPO-WTO Trilateral to make DPR officials desist Cooperation aimsfailed,” to supfrom unethicalthat practices port and assist all countries he stated. asBut they seek tobyassess and a statement the Head, implement sustainable and Public Affairs of DPR, noted that integrated to public the attentionsolutions of the regulatory

“First, our three agencies will collaborate on the organisation of practical, capacity-building workshops to enhance the flow of updated information on agency had been drawn to the current developments the misunderstanding over inthe pandemic andstock responses request for daily records.to achieve equitable follows accessanto “This development COVID-19 healthontechnologies. online publication allegations “The aim of these workshops of extortion against the DPR is the to strengthen capacity by Independentthe Marketers of policymakers andIPMAN, experts Association of Nigeria, in memberbranch governments Suleja/Abuja on the stockto

“The workshop will help our members update their knowledge and understanding of how intellectual property, know-how and technology request. transfer work actuality.

“We want to in state for the “This the records thatwould requestbe for in daily context of medical technolostock of products supplied is a gies and related products and statutory regulatory requirement services. workshop for any retailThis outletfirst license holder, will be followed which enables DPRby to others provideon related practical the accurate petroleumthemes,” products statement data added. consumption for the country.

DPR Clarifies Request for Daily Stock Record

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Interview

Business/world

Opiah: With 18 Recovered Oil Wells, Imo Now Fourth Highest Producing State

Mr. Goodluck Opiah was an ex-Speaker of Imo House ofAssembly, and a former Federal Lawmaker that represented Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta/Oru West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Today, he is the Coordinator of Imo State oil and gas sector. In this interview with AMBY UNEZE, he gave deep insight into the emerging oil and gas development in the State. Excerpt:

S

ince you became the Coordinator of Imo State oil and gas sector in Imo State, the state has had two international conferences on oil and gas, the most recent was the gas expansion conference organised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources coupled with the fact that the state has the highest gas deposit in West Africa, what is the whole idea of all these?

Imo state has been an oil producing state and much of that has been on exploration, exploitation of crude oil. Crude oil was the in-thing since the 1950s when the first oil well was struck in Iho Dimeze, Imo state, though that was not in commercial quantity and Shell continued the exploration in the parts of Niger Delta and part of the South West region and finally found oil in commercial quantity at Olobiri in the present Bayelsa state. Oil has been found at that time in parts of Imo state, in Egbema, Oguta, Ohaji.

Crude oil was the main stay of Nigerian economy.

That has been the case until recently when the emphasis on crude became a reduced issue and attention started moving from crude oil to gas. The global trend has necessitated the oil companies to start looking out for gas and good for us, Imo has been blessed with abundant of gas deposit.

While exploration for crude were going on, a lot of oil wells that were drilled were with high contents of gas deposit and of course the emphasis as at that time was not on gas but on crude, so such wells were capped. I suspect also that what happened in Iho Dimeze were wells with deposit of gas. I have had the opportunity to interact with stakeholders in oil and gas industry and I’m canvassing that such wells should be revisited. So oil companies are coming back to explore, and exploit gas. We are lucky that we have abundant of gas deposit fully explored now in Ohaji/Egbema local government in a place called Assa. On the summits, there were two different levels; the first one was powered by the Nigerian Gas Aggregation Company Ltd for the entire South East. It was intended to bring all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector together to brainstorm on the possible involvement in the sector in the e area of investment. That summit brought a lot of our businessmen in the Diaspora to participate through the zoom.

The recent one was actually on sensitising our people on the various utility avenue of gas. It was powered by the National Gas Expansion programme under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The programme was kicked off by the Honourabe Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Slyva. They are quite enriching and our people have come to realise that what we have been using petrol and diesel to operator can now be operated on gas. For instance, we have gas for cooking, to operate our generators, vehicles, trucks, buses, even to operate our Keke on the road; our people have been encouraged to begin to diversify from depending much on crude oil by-products of petrol, diesel, and kerosene to gas utilisation. It is quite economical. Talking about the economic benefits of our endowment in gas, we are not there yet, but at the moment the companies are at the level of building up the plants. There are series of fabrication works at Assa North by the oil companies, the AJPC predominantly by the Nigerian Gas Company in collaboration with Seplat Oil on one hand and Shell Development Company on another. It is expected that between now and next year, the production will start and then the major economic benefits of that exercise would begin to be seen in Imo in terms of full employment of our teeming youths and increased investments in businesses across the world in petrochemical, refinery, and all forms of industrialisation. We have mapped out areas for industrial clusters in Imo, keeping everything ready, by providing infrastructure in those areas with a view to attracting investors and making business environment conducive for possible investors. I think I will say we are blessed as Imo people. I thank God for blessing

our land with gas and oil and we hope that the larger benefits would be such that Imo would be properly positioned as a major gas and oil producing state in the country. We have not been fairly treated properly over the years in spite of our contributions to the national economy until recently we were rated as one of the lowest oil producing states in Nigeria, but thank God with the advent of Governor Hope Uzodimma, efforts have been made to reclaim some of our oil wells that were hitherto ceded to River State. A total of about 18 oil wells have been recovered now and that would go a long way to shore up our standing as an oil producing state. I guess we may end up being the fourth highest oil producing state in this country. We are already the biggest gas producing state in the country and there is no reason we can’t be economically strong with sound leadership that Senator Hope Uzodimma is exhibiting.

When you talked about the sensitisation and the gas expansion project engineered by the federal government, I know that many investors are interested especially those coming from Lagos and Port Harcourt axis, but one major thing they keep talking about is lack of infrastructure, how do we improve on this as a State?

From the day of the inauguration of Senator Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state, he set out to rehabilitate the infrastructure needs of the state, and you can agree with me that he has done quite a lot within the short period of time.

Solid roads are being built from Owerri to Orlu, Owerri to Okigwe and within Owerri. Indeed, Owerri, the capital city has begun to reclaim its beauty, in terms of quality road infrastructure.

Apart from road construction, the governor has also created a new ministry of power that is intended to put energy in place for Imo people and investors. One of the problems that will be threatening investment is security which is now a national issue and the government is doing everything possible to make sure that insecurity does not become a challenge in Imo. The recent jailbreak and attack of the police formation was an attempt to distract and blackmail the government.

This is not far from the handiwork of people who are not happy with the rapid development in Imo. However, government is doing everything possible to curb the issue of insecurity in the state. A lot is being done in the government circle and the issue of security is not supposed to be publicized. But Imo will be sanitised. On a large scale, Investors are also being invited to participate in infrastructure development and a lot of them are quite willing. I know a company like Seplat has indicated interest to partner the state in terms of infrastructure development.

There is a clear deal which the governor is very willing and ready to fast-track. There are other oil companies like Watersmith Petroman Nigeria Limited – the company that delivered the first private refinery in Nigeria at Ohaji. That refinery is expected to increase traffic between Umuapu and Obigwe in Awara (where the refinery is located). At the moment the road is in a very poor state. I am aware that Watersmith is partnering Shell Development Company Limited to daulize that road - about 25 kilometres from

Opia Port Harcourt - Owerri expressway at Umuapu junction to the company site. That is the kind of expectation government wants from her partners.

There are many oil companies operating in Imo, and if they show interest in the state as much as the government is doing that would complement a lot and Imo would be fully developed and we will all be happy for it.

On oil bunkering and other related oil thefts, are there anything government and the oil companies are doing to curtail the menace?

Sincerely speaking, we have a major challenge in that regard. Oil facilities are vandalised, crude oil thieves are in the creeks where they set up their illegal refineries everywhere by unpatriotic Nigerians who do not mean well for our state and country. For us in Imo, it is quite disturbing because it also affects our economy much as our output reduces our contribution to the national overall production of oil which is one of the indices for allocation of funds to the states, particularly to the oil producing states. But we are not resting on our oars. Here, we have set up committees on anti-bunkering in Ohaji, Egbema, Oguta, Izombe areas. There are two different types of bunkering: bunker products that move from Imo and out and the one that affects us much are the ones that take place in Imo where oil pipelines are broken and crude oil are siphoned illegally and are refined at private illegal refineries at remote areas. Government is very worried and efforts are being made to curb it. Arrests are being made now and then. The security agencies are also partnering government and oil companies to tackle this menace. Many of these illegal refineries are destroyed daily and the more they shift base elsewhere. I have talked to our people to watch what our children do.

The illegal refineries are very dangerous venture to embark on. The refining is crude because the method is crude; there is no clear knowledge of the manipulation. Many times there is explosion in the bush leading to loss of lives of our young boys. So such incidents are major loses to the society, to family, to the economy and to Imo state.

We as government are concerned and we will do

everything to stop it. Though, it is being run by strong, wealthy cartels that are well equipped, connected, sometimes with sophisticated weapons using our people to partner with them.

There is the issue of environmental degradation around the oil producing communities which the oil companies create and refuses to assuage the sufferings of these communities, what are the efforts from government angle to remedy these anomalies?

The oil exploration, exploitation has brought so much hardship to the host communities. The oil companies have not shown any sense of responsiveness by putting back to the communities what they get from there. Before the advent of oil as the mainstay of Nigerian economy, most people in the oil communities were farmers, fishermen and hunters. Those formed their bases of livelihood and a lot of them were rich from their farm produce. The crude oil production has affected all those sources of living in many ways. The soil fertility is completely eroded and can no longer produce quality and quantity of foodstuff like yam, cassava, corn, etc. The environmental degradation has also affected our rivers, ponds, and other forms for water where fishermen go to fish. Today, a lot of species of fish are no longer in our water. You can hardly find any fish by our fishermen to harvest, sell and make an income. It is very disturbing that in spite of all these challenges, oil companies are not even giving our people employment, no reasonable form of empowerment at least to compensate those losses in their environment, coupled with the hazards that associates with pollution and health issues. We sometimes think that oil brought more curses to us than blessings because if you look around in the oil producing communities you can hardly see any form of development, any reason to be happy that God endowed us with abundant natural resources like oil and minerals. Past administration in the state did nothing to engage the oil companies to develop the oil communities, but I’m happy that the administration of Senator Hope Uzodimma has started to address the issue. He is quite an experienced person in the oil and gas sector and he has brought his experience to bear in the governance of Imo state and is engaging the oil companies to sit up to their responsibilities.

There is a particular oil company that operated in Agwa in 2007/2008 without any visible thing to show that the people are hosting an oil company.

There was no memorandum of understanding (MoU) to guarantee some benefits to the host communities. Today, they have been compelled to develop a MoU with their host communities in Agwa. There are three major communities: Mgballa, Umukpo and Umuofeke. One of the major things we want the oil company to do for the people is to give them electricity. It will be on record that under Senator Hope Uzodimma the jinx is broke that government compelled the oil company to do what they were not used to do for the communities. So the narratives have begun to change.

I understand government is going to establish Imo State Petroleum Development Company?

Imo state has had Imo state Petroleum Development Company between 1999 or thereabout but it was kept in the drawers. In 2009, Governor Ikedi Ohakim dusted it and moved the share capital from N10 million to N500 million and he was ready to use it in partnership with Oak Refinery of United States of America to establish a refinery in Egbema.

Land was provided and arrangement was in top gear before that administration came to an end. For eight years, the administration of Rochas Okorocha did not do anything in that regard. Now one of the earliest thing our governor, Hope Uzodimma did when he came on board was to resuscitate that company and increased the share capital to about N500 million and corrected all the wrong things with the company. Then, we bided for a marginal oil field and passed through all the rigours and I am happy to announce that the NNPC, through the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has granted us a marginal oil field called “Ihioma”. Today, we are proud owner of an oil company as Imo people and very soon that oil company will come operational.

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NEWS

Super TV CEO was Bound, Gagged, Tortured, Says Brother Michael Olugbode in Abuja Dr. Isi Ataga has said his late brother, Super TV CEO, Mr. Usifo Ataga, was bound, gagged, and tortured before he was murdered.

The body of the deceased was found in a hotel room where he had spent the night with a 300-level student of the University of Lagos, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, who confessed to having killed him.

Isi, in a statement titled, ‘Who will speak for Usifo Ataga?’ expressed the doubt that the murder was carried out by a single person owing to the manner it was done.

“Usifo died a horrific death. He wasn’t stabbed two or even five times; he was stabbed multiple times. His hands were bound tightly and the marks were still all over his wrists, accompanied by evidence of torture and assault even as his corpse lay in the morgue.

“And no one in the entire building heard his screams because he was gagged. Let that sink in, he was bound, gagged and tortured!

“The now-viral video of the room with the deceased lying on the floor shows a room with blood-stained walls and floor, evidence of a ferocious struggle. One person could never have carried these out.”

Ojukwu, the prime suspect in Ataga’s murder has since been arrested and

paraded by the Lagos State Police Command.

Ojukwu had confessed that she stabbed Ataga to death at a hotel where they lodged in Lekki, Lagos.

“We were in the lodge smoking. He was trying to make advances at me. I was tired and he became violent on it. I let him have his way. Towards afternoon, he ordered roofies. We took it together and ate food. He became high. I was still not happy with the first one (sex)

that we had, so, I was staying on my own, smoking and drinking. He, too, was on his own.

“He came to me and I was like I am not happy with what he did. I was like, ‘You don’t help me, you don’t assist me with anything, you are just playing with me around’. He was like, ‘Take my ATM and withdraw what you want.

“He later became violent trying to get to me and I was resisting and

defending myself. At some point, he hit my head on the wall and I also retaliated.

“At some point, he was chasing me around the kitchen cabinet. I took a knife and stabbed his neck. I approached the door and he followed me. I stabbed him twice on the neck side. I threw the knife to the bed and he was going for it but I also went for it. He dragged the knife with me and it broke and he fell on the floor.

JOHESU Urges N’Assembly to Stop MDCN Amendment Bill Health workers under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA), have called on the National Assembly to stop further proceedings on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act Amendment Bill following, pending court actions in the Court of Appeal.

In a press statement signed by the National Chairman of JOHESU, Joy Bio Josiah, they described as ‘glaring absurdities and aberration’ the approval of the sections of the contentious MDCN Act Amendment Bill, which confer the power to control clinical laboratory practice on the Council.

Josiah, who lamented the interpretations of a provision in the Bill which confirm that it is the MDCN that certifies “medically qualified” persons in Nigeria, said it was an attempt to formally institutionalise the “unholy clauses in the University Teaching Hospital Act where the condition precedent to emerge the chief medical director and chairman – Medical Advisory Committee of these hospitals is grounded in being medically qualified.”

He further asked the Speaker of

the House of Representatives to shun concurrence and harmonisation of the MDCN Amendment Act bill between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He further accused Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe of smuggling some heresies into the MDCN Act amendment bill 2020, adding that.

“Oloriegbe, in alliance with his NMA constituency, had against the norm in international best practices inserted into the MDCN Amendment bill clauses including the under-listed: “Dr. Oloriegbe did everything humanly possible to supplant and suppress the rights of stakeholders in health and beyond at public hearing (third hearing) through glaring unconstitutional acts, especially through disenfranchising representatives of associations and unions.

“He introduced alien standards to public hearings by insisting individuals could not take positions contrary to the 1999 Constitution. All hell was let loose as people protested the high-handedness of Dr. Oloriegbe to the high heavens. ‘’Despite repeated assurances in high places, the Senate at its proceedings of Tuesday June 8, 2021 has gone ahead to approve the aberrations.

Julius Berger Lists Benefits of Bodo-Bonny Road Project Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has disclosed that the completion of the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road is already delivering positive results for communities in the Niger Delta.

The company has successfully completed works on the 4.9 km Bodo road leading to the Afa Creek Bridge, which has also been completed.

Achievement of these two major scope components highlight Julius Berger’s commitment towards the timely commissioning of the first road to connect Bonny Island to the mainland.

With the completion of the Bodo road Julius Berger has delivered a world-class road infrastructure with necessary drainage systems and stone pitched shoulders to ensure a long-lasting and high-performance

infrastructure.

The road has transformed the local infrastructure network, enabling progress by providing neighboring communities much needed, reliable access to Bodo Town, improving social and economic connectivity and commercial opportunities.

In line with its planning, the company has commenced works on nine mini bridges as part of the ongoing construction of monumental project, with construction of major bridges in Okpobo and Nanabie in view.

Despite the challenging terrain and environmental factors related to the project location, including low lying marshy land with tidal movements, Julius Berger continues to reliably deliver leading solutions, leveraging its technical capabilities and unmatched capacities.

Insecurity: Yoruba Forum Issues Travel Advisory to North A group, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, has issued a travel advisory to the people of the Southwest against traveling to the northern part of Nigeria, except Kogi and Kwara States, due to the worsening security situation in the country.

The group in a statement issued by its President, Akin Malaolu, said recent security development has shown that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had lost all its strategies to find solution to the security situation in the country.

According to it, “As the northern part of Nigeria stands today, it has become a stateless region where leadership has failed, and given a little time, the region may start to experience urban warfare in all its capitals, including Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“We are saddened by this ugly trend

of continuous killing and attendant kidnappings unabated. The allegation made by a radical Islamic cleric that security agents are neck deep in encouraging criminalities to gain weight deserves strong investigation.

“However, to remove our people from harm’s way and due to an intolerable presence of deaths suddenly and by chance in the region, we are issuing these travel advisories on the North, excluding Kwara and Kogi States, which from our findings and observations, had been afflicted by reckless deaths and killings.”

Malaolu in the statement said: “Travel plans to the northern part of Nigeria, including Abuja, should be shelved or reconsidered. Graduating students of South-west origin should reject National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) deployment to the North till further notice.

A NEW MEGA PROJECT… L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Bloom Public Health, Prof. Chimezie Anyakora; GMD/Founder, Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs. Stella Okoli; Chairman, Lexham Investment, Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi; and Director, Department of Hospital Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, during the visit and inspection of Emzor New Ultra-modern WHO-compliant Pharmaceutical Factory, at Shagamu in Ogun State...recently DAN UKANA

Nigeria, Others to Begin Lassa Fever Vaccine Clinical Trials The United States of America has said that a new phase of Lassa fever vaccine clinical trials is set to begin in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

This was disclosed in a statement yesterday by the Public Affairs Unit of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria.

According to the statement, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative was awarded €22.8 million by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Partnership and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to conduct a Phase

IIB trial of the IAVI Lassa fever vaccine candidate among adults and children in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The statement also disclosed that the vaccine candidate which uses a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector is now registered for use in eight African countries.

The statement read, “This joint award supports an international collaboration across Africa, Europe, and North America, called the ‘Lassa Fever Vaccine Efficacy and Prevention for West Africa’ which will also strengthen the research capacity of investigational sites

where Lassa fever outbreaks and disease occur frequently.

“The LEAP4WA consortium consists of the following members: IAVI Inc., U.S.; IAVI Sichting, Netherlands; Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, U.S.; Ministry of Health and Sanitation/Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone; Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, U.K.; University of Liberia, Liberia; Epicentre, France; and Henry M. Jackson Foundation Medical Research International Ltd/ Gte(HJFMRI), Nigeria.

“In Nigeria, HJFMRI will conduct the study at its Clinical Research Centre (CRC) supported by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

“Other supported WRAIR Lassa projects being implemented at the CRC and other sites across Nigeria include a Lassa incidence study in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, a Lassa seroprevalence study, and a potential opportunity for a CEPI-funded Phase IIa Lassa vaccine study through a WRAIR/ IAVI collaboration.”

No APC Primary was Conducted in Anambra, Moghalu Insists

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

One of the frontline governorship aspirants of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 6, 2021 election in Anambra State, Dr. George Moghalu, has maintained that there was no governorship primary in the state last Saturday.

He stressed that materials were not provided at any of the 326 electoral wards of the state, noting that “in a few locations in the state, election materials arrived late in the evening, after both voters and officials had dispersed.

Moghalu, who is also the

Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), addressed a press conference in Abuja, yesterday. He added that in the rest of the state, neither materials nor personnel arrived, stressing, “as a result, elections did not hold in any voting centre in Anambra State on Saturday, June 26, 2021.

“Despite this evident reality, the primary Election Committee appointed by the leadership of the party and chaired by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, went ahead to produce and announce purported results based on nothing other than their fertile imagination and

motivated by their private interests and arrangements.

“Perhaps, it is the motivation of those private interests that caused them to produce results so dubious that they have made themselves and our great party the subject of derision across the state and in the country.”

Moghalu, who disclosed that he has served the party in different capacities, declared that he would follow every legal path to ensure that the right things are done, stating his belief that APC leadership would do all in its power to organise a governorship primary in Anambra State.

Insisting that the manufactured

results would not stand, Moghalu, stated: “As we, speak no major television station in the country has one recorded video clip of elections taking place anywhere in Anambra State.

“Yet, there are thousands of videos showing voters across the state complaining bitterly about the fact that neither the materials nor the personnel for elections was provided in their locality.

The arrogant incompetence of the farce orchaestrated by Prince Dapo Abiodun, his team and the people they answer to insults every man and woman in Anambra State.

Nigeria Overtakes S’Africa, Egypt, Others in COVID-19 Vaccination Rate The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has said Nigeria has the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Africa.

Faisal Shuaib, executive director of NPHCDA, stated this at the media briefing of the presidential steering committee (PSC) on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.

TheCable has not independently verified the NPHCDA’s claim.

According to Shuaib, an average of 87,000 people are being vaccinated daily in Nigeria.

He said with the figure, Nigeria

has surpassed Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal in its vaccination rate in the continent.

“You may recall that a total of 4,024,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine were received by the federal government of Nigeria in March 2021 —3.924 million through the COVAX facility and another 100,000 doses from the government of India,” he said.

“I am glad to inform you that 3,441,146 doses have so far been utilised for the first and second dose vaccinations, which is approximately

88 percent of the total AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine stock in the country.

“As at today, the breakdown of the number of people vaccinated and the vaccine consumption is as follows: 2,265,805 people vaccinated with the first dose; 1,175,341 people vaccinated with the second dose — 88 percent vaccine doses have been used.

“Based on these data and comparative information from other countries, Nigeria continues to have the highest vaccination rates in Africa with approximately 87,000 people

being vaccinated daily.

“Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and Senegal each have a daily vaccination rate of 72,000, 52,600, 12,100 and 4,790, respectively.”

While speaking on the disbursement of available doses, Shuaib said there is no vaccine in the country with the expiration date of June 28, that has not been utilised.

“Again, this is to demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that only safe and potent COVID-19 vaccines are administered to Nigerians,” he added.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

PDP, Akeredolu Trade Words over Pending S’Court Verdict James Sowole in Akure The South-west zonal chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday engaged in war of words over alleged plot to use workers salary ‘to procure’ a favourable judgment at the Supreme Court.

An appeal by the candidate of the PDP in last year’s Ondo State governorship election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, is pending at the apex court.

The PDP South-west Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, had alleged that Akeredolu was in talks with authorities of the Supreme Court to get favour in the yet-to-be decided governorship judgment in Ondo State.

Atofarati in a statement called on organised labour in Ondo State to rise in defence of civil servants by stopping the governor from using their

salary to negotiate the forthcoming Supreme Court judgment.

The statement reads in parts, “It is so unfortunate that the governor and the APC are trying every possible means to win at the forthcoming Supreme Court rulings through negotiations for personal and political interests and not minding the plight of the State Civil Servants and the present predicaments of the State.

“We are calling on the masses and most especially the State Civil Servants to be aware and restrict this act of wickedness and oppression in the State.”

But Governor Akeredolu, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, said he would not be the Supreme Court’s mouthpiece in the face of the PDP’s uncanny attacks.

Akeredolu, however, said it was disturbing to note that a political

party, ostensibly speaking for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), could descend to the unpardonable abyss of branding Honourable Justices of the Apex Court ‘procurable’ items in the course of their duties to the country.

The Ondo State Governor who said workers in the state were not oblivious of the current global economic straits.

He said he would not sack workers as it were in the days of the PDP but rather, evolve ingenious means to sail along than leave workers unpaid for

months under the guise of paucity of funds.

According to him, “it is, perhaps, laughable that PDP failed to realise that its position grossly violates what it represented while it held sway in Ondo State prior to the current administration. The mindless audacity to owe workers seven months as well as the brazen display of executive recklessness that saw to the sack of over 1,000 workers have both combined to repudiate the opposition

party’s thrive at demonising Akeredolu and his government.

“The said press release has merely made spurious allegations aside laying a sandy foundation ahead of the PDP’s leprous efforts at the Supreme Court. There could not have been a better effort at marketing helplessness occasioned by paucity of ideas and lack of direction as displayed by the press release. It showcases ignorantly, PDP’s further slide on the rough path to depression.

“From all indications, Ondo State does not deserve to be in the hands of these scavenging elements collectively christened PDP. The fact that the party does not know how allocations are disbursed from Abuja, dispensed and spent at the State depicts a pitifully demeaning scenario for the party. Alluding to a theatric ‘across-the-counter exchange of funds between a Governor and the CBN or whoever’ speaks volume of the ilk that comprises PDP.

Lawyers’ Tussle Stalls $15bn Petro Union Appeal at S’Court Alex Enumah in Abuja Hearing in the $15 billion Petro Union Oil and Gas Company Limited case against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others was yesterday stalled at the Supreme Court, following tussle between two lawyers over legal representation of the oil firm.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Joe Gadzama, and a lawyer, Mr. Onyechi Egwuonwu, frustrated hearing in the matter as both laid claim to being the legal representation of the appellant when the matter was called for hearing.

Egwuonwu informed the apex court that he possess the irrevocable power of attorney to represent the company in the matter, as he was

Petro Union’s lawyer at the Federal High Court, where the $15 billion judgment against CBN and others, was won.

He disclosed that it was he who in fact briefed Gadzama to lead him and other lawyers when the case got to the Court of Appeal.

Egwuonwu further told the Supreme Court that he has a pending application to disqualify Gadzama from appearing in the case and to disbar him from practising as a legal practitioner due to the alleged unprofessional conduct.

However, following the inability of the two lawyers to reach a compromise, the Supreme Court had no other option than to adjourn till November 22, 2021, to sort out the issue of legal representation.

No Regrets for My Style of Leadership, Says Imoke Sunday Okobi The former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, at the weekend insisted that he has no regrets for his “autocratic style of leadership,” saying his political philosophy led to the successes recorded in the state.

In an interview with journalists at the weekend, Imoke, who was the state governor in 2007 and 2011, said: “I have no regrets; as I said, the only authority that has the benefit of hindsight is God. So you can’t say I regret or I don’t regret it, no; certainly not, I have no regrets.”

He stated that his so-called ‘autocratic leadership style’ is what led to the success of the party in the state during his era.

According to him, “I believe this to be the key to our success, which has been acknowledged beyond the party and the state, and even by Donald Duke himself as evidenced by his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

Following the exit of Ayade from PDP, which has changed the political calculation in the state, PDP in it response has attempted to put up major show of strength and cohesion, holding a couple of rallies headlined by its remaining bigwigs in the state and invitees from outside the state.

This is even as the two former governors continue to trade blame on whose administration and leadership supervised the best development era in the state between 1999 and 2015.

NGO to Plant 270m Economic Trees in Schools An Abuja-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) said it has finalised plans to begin the planting of 270 million economic trees in schools.

In a statement released by its communications department, the group-GIVTREES2SCHOOLS (GT2S) said it intended to bring back the culture of planting and nuturing gardens in schools.

The non-profit organisation explained that nutrition, preservation of the earth, green environments, reducing carbon emissions, as well as value addition to spaces and communities are some of its major reasons for embarking on this project.

The statement pointed out that the project was first tested in the Maitama Model Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja where it is being nurtured by members of the GT2S Tree Planting Club, made up of one hundred pupils and 3 teachers.

“Givfree Africa is now set to flag off the continent wide project and begin the

implementation plan to plant orchards of 270 economic trees in each of the 50,000 Nigerian schools in its map.

“The first school to benefit is one of the premier girls school in the north western part of Nigeria, Government Girls College, Dala, Kano state”, the group added.

According to Givfree Africa, replenishing the depleting African forest reserves, preserving the earth, revamping the canopies of trees in Africa, while providing nutrition for the thousands of malnourished African children is yet another motivation for this project.

The group added: “Also inspired

by SDG Goals 13 and 15, GT2S project will generate $180 million dollars that’s N84.6billion naira worth of fruits for Africa.

“On the 1st of July 2021, Givfree Africa and its partners, government agencies and officials will be in kano to launch the official take off of the project in Nigeria.”

ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE… Nigeria’s Ambassador to Thailand, Ambassador Oma Djebah (left), and the Director- General, Department of Protocol, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Chittipat Tongprasroeth, when the Ambassador officially presented the Copie d’Usage of his letter of credence, at the ministry in Thailand…recently

Defection: 18 APC Govs, Others Set to Receive Matawalle No fewer than 18 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are expected to receive Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, who will defect to the ruling party today.

The Chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the organising ceremony and Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau.

Dosara said, “the Progressive

governors will be led by the APC Chairman Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Gov. Mai Mala-Buni.

“We are also expecting all our national assembly members as well as state legislators to declare their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC during the occasion.

“Similarly, all the 14 local government caretaker committee chairmen who just finished their tenure, council members and teeming supporters will join

the hundreds of thousands of the Matawalle loyalists, friends and supporters in our movement to our new party, the APC.’’ According to him, the event which is considered a historic one in the stat,e will further unite politicians and strengthen the APC in the state.

Also speaking, Mr. Mohammed Mamman, the Director-General, Press Affairs, to the Gov Mala-Buni said the governor has been able to convince three governors to defect to the APC.

“With Matawalle joining the APC, it means Mala-Buni, as the Chairman of the Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, has been able to convince three governors into the party.

“They are Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi State and Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River State. This is also a confirmation that the APC is doing well both at the national and state levels under the purposeful, focused and people oriented leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Mamman said.

COVID-19: IMF Raises the Alarm over Deadlier Third Wave in Africa Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Top officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have raised the alarm that Sub-Saharan Africa is in the grip of a deadlier third wave of COVID-19 infections, warning that urgent action was necessary to stem the tide.

As a first step to avert the impending doom, they said it was essential to deliver vaccines to sub‑Saharan Africa as soon as possible, adding that given that much of the global supply

of vaccines for 2021 has already been bought up, many countries will be forced to wait until 2022 to get them.

The IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva and the Director of the African Department at the IMF, Abebe Aemro Selassie, in a joint article captioned “Sub-Saharan Africa: We Need to Act Now”, warned that the region is in the grips of a third wave of COVID-19 infections that threatens to be even more brutal than the two previous waves.

In the article, which was published in the IMF Blog yesterday, the two top officials raised the alarm that the growth of COVID-19 infections in subSaharan Africa is now the fastest in the world, with an explosive trajectory that is outpacing the record set in the second wave.

IMF said the goal of the global community should be to get a quarter of a billion doses of vaccines to the region by September.

They said: “This is yet more evidence of a dangerous divergence in the global economy.

“The growth of infections in sub-Saharan Africa is now the fastest in the world, with an explosive trajectory that is outpacing the record set in the second wave. At this pace, this new wave will likely surpass previous peaks in a matter of days—and in some countries, infections are already more than double, or even triple, their January peaks.”

The latest variant (delta), reportedly 60 per cent more transmissible than earlier variant, has been detected in 14 countries.

Secondus Chairs PDP Appeal Panel on Anambra Primary Election Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted an appeal panel on its just concluded primary for the Anambra State governorship election.

The gubernatorial appeal panel, according to a statement issued by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), in Abuja last Sunday, is chaired by the party National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus.

Akobundu said the panel would consider appeals arising from the conduct of the state gubernatorial primary election.

He said the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) also approved the nomination

of Senator Umaru Tsauri as a member/secretary of the panel.

Other members of the panel are Elder Yemi Akinwonmi, Senator Sulaiman Nazif, Akobundu, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel, Hon. Abdullahi Maibasira, Hon. Adewale Aribisala, Kola Ologbondiyan, Hajiya Maryam Waziri, Hon. Udeh Okoye, Emmanuel Enoidem, Alhaji Mai Adamu Mustaphaa, Taofik Arapaja, Hon. Theophilus Shan, Chief Dan Orbih, Dr. Emmanuel Bovoa, Chief Ali Odefa, Aminu Abdullahi, Sule Lamido, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator David Mark, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Erelu Olusola Obada, and Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien.

Akobundu said the appeal panelists would meet on June 29 at the Wadata Plaza in Abuja at 1 p.m.

THISDAY gathered that there was confusion in Anambra State over the conduct of the primary election as two PDP factions held separate elections.

Senator Ugochukwu Uba and Valentine Ozigbo were elected as the respective standard bearers in the primaries for the November 6 poll.

While Uba was elected candidate of the faction led by Chukwudi Imeaba, Ozigbo was elected at an exercise organised by a faction believed to be loyal to the opposing faction.

Meanwhile, the party has

constituted Akwa Ibom State special state congress committee which will elect the state party chairman.

This was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Akobundu in Abuja.

Akobundu said the PDP NWC approved the appointment of Edmond Mark as chairman and Mr. Christian Ibelachi as secretary of the committee.

Other members of the committee are Sir John Ngbede, Mrs. Helen Adebakin, and Hon Ben Olorunfemi.

He noted that the congress is scheduled to commence work on June 30, 2021, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

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T H I S D AY •TUESDAY, JuNE 29, 2021

TuesdaySports Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Team Nigeria will depart for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in two batches with 61 athletes flying the country's flag.

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development made this disclosure on Monday during a plenary meeting with National Sports Federations whose athletes qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 affected the organisational structures of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“This consequently pushed International Federations (IFs) to review their international sporting calendar and qualification pathway for athletes in their quest to participate at the Games.

“These challenges, no doubt were difficult to overcome, but could not stop us as a great nation in ensuring that our athletes are strongly supported and motivated to achieve this milestone.”

The minister thanked the national federations and their officials that made Team Nigeria to qualify in the various events at Tokyo 2020.

"Specifically, I thank President

61 Athletes to Fly Team Nigeria Flag in Tokyo 2020 Games

Muhammadu Buhari for his immense support in approving and ensuring that funds were released to enable our athletes attend series of qualification tournaments.

“As at today, Nigeria has qualified 61 athletes across nine sports for the

Olympics, and 22 athletes in four Sports for the Paralympic Games, which are: Athletics-22, Badminton-3, Basketball-24, Canoe sprint-1, Gymnastic-1, Rowing-1, Taekwondo-1, TableTennis-1, Wrestling-1 which sums up to 61 and for Paralympic Games we have;

significant achievement for the country, while still awaiting the World Athletics (WA) to ratify the slots in a few days.”

He revealed that the Ministry in collaboration with the Nigerian Olympic Committee has scheduled a 14-day Pre-Games Training Camp (PGTC) for the

Former Super Eagles were involved in a novelty match between Friends of Dallaji and Bauchi All Stars at the end of the talent hunt programme of the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF) at the Balewa Stadium in Bauchi...at the weekend

AISHA BUHARI CUP

Pinnick Inaugurates LOC, Harps on Hard Work, Diligence and Probity President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, yesterday inaugurated the local organizing committee of the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Tournament, saying that values of integrity, diligence, hard work, probity and pursuit of excellence should be the body’s watchwords.

“I want to emphasize on the need for this committee to always be conscious of the name attached to this tournament. The name of Mrs Aisha Buhari, First Lady of the Federal Republic, which is attached to this competition stands for decency, uprightness and patriotism. We should organize a tournament that upholds all these virtues and also gives credence to the stature of Nigeria as a nation of intelligent, knowledgeable and enterprising people.

“I enjoin you to work in close collaboration with the Lagos State Government. We will also be doing everything to uphold accountability, so your committee will have to work with NFF’s auditing and financial advisers, PriceWaterHouseCoopers and Financial Derivatives respectively. The NFF and the Nigeria football family expect the best from you. I inaugurate you on behalf of the NFF Executive Committee and the Nigeria Football Congress.”

Pinnick also disclosed that the tournament will be an annual event.

Para Athletics-5, Para Powerlifting-10, power rowing-1, Para Table Tennis-6 summing up to 22."

The Minister further said: “The recent qualification of Nigeria for the Women’s 4x100m, Women’s 4x400m and 4x400m Mixed Relays was a

Responding, Chairman of the LOC, Seyi Akinwunmi, assured the NFF Chief that the committee will work assiduously towards raising the needed funds for a successful organization of the tournament, and also put in place a structure that will engender diligence and probity, with close attention to details and accent on proactivity.

“I am enamoured by the calibre of persons in this committee and I have confidence that we will deliver a tournament to be proud of. It is important to use this tournament to create one more positive narrative about our country’s ability to deploy its teeming human and material resources to make a statement.”

Founder, African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), Noah Dallaji, has said that the body would continue to provide the platform for youths who are talented in the game of football to realize their dream.

Dallaji made this known at the weekend at the end of a two-day talent hunt and mentoring programme organized by the foundation in Bauchi, Bauchi State.

The event which is part of the Engr. Noah Dallaji Legacy Project covering music, entertainment and the arts had football as main interest in its second edition where

athletes in Kisarazu , Japan.

“This move is to further expose the athletes to adequate preparations ahead of their events as well as to give them ample time to adjust to the Japanese time zone. It is also strategic to meet with Covid-19 regulations.”

For the Olympic Games, the first batch of Team Nigeria athletes are scheduled to depart for Kisarazu on 6th July, 2021 while the second batch will also depart for Japan on 13th July, 2021.

The paralympic Teams are scheduled to depart for Japan in one batch on 8th August, 2021.

The Minister said in order to ensure a hitch-free participation in Tokyo, the Ministry had engaged four Travel Agencies to handle flight tickets of Team Nigeria Contingents. " As the Games are gradually approaching, I feel it would be necessary for us to finalize on our strategies towards ensuring podium success at both the Olympics and the Paralympic Games,” the Minister concluded.

Dallaji Gives Hopes as Talent Hunt Programme Ends in Bauchi

talents of 16 and 18 years were selected and mentored by soccer legends. A total of 12 outstanding talents were discovered at the event.

Speaking at the closing ceremony at the Tafawa Balewa Stadium, venue of the event, Dallaji noted the challenge youths face in the development of their talents but assured them that the ACTDF would continue to provide the platform for such talented young people to realize their ambition if

they are determined to do so.

He was of the opinion that many Nigerian youths have talents and as such the ACTDF was out to discover such talents, adding that the mentoring element of the programme was important since it would give them the needed inspiration.

Dallaji was optimistic that through the programme, which, he said, would continue to be an annual event, soccer stars that are bigger than their mentors could be discovered.

EURO 2020...EURO 2020...EURO 2020...

Switzerland Knock out World Champions France on Penalties To play Spain in quarter final on Friday

Kylian Mbappe missed the crucial kick as Switzerland beat France 5-4 on penalties in the Euro 2020 last 16 after a classic European Championship game last night. Regulation scores deadlocked at 3-3 before the dramatic shootout.

The Swiss had been seconds away from elimination during 90 minutes but go through to face Spain after progressing from a major tournament knockout game for the first time since 1938.

Haris Seferovic headed the Swiss ahead and they had a penalty saved that could have made it 2-0 before Karim Benzema scored twice and Paul Pogba put France 3-1 up with a screamer.

Seferovic headed in his second goal of the game for Switzerland and substitute Mario Gavranovic hammered in a last-minute equaliser to send the game to extra time.

Mbappe missed a couple of big chances for the world

champions in extra time and Olivier Giroud had a header saved in the final minute.

Paris St-Germain forward Mbappe was the only player to fail to score in the shootout, after an excellent Yann Sommer save.

Switzerland play Spain, who also came through a thriller

- 5-3 after extra time against Croatia - in the quarter-final in St Petersburg, Russia on Friday.

This is the biggest shock of Euro 2020 so far, with world champions France having been tipped to win the tournament by 12 of 15 BBC pundits before it started.

The last time Switzerland

were in the quarter-finals of a major tournament was the 1954 World Cup that they hosted.

They had not progressed through a knockout game since the 1938 World Cup. It could all have been so different as they faced elimination in the group stage after picking up one point from

Swiss players thanking their fans shortly after knocking out world champions France via penalty shootouts...last night

their opening two games.

Manager Vladimir Petkovic wrote an open letter in a Swiss newspaper apologising to fans and asking them to back the team against Turkey. They won that game and reached the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Petkovic's side fully deserved their half-time lead against France thanks to Seferovic's header from a cross

by Zuber, his fourth assist of Euro 2020. That was the first time Switzeland have ever taken the lead in a competitive game against France.

They missed a glorious chance to go 2-0 up when Zuber was chopped down

by Benjamin Pavard and a penalty was given by the VAR, but Ricardo Rodriguez's weak kick was well saved by Hugo Lloris.

Four minutes and three seconds later they trailed through a Benzema double and it looked all over when Pogba scored.

LAWYER

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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Ms Amina J. Mohammed

AMINA MOHAMMED: A DISTINGUISHED WORLD SERVANT TURNS 60

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29.06.2021

LAWYER

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WEEKLY PULLOUT

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Ms Amina J. Mohammed

AMINA MOHAMMED: A DISTINGUISHED WORLD SERVANT TURNS 60 QUOTABLES

‘All of those waiting on the sidelines, hoping that this big country Nigeria will break up into bits so that they can pick up the pieces, will be very sorely disappointed…..

The principle that we are stronger together than in little parts, is a sound principle.’ Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Professor of Law, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

‘For me, what being a Progressive simply means, is the commitment to improving the human conditions.’

- Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Minister of Works & Housing, Federal Republic of Nigeria, former Governor of Lagos State (2007-2015)

Applicability of the Money Laundering Act to Legal Practitioners PAGE 4

NBA-NEC Tackles National Issues at Abuja Meeting PAGE 5

NBA Mourns its Past President PAGE 5

29.06.2021

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The Buhari Interview Revisited Excerpts of President Buhari’s Interview With Arise TV: On Infrastructure Last Thursday, as I was listening to some of the highlights of President Muhammadu Buhari's Arise TV interview of June 10, I did agree with him when he said that we really should ask previous Governments what they did with all the oil revenue that Nigeria earned, especially at the times when it was at its highest, and why they did not plough all that revenue into providing some of the basic infrastructure which Nigeria is in such dire need of. President Buhari said there had been a lot of wastage in the past - I concur, but his administration is also guilty of almost the same level of wastage.

As you may be aware, I’m no fan of the People’s Destruction Party (PDP) or the All Regressives Congress (APC), but truth be told, President Buhari’s question is a pertinent one, though rhetorical, the obvious answer being that the past Governments (military and civilian, his military regime inclusive) didn’t do that much in the area of infrastructure.

For example, several years ago, when we attended the commissioning of the Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana, we were taken on a tour of the facility and shown a power plant which was built to provide electricity for the factory; we were informed that the plant which took only 14-18 months to build, was big enough to provide electricity for the whole of Abuja. So, when we hear talk that the Obasanjo administration laid the foundation for better electricity but didn’t have time to implement it, the truth is that they had ample time to make a significant difference in electricity supply in Nigeria. Using the Dangote model, in eight years of President Obasanjo, they could have constructed just one power plant in each geopolitical zone, replicate that same model and built yet another six plants in each geopolitical zone during the Yar’Adua/Jonathan’s eight years, giving us a total of 12 new power plants all over the country, in addition to the old ones. But, they failed and neglected to. We really only started to experience some traction and marked improvement in our electricity supply, when former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN was Minister of Power, during the first term of the Buhari Administration.

On the Youths and #EndSARS: The Twitter Connection It was quite interesting to discover from his utterances, that President Buhari somehow saw the #EndSARS Protest not as a demonstration by the Youths against Police brutality, but as an attempt to remove him from office! I had watched an interview of former Minister, Adebayo Shittu last Wednesday, in which he accused Jack Dorsey, the co-Founder of Twitter, of funding the #EndSARS Protest before it was overtaken by hoodlums. I wondered what was wrong with that, since Mr Shittu stressed upon the fact that Mr Dorsey's financial intervention was made before the Protest went awry. Since Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution permit freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly and association respectively, I could not quite fathom what offence Mr Dorsey had committed in this regard, until I realised that like President Buhari, key members of the APC saw the #EndSARS Protest as a bid to run this administration out of office. It finally made sense that the anti-Twitter campaign by this administration, is more about allegations that Jack Dorsey supported a bid to topple this Government, and the deletion of the President’s tweet was simply a perfect excuse to set the stage for mounting this campaign against Twitter.

Would Twitter really be capable of toppling a performing Government that is well loved by its people? Is there any truth to these allegations against Twitter, or is it that each passing day, Government becomes more intolerant of any kind of criticism, let alone dissension, and wracked with paranoia, sees it as an attack or an attempt to destabilise their administration, whether or not it is actually so? The irony is that, in a constitutional democracy, the freedoms guaranteed in Sections 39, 40 and 38 (freedom of thought and religion), are the accepted ways to express dissent, and the discussion and resolution of dissent, the only way a democracy can blossom.

On Insecurity I however, found it rather bizarre that President Buhari sought to lay the blame of being the repellent of FDI and insecurity, or is it the responsibility for securing the country on the Youths (because of the #EndSARS), by tasking them to behave themselves and make sure the environment is secure so people can invest, since no one would be encouraged to invest in an unstable environment. This implies that the behaviour of the Youths, is the cause of Nigeria’s insecurity and discouragement of FDI. With all due respect to the President, this could not be further from the reality of the situation.

While I do agree with the President that security is key to attracting investment, whether local or foreign, the responsibility of securing the nation is the primary purpose of Government (Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution), and not that of the Youths. According to the UN, about 350,000 people have been killed in Nigeria as a result of insurgency. It is a very well known fact that insecurity in Nigeria existed long before the Youths' #EndSARS Protest of October, 2020, so much so that one of President Buhari's 2015 and 2019 core campaign promises, was to quell insecurity and the Boko Haram insurgency.

So far, this administration has reneged on this promise, and on the contrary, the security situation in the country has worsened, escalating to alarming levels with the Herdsmen/Farmer crisis, kidnapping (especially of school children), banditry, more armed robbery, piracy and so on.

I venture further to say that, if this administration had expended as much energy and focus on fighting insecurity as it has done on fighting Twitter and the Covid-19 pandemic, by now we would have seen some encouraging results.

Additionally, it is also a well known fact that foreign companies had started to leave Nigeria long before the #EndSARS Protest for a variety reasons, including but not limited to, insecurity (for instance, for the oil companies, kidnapping in the South South region and destruction of installations by the militants), inconsistent Government policy, high level of corruption and the astronomical cost of doing business in Nigeria as a result thereof (recall the comments of Sir Richard Branson and the reasons he gave for pulling out of Virgin Nigeria in 2010 - those reasons still exist today), difficulty in repatriation of income to home countries, and Government’s lack of respect for the rule of law.

Everyone knows that it was hoodlums and undesirables that hijacked #EndSARS, and if at all, the Youths could at best, have been accused of an irrelevant misdemeanour of civil disobedience because they blocked the roads. If anything, the world supported the Youths. Ironically, it was the Government’s action of descending on unarmed Youths with such venom, and the clumsy attempt at a cover up thereafter, plus the hoarding of palliatives donated by Ca-Covid meant for Nigerians by Government/Public Officials, that proved to be more than enough to discourage FDI and engender a distrust in those who may even want to assist us, since our Public Officials cannot be relied upon to even distribute donations fairly and properly!

I disagree with the President’s claim that his administration has done well with security; its more like the opposite. Its not just the North West that is trying to overwhelm him, insecurity has

spread throughout the country from the North East where it was once, more or less localised, prior to this administration assuming office.

President Buhari laid emphasis on the fact that Nigerians called for a change of guard in the security apparatus, and we have received it. I wish the new Chief of Army Staff the very best of luck; hopefully, we will see a change for the better in our security situation with his input. This is possibly as good a time as any, for the Nigerian Army to review the unlawful dismissals of some of its capable Officers who were unceremoniously let go without the requisite due process during the regime of Lt General Buratai, some of whom went to court to seek redress. The Army has been ordered by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to reinstate a number of them, but to date, has failed to comply with the order of court. The Army needs as many capable hands as possible, in this fight against insurgency and insecurity in general - and the sooner, the better.

On the Economy President Buhari while admitting that the poverty that has pervaded the country is unimaginable, was also correct when he said no country develops without infrastructure. But, the borrowing spree that Nigeria is on to purportedly finance the building of infrastructure, cannot be the only way to raise money for this purpose - it is simply the easiest way out of several, to raise funds. Other ways include attracting FDI, harnessing and boosting production of other products (not necessarily oil) and exports, and selling national assets where it makes sense to do so. Section 16 of the Constitution mandates the Government to harness the resources of the nation, inter alia for the maximum welfare and happiness of the people, and to build a self-reliant economy.

According to Segun Awolowo, the CEO of Nigeria Export Promotion Council, “…..Nigeria needs an economic model that also sees non-oil exports, as the means of raising the capital to also fund its socio-economic and infrastructural needs” (2016). With the falling and somewhat unstable oil prices, the ‘Zero-Oil’ Plan inspired

by President Buhari in 2015, which lays out a master plan to generate up to $100 billion in non-oil exports annually, is a good start.

For example, while Enugu can continue to export pineapples to Europe, and coal mining in the South East, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Katsina have the potential to earn up to $2.5 billion per annum from revamping their cotton industries by cultivating their millions of hectares of land, and doing cotton and yarn exports.

There’s also leather that can be exported from the North, from the North Central, Soya beans, Cocoa and other produce from the South West, Petrochemicals from the South South, and the South East, Zamfara State etc, gold mining.

The list is endless, as every part of the country is endowed with something or other; and it would also create so much employment, if these opportunities are seized.

Unfortunately, the actualisation of the objectives cannot be realised without the country being secure, because majority of these initiatives that are income-generating, are based on people being able to go to their farms, mines and other businesses without fear of kidnappers, killers, herdsmen grazing their cattle and destroying

President Muhammadu Buhari being interviewed by the Arise TV Team led by Prince Nduka Obaigbena

“WHILE I DO AGREE WITH THE PRESIDENT THAT SECURITY IS KEY TO ATTRACTING INVESTMENT, WHETHER LOCAL OR FOREIGN, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SECURING THE NATION IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT (SECTION 14(2)(B) OF THE CONSTITUTION), AND NOT THAT OF THE YOUTHS”

their crops, and so on, something that is getting more difficult to do as the days go by because of the continuous rise in insecurity. President Buhari rightfully said that those who disturb Farmers must be dealt with in a language that they understand, because if people cannot go to their farms, we will all starve.

Conclusion President Buhari stated that he will continue to convince Nigerians, that he means very well for the country. However, there is a huge difference between meaning well and doing well. The President leaves the people to evaluate his legacies, and hopes that we will be fair to him. While so far, this administration may not have fulfilled any of their three main campaign promises - eradicating corruption, overcoming insecurity and revamping the economy, at least, we can point to a few improvements since they assumed office, even if all they did was to borrow money to achieve them - increase in electricity supply, expansion and actual use of the rail network, improvement in the inter-State road network, and recognising late Chief M.K.O. Abiola GCFR as one of the symbols of our democracy. There is still time to do more, even if it’s only limited to bringing peace and calm to the nation - security. This will be something for the next administration to build on.

4/LAW REPORT

Applicability of the Money Laundering Act to Legal Practitioners Facts The Appellant approached the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking an ex-parte order of interim attachment and to freeze for a period of 120 days, an account belonging to and operated by the Respondent’s law firm domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. By the said application and lone evidence of the Appellant, the court made an interim order freezing the Respondent’s account. Thereafter, the Respondent filed an application before the court to discharge the interim order made.

The grounds for the application to discharge the order were stated as – (i) suppression of facts; and (ii) non-compliance with the rules of court and judicial authorities regulating the grant of ex-parte applications by the Applicant. The Appellant opposed the application by way of counter-affidavit, further affidavit and written address, while the Respondent reacted by filing a further affidavit and written address. The court heard arguments of parties on the application, and delivered its ruling, setting aside the interim order freezing the account belonging to and operated by the Respondent’s law firm.

Dissatisfied with the ruling of court, the Appellant appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal. Though the Respondent argued a Preliminary Objection/Preliminary Point along with his argument on the issues for determination, the Court of Appeal did not countenance the submissions in respect of thereof and deemed the objection as abandoned for failure to comply with the rules of court on filing of Preliminary Objection.

Issues for Determination The issues for determination for resolution of the appeal were: 1. Whether having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, the court below has the requisite jurisdiction to set aside its own order of interim attachment before the expiration of 120 days granted to the Appellant to conclude its investigation.

2. Whether having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, the learned trial Judge was not in error when, in setting aside its own order, relied on the evidence that the sum of N75 million received by the Respondent was for services rendered but failed to rely on the evidence of the Appellant showing that the said sum were proceeds of the unlawful activities of the Respondent’s clients and his cronies.

3. Whether the lower court was not in error when it held that Legal Practitioners are excluded from the definition of Designated Non-Financial Institution contained in Section 25 of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended), and not under obligation to comply with the provision of Section 10 of the said Act. Arguments Arguing the first issue raised, the Appellant submitted that the jurisdiction of the court to set aside its own order or an order of a court of co-ordinate jurisdiction is rare and special. Relying on the authority of EFCC v FAYOSE (2018) LPELR-44131(CA) 67-69, the Appellant argued that the lower court was wrong to have set aside its own order which it made with requisite jurisdiction, without evidence, misrepresentation or suppression of facts before it. Responding to the argument on this issue, the Respondent submitted that a court of law has the inherent power to set aside its decision or that of a court of co-ordinate jurisdiction on the ground of misrepresentation, suppression of material facts, or where irregularly granted – AGHA v COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (2016) LPELR-40544(CA).

Counsel argued that the Appellant failed to show how the ruling of the lower court amounted to denial of fair hearing, and occasioned miscarriage of justice. He posited that the decision of the lower court on the ex-parte application was given without jurisdiction ab initio, and ought to have been set aside even without an application by the Respondent; more so, an ex-parte application does not operate in perpetuity.

On the second issue, counsel submitted on behalf of the Appellant, that the lower court was in error when it ignored the evidence presented by the Appellant, which established the unlawful source of the sum of money transferred by the then Governor of Ekiti State to the Respondent, but relied on the evidence of the Respondent that, as at the time the money was transferred to the Respondent, the account of the erstwhile Governor was unfrozen. Counsel posited that the fact that the account which housed the proceeds of the alleged unlawful act was not frozen, cannot be a ground for the Respondent to receive, retain, use and/or take possession of funds which he ought to have known was proceed of unlawful activities, relying on Section 15 of the Money laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended). Opposing the Appellant’s submission on the issue, the Respondent argued that the decision of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, which was the extant decision at the time the account was unfrozen, was to the effect that the sum of N75 million paid to the Respondent was for his professional fees for services rendered. He argued that it is not the law that a legal practitioner should enquire about the source of the money from which his professional fee is paid, especially from a State Governor. More so, a legal

practitioner is entitled to his fees – GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC & ANOR v UDOKA ANYANWU ESQ. (2011) LPELR-4220(CA).

Regarding the third issue, the Appellant argued that the lower court was wrong when it held that legal practitioners are excluded from the statutory list of Designated Non-Financial Institutions, contrary to the provisions of Section 25 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended).

Counsel submitted that the role of the court is to interpret the law, and not to amend it. Counsel urged the court to interpret Sections 10 and 25 of the Act in line with the intention of the law makers. Responding to this submission, the Respondent argued that the provisions of Section 25 of the Money Laundering Act does not apply to legal practitioners.

Counsel relied on the decision in FHC/CS/CS/173/2015 REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION v A-G FEDERATION & CBN, where the provisions of Section 192 of the Evidence Act was relied on, in holding that the said Section 25 of the Money Laundering Act does not relate to legal practitioners and same was declared null and void.

Honourable Chidi Nwaoma Uwa, JCA

In the Court of Appeal of Nigeria In the Lagos Judicial Division Holden at Lagos On Friday, the 14th day of May, 2021 Before Their Lordships

Chidi Nwaoma Uwa Tunde O. Awotoye James Gambo Abundaga Justices, Court of Appeal CA/L/174/2019 Between Federal Republic of Nigeria

Appellant

And

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN)

Respondent

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Chidi Nwaoma Uwa, JCA)

“…… LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE DEFINITION OF DESIGNATED NON-FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AS CONTAINED IN THE MONEY LAUNDERING

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the court held that a court has the inherent power to set aside its decision or that of a court of co-ordinate jurisdiction, under special circumstances.

Where a court makes a decision without jurisdiction or where the decision is afflicted by another virus capable of rendering the decision ineffective, null and void, the court can invoke its inherent jurisdiction or power to set same aside – UBA PLC v MAGAMA NIGERIA LIMITED & ANOR. (2013) LPELR-20685(CA). A court of law can set aside, vary or discharge its ex-parte order under the circumstances provided for in decided authorities. In this case, the evidence before the court showed that the money was paid into the account of the Respondent from an unencumbered account of the Governor; thus, the lower court found that the Respondent did not commit any infraction to warrant his account being blocked and frozen by the Appellant. The application by the Respondent for an order setting aside the earlier order of court freezing the Respondent’s account showed that there was misrepresentation of facts, non-disclosure and suppression of material facts by the Appellant, in securing the interim order to freeze the account operated by the Respondent’s law firm. The Appellant failed to disclose to the lower court, that at the time of the ex-parte application, there was an order of court in place which unfroze the account of the then Governor of Ekiti State before the sum of money was transferred to the Respondent’s law firm. It follows that the interim order of attachment or forfeiture to freeze the account of the Respondent’s law firm was made without jurisdiction, and rightly set aside by the court. The application to set aside the order was also in line with the rules of court, which allows a party to apply to have the issuing court set aside its ex-parte order within seven days. The court held further that the allegation of lack of fair hearing by the Appellant, was unsubstantiated.

Resolving issue two, the appellate court held that the decision of the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti which unfroze the account of Mr. Ayodele Fayose, from which the professional fee was paid to the Respondent, was a subsisting and binding decision at the time the ex-parte order was made. Though the Appellant alleged that the decision was perverse, it was not set aside. By implication, it remains the law, valid and binding, vacating an earlier order of court on the subject on the basis that the court acted without jurisdiction. Further, the court held that a legal practitioner is entitled to his professional fees for services rendered, and such fee cannot rightly be labelled as proceeds of crime. It is not the law that a legal practitioner will go into enquiry, before receiving fee from his client. There was nothing on record to show that the funds received by the Respondent’s law firm was pursuant to an order of court, or Proceeds from unlawful activities.

Deciding the third issue, the court relied on the decision of REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSCOCIATION v A-G. FEDERATION & ORS – FHC/ CS/173/2015. The court held that legal practitioners are excluded from the definition of designated non-financial institutions as contained in the Money Laundering Prohibition Act (which the court held was inconsistent with Section 192 of the Act). This decision defines the law until same is set aside – AKINTOGUN v LPDC (2014) LPELR-22941.

PROHIBITION ACT (WHICH

Appeal Dismissed; Ruling of the lower court Affirmed.

THE COURT HELD WAS

Representation U.U. Buhari Esq. for the Appellant.

INCONSISTENT WITH

Ejike Onuoha Esq. for the Respondent.

SECTION 192 OF THE ACT)”

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

29.06.2021 NEWS/5

NBA-NEC Tackles National Issues at Abuja Meeting The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association last week took bold decisions, and expressed its position on major national issues and other professionrelated issues.

State of the Nation The NBA decried the worsening insecurity in the nation, and particularly condemned the incessant kidnaping of school children in various parts of the country. It urged the Federal Government to take urgent and further steps, to provide adequate protection for schools in kidnap prone areas.

On the Twitter ban by the Government, NBA condemned in totality the action of the Government which potentially threatens the freedom of speech of a majority of Nigerians and the attendant consequences, calling on the authorities to rescind its decision immediately.

JUSUN Strike One of such major issues discussed was the just ended 10-week long industrial action, by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). Expressing the position of the NBA, President, Olumide Akpata said ‘It’s not yet Uhuru, until we see the implementation of total judicial autonomy in all the 36 States of the Federation’.

He urged members of the Monitoring Committee, to monitor and report to the Association progress on the implementation.

The NBA further expressed displeasure at many of its members who have lost their lives to criminals, and the inability of the security agencies to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book. A case in point is the gruesome murder of Frank Onyeabor of Oweri Branch, who was recently assassinated in his office.

It was also reported that the NBA has taken steps to file an action against the Police authorities, that dismissed a pregnant Police Officer in

Ekiti State.

Face-off between Magistrates and Cross River State Governor Mr. Akpata reported that since the intervention of the NBA, Governor Ayade has commenced payment of the salaries of the estranged Magistrates.

Although only one month out of the 28 months has been paid, there are indications that the ongoing mediation is yielding positive results, and that the Magistrates will soon be back to their courts. It was further reported that, the attempt to take over some of the Magistrates’ courtrooms has been aborted, and that the courts are now actually being renovated for their use.

On the Gombe State Judiciary, NBA expressed displeasure at the refusal of the State Governor to forward the name of Hon. Justice Nyako to the NJC for appointment as the Chief Judge of the State, and urged the Governor to do so promptly.

As for the proposal by some that the retirement age of Justices of the Supreme Court be extended from 70 to 75, the NBA took the stance that status quo be maintained on the issue for now.

On the move by the Corporate Affairs Commission to levy new humongous registration fees on Lawyers in the guise of ‘revalidation’, the NBA pointed out that although the CAC proposed it as a one-off fee, Lawyers are reluctant to pay this new fee, especially as the CAC has continued to operate inefficiently on its service delivery. The NBA therefore, proposed to the CAC to set up an NBA Help Desk at the CAC manned by five Lawyers who would attend to all challenges from Lawyers at the Commission.

Kebbi State Crisis For a while, it has been impossible for Lawyers to ply their trade in Kebbi State, due to the activities of the State’s

NBA President, Olumide Akpata (left) and General Secretary, Joyce Oduah

vigilante operatives who have continued to terrorise and harass Lawyers, preventing them from going to court. The NBA Committee headed by Y.C. Maikyau, SAN reported that some progress is being made, as the Lawyers are reaching a settlement with the vigilante group, with the intervention of the State Government.

Professional Matters One of the pressing issues that engaged the attention of the NBA-NEC, is that of many Lawyers whose names curiously can’t be found on the Supreme Court Roll. This has created hardship on the affected Lawyers who cannot verify their status in the profession, and even obtain Stamp and Seal which is crucial for their practice. On this, the NBA has engaged the Supreme Court, to urgently facilitate a seamless procedure to effect change of name at the Supreme Court Registry.

Other issues include a proposal by the NBA, to amend the Rules of Professional Practice (RPC) and the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA).

Also the issue of late or nonremittance of the percentage of Bar Practicing Fees to Branched was addressed.

The court action filed by the NBA on the issue of

elongation of the tenure of the immediate past Inspector General of Police, was frontally addressed. The NBA President stated that contrary to the impression given that the NBA has withdrawn its suit on the eventual retirement of the former IGP, Akpata pointed out that the issue is far from being over. That the NBA is actually now seeking for an order to compel the former IGP to refund all salaries and allowances he illegally collected while in office, after his constitutionally mandated age of retirement.

NEC noted that the practice of non-Lawyers invading the

The Ogun State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, has said that the training of the State Task Force on Human Trafficking with other relevant Agencies, was an additional advantage to eradicate the high rate of human trafficking, especially across the State's border areas.

Adeniran made this known during a one-day workshop on "The Basic Knowledge and Skills in Assisting Victims of Human Trafficking", held at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Conference Room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the State capital.

The Commissioner said that it is imperative to collaborate with relevant Ministries, Department

Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran

and Agencies (MDAs), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and Security Agencies to tackle the high rate of trafficking, adding that the teamwork would further strengthen the efforts to solve problems relating with human trafficking.

Also Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor

on Legal Matters, Mr. Olumide Mustapha, said working together with the law enforcement agency is a strategy adopted to fast-track the dispensation of justice to the victims of human trafficking, noting that with a lot of public sensitisation on sign's to watch out for during the process of trafficking, would also go a long way in reducing the menace.

He said issues on human trafficking would now get fast dispensation of justice, for the fact that the alteration of the Constitution has expanded the scope of the National Industrial Court (NIC) to take up child related matters that have to do with human trafficking, adding that cases with NIC were resolved much quicker than that of any other court.

profession has continued unabated, and with the tacit connivance of Lawyers. The President warned that any Lawyer found in breach of this, will be prosecuted by the NBA. He also reported that the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area which had breached this law had tendered an apology, and promised never to do so again.

The President commended the NBA Sections, SPIDEL and SLP for successfully holding their annual conferences.

Akpata informed NEC that the 2021 Annual General Conference of the Association, will hold in Port Harcourt under

strict Covid protocols.

A Committee was set up to critically examine the crisis in the following Branched, Abeokuta, Mbaise, Uyo, Uromi, Ikeja, Auchi, Orji River and Abuja.

The NBA constitution Review Committee has continued its work.

A proposal was made for the creation of Law Officers Forum, Military Forum and a Forum for Lawyers with Disabilities.

The NBA President restated his commitment, to ensure that young Lawyers are coopted into NBA-NEC as soon as possible.

Photo News

Chairman of the 2021 NBA-SLP Conference, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN (left) and Chairman, NBA-SLP, Seun Abimbola, SAN at the NBA-SLP Conference which held in Uyo recently

‘We’ll Fight Human Trafficking to a Standstill’, Ogun AG Ademola Orunbon

L-R: Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN, Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN, Audu Mela Nunghe, SAN and Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN

In her submission, the Country Lead for Child First Welfare Foundation of Nigeria (CFWFN), Mrs Peju Osoba, said their role is to get mentors with a similar experience to mentor the victims out of the traumatic experience, saying that the NGO has been able to support over 200 victims of human traffickers.

She said that now that the NGO is part of the Ogun State Task Force on human trafficking, it would drastically reduce the sharp practice to the barest minimum, stressing that the kind of training and infrastructure put in place to assist the victims of human trafficking, would also encourage all the major stakeholders to join hands in the fight against human trafficking in the State.

NBA Mourns its Past President A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN, is dead.

The NBA Ikorodu Branch has announced the passing of its Life Patron, Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN. Chief Benson passed on last Friday, while the Branch was rounding off preparations for the Annual B.O. Benson Lecture scheduled to hold on July 1, 2021. He died at the age of 89.

He was the former Vice Chairman of Commonwealth Lawyers former Association, President, African Bar Association, and Former President, Nigerian Bar

The Late Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson, SAN

Association.

He held an honorary Doctor of Laws, LLD of the Lagos State University (LASU), where he was legal adviser for many years.

6/

29.06.2021

A Critique of the Court of Appeal Judgement in FRN v Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN)

This article by Mayowa Owolabi, seeks to review the state of our Laws (statutory and case law) and the applicable rules of professional conduct as it relates to acceptance of briefs, and the obligation to ascertain that funds charged and received as professional fees by Lawyers in Nigeria, are not derived from unlawful activities, in comparison to global trends and what conforms with international best practice Background In a recent Judgement which was delivered by the Court of Appeal on the 14th of May, 2021in a case constituted as App No: CA/L/174/19-FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA v CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME (SAN); the Court upheld the Ruling of the Federal High Court which held that an earlier exparte order of the Federal High Court which froze the account of the Respondent to the appeal was improperly procured, and was therefore, rightfully discharged.

A review of the facts surrounding the procurement of the aforementioned order and the subsequent vacation of it, clearly indicates that the rationale for the decision of the Court of Appeal accords with logic. The Court of Appeal held that the Appellant (as Applicants at the Court below), had suppressed material facts in the exparte application with which it procured the order freezing the account of the Respondent.

However, on page 27 of the judgement, the Court proceeded to make a significant pronouncement on the absence of an obligation on Nigerian Legal Practitioners to ascertain that professional fees paid for services rendered, are not derived from unlawful activities or a criminal enterprise.

The Court specifically held as follows: The learned counsel to the Appellant had argued that the Respondent ought to have known that the source of money paid to him as professional fees, was from an illicit act or “proceeds of unlawful activities. No doubt a Legal Practitioner is entitled to his fees for professional services rendered, and such fees cannot be rightly labeled as proceeds of crime. Further, it is not a requirement of the law that a legal practitioner would go into inquiry before receiving his fees from his client, to find the source of the fund from which he would be paid”.

The critique is of particular interest, considering that the client in question in the case under review was a serving executive Governor of a State in Nigeria, and therefore, was a “Politically Exposed Person”.

The general perception is that, a Lawyer is an honest person with impeccable character. In the preface to the book, “Ministering Justice”, the authors (Olasupo Shasore SAN & Akeem Olajide Bello), described the practice of law as a profession, as a call to public service. Law works at the pleasure of society and therefore, should work for society. Invariably, this trickles down and is reflected in the high and lofty ethical standards which Lawyers are expected to maintain at all times, as key stakeholders in the administration of Justice within Society. In describing this necessary attribute of a Lawyer and his duty to Society, the Hon. Justice PatAcholunu J.C.A (as he then was) in Kotoye v Saraki (1995) 6 N.W.L.R (Pt.402) 504 at 508 stated as follows: “In a free society (which we claim to belong), it is the duty of Lawyers to show enviable leadership, by the way they conduct their cases with courage and elegance. They must realise that being officers in the temple of justice, it behoves of them to seek the supreme welfare of promotion of justice, the growth of jurisprudence…“.

Issues connected to Lawyers remuneration and professional fees, are stipulated in Rules 48 to 54 of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2007. There is no provision in the Rules, that require a Lawyer to ascertain the source of funds provided to pay his fees by a prospective client.

Therefore, the Court of Appeal’s pronouncement in the Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN case would appear unimpeachable based on the applicable regulations.

The MLA & CBN Case It is instructive to note that a comparison of the applicable rules in Nigeria with other climes, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States of America, clearly indicates that we may be lagging behind in the progressive efforts being made globally, towards ensuring that Lawyers are not utilised for money laundering schemes.

It is also unhelpful that the most significant legislation on Money Laundering in Nigeria (Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2001(“MLA”),

“THE RECENT PRONOUNCEMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL IN THE CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN CASE IS DISCOMFORTING, AND UNDULY EXPOSES INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS EMANATING FROM NIGERIA TO ADDITIONAL President, Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem which specifically listed Legal Practitioners in the definition of “designated non-financial institutions” has since been judicially determined to be inapplicable to Lawyers. This position was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in the case of CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA v REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CA/A/202/2015 (Unreported) Judgement delivered on the 14th of June, 2015, where the Court upheld the decision of the Federal High Court which held that Legal Practitioners are excluded from the definition of designated non-financial institutions as contained in the MLA, and therefore, not required to register with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).

In urging the Court to nullify the provisions of Sections 5 and 25 of the MLA, the Nigerian Bar Association “NBA” (as Plaintiff at the Federal High Court and Respondent at the Court of Appeal), contended that the inclusion of Legal Practitioners in the definition section of the MLA makes the law incongruent, in conflict and repugnant to the provisions of the existing law regulating the practice of law in Nigeria, especially as it relates to accountability and professional obligations to clients under the Legal Practitioners Act of 1976.

In order to fully understand and underpin the real issue in controversy in the afore-mentioned case of CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA v REGISTERED TRUSTEES OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (Supra), it is pertinent to summarise the import of the classification of a Legal Practitioner as a non-designated financial institution. By virtue of the provision of Section 5 of the MLA, all non-designated financial institutions are required (amongst others) to keep a record of all cash transactions involving a sum exceeding US$ 1,000, and are periodically required to submit a report of such transactions to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. A designated non-financial institution that fails to comply with the provisions of the law, is liable to be convicted and exposed to the possibility of the suspension or revocation of his/her licence.

In pushing its contentions against the inapplicability of Section 5 of the MLA to Legal Practitioners, the NBA placed heavy reliance on the import of the provisions of Section 192 of the Evidence Act, 2011 which protects privileged communications between Lawyers and Clients.

On the other hand, the CBN (as Respondent at the Federal High Court and Appellant at the Court of Appeal) argued that, Section 192 of the Evidence Act does not address the mischief which Sections 5 and 25 of the MLA seek to address and curtail. Whilst, Section 192 of the Evidence Act provides an exception to the rule of confidentiality, when a client has committed a crime, Section 5 of the MLA merely creates an obligation of record keeping and active reporting of a certain threshold of cash transactions relating

to their clients. In the former, the commission of a crime or illegality by the client is envisaged, while in the latter, the purpose is to identify the source, volume and movement of money with the overall objective of Preventing or Detecting funding of drug trafficking, terrorism and other illegal activities, which the Legal Practitioner may knowingly or unknowingly be an accessory to.

As indicated, the Court of Appeal eventually ruled in favour of the NBA, by holding that the provisions of Sections 5 and 25 of the MLA, insofar as they purport to apply to Legal Practitioners are invalid, null and void. The jury is still out on how an appeal to the Supreme Court would have turned out; as it appears no appeal was filed against the decision.

The State of Affairs in the United Kingdom Comparatively, between 2002 and 2020, a series of legislation was passed in the United Kingdom, as part of measures to tackle money laundering.

One of such legislation is the Proceeds of Crime Act, 2002. Based on this Statute, all professionals are mandatorily required to file what is termed a “Suspicious Activity Report” on any suspicious activities observed during the course of engagement with clients, to the National Crime Agency.

The legislation was provocative because it required Solicitors to become whistle-blowers, whilst equally gagging them from disclosing to their clients that they had turned undercover informants. It was a legislation that stayed despite the wide spread shock which was expressed at its passing, because the Solicitors Regulatory Authority already had a basic code of conduct that deemed integrity as the most important requirement in the code of conduct.

The underlying reason for the legislation at the relevant time, was that the United Kingdom was seen as a high risk jurisdiction for money laundering with law firms and Solicitors seen as an attractive conduit, because of the position of trust they hold. Failure to file a pre-emptive SAR (Suspicious Activity Report), could expose a Lawyer to Criminal Prosecution under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Other similar legislation which Solicitors practicing in the United Kingdom are required to understand and adhere to include: (1) The Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019, and (2) Terrorism Act 2000. The SRA has consistently encouraged law firms as part of their KYC obligations, to ensure that they understand the source of their client’s wealth and funding before facilitating any transaction or accepting instructions. UK law firms are required to scrutinise transactions undertaken throughout the course of the relationship with a client, including the source of the funds, to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the relevant person’s knowledge of the customer, the customer’s business and risk profile (Regulation 28 (S11(a) of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017).

SCRUTINY, AS IT PRESUPPOSES THAT THERE ARE NO APPLICABLE INTERNAL MECHANISMS WHICH ENSURE THAT NIGERIAN LAWYERS ARE NOT UNWITTINGLY UTILISED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING SCHEMES”

In spite of the foregoing, the SRA is of the view that, the current checks being made by most of the firms in the UK are not enough. Mark Boyle, who is the policy lead on anti-money laundering for the SRA, in addressing the SRA’s annual compliance conference which held in December 2020, advised law firms to prioritise the training of their staff, as they are “arguably the only line of defence against being used for money laundering”. He also indicated that the SRA is likely to request for further information and scrutiny, about measures being put in place to combat risk.

Bottom Line The current state of laws and the regulations which relate to the practice of law in Nigeria, clearly indicate that we are not at par with the applicable regulations in the United Kingdom. The recent pronouncement of the Court of Appeal in the Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN case is discomforting, and unduly exposes international transactions emanating from Nigeria to additional scrutiny, as it presupposes that there are no applicable internal mechanisms which ensure that Nigerian Lawyers are not unwittingly utilised for money laundering schemes. Potentially, international financial institutions would hold the view that Nigeria should remain, or be re-introduced on the list of high risk Countries.

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Taxation Without Justification?

This question is prompted by the news of the huge tax bill (N248 million, reduced from an initial sum of N1.2 billion) recently slammed by the Tax Appeal Tribunal on a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief J.B. Daudu, SAN. Reportedly made up of arrears of Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax, for the years 2010 – 2017, the said assessment is virtually unprecedented, at least for a professional – let alone a legal practitioner of Chief Daudu’s stature. Accordingly, few would be surprised if he fights it all the way to the Apex Court.

I believe the news brings to the fore, the taxing powers of the National Assembly under the Constitution. This appears to be straight forward enough, at least if the provisions of Item 59 of the Exclusive Legislative List are anything to go by.

Read along with Section 4(3) of the Constitution, they simply state that the National Assembly shall have the exclusive power to legislate on “taxation of profits, incomes and capital gains, save as otherwise provided for by the Constitution”.

Pursuant to this provision, the Assembly enacted the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment, etc.) Act, 2007, which establishes the Federal Board of Inland Revenue, and empowers it to enforce the provisions of the seven different tax laws, inter alia, listed in the Schedule thereto. These include the Companies Income Tax Act, the Petroleum Profits Tax Act, the Personal Income Tax Act, the Capital Gains Tax Act, the Value Added Tax Act, the Stamp Duty Act, the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act. So much for the statute law. If this was the end of the matter, case closed. Alas, it is not, as we have to contend with case law or judicial precedent. In this regard, it appears that very few people are aware that, on the 11th of December, 2020, the Federal High Court, sitting in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State (in EMMANUEL UKALA v FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE SERVICE (2021) 56 TLRN 1, held that the taxing powers of the National Assembly were restricted to only those expressly mentioned in the Constitution, i.e., incomes, profits, capital gains and stamp duties on companies – and excludes value added tax, which is not mentioned therein. It is evident that, in arriving at this conclusion, the court placed an unduly restrictive construction on the aforesaid constitutional provisions. This is odd, as it is trite law that the Constitution should be given a broad and liberal interpretation: NAFIU RABIU v THE STATE (1980) 8-11 S.C. (Reprint); BRONIK MOTORS v WEMA BANK (1983) 6 S.C. 158.

Having said this, however, it is entirely plausible that the court was swayed by the established judicial policy to construe tax statutes strictly: 7-UP BOTTLING CO. v LAGOS STATE INTERNAL REVENUE BOARD (2013) 2 NRLR 10-5. This is an extension of the principle that expropriatory statutes should be construed contra proferentum. This means that if is there is any ambiguity therein, it should be resolved in favour of the subject or tax-payer, and against the State: AFOLABI v GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE (1985) 2 NSCC pt. II pg.

1151; EZE v GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE (2010) 15 NWLR pt. 1216 pg.

3254; OKOTIE-EBOH v MANAGER (2004) 16 NWLR pt. 905 pg. 242. This one is likely to run and run.

FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Nami

Beyond the foregoing, though, I believe that a more fundamental issue is the capacity, vel non, of the National Assembly to tax an activity in respect of which it lacks the power to regulate, substantively. By this, I refer to the on-going practice of the Federal Inland Revenue Service of enforcing the provisions of the aforesaid tax laws in respect of incomes, profits, capital gains and stamp duty which are derived from other incidents of trade and commerce which are not provided for under the Constitution. My position is premised on the fact that the Constitution

“THIS MEANS THAT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT EMPOWER THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO REGULATE NON-INTERNATIONAL/ NON-INTER-STATE TRADE AND COMMERCE, THE ASSEMBLY CANNOT IMPOSE ANY TAX ON THE INCIDENTS/ CONSTITUENTS OF SUCH TRANSACTIONS”

- in Item 62 of its Exclusive Legislative List - has specified the types of trade and commerce in respect of which the Assembly is competent to legislate. For the avoidance of doubt, they are as follows: “Trade and commerce, and, in particular: (a) trade and commerce between Nigeria and other countries, including import of commodities into and export of commodities from Nigeria, and trade and commerce between States; (b) establishment of a purchasing authority with power to acquire for export or sale in world markets such agricultural produce as may be designated by the National Assembly; (c) inspection of produce to be exported from Nigeria and the enforcement of grades and standards of quality in respect of produce so inspected; (d) establishment of a body to prescribe and enforce standards of goods and commodities offered for sale; (e) control of the prices of goods and commodities designated by the National Assembly as essential goods or commodities; and (f) registration of business names”.

In ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF OGUN STATE v ABERUAGBA (1985) 1 NWLR pt. 3 pg. 395, the Supreme Court held that identical provisions in Item 61 of the 1979 Constitution were words of limitation, not of emphasis. In other words, the National Assembly was (and is) incompetent to legislate on any incident of trade and commerce, which is not captured within those provisions. This includes, in my view, any law by which the Assembly purports to impose any tax on such activity. I believe that this view is valid, notwithstanding the temptation to construe the provisions of Item 59 as special, whilst those of Item 62 are general.

In other words, any such inclination should be rejected as illegitimate, for the simple reason that it is illogical to purport to tax the outcome or product(s) of an activity, which, in itself, the National Assembly is incompetent to regulate. I believe it is either all or nothing, and you can’t have one without the other.

This argument is borne out by the definitions of ‘trade’ and ‘commerce’, as follows, respectively:

‘Trade’ is defined (by Adam Hayes), as: “A basic economic concept, involving the buying and selling of goods and services with compensation paid by a buyer to a seller, or the exchange of goods and services between parties. Trade broadly refers to transactions ranging in complexity from the collectors, to multinational policies to set protocols for imports and exports between countries. Almost every kind product can be found on the international market, including currencies. Services are also traded: banking, tourism, consulting and transportation. A product that is sold to the global market is an export, and a product that is bought from the global market is an import.”

As for ‘Commerce’, it is defined (by James Chen), as “Generally (referring) to the exchange of goods, services or something of value between businesses or entities. It refers to the macro-economic purchases and sales of goods and services by organisations. Commerce is a subset of business that focuses on the distribution aspect of business, as opposed to the production side. The buying or selling of a single item is known as a transaction, whereas all the transactions of that item in an economy are known as commerce.

E-commerce is a variant of commerce, in which goods are sold electronically on the internet. Most commerce is conducted internationally, and represents the buying and selling of goods between nations”.

I believe that the foregoing definitions put it beyond doubt, that the case of ABERUAGBA applies to foreclose any possibility that the National Assembly is competent to regulate (or tax) any trade or commerce which is not specified in Item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution. This is all the more so, I believe, because the Constitution has spelt out the plenitude of the powers which it confers on the National Assembly. In this regard, in ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF BENDEL STATE v ATTORNEYGENERAL OF THE FEDERATION (1981) 10 S.C. 131, the Apex Court held, inter alia, that “under a Constitution conferring specific powers, a particular power must be granted, or it cannot be exercised”. This means that, to the extent that the Constitution does not empower the National Assembly to regulate nonInternational/non-Inter-State trade and commerce, the Assembly cannot impose any tax on the incidents/constituents of such transactions.

Conclusion The on-going public hearings into the reform of the 1999 Constitution, are a rare opportunity to correct some of the glaring anomalies in that important document. Nowhere is this intervention more urgently needed than in its, frankly, sketchy provisions dealing with the taxing powers of the National Assembly. Given the established judicial policy (right up to the Apex Court) of construing tax provisions strictly, it is an obvious policy imperative to put the constitutional powers of the Assembly beyond conjecture by stating them explicitly ex abundantia cautella – out of an excess of caution. Otherwise, no one should blame any court which is seised with a tax recovery claim, if it seemingly lets a defendant ‘off the hook’ or otherwise gives him or her a so-called ‘soft-landing’ based on the present anomalous state of our tax laws – including, worryingly, in the Constitution.

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29.06.2021

Amina Mohammed: A Distinguished

It was a quiet, yet well attended event. The movers and shakers of the Nigerian Polity and the Diplomatic Community, including the former President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who delivered the Guest Lecture, converged at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja last Friday, at the 60th Birthday Colloquium to celebrate ‘Nigeria’s precious gift to the world’, Ms Amina J. Mohammed, the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations who was recently reappointed for a second term, and turned 60 on Sunday, June 27, 2021. Ms Mohammed is the first Nigerian to be appointed (and reappointed) as UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the second African woman ever to be appointed to that role. She was chosen, according to the UN Secretary-General, not only because she is highly competent, but also because she has a strong background in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action. Amina served as the Senior Special Assistant to President Obasanjo on MDGs, and is a stickler for upholding the rule of law, the 16th goal on their list. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi were also present at the Colloquium.

On behalf of our Chairman & Publisher, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, the Managing Director of THISDAY, Eniola Bello, and all of us at This Day, we wish you a happy 60th birthday Amina. Nigeria is proud of you About Amina Ms Amina Jane Mohammed, can be described as one rare Nigerian who was born with a silver spoon from a privileged background. But, unlike many of her ilk, she braced herself to take up the daunting challenge of positively affecting lives, changing her environment, uplifting the less privileged, and against all odds, getting the requisite education and skills to actualising her selfless vision and dreams.

She has brought Nigeria and projected her nation and her gender positively, on the global scene.

The story of her life goes back six decades, having been born in Kaduna of a Gombe Fulani father, a Veterinarian (the first from Northern Nigeria), and a Scottish mother. She is first of five all female sibling, a mother of six children, and also, a grandmother.

It was comical ‘war’ between the Governors of Gombe and Kaduna States, who both laid claim to Amina as their citizen. The world however, won the ‘silent war’ as the United Nations and the global community exercise superior claim to Amina’s citizenship without lifting an arm. Amina is actually indisputably Nigeria’s gift to the world.

Governor El Rufai’s claim was premised on the fact that Amina was born in Kaduna and grew up there, while Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s claim is premised on the fact that Amina’s father, Dr Inuwa Mohammed, is an indigene of Gombe State. However, the contention should actually be between Nigeria and the UN, both of which Amina has served selflessly and with candour.

The event which was hosted by Centre for Policy Research and Development Solutions, an NGO founded by Amina, had as theme, ‘Overcoming the Challenges of Africa’s Transformation’.

Present at the event were the Governors of Ekiti, Plateau, Gombe, Kaduna, Borno and Bauchi States, while the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari represented President Muhammadu Buhari.

Other notable personalities that graced the occasion, were Africa’s richest man and multi-entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Dioceses, Mathew Hassan Kuka, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, Niyi Adebayo, Osagie Ehanire, Mariam Katagum, Ministers Zainab Ahmed, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Rotimi Amaechi, Niyi Adebayo, Mariam Katagum, and Pauline Tallen, amongst others.

A documentary depicting her journey from childhood through to the UN to hold the second most powerful position, was aired to the august audience, and many opined that it was a celebration

The Celebrant, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed

of a truly remarkable woman.

Inuwa Yahaya’s Keynote In his keynote address the Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, described Amina as an extraordinary person. He said, ‘looking at what she has achieved in all her endeavours, she is worth celebrating.

Her father is a typical Fulani man who

“I WORK TO PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE”

studied Veterinary Medicine, and married a Scottish woman, and the product is Amina. She attracted a world-class hospital to Gombe.

‘It is exciting that her reappointment as UN Deputy Secretary-General, coincides with her 60th birthday. I see Amina as a special and golden gift to the whole world, trying to make the world a better place.

Today’s theme is very apt. If we plan big, we have the capacity to transform Nigeria. Amina can be a part of that transformation. We are proud of her in Gombe, we give her our support and solidly stand by her in all she is doing.’

‘I pray Amina, that we will celebrate your 100th! Why not? Especially with advancement in medicine. But, I am not sure I will be here, because I take too many risks and create a lot of crisis.’

Almajiri Initiative A representative of the Almajiri Initiative which she pioneered in 2011, said of her ‘She is a mother to us. We reached out to her when we needed a voice, and she responded and spoke out on our behalf’.

Emir of Gombe’s Intervention The Emir of Gombe who was represented by the former Minister of FCT, Aliyu Modibbo, said: ‘Amina’s father was a pioneer Veterinarian, and first Director of Livestock. Gombe people were so proud of his achievements, that the then Emir, my father turbaned him the first Sarkin Fulani of Gombe. Please, Amina, while you hold this enviable position at the UN, help bring the issue of pastoralism and nomadism to the purview of the UN. The UN must help find lasting solutions to nomadism.

Today, pastoralism is endangered in Africa, and we look up to the UN through you to intervene’.

El Rufai’s Intervention In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El Rufai said: ‘I stand here as her Governor. She may be of Gombe origin, but she was born in Kaduna and grew up in Kaduna. We have a better and superior claim to Amina than Gombe.

‘We appreciate all that she has done to put Kaduna, Nigeria and Nigerian women on the global map. I believe in giving women opportunities, and bring out the best in them. I have a woman as Deputy Governor, and she was encouraged by Amina. Amina, you have changed and inspired so many young girls, which you may not even know.

Chairman, Governors’ Forum Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi showered encomiums on the celebrant, describing her as having ‘demystified power to the point of casualising it’.

He said: ‘In all positions she has held, it has always been about, what value she has been able to add.

‘Her reappointment speaks more of her value as human being.

‘I met her in the civil society community, and she became the focal person in the development of millennium goals. After serving as Minister in Nigeria, she moved to the UN, and she does it so effortlessly,

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World Servant Turns 60 like there is no pressure.

‘60 is the new 30; Amina doesn’t look older than 30. The best is yet to come for her. Its not about the title or the office, but ability to impact. Amina, the Governors Forum looks forward to working with you.’

Prof Gambari Delivered President Buhari’s Goodwill Message President Muhammadu Buhari described Amina as ‘a purpose driven technocrat, working to achieve millennium development goals.

‘She has served four Presidents in various capacities, including poverty alleviation, millennium development goals and environment. Nigeria’s loss is now a huge gain to the world. Amina has helped the UN in achieving 50/50 gender parity. She is a mother of six, and she leads from the front in every task she handles. Today, she is the second African and the first Nigerian to hold that office as UN Deputy Secretary-General; she may become the first Nigerian UN Secretary-General. All Nigerians are proud of her. She is a gift to the world’, President Buhari said.

The Guest Lecture by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf One of the highlights of the event, was the lecture delivered by the former President of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who was Guest Speaker of the day. She commended Nigeria, as having a reputation for energy and resilience. Africa’s first female President expressed her feelings asking herself ‘what else could I have done as President?’

President Sirleaf described Amina as ‘A force of nature, a consensus builder.

Its usually unnecessary to disagree with her. The speed of the UN re-election, is a recognition of what Amina has done’.

In sharing her experiences in the monumental battle against the Ebola Pandemic in Liberia, Madam Sirleaf noted that the Covid-19 virus has exposed the deep inequalities between the rich and the poor countries. That Covid also exposed racism.

She commended African leaders for standing together to bring an end to despotism in The Gambia, and preventing military takeovers in other African countries.

She said ‘Today, the world faces a new challenge with Covid and its new variants.

Vaccination may not solve the pandemic and poverty, and new variants will appear. But, for now vaccination remains the answer. Statistics show that so far, less than 13% of the world population has been vaccinated, and Africa has less than 1% of that.

She commended the leadership roles the South African President, Ramaphosa and Alhaji Aliko Dangote have played, in battling the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa.

Gender Equality On the challenge of gender inequality in Africa, Sirleaf said ‘Amina is a storm.

Amina is a champion in overcoming the obstacles against her gender, while climbing to the top. But, there is still a strong disparity in gender power and rights, and Africa looks up to icons like Amina to close this gap’.

Sirleaf asked thought provoking questions ‘Why have we not had woman Governor in Nigeria? What will it require? When will we have another African female President?’

Amina Mohammed (left) and former Liberian President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Trust Speaking about Youths in Africa, she said the Youths are disappointed in our leaders, justified or imagined. She stated that African leaders should learn to earn the trust of the Youths, in order to create a better future for the continent.

She expressed the strong view that, the majority of our Youths possess the ability to bring about the much desired change.

Institutions She said ‘Amina brings an uncommon passion to the issue of climate change.

She exemplified this, and displayed the character of an amazon in the various capacities she has served’.

The former Liberian President on behalf of Liberian women, presented a handwoven quilt to Amina. The mural has on it, the logos of all the organisations Amina has worked in.

The Chat The day came to an end with a live

interview with the celebrant by Aljazeera’s Folly Bah Thibault. The invigorating fast-paced interview, saw Folly take on Amina Mohammed on sundry issues about her life, vision and future.

About Amina’s Passion She said ‘I work to promote the rights of women and young people’. She confirmed to the audience, Folly’s reminder of how she once walked from Kaduna to Zaria, a distance of 76km, in protest of her father refusing to allow her go abroad for further studies.

Coming from a family of all girls, Amina said she never saw that as a challenge in any way. She said ‘After all, I am still Amina Mohammed!’.

She pointed out that in all the places and capacities she has worked in, working in public service has been most impactful and brought the greatest fulfilment for her. According to her, this is where she has been able to help formulate policies that changed things.

Nigeria’s Debt Relief Perhaps her greatest fulfilment, is in helping to secure a huge $4 billion debt relief for Nigeria, at $1b per annum.

Ogoni Clean Up On her efforts in championing the environmental clean up of the Niger-Delta region, she said it was all about preventing more spillages and breakages.

“AMINA IS WONDERFUL, COMMITTED, AND SHE BRINGS PASSION TO WHATEVER SHE DOES”

On SDGs On her passion and efforts at Sustainable Development Goals, she was quite clear about her passion for the girl-child and their education. She said ‘I wrote a letter on ‘Day of the Girl’. In the famous letter, she said ‘Be fearless. Be bold. Be courageous, but study hard. Let your voice be heard, and pursue your dreams’.

Africa is risking the opportunity of preparing young people for the future.

Our leaders must invest in young people.

‘We pass through education, education doesn’t pass through us. We need to cocreate the future with our young people.

Whatever happens today, Nigeria, can and will make it.

‘When I came to the UN, we had six

African women at top positions and I felt challenged, but today, we have 19 women.

‘Faith in God makes all things possible. This is what I tell my children and grandchildren. Many things fail, but God doesn’t.’

Aspirations Any Presidential ambition? Folly asked Amina. In her usual subtle manner, Amina said ‘I may not be there, but there are many Nigerian women who are able and capable to take up such position.

‘For me, my work has always been to better lives in Nigeria. I would like to come back home to Nigeria, after my time at the UN. I recount receiving many congratulatory messages when I got appointed as the UN Deputy SecretaryGeneral, but I know many of them were happy because in their minds they felt ‘yes, we have got her out of the way.’

Passion for Lives and Humanity It could be recalled that when the UN Head Office in Abuja was bombed, Amina took it upon herself, and went in her car driving from one house to the other, calling our doctors to come to the hospitals to attend to patients who were badly wounded in that attack by Boko Haram insurgents.

Conclusion The video of the occasion saw many world personalities congratulating and wishing Amina Mohammed a happy 60th birthday, including Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo under whom she served as Special Adviser on SDGs. President Obasanjo remarked: ‘When the story of our nation is told, you’ll occupy a place of honour’. Also featured were high calibre personalities like the famous music icon Angelique Kidjo, Zainab Bandawi, Mo Ibrahim, Natali Keeman and many others The congratulatory message from the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres summed up the totality of Amina’s personality. He said ‘Amina is wonderful, committed, and she brings passion to whatever she does’.

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29.06.2021

T

he Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed turned 60 on Sunday, June 27, 2021.

Here are some of the dignitaries who attended the Colloquium held in her honour at the Shehu Musa Yardua Centre in Abuja last Friday PHOTOS: GODWIN OMOIGUI Amina J. Mohammed (left) and Aljazeera’s Folly Bah Thibault

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo

Former President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Lawal Aboki and Daughter of Ms Amina Mohammed, Samira Ibrahim

Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State (left) and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami

Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State (left) and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari

Aliko Dangote (left) and Amina Mohammed

The Emir of Nasarawa HRM, Ibrahim Usman Jubrin (left) and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari

L-R: Hubert Shaiyen, Amina Mohammed and Editor of This Day Lawyer, Onikepo Braithwaite

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Ambassador Rima Abdullahi (left) and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (left) and the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi

American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard (left) and President, Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote

Folly Bah Thibault (left) and Director of Jaiz Bank, Aisha Waziri Umar

Representative of the Emir of Gombe, former FCT Minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar

L-R: Hon. Doris Uboh, Hon. Zainab Galadima and Hon. Stella Okotete

Sister of the Celebrant with the Celebrant’s children A Cross-section of the Guests

Hubert Shaiyen (left) and Sister of the Celebrant, Yasmin Mohammed

Madam Johnson Sirleaf's gift to Amina

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29.06.2021

President Buhari and his Faulty Policy of Non-Restructuring Introduction President Muhammadu Buhari shocked most Nigerians when he said those agitating for restructuring and secession were not only naive, but "mischievously dangerous". He made the statement through the Executive Secretary, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu, in Zaria, at the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari Peace Foundation. I was certainly not one of those Nigerians, who were shocked.

I was not, because as a close monitor and commentator on national and international affairs, I didn't expect anything more from him. My thesis is simple, not rocket science: a leopard cannot change its spots. Buhari said he did not understand what the restructure proponents want, or what is to be restructured.

Buhari erroneously believes that the problem of Nigeria, is how to make Local Governments functional and the Judiciary independent. As important as these are, President Buhari has merely seen the smaller picture, rather than the larger picture, as President of a haemorrhaging country yearning for urgent rescue. So, for those Nigerians who had heaved a little sight of relief last week on the little tokenism conceded

by Buhari, I sympathise with you.

During his democracy day address to Nigerians on 12th June, 2021, Buhari had appeared to understand Nigerians' pains, agony and genuine yearning for restructuring. He had said amongst others, that he was not unaware of misgivings causing national discontent in different parts of the country, including allegations of marginalisation and Constitution amendment. While saying efforts were on to address these "challenges that this period imposes on us", Buhari had said Government was "willing to play a critical role in the constitutional amendment process, without usurping the powers of the National Assembly in this regard". He has believed that with this process, "we can come out stronger".

President Buhari's summersault in just one week has therefore, shocked most Nigerians. Suddenly, in Zaria, he beat the drums of War, in a speech that is as provocative as it is unpresidential and unstatemanly. He berated those who are 'calling for restructuring and conference, or what they call ethnic nationality". Wrongly believing that Nigerians and the youths who daily agitate for a better Nation, including during the #EndSARS peaceful protests are simply separatist secession advocates who wanted to overthrow his lack lustre government, and describing them as "naive and mischievously dangerous" , because they are "ignorant of war and its consequences", Buhari challenged parents to "try and educate their children".

But, Buhari sorely missed the critical issues at stake. He appeared frighteningly ignorant of the dire need for attitudinal change in his strong arm tactics, when he declared imperiously like Louis X1V of France, “there is no way we can separate as a country". Read this around: Nigerians must stay together, whether things are working or not; agitations or no agitations; disaffection or no disaffection; social justice or no social justice"; security or no security.

A leader does not dictate to his people, as to what they want. Just like the tail does not wag the dog. It is the people that tell their leaders their desires. Buhari daily reminds us of the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson: "When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government".

Said John Maxwell, "leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them".

Buhari does neither. He is distant to, and disconnected from his people. He does not care; does not listen to their cries, woes, pains, pangs, tears, sorrow and blood. He cares not about their genuine yearnings and desires.

Buhari erroneously believes he knows what the 211 million Nigerian populace wants. He is making a grave mistake. No ruler in history has ever perpetually dictated to, or held down his people with sheer jackboot. Musolini woefully failed, just like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Stalin and Lenin. Ask the bones of Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pinochet, Gheghis Khan, Pol Pot and Kim Jong. They will tell Buhari how and why they failed miserably to dictate to their citizens forever.

Aside Self-determination agitating groups (a concept recognised anyway by the UNO, EU, AU, etc), I have not seen nor heard leaders of the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria ask for outright balkanisation of Nigeria. What I hear them say in the South, North, East and West (and which I have also crusaded for over three decades), is restructuring, total devolution of powers, and renegotiation of our suffocating Union, to enthrone social justice, equity, egalitarianism and mutual religious and inter-ethnic tolerance and respect. They talk about re-engineering the weak fabric of Nigeria, to make her stay together as a country.

Buhari must learn from history. Let me give some samples

Help me remind President Buhari that many countries of the world enthroned a new Constitutional order, by enacting brand new Constitutions after referenda of the people. Examples are Egypt (2012), South Africa (1999), Morocco (2011), Kenya (2010), Eritrea (1994), Iraq (1979), Iran (1979), Bangladesh (1991), Tunisia (2014) and USA (1787).

Help me tell President Buhari that he should struggle hard within his remaining two years in office, to force himself into the pantheon of great statesmen in history; not better forgotten dictators, absolutists and tyrants. I wish Nigeria well, or what remains of her. Amen.

President Muhammadu Buhari

of Nations that were once together and have today, gone their separate ways. Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro used to be one country. Today, they are separate and independent. The Republic of Venezuela was reformed in 1999 with a brand new Constitution. as Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in July, 2011. In February, 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. East Timor or Timor-Liste achieved independence from Indonesia in May, 2002. Palau, with a population of slightly over 21,000 (less than a local government in Nigeria) became independent from Micronesia on October 1, 1994. Also in 1994, Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia after a Haile Selassie-sustained 30 year bloody civil war. In January, 1991, Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved by Parliament into Slovakia and Czech Republic. Quebec held a referendum, to break away from Canada in 1995. The former USSR broke into 15 Republics of Russia, Georgia, Belarusia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Tajikistan, Lithuania, Estonia and Kyrgzstan. Some of these countries like Estonia (1.92m) are less than 2 million in population; less than the population of the smallest State in Nigeria. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh used to be one country.

“I AM VERY ASHAMED OF THIS GOVERNMENT. THIS GOVERNMENT KNOWS NO SHAME AT ALL. THIS GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTEGRITY AT ALL; NO HONOUR; NO DIGNITY; NO CAPACITY TO GOVERN; NO PRETENSIONS TO DEMOCRATIC NUANCES”

When a Tottering Government Twiddles Twitter The Nigerian Government through the Information Minister, Mr Lai Mohammed, suspended indefinitely, operations of the Micro-blogging and social networking services, Twitter, in Nigeria. It was a retaliatory action against Twitter, for humiliating President Buhari based on his incendiary statement against protesting Nigerians.

Well, I am not surprised that the Federal Government has suspended Twitter operations in Nigeria. Are you? I have always said that, this Government has a very thin skin for criticism. It is a Government that cannot take punches, but delights in always throwing punches to adversaries, real or imaginary.

What does the Nigerian Government think Twitter Will really lose by being suspended? It is the Nigerian people that will suffer the most, in the same way the Government has been punishing Nigerians in the last six years. Will Twitter even bother about whether Nigerians use Twitter or not? We are 211 million people in Nigeria. Of this number, only about 33 million Nigerians are active on social media. Less than 15 million of these are on Twitter. On the other hand, there are well over 300 million people across the world that use Twitter.

So Twitter will not particularly feel our absence. It is just like a drop of water in an oasis. It is the same beleaguered Nigerian people that will suffer, not the Federal Government or Twitter, because the Federal Government is a minute minuscule aspect of the Nigerian society, made up of only a few selected elite that do not care about the common man.

The Government knows that, Nigerians now resort partly to Twitter to express their dismay and dissatisfaction with its mis-governance; its opaqueness; its lack of responsibility, transparency, accountability and commitment to the Nigerian people. The Government knows that Nigerians now express their resentment and protest through Twitter, by telling the whole world how Nigeria has been turned into a corruption haven, and a sprawling field of butchery, extra-judicial executions and slaughtering. Those in Government, do not want the world to hear about their atrocities. So, they just gleefully tell the world that they have suspended Twitter, and that they would soon licence other OTT and social media operations. These people in Government know that Nigerians have been reaching out to the whole world; and they are very embarrassed that the breeze has been blowing, and the smelly backside of the fowl is always being opened for the whole world to see and smell its odorous side. This is the same Government that undeservedly rode to power, using the same Twitter and other social media platforms it now detests. My humble appeal to this Government is that, it should go further than this. It should actually suspend or dissolve the Nigerian people which it has become so allergic to, and no longer wants to see or hear about. Then, it can now go ahead to elect or select another people in place of the present Nigerians, who appear to have become a nuisance to it. I am very ashamed of this Government. This Government knows no shame at all. This Government has no integrity at all; no honour; no dignity; no capacity to govern; no pretensions to democratic nuances. I am greatly disappointed about this Government, round and round. I feel very sad as a Nigerian, being led by a Government of one scandal per day.

The Serious and the Trivial Week after week henceforth, this column will deliberately include short bites on matters that are either serious or trivial. It would include jokes (to soothe our aching nerves); philosophical platitudes (to redirect our steps); and scriptural quotes (to pave the way to eternity). We commence this week.

“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”Plato “The biggest suspense of life is that you don’t know who is praying for you, or who is playing with you.”Anonymous THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything you see is rooted in your own identity, that becomes difficult or impossible. (Eli Pariser)

30 TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021 13

ProPerty & environment

NIOB Lists Lessons for Nigeria in U.S. Condominium Collapse Bennett Oghifo

T

he Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has said that the recent collapse of 40-year old 12-storey Champlain Towers South condominium complex near Miami, Florida, U.S.A should be a wakeup call for owners of similar structures in Nigeria, particularly those located in coastal areas.

Champlain Towers South condominium is located at 8777 Collins Avenue, Surfside, Florida. Just steps away from Champlain Towers South’s private pool deck are the sandy beach and the Atlantic Ocean. The housing units boast incredible oceanfront views or spectacular views of inter-coastal waterway with the city in the background.

Year-round sea breezes help keep the temperatures moderate in the summer and pleasant in the winter months. It is located near some of the best shopping Miami has to offer, as well as the famous Miami nightlife. Unfortunately,

it collapsed when the residents were asleep.

Nigeria is not immune to building collapse, but none has been as horrendous as Champlain Towers South condominium’s.

Investigators are yet to unravel what caused it but the condos’ residents association fingers the builder’s neglect of early warning. This proved deadly, as the body count rises in the search for survivours.

“All things living and nonliving wear out with age, your homes included. There comes a time when the building starts losing its structural strength and outer sheen,” said Makaan, a real estate resource.

“Ideally, the average lifespan of any concrete structure is 75-100 years. But, it is considered that the average life of an apartment is 50-60 years while of a house it is 40 years. Independent home ages much slower than an apartment building, where the amenities and common services are shared among the society residents. Their lifespan

can be improved by carrying out regular maintenance.

Homes age because they are structures made of a combination of elements that degrade with time. “Put together, the environmental impact and the human usage both do their share of damage. Apart from this, poorly designed homes degrade faster anyway.

“Things which are under constant usages like water pipelines, power cables and other allied services gets degraded over time and worn out after a fixed period of time. Apart from this, window and door openings, poor construction quality, waterproofing, painting, layouts of plumbing also result in ageing of a home before time.

“However, independent home ages much slower than an apartment building where the amenities and common services are shared among the society residents.”

A recent colloquium at the Getty Center concluded that “the average life span of a convention-

ally built building (masonry and wood) is about 120 years. But for modernist buildings (reinforced concrete and glass curtain wall) it’s half that: 60 years.”

Miami-Dade County has orders an audit of old buildings to prevent this type of tragedy.

According to the National President of Nigerian Institute of Building, Bldr. Kunle Awobodu, there are lessons to be learned from the Florida collapse, considering the fact that there are buildings of such stature in Nigeria’s coastal areas. “Surfside, Florida is a coastal area and is subjected to the effect of strong wind, effect of water and artesian pressure- that’s what happens in the ground especially in the coastal areas.

He said the lesson to be learned here is the need for subsidence, a deliberate survey of buildings to establish if they are sinking or not. “There is tendency that when a building is in sandy soil, part of it may be sinking and may not be noticeable to the naked eye. Then it should serve as warning. So, we need

to be taking regular building survey, every five years.”

He also referred to a report of building survey that was conducted in 2018, where the residents drew attention to “concrete that was falling off and some cracks in the building and so on. So the building had given some tell-tale signs that were not immediately responded to due to the fact that it would cost them about $9.1 million to effect such repairs. The question now is why the residents were not evacuated?”

He said when a tragedy such as this happens in an organised society, “some people will be held responsible. Look at it now, law suits have commenced and the law is very effective. The lesson we should learn here is that negligence should not be excused based on sentiments.”

He said there is need for building condition survey in all buildings, stating that “buildings are actually meant to last for many years but there is nothing stopping you from assessing their

condition occasionally to ensure everything is still intact.”

He also advised residents to speak up and follow through to ensure repair work is done. “So, the lesson learned is for tenants and residents to go beyond alerting the owner of the building about possible deterioration and to observe the repairs to be carried out and even write to the government agency in building control.”

On their part, the Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) has resolved to wait for the outcome of investigation being carried out by the U.S. authorities.

The President of the Institute, Engr. Dr. Kehinde Osifala, said “The building was built about 40 years ago on a reclaimed land.

There would definitely be a lot of lessons to learn from the collapse, but let us wait for the results of the investigation before we know the actual cause(s). From there we can draw conclusions and lessons to learn from the collapse.”

LAWMA, PSP Operators Sign 5-Year Franchise Agreement Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has signed a five-year agreement with the State PSP operators to enhance the operational activities of the operators, boost their confidence and reassure them of government’s commitment to their sustainability.

According to the Managing

Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who present at the signing of the agreement, which held on Wednesday in Lagos, the State is entering a new phase of waste collection and disposal and would strengthen the sector and make it manageable.

The LAWMA helmsman

enjoined the PSP operators to improve on their service delivery and in good faith repay the magnanimity of the State Governor by ensuring that they discharge their duties diligently.

He warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, stressing that the Agency would strictly enforce sanitary best practices henceforth.

“The idea of people dumping waste indiscriminately into drainages, water channels, the median and other unauthorised places must stop as it would be seriously frowned against and offenders prosecuted,” Odumboni warned, stating also that the agency will not tolerate non-payment of waste bills.

“We will have such houses

sealed and make defaulters to face the law,” the LAWMA CEO further warned and appealed to Lagosians to endeavour to pay their waste bills promptly as Government will not take kindly to non-payment of bills.

Responding, the President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Mr. David Oriyomi, expressed the gratitude of the operators

to LAWMA for the milestone recorded in the signing of the agreement, stating that the gesture will boost the morale and confidence of their members. He assured the authority of their total commitment to ensuring a sustainably cleaner Lagos and its environs, pledging their total support for the State Government.

Onwumere: How I stumbled into Real Estate

Nine years ago, Dr. Augustine Onwumere was jobless, broke and homeless. But through pure hard work and creative ingenuity, he transformed from being an ordinary Nigerian into a billionaire real estate giant, after he stumbled into real estate marketing model. He tells the story of an humble beginning and how the combined effort with his wife, Dr. Jayne, gave birth to Property World Africa Network (PWAN) Group, a foremost real estate firm, which has employed 110,000 people, created several millionaires and still empowering many Tell us how you started real estate business My name is Dr. Augustine Onwumere, also known as Mr. Empowerment. I am the Chairman of Property World Africa Network (PWAN) Group, the first real estate network marketing company in the world. I started PWAN Group, with my wife, Dr Jayne, as the Group Managing Director of PWAN Group.

So what informed your interest in the real estate sector?

Before real estate, I have always loved business. I grew up as a trader who went to school through trading, through my father’s supermarket/Chemist business, located in Ebute Metta, Old Yaba Road, Lagos. I was eight years old when my

parents dropped me in the shop and said to me “be doing what other people are doing in the shop.” And I started selling throughout my primary school, secondary and university education. l left thereafter and started my own business. I was 27 years in the business of trading before I started doing my own things. I started real estate business because all my other businesses (between 2009 and 2011) had failed. I was homeless and broke. I stumbled on real estate when I found a flier that was marketing land in Ibeju-Lekki. My wife and I went to speak to the owners of the property, to allow us sale for them. From selling for them, a business came out of it. Selling for them, God gave us speed in 2012 and within the ups and

downs; we were able to sell 125 plots for that company in five months. From our commission of about N12 million, we started our own real estate. We kept buying new estates. Today, we empower people who have worked with us for some years, to own a part of the company thereby spreading the wings of the company round Nigeria in over 21 states of the country.

financial freedom and I love hearing testimonies of good life. So I create platforms to make sure that people have something they are doing to earn legitimate income either salary wise, allowance wise or commission based.

If you go to my website mr empowerment.ng, you will see for yourself that I have a vision to empower one million Nigerians within the next 10 years.

What would you say has been your motivation?

People-empowerment I would say. I have passed through the stages of being a self-employed person to becoming a businessman and then an investor. I love seeing people succeed, I love seeing people overcome limitation, overcome economic hardship, I love hearing testimonies of

Lots of graduates are unemployed in this clime.

What opportunities are there for young entrepreneurs in your set up?

Will they want to start an affiliate programme? That should be the question. Affiliate programme is what we offer in PWAN real estate, where you are trained for free. You are supposed to

exact your energy and time if you don’t have money to go out, just like I did when I was marketing for that company when I was broke.

I was once unemployed now employed; and have become an employer of labour. Are our unemployed graduates willing to stand in the sun and share fliers and canvass people? Unemployment is self-inflicted in this country and all over the world. It is self-inflicted because people just want to wait for a company to say I want to employ you or I am ready to employ you. Can our unemployed graduates of today go out, just like I did when I was broke and homeless and stand in the sun and share fliers for hours; and have hope that the effort one is putting in the business will yield profit? At the end of

the day mine yielded profit.

My word for them is; there is no unemployment in the world. We are the ones that created unemployment; we will be the ones to reverse it.

Onwumere

Palton Morgan signs with BCL for Construction of Skyvilla Apartment Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Palton Morgan, the parent brand of Grenadines Homes and Oceanna has said it recently signed a contract with Business Contracting Limited (BCL) for the construction of Skyvilla – the most Luxurious Apartments at Probyn, Ikoyi.

Speaking at the event, Nidal Turjman, the Group Chief Operating Officer, Palton Morgan, said that the company’s vision of becoming the preferred Real Estate group in Africa is fully aligned with first-class projects that would meet the expectations of the market and unleash the economic potential of the country.

“SKYVILLA Apartments offers a private enclave of contemporary residences that defines a style of living, elegance, and beauty. To bring this exquisite property to life, we carefully selected the best architect, project management team and contractors to exceed the expectations of our custom-

ers,” Nidal added.

Roda Fadlallah, the Managing Director, Business Contracting Limited (BCL) expressed his gratification at the opportunity to work with Palton Morgan on Skyvilla Project and also applauded the group for their diligent approach of the selection process:

“The application and documentation process were transparent and professionally done. I admire their impeccable human resources and great teamwork.”

Peter Raven, Director of Projects and Development at Palton Morgan Holdings, cited the group’s desire to be the best

as the motivation for selecting only the best project managers and contracting companies for their projects.

“The Skyvilla project will be among the best things coming to the Nigerian Luxury Real Estate segment and will be a part of our customers’ success stories,” he said.

14T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021

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31

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

N58bn Needed to Fix 25m Housing Deficit, Says BSTAN CEO Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

T

he CEO of BSTAN Homes, Dr. Becky Olubukola has said Nigeria would require about N58 billion to solve its 25 million housing deficit.

She made this revelation when her company unveiled its four brand ambassadors in Abuja.

She said the country’s ever growing population has made shelter a major necessity for many Nigerian families.

According to her, the housing sector has a capacity to increase by over 35 percent the GDP of the nation if that sector is nurtured.

Olubukola, whose company is presently developing 11 major housing projects across the country also urged the federal government to address the gap in accommodation, attributing

the lack of shelter as one of the reasons fueling the increase in banditry and insecurity in the country.

She noted that several nations that are stable across the world have ensured that they take care of their shelter and housing development which has helped their economy in addition to boosting their nation.

“A child that is homeless can’t acquire good education, a family or young man that is homeless can’t think of any other thing beyond becoming a bandit or hoodlum. Therefore, if we really want to get it right as a nation, shelter is one major aspect that our nation needs to look into,” Olubukola said.

The member of Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), described the provision of shelter as the most important needs of Nigerians, saying that 50 per cent of a family problem is

solved, if accommodation is taken care of.

In sustaining tradition that began in 2016, BSTAN offered ambassadorial endorsement deals for four persons, including eight-year-old Miss Amanda Chielohye, who was signed as the first kiddy ambassador.

Other brand ambassadors are comedian Mc Papi, (Osazee Samuel Aikhionbare), MC Shortcut and MC Da Music (Dennis Obinna Nwoye).

The previous ambassadors of BSTAN Group include Nwankwo Kanu, Sola Sobowale, Monalisa Chinda, Ejike Asiegbu, Paul Play Dairo, Femi Branch, Yewande Adekoya, Jaiye Kuiti, Lala Muyideen, Funsho Adeolu and Ayo Adesanya.

BSTAN said its brand ambassadors were signed on as the Face of the Home Titan to deliver houses to Nigerians with as little as N5milion.

The two-year ambassadorial

deal includes monetary benefits, in addition to a plot of land each worth N35 million at one of BSTAN prime projects,

Casablanca Estate in Life Camp, Abuja.

Amanda’s mother, Mrs. Chioma Chieloyi said she

was super excited because her daughter has made her proud for being picked as one of the company’s brand ambassadors.

L-R: Founder, Lekki Urban Forest Animal Sanctuary (LUFASI), Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mrs. Belinda Odeneye; Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage Services, Dr. Joe Igbokwe; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, representing the Governor, Mr. Tunji Bello and General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, Mrs. Adetoun Popoola, during the unveils of Urban Regeneration Garden and tour to commemorate the 2021 World Environment Day, in Lekki Lagos... recently

ARCON, First Bank in New Deal to Empower Architects Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has opened up a new deal with First Bank of Nigeria Plc to empower Nigerian architects with soft loans through a cooperative society.

President of the council, Arc. (Sir.) Oladipupo Ajayi, made the disclosure recently in Abuja while rendering stewardship of his service between 2018 and 2021 to stakeholders.

Ajayi, who took the baton of leadership of the council in 2018 following a keenly contested election, was sworn in on June 12, 2018.

And statutorily, the council has three years lifespan in the first instance, though renewable

for the second term, if re-elected.

Apart from other representatives, those who managed the affairs of the council with Ajayi included Arc. Shamsuna Ahmed, Arc. Vice President; Arc. Celestine Eze, Treasurer and Arc. Umar Murnai, Registrar.

They will continue to steer the family of architecture pending inauguration a new council by the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN).

In his valedictory speech, Ajayi, who was elated for the opportunity to serve, however noted that, his council inherited numerous challenges, but he was grateful to God that, many of those issues were amicably resolved.

He appreciated council

members, staffs and particularly, Fashola, whose ministry supervises the council for his support to ARCON under his leadership, making his administration to build on some of the achievements on ground and to break new grounds.

Ajayi, who hinted that, his administration has considerably enhanced architecture in practice, procedure, discipline and other ramifications, said his council also brokered a cooperative deal with First Bank Plc. “There is however the issue of cooperative society which the First Bank of Nigeria Plc has agreed to anchor for us.

The cooperative society has facilities for housing through common loans under the small and medium enterprises

through single digits because they can track the repayment”, he cheerfully.

According to him, within three years of his presidency, the number of registered architects was increased by 694, representing 57 per cent and that brought the number of registered architects to 4926 as of today.

Similarly, 91 no of technologists were inducted, representing 68 per cent inducted by this council.

“We have seen the register of architects grow, during our leadership. While I am sure that this exponential growth is a step in the right direction, it has posed a huge challenge to the council as a body to grow the capacity of members

to match the required level of service to the society that befits the information age we are.”

He added: “In these three years, I have seen people come together and put aside individual differences, because under the circumstances, all our priorities became aligned due to the underlying need to save a profession.”

As a council, he noted that, despite the global pandemic that pervaded an appreciable period of his tenure, ARCON with the help of the Mr. Fashola, SAN, commenced the renovation of the Lagos office.

He added that, only of very recent, the council reclaimed a seemingly lost property and currently in the process of erecting a befitting edifice

having successfully had the ground-breaking and foundation laying ceremony.

On numerous court cases he inherited, Ajayi said: “During this period, we have also navigated the tortuous path of legal battles in the law courts and emerged victorious in many while we pursued the path of peaceful resolution for some others.”

He assured on continuous quality service saying: “I hope that we will be able to instill in the next generation the value of qualitative service delivery and teach them to be socially responsible as we continue in the various corners of our professional endeavours to give what we can, how we can, when we can.”

‘Nigeria’s Devt Hinges on Logical, Scientific Approach to Solving Challenges’ Fadekemi Ajakaiye The President of Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Engr Alex Ogedegbe has said that Nigeria would more easily achieve its national aspirations with more logical and scientific approach to solving identified challenges in all sectors of the economy.

Engr. Ogedegbe stated this at the 2021 Annual Lecture of the Academy which focused on “Locating Engineering

and Technology in Government Policy Framework for Growth and development.”

The President stated that10 new fellows were to be inducted, and that eight fellows would be honoured with the Distinguished Life Achievement awards for their recognition of a lifetime service to Engineering.

“Our Academy collaborates with stakeholders to promote creative and analytical technical contribution

to our national culture.

This is because we remain convinced that our country would more easily achieve her national aspirations with more logical and scientific approach to solving identified challenges in all sectors of the economy,” he said.

The Guest Speaker and Past President, Prof Ayo Ogunye stated that Nigeria’s developmental trajectory is seriously hampered by absence of sound engineering

input in public policy formulation and implementation.

Ogunye proferred for robust package of policies to bring engineering and technology to centre stage in public policy formulation and delivery. He stated that as a deliberate act of gevernance, engineering and science input and reviews must explicitly form part of policy articulation processes and procedures, to ensure that they are implementable

in a manner that utilises best technologies, drives cost effective delivery and minimises deviations from assumptions.

He stated that NAE, as the leading light of engineering in the country, “must address itself towards playing a key role in actualising the highly desired Triple Helix Plus + concept, possibly borrowing from the highly laudable RAEng experience.

“It must also consider the

entire gamut of reform of engineering education and training as a priority concern and fashion out a robust interface mechanism with the responsible regulatory concerns and other stakeholders, for decisive change. “Furthermore, the Academy must device an accountability framework for tracking the performance of its fellows in positions of responsibility in government.”

RevolutionPlus Partners NFF to Tackle Housing Deficit Emma Okonji Ahead of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2022 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup football competition taking place in Qatar, which Nigeria will be participating, RevolutionPlus, a real estate development company, has partnered the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as their official real estate partner.

The five-year partnership deal was signed at an event, which held at the weekend in Lagos. The Group Managing Director/ CEO, RevolutionPlus, Mr.

Bamidele Onalaja, signed for the real estate company, while the President, Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, signed for NFF. The partnership seeks to address housing challenges faced by Nigerian footballers, after their active playing days.

According to Onalaja, “Football and real estate property are synonymous and shelter is key to everybody, especially to footballers who have made Nigerians proud in various games of soccer, under the watch of the Nigeria Football Federa-

tion (NFF). Housing deficit in Nigeria is alarming and as a game changing real estate company in Nigeria, we have partnered NFF to address that housing challenges among Nigeria footballers.”

He said the partnership would help Nigerian footballers in Super Eagles, Super Falcons, Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles as well as players in the Dream Team, to take advantage of the offerings of RevolutionPlus and quickly become landlords and owners of property in their choice locations.

“They need to invest in

real estate so that they can have something to fall back on after their active football days,” Onalaja said.

He spoke about special incentives that RevolutionPlus would be offering to NFF, having expanded its real estate business from Lagos to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Owerri, among other cities in Nigeria.

Onalaja called for collaboration between government and real estate developers like RevolutionPlus, to address the housing deficit in the country, insisting that government alone cannot

provide affordable housing for all Nigerians. He said if real estate developers get genuine land from government, especially from the state government, civil servants in states would become proud owners of houses, and the challenges of housing deficit would be greatly reduced. He said with the real estate support from RevolutionPlus, he hoped that Super Eagles would perform brilliantly to win the African Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup. Pleased with the partnership, Pinnick, said he was delighted because of the local

content that RevolutionPlus would bring to NFF in the next five years. “RevolutionPlus has proved itself as a worthy ambassador that has the capacity to give the best of support to NFF in the next five years and we look forward to experiencing such support through local content development,” Pinnick said.

Group Executive Director, RevolutionPlus, Mrs. Tolulope Onalaja, thanked NFF for believing in RevolutionPlus as the official partner of NFF for the next five years, and assured NFF of the unflinching support from RevolutionPlus.

40 TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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PDP to Matawalle Soyinka to NINAS toBuhari FG “A then combined reading ofinSection 221 of says the 1999 Constitution as theis a “And somebody sits Aso Rock and to them that well, there “For the avoidance of doubt, the indigenous nations will not, and cannot pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v.

INEC (2016) is clear catt leexpected constitution, I am instructing my att orney general toto digbe upused some be to repay such loans or allow their assets askind in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes collateral to off set the loans” of law,incolonial law whichtoarbitrated between ” scored election belong the political party farmers and thatand the herders... candidate – Nigerian Indigenous Self-Determination – Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka,atcondemning President Buhari’s language nominated toNationalities contest anAlliance electionfor by his party."

(NINAS)–The telling thetackling international community to stop giving Nigeria loans.

PDP Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle during his recent interview.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI OKEYIKECHUKWU

abati1990@gmail.com EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

A Nation in Search ofLocusts Hope Interviewing President Buhari Until After the Season of “W A I s I write, the Federal Republic of

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Their Iwaste must assume you are talking your value wife” Muhammadu productBuhari. is not knownabout for great wife?

That one?

You don’t get Itfertilizer, was my fibecause rst return, not to thedevastated Villait.”itself, as“Which a totally “Ï to don’t.

Whatever has come over you, I pray but the President’s Residence since President environment does not have anything that in the name ofdriven the Lord Jesus will leave you.

Jonathan was out of that environment on can be fertilised.

Allwhy youmen see will is devastation Because I2015. don’tAsknow see danger May 29, I walked from the parking lot in in the trail of any self-respecting locust.

Yes, and embrace itas with full chest.” the Residence we their call it, I took in the familiar itsurroundings. does not cultivate itwalk eats.

It also “Leave matter.

Don’t Pastors also seealong women I recalled Iwhat used to the does not water It supply they and keep no their samelove paths, ondesire, a anything. dailyand basis,they as offers frequently asBible duty of manure, no!

Itcall just eats, moving ever aside and obey the of the evidence of demanded.

One day, we allflesh, followed our principal forward and consuming more;to until there their and submit themselves theircan own out ofeyes the Main Gate. How transient power be. is leftnature? to eat.

Even asnitely it is imprinted dying of humanity Leave matter.”

A nothing sense ofand home and exile is defi are you going to introduce me to this hunger, having allof viable food on“So, the when pavestones inexhausted the corridors power.

Today, your newpound that sothe ecstatic about? sources, itwoman learns nothing.

That is mason the profi le you can it as if you you are were who What is her do I getTomorrow, toState meettoday! her?” arranged thename? interlocking stones. you and reputation ofWhen the Nigerian “Whenever you to that meetaher.

Almost a could exiled by want circumstances from the same An be Igbo proverb says person who virgin.

Fresh.

Innocent.

Hermust name Chidinma.” space, and your brief sojourn, with the effluxion borrows dancing clothes beiscareful how Blood Jesus!

Blood ofvillage Jesus!” of“Yeh! time, becomes a distant, fading memory. he poses andofdances in the square.

“Are alright?”

As I you stepped on every stone leading to the “What did you say travelled her nametois,the justpast. now?”

Residence, my mind I felt as“Chidinma” if I was in a trance. I was soon woken up Jesus! ofOre, why are yousecurity doing this by“Oh the words welcome of the mento at yourself?

You Iwan One Chidinma has boys just the entrance. wasdie? surprised some of the been thestill police Lagos in the a homicide fromparaded the past by were on in duty.

Past security Hakeem Bello check-point isbeen the Red Carpet, the outer case.

She has accused of killing onereception of your of theaResidence. walked in and intofuture, a seat. type, successful Iyoung man withsank a great welve years ago, intalent, his Year 2010 Red Carpet!

Thiswith was where Jonathan an entrepreneur skills andPresident who gave held his morning devotions, with members access to early a budget young woman, and ended up dying presentation to the Lagos of his family andHouse some aides who were always in through her.State Such a tragic such a sad event, ofstory, Assembly on Tuesday, Villa for earlyevery morning worship.

Thefrom Christian ittheshould make man run as away any November 3, 2009, Governor of devotionthat usually started around 6 am, which woman bearsState, the name Chidinma” Lagos Babatunde Rajiby Fashola, time, those days, would have “Areinyou okay?

Are youPresident listening to yourself?

SAN, had said, in the part, “…while a lot of shown upthe at the Red start theto day with You riskdone of Carpet group defamation.

Every workrun has been in ourto attempt bridge prayers.

Christian Presidents in Nigeria usually Chidinma in Nigeria should sueayou, individually the infrastructure gap and lot of projects, appoint a Chaplain for the church in the Villa. His and collectively.” too numerous to mention will be completed job“Na includes overseeing this early morning devotion. you sabi.

Iof beg. Ï am speaking myself. before the end this year and inforthe first The red carpet was also where we, members of the Since that tragedy was reported, I have been thinking and subsequent quarters of next year such as President’s Main Body – Special Adviser Media, of the pains of Michael Usifo Ataga’s family. He schools, healthson, facilities, roads, water Chief Physician, SCOP, CSO, ADC, Chiefsupply Detail, was someone’s cousin, brother, husband and facilities and so much more.

We believe that oftentoo. sat if the President was sitting in the main aPA, father He had a whole world ahead of him. we are now at the most challenging phase of living room, attending to a guest and we needed It was even a day to his birthday. His family was our journey atobright and rewarding space toforward chattoand relax.

I saw some looking celebrating him at members 50.future.

And too Buhari’s long, weMain toshape have evolved of “For President Body last of week also then the devil showed upseem in the Delilah, sitting in that same Carpet, we waited. survival strategies dealing with chaotic Cleopatra and HelenRed offor Troy, andas destroyed him.It old times. was in thenow VillaThese with afraid Prince and unplanned that we seem Iwas feel like the pain in living myI bone marrows. days, Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of or theAdaora, ARISE/ to approach orderly living predicated on lawI when I hear the name Chidinma THISDAY and order. break out inMedia sweat.”Group, owners of THISDAY newspaper and ARISE TV, along with Olusegun “You see,at this is the problem with you people.

We are the point where we must build Adeniyi, former Presidential spokesperson during You conspiracy theories.

So, because one the like most enduring infrastructure.

This is the administration, now Chairman of Chidinma committed crime, every Chidinma theYar’Ádua infrastructure ofa the mind.

This is the the now THISDAY Newspaper Editorial Board, and has become a villain.

For your information, infrastructure that empowers people to seek Ms Tundun Abiola, lawyer, of theAnd late Chidinma means “My Goddaughter is beautiful”. new levels of excellence demands new Chief MKO Abiola, winnerthat ofofthe 1993 June 12 Adaora means “the daughter all,” that is the attitudes that commits to greater We Presidential election andisARISE TV ideals. anchor, to people’s daughter.

What in a name?

When a recognisePresident that while the buildings, schools interview Buhari. crime is committed, it is for the police to do their and can was be easily pulled down and Theroads interview aired on Thursday, June 10 work, and ensure justice.

Theis case you arediffi talking rebuilt, the human mind during The Morning onthe ARISE TV and has about has nothing toShow do with themost name of cult the to rebuild, although is the understand most been repeated in other bulletins on enduring.” the station suspect.

Candidly, I noitlonger how A rigorous enforcement of since then.

This is one media interview thatand has people reason in this country. Is itthe the law poverty? generated commentary than any other in multi-dimensional public awareness campaigns Or the badmore politics?” the pastwhat five years in Nigeria.

Quotes been followed that declaration and “After happened last week, if Icharacterised hearhave Chidinma taken from it.the Itrace has been to the detail. the rest ofna administration. or Adaora, be thatcurated oh. A girl of last 21 years, It has been reproduced on every channel, Sixout years into hisof assignment as akilled minister going with a man 50,virtually and yet she him local and international.

Essays have been written responsible for themanner. renewal expansion of in such a gruesome Theand whole story does on it and every part of it dimensioned for analysis. oureven country’s hadnot repeatedly not makeinfrastructure, sense to me. Ithe does add up. media thus exerted stated a fact: there isinterview no greed, state has in the country ItThis is aparticular story about poverty, peer influence, an elephantine impact on the public imagination drug abuse, parental upbringing, infidelity, and where the Federal Government is not building with each viewer or commentator slicing off his or

The reason and logic of this proverb is quite simple: Whoever borrows clothes to dance in the village square must avoid excessive displays, or that very vigorous swinging of certain parts of the body that may tear the material. Failure to be careful may force the lender of the dancing gear to take back his materials there and then. But does it look like the executive and legislative arms of our government are bothered by such a proverb today? We are still borrowing cheerfully. And we are spending noisily, even as we are announcing that we need to spend more. So, we are simultaneously priming for more borrowing; even as we cannot say what has been gained by the previous borrowings.

Apparently aware that capital consumption is not an ingredient for national development, the Senate President warned, last week, that Buhariwe cannot keep borrowing just for consumption. isconversation. paying attention? her own share ofBut thewho meaty Others The National Assembly, of which Senate have described it as an exclusive andthe a scoop.

President is Imperator, did not blink about Buhari On Friday, June 11, another interview with aPresident supplementary one Buhari wasbudget aired by of the nearly governmenttrillion Naira.

Andman none of this is but going owned Nigeria Authority (NTA) that frustration.

Yes,Television every should be careful and into sustainable development initiatives and has been an but anti-climax, anreason afterthought avoid an treated amoralaslife, that is no why investments.

That is why aofnational debt andChidinma, a veritableundergraduate evidence of the lack of trust in the the University government andkill, its institutions.

Nonetheless, profi le that stood below five dollars of Lagos should drug, tie upbillion and destroy.” thethe excitement that Mary? hasofbeen demonstrated “What if you hear You run?” at commencement thisgo government over the isBuhari interview(s) owes in part the “That my mother’s name.

Don’t bringtomy status of name publicinto perception about the President’s mother’s this matter.” unwillingness to communicate withthat the “You see yourself then? Are directly you aware people whomurderer elected him power in 2015 the alleged had into a fake identity with and the 2019. For theJohnson.? better part of you his six years power, name: Mary Will now startinrunning President Buhari engaged more Nigerians away from everyhas Mary?

What haswith happened is through third parties,should spokespersons and press not funny?

Nigerians stop misbehaving, statements. him appeared creating all Other kinds Presidents of theoriesbefore and misinforming regularlyInon Presidential Chats duringfamily which people. case you don’tMedia know, the Ataga theyissued responded to the people’s concerns.

Not this has a statement, appealing to the public to President.

Inasix years, he hasinto nota granted stop turning family tragedy material one for Presidential media chat.

Other gave malice and mischief.

I think theirPresidents feelings should onerespected. on one interviews mediabehouses, ortoeven be The policetoshould allowed do stand-up interviews with reporters.

This President their work.

All self-appointed detectives should hastold: beenEnough! unusually reticent absent.

On the few be And that and should be enough” occasions that he has spoken to the press, he did so “Since you know all of that, then people like withshould foreignlearn journalists, a counter-productive you your lesson.

Stay with your move wife. merely Nigerianthen stakeholders.

As Ifthat you must infuriated have a girlfriend, Know Your his spokespersons churned and Customer.

It is called KYC. out Staypress awayreleases from girls statements clarifying previous releases, in the face from problematic backgrounds.

Don’t get carried of rising insecurity, violenceinnocent and confusion away by wave youngofgirls with so-called looks. in theHari land,had Nigerians demanded that Mata innocent looks but shethey waswould evil. rather femme have thefatale man is they voted Delilah. for speakHelen to them.

Every a vamp. of The absence of the President’s personal voice Troy. Cleopatra. And above all, don’t play around eventually resulted in conspiracy theories which with drugs.” flourished Opposition elements that “Thankunabated. you, preacher.

Let he who isargued innocent Nigeria had a President but a Presidency cast the no firstlonger stone.” that hadsad been by occurs a cabal.inThey argued “Very thetaken way over tragedy this country that the elected President died a while ago and unabated. It can get to somebody, you know, and been replaced by to a body called Jibrin ithad is beginning to get me. Iclone was reading the from Sudan.the For effect, addedthrough that even newspapers other day,they just going an the First Lady was aware of this and hence, her accumulated pile. I was depressed. If Chidinma trenchant criticismsMichael, of the government her Fashola is not murdering Maryam isand killing husband’s aides.

Commentators like Farooq Kperogi, Abubakar, Funke kills Femi, one husband kills or rehabilitating a road or bridge or house, or claiming insiderofknowledge offellow Aso Villa andhis its his wifeain because 000, one accuses to use phrase heN2, had used while governing actors, seductive prose, told Nigerians many mother of being atheir witch and decides catch-up” to kill her, Lagos State, doing “infrastructure tales about how President had succumbed awith step-mother throws herand stepsenility son into a population growth. tojealous a combination of dementia and well, someone another wife and Progress hasabducts certainly beenman’s made. government had been taken over by unscrupulous rapes for five months, herdsmen farmers, By herwho June 2021, when hekillmade a persons call21, the shots in the President’s name. farmers kill cows and herders and their kinsmen, The big lesson titled, in retrospect that when a President presentation “TheisPolitics of Economy adistances group ofhimself avengers claim they will from the people, andensure refusesthe to and the Economy of Politics: Infrastructure permanent recession of Nigeria and humiliate the engage them as we see leaders in other parts do, he Development; the Progressive Way” at the fi rst government, some otherconspiracy groups want to secede.. unwittingly encourages theories about APC Youth Conference in Abuja, Is there hope?

Tell me,and where doesinfrastructure ourofhope lie, a vacuum inhad power theongoing politics absence deliverables shot to 895 Highway those of us who fought for this democracy?

Can and/or indifference at the highest levels. and Bridge projects, internal road rehabilitation someone help me make sense of this unending advised President Buhari to grant media in Whoever 43 federal tertiary institutions, construction deluge of sad news?” interviews last week and also address the nation of new Federal Secretariats in six states and come on, is hope. the way it on“Oh Saturday, Junethere 12, did him This a bigisfavour.

The rehabilitation/maintenance ofindependence.

Federal has always with Nigeria since intensity ofbeen media appearance was a24 good move,

now stands at over thirty billion dollars.

Things go wrong.

But just when you think the even if itwas came rather late. may disagree Petrol less than aNigerians hundred naira per country will collapse, it suddenly bounces back. with some of the things the President said in his litre backneed then, Love. but itUnity. is now a little shortThe of What Understanding. mediawe outings, is butNaira manyper of the myths constructed three hundred litre today.

Value problem is that too many of our people are quick around him have been exploded, and that must Added shot through the to worst.

But I can tellroof, you, among Nigeria be imagine helpfulTax tothe his administration.

The man that our will other costs well.

A bag of ricesound that like solda teamsurvive.” sat withas and interviewed didn’t “But some prophets have said the country will for between five and seven thousand Naira, Jibrin from Sudan.

He was alert, alive, informed, break up. relaxed, I for know one orand two Pastorsofwho insist now sells twenty-fi vecapable thousand Naira; confident, witty disarming that Nigeria come to invalid an end.” having come down over thirty humour.

He has was not from the or thethousand senile old “You must listening tois.those spellbinders, Naira.

Nobody seems paying thesound right man that his stop critics say to hebe He didn’t futurologists and Most of them do type attention to what isprogressed, brewing in had the weakof either.

As theshamanists. interview he not know what they do.” another that heabject, needed to attend, and land.

Tofunction the fact than unmanageable is the wordthe of God. you see signs?” we“Itdidn’t leave VillaCan’t until about 11the pm.

Less poverty, unemployment, insecurity and general “What signs?” than 12 hours later, theDelivery same man,across the following collapse of Service every “Are you nothas aware that a group of maritime, Southern day wasof inlife Lagos to commission rail, sphere laid thehave State prostrate.

Not and Middle Belt leaders approached the and security projects.

Histhe submission toSokoto, a media even the warning of Sultan of African Union, the UN, the World Bank and the conversation is also a form of protection for his three weeks tono members of business the National IMF that theyago, must longer do with spokespersons.

Many have accused Garba Shehu, Assembly to address insecurity instead of Nigeria, and and must never give the country any Femi Adesina Alhaji Laiabout Mohammed of speaking organising conferences has made any loans, because the sovereignty of the country is for themselves, and not for the President, but we lasting now disputed?” have being all impression, seen a President, speaking for himself, And let us note, for the what record, that “Don’t worry Nothing will come out whose views doyourself. not contradict his aides the was set the of it.stage I been can assure you ofunder those institutions have tellingalready us.that Ourall interview withPDP him government forpoint what we are is seeing today. you mentioned will continue tono dodoubting business also have proved the that there An appeared on this page on with Nigeria and even grant more loans.” the article fact thatwhich President Muhammadu Buhari is “But what of2019, the He restive youths Niger December praised the lawmakers effectively in2, charge. knows whatof isthe going on.

Delta who areState threatening to humiliate entire of Zamfara putting anthe abrupt And he showed nofor hesitation in“… restating some country?

There isviews Operation Humble by the Niger of historeported and taking ownership of end the rampage of political locusts in Delta which evenitled by athe woman, them Avengers despiteThey the controversial nature of those their land. alsois did with type former Field Commander Red of views.

Every President hasof hisOperation or her own style of speed needed in addressing a dangerous 2016 now Brigadier General Tu-ere, also known as but deliberately playing possum should not be ailment.”

The article, titled “Zamfara Says Queen thestyle.

Creeks.

A woman!

There is also the part of of that President Buhari should speak Reformed Delta Avengers, leading more oftenNiger to Nigerians.

He should sitOperation down at No Mercy Alpha Piper Zero Oil. Weisalso the Presidential media chats.

Nigeria not have a feudal Niger They all want to cripple systemDelta whereLiberators. the aristocrat treats the people with Nigeria.” disdain. In a democracy, the man of power is “No worry Na today?” accountable to yourself. the people who expect their leaders Secretariats country, construction are across separatist groups In the to “There continually justify the why theyeverywhere. must be in power of housing the National East.

In ce. the estates West. Inunder the South South.” Housing and offi Programme into34 states, rehabilitation of 41 “Nareactions so e dey be any time a have majorbeen election is The our interview mixed, I guess, understandably.

The problem withNobody being a around the corner. Everything na hustle. bridges, scheduled maintenance of 5,461.88Km journalist however, isIsthat everyone claims to know dey go anywhere. itofnot this same Nigeria all of roads and 8,000KM Highway maintenance theus job better than man in thenation arena, more so of dey inside?” by FERMA, all the across the while because Nigeria is afflicted a around. yet undeclared “Ï think it isestablished different this time People Government theby first ever National pandemic thataggrieved I have since opinionitis. are genuinely andlabelled upset.

Nigeria is at Building Maintenance Policy for the country, mustto get a vaccine forof that.

Nigeria issound the only aWe breaking point.

You make everything so leading the creation the Department of country IPublic know where is a universal light.”

Federal Asset everybody Maintenance (FPAM) expert on every subject, including the mating “Too much grammar.

That is our problem.

And with the Ministry. of porcupines of witches Ihabits keep saying dointerview not and focusthe onnightlife the moment, do a Earlier in an published in African and wizards.

People wake up inover the the morning trend analysis Nigerian politics Business of need 6ofApril 2021, Fashola toldyears. the with ready-made opinions even about news that When people something, they will make noise, magazine’s Publisher Ben Yedder: “The they have not read or Omar seen, are when ready agitate, threaten to pull downand the they roof but point to make here is that thethey outline of the to go town with allthe the energy theyunderstand, woke up you speak to them in language infrastructure commitments of this government with.

With due respect, I think our team asked they will calm down and Nigeria will move on” are very clear now.isThe wheels are also turning serious and relevant questions, which brought out“Of course.

That exactly how Nigerian lead and what people should expect to seeone isand more Buhari, the man, the person, the the ers keep postponing the evil daypersona until day, leader. But Nigerians questions.

I have developments thestill ease of go doing business. monkey will goon market heraise no return.

This is beenroot toldcause for is example that when the Infrastructure important tooJune for President enabling the ofvery the civil war, the 12 crisis, said he would keep the question about what his and achieving that. We’re refurbishing public the menace of military autocracy, the #EndSARS government intends to about Twitter his infrastructure highways, and we are beginning protests, the thinking thatdo some people cantoseize heart, weour should have withbecause an attack. to build maintenance it the reins of power andfollowed treateconomy theup people shabbily, Fine.

The President spoke hissimply mind. werethat we refuse to listen to them and assume is a very important economy thatBut really has supposed to ripThis out is his heart from his chest to nothing will happen.

But I think arebe, dealing not taken off. where wewewill this find out what he was keeping answer with a new Nigeria.

There is athere? new His generation will be a decade of infrastructure renewal was revealing enough.

When helonger spoke about the that has emerged can be space taken and expansion.

Itthat will be no anhe exciting neighbouring Republic of Niger, focussed more for granted the way their parents were.

They are to on play.” the economic of engaging Niger, on fighting back in advantages all ways, from rented slaughter Fashola turns 58 today, and the theme of the government to government, business to business beds, short-time joints, to the streets.”

Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF) Gabfest (held and people to people basis, but the only word his “Thatinisthe what you think.” yearly last five years totocommemorate critics heard was that he referred having cousins “That is what I know.

The dynamics have changed. his birthday by discussing the rolethey of in that country.

Wereiswe tothe turn into This new generation onexpected drugs, areyouth high in Nigeria’s future) is “Arrive Alive: Building his media advisers at that point?

I do not on all kinds of substances, they don’t care,intend they toroad defend our of work. the conversation aare better driving culture.” not towards afraid any But authority figures.

On and top debate have bymanagement the Ariseand TV From verifi able datagenerated by traffi of it all,that they arebeen educated and coutspoken, interview is enough proof that this was a useful, authorities, it is becoming clear that with better they have access to technological means of instant impactful, and path-fi ndingiscontribution to public road infrastructure, motorists overspeed communication.

My advice thatnow the political elite conversation.

Whatthem. we did not a celebrity and arestop becoming generally less should daring Theywas will killcompliant and maim, showcase, but serious journalism. with roadinnocent. safety rules and and look Nigeria hasregulations. createdinterview demons, Theaground-breaking nature to of that In recent submission the Federal waiting to strike.” must be further situated within the of Executive Council, Fashola hadcontext noted: I make some predictions?” the“Can different reactions to it along the North-South

Goodbye to Locusts” commended “The bold “Ï thought you just condemned prophets and Nigerian divide.

It must be noted that the feedback step of arepealing a thoroughly reprehensible pastors while ago” from the North has been overwhelmingly positive. piece ofI did. legislation, allowed former “Yes,the Butmajorly I wantwhich tonegative. speak asThe a pragmatist.

From South, President governors and lawmakers to fl eece the state Stop giving yourself hypertension.

Nigeria this. referred to IPOB, the Indigenous People of is Biafra, for no reason whatsoever.”

The piece spoke Nigeria is that.

For example, have you not seen as a “dot in a circle”. He proceeded to talk about the“The desperation with which politicians havepart been of rash bogus severance for how IPOB, heofmeant Igbos, are in packages every of fighting over party primaries ina all the be major political former elected offi cials ofwill certain stature…” the country and how they not allowed to parties Anambra State?obnoxious Theifdesperation. as “…one of thethe many legacies of exit.

Hein repeated point that they try to doThe so, theatre.

APC. APGA. Does the PDPPDP. government in them its sixteen yearsyou in government will speak to inthat the give language the ce. impression thatwhat everyone has given upmilitary on this offi Nounderstand. matter anyone maythe say about they will The police and country?

No.after All the gladiators have of followership. the painful poor performance the APC will be sent them.

Southerners including the They areAfenifere all convinced that is about still something Yoruba are angry this. But government of group today, itthere must be admitted of value this country.

After theirthe crisis-ridden the Hausa/Fulani arenot happy that President that theinPDP was exactly leading us political primaries, they have allthem rushed tohe Abuja spoke firmly.

It didn’t matter to that also anywhere close to 21st century leadership to take in instructions fromthat the bandits centre.”indue added that before interview the North paradigms, lost to its “The Igbo politicaltoit elite dopower not represent will also be spoken in today, “the language that their they own bungling.

Even as opposition people” will understand.” party, it is hamstrung by the impunity of “Who told you that?he Sowill do the Yoruba or Fulani When asked what doclosely after retirement, little men.

No one who looks at it will political elite represent their people?” whether he will set up a Presidential Library or feel that this is a did platform with the prospect “Ï the don’t know” not, President not refer to any library, he of leading anyone tofarm the Promised Land.

“My friend, wake up.

Stopin getting over said he will return to his Katsinasick and tend At least not It Get lacks internal Nigeria’s yourself one the cows problems. in hisimmediately. farm.Spread In thatlove. breath, the President cohesion, offers nomake real you hope and gives no young ed girlwith who can happy, and drive identifi every cattle owner in the country. clear indication of a new away your sorrows.”

Southern commentators thinknational he shouldvision. set up If anything, there aremade as “God forbid.

I choose torenewed be on the doubts level.” a library, but the man it clear he would “Everything God. God. Havelessons you talk forgotten to whether learnt any and is rather attend ittohas cows.

He would later about that everything good and thedigressing.”

Lord makes treading a newthat path.

Buttougly, we grazing routes need be are reinstated in line them? is the the universe.

Itabout isNigerians the way with a It First Republic Southern If today weway areofGazette. complaining the the Grand Architect has made itofall.” have beenborrowing up in arms because that statement. mindless of a clearly sleepwalking “No.are I am okay. And you have answered my They quoting the ruling of not Justice Adewale original question before you went off on1969 a page tangent Thompson in Suit AB/26/66 of April in the Continued on 47 about howDivision Nigeria is safe and secure place Abeokuta of in thea High Court in which andlearned how the obvious signs the of implosion the Justice described grazing ofmean cows nothing to you” as “repugnant to natural justice, equity and good “What was your question again?” conscience”.

That ruling has not yet been set aside there something to quote hope for?

I no longer 52 “Is years after.

They also Sections 1 and 2feel of safeLand in this country.

I canvests just ownership pack my bags now, the Use Act which of land in “Consistently years and data takestates, my children and the relocate Canada with all the whichover means that into 2021, thethis President is available, the impact of abad and mynot frustrations!

Arrrgh!” in a position to enforce 1960sroads gazette on accidents was more less to than As of bigthe asSouth that may “And I told you panicking” open grazing, sostop as2%. states and the“When Beltahave imposed ban on open nationalist andaoverspeeding, stateman like be, itMiddle is lesseven than 2%.

(Whereas) grazing in theirwrongful jurisdictions.

Many Northerners BabaofOlusegun Obasanjo overtaking is panicking.

He says loss control, cumulate think Southerners areis nonsense, and are population explosion istalking a ticking time bomb in to over 70%.”

This huge. just being Nigeria.

Byintolerant. the this yearcannot 2050, Nigeria could be the the For Fashola, be overlooked; When about zoning and succession third mostasked populated country in the world.

A time numbers must be drastically brought down. within his party, the President made point could come Nigeria could beon thethe country For him, itwhen is time again to focus building that determining the of thethe party the withinfrastructure the largest population. crisisisthat the offuture our Imagine minds. responsibility of the party not his, and that it is not will occur.

There will be an explosion of poverty, As he puts it further in that submission something that anyonedecayed can sit ininfrastructure Lagos and decide. criminals, separatists, and “our focus as toa be government is that we’ve This turned out theinmost of the too many useful idiots highsalacious and lowpart places.” agreed that theyou driver has aPresident role to made play, Arise interview.

Southern commentators have “AreTV you sure the former starting from educationtoand certifiof cation….” stretched that comment its point elasticity that statement?”

Thankfully, the government has and attached a name to it: that of Asiwaju “Yes. He was veryfederal factual, analytical andBola on recently inaugurated the National Road Safety Ahmed Tinubu.

The Presidency has had to issue a point. Brilliant submission as always.”

Advisory with Vicereading President Prof statement toCouncil debunk the auto-suggestions.

“Of course.

But I recall once a Southern book by Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, as in chair, to Nigerians are notObasanjo impressed.

They see“ensure this, andthe the the same Baba which he listed his President’s laboured cation ofNigerian his nepotism in effective of the biological implementation and adoptedjustifi children.

I believe I sawRoad more appointments aVersion confi rmation of the faultwhich lines to in Safety 2, 2021-2030, than 20Strategy names,ashis direct personal contribution his Northerners any issue centres on apopulation, safe system to road the government.

Nigerian not approach todon’t add see an emergent here. there have been, in the to course of familySimilarly, tree thaton includes grandchildren and great safety based global standards,” quote the weekend, equally responses to grandchildren.

Baba of ispartisan, my roleethnic model.

I will like the Corps Marshal the Federal Road Safety the President’s aboutwe creating to be like him,claims and when get to10.5 thatmillion stage, Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi. jobs in 2then years and the of June can we discuss thesectional population of Nigeria?”

Besides education and spectacle certifi cation, 12“You protests and celebration.

What came acrossof to always like to twistby people’s thoughts.” which will be executed the Ministries Buhari’s is persona a President “Listenopponents to me, don’t letthe anybody giveofyou headache Education and Information, FRSC, state and with military anNiger ethnicDelta champion who in thisagovernments, country.mind-set, Get smart.

Avengers local noted is still they fighting the civilFashola war,Nigeria. andhas who cares that little claim will humiliate I hope they installation of road traffic signs and patrol about publicthat opinion. have heard electric carsintensifi are now inSo Nigeria, of the highways will be ed. also, TheatBuhari interview further how even the University of has Lagos, and revealed that the same it is a has good one oftrillion the divided weaccidentally aredevelopment as a nation, andthat the crisis of social Nigeria discovered about 206 key ofreserves the signed National cohesion that face.recently Nigeria is more divided cubicelements feet of gaswe in addition to another 600 Health Actatis theAccidentally! development ofthe emergency today any other time inAnd our history. billion than cubic feet. manAnd that certainly, the President’s responses reinforce this life support As Fashola disclosed thatsystem. information is a sonnoted: of the“Road Niger conclusion because hiseverywhere main constituencies and traffi c crashes happen in the world.

Delta, Minister of State, Timipre Sylva” supporters nothing fundamentally wrongDelta. with The problem is: can you bringofitthe down? and “The gas see belongs to the people Niger his statements theroom. last days.

With should a road trafficinin crash leadfew to death?

So, Thatmedia is the elephant the The accidental his responses, Buhari choseis hiscritical.” audience tactically. emergency life support discovery does not change anything.”

People stop saying he did not understand Fashola over the demonstrated that “Youshould stillhas, don’t get theyears, language.

Okay.

Okay.” the“Nothing questions.isHe did, and he made his point. And okay” I insist: was a very good interview, and 47 an Continued on page “Okaythat then”

BRF at 58: A Return to the Mind’s Infrastructure

T

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