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Buhari Bars Release of Forex for Food, Fertiliser Imports Says govt averted food crisis amid COVID-19

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to release "a kobo'' from the

country’s reserves for the importation of food items and fertilisers.

He said at the National Food Security Council meeting yesterday at the State House,

Abuja, that he would soon communicate the directive, which he had previously issued orally to the CBN, in writing to the apex bank that ''nobody importing food

should be given money.''

He also said the federal government averted food crisis despite the outbreak of COVID-19, which disrupted the global economy, including

the agriculture value chain, through its proactive policy.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu,

quoted the president as saying that instead of releasing fund from the foreign reserves for fertiliser importation, the Continued on page 9

UK Court Orders P&ID to Pay Nigeria £1.5m Cost...

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FG Projects N1tn Petrol Subsidy Savings, Targets Economic, Infrastructure Devt MAN: Removal of subsidies good for economy Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos The federal government yesterday estimated that it

would save over N1 trillion yearly from the removal of fuel subsidy following the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

The extra cash, Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, told journalists yesterday in Abuja, would be used to fund infrastructure development and to grow

the nation's economy.

He urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be fooled by critics of deregulation to create anarchy and chaos.

The subsidy removal

policy got the support of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) yesterday even as it lamented that its members spent N67.38 billion, which is 38 per cent of their operating

costs, to self-generate electricity in 2019, while the unsold inventory of manufactured goods stood at N402. 4billion.

Continued on page 9

Bank CEOs: Why We Resigned from Economic Summit Group Board Say our position was no longer tenable Obinna Chima Two of the bank chief executive officers (CEOs) who resigned from the board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have said they were never "threatened or forced to resign" as suggested by a business publication yesterday.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of United Bank of Africa (UBA), Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; his counterparts at Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, and First Bank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adesola Adeduntan, resigned from the NESG Board on Wednesday.

This followed a squabble between the NESG and the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

But speaking in separate interviews last night, they cited the failure of corporate governance at the NESG, given the fact the group made such a major announcement without input from all its directors.

Instead, the economic summit group selected to work with few members of the board one of whom is a publisher.

The CEOs who pleaded to remain anonymous as they do not want to be drawn into the controversy while wondering how such a major statement on the economy was made without input from all board members.

They stressed that contrary Continued on page 9

5,100 Card Readers Gone as Fire Guts Ondo INEC Office... Page 8

DEVELOPMENT BANKER...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) (left), and President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during his thank-you-visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja…yesterday

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

Be Just, CJN Tells Edo, Ondo Tribunal Judges

Alex Enumah in Abuja The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, yesterday warned judges that will adjudicate in petitions that may emanate from the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo States and other by-elections against the abuse of public trust.

Justice Muhammad said yesterday in Abuja during the swearing-in of the judges that the task before them is a strategic national assignment.

He said their job was important as they would

be "deciding the fate of those who would be contesting the highest political offices in Edo and Ondo States respectively and some other political offices in other states by virtue of the forthcoming elections."

While admonishing them to dispense justice with the fear of God and in line with the oath of office and the law, Muhammad warned that he will not tolerate any conduct of indiscipline or abuse of public trust.

He said: "We have just administered oath on the members of election petition tribunals for the forthcoming

governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States as well as other by-elections across the country. This should not be taken as one of those ceremonies merely required to fulfill set procedures. It is a solemn pledge between you and your creator.

"You are expected to conduct your affairs within the ambit of the law and the oath that has just been administered on you as anything short of that will place you on the wrong side of history and God will ask

you the questions that you may not be confident enough to answer.

"I can confidently tell you that this is a weighty undertaking you have just signed before the Almighty God. I am saying this because as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, I will not condone any act of recklessness, abuse of power and public trust.

"This is a rare opportunity and you must give a good account of yourselves."

The CJN urged the judges to discharge their duties with

utmost sincerity, honesty and transparency.

He charged them to be guided by the law and not be swayed by a sentiment that might play out in the course of their adjudication in the tribunal.

"There is no doubt that temptations, tribulations, intimidations and even sheer blackmail may be unleashed on you but as thoroughbred judicial officers, you must guide your loins to rise above all and do what will earn you accolades in the court of public

opinions.

"All eyes are on you and always remember that your conduct will be publicly dissected and thoroughly scrutinised. Do what is right in our law books and you will have your names etched in gold. Do what is at variance with your conscience and you will get a scar that will terminally dent your ascension to higher height in life.

"Be guided by good conscience and enjoy the best that the Nigerian Judiciary can offer you," the CJN said.

PDP Accuses INEC Official of Doctoring Edo Election Officers’ List

Commission challenges party to provide proof Chuks Okocha in Abuja Ahead of the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused a National Commissioner of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Mohammed Lecky, of tampering with the lists of supervisory presiding officers (SPOs) and assistant presiding officers (APOs).

Lecky is in charge of election planning and monitoring.

The PDP also accused Lecky of aiding the All Progressives Congress (APC) in cloning permanent voters register to be used to rig the election.

But the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, dismissed the allegations and challenged PDP to forward the evidence to the commission.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, at a press conference in Abuja, urged the Chairman of INEC, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, to speak out, adding that Lecky's alleged actions could affect the integrity of the commission and the election.

PDP also explained that the three Edo State commissioners who resigned from the cabinet of the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, were those imposed on him by a former National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

Ologbondiyan said: "We have information and we want INEC to speak out on the allegation that one of its national commissioners, Muhammed Mustapha Lecky, is being used by Adams Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu to manipulate supervisory presiding officers (SPOs) and local government presiding officers (POs) in respect of the election of September 19 and we are challenging Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu to speak out on this matter on the role that Mustapha Mohammed Lecky will play in this election.

"It is not enough for one character to sit down in Edo State and point accusing fingers. We are talking about what we have heard, especially as it concerns manipulation

in INEC and we are asking Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud to speak on it.

"We also heard that he is busy changing the list of ad hoc staff recruited by INEC and collecting names from Ize-Iyamu and the former National Chairman of APC, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and reflecting such new names in the INEC list among those who will work for the commission on Election Day. “PDP has information that INEC is working in cahoots with the APC and their candidate to allow the use of cloned PVC on the day of the election; we have all these allegations and we want to assure the people of Edo State that the PDP is following up and seeking strategies to neutralise all these game plans.

"But notwithstanding, we believe that INEC owes it as a responsibility to give assurances to the people that what we are hearing in the public space, particularly as it concerns INEC, the APC and Prof. Yakubu as well as Dr. Mohammed Mustapha Lecky is not correct. INEC needs to address that."

He stated that the PDP had received assurances from security agencies of their neutrality during the election, adding that "we also demand that they walk their talk during the election."

He said the PDP and its supporters would not allow their votes to be stolen as they would be ready to protect them.

But Okoye dismissed all the allegations, saying: "Those with proof of tampering or doctoring or compromised list of supervisory presiding officers should forward the same with the evidence. The long-standing policy of the commission, which is in the public domain, is to recruit supervisory presiding officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government.

"These categories of officers apply for the recruitment through INEC dedicated portal with their photographs, identity cards and attestation. The applicants are further vetted before they are issued with letters of appointment.

DISCUSSING FOOD SECURITY...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (left), and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Chief Dave Umahi, during National Food Security Council meeting in Abuja‌yesterday

Police Rescue Five as Gunmen Kidnap 20 in Abuja Military says preventive measures in place Kingsley Nwezeh and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja One week after the alert that two terror groups, Boko Haram and Darul Salam, were planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kogi and Nasarawa States, gunmen struck yesterday, kidnapping 20 FCT residents in Tungan Maji village near Zuba, an Abuja suburb.

The incident caused panic among the residents of Tunga Maji in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT. However, the FCT Police Command said it rescued five of the victims after a fierce shootout with the kidnappers.

The military high command has also assured the people of their safety, saying measures are in place to counter any terror attack.

The alleged threat by the terrorist groups to attack FCT and the neighbouring states had prompted security forces to issue a red alert, leading to the stepping up of surveillance in the targeted areas.

But despite the measures, the kidnappers were said to have stormed the town about midnight on Wednesday, shooting sporadically.

The bandits, armed with

sophisticated weapons, outgunned local vigilantes and abducted the about 20 people.

Witnesses said the heavy shooting lasted several hours.

"We didn’t sleep throughout the night. It’s this morning that the vigilantes told us about 20 people were abducted,� a witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said A resident of the community, Mr. Ezekiel Denzi, yesterday estimated the number of persons kidnapped at over 30.

The community, according to another resident, Mr. Pius Bala, was attacked about 1.a.m., adding that the local guards were overpowered during the siege. “We could hardly sleep throughout the night. It was only this morning that we were briefed by the vigilante group that about 20 persons were abducted from the community.

It is rather curious that such an incident could happen in this trying time,� he said.

But the FCT Police Command, in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Anjuguri Manzah, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said a joint team of police operatives from the command's Special

Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Rapid Response Squad and Zuba Police Division responded swiftly to the occasion.

"During a fierce gun confrontation with the heavily armed hoodlums, the police team successfully rescued five of the kidnapped victims.

"Meanwhile, a concerted effort has been deployed to rescue the remaining five victims that are still with the hoodlums who escaped into Niger State through a nearby forest that is surrounded by rocky terrain," it said.

The police reassured the public of their commitment to ensure the security of lives and property in the FCT. Meanwhile, the military high command has again reassured Nigerians of its preparedness to ensure the protection of lives and property.

Briefing the media in Abuja yesterday, Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said measures were in place to guarantee adequate security.

"The Defence Headquarters once again wish to reassure residents of FCT and other adjoining states that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on

red alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the Federal Capital Territory and other states of the country.

"The Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security and response agencies, particularly the core intelligence agencies, hereby assure the general public that preventive and preemptive intelligence operations are ongoing. The general public is thus advised to go about their lawful businesses undeterred," he said.

The military commended troops and personnel of other security agencies for the feats recorded in various operations nationwide.

"Troops are further encouraged to remain dogged and sustain the tempo in all the joint operations areas. The high command of the armed forces also reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to securing the country for all human activities to strive.

"Members of the general public are, as always, enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the nearest military and other security agencies location for prompt and effective action," he said.

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UK Court Orders P&ID to Pay Nigeria ÂŁ1.5m Cost Malami forecloses negotiations with firm Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja with agency reports Justice Cranston J. of the United Kingdom High Court yesterday ordered the Process and Industrial Development Limited (P&ID) to make an interim payment of more than ÂŁ1.5 million to the federal government within 21 days.

The ÂŁ1.5 million is to cover legal costs the federal government incurred as part of its successful application for the extension of time to challenge the arbitration award and procedural hearing earlier in the year.

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) has ruled out negotiations with the company over the $10 billion arbitral award, which a London commercial court has granted Nigeria more time to appeal for it to be set aside.

Nigeria and the Irish firm are locked in a legal battle over a dispute arising from the failed Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) under which the company is to build a plant in Cross River State to process wet gas, to be supplied by the federal government, for generating electricity.

The UK court's decision came after Nigeria yesterday appeared in the court for a scheduled hearing.

The hearing followed the major victory secured by Nigeria last Friday, allowing it to bring a fraud challenge against a $10 billion arbitral award obtained by vulturefund-backed P&ID well outside the normal time limits.

Malami’s spokesman, Dr. Umar Gwandu, confirmed yesterday’s court order to THISDAY, saying Nigeria will now proceed to a full fraud trial.

The hearing yesterday was held to decide procedural and costs issues relating to the federal government’s applications to challenge the arbitration award and to determine the short-term directions to trial.

Justice Cranston ordered

P&ID to make the interim payment of more than ÂŁ1.5 million within 21 days.

A case management conference to determine the full trial window is scheduled to take place after November.

A spokesperson from the AGF said: “This is another crucial win for Nigeria in our ongoing fight against the vulture-fund-backed P&ID. We are pleased that the English courts have taken our fraud challenge seriously and awarded us a substantial interim payment in respect of our successful application for an extension of time to challenge the award. This is a significant blow for P&ID, who continue to attempt to delay the process. “To date, P&ID and its financial backer, VR Capital, have not produced a single document or credible witness to challenge the federal government’s fraud evidence.

Instead, they continue to resort to disseminating misleading claims, while taking every step possible to delay or obstruct our investigations across multiple jurisdictions. “The FRN remains firmly committed to overturning the injustice of the $10 billion award, and will not rest until we secure justice for the people of Nigeria – no matter how long it takes.

Investigations into the GSPA are ongoing and we are confident that more of the truth will be revealed over the coming months."

"The recent judgment of the English Commercial Court confirmed our view that P&ID and its cohorts are fraudsters who have exploited our country. They will not benefit from their corrupt behaviour. “This is a classic case with overwhelming fraudulent and corrupt undertones.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is not considering any possibility of negotiations with P&ID. It has not only fallen within the tall order exception referred to by the Hon Attorney General in his interview with Arise TV yesterday but lacks any

legitimate foundation. We will not and cannot negotiate arbitral awards where the basis and foundation rely on fraud, corruption, breach of processes and procedures.�

Malami Forecloses Negotiations with Firm Malami also said yesterday that the federal government had no plans to negotiate with the Irish firm.

Malami, in a statement by Gwandu, said the federal government would not negotiate with "fraudsters" who exploited the country.

He said: "The Honourable Attorney-General would like to clarify his remarks made on Arise TV, as reported in an online medium yesterday “There will be no negotiations or talks of settlement with P&ID or any

related party by or on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The recent judgment of the English Commercial Court confirmed our view that P&ID and its cohorts are fraudsters who have exploited our country. They will not benefit from their corrupt behaviour. “This is a classic case with overwhelming fraudulent and corrupt undertones.

The federal government of Nigeria is not considering any possibility of negotiations with P&ID. It has not only fallen within the tall order exception referred to by the Hon. Attorney-General in his interview with Arise TV yesterday, but lacks any legitimate foundation. “We will not and cannot negotiate arbitral awards where the basis and foundation rely on fraud, corruption, breach of

processes and procedures.�

Meanwhile, Malami yesterday called on the newly inaugurated members of the 9th Commission of the Nigerian Law Reform to be guided by the rules and regulations as provided by Section 2 & 8 (1) of the Act. The minister asked them to ensure that all the rules and regulations relating to the management of the human, material and financial resources of the commission are adhered to in accordance with the objectives of the federal government, as contained in Section 8(1) (c) of the Act. ‘’It is uniformly agreed that law as an instrument of social engineering always served as the instrumentality of meaningful reform in any civilized society,’’ he added.

He highlighted some of the functions of the commission

to include reviewing all federal laws with a view to their systematic and progressive development and reform in consonance with the prevailing norms of Nigeria as well as receiving and considering proposals for reform that may be referred to it by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The commission is also to provide expert advice and information to federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the National Assembly or other bodies with regard to proposals for the reform or amendment of laws, amongst others.

The inaugurated commissioners are Chairman, Prof. Jummai A. M. Audi, while members include Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, Mr. Muhammad Ibraheem and Dr. Muhammad Aminu.

HOMAGE TO ROYAL FATHER...

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II (left), and Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, during the director-general’s visit to the Oba in Benin‌yesterday

5,100 Card Readers Gone as Fire Guts Ondo INEC Office

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure

No fewer than 5,100 card readers were destroyed yesterday in a fire that razed the Ondo State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure, the state capital.

The fire occurred one month to the October 10 governorship election in the state.

Before yesterday’s incident, the commission was already preparing for the smooth conduct of the poll.

The cause of the inferno was unknown as at the time of filing this report but it was gathered that the fire also destroyed other essential materials.

The news of the inferno attracted men of the Ondo State Police Command, other security agents and some INEC officials.

The area was immediately cordoned off as security men prevented human and vehicle movements around the premises.

The INEC Commissioner in charge of Information and

Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, told journalists at the scene of the incident, that the fire affected the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) section of the commission.

He added that over 5,100 card readers were burnt in the inferno.

He said the burnt card readers comprised 1,000 units delivered to INEC from Osun State and the over 4,000 belonging to the INEC in Ondo State.

He said though the incident was a setback but "it will

not affect the governorship election."

THISDAY gathered that men of the state fire service were not on the ground at the scene to put out the fire but the fire service men from the Akure Airport arrived at 9:20 pm.

However, no life was lost in the incident.

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, also confirmed the incident in a short statement titled: ‘Fire at INEC office in Akure.’ He noted that the

commission would commence an immediate investigation into the cause of the fire.

He said: “Fire broke out today (Thursday) September 10, 2020, at the Ondo State Head Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akure. “The inferno, which gutted the container housing smart card readers, started at 7.30 pm. Men of the fire service are, however, currently containing the fire. “INEC National Commissioner and Chairman

of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, who is in Ondo State in connection with preparations for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 10,2020, rushed to the office about 8 pm. “The Administrative Secretary of the state, Mr. Popoola, and some staff of the commission are also there. “Okoye said an investigation into the cause of the fire will commence promptly after the fire has been contained.�

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PAGE NINE BANK CEOS: WHY WE RESIGNED FROM ECONOMIC SUMMIT GROUP BOARD to a publication in a business newspaper yesterday, they were never forced to quit the board of the NESG. According to them, as CEOs of banks with systemic importance, they are always in full consultations, weekly, with the CBN on policies that concern both the banking sector as well as the economy and in most cases, their institutions act as participating financial institution (PFIs) in most of the central bank development finance interventions. And since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Bankers’ Committee has been meeting more frequently, almost every week, virtually, to discuss matters bordering on the economy. “Given that we have such full access, how can we turn around and issue a statement

criticising policies that we are part of the consultative process? If we have concerns we have full access and platforms to share them with policy makers. How would the NESG issue such a statement without the input of Board members?� the bank CEO asked.

It was also learnt that before issuing of the statement, the NESG had consulted with Prof. Konyin Ajayi (SAN), who worked with the National Assembly on the amendment of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) and the NESG Chairman (Asue Ighodalo), CEO ( Laoye Jaiyeola) and Board Member, Frank Aigbogun (Publisher of BusinessDay), were told that the provisions they were concerned with,

the so-called immunity was misplaced as it was in many laws like the NDIC Act as well as the AMCON Act and is not as the same immunity that state governors and the president enjoy. “Despite that, they went ahead to issue the statement, which means that they have other motives, beyond their concern for public policy...

And publishers who are members of the board of the NESG must not be allowed to abuse their position in getting board issues at the NESG published, without disclosing that they are participants and the co-authors of the NESG statement," said one of the CEOs. "In issuing that statement without consultations with the board, the NESG left my continuing participation

untenable resulting in my resignation," he said.

The NESG had in a statement on Tuesday, criticised some of the CBN’s policies saying they lacked transparency. The group had requested the president to withhold assent to the repealed and re-enacted Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020, recently passed by the National Assembly on the discredited claim it granted immunity to CBN officials.

NESG had claimed the bill contains certain provisions that breached the constitution.

NESG, in the 15-point statement jointly signed by its Chairman, who is also the Chairman of Sterling Bank, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. ‘Laoye Jaiyeola, said those

provisions were draconian, totalitarian and inimical to the development of a stable and transparently regulated financial sector.

But in a 5-page response, the CBN had insisted that its aggressive development finance activities since the outbreak of COVID-19 were aimed at stabilising the economy as well as to support the efforts of the federal government to stimulate economic activities.

Reacting to NESG’s comment on the revisions to BOFIA Act, the bank had described the group’s position as “total ignorance or malicious intent on the part of NESG.�

It explained: “First, the provision they refer to as being currently conceived as part of the new BOFIA already exists as Section 53

in the old Act, which is now Section 51 in the amended Act passed by the National Assembly. “The current bill has not proposed any changes to that section at all. Second, contrary to their misleading anxiety and associated reportage, the provision of Section 51 does not purport to confer immunity on the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria like that which obtains for state governors. “Rather, this provision protects the federal government, CBN and their respective officials against adverse claims for actions or omission in the exercise of powers in good faith under BOFIA and other specified statutes including the Central Bank of Nigeria Act and regulations made thereunder.�

to avert food crisis despite the outbreak of COVID-19, which disrupted the global economy, including the agriculture value chain.

According to him, the pandemic exposed the level of the nation's preparedness to the shocks of food security.

He said the federal government’s commitment to the promotion of self-sufficiency over the years helped in averting a food crisis in the pandemic era.

The president canvassed the need to exert more efforts to increase food production and attain self-sufficiency.

A statement by the president's media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari pledged the federal government's continuous promotion of favourable policies to boost investments in the agricultural sector.

Buhari said: “The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems. It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries. “In the last five years, we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6.1 per cent in Q2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus, the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies,’’ he said.

The president commended farmers for their contribution

to the stability in food security, saying many should explore the favourable rainy seasons and take up farming as a vocation. “I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come," he stated.

He added that efforts would be intensified to promote innovations in farming that will guarantee maximum output. “To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro-rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads. “We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years, which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries,’’ the president added.

He sympathised with farmers and families that lost their loved ones to recent flooding in the country, assuring them that the government would support the victims.�

BUHARI BARS RELEASE OF FOREX FOR FOOD, FERTILISER IMPORTS government would rather empower local producers of the product. ''From only three operating in the country, we have 33 fertiliser blending plants now working. We will not pay a kobo of our foreign reserves to import fertiliser. We will empower local producers," he said.

Buhari directed blenders of fertiliser to convey the item directly to state governments in order to beat the cartel of transporters frustrating efforts to successfully deliver the products to end-users at reasonable costs.

The president admonished private businesses bent on importing food items to source their foreign exchange independently, saying they should use their "money to compete with our farmers."

According to him, such business interests should sort themselves out instead of using Nigeria's foreign reserves to import compromised food items to undermine the efforts of farmers.

He added that the government would rather support young Nigerians desirous to engage in agriculture as well as existing farmers. ''We have a lot of ablebodied young people willing to work and agriculture is the answer. We have a lot to do to support our farmers,'' he stated.

The meeting was chaired by the president and attended

by some members of the council who briefed him on the prevailing food security situation in the country.

It listed such members of the council in attendance as its vice-chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu; the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and governors of Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi, Lagos and Kebbi States whom it said represented their geo-political zones and made presentations to the council.

THISDAY gathered that others at the meeting included the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and some ministers.

The statement said the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, in her own presentation, highlighted measures put in place by the federal government to tackle challenges arising from COVID-19 pandemic as contained in the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP).

It stated: "Among others, the minister highlighted that the government will facilitate the cultivation of 20,000 to 100,000 hectares of new farmland in every state and support off-take of agro-processing to

create millions of direct and indirect job opportunities.

"She also listed the creation of 774,000 direct jobs for a minimum of 1,000 young Nigerians in each local government, the construction of 300,000 homes every year to give a boost to jobs through the construction industry, as well as the connection of 25 million new users of electricity with the installation of Solar Home System (SHS) targeting 5 million households.

"Dr. Ahmed also briefed on the joint investment with the World Bank to provide intervention fund to states to improve health infrastructure.

She said to ease existing financial hardships among the people, the government is also coming up with low-interest loans for mechanics, tailors, artisans, petty traders and other informal business operators.

"The minister added that the federal government will equally provide support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to help them keep their employees and boost local manufacturing.

"Dr. Ahmed explained that from the recently approved N2.3 trillion stimulus recommended by the NESP, there will be expansion of broadband connectivity to boost job opportunities in the digital economy, a planned expansion of the National Social Investment Programmes, including an increase in the number of beneficiaries such as the cash

transfer beneficiaries, N-Power Volunteers, the Market Moni and Trader Moni schemes."

According to the statement, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, told the council that Nigeria was expecting a bumper harvest despite the recent flooding in the North and drought in the South.

The minister quoted the latest market surveys which he said underscored the fact that the recent hike in the prices of commodities was being reversed.

The statement said the SGF and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, narrated the negative impact of the pandemic on the lives and livelihood of citizens.

Also, the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), expressed optimism that partially closed borders would open soon in view of progress made with neighbouring states.

Ali, the statement added, said the neighbouring states engaged in joint patrols with Nigeria in accordance with key conditions rolled out by the country for reopening of the borders.

Food Crisis Averted amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Says Buhari Buhari told the council that the federal government was able

FG PROJECTS N1TN PETROL SUBSIDY SAVINGS, TARGETS ECONOMIC, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVT Sylva said with subsidy removal, Nigeria would recover the losses incurred in selling products below the market price and the losses incurred in providing dollars at special rates to fund importation.

The minister stated that successive administrations had attempted to deregulate but lacked the political will or the time was not good for the implementation of the policy.

Sylva noted that deregulation is a policy direction that is good for the common Nigerian because it is going to create many opportunities they could tap into to improve their socioeconomic conditions.

According to him, the refining sector is not developed because no refinery can operate commercially in Nigeria with a subsidy in place.

He said: “I believe that this discussion around

subsidy has been a vexed issue that has captured the imagination of this country for a long time now. Successive administrations have attempted to deregulate.

But sometimes, some administrations lacked the political will and at other times, the time was not good for it. And why did I say the time was not good for it? Does that imply the time is good for it now? “The problem around deregulation is that people must understand first, that the product we are talking about is a derivative of crude oil.

It is refined from crude oil. “Therefore, it has a direct relationship with the price of crude oil. If the price of crude oil goes up, then you expect that it would reflect in the price of the derivative. “So, the best time to achieve this we looked at was the time when crude oil prices are low

so that Nigerians will get the benefit of those low prices.�

Sylva said when the federal government announced the deregulation of the downstream sector in March and the pump price of petrol was reduced, the advantage was transferred to the consumers.

The minister, however, added that when the price of petrol was reduced in March, nobody reacted in the market place and nobody reduced the prices of goods and services to reflect the reduction in the price of petrol, as even transportation fares remained the same. “In March, when we announced the deregulation, the prices were low and that advantage was transferred to the consumer. “So, we brought down the price of petrol. The unfortunate thing is that when we brought down the price of

petrol, nobody reacted in the market place. The prices were the same. Nobody reduced their prices because the price of petrol had reduced. “Even bus fares, taxi fares were the same. It did not go down when we reduced the pump price of petrol. We thought that those people in the market; transport drivers and transport owners would reduce their price. But nobody reduced their prices.

But anytime there is even a kobo increase in the pump price of the product, you see that people will increase their prices triple fold and four-fold. “At this moment, let Nigerians not be fooled; there are people who are ready to take advantage of every situation to create anarchy and chaos. And it is these people that are at work now.

Is anybody saying that this policy direction is a wrong policy direction?

“That is the discussion we should be having. If it is a wrong policy direction, why has every successive government attempted to do the same thing? It is because it is something that is unsustainable. The subsidy is unsustainable. Let us look at it: Subsidy means that you buy the product at a certain price and then you reduce the price and sell it at a loss to the people.�

MAN: Removal of Subsidies Good for Economy Meanwhile, manufacturers have backed the government’s removal of petrol and electricity subsidies but lamented that they spent N67.38 billion, which is 38 per cent of their operating costs, to self-generate electricity in Continued on page 43

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN % ETERNA 0.22 2.49 9.6 C & I LEASING 0.30 3.85 8.4 WEMABANK 0.04 0.55 7.8 JAPAUL 0.01 0.21 5.0 CHAMS PLC 0.01 0.22 4.7 TOP LOSERS NGN % ABCTRANS 0.03 0.36 7.6 CORNERSTONE 0.05 0.61 7.5 CHI PLC 0.02 0.32 5.8 UNITYBANK 0.03 0.51 5.5 FCMB 0.11 2.15 4.8 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,175.00 Volume: 236.481 million shares Value: N1.648 billion Deals: 3,251 As at yesterday 10/9/2020 See details on Page 37

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COMMENT

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

DELTA: THE ROAD TO 2023

Kenneth Gbagi, foremost entrepreneur, presents the best shot, reckons Godspower Michael-Eyakwaire

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s the politics of succession takes centre stage across the federation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has a real chance to further cement their position as the preferred party in the state. That opportunity is embodied by Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, entrepreneur and foremost indigenous private employer of labour in the state. But it remains to be seen whether the party leadership will seize the opportunity.

To say Delta State is a PDP stronghold is akin to saying the Pope is catholic. However, despite such complete dominance since the inception of the Fourth Republic, the opposition which has existed largely as a mere appendage of a multiparty system in the state has made serious incursions into similar strongholds in other states in more recent years.

And that should be a concern to the PDP. I have followed the 2023 governorship succession array of the PDP, nay Delta Central senatorial zone, with renewed enthusiasm over the past one year. Like every other state of the federation where incumbents would be exhausting the constitutionally allowed maximum of two terms by 2023, the race in Delta has already started heating up. While some people may feel it’s too early for such heat because of the propensity of same to distract an incumbent, the truth is, the politics of succession is a different ball game from that of continuity. Even when the subject of party continuity remains a key factor for all those involved, the battle to win a party’s ticket often assumes gladiatorial dimensions for those involved. But of all the many players, and of course pretenders, involved, of great interest to me is the aspiration of Kenneth Gbagi, former Federal Minister of State for Education.

As a matter of urgency, the leadership of the PDP in Delta State must wake up to the reality of the take-the-territoryat-all-costs disposition of the opposition. Their best chance at continuity can no longer be hinged on candidates whose claim to the throne is a mere loyalty to party supremacy.

Rather, the priority should be to identify a candidate who is capable of delivering on good governance to the people. It is my sincere belief that with Gbagi’s interest in the party’s ticket, the PDP in the state now has a golden opportunity to ensure that merit thrives over mediocrity.

Kenneth Gbagi’s quest to become Governor of Delta State is something that should be of great interest and excitement to everyone connected to the state, especially the PDP family. As a Deltan who has always yearned for sustainable economic development in the state, and as an enterprise development enthusiast, Gbagi’s aspiration evokes serious interest for me on several levels.

WORLD OVER, THERE IS A MAJOR LEADERSHIP SHIFT FROM CAREER POLITICIANS TO BUSINESSMEN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR NATIONS AND STATES

While I am well acquainted with the several other players jostling for the PDP ticket in the state, I will not be drawn into the polemics of their credentials as I x-ray the raison d’etre of the subject of real interest to me here, Gbagi. It is pertinent for me to clarify here too that I speak of the ‘other interested aspirants’ beyond party borders whenever I make allusions to how they stand juxtaposed with the subject of my interest in this piece.

I feel compelled to x-ray Gbagi’s aspiration because of his raison d’etre in this race, to wit, the promise of enterprisedriven economic revival in the state. It is an opportunity that the PDP cannot afford to bungle. He’s their best shot.

The case for Kenneth Gbagi candidacy is inspired by a vision for real economic prosperity for Delta State. World over, there is a major leadership shift from career politicians to businessmen providing leadership for nations and states.

From Donald Trump to his Asian and Arab counterparts, we have seen the power of politico-economic thinking at its best. The motivations are the same everywhere: people crave for leaders who can create enabling environment for employment and real security which begins with the economy. We cannot expect less from underdeveloped or developing economies. Any candidate search by a serious party in a state like ours must begin with keywords such as ‘wealth creator, enterprise developer, and bridge builder’.

You can rest assured that the name Kenneth Gbagi will be the dominant hit for such a search.

Gbagi boasts an impressive, formidable resume which easily dwarfs those of many other aspirants in the race towards 2023. A serial entrepreneur and distinguished lawyer, his storied expertise in enterprise development, particularly how he turned around the fortunes of the then Delta Development and Property Authority from a zero account balance outfit when he assumed office as its chairman to having over N800 million in its accounts in a matter of years remains a reference point in government agency management circles. It is a story of incorruptible service, doggedness and fierce dedication to high moral codes and personal principles of nobility. His credentials as an economic activator cannot be matched by any of those in the fray for the party’s ticket. We are looking at a man who understands and has a proven track record for creating wealth for many over the years. His decades of experience in tourism, oil, construction, hospitality, industry, publication and education will no doubt provide valuable leverage for the state when he becomes elected.

And there’s more. r.JDIBFM &ZBLXBJSF XSPUF GSPN -BHPT

NDDC: THE NEED TO ACT

Ebi Arogbofa argues the urgent need to kick out the Interim Management Committee

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t the just ended retreat for his ministers at which they reviewed their first-year performances, President Muhammadu Buhari was upbeat that his administration has shown probity and accountability in the manner it has tackled the problem of corruption. To a partisan watcher of the president, he may have got accolades but not to a dispassionate Nigerian who has witnessed the massive erosion of credibility under the president, especially on the issues of public trust.

Examples abound that Nigerians are not swayed by the self-adulation of the president who seems fixated on his own self-assessment against the reality of corruption in agencies under his watch. Nowhere is this better seen than at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) where an interim management committee appointed by his administration to midwife the forensic audit of the commission has been indicted for corruption, financial recklessness and mismanagement by the Nigerian Senate after an open and transparent investigation where Nigerians were treated to an arrogant display of corrupt entitlement by the directors of the IMC led by its Acting Managing Director, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei and Acting Executive Director projects, Dr Cairo Ojougboh.

While Prof. Pondei told a shocked nation and the international community at the Senate Committee Public Hearing that, among others, the IMC shared out the sum of N1.3 billion among staff, including himself, as bonuses for the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Ojougboh in various newspaper interviews, not only justified this curious expenditure but said it was standard practice under the Buhari administration.

Meanwhile, between February and May when the expanded IMC under the leadership of Pondei was appointed, the IMC members paid themselves N302 million as tour duty allowances at a time much of the country, including the NDDC office, was locked down on account of the Covid-19 pandemic!

So far, the investigations conducted by the Senate and House of Representatives have

laid out fraudulent and questionable payments of N81.5 billion by the IMC under the supervision of the Niger Delta Minister Chief Godswill Akpabio. This is a clear looting of the resources of the NDDC and the Senate which concluded its investigations in July, was unequivocal when it resolved unanimously that the IMC members must refund N4. 923 billion that was criminally spent and be prosecuted for fraud. The Senate resolution also addressed the illegality of the IMC, which it said should be disbanded and the Governing Board inaugurated, to allow for the proper functioning of the governance structure at the commission. The resolution also touched on the forensic audit of the NDDC and other items with recommendations to guide the proper administration of the commission and the audit.

The Senate Committee report showed that in the space of eight months, between October 2019 and May 2020, as gleaned from the NDDC account statements, the IMC approved and disbursed the following: N1.12 billion for publicity, N1.3 billion for community relations, and N475 million, which the IMC said was used to buy hand sanitizer and face masks for the police. In his testimony, the Acting Managing Director Prof Pondei said the IMC paid themselves and staff a Covid-19 ‘palliative allowance’ of N1.3 billion despite receiving their normal salaries and allowances! In addition Pondei takes home N51 million monthly as allowances, while Ojougboh takes home an additional N18 million monthly as allowances. Ojougboh told The Vanguard recently that the N51 million Pondei collects monthly is to feed 100 policemen attached to him!

Despite the investigations and uproar that greeted the questionable manner it went about disbursing the N81.5 billion between February 2019 and May 2020, the IMC is not done with dubious expenditures.

At a press conference on Monday, September 7, 2020, Mr Kolawole Johnson of the anti-corruption group, Act for Positive Transformation Initiative (ACTI) detailed fresh illegal and unbudgeted expenditures by the IMC in the last two months since the close of the Senate investigation that showed crass impunity and disregard for

laid-down financial rules and regulations and for the constitution. Johnson, who is the NGO’s Director of Research, Strategy and Programmes, in a statement headed ‘Stop the Looting in NDDC, Freeze Commission’s Accounts Now’, said the IMC has been moving funds out of the NDDC accounts through fraudulent and non-existent contracts, despite the absence of an approved 2020 budget.

According to the group, the commission has gone ahead to squander additional N9bn in the last one month in fraudulent and fictitious payments.

Johnson details the illegal and fraudulent payments to include “reckless spending of N5.8bn on fraudulent emergency desilting on 29th July, 2020, alone when the nation was on holidays. They were so much in a hurry that they moved out the same amount purportedly for different locations and different scopes of job. i.e Emergency clearing and desilting of Ipinle Ajenrela creek, Igbokoda (lot 3) –N634,761,500.00, Emergency clearing and desilting of Akaibiri creek, Yenagoa – N634,761,500.00; Emergency clearing and desilting of Ilar Creek, Igbokoda (lot 2) – N634,761,500.00, Emergency clearing and desilting of Temetan Creek, Igbokoda (Lot 1) – N634,761,500.00. Others include: Emergency clearing and desilting of blocked canal from Ilaje High School Naval Base fishing Terminal, Igbokoda (Lot1) – N634,761,500.00, Emergency clearing and desilting of Yewa Creek, Okitipupa (Lot1) – N634,761,500.00, Emergency clearing and desilting of Ipinle Koforawe Creek, Igbokoda (lot 2) –N634,761,500.00. The last on the roll on that same day: urgent clear desilting of blocked sections of Ibelebiri waterways, Ogbia (lot 2) – N739,071,500.00.�

It is outrageous that “Despite the outcry against the ‘N1.3bn palliative to take care of themselves,’ the commission abused the nation further by paying self another N340 million for “emergency intervention against the spread of Coronavirus among commission’s workforce� on 8th August.�

The NGO rightly demands that, “Every staff or appointee of the commission that received the money into their private accounts should be made to refund.� A senior director in the commission, who was recently led to the

bank to refund his share of the scholarship fund surreptitiously looted, also received N25 Million into his private account from the above emergency covid-19 largesse. Many other fraudulent payments were made in the month of August under review. The monumental fraud ongoing in the commission is being supervised by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

It is interesting that the NGO, which blew the whistle that led to the National Assembly investigations between May and July this year, said the details of all the companies that served as conduit for these payments are readily available. This is in addition to reckless mismanagement at the NDDC where the IMC has been secretly employing staff, including assistant directors without following civil service rules and guidelines.

The IMC is clearly following a pattern. In its 121-page report, which was adopted as a resolution of the Senate on July 23, 2020, the Senate Committee found that the IMC made withdrawals in the name of contracts that could not be verified. These fictitious contract payments ran into billions of naira.

It therefore recommended that the IMC should refund the sum of N4.923 Billion to the Federation Account. Among the payments made, the Senate discovered that the Pondei-led IMC on April 15, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown paid out N1.96 billion purportedly for the procurement of Lassa fever personal protection kits purportedly for the 185 LGAs of the NDDC states. Yet, the IMC, which said rather strangely that it used staff of the NDDC to distribute them, could not produce evidence of delivery of these kits to any of the 185 LGAs. Everything spoke to the fact that this was a fictitiously unexecuted contract.

The IMC failed to provide a single name of recipient out of the 185 LGAs to whom the kits were purportedly handed over. It was self-evident that the fictitious contract, which was paid for by the IMC on April 15, 2020, was a conduit to steal the said N1.96 billion. r"SPHCPGB JT UIF %JSFDUPS PG 3FTFBSDI BOE $PNNVOJDBUJPO BU 5SBOTQBSFODZ BOE "DDPVOUBCJMJUZ "EWBODFNFOU (SPVQ

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EDITORIAL

THE RAVAGES OF FLOODS The authorities must do more to mitigate the impact of floods

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ast week heavy floods pounded Kebbi State, submerged hectares of farmlands, destroyed houses and claimed six lives. President Muhammadu Buhari was touched. “I am particularly sad over this incident because it’s a setback to our efforts to boost local rice production as part of measures to stop food importation,� he said. But Kebbi is not an isolated incident. In the past few weeks, many communities across the country have been devastated by floods. Earlier in the week seven persons were killed in Jigawa State when about 2000 houses were submerged by floods. Some communities in Niger, Kogi, Sokoto and Zamfara States have also been rendered waste by heavy floods.

In May, the Nigeria HydroFLOODING ELEVATES THE logical Services RISK OF HUNGER AND Agency (NIHSA) MALNUTRITION BECAUSE released the 2020 Annual OF DISRUPTION OF Flood Outlook FARMLANDS (AFO). Based on the forecast, 102 LGAs in 28 states fall within highly probable flood risk areas with 275 LGAs in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The states include Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, Gombe, Adamawa, Benue, FCT, Nasarawa, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Edo, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Borno, Kano, and Kebbi. In Kwara State where flooding was not expected, a bridge embankment recently collapsed, killing three when a vehicle conveying five passengers was washed away by flood. In Akwa Ibom, also not listed, hundreds of houses were destroyed in Eket following heavy downpours that have rendered thousands homeless.

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WHERE ARE THE REGGAE MEN?

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n a literal sense, the reggae sub-culture of Nigeria in time past and their practitioners added colours to the local environment where they are seen. Your next-door Nigerian reggae man was in all likelihood your Catholic or Protestant brother who has found “conversion� (in a farcical kind of way here in Nigeria) to Rastafarianism. In truth, these jolly bunch are some of the least harmless folks of society you’d be happy to find around you. They are intelligent, industrious, and perpetually happy with infectious mien. Their newfound love for dreadlocks, Africa-themed necklaces, and multi-coloured mufflers is the stuff that brings bemused admiration for the way they do their things. And? Oh, that rattling Jamaica-speak speech patterns that re-writes standard English language tenses and grammar plus the politicallytinged soulful rhythms of their music stand them apart. Where are they now? Where are those ersatz Nigerian Rastafarians who chose bohemian existence in the midst of greed and avarice of other Nigerians? Through my freshman and senior years at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, there were some real devoted reggae enthusiats, principally folks of the old Bendel States (the reggae scene of Nigeria appears to be dominated by people of the old Bendel extraction with a splattering of key players from the present South-south region). At school, there was Anselm Akele of the Department of Architecture, Friday Oboh of the Department of

As we have repeatedly highlighted, some of the causes of flooding are self-inflicted by residents of communities who are fond of dumping refuse on waterways. We have also seen many instances where people arbitrarily put up structures on flood plains and water channels. This act of lawlessness obstructs the waterways and makes such areas prone to flooding. Beside the loss of lives and destruction of property, the economic consequence of flooding, as recently exemplified in Kebbi, can be dire.

Flooding does enormous damage to the eco-system and destroys public utilities. It also elevates the risk of hunger and malnutrition because of disruption of farmlands and commercial losses for farmers engaged in subsistence farming. With its urbanisation rate put at 5.5 per cent yearly and considered one of the highest rate in the world, the number of Nigerians at risk or vulnerable to flood hazards is likely to increase. In 2012, similar warnings were given

by NEMA which were not heeded by the state governments and local communities at the end of which scores of lives were lost.

Then President Goodluck Jonathan who visited some of the hundreds of thousands of people rendered homeless by floods had called it a “national disaster�. It seems no lesson had so far been learnt going by the latest warning of NEMA as to possible flooding incidents in 2020. Indeed, since the warning by the agency, are the states putting any precautionary measures in place to avert the repeat of the 2012 incident?

For that not to happen, the federal and state governments must take immediate steps to ensure that flooding do not become another disaster in the nation’s history. The states should reach out for the ecological fund to help take care of the river banks that are particularly prone to flooding. We cannot afford another large-scale disaster in an economy that is on life support.

Physics, Clarkson Danboyi Ojogun of the Department of Chemistry; each of this trio was smart in his right. Late Akele (Delta Igbo) was a great architecture practitioner, even as undergraduate; late Oboh (Esan from Edo State) was designing and constructing final-year theses for electrical engineering students even as a physics-major student (this was considered an academic oddity as per the prevailing norm back then) whilst Clarkson (another Delta Igbo whose mother hails from Southern Kaduna and I’m sure he is still around because he came over to Minna a short while ago for his academic transcript and he was still full of that infectious smile) graduated at the top of his class.

This trio was no academic pushover. Alas, after our time at school, attitudes began to harden towards the reggae sub-culture as Northern Nigeria began to experience a new cycle of religious awakening in that predictable episodic format that always arrest the gains of whatever development has been made over here. These past years, I have not spied any reggae man on the streets of Minna. The lone Akwa Ibom reggae talker that is known as Paddy Joe (AKA chokoli mai yanka baki or kunkuru mai gashi) is ageing gracefully and, happily, still hosts a very popular and long-running show on the local radio station.

KWALI COMMUNITY TO BUHARI: THANK YOU

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e the leaders and people of Kwali Area council in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammad Musa Bello for nominating our son and immediate past chairman of Kwali Area Council Hon. Joseph Shazin as a member of the National Population Commission. The nomination is a recognition of the community’s contributions to the development of the federal capital and Nigeria in general.

Kwali Area council is famous across the globe as the homestead of the late Dr. Ladi Kwali, a great pottery maker. Her pottery works have been displayed in major cities of the world and brought recognition to Nigeria at different times.

We members of the community believe that Hon. Joseph Shazin will utilize his many years of experience as an administrator and two-time chairman of Kwali Area Council in discharging the responsibilities of his new national assignment.

Since the creation of Abuja as the country’s capital, this is another occasion that the federal government has hearkened to our clarion call for recognition at the federal level and promised to support the programmes and policies of the APC-led administration. We are glad that our dream has come to fruition due to the pragmatic approach that the current FCT Minister, Mallam Bello has brought to governance. Apart from spearheading the accelerated development of the Federal Capital Territory, the minister has also brought development to the rural areas as well as given human face to governance.

We hereby pledge our continued support and loyalty to the federal government and FCT administration at all times and appeal to the federal government to cite more federal projects in the Kwali area council.

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POLITICS

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

As Dickson Steps up for Bayelsa West Daniel Iworiso-Markson, a former Commissioner of Information in Bayelsa State drums support for the senatorial ambition of the immediate past governor of the state, Mr.Seriake Dickson

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he forthcoming election for who represents the West Senatorial District of Bayelsa State brings back the tried and tested Henry Seriake Dickson to the prospect of the old and familiar: offering quality service to his people.

This opportunity arose sequel to the election of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as Deputy Governor and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the Senate seat vacant.

COVID-19 which had put a damper on political and social life has had to retreat in the Sagbama/Ekeremor axis, the arena for the election. Such is the buzz of excitement at the return of the old warrior to the political terrain once INEC finally announced October 31 as the date for the bye-election. Strategic stakeholders including the leaders and elders, youth organizations, women bodies, traders and the various communities at the grassroots have been making their voices loud and clear in a near unanimous endorsement of the candidature of the immediate past Bayelsa Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson that you have to wonder how much appetite anyone could have to run against him.

As the people crave for a bold and effective voice at the centre, Dickson’s credentials are overwhelming in this regard.

More than ever, the consciousness is dawning on us to see the representation at the federal legislature as important as having a good governor at the state capital since they are expected to work harmoniously to get the best dividends of democracy for the people. Indeed the senate seat is a very important position which should not be taken for granted because of that institution’s laws which effectively determine our place in the nation’s political economy. Therefore, we cannot but send our best hands to Abuja to represent us and which is why the people of Sagbama and Ekeremor are speaking to this reality right now. In other words, the people are expressing their intent to elect a credible personality to represent them in the Senate to continue the un-finished term of the present deputy governor.

In arriving at the consensus to pick the former governor, they have carefully done their background evaluation in relation to other contestants, who can best represent the central concerns of the people particularly the aggregation of their interests and relevance in the wider scheme of things in the state and nationally.

Dickson’s representation would transcend the official boundaries of Sagbama and Ekeremor, encompassing the entire Bayelsa and indeed the Ijaw nation as a whole. Having worked closely with him over time I can attest that he will make a huge difference in representation if elected (as it is likely) and I consequently lend my support to this enlightened decision by the people.

I wholeheartedly endorse his candidature for our collective good.

This endorsement is consequent upon the former governor ’s track record of service and integrity which is the basis at the root of his popularity and consequent massive endorsement. He is a consummate leader of men, brilliant, visionary and pro-people, a record of stewardship dating back to his activist days in the Ijaw National Congress and culminating in his rise to become governor where his impact was unprecedented and far reaching. He understands the issues and causes of the Ijaw nation so well and indeed those of Bayelsa State with subsisting challenges of security,

poverty, very low federal presence and empowerment and the life-threatening environmental degradation for which he instituted a body to study and tackle when he was governor.

In Henry Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa, the Ijaw and Nigeria’s minorities at large will find a worthy champion at the centre. This is especially so at this time when the nation is in a state of flux in its

Do all Edo People Look Like Fools?

Tony Usidamen, a public affairs analyst, believes Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has done well and should returned for another four-year tenure of service

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t wasn’t that long ago, 2016 to be exact, when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole—the then-governor of Edo— traversed the state with Mr. Godwin Obaseki urging the people to support his governorship bid. But this was no random act of gratuitousness. Obaseki had earned it. For seven and a half years, he had served as the chairman of the state’s Economy and Strategy Team. Drawing on his experience as an investment management expert of more than 30 years, he midwifed the major development projects of the Oshiomhole government.

The Comrade himself has corroborated this fact on different media platforms and public fora. While addressing a mammoth crowd at one of the campaign rallies four years ago, Oshiomhole noted: “Godwin has worked for seven and a half years for the people of Edo state using his brain, using his creativity. Quietly—not making noise, not appearing in the newspaper or radio—he sits in the office of the economic team, which he built using his network of friends, inside the heart of Government House without demanding one naira.”

Just as Oshiomhole extolled the virtues of Obaseki as the campaign train moved across the 142 units in the 18 local government areas of the state, he also warned the electorate about the main opposition candidate in that election, Mr. Osagie IzeIyamu. The professed pastor had served as director-general of Oshiomhole’s campaign organization in 2012 when the latter was running for a second term in office. So, the Comrade knew him well enough to offer a firsthand assessment of his character and values. His qualification and experience too.

Speaking to supporters at the campaign stop in Uromi, Oshiomhole described Ize-

Iyamu as a man of questionable character.

He began his speech thus: “We are liable if we say anything that is libelous. I bear full responsibility in my personal capacity.

I wave my immunity. I set my immunity aside. And I declare as follows before God.” He then proceeded to call Ize-Iyamu out as an acid bather who got rusticated from school. He referred to him as a fake pastor who only resorted to carrying the bible because he could not practice as a lawyer.

Oshiomhole also stated that Ize-Iyamu was unfit to be governor because he had no record of professional enterprise or public service besides his stint in the government of Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

He called him a treasury looter who had cases to answer at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and could not be trusted with public funds.

“It’s true we found ourselves in the region of politics working together, but I never gave him government job…I didn’t want to spend my time watching his files,” said Oshiomhole.

Now, four years after, Oshiomhole is singing a new song. Kneeling before traditional rulers in Benin, he pleaded for support of the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial elections. The very same person that he had described as a thief and unfit to govern, he presented to the Council of Chiefs as “a man who understands the workings of the state and who has a clear manifesto that will bring the dividend of democracy to Edo people.” And he has, since, been actively promoting Ize-Iyamu to the electorate as Edo’s messiah.

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long and continuing search for a viable political community. Issues of fiscal federalism and a political restructuring are simmering under the surface and could come to the boil at any moment.

In Dickson, the man and the moment have met. Check out his antecedents.

He is a champion of the forgotten and marginalised dating back to his involvement in the Ijaw nation’s renaissance and renewal in particular under the auspices of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC).

Against this background he is wellplaced to advance Ijaw national interests at the centre, a commitment which can only be aided by the bridges he has built to personalities and groups across the country following decades of political engagement.

Significantly, he won’t be a new comer in the National Assembly, having traversed the familiar environment for two terms as a distinguished member of the House of Representatives in the past. His second coming, this time to the upper chamber, with due legislative experience can only be a plus enhancing the Senate’s capacity to function optimally and to get things done.

I believe our common purpose and objective as a people can be better realized when we have such a very credible presence in the Senate. learly Dickson is the best man for the job.

I also think the people should consider his election as a “Unity Project” which in effect should go beyond party lines but helping to foster greater peace and unity in the Sagbama/Ekeremor political axis.

Personally my endorsement here is a dispassionate one. It is premised on Dickson’s antecedents and record of performance in previous positions of leadership and trust. I have also seen him in close quarters as a remarkable thinker and prime mover of progressive ideas and solutions.

We followed him from being a member of the House of Representatives to that of governor and we cannot but be fair that he was above board, making a marked difference in the lives of those he served.

I recall that as a member representing the good people of Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Dickson was a voice that was heard continually on matters affecting his people. His deep legal and political knowledge was brought to bear and saw him influence major positive changes to his people and indeed the nation at large. His laudable imprint in the crafting and passage of the Freedom of Information Act is but one example of this engagement.

Of course, we can never forget his work as governor of Bayelsa State where he left indelible marks especially in infrastructure, education, health, youth empowerment and opportunities given to the people to have a fair shot at life.

He has always shown deep thoughts and ideas about our lopsided federation, offering suggestions on how we can better live together as a people. He is a rugged consensus builder, a critical advocate of true federalism and the devolution of power to the component units for more effective governance and, from his record in the House of Representatives, a believer in a bipartisan approach in the resolution of critical national issues.

The election of Ofurumapepe, as he is fondly called, as a senator would beam a shining light upon the upper legislature, give Bayelsa as a whole an effective voice on the wider national platform and promote policies that will ensure a better life for all the people.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

19

PERSPECTIVE VIEW FROM

AMERICA

chido@usafricaonline.com @Chido247

America’s September 11 and Africa’s Merchants of Mayhem

Imperative of Salvaging Nigeria’s Economy and Heritage from the Cohort of the Corrupt

Kayode Ajulo, a popular Abuja-based lawyer focuses on the recent decision by a British court in Nigeria’s case against P&DI to highlight the prevalence of The anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on the corruption perpetrated by Nigerian public officials

United States of America offers an opportunity to Chido Nwangwu, Founder of #USAfrica to emphasize the need for a more concerted global action to check terrorism

I

n the light of today being the 19th anniversary of the Tuesday, September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States by the radical Islamists Al-Qaeda , at least, I believe I have the twin tasks of brief historical contextualization and then soar on the wings of contemporaneous juxtaposition.

First, 19 years ago on September 11, in New York and near Pennsylvania, thousands of Americans, Africans and other nationalities suffered deaths from the consequences of the events of the September11 bombing. Most of those being breadwinners for their families.Those wanton terror and wholesale visitation of murder and mayhem did not only affect Americans but persons from almost 20 countries.

For those who have forgotten, Osama Bin Laden, the late driving force for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, was based in the largely Islamic African country of Sudan before leaving in 1996, and later settled in Afghanistan.

Also, on August 7, 1998, the U.S Embassy in the East African country of Kenya was bombed which led to the death of 207 Kenyans, 12 U.S citizens and left more than 4,000 injured. Within a minute of that sad event, a smaller terrorism blast rocked Tanzania’s capital, Dar es Salaam, killing 11 Africans. Now, should Africans care more or morph September 11 into some nebulous, baseless “fraternity of the oppressed”? I don’t think so!

Second, the murderous domestic excesses of these harbingers of death and purveyors of mayhem inside parts of the African continent, such as the Boko Haram In Nigeria And the al-Shabab in east Africa remain existential threats.

Third, it should be a matter of vital national duty that African governments take more decisive and no-holds-barred approach to choke off the camps and networks of terrorism hiding under the veneer of religiosity and a concoction of bloody and assorted fanaticisms.

Fourth, these trouble makers and merchants of death have caused the killings of at least 8 million Africans since the end of colonialism in the early 1960s.

Fifth, my research and threats analyses of the frontline of previous and recent emanations of zealotry and religious violence show that some of the most dreaded and violent groups in Nigeria, Chad, Tanzania-Zanzibar, parts of Northern Africa and the Maghreb region, are said to have been financed from Sudan, Saudi

Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, and other “Brother Islamic countries and agencies.”

Only 19 years ago, Jos, one of the central cities in Nigeria with a mixed population of Christians and Muslims, and size-able Euro-American population saw 700 persons killed, and thousands maimed and houses burnt, in a few days in September 2001.

Sixth, Africa and its governments should position their actions and policies around the paradigm that terrorism in the 21st (and in fact during the 20th century) is an issue of domestic consequence. It affects the flow of economic investments, weighing in on the measure for or against international capital, and even the value and safety of domestic/internal business.

My point? Offering or dealing kidgloves or looking the other way believing the terror machines will relent is wishful thinking.

The US must also weigh its own policies and actions which do not excuse but can open a window for some nut to engage in their sick pursuits of lethal zealotry.

Seventh, in this quest to make the world relatively safer, it is important to note the views of John L. Esposito, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and Director of the Center for MuslimChristian Understanding at Georgetown University, WashingtonD.C. and the author of several books on Islam, including ‘The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?’ who has stated that: “While some governments and experts identify Islamic fundamentalism as a major threat to the stability of their societies and to global politics, others point out that it is important to distinguish between authentic populist movements that are willing to participate within the system and rejectionists who seek to topple governments through violent revolution.”

Eight, I commend Senegal’s former President Abdoulaye Wade, a member of the Mouride Islamic sect whose wife is a French Christian as an excellent reflection that the issue in Africa cannot be that all Muslims seek for conflicts or are terrorists. No.Such reductionism is not only foolish but untenable. I was in Senegal on assignment regarding former President Bill Clinton’s visit inApril 1998 to parts of Africa, and I’m aware of the fact that, although, Senegal’s population is 90% Muslim, Islamic fundamentalism is not common.

Wade challenged the continent 19 years ago, to move “beyond verbal declarations, African countries should engage in direct actions in the global fight.” Note the key word is “direct actions”. Translation: rid your neighborhood and countries of any support or cover for terrorists and bigots.

Nineth, hopefully we will come to terms with the interconnectedness of our global security and individual safety. Such interconnectedness of human security was evident, loud and eloquent in Tanzania President Julius Nyerere’s and Canadian Jews’ and Caritas’ and `Haiti’s position to save Igbo kids such as me from the NigeriaBiafra (1967-1970) war over oil, violent fanaticism, genocide and what I deliberately refer to as ‘Mechanized Bigotry.’

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A

s at present, Nigeria’s reputation in the international scene goes for a little less than a penny. The country has wittingly and unwittingly gathered notoriety as a den of 419, that diabolically sophisticated preoccupation of con-men and fraudsters who live big and high on fortunes duped from other people.

Sadly enough, this evil trend has found its place in our political cycle. This cankerworm/ pandemic has eaten too deep into the fabric of existence of our great nation. It is imperative to state pronto that corruption is an endemic and a sin against humanity and it is the root of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.

Undoubtedly, traditional, moral and modern antidotes and measures to fight against this phenomenon called corruption, have not been able to eradicate corrupt practices in human society.

It is without gainsay as it has been established that President Muhammadu Buhari has pointed the direction of Nigerians to the fight against corruption, however the startling events in recent times have only shown that the mantra ‘fight against corruption’ has become ad nauseam with little to show for it.

On the backdrop of the above and the exasperating and mind boggling revelations of corruption against Nigeria Public officials in the judgment of the Queen’s Bench under review that I am compelled to pensively and dispassionately lend my two cents in respect of the above issues raised.

Introduction A microscopic examination of the decision of the Queen’s Bench Coram. Sir Ross Cranston dated 4th September, 2020 amply, discloses that the heart of the relief is for extension of time by the Nigerian Government to Challenge the Arbitral award by a London Tirbunal relating to a gas processing contract (“the GSPA”) between Nigeria and Process & Industrial Developments Limited (“P&ID”) dated 11 January 2010. The Tribunal’s Final Award of 31 January 2017 ordered Nigeria to pay P&ID damages of US$6.6 billion, as well as pre- and post- judgment interest at 7 percent. The current outstanding amount is some US$10 billion.

In a spirited bid to castrate the enforcement of the award by P&ID, the Federal Republic of Nigeria filed an application for extension of time to bring challenges under sections 67 and 68(2)(g) of the Arbitration Act 1996 (“the 1996 Act” or “the Act”) in The Federal Republic of Nigeria v Process & Industrial Developments Limited [2020] EWHC 129 (Comm).

Indubitably, the casus belli of Nigeria’s case for an extension of time is that the GSPA, the arbitration clause in the GSPA and the awards were procured as the result of a massive fraud perpetrated by P&ID, and that to deny them the opportunity to challenge the final award would involve the English court being used as an unwitting vehicle of the fraud.

P&ID’s case is that the awards date back some three to five and a half years and it would be unprecedented to grant the extensions. Speed and finality are essential features of London arbitration and the case that there has been any fraud (which is denied) is at best weak.

Review of the Case From the decision of the court which revealed so much evidence of Corruption against Nigeria public officials, it leaves too much to be desired in our fight against corruption. It must be noted that we still have a long way to go in our fight against corruption.

Mr Howard QC (Counsel to the Nigerian Government) in his argument for fraud against P&ID concentrated on three aspects: i. first, that P&ID procured the GSPA by

paying bribes to Nigerian officials; ii. secondly, that Mr Quinn gave perjured evidence to the Tribunal to give the false impression that P&ID was able and willing to perform the GSPA; and iii. thirdly, that Nigeria’s counsel in the arbitration, Mr Shasore, dishonestly failed to challenge Mr Quinn’s perjured evidence or to seek disclosure from P&ID such that the Tribunal had no choice but to find in its favour.

Evidence Adduced at the hearing for Fraud In my view there is a strong prima facie case that the GSPA was procured by bribery. It is sufficient to focus on the two senior officials whose positions ensured its safe passage by giving the requisite approvals. First, there is Ms Taiga, who was the Senior Legal Adviser to the Ministry at the time of the GSPA and recommended its execution. In their second statements both Ms Taiga and Mr Cahill accept that payments were made to her by P&ID, but their account is that they were intended for Ms Taiga’s medical expenses.

There is no supporting evidence for this, such as contemporaneous communications between P&ID and Ms Taiga referring to her medical needs.

In any event, whether these payments were for medical or other expenses, as the Attorney General explains in his seventh statement, benefits received by public officials from individuals holding or seeking to obtain a contract are assumed to be bribes under Nigeria v P&ID. As could be deduced from the decision of the court, there were pieces of hard evidence of receiving bribes of over 100,000 USD received from P & I D by Ms. Taiga whose annual salary was US$5,000 at the time.

Also Mr. Oguinne also collected the sum of 100,000 USD as bribe from Mr. Shasore to do a shoddy work.

Evidence of Perjury against Mr. Quinn (Director of P&ID) Mr Howard’s case was that Mr Quinn gave perjured evidence to the tribunal that P&ID had (i) invested US$40 million in the project and had completed 90 percent of relevant engineering design work (including 100 folders of technical documents); (ii) put in place all necessary project finance; and (iii) acquired a plot of land for the gas stripping. Contrary to this evidence, he contended, P&ID was never willing and able to perform the GSPA. Yet, he continued, P&ID’s readiness and ability to finance the project and to perform the GSPA were critical to its successful claim in the arbitration to have suffered loss by reason of its repudiation.

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 •T H I S D AY

21

T H I S D AY ˾ SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 1.63 % 2.25 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

3.67 % 5.08 % 6.17 %

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

S E P T E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

588.78 % -0.35 % -0.01 %

4 , 2 0 2 0

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 4.61 % YEAR TO DATE 22.37 %

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes IATA’s ‘ONE Source’ Platform Launched

MEDIA BRIEFING

Director-General, ARC Group, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong (left), and CEO, ARC Limited, Lesley Ndlovu, during a media briefing at Dakar, Senegal…recently

Passengers Groan under Stringent COVID-19 Protocols, e-Payment Glitches Chinedu Eze Inbound and outbound travellers are facing increasing difficulty in meeting the safety protocol introduced by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Since international fights started last week, passengers have faced exertion trying to make payments through the portal provided by government and they are also made to pay outrageous fees as cost for COVID-19 tests.

Airline operators, travellers and travel agencies have decried the unsavoury situation, which has made international travel in Nigeria frustrating, prompting some people who wanted to travel to defer their travel “until

AVIATION things get better.”

Part of the conditions that must be met by travellers to Nigeria include the rule that prior to boarding, passengers are requested to upload their COVID-19 PCR NEGATIVE results on to the national payment portal and bring along an electronic or hard copy of the result for presentation at the airport.

They are also required to go through the routine of Port Health screening and present electronic or print-out evidence of pre-boarding PCR test results and evidence of payment/appointment for a repeat PCR test, in-country.

Laboratories and hospitals that conduct COVID-19 tests charge outrageous fees for

the tests, while it is difficult for government hospitals that offer such tests free to provide such service to passengers, as reports have indicated.

But airlines, passengers and others involved in air travel have complained that the portals are not working, so it is extremely difficult to meet the conditions given to the passengers.

It was this hiccup that prompted the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu to issue an apology on his verified twitter handle on Wednesday saying, “Our deep apologies to everyone that has had challenges with the platform for travellers. We are working across several ministries and agencies, with banks and laboratories, across federal and

state governments to make this system work for all. We will communicate further soon.”

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Wednesday also issued a waiver to passengers, advising airlines to allow passengers without QR codes to board flights following difficulties several intending passengers are having with the use of the online platform for uploading information.

This, the agency said, should be a temporary measure until additional on-going work to the payment platform is completed.

NCAA said airlines would be informed in the coming days of any changes in this requirement.

QR codes are popularly known as 2D barcodes; by Continued on page 22

Bayelsa Seeks NIMASA’s Support to Harness Maritime Potential Eromosele Abiodun Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to partner with the state to harness its maritime potential for economic prosperity.

Specifically, he said maritime security was key to attracting investors to the state, calling on the agency to consider the state in its blue economy project.

Diri, who stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to NIMASA, pointed out that maritime was key in efforts to wean Nigeria from its dependence on crude oil.

The Bayelsa State governor stressed that the most enduring wealth of the country is in maritime, adding that the country’s future depended on the successful harnessing of the enormous resources in its marine environment.

MARITIME Diri appealed to NIMASA to increase its presence in Bayelsa State, especially in the area of domain awareness, to ensure security in the state’s maritime environment and build confidence in investments in the state’s huge maritime potential.

The governor, who was received by the NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and the Executive Management team, said: “A lot of countries are moving away from fossil fuel and maritime gives Nigeria an alternative. All the eight local governments in our state can be accessed by water.

“In fact, the headquarters of three of these local governments can only be reached by water.

This shows how important our state is to maritime development.

We are, therefore, seeking partnership with NIMASA, which is the apex maritime regulatory agency of our country, to expand her regulatory activities to our state.”

Diri added that NIMASA and Bayelsa are inextricably one, stressing that there was need for both to work together to strengthen the country’s maritime domain.

He appealed to NIMASA to help in the removal of wrecks that had impaired navigation in many parts of the coastal state.

The governor requested NIMASA’s support to the government in its attempt to develop the state’s maritime potential.

He sought the agency’s partnership in the areas of training and youth development, establishment of a maritime academy in the state, and development of the Agge

Deep Seaport in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Responding, the NIMASA Director-General said Bayelsa State was one of the agency’s strongest allies in the pursuit of its mandate of sustainable regulation and promotion of the maritime sector.

He said security was of utmost importance in the realisation of a prosperous maritime sector, adding that he would facilitate the incorporation of Bayelsa State in the ongoing effort to integrate the maritime domain awareness facilities of relevant stakeholders, including NIMASA’s C4i, Nigerian Navy’s Falcon Eye, Nigerian Ports Authority’s C3i, and the i247 of the Nigeria Police.

“Bayelsa State holds the key to the growth of our economy because a huge part of our

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched IATA ONE Source,anonlineplatformwhichhelpstheaircargoindustrymatchshipping needswiththeavailabilityofinfrastructurecapabilitiesandcertificationsof serviceprovidersacrossthevaluechain.

ThisisparticularlytimelyamidtheCOVID-19crisiswhenshippersofmedical supplies and pharmaceuticals need accurate information for time- and temperature-sensitive shipments. ONE Source lists the latest operational informationonairlines,airports,cargohandlingfacilities,freightforwarders, ground handlers, shippers, and trucking companies. All critical information containedonONESourcehasbeenverifiedbyIATAtohelpensureitsaccuracy.

IATAONESourceisfreeforallserviceprovidersacrosstheaircargosupplychain.

“AircargohasbeenessentialintheglobalfightagainstCOVID-19,transporting vitalequipmentandmedicinestothosewhoneedthemmost.However,with over3,500differentlysizedcargohandlingfacilitiesworldwide,theindustry until now has lacked visibility on the capacities and services these facilities canoffer.

“Theneedforgreatertransparencyisevenmorecriticalinthecurrentcontext.

ONESourceaddressesthisbyprovidingasinglereferencepointforup-to-date infrastructure and certification data, helping save time and keep air cargo moving,”saidGlynHughes,IATA’sGlobalHeadofCargo.

TheONESourceplatformofferssinglesourceofup-to-datecertificationand infrastructuredata,sstreamlinedinformationperaviationserviceprovider typeallowingfordirectcapabilitycomprise;ONESourceAPIprovidingadirect datafeedtocompanysystems.

Increased audit efficiency by complementing risk analysis data for a more accurateevaluationofauditingneedsandreducedauditcomplexity,focused onUniqueSellingPointsandsecurityaspects

Qatar Resumes Flights to Lagos

QatarAirwayshasannouncedtheresumptionoffourweeklyflightstoMurtala MuhammedInternationalAirport(LOS)Lagos,fromSeptember10,2020.

The four times weekly service to Africa’s largest city would be operated by QatarAirways’Boeing787Dreamlinerfeaturing22seatsinBusinessClass and232seatsinEconomyClass.WiththeadditionofLagos,QatarAirways’ networkinAfricawouldexpandto10destinationswith44weeklyflightstothe continentincludingAddisAbaba,DaresSalaam,Djibouti,Kigali,Kilimanjaro, Mogadishu,Nairobi,TunisandZanzibar.QatarAirwayspassengerstravelling fromLagoscanenjoymoreflexibletraveloptionswithseamlessconnectionsvia themostconnectedandBestAirportintheMiddleEast,HamadInternational Airport.Theairlinecurrentlyoperatesover650weeklyflightstomorethan 85 destinations across the globe including 27 destinations in Asia-Pacific, 32inEuropeandnineinNorthAmerica,suchasGuangzhou,Houston,Kuala Lumpur,LondonandNewYork.

QatarAirwaysGroupChiefExecutive,Mr.AkbarAlBaker,said:“Wearedelighted toresumeflightstoLagosandfurtherexpandournetworkinAfrica.Weknow the Nigerian diaspora is spread across the globe and we are thankful to the Nigerian Government for their support in helping us to reunite family and friendswiththeirlovedones.

“Withourmixedfleetoffuel-efficientaircraft,weareabletoresumeLagos serviceswiththerightsizedaircraftthatwillenableustorespondquicklyto passengerdemandandincreasefrequencies,offeringourpassengersmore flexibilitytotravelwhentheywant.

“With44weeklyflightsto10destinationsacrossAfricaandplansforfurther resumptionsinlinewiththeeasingofentryrestrictions,wearecommittedto supportingtherecoveryofinternationaltourismacrossthecontinentwhile alsomaintainingvitalsupplychainstosupportAfricanbusinesses.”

US Announces $1.2bn Grants to Airports

The US Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, has announced that the Trump Administration would award more than $1.2 billion in airport safety and infrastructure grants through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 405 airports in 50 states and the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Palau, and theUSVirginIslands.

“This$1.2billionfederalinvestmentwillimproveournation’sairportinfrastructure, enhancesafety,andstrengthengrowthinlocalcommunities,whichisespecially importantastheeconomyrecoversfromCOVID-19,”saidU.S.Transportation SecretaryElaineL.Chao.

Acompletelistingofgrantsandaninteractivemapofairportsreceivingfunding isavailableontheFAAwebsite.Thetotalincludesover$1billionfromtheAirport ImprovementProgram(AIP)and$152millioninCoronavirusAid,Relief,and EconomicSecurity(CARES)Actgrantstoequala100percentfederalshare.

“Coronavirus is very expensive virus that adversely affected the aviation industry, crippled a lot of activities and put families out of jobs” Commissioner and CEO, Accident Investigation Bureau,

Akin Olateru Continued on page 22

22

T H I S D AY Ëž SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD PASSENGERS GROAN UNDER STRINGENT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS, E-PAYMENT GLITCHES scanning them via a smartphone, travellers can access the information encoded.

Reacting to these problems, travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko, urged concerned authorities to allow passengers to for the tests on arrival. “They can pay with their cards on arrival. They will do the registration online and then pay on arrival. This is not the first time the payment system has failed. “It happened when the Nigerian Immigration Service introduced visa on arrival.

People are desperate so they should be helped. “We should make available all payment platforms to enable them make successful payment.

Electronics payment system in Nigeria is easy but there should be alternatives to the payment portal. “The passengers should be allowed to make payment through POS. What is happening is not good for anybody. All other issues could be managed but passengers should be made to pay on arrival,� he said.

The immediate past President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the Group Managing Director of Finchglow Group Limited, Bankole Bernard expressed disappointment with the turn of events, saying that the protocols and the payment system were not well conceived before they were introduced.

He noted that there was no defined measures or processes that led to the passengers COVID-19 protection system, but a knee-jerk decision that were made to see whether they would work “This shows how disorganised we are. It is high time they allowed professionals to do government work. I recall an official of PTF saying that we are not ready with the payment platform.�

BAYELSA SEEKS NIMASA’S SUPPORT TO HARNESS MARITIME POTENTIAL coastline falls within the state.

Thankfully, the issue of wreck removal has been sorted out and we have concluded the marking and identification of all wrecks and derelicts across the country for removal,� Jamoh said.

NEWS

Kano Enhances Dry Port Project with N2bn Infrastructure Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Dala Inland Dry Port in Kano has received a boost of N2 billion infrastructure from the state government to facilitate the project, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, has said.

Bello, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen, stated that the Kano State Government has demonstrated interest in the dry port project in the state with the commitment of N2 billion infrastructure project necessary for the dry port.

Bello said the state government has already awarded contracts for the infrastructure development.

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the concessionaire of the dry port project, Dala Inland Dry Port, has gotten technical partners, a development, which is expected to fasten the pace of the project.

According to Bello, with this development, Kano dry port project is now on the front banner.

Conversely, Bello said he was not pleased with the pace of work at the Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, dry port project.

Although, he noted that the concessionaire was very hardworking, he expressed concern that somehow so much was yet to be done.

Bello said a lot of options, which he did not disclose, were being looked at.

Worried about the slow pace of work on some of the Inland Dry Ports (IDPs) in the six geopolitical zones of the country as a result of paucity of funds, the

NSC had last year considered assisting the concessionaires to attract investors and necessary funding.

The NSC, it was gathered, was concerned that apart from the Kaduna IDP, which took off about two years ago, the rest IDP projects were yet to be completed by the concessionaires due to lack of finance.

To ensure that the concessionaires complete their projects as soon as possible, the NSC had approached the Commonwealth Enterprise Investment Council (CWEIC) to be involved in the search for interested investors for the IDP projects.

The NSC, it was gathered, approached the London office of the body which was established in 2014 with mandate from Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote intra-commonwealth trade and investments across the 53 member countries.

CWEIC is responsible for organising the Commonwealth Business Forum alongside the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on alternative years.

Bello led the management team of the NSC to attend the Advisory Council Meeting of CWEIC held in Lagos last

year during which a lot of business opportunities across and beyond Nigeria were laid bare.

Speaking at the meeting, Bello said apart from IDP projects, the NSC is also interested in getting investors for other transport sector infrastructure projects, such as Truck Transit Parks (TTP) and Border Information Centres. “Both IDP and TTP projects are considered as having multiplier effects on the national economy with thousands of jobs to be created when completed. The Council sees the dry port project as imperative to trade facilitation as it will enable shippers in

the hinterland to import and export without having to travel to Lagos seaports or other seaports for the process. For instance, with the Kaduna IDP, importers in any part of the world who wish to use that dry port can do so by indicating it as Port of Destination for their goods instead of using Lagos seaport. “Similarly, businessmen from that zone who have goods to export can use the dry port without having to go through Lagos seaport. Among the dry ports include the Kaduna IDP, Kano, Jos Plateau State, Isiala Ngwa, Abia State, Borno, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Benin, Edo state,� he said.

EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME

L-R: National Marketing Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company Ltd (SBC), Segun Ogunleye; Managing Director, Ziad Maalouf; recipient, 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship(7UpHBS) 2020, Abdul-Rahman Buhari; Head of Human Resources, SBC, Yinka Olufade, and Head of Marketing, Norden Thurston, at the unveiling of the 7UpHBS 2020 winner held in Lagos‌recently

APMT Apapa Boosts Efficiency with Improved Network APM Terminals Apapa has announced that it has emerged the latest terminal in the group’s rollout of public 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks at its facilities across the world.

The company said in a statement that the rollout was aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity at West Africa’s largest container terminal. “Wireless connectivity supports APM Terminals’ global initiatives such as the standardisation of Terminal Operating Systems, reporting and support; Asset Digitalization; and GPS based Position Detection Systems used for

auto-locating containers in a yard. “4G LTE is a standards-based network that uses radio equipment to service the terminals applications and the services and can be tailored to process a very high volume of data messages with minimal delay.

The base station allows it to be independent of traffic peaks in the wider network,� it said.

It added: “A secure VPN tunnel is used as an encryption mechanism to segregate APM Terminals data from general carrier data to ensure compliance with the company’s global security requirements.

The new 4G LTE connectivity

solution, which has already been tested and rolled out at other APM Terminals locations, meets ground level coverage and performance requirements in the entire yard with three dedicated sectors for APM Terminals and limited infrastructure deployment at terminal.�

Country Manager of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr. Klaus Laursen, said: “In recent years, APM Terminals Apapa has embarked on massive digitization of its operations and services. This is in keeping with APM Terminals’ global transformation drive. “Our customers can

expect greater efficiency and higher productivity with the deployment of the 4G wireless network, as it will allow for better collaboration in our terminal operations.�

Other benefits of the network, according to Laursen, include: improved wireless coverage in the yard for roaming container handling equipment (CHE); eliminate loss of critical Terminal Operating Systems updates; real time tracking of container handling equipment and improved safety for terminal employees. “An optimised, standardised, cost effective, and security compliant Industrial

Wireless connectivity solution, the 4G LTE network is scalable to meet future terminal requirements. Ultimately customers will benefit from improved operations especially truck turnaround time, terminal efficiency and stability,� he said.

APM Terminals Apapa recently acquired new cranes as part of an investment of 80 million for the year 2020-2021, bringing the total investment by the company in Apapa since 2006 to 438million.

The investment has resulted in significant improvements in productivity, with zero waiting times for vessel berthing and a doubling of container volume.

OML-25: Host Communities Accuse Shell of Frustrating Belema Flow Station Re-entry Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Ogene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

Ă‹Ă’Ă?Ă?Ă— Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă&#x; (Advertising) Correspondents

Ă’Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽĂ&#x; äĂ? (Aviation) ĂœĂ™Ă—Ă™Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă? ĂŒĂ“Ă™ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă˜ (Maritime) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Ă—Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă– ĂŽĂŽĂ?Ă’ (Energy) Reporters

Ă&#x;Ă—Ă? Ă•Ă?Ă‘Ă’Ă? (Money Market) Ă™Ă?Ă‹ Ă–Ă?Ă•Ă’Ă&#x;ÙÑÓĂ? (ICT) Ă?ĂžĂ?Ăœ äÙÒÙ (Energy)

Host communities of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 25 in Kula Kingdom of Rivers State have accused the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of frustrating efforts to resume production at the Belema Flow Station.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, traditional rulers of Kula Kingdom in Akukutoru Local Government Area of Rivers lamented that one year after an elaborate ceremony to celebrate the re-entry of oil firms to Belema Flow Station.

Spokesman of the Kula Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Fiala Okoye-Davies, alleged that the SPDC reneged on the agreements and terms reached by parties before the reopening of the flow station in October 2019.

He further alleged that SPDC had been frustrating efforts by stakeholders to resume production in the facility, adding that the nation was losing much revenue from the absence of production in the oil field.

Okoye-Davies called on the federal government to intervene and prevail on the

multinational oil company to conclude its part of the agreement for the resumption of production in the facility.

He said: “We are aware that the trio of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, the Shell Petroleum Development Company and Belemaoil Producing Limited have had several meetings in a bid to resolve the issues that resulted to the face-off between SPDC and its host communities. “It is interesting to note that while our position regarding our confidence in the federal government to resolve the

issues remain sacrosanct, we are minded to warn against various tactics and antics of SPDC to cause confusion and crisis again in our peaceful Kula Kingdom. “We wish to make this clarion call on the federal government and security agencies to prevail in SPDC to desist from whatever alliance with some renegades of Kula Kingdom, and ensure a conclusion of the ongoing discussion with the federal government and Belemaoil on behalf of the communities for the re-entry of OML-25. “We are today making

this call to put these issues formally on and to thank His Excellency, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, for his anticipated understanding and cooperation.�

When contacted, SPDC spokesman, Bamidele Odugbesan, said the company would not respond to the allegation by the host communities.

However, a source in the company said there is a structure recognised by all stakeholders including the NNPC, the Minister of State for Petroleum, and others to dialogue with and all groups are talking with that group.

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NCAA Directs Airlines to Board Passengers without QR Codes Stories by Chinedu Eze

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) has directed airlines to allow passengers without QR codes to board flights in order to ease the difficulties travellers face trying to access government portal to upload information.

QR codes refer to the popularly known 2D barcodes, which people use to scan and send their information through smartphone to the concerned authorities.

In a letter dated 8th

September, 2020 signed

by Musa Nuhu, Director General, NCAA, the agency said, “Airlines are hereby notified that the presentation of evidence of payment receipt in the form of a QR code is recommended for all passengers but not a mandatory requirement for boarding flights to Nigeria for now. “Airlines are advised to allow passengers without a QR code to board as a temporary measure until additional on-going work to the payment platform

is completed. Airlines will be informed in the coming days of any changes in this requirement. “Please note that presentation of negative COVID-19 PCR test valid within 96 hours of boarding remains mandatory for all passengers travelling to Nigeria. Airlines must ensure compliance with this requirement. “Flying passengers that do not have negative COVID-19 PCR tests to Nigeria will attract a penalty of $3,500 per passenger.

Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccines’ Airlift

Landover Graduate Wins IATA Award Landover Aviation Business School (LABS) has produced yet another Best Performer in Nigeria in the March 2020 Diet of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Foundation in Travel and Tourism Course.

The best performing graduate, Mrs. Uche Orji, made a distinction in the March 2020 Diet of IATA Foundation in Travel and Tourism Course and became IATA’s Overall Best Performer in Nigeria.

LABS produced IATA Best Performers in Nigeria in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017,2018 as well as in 2019, which has positioned the school as one of the best aviation training centres in West Africa.

Executive Director of Landover Company Limited, Mrs. Aduke Atiba, while presenting the award of recognition to Orji, congratulated the

awardee on her outstanding performance and encouraged her to imbibe the attributes of excellence, resilience and character as elements for success in life. “You must be excellent in whatever you do, and I think Uche has shown us that. To participate in this reputable course and come out tops requires an excellent work spirit. This is a reward of hard work and excellent performance which is our trademark at Landover Aviation Business School. We are proud of your achievement,� Atiba said.

She also stated that all recent LABS’ awardees todate were females, noting that this trend is simply a sign that women are increasingly taking their place in the industry.

Orji expressed gratitude to God as she also thanked her family and LABS for

her achievement.

She stated, “I am a very ambitious person and I strive for the best in everything I do. I thank God for this opportunity to be celebrated. I also thank LABS’ instructors for the impact they made on me. They took their time to explain everything carefully to us.�

Furthermore, the Business Manager Operations for Landover Company Limited, Mr. Tunde Adeniyi said the achievement was the beginning of greater things to come for the awardee, as he emphasized on the quality and high standard at LABS. “This award is an indication of the commitment to excellence in the Landover Aviation Business School; I thank the instructors and the team at LABS for doing us proud,� he stated.

Delta Resumes Lagos to Atlanta Flight Delta Airlines resumed operations from Lagos to Atlanta on Wednesday.

A statement from the airline said it would fly four times a week with departures on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. “We know how important access to the United States is for our customers and now the restrictions have been lifted, we’re looking forward to re-starting our Lagos service to facilitate travel and business opportunities in Atlanta and beyond,� Delta’s Commercial Director – Africa, Bobby Bryan said. “Customers will have a different flying experience the next time they step onboard but this is to ensure the highest standards of safety for them and our people, which is our number one priority. We are also offering additional

flexibility with tickets so customers have extra peace of mind should they need it.�

Flights between Lagos and Atlanta will temporarily make a brief stop in Dakar, with final administrative approvals for nonstop service expected shortly. Customers will not be able to board or disembark in Senegal. The flight will be operated using a Boeing 767-300 aircraft.

Last month, Delta announced that it would extend its middle seat block and limit the number of customers on board every flight until at least January 6, 2021.

For customers traveling alone or with one other companion, middle seats will be blocked for safety.

For parties of three or more, middle seats will appear as available for booking, to allow families and travel companions

to select seats together.

Customers can also continue enjoying peace of mind in case their travel plans change. For all new flights purchased through December 31, 2020, travelers have the option to change their flight without a change fee for a year from the date of purchase.

Furthermore, the airline has introduced the Delta CareStandard its commitment to a superior level of cleanliness, more space and safer service designed to ensure customers can travel with confidence. As part of this, the airline has founded a Global Cleanliness Division dedicated to innovating and evolving its already-high cleanliness standards to ensure a consistently safe and sanitized experience across its facilities and aircraft for employees and customers, alike.

Cargo aircraft Chinedu Eze As the United Kingdom, the US and other countries prepare to launch their coronavirus vaccines to protect the people from the dreaded pandemic, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to begin careful planning with industry stakeholders to ensure full preparedness when vaccines for COVID-19 are approved and available for distribution.

The association also warned of potentially severe capacity constraints in transporting vaccines by air.

IATA noted that air cargo plays a key role in the distribution of vaccines in normal times through well-established global time- and temperature-sensitive distribution systems.

It noted that this capability would be crucial to the quick and efficient transport and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines when they are available, and would not happen without careful planning, led by governments and supported by industry stakeholders. “Safely delivering COVID-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry. But it won’t happen without careful advance planning. And the time for that is now. “We urge governments to take the lead in facilitating cooperation across the logistics chain so that the facilities, security arrangements and border processes are ready for the mammoth and complex task ahead,� said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac. “Delivering billions of doses of vaccine to the entire world efficiently will involve hugely complex logistical and programmatic obstacles all the way along the supply chain. “We look forward to working together with government, vaccine manufacturers and logistical partners to ensure an efficient global roll-out of a safe and affordable COVID-19 vaccine,� said CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr Seth Berkley.

IATA said vaccines must be handled and transported in line with international regulatory requirements, at controlled temperatures and without delay to ensure the quality of the product, adding that while there are still many unknowns (number of doses, temperature sensitivities, manufacturing locations, etc.), it is clear that the scale of activity would be vast, that cold chain facilities would be required and that delivery to every corner of the planet would be needed.

The global body stated that priorities for preparing facilities for this distribution include availability of temperature-controlled facilities and equipment - maximising the use or re-purposing of existing infrastructure and minimising temporary builds; the availability of staff trained to handle time- and temperature-sensitive vaccines and robust monitoring capabilities to ensure the integrity of the vaccines is maintained.

On security, IATA said vaccines would be highly valuable commodities. Arrangements must be in place to ensure that shipments remain secure from tampering and theft and recommended that processes are in place to keep cargo shipments secure, but

the potential volume of vaccine shipments would need early planning to ensure that they are scalable.

IATA also said in terms of border processes, working effectively with health and customs authorities would therefore, be essential to ensure timely regulatory approvals, adequate security measures, appropriate handling and customs clearance.

This could be a particular challenge given that, as part of COVID-19 prevention measures, many governments have put in place measures that increase processing times.

IATA said priorities for border processes should include the introduction of fast-track procedures for over-flight and landing permits for operations carrying the COVID-19 vaccine; exemption of flight crew members from quarantine requirements to ensure cargo supply chains are maintained; supporting temporary traffic rights for operations carrying the COVID-19 vaccines where restrictions may apply; removing operating hour curfews for flights carrying the vaccine to facilitate the most flexible global network operations; and granting priority on arrival of those vital shipments to prevent possible temperature excursions due to delays.

IATA suggested that government should consider tariff relief to facilitate the movement of the vaccine.

The association remarked that on top of the transport preparations and coordination needed, governments must also consider the current diminished cargo capacity of the global air transport industry and warned that, with the severe downturn in passenger traffic, airlines have downsized networks and put many aircraft into remote long-term storage.

The global route network has been reduced dramatically from the pre-COVID 24,000 city pairs. The WHO, UNICEF and Gavi have already reported severe difficulties in maintaining their planned vaccine programs during the COVID-19 crisis due, in part, to limited air connectivity. “The whole world is eagerly awaiting a safe COVID vaccine. It is incumbent on all of us to make sure that all countries have safe, fast and equitable access to the initial doses when they are available. As the lead agency for the procurement and supply of the COVID vaccine on behalf of the COVAX Facility, UNICEF will be leading what could possibly be the world’s largest and fastest operation ever. The role of airlines and international transport companies will be critical to this endeavour,� said UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore. “Even if we assume that half the needed vaccines can be transported by land, the air cargo industry will still face its largest single transport challenge ever. In planning their vaccine programs, particularly in the developing world, governments must take very careful consideration of the limited air cargo capacity that is available at the moment. If borders remain closed, travel curtailed, fleets grounded and employees furloughed, the capacity to deliver life-saving vaccines will be very much compromised,� said de Juniac.

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NCAA: Navigating Turbulent Times Chinedu Eze writes that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has been able to effectively regulate the air transport sector despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19

T

he major places that were responsible for the spread of coronavirus before the adoption of protective Covid-19 protocols were airports and possibly aircraft, as millions of travellers moved from one city to another, one country to another, one continent to another.

After about four months of lockdown the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), working with Presidential Task Force of COVID-19 (PTF) prepared the sector for flight resumption and on July 8, 2020, domestic airlines started operation.

Feelers from the industry indicate that all has been good.

There is no indication of spike of coronavirus. THISDAY observed passenger facilitation at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and could report that workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), including Aviation Security (AVSEC); airline officials and workers of handling companies strictly adhered to the Covid-19 protocols.

Sources from Port Health told THISDAY that since flights restarted there has not been records of passengers stopped from boarding flights on the domestic routes due to high temperature or who suddenly took ill, except the sick patient that was travelling for medical checkup after surgery in Abuja from Calabar who died on board flight.

Preparing Airlines for Restart To prepare the airlines for flight restart, NCAA introduced technical audit, which main objective was to ensure that airlines’ fleet was airworthy. The audit ensured that the airlines provided adequate safety protocol for the protection of passengers from the virus infection while onboard.

The audit also ensured that pilots and cabin crew met the conditions to fly after months of lockdown, as airlines were required to review and demonstrate or submit the evidence of compliance.

The NCAA also required airlines to notify the authority of their intention to resume operations and make themselves available to the regulatory body for the post-COVID-19 restart plan assessment and upon satisfactory with the post-Covid-19 restart plan assessment by the authority, domestic airlines were granted approval to resume full operation by the DirectorGeneral.

Some of the conditions given to airlines before they started flight operations include the training of their technical personnel during the lockdown, the storage of their aircraft and notification of the authority five days before each airline resumed operation.

EfďŹ cient Management Airline officials and other airport operators have commended the way NCAA managed the post Covide-19 flight restart and so far, kudos has been given to the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu.

Nuhu, who substantively took over as Director General in November last year, had not settled down before the unsettling effect of the coronavirus pandemic.

By February it became apparent that the virus was going to upset the world, just as more deaths were announced in China, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, as the agent of death continued to spread to the world. Air transport was a major culprit, so the airports were shut down and the lockdown and its aftermath started to further jolt the world.

For four months the aviation agencies were not earning revenue but the Director General of NCAA was said to have adroitly managed the agency that even the workers were not owed nor was their salary delayed.

“He gave everyone a voice. He listened to the operators. When we raised issues on social distancing, why it cannot be feasible in the aircraft, he listened. We raised issues on some training and he understood with us and dropped them. He worked hard to make things work and in doing that helped the operators to succeed. He understands that operators are very essential in the running of NCAA because without the airlines, there won’t be a regulatory authority. He has shown leadership at this time. It is during challenging times that we know true leadership. He has shown true leadership. He listens and acquiesces to superior argument,� the Aero Contractors CEO said.

Travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko, made similar observation when he attended webinar organised by NCAA recently. “I logged in for the NCAA Zoom Webinar on Friday Night. I was impressed with the new helmsman at NCAA. I stayed up till 12 midnight and did enjoy how he handled the session. He was calm and confident. “He delegated the questions to the right personnel. He apologised where there were shortcomings. No bullying, no grandstanding, no stonewalling‌a new type of government official. Maybe it was just optics and I was fooled. Kudos so far,â€? he said.

Nuhu

Experience The Director of Engineering, Ibom Air, Lukeman Animaseun told THISDAY that Nuhu’s experience in the aviation industry paid off for NCAA when he was made the Director General. He said Nuhu’s stint as Nigeria’s representative at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) exposed him to invaluable experience, which he deployed in NCAA and was able to manage the crisis of Coronavirus pandemic so far. “I believe he is doing well. He knows his onion. He knows what he wants to achieve. His ICAO experience was a gain to NCAA and that has enabled him to efficiently manage the agency since he took over. He is not a new person in the agency and NCAA is benefiting from his knowledge, but he should pay more attention to training. That is the area he has to look at very well,� Animaseun said.

The CEO of AOS Helicopters, Captain Evarest Nnaji told THISDAY that he was impressed by the way Captain Nuhu is

Some of the conditions given to airlines before they started ight operations include the training of their technical personnel during the lockdown, the storage of their aircraft and notiďŹ cation of the authority ďŹ ve days before each airline resumed operation

managing the agency, citing a personnel experience when he made request from NCAA and without any physical contact or even calls to the agency, the request was carried at “in the most professional manner.� “I made official request from him and because of the Covid-19, I didn’t go to the office so I wrote the request and without making for calls to remind him he attended to it in the most professional way. It is true that I cannot judge him with that one off experience but I was very impressed with that and I commend him for that,� he said.

A former senior official in NCAA told THISDAY that in tackling the challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Director General worked well with airline operators and listened to them. “We worked with them closely and listened to them as they stated their needs.

He did not throw directives at them. He made sure that the airlines can carry out those directives and wherever there was a hitch, NCAA worked with them to resolve the issues,� the official said.

Listening The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told THISDAY that the Director General did a lot to encourage the operators, working with them and reaching agreement with them, as the operators prepared their aircraft and personnel to pass the safety audit and abide by Covid-19 protocols.

Sanusi noted that Nuhu came at a very challenging time but was not daunted by the challenges; rather, we waded through it with openness and transparency, yielding to superior arguments and ideas and working with the airlines to actualise set out objectives. “The Director General of NCAA has actually done a lot in encouraging the operators.

I don’t think any Director General in the past had worked so closely with operators, trying to understand the challenges they are facing. He came at a very challenging time and he carried everyone along. He has performed excellently well,� Sanusi said.

He also observed that the Director General exhibited certain kind of openness, bringing the stakeholders together and discussing issues with them.

Facing the New Challenge The new challenge in air travel is the stringent measures at airports aimed at preventing spread of Coronavirus pandemic.

Those measures have inhibited air travel all over the world and in Nigeria, the high cost of tests and the limitation of the number of passengers each fight would bring into the country further hampers air travel in the country.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been calling for the liberalisation of some of these stringent rules, which are adverse in passenger protection but not very efficacious in preventing Covid-19 spread.

IATA said on Tuesday that it welcomed the proposals from the European Commission (EC) to better coordinate and communicate on travel restrictions in the European Union (EU) during the COVID-19 pandemic and key among the proposals are the following: greater predictability with common criteria for introducing COVID-19 measures and advance notice of weekly changes; common criteria for measures with a preference for testing over quarantine and simplified communication of risk using a color-coded traffic light system “People want to travel, but the unpredictability in the way that governments are implementing COIVID-19 measures is killing demand. The EC’s proposals are an opportunity for Europe to move from lockdown to managing risks by learning to live with the virus. “The goals of predictability and clarity are the right ones. People need easy access to the information so that they can plan.

They need predictability to know that the rules won’t change overnight. And they need COVID-19 testing to avoid the risk of border restrictions, or the imposition of blanket quarantine measures that make travel impossible and have the same effect on travel demand as border closures. We look forward to working with the EC to refine and implement these measures consistently across its member states,� said IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe, Rafael Schvartzman.

Industry observers have indicated that Nigerians may stop travelling because of these stringent measures after the initial traffic when stranded Nigerians and others would return to the country or leave the country and many students studying overseas have gone back to school.

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NIMASA and Seafarers’ Welfare Eromosele Abiodun writes on efforts by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to ensure the safety, welfare and training of seafarers in the country

S

hipping is an industry that contributes over 90 per cent to the world economy.

There are about 51,400 merchant ships operating all over the world, transferring goods between places, keeping economies running. Whether it is oil from the Gulf or iPhones in containers being delivered from one part of the world to another, everything is running round the clock, with precision and diligence.

Who are the people responsible for this non-stop action? While the shipbrokers and the charterers and the owners take care of the financial aspects backing the viability of the trade, the seafarers are the ones executing it in real life aspect. The trade is only so good when the product is delivered safe and on time to the receiver, and seafarers ensure that Sundays or public holidays notwithstanding.

Seafarers do not understand the concept, rather cannot be allowed to understand the concept of Sundays because someone, somewhere, is in need of a product that must be delivered clean and on time.

The job of seafarers involve years of rigorous training in mastering the aspects of navigation, cargo work and ship operations and the everyday precise application of it.

Ships carry more than 90 per cent of the world trade and these ships are manned and operated by seafarers. Hence, it can be safely said that seafarers are serving 90 per cent of mankind’s need directly or indirectly.

Experts believe that with the recent advancements in technology wherein ships are gradually moving towards being unmanned, this could be deemed as a threat to the seafaring profession.

While it might affect the profession in some ways, leading practitioners are optimistic that the years of theoretical knowledge, practical applications, and experience at sea can never be replaced by machine.

The sea and winds, they argued, do not always follow the predicted patterns, adding that the human angle to shipping will always be invaluable.

They added that the expertise gained over the years surpass any new challenges to the profession making the seafarer is indispensable.

However, as critical as seafarers are to the Nigerian economy, the practitioners are often treated shabbily by ship-owners who mostly employ them. There is a gradual shift, however, as concerned stakeholders make moves to ensure adequate welfare of seafarer Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure sanity in the relationship between ship owners and seafarers, the federal government has threatened to sanction ship owners who default in the implementation of the contributory pension scheme for seafarers.

Improving quality of training As part of the effort to improve seafarers’ welfare the Nigerian government recently announced that there are policies in the pipeline to improve the quality of training and certification, as well as remuneration for the country’s seafarers.

Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh disclosed this during a webinar hosted by NIMASA to mark the Day of the Seafarer in Lagos recently.

The session, attracted local and international participants, with the key speaker and consultant at Transbasin Limited, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Karen Ogidigben Onimisi, and Nigerian Labour AttachĂŠ at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Switzerland, Essah Aniefiok Etim, calling for better welfare and support for seafarers.

According to Jamoh, “Policies are in the pipeline to improve the quality of training and certificates we give to the seafarers. We are taking steps to standardise the curriculum of our training institutions in line with international standards. We are also working on increasing the remuneration of our seafarers.

These policies would be announced as soon as we complete work on them.�

He said seafarers were among the most courageous people in the world, stressing

Jamo that the theme for this year’s Day of the Seafarer, ‘Seafarers are key workers,’ is a “testament to the fact that the world cannot do without seafarers. Seafarers hold the key to humanity’s survival on a day-to-day basis.

They hold the key to our wellbeing in this time of COVID-19 period.�

Jamoh commended seafarers for sustaining the global supply chain, distributing urgently needed medical supplies with enormous risk to their lives and families. “The seafarers are unsung heroes; they are also our invisible heroes. We see their handwork every day and everywhere in agricultural machinery, the food we eat, and the unbroken run of the manufacturing base, despite the global lockdown.�

The DG spoke on the challenges faced by seafarers amid the coronavirus pandemic, including stringent work conditions in some countries, movement restrictions, lockdowns, crew change difficulties, fatigue and seasickness, and disruption of contracts.

He said: “As a regulator, we have taken steps to alleviate the suffering of the seafarers.

NIMASA was among the first government agencies to declare seafarers as being on essential duty, and we published this in a marine notice. We also issued COVID-19 guidelines to incoming ships towards ensuring that there is no importation of the virus by sea. “NIMASA was the first in West Africa to issue a COVID-19 marine notice. We challenged ship-owners and employers of seafarers to take necessary proactive measures to lessen the pains of seafarers. We also walked in lockstep with the IMO to tailor all our marine notices in the early period of COVID-19 towards supporting the extension of the validity of seafarers’ certificates, crew change, guidelines, procedure and their designation as essential workers.�

According to Jamoh, “It is said that a good sailor weathers the storm he cannot avoid; COVID-19 was a storm Seafarers couldn’t avoid.

As tried and tested seamen and women, our seafarers have continued to weather this storm for us. We celebrate you today. Nigeria thanks you, the world appreciates you, NIMASA as a regulator will never abandon you. We will support you all the way.�

On his part, Director, Maritime Sector Consultant at Transbasin Limited, Dubai,

United Arab Emirates, Onimisi called on the international community to render necessary assistance to seafarers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She commended NIMASA for supporting seafarers during the pandemic and emphasised the need for Nigeria to develop post-pandemic measures to make the country’s seafarers internationally marketable and competitive.

She said: “Seafarers are part of the global supply chain and should have access to shore leave at ports in accordance with global regulations. There is also a need to look at improved ways to mitigate the challenges that COVID-19 has brought before us, commencing with digitalisation of our processes, including local training and licensing of Nigerian seafarers.�

Also speaking, ILO Nigerian Labour AttachĂŠ, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in Switzerland, Etim sued for better working conditions for seafarers.

He called for greater opportunities to make their voices heard, saying they should be encouraged through appropriate rewards and compensations.

As part of the activities marking the day, NIMASA donated to the seafarers, items that included essential commodities, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), facemasks, and hand sanitisers.

Shipping lines’ marginalisation Meanwhile, seafarers in the country have in recent times decried what they described as marginalisation by foreign shipping lines and Nigeria LNG Limited in preference for their counterpart in other countries with less qualification.

This, they said, is despite the massive investment in seafarers development by the federal government championed by NIMASA. According to them, the discrimination formerly popular among foreign companies has become evident in Nigeria with several indigenous companies including the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), a liquefied natural gas (LNG) producing company with the Nigerian government as a shareholder.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, a Seafarer, Daniel Ikueyemi, posited that the poor feedback mechanism at NIMASA has deprived the agency of the true impact of the investment in seafarers’ development.

Ikueyemi lamented that most seafarers trained under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) are on the verge of having their Certificates of Competence (CoC) expire, “yet many have no resources to renew it because they never had an opportunity of going on board vessels even for a single day. “NLNG rejects seafarers with Nigerian CoCs. NLNG is a company in which the nation has shares. If this certificate doesn’t have value in our country and organizations like NLNG reject it, there is no need talking about acceptability of this certificate around the globe. There is no point wasting our time on that, “he said.

Ikueyemi proposed that NIMASA creates a seafarers’ desk at the agency with the task of receiving valuable information and experiences of seafarers especially on practices on-board vessels.

According to him, this can be an avenue to enable the agency resolve the numerous problems associated with seafaring, as “NIMASA would better capture seafarers’ experiences.�

He said: “NIMASA shouldn’t allow their resources waste away because that is what happens when the seafarers aren’t engaged. The duration of CoC is five years and it becomes useless if one doesn’t utilise it during that timeframe.� “Imagine the millions of dollars that have been spent on NSDP already. Nevertheless, NIMASA can’t give account of the number of cadets they have trained so far. A lot of people have left the system unnoticed.�

On the discrimination of Nigerian seafarers because of the quality of their CoCs, he said: “Every Nigerian that goes to have his or her CoC outside the country already understands the issue of discrimination. It has become a common thing for us. Discrimination against those operating with Nigerian CoCs has become the norm. Nigerian seafarers are already discriminated. So the discrimination resulting from the CoCs becomes discrimination out of the discriminated. Our CoCs are now discriminated among the discriminated CoCs.� “We don’t need to go far to talk about how other countries discriminate seafarers with Nigerian CoCs. The discrimination is evident in Nigeria. There are lots of companies in Nigeria that state clearly that they want seafarers with foreign CoCs. These are companies operating on Nigerian waters.�

Engaging Nigerian Seafarers Meanwhile, he encouraged NIMASA to have Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several countries for seafarers’ engagement, especially African nations in dire need of seafarers. “We shouldn’t only focus on the Western countries for such partnerships. There are lots of African nations in dire need of seafarers and we can start from Africa. The essence of having MoUs with African nations shouldn’t only be to lobby for IMO Council elections. Nigerian seafarers can have privilege to work in other African countries with these MoUs,�he said.

He also stressed the need to improve the quality of Nigerian CoCs so that it can’t be easily forged, noting that around the globe there is a perception that Nigerian CoCs can be easily forged.

According to him, these perceptions further reduce the value of Nigerian CoCs, adding that a lot of people with the Nigerian CoCs never attended the required classes to sit for it, meanwhile a lot of those who have taken the classes don’t have the ability to pass the examination for the CoC. “We have discovered from the studies and data collected that more than 50 per cent of the people who sit for the examinations say that there is no correlation between what is taught in class and the curriculum for the examination. The curriculum given for the examination is obviously different from what is done in the classes,� he stated.

He also lamented the long waiting time for results of CoCs, which takes almost one year in Nigeria, whereas other nations complete the process in one week or one month at most.

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Ashaolu: Innovation, Technology Game Changers for Advertising Industry Mr. Lanre Ashaolu is the MD/CEO of Four Pulley Limited, an outdoor advertising agency in Nigeria. In this interview, he speaks on how the agency is leveraging technology to take outdoor advertising to new pedestals. Bennett Oghifo provides the excerpts:

W

hat is your assessment of the Out of Home (OOH) advertising industry in Nigeria?

Well, the industry is a subset of marketing communications industry in general. It doesn’t exist in isolation. It offers a means of exposure of a brand’s information to their target audience. It exists alongside other platforms of exposure like electronic, print and digital.

The OOH industry in Nigeria is an interesting industry in the sense that despite the encroachment of digital media replacing the role of traditional media, the outdoor is the only arm of traditional media that is going to witness the test of time and can co-exist with the digital media through the fusion of digital out of home advertising. It is an existing industry that is here to stay and we it be here for a very long time.

What would you say are the challenges of the OOH industry in Nigeria?

The challenges are multifaceted. We look at it from the regulatory aspect, from the buying power of the advertisers, and from the level of options that advertisers are faced with in terms of how they want to expose their message to the public. It’s a keenly contested and highly competitive industry.

Over 50% of advertising expenditure is made in Lagos and every single operator would like to have their presence in Lagos because of the competitive and attractive nature.

This could be a positive challenge because if competition is keen and fierce, innovation will stand out. On the regulatory part, there is the issue of firm regulation. Sometimes, it could be extremely high. In that case, there is need for a continuous dialogue between the regulators and operators so that there could be a common ground.

We(operators and regulators) are using the same ecosystem and the purpose of our existence is to complement each other.

How can these challenges be addressed?

Like I mentioned earlier, continuous dialogue and innovation would go a long way to address the problems. I would always implore operators and practitioners to be on top of their game in terms of innovation of services and offering to the public because gone are the days of you just thinking

ences to their brand and vice-versa so that whatever we are offering both the advertisers and audience is value for money. We are here to contribute to the growth and development of the industry.

We are here for a long time because the management of the company has a lot of experience on the client side of the industry before transitioning to the agency aspect.

We have seen both sides of the divide and we know the questions that advertisers and brand managers want to ask and get answers to. We are not new in the industry.

We have been in the industry operating both on the agency and consulting side.

Now that we are in the OOH space, we want to be able to deliver the best value for our client.

Ashaolu

you can establish an outdoor platform somewhere and expect brands to jump on it. It doesn’t work that way anymore.

So, Innovation through the introduction of technology to actually be able to deliver accurate information to your clients. For example, a lot of people always ask, how do we measure the effectiveness of our campaign? How do we verify that this is the actual number of people that gets to see our advertisement? For a very long time, there was no accurate or scientific way of addressing that that. We worked with a lot of qualitative data and assumptions.

However, in recent times, innovation is bringing technology to be able to give accurate insight on the number of people that actually see a message. That’s value and it is a way to improving on the quality of service in the industry.

Tell us about Four Pulley Limited Four Pulley Limited, known as FPL Media is a creative OOH agency where innovation is at the forefront of all we do.

Our major promise is to deliver return on investment to our clients. We intend to deliver to develop innovative platforms in strategic locations that connect audi-

How will you assess your performance viz-a-viz the challenges in the industry?

The challenges are not immune to us.

They are general challenges that everybody faces. Like I mentioned earlier, we like to bring about innovation and I believe that for every challenge it’s a question of what you have in your process that can improve your situation. We are looking forward to improving on the status quo. We don’t want to do business the way everybody does it. We don’t want to be part of the statistics. We want to bring value addition and innovation to our offering.

The buzz word in town is “New Normal�. How have you coped in this new normal that has been placed on us as a result of Covid-19?

The new normal or the pandemic took everybody by surprise because I am sure when every company was going into 2020 with their plans from the last quarter of last year, nobody anticipated a situation or phenomenon like this pandemic. The first few months had to get everybody back to the drawing board. We developed a strategy to survive the situation going forward. Where there is over reliance on one medium of advertising, the need to diversify service offering has to come into place. For us, the way forward is for us to diversify our portfolio as much as possible so that if one aspect of the portfolio experiences a down time, others can stay afloat and augment the business.

What comparative advantages does FPL media has over other outdoor advertising agencies?

We have a strong passion to leverage on technology to improve return on investment for advertisers and audience in general.

Other means of advertising like electronic, print to a large degree have a predictable and acceptable matrix for measuring the impact of advertising on such platform.

The outdoor has just simply been relying on estimates and based on the physical traffic we see in the environment. We are investing a lot on technology, artificial intelligence to be able to deliver accurate feedback in terms of how effective advertising campaigns work on our platforms. I believe that is where the whole industry should look forward to go to so that the industry can be better respected. This will help the operators to deliver more premium services to their clients.

Do you have any target as to where you want to be placed in the industry in the near distant future?

We are not in a hurry to be placed on any particular pedestal. We just want to do what is right, what is professional. We just want to add value and I think the industry will reward us for our dedication and contribution.

Can we know a little more about your background?

I have a degree in Economics from Covenant University, also an alumnus of London School of Economics and School of Media and Communications, Pan Atlantic University. I am a member of APCON and I continuously look for ways to evolve and improve myself. If you ask me this same question tomorrow, I must have added another feather to my cap.

In terms of the professional side, I have been privileged to work across different sectors of the economy. I have worked in the advertising, manufacturing and telecoms sectors. Now, I am here in the OOH space. My cross-functional experience gives me an overview of how the economy responds and what we need to do in terms of offering value to clients. I love history and research a lot. I also love sports.

Rethinking Customer Experience in Post COVID-19 Era Toyosi Lana The COVID-19 crisis has affected people and businesses across all sectors, requiring organisations to adapt to a digital or remote way of doing business, dramatically altering people’s daily experiences. The satisfaction levels attained by these altered experiences, especially for consumer facing organisations, are strong factors in whether or not organizations will survive Post-COVID. As the global economy comes out of COVID-19 and isolation, businesses have ample opportunities to make significant changes in their operations and supply chains, to offer better services overall and understand that things that would have seemed almost impossible before, are now business practices that can easily be achieved.

This is the perfect time for business leaders to emerge from crisis mode and start adapting to the customers evolving needs, focusing on ways to anticipate and exceed the expectations.

In line with this, regardless of Nigeria’s arguably existing poor customer experience standing, businesses in the country are placed in a unique position to rapidly improve their customer satisfaction rankings, relying on a balance of sensitivity and agility to retain their customers and keep them happy.

One way for businesses to achieve this is by mapping out their customer journey, truly understanding what the customers go through at each stage of their interaction

with the business, what operational processes have become redundant and what provides the most value for the customers.

This customer journey map can be achieved by employing the professional services of Customer Experience Market Research Companies, such as CXViewpoint, that focus on customer satisfaction ratings and customer service culture for companies across all sectors. Only by accepting that the world has entered an era whereby companies are beginning to create new experiences with customers, can businesses really begin to thrive in a Post-COVID era.

The pandemic also brought to the surface innovative ways to serve customers and inculcate technology to business operations.

By adopting innovation and digitalisation, businesses will breakdown previous boundaries and create new ecosystems that will help create a mutually beneficial relationship between themselves and customers. For example, due to the sheer volume of calls during the isolation and lockdown period, banking giants Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) created a Whatsapp digital channel that offers customers the opportunity to avoid spending minutes on a call, escape the inconvenience of logging online to chat with representatives and offered their customers ease and seamlessness to their processes. This kind of adaptability and forethought shown by the bank, allows them take the pressure of their staff while providing their customers new and speedy resolution channels.

With innovation taking center stage on business continuity and customer satisfaction, Data Personalisation AI is one aspect that needs widespread adoption.

The collation of information, the use of profiling tools and data analysis will adapt the content in real-time, thereby optimising every single conversion had with the end users.

Data personalisation helps businesses elevate their connection to the customers by delivering a better all round experience. It allows companies’ tailor their interactions and figure out the best platforms in which to reach their audience, and also informs future company processes that require modifications and adjustments.

At the end of the day, consumers want to be treated uniquely, using AI solutions ensures that businesses can improve their processes and strategies while opening up new possibilities for customer satisfaction.

It is also important as we begin to move into the Post-COVID era that businesses begin shifting from a selling culture to a service culture. This sees the organisations start working on their long term success rather that their short term sales boosts, because it places more emphasis on the adoption of their products/services and their customer engagement. In a time when the global weight on ‘humanity’ seems to have heightened, the businesses that focus on empathy and understanding their customers’, are the businesses that retain mind share, retain customers and achieve customer satisfaction. Regardless of if busi-

nesses run a B2B or B2C model, it is more imperative than ever for them to place their customers or end-users at the center of their model. This ignites the emotional buy-in of the customers, because when it has all been said and done, all relationships have an emotional component and that holds true for the connection between people and brands.

At the end of the day, we cannot escape the changes the pandemic has brought to the way we live and the way businesses are conducted. However to ensure continuity and relevance in the Post-COVID era, businesses need to revaluate their customer experience models, focusing on ways to adapt to their customers evolving digital and remote needs.

Understanding that actionable operation changes, i.e. local data hosting for data centric businesses, can go a long way in ensuring elevated customer satisfaction (because it means faster access).

Meeting customers’ needs and going the extra mile can create strong emotional equity for business brands that will extend beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

These uncertain times have highlighted that businesses have to think outside the box, embrace innovation and realise that things they thought were not possible within their operation models, are processes they are currently employing because they have no other choice. It is time to build on that momentum and capitalize on the adaptations that are currently ensuring customer satisfaction.

THIS WEEKEND WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08038901925

Aregbe Idris: Empowering Youths through Culture

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Aregbe Idris: Empowering Youths through Culture University of Lagos Political Science graduate, Aregbe Idris, is a visioner, entrepreneur, cultural reformer, politician, philanthropist and innovator with a penchant for supporting grassroot initiatives. He holds the office of Youths Organising Secretary of Lagos State, through which he has been making significant contributions in promoting political participation and contribution amongst youths through his grassroot initiative,‘Our Lagos Your Lagos.

As a lifeline to mitigate the negative jolts occasioned by the unexpected effects of COVID-19 pandemic which have caused untold hardship for many businesses and families, the business mogul recently set up a learning center, Culturati Academy, in Lagos, as part of the Culturati brand where youths adversely affected by the pandemic will be empowered. He talks this and much more in this interview with MARY NNAH

A

s a business operator, you have managed to stay aoat as the pandemic took its toll on businesses. What is the secret?

It’s a new challenge to us all. I believe there is an inherent advantage in every disadvantage, and so beyond the disadvantages of the pandemic, we should try to see what advantages we could derive there from, to better our lives and society.

Yea, so for me it’s just a new learning curve.

Whether we like it or not, the global economy is facing a major crisis presently and no one can anticipate how long it will last. With social distancing and isolation being the preventive measures put in place to curtail the spread of the escalating pandemic, it has forced businesses to fathom new and creative ways of operating.

As a business owner, there is no denying that many businesses have struggled. For the Connecting Lagos brand, we have leveraged the digital presence to offer some of our services which has been a huge advantage. With on-line marketplace being the only succour for delivery of essential items during this pandemic, there has been an astronomical increase in demand and we have tried to take advantage of this, while at the same time trying to stay safe.

Having said that let me say that, COVID-19 is testing our social, economic and even political resilience. Today African countries are coming up with different indepth and strategic approaches to human development, economic diversification and solidarity, which hold good prospects for us all. We have to rethink many prior assumptions and find new balances for our collective behaviour.

What is Connecting Lagos about?

Cultures help people connect with each other and build communities, within the same cultural backgrounds. The Connecting Lagos brand uses its CULTURATI arm as a voice to African culture, a vehicle to connect Africans in celebrating their rich culture, exploring its enormous diversity as an effective tool for enhancing creativity, increasing productivity, turning passion into profit and entrenching progressive human development for the common good, and by so doing, restoring Africa’s eroding cultural pride, while arresting the cycle of poverty and unemployment.

Through our educative, informative and entertaining cultural programs, in partnership with stakeholders and the Lagos State government, we work at augmenting governments’ efforts at empowering creative youths while expanding and sustaining the creative industry.

How do you intend empowering

Idris

youths during this pandemic with the Connecting Lagos project?

For me empowerment is simply supporting another person or persons to gain some social or economic power, in order to support themselves and also create value, all geared towards a sustainably better society.

The Connecting Lagos is tailored around providing opportunities for prospective beneficiaries to learn a trade or craft, on completion of which they will be assisted in setting up their trade to provide employment and economic relief.

The unexpected effects of COVID-19 have caused some businesses to shut down while in others, many workers have been laid off. This has caused many to lose their means of livelihood, and in extension unable to support their dependants. It has therefore become imperative for Nigerians to fashion out ways of generating employment in order to cushion the negative effects of the crisis.

The empowerment initiative comprises training on various courses including Farming, Catering, Photography, Videography, Fashion, Designing, arts and crafts, Digital Marketing, etc., with graduates of the Academy assisted to set up after graduation.A prime goal of the initiative is to make graduates of the Academy become manufacturers, self-sustained and thus add value to the economy.

It has been almost 14 years of promoting African culture. Would you say the brand has achieved its purpose so far?

Yes we are achieving that purpose, and it can only get better as we continually seek new ideas and ways to up the ante. The diverse underpinnings of the African culture readily provide a veritable source for creative expressions, wealth creation and empowerment, if properly explored and harnessed. This is what we have been doing with our Culturati platform. Through this platform, many young people have been given the opportunity to discover their talents, make rewarding collaborations and partnerships over the past 14 years.

What are some of the challenges encountered with these successes?

I would say funding principally. The availability of funding is critical to deliver on our programmes and initiatives.

Global economies have been hit hard by COVID-19 and the recession, which have also had ripple effects.

As a cultural operator, we have always worked to enhance the import of our culture, foster good policy tools, create collaborations with creatives, and all to ensure the adequate positioning of culture in the overall development strategies and policies. These come with some of challenges. But we’re forging on.

What advice would you give business owners in the post pandemic era?

I dare-say despite the losses and negative impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it provides a rare opportunity for businesses. This may be the best time to dot the I’s and cross the T’s, making necessary adjustments to strengthen operations, service delivery, and other major aspects that are vital to the growth and stability of any organisation.

The pandemic provides a good opportunity for businesses to do some re-evaluation; ask questions about how to improve efficiency after this blows away.

The use of digital platforms have been on the increase during this period as businesses are trying to gain market share and are competing for audience attention. So it is a very good advantage to have a good online presence and key to that is focusing on the platform that targets your audience.

Also, the success of any business lies with its people. Given the current reality where people have been forced to work from home, businesses can encourage employees to take advantage of this opportunity to develop themselves and build in-demand skills.

Furthermore, I will say that we should continue to observe stipulated protocols in the fight against COVID-19. Together we shall come out stronger.

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Gospel Music Artiste, Aity Denis, Celebrates 30th Wedding Anniversary

Aity Dennis and husband, Dr. Dennis Inyan

Stories by Mary Nnah Multiple award-winning gospel singer, Aity Dennis and husband, Dr. Dennis Inyang, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary recently amidst a blaze of colour and razzmatazz.

The event kicked off at 5pm at the Auditorium of Sure Word Assembly located on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, as the couple and children dressed in white as if to re-enact their wedding, came in with their children as flower girls and page boy.

The high point of the

evening was when Aity performed a song titled ‘Forever Yours’ which she specially composed and dedicated to her husband while her husband read her a poem, ‘I Smell The Rose’ which he also wrote specially in honour of her.

Speaking during the occasion, Aity said: “The last 30 years have been a kaleidoscope of wonderful experiences. In fact, it has been a school of grace, mercy and lots of godly wisdom.

When you get into marriage, you need to determine to make it work. Some people are ready to weather any storm to build their careers

and businesses but are not ready to put in the same focus and energy into building their marriages. “No marriage that succeeds is an accident. There must be a deliberate and intentional effort from both parties before it can work. “The last 30 years have been a journey of growth for me. We have seen the grace and mercy of God and it has been worthwhile.�

Electric performances were put up by Nigeria’s foremost Gospel Rock artiste, Eben, Ambassador Chinyere Udoma, Bernard the Violinist who took Aity

by surprise by performing Aity’s songs.

Sure Word Assembly choirs: The Tribe of Judah Classical and Contemporary lit the stage and the couple’s testimony kids (Lovely, Awesome and Gladsome) who came after over 20years of their marriage, set the place agog by their rendition of Nathaniel Bassey’s ‘So Amazing’.

Present at the event was also Special Assistant to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Raph Edem.

The couple cut a beautiful twin cake and took to the dance floor to bring the event to a climactic ending.

Borderless Trade Author Launches Book, N2Million Investment Fund Last Friday, Olori BoyeAjayi officially launched her book ‘Borderless Trade’, during which she also launched the Export Community Group and the Borderless Trade Impact Investment Fund.

The Export Community Group was set up to help guide entrepreneurs who are set to venture into exporting, while the 2 N2 million Borderless Trade Impact Investment Fund was set up in partnership with O.B.A and Viniko Group to help support SME’s looking to expand their export business or start the business of exporting.

Due to the COVID-19 crowd restriction, the book launch was a virtual one and was viewed live on Youtube and Zoom, with few invited guests at the venue.

Deputy Director, Corporate Services, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Babatunde Faleke who gave the keynote address, spoke extensively on the dangers of not exporting. “The danger of not exporting is that we will be a nation that just consumes

Borderless Trade launch... Chukwuka Monye, Kola Awe, Toyosi Etim-EďŹƒong, Olori Boye-Ajayi, Babatunde Faleke, Chinwe Egwim and Prof. Demola Abass at the event

everything�, he said.

The second speaker, CEO XPT Logistics and Chairman NACCIMMA Export Group, Kola Awe spoke elaborately on the export industry.

While advising business owners, he said “don’t wait for competition to push you out of the country before you think of exporting�.

Economist, Corporate Executive and Author, Chinwe Egwim who discussed the topic, “Borderless Trade: The Economist’s perspective�, challenged entrepreneurs, saying; “Diversify your revenue source by plugging into an export value chain�.

During her speech, Olori Boye-Ajayi said, “I have written this book because I believe it is time for small businesses to wake up, think differently and package their products and services to the global market. No one will build your business for you, it’s in your hand.�

The author is an experienced Business Strategist and Export Trading Consultant. She is currently the Founder and Chief Operating Officer at The Katie Wang Company, a growing global fashion trading company with

operations in the U.K., Europe, Australia and the US. The book, “Borderless Trade: A Step by Step Guide to Exporting Your Product� is a guide that has been tailored to small businesses which may not have the resources or the capacity to approach exporting in the same way a larger business might.

This guide will assist budding export merchants to prepare and build capacity for the export journey.

The Borderless Trade book is available in major online and physical bookshops.

ANWBN to Tackle Challenges Faced by Women in Business The first ever Nigerian Women Business Virtual Summit organised by the Association for Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN) is set to hold this September during which key stakeholders from across the world will gather to address business challenges faced by women in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Women Business Summit (NWBS) 2020, a three-day virtual event is which will hold from September 29 to October 1, 2020, will serve as a platform to launch the updated Women National Business Agenda and also galvanise action towards addressing the five identified key challenges faced by women who do business in Nigeria.

The theme for this summit is ‘From Fear to Hope: Scaling Women Business Impact for a Decade ofAction’ and renowned international and national speakers and panellists drawn from the public and private sector as well as civil society, will converge to discuss and proffer solutions to issues like lack of access to finance, gender inequality, insecurity, poor infrastructure and inadequate power.

Over 30,000 guests are expected to attend. ANWBN, a coalition of over 50 different women associations focused on business and career development of its members, which will be hosting the first

ANWBN National Coordinator, Chief (Mrs) Anita Nana Okuribido

ever Nigerian Women Business Virtual Summit (NWBS 200), serves as the apex (private sector) body committed to mitigating the challenges faced by women pursuing business and career growth and has a combined membership of over four million women entrepreneurs.

In 2016, ANWBN published the first edition of the Women National Business Agenda (WNBA), a vital tool that served to identify laws and regulations that hinder business activity of women and also offer concrete recommendations and reforms to remove these barriers and improve the business climate.

Since the initial study, several changes have taken place within the women business community as well as the socioeconomic and socio-political environments across Nigeria.

Furthermore, the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the unprecedented global response it necessitated has required

Ayo Charity Foundation Empowers Children As part of its contributions and altruistic obligation towards enabling a better future and balanced learning environment for kids, Ayo Charity Foundation gifted The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Makoko, Lagos a standard basketball court, equipment, and food donations.Established in 1964, The Nigeria Red Cross Society, is home to young children and an organisation that caters to the needs of the abandoned, missing, motherless, and the homeless in the society.

The presentation which took place last month witnessed the presence of volunteers from Ayo Charity Foundation, media, caregivers from the society, and most importantly the children of the home.

Speaking at the event, the Matron of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos Branch, Mrs. Olalu Caroline said “The initiative was a welcomed idea and very timely, as the children always wanted to engage in sporting activities. I want to use this opportunity to thank Ayo Charity Foundation for providing the kids with a sense of belonging.�

Founder of Ayo Charity Foundation; Ayodeji Egbeyemi said: “Basketball is a tool. The reason I’m doing is to provide opportunity! lIf I didn’t get the opportunity to be introduced to the game, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Basketball changed my life, gave me free college and a master’s education, and an opportunity to work with professional athletes. I would like all kids in Africa to have that same opportunity.�

The opening of the court was the highlight of the day as the children were introduced to the game of basketball, alongside an interactive orientation exercise by Coach Dele Awonuga, which saw them engage actively and excitedly.

It was indeed an avenue to foster their interests in sports, and also present a sense of belonging and normalcy in the life of the children.

Ayo Charity Foundation Empowers Children

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‌Your weekly entertainment delight

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MultiChoice Nigeria Unveils New Content, Channels Stories by Vanessa Obioha

In a pre-COVID era,the annual MultiChoice Media Showcase would have taken place in an exotic location on the continent with journalists and stakeholders in attendance.But with the challenges of the global pandemic, participation in the showcase was limited to a webinar.

The leading video and entertainment company announced some of the milestones it achieved so far while highlighting the new content and channels for viewers.

In its report on contribution to the Nigerian economy, the company revealed that it has contributed N634 billion to the economy in the past ďŹ ve years. Its investment in the creative industry, original content production and tax and regulatory contributions to Nigerian government within that timeline are N32 billion, N49 billion and N39 billion respectively. “We have contributed to over N922 billion to Nigeria’s GDP since 2012,â€?said the CEO, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe.“And I think in bringing the entertainment industry to the forefront when the GDP was rebased made everyone see that entertainment is now a signiďŹ cant portion of the GDP in Nigeria.We’re not stopping there, and I think it’s important that we continue to drive that growth because entertainment is a big industry.â€?

As pointed out by the Executive Director of MultiChoice, Calvo Mawela, the booming success of the company lies in its initiative to go hyper-local, reaching subscribers with content that resonates with their lifestyle and culture. One of the local shows that is a roaring success for the company is the Big Brother Naija reality TV show.

Since its revamp in 2017, the show has become so popular and as Ugbe puts it “it is one of the biggest version in the world.�

The 2019 edition fetched 240 million votes and despite the constraints of the unwanted COVID-19, the organisers went ahead to hold the ďŹ fth season this year under strict

Venita, Folu Storms and Enado Odigie in Unmarried

adherence to health measures. “It’s been very important that we keep the industry going, that we come up with these productions which we’ve been able to do in the midst of the pandemic to ensure that people continue to earn, and the industry continues to grow because we’re sure that once we defeat COVID-19, we will come out of it a stronger industry, which will continue to develop and grow, and also continue to put the Nigerian story out there.�

This year Big Brother Naija production, he said gulped N3.5 billion.

MultiChoice Nigeria has also increased its realityTV shows offerings. Earlier in the year, it debuted ‘Ultimate Love’ reality TV show which saw singletons live together with the hope of ďŹ nding their missing rib.

Although the company did not relay if a second season is in the works, it, however, announced that the second seasons of ‘Date My Family Nigeria’ and ‘Unmarried’ will be returning to the screen on January 16 and 17, 2021 respectively. The newest addition to the reality bouquet is ‘ShootYour Shot’ a

relationship styled show that will debut on November 1.

Other exciting local dramas to look forward to including ‘Enakhe’ a Nigerian telenovela shot in Benin, Edo state. It will start airing on the Africa Magic channels on September 28. Also launching that same day is an epic telenovela ‘Riona’. “There’s so much more to offer as we go hyper-local and continue telling our stories to the rest of the continent,�stated Channel Director,Africa Magic,Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu.

The company further announced the revamp and introduction of new channels. One of such changes is the M-Net channels. On September 1, the Pay-TV limited the number of M-Net channels to four. Aptly labelled M-Net 1 (ch.105), M-Net 2 (Ch.106), M-Net 3 (Ch.107) and M-Net 4 (Ch.108).The movie channels are meticulously curated to meet the diverse needs of subscribers who are avid fans of M-Net movies.Top international M-Net shows coming to the platform include ‘Legacy’ and ‘The Undoing’.

Also, the company is adding new interna-

In New Book, Bello-Osagie Preaches Godly Parenting As the world grapples with uncertainties caused by COVID-19, Ramotu Bello-Osagie, a Nigerian author based in the United States, is offering hope in her new book ‘Wake Up, Nations’. The spiritual book is part memoir,part spirituality.

As the title suggests, the book serves as a wake-up call to parents and nations to seek the face of the Lord in troubling times like this.

Bello-Osagie takes readers through her journey, describing the strict parenting style of her father who instilled Christian values in her and her siblings from an early age. “My father was a strict disciplinarian. He groomed us to have the fear of the Lord in everything we do from an early age.We were taught how to conduct ourselves in public.Failure to do so will fetch you some spanking,� she says in a recent chat.

This godly parenting is missing in today’s world,according to the author. “This kind of parenting is lacking today. Parents no longer train their children in the ways of the Lord unlike in the past.My father was very strict with us. I come from a large family but with the way my father trained us, we had a cordial relationship with one another.�

She attributes her success to

Ramotu Bello-Osagie

Wake Up Nations book cover

the good parenting style of her parents, warning that “parents of today need to teach their children godly values from an early age.They need to educate them on the way of the Lord. Let them have that fear of the Lord.They have to point to them that the way of the Lord is the right way so that they don’t deviate from Him when they get older because there are consequences for such actions�.

Bello-Osagie’s personal encounter with the Supreme One can be traced to her 20s. She describes the divine encounter as a momentous time in her life when she sought to understand His mysterious nature.

Her experience, she says, is surreal. On more than one occasion, she discloses that the Lord revealed

Himself to her, opening her eyes to things that can only be understood in the spiritual realm. Sometimes it could be in a church, other times at home. Each of these encounters strengthened her faith in Him even when she lost her husband and felt her world collapsing.

In her book, she tells readers about these experiences, reminding them of God’s grace and love and His overall purpose for those who believe in Him. The author confesses that she had no idea how to write a book when the Lord ďŹ rst told her to do so in 2007. It took her a decade to ďŹ nally compile her thoughts and transform them into compelling narratives about her journey in the Lord.

tional channels. In addition to the existing telenovelas channels on the platform, the company is launching three new telenovelas channels for the remaining part of the year. tVN will bring the best Korean telenovelas, Tlnovelas will offer English-dubbed Mexican novelas, while Didi will display the bestTurkish drama series. A new channel for kids Zoo Moo will launch on the platform in October alongside a new channel Kix dedicated to martial arts action movies.

Another milestone achieved by the company is the increased number of downloads of its mobile app, MyDStv. According to the company, over four million downloads were recorded in August, a signiďŹ cant increase from the one million downloads it recorded in September 2019.

Femi Odugbemi who serves as the Academy Director of the MultiChoice Talent Factory, West Africa region also shared insights on the success of the intervention that kicked off in 2018. “We are very proud of our alumni. We continue to provide support and guidance through a variety of initiatives. Eight production companies are now being formally registered as partnerships, by our alumni, and all eight were able to pitch fresh content for our channel directors and commissioning editors.Thus far, two projects have been commissioned. One is a feature-length ďŹ lm, and the second is a TV drama series from the Africa MagicYoruba channel,â€?he stated.

He further revealed that the current students are working on 20 isolation series and are looking forward to embarking on their ďŹ nal project in January 2021. “We’re excited to foster virtual exchanges between our students and those of our sister academies across Africa.We hope to continue to create collaborations and opportunities for them to share their work, their processes, and their passion. As we hope that it empowers and delivers on the MultiChoice Talent f6actory promise to ignite Africa’s creative industries,â€?he concluded.

Do You Have The Voice?

Music reality shows have always been one of the surest ways to discover and reward talents, particularly for talents looking for a shot at fame in the expanding music industry. Think of artistes like Darey, KCee,Yemi Alade, Praiz, Arese. These artistes found fame by participating in one singing competition or the other.

From the 2000s when singing competitions became prominent on our airwaves, it has always been a staple in most Nigerian homes as families gather to watch contestants vie for a spot in the limelight.That feeling of excitement and anxiety watching contestants sing their hearts out to win a vote of conďŹ dence from the judges and ultimately the audience is one of the key drivers of entertainment in such shows.

The script of most reality shows is almost similar: contestants audition, judges assess their performances, while viewers get the ďŹ nal say on who will emerge the winner.

But when The Voice Nigeria launched in 2016, it changed the script automatically by empowering both the coaches and talents, as they prefer to call it, to heighten that excitement. It came with a unique format that allowed talents to have a say in the competition. Through its blind auditions, contestants

who compel coaches to turn their chairs have the golden opportunity to choose which of the coaches they want. It is always a thrilling spectacle watching the coaches pitch themselves to the contestants.

Another exciting thrill ofTheVoice is the ability of coaches to steal contestants who they believe deserve another chance in the game. All of these made TheVoice, a successful global franchise. Bringingtheformat home surely raised the bar for reality TV shows in Nigeria.

Sinceitsinception,TheVoiceNigeria hasbeenastageforbigdreamsandbig vocals.Itisaplatformthatbringsallthe vocalspectacleononestage,celebrating thebesttalentsinthecountry.Andina countrylikeNigeria,wheremusicserves as an art of unity and felicity,there is a growingnumberofyouthslookingfor opportunities to showcase their tenor.

These are talents who are faced with one struggle or the other in achieving their vocal dreams.Take, for instance, Idyl,TheVoiceNigeriaseason2winner.

IdylisayoungmanfromBayelsastate who evinced interest in music from a young age. But with little or no opportunity in the music industry, he settled for singing karaoke at bars.Opportunity beckoned when a talent scout noticed him and offered to send him to the UK for a singing competition.

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ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

Tyme Nwuba: A Journey into Acting Acting isn’t a flash in the pan for the Nollywood actress, lawyer and entrepreneur, Oge Tyme Nwuba-Chinwendu known by the stage name, Tyme Nwuba, as she unveiled the story behind Since 1998 when she made her debut in the movie industry as a child actor, Oge Tyme NwubaChinwendu known on screen as Tyme Nwuba had been in and out of acting for different reasons.

First, it was the pursuit of a Law degree after her secondary school education at the Federal Government College, Enugu, that took her away for a while. Also, her parents and other family members kicked against her acting which could potentially stop her from being the lawyer they all dreamt about. But the love she has for acting is congenital. “I have always loved to act.

I remember when I was really little, I could sneak out and rent VHS cassettes from film clubs and watch. Then I would choose any character I like, memorise his or her lines in a particular scene then act it over and over. I have always been a lover of the craft,’’ she began.

But then, she became consumed with the passion to fight injustice and studied law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and subsequently, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Enugu. She was an Enugu girl by all standards.

Born on Christmas Day, Tyme is married with a beautiful daughter.

Despite family responsibilities, she has broadened her career, venturing into skincare. “900 Glow was born out of passion for healthy skin. You see, I am very particular about my skin and in my quest to keep my skin healthy, I have been a victim of skin blemishes gotten from products that is presumed

Nollywood actress, Tyme Nwuba

organic but unsafe. So, I decided to train and make safe ones for people like me who want a healthy, glowing skin,’’ she revealed.

That service to skin health seems to complement her role in the Nollywood business. The skin is probably one of the most prized possession of an actor even with special acting abilities. Tyme learnt that quickly and has continued to hone her skills in admiration of

role models like Tyler Perry, Dhar Mann, Toyin Lawani and of course, her favourite, Mercy Johnson.

Tyme’s movie credits include After School Hours, Hopeless Tomorrow, Thicker Than Water, Blood Bond, WonderMan, PinoPino, Trusted Enemy, Opuruiche, Lifes CrossRoad, Fate of A Nun amongst others.

In her search for self-discovery born out of the desire to impact

on people’s lives, she started her own television production outfit, TymeTV with a very moving talk show experience. Some of her guests had been drawn from Nollywood to tell their personal stories. Some of the stories hinge on issues in global conversations such as Domestic Violence, human rights violation, marital affairs, health challenges and more. “Tyme Tv has always been a dream I have always had but too afraid of bringing to reality. My contents are basically geared at making the world a better place.

I mean we all want kindness. All these good things start from us.

We can all be the change we want to see by being kind and better to one another,’’ she said.

For her, the pandemic is an opportunity to reassess her life and career. Though, many television productions had been put on hold, she expressed optimism about bouncing back as she and her team return to locations. “Honestly, the pandemic helped me a lot! Strangely but truthfully, it helped me take charge of my life knowing that life is indeed short and things can just change. I watched the world tremble and suddenly nothing mattered anymore, we all just want to survive. Then it hit me- Oge, start living and live well. I started eating healthy and I have lost 17kg. I got back to acting which is the one job I enjoy doing. I stopped procrastinating and decided to launch TymeTv to help everyone around see what I see and be kind to one another,’’ she said.

Three Artists Address Identity in Group Virtual Exhibition Yinka Olatunbosun SMO Contemporary Art has announced a new show titled “Neo Custodians,� a virtual exhibition of sixteen paintings, illustrations, hyper realistic drawings and collage by three young artists, Ifeatuanya “Ify� Chiejina, Nwakuso Edozien, and Johnson Eziefula. The trio is set to redefine, interrogate, and celebrate their identity as each artist examines layers of socio-cultural and genealogical influences.

Ify Chiejina, a first-generation American, considers the complexity of being raised by African parents in the west. Her works are part of an ongoing series consisting mostly of self-portraits, each drawing representing different facets of her identity. Nwakuso Edozien, a recently graduated Nigerian-German architect currently based in the United States explores the concept of identity from a generational point of view. She creates layered portraits and illustrations with finely drizzled three dimensional textures, exploring depth and interconnectedness.

Johnson Eziefula, a graduating senior of the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Lagos, adopts a more scientific approach in a series celebrating cultural hybridity; his hyper realistic portraits emphasise the intersection of a myriad of influences from colonisation to globalisation, and technological socialisation, and their effects on communities and cultures.

Yinka Olatunbosun

Wet, Wild N’ Wasted’ Set toThrill Fun Seekers

It was not a Greek drama yet all the cast of the youth-oriented propaganda drama on sexual reproductive health had to wear masks on the stage during the virtual premiere of “Protect Yourself.’’ The filmed stage production organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a timely one in the COVID-19 pandemic given the reports of the rise in the cases of sexual violence and unprotected sex in Nigeria.

The nine-minute drama done in conjunction with AFRIYAN Nigeria and Tru Dance Art Abuja kicked off with a dance scene followed by very short scenes with dialogues that broke the fourth wall. With its use of Brechtian technique, the drama encapsulates the audience without making them being too emotionally involved but to provoke them to action. The characters delivered their lines, addressing the audience directly to drive the theme for the 2020 International Youth Day Celebration namely, “Youth Engagement for Global Action.’’ The artistic director of Tru Dance Art (TDA), Wale Alebiosu observed that the embedded messages of the drama include protecting self from the COVID-19 as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.

In her opening remarks, the UNFPA Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Uller Mueller spoke on the need to actively involve the youths in the movement towards societal change. “This year’s youth engagement

A mega entertainment outfit in the Eastern part of Nigeria, Blacksheep Entertainment, has continued to rock the entertainment industry and fun seekers with a fun party groove. Called “Wet, Wild N’ Wasted project, it was unveiled to the media recently.

The Blacksheep Entertainment Company known for developing quality and creative contents, and also sponsoring budding artists is fast becoming a force to reckon with in the industry. “With the array of events recently organised by us that include ‘My Confessions 4.0’, our support and sponsorship to the South Eastern Concert and Award namely “Deeper Laugh Oko� and “Soundsplash Awka�, the latest, which is “Wet, Wild N’ Wasted, promises to be the beginning of greater things to come,� says Oscar Whylle, Project Manager, Oscar Whylle also noted that for Blacksheep to have come this far in the industry, there must be some beautiful minds behind it. Most entrepreneurs in the entertainment scene stay behind the limelight to project artists and the management of Blacksheep Entertainment is no exception to the rule. “The upcoming show is definitely going to be the talk of the town and we promised to give out our best,� says Whylle.

UNFPA Marks Int’l Youth Day with Dance Drama

A scene from the play, “Protect Yourself�

and action really demonstrates the importance of young people as they take action to solve problems and also for their voices to be heard. “COVID-19 presents unique challenges for the Nigerian youth.

Lack of access to contraceptives as well as sexual violence is on the rise. We must ensure that young people are prioritised in order to access education and other services that are necessary for all to reach their potential and participate in democratic processes. This is

something we say very often and it is fine words. It is time to find out what it really means. May be we can start by using the language that resonates well with all youths,’’ she said.

In a special statement for the International Youth Day, the Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Natalia Kanem encourage the youths to continue as catalysts of change despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. “To reach and engage young people in this pandemic, we must share in-

formation, clarify information and we must equip them to take action to contain the spread of the virus.

We must validate the leadership of young people and uphold their human rights,� Kanem said.

With the dance drama that articulates the theme of love, rape and the consequences of unprotected sex interwoven with contemporary dance steps and accessible language, albeit noisy, the youths urged the audience on the responsible use of contraceptives.

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UK Appoints Ben Llewellyn-Jones Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi Ben Llewellyn-Jones OBE has been appointed the new British Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to the Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze, the new DHC is an experienced diplomat who has worked in different parts of the world including previously in Nigeria.

She said: “He takes over from Ms. Harriet Thompson who recently concluded four years as DHC in Abuja and Lagos. Ben will be focusing his time and energy on supporting trade, investment and development in Nigeria and growing commercial links between the UK and Nigeria. “He previously worked at the British High Commission in Abuja in the role of Political Counsellor from July 2014 to July 2017. “He was most recently Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa from August 2017 to August 2020, where he worked in particular to support trade and investment. Prior to that he was the British High Commissioner

Llewellyn-Jones

to Rwanda from 2011 – 2014. �Throughout his career Ben Llewellyn-Jones has held a range of responsibilities including leading UK policy to prevent dangerous climate change, and work to support UK agencies tackling organised crime. “He served as the Deputy Head of the Climate Change and Energy Group at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth

Office in 2009 to 2010, and the Head of the Third Country Relations Team at the UK Home Office in 2006. “He worked in Brussels at the UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU for four and a half years, and has led the UK delegation at a number of EU and UN senior multilateral meetings. “He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by HM the

Queen in 2009 for his service to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (now Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). �Ben is married to Laura and together they have two young children.

He enjoys sport, in particular rugby, football and boxing, and spending time with his family. “He and his family are looking forward to their second stay in Nigeria, and getting to know and enjoy Lagos.�

To mark his arrival Ben LlewellynJones said: “It’s great to be back in Nigeria and I‘m very excited about this new role. I thoroughly enjoyed my three years in Abuja, and I know that Lagos will be a fantastic place to live and work. “I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, making new ones and doing all I can to support trade, investment and development in Nigeria. For clearer understanding, The British Deputy High Commission in Lagos maintains and develops relations between the UK and Nigeria.

According to Eze, they monitor the political situation in Nigeria and seek to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

She added: “The High Commission is one of the overseas missions of the Foreign, CommonwealthandDevelopment Office (FCDO). We promote the interests of British citizens, safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners. �The recently launched Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a merger of the FCO and DFID government departments, unites development and diplomacy in onenewdepartment. Thismergerbrings together thebestofBritain’sinternational effort,andwilldemonstratetheUKacting as a force for good in the world. �The UK is a world leader in international development, helping to end extreme poverty in developing countries by tackling challenges like coronavirus, saving lives in humanitarian crises and helping girls get a quality education. �The new Department will use all the tools of British influence to seize the opportunities ahead, ensuring that we will have even greater impact on the world stage as we recover from COVID-19 and prepare to hold theG7 presidency and host COP26 next year.�

Amao Takes Over as DG CBAAC, Pledges Synergy, Team Work Chiemelie Ezeobi On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, Ms. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao assumed office as the new DirectorGeneral of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC).

The appointment took effect in accordance with a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by the Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi.

With the appointment, Amao became the sixth substantive DG of the centre. She took from Mrs Osaro Osayande who served in the capacity of the director overseeing the office of the Director-General between December 2019 and August, 2020.

While in office, Osayande successfully organised and hosted series of programmes on Black and African

L-R: Assistant Director, Research& Publication), Dosumu Adesegun; Director Admin&HRM, Mr. Solomon S. Bamikole; Director, Research&Publication, Mrs. Titi Ogun; Director-General CBAAC, Ms.Oluwabunmi Ayomide Amao; Director, Exhibition & Museum, Mrs Osaro Osayande; and Deputy Director, Documentation Services, Mrs. Monisola Ogunowo, at CBAAC head oďŹƒce

History and Civilisation.

These programmes include the 2020 edition of the Black History Month with the theme: Black History: The Triumphs and Struggles (February 11-13, 2020); a collaboration with Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) to celebrate the

2020 UNESCO International Mother Language Day (February 21, 2020); a Webinar Public Lecture on Sexual Violence in Nigeria with the theme: ‘Breaking the Jinx: Reflections on the Culture of Silence and the Rising Wave of Sexual Violence in Nigeria’; the 2020 International Conference on

Africa’s Creative Energy which held in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Benin City with the theme: Sharing Black and African Creative Energy; Consolidating Africa’s Heritage and Identity in the 21st Century (August 17-20, 2020); Publication of the Abstract of papers arising from the International Conference and a partnership with the Edo Global Royal Arts and Culture in Canada.

In her remarks, Amao appreciated Osayande for the laudable achievements she recorded in just eight months of her directorship.

While appealing for maximum cooperation among members of staff and the management team, she sought for their full support, team work and utmost synergy in order to accomplish more feats for the centre in the next four years of her tenure. Before her appointment, Amao was a Special adviser on Culture

and Tourism as well as SpecialAdviser on Establishment and Training under the administration of the erstwhile Executive Governor of Oyo State in 2011 to 2015.

Born in Kano, Mrs Olubunmi Amao is an indigene of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. Her educational background spanned through England and America, where she obtained B.Sc (Business Admin and Accounting), MBA ( Business Admin and Finance) in 1981 and 1982 respectively.

Upon completion of the mandatory NYSC, she worked as the firstAccountant with Joas Group of Companies, where she eventually rose to the post of Group Managing Director of the companies.

Amao has vast experience in different capacities in various fields. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Tourism Professional (FITP) and was also a co-founder of the House of Furniture and Designs Ltd in Nigeria.

Why Ensuring Business Cybersecurity is Vital for SMEs amidst Uncertainty Akin Banuso The way we conduct business has quickly changed around the world as organisations try to offset and overcome the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While businesses have consistently had to adapt to change in the past, the pandemic has significantly accelerated the pace of change.

In just six months, businesses have had to find, and develop, new revenue streams while navigating ways of doing work alongside ensuring health and safety practices. This led to a massive shift towards a remote workforce, a circumstance which many businesses were not ready for.

This sudden move towards digital has meant that a number of risks have been introduced into the cybersecurity ecosystems of organisations, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.

Deloitte’s 2020 Cyber Security Outlook predicted that this year would see constant fluctuations within Nigeria’s cyberspace, giving 2020 the nomenclature of the “Year of Shifts�. The report

noted that cyberattacks would shift their targets from large corporations towards SMEs who might seem like unlikely targets as they do not possess the significant amount of resources to warrant an attack.

However, this estimation was made at the start of this year, before we saw the widespread impact of the pandemic. These attacks could be exacerbated by the challenges we are faced with today. Therefore, it is imperative that Nigerian SME’s become proactive in prioritising cybersecurity now. Increased connectivity grows vulnerabilities We have long been travelling towards the future of a hyper-connected world. But, as connectivity increases so does the number of openings that cybercriminals will be able to exploit. Most employees, many of whom are working remotely for the first time, are experimenting with ways to stay in touch with colleagues whether it be through chat applications or online VoIP platforms. The quick shift to interconnectedness has meant that these vulnerabilities were introduced into business processes all at once. Due to the need for remote

work, in a time where SMEshave had to ensure connectivity unexpectedly and sometimes with little to no preparation, cybercriminals will have new opportunities to take advantage of underprepared businesses. Organisations using cloud-based infrastructure, or the Internet of Things, will be exposed to more sophisticated attacks at higher rates. Additionally, employees might not be able to identify potential cyber threats while dealing with the stresses and distractions of the pandemic environment. The changes businesses have implemented to tackle current difficulties are not temporary however, they are transformingthe way we do business now and will continue to do so in the future. SMEs that are able to handle the challenges thrown their way will need to continue to leverage technology to address the new normal.

Therefore, the ability to enforce clear, dependable and trustworthy cybersecurity policies and systems is vital to ensuring a business has the capabilities to deal with increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks quickly and effectively. Robust, reliable cybersecurity measures are key

The cybersecurity of a business is still largely dependent on people. They are often its biggest vulnerability. In a remote world, this vulnerability has more exposure to risk as a business has less ability to control each employee’s environment.

Workers have access to company data, information and networks that are being access through a wider range of internet connections and a number of devices. SMEs should be creating cybersecurity procedures and guides that employees are able to understand and follow. This includes training or awareness campaigns that educate workers on how to identify possible threats and what to do when they have as well as integrating digital structures that prevent hackers from accessing private information or networks such as multi-factor authentication.

Platforms from Microsoft like Windows Hello biometrics and smartphone authenticators like Microsoft Authenticator can be used to implement stronger authentication systems that help identify when someone is trying to access anything illegally.

With remote work also comes the

need for increased digital communication. When the collaborative tools businesses are using to do so are not secure, they are leaving a door open for anyone to come through. Making use of collaborative tools with built-in security features, such as Microsoft Teams, can help to remove this vulnerability.

An imperative for SMEs when it comes to cybersecurity is securing cloud applications. Not all the devices employees use to connect to business data are secure and therefore it is advisable to use platforms like Conditional Access to secure access to cloud application processes.

As most small businesses are implementing work from home policies, there’s little doubt that cybercriminals will use any opening they can find and exploit to take advantage of the current situation. Implementing best practice cybersecurity tools and procedures will help SMEs guard against these growing threats and thwart cybercriminals in their tracks. t#BOVTP JT UIF $PVOUSZ .BOBHFS Microsoft Nigeria

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METRO

‌Your city life in print

THISDAY Abiodun Ajala is PJAN Chairman

Odutayo Odusanya

There is no gainsaying that Saturday August 29th, 2020 means so many things to so many people. But for those in the print media and multimedia, it was a watershed in the annals of photojournalism in Lagos State, Nigeria.

It was a day progressives in the Lagos chapter of Photojournalists Association of Nigeria rose against maladministration, financial impropriety, malfeasance and epileptic leadership to root for a man with credentials in management and professional ethos for the front seat of their professional body.

A maxim says, the taste of the pudding is in the eating.

In 2019, Mr Abiodun Ajala, the current Photo Editor of Thisday Newspaper was invited to chair a committee on PJAN 1st National Conference. This task was no doubt an onerous one as it required experience and robust contacts.

He not only delivered but gave a whole new meaning to the interpretation of the delivery. It was a successful outing and still one of the best in terms of the cream of the society that the event attracted and the visibility the event got. So is the rebound on the treasury of the association.

His performance index endeared many to him especially the young population of the association and was unanimously sought after to run for the office of the Chairman.

Being a strategist that he is, Ajala did not turn the offer down but asked to seek the face of God first.

However, in no distant time he yielded and rose to the occasion. The rest as they say is history.

He went through the hurdles though tumultu-

Ajala

ous but scaled them all. Those considered to be custodians have sat too long on the bench to know that PJAN has been on sleep mode.

PJAN Lagos is said to be over 30years old yet an infant in achievement. There have been little known done in the direction of education,

training, mentorship, resource centre, skill transfer, portfolio reviews, corporate social responsibility etc.

Ajala in his words describes the real reasons why change is sacrosanct. “We are all aware of the crises rocking our

association. Among several anomalies , we are having to endure the rudderless leadership, dishonesty and a deliberate attempt to transform the association into a private fiefdom of the present leadership of PJAN. “For the past 31 years, there is nothing we can point to that association has achieved. That stands out as the main reason why we want to wrestle the reins of power out of the hands of the gang of media feudalist�

The election that brought Abiodun Ajala as the new Chairman of PJAN was truly deserving despite the near impossibility of the powers and principality that chose to look away when injustice was being perpetrated.

He surely ran the race, crossed the hurdles and came out unhurt.

The media has been awash with reports of his investiture and inauguration of his executives with severalcongratulatorymessages.

ThenameAjala,remindsJujumusicloversacross the world of the popular ‘Ajala Travels All Over The World’ track by the legendary Juju maestro, Chief Ebenezer Obey. Abiodun Ajala is equally well travelled and exposed to the dynamics and trends across the continents of the world.

Congratulations to a worthy and seasoned professional photojournalist who now wears two caps . First as the Photo Editor of Thisday Newspaper and now the latest addition as the Chairman, Photojournalists Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter.

We can only pray that your reign be a harbinger of good things to come. t0EVTBOZB XSPUF JO GSPN -BHPT

Major Norman John Miners (1931– 2020) A Tribute by Bashorun J.K. Randle I was 13 years old in 1957, in the first form [Form 1] at King’s College, Lagos when twenty-six-year-old Major Norman John Miners arrived along with Mr. Tim Doust. Not only was Mr. Miners twice my age, his reputation had preceded him. He was introduced as a ‘scholar’ – which he undoubtedly was, having bagged a First-Class Honours degree in Classics from Corpus Christi College, Oxford University. He looked very intense, stern and foreboding.

He was immediately assigned the hugely onerous task of teaching Latin in addition to the even more awesome duty of House Master of Hyde Johnson’s House which had a reputation for harbouring the most troublesome boys !!

I can only whisper it with great trepidation as my father (Chief J.K. Randle) had been the House Captain of the same Hyde Johnson’s House (and School Captain/Head Boy) about thirty years earlier.

Perhaps I should add that admission to King’s College was based on a keenly contested annual Entrance Examination followed by a very rigorous interview of not more than a hundred candidates, before the final selection of only forty-four boys from all over Nigeria (and the Cameroons, which was then part of Nigeria). The admission list to King’s College was a must read (published in the Government Gazette and newspapers) in all nooks and corners of our nation. It was considered the ultimate mark of distinction – albeit a first step towards assured greatness. It is only in recent years that basic arithmetic compels one, while celebrating with classmates on their landmark birthdays, to rapidly conclude that they were much older than the age they declared when they were admitted.

If my memory serves me right, even before the arrival of Mr. Miners, the new students had been allocated to their “Houses� (and dormitories) – Mckee-Wright; 1 Payne; Harman and Hyde-Johnson. Somehow through the grapevine, we learnt that the troublesome boys were to be despatched to “Hyde-J�. There we were – Duro Ajayi; late Tunde Onitiri-Cole; Bola Osinbowale; late

Olabode Johnson; late Oyewole Browne; late Adekunle Elegbede; late Babatunde Odedina; Ekundayo Simpson; Deji Fadina; Tayo GibsonRoberts; Patrick Ani; Winston Bellgam; Tunji Ijaiya; Samuel Adeniyi-Jones; Juventus Ojukwu; late Bayo Adefope; and Henry Akpata etc.

Anyway, Sunny Kuku was in the line-up.

Even now, we are not sure whether it was he himself who immediately declared that “HydeJ� was his obvious destination; or whether it was the other boys who made the choice on his behalf and volunteered (“donated�) him to Hyde-Johnson’s House.

It was a great privilege to be taught by Norman John Miners and my only regret is that this tribute is being delivered long after it was overdue – as an acknowledgment with gratitude for his dedication and generosity of spirit which went far beyond the call of duty in the classroom, the sports field (he was not a keen participant but an excellent referee/ umpire/judge); weekly drill in the cadet corps (on Wednesdays) and the annual camp in the bush as well as his “taming� (without resorting to canning !!) of “Hyde-J� boys.

In spite of his aversion to corporal punishment, he was compelled occasionally to make exceptions in disciplining Hyde-Johnson’s boys.

Considering the large number of exceptional students that emerged from “Hyde-J�, the cane did wonders!! The seeds which Mr. Miners planted and nurtured have sprouted a bountiful harvest of superlative achievers amongst Hyde-Johnson’s boys. The list is profoundly intimidating – Vice-President; Governors; doctors; engineers; architects; chartered accountants; judges; lawyers; surgeons; diplomats; politicians; dentists; journalists; bankers; oil moguls; captains of industry and commerce; generals in the army and their equivalents in the Navy, Air Force, 2 Police, security agencies; Traditional Rulers; Ministers; Archbishops; Chief Imams; Permanent Secretaries and Vice-Chancellors of Universities etc.

His formidable influence was not confined to Hyde-Johnson’s House for which he had primary responsibility. He was truly in his element when with consummate passion he exposed those in the Sixth Form to the boundless

joy of not only Latin but also Classical Greek.

Till today, I still savour those evenings spent in his flat directly above Payne’s House where he entertained those he specially selected to join “The Thinkers Club� to think freely without any boundary regarding the universe of knowledge and versatility of logic.

His mantra was: “No knowledge is wasted�.

He went about his duties with a sense of purpose – to mould future leaders who would be well grounded in civics; ethics; ethos and character in order to SERVE the nation rather than be served.

He held us spellbound with his riveting tales about the heroic figures of Greek mythology – from the brave and powerful Hercules to Hector; Jason; Odysseus: Perseus; Prometheus; Aeneas to Achilles who as an infant was dipped into the River Styx by his mother. It made him invulnerable everywhere but the heel by which she held him.

It was from his vast knowledge of ancient times and distant places that he shared with us the magnificence and captivating allure of Samarkand, a city in Uzbekistan, famous for its mosques and mausoleums. It is on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean.

There was also the Jade Dragon Cup. When this cup was made, it was believed that jade would crack if it came into contact with poison. If poison was placed in a Jade cup, it was said, it would result in the vessel splitting. So, the owner of the cup could drink without fear. Whenever old boys of King’s College are invited to St. Gregory’s College, they only drink from their Jade Dragon cups !! The 3 inscription on the cup indicates that it was owned by Ulugh Beg, ruler of the Timurid Empire from 1447 to 1449.

Norman was a product of the English public school, having attended Christ’s Hospital, London from where he won a scholarship to Oxford University.

He was passionate about education and his credo which tallied with that of King’s College was the cultivation of a sound mind in a sound body. Added to this was a profound and non-negotiable commitment to character

and integrity in all spheres of human endeavour.

His favourite quotations were delivered in flawless Latin and he would sometimes scribble them on the blackboard. i.) Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744) “Act well your part for there the honour lies.� ii.) Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965) “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.� iii.) “Humility is the homage exceptional endowments must pay to nature and society.�

Indeed, with his emphasis on character as the anchor sheet of leadership and driving vision, he was well ahead of Martin Luther King Jr.: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.�

It was delivered on August 28, 1963 during the march on Washington D.C. by Blacks for Jobs and Freedom. Within a matter of days those of us in Upper Sixth 4 Form were required by Norman to write an essay on the same subject as a challenge to detect if any one of us had the potential to match the captivating oratory and the elegant prose of the charismatic Martin Luther King Jr. It was great fun to be in the cadet unit (I rose to the rank of sergeant-major but I was never involved in any coup plotting !!). Major Miners made it a point of duty to remind us during map-reading exercises at the bush camp that the compass is only a guide – to your destination. You ignore it at your own peril. Indeed, it is no different with a moral compass. Every compass is encrusted with a magnet with a mind of its own even when seemingly dormant/sterile and unobtrusive. t#BTIPSVO + , 3BOEMF JT B GPSNFS 1SFTJEFOU PG UIF *OTUJUVUF PG $IBSUFSFE "DDPVOUBOUT PG /JHFSJB *$"/ BOE GPSNFS $IBJSNBO PG ,1.( /JHFSJB BOE "GSJDB 3FHJPO )F JT DVSSFOUMZ UIF $IBJSNBO + , 3BOEMF 1SPGFTTJPOBM 4FSWJDFT &NBJM KLSBOEMFJOUVL!HNBJM DPN NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

34

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

POLSCOPE

åÓÞÒ ĂŽĂŽĂŁ ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ Ă?ĂŽĂŽĂŁË›Ă™ĂŽĂ“Ă ĂĄĂœĂ“ĚśĂžĂ’Ă“Ă?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͸ͽ ͝͸͞ Π͝ͽ͞

As They Explain Away our Tears and Pains 39

The Logic that Hurts

T

he argument supporting the recent increment in the price of petrol, electricity tariff, Value Added Tax (VAT), Bank’s stamp duty Charges, etc., etc., is like an old song that has lost its lyrics. It has ceased to make sense, even though it is still being hummed. In fact, the song has long become noise when we remember that this same government had vowed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. How can a government truly determined to assuage the pain of a people slam them with harsh and hurting policies from all sides, in the name of economic reforms?

It had sounded sweet and good to hear those flowery promises. But here we are, not only are more people being thrown into the cesspit of poverty and lack, many are indeed slipping into depression and frustration.

Their Arguments What are the arguments? Government posits that the price of petrol can no longer be regulated. The regulation of the price of petroleum products is one of the major functions of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPRA) . With the prices of diesel, kerosene and Jet A1 long deregulated, the eventual deregulation of the price of petrol has now completed the circle. So, will the PPPRA now cease to exist?

The Federal Government says that it has spent N10.413 trillion subsidising petrol in 13 years.

That this volume of expenditure is no longer sustainable. Accordingly, there is no provision for petroleum subsidy in the revised 2020 fiscal budget. What that means is that consumers of the product will have to pay full value, and this includes the cost of importation, otherwise called landing cost. Indeed, the cost of the product will now be determined by market forces. In other words, it will be governed by the principles of demand and supply. That government would no longer intervene. But why does this same principle not also apply to the fate of the Naira? Why does the CBN keep subsidizing the value of the Naira in the market? Why does the CBN not allow the Naira to fall or rise according to market forces as well?

This is a convenient argument by government.

Yes, N10.413 trillion on subsidy in 13 years is huge.

Very huge! But first, how much of that sum is stolen by those who manipulate the arithmetic of the subsidy? Government claims the final removal of the subsidy will forestall the fraud associated with the policy. Really? Since government knows that it is fraught with fraud, how many people has it arrested, prosecuted and jailed for stealing our commonwealth?

Ignoring the Fundamental But more importantly, why is nobody talking about fixing our refineries so we can stop the greater bazaar involved in fuel importation? Why is the Buhari administration which we thought would be corrective of the malaises of the PDP-led administrations, continuing in the same ways we had all condemned?

They preach that we should endure the pain so we can have the gain eventually and smile ever after. We hardly ever see the latter. We are the only ones who bear the pains. The presidency still maintains a large fleet of jets idling away on the tarmacs, at huge cost.

The convoy of government officials—governors, senators, even Local Government chairmen is yet very long? What is one man doing with 10 or more vehicles in one convoy? They are all fuelled freely from our commonwealth. We bear the pain, they splurge the gain.

Nigeria has refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne and Kaduna. If they are running at full installed capacity, we should not have any business importing finished products; thus subjecting us to the vagaries of the so-called market forces, further complicated by the unstable foreign exchange (FOREX) market. If the refineries are working well enough, why would Nigerians have to pay “landing cost� for crude sourced from our backyard?

If the argument is that the existing refineries are too old and maintaining them is costing us too much, why has government not considered either selling off the refineries and building new ones or sufficiently encourage the private sector to build new refineries?

We are not unaware of the huge sums spent on Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of these refineries that are either often going up in flames, or incurring huge losses.

If the government can spend over N10 trillion subsidizing the cost of petrol, why not build new refineries? What is the cost of building mediumsized refineries?

Thus far, only Dangote and recently, Bua group are working on building private refineries.

Buhari

47Years after, Where are the Infrastructure?

The other argument by government is that monies saved from subsidies can now be applied in building infrastructure and making life better for the common man. They talk about using such saved monies to build roads, provide stable electricity, equip our schools and hospitals, ensure steady supply of pipe-borne water, bla bla bla...This is Bunkum with a capital B. It is a tired rhetoric that has never been proven right. Not once! Ever since the talk about fuel price hike began, has the argument been that the proceeds thereof would be used to make life easier ultimately. It has always turned out a huge deceit.

Not only do the masses bear the brunt, life never really gets easier or better.

In the first place, the political elite do not pay for these hikes. Their cars—private or official-- are fuelled by public fund.

Yet, the society does not get better. If it was otherwise, imagine all the many times the price of petrol have been raised, if there’s been commensurate infrastructural improvement in Nigeria, our streets and highways would have been something close to those of Europe or America.

When in 1973 Gen Yakubu Gowon raised the price of petrol from 6k to 8.45k, the argument was that the differential will be applied in growing the economy. From that time till today, the same argument, without tweak, has been pushed by emerging leaders. But not a whiff has really changed in the real sense of it.

Economists and financial experts have applauded the courage of the present government to finally take the hard decision of removing the subsidy.

They say continuing the subsidy regime not only profits a few, it will indeed ultimately strangle the economy.

What they do not tell us is concrete evidences of what saved subsidies in the past have been used for. The only exception is the short-lived Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) which intervened mainly in the education and health sectors of the early 90’s.

Megawatts of Darkness So, if the argument for increased petroleum price is because of landing cost, what is the argument for increase in electricity tariff? Is it take-off cost?

This is one sector that has, over the years, held Nigeria down. It is one major factor why many industries have packed up, just as our technological prowess have been stifled. This is the same sector that has been wholly privatized when the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was unbundled.

Yet, 15 years after the Electric Power Sector Reform (ESPR) was signed into law, we have not made any progress. We have merely increased the megawatts of darkness and misery to the Nigerian people. This is even when the Federal Government had secretly paid the DISCOs and the GENCOs some form of subsidy so there can be regular electricity. These operators have since gone mercantile to the extent that they do hold government to ransom through

Zainab Ahmed

blackmail in their operations. And government appears helpless! We are all Casualties, says J.P Clarke’s poem Not even when there is an arm of rural electrification project have we had more rural people accessing electricity. Urban dwellers have continued to spend big in providing own electricity supply.

There is hardly five hour electricity supply per day in many Nigerian towns and cities.

As I write this, my generator has been running ten hours each night (8pm till 6.00am each day).

But they say they want to lift half of the population out of poverty! Just how?

With an increase of over 100 per cent, and a threat for even more in the nearest future, most Nigerians who were knocked down by the stripes of the economy are more likely to just get crushed.

Yes, some have argued that even at the increased tariff, it is still cheaper than generating our own electricity. True! But the question is: what is the guaranty that even with the increase, supply will be steady and reliable?

The terrible thing about the Nigerian system is how we so easily complicate otherwise simple matters. Imagine the crucial issue of providing prepaid meters to consumers. For many years now, it has remained elusive for most consumers. Many of the DISCOs seem to prefer the imaginary and estimated billing system to a more equitable and scientific pay-as-you-consume mechanism. Why do they prefer the former?

More Holes in the Pocket Okay, aside the hiked petrol and electricity prices, what is the justification of the increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT), from 5 percent to 7.5 per cent? This was further followed with the annoying Stamp Duty Charges on bank transactions exceeding N10,000. Sometimes they even apply the charge to transactions of lesser value.

Yet, in the face of all these, the percentage of interest paid on savings and Treasury Bills have crashed down to a measly 1.3 per cent.

Obtaining bank loans are not only tough, servicing them, with the cut-throat interest rates, only betrays the malevolence of the system.

It is annoyingly obvious that the government is so determined to keep getting more and more and even more from the people without minding how they cope. This is a government that had a huge and prolonged fight agreeing to pay minimum wage of N30,000. Many states have even reneged on the payment. Little wonder the reports and cases of suicide are on the increase.

These are the same banks that have been in a frenzy of declaring jumbo gains out of the misery of their customers. What a country!

Mute and Blank Placards Away from banks and their squeeze on the ordinary folks, what also explains the increase in such services like DSTV, GOtv? Sometimes one wonders where the regulators are hibernating.

Where are they?

Their acquiescence is needling Nigerians. Why is everybody quiet in the face of all these crushing blows? Where are the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)? Where is NLC? Where is TUC? Where are the market women? Where is the Our Mumu Don Do crew? Indeed where are the intemperate “radicals� who in 2012 encamped in Ojota (in Lagos) to protest the increase in the price of petrol from N65 to N141 per litre by the Jonathan administration?

It was eventually reduced to N97 per litre after 12 days of protest with about ten deaths.

But in 2016, a year after President Buhari assumed office, he raised the price from N97 to N145. And the whole country was quiet! There was no protest.

There was a general belief that it was for the good of the country. Nigerians then trusted him. The matrix of his good will was yet high. Not anymore.

Now, there is an increase from N145 to N160 per litre and everywhere is back to calm. Perhaps bemused and benumbed. It may hit N200 per litre or more before the year runs out, depending on the fate of the product in the international market.

Would this make Nigerians now pray and wish that the price of crude should keep dropping in the international market so they can buy the product cheaply at home? Why would the rise in the price which should make Nigerians happy now a source of misery and regret?

By last Wednesday, Oshogbo, Ibadan and eventually Lagos (all in the South West) have organized some protests against the hikes, even as government insists there is no going back to subsidy regime.

Maybe, President Buhari would have gotten away with the spate of recent increases. But they are coming in the wake of the devastating blow the COVID-19 pandemic dealt on society. Many lost their jobs. Those who could retain their jobs, suffered salary cuts.

Businesses are gasping. Thus, the income capacity of the people shrank. And rather than devise ways of cushioning the hard hit on the people, the government is choosing this ill time to slam steely reforms on the populace. Yes, the overall idea may be ideal, but certainly not the timing.

We are sweating The load the administration is heaping on Nigerians is too heavy. It appears unconscionably done in a way that suggests take-it-or-leave-it. Those in government will however always choose to explain it away as if it does not matter how the people feel.

They sell the impression that those not in synch with the government’s policies are either un-informed or are saboteurs.

President Buhari has braced up with the economic reality, taken tough decisions. But would it grow the economy ultimately? Perhaps even more germane is the worry whether or not this would hurt the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023. We wait. We watch!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

35

36

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Onyeama Urges FG to List Proposed InfraCo on NSE Nume Ekeghe The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has called on the federal government to prioritise the listing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) proposed N15 trillion infrastructure development company (Infraco) fund on the NSE. He said this yesterday during the virtual Businessday digital dialogue series with the theme: ‘New Perspective on Asset Allocation and Behavioural Finance in Volatile Markets.’ According to Onyeama, if listed on the NSE, it would enhance transparency, effective reporting as well as increase retail participation in public private partnership (PPP).

The Infraco fund is an initiative of the CBN that was approved last month by the federal government in a bid to stimulate infrastructural development

across the country.

Furthermore, the NSE boss also urged the federal government to reduce the tax burden on publicly listed companies in view of the impact of the pandemic. “One recommendation to the government from the capital market would be the expansion of the framework of PPP for infrastructure development.

For instance, prioritising the incorporation of the CBN’s infrastructure company on subsequently listing its N15 trillion fund on the NSE for effective reporting and other global fund management standards,� he added.

Speaking further, the NSE boss said: “We believe the government should also ensure regulatory forbearance on pandemic alleviation schemes such as reduction of tax burdens for already compliant organisations mainly listed companies and delay implementation of any new taxes at federal and

state level. “Target intervention for local companies across sectors most hit by the pandemic and fasttrack attractive legislations such as the pension reform act and the investment and securities act which are currently being reviewed.�

In terms of the economy and the current state of the NSE, he said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a decline in oil export earnings which accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s export earnings and remittances

by Nigerians in diaspora. “Concurrently, foreign portfolio investor flight to safety has further intensified pressure on the nation’s reserves. However, in spite the highly volatile economic environment in Nigeria, the NSE has remained resilient surprisingly, domestic investors have risen to the occasion in sustaining the equities market performance.

Bankers’Committee Introduces Fraud Awareness Initiative The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee have launched a cyber-security and fraud awareness campaign, called ‘Moni Sense,’ to educate members of the public on the benefits of protecting their bank and other related transaction details.

The group in a statement, stressed that as the year gradually comes to an end, comprehensive fraud and cyber security awareness was important in ensuring members of the public are informed on their role in protecting their banking information from fraudulent activities.

Speaking on the initiative, the Chairman, Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-Committee (FLPE), Mr. Emeka Emuwa said: “Fraudsters & scammers continually devise new ways to deceive the unsuspecting public, usually with the aim of luring them to inadvertently disclose confidential bank information. “We encourage Nigerians to always be cautious and ignore any text message, phone call, or Email asking to update your bank information, provide sensitive bank details, disclose online banking details, debit card numbers or PIN to anyone.�

Financial literacy and public enlightenment are a critical pillar of the Bankers’ Committee mandate, making initiatives like this critical to the goal of increasing the number of financially included citizens in the country.

With this initiative, the statement explained that the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee aims to ensure Nigerians are empowered with critical information and knowledge necessary to make important financial decisions, enhance economic prosperity and continue to drive poverty reduction across the country.

Access Committed to Creating Value for Shareholders, Says Wigwe The Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe has assured all stakeholders of the bank’s commitment to offering greater share value.

This followed the bank’s recent announcement of its financial results for the half-year ended June 30 2020. “Leveraging investments in digital banking post-merger, we have seen a growth in our retail banking business, as evidenced by the growth in customer sign-on, transaction volume and value, and increased adoption of our digital channels. “While the other half of 2020 will remain challenging, digital banking has become more es-

sential than ever in the pursuit of sustainable earnings. “We are confident that our purposeful strategy, diversified model, and investment in digital solutions will ensure that we remain resilient and continue to support our stakeholders to recover and thrive. I want to thank our employees for their commitment and exceptional work in these uncertain times,� a statement quoted Wigwe to have said. The Group recorded gross earnings of N396.8 billion (+22% year-on-year), on the back of a 191 per cent year-on-year growth in non-interest income to N150 billion, buttressing the efficacy of its strategy and

capacity to generate sustainable revenue.

The bank declared a profit before tax of N 74.306 billion in half year 2020, up from N 72.964 billion recorded in H1, 2019. This showed an increase of 1.84 per cent.

Despite the shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Access Bank maintained a robust capital position, underpinned by resilient and well-diversified business operations. Its capital and liquidity positions were well above regulatory levels with a capital adequacy ratio of 20 per cent and a liquidity ratio of 44.7 per cent.

KCOBA Calls for Funding, Restructuring of Unity Schools Sunday Ehigiator As Kings College prepares for its 111th Founder’s day celebration with the theme: ‘Education: The Way Forward,’ the Kings College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) has called on the federal government of Nigeria to restructure the management of all unity schools in the country.

They also called for increase funding for unity schools across the country.

The Vice President, KCOBA, and Chairman, 2020 Kingsweek, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, made this call Wednesday, while speaking during a media round table organised in preparation of the celebration. The event holds on September 19, and is to be aired via teleconference across various television and online platforms.

Keynote address will be delivered by the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo. Speaking further, Ighodalo stressed the need for

government to consider handing the management of unity schools in the country to trustees.

According to him, “The discourse for our week this year as you know is the way forward for education in Nigeria. The aim is to see what the government needs to do, what the public needs to do, what the old boys needs to do, and what the other stakeholders need to do, to ensure an improved education for a Nigerian.

Trading floor

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month Inter-Bank Call Rate

March 2018 15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ ͡ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $39.82 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $40.29 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

37

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍŻËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Continental Re Acquires Botswana Subsidiary, Records N4.4bn Profit Goddy Egene Continental Reinsurance Plc has raised its stake in Continental Reinsurance Ltd (Botswana) to 100 per cent after acquiring a minority 40 per cent stake in the company, through its holding company, CRe African Investments Limited, from Botswana Insurance Company Ltd (BIC).

The acquisition came even as the pan-African firm reported a 300 per cent growth in profit

before tax (PBT) to N4.4 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2020, compared with N1.1 billion in 2019.

Commenting on the acquisition, Group Managing Director, Continental Reinsurance, Dr. Femi Oyetunji, said: “The acquisition means not only growth in economic size, but also presents us with an opportunity to enhance our strategic influence and broaden our market appeal through the expansion

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

of stakeholder segments that we actively interact with.� “Building on our talent growth and diversity strategy, we have appointed Mr Francis Nzwili, previously with our Nairobi subsidiary, as Managing Director of the Botswana business. Francis comes on board with a wealth of experience in underwriting and business development that significantly complements the strength of the existing team,� he added.

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

QUANTITY TRADED

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According to him, the acquisition entrenches Continental Re’s stature as a strong pan-African reinsurance brand committed to delivering value to its customers and long-term sustainable profit growth and returns for all internal and external stakeholders.

Meanwhile, group has reported gross premium income of N26.8 billion, reflecting a 27 per cent growth over 2019. Investment and other income stood at N1.4 billion, showing 30 per cent year,

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

while PBT rose from N1.1 billion to N4.4 billion. “The strong contribution to the Group’s half-year results from our entire network with offices in Anglophone West Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, CIMA and North Africa, is a testament to the resilience wrought by our operating model that is anchored on geographic diversity. We shall continue to adapt and improve this model as we strive for superior efficiency,�

O F

Oyetunji said.

According to him, these results come as they brace for the impact of the Covid-19 crisis that continues to unfold, noting that they remain cautiously optimistic regarding prospects for the year. “In conjunction with our partners, we look forward to better times ahead. We remain fully committed to playing our part in supporting our partners and the wider community through the pandemic.

1 0 / 0 9 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

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38

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Q4: Sterling Bank Projects N47bn Gross Earnings Goddy Egene Sterling Bank Plc has projected gross

earnings of N46.730 billion fourth quarter ending December 31, 2020. The projection was contained in its forecast

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

to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, saying it will post interest income of N36.601 billion for the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

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

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

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 09Sep-2020, unless otherwise stated.

quarter, while net operating income would print at N24.538 billion.

The lender is expected to end the

Q4 with profit before tax of N1.233 billion and profit after tax of N1.171 billion. Sterling Bank had recorded

gross earnings of N150.2 billion for the full year of 2019 and PAT of N10.6 billion.

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

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

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

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.93 0.93 2.66% ACAP Income Funds 0.78 0.78 10.29% 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 5.61% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.99 3.07 21.70% 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 2.32% Anchoria Equity Fund 99.28 99.61 -2.67% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.28 1.28 10.94% 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 N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 96.36 97.04 0.29% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.53% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 17.80% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 1.85 1.88 4.40% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 5.08% Paramount Equity Fund 11.57 11.77 -7.60% Women's Investment Fund 111.57 112.48 1.01% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.58% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 105.59 105.92 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 109.53 109.84 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.50 103.50 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 3.34% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.96 0.97 2.99% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.56 1.56 17.69% 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 4.06% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 4.35% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,183.73 1,196.12 6.70% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,398.64 1,400.21 14.60% FBN Balanced Fund 152.19 153.22 3.66% FBN Halal Fund 107.87 107.89 7.87% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.54% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 121.20 121.67 4.33% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 115.93 117.73 -10.91% 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 N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 3,159.27 3,194.32 3.89% Coral Income Fund 3,193.32 3,193.32 3.82% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.00% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 4.01% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 113.13 120.37 8.52%

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 4.03% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.30 2.34 5.10% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 8.30% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 150.34 151.07 4.88% 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 1.25 1.27 7.08% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,134.73 1,134.73 7.17% 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 1.40 1.42 14.27% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.88 11.96 5.59% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.36% PACAM Equity Fund 1.10 1.12 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.03 110.62 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 116.31 118.18 -5.19% 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 1.02 1.02 6.62% 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 5.43% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.00% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 -0.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 5.83% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 4.51% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.93% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -3.29% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.20 1.20 3.81% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 109.28 109.28 4.87% 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 1.15 1.17 -3.45% United Capital Bond Fund 1.85 1.85 6.99% United Capital Equity Fund 0.66 0.68 -6.31% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.57% United Capital Eurobond Fund 114.54 114.54 4.83% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.03 -2.29% 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 10.41 10.52 1.25% Zenith Ethical Fund 11.61 11.68 -0.25% Zenith Income Fund 24.35 24.35 9.38% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.56%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

117.93

5.15%

53.40

2.59%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

9.15 84.81 66.48

9.25 86.85 67.69

5.08% -10.11% -11.52%

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

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

108.03

15.02%

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.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 •T H I S D AY

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

58 Killed in Fresh DR Congo Attacks Fifty-eight people have been killed in the eastern DR Congo province of Ituri, the province’s interior minister told AFP on Thursday, attributing the massacres to a notorious militia.

Twenty-three people were killed in Irumu territory in southern Ituri on Tuesday, followed by 35 there on Thursday, said minister Adjio Gidi.

“Large numbers of the population” have fled their homes, he told AFP. He blamed the Allied Democratic Forces, which originated in the 1990s as a

Ugandan Muslim rebel group.

“It was ADF, fleeing military pressure in (neighbouring) North Kivu province, namely in (the) Beni (region),” Gidi said.

“Our forces are already in the area and are in contact with the enemy,” he said.

Hundreds of civilians have died at the hands of the ADF since the armed forces launched a crackdown in North Kivu last November. The latest attacks took place in a heavily forested area called Tshabi.

“People were killed with every sort of weapon, knives, guns,” a member of the Nyali

community in Tshabi, Richard Balengilyao, told AFP. The search effort was being complicated by thick forest, he said.

“Right now, the Congolese army, supported by local people, is still looking for victims in the

forest,” he said.

“Seventeen people are listed as disappeared, but they have almost definitely been kidnapped.”

The ADF is one of more than 100 armed groups that trouble the eastern provinces of the vast

Democratic Republic of Congo, many of which are the legacy of full-fledged wars of the 1990s.

The northern part of Ituri this year has seen brutal killings in the territory of Djugu, blamed on an ethnically-based militia called the Cooperative for the

Development of Congo, or CODECO. A senior delegation from the central government was scheduled to arrive in Ituri on Friday to discuss the province’s security problems.

EU Mulls Legal Action against Britain over Plan to Break Brexit Deal Britain and the European Union will hold emergency talks on Thursday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to undercut parts of the Brexit divorce treaty, with Brussels exploring possible legal action against London.

After Britain explicitly said it would act outside international law by breaching the divorce treaty, EU negotiators are trying to gauge how to deal with London.

Britain signed the treaty and formally left the EU in January, but remains a member in all but name until the end of this year under a status quo agreement.

European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic will meet British counterpart Michael Gove in London at 1200 GMT alongside scheduled trade talks between chief negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost.

If the EU is unhappy with what London says, it could use a part of the Withdrawal Agreement to take legal action against Britain, though there would be no resolution before the end-of-year deadline for Britain’s full exit.

“The dispute-settling mechanism under the Withdrawal Agreement is there,” an EU diplomat dealing with Brexit told Reuters.

Two EU officials also involved in the talks said the Commission would analyse Britain’s proposed Internal Market Bill – which

would override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement – once it is passed to take into account any amendments before making a final decision on the legal case.

“I think some of the more extreme interpretation of this is totally wrong,” British transport minister Grant Shapps told BBC radio. The British government says its planned law is merely clarifying ambiguities in the withdrawal agreement.

Britain has urged Brussels to accept the breach of the treaty or prepare for a messy divorce.

Talks on a new trade deal have snagged on state aid rules and fishing. Without an agreement, nearly $1 trillion in trade between the EU and Britain could be thrown into confusion at the beginning of 2021, a further economic blow as they try to limit damage from the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest dispute is over the British-ruled region of Northern Ireland, which shares a land border with EU member Ireland. Under the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement that ended decades of violence there, the border must stay open.

To ensure that, Britain’s EU divorce agreement calls for some EU rules to continue to apply in Northern Ireland. But Britain now wants power to override them, acknowledging this would violate international law.

Fire Erupts at Beirut Port, Weeks after Devastating Explosion A huge fire has erupted at Beirut’s port, just over a month after a massive explosion that killed about 190 people.

Officials say the fire started in a store of oil and tires, but the cause is unknown.

A column of black smoke billowed from the port at midday Thursday, with orange flames leaping from the ground.

The Lebanese army said the fire is at a warehouse where oil and tires are placed in the duty free zone at the port adding that fighting the blaze is ongoing and that army helicopters are taking part in the operation.

The visuals from smoke and blaze are not unlike the Beirut blast on August 4 that killed about 190 people and injured 6,000 people.

A video circulating on social media showed workers at the port running away in fear as soon as the fire broke out, a chilling reminder of last month’s

blast that killed dozens of port employees and 10 fire fighters.

The Army informs people in the vicinity of Beirut port to evacuate as another huge fire rages.

The head of Lebanon’s Red Cross, George Kettaneh, said there was no fear of another explosion as a result of the flames and said there were no injuries. Although he said there were some people suffering from shortness of breath as a result.

Television footage showed firefighters trying to douse the blaze in an area surrounded by the mangled remains of warehouses that were destroyed in the explosion last month.

Local TV stations said the companies that have offices near the port have asked their employees to leave the area.

Lebanese troops closed the major road that passes near the port referring traffic to other areas.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (left), and the Country Representative, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Dr. Vladimir Kreck, during a courtesy call on the governor in Asaba...Wednesday

Pakistani Court Sentences Christian to Death for Blasphemy A Pakistani court sentenced a Christian man to death after finding him guilty of blasphemy for insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad in text messages he sent to a Muslim co-worker in 2013, a defense lawyer said Thursday.

Saiful Malook said his client, 37-year-old Asif Pervaiz, was convicted and sentenced this week in the eastern city of Lahore. It was the latest example of the Islamic nation’s strict upholding of blasphemy laws.

Malook said the court rejected Pervaiz’s denial of the charges

and he plans to appeal.

Pervaiz was accused of blasphemy by Muhammad Saeed Khokher, a supervisor in a hosiery factory where Pervaiz worked. During his trial, Pervaiz claimed he was accused after he refused to convert to Islam.

Prosecutors, however, submitted evidence that Pervaiz sent text messages to Khokher that contain insulting remarks against Islam’s Prophet, according to a court document.

Khokher in his testimony denied pressuring Pervaiz to change

his religion.

Under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, anyone accused of insulting Islam or other religious figures can be sentenced to death if found guilty. While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, just the accusation of blasphemy can cause riots in Pakistan.

The latest development comes weeks after a Pakistani man killed an American, Tahir Naseem, inside a courtroom in the city of Peshawar where he was on trial for blasphemy.

Naseem had been arrested two

years ago after he allegedly declared himself Islam’s prophet.

Domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle personal scores. A Punjab governor was killed by his own guard in 2011 after he defended a Christian woman, Aasia Bibi, who was accused of blasphemy.

She was acquitted after spending eight years on death row and left Pakistan for Canada to join her family after receiving threats.

Mali Military Junta Launches Consultation Amid Pressure over Handover Former officials return dozens of luxurious cars

Mali’s military junta on Thursday launches a three-day “national consultation” with political parties, unions and NGOs, facing questions at home and pressure from abroad over its plans for returning the country to civilian rule.

Around 500 people are due to attend the forum, unfolding at a conference centre in Bamako, the capital of the West African state.

The talks mark the second round of discussions between the young officers who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 and civilian representatives, many of whom had campaigned fiercely for him to resign.

At stake is how the junta

intends to make good on its vow, made just hours after the coup, to restore civilian governance and stage elections within a “reasonable time.”

Early jubilation among many Malians over Keita’s exit has been superseded by questions and also divisions about the speed of the handover and the military’s role in the transition period.

The coup — Mali’s fourth since gaining independence from France in 1960 — came after months of protests, stoked

by Keita’s failure to roll back a bloody jihadist insurgency and fix the country’s many economic woes.

Mali’s neighbours have watched with concern, fearing

the country could spiral back into chaos — a scenario that eight years ago helped fuel the jihadist revolt which now rattles Niger and Burkina Faso.

The junta initially talked of a three-year transition, corresponding to the time left in Keita’s second five-year mandate, that would be overseen by a soldier.

In contrast, the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS has set a hard-line, closing borders, banning trade with Mali and insisting that the handover last 12 months maximum.

In the runup to the talks, the group said Mali’s civilian transition president and premier “must be appointed no later than

September 15”.

The so-called June 5 Movement, which engineered the wave of anti-Keita protests, is split.

Some voices argue in favour of giving the military a long handover in order to tackle the problems that have driven the country to the brink.

Others say that this would simply worsen instability — four more Malian troops were killed in an attack on the eve of the talks — and set a poor example for democracy in West Africa.

A committee of around 20 lawyers, researchers and academics has drawn up a draft “road map” resulting from a first round of talks on Saturday.

Algerian Parliament Adopts Constitutional Reforms The Algerian parliament on Thursday adopted draft constitutional reforms, a flagship initiative of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune aimed at responding to the demands of the country’s “Hirak” protest movement.

In a show of hands, the amended constitution was approved by 256 of the 462 members present in the People’s

National Assembly, said speaker Slimane Chenine.

The reforms will now be put to a referendum on November 1, the anniversary of the start of Algeria’s 1954-1962 war of independence from France.

“The proposal is fully in line with the requirements of modern state building and responds to the demands of the popular movement (Hirak),”

Tebboune said on Sunday after the government gave the reforms the green light.

The government pledged the reforms would bring a “radical change in the system of governance”, prevent corruption and enshrine social justice and press freedoms in the constitution.

The revision also sets out to reinforce the “principle of separation of powers, ethics in

political life and transparency in the management of public funds,” so as to “spare the country any drift toward tyrannical despotism”, it added.

Tebboune had promised to press for reforms during elections late last year after the resignation of longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika under pressure from the Hirak movement, which widely rebuffed the polls.

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FRIDAY, ͚͚˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

Jegede: Cheaper Medicare, Tuition Fees My Priorities as Gov Eromosele Abiodun and Nume Ekeghe in Lagos and James Sowole in Akure The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), yesterday outlined the priorities of his administration, if he wins, to include a reduction in tuition fees in the state's tertiary institutions and cheaper Medicare.

Jegede, while featuring on ARISE News Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said his administration would prioritise the people’s welfare by reducing tuition in state's tertiary institutions and bringing back free maternal care.

He said: "We have divergent positions on a lot of things.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) came in and increased the tuition in all our tertiary institutions, we believe that should not happen. I believe that the fees should be made affordable to all our students.

I believe that Ondo State can afford that because it has been done before. I believe that we should bring down the fees.

"While the APC government believed that they should hike the fees that are payable in all our health institutions, I will not share that view. I believe that people should be the focus of the government and those high fees in the name of IGR (internally generated revenue) should come down because access to Medicare should not be a matter of IGR. "Akeredolu’s government believes that our pregnant women should pay high fees when they want to access maternal care when they go to the hospital for delivery; I do not share that view. We believe that our pregnant women should have access to free maternal services.

"Akeredolu’s government believes that people do not need help and that they can help themselves. But we believe that we should be able to assist those who are in the business of commerce, those who are in the business of industries for them to take off so that they can provide the much-needed employment for our people.

"I believe industries should be established by the government and private sector. I also

believe that there should be infrastructural development in our state.

"I believe that the southern part of the state needs more attention. I believe that the seaport should be a major focus of the administration not only for the state but for the federal government."

According to him, the increase in tuition is counter-productive for the state universities because it has actually reduced the number of students that could pay.

He said: "When the Akeredolu’s administration thought that they wanted to increase fees, it was because it reduced subventions that go to universities.

"Now, if you reduce subventions and increase the fees, your hope is that you will be able to reduce the gap, but they did not take into account the principle of supply and demand.

"Once you increase the fee, a lot of people will not be able to pay. That automatically reduced the income of the universities.

When that happens, you find out that there is going to be a lot of crisis

"Now some of the students in our state universities are now moving to a state university in Kogi that is charging less amount of money. In doing that, you find out that the money that is supposed to come into our university from the plurality of students does not come again.

"Government must be able to identify its priority and save money. Those fees being charged are too high and we are going to bring them down. “I have said, and I mean it, that a fee of N150,000, N200,000 and N350,000 as against 35,000 that was being charged initially is too astronomical.

"As far as we are concerned, the welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government.

That does not mean that other sectors would suffer. “When we are able to manage our funds, and when we are able to do it honestly and transparently, we will be able to reduce areas of leakages.

"We will also ensure that money that is coming from the federal allocation and IGR are properly utilised for the people."

However, Jegede said he would not probe his wouldbe predecessor, adding that his

focus is how to serve people and make a difference.

Jegede said it is the people of the state that would determine who should be the governor at a point in time and not any governor or any person.

"It was wrong for any person to say it is somebody's time or not. I appreciate the kind words of my brother and colleague, Akeredolu.

"Governorship election is not a senatorial election. The entire state is the constituency of the governor. Each senatorial district has its own senator and the entire state is for the governor," he added.

The Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, while appearing on a previous edition of The Morning Show, had eulogised Jegede but added that having come from the central part of the state that produced his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the time isn't ripe yet for the PDP candidate to be governor.

The candidate said he lost the 2016 election due to an intra-party crisis within the PDP. He berated the former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in the state, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, over his comment

that may spark violence. “A few weeks ago, it was in the news about a former chairman of APC who went in the open to say they are going to tear posters and that he has not seen anything yet which he was referring to PDP and myself. And he had mentioned things like federal might and something about AK47 and I say while we are going high, they are going low. In this 21st century, people are arrogating themselves on how they would tear posters and inflict violence. “We are preaching against violence and those who are preaching violence and saying that violence would come because they have federal might and AK47 and also calling themselves militants also have wives and children and would he like that violence to be inflicted on his children that they have kept safe somewhere?

Why do people grandstand on things that are so demeaning?

It gives people like us a lot of worries.�

Jegede was also optimistic that he would emerge victorious in the election, saying that he has the support of people in the APC and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

African CEOs Task Okonjo-Iweala, Others on Global Trade Transparency James Emejo in Abuja African private sector chief executives have expressed their desire for considerable reforms to make the global trade rules system fairer and more transparent.

The over 200 CEOs surveyed were assessed around issues concerning the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and trade in general.

Nigeria’s candidate for WTO Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is competing with Kenya's Amina Mohamed and Egypt's Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh in the next phase of ongoing consultations to

select the institution’s next leader.

According to the survey which was commissioned by the Pan-African Private Sector Trade and Investment Committee (PAFTRAC), and conducted by African Business magazine in partnership with the Afreximbank, African CEOs clearly called for a fairer system governing global trade that will support developing countries.

About 37 per cent of the CEOs surveyed felt the WTO is currently ineffective while 65 per cent of the chief executives believed the global trading system is unfair to Africa.

They, however remained

optimistic about the future outlook for the continent as 50 per cent of CEOs believed global trade will increase over the next 12 months while over 70 per cent believed intra-Africa trade will increase over the next one year.

PAFTRAC in a statement noted that the survey had covered a number of areas which revealed a general consensus that the current rules penalise the African continent and its private sector.

The Chair of PAFTRAC, Prof. Pat Utomi, stressed that unless reform was forthcoming, the current global crisis may penalise the African private

sector even further.

He said: “We have seen during this pandemic companies in the industrialised world have received massive bailouts, tax incentives, not to mention government contracts and fiscal stimuli. Companies in Africa were not so fortunate and will have to deal with a world where trade will be depressed because of the postCOVID environment. As such, a fairer global trade environment and trading system is more urgent today than ever.�

On his part, President of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said: “As the pan-African trade finance

bank, Afreximbank has been mandated to host the PAFTRAC secretariat. Any reform needs to support a burgeoning African private sector and an increasingly integrated Africa. We have seen, over the past quarter of a century since the WTO was formed, the emergence of a robust and dynamic African private sector, and more recently significant steps to integrate Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The WTO and its new leadership will need to recognise the imperative of African integration and put development at the centre of

any trade agenda.�

The group's position is expected to be communicated to all candidates who are in the race for the directorship of the WTO. Although, the majority of CEOs believed that the global trading system was unfair, most also see the multilateral system strengthening in the coming years, the statement added.

They outlined a set of reforms that should be undertaken for a fairer and more transparent trading system, including in the areas of voice and participation, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, agriculture and subsidies.

Dollar Scarcity Threatens $900m Azura Power Plant’s Operations Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report The current dollar shortage in Nigeria may threaten the smooth operations of the Azura-Edo power plant as the company which provides a tenth of the country’s power needs struggles to meet its obligations to its creditors, the Financial Times reported yesterday.

The World Bank-backed power plant is reportedly at risk of a default on its loan payments because of a severe dollar shortage in Nigeria, the continent’s biggest economy, The $900 million independent power plant located in Edo State has been unable to source dollars through the

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which has restricted access to the greenback in an effort to support the local naira currency, according to an industry executive. “They have the funds (in naira) — they just can’t make the payment because they’re in the queue for dollars at the central bank, and they're just aren’t enough,� the medium quoted the source, a financier, as saying.

But there are persistent fears that any default, even if only technical, would pose a setback for similar large projects in Nigeria, further squeezing foreign investment. “If a project like this can’t get dollars then what are you really saying?� the Financial

Times quoted the source to have said.

The dollar shortage has been driven by a precipitous fall in the price of oil, which provides 90 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange, as well as a drop in remittances and an exodus of portfolio investors.

In a statement in response to questions about a potential default, the Managing Director of Azura Power West Africa, Mr. Edu Okeke, said that Nigeria has faced a “tsunami of challenges.� “The government is fully aware of the need to unify the rates and clear the imbalance between the supply and demand for hard currency,� he said. “Indeed, in recent weeks, the central bank has

already taken welcome steps in this direction,� he said.

Financial Times quoted an unnamed senior CBN official as saying that it told Azura to seek dollars in CBN’s official Investors and Exporters (I&E) FX channel in July when the company told the bank it was having trouble sourcing dollars and could default in November. “We value Azura — we are one of their cheerleaders and we know they are doing very well,� the official said. “But when Azura approached us, we couldn’t have treated them separately because that would mean opening up a floodgate of companies coming to us to say ‘sell to us’ and we would also be accused of crony capitalism.�

The CBN has for months held on to its dollars “because we had to understand the full effects of the pandemic on the economy and not fritter away the country’s reserves,� the official said.

But in recent weeks, it has started selling $25million a week in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) FX channel in response to the shortage. “That’s $100million every month, and November is still two months away,� the official said. “So if they play their game well, they should be able to source enough dollars to fend off any default,� it added.

Azura produces 460MW of power, receives payment in local currency and has enough

naira to meet its obligations, the industry executive said.

Azura, which is backed by London-based private equity firm, Actis, as well as by the CDC, the UK government’s development investment arm, has been held up as a model for how international investment could be deployed to fix the mass power shortages in the country.

The project’s $686million in debt financing was raised in 2015 from 15 lenders — a reflection of the high risk associated with Nigeria’s power sector — led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and including development agencies from France, Germany and the Netherlands.

FG PROJECTS N1TN PETROL SUBSIDY SAVINGS, TARGETS ECONOMIC, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVT 2019, while the unsold inventory of manufactured goods stood at N402. 4 billion.

The President of the MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, at a press conference at the end of the association’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos yesterday, also bemoaned that more than 40 per cent of foreign exchange needs of manufacturers are not met. “Moreover, genuine exporters are still being owed huge sums of money as a backlog of unpaid outstanding from the Export Expansion Grant Scheme,� he stated.

Ahmed noted that the

government’s continued payment of subsidy to the electricity sector at the tune of N500 billion as recorded in 2019 has become unsustainable and no longer in the long-term interest of the economy. “This cannot continue,� he said, “because the government will not have money to invest in other areas like infrastructure. So, what we have discussed with the government is that it should find ways to help the manufacturing sector by ensuring that we will see significant improvement in the availability of electricity. “The problem for the manufacturers is not just the

tariff but availability. We can afford to pay the higher tariff if the power supply will be steady and we are paying only for what we have consumed.�

Ahmed said that it should be recalled that the “MAN has always agreed that fuel subsidy is not good for our economy. We have seen that diesel became easily available when it was deregulated and that its price also remained largely stable. This is what we believe should happen to all petroleum products if the sector is deregulated. “Let it be deregulated so that we will have consistent supply

and encourage more people to invest in the sector because we cannot continue to depend on the import of petroleum product while the government is unable to maintain its refineries. We want a situation where private investors will be encouraged to invest in the refining and distribution of petroleum products. “Ultimately the supply will stabilise and we are sure that when that happens the price will come down.�

He added that inasmuch as the MAN understood why the federal government was constrained to close the country’s

borders in 2019, it has become noteworthy to state that it has now outlived its usefulness. “This border closure cannot be a sustainable arrangement.

It has been closed long enough for the government to introduce measures that will control smuggling, dumping and importation of faked products.

We, therefore, believed that the borders should now be opened. “We have made this very clear to the government that the border closure cannot persist. It should be opened because we will soon start the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area

agreement,� he said, adding that Nigerian exporters are losing their export markets in West Africa and some parts of Africa as a result of the closure of the border.

The manufacturers also appealed to the government to reverse the Value Added Tax rate back to the pre 2020 Finance Act rate and reduce the Personal Income Tax to a flat rate of 10 per cent for one-year effective from April 2020 in order to “improve the disposable income of Nigerian workers, stimulate consumption, promote an upsurge in demand and increase production output.�

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NEWS

FG Warns against Rise in COVID-19 Cases after Reopening of Schools Buhari approves N8.9bn hazard allowance for health workers Olawale Ajimotokan and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday cautioned against the risk of infecting more children and youths with COVID-19 with the reopening of schools.

This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved additional N8.9billion as COVID-19 hazard allowance to all medical health workers.

The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunmibe Mamora who spoke yesterday during briefing

by the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 in Abuja, decried the growing apathy by some states in ensuring continued and improved testing for the dreaded virus “This is because as of today not many states are testing. We shall therefore ensure that testing continues in all the states until we reach our daily targets. Ten per cent of positive cases are children and adolescents with more than half of them in the age bracket of 10-18 years.

“It is therefore pertinent at this point to renew the warning of the

PTF on the reopening of schools so as not to expose our children to the risk of infection,” he said.

Mamora said the Federal Ministry of Health held a meeting with chief medical officers of federal tertiary health institutions last week in Abuja where it encouraged them to work in synergy with the state governments to ensure coordinated response to disease

control. The minster also said that a similar meeting with state commissioners of health was held on Tuesday.

He said that the ministry is following up on its engagement with states by deploying community volunteers to help intensify contract tracing and engage in active case finding, working with partners.

Speaking on the current

engagement by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the representative of the Director General, Mrs. Elsie Ilori said that the centre is addressing the challenges posed by the reopening of the country’s airports and educational institutions with the unabating COVID-19 pandemic.

She said: “We are working side-by-side with the federal and

state ministries of education to scale up medical intervention in schools. We are presently meeting with stakeholders where school management and other stakeholders will exchange ideas on the how best to deal with the situation, “she said.Meanwhile, Buhari has approved additional N8.9billion as COVID-19 hazard allowance to all medical health workers.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise By 197 to 55,829 Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 197 new cases of COVID-19, bringing to 55,829 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Plateau recorded 83 new cases; Lagos, 48; Kaduna, 17; Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), 16; Ogun, 11; Katsina, seven; Imo, four; Edo and Nasarawa, three each; Rivers, two; while Bayelsa, Oyo and Osun recorded one case each It said: “Nigeria has so far recorded 55,829 cases of COVID-19. 43,810 patients have been discharged, while 1,075 persons have died.”

Kaduna Assembly Approves Castration as Punishment for Rapists The Kaduna State House of Assembly has approved castration as punishment for those convicted of rape.

This follows the passage of a bill to amend the Kaduna state penal court law, 2017, by the lawmakers. The assembly, which announced the development via its Twitter handle yesterday, said the bill was passed into law on Wednesday.

“The Bill Recommend total Castration for Rapist in the State,” the assembly tweeted.

TheCable observed that the tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted but the majority leader of the assembly also tweeted about the development.

“A bill to amend the Kaduna State Penal Court Law No.5 of 2017 has yesterday 09/09/2020 been pass into Law by @Kadlegislature. The Bill

Recommend total Castration for Rapist in the State,” the tweet read.

Currently, the state penal law provides for 21 years of imprisonment for rape of an adult and life imprisonment in the case of a child.

It is not immediately clear if there are provisions against female rapists in the new bill.

It was passed about two months after the state Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, advocated a stiff punishment, lamenting that convicts often rape more persons after serving their jail term.

“In addition to life imprisonment or 21 years’ imprisonment, anyone convicted of rape will have his organ surgically removed so that even after he finishes his term, he will not be able to rape anyone again,” the governor had said.

Boat Mishap Claims 10 Lives in Niger Laleye Dipo in Minna No fewer than 10 people were confirmed dead in a boat mishap, which occurred on the River Shiroro in Niger State on Wednesday evening.

The bodies of two of the victims were recovered while seven others were yet to be found.

This latest incident is coming about two months after five people were killed in a similar boat mishap, while trying to escape from armed bandits in Gurmana town in the same Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that Wednesday’s accident occured when the victims were returning

from their farms in Kudumi village after harvesting some of their agricultural produce.

Eyewitnesses said some 19 people were on board the canoe, which was also conveying several bags of newly harvested rice and tubers of yam.

According to the report the farmers ran into stormy weather, which made the boat to capsize.

Divers were said to have rushed to rescue the traders but only seven of them were brought out alive.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Inga when contacted confirmed the incident.

ASSESSING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT...

L-R: National Treasurer of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Isaac Agoye; President of MAN, Mr. Mansur Ahmed; and the Acting Director-General, Mr. Ambrose Oruche, during a press conference on the 48th Annual General Meeting of the association in Lagos...yesterday

Six Years after Abduction of Schoolgirls, WAEC Conducts Exams in Chibok For the first time in six years, secondary schools in Chibok, Borno state, have participated in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC).

The acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. AbdulKhalifa Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday while receiving members of the Education in Emergency Working Group (EiEWG) Nigeria,

on Thursday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Schools in Chibok were shut down in 2014 after Boko Haram insurgents abducted more than 200 students from the Government Girls Secondary School in the area.

While the federal government has secured the release of some of the girls, a few others are still in the custody of the insurgents.

The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reported that Ibrahim, who doubles as the Commander, Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, was represented by Ifeanyi Otu, Chief of Staff of the Division.

According to NAN, he noted the negative impact of insurgency on education in the north-east, adding that the situation has been brought under control.

“It will be gladdening to note that for the first time in the past

six years, WAEC successfully held WASSCE in Chibok with the military providing security,” he said.

“We are all witnesses to what happened in the recent past like the abduction of the Chibok girls, the slaughtering of students at Buni Yadi and abduction of students at Dapchi. These are all that happened and we have turned around that narrative.

Customs Intercepts Passenger with 2,886 ATM Cards Hidden in Noodles’ Carton

Eromosele Abiodun

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command yesterday handed over a suspect with 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The Deputy Controller of

MMIA, Abdulmumin Bako, while briefing journalists yesterday, also disclosed that four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards were also intercepted with the suspect.

He said the suspect, one lshaq Abubakar Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State, was intercepted when he was travelling to Dubai via

Emirates evacuation flight.

According to him, “At about 1145 hours on August 22, at the departure hall gate ’B’ of the MMIA, Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State travelling to Dubai via Emirates flight was intercepted with 2,863 ATM Cards and four sim cards by our officers on duty.

“The ATM cards and sim cards

were carefully concealed in an noodles carton by the suspect.

The suspect claimed that one Mr. Musliu was assigned to him to facilitate his movement through the checks at the airport by one Mr Suleiman but due to the diligence of our officers who insisted on conducting physical examination, we revealed the concealment”.

Again, Buhari Hail’s Adesina on His Re-election Congratulates First Bank’s MD on Forbes award Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday received the newly re-elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and told him that “you make us proud.”

Buhari also yesterday in Abuja congratulated the Managing Director of First Bank Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan (FCA), on his emergence as the recipient of Forbes Best of Africa Award.

According to the president’s media adviser, Mr. Femi

Adesina, in a statement, the president told Adesina why he gave him the needed support and congratulated him once again, saying nothing succeeds like success.

He added: “I congratulate you on your second and final term in office. Congratulations

on winning the election.

Nothing succeeds like success.”

He said he had told many people on the reason he opted to throw his weight behind the AfDB president despite serving the current opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before his own election in 2015.

Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu to Sign Peace Accord Tuesday The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the candidates participating in the September 19 governorship election in Edo

State will sign a peace accord on Tuesday.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made this known yesterday during

a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Mahmood also said about 17,000 ad hoc staff would be recruited for the election, noting

that the PTF guidelines and safety measures would be strictly obeyed as the commission was going to operate a ‘no face mask, no voting policy’ at the poll.

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NEWS XTRA

APC, PDP Bicker over Alleged Plot to Rig Edo Election Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Campaign Council in Edo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday engaged in war of words over an allegation by the main opposition party in the state that uncovered a plot by the ruling party in the state to manipulate the election process to their favour by presenting false voters.

The Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Dr. Cecil Esekhaigbe, also alleged that he

had reports on Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged plans to use the state’s Abuja liaison office in illegal trade of voters’ cards.

He alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the alleged ploy.

But the PDP in a statement by state’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, described the allegations as baseless, saying APC is the one obviously exploring such option.

He said “Snce we busted their Hope Uzodinma template, they are flying a kite and we will be vigilant to make sure their

fake voters are not allowed into voting centres as they are the ones who want to use that to cause trouble at the polling units. Their plans will fail. They cannot subvert the will of Edo people,” he said.

PDP argued that the APC has turned into a purveyor of fake news, having realised that

defeat is staring it in the face.

But Esekhaigbe alleged that: “Under the guise of assisting intending voters with transportation, the governor has released the sum of 250million to the Edo Liaison Office, Abuja to induce voters living in Abuja and also buy the PVCs of those who will not be able to attend

at 200,000 per PVC. In executing this ploy, the Abuja Liaison office has sent out notices to platforms of Edo indigenes in Abuja, inviting them to come with their PVCs to the office from Friday 4th September to Friday 11th September, 2020.”

APC noted that, “the practice of voting buying is contrary to

the Electoral Act and part of a clear template to rig the forth coming Edo State governorship elections. The APC is hereby calling on INEC and the relevant security agencies to investigate this desperate act by the Edo State governor and his agents with a view to nipping it in the bud.”

Ondo Assembly Allegedly Locks out Opposition Lawmakers James Sowole in Akure Two members belonging to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo State House of Assembly were allegedly prevented from entering the Assembly by security men at the gate.

The drama was revealed in a video which has gone viral on various social media platforms.

The affected lawmakers, Festus Akingbaso and Rasheed Elegbeleye, represent Akoko North-East state constituency and Idanre constituency respectively, in the state Assembly.

The two lawmakers were seen in the video protesting against the action of the policemen at the gate.

The security guard told the lawmakers that the order to lock the gate came from the Speaker, Hon Bamidele Oloyeloogun.

But one of the lawmakers put a call through to the Speaker, informing him of what happened at the gate, still the gate was not opened for them.

One of the aggrieved lawmakers, Elegbeleye, confirmed the video, and said it was a deliberate act to shut them out.

He said: “We were invited by the parliamentary secretary for the plenary session, but on getting to the gate of the Assembly, it was locked and the gatemen ran away.

We were surprised to see this, after all, we are not suspended, and even those suspended have been reinstated by the court.

Gbajabiamila: Nigeria Must Solve N’Delta Problems Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday cautioned against playing the blame game in the ongoing efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to tackle the challenges besetting the Niger Delta region.

Gbajabiamila noted that while various stakeholders had unwittingly contributed to the region’s challenges in terms of policies and politics, there must henceforth be concerted efforts to resolve the issues without recourse to the not-so-palatable past.

The Speaker, who made the comments while declaring open a web conference tagged: ‘Resolving the Host Communities Question’, organised by the House in collaboration with the Niger Delta and the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC), stressed that the House was also in the process of deliberating on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

He added that all federal government interventions in the oil-rich area, including the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC), were also being reviewed to ensure maximum positive impact on the people of the region.

Petrol Price Hike: Police Arrest Protesters, Four Journalists in Lagos Rebecca Ejifoma Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command yesterday arrested 18 protesters, including four journalists covering the protest, who took to the streets of Ojuelegba to demonstrate peacefully against the hike in price of petrol and electricity tariff.

Their protest is coming on the heels of the recent hike in fuel price from N145 to N152, and the electricity tariff, which is now N62.33 from N30.23 per kilowatt.

This group of citizens, including

students from tertiary institutions in the state, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D, took to the streets to register their displeasure over the hike.

Meanwhile, the International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned the unlawful arrest of journalists covering the protest.

IPC disapproved the harassment and brutalisation of the journalists in the course of their legitimate duties, and particularly decried the seizure and damages caused to their working tools

RALLYING SUPPORT OF TRADERS...

L-R: Nollywood actor, Mr. Chinedu Ikedieze; former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; and the governorship candidate of APC in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, at the APC’s ward-to-ward rally at Owelu Spare Parts Market in Edo South, Edo State...yesterday

Northern Govs Review Education, Almajiri System Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Northern state governors have met to review the successes so far made on the Almajiri system in the region, concluding that the steps taken to evacuate the children to their states of origin and to re-unite them with their families and guardians were laudable.

The virtual meeting which

was convened at the instance of the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, also discussed how to consolidate on the success to ensure that the children are given proper education and care.

The governors also received briefing from the Special Adviser to the President on Social

Investments, Mrs. Mariam Uwais, who explained that the federal government was willing to partner the northern governors in the process of ensuring that the children are given a smooth transition from the Almajiri system to formal education.

She said the initial plan was to ensure that proper data is generated so that the children

would be kept in a school environment for about six to nine months and be given intense basic education and skills to enable them fit into the new perspective, which will prepare them for the classroom and formal school system, adding that those who are a bit older and may want to go into trade and other vocations will also be trained to do that.

Violence will Escalate COVID-19 in Edo, INEC Warns Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that violence of any form may undermine COVID-19 protocols during the September 19 Edo governorship election, and escalate the pandemic in the state.

INEC’s Chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu gave the

warning yesterday at the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja.

He noted that such irregularity might complicate the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Yakubu, violence may not only disrupt the election but also lead to further spread of the pandemic.

He said: “I will like to appeal

to all parties and candidates and all those involved in the electoral process to eschew violence.

In the context of COVID 19, violence will not only disrupt the election, it will also complicate the nation’s response to the health emergencies.”

He however assured the Commission is fully prepared and ready for the conduct of the election and would fully comply

with the COVID-19 protocols.

Responding to whether the Commission can assure a violence- free poll, Yakubu explained that “we can only assure of efforts we are making that there is no violence.”

He added: “We have identified eight protective measures ranging from mandatory use of face mask, physical distancing, use of infrared thermometers

Lawan: N’Assembly will Prioritise Youth Devt Deji Elumoye in Abuja The President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, yesterday said that the National Assembly will prioritise the allocation of resources for youth development despite the present economic challenges faced by the country owing to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawan stated this in his

remarks virtually delivered to flag-off the training of 1,000 youths in GSM phone repair, hardware, software and entrepreneurship development in Yobe State.

According to the Senate President, youth development initiatives serve as one of the ways of empowering and uplifting the wellbeing of the country’s youth population.

“It is most pleasing to flag

off this important training for youths in Yobe State. The training of 1000 youths in GSM phone repairs, hardware, software and entrepreneurship development is a landmark in our commitment to uplifting the wellbeing of a key part of the nation’s population.

“It is additionally a reminder of the multiple avenues for empowering youths across Nigeria. We cannot overstate

the fact that youths are a crucial category in the nation’s population. They are full of energy and are hopeful for the future,” Lawan said.

The Senate President while underscoring the importance of synergy in governance, assured that the National Assembly will ensure the allocation of resources specifically for the purpose of youth development across the country.

Resident Doctors Suspend Nationwide Strike The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended the nationwide industrial action.

President of NARD, Dr Aliyu Sokumba confirmed this development last night.

Sokumba disclosed that the union will review the progress made in talks with the federal government in two weeks.

On Wednesday, the federal government and the doctors reached an agreement in a bid to end the industrial action.

During the meeting which almost took the entire day, NARD had disclosed that it will liaise with the executive council with a view to calling off the strike.

Both parties had been in talks to resolve the issues which led to

NARD declaring an end to the country-wide strike.

After the meeting, the federal government said an additional N8.9 billion has been approved to pay up a large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all health workers across the nation, This was revealed by Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment during the

signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Ngige stated that the implementation of the payment of the Special Hazard and Inducement Allowance has been concluded, stressing that this has been cash-backed and the mandate sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments to start with effect from September 9.

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24 HOURS...

Malabu Case: Adoke Wants Nigeria’s Lawyer Debriefed over Alleged Falsehoods in Italian Court Alex Enumah in Abuja A former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), has called on the federal government to debrief its counsel in the ongoing hearing of corruption allegations surrounding the sale of Oil Prospecting Licence

(245), otherwise known as Malabu Oil, by a Milan Court in Italy.

Adoke premised the call on what he described as “deliberate and malicious falsehoods”, the lawyer, Mr. Lucio Lucia has continued to present before the Milan Court in arguing the case of the federal government.

Constitution Review: Senate Extends Submission of Memoranda Till Sept 25

Adoke’s grouse was that despite being given a clean bill of health in the Malabu debacle, by competent court in Nigeria as well as the federal government, Nigeria’s lawyer in the suit in Italy has continued to rope him in and paint him as corrupt.

Shell, Eni and some individuals are currently facing trial at the Milan Court in Italy over their alleged complicity in the OPL 245 transaction.

Although Adoke, who is not a party in the ongoing trial in a statement made available to journalists, said he has been following the proceedings “with keen interest to ensure that no adverse findings of criminal misconduct are made against my person”.

Further rationalising grounds for the sack of Lucia, the former AGF said, the counsel in his submission before the Court on September 9, 2020,

while representing the interest of the federal government as the injured party entitled to civil compensation, had allegedly “reaffirmed the indictment of Mr. Adoke and others in the heist” in connection with the OPL 245 Resolution Agreement.

“Let me reiterate for the umpteenth time that my official role as AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice in

the implementation of OPL 245 Settlement Agreement has been the subject of judicial pronouncement by the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice BFN Nyako”.

Justice Nyako amongst other things had held that, “The plaintiff cannot be held personally liable for carrying out the lawful/approvals of the President while he served as a Minister of the Government of the Federation.”

Total memo now 95 Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Senate yesterday has officially extended the submission of memoranda by interested members of the public for the review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria till Friday, September 25.

This is just as the total number of memo sent by individuals and groups to the Senate committee on constitution review rose from 68 on Wednesday to 95 yesterday.

The upper legislative chamber had on Wednesday unofficially extended the submission of Memoranda by one week due to some pressure mounted on the Deputy President of the Senate, Senate Ovie Omo-Agege, who also doubles as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

It took another dimension yesterday when the committee came up with an official statement

extending the memoranda submission by two weeks.

The committee said the latest extension was in response to appeals by stakeholders from various parts of the federation, who were seeking extension to enable them submit their memo.

A statement issued yesterday evening by the Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, indicated that memoranda will now be received until Friday, September 25, 2020 Giving further explanations, the statement added that the extension of deadline would accommodate those who requested for more time to bring their memoranda forward.

The request for extension of deadline was approved as part of measures to further strengthen the constitution review process and widen opportunities for more groups and individuals to be involved.

TStv Acquires Right for EFL TStv Africa, a Nigeria direct to home Pay TV operator, has announced that it has acquired rights to broadcast English Football League (EFL) Championship Live matches to Nigerians as the 2020/21 season is set to kick off today (Friday), September 11.

This was announced in a public statement issued on the TStv Africa Facebook page of the company.

EFL is the second – highest overall in the English Football

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I formerly known and addressed as ONYEMELUKWE VICTOR CHUKWUEBUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUEBUKA VICTOR JEREMIAH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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League after the premier league.

The league is contested by 24 clubs. Each season, the two top-finishing teams in the championship are automatically promoted to the premier league.

The teams that finish the season in 3rd to 6th place enter a playoff tournament, with the winner also gaining promotion to the premier league. The three lowest – finishing teams in the championship are relegated to league one.

The acquisition of the EFL TV rights means that Nigerians and other subscribers across Sub-Saharan Africa will enjoy all matches from the EFL in high definition quality on TStv.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as UCHE FIDELIS, now wish to be known and addressed as AKONYE UCHE FIDELIS. All former

COMING TOGETHER FOR SYNOD...

L-R: Former Archbishop of Kwara, Most Rev. Olusegun Adeyemi; Host Bishop and Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West, Bishop James Olusola Odedeji; his wife, Mrs. Lydia Odedeji; Bishop of Badagry, Rt. Rev. Joseph Adeyemi; and Bishop of Ijesha North, Rt. Rev. Iwabiolorun Ouyamo, at the third Season of the Seventh Synod of Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday

NHIS Backs FG’s Fight against Pandemic Peter Uzoho The Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Mohammed Nasir Sambo, has reiterated the agency’s commitment toeards supporting the sustained efforts of the federal government in protecting all Nigerians from the debilitating scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sambo stated this while

handing over a consignment of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Umar Abba Mohammed, at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday by the Head of Media and Public Relations, NHIS, Ayo Osinlu, Sambo commended the strategies and initiatives being deployed by

the nation through the Federal Ministry of Health, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), to protect lives and livelihood of all residents of the country.

He, however, expressed particular concern for the institutions and personnel providing essential services, whom he said, their nature of work predisposes them to high

risk of infection, assuring that no effort must be spared to ensure their protection in the line of duty.

According to him, “this is responsible for the prompt response of the NHIS to requests from the PTF on COVID-19 for assistance in the provision of personal protection equipment for officers of strategic agencies such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the EFCC”.

FG Raises the Alarm over Imminent Floods in Some States Udora Orizu in Abuja The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned members of the public to expect more floods in the months of September and October.

The Director General of the NIHSA, Mr. Clement Nze, who gave the warning yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja, said that the current flood level sighted in Niamey poses a dangerous threat to the country.

Nze explained that any release of excess water from the dams in countries upstream Rivers Niger and Benue this year would have more negative impacts on Nigeria, which is located downstream of countries in the Niger Basin.

He identified the highly vulnerable states as Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.

He said that the flood that ravaged Kebbi State just about a week ago left so many damages

and noted that the current flooding situation called for vigilance on the part of all the stakeholders.

The director general called the states and local governments as well as multi-national companies and public-spirited individuals to join hands to save the country from the consequences of “twin pandemic” (COVID-19 and flood) in the year 2020.

Nze warned: ‘’The rains are finally here. The volume of river flows on our river is surging and

river channels could no longer accommodate significant runoff as floodplains, which traditionally serve the alluvial plains and are rich in agricultural productivity, lost its retention capacity to give way to flooding of adjacent lands.

“Farmlands and crop yields are being lost to furry of floodwaters, livestock and ecosystem species are diminishing while hope for livelihood hang in the balance due to monumental economic losses.

UNICEF Targets Enrolment of One Million Girls in Six Northern States Francis Sardauna in Katsina

under its GEP3’s investment through improvements of teachers quality and school governance in Katsina, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi and Niger States.

The UNICEF Education Officer, Katsina Field Office, Mr. Saka Adebayo Ibraheem, disclosed this yesterday in Katsina during a meeting with members of School-Based

Management Committee (SBMC).

The one-day orientation meeting, which was aimed at strengthening the roles of the SBMC and communities in ensuring safe reopening of schools and learning facilities, drew participants from all the 34 local government areas of the state.

He said the project, which

has eight years life span, started in 2012 and is being driven

by SBMC to ensure effective mobilisation of girl child for school enrolment.

The UNICEF education officer added that 42,000 primary schools and integrated Qur’anic teachers across the six benefiting states would be trained and mentored in child-centred pedagogy.

documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKPULOR VICTORIA OGOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ECHENIM VICTORIA OGOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

The United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) has targeted the enrolment of one million girls into primary and integrated Qur’anic schools in six Northern States in 2020 through its Girls Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3).

The organisation is also targeting 1.9 million boys

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Online Newspaper, Naija Times, Debuts Next Week

I, ADAGBOR NNAMDI RENE is one and the same person as ADAGBOR NNAMDI. All former documents still remain valid, all general public should please take note.

A new online newspaper, ‘Naija Times,’ is set to make its entry into the Nigerian media space on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

The newspaper will focus on investigative journalism and

provide in-depth analysis on business and economy, politics and governance, science and technology, health and wellness, lifestyle, general news and diaspora matters.

According to a statement issued yesterday and signed by the Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board of Naija Times, Akpandem James, every day human-angle stories including

witty cartoons, crime fiction, relationships, parenting and campus reports will also spice up the publication designed to cater for every segment of society.

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Ëœ ͚͚˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

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

Kwara Governor Renames Ilorin Stadium after Rashidi Yekini Sends bill to formalise it to Kwara House of Assembly

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja At last, Nigeria’s football icon, Rashidi Yekini is on the verge of being honoured with the renaming of the Kwara Sports Stadium in Ilorin after him.

Yekini who died on May 12, 2012 in Ibadan at the age of 48 years, remains Nigeria’s best ever forward to don the national jersey.

Yesterday, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman

Maradona Jnr Tips Osimhen to Take Serie A by Storm Diego Armando Maradona Junior, the son of an Argentina legend by the same name, is tipping Victor Osimhen to take the Italian Serie A by storm in his debut season with Napoli.

Napoli’s most expensive signing in history, Osimhen caught the eye in his two pre-season games, scoring back-to-back hat-tricks to help the Blues defeat L’Aquila Calcio 1927 and Teramo.

Maradona has highlighted the qualities of Osimhen but on the flip side the former Italy U17 international expressed concern about his link-up play.

Writing in his column in Repubblica via gonfialarete. com, Maradona Jr. stated : “He is a forward with a great

He said: “ We will send a bill to the State House of Assembly to immortallise Rashidi Yekini with the name of the stadium changing after the approval.�

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare had reminded the governor about the series of letter that the Ministry wrote to the Kwara State Government for the immortalisation of the late football legend. Mr. Dare had urged the Kwara State Governor

to sustain his support for sports development while noting that sports help to reduce social vices. “I want to thank his excellency for hosting our biggest youth game in Ilorin, your excellency we are coming to Ilorin again because of the facilities at the University of Ilorin soonest for the youth game. “I love the fact that His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq loves sport. I want to encourage your excellency

to invest more on sports in the state ,� the minister pleaded with the governor.

After starting his professional career in the Nigerian leaguewith the UNTL in Kaduna and strutting his stuff with IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Yekini moved to Côte d’Ivoireto play for Africa Sports National, and from there he went to Portugaland Vitória de Setúbalwhere he experienced his most memorable years.

prospect, he has hallucinating room for improvement. “If put in the right conditions, he can become a 30 goal striker. He’s just 21. I have expressed some doubts about his construction phase when it comes to tie up the game. “He doesn’t have to do it too much, it doesn’t have to be his first goal. He is good at attacking depth and if he has space in front it hurts. “He must be put in a position to kick many times on goal. Once he can be wrong, not the second�.

Osimhen finished with 18 goals in all competitions for Lille last term and netted 20 during his loan spell with Sporting Charleroi in 2018-19.

I ‘ll Deliver Best Ever FIFA Goal Project in UgborodoEscravos, Says Egbe Sports facility Expert, Ebi Egbe, has promised that his company would deliver the best ever FIFA Goal Project in Ugborodo-Escravos in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Egbe who is the Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle, the unarguably best football playing pitch contractors in the country at the moment, accompanied NFF President., Amaju Melvin Pinnick, on a visit to the community early this week.

He promised that the location of the project was fantastic as it would be nice to see football being played close to the Atlantic ocean. “We are going to deliver the best ever FIFA Goal Project. It will be the first of it’s kind amongst the riverine communities in the Niger Delta,� pledged Egbe.

Earlier during the visit,

AbdulRazaq, who visited the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare in his office in Abuja, confirmed that the process of renaming the Ilorin Stadium after Yekini has began..

Governor AbdulRazaq announced that progress has been made in immortalising the football icon, Rashidi Yekini by naming the Kwara State Sports Complex Stadium in Ilorin after him.

Pinnick had solicited the cooperation of the host community for the project to be built for the teeming youths of the area o benefit.

Pinnick intimated the Paramount Ruler of Ugborodo that world soccer governing body, FIFA has given approval for work to commence on the project in the community.

The former CAF Vice President called on the host community to create a conducive environment for the contractor to deliver the project on time.

On his part, the Paramount Ruler of Ugborodo community who spoke through the chairman of the interim community committee thanked FIFA and the NFF for the rare privilege and assured them that all necessary support will be provided for the actualisation of the project.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick (right) with CEO of Monimichelle, Ebi Egbe at UgborodoEscravos, Delta State...yesterday

Rashidi Yekini

Stephen Odey Completes Loan Switch to French Club Amiens SC Former MFM FC of Lagos forward, Stephen Odey, has completed a season-long loan transfer to French second division club Amiens SC from Belgian club KRC Genk.

This followed a successful medical at the French club,

who have an option to buy the striker after the loan.

L’Equipe reported Odey is a direct replacement for winger Ulrick Eneme Ella, who is on his way to the Premier League in England.

Odey, 22, has failed to

establish himself at Genk since his move from Swiss side FC Zurich last summer in a deal worth 3.5 million Euros.

It is believed that he did not enjoy a decent run in the team to prove himself. This season, he did not make the matchday

squad for the team’s first four league matches and it was only a matter of time before he was on his way out of the club.

He was also linked with another French second division club Guingamp as well as Turkish club Ankaragucu.

Ratel FC Boss Invests in Rebranding of Women’s League In a frantic move to contribute to the further development of the women’s football league in Nigeria, the Proprietor and financier of Ratel FC of Makurdi, Benue State, Barrister Paul Edeh, on Wednesday invested in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), making valuable donations to the rebranding and development of the Women’s League, at the Glass House in Abuja.

The Ratel FC boss in company with some of his club staff members, stated that, he was at the NWFL new Secretariat to flag off his club’s partnership and investment with the NWFL towards a better administration of the women’s league.

To achieve this, Paul

New Chief Operating OďŹƒcer of the NWFL, Faith Anuge, (right) receiving the equipment donated to the NWFL by Proprietor of the Ratel FC of Makurdi...last Wednesday in Abuja

Edeh, donated office hardware and materials to the NWFL Secretariat. These items include: 20 standard soccer balls, one Sharp heavy duty photocopier, Ratel FC Team Jersey and a giant customized wall clock.

He promised to continually make worthy donations to the

NWFL before the start of every season.

Edeh, disclosed that, his decision to partner the NWFL, is in appreciation of the NWFL giant strides and bold initiative to reposition and restructure the women’s league since the Aisha Falode-led board was

inaugurated.

He added that, the Chairperson of the NWFL in a very short time after taking over the leadership of the women’s league has made remarkable improvements compared to what the league used to be. “With Aisha Falode, the three tiers of the women’s league, the Premier, Championship and the Nationwide (amateur) are today taken more seriously and their standards have improved tremendously, as more league players feature in the senior national team, the Super Falcons.�

The donated items by Ratel FC boss were received by the new Chief Operating Officer of the NWFL, Faith Anuge, in the presence of board member, Joe Amene.

Friday September 11, 2020

TR

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& RE A SO

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Price: N250

MISSILE CJN to Judges “You must rise and operate above every sentiment that might play out in the course of your adjudication in the tribunal. All eyes are on you and always remember that your conducts will be publicly dissected and thoroughly scrutinised” – Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, warning judges appointed to preside over election tribunals in Ondo, Edo and other states to avoid falling for temptations.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

The Biafran Tragedy: No Victor, All Vanquished

F

ifty years ago in January 1970, the victorious commander of the conquering Nigerian Army, Major General Yakubu Gowon, pronounced the outcome of the civil war as that of “no victor, no vanquished”. Such generosity of spirit was consistent with the jolly good fellow visage of the youthful Gowon and it rightly earned him accolades across the world as Nigeria’s ‘Abraham Lincoln’. Considering what Nigeria has made of the civil war outcome and the past 50 years, there is the imperative to review and update the verdict to the status of ‘no victor, all vanquished’. It was long in coming but the most peculiar aspect of post civil war Nigeria has been the intra regional genocidal crisis featuring the Middle Belt sub region as victim of a rampaging ‘Fulanisation’ agenda.

It is bad enough that the sub-regional Christian half (of the Northern region) is being literally bled to death, it is worse still that the carnage is being experienced at the hands of its regional comrade in arms in seeming fulfillment of a Biafran curse. If any development can be worse than this ordeal, it is its cheapening and trivilisation by a son of the soil of the order of my good friend, Obadiah Mailafia.

Bertoldt Brect might as well be speaking to Nigeria when he observed “unlucky is the land without a hero, unhappy is the land in need of a hero’. More than any group of people in contemporary Nigeria, the Middle Belt Christians are in dire need of heroes. In a bizarre drama all his own, Mailafia projected himself as resolved on taking the battle to the camp of the friend turned foe and proceeded to unveil the Northern Muslim ruling class as the big masquerade behind the Boko Haram terror.

“We have met with some of their high commanders, they have sat down with us not once, not twice.They told us that one of the northern governors is the commander of Boko Haram in Nigeria. Boko Haram and the Fulani bandits are one and the same. During this lockdown, their planes were moving up and down as if there was no lockdown”. Knowing fully well the potential consequences of this ‘good trouble’, we were mightily impressed at his valiant act of daring the lion in its den.

Here comes the long awaited Middle Belt David rearing to do battle with the Fulani goliath. And then the revolution collapsed before it even took off when Mailafia recanted and pleaded he actually got the rumour from Fulani traders; that he did not know his claim was on video and that he was a fan of Buhari.

Those of us rooting for him with baited breath had our faces splashed with egg.

Before him was the brave man himself, Theophilus Danjuma, whose life mirrors the irony of the Middle Belt tragedy like no other. Without a doubt, he played the most decisive role in the mutiny that reestablished the Northern regional hegemony in July 1966.

In the spirit of ‘one North, one people’, he was the Arewa avenging angel who arrested and passed sentence on General Aguiyi Ironsi for complicity in ‘killing our leaders’.

Five decades later he found sufficient cause to recant and swallow the vomit of his ‘one North, one people’. From fighting for a united North, he has been reduced to fighting against the North. This time around he formally

Buhari launched the intra regional struggle with the following bellicose declaration: “You must rise to protect yourselves from these people (the Fulani militia), if you depend on the Armed Forces to protect you, you will all die.This ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria. These killers have been protected by the military, they cover them and you must be watchful to guide and protect yourselves because you have no any other place to go. The ethnic cleansing must stop now otherwise Somalia will be a child play. I ask all of you to be on your alert and defend your country, defend your state”.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took the surrender of the civil war and in the enactment of this role, he read from the tea leaves that providence has crowned him Mr Nigeria with the auxiliary title of foremost Nigerian nationalist ideologue. Fifty years later this is his own situation report on Nigeria: “If after over ten years of fighting Boko Haram, the terrorist group is still waxing strong, let nobody out of self-delusion think that a war of self-determination by one or more geopolitical zones of Nigeria with the present disenchantment would be easily suppressed by the rest of what may remain of the country.

Some will fight to the last drop of the blood of

their group rather than suffer the indignity of slavery, oppression, domination and atrocious injustice in the land of their birth and the only one that they can call their country. If Boko Haram can get an outside support, any geo-political zone opting for self-determination may equally get an external support. War may not necessarily go as planned, estimated and predicted.”

If, before the civil war, there was the hope that the mutual distrust and hostility between the South-west and the South-east could be assuaged, the outcome of the civil war threw a bigger spanner in the works- to the ruin of the South and Nigeria at large. Rather than reach a common purpose for compelling the North to join them in the competitive race for modernisation, they chose to signal the latter to come and fish in their troubled waters.

On account of the role he played in the civil war, It was reasonable of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to expect the political support of the North towards the realisation of his fervent presidential aspiration. Not only was it a forlorn hope, it also conclusively cost him the support of the South-east on which he predicated his presidential ticket in 1979 and thereby deprived Nigeria of his superlative leadership aptitude. Chief Emeka Ojukwu was not kidding around when he saluted Awolowo as the best President Nigeria never had. And then karmic justice ensured the return of General Muhammadu Buhari to come and round off the circle of the Biafran tragedy syndrome.

The sum of my objection to the candidacy of Buhari was that no Nigerian political leader who rose to political stardom on the platform of unparalleled divisive demagoguery should be rewarded with the Presidency of Nigeria.

Regardless and in its peculiar wisdom, if not outright folly, the Nigerian electorate elected an unrepentant Fulani supremacist to come and provide a leadership quality he critically lacks. He wasted no time in validating the reputation that preceded him but in the process he has managed to bringing down the roof on his primary Northern constituency.

Professor Usman Yusuf is unsurpassed in summing up the tragedy “President Muhammadu Buhari came into power thanks to the loyal support, trust and goodwill of the masses particularly in Arewa. They gave their money, blood, sweat, tears and for some,

Regardless and in its peculiar wisdom, if not outright folly, the Nigerian electorate elected an unrepentant Fulani supremacist to come and provide a leadership quality he critically lacks.

He wasted no time in validating the reputation that preceded him but in the process he has managed to bringing down the roof on his primary Northern constituency

their lives to elect him in 2015 and re-elect him in 2019. When he laid sick in hospital in the U.K., millions kept vigil praying for his recovery. Arewa has for too long made excuses for and given a lot of latitude to this President in spite of all that has been going wrong in their personal lives and the nation”.

“Arewa today is under siege and terrorised by rampaging bandits and insurgents. They roll into our towns and villages in convoys of motorcycles riding three on each, brandishing AK47 rifles with impunity. They spend hours killing, burning, raping, carting away livestock and abducting women as sex slaves.

“From Adamawa to Zamfara, the death toll all across Arewa is mounting. Images of the massacres are too gruesome to watch and the stories from survivors too heartbreaking to hear.

People in the region feel that all they have to show for voting in President Muhammadu Buhari in massive numbers are increasing poverty, death and destruction to their lives and livelihoods and the painful emotional trauma of rape of girls and woman in rural communities. Mass burials of our people massacred by bandits and insurgents is a common occurrence and the land is soaked wet with the blood of innocent, unarmed, undefended folks living largely in rural areas that have never had any government presence. Yet, we the elite have become so immunised to this carnage and injustice in our midst that all we do is share the video clips on WhatsApp then recoil back into our shell of fear, docility and nonchalance instead of raising our voices.

“Arewa’s collective silence to these injustices is a bigger tragedy than the terror and cruelty that these murderers visit daily on our people.

In the name of God who created us all, I call on all men and women of conscience to speak up loud and clearly against these injustices and our government’s inability to stop the bloodshed. Let us not forget that we will surely be asked to account for what we did when our people were being kidnapped, killed, maimed, raped, abducted, their houses razed down and displaced from their ancestral homes”.

In similar vein, Bishop Matthew Kukah noted “neither Islam nor the north can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His north has become one large grave yard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country. Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution. His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Emir of Kano are the two most powerful traditional and moral leaders in Islam today. None of them is happy and they have said so loud and clear. The Sultan recently lamented the tragic consequences of power being in the wrong hands. Every day, Muslim clerics are posting tales of lamentation about their fate. Now, the Northern elders, who in 2015 believed that General Buhari had come to redeem the north have now turned against the president”.

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