TUESDAY 28TH JULY 2020

N18tn Revenue Target: Analysts Urge FG to Deploy Technology VAT receipts increase by N50.79bn James Emejo in Abuja Some analysts yesterday expressed optimism that improved technology adoption and expansion of the current tax net could boost the federal

government's ambitious revenue projection of between N13 trillion and N18 trillion.

This is coming as the total Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue recorded by the federal government increased

by N50.79 billion to N651.77 billion in the first half of the year (H1 2020) compared to N600.98 billion in H1 2019, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The Minister of Finance,

Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had last week said the federal government had discovered new revenue initiatives that could fetch it between N13 trillion and N18 trillion from

both oil and non-oil revenue sources.

This, according to her, will be done under the federal government’s Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI) that was launched

last year.

Analysts, however, told THISDAY that the projection may be realistic, especially amidst the impact of the Continued on page 8

W’Bank: AfCFTA May Boost Nigeria, Others’ Incomes by $450bn... Page 6 Tuesday 28 July, 2020 Vol 25. No 9241. Price: N250

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FG Bows to Pressure, Reopens Schools for Graduating Students Atiku, NUT, private school owners hail decision PSN lists eight conditions for safe re-opening of schools WAEC commences August 17 Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Kuni Tyessi in Abuja, Uche Nnaike and Martins Ifijeh in Lagos The federal government yesterday bowed to pressure to reopen secondary schools in the country closed at the onset of COVID-19 in March, 2020.

It said in a statement that it has given approval for schools to reopen on August 4, 2020, for pupils in exit classes to sit for their examinations.

It added that the students would have two weeks to prepare for the West African Senior School Certificate Continued on page 8

DHQ Warns Soldiers against Mutiny, Unconstitutional Acts DSS alleges plot to destabilise Nigeria

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday warned members of the armed forces against involvement in any act of disloyalty, mutiny and unconstitutional acts.

It also condemned a call by the National Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr. Chidi Chukwuani,

for the "Rawlings treatment," to be replicated in Nigeria in view of the endemic corruption in the country.

Former president of Ghana, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, had on June 4, 1979, accused the then government of General Frederick Akuffo of corruption and subsequently rounded Continued on page 8

IN SEARCH OF STABLE POWER...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), during the virtual meeting of the Presidential Power Working Group in Abuja... yesterday

Senators Deny Alleged NDDC Contract Awards, Tackle Akpabio... Page 5

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NEWS

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

Senators Deny Alleged NDDC Contract Awards, Tackle Akpabio Say N81.5bn expenditure must be explained

Deji Elumoye in Abuja Senators accused by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of collecting contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have rebutted the allegation and told the minister to stop deflecting attention from the demand to give an account of how the commission spent N81.5 billion.

In separate reactions yesterday, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and his predecessor, Senator James Manager, said they did not take any contract from NDDC between 2017 and 2019 as claimed by the minister.

Nwaoboshi, while reacting to Akpabio's allegation that he was awarded contracts for 53 NDDC projects, challenged the minister to send the list to anti-graft and other security agencies if he can substantiate the allegation.

"The unsubstantiated allegation is in line with Mr. Akpabio's well-known agenda to continuously blackmail me so as to keep diverting public attention away from the serious mismanagement of the NDDC by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) under his supervision and under the guise of a phantom forensic audit that has no operating timeline," he added.

He advised the minister and members of the IMC to explain to Nigerians how they spent N81.5 billion within five months.

The IMC spending, Nwaoboshi stated, included 12 questionable expenditures namely: "refreshment/logistic for project verification paid to IMC and staff in the sum of N58.5 million; expenses paid to IMC for 2019 and 2020 budget defence, respectively at the National Assembly totalling N370.1 million; out of which N l43 million is for 2020 budget that is yet to be defended or approved by the National Assembly; reckless expenses paid to IMC and staff to commission only one

road, Ogbia-Nembe road for N50.5 million, an amount that is enough to construct a fresh one kilometre road; conflict resolution in Delta State in the sum of N148 million, when there was no conflict known to me or my other colleagues in the National Assembly representing Delta State that was resolved

by NDDC; reckless payment of COVID-19 relief to IMC and staff in the sum of N1.5 billion with the IMC members getting N10 million each and expenses incurred by IMC during a courtesy visit to River State Governor in the sum of N41.9 million."

He listed other IMC spending to include expenses incurred

by IMC and staff in not-tooyoung-to-run programme for N46.6 million; expenses for sponsorship campaign against electoral violence paid to IMC and staff in the sum of N43 million; staff medical checkup in the sum of N4.9 billion; welfare package to Niger Delta youths for N270 million paid to IMC and staff.

He, however, added that the youths have denied receiving any welfare payment.

Nwaoboshi also listed payment to Clear Point Consultancy on rebuttal of media attack against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in the sum of N39.4 million, describing the payment as incredible and unbelievable expenditure that is currently fueling the media blitz and misinformation by Akpabio and the IMC using Nigerian's taxpayers funds and payment of N51.8 million monthly allowances to the MD IMC and N18 million monthly for each member of the IMC. He added that "the above revelations are just a tip of the mind-boggling and reckless payments running into billions of naira paid by the IMC members to themselves and expended with the approval of Akpabio on mundane and useless projects that have no developmental impact on the life and livelihood of the Niger

Delta people as envisioned by the founding fathers of the NDDC. "Mr. Akpabio and his IMC should apologise to the Niger Delta people in particular and Nigerians in general for this grand wastage arising from their crass incompetence. As a realist, I am confident that a day will come when Mr. Akpabio and his IMC will have a date with the law," Nwaoboshi said.

Also reacting, Manager denied benefitting from NDDC contracts during and after his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

Manager, in a statement issued yesterday said his tenure as chairman of the committee ended in 2015.

He said: “Ever since then I have never visited NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt or any of its branches.

“That NDDC never awarded

any contract to any company owned by me. That I do not know of any company owned by me that has ever gone into bidding for government jobs anywhere in the world. (This may come to many as a surprise but that is the gospel truth).

“Those who are alleging to defame me must be aware of the consequences.

“That in the interest of the gullible innocent public, the authors led by the said Dr. Cairo Ojougboh or any other person should provide among other things, the following: ‘detailed description of the said jobs; names of companies; payments already made and to whom; job performance; and the Directors as they appear in the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)”.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, described the allegation by Akpabio, that some

federal lawmakers received contracts from the NDDC, as unfounded and sheer blackmail.

Akinyelure, whose committee was last week saddled by the Senate to probe the alleged involvement of some senators in NDDC contracts, told reporters yesterday that most of the contracts alleged to have been taken by the listed federal legislators at different times, were constituency projects appropriated for them in the national budget without them collecting a dime to execute them as lawmakers.

According to him, the submission of Akpabio is cheap blackmail which cannot be tenable anywhere in Nigeria.

He said: "Senators are representatives of the people in the legislature and we have the power of appropriation. Projects allocated to us are put in the various ministries and agencies of government where they can

be fully executed.

"Those of us from the Niger Delta region can lobby for some of the projects to be put in their various constituencies.

That does not mean that the money for their execution was given to senators. We don't touch money here but influence projects to be executed in our constituencies. When that is done, the executive arm of government will advertise for contractors to bid for them, and award them, following due process.”

Also, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the current National Assembly was not involved in the NDDC contract scandal.

The clarification, he explained, clearly negated the erroneous impression created about involvement of the majority of present National Assembly members in the contract scam.

BROTHER’S KEEPERS...

L-R: Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai; Minister of Defence, Brig-Gen Bashir Magashi; and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, during a virtual meeting of the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Mali crisis in Abuja...yesterday

ECOWAS Threatens to Sanction Mali’s Recalcitrant Parties Buhari calls for compromise, concessions to restore peace

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) rose from a virtual meeting yesterday with a threat to sanction recalcitrant parties in the ongoing political crisis rocking Mali.

The organisation, comprising West African leaders, said it would wield the big stick against groups which refuse to abide by recommendations prescribed to restore peace to the troubled country.

"The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government request the commission to consider sanctions against all those who act contrary to the normalisation process of the crisis," they said.

President Muhammadu

Buhari participated in the virtual meeting, which considered the roadmap outlined by ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali and Nigeria's former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the resolution of the crisis.

At the meeting, West African leaders harped on the necessity to respect existing institutions in Mali, notably constitutional platforms to gain power in accordance with ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

According to them, the Malian institutions are inoperative and need to be re-established, as quickly as possible, noting that such sovereign institutions are necessary for the effective functioning of the state and handling of issues raised by

protesters.

A communiqué read by Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zubairu Dada, after the meeting, among others, asked political parties to ensure the resignation of the 31 members of parliament whose controversial elections into the parliament triggered the crisis.

“These resignations will pave the way for by-elections.

Pending these by-elections, the parliament will operate with the 116 remaining members,” the communiqué said.

The leaders directed all institutions in Mali to facilitate the immediate recomposition of Constitutional Court in line with legal provisions.

“In case of difficulty for the various bodies in designating their members to the Constitutional Court,

the President of the Republic will use the exceptional power provided by Article 50 of the Constitution of Mali to nominate the nine members,” the communiqué added.

The ECOWAS leaders also recommended the constitution of a national unity government as recommended by the special envoy and mediator in the crisis.

They appealed to the opposition, notably, the M5-RFP, to participate in the proposed national unity government.

They said the proposed national unity government would handle the consequences of the protests and implement all reforms and recommendations issued from the Inclusive National Dialogue and improve governance.

In his remarks at the meeting,

Buhari called for the reform of the Constitutional Court and the creation of modalities for the resolution of issues on 31 seats at the National Assembly.

He, among others, called for compromise in the efforts to resolve the crisis.

Buhari added: “I wish to reiterate the imperative of compromise and concessions for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis, which will be acceptable to all parties.

“It is necessary that we realise the general fragility of our sub-region hedged in different layers of negative tendencies in the Sahel, hence the need to always for us to trade cautiously in handling the multiple challenges confronting our sub-region, especially the larger level of insecurity, which terrorism and

insurgency activities represent in West Africa.

“Finally, while thanking our development partners, the European Union, France, African Union and the United Nations, I call on them to continue to support efforts for national, regional security of West Africa.”

The crisis broke out in the country after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the recently-held polls and gave victory to some other contenders, resulting in the allegation by the resistance group that the judgment was influenced by the president.

During the riots of July 10 on the matter, some protesters were killed by security agents, escalating the crisis, a situation that now necessitated ECOWAS' intervention.

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NEWS

W’Bank: AfCFTA May Boost Nigeria, Others’ Incomes by $450bn AfDB approves $27m to boost AU’s COVID-19 response Obinna Chima and Nume Ekeghe A report by the World Bank has stated that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), if fully implemented, could boost the region’s income by seven per cent or $450 billion.

In addition, the Washingtonbased institution estimated that the pact, if implemented, could also speed up wage growth for women and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035.

The report stated that AfCFTA represents a major opportunity for countries to boost growth, reduce poverty and broaden economic inclusion.

It added that achieving these gains is pivotal given the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to cause up to $79 billion in output losses in Africa in 2020.

According to the World Bank, the pandemic has already caused major disruptions to trade across the continent, including in critical goods such as medical supplies and food.

It said most of AfCFTA’s income gains were likely to come from measures that cut red tape and simplify customs procedures.

The World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr. Albert Zeufack, was quoted in the report obtained yesterday to have stated: “Tariff liberalisation accompanied by a reduction in non-tariff barriers such as quotas and rules of origin would boost income by 2.4 percent, or about $153 billion.

“The remainder $292 billion would come from trade-facilitation measures that reduce red tape, lower compliance costs for businesses engaged in trade, and make it easier for African businesses to integrate into global supply chains.

“Successful implementation of AfCFTA would help cushion the negative effects of COVID-19 on economic growth by supporting regional trade and value chains through the reduction of trade costs.

“In the longer term, AfCFTA

would provide a path for integration and growth-enhancing reforms for African countries.

By replacing the patchwork of regional agreements, streamlining border procedures, and prioritising trade reforms, AfCFTA could help African countries increase their resiliency in the face of future economic shocks.”

He said the continental agreement could increase employment opportunities and incomes, helping to expand opportunities for all Africans.

“The AfCFTA is expected to lift around 68 million people out of moderate poverty and make African countries more competitive.

“But successful implementation will be key, including careful monitoring of impacts on all workers women and men, skilled and unskilled across all countries and sectors, ensuring the agreement’s full benefit,” he stated.

The report noted that the agreement would reshape markets and economies across the region, leading to the creation of new industries and the expansion of key sectors.

Overall economic gains would vary, with the largest gains going to countries that currently have high trade costs, it said.

According to the report, Côte d’Ivoire and Zimbabwe where trade costs are among the region’s highest would see the biggest gains, with each increasing income by 14 per cent if the agreement is fully implemented.

The report also stated that AfCFTA would also significantly boost African trade, particularly intra-regional trade in manufacturing. Intra-continental exports would increase by 81 per cent while the increase to non-African countries would be 19 per cent.

Implementation of the agreement would also spur larger wage gains for women and an increase of 10.5 per cent by 2035 than for men 9.9 per cent, it added.

In addition, it stated that it would also boost wages for skilled and unskilled workers alike with 10.3 per cent for

unskilled workers, and 9.8 per cent for skilled workers.

“This report is designed to help countries implement policies that can maximise the agreement’s potential gains while minimising risks. Creating a continent-wide market will require a determined effort to reduce all trade costs.

“This will require legislation to enable goods, capital, and information to flow freely and at easily across borders. Countries that do so will be able to attract foreign investment and increase competition that can increase productivity and innovation by domestic firms. Governments will also need to prepare their workforces to take advantage of new opportunities with new policies designed to reduce the costs of job switching,” it stated.

The Secretary-General the AfCFTA, Mr. Wamkele Mene, had in April, announced the postponement of the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement scheduled for July 1, 2020, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

AfDB Approves $27m

to Boost African Union’s COVID-19 Response Meanwhile, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $27.4 million in grants to boost the African Union’s (AU) efforts to mobilise a continental response to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

The approval comes on the heels of a meeting of the extended Bureau of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government with Africa’s private sector in April 2020, which was chaired

by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the current chairperson of the AU. According to a statement, AfDB’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who attended the meeting, had pledged support for the AU COVID-19 initiative.

Speaking after the board's approval of this operation, Adesina said: “With this financing package, we are reaffirming our strong commitment to a coordinated African response in the face of COVID-19. Most importantly, we are sending a

strong signal that collectively, the continent can address the pandemic in Africa, which is straining health systems and causing unprecedented socio-economic impacts on the continent.”

The bulk of the bank’s grant financing for this operation, about $26.03 million, will help to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to respond to public health emergencies across the continent while the balance of $1.37 million will be a contribution to the AU COVID-19 Response Fund.

The two grants, from the bank’s concessional window, the African Development Fund, and the Transition Support Facility will support the implementation of Africa CDC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan through strengthening surveillance at various points of entry (air, sea, and land) in African countries; building subregional and national capacity for epidemiological surveillance;

and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment for frontline workers deployed in hotspots and testing materials.

The operation will also, facilitate the collection of gender-disaggregated data and adequate staffing for Africa CDC’s emergency operations centre.

At the beginning of February 2020, only two reference laboratories in Senegal and South Africa could run tests for COVID-19 on the continent.

The Africa CDC, working with governments, the WHO and some development partners and public health institutes, have increased this capacity to 44 countries.

Despite this progress, Africa’s testing capacity remains at less than 600 per one million people compared to 50,000 in Europe.

“Our response today and support to the African Union is timely and will play a crucial role in helping Africa look inward for solutions to build resilience to this pandemic and future outbreaks,” the bank’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture and Human Development, Wambui Gichuri, said.

PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY...

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ingobere; and Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Monday Obolo-Bubou, during the public forum on "Citizens Budget Participatory Session on Review of the 2020 Consolidation for Prosperity Budget" in Yenagoa…yesterday

Obi Canvasses Investment in Small Businesses, Human Resources Funmi Ogundare

A former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, yesterday stressed the need for Nigeria to invest in small businesses, noting that such a move will pull majority of Nigerians out of poverty.

Speaking yesterday on ‘The Morning Show,’ a programme on the ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, Obi, the vicepresidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, expressed concern about the show of shame on the ongoing corruption uncovered in the probe of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He also said Nigeria still had the highest number of people living under poverty, number of out-of-school children and youth unemployment as a result of corruption.

He said: "The more you invest in small businesses; the more

you can collect taxes and other revenues and the more you can pull the people out of poverty, the more money you make from income. People can't pay taxes when they are in poverty. The more you invest in education, the more you can pull out resources.

"Nigeria is busy doing a show of shame when we should have been preoccupied with investment. South Korea for the first time in 20 years went into recession owing to COVID-19; they are four times our GDP of $1.6 trillion. Australia, which is about 25 per cent of our per capita, is already going through their highest budget deficit and all we are doing here is going through this drama, which is highly uncalled for at this critical time.

"Before now, we were the highest number of people living under poverty, the highest number of out-of-school children, and high youth unemployment. With post-COVID-19, the situation will be worst. We should by now be

talking about how we are going to retool our economy and start solving some of our problems."

Asked what is responsible for the pervasive corruption in the country, Obi said: "Corruption is deliberate but fighting corruption is not rocket science; you can fight corruption very easily if leaders are not corrupt, you reduce it by at least 70 per cent. We are going to question it and it will be properly scrutinised.

“The issue of fighting corruption should not be economic policy. From what has happened in the past, from all the monies being stolen, you can hardly recover 20 per cent of it. There are ways you can stop this. We can become more transparent in monies that you are releasing. For instance, if you know what you want to spend on students going for a scholarship, you can send it directly to the school rather than creating so much confusion."

On the state of government finance and how they can

generate enough revenue, he said the country could invest in critical areas of the economy.

He said: "In Africa, if we look at the three biggest economies, our budget is $150 per head, second biggest economy is South Africa, and their budget is $2,000 per head. The third biggest is Egypt is $600 per head. The fourth one is Algeria which is $1,700 per head and Morocco is $900, so we are not even up to a quarter of those in the biggest five in terms of budgeting.

"Even if you come to West Africa, Ghana is $155 per head, Côte d Ivoire is $340 and Cameroon is $300, so we are not even up to 50 per cent of Cameroon in terms of budgeting.

So, we are low.

“What did they do? Increasing your revenue is simple; you cannot withdraw money from a bank if you don't pay in. You must invest in the critical areas of investment and fight poverty. You have to invest money in small businesses. The more you invest

in small businesses, the more you can collect taxes and other revenues and the more you can pull the people out of poverty, the more money you make from income. People can't pay taxes when they are in poverty. The more you invest in education, the more you can pull out resources."

He recalled President Muhammadu Buhari's announcement on how the country was able to earn $25 billion annually in the past three years from Diaspora remittances.

"If we are focused on tomorrow, it shows that Diaspora remittances now earn more than crude oil. Our crude oil revenue in 2016/2017/2018 was an average of $18 billion; so, that means in three years, we earn $75 billion in remittances as against $54 billion from crude oil. What do you do in a country that is serious and wants to focus on tomorrow? The new oil is on human resources.

Today, our Diaspora population is 15 million which is about the same number of children we have

out-of-school. We can invest N1 billion to N1.5 billion annually for the next 12 years just on this 15 million out-of-school children.

Imagine putting another N15 billion to be remitting the same amount in the next 10 years, you double their income in that sector.

"This is at a time when oil revenues will be going down; this will be your new investment.

Small countries like Philippines and Indonesia, and Bangladesh have been able to double their remittances within the past 10 years.

“When I went to Bangladesh in 2008, their remittances was about $6 billion, but today, it is almost $18 billion. So, it's about investment. Small businesses in China do not only generate 60 per cent of the GDP, but in terms of taxes, they are about the same percentage. So you need to put money in it because if you have more revenue, you invest. All these monies being stolen by people are supposed to be invested in critical areas."

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PAGE EIGHT FG BOWS TO PRESSURE, REOPENS SCHOOLS FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS Examination (WASSCE) organised by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which commences on August 17.

But in a swift reaction, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has listed eight conditions for safe reopening of schools even as former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and other private school owners hailed the decision of the federal government.

The government announced the decision at the end of a virtual consultative meeting held yesterday between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 states, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and Chief Executives of examination bodies.

A statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), Mr. Ben Goong, said: “Stakeholders at the meeting agreed that the exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from the 4th of August, 2020 to enable them to prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from the 17th of August, 2020.

"Secondary schools in the country are to reopen as from August 4, 2020, for exit classes only.

"Students will have two weeks within which to prepare for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) due to start on August 17, 2020.

“The meeting also resolved that a passionate appeal be made to the federal government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and public-spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them to fast track the preparations of safe reopening, as agreed.

“Another meeting is to be convened tomorrow between the Federal Ministry of Education and Chief Executives of examination bodies namely, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Confirming this decision at a press briefing by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of State for Education, Mr.

Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said that following an agreement between the federal government and state governors and the education stakeholders, all secondary schools in the country are now to reopen on August 4 for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

He said the decision was reached in conjunction with all the state commissioners of education in all the 36 states of the federation, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), the proprietors of private schools, and Chief Executives of examination bodies yesterday.

He said they agreed to prepare the students for WAEC exams that begin on August 17, saying the resolution varied the timetable earlier released by as much as two weeks.

He said by the agreement, WAEC and all the countries in the regional body had agreed that the exams would proceed, but the exams peculiar to Nigeria would be taken from September 5 to 14.

However, exams common to all the countries in WAEC will proceed as previously published.

He said Nigeria would then domesticate the timetable

for the exams, which was approved by all the states and endorsed by the PTF at its meeting yesterday.

He, however, clarified that primary schools and other classes were excluded from the decision, adding that the stakeholders will report back on Friday to update the ministry on their preparedness. ''We have said that schools that are reopening are centres for WAEC and only in respect of the exiting classes; primary schools and all other classes are excluded from all these decisions. We arrived at the decisions having met with all stakeholders. Part of what they will update us with on Friday at the stakeholders' meeting will be to report back on their state of preparedness.

The state of preparedness of these centres will inform how they will open. All the state governors and state commissioners and association of private schools owners have given their commitment that they will resolve it. They will provide for the teachers while WAEC will also provide for the invigilators and ensure that the conduct is seamless,'' Nwajiuba stated.

Also speaking, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi

Sirika, said all the stakeholders in the aviation sector would meet today to develop protocols for the resumption of international flights.

PSN Lists Conditions for Reopening of Schools The PSN has listed eight conditions for the safe reopening of schools.

PSN President, Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa, said before schools could reopen, the federal government should ensure proper disinfection of classrooms and school environments; ensure all schools have protocols for proper sanitation arrangement, including handwashing facilities, sanitisers, and disposable towels.

He said: “Government must also ensure that sitting arrangements comply with physical distancing. There should be a form of shield between teachers and students to prevent contact, as is the case with some schools in countries that have safely re-opened schools to children.

Facilities to check temperatures must be available in each school. Temperature-check

of both students and teachers must be carried out daily to monitor them for fever.

“Every teacher must be tested for COVID-19 before reopening. Although it would have been nice to test the students, if that is not possible, the government should ensure every teacher is tested for the infection. Each school should also have medical centres that can handle health emergencies because COVID-19 symptoms can start at any time. There should also be availability of ambulances for emergencies.”

Ohuabunwa who stressed that children must be protected at all cost from contracting the virus, said every school should be asked to provide disposable face masks for each student, adding that each face mask should be disposed of daily.

He added that allowing children to wear face masks from their homes may not be healthy.

According to him, if these stringent protocols are not in place, the reopening of schools may cause a spike in COVID-19 and compound Nigeria’s fight against the disease.

“Without these protocols, Continued on page 9

DHQ WARNS SOLDIERS AGAINST MUTINY, UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTS up senior military officers, including three former heads of state - Generals Akuffo, Ignatius Acheampong and Afrifa for trial.

They were subsequently executed by firing squad.

The DHQ, in a statement, said it was not taking the call for granted as it was targeted at the military.

It said the call was "inciting and instigative."

It said the NDP chairman was calling for "a combination of unpopular acts of insurrection and mutiny, which cannot be taken for granted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria."

The statement signed by the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj. Gen. John Enenche,

reminded military personnel of the consequences of such an action.

Eneche said: "While the Defence Headquarters does not wish to take issues in any way, it is instructive to observe that this unguided utterance targeted at the Nigerian military is inciting and instigative.

"What Chidi Chukwuani is calling for is a combination of unpopular acts of insurrection and mutiny, which cannot be taken for granted by the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

"Consequently, I am directed by the High Command of the Nigerian military to let the general public know and remind personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria that all officers and men of the Nigerian

military swore to an oath of allegiance to be totally loyal to the civil authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and protect the constitution.

This translates to unalloyed loyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief and full subordination to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

The DHQ urged all officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to continue to abide by the constitution and to suppress insurrection and assist civil authorities to restore order.

It stated: "All officers and men of the Nigerian Military are further reminded of offences contained in Armed Forces Act CAP A20, The laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

2004, which include among others; Mutiny in Sections 52 and 53, which if committed are punishable.

"I am to further directed, to state clearly and unequivocally that the Nigerian military is a force that is in consonance with all global best practices and cannot be misguided by any individual or group.

"And for the avoidance of doubt, the Armed Forces of Nigeria are totally loyal to the President and Commander-inChief and fully subordinated to the civil authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

DSS Alleges Plans to Destabilise Nigeria Meanwhile, the Department

of State Services (DSS) said it had uncovered plans by some persons and groups to destabilise the country.

The DSS, in a statement in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Dr. Peter Afunanya, identified those behind the alleged plot to include some prominent persons and socio-cultural groups.

It stated: "Some prominent personalities and socio-cultural groups have resorted to divisive acts through inciting statements aimed at pitting individuals, groups and ethnic nationalities against another.

The service is, without doubt, aware of these plans and their sponsors.

“Consequently, it warns that

it will no longer tolerate the orchestrations by subversive and unscrupulous elements to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country.

"In this regard, it is working assiduously with relevant authorities and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the sinister objective is not achieved.

“The service reiterates its commitment to the internal security of Nigeria and will, within the confines of the law, decisively deal with planners of the mayhem."

The DSS urged law-abiding citizens to disregard the antics of those it labelled as agents of destabilisation and to report criminals and other agents of violence to security agencies.

from N79.31 billion in Q1.

On the other hand, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) import VAT rose by 12.44 per cent to N81.66 billion compared to N72.59 billion in Q1.

The marked improvement in VAT performance in both Q1 and Q2 has been attributed to the recent hike in VAT from five per cent to 7.5 per cent which became effective from February 1.

In Q1, the federal government generated additional N30.46 billion helped by the increment in VAT. VAT receipts from banks and financial institutions amounted to N10.53 billion by half year and N5.11 billion in Q2 compared to N5.42 billion in Q1.

Also, federal ministries and parastatals recorded N12.37 billion of VAT revenues, while N802.38 million was recorded from local government councils in H1.

However, state ministries and parastatals recorded 11.05 per cent increase in VAT from N10.66 billion in Q1 to N11. 84 billion in Q2 with H1 receipts at N22. 50 billion.

VAT from hotels and catering services dropped to N1.36 billion in Q2 compared to N2.52 billion in Q1.

The NBS said receipts from

petrochemical and petroleum refineries declined by 29.97 per cent to N918.86 million from N1.31 billion in Q1.

VAT from the textile and garment industry stood at N193.13 million, representing a decline of 36.89 per cent compared to N306.05 million in the preceding quarter.

N18TN REVENUE TARGET: ANALYSTS URGE FG TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOGY COVID-19 pandemic if the government is able to use technology to plug enormous revenue leakages from oil transactions.

They said the stamp duty regime would also provide yet another opportunity to boost tax revenue.

The analysts advised the government not to increase existing taxes but to expand the tax bracket so as to accommodate more businesses and individuals who are not currently fulfilling their tax obligations to the government.

An economist and former Director-General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, said technology could help put an end to decades of revenue leakages.

He said: "The projection of new N18 trillion revenue sources by the federal government is realistic and possible. The Minister for Finance had said the new sources would come from the oil and non-oil sector.

"From the oil sector, when we indeed deploy technology to determine real oil production output and real revenue from oil, it will shock Nigerians the big hole that existed in that sector for decades. Once we block these holes using technology, the figures will

grow exponentially.

"From the non-oil sector, the introduction of stamp duty on rents and leases in Nigeria, a stamp duty of between 0.78 per cent to six per cent, depending on the duration of the lease contract will provide the projected revenue.

"There are also many businesses and companies not declaring profits to match their income size and so, pay taxes far less than they should have paid. The FIRS, therefore, must continue to seek efficient ways of tracking all hidden incomes.

When this is achieved, a lot of revenue will accrue to the government."

Another economist, Dr. Muhammad Rislanudeen, said: "The best way to expand the revenue is not to look at the existing taxpayers but to expand the tax base and get those who are not paying taxes into the tax bracket.

"If from oil sources, perhaps there's been an underpayment of revenues and even if that's the case, there may still be a challenge now because of the impact of COVID-19 as prices have gone down.

"And if it's from nonoil sources, also with the impact of COVID-19 and the imminent recession which we are getting into, it will now be very difficult to have an ambitious expansion in

revenue generation.

"What the government needs to be more focused on expanding the tax net other than overtaxing the existing individuals and companies that are already in the tax net because there's a limit to what the government can actually collect.

"But if it is about expanding the tax net, we may be able to take on people who are not currently paying taxes and who are still doing well despite the pandemic and are not paying tax as and when due; that is a window for expansion.

"If it's taxing the people such as house rent, I don't think in this period we will be able to actualise the revenue projection."

Prof. Uche Uwaleke of the Nasarawa State University said: "It is achievable in a country where non-oil tax revenue to GDP is less than eight per cent leaving wide room for improvement.

"The implementation of the 2020 Finance Act, especially with respect to the stamp duty holds a lot of potential.

Government can also develop new revenue lines through sale/privatisation of some government assets such as the refineries."

VAT Revenue Increases

by N50.79bn The total VAT revenue recorded by the federal government has increased

by N50.79 billion to N651.77 billion in the first half of the year (H1 2020) compared to N600.98 billion in H1 2019, according to the NBS. This represented 8.45 per cent growth year-on-year with the professional services generating the highest amount of VAT with N95.92 billion.

According to the sectoral distribution of VAT data for H1 2020 report released yesterday by the statistical agency, the other manufacturing segment generated N67.63 billion followed by commercial and trading, which generated N31.10 billion.

Textile and garment industry as well as pharmaceutical, soaps and toiletries generated N499.19 million and N648.78 million respectively while mining recorded the least VAT of N127.58 million.

According to the report, a total of N327.19 billion was generated from VAT in Q2 2020 compared to N324.57 billion (revised) in the preceding quarter.

Quarter-on-quarter, VAT increased by 0.81 per cent.

Non-import (foreign) VAT rose by 3.92 per cent quarter on quarter to N82.42 billion

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % UNITYBANK 0.05 0.57 9.6 LAFARGE 1.05 12.00 9.5 GTBANK 1.65 23.30 7.6 NEIMETH 0.10 1.50 7.1 DANGCEMENT 7.60 141.80 5.6 TOP LOSERS NGN % AXAMANSARD 0.16 1.44 10 UPDC 0.09 0.81 10 SEPLAT 34.70 312.70 9.9 BERGPAINTS 0.60 5.50 9.8 CAP PLC 1.85 17.10 9.7 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,256.80 Volume: 169.998 million shares Value: N2.385 billion Deals: 4,336 As at yesterday 27/7/2020 See details on Page 27

9

TUESDAY, ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

NCC Begins Implementation of Revised Telecoms Service Level Agreements Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun the implementation of the revised framework stipulating the processes for resolving consumer complaints arising from service delivery by telecoms operator.

The Service Level Agreements (SLAs) document, which was reviewed last year by NCC was meant to achieve greater effectiveness in the sector and to strengthen the protection of telecoms consumers and other stakeholders.

The framework was tagged: ‘Complaints Categories and Service Level Agreements (CC/SLA).’

In a statement, yesterday and signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, the commission said the implementation of the revised framework would begin immediately.

The 2019 review of the CC/ SLA, in collaboration with operators and other stakeholders

was to ensure prompt resolutions of consumers’ complaints by reviewing the timelines, broaden and streamline complaint categories and establishing applicable sanctions on operators that fail to meet the timelines stated for resolving issues related to services delivery to their consumers.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said: "In the reviewed CC/SLA, with respect to the broad category of Quality of Service and Quality of Experience (QoS and QoE) in the data segment, when a telecom subscriber experiences fluctuation in service, such as instability in internet services, the subscriber shall be contacted by the service provider within four hours of reporting the incident and the disruption shall be restored within 72 hours.

"If the matter is escalated to the commission, the consumer is expected to receive feedback within two hours, while the commission ensures the issue

is resolved within 48 hours.

Additionally, the subscriber shall be offered an apology and the expiry date of his data bundle shall be extended by the number of days the disruption lasted.

"Under the broad category, ‘Billing,’ complaints connected to any unexplained change in account balance resulting in a drop in balance, due to overcharging subscriber's account for calls, Short Messaging Services (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), shall be resolved by the operator within 24 hours.

"Should there be a need by the subscriber to escalate the complaint to NCC, the commission shall ensure the matter is resolved within 12 hours. The subscriber shall be notified of resolution and where applicable, compensated with five per cent of the overcharged amount, which is payable daily to the consumer for every 24 hours of default."

Similarly, within the framework of QoS/QoE in the voice segment, the revised

agreement stipulates that when there is call interference or challenge with voice clarity, resulting in the inability of a subscriber to carry out uninterrupted conversation, the subscriber shall receive a response from the service provider within four hours of reporting the incident and the service provider shall ensure the challenge is resolved within 72 hours. Should there be a basis for the subscriber to escalate the matter to NCC, the commission shall revert to the subscriber within two hours of receiving the report and ensure that the matter is resolved within 48 hours in line with the Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations and the subscriber shall be communicated.

"Also, under the new CC/ SLAs that have now come into force, in the case of sales promotion and advertisement, when a subscriber does not receive within the stipulated time, bonus or incentives won during promotions, the service provider shall resolve the matter within 12 hours of receiving

the complaints, instead of 24 hours as stipulated in the hitherto existing categorisation and agreement. Should the matter be escalated to NCC, commission shall ensure it is resolved within six hours in line with the Guidelines on Advertisement and Promotions.

As in all cases, the subscriber shall be communicated on steps taken towards the resolution of complaints.

"Similarly, in the expansive category of call centre/customer care, the NCC agreed with stakeholders that when a subscriber is unable to connect to call centre or service provider helpline, the matter shall be treated by the service provider within four hours of receiving the report. Where the matter is escalated to the commission, NCC shall ensure that the issue is resolved within two hours of receiving the complaints, and steps taken towards resolution shall be communicated to the subscriber in all circumstances."

On matters connected to faulty terminals, such as defective devices that stifle

a subscriber’s ability to use phones, modems, routers and related devices appropriately, the commission said such incidents should be resolved based on terms and conditions for all devices.

Danbatta equally stated that matters relating to Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), such as problems arising from installation and location of base stations, masts or towers, shall be resolved by the concerned operator(s) within the 48 hours, as stated in the revised CC/ SLA. In case the commission is notified by the affected consumer, the matter shall be referred, immediately to Commission’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department, which shall ensure resolution of the matter within 48 hours and inform the complainant accordingly.

Danbatta added that "the CC/SLA document, which is available on the commission’s website contains 17 broad categories and about 90 subcategories."

IG Orders Enforcement of Southern Kaduna Curfew End killings, group tells Buhari, el-Rufai

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has directed the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Muri, to ensure the full enforcement of the curfew imposed by the state government on Southern Kaduna owing to recent killings and violence in the area.

This is coming as Concerned Nigerians, a pro-democracy and human rights group, Concerned Nigerians, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to end the killings in Southern Kaduna or resign.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, yesterday in Abuja, said Muri should ensure optimal deployment of human and material assets of the Intervention Squad on the ground in the state to safeguard lives and property in the communities.

It stated: “The CP is to

personally coordinate the operations of the Intervention Squad in carrying out collective and holistic tasks of ensuring peace and safety in the communities.

“The squad comprises the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, detectives/intelligence operatives as well as personnel of the Kaduna State Police Command, the military and other security agencies.

“The IG commiserates with the people of Kaduna State, particularly those who have lost their loved ones and property as a result of the crises.

“He assures that the force will do everything within its powers and means to ensure that peace is restored in the affected areas.

“Meanwhile, the IG enjoins the people of Kaduna State to cooperate with the police, the military, and other law enforcement agencies as they carry out the full enforcement of the curfew amongst other measures directed at ensuring their safety.

“He, however, warns troublemakers in the state to desist forthwith from acts of violence and lawlessness,” the statement added.

End Killings, Group Tells Buhari, El-Rufai A group, Concerned Nigerians, has called on Buhari and ElRufai to end the killings in Southern Kaduna or resign.

The group, in a statement signed by its convener, Mr. Deji

Adeyanju, and made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, said the continued attacks, killings and maiming of Southern Kaduna people by suspected herdsmen without any meaningful intervention from the federal and state governments were shocking and despicable.

It said: “We condemn in strong terms, the mindless killing of the indigenous people in Southern Kaduna over the past few weeks. All

lives matter and we call on the government of Nigeria and the governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, to wake up to their civic responsibility in addressing the killings of civilians and bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.

“Enough of these senseless and mindless killings. The indigenous people of Southern Kaduna need a respite from all these killings and unrest in their villages.

“Every citizen in Nigeria has a right to be protected by the government and the silence of the state and federal governments concerning the killings going on in Southern Kaduna speak volumes.

“We are equally calling for the resignation of Governor Nasir el-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari as they have woefully failed in carrying out their duties to the people that they were elected to protect.”

World Bank, Discos Meet Today over Forensic Audit Peter Uzoho Investors in the power distribution companies will today make a presentation in a meeting with the World Bank over the controversial forensic audit of Discos’ accounts ordered by the National Economic Council (NEC) following alleged poor investment by Discos after the federal government’s N1.7trillion investment in the last three years.

The Discos are seeking World Bank’s understanding of their position on the forensic audit as they said the audit was supposed to be an industrywide exercise capturing all the value chains of the nation’s electricity sector, rather than just singling out the Discos for the audit.

The presentation document obtained by THISDAY yesterday ahead of the meeting detailed Discos’ grouses with the forensic audit, the causes of liquidity

crisis in the electricity sector as well the proposal for the way forward of the forensic audit.

The World Bank had said that the Discos forensic audit was a precondition for the $500million loan that it was planning to lend to them for capital investment, insisting that the audit was an assessment to determine the Discos’ areas of deficiencies, a precursor to identifying the areas of need and investment.

The Discos said they are not

averse to forensic audit but that their position remains that there should be a system audit for the entire power sector value-chain, and that the World Bank should make a clarification on the exact type of audit required for its intervention in the Nigerian power sector.

The Discos also demanded for an exploration of alternative options of due diligence for the distribution sub-sector, relative to the World Bank’s potential loan to same.

concerns over the initial suspension.

"We thank the Federal Minister of Education and Minister of State for Education for their fatherly roles in listening to our concerns about the suspension and taking steps to resolve it amicably."

He said NAPPS was ready to ensure that the management of private schools would prioritise safety in schools by ensuring that staff, students and visitors to their schools adhere strictly to the safety protocols as laid down by the school management in line with the COVID 19 guidelines for the safe reopening of schools.

"We therefore call on the various state governments to follow suit by calling an

emergency virtual meeting of all stakeholders in both public and private schools in their states and enlighten them on what needs to be put in place having taken cognisance of their state peculiarities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

"With the school reopening for SS3 students only, there will be an opportunity for the observance of physical distancing. More so is the fact that we shall use the opportunity of this resumption to assess the workability of safety protocols that are in place in schools and hope that we can use the success of it to ensure other students fully resume as soon as possible," he said.

FG BOWS TO PRESSURE, REOPENS SCHOOLS FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS children can contract the virus from their schools and then infect their parents or grandparents or their drivers or anybody they come in contact with. We know the government is trying, but it must not mess around with children. Enough value must be placed on them before we safely open up.

“I am for the staggered reopening of schools and the economy if the right protocols are put in place and enforced.

It is better we do not open at all than open and then have reasons to close them back because there were no protocols in place to avoid a surge in COVID-19. It is better we do not open at all than have a flip-flop,” he added.

Atiku, NUT, Private School Owners Hail Decision Reacting to the federal government’s decision to reopen schools, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, NUT, and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) commended the decision to reopen schools for exit-stage students to write their final examinations.

Atiku, on his verified tweeter handle, said: "I commend the Federal Ministry of Education for acceding to the patriotic counsel that myself and other well-meaning Nigerians and organisations gave with regards

to not cancelling the WASSCE exams.

"The announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education that the WAEC exam will hold in August is commendable.

"Learning must go on, especially for exit stage students. I do hope, however, that students writing the exams are well prepared through home study during the lockdown. I wish them the very best."

Also, the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of NUT, Mr. Adedoyin Adeshina, said the state was ready to comply with the decision of the Federal Ministry of Education to resume on August 4.

He said the union had assessed the schools and made recommendations to the

state government as regards the provision of the necessary safety materials, which have been provided.

He also appealed to parents to support the government by providing face masks for their children and to advise them against endangering their lives and the lives of others.

NAPPS also commended the federal and state governments for the decision and promised full compliance with COVID-19 protocols for the safe reopening of schools.

A statement signed by the National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, read: "This is particularly cheering for the students, parents, teachers, school owners and other stakeholders who have shown

10

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Bandits Kill Lawyer, Abduct Wife, Son in Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna A lawyer, who is a staff of the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Haro Gandu, has been killed by gunmen, while his wife and son were abducted.

The incident occurred last Sunday night when the hoodlums broke into his residence at Tollgate area on Abuja road in Kaduna.

Former state Commissioner for Economic Planning and brother of the decease, Timothy Gandu, a confirmed the incident, saying the bandits gained access to the house by breaking the window.

Gandu said the bandits shot his brother on the shoulder as

they got into his house, adding that as the deceased was trying to escape, they shot him on the back.

He added that after killing him, they abducted his wife and son.

According to him, “It is the same narrative of criminality everywhere. Bandits are invading communities and breaking into people’s homes, killing and abducting people.

“They came to the house last Sunday night, pulled down the window and gain access to the apartment.

“They first shot him on the shoulder, and as he wanted to escaped, they followed him and shot him on the back leading to

his death. Also, they abducted his wife and son.”

Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mohammed Jalige, could not

be reached as his mobile phone was not connecting.

Kaduna is one of the states in Nigeria with high rate of banditry, mass killings and

abductions.

Last week, about 60 people were reported to have been killed in various attacks on communities

in Kaura, Kajuru, Kauru, Zangon Kataf and Jama’a Local Government Areas in the southern part of the state.

FG Extends Ease of Lockdown By One Week The federal government has extended the phase two of the ease of lockdown in the country by another one week.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, disclosed this yesterday during the PTF briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

“We informed you two weeks ago that the process of submitting the Sixth Interim Report and recommendations for the next steps had commenced. The PTF has reached advanced stages of the process.

“It has also considered that due to the upcoming Sallah (Eid El-Kabir) festivities which coincide with the expiration of the current phase, it would be prudent to extend by one week,

from 29th July 2020 till Thursday, 6th August 2020.

“It has accordingly secured permission to retain the existing guidelines until that date. ”Considering the importance of international air travel to the economy, the PTF and the aviation sector are working hard to fast track the reopening of the international airspace.

“Most importantly, the arrival protocols for passengers on inbound flights are being firmed up for seamless testing and detection. Relevant MDAs will be holding further consultations.

“The COVID-19 remains very virulent and very dangerous,” he said.

The PTF chairman, however, appealed to Nigerians to comply with the precautionary guidelines and measures put in place.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 648 to 41,180 Martins Ifijeh

Nigeria has recorded 648 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 41,180 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 180 new cases; Plateau, 148; Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 44; Ondo, 42;

Kwara, 38; Rivers, 32; Oyo, 29; Kaduna, 21; Osun, 20; Edo and Ogun, 17 each; Ekiti, 11; Kano, Benue and Delta, nine each; Niger, seven; Gombe, three; while Borno, Bauchi and Imo recorded one each.

It said: “Nigeria has so far recorded 41,180 cases of COVID-19. 18,203 patients have been discharged, while 860 persons have died.”

Defilement: Appeal Court Affirms ex-Chrisland Supervisor’s 60Years’ Imprisonment The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the 60-year jail term imposed on a former Supervisor at Chrisland School, Mr. Adegboyega Adenekan, who was convicted of defiling a female pupil of the school, aged two years.

Adenekan was convicted of the offence on October 24, 2019,

by Justice Sybil Nwaka of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja.

Displeased with Justice Nwaka’s verdict, Adenekan had through his lawyer, Mr Olatunde Adejuyigbe (SAN), approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn it.

But a three-man appeal court panel, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

The appellate court affirmed

the 60-year jail term imposed on him by the high court.

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions had told the trial court that Adenekan had “unlawful sexual intercourse” with the minor in November 2016 in Lagos in contravention of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Upon his arraignment in January 2018, Adenekan had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, in the judgment delivered on October 24, 2019, Justice Nwaka pronounced him guilty.

The judge said with seven witnesses, including the two-year-old victim, the prosecution succeeded in proving the charges against Adenekan.

CREATING VALUE FOR SHAREHOLDERS...

L-R: Non-Executive Director, NASCON Allied Industries Plc, Dr. Chris Ogbechie; Chairperson, Mrs. ‘Yemisi Ayeni; Non-Executive Director, Mr. Olakunle Alake; and Managing Director, Mr. Paul Farrer, at the Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos... yesterday

Oba of Benin Palace Attack: PDP Demands Apology from APC, Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu Chuks Okocha Okocha in Abuja The National Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Edo state Governorship Election (PDPNCCEGE) has demanded that the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole as well as the APC’s governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu should tender an unreserved

apology to the Edo State traditional institution for bringing thugs to attack guests and desecrate the palace of the highly revered Oba of Benin, last Saturday.

In the same vein, the chairman of the PDPNCCEGE, Dr. Raymond Dopkesi yesterday warned that the PDP is not intimidated or scared because of the attack on the party near the gate of the Oba’s palace.

“The PDP definitely is not scared nor frightened nor intimidated by

the act. But you know that when you have this frequent attacks, there is bound to be apathy, people are bound to be frightened.

“I think it is only very clear and there is no gain saying about it that the APC must be called to order by the President himself and by the security agencies”.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Publicity sub-Committee PDP National Campaign Council on Edo Governorship Election

(PDP NCCEGE), Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said that findings from the party’s investigations, including hard evidence contained in the video of the attack posted by agents of the APC, clearly showed that the assault was coordinated by the APC and its leaders in Edo State to embarrass the traditional council and create a situation of chaos in the state with the view to derailing the electoral process.

25 COVID-19Vaccines undergoing Scientific Analysis, Says WHO FG activates 60 testing laboratories

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that 25 vaccines are currently undergoing clinical analysis to discover their efficacy for the prevention of COVID-19.

Speaking yesterday at the media briefing by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo said the proposed

vaccines will be subjected to clinical evaluation by Health experts While presenting his update on efforts to check COVID-19 infection in the country, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that 60 laboratories have so far been activated throughout the country “60 PCR Public Health laboratories are now active in Nigeria, which together should

be in a position to address testing capacity challenges and ramp up utilisation if only the logistics could be improved”.

On his part, the Director General, (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu responded to a question about the two million testing target his centre had set for three months, saying that though the numbers have not gotten near the target, it has helped to mobilise Nigerians

to voluntarily submit to testing The presidential task force has also explained why it might not be imposing precision lockdowns on the 11 high-burden council areas of the country.

National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, who gave the explanation, said locking the said council areas down would most certainly pull the entire states where such council areas belong to into lockdown with them.

Ekiti AG, Other Fayemi’s Appointees Test Positive Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda and some unnamed members of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s cabinet, have tested positive for COVID-19 pandemic disease.

This came few days after Fayemi had announced his COVID-19 positive status on his Twitter handle.

Fapohunda announced this yesterday via his official twitter handle @agwalefapohunda, noted that he had commenced the mandatory isolation for adequate treatment while the Solicitor General of the State had been directed to take charge of all legal matters in the state.

“The result of my second COVID-19 test came out positive today. In line with the established

protocols, I have commenced a period of self-isolation. In my absence, all state legal matters should be referred to the Solicitor-General of the State,” he tweeted.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, confirmed during the COVID-19 Task Force press briefing that the attorney general and some unnamed members of the cabinet had tested positive for the virus.

Yaya-Kolade stated that it is against the medical ethics to disclose the identity of COVID-19 patients although “those who tested positive have the liberty to announce it on their own.”

She added that the state governor was doing fine and in good spirit and called on the people to adhere to all laid down guidelines and protocols in order to checkmate the spread of the virus in the state.

Presidential Ambition Responsible for Dogara’s Defection, Says PDP BoT Chairman Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ripples of the last week’s defection of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have continued as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jubrin, yesterday said the former Speaker defected to pursue his

presidential ambition.

He also said Dogara’s presidential ambition could not be realised within the PDP. Jubrin said: “As a member of the BoT, Dogara never complained of any misunderstanding or quarrel with the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.”

In a statement he signed, the PDP BoT chairman said: “I suspects that the former speaker

has a plan. I begin to suspect that Dogara has a plan of becoming president or vice president in 2023 which he knows he will never archive in PDP. The PDP BoT chairman said he is sorry for Dogara after reading his reasons for dumping the PDP, stating that he discovered that the reasons are self-serving, as the former Speaker never complained to him as the BoT chairman of

any wrong doing against the governor of Bauchi State.

According to the PDP BoT chairman, “I have read with mixed feelings the reasons given by former Speaker Dogara for decamping to the APC. I am equally sorry for Dogara for not adhering to all avenues available in the party constitution for settlement of disputes or complaints by a member of the party.

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

11

NEWS

Review NDDC Act Now to End Looting, Itsekiri Leaders Tell Buhari Sunday Okobi The leaders of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to completely review the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act with the aim of returning the agency under the supervision of the presidency.

These leaders of the oil-

producing area in Delta State at a press conference yesterday in Lagos lamented that the goals and objectives on which NDDC was founded have been hugely defeated.

They added that without going back to the cradle by thoroughly reviewing the NDDC Act and appointing capable hands from the ‘genuine’ oil-producing communities to man the NDDC,

the commission would remain a failed project, while the supposed beneficiaries - Niger Delta people - would continue to suffer under-development in the area.

One of the leaders and human rights activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, who spoke on behalf of the people of the region, also called for the scraping of the Ministry of

Niger Delta, saying the ministry has failed in its supervisory role in the NDDC saga.

She lamented that NDDC is now a cash cow for politicians.

She accused politicians of siphoning monies meant for the development of the area, adding that with the presidency’s direct supervision of the interventionist agency, all the anomalies in the

commission would be curbed.

The veteran journalist further noted that the Master Plan of the agency has not been followed since its inaugural on June 5, 2000, “and that is why till date, there is no evidence that the interventionist agency like NDDC was founded to assuage the suffering of the people of the Niger Delta area.”

While appreciating President

Muhammadu Buhari for his interest in the NDDC affairs, Ogbebor called on the president to scrap the supervisory ministry as well as get to the root of the ‘unprecedented’ looting in the commission, adding that if the NDDC is directly attached to the presidency, the Ministry of Niger Delta would be irrelevant.

NOVA Merchant Bank’s Debut N10bn Bond Group: Okunbo Has No Connection With Corruption Charges against Diezani Oversubscribed by 300% NOVA Merchant Bank, a leading merchant bank in Nigeria, has announced the successful issuance of its N10 billion seven-Year Subordinated Unsecured Bond under its N50 billion debt issuance programme. The transaction represents NOVA’s first bond issuance in the debt market and was oversubscribed by 300 per cent.

The offer, which opened on June 30, 2020 following relevant approval from the Securities & Exchange Commission(SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), closed on July 8, 2020 with a bond yield guidance of 12 per cent to 12.50 per cent.

In spite of volatility in markets due to COVID-19 pandemic, the transaction was highly demanded with a diversified

order book made up of discerning investors including asset managers, insurance companies, domestic pension funds, non-financial institution corporates, high networth individuals as well as international fund managers.

The lead issuing house, United Capital Plc, described the transaction as unprecedented while the joint issuing houses Stanbic IBTC Capital, UCML Capital Limited, Emerging Africa and Greenwich Trust Limited jointly stated it was a remarkable deal.

This is one of the major corporate bond issuances by a Merchant Bank in Nigeria’s capital market, thus reflecting NOVA’s strong credit quality as well as the resilience of its business model despite current global challenges.

The Chairman, NOVA Merchant Bank, Mr. Phillips Oduoza expressed excitement over the success of the company’s debut issue as it places the Bank on a firm footing to achieve its short-term and long-term goals.

He said, “The oversubscription of this bond offer is yet another significant milestone in the history of the Bank and represents a vote of confidence by the investment community in the resilience of our business model. We will continue to march forward with confidence in the realisation of our strategic objectives.”

Oduoza added that the bank is well positioned to fulfil its promise to focus on providing long-term funding which is critical to the economic development of the country.

Faith Akah The The linking of a multibillionaire businessman, Capt.

Hosa Okunbo to the humongous corruption allegations against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke is nothing but a ploy by mischief makers to dent his hard-earned reputation, a group has said.

Concerned Maritime Operators (CMO), in a statement issued yesterday said “all the co-travellers of Diezani are either in exile or in court with her,” insisting that there is no basis whatsoever to associate Okunbo with the alleged misappropriation of state funds by the former minister.

“Co-travellers of Diezani are either in exile or in court with

her. From our findings, Captain has never written a statement in the EFCC or any anti-corruption agency to date. If he was with Dieziani, will he still be doing business in the NNPC where he is still a champion for service delivery?” the group queried.

Okunbo, a former commercial pilot, is the chairman of Ocean Marine Security Limited, an offshore asset protection company, rendering services to major oil companies in Nigeria, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

CMO Chairman, Mr. Tunde Hamzat said in the statement that Okunbo’s business and personal ethics are so firmly anchored on the steadfast rock of conscience and integrity.

“The renowned and revered

businessman would never use gilded words to mask deceit; neither does he brandish fickle principles and statistics to conclude with a false truth. He is, indeed, unlike many rabble-rousers who flashes documents to lock down evidence but never real facts to back their proof.”

Hamzat expressed displeasure over what he called sheer laziness and unprofessionalism on the side of some bloggers who have sustained the misrepresentation of the contract that formed the basis for the misleading publication.

According to him, the falsehood is being assisted with the ubiquity and freedom of social media, adding that it had become increasingly clear that maintaining silence further would be misconstrued for consent.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020

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POLITICS

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

Ize-Iyamu Wants to Set the Record Straight Vanessa Obioha writes on the unrivalled optimism of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 19 governorship contest in Edo State

I

f the ousted National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole did not disentangle from the incumbent governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki; if the latter hadn’t defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the last minute to continue his political ambition to run for second term in the state, perhaps Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s bid to contest in the gubernatorial election in September will not be enmeshed in controversies. But that is just a possibility. Anyone familiar with the political landscape in Nigeria will not be gobsmacked by the series of reputational defamation displayed by contenders in the race to Edo’s most wanted public seat. It is an essential prop on the political stage.

Ize-Iyamu’s emergence as the APC’s gubernatorial candidate has been very dramatic such that his political intentions are almost muted. What thrives in the public domain about him is his past relationship with Oshiomhole. His opponents have fed on this storyline, recycled it to a point of redundancy that even their consumers are experiencing gastronomical pains digesting it.

Instead of engaging in a war of words, Ize-Iyamu chose to turn the other cheek as his faith requires him to do. He is rather keeping the records straight for the benefit of pundits and doubting Thomases.

Top on his mind is the S.I.M.P.L.E. Agenda, his template for governance if elected. There are purported claims that the lawyer and clergyman is not the originator of the blueprint. Reacting to the false accusations, Ize-Iyamu revealed that he had developed the roadmap as far back as 2013, before his first attempt to run for governor in the state in 2016. However, Don Pedro Obaseki, a brother to Godwin Obaseki initially advertised the agenda while announcing his intentions to run for office in a TV interview. On hearing about Don Pedro’s claims, Ize-Iyamui had put a call to him and demanded that he retract his statement and acknowledge him as the originator of the agenda which the former did.

To learn that this is one of the tricks his detractors will use to discredit his personality is almost risible to the clergyman.

“One good thing is that nobody is quarrelling with the agenda. What they are quarelling with is who wrote it. So they accept that the agenda is thorough, that the agenda makes sense. With all modesty, I don’t need to go to the rooftop, I wrote this as far back as 2013.”

Under the revised edition which is shorter in length and reflects the realities on ground, the agenda covers key areas of concern in the state which are represented by the letters. Thus, S stands for Security and Social Welfare, I stands for Infrastructural Development/ Urban Renewal, M stands for Manpower Development and Training, P stands for Public Private Partnership (PPP), L stands for Leadership by Example, and E stands for Employment Creation and Social Empowerment Scheme.

The new document is also SMART, according to the APC candidate. It is another acronym that stands for the qualities of the proposed agenda. In this case, the agenda will be Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Reliable and Time Bound.

“We are conscious of the fact that if we are elected, it is for a period of four years. So, whatever we want to

Ize-Iyamu

do, we have it at the back of our mind that we have a four year mandate, so we must execute and complete it within that period.”

While he didn’t state categorically if he will limit his tenure to one term, he emphasized that he will focus on his first term because nobody knows what may happen tomorrow.

Not done with his clarifications, Ize-Iyamu waded into the alleged godfatherism war between Obaseki and Oshiomhole.

“The narrative in some quarters is that the present Edo governor is doing a fantastic job and he is being oppressed by his godfather and other people who want to take Edo’s money.

Since he refused, they kicked him out of the party. Let’s start with the wrong notion that we have a technocrat as a governor. How can you have a governor

who didn’t pass his school certificate.

His action alone breeds doubts on the educational system. How was he able to enter the university with three credits and none of them were English and Maths. So the issue of calling him a technocrat is a joke.”

Obaseki’s questionable academic qualifications were the main stumbling block that disqualified him from representing Edo state and was seen as the handwork of Oshiomhole.

But Ize-Iyamu thinks otherwise.

“He is always talking about godfather.

Who is the godfather? What were his demands? Throughout the period they had this issue, even before I came into the APC, I have never heard the governor say this is the specific thing that Oshiomhole was demanding, just mere allegations. Even some politicians have asked him to mention names

Ize-Iyamu also lamented the current state of Edo state, claiming that the state has become a den of kidnappers because the security votes are not well expended, thus security agents are not armed to their teeth to protect the lives of citizens. This is the governor who increased the security votes of the state from N6 billion to N7.5 billion. The money goes to him. He further alleged that Obaseki is yet to fulfill any of his campaign promises from the education sector to the health sector

of those who wanted the Edo state government, yet no name came. So that story is not true.”

Ize-Iyamu also lamented the current state of Edo state, claiming that the state has become a den of kidnappers because the security votes are not well expended, thus security agents are not armed to their teeth to protect the lives of citizens.

“This is the governor who increased the security votes of the state from N6 billion to N7.5 billion. The money goes to him.”

He further alleged that Obaseki is yet to fulfill any of his campaign promises from the education sector to the health sector. He claimed that despite the loud cheer of EDO-BEST, one of Obaseki’s educational programmes, that the governor did not employ a teacher throughout his four-year term.

Despite all the shortcomings of the incumbent governor, Ize-Iyamu is offering to rescue the people of Edo if elected with passion, commitment, accountability and transparency.

One thing the lawyer has going from him is the coalition of interests supporting him, not only from the APC but also from the opposition party.

With this level of support, Ize-Iyamu is confident that he may succeed in the upcoming election. But what really gives him the morale boost is the people of Edo. He is happy about the new level of political consciousness among the people.

“They are no longer voting people because he is from their neighbourhood, or he offered them cash or from their party. Rather, they are supporting me because they have read my S.I.M.P.L.E. Agenda and are convinced by my manifesto of hope,” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020

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POLITICS

The Defective Dogara Moves Again Udora Orizu writes that the cycle of defection by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, justifies the widely held opinion that Nigerian political parties are populated by fairweather politicians, who do not subscribe principles and ethics

O

n the evening of July 24th, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, again defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party he dumped before the 2019 general election. Following the defection, Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Abuja. The defection marked the second time the embattled ex-speaker would dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC. Dogara had first dumped PDP ahead of the 2015 general election and joined APC. He dumped the APC again for PDP in 2018 ahead of the 2019 polls.

Dogara was led to a meeting with the president on Friday by the Chairman of APC Caretaker/National Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who introduced Dogara to Buhari as a returnee to the ruling party.

The culture of defecting from one political party to another has been a norm to Nigerian politicians, especially in the presidential system of government.

This norm, sadly has justified the accepted culture that some politicians allow personal ambition to turn them to political prostitutes.

The defection of Dogara to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) came as a surprise to many. The Former Speaker who represents Bogoro/DassTafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives, had defected to the PDP alongside former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and incumbent Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in 2018.

Dogara and Saraki had a fall out with the leadership of the APC over their emergence as leaders in the eight National Assembly, a move that was against the interest of the party. He had in 2018 left the APC for the PDP after a rift with the former governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar.

The two as the presiding officers in the 8th Assembly did not have a warm working relationship with the executive arm of government, which led to the ruling party working so that the lawmakers who defected to the PDP did not return as federal lawmakers after the 2019 election.

The former speaker had also only recently headed a screening panel of the PDP primary for the Ondo State governorship election.

The defection which trended on various social media, got tongues wagging and people airing their views, some opined that he won’t be an asset to APC but a liability, some said his decision to dump the PDP is not surprising considering that he has not been heard of in the party lately.

Another section of the populace believes that with the defection, Dogara has lost his political value, others said he has clearly shown by that he cannot be trusted as a member of any political party.

But majority believe that calculations for the 2023 Presidency, particularly regarding the significance of a northern Christian candidate, may have largely influenced his decision to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to THISDAY findings as reported on July 25th, Sources said the permutations uppermost on the minds of the current leadership of the party, while pushing for Dogara to return to the APC, included the option of the former speaker being used as Christian running mate, in case the party settles for a Muslim Southern Presidential candidate in 2023.

The source said Dogara is also seen

Dogara

as a candidate that could be sold for the Presidency of Nigeria in the South, being a Christian, in case “the powers that be” decide not to cede power to the South.

“The forces controlling the APC view Dogara as a younger version of the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is also seen as a northern Christian option, in case they need to push a Christian candidate for the Presidency in 2023. Dogara in his early 50s is much younger than Boss Mustapha who will be close to 70 by then,” said the source close to the current leadership of the APC in Abuja.

Another source at the PDP national headquarters admitted recent disagreement between Dogara and Governor Bala Mohammed in his native Bauchi State, but said such was not the factor that influenced his defection to the APC.

The source, who has partnered with Dogara’s political camp in the last few years said: “Yes, it is positioning and there are two permutations in this. It is positioning to have a Christian as a presidential running mate from the Northeast in 2023, which is the easiest scenario.

“The second permutation is that should the Northern establishment be unwilling to cede power to the South in 2023, a Northern Christian with support from across geopolitical boundaries will be a master stroke.”

It was gathered that Dogara was excited by these permutations and subsequently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the APC, the party he dumped in 2018 ahead of the 2019 general election.

When told that people would be surprised to see him visit the president along with Dogara, Buni said there was

Another section of the populace believes that with the defection, Dogara has lost his political value, others said he has clearly shown by that he cannot be trusted as a member of any political party. But majority believe that calculations for the 2023 Presidency, particularly regarding the significance of a northern Christian candidate, may have largely influenced his decision to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to THISDAY findings as reported on July 25th, Sources said the permutations uppermost on the minds of the current leadership of the party, while pushing for Dogara to return to the APC, included the option of the former speaker being used as Christian running mate, in case the party settles for a Muslim Southern Presidential candidate in 2023

nothing to be surprised about, because the former speaker had officially returned to the party.

According to him, factors which led to his exit from APC in 2018 had since been nipped in the bud.

He said the president was happy to see Dogara return to the party as part of APC’s reconciliation efforts, and welcomed him back to the party.

Buni added that the party was currently contacting aggrieved members of the party, including those who had earlier dumped it and now willing to return.

He assured those aggrieved that the party leadership would ensure that justice prevailed in the rebuilding efforts.

He said: “They shouldn’t be surprised because the former speaker is a member of the APC and he is back because the reason he left the APC is no more there.

“He (the president) welcomed him.

He’s happy with the development.

That’s what he’s looking for. We are rebuilding the party and these are the steps we are taking towards rebuilding the party.

“Well, we are meeting all our aggrieved members particularly those who have interest in coming back to the party.

They should feel free to do so. We are assuring them and there is no crime in double assurance.

“We will do justice to all our members and that’s what will bring peace and that is what will guarantee peaceful co-existence. “That is what will bring the consolidation of the party, the rebuilding of the party. Without doing justice, you cannot achieve that and we are sure of doing justice to all our members.”

Asked if the move did not imply strategising towards the 2023 presidential election, Buni responded in the affirmative.

However, he was swift to add that the rebuilding efforts would transcend preparation for 2023 general election.

“Well, of course, not only 2023 strategy.

We are rebuilding the party to outlive all of us. It’s not only about specific time or period. It’s not about election.

It’s not about electioneering. It is about building a party,” he said.

In a swift reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it remained a united party, “waxing stronger daily” and described Dogara’s defection as a personal one, while wishing Dogara the best in his new party.

The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan told THISDAY that there was no crisis in the party and therefore don’t know why Dogara dumped the party for the APC. “It was his personal decision and we wish him well in this his decision. Our party remains one and indivisible, while also waxing stronger,” Ologbondiyan said.

Commenting on the defection, the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere said, ‘’I hope they have not used the propaganda of Northern Christian Vice President to Tinubu to lure Dogara to the APC party that might not survive the upcoming intra party 2023 crisis. PDP Governor of Bauchi treated Dogara bad and sidelined him despite the game changer vote from Dogara’s Tafawa Balewa federal Constituency but joining the fractured APC with a weak leader who is already losing respect among his party men may hang his political survival in the balance. We will be watching how all these plays out.’’

However, whatever the reason for the defection, the question remains, what’s the guarantee that his ambition that led to his defection would be achieved in APC?, what happens if it’s not achieved?

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COMMENT

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

OKOWA GRABS THE BULL

The wage review, though painful, is inevitable, writes Ray Umukoro

E

arly this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted a rash of pay cuts in global public finance amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The prediction has come true across the world.

Delta State, one of the top oil-producing states in Nigeria, recently announced a pay cut for political appointees and civil servants of Grade Level Seven and above. But it would last for only six months starting from July, 2020.

For a state that reviewed the minimum wage without fuss and even back-dated its implementation by four months, this must have been a very hard decision to take. Listening to Chiedu Ebie, Secretary to the State Government, make the announcement, it was obvious that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, famed for his fiscal prudence, had to bend over backwards to take the hard but inevitable decision. But it was not a unilateral decision.

The entire machinery of the state government had to agree with labour to arrive at the decision.

By this, Delta State joins other states and federal parastatals in Nigeria in effecting pay cut in order to sustain public expenditure and ensure continuous implementation of capital projects. Wage cut occasioned by Covid-19 is not new. It’s far better than mass lay-offs as experienced across the private and public sectors around the world.

Pew Research, a respected global research organisation, says about three in 10 US citizens have either lost their job or taken a pay cut due to the pandemic. Nobody saw Covid-19 coming. The best of socio-economic forecasters did not spot it in their radar. It hit the world with a seismic bang. And the effects have been cataclysmic. It saw the best of economies in Europe, the Americas and Asia buckling on their knees. It saw the cream of the corporate world furloughing staff, downsizing, offering pay cuts to staff if they must keep their job.

Covid-19 came with a special recipe for disaster. It came tasking the managerial and administrative skills of world leaders, administrators of public finance and chief drivers of hitherto best-run corporate organisations. The best of global corporations, namely: Amazon, Walmart (the largest private employer in the US), Disney, Uber, have had to furlough employees, introduce pay cuts, or engage in outright lay-off of employees.

Those in travel and leisure business are among the worst hit around the world. Air Canada, British Airways, Lufthansa, Boeing (US aircraft manufacturer) among other top blue chips were brought down by covid-19 and they all, without exception, had to adopt some austerity measures to stay in business including lay-offs, furlough and closure of branches.

IMF studies have shown that in moments of emergency such as we have in covid-19, wage adjustments always yield fiscal relief for governments at all levels. It frees up funds to tackle the emergency as well as sustain capital projects financing.

Paraguay has had to cut 10 to 20 percent of public overhead; Uruguay creamed off 20 percent of salaries to fund Coronavirus expenditure. San Marino, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Vietnam and many other European and Asian nations have had to creatively take prudent fiscal measures to keep their economies afloat.

This is the sense in which the Delta State interim fiscal measures amount to Governor Okowa taking the bull by the horns. Delta State has

IMF STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IN MOMENTS OF EMERGENCY SUCH AS WE HAVE IN COVID-19, WAGE ADJUSTMENTS ALWAYS YIELD FISCAL RELIEF FOR GOVERNMENTS AT ALL LEVELS

a huge wage bill with a huge civil service population. Conservative estimates placed the monthly wage bill of the state at N7.7 billion and a civil service community of over 48,000 personnel.

One major blow the pandemic dealt to global economy is the sharp drop in crude oil price. Nigeria being a mono-product export economy (Crude oil) is among the worst hit nations. Aside price drop, there was a global glut in crude supply necessitating OPEC and OPEC+ nations to agree to cut in crude production. Nigeria’s production slumped from 2.3 million barrels per day to 1.4 million. The direct translation is low revenue for all tiers of government.

The lockdown arising from the pandemic also meant that commercial activities were shut down. This gravely affected internally-generated revenue in Delta as it did in other states. And when you consider that Delta budget had to be reviewed downward by N113 billion (28 percent slash), then you get the sense in the government introducing interim fiscal measures to sustain public expenditure, meet overhead and personnel expenditure obligation as well as sustain financing of capital projects.

Governor Okowa in his avowal to bequeath a stronger Delta has embarked on many critical infrastructure projects. He was bullish with road construction and sundry infrastructural development in his first term including building roads in far-flung islands in the state; constructing bridges to link hitherto isolated littoral communities. He even earned the moniker Road Master as a testament of his peerless effort in road construction. He has continued on the same path this term, matching his dream of a stronger Delta with infrastructural development in education, healthcare, housing and agriculture.

His devotion to build human capital through skills acquisition, cognitive education and technical empowerment meant that the state would keep sustaining its spend on capital projects. It means also that the state would have to adjust its spend on personnel cost. It’s a tough decision but it is one chiefly in the interest of the people. This is the time leaders would lean on their public finance management skills. Okowa is doing just that. The good thing is that this is not forever. It’s for a period of six months. And it does not affect low income staff below Grade Level seven. Again, it’s a decision that was not thrust down the throat of the civil servants. The government applied emotional intelligence and got organized labour involved. This makes the burden lighter. The people knew why they had to make the sacrifice. They also got the assurance that it was for a period of six months.

Governor Okowa, popularly called Ekwueme (Promise Keeper)

by Deltans has led an administration that is firmly committed to the welfare of its workforce and interest of residents of the state. The quest to make good medicare accessible to all irrespective of age and gender stands Okowa out among the pantheon of governors.

Over the years, he has demonstrated this commitment to people’s welfare by making Delta one of the few states in the federation to have timeously and fully implemented the new minimum wage which became operational in November, 2019.

Umukoro wrote from Asaba

ELITE DRAMATURGY IN NIGERIA’S CORRUPTION PROBES Oludayo Tade canvasses the need of teaching the virtue of truthfulness

S

ociology, the scientific study of human society empowers us to dissect and analyse complex human behaviours and predict how human beings behave in context after consistent observation of patterned behaviours. Through Sociology, we are able to appreciate that human beings are sentimental beings who manifest different behaviours in different contexts. For instance, we can say politicians are friendlier and clad themselves in humanitarian robes when eyeing political offices. Once the ambition is realised, the previously nice person transforms into constituted authority and harmonises interest with other parasitic elites in power. The politician is not alone here since, the politician grew up from the society where deceit is nurtured and through socialisation its transmission from one person to the other, one institution to another and generation to another has been seamless. It is this deceitful nature that is reproduced and unleashed depending on the context of the acting individual. The unreal nature of our social interactions embeds deceit. While still far away, we lie to people on phone that we are close by. While healthy we claim we are ill to attract attention, sympathy, favour and get exemption from a task. Taken together, there is a sense in which deceit is synonymous with pretence and corruption.

A Yoruba maxim, eni to ba pa iro a ja ole (A person that lies will steal) unpacks admired virtue of truthfulness and uprightness in human dealings.

How is the foregoing useful for explaining the deceitful mannerism of the Nigerian elite in relation to corruption probes in Nigeria?

Recent events in the National Assembly serve as eye-opener. The probe of alleged misappropriation of money by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) shows the character of deceit in high

places. It shows how corruption probe may be a strategic negotiation tool to re-align and re-strategise the looting of the common patrimony. Additionally, through this probe, Nigerians are presented with another opportunity to see why National Assembly members fight over the membership of juicy committees and that the oversight function may be oriented towards ‘eating out of the allocated national cake’. We are able to better appreciate how the Niger-Delta elite profit from the suffering of a society which they claim they are part of but corner all the benefits and share all the crumbs. This is the essential character of those claiming to speak for ethnic groups in Nigeria. In most cases, the shout of marginalisation of a region is not for the betterment of the region. Rather, it is the marginalisation of the parasitic ethnic leadership structures in the national exchange system. Parasitic ethnic elite are uninterested in the survival of their people because they benefit through the misery of their people; they ride on their people’s sufferings step into greatness and political positioning. Niger-Deltans dominate the NDDC commission and same people are allegedly ripping off their region. In this, ‘let me explain’ and ‘Mr Minister, Its Ok, off the mic’, we see how the ‘principalities and powers in high places’ collectively rubbish the essence of the anti-corruption crusade.

Fully understanding the transactional character of our national life and the shared immoral economy of deceit unpacks how elite facing corruption charges and those out of favour with power centers put up ill-health dramaturgy. Even hardened criminal and billionaire kidnapper, Evans also put up ill-health performance when he was arrested to elicit sympathy. Ill-health has been repeatedly employed in order not to appear before a panel/ court, not to answer or respond to queries or to get favourable request from the law court. Deployment

of ill-health strategy has been a consistent pattern by the high and mighty. This is clear from Olisa Metu’s fainting, to collapsing Dino Melaye, Ayo Fayose’s ‘sifia pain’ Nollywood and the latest artistic delivery of pondeism (a sudden ill-health dramaturgy employed to stop further anti-corruption probe queries) by acting MD of NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei. While NDDC Director, Corporate affairs, Charles Odili explained that Pondei had been ill before appearing at the panel, the believability of such claim is watery when one considers the bizarre coincidence between the moment of slumping and the questions of spending asked by the panellists.

In essence, many of these performances follow the same pattern of deceitful display of ill-health to buy time and get more opportunity to negotiate soft landing, frustrate investigation, appeal to human rights community, and ultimately delay justice.

There is danger when pretence is deployed as an escape strategy and deceit is used as survivalist strategy. It has implication for socialising the succeeding generation to embrace deceitful living (Hushpuppism), legitimising the grabbing of what belongs to the majority for oneself without caring how that affects the life chances of others.

Were it not for COVID-19, those paraded by EFCC on allegation of corruption would have sought relief of the court to attend to their ill-health abroad but with the pandemic, they are forced to stay at home. The game of deceit is entrenched for scoring political points, bending the rules, exploiting the system and nailing political enemies. This is what I see in Mr Godwill Akpabio who had earlier claimed that Joi Nunieh was relieved of her position owing to insubordination and later claimed she was excused for not possessing National Youth Service Certificate or exemption letter. Joi Nunieh and Akpabio’s vituperations are good for the public,

unveiling how the swinging of power pendulum determines who is protected and who is nailed in the corridors of power.

Shall we absolve the National Assembly in all this? Certainly not. The National Assembly must probe its overbearing oversight which obviously contributes to the phenomena of budget inflation and padding to take care of the interest of compromised chairmen so that specific agency’s budget can pass. Professor Attahiru Jega, former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) at a public forum had unveiled how some committee heads in the National Assembly asked for money from Chief Executives and University Heads in the name of oversight functions. Are the compromised committee heads not members of religious groups where they are celebrated rather than scolded? Is the slumped MD not a role model to some others in the society? Are supposed future leaders, the youths (hushpuppies) not learning faster than the hushdogs in high places? What is the importance of Treasury Single Account (TSA) which the government claimed is designed to fight corruption? Is it only designed to forcefully enlist university lecturers and allow the COVID-419 in commissions like NDDC to thrive? We cannot continue to live in sin and expect grace to abound. When the foundation of pretence is laid and nurtured across the society, the upright will suffer for liars will be enthroned and society destroyed. Can we turn the tide? We might have acted in error by enthroning “misleaders”, let us begin the arduous task of righting the wrongs from the family by teaching the virtue of truthfulness in order to build a new generation of leaders equipped to champion and actualise the seemingly elusive social re-engineering.

Dr Tade, a sociologist sent this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020

EDITORIAL CURBING MALPRACTICES IN BANKS The authorities could do more to contain the menace

R

ecent figures from the Nigerian Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF) reveal that no fewer than 63,895 bank customers lost a total of N3.6billion to cyber fraud in 2017 and 2018. Of these figures, the mobile channel recorded the highest volume and value estimated at 11,492 and N598.8 million respectively, according to the Director of Payments System Management Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sam Okojere, who chairs NEFF. To compound the challenge, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has also revealed a spike in internal fraud cases perpetrated by staff of banks.

In perpetrating their internal abuse, unscrupulous bankers connive with outsiders to defraud unsuspecting customers by helping fraudsters to open fake accounts into which victims are deceived to make deposits. Mohammed Ibrahim, head, Communications and Public Affairs of the NDIC said the corporation’s report was THE GOVERNMENT MUST drawn from off-site supervision of the HAVE THE COURAGE deposit money banks TO SHUT DOWN ANY (DMBs). According to ACCOUNT THAT IS NOT him, 286 responses LINKED TO BVN from banks in 2017 showed that 26,182 cases of fraud and forgeries were 56.30 per cent higher than 16,751 cases reported in 2016.

Furthermore, he said the amount involved in documented fraudulent activities increased by N3.3 billion from the N8.7 billion reported in 2016 to N12 billion in 2017 or 38 per cent. Ibrahim also said internet/onlinebanking and ATM/card-related fraud-cases that were reported amounted to 24,266 or 92.68 per cent of all the reported cases, culminating in N1.51 billion or 63.66 per cent losses in the banking sector in 2017.

What is particularly irksome in these unwholesome acts is the level of negligence and carefree attitude by the management of the various banks involved.

Letters to the Editor

Ordinarily, especially in this age, you expect every bank to have a sound database with effective platforms for tracing fraudsters. But such is the level of criminal negligence that some unscrupulous bank employees now open fraudulent accounts for their cronies within the system without being detected. With that, it becomes easy for criminals masquerading as bankers to provide information to their co-conspirators, leading to online/internet fraud.

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

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

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

The Killing Of The Wrong People

T

hey seek my views on every issue. I have my concerns and do not like to be disturbed but sometimes you cannot run away from responding to questions especially from people you know, many of whom trust you, and rely on your judgment?

“Do you believe that the killings in Southern Kaduna will ever stop?” one of the fellows asked me. A friend of his colleague was killed recently in Kaduna.

How I would know bothered me, I thought deeply. Do they think I am a security expert? I was arrogant with my response. I should be, the Covid-19 pandemic came around all of a sudden and messed up my finance in a year with very many opportunities. “Do you think it will ever come to an end?’ I asked them. “With the right strategy set up to handle these Fulani herdsmen of course.”

He responded.

“Do you think these killings are carried out by Fulani herdsmen?

I asked him. “Of course, you of all people should know that the killings are by herdsmen.” He answered disrespectfully.

“Well I don’t think the killings are carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Kaduna, but by terrorists funded by people.” I was now looking for a way to bring this discussion to an end. My right leg hurts after a road accident I had five weeks ago.

So I told them.

“Nigeria is a complex country. Things that are not accepted in medieval times are normal in Nigeria. In this country there are right and wrong people. The people of Southern Kaduna unfortunately are the wrong people. If they had their own state, to superintend over their own affairs, they might then have been the right people.

eanwhile, one of the platforms for fighting online fraud is bank verification number (BVN). But several months after the expiration of the deadline given by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to banks for the issuance of BVN, many accounts are not yet linked with any verification number. It should also be noted that the level of fraudulent cases and magnitude of losses in banks would ultimately exceed the discoveries of NDIC as the corporation’s findings were only predicated on reported cases whereas there are obviously many cases of fraud that are not reported as victims mourn in silence.

Against this backdrop, the magnitude of losses recorded by bank customers, according to NDIC, to the tune of N3.3billion in 2017, should be a wake-up call to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight into bank operations with a view to flushing out criminal elements and put paid to their nefarious acts. Otherwise, the government’s bid to promote e-payment and entrench a robust cashless economy will fail to achieve optimal result.

If the federal government is indeed committed to fighting financial crimes, it must take decisive steps to end internal robbery going on in the banks by reading the riot acts to them that they should either clean up their systems or face adequate sanctions. The government must also have the courage to shut down any account that is not linked to BVN while giving innocent owners the platforms to apply through their banks. This will go a long way in entrenching sanity in banking operations and restore citizens’ confidence in banks.

And so the right people champion and arm to the teeth other right people to kill the wrong people. These right people travel at times of curfew to kill the wrong people. Can you believe that? And you have to wonder where the right people in the security agencies are when these happen. The state therefore is complicit. The state asks the wrong people not to even the score, not to procure weapons but allows the right people to procure weapons to overthrow the wrong people to death escaping through Nigerian roads.

At dawn with lifeless bodies everywhere, the wrong people go on protestation with sticks and cudgels and stones, some run amok and kill an innocent herder (I don’t support such) but often times not, and the wrong people are arrested and jailed with media coverage backed by the right people to paint a picture of the wrong people as agent-provocateurs. These right people are never agentprovocateurs. They are never arrested, tried in court and sentenced to jail and death. NEVER! And so their mission is to put the currency of fear on the heads of the wrong people so as to see the right people as Lord and Master so they can steal their land. Haven’t you noticed how proactive the president is and the swift reaction of the military to the killings of the right people in states of Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto?

Nigeria can only get better when people who believe in humanity and the common good are installed to lead the country. These good-for-nothing motor park touts have destroyed Kaduna and Nigeria. Humanists do not believe some people are wrong people but pursue the rightness of causes to gladden the hearts of all.”

Simon Abah, Abuja

No Voodoo In Minna Army Barracks

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he attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an article published on Sunday 26th July 2020 of THISDAY entitled, “Voodooism at the Minna Army Barracks”. The article was written by Sunday Adole Jonah of the Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. The author who claimed to be a one- time barracks boy shared what he described as his “ugly experience when he strolled round the Minna barracks on Sunday 19 July 2020 after visiting the mammy market.” He claimed he saw disgusting sight of voodoo sacrificial items kept at roads junction inside the barracks close to corpers’ lodge. As at the time he saw it, the items according to him “had then been scattered about in the wind and misty rain”. “White handkerchief, a collection of four amulets (laya in Hausa), traces of red stuffs” and other unidentifiable materials were things he claimed that made up the voodoo

sacrifice. He queried the place of religion in the barracks and expressed surprise that such things could still be found in the 21st century Nigeria when everything can be explained by science. Having thoroughly examined the article, it is important to point out that the Nigerian Army officially recognises only two religions ie Christianity and Islam. Places of worship are provided for both Christians and Muslim faithful at Minna barracks just like any other barracks around the country. Consequently, Nigerian Army does not condone or encourage any form of sacrilegious practice under any guise whatsoever. Any army personnel reported and is confirmed to have been involved in Voodoo practices will be decisively dealt with.

Kindly publish this in your esteemed medium to correct the wrong impression created in the minds of the publics by the publication.

Major Sydney Mbaneme,Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 31 Artillery Brigade

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TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͰͶ˜ 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08152447875

Ͱ Ͳ ˜ Ͱ ͮ Ͱ ͮ MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

REPO 2.20 1.60

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3 4 6

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

587.32% 0.00% 4.35%

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

4.35% 22.06%

EXCHANGE RATE N381/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes CIBN Inaugurates Council Committees

CHANGE OF BATON

L-R: National Association of Microfinance Banks’ (NAMB) Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Sidi Bamali, Outgoing President of the association, Mr. Rogers Nwoke, handing over the instrument of office to the newly elected President, Alhaji Yusuf Gyallesu, during NAMB’s 10th Annual General Meeting heldinAbuja…recently

Nigeria Taps Opportunity in Undergrid Mini-grid to Boost Power Supply Peter Uzoho No fewer than 230 households and 60 commercial and public enterprises, including healthcare centres, are currently being served

by Nigeria’s first undergrid minigrid technology in Mokoloki, a rural community in Ogun State, after three months of operation in the area.

The project formally launched recently was a product of a partnership by Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), and Nayo Tropical Technology (Nayo Tech) with active support of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

According to a joint statement, RMI, IBEDC, and Nayo Tech, with support from REA, joined forces to accelerate the commercial deployment of undergrid minigrid technology in the Nigerian energy sector.

It stated that the Mokoloki project demonstrates a financially-

ENERGY viable business model that could provide electricity access to millions living in underserved rural communities throughout the country.

“Part of the work we do at REA is creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects to thrive. We are delighted to witness strategic collaborations geared toward accelerating energy access in unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria,” Managing Director of REA, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo, said.

He added: “What makes this project unique, beyond being Nigeria’s first commercial undergrid minigrid in a rural community, is the social and economic transformation that the project ultimately brings to the Mokoloki community.

“I commend RMI, IBEDC, Nayo Tech and all other stakeholders involved in carrying out

this feat.”

The Chief Operating Officer, IBEDC, Mr. John Ayodele, said, “By the time this project stabilises, Mokoloki will be like a town.

They will have more regular power supply than cities.”

IBEDC was the first Nigerian distribution company to initiate a tripartite contract negotiation with a rural community as required for interconnected minigrids by regulation.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Nayo Tech, Anayo Okenwa Nas, said: “We are excited to be in the forefront of undergrid minigrid development in Africa as a scalable and sustainable business opportunity with good social impact on our host communities.”

Mokoloki, was previously struggling with intermittent electricity access and poor voltage quality prior to this project, a situation that has now gone for good.

However, its bustling market

and proximity to main trade routes promised major commercial activity, making it an ideal site for an undergrid mini-grid, as explained in the newly released project brief and article.

According to the Principal at RMI, Mr. James Sherwood, “Mokoloki’s undergrid mini-grid shows how utilities, developers, and communities can collaboratively develop innovative power solutions, and this willingness to test new approaches has unlocked a new option for increasing energy access.”

RMI hoped that the success of the source of power supply would jump-start similar partnerships that serve customers across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

Using a modular design approach, the solar-hybrid minigrid is initially providing 100KW of generation for an estimated peak load of 88KW, with an expansion plan in place for anticipated load growth.

Microfinance Banks Seek N250bn to Support MSMEs The National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide a special N250 billion intervention fund for micro, small and mediumsized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country to support ongoing economic recovery agenda of the government.

The outgoing President of the association, Mr Rogers Nwoke, made the call during the association’s 10th Annual General Meeting held virtually in Abuja. Nwoke, who commended the central bank on its sundry measures to fast-track the nation’s economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, pointed out that since the N50 billion intervention fund now being disbursed by NIRSAL MFB cannot adequately meet the

ECONOMY needs of MSMEs nationwide, the need for additional funding for the enterprises had become imperative.

The chartered banker said in view of the critical roles MFBs on the MSMEs and micro development of the country, the proposed N250 billion should be disbursed through qualified MFBs. He said: “The role of government in microfinance is to provide an enabling environment for private capital to thrive and where government chooses to intervene in funding, such intervention must should be appropriately distributed to critical stakeholders.

“Let me use this opportunity to renew our request for a N250 billion to MSMEs to be disbursed

through qualifying microfinance banks”, the NAMB President added.

This is even as he urged the CBN to extend the MFBs’ recapitalisation deadline to 2023, by which time the regulator would be in a position to properly appraise the level of capital that support the operations of all MFBs in the country.

In addition, Nwoke also canvassed the need for the CBN to urgently review the prudential guidelines to govern the risk classification of MFB loans within the context of the COVID-19-triggered economic lockdown.

He said doing this would help in forestalling quick erosion of the existing capital of MFBs and enable them to sustain their grassroots financial inclusion

drive in the country.

In his comments at the AGM, the CBN Director, Development Finance Department, represented

by Dr. Ada Momoh, commended the NAMB for its efforts to deepen financial inclusion, particularly through funding of MSMEs over the past few years in spite of the risks.

Similarly, the apex bank’s Director, OFISD, Mrs. Nkiru Asiegbu, who was represented by Mr. Michaeal Daliop, also lauded the association, particularly for promoting grassroots economic growth and assured the leadership of the readiness of the CBN to consider its recommendations on the way to adequately fund and grow the informal sub-sector through joint collaboration in order to build a formidable economy.

TheCharteredInstituteofBankersofNigeria(CIBN)hasinaugurated 14 committees of its Governing Council to strengthen its operations and drive its activities.The inauguration of the Committees consisting of three statutory, nine standing and two Adhoc was in line with the governance of the institute.

Speakingattheinauguration,thePresident/ChairmanofCouncil,Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, said the committees would be required to articulate new initiatives, ideas and strategies toward the actualisation of the strategic vision of the institute.

He charged the members to deploy their expertise and wealth of experience to ensure the realisation of the terms of reference of their various committees for the next two years.The CIBN President expressed gratitude to the 180 members who participated at the first virtual CIBN Committee Inauguration Programme for accepting to sacrifice their time and resources to serve the institute. Members of the Committees who are drawn from all walks of life include Mallam Isa Dutse, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; Femi Pedro,ChairmanSmallandMediumEnterprisesDevelopmentAgency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Mr. U.K Eke, Managing Director/ Chief Executive FBN Holdings; Mrs. Osaretin Demuren, Chairman, GTBank Plc and Bank Directors Association; Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Dr. Ibrahim Rafiu, former Senator; Hon. Justice OlateruOlagbegi (Justice Emeritus) and Mr. Wale Raji, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Odua Investment Company Limited; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim; Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, Commissioner for Finance, Osun State and host of many other eminent banking professionals.

W’Bank, ITF, Anambra Train 81 Persons

The Anambra State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA),aWorldBankassistedproject,inpartnershipwithIndustrial TrainingFund(ITF)hascommencedtrainingfor81citizensofthestateon skillsacquisition.TheGeneral Manager ANCSDA, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Awka, said the trainees were drawn from persons from eight different focal communities and vulnerable groups in six local government areas of the state.

According to Mojekwu, the beneficiaries would receive training on various skills, aimed at reducing poverty by making them self-dependent.

He said: “The benefitting communities and groups were those that identified, prioritized and implemented construction and equipping of skills acquisition centers as their micro projects under the CSDP-AF. “The skills training programme will be supervised by the operations Manager ANCSDA, Mrs Uche Nwaizugbo.

“In the training, we have packages like computer learning, tailoring, hair dressing, bead making, phone repairs, baking, block moulding, carpentry, tiling, barbing and shoe making.”

Muojekwu said the expected duration of the training ranges from one month to two months, depending on the nature and type of skills involved. He expressed hope that the training would help young people in the hinterlands of Anambra to beat poverty, while naming the approved centres to include; Aguleri, Awka and Agbudu communities in Anambra State.

African Alliance Insurance Grows Premium

The African Alliance Insurance Plc has said it grew its gross premium income by 41 per cent in the year ended December 31, 2019.

The 60-year old life insurance said it recorded N7.29 billion premium in 2019, as against the N5.17 billion in 2018.

This represented a 41 percent growth year-on-year while its life fund grew by 16 per cent from N38.99 billion, to N45.33 billion in the same period under review.

The Executive Director, Finance of the Company, Olabisi Adekola, explained that the increase in both premium generated and the life fund lend credence to the company’s strong customer base, continued acceptance as well as a robust sales drive across both retail and corporate lines of business.

“We have seen a growth in transactions to about 50 per cent. One of the upsides of COVID-19 is that people aren’t moving a lot and using as much cash and therefore resorted to a lot of more electronic channels” Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi

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BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Strengthening Domestic Production through Import Substitution Obinna Chima writes on efforts to ramp up domestic production of certain agricultural products in the country

T

he disruption caused by the COVID-19 has exposed the weak underbelly of the Nigerian economy, causing severe damage to the local economy through the transmission of external shocks and local containment measures.

The ensuing risks to health systems and the economy have been unprecedented, with the downside economic risks worse than the 2008 and 2009 global financial recession while the health risks have been described as the worst since the Spanish Flu of 1918.

According to a report by Afrinvest West Africa Limited, the heightened risks in the economy had spooked investors, resulting in sizable foreign portfolio flow reversals.

Clearly, the country’s heavy import dependence has also contributed majorly to the high forex outflow and the perennial weakness suffered by the naira.

In order to address this, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) about four years ago started a policy to encourage backward integration to conserve foreign exchange and create jobs.

Included in this policy package was the restriction of some items from accessing forex from the central bank’s regulated forex windows.

Presently, the number of items on the CBN’s ‘Not Valid for Import,’ has risen to 44, in the bid to boost domestic production and encourage import substitution.

In line with the drive to boost local production, the CBN recently asked banks and other authorised dealers to henceforth discontinue processing documents for maize and corn importation. The banking sector regulator gave the directive in a circular signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji.

The central bank directed the banks to discontinue the processing of Form ‘M’.

A Form ‘M’ is a mandatory statutory document to be completed by all importers for the importation of goods into Nigeria. It is mandatory for all importers to complete and register Form ‘M’ with authorised dealers at the time of placing orders.

The circular read: “As part of efforts by the CBN to increase local production, stimulate a rapid economic recovery, safeguard rural livelihoods and increase jobs, which were lost as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, authorised dealers are hereby directed to discontinue the processing of Form ‘M’ for the importation of maize/corn with immediate effect.

“Accordingly, all authorised dealers are hereby requested to submit the list of Form ‘M’ already registered for the importation of maize/corn using the attached format on or before the close of business on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Please ensure strict compliance.”

The central bank had explained that the forex restriction policy was carefully crafted with a view to reversing the multiple challenges of dwindling foreign reserves, contracting Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and what was described as an embarrassing rise in the level of unemployment confronting the Nigerian economy.

Reacting to the development, farmers under the aegis of Maize Growers Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN) welcomed the policy, saying it would boost local production.

The group described the move as a step in the right direction.

The National President of the association, Dr. Edwin Uche, said the policy was long overdue.

Uche said the move would increase local

production, stimulate rapid economic recovery by supporting small holder farmers and safeguard rural livelihoods in the country.

He said it also replace jobs lost as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“It will also assist local farmers get reasonable pricing for their efforts because we have the capacity to grow maize in this country instead of importing the commodity,’’ Voice of Nigeria (VON), quoted Uche to have said.

Also, Chima Udochi, a maize farmer said the policy demonstrated the federal government’s determination to return agriculture as the base of the country’s economy.

According to Udochi, agriculture is the base of Nigeria’s economy and should remain so.

“We the farmers have been expecting this ban on maize importation simply because when the right environment is created and the right support is given; farmers in Nigeria can grow sufficient maize for industrial use, local consumption and also for export,’’ she told VON. Also, Alexander Okpanachi, the Chairman of the association in Kogi, commended the federal Government for supporting maize farmers via the CBN Anchor Borrowers programme.

Okpanachi said that maize farmers in the state had been receiving support in form of loans and farm inputs to grow their crops.

According to him, maize production and processing has not suffered any setback in the state largely due to this support from the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme.

Similarly, Mustapha Ahmadu, MAGPAMAN Chairman in Adamawa said farmers across the maize value chain would experience a boost in maize production.

Ahmadu, said the ban would lead to high maize production to benefit players in the value chain.

According to him, with the support, the current price of maize which is between N165, 000 per tonnes and 175, 000 per tonne will reduce.

“This simply implies that Nigeria can now meet over 12 million metric tonnes of maize needed to supply feed millers, poultry farmers and to meet house hold demand,’’ Ahmadu said.

Similarly, Salisu Adamu, MAGPAMAN Chairman, in Gombe said the CBN Anchor

Borrowers programme had been successful in opening up the agricultural sector in the state.

He added that the policy would close the productivity gap in the farming sector as well as serve as a long term measure in curbing maize shortage in the country.

A former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and Professor of Economics, Babcock University, Prof. Segun Ajibola, argued that the restriction of forex for the importation of some items would conserve scarce forex and protect the local producers from unfair competition.

According to him, this would ultimately increase local value addition, generate employment, and increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Prior to the latest forex restriction policy, the CBN had last year also taken steps to enhance domestic production of milk so as to conserve forex. Then, import of milk annually stood at $1.2-$1.5 billion.

Enhancing Domestic Capacity CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, had said the bank would sustain its intervention in the agriculture sector through its development finance mandate, in order to help catalyse growth in critical sectors of the economy such as agriculture and the manufacturing sectors.

In line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari, the CBN had created several lending programmes and provided hundreds of billions to smallholder farmers and industrial processors in several key agricultural produce.

These policies are aimed at positioning Nigeria to become a self-sufficient food producer, creating millions of jobs, supplying key markets across the country and dampening the effects of exchange rate movements on local prices.

The CBN governor explained that through schemes such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme and the Bankers Committee Agric-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), the apex bank has improved access to markets for farmers by facilitating a greater partnership with agro-processors and manufacturing firms in the sourcing of raw materials.

“As a result, manufacturers have integrated

local options in sourcing their raw materials.

Partnerships forged through contracts between farmer cooperatives and agro-processors have also helped to support improved production of agricultural commodities such as rice, cotton and maize.

“In order to address some of the challenges faced by local farmers and manufacturers, we embarked on measures to discourage smuggling and dumping of restricted items into the country, by imposing restrictions on the use of financial institutions in Nigeria by identified smugglers, as their activities undermined the growth of our local industries.

“These measures are aiding our efforts to support local cultivation in rice, cotton and fish, etc.,” he had stated.

He added that at some point in Nigeria’s history, the economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, with increased cultivation and exports of primary products such as cocoa, palm oil, cotton and groundnut.

He, therefore, urged the country, in view of current challenges in the global economy, to return to the era, when the growth of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors was used to bring about growth and employment.

Emefiele believes the Bank’s on-going interventions, especially in agriculture, would, “help to boost not only our domestic outputs but also improve our annual non-oil exports receipts from $2 billion in 2018 to $12 billion by 2023.”

President Buhari recently decried the huge sums spent by the country importing food items that could be produced locally.

He added: “The importance of agriculture in the economy cannot be over emphasised. Prior to the advent of oil, our country survived on agriculture production. During this period, the economy was built on agricultural activities and our gross domestic product grew steadily.

“Economic diversification is no longer an option for us, it is the only way for economic momentum and the drive to prosperity.”

According to him, the only way to do this was to go back to the land and develop agriculture.

These measures are expected to help the country address some of the challenges in the external sector and help conserve the much-needed forex revenue for the country.

FBNQuest Offers Digital Trust for Asset Protection, Wealth Transfer Goddy Egene FBNQuest is offering a digital asset trust (DAT) designed to address the rising trend of digital commercial and investment activity in line with a commitment to equip clients with effective tools for generational wealth transfer.

The DAT is a novel product offered

by FBNQuest Trustees in response to an upsurge in online businesses and

transactions by the investing public.

According to the company, the solution aims to help individuals engage the services of professionals who will support with assessing associated risks and avoiding mistakes around how they organise their assets when investing through, or doing business on digital platforms, which could prevent the transfer of assets to intended beneficiaries in the future.

FBNQuest has also created a dedi-

cated online platform where interested individuals can learn facts about Estate Planning as an important element in an individual’s overall financial plan. It contains articles that explain basic concepts of Estate Planning, and the various offerings that can be used to achieve financial goals.

Concepts such as Education Trusts for children, Islamic Estate Planning, Trusts for all types of owned assets, Wills, Executorship, and Power of

Attorney; while podcasts with guest experts sharing insights on the ongoing Legacy Series are also available for listening.

Commenting on the offerings, the Managing Director of FBNQuest Trustees, Adekunle Awojobi, said: “The Legacy Series remains our contribution to broader efforts to demystify Estate Planning. We believe there are several opportunities individuals and investors are simply

unaware they can take advantage of through FBNQuest Trustees, and we are committed to driving that awareness and providing strong support.”

Now in its seventh season, the Legacy Series campaign themed ‘Building a Legacy that Lasts’, continues to help individuals understand how to plan for the protection and seamless transfer of their wealth during their lifetime and after.

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Dagazau: Downstream Petroleum Sector Faces Numerous Challenges TheChiefOperatingOfficerofOVHEnergyMarketing,MumuniDagazau,inthisinterviewspeaksonthecompany’s approach towards maintaining operational safety and seamless business activity in the COVID-19 period as well as its contributions in tackling the virus, among other issues. Peter Uzoho presents the excerpts better and better. We all know the risks associated with the oil and gas industry. We have been able to operate for years without any significant accident or loss due to our operations.

You were appointed Chief Operating OfďŹ cer of OVH Energy a couple of months back, what sort of knowledge and skill are you bringing to this company?

I am a business strategist with over 30 years’ experience in the private sector. My knowledge and experience in establishing operational organisational optimisation particularly in the oil and gas sector has formed my ability to bring strategic plans to life. Working in the oil and gas sector is for me not just a job but a passion especially the downstream sector. My role as the Chief Operating Officer of OVH Energy, means that I oversee the development of a strategy to enable the achievement of OVH Energy’s vision and purpose. I am also responsible for Supply and Trading; Customer Service; Sales and Marketing; ASPM; Engineering and Terminal business.

Oil and gas companies have made various interventions to help in the ďŹ ght against COVID-19 in Nigeria and to cushion its economic hardship on the citizens. What has been OVH Energy’s contribution towards this so far?

We are living in uncertain times but our focus must be to provide support in the fight against this deadly pandemic. This requires all of us coming together to join forces. As part of the industry-wide effort, OVH Energy donated N50 million towards the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC’s) collective intervention funds, via the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN). We also spent N200 million in financial support and the provision of test kits to further compliment the efforts of the NNPC. In addition, OVH Energy has also embarked on the distribution of protective masks to all staff especially those working in the front lines to continue to service our clients and the general public in our retail outlets, loading terminals and numerous transporters. The spread of the Coronavirus in Nigeria meant that we immediately triggered our BCP (Business Continuity Plan) and initiated efforts to minimise the spread as much as we could. We heightened safety and hygiene standards at all our facilities to provide protection for our clients, neighbours, staff and their families.

As a company whose Environment, Health

As an operator in the Nigerian petroleum downstream sector, what sort of risks do you see playing out in this present reality?

The downstream petroleum sector in Nigeria faces numerous challenges and rightly so as we would imagine that the journey to sustainable development is not without challenges. There are ongoing conversations on the product pricing and subsidy scheme for the sector, which in the light of economic growth, has raised numerous conversations for a more open and competitive driven market. The issue of security is also of great concern in the downstream sector. Cases of pipeline vandalism and product theft bring challenges to operators as it hinders efficiency.

It also greatly impacts on revenue which in turn will affect the growth of the sector.

Dagazau and Safety (EHS) policy is hinged on conducting activities in a manner that promotes the health and safety of its employees, assets and the public, as well as protection of the environment, how have you been able to uphold this policy during this pandemic era?

As I mentioned, our focus has been on preventing the spread of the disease even further among our employees. When the pandemic broke out, we deployed series of awareness sessions on the disease to all employees to ensure everyone was adequately enlightened of the risks and the required controls. Thankfully, at the moment, none of our employees or partners has been exposed to the disease.

With regards to HSE policies, what are some of the practical guidelines in line with industry practices that are being carried out at OVH Energy?

Being an organisation concerned about our communities, we deployed the implementation of

our EHS policies and procedures across every facet of our operations. Our objective is three-fold: No loss of people, no loss of assets, and no damage to the environment. Here, EHS is not just one person’s responsibility; it’s the whole team’s responsibility.

OVH Energy is strongly committed to keeping the environment safe, protecting our staff and members of the public. As a demonstration of our commitment, we are certified to the ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 management system standards in full compliance with international best practice.

What results do you think can be achieved with these policies, especially when adhered to?

The most important result is the prevention of fatal accidents. We want everyone who comes to our facility to return to their families. The policies and guidelines will also help drive sustainability of the business. We have had significant success in these over the years. Adherence has definitely yielded to more operational efficiency as our EHS performance records over the years have gotten

What measures are you taking as a company to maintain open communications with your key stakeholders in this period?

As an organisation, our stakeholders are important to us and as such to keep them fully informed, we send out regular communication via email, we also ensure to update our social media platforms on a regular basis, that way they are fully abreast of happenings.

What is your plan as you look forward to the next decade?

We will continue to build on our successes and continuously improve our HSE performance. We look forward to declaring a Lost Time Injury (LTI)free operation in every area of our business at the end of five years.

Finally, what should operators in the oil and gas value chain be doing now for survival?

Operators in the oil and gas value chain need to be strategic in repositioning business for optimisation. This can be achieved by cost control and management, portfolio rationalisation and asset optimisation but most importantly the conversation of consolidating efforts must be had sooner rather than later.

Shell’s Gas Pipeline Connects Industrial Zones in Abia Peter Uzoho Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) has completed the final phase of its 20 kilometres domestic gas pipeline expansion project in Abia State, connecting Agbor Hill, Osisioma and Araria industrial zones.

The project has also enabled the supply of pipeline gas to Ariaria Market Energy Solutions Limited, the Independent Power Project (IPP) consortium that provides electricity to the popular Ariaria market in Abia State.

Ariaria International Market

is one of the largest leather shoemaking and open stall markets in West Africa, with over 37,000 shops and an estimated one million traders.

In a statement by the Media Relations Manager, SNG, Mr. Bamidele Odugbesan, the Managing Director of SNG, Mr. Ed Ubong, said, “We are proud of this domestic gas infrastructure investment which allows the industries in Abia to have more reliable and cleaner source of energy. “SNG is committed to supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation

provided there is a stable regulatory environment in the domestic gas sector that allows investors recover their investment .�

The Managing Director, NICEN Industries Limited, a paint and plastics manufacturer connected to the pipeline gas, Mr. Christopher Eze, was also quoted in the statement as saying “SNG has put life back into our industries in Aba through the provision of this natural gas line. “This milestone will open up the state for an influx of investors thereby creating an enabling environment that will generate

Stanbic IBTC Tasks Nigerians on Home Ownership Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has urged Nigerians to explore the benefits of homeownership by taking advantage of untapped investment opportunities in mortgage offerings.

Head, Private Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Ruby Onwudiwe, made this known at the Stanbic IBTC Blue Talks webinar titled: “All You Need to Know About Buying A House (Mortgage).�

Citing the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Nigeria Report, Onwudiwe said homeownership rate in Nigeria was estimated at 25 per cent

of the total population, which implies that over 75 per cent of the populace lives in either rented apartments or are homeless.

She noted that this presents a massive opportunity for prospective homeowners to consider owner-occupancy for shelter, investment and also as an asset to leverage for accessing financial facilities.

She reiterated that there was need for conscious and deliberate plans as well as policies aimed at empowering Nigerians to become homeowners, especially in choice environments.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented opportunities for investors and intending homeowners to explore structured and convenient mortgage offerings that fit their plans,� she said.

Citing the Stanbic IBTC Home Loan Products, Onwudiwe said the mortgage package was designed to help Nigerians to acquire fully developed properties in any of the pre-approved locations in the country while the equity release allows access to over 80 per cent of an existing property.

job opportunities for the youth of the State. I am sure that many industries in Aba will quickly take advantage of this great opportunity. Our company sincerely appreciates SNG for this great feat�.

Also speaking on the completion of the expansion project, President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mansur Ahmed, said, “MAN is proud of the role that Shell is playing in driving industrialisation in Nigeria through domestic gas supply. “Industries and manufacturing

plants play a key role in transforming the Nigerian economy and this project will connect many manufacturers in Abia State, one of the nation’s major industrial hubs, to pipeline gas, which is a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable source of energy.�

According to Ahmed, the gas supply to the Ariaria Market IPP would strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises in the Abia State and enhance the operating environment for manufacturing to thrive.

SNG together with its partners and local stakeholders has agree-

ments to build infrastructure and deliver natural gas to over 150 industrial and commercial customers, mostly in Ogun, Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa and Lagos States.

This will drive industrialisation, provide employment for skilled and unskilled local population in addition to directly improving internally generated revenues in these states.

With a reputation for safety, credibility and reliability, SNG has maintained a 16-year streak of successful ISO 14001 certification and has operated for over 10 years without any lost time injuries.

FG Inaugurates Smallholder Farmers’Programme Oluchi Chibuzor The federal government has launched the Agriculture for Food and Job Plan (AFJP) programme targeted at about 1,100,000 smallholder farmers across the country.

AFJP is expected to create between five million and 10 million jobs in 12 months and also mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic by creating more access to food production, processing and distribution in Nigeria.

The Minister of Agriculture

and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono stated this during the official launch of AFJP in Funtua, Katsina State.

Nanono, said AFJP would aid the transformation of the Nigerian agriculture from its largely low yielding and subsistent state to a high yielding technology based farming system.

He also said the strategies as part of the Nigeria Economic and Sustainability Plan (NESP) would generate appropriate gains consistent with the federal government’s policy.

He noted the plan was also in tandem with the three pronged action plan of the Ministry to deal with the impact of the pandemic on Nigerian agriculture and farmers.

According to him, “these measures include among others, the life-saving humanitarian assistance to vulnerable households to buffer the impact of COVID-19, such as the release of about 100,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from the National Food Reserve to several groups and communities.�

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Adeoluwa: Poor Mentorship, Bane of MSMEs The Founder of Ovatech G Resources, Mr. Olatunde Victor Adeoluwa, who is an entrepreneur, in this interview speaks about his passion to help men and women realise their dreams. Dike Onwuamaeze brings the excerpts: How were you inspired to do the things you are doing currently, especially your involvement in tech ventures?

At the start, my entrepreneurship drive was to survive and get on my academic journey. However, my journey into tech started in 2008 when I got my first web design certification and built my first machine, a sugar cane juice extractor when I was a 300 level student. I went on to set up my ICT firm that dealt in computer engineering and networking, and in my final year in 2011, I built my first yam pounding machine and cassava peeling machines as project works. In my final year in 2011, I was taking a stroll in the campus and I felt like eating something balanced in nutrition with N50 I had in my pocket and it dawned on me that I can’t have food as cheap as N50, not even Garri, that has all nutrients? That night, my search into the world of food fortification started. I saw 11 million Children were malnourished. I told myself, this is one of the reasons I was born. As an Agricultural Engineer, I decided I was going to produce affordable nourishing food. That’s where the vision was born and that’s where my final journey into tech and social entrepreneurship started.

Some experts believe that ďŹ nance is not the major challenge facing the MSMEs but poor knowledge of business management.

Do you agree with them?

Well, I’ll say that finance is a major challenge we are facing. However in my rating of MSMEs problems, I’ll rate lack of business knowledge and mentoring as the highest. Having money in business without the adequate business knowledge and asking those who have gone ahead how it is done, will still make the money useless. I’ve seen many who got grants who yet folded up.

I’ve seen many who got loans, die to never rise.

What we have in this space is more of these three days training to get certificate, no one wins in the line of business that way.

How will tech-based companies accelerate ďŹ nancial inclusion and deposit mobilisation in order to provide access to ďŹ nances to micro enterprises?

I’ll categorically say that there can’t be effective financial inclusion without the tech companies and that’s due to several reasons. In 2019, we got to be a part of the EfinA Fintech Challenge (Funded by DFID, Gates Foundation and IFC) to Drive financial inclusion in Nigeria and as the CMO, I was on the field, far in states like Benue, Nassarawa, Kaduna, and many other Nothern an Southern States. The first alarming discovery was that many banks get to these regions, get them to open accounts (some even pay to do that) but these people are given no structure to service those accounts. The only way a few of such are able to have access to finance are through tech companies, like Paga, Extramile Africa (our retail Support platform) and some licensed mobile agent systems.

The informal market and Micro Entrerprises are not much trusted by banks, relative to ability to return loans as many banks don’t have effective and reliable credit rating systems on individuals, to measure their eligibilities. However, our studies and operations have well shown that if our tech can enable these people to pay back in bits and work on their credit ratings to determine what they get as we’ve been able to do, the Micro Entrerprises are great to work with. Nigeria is a big country, banks can’t afford to have branches everywhere, the overhead costs will be too high.

What does it take to start a successful

rise up, just as we’ve seen the mobile payments operations increase.

It is often said that the future belongs to the application of ICT. How prepared is Nigeria for this future which is already here with us?

In all honesty, globally, and Africa-wise, we are not ready. Nigeria as a country has not built required infrastructures to make us giant in tech, and make tech cheaper and affordable. For example, right now we have too less number of quality data centres. We don’t have a solid fibre optics networks. We don’t have power to sustain such infrastructure and so on. We are not yet ready, the rate of Mobile Communication and data Penetration has increased, yet the rate of tech adoption and behavioural changes that should birth the adoption, are still very low. We’ve not done enough to push tech, the media awareness to change the perception of people on tech platforms and usage are still low. We got a lot of work to do

Adeoluwa tech company?

I wrote a comprehensive article where I explained what a tech company is versus a tech-enabled company. It is essential to differentiate the two hence we’ll make mistake in building the business.

It will be good to have that five minutes read.

Once that business model is clarified, it’s a good recipe for success of a tech business. I’ll however say that irrespective of which model, the most important factor in building a Tech company is the team. Your Tech Business Vision will succeed or fail based on the people who team up with the vision. You must be able to gather people with integrity, capacity and competence, as well as passion to run fast and steady, irrespective of whether it’s yielding results at the start or not.

What are the major hindrances to entrepreneurial development in Nigeria?

Our biggest hindrance, to me, is our inability to come together in groups to build big entities by pulling our strength together. Many of our youths all want to be CEOs, but they need to learn that it’s better to own a small chuck of an elephant than to totally own a rat. We need a new approach to collaborations and partnership. The second major challenge is the infrastructural gaps.

Roads affect agriculture, power affect industries. I remember being told that my food factory can’t be connected to the grid because there is already load on the transformer. And this is a food processing factory that should contribute to the GDP and reduce food wastage. The third is the absence of a local content consumption policy. In our markets, in our supermarkets, in our processing factories, there is a dire need to enforce consumption of locally made goods. We’ll grow if our own things are consumed or used. The last would be funds and access to funds.

What really is a tech company and its role in the economic development of Nigeria?

Tech companies and tech enabled companies are more like the present and future of the Nigerian economy. Therefore, traditional businesses must find ways of becoming Tech enabled or tech compliant. For example, it is projected that 50 per cent of the Nigerian population is expected to be less than 25 years of age by the end of 2020.

These are the Gen Z. These are the smart phone and tech generation. This implies that in the next few years, most Transactions will need to have a blend of offline and online means to sell. Right now, insurance has less than 0.4% penetration.

It would have been higher if insure-techs can

How will Nigeria position itself to be prepared for the emergence of artiďŹ cial intelligence in the work places?

The truth is that for artificial intelligence to take over in Nigeria is still a bit of a far cry. Just few weeks ago, I posed a question to Dr. Andrew Nevin of PwC on the Future of Work in Nigeria, and we came to the conclusion that Nigeria don’t need all youths to be techies in the next five to 10 years. We only need them to be digitally sound. Our people should learn the basic skills. And learn how to use tech tools but more importantly, youths should develop themselves in areas machines can’t replace like critical thinking, strategy, sales and marketing, emotional intelligence etc. These skills will be more needful in this decade and the next. However, Nigeria needs innovation centres to avoid being consumer of these emerging technologies. We will ensure quality research in our academic environments. I don’t mean the kinds of unmonitored grants some use to build houses and buy cars. I mean funds that can really reach the best minds, the students carrying out researches and can produce, if not better, replica of the foreign tech.

What do you consider as solution to youth unemployment in Nigeria?

It’s quite complex, yet direct and simple: don’t give too much cash palliatives. Youth unemployment is not a problem, it’s an effect of a problem. There are no jobs because there are no industries that can take them. Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, expressed a concern recently on our companies remaining small, and I agree with him. When companies don’t grow, there can’t be jobs. The government shouldn’t fund non-productive engagements.

Rather, those funds should be used to empower businesses to expand their production capacity, such as textile, foods, tech gadgets, steel and gradually place restrictions on importations of those things. The more Industries we have, the more jobs we can provide. I think that rather than giving N3.6 million in a year to 10 youth who have no jobs, why not place them under a coach in an enterprise set up with N2 million and use the remaining N1.6 million for operating capital and monitor and evaluate process? A recent Research by PwC showed that over 50 per cent of micro enterprises in Nigeria start with about N300,000 and some of these people are employers, how much more will we have if you place the 1 year Salary of 10 in one business for them to run? My solution is, create access to market, expand the industries, and reduce importations. We’ll get somewhere good with

that than by funding laziness.

How will branding and marketing help to launch Nigerian businesses, products and services into the larger African market when the African Continental Free Trade Area takes effect?

Marketing starts from the conception of a product. Business is a war that is won by the best teams and the right strategies. Even if the borders are open to all trade via AFTCA but we produce what is not wanted, or we market what is not well branded, or not able to place our good products in the face of the right audience, we’ll still be at a loss. A business that will cover Nigeria and go beyond must be able to understand African psychology and do her branding and marketing with that in mind. However it’s not only branding and marketing that will do the job, it includes sales and distribution. These four are a key chain that Nigerian SMEs don’t have.

So, complete, effective market-centric solution is scarce. We have the market in Africa, yet we have to do it right. We’re providing that solution already and will be glad to help many attain that African scale. Right now, Salesforce-x as a brand has 26 team members and 48 interns adequately giving global touch to branding, marketing, sales and distribution solutions and is building one of the best technologies that will ever happen to African SMEs and individual entrepreneurs. If the best will happen in Africa, only the youths can do it.

Nigeria is talking about focusing on agriculture for its goal of diversifying the economy. What roles do you envisage for ICT based businesses in realising this aspiration?

It’s a good initiative and the ICT has a whole lot of roles to play. A look at agri-tech companies such as Investment or Crowd Funding Platforms, FarmCrowdy, Thrive Agric, which are digital lending platforms for agriculture, and are reportedly placing crowd funds in agricultural projects, gives a good prospect. The role of ICT can’t be overemphasized in finance, mechanisation, farm monitoring, food processing. We just need to go ahead and give full support into Agri-tech industry.

How do we improve food processing to reduce the loss of food products between the farm and the market?

Access to market and creation of processing facilities are very important. Creation of storage facilities are essential and agrologistics brands should rise up. Interestingly these are all high profit industries that entrepreneurs or intending entrepreneurs can get into.

How do you give back to the society?

I’m a believer in value addition. One of the ways we give back is the part time employment to hundreds, especially students who need extra sources of income, just like me while in school. The other way is via internship and trainings. Right now across our Companies we have close to 100 interns and trainees that are all trained to retain programs, which mean after their trainings, they start working.

Were you at any time tempted to quit. If so, what made you to stay on?

Strangely, I’ve never been tempted to quit. The journey is fun for me, both the struggles and the pains. What keeps me going on is my vision to help men realise their God-given dreams in life through education, entrepreneurship and ministry.

Nigerian Gets Commendation for Mass Ventilator Production Dike Onwuamaeze The Cabinet office of the United Kingdom has hailed a Nigerian information technology consultant, Victor Osagie, for his ingenuity in the mass production of ventilators to boost the fight against the corona virus pandemic.

In a commendation letter from the cabinet office of the UK and jointly endorsed by all partners including Ford and Airbus, Osagie

was commended for his role in the just concluded ventilator challenge project which was an initiative of the cabinet office. “Thank you for your invaluable contribution to our ventilator challenge UK team. As we battled together to save lives threatened by Covid-19 your energy, ingenuity and camaraderie made a tremendous difference.

You are a shining example of the best UK has to offer,� it read.

Osagie‘s team delivered the quality control system that rapidly converted disused warehouses into assembly lines. His team converted Ford Motors vehicle production lines and Airbus Aircraft production lines into ventilator production lines.

They produced over 14,000 ventilators within a 90-day period.

This boosted the NHS ventilator capacity from less than 9000 pre COVID19 era to the over 25000

capacity in July 2020.

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, according to a statement, noted that the ventilator challenge has proven how much Britain can achieved when confronted with difficult problems. “Bringing together the best minds in manufacturing, innovation and design was a right decision. Thanks to your effort, everyone who needs a ventilator had access to one. And

the NHS has the vital machines needed to continue providing lifesaving support against the deadly virus,� he added. On his part, health and social care secretary, Matt Hancook said: “We protected the NHS during this global pandemic. The impact of COVID – 19 showed the best and the brightest stepping forward to serve their country. The response the government received to this challenge was astonishing.�

In his comment, Osagie advised the Nigerian government to redirect educational resources to producing medical personnel in doctors and nurses, information technology consultants that can be exported all over the world to earn foreign exchange and also serve as a cheap source of further enhancing the skills of such personnel who can subsequently return home to provide world class services.

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FEATURES

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, 08038901925

Revival of Ajaokuta Steel Plant Ehi Braimah

A

fter lying prostrate for over four decades, President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for the Ajaokuta Steel Plant to be revived as part of his administration’s deliberate strategy to diversify the economy. Our over-dependence on oil revenue, from all indications, is hurting the economy and it cannot last forever. The world is changing due to rapid disruptions in technology and we cannot afford to be left behind; in fact, the train has since left the station.

It means we have to adapt to changes taking place in the world for our own good.

If we predict the future correctly, robots will become our personal assistants – talk of machine replacing man -- and they will also attend to us in hotels, restaurants, offices, parks, etc, and electric cars will become our constant companion. In Rwanda, drones are being used to deliver medical supplies to tackle COVID-19 disease. Innovation is the name of the game – we have no choice but to play the game according to the rules.

Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), is chair of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project Implementation team while the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, is the alternate chair. At the inauguration of the body, Mustapha said the Buhari administration was keen to make the Ajaokuta Steel Plant West Africa’s largest fully integrated producer of steel and, more importantly, to accelerate the industrialisation in steel-related industries. But come to think of it, how did we end up with a situation whereby a major industrial plant was abandoned for over 40 years? It breaks my heart to know that we allowed such a premium national asset to waste for that long.

It’s a shame! However, we still have to thank President Buhari for bringing back the steel plant from the dead.

I’m a strong advocate that we must never give up on Nigeria – in spite of all our problems -- because we do not have another country to call our own. Even for those who are dual citizens, Nigeria will always remain their country of birth. There is no place like home, and there is no place like Naija! I understand that the circus show and shenanigans playing out in Abuja over the high profile NDDC scandal is enough to make some of us lose hope in the possibilities of a better Nigeria, but we should not be discouraged – instead, let us continue to be of good cheer! Even then, I cannot in good conscience dismiss the sentiments of those who believe that Nigeria is not worth dying for. In their view, the country does not offer them anything in return in spite of “everything” that we are blessed with which explains the “checking out” syndrome.

Anyway, let us go down memory lane. A report in www.nairametrics. com indicated that Nigeria has the second largest iron ore deposits in Africa with over two billion tonnes in reserve. With these vast deposits, it is ironic that the Nigerian steel industry is dependent on imports of rolled steel for local production. Poor investments in iron ore extraction and many other structural bottlenecks, according to the report, have hindered the growth of an industry with enormous potential and the industry is still experiencing negative growth: 2018 -0.75%; 2019 -1.33% based on data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Ajaokuta Steel Plant, located in Kogi State, was founded in 1979 as a response to this challenge. The idea was to accelerate Nigeria’s industriali-

Braimah sation agenda; create jobs and boost our foreign exchange revenue earning potential.

A contract was signed between the federal government and Tyazh Prom Export (TPE) from Russia to carry out feasibility study and initiate the project. By 1979, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and Delta Steel Company Limited were established under the National Steel Council Decree. Construction began almost immediately and by 1983, the project had reached 95% completion. Former President Shehu Shagari commissioned the plant and the agreed plan was to fund the remaining 5% of the project using income generated by the company.

Since then, after over four decades, Ajaokuta Steel Plant has been in ruins largely due to poor management and several concessions and legal disputes with foreign private companies. I’m sure you are wondering like me how many other projects have also been abandoned like the steel plant.

As part of my fact finding, I also read a report in www.premiumtimesng. com. The report stated that the idea of having a steel industry was conceived in 1958 by the federal government. The market studies were initially directed towards the feasibility of establishing rolling mills. However, because of the growing awareness of the availability of iron ore in Agbaja, Udi and other areas of the country, emphasis later shifted to establishing an integrated steel plant. It has the capacity to become a major producer of industrial machinery, auto-electrical spare parts, ship building, railways and carriages.

A working steel plant is the bedrock of industrialisation of any developing country. Employment generation from the first phase commissioning of the steel plant will yield about 10,000 technical staff. The plant will help expose Nigeria’s industrial metallurgy and economy to the in-house manufacturing of capital goods. The ultimate goal is to serve as Nigeria’s main platform towards becoming an economic and industrialised global power.

Once Ajaokuta steel plant starts full operation, it will provide about 500,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute to visible growth and human capacity building in the economy.

The sustainable operation of the iron and steel industry will have impact

on economic growth in other sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, defence, power, transportation, mining, oil and gas, education, manufacturing, communications among others. Without developing our steel industry, Nigeria will continue to export raw steel at a very cheap price and import the finished steel and allied products at exorbitant prices as it is with oil.

Available data indicates that Nigeria imports over N2.3 billion of steel and allied products every year. Our steel industry will therefore be a tangible foreign exchange earner for our fragile economy. In 2016, the Buhari administration settled the pending court case around the project which enabled the federal government to take control and embark on the revival initiative. A bill seeking $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account to fund the completion of the plant was passed by the Eighth Senate but President Buhari rejected the bill.

President Buhari said appropriating $1 billion for the Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill was not the best strategic option for Nigeria due to budgetary constraints, and the nation could not afford to commit such an amount amid competing priorities.

Buhari also said the bill which seeks to make an appropriation of revenues to fund public expenditures should be consolidated in the annual Appropriation Act “such that these proposals pass through the traditional scrutiny that budget proposals are subjected to by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the National Assembly”.

It is understandable that the Ninth Senate also wants a quick completion of Ajaokuta Steel Complex. The Senate has asked the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, expedite action towards the completion of the steel complex. It also appealed to the Ministry of Transport to complete Ajaokuta-Okaba rail line to facilitate the operations of Ajaokuta steel plant.

These were resolutions adopted by the law makers sequel to the deliberation of a motion titled, “The Ajaokuta Steel Company: A panacea to the diversification of the Nigerian economy” sponsored by Senator Yakubu Oseni representing Kogi Senatorial District.

After the federal government took back control, Ajaokuta steel plant has

not produced a single sheet of steel as at December 2017. The light mills were finally put into operation in 2018 for small scale fabrication and the production of iron rods. Now, how do we move forward? With the implementation team in place, what will be different this time after several failed attempts at privatisation?

According to a dependable source, the Honourable Minister is considering a more holistic approach to resuscitating not only Ajaokuta Steel Company, but also ensuring all the factors of production that feed Ajaokuta inputs are also at optimal conditions. The functionality and operations at Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) is key to ensuring the survival of the steel production process; NIOMCO is therefore part of the scope that is being considered this time around. The same thing applies to the other 13 raw materials needed in the steel production process and as well as the logistics involved in the process (railway lines and other transportation facilities). All these major and minors factors are being accounted for. In addition, competent local content will be involved.

The project, my source continued, will be structured under a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) model. Under this arrangement, a Nigerian government owned entity would be created to retain post commissioning risk, build, operate and transfer of asset at the end of the concession period to government. This arrangement will be done with support from the Russian Consortium through a government to government basis that would culminate in the rehabilitation and modernisation of Ajaokuta steel plant in order to ensure it is fully operational and sustainable.

The Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance contractor that will provide technology and oversee the technology function of the plant will be the Russian original contractors that built the Ajaokuta Steel Plant. There will also be sub-concession arrangement for mining (iron ore, coal, and all other materials), logistics and haulage, and petroleum coke, etc. These are key components across the steel production value chain that would ensure sustainability of the production process of Ajaokuta Steel Plant.

The revival of the steel plant will be supported with funds from Afrexim Bank as well as Russia’s Export Centre to the tune of $1.46 billion. Afrexim Bank will be appointed as Financial Advisor and Mandated Lead Arranger while the Russian government will also provide funding for some aspects of technology modernisation needed to power the plant. The project delivery is in phases which are mainly based on revival of the plant and also ramping up production capacity. The entire process is expected to last for three years and, for now, the strategic partners are Afrexim Bank, the Government of Russian Federation and the original builders of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, TPE (Tyazh Prom Export).

As noted earlier, accessibility to the plant by road and rail is critical to its survival. The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, as I found out, intends to work with relevant stakeholders to rehabilitate these national assets.

All things being equal, the revival of Ajaokuta steel plant will be completed on schedule. The federal government is committed to the process and since the approach is different this time, we do not expect any ghost from the past to haunt the project.

-Braimah is a PR and marketing strategist based in Lagos

T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

25

ADEOLAAKINREMI Ë

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Can Buhari Bank Big on Sunday Dare Side Eects... for Economic Vitality?

Dogara’s Double

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s slow steps and poor vitality in governance continue to sow doubts about the commitment of his government to expanding economic prosperity and reducing inequality for the citizens.

First, just the facts. Most of his appointees executing economic development plan for the country are entangled in questionable conduct—leading to unprecedented probes and trust deficit.

The allegations of skullduggery are troubling and sickening. We’ve seen extraordinary drama unfolded at the National Assembly in recent days with figures of sleaze in billions.

Did you see the spectacle. How acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei forced a public hearing to a close with a melodrama at the House of representatives?

Suddenly, a grandiloquent legislative chamber with little substance has turned to a temple where Buhari’s men go to surrender with mysterious look on their faces.

Let’s do the count. The National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF); Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs); Presidential Amnesty Office and more have been at the center of investigations for questionable conduct. That is a low, low for a president who promised to rid Nigeria of “pervasive corruption.�

It strikes me that nearly all agencies of this government have struggled to defend one corruption allegation or the other. I think Mr. President must be so disappointed that corruption continues to make big headlines nearly 6 years into his tenure of office.

It is exhausting and infuriating and maddening to see your soldiers take side with the enemy but Buhari has an iron mind, despite his sluggish steps. His continued allocation of fund for development initiatives makes me think so, even though corruption continues to undermine the interventions.

Now, as the minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, takes charge in a new effort

by Buhari to grow the economy, the good optic is to show that all hope is not lost in building a strong economic legacy by the Buhari government.

The newly approved N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) can crystallize economic growth, if managed with prudence and good practices.

There’s reason to be optimistic that the N75 billion will not become a subject of scandal. First, Dare as the manager of the Fund understands business management.

When you speak with Dare on business issues, his techniques for thinking clearly and evaluating success is extra-ordinary.

This is where he needs to shine.

In a clear and thoughtful speech after an executive meeting, Dare used the right words to underscore his understanding of why the N75 billion youth fund matters. “Nigeria can make one quantum leap to dramatically increase its GDP and per capita realities,� he said. “This can only happen if the country begins to invest in the youth through the establishment of a specialized fund that provides accommodating pathways to accessing credit, grants and needed funds for entrepreneurship.�

Many years ago, when I first met Dare on Acme Road in Lagos, he was working as a senior editor for TheNews group, but he was already an opinion leader on many fronts. He had spent the previous year at Harvard on a fellowship that I had interest

Dare

in, and I wanted to ask a few important questions. But our conversation shifted effortlessly to global economic issues and the state of Nigeria. His leapfrogging economic thoughts captured my attention that I almost forgot why we leaned on the back of his blue Mercedes Benz to talk.

Again, around 2012, I remember we talked about a business idea he was pursuing.

As an entrepreneur, he wanted to start a sort of reader’s digest and we chatted about it. In the exchanges we had, his strategic analysis of trends helped me looked at things differently.

There’s more. Dare comes to his job with integrity. So as someone who lived and worked in a system and country where corruption is punished severely, I don’t expect him join the old brigade.

I have sat in the pew with him at a community church we both once attended together in the United States and I know he’s a man called a “brother� in his fellowship.

When it is deeply dark, Dare knows how to turn on the light. Last year, when he became a minister, I was not surprised at the way he turned a waning sports ministry into a place of interest, even at a time Nigeria was not playing any international tournament.

The dose of hope he brought to the Sports and Youth ministry is changing the perception of a ministry that once received funniest memes from Nigerians under his predecessor.

In Lagos, Abuja and other cities where stadiums that are national monuments are beginning to go down for lack of investments, Dare has brought his entrepreneurial spirit to revamp the stadiums. In a sense, by allowing private investors to take charge of the stadiums, the pressure on public fund is reduced.

As an international public policy scholar with understanding of development economics, it makes economic sense to have private investors manage the stadiums.

The big advantage is the impact on local economy as private owners create incentives to make stadiums and games attractive enough for fans to come out.

Indeed, technology is stadiums next enemy just like it is happening in other areas of life. People can now livestream or

watch live broadcast anywhere they are.

The affordability of large, high-definition televisions makes home-viewing highly competitive with the full stadium experience.

It is a poor economic development plan to continue to invest taxpayer’s money to fund stadiums when there’s opportunity to ask wealthy people to invest. That money can go into education, healthcare, and technology infrastructure—three critical investments that will lift our economy.

Dare needs to use this Fund to redefine engagement with the youths. It will be counterproductive to invest this fund based on cronyism, nepotism, favoritism, party affiliation or man-know-man approach that continues to frustrate our collective progress as a nation.

Last week, when he announced the approval of the 3-year financing with excitement, Dare did not go into details but the need to develop the financing of young innovative companies to reflect current and new challenges is critical to its gains.

When I visited Helsinki, Finland in 2003 and Singapore in 2012, I learned firsthand why their Youth Investment programs worked. There are three components of their programs that created thriving companies that contributed to the GDPs. Tax policies, mentorship programs and technology were at the heart of their programs.

As technology is moving local economies everywhere from production-based to ones based on creativity and innovation, the new Fund will do well to give serious consideration to entrepreneurship with great value-chain.

Already, a critical mass of entrepreneurs and tech-startups are burgeoning in Nigeria, but they must grow in ways that strengthen industries, create good jobs, encourage economic investment and increase wealth and living standards.

Together with other Fund, I believe Dare now has a good chance to play a role in reducing inequality in Nigeria. In an op-ed he penned for neimanreports.org, he mentioned why he quitted his job as senior special assistant to the late Dora Akunyili, when the later was Nigeria’s minister of information and communications. “Somehow, I failed to realize the extent of all that still remained broken. I never saw that I would have to deal with a political system that is steeped in corruption, ineptitude and indifference to the plight of the millions it was designed to serve and protect.â€? He wrote. “Those who now held power worked, as past dictatorships had, only to serve the needs and protect the interests of the few in privileged political positions‌ Like many other Nigerians, I wanted to play a part in bringing about democratic changes. Unfortunately after taking this job I soon realized that, due to a lack of political will and of coordination among all levels of government, there was no process for change‌Here I was working for a government I didn’t respect. In August 2009, I turned in my resignation letter.â€?

Will the management of this Fund be a game changer for Dare in politics?

Dare needs to use this fund to redefine engagement with the youths. It will be counterproductive to invest this fund based on cronyism, nepotism, favoritism, party affiliation or man-know-man approach that continues to frustrate our collective progress as a nation

Deal As we try to catch our breath after watching the Professor Pondei film at the House of Representatives, the film flipped and the magic movie brought the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was standing beside President Muhammadu Buhari, inside Aso Rock.

Here is the background to the story. When Dogara left APC in the wake of the 2019 elections, he became a thorn in the flesh of Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, calling them names. The interesting side of the story is that a few days ago Dogara was the managing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate screening for Ondo governorship elections. What shall say to this? I will go for Mark Twain’s words. “Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reasons.�

Dirty!

Peter Obi’s Regret We are in a season of opportunity. That’s just the way I see COVID-19. The story shared by former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, is a good illustration of how great opportunities are less appealing.

According to Obi, in 2015 he met a group of people in the US who invited him to invest in Zoom when they just started and were hungry for money. According to him, “as of that time, it would cost you less than 30 cents to invest in Zoom if I wanted to do so.� But Obi dismissed the idea of Zoom with a wave of hand because meeting on videos would not just happen.

Today, Zoom is where everything happens, and it is a cash-cow for the owners. In May, Zoom’s market capitalization skyrocketed to $50 billion. Lesson!

COVID-19 and Corruption

Even in ordinary times, the healthcare sector has been a place where corruption deprives millions of Nigerians access to quality healthcare. We’ve heard of sales of mosquito nets donated by international partners and we’ve seen money budgeted for primary healthcare facilities misappropriated. So with COVID-19 Fund, there’s a potential risk of the money being misused. This calls for urgent transparency of how the Fund has been used to detect fraud and stop the virus of corruption together with COVID-19.

What out!

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Buhari Appoints Two Deputy Commissioners for NAICOM Ebere Nwoji President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of Alhaji Sabiu Abubakar and Mr Oba Oluniyi as Deputy Commissioners for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

This was disclosed in a statement by NAICOM’s Head, Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Rasaaq Salami.

According to the statement, Abubakar was appointed the Deputy Commissioner,

Technical, while Oluniyi was appointed Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration in the Commission.

According to the commission, both appointments became effective on July 17, for an initial tenure of five years.

Abubakar, had worked with the Commission as an assistant director before he left for Jaiz Takaful Insurance Plc as an executive director, a position he held until his

appointment.

Also, Oluniyi held the position of the Director, Finance and Account of the Commission until his appointment.

With the appointment, Abubakar, has replaced Sunday Thomas who was Deputy Commissioner for Insurance Technical before he was appointed commissioner for insurance after the exit of the erstwhile commissioner Alhaji Mohammed Kari.

Elegbe Seeks Policies to Sustain e-Payment Growth Following the outbreak of COVID-19, more Nigerians have embraced electronic payments as a means of avoiding physical contact around cash handling.

For this momentum to be sustained after the pandemic, good policies that drive value for customers must be implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria, commercial banks and fintech companies.

This was the view of Interswitch’s Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mitchell Elegbe while speaking at the 14th Annual Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) with the theme: “Business Unusual: Digital acceleration for growth in a new world�. The two-day

e-conference, which held recently.

Acknowledging the increase in the adoption of digital payment over the past months, Elegbe explained the need for the payment industry and regulators to build on the momentum gained via electronic payment. Elegbe said the fear of contracting the coronavirus was the primary reason consumers are adopting electronic payment.

A statement quoted him to have reiterated the need for stakeholders within the sector to address the fundamental issues that affect the consumers, instead of relying on the ‘fear factor’ to sustain the adoption of electronic payment among Nigerians.

He said: “COVID-19 may have necessitated consumers to adopt

electronic payments for the first time but as the impact of the virus wears off eventually, it is important for the benefits derived during this period to be sustained.

The industry stakeholders, including service providers such as Interswitch Group, banks and regulators, must put a lot more effort in establishing the right policy framework that will drive increasing adoption of electronic payment. Relying on just the fear of COVID-19, will leave us at the losing end.�

Elegbe also spoke on the impact of the virus on businesses. He urged companies that have been adversely affected by the impact of coronavirus to form strategic alliances with other companies in order to continue in business.

Winners Emerge in Access Bank’s DiamondXtra Nume Ekeghe An Access Bank customer who trades at Ogbaru market, Onitsha, Anambra State Mr. Dominic Akaraka has won salary for life in the second quarterly draw of the DiamondXtra Season 12 reward scheme held in Lagos recently.

There were 1,000 other customers that emerged winners.

Akaraka, after receiving his prize cheque at his branch in Onitsha said: “I have been banking with Access Bank for more than 10 years now. When I got a call from the bank that I won the star prize, I warned the

person not to call me again and I hung up the phone thinking it was a fraudster. “But when they called again, I decided to give them a listening ear only to discover when I visited my branch that I have won the star prize of Salary-4-Life which means I would be paid N100,000 every month for 20 years. “I am excited and short of words. I am 59 years old with a wife and six children. Before I got this call from Access Bank, I and my family have been going through financial challenges and business has been very slow and unprofitable due to

the lockdown and restriction of business activities within the state.�

Also speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, Head, Retail Product Insight and Capabilities, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Rob Giles, noted that the bank has kept its promise of keeping the initiative going and growing.

Giles revealed that over N5.4 billion in prize money had been doled out, while adding that the bank recently launched a variant of DiamondXtra tagged ‘Xtrawins’ where customers are rewarded with daily, weekly and monthly cash rewards.

FSDH Group Posts N5.8bn Profit The FSDH Group recently held its first Annual General Meeting under its new financial holding structure.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Group closed with total assets of N125 billion, posted gross earnings of N25.6 billion, which was 10 per cent above the N23.25 billion reported in 2018.

In addition, a statement from the company disclosed that it recorded a profit before tax N5.8 billion in the review period.

Based on the performance, shareholders at the meeting approved a dividend of 50kobo per share for the financial year ended.

The new structure had birthed FSDH Holding Company Limited in 2019, a non-operating financial holding company regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now parent company to

diverse financial institutions with remarkable footprints in the banking, asset management, stockbroking & financial advisory, and pension fund administration sectors of the economy.

In his address, the Chairman of FSDH Holding Company Limited, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, said the Group has set out with the ambitious vision of becoming Africa’s leading financial asset aggregator with a smart PanAfrican footprint, and a mission to improve outcomes for customers and subsidiaries while delivering value for shareholders.

He addressed the slowdown in the Nigerian and global economies as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that the restriction of economic activities and social distancing policies combined with the oil price crash, will lead to diminishing growth for the

Nigerian economy.

Citing FSDH Research report projections, he stated that the economic growth may decline by 5.9 per cent in 2020 if the pandemic is not contained and the federal government/CBN led stimulus measures are not fully implemented. Belo-Osagie pointed out that low investor confidence as a result of dollar shortage, and the volatility of equity markets all reinforce the need for the FSDH Group restructuring.

In line with the overall Group restructuring, the Chairman specified that the employment of Mr. Funso Doherty as the new chief executive officer of its pensions business, Pensions Alliance Limited, and the appointment of Mr. Tolu Osinibi to lead its FSDH Capital Limited subsidiary were strategic hires made early in the current financial year.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Money Supply (M3)

35,029,779.72

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

7,374,356.91

Money Supply (M2)

27,655,422.82

-- Quasi Money

116,533,891.21

-- Narrow Money (M1)

11,121,531.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,625,047.69

---- Demand Deposits

9,496,483.91

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

13,911,335.83

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

21,118,443.89

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

35,918,179.45

---- Credit to Government (Net)

10,452,199.38

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

11,007,422.79

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

25,465,980.07

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-14,799,735.56

--Other Assets Net

7,000,253.07

Reserve Money (Base Money

2,005,600.83

--Currency in Circulation

4,677,530.81

--Banks Reserves

317,121.43

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͰͲ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $43.38 a barrel on Friday, compared with $44.62 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NASCON Allied Industries’Performance Excites Shareholders Goddy Egene Shareholders of NASCON Allied Industries Plc, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, yesterday expressed satisfaction at the performance of the company.

They, however, urged the food seasoning company to expand its market share in order to increase revenue.

Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM)

in Lagos, the shareholders commended the company’s prompt payment of dividends just as the management assured that the performance for the first half of this year holds assurance for a bumper harvest at the end of the year despite the Coronavirus pandemic effect.

NASCON reported a revenue of N27.49 billion and net profit of N1.85 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. A dividend

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

of 40 kobo per share was recommended by the board of directors.

A shareholder, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, said the company is known for taking care of shareholders through consistent payment of dividends, noting that despite the harsh operating environment, the company still paid a dividend of 40 kobo per share translating to a 57 per cent dividend payout ratio.

Also speaking, another shareholder, Sir Sunny Nwosu, lauded

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

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the board and management of NASCON for their ability to declare and pay dividends despite the harsh operating environment which resulted from the Apapa Wharf gridlock and the downturn in national economy. He said that while other companies are lamenting and cutting down on production, the company is paying dividend which is commendable.

He urged the company to increase its market share in

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

the food sector especially in the South-East and South-West regions through carefully selected strategies. According him, if the company increases market share in these regions, its revenue will also increase.

He said: “The management should expand our customer base to attract more revenue.

Develop strategies to penetrate the South-East and South-West markets. The plants are close to

O F

these markets.�

In his response, Managing Director, NASCON, Paul Farrer, said the company has developed plans and strategies to capture share in the stated markets and will gradually deploy them in the coming months. He said that the company has proved resilient in the challenging environment of 2019 and is strongly focused on capacity growth and increased market penetration.

2 7 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

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28

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020 •T H I S D AY

TUESDAY JULY 28 2020 • T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020

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PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT Stamp Duty: Taxes on Property Transaction to Increase Over 23.5%, Bad for Economy, Say Real Estate Professionals Bennett Oghifo

R

eal estate practitioners have condemned the stamp duty requirement proposed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service for property transactions, calling it multiple-taxation, insensitive and have demanded that the federal government should discard such idea.

The proposed property tax unfairly targets a vulnerable group in the society, according to these professionals, who called on the National Assembly to wade in to protect Nigerians.

Lagos State, they said collects stamp duty on Deed of Assignment, wondering if the state would gladly handover this cash cow to the federal government.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, in a statement recently, compelled landlords and property agents to ensure that they charge six per cent stamp duty on all tenancy and lease agreements they enter into with all renters and remit same promptly to the Service in order not to contravene the Stamp Duty Act. FIRS’ position is sequel to the recent circulation of a stamp duty clarification guide by its Executive Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, which stipulates that property-related transactions like “tenancy or lease agreement fall under the Ad Valorem category of the stamp duty which

attracts six per cent duty payable in percentage of the total value or sum of the tenancy or lease.”

A statement by the Director, Communication, FIRS, Mr. Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad said the burden of payment of the six per cent lies on the beneficiary of the tenancy or lease agreement, whom the Stamp Duty Act identified as the tenant or renter while the responsibility of collection and remittance falls on the landlord or agent in charge of the property for lease or rent.

Nami stressed that “in any case, the party making the payment shall have the obligation to account for the applicable stamp duties.”

Some other Stamp Duty types and their rates are Appraisement or Valuation of Property, 1.5 per cent; Certificate of Occupancy, Partnership, N1,000 flat rate; Gift of Land, 1.5 per cent; Legal Mortgage, 0.375 per cent; Legal Mortgage (Upstamping), 0.375 per cent, and Deed of Conveyance or Transfer on Sale of Property, 1.5 per cent Others are Gift of Land, 1.5 per cent; Memorandum of Understanding (Related to Land, Sales, Joint Venture, Surrender, Subdivision Agreements, 1.5 per cent; Power of Attorney (Irrevocable/Land Related), 1.5 per cent; and Sales Agreement, 1.5 per cent.

Government should recognise that Real estate plays a major role in economies

Interestingly, the entire proposition has not gone down well with professionals in the nation’s real estate sector, most of whom regard it as insensitive and capable of extending economic depression in the nation.

Reacting to the proposed collection of stamp duty on property, the President, Fine and Country West Africa, Mrs. Udo Okonjo said, “I think it’s important for the state and federal governments to recognise that real estate plays a major role in economies and be mindful of an unintended consequence of these significant charges, especially for first time home buyers and SMEs who typically require property as collateral for their businesses.

She believes multiple taxes/charges have adverse impact on real estate investments. “That said, the clarification recently provided by the federal government is welcome as it opens up an opportunity for stakeholders to assess their investments more critically and for professionals to be guided without ambiguity.”

Regardless, she said, “With the corporate tenants, compliance and enforcement is not a challenge. I however foresee a challenge with much smaller transactions.”

She said Fine and Country would uncover and assess the adverse impact of multiple taxes/ charges on real estate investments, especially in an economy that requires stimulation of

the Housing and Real Estate sector at its Real Estate Tax Webinar on Thursday August 6th for real estate investors to understand the various applicable taxes and regulatory charges.

An added burden that will escalate incidental charges and taxes to more than 23.5% of the rent paid on a property The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) describes it as “added burden.”

The Chairman, Lagos NIESV, Mr. Adedotun Bamigbola said the Stamp Duty directive would have a major impact on the cost of leasing properties and “it is an added burden on the property end users or lessees/tenants. This is not encouraging, especially in this economy which has already stretched finances of the citizenry.

“Don’t forget that a legal fee, which in some cases may be about 10%, will be paid to prepare the lease agreement, before you can affix or pay a stamp duty on it again at 6%, by this regulation. “That is already 16% of the consideration on a year’s tenancy or lease, just to have a legal document on the transaction.

Let us not forget that recently, FIRS brought up the implementation of VAT at 7.5% on rent and all fees. This will escalate these incidental charges and taxes to more than 23.5% of the rent paid on a property.”

Osonuga: We Must Restructure Mortgage Industry to Address Housing Challenge The Managing Director of Chateau Royal Real Estate Limited, Oluwatobi Osonuga, tells Bennett Oghifo government must restructure the mortgage industry at the grassroots to address the nation’s housing challenge Tropicana Resort, Ibeju-Lekki. We also have Rubyfields Okun-Imedu, Ibeju Lekki, with our housing development in De-Luxe Bespoke in Sangotedo and De-Luxe Bespoke, Mowe.

These property offerings are accessed with an initial deposit of as low as N100,000 and flexible payment plan for over 12 months.

Tell us about yourself, your core expertise, ‘Affordable Luxury’ Chateau Royal Real Estate Limited was incorporated out of the need to provide affordable luxury property offering to working class Nigerians and make property ownership accessible and practical. We have several other real estate businesses- Scott Harris Realtor, Shortlet-Lagos, Lagos Realtors Hub – and over the years, we have been able to make a good number of Nigerians property owners and helped many grow their wealth through real estate investment.

What projects have you done so far?

In the last few years, we have done quite a number of remarkable projects such as Maplewoods Ibeju-Lekki; Peach Palms Abijo; Maplewoods 2 Siriwon; and currently fast selling Maplewoods Plus, Opposite La Campagne

Osonuga

Alex Ekwueme University, WRI Plan Engagement on Nigeria’s Climate Plan Review Bennett Oghifo A project aimed at increasing public awareness of, and engagement with, Nigeria’s climate change plan in respect of the ongoing revision process of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), will soon be undertaken by the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State with support from the World Resources Institute (WRI).

The project is titled “Promoting Critical Analysis of, and Stakeholders’ Engagement with the Revision of Nigeria’s NDC,” which is due for submission in November 2020.

According to a statement by the Centre, the one-year initiative that commences from July 2020 will, according to Project Coordinator, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, help to widen the horizon of the discourse and compliment the current government led

NDC revision process.

“Given that the NDC revision process has already started and is slated to be completed by November 2020, the immediate commencement of this project is highly desirable, to enable the capture of the analytical pieces and engage the public and critical stakeholders to incorporate their views into the window ending September 2020,” said Okereke, a Professor in Environment and Development at University of Reading in UK, and Director of the AEFUNAI Centre for Climate Change and Development.

Besides commissioning insightful short analysis on several topics relevant for the Nigerian NDC, as well as organising and promoting a stakeholder engagement and public debate on relevant issues, the project will embark on targeted public awareness and media campaigns to disseminate the information and stimulate the engagement of the wider public in the NDC revision and, eventually in its implementation afterwards.

Okereke said experts would be commissioned to write a 3,000-word article on each of the selected topics, which he listed to include: “Assessment of implementation of the original NDC and the new ambition intent”; “Extent of alignment of the NDC with the national economic development plan”; “Energy scenarios for Nigerian’s revised NDC”; “Improving emission reduction from transport sector of Nigeria’s NDC”; “Options for promoting climate smart agriculture in the new NDC”; and “Public financial management and budgeting for the NDC.” Others are “Public investment risks and opportunities in the NDC”; “The potential role for private sector involvement in the NDC”; “Analysis of the adaptation components of the NDC”; “Technology, innovation need implications of the NDC”; “The NDC, post COIVD-19 economic stimulus and a just green transition”; and “Legal perspectives to raising ambition and implementing the NDC”.

What do you see as challenges in the nation’s housing sector and how can we address them?

It is no news that there is over 20 million housing deficit in Nigeria, even as the population continues to grow by the day.

Housing has been a major challenge in Nigeria for decades and there seems to be a preponderance of ineffective or motionless housing policies that have led to the inability of the government to address the housing challenge. Other challenges are the high inflation and interest rates, low awareness about Mortgage Financing Arrangements and the lack of an efficient mortgage system. To address the housing challenges, we might first start by restructuring the mortgage industry at the grassroots, and then other issues will be resolved.

What are your growth plans in the

industry?

After being actively involved in the industry for over three years, recording commendable achievements, we don’t intend to relent on our hard work and exceptional service. Our mission is to foster a robust real estate market that is supported by innovation: where we constantly provide bankable real estate investment, brokerage and development services that are revolutionised.

Some real estate firms are in court or have folded because they couldn’t fulfill their promise to subscribers. How should prospective buyers protect themselves?

With a large number of “real estate companies” springing up around the country daily, it’s important for prospective buyers to do the appropriate research into the companies they partner with, so as to protect themselves.

Many offer very outrageous returns on real estate investments but due to several reasons are unable to pay back, thereby leading to several issues. Buying property is a very delicate asset purchase that must be done with the best and most trustworthy professionals in the business. I advise prospective buyers to always do the due diligence before making such financial commitments.

Third Mainland Bridge Available for Use at Peak Periods, Says FG Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has advised motorists to use the open lanes of the Third Mainland Bridge as they would be available during peak hours both in the morning and evening.

The few vehicles that will be going off peak periods will now have to make use of all the alternative routes given out to the public, said the Director, Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, during a Press briefing at the 3rd mainland bridge recently.

Since the closure of the Oworosoki-bound lane of the bridge, there has been grueling traffic in most parts of Lagos, particular in areas like

Oyingbo, Iddo, Ijora, stretching to Costain, among others.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladehinde, stated that the diversion would affect 25% of traffic using the 3rd Mainland Bridge, while the other 25% will be diverted to the other routes earlier stated, and they will be well catered for.

“We also have Water Transport, and a number of boats made available, so that people can have options. We have also increased the number of high capacity buses that will ply 3rd Mainland Bridge and the alternative routes,” he said.

Only 30% of the bridge will be closed, after which the other sections are still available. Lagosians need not panic, “as we can manage the

other options available,” he said.

Information would be made available via the provided gantries on the bridge, the social media, traffic radio and other radio channels that have also tuned in, he said.

The Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Operations, FRSC Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Hyginus Omeje stated that the FRSC in collaboration with other Agencies like LASTMA, and the Police, will ensure that there is effective traffic management during this exercise.

“On our part, we are deploring about 250 officers and men for this assignment to complement what LASTMA and the Traffic Police is also providing,” he said.

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TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Julius Berger Nigeria Posts N1.9bn Loss in Six Months Goddy Egene Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has reported a loss of N1.931 billion for the six month ended June 30, 2020, compared

with a profit of N2.835 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

Details of the unaudited results made available at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the construction

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

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

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

firm recorded a revenue of N102.055 billion in 2020, down from N131.783 billion in 2019. Gross profit fell from N29.849 billion to N18.633 billion in 2020.

The firm was able to reduce

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 24Jul-2020, unless otherwise stated.

administrative expenses to N15.748 billion in 2020, compared with N22.446 billion in 2019. However, a foreign exchange loss of N3.102 billion in 2020 led to loss after tax of N1.931 billion

as against a profit after tax of N2.835 billion in 2019.

But the N1.931 billion loss in six months is an improvement on the N2.344 billion loss posted in the first

quarter of the year. Market analysts said given the performance, it would be difficult to say if the shareholders would receive a dividend at the end of the year.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.92 0.93 1.75% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 9.81% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 6.41% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.02 3.09 22.71% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 6.20% Anchoria Equity Fund 95.03 95.36 -7.26% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.27 1.27 10.24% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 13.96 14.38 -8.89% ARM Discovery Fund 332.05 342.06 -3.87% ARM Ethical Fund 30.24 31.15 3.98% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.75% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 21.88% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.81 1.83 0.91% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.06 0.04 5.71% Paramount Equity Fund 10.79 10.99 -13.78% Women's Investment Fund 107.44 108.35 -2.71% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.91% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 99.97 100.20 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 100.20 100.43 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 101.27 101.27 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.73% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.92 0.93 -0.78% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.57 1.57 18.01% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 4.27% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.65% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,174.25 1,184.67 5.80% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 148.78 149.91 1.33% FBN Halal Fund 107.64 107.67 7.64% FBN Money Market Fund 0.00 0.00 0.00% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 118.06 118.54 1.71% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 112.17 113.93 -13.80% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.17% Legacy Debt Fund 3.79 3.79 3.78% Legacy Equity Fund 1.08 1.10 -4.79% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.11 1.11 2.88% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,079.74 3,111.31 1.24% Coral Income Fund 3,204.34 3,204.34 4.18% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.42% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria Entertainment Fund N/A N/A N/A

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gdl.com.ng Web: www.gdl.com.ng ; Tel: +234 9055691122 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn GDL Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.07% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.28 2.31 3.84% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.15% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 147.05 147.60 2.53% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.24 1.26 6.23% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,121.81 1,121.81 6.02% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.38 10.95% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.03 12.09 6.69% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.60% PACAM Equity Fund 1.00 1.01 PACAM EuroBond Fund 106.33 108.74 SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 113.40 115.48 -2.07% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 5.73% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 -0.31% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.43% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.57% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.54% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 0.50% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.37% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -1.48% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.16 1.16 0.32% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 118.18 118.18 0.00% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund 1.12 1.14 -5.93% United Capital Bond Fund 1.83 1.83 5.94% United Capital Equity Fund 0.63 0.65 -10.81% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 5.19% United Capital Eurobond Fund 113.49 113.49 3.89% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.03 -2.80% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 10.09 10.19 -1.93% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.60 11.67 -0.35% Zenith Income Fund 24.45 24.45 9.82% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.62%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

116.57

4.01%

53.25

2.31%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.04 81.79 65.31

9.14 83.52 66.49

3.78% -3.77% -1.05%

Union Homes REIT

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

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

2.68 4.00 11.10 1.00 10.97 205.27

2.72 4.08 11.20 1.00 11.17 207.27

-24.25% -32.06% -8.26% 5.21% 5.49% 8.28%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

16.90%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

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

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LAWYER

A

WEEKLY PULLOUT

Senator Godswill Akpabio

Joy Nunieh

28.07.2020

Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei

NDDC: Shortchanging the People of the Niger Delta

2/

28.07.2020

Beyond the NDDC Probe

Passage of two Icons

Before I go into the word for today, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Folorunsho Abdul Razaq OFR, SAN (AGF), the first Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria from the Northern Region, and also a former Chairman of the esteemed Body of Benchers. He passed on in the early hours of Saturday, July 25th, 2020 at the ripe old age of 93. May Allah, in His infinite mercy, grant him Aljannah Firdaus. Ameen.

I also offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter Pilot, who has definitely left her footprints in the sands of time, despite being translated to eternal glory at such a young age (24 years).

May her soul rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord. Amen.

Are the Accusations Against the North Valid?

I have never hidden my dissatisfaction with President Buhari (Baba)’s administration (and that of most of his predecessors) - rightfully so, too - just look at the condition that Nigeria is currently in! We have fallen from grace to grass. But, on the decision to start a probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), I cannot fault Baba. He has taken a good step in the right direction, and more kudos will be in order if the investigation is properly and professionally conducted, the rot in that organisation fully uncovered, and all the perpetrators are brought to book.

Nigerians are also of the opinion that, going forward, another key organisation that urgently deserves the searchlight, is the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Since Nigeria gained her independence in 1960, we have been governed mostly by people from different parts of the North, hence, we easily blame those Northern leaders for all our woes, including the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. Though this allegation is far from being baseless, it is also a fact that many parts of the North and most other parts of the country too, remain just as underdeveloped - it’s not just the Niger Delta that was singled out for underdevelopment, though of course, their case is worse and dire because of the environmental degradation and the pollution that has been occasioned by oil prospecting, which obviously also has negative side effects on the health of the Niger Deltans (higher risks of cancer and breathing difficulties, possible birth defects etc).

That all our governments (present company included) have mostly failed Nigerians, is a fact.

60 years post-independence, Nigeria remains underdeveloped - a third world country, the poverty capital of the world. However, the Niger Deltans themselves, are just as complicit in the underdevelopment of their region.

I do agree that, the Niger Delta being the source of Nigeria’s major revenue, should have been given special attention, especially because in harnessing the oil mineral resources for the benefit of the country, its environment was being totally devastated (and still is); there should have been some form of parallel restoration and restitution of the Niger Delta as it was being degraded, but, unfortunately, there has been little or none. The IOCs should also have been held more accountable, as the kind of destruction that has been wrought on the Niger Delta, is easily visible to the naked eye - oil slicks on the river banks, black soot on surfaces, destruction of vegetation and so on.

OMPADEC and NDDC It was obviously with this in mind, that General Babangida’s military regime decided to take some action to reverse the damage in the Niger Delta, by creating the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) established by Decree No. 23 of 1992, which was subsequently replaced during President Obasanjo’s administration with the NDDC, established by the NDDC (Establishment, Etc) Act of 2000 (NDDC Act). However, with the shameful drama which has been unfolding over the past couple of weeks regarding the NDDC probe and hearings at the National Assembly (NASS), Nigerians are now realising that the decay in the NDDC is as deep as an abyss

(like its predecessor, OMPADEC); outright theft of mind-boggling sums of money by the Niger Deltans themselves to the detriment of their own people, having been given the opportunity to rehabilitate and develop their own region which has been devastated and polluted by oil exploration and related activities, through these special purpose vehicles of OMPADEC and NDDC. The level of environmental degradation and squalor in the Niger Delta, is better imagined.

Section 2 of the NDDC Act provides for a Governing Board of NDDC - out of a total of about 19 board members, it is mandatory that 10 must be from from the oil producing States which are listed in Section 2(1)(b)(i)-(ix). It is however, convenient for many Niger Delta militants, politicians, activists and so on, many of whom may be beneficiaries of the NDDC scams and contracts, to pull the wool over the eyes of their unsuspecting people and everybody else, to hide the truth and cover the spirit of theft and kleptomania which has taken over most public officials in Nigeria, including them, and heap the blame of the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta solely on Northern leaders. Section 14(2)(a)-(j) of the NDDC Act provides for the handsome funding of the NDDC, funds which by virtue of Section 15 are to be expended to, inter alia, administer the Commission, pay its staff salaries and other allowances, and pay for contracts awarded ostensibly to achieve the aims and objectives of the NDDC Act. Over the years, what has the NDDC done with this large amount of funds, to better the lives of the Niger Deltans?

Nothing really!

The Photo of the So-called ‘Elebele Bridge’ Last week, there was a photograph which trended on social media - of a young lady purportedly in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State hawking something resembling food items on her head, crossing a wooden makeshift structure referred to as ‘Elebele Bridge’, allegedly built via a N2.3 billion contract awarded by the NDDC in 2018 and completed in 2020. I sincerely hope that it is fake news. I wept when I saw the photo. The only thing that that crude structure (which belongs in the dark ages and the dustbin of history) has in common with a bridge of today, is that it carries something across this particular Elebele Ogbia river. Any carpenter, with no prior training in bridge construction, could deliver that structure which does not even qualify to be called even a simple beam or truss bridge, for N1 million or less! The Elebele bridge even looks dangerous, as not only could it be easily destroyed by a bout of strong rain or a gust of wind, we all know how slippery wood becomes when

it is wet - and people are expected to cross safely on it, without slipping and falling in various directions, when its surface is wet from the rain!

A couple of years ago, I watched a television programme in which the people of an area in Bayelsa State similar to Ogbia (it could have been Ogbia, I don’t remember) had complained that they required two bridges, because in the rainy season, the whole vicinity becomes totally flooded and impassable, to the extent that children are unable to attend school until the waters dry up, since there was no means of passing through the flood. They said that many times during the election campaign cycles, politicians would come and promise them that the bridges would be built if they were elected - alas! all empty promises. Shall we then say, that the NDDC has gallantly stepped up to the plate, and delivered that crude structure called Elebele bridge to the people of Ogbia? How cruel.

Section 16(1)(a) & (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution) provides that Government shall harness all the resources of the country, and use them for the benefit of all Nigerians. Furthermore, Section 7 of the NDDC Act evinces the fact that, the functions of the NDDC are encapsulated in the development of the Niger Delta in terms of all types of infrastructure, and tackling the ecological and environmental problems brought about by oil and gas flaring activities. Nothing of the sort has been achieved by NDDC, so far.

Dubai To then see that it took six years and $12 billion to develop Dubai, another oil city, while in 20 years and with an alleged sum of $40 billion, the NDDC has achieved little or nothing in the Niger Delta, is mortifying, inexplicable and criminal. Section 21(2)(a) of the NDDC Act provides for a Monitoring Committee to “monitor to the management of the funds of the Commission and the implementation of the projects of the Commission” - where has this Committee been throughout the reckless, fruitless and corrupt spending spree by NDDC Officials in cahoots with dishonest Contractors et al? In a coma? Is there any similarity between other oil cities like Dubai and the Niger Delta, aside from the fact that they are oil producing areas? None. Not only is the wealth that is generated from oil production apparent as the level of development and modernisation is fully on display, Dubai has now become a tourist attraction; while the Niger Delta remains a polluted backwater, in spite of the fact that more funds are alleged to have been pumped into the NDDC for the development of the Niger Delta,

“IF IN ABOUT 45 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, NORTHERNERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING THE NIGER DELTA, IN THE PAST 20 YEARS (NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE OMPADEC YEARS), THE NDDC COMPRISING OF NIGER DELTA LEADERSHIP, HAS BECOME JUST AS COMPLICIT AND CULPABLE FOR THE UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA”

than that of Dubai.

Oil spill in the Niger Delta region

Conclusion In any event, in the last 20 years of the fourth Republic, we have had at least 13 years of Southern leadership, out of which for about five years, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, an indigene of Ogbia local government area, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, was President! He must also be blamed, along with his predecessors.

My conclusion? If in about 45 years of leadership, Northerners have been accused of neglecting the Niger Delta, in the past 20 years (not even including the OMPADEC years), the NDDC comprising of Niger Delta leadership, has become just as complicit and culpable for the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. If they argue that the Northerners are unconcerned about the Niger Delta because they are not from there, what is their excuse for being equally as unconcerned about developing their own ‘native land’, since they are from there? The answer to this question is, Corruption!

LAW REPORT/3

Discretion of Court on Grant or Refusal of Application for Adjournment to address it before delivery of its judgement, infringed the Appellant’s right to fair hearing. He urged the Supreme Court to uphold the appeal, and set aside the lower court’s affirmation of the judgement of the trial court.

Responding to the submissions, counsel for the Respondents argued that the lower court’s affirmation of the trial court’s refusal to grant the Appellant a further adjournment, was not perverse; hence, it did not warrant the interference of the Supreme Court. He relied on OLUSOLA SARAKI v SOCIETE GENERALE BANK (1995) 1 NWLR (Pt. 371) 325. Counsel submitted that by operation of law, hearing in the matter was rightly continued on 24th June, 1991, which was the next scheduled date after the public holiday on 21st June, 1991.

Facts

S

ometime in 1982, the Appellant obtained a loan of N10,000.00 from the 1st Respondent. The loan was secured by a legal mortgage on the Appellant’s property at No. 63B, Ndiuche Street, off Ngwa Road, Aba in favour of the 1st Respondent. Owing to the Appellant’s default in repaying the loan and the interest that had accrued thereon, the 1st Respondent resolved to sell the mortgaged property in order to recover the borrowed sum. In line with the terms of the legal mortgage, the 1st Respondent commissioned the 2nd Respondent, an auctioneer, to sell the property by public auction sale for the purpose of recovering the debt owed by the Appellant.

The auction took place on 19th February, 1990 and the property was purchased for the sum of N40,000.00 by one Nicholas Enwere Claver Agbala, who emerged as the highest bidder. Dissatisfied with the sale, the Appellant filed an action at the High Court of Imo State, seeking inter alia, an order setting aside the said auction sale. The Appellant alleged that the Respondents had ignored an offer of N60,000.00 made by a certain David Chukwuigbo who was present at the auction for the property, and had colluded with some persons and sold the property to the said Nicholas Enwere Claver Agbala for the lesser sum of N40,000.00.

Parties exchanged their pleadings, and trial commenced.

The Appellant testified for himself, alongside two other witnesses. Thereafter, counsel for the Appellant sought an adjournment to 12th June, 1991 to enable the last witness of the Appellant attend court to testify.

On the said date, the Appellant’s last witness was absent, and the Appellant’s counsel sought a further adjournment to enable the said witness attend court to testify. The trial court refused the Appellant’s counsel’s application for an adjournment, and ordered him to proceed with his case by calling other witnesses, rather than the particular witness who was absent. Owing to the Appellant’s failure to call such other witness(es) and close his case, the court deemed the Appellant’s case closed and ordered the defence to open their case. The 1st Respondent’s witness was thereafter, led in evidence and the court adjourned the proceedings to 21st and 26th June, 1991. The date 21st June 1991 turned out to be a public holiday, hence hearing continued in the matter on the first working day after the holiday which was 24th June, 1991. On this date, both counsel for the Appellant and Respondents were absent. However, the Appellant was present while the 1st Respondent was represented by an official. The 2nd Respondent was absent. The Respondent’s witness continued his testimony and he was cross-examined by the Appellant, after which the defence was closed. Thereafter, the court stood the matter down for judgement, and same was delivered on the same day.

In its judgement, the court dismissed the Appellant’s claim on the ground that the he failed to prove the value of the property, and also failed to call the person who allegedly made the higher bid of N60,000.00 for the property as a witness. Aggrieved, the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal which dismissed the Appeal. The Appellant therefore, further appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination The parties filed and exchanged their briefs of argument, in which they formulated their respective issues for determination. The following issue was considered by the Apex Court, in its determination of the appeal.

Whether the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was infringed by the trial court.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant argued that the trial court, having adjourned the case on 12th June, 1991 to 21st and 26th June, 1991 for continuation of defence, it was wrong for the court to have proceeded to deliver judgement in the matter on 24th June, 1991. Relying on the decision in PAM v MUHAMMAD (2008) All FWLR (Pt. 436) 1868 at 1928, he submitted that, a court is duty bound to adhere strictly to its cause list. Counsel argued further that, the Court of Appeal was wrong to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court delivered on a date not stated for that purpose, without the par-

Honourable Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 24th day of April, 2020 Before Their Lordships

Olabode Rhodes-Vivour Musa Dattijo Muhammad Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun Chima Centus Nweze Ejembi Eko SC.311/2007 Between SYLVESTER M. NDUKWE

And

UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC LAWRENCE ENYINNAYA

APPELLANT

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Musa Dattijo Muhammad, JSC)

ties’ consent and without being served notice of the change in the cause list.

Counsel also argued that,

the refusal by the trial court to grant the Appellant an adjournment to call a vital witness and an opportunity

“.....THE GRANT OR REFUSAL OF AN ADJOURNMENT IS ENTIRELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TRIAL COURT; SINCE IT INVOLVES THE EXERCISE OF JUDICIAL DISCRETION, IT SHOULD BE EXERCISED JUDICIALLY AND JUDICIOUSLY”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the sole issue, the Supreme Court held that, hearing is fair where all parties to a dispute are given equal hearing or opportunity of a hearing before a decision is given against either of the parties, and once a court is satisfied that all the parties were given an opportunity to present their case, a party cannot be heard to complain if he fails to take advantage of the opportunity. The court placed reliance on its decisions in ORUGBO & ANOR. v UNA & ORS (2002) 16 NWLR (Pt. 792) 175 and DASUKI v FRN & ORS. (2018) 10 NWLR (Pt. 1627) 320.

The court held further that, the grant or refusal of an adjournment is entirely at the discretion of the trial court; since it involves the exercise of judicial discretion, it should be exercised judicially and judiciously. The exercise of discretion, implies the power to make a choice between alternative courses of action. A Judge’s order refusing adjournment, is an exercise of his undoubted discretion, and the appellate court is very slow or reluctant to interfere with the exercise of discretion on any question of adjournment, unless exceptional circumstances are shown, such as where it appears that the exercise of discretion by the court has occasioned a miscarriage of justice or has resulted in defeating the rights of the parties altogether - ODUSOTE v ODUSOTE (1971) ANLR 221; UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS & ANOR. v AIGORO (1985) 1 NWLR (Pt. 1) 143 and ACME BUILDERS LTD v KADUNA STATE WATER BOARD & ANOR. (1999) 2 SC 1.

From the records, it is clear that the trial court bent over backwards to grant the Appellant the opportunity to call his purported last witness. On 7th June, 1991 when the case was about to be adjourned at the Appellant’s instance, the Appellant’s counsel gave an undertaking that if on the adjourned date the remaining witness was not in court, he would close the Appellant’s case.

It is further evident that on 12th June, 1991 when the Appellant’s counsel sought a further adjournment in spite of his undertaking of 7th June, 1991 to close the Appellant’s case, he was unable to supply the particulars of the witness: his name, address, when the witness would be available to testify, and the importance of his evidence to the success of the Appellant’s case. In the face of these inadequacies, the trial court’s refusal to grant the Appellant’s application for a further adjournment, cannot be said to be arbitrary and perverse.

Furthermore, on 24th June, 1991, the Respondent’s witness testified, and the Appellant who was present in court exercised his right in the absence of his counsel, and duly cross-examined the Respondents’ witness.

At the conclusion of the proceedings on 24th June, 1991, the Appellant addressed the trial court before the matter was stood down for judgement.

Given the foregoing, their Lordships concluded that the Appellant was granted fair hearing before the trial court delivered its judgement, and that the Appellant was unable to show good cause why the Supreme Court should interfere with the concurrent decisions of the Court of Appeal and the trial court.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation C.C. Elele Esq. with J.E. Alobo Esq. and C.O. Ogwumike Esq. for the Appellant.

C.N. Umezurike Esq. for the Respondents.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR)

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NDDC: Shortchanging the The Obasanjo Administration, in its wisdom and concern for the plight of the people of the Niger Delta Region, established the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in July 2000, to bring some much needed infrastructural development to the area, and tackle the ecological and environmental issues caused by oil exploration. The Federal Government went all out to adequately fund the Commission, to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate. But, to the chagrin of the people of the region and to Nigerians generally, the Commission has been bedevilled with massive looting and pilfering by its officials and the supervising Ministry. This has necessitated the ongoing probe at the National Assembly, which is unravelling deep-seated and deeply entrenched corruption, which has been the hallmark of the Commission since its inception. Learned Senior Advocates, Asiwaju Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo and Norrison Quakers examine this scandalous and extremely worrisome matter, which has already been tagged by many as, ‘NDDCgate’ and some of the actions taken so far by the Executive and Legislature to get to the bottom of the rot NDDC Probe Reflects Nigeria’s Systemic Failure Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN

N

igeria has become a country where institutions established by law to give peace and prosperity to the people have failed, due to many factors, but principally because of the corruption that has become endemic in every strata of our society.

Silence of the Niger Delta Leaders NDDC, has become what it is today through gradual manipulation of due process, outright disregard for the letter and spirit of the NDDC (Establishment, Etc) Act that established it in 2000. The host communities and leaders of the people have compromised, and the political elites have equally had their share in the stolen funds. How many of the leaders of the area, have we heard speak out on the mismanagement of their common wealth?

The Military orientation of public officers and political office holders, that whatever the President does is right and unquestionable, has led to the appointment of Interim Management Committee IMC. This Committee is unknown to the Act of National Assembly, that established the Commission. Why was the Board which was created to take decisive policy decisions dissolved, and not reconstituted as required by the law?

The Essence of the Rule of Law Where there is law, there is no room for exigency that overrides the law.

That is the essence of the rule of law.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), provides that every decision and action of Government shall be in accordance with the Acts of National Assembly or Laws made by Houses of Assembly of the States. So as long as we bypass the due process of the laws, so long will institutions of Government continue

Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio

to falter and fail.

The proceedings of the House of Representatives was in order. It is expected that after all said and done,

“IMAGINE A MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, WHO IN THE FULL GLARE OF TELEVISION CAMERAS BEAMED TO THE PUBLIC, ' SWORE' ON OATH TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, BUT REFUSED OR AVOIDED TO SIGN THE OATH?”

Former NDDC Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joy Nunieh

the Legislature will come out with patriotic resolutions that will positively impact on the institutions, and persons who have violated the laws of the land will be brought to book.

I believe that, if any crime has been committed by any public officer, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) can be trusted to initiate appropriate proceedings, to prosecute and recover the misappropriated funds.

For me, the National Assembly has this great opportunity now, haven seen the gaps explored in the existing laws, to reexamine the laws regulating various public commissions, agencies and authorities, with a view to bringing the laws up to date to match the current manifestation of greed and unpatriotic tendencies of Nigerians placed in places of trust.

Manifestation of End Times What we as ordinary Nigerians hear and see these days, are manifestations of the end time. Godlessness, greed of unimaginable proportions, wickedness in high places, and absence of the fear of God. Imagine a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who in the full glare of television cameras beamed to the public, ' swore' on oath to speak the truth, but refused or avoided to sign the oath?

That tells you what manner of truth was told at the public hearing, in the face of the whole world.

We need to bring back public orientation outfit to engage every strata of the Nigerian Society with a view to bring back the core values of humanity in us. God bless Nigeria.

Asiwaju Solomon Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Life Bencher, Abuja

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People of the Niger Delta “IT IS SURPRISING THAT THESE REVELATIONS WERE CONCEALED OVER THE YEARS, OR BETTER STILL, DO WE ASSUME THAT STAKEHOLDERS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NIGER DELTA, ARE IGNORANT OF THESE GROSS INFRACTIONS?”

NDDC Probe and the Niger Delta of our Dreams Norrison Quakers, SAN The ongoing probe of the Interim Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission has opened a can of worms in the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, and the norms prevalent in Nigeria as a whole. The manifestation of economic and financial crime revealed by the ongoing probe, can be comfortably described as brazen. The sincerity of purpose of the Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to counter fraud and corruption embedded in the fabric of all facets of our polity like linings, is once again put to the test in the wake of allegations and counter-allegations emanating from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Interim Management Committee, Joy Nunieh, the Interim Managing Director- Kemebradikumo Pondeh and his management, not forgetting to add the alleged involvement of Legislators as parties to the sleaze.

Funding of the NDDC The woes of the South-South region of Nigeria, have been a subject of debate since the new millennium. In a desperate bid to provide a lasting solution to the socioeconomic difficulties of the Niger Delta Region, such as- militancy, underdevelopment, environmental pollution, amongst others, the Niger Delta Development Commission was established in the year 2000, with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta to an enviable status of a region that is economically prosperous. Whilst, Section 14(2)(a) of the NDDC Act obligates the Federal Government to remit to the NDDC a sum equivalent to 15% of the total monthly statutory allocation due to the Niger Delta Development Commission, Sections 14(2) (b)and (c) also provide for the remittance to the Niger Delta Development Commission of 3% of the total annual budget of oil producing and gas processing companies operating in the Niger Delta area, and 50% of monies due to NDDC member States from the ecological fund. An Amendment Bill was later conceptualised to correct some perceived lapses in the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2000 (NDDC Act) in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Niger Delta Development Commission v Nigeria Liquefied National Gas Limited. The poser is - where has the money gone?

The Role of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Of note, the previous administration led

by His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, also played a role in alleviating the suffering of the people of Niger Delta. Regrettably, going by the drama unfolding in the NDDC, we can conclude that we are back to where we began this tortuous journey to liberate the people of Niger Delta. The tying of NDDC to the string of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, as opposed to allowing same operate independently has equally contributed to its inefficiency, due to abuse by power brokers in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Previously, it was believed in many quarters that the problem of the Niger Delta region is attributable to the activities of foreign companies destroying the oil rich environment simpliciter, hence, concerted efforts were focused on securing restitution and compensation, with additional funds provided from Government and NGOs to change the

Acting Managing Director, NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei

fortune of the region; albeit, the epiphany- the insect troubling the fresh vegetable of Niger Delta is right within. And there lies the dilemma; if Government, NGOs and the world at large heeded to the cries of the people of Niger Delta by providing grants and reliefs, yet those at the helm of affairs who are to represent the interest of their people- the downtrodden, are living large on the peasants in their region, it strikes the root of our conscience as a nation, and calls for national mourning indeed.

It is surprising that these revelations were concealed over the years, or better still, do we assume that stakeholders in the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, are ignorant of these gross infractions? Whilst the populace are groaning over massive job loss, dwindling economic outlook amongst others, apparently, few are gloating, having benefitted from the plight of the downtrodden in the oil rich region.

Well, the story is one that has different chapters like Agary’s Yellow-Yellow and Habila’s Oil on Water, and we are simply in the preliminary chapters.

At this stage, evidently, the probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission transcends the Constitutional oversight functions of the National Assembly since criminal infractions are being unraveled, coupled with the fact that some weighty allegations have been levelled against some members of the legislative arm; the National Assembly cannot be a judge in its own affairs.

Succinctly, this is an affirmation of the need for the management of information systems related to economic crime, the determination of financial losses incurred by fraud and corruption, which is reposed in criminal investigatory bodies under extant legislation to meet the requirements of the global Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding financial crimes.

ICPC, EFCC and Legislation Both the ICPC and the EFCC have powers not only to investigate, but also to prosecute.

The ICPC was inaugurated on September 29th, 2000 by the Nigerian erstwhile President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The EFCC was created by law in December 2002, and began operating in April 2003. Section 12 of the EFCC Act provides for the establishment of special units of the Commission, including

the Legal and Prosecution Unit. In a similar manner, Section 6(a) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, also confers investigative and prosecutorial powers on the ICPC. Happily, the various Acts setting out disclosure requirements of agencies of Government are applicable to the NDDC; with penalties for failure to keep or disclose accurate financial records. For instance, Sections 59 and 64 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act and Section 10 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, exemplify need for financial record keeping.

Thus, all those involved in this dastardly act at the NDDC must be held accountable, by requiring them to submit audited financial reports; the independent variable (forensic accounting) should be employed to unravel the financial crimes (the dependent variable) in the Commission.

Suggestions as to Steps to take The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has power to prosecute financial crimes under Section 12 of the EFCC Act. By virtue of Section 7 of the Act, the EFCC can also prosecute under other legislation. More so, the powers of search and compelling disclosure is equally vested in EFCC (Section 25, EFCC Act) and ICPC (Section 36, ICPC Act). EFCC equally has the power to conduct interviews and the probe of NDDC; with due recourse to Sections 34 to 36 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) providing for safeguards in conducting investigations. Hence, after due process of criminal investigation has been complied with by the EFCC, it can file charges in court accordingly, pursuant to Section 6 of the EFCC Act. So far, investigations have revealed the likelihood of infractions, which when thoroughly investigated, can further confirm fraudulent receipt of property, dealing with property acquired through gratification, bribery of a public officer, accepting gratification, using a public office or position for gratification, falsification of documents, bribery by giving assistance in regard to contracts, and not forgetting that related to the alleged secret oath taking, to activate the intervention of the neutral criminal agencies saddled with investigating misappropriation of assets, bribery and corruption, procurement fraud,

financial accounts misstatements, accounting procedure breach, underreporting of line costs, and inflation of expenditure amongst others.

The world is definitely watching how this administration will nip this probe in the bud, particularly since there are a number of international anti-corruption conventions that apply in Nigeria, including the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption adopted by the African Union in 2003, United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), signed on 9 December, 2003 and ratified on 14 December, 2004, and the African Union Convention on Combatting and Preventing Corruption, signed on 16 December, 2003 and ratified on 26 September, 2006.

Further, there is no better time to encourage whistle blowing to unravel the mystery in the operations of the NDDC than now; whistleblowers are protected in Nigeria under the Whistle-blowers Act, Federal Ministry of Finance policy on whistleblowing, the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria's Code of Conduct, amongst others. This has become urgent, to prevent this probe from going the way of some previous probes.

Banters are already being exchanged between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in their desperation to score cheap political points over a matter of looting of humongous sums. Nonetheless, it needs to be reiterated that a litmus test for injustice in combating corruption, is- selective prosecution.

Flowing from the above, in acknowledging that corruption undermines accountability and transparency in the management of public affairs as well as socio economic development in the country, and to avoid executive cum parliamentary mischievous manoeuvres, it is expedient that the parties in the core of the probe of the NDDC be suspended, to avoid interference whatsoever with investigations.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, was endorsed by African leaders to champion the African Union theme of the year for 2018, ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’, which has made Nigeria a frontier in bringing corruption to its knees in our motherland. We definitely, cannot afford to disappoint the continent.

Norrison I. Quakers, SAN, Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Lagos.

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Virtual Court Proceedings: Supreme Court Opts for a Subtle Advisory Opinion Background The Supreme Court Ruling on virtual court proceedings handed down on 14th July, 2020, is an Advisory Opinion in every sense but name. A seven-man panel of the Supreme Court (as is constitutionally mandated when invoking its original jurisdiction) led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour held that, the suits filed by both Lagos and Ekiti States seeking an interpretation of the constitutionality of virtual court proceeding, was premature. The Supreme Court said Judges across the country should continue to conduct virtual court proceedings, until such time that the National Assembly concludes its ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution to accommodate virtual court proceedings. Justice Rhodes-Vivour stated that it is only after the National Assembly has passed its pending Bill seeking to include virtual court proceedings in the Constitution, that anyone can then challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of such an enactment, and question whether it violates the powers of Heads of Courts across the country to regulate proceedings.

The Attorney-Generals’ of Lagos and Ekiti States, had taken this case on virtual court proceedings to the Supreme Court. The Lagos State Attorney-General Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, had argued that this was necessary in order to prevent a situation where after virtual court proceedings are conducted, they would be declared to be unconstitutional as in Udeogu v (1) FRN (2) Orji Kalu & Anor SC 622C/2019 in relation to Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. On his part, the Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda, argued about the importance and the need to have certainty to the law, on the constitutionality or otherwise of the virtual court proceedings. He pointed out that Judges in his State are reluctant to sit and conduct virtual court proceedings, out of concern that their decisions and proceedings will be declared unconstitutional on Appeal. Justice Rhodes-Vivour in addressing the Attorney-General of Lagos State said that: “As of now, virtual sitting is not unconstitutional……go and tell your Chief Judge to ask the Judges to continue to sit virtually if it’s convenient for them”. In view of the position expressed by the Justices of the Supreme Court, to the effect that the suits are premature and that the directive on virtual court proceedings enjoys the presumption of regularity, the two Attorney-Generals proceeded to withdraw their cases.

What is Advisory Opinion and its Historical Significance?

The Supreme Court, in my view, has subtly attempted to give an Advisory Opinion on this subject of virtual court proceedings, even though they have no original or specific jurisdiction to do so under the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The ruling highlights yet another imperfection in our Constitution, in that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not have any specific provision for Advisory Opinion, and neither is there an Act of the National Assembly empowering the Supreme Court to do so. An Advisory Opinion is a Court’s non-binding interpretation of law; it states the opinion of a court upon a legal question submitted by the legislature, executive or another court, but does not attempt to adjudicate upon a specific legal case.

It merely advises on the constitutionality, or interpretation of a law.

It is obvious that the Supreme Court does not at this point in time, want to adjudicate upon the constitutionality or otherwise of virtual court proceedings, only to be subjected to the same issues all over again once the National Assembly has amended our Constitution to include virtual court proceedings. The Supreme Court has therefore, side stepped the issue and adopted the safe approach of rendering what is akin to an Advisory Opinion (which of course is non-binding), until such a time that it is called upon to adjudicate upon a specific legal case that comes before the Court. If both Lagos and Ekiti States withdrew their cases filed before the Supreme Court, it stands to reason that any statement by the Supreme Court on virtual court proceedings could only have been advisory in nature.

As already pointed out, there is no specific provision under the 1999 Constitution empowering the Supreme Court to render an Advisory Opinion, and neither does the Supreme Court have any clear or specific jurisdiction in this regard. This was not the case in the past.

Section 109 of the 1960 Constitution gave the Supreme Court jurisdiction to render an Advisory Opinion on any question upon which the Governor General desired the advice of the Court, for the purpose of deciding whether or not any power was vested in or could be exercised by virtue of Section 94 of the same Constitution relating to the Prerogative of Mercy. A Governor of a Region could equally seek an Advisory Opinion of the Supreme Court, in the exercise of its power on the Prerogative of Mercy. Section 116 of the 1963 Constitution, also gave the Supreme Court power to render Advisory Opinion to the President or Governor of a Region.

However, Decree No. 1 of 1966 suspended this right to Advisory Opinion, and upon our return to civilian rule, both the Constitutions of 1979 and 1999 failed to capture this important provision.

Advisory Opinion in Other Common Law Countries Advisory Opinion is a common feature, in most Commonwealth Countries. In India for example, the President of India can request the Supreme Court of India to provide it with advice on certain matters. This procedure is called “Presidential Reference”. However, it is not binding on the Supreme Court to answer questions raised in the reference.

Article 143 of the Constitution of India provides:

doing so either, and some may argue that giving Advisory Opinion is within the inherent powers of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad

“1. If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.

2.The President may, notwithstanding anything in the provision to Article 131, refer a dispute of the kind mentioned in the said provision to the Supreme Court for opinion, and the Supreme Court shall, after hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon.”

The High Court of Australia is prohibited by the Constitution of Australia, from issuing Advisory Opinions; a binding determination requires a controversy between two parties. The Supreme Court here in Nigeria appears to have adopted the Australian position by pointing out that the issue at stake is premature, since there is no existing controversy between any party before the Court, and although the 1999 Constitution does not empower the Supreme Court to give Advisory Opinion, it does not specifically prohibit them from

“......THERE IS NO SPECIFIC PROVISION UNDER THE 1999 CONSTITUTION EMPOWERING THE SUPREME COURT TO RENDER AN ADVISORY OPINION, AND NEITHER DOES THE SUPREME COURT HAVE ANY CLEAR OR SPECIFIC JURISDICTION IN THIS REGARD. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE IN THE PAST

Was it Premature to Institute a Suit on Virtual Court Proceedings before the Supreme Court?

On the question as to whether or not the timing is premature for the Supreme Court to give a binding judgement/ruling on virtual court proceedings, I respectfully disagree with the position taken by the Supreme Court. For instance, can a court appropriately sentence a Defendant to prison or death, through virtual court proceedings?

Prior to the suit filed before the Supreme Court, Lawyers have argued on the propriety of sentencing a Defendant via video, zoom or other internet related social media applications. This was particularly so after an Ikeja High Court Judge, Justice Mojisola Dada on 4th May, 2020 sentenced a Defendant, Olalekan Hameed to death by hanging, for murder. The sentence was delivered by virtual court proceedings, during the lockdown period. Considering those circumstances, the only way the Attorney- General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, could determine the legality of this sentence, was by testing the constitutionality and justiciability of virtual court proceedings at the Supreme Court. It is therefore, far from premature as far as the Lagos State Government is concerned, and a non-binding incidental Advisory Opinion of the Supreme Court is hardly helpful either.

Section 232 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that: “The Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any other court, have original jurisdiction in any dispute between the Federation and a State or between States if and in so far as that dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends” The legal rights of Olalekan Hameed depend on a correct interpretation of the law, and as such, the Attorney-General of Lagos State was right to seek an interpretation of the law at the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution. The Supreme Court could have perhaps, excluded sentences of death from virtual court proceedings for the time being.

Conclusion A lot has been said about the constitutionality or otherwise of virtual court proceedings, and the Supreme Court is perhaps, right overall to encourage it without necessarily handing down a binding judgement/ruling at this point in time. Section 36(3) and 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution, both make reference to the need to hold court proceedings in public. However, what does public mean? Significantly item 66 of the exclusive legislative list allows for“Wireless, broadcasting and television other than broadcasting and television provided by the Government of a State; allocation of wave-lengths for wireless, broadcasting and television transmission”.

Section 36(3) &(4) does not make reference to wireless, broadcasting and television either directly or indirectly, and online/zoom/ virtual hearing could have conveniently be included under this item. Significantly, Section 39(3) of the 1999 Constitution which deals with the right to freedom of expression and the press, makes reference to wireless broadcasting and television. This leaves one to question whether it was ever the intention of the draftsman of the 1999 Constitution to include virtual hearing, online and zoom within the meaning of public hearings? A similar inclusion as with Section 39(3) of the 1999 Constitution would have indeed, helped with regard to whether online/zoom/virtual hearing could be captured within the meaning of public hearing under Section 36(3) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution. It would have brought certainty to the law, but now, until the National Assembly amends our Constitution appropriately, the Supreme Court has signalled its reluctance to adjudicate on the issue.

It was Lord Denning who once said: “Law does not stand still. It moves continually, once this is recognised then the task of the Judge is put on a higher plane. He must constantly seek to mould the law, so as to serve the needs of the time. He must not be a mere mechanic, a mere working mason, laying brick on brick without thought for the overall design. He must be an architect – thinking of the structure as a whole, building for society a system of law which is strong, durable and just. It is on his work that civilised society depends”.

The Supreme Court has been quite ingenious in managing to indirectly render an Advisory Opinion on this important subject without any specific jurisdiction, but do we really need to amend the Constitution to directly give the Supreme Court original jurisdiction to give Advisory Opinion? Section 232(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states as follows: “In addition to the jurisdiction conferred upon it by subsection (1) of this section, the Supreme Court shall have such original jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by any Act of the National Assembly.

Provided that no original jurisdiction shall be conferred upon the Supreme Court with respect to any criminal matter”.

Now that the Supreme Court has voiced an opinion on virtual court proceedings; apart from the need for a bill to amend the Constitution to include virtual court proceedings, it is also high time that the National Assembly empower the Supreme Court by passing an Act giving it original jurisdiction to give Advisory Opinions, pursuant to Section 232(2) of the 1999 Constitution. However, in order not to over burden the Supreme Court, it should be made optional as is the practice in India. Whatever the case, Advisory Opinion would almost certainly enrich and add value to the constitutional process.

28.07.2020

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Arewa Lawyers Endorse Adesina SAN For NBA Presidency Ahead of the national elections of the Nigerian Bar Association coming up tomorrow and Thursday, the Northern Lawyers Forum under their umbrella Association, Arewa Lawyers Forum, have adopted Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN as their candidate for NBA Presidency.

Mr. Adesina had been adopted by the Youruba Lawyers Association, Egbe Amofin as their candidate for the Presidential election.

A letter addressed to the Secretary of Egbe Amofin,

Dr. Wole Akintayo dated July 24, 2020 and signed by the Secretary of Arewa Lawyers Association, Mr. Mohammed Monguno, reads: “ Please refer to your letter dated March 20, 2020 in connection with Egbe Amofin’s adoption of the candidacy of Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN as the official candidacy of Egbe Amofin Oodua Forum. “We have also perused the Notice of Endorsement attached to your letter under reference on the endorsement of Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN

to contest for the office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in the July, 2020 election. “We, the Arewa Lawyers Forum, have studied the processes leading to the endorsement as painstakingly stated in the Notice of Endorsement dated March 11, 2020, signed by the Leaders of Egbe Amofin OOdua and Branch Chairmen to ensure that whoever we endorse is experienced, capable, and has the requisite competence to lead the Bar at this moment.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted two men, Uche Johnson and Kingsley Meteke, for producing and distributing substandard engine oil.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyibo convicted them, after they pleaded guilty to the offence.

She sentenced them to two years imprisonment each. They admitted to have adulterated 128 drums and 9.45 litres of engine oil.

They were charged with four counts of production, possession, dealing in and distribution of substandard engine oil.

SON said the Defendants indulged in the production of engine oil, which did not meet mandatory industrial standards.

The Defendants claimed that the products were good for public consumption and for optimum engine performance,

which the Prosecution said were false.

The products were said to have failed to comply with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

According to the Prosecution, the offence contravened the provisions of Section 1(8) and 1(8)(II) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.

The Defendants had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but later changed their plea to guilty. The sentence will begin from January 27, 2019 when the Defendants were arrested.

Prosecuting counsel Mr -RVHSK 2ORĂ€QGDUH VDLG WKH judgement would serve as a deterrent to Manufacturers and importers of substandard products. He said: “I want to tell genuine Manufacturers

and Consumers, that they should not be despondent or complacent. SON is there to prosecute any offender. “It’s a judgement that will send a message to the public, that SON is working tirelessly under the leadership of Osita Aboloma. “If you’re an Importer or Manufacturer, you either bring SURGXFWV WKDW DUH FHUWLĂ€HG under Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) and SONCAP, otherwise the fate that befell these individuals, will also befall those who are indulging in product adulteration. “For our Consumers, the Director-General and Management are working tirelessly to ensure that Consumers get value for their money, and that only standard and FHUWLĂ€HG SURGXFWV DUH LQ WKH market.â€?

“Accordingly, on behalf o the leadership and members of Arewa Lawyers Forum and after a meeting of our Executive Committee, I have the honour to hereby convey our adoption, endorsement, satisfaction and the unanimous acceptance of the candidature of Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) for the office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in the forthcoming July 2020 Election�, Arewa Lawyers Forum stated.

Dele Adesina, SAN

SON Secures Conviction of Businessmen First Northern Lawyer, AbdulRazaq, SAN Passes on at 93 for Engine Oil Adulteration

Ondo State Judiciary Implements End-To-End Court Automation System in Partnership with LawPavilion The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about lockdown and social distancing rules, which have restricted the day-to-day activities of the courts and created a new normal for the Judiciary. The Ondo State Judiciary is taking a giant stride, with the aid of technology, to ensure justice delivery is not stalled, especially when physical court sittings may not be feasible in the foreseeable future.

The recent decisions of the Supreme Court in the two cases of Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation and Ors and Attorney-General of Ekiti State v Attorney-General of the Federation have given judicial teeth to virtual proceedings, by holding that such proceedings are legal.

The Ondo State Judiciary is proud to be the first State in Nigeria, to make her E-Registry fully automated. This was achieved working hand-in-hand with LawPavilion Business Solutions, to create a seamless E-Registry which can be used by both litigants, their counsel and court officials.

In times past, physical filing could take several hours, but with the E-Registry, filing can now be done in the twinkle of an eye; and what is more, the E-Registry is web based and can be accessed anywhere. To this end, litigants and their counsel can now file their processes in the comfort of their homes, anywhere

The Nigerian legal community has again lost one of its glowing lights, with the passage of former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, ÀUVW /DZ\HU DQG 6HQLRU Advocate of Nigeria from Northern Nigeria, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRazaq, who died last Saturday at his home in Abuja and has since been buried in his hometown, Ilorin, Kwara State.

A detribalised Nigerian, Alhaji AbdulRazaq was the Chairman of the Body

of Benchers and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ivory Coast in the First Republic; and father of Governor Abdulrahaman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

7KH ÀUVW VRQ RI WKH GHceased, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq, announced the passage of his demise on Saturday morning.

He said the elder AbdulRazaq died in the early hours of Saturday in Abuja.

He is survived by his 90-year-old wife, Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho AbdulRazaq, SAN

Former CJ Ogun State, Delano, also Passes on Former Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Isaac Babatunde Delano also died on July 23, 2020 at the age of 85.

Justice Babatunde Delano was born on the 1st of June, 1935 to the prestigious Delano family. His father Isaac Oluwole Delano was a prominent lecturer, writer and politician. Justice Delano had his early education at Abeokuta Grammar School, and from there proceeded to the University of London.

He was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, England in 1961 and admitted to practice in

Former Chief Judge of Ogun State, late Hon. Justice Isaac Babatunde Delano

Nigeria on the 16th of June, 1961.

Justice Delano started his civil service career as a pupil State Counsel in the Western region of Nigeria in June 1961, and rose through the ranks to become Solicitor- General and Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Justice in 1976. From there, he was appointed to the Ogun State Bench in 1977 upon creation of the State. He was appointed Chief Judge of Ogun State in 1990, and he served in that capacity until his retirement in 2000.

During the course of his career, Justice Delano served on the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee.

QUOTABLE Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN

Ondo State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Olutoyin Akeredolu

and at any time.

Through Robotic Process Automation in the E-Registry, the filing of court processes has been fully automated, with all the necessary features to allow for an end-to-end e-filing. Chief among the essence of the E-Registry, is that it has provided solutions to most of the challenges plaguing e-filing and remote hearing in Nigeria before now. For instance, the E-Registry has been automated with the necessary filing fees to allow for a quick and effective filing process. The Counsel or the Litigant can have their processes assessed, pay the assessed filing fee, and proceed to actually file their processes all on the same platform and within the twinkle of an eye. These filed processes, are also automatically synced into the court’s record.

This is the future of justice delivery - the new normal, which has come to stay.

This novel programme will commence with the publication of Practice Direction on e-filing on the Judiciary website on Monday 27th July, 2020, while e-filing and remote hearing will be launched on Wednesday, 29th July, 2020 with dignitaries led by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Judges and other stakeholders in the justice sector, in attendance. This will be followed by a live demonstration on remote hearing at 9.00am on Thursday, 30th July, 2020.

Arrangements are being put in place for the Bar and Bench to be guided through the process, in order to ensure a seamless e-process.

“BY THE NDDC ACT, THE NIGER DELTANS THEMSELVES, OCCUPY MAJOR POSITIONS IN NDDC......AND, THE SAD ASPECT OF IT IS THAT, WITH THE FATE OF NIGER DELTANS IN THE HANDS OF NIGER DELTANS, THAT REGION HAS SUFFERED THE WORST SETBACK IT HAS EVER EXPERIENCED, THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. THESE NIGER DELTA OFFICIALS.....ALL THEY ARE DOING, IS PILFERING, AND THE LEVEL OF PILFERING, IS MIND BLOWING.....�

- PROFESSOR ITSE SAGAY, SAN, CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGAINST Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN CORRUPTION (PACAC)

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28.07.2020

The Anti-Climax of the Anti-Corruption War: Magu as a Metaphor (Part 1) Introduction Corruption is simply the fraudulent, dishonest or misuse of entrusted public power by those in power (or outside power), for private gain. Corruption could involve alteration, deceit, falsification, manipulation or doctoring. A corrupt person is a crook, or a criminal that taints the larger society with his immoral or dishonest behaviour. He is the exact opposite of an honest, honourable, ethical, moral, truthful and sincere person.

In the President Buhari’s much trumpeted fight against corruption (as anchored by the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu), the Government appears to have a very limited, circumscribed and myopic view of what corruption is all about. They appear to equate corruption with only the giving and taking of bribes and stealing (they prefer the word, “looting” or “money laundering” of public money). Yes, these are surely forms of corruption. No doubt. But, corruption is much deeper. It certainly goes beyond this narrow definition.

Corruption includes (and these are even more serious), nepotism, cronyism, prebendalism, sectionalism, influence – peddling, political party corruption; bureaucratic, electoral, human trafficking, legislative and media corruption; graft, financial and defence sector corruption; judicial, police, educational, security, environmental, humanitarian and health sector corruption; embezzlement, grand larceny and extortion corruption, etc.

The worst and mother of all forms of corruption, is “anticorruption corruption” (the current object of our discourse).

Indeed, political corruption that destroys the very fabric and building blocks of nationhood and bastardises its ethical and moral foundations, is a worse form of infectious and leprously contagious corruption. Wanton violation of the oath of office by public officers, from the President down, to defend the Constitution, is worse than graft. Flagrant disobedience to court orders, desecration of the rule of law, violation of citizens’ inalienable fundamental rights, humiliation and terrorism against Judges and other judicial officers and acts of executive, legislative and judicial impunity and rascality, are worse forms of corruption than looting our common treasury. Re-looting of recovered loot, is more criminal and more corrupt than the original initial looting. Indeed, fighting corruption with corruption, through selectiveness, vindictiveness, opaqueness, discrimination and favouritism, are worse than graft. Leaking of official secrets and statements of suspects who are undergoing interrogation (and therefore, ordinarily presumed to be innocent) to a section of the media, is worse than looting. Carrying out public and sensational media trial of suspects and the government’s “name-and-shame” policy against helpless suspects, is more odious and cancerous than looting. Putting shackles and manacles on suspects who have not taken to flight, with a view to humiliating them and tarring them with the paint brush of shame, are more corrupt acts than graft.

Magu’s Letter to the Presidential Panel Magu’s Lawyer, Mr Wahab Shittu (my good “aburo” friend and a very fecund and brilliant Lawyer), has just written to the Presidential Panel probing Magu over a series of allegations concerning his tenureship. The panel is headed by no-nonsense retired Justice Ayo Salami.

In the letter Shittu submitted on behalf of Magu, he states inter alia, as follows: “Please, be advised that the attention of our client has been drawn to serial falsehood publications in the media, in respect of matters which never featured in the proceedings of this honourable panel…….

“Our client has also not been given a copy of the Report of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets.

“Based on the above circumstances, our client was not given adequate time and facilities for his defence, and his demand for a copy of the allegations against him has not been honoured till date.

“We appeal to the honourable panel to consider the above, and uphold the Fundamental Rights to fair hearing of our client.”

I totally agree with Shittu, about the prejudicial nature of the apparent media trial of Magu. But, that was Magu’s specialty, which I had kicked against, again and again. On roof tops. On television. Through oceans of ink in writing.

At seminars organised by EFCC and Magu himself (to which he graciously invited me). In his very presence. Before his face - “korokoro eyes”, “anya-anya”. Magu only spent a mere 10 days, in detention. Some said, he was sleeping at a nearby mosque. How would he have felt, if the Presidential panel had rushed to obtain a Magistrates court order to detain him for 2 weeks in the first instance, in EFCC’s cold dungeon and on the bare floor? And then such detention is quickly renewed for another 2 weeks, on effluxion of the first two weeks? This,

Suspended Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu

notwithstanding the clear provisions of Section 35 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which permits only 24 hours of detention?

How would Magu have felt, if he was manacled and shackled, feet and hands, and paraded like a common criminal before the panel, as he was want to do to his many victims? Magu, through another Lawyer, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had even asked the Inspector General of Police for bail on “self-recognition”, or with “a credible surety”. Oh really? So, these are achievable after all? But, Magu never allowed his victims such luxuries. I had clients who voluntarily reported to the EFCC, such as High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, former Attorney-General, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, Senator Dino Melaye, Femi Fani-Kayode, Senator Shehu Sani, Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, Abdullahi Babalele, Barrister Sylvanus Okpetu, Deji Adeyanju, etc. Yet, these mere suspects were immediately hauled into the damp, dingy dungeon of the EFCC, and held thereafter for months

by Magu and his EFCC. How times change? This is why it is dangerous to throw a stone into the open market, because you never know whom the stone will hit. It could be your mother, father, uncle, aunt, son, daughter, relations, friends, associates. Just anyone. When you point one finger at people, the remaining four are pointed at you.

“THE WORST AND MOTHER OF ALL FORMS OF CORRUPTION, IS “ANTICORRUPTION CORRUPTION”.....

RE-LOOTING OF RECOVERED LOOT, IS MORE CRIMINAL AND MORE CORRUPT THAN THE ORIGINAL INITIAL LOOTING ”

My Lone Voice in the Wilderness The above is all I have been talking about, in the five years plus of this administration. That is, that in fighting corruption, we must follow due process; uphold rule of law; respect people’s fundamental rights; treat people with dignity of the human person; presume suspects innocent and not tag them criminals; obey court orders; investigate your cases thoroughly before arraignment of suspects; don’t detain people first and later fish for evidence to try them; or force them to self-incriminate. Some Magu apologists, bootlickers, grovellers, obsequious emergency “constitutional Lawyers” and self-styled “rights activists”, defended serial brazen violations of the rights of citizens, with some of them treated as animals. Some sections of the press and the public, bayed for others’ blood and humiliation. Even Lawyers defending accused persons were idiotically tagged “corrupt”, for merely carrying out their professional duties of defending alleged “corrupt politicians”. These historical revisionists were not interested at all in appreciating the fact that, the same accused persons were being prosecuted by some of the best Lawyers the Government itself had hired. They were not even interested in knowing that the Government itself, harboured some of the most corrupt people in its dark recesses. They said it did not matter, for as long as they have grabbed those they wanted. Such paradox! Such contradictions!!

Such inconsistencies!!! Such self-denial!!!!

EFCC under Magu merely went after opposition elements, rights activists, critics of government, dissenters, plural voices; etc. Never their own. A decampment by any corrupt politician into the ruling APC party suddenly cleansed him of his criminal and corrupt leprosy, like Naaman the leper, who dipped himself 7 times into River Jordan, and became cleansed of his leprosy.

Magu has therefore, become a sad metaphor for the anti-climax of the anti-corruption war, as the very anti-corruption czar is himself, now being accused of the worst form of corruption – the “corruption of anti-corruption” war. This is sad.

My Earlier Nostradamic Interventions I was not just criticising. I provided solutions. I asked questions; answered the questions; and even questioned the answers.

Since 2015. I advocated for the building of strong institutions, not strong men or strong women. I asked for a full detailed account of all loot so far recovered (money and realty). I provided the panacea, to enable EFCC and other anti-graft agencies chart a positive way forward. I wrote to EFCC and presented a paper at a CACOL roundtable, titled “The A – Z and 24 “DOS” and “Don’ts” of how to fight corruption” (See Daily Times of 24th April, 2017 - https//issuu.com/ dailytimes.ng/docs/din-24-04-17/19). I was ignored, almost sentenced to a “fatwa”.

On 14th January, 2016 (barely a mere 7 months after President Buhari assumed office), THISDAY NEWSPAPER reported me thus (http://www.thisdaylive.com/): “Nigeria: Ozekhome – Buhari Will Know his Greatest Enemies When the Chips are Down “Constitutional Lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration of undermining the rule of law in the polity, adding “that those who may be telling the President to put Nigerians on the stake and shoot them to death, without even trying them in the fight against corruption, are his worst enemies.

“Fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, Ozekhome maintained that under no guise must respect for the principle of separation of powers which is a sine qua non for democratic rule, be undermined under the present dispensation, adding that the President will know those deceiving him when the chips are down”.

“Nigeria: Ozekhome Blames Government for Worsening Corruption, Insecurity The Guardian of 1st May, 2018, titled, “Nigeria: Ozekhome Blames Government for Worsening Corruption, Insecurity”, reported thus: “Human Rights Activist and Constitutional Lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has said that past and present administrations, including that of President Muhammadu Buhari, were responsible for the country’s economic conditions and socio-political woes.

“Besides, Ozekhome, who presented a detailed analysis of how corruption, money laundering and insecurity have destroyed the nation’s economic potentials among the comity of nations, said the challenges have worsened under the Buhari administration”. (To be continued).

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK “Corruption is paid by the poor” (Pope Francis).

“Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen's faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations.

It scares away investments and jobs” (Joe Biden).

39

˜ ͺ΀˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

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

Liverpool’s Klopp Named Manager of the Year Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has been named the League Managers Association manager of the year.

Klopp’s team won the Premier League - the Reds’ first English

top-flight title for 30 years.

Emma Hayes recently won the FA Women’s Super League manager of the year award after leading Chelsea to the title.

Leeds United boss Marcelo

Sports Minister, PTF to Decide on National Sports Festival Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The postponed Edo 2020 National Sports Festival earlier scheduled to hold last March in Benin City may still take place this year.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has said that he is committed to ensuring that sporting activities resume in the country as soon as the figures of persons contracting the Covid-19 pandemic drop to a manageable level.

Already, plans have been concluded for a meeting between officials of the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Presidential Task Force to discuss the possibilities of reopening the space for sports to return from lockdown since March.

Speaking on Sports This Morning on Channels Television

Bielsa won the Championship award after guiding his side to the title and promotion to the Premier League.

In announcing Klopp as the winner on Sky Sports, former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “It was thoroughly deserved.

“The performance level of

your team was outstanding.

Your personality runs right through the whole club.

“I’ll forgive you for ringing me at half past three in the morning to tell me you had won the league - thank you!”

Klopp’s side amassed 99 points as they won the Premier League title by 18 points from

second-placed Manchester City.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the League Managers Association manager of the year award, for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson trophy, named after a man that I admire so much,” said Klopp.

“It feels extra special to win this award because it is voted

for by my fellow managers.

“It’s an honour to be in the company of so many managers who have been named as LMA manager of the year before, including of course Liverpool managers like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenny Dalglish and, in recent years, Brendan Rodgers.

on Monday, the Minister said: “We have submitted our sports protocol to the PTF but we shall be properly guided.

“So very soon, we plan to meet with the PTF to work out the modalities for the resumption of sports in Nigeria,” observed the minister.

Dare remains hopeful that the postponed National Sports Festival holds this year.

“There is a possibility that the postponed Edo 2020 National Sports Festival could still take place this year.

The Minister further disclosed that “there are plans to have 20 athletes resume training at the High Performance Centre in Port Harcourt to begin preparations for the Olympics moved to take place next year.

“This is to enable the athletes begin to get back in shape after months of inactivity as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Real Madrid-target Ndidi Sets New Premier League Record Wilfred Ndidi, who has been linked to top clubs like Real Madrid and PSG, is the best tackler in the Premier League for the third season running and it is the first time a player has achieved such a milestone.

This past season, he made 139 successful tackles to finish joint top with Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

In the 2017/18 season, the Super Eagles star was top tackler of the league with 138 tackles and the following season he improved on that record

with 143 successful tackles.

Shouldn’t the former KRC Genk star now be more than the 50 million Euros price tag placed on him by his club Leicester City amid speculations of a move to a top European club?

It has most certainly been an eventful journey for the player, who at a point in his career was considered “too skinny” to thrive as a central defender, a position he played for both Nigeria U17s and U20s before his conversion to defensive midfield

Reigning Nigerian Freestyle Football Champions Retain Titles This year’s Nigerian Freestyle Football Championship came to an exciting finish on Saturday with Benjamin Ebong and Augustina Unamba, both defending champions, emerging as the winners of the keenly contested 2020 edition of the games held online.

Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, the largest promoter of Freestyle Football in Africa, hosted the games as part of the on-going Freestyle Unlocked Africa 2020, which is the virtual version of the annual African Freestyle Football Championship.

The final of the virtual games was streamed live on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram with eight athletes contesting to be the Nigerian freestyle football champion.

While speaking at the opening ceremony of the championship, the Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, encouraged the athletes to remain committed to their

passion and wished them luck.

The respected business leader also expressed satisfaction and pride at the skills displayed and the growth of freestyle football as a sport.

“We are glad to have been part of a project like this that provides a platform for young Nigerians to showcase their talents especially at times like this.

“It aligns with our commitment to support Nigerian youth and empower them through meaningful initiatives such as freestyle football,” said Rahul De, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria.

Freestyle Unlocked Africa 2020 kicked off on July 1, 2020 and cash prizes were given to more than 30 freestylers in the People’s Choice Prizes, determined through fan engagement online.

MTN is the headline sponsor of Freestyle Unlocked Africa 2020.

Jurgen Klopp has been named LMA Manager of the Year

Rivers Govt Approves Rehabilitation of Amiesimaka Stadium’s Football Pitches The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has approved the total re-grassing and rehabilitation of the main-bowl football pitch and the two training pitches of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex.

The stadium has hosted several local, continental and international matches in the past, but the main-bowl football pitch had been undulating and thus needed an overhaul.

It involves excavation and laying of level planting of FIFA approved natural paspallum grass, provision of motorized mower and lawn mowers, installation of sprinklers, laying of 6 underground pumping machines, plumbing and electrical works, amongst others.

The move which is in preparation of the state-owned Rivers United’s CAF Champions

League campaign for the 2020/2021 season, among other high profile matches, and being handled by a renowned grass expert with core competence and track record in the provision, management and maintenance of sports facilities, is expected to be delivered towards the end of August.

According to the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, Governor Wike is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that Rivers United has the best of facilities for the continental campaign.

He emphasized that regrassing and rehabilitation of the football pitches demonstrate the Governor’s commitment to the upgrade of sports centers that has seen his administration overhaul facilities at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Port

Harcourt.

“I want to assure you that when the job is completed, it would be one of the best in Nigeria. Rivers State is known for excellence and you can be sure that this would be top notch to host any major football match,”

he stressed.

He called on the contractor to strictly adhere to specifications and delivery period, adding that his Ministry would constantly monitor his performance in line with quality job delivery mantra of Governor Wike’s administration.

Governor Nyesom Wike at a recent football match inside the Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt

George Foreman Raises the Alarm over Mike Tyson/Roy Jones Bout George Foreman has admitted that Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring alongside Roy Jones Jr is a ‘beautiful thing’ but fears for their wellbeing.

Tyson, 54, announced he is coming out of retirement to fight 51-year-old Jones Jr in an eight-round exhibition fight after teasing fans for months over a potential comeback.

Despite being excited for the bout, Foreman revealed that he is worried for both fighters’ health ahead of the September 12 showdown in Los Angeles.

He told TMZ: ‘There’s a time when you gotta worry about your health, but it’s a beautiful thing that they would even come out,’ George says.

‘Maybe they can even name a charity or something for the recipient of the funds. I think it’s good to come out but it’s gotta be a fun thing, but I hope one does not hit the other.’

The fight will be Tyson’s first in 15 years while Jones Jr fought as recently as 2018.

Foreman, who had 81 professional fights in his career

and faced greats like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, said he would warn both fighters of the potential risks and how dangerous the lasting effects could be.

“I would just tell them it’s really dangerous but when you make up your mind to do something like that, you can’t tell them ‘don’t do it.

“They’re not gonna hear that.

Even me. Big fool like me, back in the day, I only saw what I wanted to see.”

Despite his cautious attitude

towards the event, Foreman did admit that he tried to make a comeback himself during his mid-fifties and didn’t hang up his gloves for good until the age of 48.

“I was 55 years old. I was in shape and everything,’ Foreman said about his aborted comeback. “(My wife) says “you’re not going to do anything like that,” I said, ‘I’m telling you, you can’t tell me what to do.

I can still - I said “don’t you believe in me? Look at me, I can still do it!’’

Tuesday July 28, 2020

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Price: N250

MISSILE PDP to Oshiomhole “It is unfortunate that Oshiomhole has turned himself into a wretched clown of a derelict circus, particularly as the people of Edo State can see through his selfish shenanigans and are not ready to dance to his deceptive tune” – Edo State PDP Governorship Campaign Council berating former National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, for begging Benin chiefs for forgiveness.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Toast to Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi at 80 P rince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi who turns 80 on Sunday, August 2nd, was our guest on ARISE TV flagship programme - The Morning Show yesterday, and although I had made some comments about this national icon in the course of that engagement, the format of a television interview does not really provide me enough scope for an extended appreciation of a man who is one of the most impressive, kind-hearted and inspiring persons that I know.

I met Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi in the early 90s.

The university where I taught Sociology of Literature, General Studies, Shakespeare and His Contemporaries and Modern African Drama had been shut down for about a year. This forced me to pay more attention to journalism, which I had been doing part-time since 1985 writing for romance magazines (I was Contributing Editor with Hints and Channelle magazines, and later Hearts magazine). I also wrote copiously for the mainstream media. Bored with sitting on campus which had become ghost town, I relocated to Lagos while waiting for the seemingly endless strike to end. I got trapped.

From being Editorial Page Editor at The Hammer newspaper, I ended up on the Editorial Board of The Guardian. Life assumed a meaning of its own from that point. I would soon become a popular book reviewer, my very first being one of General Olusegun Obasanjo’s books, and that opened up so many opportunities. It was in the course of all that talk here, talk there that I met Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi. He gave me his card and asked me to come and see him.

“I think we have got something special here. I can see your potential. I read your writings and I see you going up and down giving a lecture here, a talk there, you review books and you seem to do everything so well. But you know, in this country, you can burn yourself out, just running up and down and it may never amount to anything. You have to be focused, disciplined, organized. You need to brush things up. Come and see me, we will talk a lot more.”

I went to see him. His office then was at Oregun.

A three-storey imposing building in a modest street. The ground floor was a warehouse. The staff occupied the first floor. If I recall correctly, the second floor was divided into conference halls and meeting rooms. Prince’s office was on the top floor. As I went up to his office, my attention was caught by one particular item, a small board on the wall which contained stickon notes of quotations about life, success and leadership, all notes written in his handwriting and with proper acknowledgement of the original source. I found that quite impressive and his secretary then was definitely ultra-efficient. When I was ushered into his office, a very big office, stretching from one end of the building to the last wall, I thought I was back at a University Library. From top-down and all around, there were books on virtually every subject in the world, all neatly arranged.

I have met quite a number of persons who are literally obsessed with books and documentation - General Aliyu Gusau, Odia Ofeimun, Kunle Ajibade, late Professor Dapo Adelugba, Professor Pat Utomi… but when I saw Prince AdelusiAdeluyi’s library at that time, I was shocked.

I came to Lagos with the impression that most people in Lagos were just after money, and that the serious-minded persons could only be found at the schools of higher education and media houses. My impression changed after that initial

Adelusi-Adeluyi encounter with Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi.

The man knew something about everything.

As we chatted, he would stand up, go to an exact spot in his library and produce a book to back up his point. I discovered that apart from the stick-on quotes on the board that I saw, he kept a special diary of quotes on virtually every subject. I asked him why? He said as someone who got invited to speak on various subjects regularly, he needed to read and do research on a permanent basis and if he read anything he loved or found useful, he would immediately keep a record of it.

It was dazzling. I was excited making his acquaintance. But as I got up to go, I was shocked when he commented on my dressing. “I see you like this your adire, revolutionary attires a lot.” As a graduate student/assistant and later university teacher, I acquired quite a handful of adire (batik) materials which were sewn in different designs. It was popular material on campus. Our own teachers wore the same material or opted for the popular Ankara. These materials were affordable, and the designs looked good. We were trained to promote African culture and scholarship, certainly not to become coxcombs. I didn’t in any way feel inferior to anyone dressed up like a mannequin on the pages of GQ. In fact, my friends and I used to laugh at such persons. When I left the campus (my salary then was N900) and I got my first salary of N3,000 at The Guardian, I went to Oshodi market and bought more materials and sewed a wardrobe-full of caftans.

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi didn’t think that was good enough.

“Look”, he said. “People are beginning to notice you. You appear on television. You write newspaper articles. You get invited as MC at big events. Everybody can see that you are smart. But you must be professional. Lagos is not about revolution. You are not here for a revolution. You are here to succeed, to make a mark. You must dress the part. You won’t get anywhere, I am sorry, in these revolutionary attires. If you are going to the village for a meeting, yes, or you are meeting with your scholarly friends, oh, very good, but if you are going to show up at the NIIA to review a book or give a lecture, then you must look professional. You can’t show up as if you are going for a cultural dance.”

We ended up sitting down again for a conversation. He told me about how as far

back as 1967, he was Secretary General of the International Students Association. He was also Vice President (International Affairs) of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). He studied Pharmacy at the then University of Ife and after graduation, he worked at Pfizer where by the age of 30, he was already a Director. But he gave all that up and decided to set up his own practice, Juli Pharmacy, which in 1986 became the first indigenously promoted Nigerian company to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. “So you see”, he told me, “I know all these things about aluta continua, changing the world and all that but if you want to be a professional, then be professional, don’t be part of the crowd.

Stand out. Nobody will trust you if they think all you have is just raw intelligence, and no focus.” These days when Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi calls, he is likely to end our conversation with a joke; “By the way Reuben, I see the ties are looking sharper everyday and we now wear suits. If I may ask, what happened to those our famous the-struggle-continues-attires?” And we would have a hearty, prolonged father-and-son laughter. Of course, anyone who knows Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi knows that he is a man of style, always well turned out in his impeccably neat white attires. In his younger days, as an executive, he matched the style always to the occasion. He is the best life coach that I know.

He has had such a rich life experience, he offers advice not just on style and appearance but also diction and life issues. Every year he would invite me to his office in January: “Okay, what are your goals for this year? What do you intend to achieve?” I used to be a bit confused about that but I soon got used to it. “You have to set targets. Every year, you must set goals.

Life is too short. No matter how brilliant you are, you can’t just drift through life. You must be purposeful” he would say. Before the end of every year, I will again be invited for a review: “What have you achieved this year?

What value have you added?” These days, he is likely to ask more questions about the children: “How are my grandchildren? “I hear James is…and Elizabeth… you see you think that you are brilliant, but my grand-children are showing you that they are smarter. Iyawo has done a great job… e ba mi ki awon omo mi o ati iyawo pe o ku ise, o se mo dupe o.”

And I am not alone. Over the decades, Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi has been a mentor to the younger generation in every community with which he is associated: students unionism, Pharmacy, law, Rotary International, the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) community, the Catholic Church (especially St Leo’s Cathedral, Toyin Street, Ikeja), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), his native Ado Ekiti community, and Nigeria. He served as a leader of the global students’ union. He has also been President and Life Patron of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). He is President still, of the Pharmacy Academy of Nigeria. Pharmacy remains his first love. He went to read law and graduated from the Nigerian Law School as the best overall student in his set with First Class Honours.

He is also the doyen of the Rotary Club of Lagos. I got to know a lot about Rotary through him and Mr. Yemi Akeju who once nominated me for a Rotary Scholarship. Mr. Akeju later

offered me a job at Ideas Communications. I remain closely associated with the club. I don’t turn down Rotary invitations except I cannot help it, because of the examples of Prince AdelusiAdeluyi and Mr. Akeju. The Rotary ideal is Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi’s guiding philosophy. He enjoys giving. He likes to serve. I visited him earlier this year, before the COVID-19 challenge. The first thing I noticed as I stepped into his office, now in Ikeja, was the absence of the bookshelves.

“Where are the books?”, I asked him. He told me to remove my jacket and drink tea or coffee.

I couldn’t wait. “The books, where are they?”

I asked because I know the old man loves his books so much, he doesn’t lend them out. He would tell me: “You are welcome to read any of these books you are interested in, but you can’t take them away. When you have the time, come here, take over the space, do your research and read as much as you want.” It turned out as I discovered that the man finally gave all his books and documents away. He donated all to his alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University, where there is now a Juli Library, for the benefit of a larger community of knowledge-seekers.

He also introduced me to the world of the NGO. Long before environmental and population issues became the buzz words of a new century, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi founded the National Council for Population and Environmental Agency (NCPEA). I was one of his resource persons and looking back now, we did great work promoting the issues and collaborating with local and international stakeholders. When The Guardian and other newspapers were shut down maliciously by the Abacha Government in 1994, Prince came to my rescue. I ended up working as a Consultant at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for one year. I worked in about four Departments. I cannot disclose any further. When The Guardian was re-opened, I returned to the office even if the Consultancy brought in more money. Prince did not complain. He was okay with my choice. He never emphasizes money.

It doesn’t mean much to him.

He was Secretary for Health during the 83day interregnum in Nigerian history that was led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. It was quite a turning point in his career. Medical doctors did not want a Pharmacist or any medical worker as Minister of Health. They saw the position as their special preserve. The conflict and the controversy that this generated was perhaps the biggest moment in the rivalry of the experts in the history of the medical profession in Nigeria.

It was Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi’s appointment that broke the jinx. A few years later, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed a sociologist, Professor Lambo Eyitayo as Minister of Health.

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi looks good at 80. If you were to ask him, what his most prized asset is, he will tell you: his wife. He is Julius. His wife is Julia, the woman of all seasons who has given us a great father and achiever. I enjoin us all to charge our glasses and hail 80 happy cheers to this in-coming octogenarian at the turn of the clock on August 2nd: “This world is so hard and so stony/That if a man is to get through/ He’d need have the courage of Nelson/And plenty of Job’s patience too/But a man who is kind to another and cheerfully helps him along/God help such a man and brother/And here’s to his health in a song/And here’s to his health, and here’s to his health/And here’s to his health in a song…!“ Live long sir.

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