FRIDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2020

WTO Explains How Okonjo-Iweala, Myung-hee Made Final Stage Former finance minister expresses gratitude AU, FG rally support for Nigeria’s candidate Obinna Chima in Lagos and James Emejo in Abuja The World Trade Organisation (WTO) yesterday explained that Nigeria's Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the

Republic of Korea's Yoo Myung-hee qualified for the final stage in its selection process for its next director-general because both candidates were able to secure the broadest and deepest

support from the membership.

With the shortlisting, the federal government yesterday urged Heads of State Delegations to the WTO to endorse Okonjo-Iweala on the strength of her antecedents,

competence and statement to the General Council.

The duo saw off competition from Britain’s Liam Fox, Kenya’s Amina Mohamed and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad al-Tuwaijri in the second round

of the battle for the position.

In a statement issued yesterday by the WTO, the General Council Chair of the global trade body, David Walker of New Zealand and his co-facilitators in the

selection process stated that between September 24 and October 6, WTO members expressed preferences on five remaining candidates during Continued on page 9

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Analysts Give Quick Recovery Tips as Buhari Forecasts Second Recession President proposes N13.08tn budget for 2021 Lawan, Gbajabiamila promise speedy passage Deji Elumoye, James Emejo, Adedayo Akinwale, Adaora Orizu in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos Economic and financial experts have suggested swift implementation of a combination of fiscal, structural and investment policies to reduce the adverse effects of the looming second recession and get the economy on the path of a quick recovery.

President Muhammadu Buhari had yesterday predicted that the country's economy may lapse into the second recession in four years, with the projected negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of this year.

Buhari, who disclosed this when he presented a N13.08 trillion budget proposal for Continued on page 9

Another Gas Explosion Kills Five, Destroys 44 Buildings in Lagos Chiemelie Ezeobi, Segun James, Peter Uzoho and Rebecca Ejifoma Barely three weeks after a 30-tonne capacity cooking gas tanker exploded in IjuIshaga area of Lagos, critically injuring over 30 people and destroying 23 buildings, an early morning gas explosion yesterday rocked the Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos, leaving no fewer than five persons dead and eight others with

varying degree of injuries.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

Sanwo-Olu, who described the incident as a sad memory in the life of his administration, blamed negligence on the part of the gas plant operators for the explosion.

Continued on page 10

APC, PDP, ZLP in Last-minute Rally in Ondo...Page 5

THE MONEY BILL...

President Muhammadu Buhari lays the 2021 Appropriation Bill before the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja… yesterday godwin omoigui

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

APC, PDP, ZLP in Last-minute Rally in Ondo Main opposition party rejects INEC’s chief returning officer Electoral body warns staff against fraud

Chuks Okocha and James Sowole in Akure The front runners in tomorrow’s governorship election in Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) yesterday made last-minute rally for support as electioneering ended yesterday.

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the APC, PDP’s Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), and Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of ZLP yesterday closed down their campaigns, retreating to their war rooms to strategise on the deployment of officials that would monitor the election and ensure that

their votes count.

Already, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has warned his staff against electoral fraud in the election, warning that the full weight of the law would be brought down any perpetrators of electoral manipulation.

He spoke just as the PDP rejected the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, as the chief returning officer of Saturday's governorship election in Ondo State.

The Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council and Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, stated this

FCT Police Launch Manhunt as Kidnappers Shoot One, Abduct Three Olawale Ajimotokan and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The FCT Police Command yesterday launched a manhunt for kidnappers of three persons in a farm along Kabi axis of Pegi village in Kuje Area Council.

One person is currently in critical condition from gunshot injuries, while three others were kidnapped by the gunmen, who attacked the area on Tuesday night.

The victims were said to have been attacked by the gunmen, who dressed in black outfits.

Their Volkswagen saloon car was also shot at indiscriminately by the criminals.

THISDAY gathered that the injured victim had attempted to escape from the vehicle before he was shot.

The incident was confirmed by the Chairman of Pegi Community Development Association (PECDA), Mr. Taiwo Aderibigbe.

Aderibigbe said the kidnap had also been reported to the police, which had launched an investigation to unravel the matter.

The latest incident marked the third time that kidnappers would be carrying out daring attack on the community since the first attack on December 6, 2019.

However, the FCT Police Command yesterday said it arrested suspects linked to the previous kidnapping incidents along Tunga Maje, Kuje and Kwali axis.

A statement issued by the command said it launched a strategic operation to rescue the three persons kidnapped on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, in a farm along Kabi axis in Pegi-Kuje.

The command enjoined members of the public to remain calm while it intensified effort to liberate the victims unharmed and reunite them with their family members.

The statement signed by

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Mariam Yusuf, said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma, had initiated a manhunt to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

While urging residents to be security conscious and promptly report all suspicious movements, the command reiterated its unflinching commitment to the protection of lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the command said following coordinated intelligence-led operations, police detectives from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad arrested eight suspects linked to the kidnappings along Tunga Maje, Kuje and Kwali axis.

At a media briefing held yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of Operations, Sunday Babaji, stated that in a bid to rid the FCT of criminality, the command had deployed diverse overt and covert crime fighting and prevention strategies.

"We are confident that these strategies adopted including patrols, raids, visibility operations, collaboration with sister agencies and partnership with key community stakeholders will definitely nip crime in the bud within the FCT," he said.

The suspects are one Musa Shehu, 20; Zakari Yau, 25; Mohammed Lawal, 28; Salisu Adamu, 25; Ahmadu Sani Ilyasu, 45; Abdullahi Shuaibu, 23; Abubakar Ilyasu, 20; and Luka Parisa, who confessed to being responsible for the supply of firearms to the bandits.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include four dane guns, two locally fabricated revolvers, two locally made pistols, two rounds of live ammunition, one motorcycle and one unexpended cartridge.

The command said the suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.

yesterday at a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The party also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, to order, over his alleged open incitement of violence and alleged importation of thugs to attack the Ondo people with a view to undermining the governorship election.

Makinde said Ogunbodede was a known ally of Akeredolu and also hails from Owo, the hometown of the Ondo State governor.

The Oyo State governor said the people of Ondo would not be getting free and fair elections with the present composition of the INEC. Makinde who insisted that Ogunbodede would not be a fair party in the proceedings by virtue of his association with Akeredolu, called on INEC to immediately replace him.

Makinde also said the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of OAU, Prof. A S Bamire, who conducted the training of returning officers was not a neutral party for the purpose of tomorrow's election.

The Oyo State Governor threatened that anybody that

attempted to rig the election would be reported to the international community.

He noted that their reason for crying out was because once the returning officer made a pronouncement, nothing else could be done other than go to the tribunal.

He queried: "Why did INEC bring somebody from Owo? Why go to OAU? Are there no other universities?”

He said the PDP didn’t want Ondo people to be cheated.

Makinde said: "We also take this opportunity to call on all lovers of democracy around the world to pay attention to what the APC-led administration in the centre is trying to do in Ondo State. We call on the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom and indeed all allies of democracy to call INEC to order.

"We call on all security agencies in Ondo State not to allow themselves to be used as a tool against the will of the people. We commend you for all you have done so far providing the needed support and security for our candidate and our people.

"We urge you to do more.

Don't forget that history and posterity have never been

kind to anyone who allowed themselves to be used as a tool for injustice. We urge you to read the mood of the people and act accordingly.”

He called on Buhari to call Kogi State Governor, Bello, to order over alleged incitement of violence and importation of thugs to attack the Ondo people with a view to undermining tomorrow’s governorship election.

INEC Warns Staff against Electoral Fraud INEC Chairman, Yakubu, has, however, charged the staff of the commission to consolidate on the gains on the Edo State governorship election held three weeks ago.

In a statement he signed, the INEC chairman also charged the staff of the commission to resist all temptations that could lead to electoral fraud and that would compromise the outcome of the Saturday election.

He said: "About three weeks ago on the eve of the Edo State Governorship election, I appealed to the hardworking staff of the Commission to rise to the occasion and deliver a free, fair and credible process in

accordance with our established policy.

"Indeed, our staff members, assisted by the security agencies and other critical stakeholders, did not spare any effort in ensuring the successful conduct of the election.

"Clearly, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are pleased with the outcome and we are encouraged by their commendations.

"However, we cannot afford to rest on our oars. Another end-of-tenure governorship election is upon us. There is now an even higher expectation on Ondo State.

"We must consolidate on our recent achievement and account for every single vote cast on 10th October in a transparent manner which will ensure that only the choice of the electorate prevails.

"I, therefore, implore all of you to resist any form of temptation and let your individual actions be guided by the extant laws and good conscience.

"Always remember that any unethical action by one lNEC official is capable of rubbing off on all of us. Remain vigilant, principled and committed to the mission and vision of the Commission.”

FIGHTING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE...

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen (left), and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the 2nd Inter-ministerial Management Committee meeting on the eradication of sexual and gender-based violence in Abuja…yesterday

FG Begins Petrol-to-gas Conversion of Official Vehicles Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has commenced the conversion of official vehicles belonging to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in designated centres in Abuja.

It said part of the move was to provide Nigerians with autogas to cushion the effects of rising petrol costs in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to adopt gas as an alternative fuel for the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, stated this yesterday during a visit to an autogas dispensing station

and conversion inspection exercise, at the NNPC autogas dispensing facility in Jahi and Autolady Garage in Abuja, where some government official vehicles were being converted.

Sylva said the conversion underscored the seriousness of the new government initiative.

The minister expressed his satisfaction with the conversion process thus far and charged conversion centres to make vehicle and user-safety a priority during the process.

He added that his vehicles and others in the president’s fleet would soon be converted as well.

In his remarks during the

inspection visit, the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr Abdulkadir Saidu, stated that the government will ensure that autogas will soon be made available all over the country.

“Nigerians can rest assured of the government’s undying commitment to providing a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol, as prices have been on an upward climb in recent months following the deregulation of the downstream sector.

“Aside from the fact that autogas is cheaper, we are also concerned about making the conversion of cars affordable so that Nigerians can indeed reap

the advantage of this new policy,” he said.

The PPPRA boss, after the inspection, also said that some filling stations across the country were already keying into the plan by adding autogas dispensers to their stations.

He urged Nigerians to embrace gas-powered vehicles as they are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than any other fuel available on the market today.

He also noted that the majority of vehicles built in the last two decades were well suited to conversion for dual fuel applications and, therefore, safe for all Nigerians who are willing to convert their vehicles.

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Anti-SARS Protesters Storm Police Headquarters in Abuja Procession in Lagos, Edo Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Olawale Ajimotokan, Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement and presidential candidate for African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 general election, Mr. Omoyele Sowore; the co-conveners of Concerned Nigerians Group (CNG) and BringBackOurGirls (BBOG), Mr. Deji Adeyanju and Ms. Aisha Yesufu; and others, yesterday staged a protest at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to immediately scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Celebrities and others in Lagos yesterday continued their second day of protests in their clamour to end the pernicious activities of SARS. Also in Benin City, Edo State capital, vehicular and human movement was disrupted for several hours yesterday as youths in their hundreds trooped out in the streets to protest SARS activities.

The Abuja protesters lamented that SARS had constituted itself into a liability and was giving the Police a bad reputation through its unwholesome activities.

The high-point of the protest was the making of the inscription ‘#ENDSARS’ by the protesters with the blood of animal, on the Shehu Shagari Road, directly in front of the Police Headquarters.

Sowore, who addressed reporters during the protest that lasted well over two hours, called on the police authorities to bow to the popular clamour by scrapping the unit without further delay.

"This SARS is anti-people and should be disbanded. They have been killing young and promising Nigerians across the country and giving us flimsy excuses. This unit is notorious and should be scrapped. The police claimed they have banned SARS several times, but it has been wasting innocent and promising lives.

"They ask for a bribe and hold us hostage. The kidnappings by this unit are well documented over the world. We are saying no to any more banning. We want them to be dismantled, disbanded and every member of that unit that has been engaging in extra judicial killing or violation of human rights should be transparently brought to justice while compensation should be paid to the families of the victims,'' Sowore said.

In her remarks, one of the conveners of the BBOG, Yesufu, said Nigerians were angry with the activities of the SARS. She said the coalition of protesters was not at the IG's office to seek favours but "to tell the IG to do his job because he has not been doing his job.

Tell your people that there was a time when policemen were afraid of wearing police uniforms. You saw what happened at Computer Village

where the citizens went after the SARS there.

"Tell your IG that he should not provoke us. He should not push us to the wall. We are dying in Nigeria. Tell the IG that we are angry."

Addressing the protesters, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Frank Mba, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), said Adamu had embarked on measures to reform the outfit.

He said: "As at the time those interventions were made, we had no ideas that you are planning to even come out to protest and yet the IG proactively dished out certain instructions that SARS operatives and other members of the tactical units would not be allowed to be on the road.

"He made it clear that no police officer whether you are the SARS operatives or not will be allowed to come out patrolling the street or conducting stop and search in mufti. He made it very clear that no police officer would be allowed to unlawfully or indiscriminately check the phones or computers or other smart devices of Nigerians.

"He went on to make it very clear that not that the police will only be arrested but publicly paraded and prosecuted if found guilty, and even the Commissioner of Police in that state where those incidents happened would be vicariously liable."

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Aremu Adeniran, had also assured the protesters that the protest message would be communicated to the IG while assuring them that the IG had already taken measures to reform SARS. In Lagos, the protesters, who were led by popular musicians – Mr. Douglas Agu, a.k.a Runtown; and Mr. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, son of human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), stormed the streets of Lagos Island.

Other celebrities include television favourite, Tomike Alayande; ex-Big Brother Nigerian housemates, Prince Enwerem and Elozonam Ogbolu (the Cliffhanger), and so many others.

Rejecting the reforms by the IG, the protesters posited that it has become a recurring decimal to promise reforms and not follow through.

Calling for total obliteration of the police anti-robbery squad, the protesters converged on the grounds of Lekki Toll Gate before they first moved to Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters in Onikan.

They afterwards marched to protest at Lagos State Government House but met the absence of the governor.

Not deterred, the team leadsFalz and Runtown vowed to return next week Tuesday if no considerable changes are made.

Also on the mainland, the

protesters led by some popular influencers continued their second day of protests from Ikeja Under Bridge.

Also lending its voice to the clamour to end SARS, Amnesty International wrote on its Twitter handle: “SARS - a police unit created to protect Nigerians has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption.

“Our research on SARS uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a ‘confession’ or pay officers a bribe to be released.

“Amnesty International has received reports and collected testimonies that some police officers in SARS regularly demand bribes, steal and extort money from criminal suspects and their families.

“Because of the corruption in Nigerian police all Nigerian government’s previous attempts at stamping out torture have

proven completely ineffective and clearly impossible.

“Apart from demanding bribes, SARS officers are accused of stealing or confiscating property from relatives of detained suspects.

“Families of detained suspects told Amnesty International that SARS officers stole their cars or withdrew all the money from their bank accounts. #EndSARSProtests.”

Vehicular and human movements were disrupted for several hours in Benin City, capital of Edo State as youths in their hundreds trooped out yesterday on the streets to protest SARS excesses.

The youths under the umbrella of National Association of Edo Students (NAEs), and a coalition of civil society organisations were among those who staged the protest at the King Square, popularly called Ring road and other adjourning streets like Akpakpava, Airport Road, Mission Road as well as Sapele Road.

On Wednesday, the same youths were at the palace of the Oba of Benin to register their grievances.

The protest yesterday, though peaceful, nearly went sour when the group arrived at the Edo State Headquarters of the state Police Command.

The protesters wanted to prevent a police van from entering the premises but the police vehicle ignored them and wanted to run into them.

The incident led to some of the protesters jumping into the side drains of the road and in the process sustained injuries The protesters who wore all in black attires carried placards bearing inscriptions such as, "End SARS Before They End U;" "End SARS Brutality Now;" "We Are Not Criminals, We Are Nigerians;" "Say No To SARS;" No To Police Reforms," amongst others, lamented that SARS treat Nigerian youths as if they are second class citizens in their own country.

Speaking to journalists on behalf of the youths, Mr.

Okunbo Omokaro, a self-styled Head of Faculty of Peace Organisation, noted that if SARS must exist in the country they must operate within the ambit of the law that set them up.

Receiving the protesters, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Finance and Administration, Mr. Kanayo Valentine, said the grievances of the protesters would be addressed.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor, said the Edo State Command has already complied with the directive of the InspectorGeneral of Police.

He said: “We all feel your pains but I want to tell you that the errors of some unscrupulous policemen cannot be rubbed to other good ones. I must tell you that since the pronouncement of the restriction of routine patrol by the IG, the Edo State Police Command has fully complied with that directive and that is why today, you are not seeing any resemblance of SARS anywhere. We are in full compliance with that directive.”

LG CHIEFTAINS IN ASABA...

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left), and President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr. Kolade Alabi, during a courtesy visit to the governor by the national executives of ALGON in Asaba...yesterday

EFCC Grills Lagos Speaker, Freezes Bank Accounts The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, yesterday appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he was grilled over allegations of financial impropriety.

The anti-graft agency has also secured an order to freeze three bank accounts belonging to Obasa.

EFCC, in a matter filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, with suit number; FHC/L/ CS/1069/2020, sought an ex-parte order to freeze Obasa’s three bank accounts with the Standard Chartered Bank pending the conclusion of an ongoing investigation into the allegations of diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering levelled

against him.

The ruling was issued on September 15 and was signed by the court’s registrar, Ms. Adebimpe Oni. The account details as contained in the order include a United States Dollar account with number 001852963; current account (0018552956) and a savings account (5002349821).

The anti-graft agency said it filed the matter “Pursuant to section 44 (2) (K) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and section 26, 29, and 34 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court.”

Meanwhile, Obasa yesterday appeared before the EFCC

over allegations of financial impropriety.

Obasa appeared before the EFCC with his lawyers and some members of the assembly.

An unidentified lady, who was said to have acted as personal assistant to the speaker was also questioned by officials of the anti-graft agency.

Obasa, who is a two-time speaker of the assembly, has been facing several allegations of corruption.

Civil society organisations had petitioned the EFCC to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the allegations.

The speaker had some months ago appeared before the House panel of enquiry on corruption allegations levelled against him.

He was still undergoing interrogation by operatives of the anti-graft agency as at the time of filing this report.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the speaker was with the EFCC on the invitation of the commission.

"He came in the morning.

He came on the invitation of the commission and he is with us," he said.

He could not say how long he would be in EFCC or when he would be released.

The speaker has in the last few months been enmeshed in controversies over allegations of his involvement in contract scandals, money laundering, among others.

Obasa has denied the allegations.

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PAGE NINE ANALYSTS GIVE QUICK RECOVERY TIPS AS BUHARI FORECASTS SECOND RECESSION the 2021 fiscal year to the joint session of the National Assembly, however, assured Nigerians that his government will do everything possible to get the country out of recession in 2021.

While the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the president for the presentation of the proposal, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate has condemned it, describing the estimates as stale and uninspiring.

However, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan; and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have promised a speedy passage of the estimates.

Buhari stressed that the economy is currently facing serious challenges, with the macroeconomic environment being significantly disrupted by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The president explained that GDP growth declined by 6.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, adding that this ended the three-year trend of positive, but modest GDP growth recorded since the second quarter of 2017.

He, however, said: “I am glad to note that, through our collective efforts, our economy performed relatively better than that of many other developed and emerging economies.

"GDP growth is projected to be negative in the third quarter of this year. As such, our economy may lapse into the second recession in four years, with significant adverse consequences.

“However, we are working assiduously to ensure rapid recovery in 2021. We remain committed to implementing programmes to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years."

Buhari noted that the 2021 appropriation with the theme, "Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience" is designed to further deliver on the goals of Economic Sustainability Plan.

The president said the exchange rate has been fixed at N379 per US dollar; while the GDP growth is projected at three per cent and inflation closing at 11.95 per cent.

He proposed an aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion, including N1.35 trillion spending

by Government-Owned Enterprises and Grants and Aid funded expenditures of N354.85 billion.

He said the 2021 budget deficit (inclusive of GovernmentOwned Enterprises and project-tied loans), is projected at N5.20 trillion, representing 3.64 per cent of the estimated GDP, slightly above the three per cent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

"It is, however, to be noted that we still face the existential challenge of Coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath,’ he said, adding: “I believe that this provides a justification to exceed the threshold as provided for by this law. The deficit will be financed."

Buhari said based on the foregoing fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021; while total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion, adding that this includes grants and aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises.

He noted that oil revenue is projected at N2.01 trillion, while non-oil revenue is estimated at N1.49 trillion.

According to him, "As you will observe, the format of the 2021 Appropriation Bill has been modified to include budgeted revenues, no matter how small, for each MDA, to focus on internal revenue generation.

“Accordingly, I implore you to pay as much attention to the revenue side as you do to the expenditure side in the Planned 2021 Expenditure."

The President explained that the budget deficit would be financed mainly by new borrowings totalling N4.28 trillion, N205.15 billion from privatisation proceeds and N709.69 billion in drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes.

He stressed further that the sum of N484.49 billion provided for Statutory Transfers in the proposal represent an increase of N56.46 billion (or 13 per cent) over the revised 2020 provision.

The president said statutory transfer provisions are Niger Delta Development Commission

- N63.51 billion; North East Development Commission N29.70 billion; National Judicial Council -N110.00 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70.05 billion; Independent National Electoral Commission -N40 billion; National Assembly -N128.00 billion; Public Complaints Commission -N5.20 billion; Human Rights Commission N3 billion; and Basic Health Care Provision Fund - N35.03 billion.

He said in order to enhance national security and human capital development, a major part of the 2021 recurrent cost estimate is allocated to paying salaries and overheads in MDAs providing critical public services.

To this end, the sum of N227.02 billion was budgeted for the Ministry of Interior; N441.39 billion for the Ministry of Police Affairs; N545.10 billion for Ministry of Education; N840.56 billion for Ministry of Defence; and N380.21 billion for Ministry of Health.

The president revealed that the budget of the Ministry of Education has been increased by 65 per cent to develop the education sector.

The key capital spending allocations include Power - N198 billion (inclusive of N150 billion for the Power Sector Recovery Plan); Ministry of Works and Housing N404 billion; Ministry of Transportation -N256 billion; Defence - N121 billion; Agriculture and Rural Development -N110 billion.

Others are: "Ministry of Water Resources: N153 billion; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment -N51 billion; Ministry of Education - N127 billion; Universal Basic Education Commission -N70 billion,; Ministry of Health- N132 billion; Zonal Intervention Projects: N100 billion; and Niger Delta Development Commission - N64 billion."

The president stated further that personnel cost remains the largest single item of expenditure, saying the seven months to July 31, 2020, it accounted for 34 per cent of total federal government spending and is projected at 33 per cent of 2021 expenditure.

He assured that his government remains committed

to meeting its debt service obligations.

“A total of N2.183 trillion has been set aside to service domestic debts while N940.89 billion has been provided for foreign debt service. N220 billion is provided for transfers to the Sinking Fund to pay off maturing bonds issued to local contractors and creditors," he said.

The president, however, urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the budget.

Speaking earlier while welcoming the president for the budget presentation at the House of Representatives chamber, President of the Senate, Lawan, said the 2021 Budget would be targeted at consolidation of gains made by the 2020 Budget which was targeted at sustaining growth and jobs.

According to him, the fiscal plan would be influenced by the desire to consolidate on the gains, coming from the hard lessons of the pandemic, and on the urgency of sustaining our diversification programmes, not only because of the unpredictable nature of oil revenue but because of recent uncertainties arising from the coronavirus.

He also called for critical examination of revenue collection and remittances, saying that the impact of Covid-19 has revealed the vulnerability of the country’s economy as a monolithic, oildependent economy.

Lawan further said the eventual passage of the Appropriation Bill 2020 and signing into law in record time was a clear testimony of the benefits of the Legislature and the Executive working together for the good of the people. ''The National Assembly is again ready to pass the 2021 Budget before the end of the year. This will continue to enable planning and enhance productivity and efficiency in the management and application of our resources. We can all bear witness to the salubrious effects of the early passage of the budget on our economy,” Lawan said.

Also speaking while giving the vote of thanks, Speaker of the House of Representative, Gbajabiamila, declared that all

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who come to the National Assembly to defend their budget proposals would do so without their security details present.

He explained that this is to prevent the unacceptable proliferation of side-arms in the hearing rooms during such engagements, and in adherence to the Covid-19 social distancing protocols.

Gbajabiamila also assured Nigerians of speedy passage of the 2021 Appropriation Bill laid before the National Assembly.

According to him, the lawmakers will collaborate with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Executive to deliver a budget that meets the needs and matches the ambitions of the Nigerian people.

Analysts Give Quick Recovery Tips Following Buhari’s alarm of looming second recession, a Professor of Economics at the Akwa Ibom State University, Professor Akpan Ekpo, told THISDAY yesterday that the recession would affect both the demand and supply sides of the economy that the traditional Keynesian demand solution alone would not work.

Ekpo said that it would be important for the government to increase its capital and recurrent expenditures because of the need to stimulate consumers’ aggregate demand during the recession by enabling them to have money to spend.

He said: “Public spending must be increased. But there should be more proportionate increase in capital expenditure than the recurrent expenditure.

This will take care of the demand side. So it is time for stimulus and not time for austerity.

Government has to pump money into the economy to reflate it.

“But on the supply side, we need to have in place policies that will attract investors to come into the economy. And first of all, the government must deal with the issue of insecurity. No matter how much-interested investors are in the country they will not go to where they will not be secured.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of BIC Consultancy Services Limited, Dr. Boniface Chizea, said that the right way for the government to address the coming recession is to roll out palliatives and implement the programmes it has designed like the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) diligently.

“There are already programmes to create 1,000 jobs in 774 local governments and if you go back to the Economic Sustainability Plan and implement them and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) comes in with its package then we can avoid much of the problems.

“The major thing is for the government to implement the plans it already has. The problem we have is always poor implementation. We have never come short of having programmes and plans but our problem is that we put them done and never implement them. There is no other magic bullet that we will be looking for other than the committed implementation of policies,” Chizea said. Commenting on the feasibility of the proposal in a chat with THISDAY, Professor of Finance and Capital Markets at Nasarawa State University, Prof. Uche Uwaleke said: "I also think the real GDP growth rate projected at three per cent is a little ambitious in view of the impact of COVID-19 on the economy expected to linger till next year. This is why the recent Fitch report on Nigeria projects a GDP growth rate of 1.3 per cent for the country in 2021.”

Also speaking to THISDAY, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Credent Investment Managers Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Shelleng, raised objection to the exchange rate parameter, adding that it was not well considered.

Former Director-General of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, however, argued that the budget proposal was an invitation to "more deficit financing and more borrowing."

He expressed concern that in spite of the country's dwindling economy, the government's expenditure continued to rise with an increased budget.

WTO EXPLAINS HOW OKONJO-IWEALA, MYUNG-HEE MADE FINAL STAGE consultations with Walker, Dacio Castillo of Honduras and Harald Aspelund of Iceland.

"Based on the depth and breadth of preferences articulated to the facilitators, Walker told a Heads of Delegation meeting on October 8, that the two candidates who secured the broadest and deepest support from the membership and who should subsequently advance to the final round are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Yoo Myunghee.

"The result creates a historic precedent for the WTO in that it assures that the seventh directorgeneral will become the first woman to lead the organisation.

These two candidates were chosen from a field of five that had advanced to the second round of consultations," the WTO added.

It pointed out that as members move to the final round of consultations, Walker emphasised that the ultimate objective of the selection process was to secure a consensus decision by members on the next director-general.

"Our aim continues to be to encourage and facilitate the building of consensus among members, and to assist in moving from this final slate of two candidates to a decision

on appointment.

"As this is the final round of the consultation process, it should bring us to the point where we can make a recommendation to the General Council concerning the decision," Walker added.

The General Council is the highest decision-making body of the WTO apart from the Ministerial Conference which meets every two years.

"As was the case for the first round, the entire membership remained fully engaged in and committed to this process. The facilitators and I are grateful for this very positive response. It is clear that all members attach great importance to this process," Walker said.

Speaking to the candidates that did not progress to the final stage, the General Council Chair said: "On behalf of the entire membership, I would like to express deep gratitude for their participation in this selection process. It was clear that members consider them individuals of outstanding qualifications.

"I am sure you will all agree with us that in participating in the selection process, the candidates have all made a significant contribution to the standing and image of the

WTO." During the confidential consultations, the General Council members were said to have posed to each delegation a single question: "What are your preferences?"

Members then submitted two preferences to the "troika" of ambassadors.

Walker was further quoted to have said the third phase of consultations would commence on October 19 and run until October 27th, to afford members sufficient time to prepare their positions.

Another factor in waiting a week for stage three to begin is the busy calendar of meetings at the WTO next week, including a scheduled two-day session of the General Council, which Walker would chair.

"During this period, WTO members will be asked in confidential consultations to express to the facilitators a single preference and based on these preferences, the troika will deliver their assessment on which of the two candidates is most likely to command a consensus of the membership and become the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

"Walker would then call a formal General Council

and present the troika's recommendation to the membership for a formal decision.

"Following this third round of consultations, Walker will call another Heads of Delegations meeting at which the results will be announced to the WTO membership," the statement added.

The General Council had agreed on July 31, that there would be three stages of consultations held over a twomonth period that commenced September 7th.

The third stage will run from October 19 to October 27 and a winner will be announced before November 7.

Yoo, 53, is currently serving as her country’s first female trade minister, following a career in trade diplomacy and foreign affairs.

Okonjo-Iweala, 66, served as her country’s first female finance and foreign minister, and has a 25-year career behind her as a development economist at the World Bank, eventually becoming its number two.

She is also on Twitter’s board of directors and is a special envoy for the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 fight.

According to analysts, OkonjoIweala’s high professional/

personal qualities, international contacts and impeccable records as Nigeria’s former Finance minister/Foreign Affairs minister and as former managing director of the World Bank, stand her high above the other contestant.

She is a renowned global finance expert, an economist and international development professional with over 30 years of experience, having worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

She is presently the Chair of the Board of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. Since its creation in 2000, GAVI has immunised over 760 million children across the globe. She also sits on the boards of Standard Chartered Plc and Twitter Inc. She was recently appointed African Union Special Envoy to mobilise international financial support in the fight against COVID-19, as well as Envoy for the World Health Organisation’s access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, recently appointed OkonjoIweala to serve as a member of her newly-established External Advisory Group.

In addition, Okonjo-Iweala served twice as Nigeria’s Finance minister, from 2003-2006 and

2011-2015 and briefly as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.

As Finance minister, OkonjoIweala steered Nigeria through the varying degree of reforms, Continued on page 10

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NEWS

Alpha Beta Ex-MD Drags Tinubu, Company to Court Alex Enumah in Abuja A former Managing Director of Alpha Beta Consulting, Mr. Oladapo Apara, has dragged the company; the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu; and the current Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Akin Doherty, before a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

In the writ of summons marked LD/7330GCMW/2020, Apara asked the respondents to appear within 42 days or judgment may be given in their absence.

Apara had in a petition addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accused the company of N100 billion fraud but two years after, the EFCC had yet to take action.

In his statement of claim, the former Alpha Beta boss said Tinubu boasted that the

suspended acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, would protect him.

“The 2nd defendant (Bola Tinubu) also warned the claimant not to even think of exposing his involvement in the financial affairs of the 1st defendant (Alpha Beta) to the EFCC as the then acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, will always protect him (Tinubu).”

Apara also narrated how Alpha Beta was formed in 2002 when Tinubu was still the governor.

He said he was the one who came up with the idea of a consulting firm helping the state government to track and reconcile taxes.

The claimant said Tinubu accepted the proposal but gave many conditions, including that his own people would own 70 per cent stakes in the company.

He added that Tinubu nominated Adegboyega Oyetola and one Olumide Ogunmola

The former Alpha Beta boss stated: “The claimant avers that following the presentation of his proposal to the Lagos State Government, the 2nd defendant (Tinubu) who was at the time the Governor of Lagos State demanded that 70 per cent equity interest in the project be assigned to a certain Olumide Ogunmola before the 2nd defendant will approve the project.

“The claimant avers that he then met the said Olumide Ogunmola (who he had never met before) and it was agreed that a limited liability company be incorporated in which the claimant will hold 30 per cent shares while Olumide Ogunmola and his partners will hold 70 per cent of the shares of the company.

“The claimant avers that following the agreement alluded to above; Alpha Beta Consulting Limited was incorporated in 2002 with the following shareholders: Dapo Apara (30

per cent), Olumide Ogunmola (40 per cent) and Adegboyega Oyetola (30 per cent).”

He said Tinubu later directed that Oyetola’s shares be transferred to one Tunde Badejo.

Apara stated that Tinubu controlled the company which was receiving 10 per cent of tax collected on behalf of the state.

He said due to the technological innovation that was deployed by him, the Internally Generated Revenue of the state grew from N10billion per annum in 2002 to N300billion in 2019.

The claimant stated that in 2010 or thereabout, Tinubu directed that the incorporation structure of the Alpha-Beta Consulting Limited be changed from a limited liability company to a limited liability partnership under a newly promulgated law in Lagos State.

He said the aim of the move was to shield Tinubu’s involvement from public scrutiny.

WTO EXPLAINS HOW OKONJO-IWEALA, MYUNG-HEE MADE FINAL STAGE

particularly on macroeconomic, trade, financial and real sector issues.

As Managing Director (Operations) of the World Bank, her several portfolios included oversight responsibility for the World Bank’s $81 billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe, and Central Asia.

Okonjo-Iweala spearheaded several World Bank initiatives to assist low-income countries during the 2008-2009 food crises and later in the trying period of the global financial crisis.

On the other hand, Yoo is South Korea’s trade minister.

During her 25-year career in government, she helped expand her country’s trade network through bilateral accords with the US, China and the UK.

Okonjo-Iweala Expresses Gratitude Following her shortlisting, Okonjo-Iweala yesterday expressed appreciation to members of the Genevabased organisation, President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians and her friends around the world for their support.

This, she said, propelled her into the final stage of the selection process, even as she stressed that the struggle continues.

Nigeria’s former minister stated on her Twitter handle that she was, “happy to be in the final round of the #WTO DG campaign! Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy.

Thanks be to God. “I could not have made it without the prayers and support of all Nigerians and friends around the world.

“Thank you Nigerians, Thank you, President Buhari and all my friends.

“Aluta continua!”

FG Lobbies Delegates to Endorse Nigeria’s Candidate Meanwhile, the Nigerian Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, yesterday urged Heads of State Delegations to the WTO to endorse Nigeria's candidate, Okonjo-Iweala, for the position of director general of the organisation on the strength of her antecedents, competence and statement to the General

Council.

In a statement issued yesterday, the minister who is the Chairperson of the Okonjo-Iweala Campaign Team, charged the heads of delegations to consider the statement of intent and agenda submitted by the former minister of finance, describing her as "the best choice for the job."

She commended the series of endorsements of Okonjo-Iweala's candidacy from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as the European Union (EU) as "an excellent testimony of her eminent qualification for the top job," adding that " the WTO of today needs a DG with multiple skills to revive the challenged spirit of trade liberalisation worldwide.”

The minister said: "The WTO faces a lot of problems currently.

Confronting these challenges necessarily requires building trust among the membership especially as the problems are not solely of a technical nature. Only a DG with the requisite political and negotiating skills coupled with multilateral experience can ensure deep engagement of the members in order to restore trust and build a truly efficient organisation. Dr Iweala is the right fit.”

Katagum further noted: "Dr. Iweala's qualities and experience in managing multilateral issues, in trade facilitation and negotiation as well as brokering deals and agreements with high political stakes, puts her in good standing.

Her suitability is a product of past and present experience garnered from her Vice Presidency at the World Bank; Finance Ministry portfolio in Nigeria; and her other current global assignments, including with the Gavi Board where she is the chairperson.

"At a time when the world is grappling with the devastating fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy, a person of Okonjo-Iweala’s standing is required to steer the ship of the WTO. When all indices are taken into consideration, the WTO indeed needs an internationalist, a multilateralist, a skilled and tested negotiator - all traits the General Council can find in the Nigerian and ECOWAS nominee."

African Union Rallies Support for Okonjo-Iweala The African Union (AU) yesterday called on all its member states to mobilise support for

Olumide Ogunmola was named the managing partner of the newly transformed company while Apara became deputy managing partner.

The claimant said in 2014, Tinubu asked Ogunmola to step aside while he was named managing partner.

Apara said as the head of the company, he began looking into its finances and he made many startling discoveries such as mysterious transfers of over N20billion in different currencies to several companies.

The former Alpha Beta boss said he realised that all the payments were sanctioned by the partners nominated by Tinubu and they were done without his knowledge contrary to the terms of their partnership.

He stated, “N550million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment instruction dated the 15/5/18 (h) N850million payment to Ocean Trust Ltd vide payment

instruction dated the 14/3/15; (i) N1 billion in Afkar printing Press together with Vintage Press Limited and Lagoon Press Limited in October 2017.”

He said N960 million was spent on purchasing HITV’s 300,000,000 shares.

Apara stated that Tinubu was furious that he was looking into the company’s finances and ordered that he be demoted to deputy managing partner.

He said he refused to obey this order and this led to a feud between the both of them.

The former Alpha Beta boss said he was forcibly removed from office while Tinubu’s former Commissioner for Finance, Doherty, was named the new head of the company.

He said since his illegal removal, he had been denied of his dividends as a founding partner of the company and asked the court to order full payment of his entitlements.

Okonjo-Iweala.

In a statement yesterday, the President of South Africa and Chairperson of the AU, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her advancement to the third and final stage of the selection process.

According to the South African president, the Nigeria’s former minister is the first African woman to stand for election and reach the final stage of selection for the WTO DG position.

Ramaphosa stated: “Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is a highly distinguished African, who has excelled in various public offices, in her native Nigeria, including responsibilities in the AU, and in numerous international assignments.

“At a time when international organisations need to be repurposed, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the right person to reposition the WTO in order to be an effective instrument for facilitating a fair, just, equitable and rules-based trading system. I have no doubt that she has the credentials and capability to restore order in an otherwise turbulent multilateral trading system.”

Ramaphosa, therefore, urged, “all member states of the African

Union to rally behind Dr. OkonjoIweala during the final round of nominations, which will see for the first time in the history of the WTO, the appointment of a female Director-General and most likely and preferably, one coming from the African continent.”

He expressed optimism that other regions and countries would also unite and support the African candidate, saying her leadership “of the WTO will assist in the full integration of the continent as an important player in the global multilateral trading system, particularly at the time when the continent is working on operationalising the biggest free trade area in the world, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”

Ramaphosa expressed pride in the high calibre of the candidates from the continent, including Mr. Abdel Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt and Ms. Amina Mohamed of Kenya, whom he thanked for availing themselves for the WTO DG selection process.

He also urged the continent to “rally behind Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, sparing no effort to ensure that she makes history by being elected as the first African to be at the helm of the WTO.”

vehicles and 23 buildings were destroyed.

Before the Iju-Ishaga incident, one person was confirmed dead and five others injured in a previous gas explosion that occurred at Orile-Iganmu, area of the state.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu and the NNPC have expressed deep sorrow over the incident.

Sanwo-Olu said the preliminary and final reports on the cause of the explosion suggested negligence on the part of the gas plant operators, noting that the government would take stiffer measures against operators of gas plants and/ or any combustible items in the state to avoid future recurrence of such a disaster.

He said: “The gas explosion this morning has left a sour taste in my mouth. It is a reminder of the dark episode of March this year at Abule Ado Soba when innocent lives were lost to gas explosions of monumental proportion and properties destroyed. I really can’t believe that we would witness another

such incident, no matter how little.

“I wish to, therefore, register my heartfelt condolences to the families of those that lost their loved ones in the fire. I pray that God grant their souls eternal rest.”

NNPC has also commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State, and particularly the residents of Baruwa area, on the gas plant fire incident.

A statement yesterday by the corporation's Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that NNPC feels particularly sad at the loss of lives and property, caused by the incident barely a few weeks after a similar incident at Iju Ishaga area of the state.

It assured that though NNPC’s pipelines were not anywhere close to the location of the incident, the corporation swiftly mobilised its Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Team, in collaboration with other relevant agencies of Lagos State government and ensured that the situation was promptly brought under control.

ANOTHER GAS EXPLOSION KILLS FIVE, DESTROYS 44 BUILDINGS IN LAGOS Preliminary assessment of the explosion put the damages at 89 shops, 44 buildings, including a church, school and event centre, 23 electric poles, two transformers, gas tankers, one tricycle and one motorcycle.

According to an eyewitness account, the explosion occurred at 6.20 am at Candos Road, Baruwa Inside when an LPG (Liquefied Petrol Gas or cooking gas) tanker, which was discharging at the Best Roof Plant Station, exploded.

THISDAY gathered that the source of the explosion could be traced to the station’s power generator, which was supplying power while the tanker was discharging products into the storage tank.

It was learnt that when the explosion occurred, it threw those nearby and the discharging LPG tanker across the road, thus exacerbating the fire.

Confirming the incident, the South-west Zonal Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said emergency services were quickly

deployed to contain the inferno.

He said five bodies had been recovered so far, while three injured persons, including a woman and two children had been evacuated and taken to the intensive care hospital due to the degree of burns.

He said the destruction was on a large scale because the Best Roof Gas Plant Station was located in a densely populated community.

After putting out the initial fire, he said the stored gas in the station started discharging but there was no explosion again.

THISDAY gathered that the gas plant has about 30 metric tonnes of gas in the underground tank, and while it was offloading, the workers were also dispensing to customers.

Farinloye noted that as at 9.04 am, the fire was put out completely, while the secondary gas leakage from the underground tanker was put under control.

However, he said a preliminary assessment has revealed that 44 buildings were affected, as well as one school, one event centre, 89 shops, one church, one tricycle,

gas tankers, 23 electric poles, two transformers and one motorcycle.

He added: "The eight casualties with major burns are currently being treated at the Gbagada General Hospital Burns Unit, while the five bodies recovered have been deposited at the mortuary."

Farinloye debunked the reports making rounds that eight people have been confirmed dead in the explosion, saying: "Even the police chief and others were there with us. We found five bodies only. The others are still alive and being treated."

According to the zonal coordinator, the gas valve has been opened to release the gas to avert another explosion while firefighters are blanketing the whole area.

Speaking also, the DG/ CEO Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, encouraged the residents of Lagos State to report unsavoury and dangerous practices within their neighbourhoods to the relevant agencies.

“Reports should go to such agencies as the Lagos Safety Commission, and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, so that the government can engage in more prevention and precautionary measures including issuing contravention notices and sealing up premises to prevent these types of disasters,” he said.

According to the LASEMA boss, the post-disaster assessment shows that five persons died; 25 houses damaged including 10 classified as severely affected; 16 shops razed; one private primary school; one hotel; three vehicles comprising a pickup truck, tricycle and a motorcycle were affected.

While clearing and securing of the affected areas by joint teams of responders is ongoing, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, the RRS team and other police units were also on the ground to control the situation.

Barely three weeks ago, about 30 people were injured in a gas explosion that occurred at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos State, while 15

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 • T H I S D AY

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Releases Fresh Guidelines for Reopening of Schools Arrests 27 passengers for violating COVID-19 test requirements

Olawale Ajimotokan and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The federal government yesterday released fresh guidelines for the reopening of schools in the country.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, made this known during a briefing in Abuja.

The federal government has also disclosed that it arrested 27 passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for not complying with the requirement that passengers arriving the country must have PCR negative results issued by certified laboratories outside the country.

PTF had okayed the reopening of schools in August with some subnational already reopening primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in their states.

The federal government had ordered all Unity Schools in the country to resume with effect from October 12.

Giving an update yesterday, Aliyu said, “The Federal Ministry of Education, the PTF and the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) have developed guidelines to ensure schools can reopen, minimise the risk of transmission and continue to operate safely.

“Schools and educational bodies that plan to reopen must have detailed communication protocols that include parents, school health teams, school authorities and local (and) state officials.

“They must also have a system for providing regular updates for parents, staff and relevant authorities as well as communicate changes to procedures effectively and clearly as well as taking effective measures to understand

how COVID-19 can spread and how to mitigate the spread in line with official guidelines.

“Specifically, school authorities have the responsibilities to ensure that everyone gaining access to their schools is screened properly, is wearing a mask and sanitising their hands.

“Boarding schools must have identified areas for screening and putting positive students aside.

“There must be access to running water and handwashing facilities.

“The health staff, particularly in boarding schools, must be trained and provided with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

“There must be appropriate waste management systems.

“Health facilities that are within the schools that serve the schools should have the ability to cater for an outbreak and a response protocol must be in place for these schools for students who

test positive. In this regard, it is important to involve their parents and make sure that parents have signed consent forms in advance.

“Schools should also work in synergy with the local government rapid response teams and collaborate with the state ministries of health on planning, implementation and reopening of schools.

“We encourage schools to consider creative solutions to abide by these guidelines.”

On his part, the PTF Chairman, Boss Mustapha, stressed that states have the responsibility to ensure the safe reopening of schools.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said, “the federal government has just 105 schools all over the nation that are reopening. Over 18,000 schools do not belong to the federal government; they belong to states and private proprietors.

“The control of schools in the state, particularly primary and secondary schools, is the responsibility of the state government. They are supposed to ensure compliance.

“Different states fixed different dates for the reopening of schools.

So, the responsibility of ensuring that these schools comply with the guidelines is vested on state and local government authorities and that we expect they will do.”

In his presentation, the Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said that the centre will in the coming days issue fresh guidelines that will help educational institutions resuming academic activities to operate without any major health concern.

Meanwhile, the federal government has said it has arrested 27 passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for not complying with the requirement that

passengers arriving the country must have PCR negative results issued by certified laboratories outside the country.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika gave the information yesterday while presenting updates at the PTF briefing in Abuja.

Sirika said some of the passengers violated the protocol on PCR negative result by presenting to airport health authorities PCR negative tests result that were either unapproved or had expired.

He also said some of the passengers arrived the country without presenting any PCR result as required by the protocol on health safety, while adding that aside the erring passengers, the airlines that brought the passengers, will be liable and dealt with according to the law by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 Cases Rise by 103 to 59,841 Martins Ifijeh Nigeria has recorded 103 new Cases of COVID-19, bringing to 59,841 the number of confirmed cases in the country.

Announcing this yesterday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos recorded 39 new cases, Rivers, 21; Federal

Capital Territory (FCT), 19; Oyo, six; Kaduna, four; Ogun and Bauchi, three each; Imo and Kano, two each; while Nasarawa and Plateau recorded one each.

It said: “So far, Nigeria has recorded 59,841 cases of COVID-19. 51,551 patients have been discharged, while 1,113 persons have died.”

PENGASSAN Threatens to Disrupt Crude Oil Production over IPPIS Sylvester Idowu Oil workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have again threatened to disrupt oil and gas operations across the country if the federal government fails to pay their salaries today The protesting senior oil workers, who commenced the peaceful protests on Wednesday, gathered at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, yesterday in continuation of their three-day warning strike.

The protesters, clad in red attires, displayed placards with inscriptions such as “PENGASSAN Says No To IPPIS” We Say No To Salary Reduction Using IPPIS,” and “We Are Not Against IPPIS but Create Another Platform That Addresses Our Peculiarities,” among others.

The senior oil workers had on August 13 threatened to shut down all oil operations but backed out following intervention by top government officials, who promised to address their grievances.

THISDAY learnt that the oil workers and the federal government did not reach an acceptable compromise hence the renewed strike action that commenced three days ago.

Addressing the members, the Branch Chairman of PENGASSAN, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Comrade

Zarakiya Ahmad Muhammad warned that if their salaries are not released by today then the federal government should be ready to contend with total shutdown of operations in the industry.

Muhammad, who was in company of Secretary of Regulators Forum, Prince Audi Oshiokhamele and the Chairman of PTI branch of NUPENG, Mr. Ejokirhie Jahpurpose expressed surprise that the Federal Ministry of Finance failed to pay their August and September salaries while negotiations were still ongoing.

The Chairman of PENGASSAN said that aside the seizure of their two months salaries, the strike was also informed by the clumsy manner in which members were enrolled on the IPPIS. He said that, though the union supported all government’s effort to achieve transparency and accountability in government, it should not be to the detriment of the oil workers.

“We are concerned with the ways our members in some government agencies are being treated with respect to IPPIS. “We are not averse to instruments of transparency in this country. Any system that offers accountability to the governance of Nigeria we are in for it, but do not do injustice to our members. IPPIS does not take care of our peculiarities,’’ he warned.

WORK IN PROGRESS...

L-R: Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Olukayode Popoola; Executive Director, Borini Prono & Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Paolo Prono; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; and Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, during the inspection of the ongoing repairs and restoration works on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos...yesterday

One Killed as Police Rescue Kidnapped Lawyer, Another in Rivers One kidnapper was killed when the police in Rivers State rescued the kidnapped female lawyer, Paulette Bisola Ajayi, and an employee of the British High Commission, Paul Nyulaku.

Ajayi and Nyulaku were kidnapped on Sunday at different parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital and whisked away to a forest in the state by members of the same gang, who demanded ransoms from their families.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, said yesterday that the operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit in

a sting operation rescued the victims at Okomoko forest in Etche Local Government Area of the state.

Mukan said the operatives stormed the hideout of the kidnappers at about 9.30p.m on Wednesday and engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle.

He said one of the kidnappers, Chinedu Chigbu, 39, who was fatally injured during the shootout and later died in a hospital while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

“Their camp was immediately destroyed. Exhibits recovered

from them include one AK47 rifle, a fully loaded magazine and 100 rounds of live ammunition.

“Efforts are on to arrest members of the gang.

“The public particularly residents of Etche and EberiOmuma LGA are hereby enjoined to increase their security consciousness and report anybody with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station”.

The commissioner also said that the infant recovered by detectives of the Trans-Amadi police station was sold by his

grandmother at N1.3million.

He said the grandmother, Anthonia Amos, took the baby boy from his daughter two weeks after his birth and sold the infant to one Juliana Obianwa in connivance with Pauline Umoh, who hails from Ukanafun Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

“The baby boy has been released to the mother while the suspects are in our custody helping in the investigation and efforts intensified to arrest the remnants of the syndicate,” he said.

Thunder Strike Kills Evangelist, One Other in Delta Community Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba Two persons, including a man identified as a Christian evangelist, were killed by thunder strike during an early morning rainfall yesterday at ‘Mile 5’ farming community of Ogbolu in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State.

Several other persons also sustained injuries following the

incident during the hours of rainstorm, which had forced some people to take shelter in shed used by a meat seller in the rural community.

An eyewitness, Mrs. Gladys Okah, who survived the thunder strike, said that she took shelter in the makeshift meat shop operated by one Mama Tega on her way from the ‘Mile 5’ Market when the rain poured heavily.

About seven persons were in the tiny shop when the thunder struck, leaving the two persons dead, she said.

When the ensuing confusion subsided, the deceased were later identified as an evangelist who resides at Ugbolu and a woman believed to hail from Ebonyi State who was a farmer in the nearby Illah community.

Although she was left with

burns on her face, Mrs Okah said that she was happy to be alive after the shocking experience.

She however said that three other survivors also sustained burns on their faces, arms and legs.

Delta State Police Command spokeswoman, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, a DSP, confirmed the incident yesterday.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

13

NEWS

Makinde, Fayose Bicker over Attack on Former Ekiti Governor A former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday raised the alarm over his safety, warning that what happened to the late Chief Bola

Ige must not happen to him.

Fayose was reacting to the removal of his cap by thugs at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Ondo State on

NAF to Deploy Eight New Drones to Katsina, Zamfara, Gombe

US, Italian ships to participate in multinational sea exercise Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said yesterday that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would deploy newly acquired Unmaned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) otherwise known as drones to Katsina, Zamfara and Gombe states.

This is coming as the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday that the United States, Italian ships and the Nigerian Navy will participate in the annual multi-national sea exercise tagged “Grand African NEMO in Nigeria.

He spoke during an operational visit to the headquarters of the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji in Katsina to assess the progress of operations.

Air Marshal Abubakar

expressed his appreciation to the federal government for its support towards the NAF’s fleet renewal efforts which included the acquisition of eight Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), which would soon arrive the country.

He stated that about 70 personnel, who are to operate and maintain the UCAVs, had already been nominated for training in China.

A NAF statement said he further disclosed that some of the UCAVs would be deployed to Katsina and Gusau while others would be deployed to Gombe at the newly established 203 Combat Reconnaissance Group (203 CRG).

He said he would be in Gusau to discuss with the Zamfara State government on arrangements for the deployment of UCAVs to Gusau.

ASUP Threatens Strike over IPPIS Challenges The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday threatened to embark on strike on account of the challenges they are facing with the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

President of ASUP, Mr. Anderson Ezeobe said that the 15-day ultimatum issued by the union remained valid.

This is coming three days after the senior staff of Nigerian polytechnics issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike if the federal government failed to address lingering issues associated with the IPPIS. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ezeobe said the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union has directed various chapters to hold congresses with a view to taking drastic decisions on the way forward on the issue.

He said the union’s organs had met to review the situation regarding the way and manner the implementation of IPPIS had surcharged members of the union.

Ezeobe accused the government of insincerity, noting that it has failed to address the union’s grievances.

He said, “We can’t be giving an ultimatum and be repeating an ultimatum; we decided to go back on our congress to take a referendum because we have to educate our congress.

“The trade union is an epitome of democracy, so we are taking the matter to our congress to say, this is what has happened and the same way, we will explain to our chairmen, and they’ll take the matter back to congress and then our congress will decide on the direction to take.

Okowa Renews Call for Review of Revenue Allocation Formula The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has reiterated the called for a review of the existing revenue allocation formula in favour of states and local government areas, in reflection of current socio-economic realities in the country.

Okowa made the call yesterday when he received on a courtesy call, the National Executive Council members of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) led by the National President, Mr. Kolade Alabi, in Asaba yesterday.

He said that the review of the revenue formula had become expedient in view of the huge responsibilities facing states and local governments in the country.

According to the governor, the local government administration is growing and it is our hope that we get them stabilised financially so that they can impact on the lives of our people.

Insisting of the restructuring of the sharing formula, he said that there were lots of things being done at the national level that ought not to be done at that level.

“I believe that local government administration must be autonomous and here in Delta, we have never tampered with their funds, rather we assist them and provide bailout funds for them on a monthly basis to augment their payment of salaries.

Wednesday.

He accused the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde of sponsoring the attack, an allegation the Oyo State governor denied yesterday.

Ige’s cap was reportedly removed at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, shorty before he was assassinated in Ibadan on December 23, 2001.

In a video that surfaced online, Fayose was making his way to the podium at the campaign ground when some hoodlums moved towards him and removed his cap.

Fayose said he would “make a formal report of the incidence to the security agencies and the party relevant authorities”, noting that “it was not something to be handled with levity as security agencies will have to unravel all the thugs brought to the event and their sponsors”.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka, the former governor accused a governor and a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP of masterminding the assault on him at the party’s

campaign rally for the Ondo State governorship election in Ondo town.

Fayose said despite “the shameful act”, he “won’t stop saying the truth concerning the running of the party in the South-West zone and those who have failed to produce any result in Lagos State since 1999 will be made to retire.”

While warning that nothing must happen to him, Fayose said, “That’s how late Chief Bola Ige’s cap was removed in Ile-Ife, Osun State then and we all know what happened later.

“So this one will not be ignored and treated as one of those things.

“The masterminds had it all planned and they followed it up by celebrating what they saw as the success of their plot. They even capped it up by circulating the video.

“So it was not an accident, it was planned. But those who planned it only succeeded in advertising their political myopism because the popularity of the brand Ayo Fayose, Osokomole cannot be rubbished by such a childish act.

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Ondo Election: I Haven’t Stepped down for Anyone, Says Jegede The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has denied a report that he had collapsed his structure for another party, and called on his supporters to disregard the report.

Jegede said he was still in the race and determined to win the forthcoming election.

Jegede stated this in a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of Jegede Campaign Organisation, Mr. Gbenga Akinmoyo, in Akure, the state capital.

The statement was titled’ Eyitayo Jegede remains the candidate to beat’.

According to the statement, the PDP candidate described the report as a mere rumour created and existed in the imagination of “day-dreamers and enemies of Ondo State.”

The statement read, “In a desperate move to deceive the general public some dubious individuals are circulating falsehood that the PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) has collapsed structure. This is a lie from the

pit of hell.

“In the last few hours, Eyitayo Jegede has received support from 11 out of the 16 other governorship candidates who collapsed their structures for him and the PDP. He has signed the peace accord confirming commitment to a violence-free election.

“Jegede has meticulously worked to complete his campaign tour across the length and breadth of Ondo State and just yesterday (Wednesday) held the closing rally in an elaborate and colourful ceremony at Ondo West Local

Government where thousands of supporters joined Jegede to receive the PDP national officers from Abuja led by the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, several PDP governors and former governors led by the Chairman of PDP Governor’s Forum, His Excellency Aminu Tambuwal in the presence of a long list of party chieftains and stalwarts from all over Nigeria.”

The statement also declared that “Eyitayo Jegede is not only in the race, he remains the candidate to beat.”

FG Bans Trading under Lagos Marine Beach Bridge The federal government yesterday banned commercial activities under the Marine Beach Bridge, as rehabilitation works are completed for the bridge to reopen to traffic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, while inspecting the bridge directed ministry officials to adopt measures against street trading that sparked up the fire that destroyed

the bridge several years ago leading to its degeneration.

Fashola said construction works on the Apapa-bound lane under construction have been completed and the section would be opened to traffic “in a few days’’.

While inspecting ongoing construction on the Apapa-bound lane on the top of the bridge, the contractors on the project explained that work was ongoing beneath the

bridge while vehicles plied the top.

The minister, who commended the level of technology being applied, warned against allowing illegal activities under the bridge.

“You have to ensure no trading or illegal activities take place here again, in the first place that was what caused the fire that damaged this bridge,’’ he directed his officials.

He appealed to residents and other stakeholders in Ijora and

Apapa to desist from abuse of the bridge The over 40-year-old Marine Beach Bridge was damaged by a fire incident and repair work was first awarded for it in 2012.

It went through another round of six months repairs in 2017, before the current ongoing rehabilitation that began in phases in 2020 with the entire repairs expected to be completed in March 2021.

Magistrates, IG Have No Powers to Freeze Bank Accounts, Court Rules A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that magistrate courts do not have the powers to issue orders freezing bank accounts.

Delivering judgment in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS/1635/2019, Justice Inyang Ekwo also declared that banks should not act on “bankers order” served on them by the police to freeze or place a postno-debit on personal accounts.

Five children of one late Edward Akponovwe Esiso had taken their brother, Yoma

Esiso, four banks, the InspectorGeneral of Police (IG) and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the IG Monitoring Unit to court for freezing their bank accounts in 2019.

The plaintiffs — Eunice Oddiri, Beauty Ogbodu, Sunny Esiso, Edirin Esiso, and Emuobosa Consin — said in September 2019, one of the landed properties of their late father situated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was sold and the proceeds shared among them,

including Yoma.

According to them, they were later arrested and detained after Yoma petitioned the police.

Upon their release, the plaintiffs said they realised that their accounts were frozen following authorisation by the office of the IG and the Commissioner of the Police in charge of the IG monitoring unit.

The banks in their defence said the letters from the IG office were accompanied with a document called a “bankers order” from a

magistrate court, ordering the freezing of the accounts.

The banks are Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, GuarantyTrust Bank and First Bank Plc. Only GTBank filed processes in response to the suit.

In the judgment, Ekwo held that there was no existing Nigerian law or relevant foreign law empowering magistrates to make such an order for the freezing of personal accounts.

14

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͷ˜ 2020

COMMENT

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

THE LIMITS OF PATRIOTISM John Danfulani canvasses an urgent need to restructure the country

W

hen you hear a Nigerian saying “be patriotic”; quietly check his or her social and political status. Your discovery will be: he or she was and still a beneficiary of the corrupt, skewed political structures, and corrosive socio-cultural order.

How can one be patriotic when social contracts between mandate givers and holders are being violated with impunity? And can’t seek redress through constitutionally bestowed channels?

How can one be patriotic when he or she lacks the power to terminate or renew social contracts unmolested and without hynotization from vicious political actors and their minions?

How can one be patriotic when he or she sees children of political office holders flying presidential jets--just to go snap pictures in social events like wedding, burial, and naming ceremony?

How can one be patriotic when leaders are struggling to rival the kleptocratic and totalitarian record of Gen. Mobutu Sese Seko of former Zaire (now Dr.Congo)? How can one be patriotic when police and the military spray bullets and crack skulls of citizens protesting policies they don’t like?

How can one be patriotic when the judiciary is under captivity of executive branch? And temples of justice contaminated to the height that the poor can’t afford the cost of justice?

How can one be patriotic when lawmakers that are direct representatives of the people turned their body to a rubber stamp branch of the execution?

How can one be patriotic when leaders appear in open markets and share money to people because elections are lurking at the corner?

How can one be patriotic when emergency intervention bodies bandy claims that they sank billions feeding kids at home during Covid-19 lockdown?

How can one be patriotic when he can’t go to the field because of insecurity? And government is emphasising back to the farm policies?

How can one be patriotic when kidnappers are no longer picking people on the highways, but have graduated to pulling down doors in cities and picking people unchallenged?

How can one be patriotic when the government made spewing raw lies and misleading claims an

BE PATRIOTIC TANTRUM IS NOTHING BUT A SYSTEM AND CLASS PRESERVATION ANTIC BY A SELF-SERVING AND OPPORTUNISTIC POLITICAL CLASS

official state policy?

How can one be patriotic when freedom of association as guaranteed by the constitution has been trampled upon by aspiring dictators masquerading as democratically elected leaders?

How can one be patriotic when his region is being punished politically, economically and socially because of a civil war that was fought over five decades ago?

How can one be patriotic when leaders make reference of serious countries while justifying harsh policies like hike in power and petrol tariffs?

How can one be patriotic when he is being treated like a second class citizen in a country he called his own?

How can one be patriotic when structures and constituencies were delineated to perpetually keep him down political?

How can one be patriotic when his name, region, ethnic group and religion automatically placed a bar on what he or she will be and aspire to in life?

How can one be patriotic when leaders refused to upgrade hospitals but always rush abroad for medical tourism---and we pick the bills?

How can one be patriotic when lecturers of public universities have been on strike for seven solid months?

How can one be patriotic when a global, regional and sub-regional right to self-determination is considered an act of felony?

How can one be patriotic when an indexed global terror group (herdsmen) was tagged “ mere criminals” while peaceful bodies like IPOB and Islamic Movement of Nigeria(Shias) were ruled terrorists and outlawed?

How can one be patriotic when children of public office holders mount the social media and abuse the-hell-out-of citizens for expressing reservations on policies and actions of their parents?

Be patriotic tantrum is nothing but a system and class preservation antic by a self-serving and opportunistic political class. No sane one will keep faith with the 1914 colonial political contraption that refused to live up to the expectations of citizens.

There is an urgent need to restructure this country before it is too late. A stitch in time, saves nine.

Danfulani wrote from Kaduna

LETTER TO MY COMRADES The struggle continues, writes

My dear Comrades,

I

hope this letter finds you well and happy?

It seems clear to me that our country, Nigeria, bleeds and each new day another gash is added to her numerous wounds. It is 60 years of independence and I am writing to you on Nigeria’s 60th anniversary. The national anthem I heard on television sounded to me like a dirge and the Presidential address which followed it sounded like a funeral oration. It is with tear-filled eyes that I write these words and I hope you can see my despair and frustration. I write this letter in the devout hope that confiding in you my colleagues during this critical period when our national strike is about eight months old, will at least, assuage my pains.

As I pen down these lines, I contemplate Martin Luther King Jr., the American civil rights agitator, who once said: ‘We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed’. Our great union ASUU has confronted many regimes both past and present, military and civilian, doggedly reminding them about the need to revitalize the education sector in Nigeria.

In all our struggles, the response from the government has been empty promises asking our great union to wait. We have waited for so long. The word wait rings in the ears of our members with piercing familiarity. And in the present circumstances, in which we have found ourselves, the word wait has assumed a different semantic connotation. By the definition of Nigerian leaders the word wait has come to mean NEVER. I had hoped that the Buhari regime would make a difference. I had also hoped that the present regime would honor agreements and resolve the problem in the education sector. Alas! I was

wrong. It is the same old trick. Ministers and representatives of government have a strong habit of saying untruths and official lies labeled as a new philosophy of propaganda usually packaged as religious truths. Ministers and government representatives deliberately conceal genuine information from their principal and unsuspecting members of the public.

But more worrisome is the fact that the Minister of Labour has this penchant for making careless and unguarded statements. And quite often, he refers to our great union in abusive and derogatory language. Again, this is not the first time.

While celebrating his re-election victory as President in 2003, Olusegun Obasanjo openly declared that ASUU members know only two things: to sell handouts and sleep with girls on campus. It appears the Nigerian leadership has a strong anti-intellectual culture and a penchant for the vilification and debasement of university teachers. But our great union has borne all these insults with an equal mind. As always, our union has demonstrated abundantly that we are different from other unions (like labor) who will say one thing in the morning and do the opposite in the evening.

Dear comrades, it is important to restate the obvious for the benefit of parents and Nigerian students who seem to be ignorant of our struggle. In 1999, ASUU and the FGN entered into an agreement.

Among other things the agreement stated that a minimum of 26 percent annual budget should be allocated to the education sector; that funds should be made available to build hostels, classrooms, libraries, laboratories, equipment and other facilities for teaching and research.

The agreement also demanded for university autonomy based on the laws of universities and democratic governance.

There was nothing like IPPIS when this agreement was signed. So, the general public is invited to note that the ASUU

strike is not about increment in salaries.

It is important that parents and teachers should understand and appreciate the heroic struggles of our great union.

See where we are today after 60 years of independence: university graduates are pump attendants at filling stations, many others are mixing sand and cement at construction sites. ASUU is fighting for the survival and freedom of all Nigerian citizens. It seems majority of Nigerian citizens do not know that it is the primary (and social) responsibility of the federal government to provide free education to all citizens. Most countries of the world like France, USA and Britain have made education their priority. The Nigerian government allocates only 7% of its annual budget to education. Defense and other sectors carry gargantuan percentages of the annual budget yet Nigerian citizens are at the mercy of armed robbers, daring terrorists and kidnappers.

Again, dear comrades, as I write this letter the salaries of our members have been stopped by the federal government in spite the hardship occasioned by the global Corona virus. Again, this gesture is not surprising, though it is amazing.

Our great union has under past regimes suffered gross injustice and shameful humiliation and yet out of bottomless vitality continued to thrive and prosecute its strike. For example, the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida stopped our salaries, proscribed our union and even forcefully evicted our members from their official residences. The regime of Obasanjo stopped our salaries for eight months. The regime of Goodluck Jonathan stopped our salaries for six months. It could easily be perceived that it is several months today since the Buhari regime has stopped our salaries. But more than that, as if it is some paradoxical palliative for COVID-19, the Buhari regime has made life more intolerable for the poor by the removal of

fuel subsidy and the increment of power tariffs. Comrades, let us be reminded that the stoppage of salaries is usually a ploy by the Nigerian government to impoverish ASUU members and make them miserable so that they can cower at the negotiating table. But Comrades, as you can see, our union has the capacity to endure hunger and misery. And if the inexpressible cruelties of a military junta could not stop us, the gimmicks of a civilian government will surely fail. What our great union is doing is to bring to the open a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened in all its ugliness to the natural medicine of air and light. Our desire is to make university education more meaningful for our children. We may pay sacrifices in the process but we do know that: human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability, it comes through the tireless efforts of men and women willing to pay great sacrifices. Fredrick Douglass, one of the most courageous fighters of the 19th century, once quipped: the whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions, yet made to her august claims, have been born of earnest struggle… if there is no struggle there is no progress.

I hope that this letter finds you strong in faith. Please be resolute and firm. My folks in the village say that: he who wants to eat the coconut should be prepared to break its hard shell. And no matter how long the night is it must surely give way to the break of day. After 60 years there is nothing happy about our independence anniversary. It is just another day of mourning, weeping and gnashing of teeth. Aluta Continua. I am sorry to have written you so long a letter.

Yours for the cause of good education in Nigeria.

Prof. Doki wrote from University of Jos

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍˇËœ 2020

EDITORIAL

ENDING ASUU AND NASU STRIKES The government should engage the unions in a candid dialogue

N

on-academic staff in public universities across the country on Monday commenced a 14-day warning strike. They joined their colleagues in the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU) who have been on strike since March this year. The grievances of the Non Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) members range from alleged flaws in the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) to non-payment of arrears of earned allowances and minimum wage despite various memoranda of understanding.

The unions do have genuine concerns which the federal government ought to have addressed before approving resumption of academic activities in institutions of higher learning. Payment of workers’ emoluments should be considered a major priority just as maintenance of ALL THE CRITICAL infrastructure in ISSUES IN OUR TERTIARY the institutions to INSTITUTIONS MUST promote learning.

BE ADDRESSED IN AN As late in the day ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL as it may seem, we believe the govRESPECT BETWEEN THE ernment should STAKEHOLDERS engage the unions in a constructive, sincere and realistic dialogue to bring the face-off to an end. But the leadership of the various unions must also temper their demands with realism.

Given that Nigerian university students perhaps spend more time at home than in school, it is no surprise that many of our graduates are barely literate. The functionally literate ones are uncreative and unproductive. The corporate labour market shuns them. For a country in a hurry to develop, and catch up with today’s knowledge economy, Nigeria lags too far behind in education. To worsen matters, the increase in the number of public universities amid dwindling resources has adversely affected the quality of academic staff, research and much more in our

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universities. This calls for far-reaching reforms in the tertiary education sector and that cannot be done in an environment in which stakeholders are busy attacking one another in the media.

The serial infidelity to implementation of agreements has become a huge burden. From the unions in the education sector to those in the health sector, the story is the same: failure to implement agreement. On the current ASUU strike, a compromise has to be reached. Throwing brickbats as to who should go to the farm between the lecturers and the minister of state for education will not resolve the crisis at hand.

All the critical issues in our tertiary institutions must be addressed in an atmosphere of mutual respect between the stakeholders. ASUU and the federal government must therefore go back to the negotiating table in the interest of Nigerian students.

It is unfortunate that the federal government and the unions have for several years been locked in running battles over the implementation of agreements reached. The consequences have been lengthy industrial strikes with the attendant debilitating effects on educational development in particular and academic pursuits in general. Yet, as we have repeatedly argued on this recurring problem, whatever the issues are, it is important to find common grounds because these strikes impact negatively on the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria.

While there is no way we can develop our country until efforts are made to revitalise key sectors like education, most of disputes are always occasioned by broken promises. Therefore, going forward requires other critical stakeholders in the education sector joining in the efforts to find a lasting solution to what has become a perplexing national challenge. But in doing this, the federal government must take the initiative so that we can collectively come up with ways to reposition tertiary education in our country.

Meanwhile, the authorities must find a way to resolve the current crisis so that both ASUU and NASU can call off the strike so that our students can return to campus.

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

BLACK INCOMPETENCE MATTERS

uch, we have been programmed to surrealistically experience the past in our day-to-day struggles as reality tells us that this year is 2020; those who “struggled� to “emancipate� us from colonialism, lacking due empathy for the common half-naked and usually fig-clothed tribal-man back then and only envious of the “good life� of the oyinbos, in retrospect, only succeeded in enabling a surreal time machine such that the same inter-tribal suspicions and mutual distrust prevalent before our independence on October the 1st 1960 is still with us today. What young ones of 2020 should have read in history books, they are experiencing in their daily existence, but with smartphones in hand to give them real-time updates on agitations for breakaway republics.

Just as it should have been in the 1950s or earlier. For me, if you ask what has been terrible about our independence, I’d answer without hesitation that these are “open sewers and scattered raw sewage� and “malaria.� Just some short 100 years before 1960 our forefathers were still veritable wild and savage

hunter-gathers folks who would not hesitate to spear a stranger to death before asking questions. True or false?

And their grandchildren think they could manage the business of nationbuilding in a modern world by 1960 when some 90% or more of the native folks were still illiterates? (Painfully, the percentage literacy adjustmentfigure hasn’t changed by much from this stratospheric proportion in 2020.)

What was true about Nigeria was also true about nearly all the other black African tribal-nations. None was really prepared for the independence a few so wanted to boost their standing before their local folks in loincloths. We got independence and here we are today. A Nigerian dollar-denominated billionaire is assailed by the stench of sewage everywhere in-country and this “big man� goes the extra mile to fend off mosquitoes because his wider neighbourhood has not been gentrified. The “independent� local health official does not know a thing about public hygiene and his boss only seeks avenues to raid the public-works budgetary allocations. This billionaire requires special air-travel arrangements and permits to

attend to simple health issues, requiring hours-long travel to Europe and other far-flung places. What if some missile-defence system suddenly goes faulty and rogue and begin to sweep approaching aircraft outbound from Africa from European skies? A dollar billionaire cannot access clean general hospital in his “independent� country?

Anthropologists have always recognised the unreasonable obstinacy of the black man and the Arabs went so far to do a racial stereotype of us based on our propensity to be easily agitated (the Arabs call us zanj, an inferior bunch of crinkly-hair flat-nosed excitable people).

On Hong Kong, the Chinese did not rush to send the Whiteman packing but they entered into a 99-year understanding with the Brits to help develop that province whilst the Chinese were keenly observing and watching from a distance.

In the Nigeria of 2020, a horde of fellow Blackman still hunts other black folks like rats whilst these marauders pillage villages and steal women and livestock, just like was common in about 1860.

These bestial acts will not be tolerated by white colonial masters. No. The Whiteman came to civilise us. We

rejected them. We steal our collective wealth and take to their banks. We are happy to take our children to their schools yet we are poor speakers of their language and poor eaters of their food. They wished to push us to the future but we chose to run back to the past. I weep for myself, my lost opportunities and lost life. I will be 50 on the 10th of October 2020. In Nigeria, my time is long gone. I am old, very old by Nigerian standards. Who there is asking me to be patient for a “change� in 2023? On whose time will I continue to run? Amazingly, albeit fortunately, the smartest thing I think I have done so far is not to raise a family. I just could cope as a single father, which I happen to be. I have a job, but I have empathy.

I care for the millions of children who do not have the educational opportunity that my daughter has had so far. I cannot gloat over the misery of others. I wish we all have equal opportunities as citizens of Nigeria. I weep for Nigeria.

Sunday Adole Jonah, Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAYOCTOBER 9, 2020

16

POLITICS

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

Saluting the Courage of the Ingenious Man from Jekadafari Ward Ismaila Uba Misilli, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Media and Publicity felicitates with his principal on his 59th birthday and uses the opportunity to highlight his achievements

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t was the Scottish writer, Thomas Carlyle, who famously stated that the history of the world is but the biography of great men, reflecting his belief that heroes shape history through both their personal attributes and divine inspiration.

But Carlyle had only popularized ‘The great man theory’, an idea which explains history via the impact of great men or heroes on society.

For obvious reasons, the above represents a fitting narrative of the life of Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, as he turns 59 today.

As we rejoice with him on this historic day even as we also pay attention to his enviable public service and altruism, we are confronted with the remarkable impact which an individual could make in regenerating society.

And expectedly, politics and governance have dominated his public persona in recent times as many know him mainly as a politician without acknowledging him as an astute technocrat who served for a considerable period in the old Bauchi State civil service rising to the position of Principal Accountant and later as a trailblazing Commissioner of Finance in the administration of then Governor Danjuma Goje.

For me as a close observer of this ingenious man from Jekadafari Ward, we cannot fully evaluate his current standing without recourse to his solid academic background as a brilliant accounting graduate from Ahmadu Bello University and vast experience in both private and public sectors, garnering in the process, a diversified knowledge base which have been most useful in leadership positions especially as Governor of Gombe State.

Since he took office in 2019, Governor Yahaya has matched effective leadership with a broad vision, imbued with hard work, sacrifice and innovative thinking and thus turning the tide even in a challenging political environment. Everything has, however, worked as planned.

It is important to reckon with the tough realities he met on assumption of office, a situation which required some realistic stand on the urgent need for reforms, and a basic step that had since led to the expected renewal in the state. From cleaning the proverbial Augean stable by instituting a pragmatic ethical standard and integrity in the governing process, building requisite institutions, thereby overcoming the profligacy of the past to the spectacular civil service reform and policies and programmes, it was too clear to the governor the right route to foster efficiency and enhance qualitative and resultoriented services to the people of Gombe State. Of course, this became imperative for instilling probity, public accountability and transparency required in any modern administration if government were to be effective and efficient. This is also the basis for public trust in a democracy.

Although he is still running the course of his first term in office, the record of achievements in relation to his campaign promises is giving hope to a greater future he has always said his administration embodies, particularly in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, security, agriculture, water provision, job creation and responding vigorously to the enviromental degradation and challenge of climate change in the state.

In achieving on these issues, one strategy he has employed aside some fundamental home-grown development initiatives has been exploring ways and means of creating and strengthening ties with development partners.

Of course, partnership is a strategic step in contemporary development thinking, considering the fact that Gombe is not a rich state in relative terms coupled with the pressing economic and financial challenges even before the COVID-19 pandemic threw most local and international economies off balance

with the attendant development constraints.

So far, Governor Yahaya, symbolically, seems in good stead with these partners cutting across multilateral organizations, government agencies, ministries and parastatals

as well as renowned foundations and thereby making Gombe State a sort of preferred destination of development partners.

It is noted here that government and governance generally can be enhanced by

Redefining Eze Goes To School in Delta

Felix Ofou, an Asaba-based journalist commends the efforts of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State in prioritising unparalleled improvements in all sectors of education

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ot many people in contemporary Nigeria may be familiar with Onuora Nzekwu’s award winning classic, ‘Eze Goes To School’. Although, the book is still a recommended textbook for use in secondary schools, some of the challenges faced by the main protagonist, Eze Adi, may be waning, particularly in Southern Nigeria where literacy has received a boost more than 60 years after the book was first published.

Notwithstanding, ‘Eze Goes To School’, remains a fitting metaphor for a discourse on the state of education in any part of Nigeria. This is chiefly because most of the problems that mitigated against Eze achieving his life long ambition of going to school are still witch us. These include poverty, lack of access roads, inadequate or absence of schools with modern equipment, lack of support particularly by extended family members, widowhood, large families, and other cultural practices inhibiting learning, among others.

However, it must be acknowledged that significant progress has been made in improving literacy in Nigeria, especially in the South, started with the courageous and foresighted decision of the late sage and former Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who declared free education in 1955.

Awolowo’s free education policy led to mass enrolment in schools, setting up of new ones and improvement of infrastructure in primary and secondary education, thereby paving way for the emergence of a literate workforce, primed to take over from the colonial masters. The policy also opened doors for children from indigent homes to go to school, among other benefits.

Undoubtedly, Chief Awolowo’s foresight helped in challenging succeeding govern-

ments, which sprang from the old Western region, which includes, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta states.

This is especially as some of the governors are direct beneficiaries of the free education policy.

With the creation of Delta from defunct Bendel State in 1991, successive administrations have improved on the educational sector, especially because of the high demand and expectation from the citizenry. This is more so because Delta is not regarded as one of the educationally disadvantaged states.

Incumbent Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa has not departed from the bid to up the ante in the education sector. In fact he has scored several milestones since assumption of office on May 29, 2015.

On assumption of office, Okowa hit the ground running by focussing on all aspects of the education sector. An unprecedented and bold decision was also taken to appoint three commissioners to superintend over this important sector, namely; Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Technical/Vocational Education. It is a reflection of the premium the governor places on getting the children off the streets into the classrooms.

In line with his ‘SMART Agenda’ which has now crystalized into a ‘Stronger Delta’ initiative, the Okowa adminstration has reportedly established additional 18 public primary and 40 secondary schools across the State, in an effort to boost foundation years of children; most of whom had no access to formal education.

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bringing it into partnership with other critical stakeholders and upholding some basic policies that can encourage public investments.

In this regard, the core as the Gombe State experience has shown is that government’s involvement in partnerships is predicated on the benefits of strengthening social capital.

Issuing from the foregoing are two premises of interest: that government has the potential to institutionalize sustainable development in ways that few other organizations can manage and that government also has the potential to do this on a large scale. However, there’s a caveat here: government must exhibit a sound organization and responsibility to attract partnerships.

This is the propelling force behind Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s almost restless engagement with such development partners as the UN, UNICEF, USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Taj Bank, NDE, ECN, Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and Communication. Among others are the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), SDGs and most recently the Nigerian Airforce.

A common thread binding all these partnerships is that they are crucial in the strategic interest and development concerns of Gombe State and in consonance with the government’s central vision of service delivery to the people.

For example, from UNICEF and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a lot of help had come for the good health of Gombe children, where like in most parts of the country, a vast number are vulnerable but receiving some good attention. Similar collaboration is playing out in the Ministry of Agriculture where Gombe has keyed into all federal government’s agricultural programmes and projects for the benefit of farmers and the entire citizenry. Closely related here is the new partnership with the Taj Bank, a non-interest financial institution setting up a branch in Gombe which could boost financial inclusion and unlocking opportunities especially in agricultural development and small scale enterprises.

Collaboration to strengthen social inclusion and protection programme at home, support to strengthen social safety net and poverty reduction had also led Governor Yahaya to the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and Humanitarian Coordinator (HC), Mr. Edward Kallon and SDGs offices in Abuja respectively where very positive resolutions were made to support the cause of development in Gombe State. The governor was particularly delighted that the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has thrown its weight behind the state’s 10-year (2020-2030) Development Plan and other initiatives aimed at improving human capital development in the state.

Water as a crucial issue in the state is also on the front burner of collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, with specific support to the second Gombe regional water projects which will ensure effective work on the Balanga Dam, extend support to the Dadinkowa Hydropower project with concomitant effect on the Gombe Industrial Park, urban water supply and improve irrigation farming in the state. Although the ambitious Gombe Goes Green project, now in its second phase, is meant to address the challenge of desertification especially in the northern parts of the state, more efforts are needed like the collaboration with the Environment Ministry to tackle the incessant menace of flooding in the state.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAYOCTOBER 9, 2020

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PERSPECTIVE

EPISTLES of ANTHONY KILA

How Kamala Harris Showed Presidential Class Chido Nwangwu, Publisher, USAfricaonline drives home the well-appointed choice of the American Democratic Party Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kamala Harris, particularly her understanding of current issues confronting the United States

You will recall that when the campaigns entered the first week of August 2020, a very important decision was made by the Democratic Party candidate, Joseph Biden, Jnr. It was his choice of Harris as vice presidential running mate. It was familiar territory for him having served as Vice President to the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obamae

Anthony Kila disagrees with former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida over his insistence that the military should not be held responsible for the woes of Nigeria

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n Wednesday October 7, 2020, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the first, and only, Vice Presidential debate of 2020 featuring, Democratic Party nominee, California Senator Kamala Harris and the incumbent Vice President Mike Pence took place.

Harris, the first black woman to be nominated by any of the two political parties at this level of presidential leadership, did not only pass the fundamental test regarding the vice presidential role of ‘do you know harm to the ticket?’ She performed very well. As a total summary, so far of her comportment and deep knowledge of the issues regarding national security, diplomacy, health security, economic realities of Americans, race relations and the capacity to envision America into the next 50 years, I believe Senator Kamala Harris passed the test of stepping up and if necessary to offer presidential leadership to the United States.

As we know, the incumbent Vice President Mike Pence is a very skillful and savvy communicator. He is calm and thoughtful. He comes across as very deliberative and nuanced.

Remarkably I believe he’s everything that Donald Trump is not.

In every practical sense, Vice President Pence is the Chief Facilitator of the Republican conservative agenda in the Trump administration.

At the onset of the debate sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, Harris summarized her indictment of the Trump presidency by stating —- and I will quote her extensively: “the American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country. And here are the facts. 210,000 dead people in our country in just the last several months. Over 7 million people who have contracted this disease. One in five businesses closed. We’re looking at frontline workers who have been treated like sacrificial workers. We are looking at over 30 million people who in the last several months had to file for unemployment. And here’s the thing, on January 28, the Vice President and the President were informed about the nature of this pandemic. They were informed that it’s lethal in consequence, that it is airborne, that it will affect young people and that it would be contracted because it is airborne. And they knew what was happening, and they didn’t tell you. Can you imagine if you knew on January 28, as opposed to March 13, what they knew what you might have done to prepare? They knew and they covered it up. The President said it was a hoax. They minimized the seriousness of

IBB is Wrong We Must Blame Military

it. The President said you’re on one side of his ledger if you wear a mask, you’re on the other side of his ledger if you don’t.

And in spite of all of that, today they still don’t have a plan. Well, Joe Biden does.

And our plan is about what we need to do around a national strategy for contact tracing, for testing, for administration of the vaccine and making sure that it will be free for all. That is the plan that Joe Biden has and that I have, knowing that we have to get a hold of what has been going on and we need to save our country. And Joe Biden is the best leader to do that and frankly, this administration has forfeited their right to reelection.”

Essentially, she drove home the point with clear connection of the almost 215,000 dead Americans from the Coronavirus today to the anti-scientific failures and reckless misconducts of the Trump presidency.

With only three weeks to the presidential votes, Senator Harris has returned and amplified the issue of healthcare security as being the fundamental factor of the economic problems facing America today.

And overwhelming number of Americans agree with her.

You will recall that when the campaigns entered the first week of August 2020, a very important decision was made by the Democratic Party candidate, Joseph Biden, Jnr. It was his choice of Harris as vice presidential running mate. It was familiar territory for him having served as Vice President to the first African-American President of the United States, Barack Obama.

The position of VP has been described in various ways. One of my favorite quotes is the one by John Nance Garner which describes it as “A spare tire on the automobile of government.”

In terms of options, Biden promised Americans that he Will pick a woman.

Biden did not only pick a woman; he picked a very capable woman. Senator Kamala Harris. it is important to reiterate that the November 3 presidential election will be impacted by the inevitable mix of the high death tally from coronavirus with harsh business climate.

Call November 3 the American elections which will be won or lost in the context of health security and the devastating economic impact.

It will become a national security election.

Like I have stated previously in this column, at the end of the day, the top of the ticket determines the electoral advantages and outcomes.

Rarely, if ever, do Americans insist that the vice presidential candidates are determinative and fundamental factors regarding how they vote; it’s a competitive game of addition, not subtraction.

The bottom line remains that it is a fight between Joseph Biden and Donald Trump.

It’s anybody’s guess who will win.

ear General Babangida Last week, you granted an interview in which you asserted: “It is silly to blame the military for Nigeria’s problem”. Well General, lest we become guilty of what we accuse others of doing, it is important that we take time to clearly, firmly and directly to tell you that you are wrong. If we want to be honest with ourselves, then there is no other way to put it than to bluntly tell you that your position on this issue is historically wrong, logically flawed and intellectually unsustainable.

Dear General, I know you are an avid reader and aficionado of rhetoric and semiotics so I have no doubt that whilst some of your fans and loyalist might be upset with me for not listing your efforts and achievements in this epistles, you the addressee will see through my chosen style of rhetoric and chuckle. I must also add that you are getting this missive also because you, more than any other past military ruler, have decided to place yourself as the symbol of military rule in Nigeria. The consequence of such positioning is that in outlining the sins of the military the blames will be directed at you as a symbol of all military regimes.

The first offense that the military committed and for which it must be blamed lies in their entrance into politics through seizing power with the use of boots and bullets the country bought you to safeguard and protect the country from external danger. There is no amount of corruption, internal squabbles, unrest or division that justifies a coup. It must be emphasised here that the moment the military decided to seize power with our guns they were violating the most sacred covenant of the republic: The constitution.

That singular violation is for me the origin of all other sacrilegious acts in Nigeria, for it created, embodied and justified the precedence of the jungle law by which might is right and violence or threat of violence is an acceptable means of engagement.

Let us be clear, I hold that like all other citizens the military has the right to having a say in governance but the way to do it, the civil and fair mode to have such voice, is to have clear demands and to lobby those jostling for power in the democratic arena to take into account the demands, views and interests of the military.

To make matters worse, once in power, you quickly displayed how ill equipped you were to manage the complex system you grabbed by force. An embodiment of such recklessness is in the Unification Decree No. 34 of May 1966 with which you scuttled a well thought arrangement and balance that held different nations of Nigeria together in a regional system of government. Regardless of how noble your intentions were it is now clear to all that you made the wrong call with that Unification Decree and the consequences of that call are still here with us today.

By the way, you were able to do that devastating decree because you had destroyed democracy and disbanded the representative and consultative bodies that are the pillars of democracy. Let us be clear, I do not believe that democracy in itself equals good governance but it allows of for consultations and deliberations and through consultations and deliberations concerns, interests and aspirations are tabled and arrangements are reached.

Another major blow that you dealt the Nigerian system was the destruction of the

certainty in the lives of families and careers of professionals. Up until 1976, people could predict their path in life and their career could be banked on. With the 1976 purging of the public-service ministries, universities, parastatals, and other government agencies at the federal and state levels of individuals labeled as corrupt, indolent, or inefficient with no probe or trial, things fell apart in the civil service of Nigeria and with that started the annihilation of the middleclass.

I have argued elsewhere that uncertainty is one of the major causes of corruption, let me add here that studies have shown that many people reduced their loyalty and dedication to the Civil Service and other Agencies of government because they realised that nothing was certain for them there and that any officer could come into power change things, sack them within a twinkle of an eye without following laid down rules and with no way of defending themselves. Contrary to what many think and say, the tendency for civil servants to have businesses by the side, award contracts to themselves via proxies and to privatise government assets for self started in 1976 as an aftermath of that purging.

It goes without saying that only unelected and unaccountable administrations can go on a purging rampage with no care for law and due process.

Some have argued for you and with you that civilians were the ones acting for and advising the military. That argument is weak General and even amusing. Those civilians were not there based on a social contract with the people and they were accountable to only you. In the rooms where civilians discuss and advise the military someone had guns someone did not, someone had access to guardroom and could order detention another could not so guess who was truly in charge.

In the over three decades of military rule, part of the sins of the military is that they were not able to turn Nigeria into a regimented society with the advantage of being extremely organised and orderly rather your regimes created a society of exceptions built around bizarre values of military idolatry where soldiers think they can jump the queue. Till today, private security guards think they should stand at attention when they see soldiers and the police will think more than twice before arresting a military personnel.

Dear IBB you are wrong, let’s keep smiling but we must blame the military for these and many more sins -Prof. Kila can be reached at @anthonykila

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 •T H I S D AY

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T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 9, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 1% 1.58 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

1% 2.13 % 3.38 %

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

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

2 , 2 0 2 0

626.75 % 0.01 % 0.01 %

S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 0.01 % YEAR TO DATE 30.26 %

EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes House Begins Review of Civil Aviation Acts

UNVEILING TECH EXPERIENCE CENTRE

L-R: Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Chairman, Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Director General, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, and Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at the unveiling of Tech Experience Centre in Lagos...recently

FG Targets Processing 55mn Passengers at Airports by 2048 Chinedu Eze The federal government has projected that the major international airports: the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa would be processing about 55 million passengers annually by 2048.

This was the estimate made by the Outline Business Case Report for the concession of the four major airports, titled: “Nigeria Four Airports PPP,” and made available by the Ministry of Aviation.

The report stated that the forecast of total traffic for the four airports in Nigeria was expected to grow on average

AVIATION at 5.3 per cent over the next 30 years, from 11 million passengers in 2017, to 55 million by 2048.

The report attributed the anticipated growth to the strong population growth and affluence of its population, noting that the concessionaires would be required to provide sufficient capacity to handle the expected amount of traffic.

“In addition to the terminals that are currently under construction, the Concessionaire is required to refurbish the existing facilities in Abuja and Port Harcourt. In Lagos a new terminal needs to be constructed and the existing MMA1 international terminal decommissioned.

“The Ministry aims to develop Nigeria’s major commercial

airports and surrounding communities into efficient, profitable, self-sustaining, commercial hubs which will create more jobs and develop local industries,” the report stated.

It also disclosed that the federal government would like to use the PPP (Public, Private Partnership) model to leverage private sector participation and foreign investment to achieve the upgrade and development of new infrastructure at these airports in the fastest and most cost-effective manner.

On the scope of the project, the report stated that it fits well within the scope of the Ministry and the ICRC (Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission) and would help Nigeria to reach its objective in terms of air transport: developing and profitably managing customer-

centric airport facilities for safe, secure and efficient carriage of passengers and goods at world-class standards of quality.

The report stated that work was on-going at the four airports designated for concession.

“At all four airports terminal construction is currently ongoing, initiated by the government, and assumed to be operational by 2020.

“The terminals will be part of the concession and the Concessionaire is expected to take these over and operate. Additionally, the Concessionaire is required to develop additional capacity to provide for the traffic demand until the end of the concession period,” the report said.

The report also observed that the airports in Nigeria Continued on page 20

POF: CRFFN to Bar Delinquent Freight Forwarder from Ports Eromosele Abiodun After several months of bickering, the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (CRFFN) has commenced the collection of the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).

It warned that freight forwarders who fail to comply would not be allowed to exit the ports with their containers.

With the new initiative, he said the council would now be fully equipped to regulate freight forwarding in the country, adding that as a noble profession, freight forwarding is not an all comers’ affair.

Following the conclusion of the integration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the CRFFN had in January this year announced plans to commence the collection of POF in all seaports in the country, a move

MARITIME that was held back by fierce protest by freight forwarders and COVID-19.

Speaking in Lagos during a media briefing earmarked to announce the collection of the POF, Registrar/CEO of the CRFFN, recently, Sam Nwakohu, revealed that any freight forwarder that refuses to comply with POF payment will not be allowed to carry his or her cargo out of the ports.

According to the CRFFN Registrar, “We are glad to inform you that following successful integration with terminal operators in the western ports, enforcement of POF collection has now commenced.”

This is just as he revealed that only 64 freight forwarders out of a total registered 787 freight forwarders are currently practic-

ing legitimately at the nation’s ports and borders points.

He added that the POF, which is derived from the provisions of section 6 of the CRFFN Act is a major source of the Council’s internally generated revenue, first for the government and second to drive the necessary reforms and develop the industry According to him, “Integration with terminal operators in the Eastern ports is on-going and we shall communicate to you accordingly with respect to enforcement of same in the Eastern ports.

“The user public is strongly advised to verify the authenticity of the freight forwarder they wish to engage on the CRFFN website. This is to ensure you are dealing with a registered freight forwarder.

“We really want to appreciate the body of shippers and freight forwarders who operate under

very difficult conditions to keep Nigeria moving. The CRFFN will do her best to provide the enabling environment for the freight forwarding industry,” the CRFFN boss added.

On challenges expected from operators as regards the POF collection, Barrister Nwakohu stated, “I did not wake up one morning and decided that CRFFN should start collecting POF from operators. POF is nine years old, meaning it has been in the Council’s long before I became Registrar/CEO of the CRFFN. The laws have been made by government, and whoever decides that he or she won’t pay, then such a person will not take his or her cargo out of the ports.

“We have written to all the accredited associations. We are done with sensitisation. We

The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation will on October 20, 2020, begin a process of amending the Civil Aviation Acts with a three-day public hearing on the six executive bills brought to the National Assembly.

The bills are seeking to amend certain aspects of the Acts establishing the sixagenciesbeingsuperintendedbytheMinistryofAviation.

Theagenciesinclude–theNigerianCivilAviationAuthority,(NCAA),Federal AirportsAuthorityofNigeria,(FAAN),NigerianAirspaceManagementAgency, (NAMA),NigerianCollegeofAviationTechnology,(NCAT)Zaria,AirAccident InvestigationBureau,(AIB)andNigerianMeteorologicalAgency,(NIMET).

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji,saidaviationasadynamicindustryrequiresconstantreviewofenabling statustoensurethatthecountrykeepstostandard.

“Iunderstandthatthelastreviewwasdoneaboutfourteenyearsago(2006) andlcantellyouthatwithinthisperiodalotofchangeshashappenedglobally and this must have necessitated the proposed review from the Executive arm,”hesaid.

Nnaji, therefore appealed to the critical stakeholders and the members of thepublicespeciallythefrequentairtravellers/aviationcommunitytomake timetoeitherattendorsendwell-articulatedmemorandathatwillguidethe legislatorsinamendingtheActs.

Such,accordingtohim,wouldengenderrobustdebateanddiscussionsthat will at the end of the day prepare grounds for qualitative amendment Bills that will reposition the country’s air transport sector for a greater future.

Cleanserve Appoints New CEO, Chairman

CleanserveIntegratedEnergySolutionsLimitedhasannouncedtheappointment ofanewCEO,ChrisNdulue,andanewboardChairman,Prof.VincentNdubueze.

Confirming this in Lagos, the Head, Legal Services/Admin of Cleanserve, DavidAloh,saidthemovewasreflectiveofthechangesinthestatureofthe company.Ndulue,Ex-ManagingDirectorofArikAir,whoisexpectedtobring his wealth of experience and versatility to bear on the company’s growth, is a consummate finance and aviation professional, with almost 30 years of experienceingeneralmanagement,accountingandfinancialmanagement acrossvariousindustries;whileNdubuezeisaprofessorofgeology,petroleum explorationist,FGNAccreditedEnvironmentalConsultant,Hydrogeologist, EducationistandAdministrator.

Comingontheheelsofthecompany’s10thyearanniversary,industrywatchers saidthedevelopmentwasstrategic.

With a pan Nigeria bowser capacity of up to 470,000 liters and pan Nigeria storagecapacityclosetofivemillionliters,Cleanservehasmetamorphosed into a major player in the aviation oil marketing space with facilities spread acrossthefollowingmajorlocations-MurtalaMohammedInternationalAirport, lkeja; Port Harcourt lnternational Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt; Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja; and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport,Kano.

“ExploringextendingservicestootherAfricanairportsinthefuture,Cleanserve paradesateamofthoroughbredandpassionateprofessionals,whileleveraging bigdatafrommarketintelligenceandhistoricalrecordsinitsdecisionmaking, strategy formulation, product development, relationship, and employee management,todelivervalue-addedservicestoitsclients.

Qatar Announces Fifth Destination in 2020

QatarAirwayshasannouncedthatitwilloperatefourweeklyflightstoSan Francisco, the fifth new destination launched by the national carrier of the State of Qatar since the start of the pandemic. The San Francisco service will be operated by Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350-900 featuring 36 seats in theQsuiteBusinessClassand247seatsinEconomyClasswithpassengers enjoyingfreeSuperWi-FibroadbandinternetuntilJanuary2021.

TheonlyMiddleEastcarrieroperatingtoSanFranciscohascontinuedtogrow andinnovateduringthepandemicwithflexiblebookingpolicies,robustsafety measuresandadependablenetwork,allprovidingstronglevelsofreliabilityfor passengers.Throughoutthepandemic,QatarAirwayscontinuedoperations to the U.S. with flights to both Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth maintained duringtheentireperiod.

QatarAirwaysGroupChiefExecutive,Mr.AkbarAlBaker,said:“Wearethrilled to welcome San Francisco as our newest destination, and our ninth current gateway in the U.S. As we navigate the crisis, we have made it a priority to not only reinstate our existing destinations and be the airline travellers can relyon,buttoalsogrowournetworkandincreaseconnectivitywithnewand relevantdestinationsforourcustomerstoenjoy.

“AsthegatewaytoSiliconValleyandthevibranttecheconomy,theSanFrancisco BayAreaisagloballyimportantdestination,bothfromabusinessandleisure perspective. Populated with many people wanting to visit friends, families orbusinesspartnersoverseas,QatarAirwaysisperfectlypositionedasthe reliableairlinepartnertoenabletrafficinandoutofthearea.”

“Export of perishable and other goods will provide the country alternative source of foreign exchange and that is what the Nigerian Export Promotion Council is striving to encourage the export of home made goods” Managing Director, Free on Board Global Logistics,

Oluwajimi Adebakin Continued on page 20

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T H I S D AY Ëž OCTOBER 9, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD FG TARGETS PROCESSING 55MN PASSENGERS AT AIRPORTS BY 2048 are currently operating in a suboptimal environment, most notably due to the following factors that would have to be improved as part of the PPP programme: urgent need of infrastructure investments and modernisation. “All Airports require investments in runway maintenance, navigation aids as well as terminal facilities; relatively low asset utilisation due to the limited opening hours of other smaller Nigerian airports; lack of terminal capacity as the airports fall short of gates, stands and check-in desks; the airports have not been designed as international hubs but operate separate international and domestic terminals. “The aviation infrastructure needs to be prepared to facilitate the macro-economic demand of the forecast population growth and its increasing affluence. A private operator of the four main airports in the country will be able to operate the airports with an international standard and expand the facilities in accordance with traffic demand at each airport. “Typically, on Airport PPP projects, the Authority sets minimum service levels for the Concessionaire to comply with.

This will provide the Authority with a tool to set service standards for the operation of the terminals and secure a reliable high-level product,� the report also said.

POF: CRFFN TO BAR DELINQUENT FREIGHT FORWARDER FROM PORTS will be publishing the names of freight forwarders whose subscriptions are up to date very soon on our website.�

He added, “As at today, we only have about 64 freight forwarders whose payments and subscriptions are up to date in line with the law regulating the freight forwarding practice in Nigeria. These are the people we can validly call freight forwarders as at today. We will be updating that list as more people pay their subscription to the CRFFN. “On our register, we have 787 names of freight forwarders that are practicing at the ports and borders, but only 64 are practicing legitimately as at today.�

NEWS

Bala Usman Re-elected Vice Chair, IMO Facilitation Committee Stories by Eromosele Abiodun The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala- Usman has been elected Vice-Chair of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Facilitation (FAL) Committee.

The election took place during the closing of the 44th Session of the Facilitation Committee (FAL 44), which held virtually.

The facilitation committee addresses the efficiency of shipping by dealing with matters related to enabling international maritime traffic, including the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo from ports.

The committee also ensures that the right balance is struck between maritime security and the facilitation of international maritime trade.

Responding to her re-election, Bala-Usman described it as an honour to Nigeria.

She promised to work with the Chair and the IMO Secretariat in realising the lofty objectives of the FAL Committee and the IMO. The NPA Managing Director praised chair of the committee, Ms Marina Angsell from Sweden for her leadership.

She also thanked the IMO Secretary-General and the Committee for re-electing her to serve.

Meanwhile, the NPA boss

ČŠAppoints port manager for Onne has appointed Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as the new Port Manager of Onne Port Complex.

The new posting came as a result of some re-sufflement and reassignment at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Welcoming the new Port

Manager at the Conference Room NPA, Federal Lighter Terminal Onne, the outgoing Port Manager Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar represented by the Chief Medical Director Onne Port, Dr Julius Agbo expressed satisfaction for the new posting saying that the only thing

constant in life is change.

He maintained that such changes strengthen the operations of the Nigerian Ports Authority. “We are happy to have you at the Port, “he said insisting that the level of attendance by Heads of Departments shows how happy we are to receive you as the new Port Manager.

Responding, the new Port

Manager Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho expressed appreciation on the warm reception accorded him while thanking the NPA Management Onne Port and other stakeholders for their excellent performance even as he applauded the HODs, for their wonderful contribution in making Onne Port a revenue hub for the nation.

COURTESY VISIT

Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman (left), presenting a plaque to the Ambassador of Belgium to Nigeria, Mr. Daniel Bertrand, during a courtesy visit to the NPA in Lagos...recently

Clearing Agents Seek Customs Intervention on Tin-Can Port Trade Disruption Clearing agents operating at the Tin-Can Island ports have called on the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to intervene in activities of compliance team impeding trade facilitation at the Tin-Can Island command of the service.

The agents in a chat with journalists said the compliance team, which was created in 2019, was the brainchild of the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Musa Baba Abdulahi to arrest infractions in duty payments by importers and

clearing agents before they exit the seaport.

However, they accused the team of impeding trade facilitation by slamming Debit Note (DN) on already cleared cargoes and have also taken over the responsibility of Customs valuation unit.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, a clearing agent, Chukwu Nwanne, bemoaned the activities of the compliance team, which he said is against trade facilitation as entrenched by the CGC. He said, “When you obtain valuation, before your docu-

ment gets to where you want to release, the team has already issued you a Debit Note (DN) wanting you to come and negotiate. “The major challenge we have right now is that the compliance team which was established by the Area Controller is strangulating importers, they are not doing what they are created to do, what they ought to be doing is to pinpoint to the Controller on any infraction.�

He added, “The valuation department of Tin Can Island command has lost their

relevance because whenever they issue value on cargoes it doesn’t hold water, the compliance team are now the one giving DN to clearing agents.

Which should we now follow?

This is duplication of duty. “The compliance team was created because of importers that under-declare their cargoes, and the compliance team was supposed to be dealing with the non-compliant importers and their agents and in some cases give DN to those near compliance in order to regulate the business. But now, the compliance team are

slamming DN on everybody.�

On his part, Ikechukwu Onyeka urged the Customs headquarters to come forward and address the duplication of duties going on at the Tin-Can Island command of the service.

He alleged that the CAC compliance team was issuing DN indiscriminately and this is impeding trade facilitation and evacuation of cargoes from the seaports. “The operation of the compliance team has been going on since last year. They have taken over the job of the valuation unit, “he added.

Total E&P Appoints Obi Imemba Executive Director Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Total E&P Nigeria Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Obi Imemba as the Executive Director, Port Harcourt District of the company, with effect from September 23.

A statement from the Public Relations Department of the company said Imemba joined Total in 2002 as a Safety Engineer and has since held significant positions within the Total Group while acquiring a transversal experience.

Until his recent appoint-

ment, he was the Managing Director, Total Uganda Limited, overseeing Total’s downstream business (Marketing & Services) in that country.

Before then, Imemba was the Field Operations Manager, Total E & P Netherlands BV (2014-2018).

His earlier appointments included Offshore Installations Manager, Total E & P Nigeria, during which time he was responsible for Safety & Environment on site; Deepwater Production Performance Manager (20092011) where he coordinated

onshore production support for Akpo FPSO. A member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the British Safety Council, Imemba took over from Mr. Victor Bandele who has been assigned to other duties within the company.

Fate Foundation Partners Institute on COVID-19 Test Kit 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)

FATE Philanthropy Coalition for COVID-19 (FPCC) Support Fund, the philanthropy unit of FATE Foundation in partnership with Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced the launch of the first SARS-CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA).

The SARS-CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay is a Point-ofCare molecular test kit that can detect COVID-19 in real-time in less than 40 minutes, compared to at least 2 hours that it takes the current testing protocols.

SIMA is the first of its kind and was fully funded by the FATE Philanthropy Coalition

for COVID-19 Support Fund (PFCC).

This test kit has been designed and developed by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to ease the challenges posed by the current method of testing which requires very heavy laboratory and expensive equipment to function.

An added advantage of SIMA kit is that low-skilled personnel can be trained to perform this assay in tertiary health facilities where it can be used to diagnose COVID-19 in hospitalised patients. This will be particularly advantageous in remote areas with disadvantaged

populations.

Speaking about the Launch, Coordinator of the FPPC Support Fund, Mr. Fola Adeola, was quoted in a statement to have said, “pioneering this research work led by some of our nation’s leading public health researchers at NIMR exemplifies the potential of health innovation in Nigeria when effectively supported and enabled. “We are proud to have provided the grant which helped NIMR to design and develop the SIMA and we are excited about the possibilities of this innovation in containing the COVID-19 spread and

identifying people infected.�

He also noted that the FPCC Support Fund was set up in the 23rd of March 2020 to support ongoing national and community efforts to ameliorate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria by keying into local and national government’s efforts to properly equip public health facilities and front-line personnel. “Till date, the investments fund have supported other public health institutions including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the National Ortheopeadic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos� he added.

Also speaking, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Prof.

Babatunde Salako said “the impact of this innovation is a fast and sensitive point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 using molecular technique. Its also a very reliable test kit and not just for antibodies or antigen testing. With the Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction system, NIMR can achieve some a total 32 tests result in one hour.�

He also noted that with relevant support, the test kit reagents can be produced in country with 80-90 per cent locally sourced materials.

21

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Onyema Commends FG over BASA with US, Others Stories by Chinedu Eze The Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has commended the signing of Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) between Nigeria and the United States, India and Rwanda

by President Mohammadu Buhari, saying it was yet another testimony of the commitment of this government to the growth of the domestic aviation industry.

Onyema, said this couldn’t have happened at a better time than now that the domestic industry requires all the support to stay afloat. “It is most commendable and I promise Mr. President that the gains thereof shall be fully harnessed. With

this, the President has effectively pushed the ball in the court of domestic airline operators and I want to use this opportunity to call on my colleagues to rally to savour the full benefits of these agreements. “I thank the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika for all the ground work that culminated in the signing of these agreements. His determination to raise the local bar is palpable. I can say for sure that the era of lopsidedness against Nigeria in international aviation is over. “What Mr. President has done is a call for local operators to build capacity and remain competitive in the global air space. This shall

increase job opportunities and ancillary benefits to the domestic economy. I thank you Mr. President for this patriotic masterstroke,� the Air Peace Chairman said.

The federal government on Tuesday announced the ratification of BASA with the United States of America (USA), India, Morocco and Rwanda.

The Minister of Aviation who made this known in his verified twitter handle @Hadisirika and said, “I am glad to announce that Mr President, on behalf of Nigeria, has signed the instruments of ratification of the bilateral air service agreement between Nigeria and USA, India, Morocco as well as Rwanda�, he said.

ACI World, IATA Push for Globally Consistent Testing Approach Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have made a joint call for a globally-consistent approach to testing international passengers as an alternative to quarantine measures.

The global shut down of air transport as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions has had a catastrophic impact on employment. Some 4.8 million industry jobs have been lost or are under threat.

IATA said governments must cooperate to remove quarantine restrictions and restart air travel. A systematic approach to COVID-19 testing would provide an effective way to give governments the confidence to re-open borders without quarantine.

The aviation industry, focused on the health and safety of passengers and their employees, has worked with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART), which included the World Health Organization, to agree and implement a layered approach to health measures

that will enable safe operations amid the COVID-19 crisis.

As the CART reconvenes this week ACI and IATA emphasised that a systematic approach to testing must be the key focus. Both associations called for an internationally agreed and recognised approach to testing passengers during the travel process that is fast, practical, accurate, lowcost, easy-to-use and supported by public health authorities. “Airports and airlines are united in the view that a consistent approach to testing passengers will help to restore the confidence of passengers, avoid border closures, and remove cumbersome quarantine measures which are hampering the genuine efforts of the aviation industry to recover,� ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “This will better foster recovery among airports, airlines and the travel and tourism sectors, thereby protecting jobs and providing the economic and social benefits that aviation delivers to the local, national, and global communities it serves.�

IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said borders must be reopened without quarantine. “Systematic testing is the key to restoring connectivity,� said de Juniac. “That’s critical because millions of jobs depend aviation.

And millions more travelers want and need to reconnect with family, take a hard-earned vacation or support their international business needs.

We must learn to live with this disease and that includes safely restoring the freedom to travel. Already we have measures in place to ensure safe journeys through ICAO’s CART recommendations. “And trials around the world are helping us to demonstrate that we have effective testing technology that can be efficiently integrated into the travel process. We count on ICAO’s leadership to bring governments into agreement on an implementation plan so that aviation can reconnect people and economies. We need to do this with speed. Each day of delay puts more jobs at risk.�

Qatar Offers Teachers 21,000 Complimentary Tickets Qatar Airways has announced that it will give away 21,000 complimentary tickets to teachers to thank them for their vital work in educating young people worldwide during the challenges brought by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline said the giveaway which opened on October 5, closed yesterday.

Teachers were urged to register for the offer through a dedicated website, by submitting a form to receive a unique promotion code, offered on a first come, first served basis.

Teaching professionals from over 75 countries in which Qatar Airways currently operates were eligible for the offer. To ensure the application

process was fair and transparent, each country received a daily allocation of tickets, staggered over the three-day campaign period. “Teachers that successfully register will receive one Economy Class return ticket to anywhere on Qatar Airways’ current network of more than 90 destinations worldwide.

Additionally, they will receive a voucher for 50 per cent off one future return ticket that they can use for themselves, a family member or a friend.

Both tickets are valid for travel up to 30 September 2021,� the airline stated.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We at Qatar Airways are incredibly grateful for the

commitment and hard work of teaching professionals around the world who continue to educate our young people in these times of uncertainty. We know that it has not been an easy task, yet teachers have been incredibly resourceful, turning to online learning and other methods. “As the largest airline flying consistently throughout the pandemic, we have also supported students in recent weeks by flying to wherever they need to be to start their studies on charter as well as scheduled flights. As an airline, we firmly believe in the importance of education and are committed to lending our support to educational causes.�

Support for FG’s Push for DiversiďŹ ed Revenue Base

Pap Product for export Chinedu Eze The plan to boost non-oil export to earn foreign exchange is coming to fruition as Nigerian businessmen and women are crossing the hurdles to export perishables to Europe, the United States and Canada.

On Wednesday Bubex Foods, a Nigerian exporting company branded and exported eight tons of pap to the United Kingdom.

The move is expected to increase the country’s export capacity and in the long-run reduce pressure on the naira.

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc said the organisation received a boost with no fewer than one million tons of goods being exported monthly through the facilities.

NAHCO said this rose from 500 tons a months earlier in the year and projected that by next year, the company would be able to export about four million tons of perishable goods, as the demand of Nigerian food items by Nigerians in Diaspora continues to rise.

Speaking during the export of the pap to Europe, Business Manager, Export, NAHCO, Segun Fagbemi said the export of cargo at the ground handling company was between 400-500 tons monthly for several years, but had since increased to one million tons in recent times.

He attributed this to the policy of the government, which he said encourages non-oil revenues and exportation.

Fagbemi stated that the ground handling company was targeting exportation of four million tons of cargo from its warehouse monthly, stressing that the company had the capacity to accommodate such massive tons.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bubex Foods, Miss Ijeoma Ndukwe said the company embarked on exportation of Bubex pap to Europe and America due to the encouragement received from the government.

She explained that the eight tons of Bubex pap being exported would further increase revenue generation for the country, stressing that the company was targeting 20 per cent of the 35 million Nigerians in Europe.

Ndukwe lauded the managements of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Free On Board (FOB) Global Logistics and NAHCO for creating the

She explained that the eight tons of Bubex pap being exported would further increase revenue generation for the country

avenue for the company to export the product to Europe.

She added that apart from the United Kingdom, which the product was being exported to, the company also planned to penetrate the American market, noting that with this, demands for foreign exchange would reduce.

She declared that the pap scaled the European and American integrity tests before being exported, noting that the plan of the company was to export at least 450 million tons of pap annually.

Ndukwe emphasised that the company was established eight years ago, but went into exportation of perishable goods about five years ago, stressing that with proper packaging and branding, Nigerian goods would be acceptable around the world.

She said: “This present product would be shipped to United Kingdom today and arrive there tomorrow (Thursday). This product has passed Europe and America integrity tests. It was shipped to NAHCO warehouse on October 1, 2020, which is about a week ago, but despite this, the taste remains the same. It shows you the amount of effort we put into place to come out with what we have today. “We have been talking about the government creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurs. This for me is an enabling environment. We now have a system where goods including perishable cargo can be stored and get to their destinations quickly.

This to me is faster and won’t have to wait for three months before it gets to the end-users. This will be in United Kingdom by tomorrow (Thursday).�

Also, the Executive Director, NEPC, Segun Awolowo expressed delight at the success of the company to export the product out of the country.

Awolowo who was represented at the occasion by the Regional Coordinator, South West, NEPC, Mr. Samuel Oyiyipo reiterated the stands of the commission to encourage exporters, saying that Nigeria was gradually diversifying its attention from oil revenue to non-oil revenues.

Awolowo described the exporting process as seamless, maintaining that the pap being exported met all the international standards.

Head, Operations, NAHCO, Biodun Oyebade, described the success as laudable, stressing that NAHCO was happy to be a part of the success story.

According to him, the warehouse facility of NAHCO could accommodate any perishable goods either imported or exported out of the country and called on other entrepreneurs to take a cue from Bubex Foods.

He charged other entrepreneurs to collaborate to build the economy, noting that as more products are exported out of the country, there would be less dependent on foreign exchange. “We want to beef up our capacity to support every Nigerians that are into this business. We want to help foreign exchange, build up our economy and drive down the exchange rate. We all need to come together to boost our economy,� he said.

22

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 9, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

ANALYSIS

Airline Operators’ Push for Better Deal With the election of its new President, Airline Operators of Nigeria are looking forward to securing more favourable policies for the industry as well to strengthen their relationship with the federal government, writes Chinedu Eze

I

ndustry experts identified four key factors that determine the success of domestic airlines in Nigeria. They are government policy; cost and availability of aviation fuel; airport infrastructure; as well as charges and taxes.

These key factors are determined by government and are critical in determining the fate of the industry.

Therefore, government is largely instrumental to the success or failure of domestic operators.

Other variables that could also be monitored by government are financial well-being of airlines, which could be checked by government through economic regulation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

NCAA also regulates aircraft acquisition and management, recruitment of technical workforce and daily operations of airlines.

What this means is that for domestic airlines to succeed they must have to work with the federal government and there must be good understanding, geared with the sole purpose of having a viable and purposeful aviation industry.

THISDAY learnt that this was a key factor that determined the choice of the new leadership of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) a fortnight night ago when the Chairman of Max Air, Alhaji Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, was elected as the President and Chairman of CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema was elected the Vice-President after the end of the second tenure of the former Chairman of the organisation, Captain Nogie Meggison.

FG’s New Approach There has always been clamour by domestic airlines for government’s protection by curtailing the inroad of foreign airlines, supporting them in their international operations and ensuring that aviation fuel is available and at a good price.

They have also been calling on government to review charges leveled on the local operators, including tariffs on aircraft and spares, facilitate their negotiation for operational approvals with other countries and designate them to more international routes.

The current administration has started acquiescing to some of these requests and has adopted the principle of reciprocity to enhance the opportunities of local carriers in their international operations.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration through the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has stopped the tariff on aircraft spares and during the evacuation insisted that all evacuations bankrolled by the federal government must be conducted by domestic carriers, except in destinations such could not be possible.

So it was a new approach and a new rapport between the airlines and the federal government and with this new disposition, it became critically important that the airlines must elect a person who is fully aware of the challenges of the airlines and can also prod his way in the government circles.

Expectations Airline operators, industry observers believe that this is the opportune time for domestic airlines to have rapprochement with government, push for favourable policies on critical issues that affect their business and ensure that government is with them all the way.

The Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu recently explained in an interview that if a Nigerian airline is seeking for approval to operate to any country, it should notify the Ministry of Aviation, NCAA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These government organs will send their representatives to accompany the airline along with the Nigerian ambassador to that country. When this is done, such country will treat the request of the airline with the seriousness it deserves.

New AON President, Sarina

The NCAA boss noted that if the airline abides by this and the country fails to honour that request, the federal government would now retaliate through NCAA. Some airlines have commended Nuhu for that advice and it also echoes the disposition of government to the airlines; it wants the airlines to succeed.

The Chief Executive Officer of Top Brass and former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Roland Iyayi, said the election of new President for AON is a continuity because the association would continue to clamour for those things that the previous administration has demanded from the government.

He said AON would continue to mount campaign for the review of taxes and charges against airlines, noting that this demand has been on so the new executive would continue from where the previous administration left off, adding that the approach might be different this time.

“We are supposed to be engaged with the authorities to review the multifarious taxes and charges because nothing has been concluded yet. So it is just a continuity from where the last administration left off; but the approach should be different,” Iyayi said.

The Top Brass boss explained that why it is difficult for Nigerian airlines to meet their demands on review of charges, support for international operation and waiver for tariffs on imported spares is because some government officials do not appreciate the critical role these airlines play in the economy of the country.

He said some officials of agencies in the aviation industry show open preference to foreign carriers and frowned at the remarks made by a senior government official in one of the aviation agencies who said that foreign airlines pay their taxes and charges promptly but they spend the money earned to push domestic airlines to pay up their debts.

Iyayi said when government agencies have the kind of officials with such mindset, the industry would not grow as projected and it would be difficult for government to yield to the request of the domestic players.

He said domestic airlines buoy the nation’s economy because without domestic airlines there would not be access to many of the nation’s airports and there would not be quick movements from one point to another.

“We have only five international airports and 21 domestic airports, while foreign airlines operate to the five, domestic airlines oper-

ate to additional 16 airports, which means that without domestic airlines you will not access to different parts of the country by air; so domestic airlines should be given a fair chance.

“The challenges they face should be reviewed because we need to encourage the domestic operators. This is where the leadership should take a cue from,” he said.

Job Creation Iyayi noted that Nigerian carriers provide most of the jobs in the industry outside that of the aviation agencies and remarked that foreign airlines provide 20-30 jobs directly and any other one would be on contract like engaging the services of haulage and others.

“These are what I believe people should look at. If you don’t have people that understand the situation well there would be a problem,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of Engineering, Ibom Air, Lukeman Animaseun called for greater unity among domestic carriers in order to collectively push for policies that would aid the success of the operators.

He said issue of Value Added Tax (VAT) should be resolved because the airlines still pay VAT despite the belief that it was been removed, adding that the airlines should now push for its final remove.

“Also on the payment of duty on imported spares, the system chose to deal with the airlines individually but there should be a comprehensive policy on this so that all the airlines will benefit collectively,” Animaseun said.

He also noted that there should be more collaboration among domestic airlines, whereby they would code-share some routes by allowing one airline that has strength on the route to operate it while others that also operate to that destination would sell their tickets but one airline would airlift the passengers to the route on behalf of the other operators.

After the airlines would reconcile their accounts. He said this would enable the carriers to ensure the make good load factor on every route they operate.

Collective Demand Industry analyst and Secretary General of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said that over the years, except for the time in the 90s when the AON was headed by Dr. Steve Mahonwu of the defunct Okada Air, the

leadership of the organisation has been from the private aircraft operator and the aspirations of the private charter operator and that of schedule service providers differ in some areas. This he said had led to the failure to have collective push for changes that would favour the scheduled operators.

“What I believe they need to do first is to collectively demand that the foreign airlines should be restricted to two international airports out of the five airports so classified.

None of them should be cleared to Lagos and Abuja but Lagos or Abuja and any other from alternate geographical zone. The aim is to ensure that the domestic routes and markets benefits are not infringed upon by the foreign airlines. However, the foreign airlines can operate as many frequencies as they wish daily or weekly to the two airports of their choice. To further help themselves, the AON must review members business plans before they are submitted to the NCAA for approval to avoid the recycling of the business plans that have been found to be another reasons for their short lifespan and the general setbacks of the industry,” Ojikutu said.

He lamented that there are 38 known taxes and charges leveled on airlines but only 11 are necessarily charges on the airlines.... “Only VAT is a tax; four are statutory charges, two are non statutory while four are operational support services charges and two of these are optional. The remaining are charges on other operators and support services not on the airlines.

The eleven charges on the airlines are include VAT (FIRS) not the NCAA nor FAAN; Processing aircraft licensing and registration/renewal fees; Personnel licensing and registration/renewal Fees. (Optional); airlines licensing and registration/renewal fees; aircraft inspection fees. Others are simulator training inspiration fees; ATC terminal navigational charges; enroute navigational charges; landing and parking charges and avo-bridge charge, which is optional.

Reawakening The Chief Executive Officer of Mainstream Cargo Limited, Seyi Adewale said the last AON executives having contributed their quota to sub sector wellness needed to step aside due to their significantly diminished role and stake in the industry.

However, the newly inaugurated AON executive is the reawakening of the association because this leadership is current, relevant and major stakeholders in this sub-sector.

“The new President and the Vice President have between them over 30 passenger aircraft and constituting over 50 per cent of the entire domestic (scheduled flight) aircraft fleet. They are directly and most significantly impacted by Covid 19 Pandemic, taxation, maintenance, exchange rate, aviation fuel cost etc. furthermore, the new executives have enough ‘weight and stature’ to influence policy and pressure government to consider their charge,” he said.

He said that AON should concentrate its demands on the immediate release and access to palliatives, grants, waivers and incentives as indicated by the federal government.

“The commercial domestic airlines need funding support for their Operations postCovid -19 lockdown. This will ensure they don’t go under. AON should exert more or sustain the pressure on government to disallow foreign airlines from multiple entries into the country. Government should encourage and incentivize these foreign airlines to partner local airlines through Code-Sharing and/ or be their feeder, encourage joint trainings that lowers their high overall training costs, discourage unhealthy rivalries or competition and resolve conflicts within members or with government agencies, set up monitoring committee to oversee agreed initiatives and report its progress and assist in resolving disputes with aviation unions,” Adewale said.

23

T H I S D AY ˾ OCTOBER 9, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Elixir to Port Congestion Eromosele Abiodun writes on a new investment that will help in decongesting the Lagos ports, increase economic activity and considerably reduce cargo dwell time

F

or those who may have not been to Apapa, a once thriving port city in the last few years, the crisis situation as a result of port congestion that has led to the gridlock on the port access road may be music to your ears. It is not. If anything, it is hell on earth. The ever-increasing volume of import cargo in marine containers has resulted in growing pressure on terminal capacity at the nation’s seaport. Existing major ports are facing significant challenges in expanding on-dock capacity due to constraints on land availability in the vicinity of existing terminal and harbour facilities, environmental issues, and local community concerns over traffic congestion and quality of life impacts.

These factors have generated growing interest in the concept of off-dock terminals as a means of boosting capacity, through potential reductions in container dwell time at on-dock terminals and the transfer of non-essential terminal activity to inland locations. Off-dock terminals are an essential part of the total intermodal system at the point of interface where containers are transferred from port operation quay to inland terminals.

Experts believe the economic benefits of off dock terminal and bonded warehouses are enormous on the society and national development. This, they said can be aptly demonstrated by the fact that warehouses are needed to handle the flow of goods (import and export) and to promote domestic and international trade and business cooperation.

Hence, the socio-economic benefits of off dock terminal, container freight stations and bonded warehouses cannot be overemphasised. Moreover, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The relevance of these maritime infrastructure cuts across a board spectrum of national development indicators and their establishment is justified not only for socioeconomic considerations but also for social as well as political reasons.

It was in recognition of this that the management of Sifax Group decided to establish an off-dock facility a few kilometers away from Apapa port. The facility is part of the company’s multi-million dollars investment in port facilities outlined by its management last year. SIFAX Group is a conglomerate with investments in maritime, aviation, logistics, oil & gas, hospitality and financial services sectors.

The company said it opened the new container terminal in Lagos as a response to the difficulties experienced by stakeholders in accessing the Lagos ports.

SIFAX Shipping ICT Limited, which is the operator of SIFAX Container Terminal is a subsidiary of SIFAX Group and was established with the sole aim of providing cutting-edge inland container services and solutions.

The new terminal, which is situated on over 11 acres of land along the Ebute-Metta Creek, will give consignees, agents and shippers the opportunity of faster and easier clearance of consignments as well as access to a better road network devoid of crippling traffic congestion that makes accessing and exiting the Lagos ports a painful experience for truckers and other port users.

The company said it has a rich blend of both human capital and right equipment & facilities that make the movement of cargoes in and out of the terminal a pleasurable experience.

“A key unique service proposition of the terminal is the access to the group’s seaport terminal at Tin Can Island Port, Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited as well as other terminals, from where the bonded terminal will enjoy quicker stemming of cargoes using barges and transshipments,” the company said.

Registered under the Apapa Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the terminal is well equipped with the right facilities, equipment and experienced person-

Area view of Sifax Off-dock Terminal

nel that make the loading and offloading of cargoes a great experience.

The equipment at the terminal include reach stackers, forklifts, CCTV, empty and full handlers. It is also well secured with both private security guards and men of the Nigerian Police Force.

A visit to the facility showed that the terminal’s operations are run using the globally-tested OSCAR terminal operating system which allows easier location and retrieval of containers. Personnel with industry experience spanning many years in the professional handling of containers and good customer service were seen on ground to deliver best value to our clients.

The terminal’s billing system and staff are well trained and work through multiple service points for fast service delivery.

“We are well positioned to offer you the following services: bonded terminal operations, shipping, jetty services, logistics, cargo & freight forwarding, clearing and Groupage,” the company said.

Group Advantage As a total logistics solutions conglomerate, SIFAX Group has a wide range of subsidiaries in the logistics value chain that provide complimentary services that will support the operations of the terminal in order to meet the needs of clients.

The Group’s flagship business- Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, located at Terminal C, Tin Can Island Port will stem cargo to the terminal through the barge, and the logistics subsidiary has about 100 modern trucks that can move consignments to any part of the country.

“Our efficient Clearing and Forwarding team that has built a robust relationship with the Nigerian Customs Service will be on handle to support your clearing needs.

Just about 200 meters to the terminal, the Group’s empty container depot is located nearby to sort the challenge of returning empty containers for our clients.

“The terminal, in essence, has a capacity to function as a one-stop shop for all logistic needs. The terminal also boasts of the right environment and ambience for clients to conduct their businesses. From a wellequipped clinic to a business centre where services such as document photocopying, typesetting and internet services are offered.

“The agent house at the terminal is well furnished to give our customers the deserved comfort. In the nearest future, there is a plan to upgrade the terminal to a jetty, where vessels can berth. We are already

working with relevant regulatory agencies to achieve this feat,” the firm added.

Decision to invest Speaking at the formal inauguration of the facility, the Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, said the company decided to invest in the facility to make the process of cargo clearing a wonderful experience as opposed to what is obtainable currently.

Afolabi, who was represented by Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, said the new terminal, which would be a model and sits on an 11 acres of land, will leverage on technology and innovations to deliver an unparalleled customer experience as well as cutting-edge inland container services.

He said: “The SIFAX Container Terminal, Ijora, Lagos, is our modest response to a major issue in the maritime industry – access to Lagos ports. The logistics nightmare in Apapa occasioned by the traffic congestion experienced by port users compelled the group to look for a solution that addresses thus seemingly intractable problem. With this terminal, agents, truckers and consignees don’t have to go to the ports before getting their consignments cleared.”

On the unique advantages of the terminal, Afolabi said consignment would be transferred primarily through barges from both Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, adding that the good road network in the area also offers clients faster and efficient cargo clearing.

“Another key advantage of this terminal is that it is IT-driven. The Group has decided to invest in technology to sustain the business to our clients’ satisfaction,” Afolabi further said.

Earlier, in his business presentation, Paul Linden expressed the readiness of the terminal to exceed the expectations of clients through the acquisition of modern cargo equipment and deployment of an experienced and professional workforce backed by the over three-decade experience of SIFAX Group in the maritime industry.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, who was represented by Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, Onari Brown, commended SIFAX Group for its solution-driven mindset and aggressiveness in pursuing the dream of getting the terminal ready for operations in record time. She promised the support and cooperation of the agency in realizing

the vision of the new business.

On her part, Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium and Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup, lauded SIFAX Group for always being at the forefront of innovations in the country’s maritime sector.

Stakeholders’ View Meanwhile, stakeholders believe there is no better time than now for such an investment.

For instance, they said the infrastructure will indeed increase job opportunities for the teeming Nigeria population and also opened up new areas of opportunity for maritime trade, marketing and domestic manufacturing.

The facility, they added, will also lead to the establishment of certain cottage industries.

“And this has a multiplier effect on the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people and the economic viability of the nation, especially with regard to maritime productivity and accessibility. They have also led to large-scale urbanization of the places of location of operations and increased revenue to government, mostly at the local government level,” said maritime expert, Lucky Amiwero.

About Off-dock Terminals Private off-dock terminals also known as Inland Customs Clearance Depots or Bonded Terminals may be generally seen as facilities located inland or remote from ports, which offer services for the handling, temporal storage and customs clearance of containers and general cargo as well as empties.

Containers are transferred between land vehicles, typically between train and truck or truck and truck. Private off-dock terminals tend to be located in or near major cities.

Most of the terminals are well connected by road and rail, which facilitates the transfer of containers and general cargoes from the terminals to the seaports and vice versa.

Maritime experts believe private off-dock terminals have been the best way to decongest ports in many parts of the world as they serve as storage facilities for both laden and empty containers for relatively short or long periods. Their primary purpose is to allow the benefits of containerization to be realized on the inland transport leg of international cargo movements. Economic activities have increased as a resultof the introduction of these terminals and the time spent for loading containers have decreased considerably leading to time and optimum efficiency.

THIS WEEKEND

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

Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi: Repositioning NITDA for Greater Efficiency

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Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi: Repositioning NITDA for Greater Efficiency After just one year in office, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi, has shown that he truly understands what it takes to be at the helm of affairs at an agency that regulates a critical sector of the Nigerian economy. OGHENEVWEDE OHWOVORIOLE writes

T

he National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is an agency of the federal government established in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy as well as coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country. Specifically, Section 6(a, b & m) of the Act mandates it to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria.

Under the Act, NITDA is also empowered to provide guidelines to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure for information technology and systems application and development in Nigeria for public and private sectors, urban-rural development, the economy and the government as well as accelerating internet and intranet penetration in Nigeria and promoting sound internet governance among other functions.

Last year in Dubia, United Arab Emirates, NITDA launched an educational device called, ”Unity Board” at the 39th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition GITEX Technology Week, the biggest technology show in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, which holds annually. The hardware was jointly designed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Isa Pantami and Dr Agu Collins Abu, the director of Corporate Planning and Strategy at NITDA. The Unity Board is a made in Nigeria Educational Technology platform, which helps students in primary schools with the art of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IOT).

In an Interview with Voice of Nigeria Dr. Agu explained that the hardware will embed problem solving capability through creative thinking and problem-based learning methods, especially at the early age.

He said it will also accelerate local content development and indigenisation of technology through human capital development in emerging technologies.

He added that it also a creative medium for advancing teaching and learning, designed specifically as hands-on learning tools to help today’s students build skills for the creative and digital economy through critical thinking.” The agency sponsored 10 Nigerian ICT startups to the annual event.

Under Inuwa’s watch, NITDA has been fulfilling its mandate in ways that have been beneficial to Nigerians. Part of these strides of NITDA under his leadership is the provision of equipment and skill centres to various segments of the Nigerian society in a bid to develop digital skills, improve learning and grow the economy some of the projects across the six geo political zones which have been completed and commissioned: includes the E-library at the Federal College of Education Technical Bichi, Kano State; ICT Innovation Hub, Oyo State Trade Fair Complex, Ibadan, Oyo State; E-Accessibility Centre, Government School for the Deaf, Malumfashi, Katsina State; Virtual Examination Centre; Digital Capacity Training Centre; School Knowledge Center (SKC); Emergency Communication Center (ECC); Enugu State College of Education (Technical),Enugu State; Elkanemi College of Islamic Theology, Yola, Adamawa State; AUD High School Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti State; Emergency Communication Center, Kano,

Dr. Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, DG NITDA

ICT journalists that were trained by NITDA in Abuja

NITDA delegation with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and heads of other agencies under the ministry at GITEX 2019

Farmers trained by NITDA on smart farming in Jigawa State

Kano State.

Also, the Digital Capacity Development Programme for Artisans was flagged off in Suleja, Niger State; Lautech, Oyo State; FCE, Okene, Kogi State; NIIT, Owerri, Imo State;

Benchils School, Warri Delta State.

According to Inuwa, what the agency is doing today is as a result of an expansion of the agency’s mandate by his predecessor, Dr. Isa Pantami, the current Minister of Com-

munications and Digital Economy.

“There were several unsuccessful attempts to review the IT policy before. But coming to the office within three months, the HM had come up with a new policy, the National Digital Economy policy for Digital Nigeria. The policy expanded NITDA’s mandate and made it compulsory to rebrand in line with the new policy. The new brand is a paradigm shift from IT-centric to digital-centric NITDA, which includes a new logo, new vision, new mission, and new core values.

“The brand intent is to be a game-changer in our culture, mindset, and public perception of the Agency. For us to implement National Digital Economy Policy, we need to be digital and smart Agency. We are committed to setting the pace for digital Nigeria,” Inuwa said.

He disclosed that NITDA’s presence in GITEX was to showcase its innovations and also seek investors to develop their products.

As an agency determined to ensure that the awareness and application of information technology spreads nationwide, NITDA has engaged the Nigerian media in a mutually rewarding partnership. A key part of this partnership is the training this year, of 47 journalists in Abuja on digital reportage where they handed a laptop to each reporter.

At the opening ceremony of the training, Inuwa and Dr. Pantami stressed the need to train the media as a key partner in the digitalization of the economy.

Dr. Pantamiat the event, noted Digital Nigeria cannot be achieved without “training the people who will play a key role in ensuring that we achieve that digital Nigeria”. He said it was for that reason NITDA decided to train journalists first.

Inuwa for his part, noted that the only way out of the harsh economic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is digital technology.

“As we are set to embrace this new normal, we need to reskill ourselves as we have seen that the only thing that worked well in this pandemic is digital economy”, he said.

NITDA’s impact on the Nigerian society in the last one year Inuwa has held the reins at the agency, has been multidimensional.

In its quest to secure the Nigerian cyberspace and protect Nigerians from cyber criminals the agency this year launched a Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Centre (CERRC) to monitor the nation’s cyberspace. The CERRC is domiciled at the agency’s headquarters from where it will monitor and reduce the risk involved in online transactions to the barest minimum.

In Agriculture, the agency has trained and graduated 130 farmers on rice farming and livestock production through digital technology. Participants were drawn from the 27 local government areas of Jigawa state. Each participant was supported with a new water pump generator, improved rice seedlings, a pair of android phones, as well as cheques of one hundred thousand Naira. The National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), is a pilot programme of a project, piloted in Jigawa State, North West, Nigeria which will systematically adopt farmers across the 774 local government areas in the country. The project is aimed at providing Nigerian farmers with means to showcase their produce in the digital world market and to support and equip them with necessary skills that will make Nigeria one of the leading nations in digital farming.

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Zorkle Evolves into Full-edged Fashion Brand Stories by Mary Nnah Zorkle, known for its focus on elevated shoemaking, is making a new fashion statement. The upscale yet affordable shoe brand founded in 2016, has just announced expanding its product offering to include clothing and accessories.

The brand will be introducing its line of t-shirts, bags, caps, wristwatches and sunglasses, and has promised to offer the latest fashion trends, highquality products, and most importantly to consumers, awesome affordability.

Speaking on the recent development, Co-founder, Zorkle and Director Business Development, Ahmed Akinsemoyin said, “We see the apparel and accessories market as a futureoriented growth area for us and even though we are expanding,

A customer at Zorkle stores

our goals and mission remains the same.�

He noted further that the company’s mission is to deliver

happiness to every customer while it is consistently looking for new innovative ways to serve the customers better and

work with their expert team to ensure that the Zorkle brand emerges as the most successful lifestyle brand from Africa loved around the world.

As part of the company’s Omni-channel strategy, Zorkle clothing and accessories will be rolled out on the Zorkle Instagram page, allowing the company to test customer demand before it becomes available on their other platforms.

The new offerings are certainly good news for its target market, varieties of goods to shop from, all from their favorite fashion brand, Zorkle. The company amplifies its brand by delivering fast fashion products, worldwide.

Interested person can visit its Instagram account @zorkleshoes for more information on the newly launched line or visit their website www. zorkleshoes.com

Sadiya Faruk on a Rescue Mission The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Faruk, recently made a remarkable delivery of palliatives in the North-east States of Gombe, Adamawa and Yobe.

It was a bold effort to cushion the impact of the lockdown, and the subsequent downturn in the economy.

The food items delivered to the Gombe State government were 840. 04 metric tonnes (28 trailer load) of maize, 105. 86 metric tonnes (four trailer load) of millet and 877. 94 metric tonnes (29 trailer load) of sorghum with a projected 36, 477 households targeted.

On the other hand, food items

Faruk presenting some of the relief items

delivered to Adamawa State were 1,366.52 metric tonnes (46 trailer load) of maize; 172.19 metric tonnes (six trailer load) of millet and 1,428.17 metric tonnes (48 trailer load) of sorghum while in Yobe State, 957.24 metric tonnes (32 trailer load) of maize, 120.62 metric tonnes (four trailer load) of mil-

let and 1,000.43 metric tonnes (33 trailer load) of sorghum were delivered.

Farouk, whose action has been ascribed as absolutely timely for the current situation with staple foods like rice, maize, and sorghum clearly out of the common man’s reach owing to inflation, also went further to dissect for each state the environmental challenges before them, offering options for mitigation.

Farouk is unwavering in her commitment to deliver on President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to address the challenges posed by vagaries in the economy, especially owing to the COVID- 19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Humanitar-

ian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, created on August 21, 2019

by President Muhammadu Buhari as a special intervention ministry for humanitarian affairs, management of disasters and social interventions, was a novelty.

It was given the mandate to develop humanitarian policies and provide effective coordination of national and international humanitarian interventions while ensuring strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, as well as managing the formulation and implementation of equity focused social inclusion and protection programmes in Nigeria.

Evoke Musik Makes Nigerian Debut with Jethro Lion The Nigerian entertainment space is about to receive a major boost as Evoke Musik, a new entertainment company based in the US with its subsidiary in Lagos, Nigeria, recently signed on its flagship artiste, “Jethro Lion� (Jethro Chinweotito Abara) a Reggae/Dancehall act.

Speaking during the unveiling of the artiste in Lagos, the CEO of the platform, Evoke Musik artiste, Jethro Lion Mfon Essien, noted that Evoke Musik would redefine the entertainment landscape in Nigeria through the release of authentic and relatable music with lyrical depth, that has a feel-good effect on the listener and portrays a positive image of Nigeria, home and abroad.

He said: “An embodiment of creativity, Jethro Lion is not one to chase trends for the sake of clout. Nigerians should get ready, as a new storm is about to blow across the entertainment industry. Devoted and true to his artform, that storm is “Jethro Lion,� a multi-talented triple-threat, Singer/Songwriter, Music Producer and Performer.

Expressing appreciation to his record label, Jethro Lion aka The Melody Maker said: “It has been a challenging journey for me. Faced with the financial challenges of promoting my music mainstream as an independent artiste, I struggled with the competition but we give thanks to Jah for signing on to Evoke Musik.

Jethro Lion, a native of Ezinihitte in Mbaise LGA of Imo State, started music in his primary school days as he was part of the band boys that played on the assembly grounds and intensified when he was 11 years old in church joining the choir, he began to hone his skills on the piano and drums, becoming the official drummer of the church.

Inspired to be the best he could be, he delved into the world of music production after he finished secondary school. With the support and guidance of his mother, he fine-tuned his skills as a music producer establishing his outfit, “J. Smith Productions� with credits to a lot of artistes including Vector, Ruffcoin-Nwaba, Glenn, Freestyle “Tha Shogun�, Rosemary Chukwu, 2Shotz and Kenzoz among others.

An alumnus of the Muson School of Music, after eight years of music production, Jethro Lion started writing his own songs and today he has a catalogue of over 100 songs.

ASoldier’sStory2,Nigeria’sMostAnticipated BlockbusterPremiersDecember

Logistics Haven Partners Mama Moni on Relief Programme Logistics Haven Limited, an international key player in the transport and haulage sector of the nation’s economy has partnered Mama Moni Empowerment Foundation to organise COVID-19 relief programme.

The programme which was carried out all through the month of August 2020 was said to have empowered various women in the country by helping them to resuscitate through the pandemic by giving out food relief items.

Speaking on the aims of the programme, Chief Executive Officer of Logistics Haven, Mr John Opute said, “the objectives are to put at ease the gap in livelihood of families, to fuel an adaptive chain reaction for development in the microsystem of society and the nation within individuals especially the home makers, i.e. the girl child and women in general who have

Logistics Haven representative, Emmanuel Etsu, presenting a relief package to one of the beneďŹ ciaries

been caught unawares by the negative effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.�

Speaking further he said that Logistics Haven was simply carrying out its social responsibility, adding, “the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of economy difficulties and financial challenges and we have brought succour in form of food relief materials to the less privileged and the

incapacitated as a result of the effects of deadly disease.�

Opute who opined that the average Nigerian cannot afford three square meals a day added, “this is an avenue for the creative minded persons and institutions to think outside the box and come up with genuine ideas, skills and actions required for businesses and other opportunities to thrive.� “My biggest discovery is that with the right guidance and will, more small scale businesses and ideas were birthed this period. Brands and businesses became equipped with scaling power, either via partnership, innovation, digitisation, awareness, demand community, or simple exposure to the source of start-up capital - name it.� “Logistics Haven has seen this future and caught the vision. It therefore brought about the need to partner

Mama Moni in order to bring confidence to the average and hope to the needy�, he explained. The founder of Mama Moni, Nkem Okocha said that in partnering Logistics Haven the company has been able to reach women across different communities in Nigeria. “The states that we have reached out to are: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kano and Kaduna. We have been helping those low-income female entrepreneurs that have lost their businesses due to coronavirus pandemic�, she added. “Impacting this women’s life and helping low-income female entrepreneurs thrive is what I live for. This is because if these women have the financial capacity to cater for themselves and their children, they will be financially independent and break the circle of poverty�, Okocha added.

Designers Awards Africa to Hold in November Organisers of the yearly Designers Awards Africa (DAA) formally known as the Nigerian Designers Award Fashion Show (NDAFS) are set to hold this year’s awards in a grand style. Billed to hold November 21, 2020 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, the event is strictly by invitation in compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines set by the federal government.

For Olasunkanmi Dasilva Chief Executive Officer of the Designers Awards Africa, the event is aimed at recognising deserving fashion entrepreneurs and business leaders across Africa, while providing mentorship and empowerment platforms for young creatives.

Tagged, “The Heroes�, the event packaged by

‘House of Twitch’, promises to be more exciting than ever before, with exciting side attractions.

Africa Design Award is a platform of African design, a real melting pot where all the actors of design meet to express their know-how and highlight all their talents, creativity and vision in the service of Africa.

Designers Awards Africa CEO, Dasilva

Scene from the movie

There are several factors that can create anticipation leading up to the releases of certain movies. Often, it’s the sequels and sometimes prequels, to wildly popular films that get people excited.

A variety of other contributors exist, such as a movie’s growing controversy, behind-the-scenes buzz both positive and negative, or sometimes simply the star power of an actor, producer and director.

Incidentally, since the release of a teaser from the Movie; A Soldier’s Story 2: Return from the Dead; the second part of a trilogy, movie analysts all over the world and the media have been upbeat and are already counting down the days to December when it will be officially premiered.

When in 2015, the Franchise owners; Martin Gbados of Mekdoss Productions and Frankie Ogar of Frankie Ogar Films who also produced and directed the movie respectively released the first part, it was widely adjudged the most successful movie out of Nollywood, having the highest number of awards in 2016 including two AMVCA, two AMAA, two NEA, three BON and Best Nigerian Movie at the Abuja International Film Festival, just to mention but a few.

Additionally, the trilogy, like Bourne Identity, each one with a life of its own but with the same cast and sequence, provided the platform for stardom to most of the cast members whose career has been on the rise since they featured in the movie.

Hence, the much buzz and frenzy over the sequel.

Again, what makes this movie the most anticipated blockbuster out of Nigeria is the unprecedented combination of Hollywood actors; Eric Roberts, John Vogel and Berit Glaser, and Nollywood actors including veterans such as Alex Usifo, Akin Lewis, Segun Arinze, with younger ones such as Linda Ejiofor, Somkele Iyamah-Idalamah, Michelle Dede, Daniel K. Daniel, Tope Tedela, Baaj Adeuble and Sambasa Nzeribe, in addition to Chris Attoh from Ghana and Vimbai Muthinri from Zimbabwe.

Furthermore, the production quality of the film marked a turning point for the Nigerian film industry. It is equally well positioned to earn both at the box office for entertainment and quality due to its strategic collaborations, and as such, will surpass any movie ever made in Nollywood.

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Òlòtūré: A Bold Attempt with Minor Hiccups Stories by Vanessa Obioha

Since last year, EbonyLife Films has been promoting its latest flick ‘Òlòtré’ — locally translated as‘endurance’— as a must-watch thriller.The hype continued this year with the news of Netflix picking up the movie as part of Nigerian films to debut on the streamer.

A trailer accompanied this news to whet the appetite of movie fans. Thus, when ‘Òlòtré’ finally premiered on the platform on October 2,it dominated trends onTwitter and on Netflix chart of Top Films in Nigeria as at the time of filing this report.The frenzy surrounding the film gave it a top-rated aura.

The Kenneth Gyang directed movie is an audacious attempt to unravel the world of prostitution in Nigeria, a theme that is not ubiquitous in the fictional world since the classic tale of ‘Domitila’. It tells the story of a naive journalist who is intrigued by the adventures of investigative journalism that she went undercover as a prostitute to expose the perpetrators of human trafficking.

Like the Enola Holmes character of the Netflix spy movie of the same title, Sharon Ooja who plays the titular character dons different togas. As a prostitute, she is known as Ehi, an attractive young lady who is envied by her peers. As a journalist, she is the bubbly and hardworking rookie who unknowingly has captivated the heart of her editor, Emeka (Blossom Chukwujekwu).

Gyang draws us into these two worlds with his delicate and seductive shots. He takes the viewer on a visual ride of the underworld

Omowunmi Dada and Sharon Ooja in Òlòtūré

of prostitution. From the grittiness of the night to the hustling of the day, his visuals are magnetic.

However, the narrative does not segue seamlessly. If anything, the intent of the characters is hastily revealed. For instance, Òlòtré’s plan to leave Nigeria comes too early in the film without the viewer taking in her character. There is also an inconsistency in the day time. A particular scene shows Òlòtré boarding a public bus at night time only to arrive at her destination in the daylight. Was the journey a long and tiring one or did she cool off somewhere before returning to the house she shares with other flesh hawkers?

Notwithstanding, it manages to keep the viewers entertained as they follow the fate of the characters.

One of the beauties of Òlòtré is the language. It is raw and authentic. Be advised to sanitize your ears before and after watching the almost two-hour-long movie. So also are the images. Nudity, drugs, cigarette smoking have a filled day in the flick.

At the heart of Òlòtré is a story about hopelessness even if it comes in different hues.We see it in the fate of Òlòtré who in her quest to be a heroine in storytelling ends up being a victim like her subjects. She was raped by a notable politician Sir Philip (Patrick Doyle) who throws lavish parties where immorality and drugs are dominant.

That painful experience hardened her heart and spurred her to take actions in her hands despite pleas from her editor to close the case. But Òlòtré clings to the hope that she

can make the lives of the prostitutes better, that she can disentangle them from the web of deceit. Her naivety will cost her dearly.

That same hopelessness is mirrored in the lives of the prostitutes. From the dream of Linda (Omowunmi Dada) to escape the shackles of poverty by travelling to Europe to the gullible Blessing (Lala Akindoju) longing to flee the abusive hands of her pimp Chuks (Ikechukwu Onunaku), who likewise is struggling for some relevance in a world that is dominated by digital dating apps.

Written byYinka Ogun and Craig Freimond, the film attempts to illuminate the undergoing in the human trafficking world which is worth $150 billion globally. It shows what the impressionable ladies are subjected to in their pursuit of a better life. The objectification of their bodies and the ruthlessness they suffer in the hands of their traffickers.They are humans but to the traffickers, they are commodities. And the higher the quality, that is, virgins or forze speciali like they call them, the better for the traffickers.

Its trump card lies in the characters.

They are diverse and almost peerless.

From Alero (Omoni Oboli), the prostitute cum trafficker who disguises her profession with her textile trade to Beverly Osu nonspeaking role. While Òlòtré boldness to depict the world of human trafficking in Nigeria is laudable, it still staggers in delivering a seamless story. It fails to show the interest of the journalist in pursuing that story. What’s her backstory?

The film is still streaming on Netflix.

Spirit of David Launches Massive Project Popular gospel dance club Spirit of David has announced a new project that comprises a movie and movement.Titled ‘Massive: The Movie and Movement’, the project follows the tradition of the 23-year-old club to host an annual show that coincides with Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.

In 2007 and 2009, it held hearts spellbound with the reality TV show, ‘Celebrity Takes2’, and in 2015, its stage production ‘The Butcher and the Bridge,”drew accolades from many for its portrayal of love, hope and triumph.

The Massive project will kick off with a movement — strategic curating of relevant discourses and events that will culminate into the production of ‘Massive: The Movie,’ coming to screens around the world in the Spring of 2021.

Making the announcement at a virtual conference, Head, Social Media Campaign for the Club’s Massive Movement, Taiwo Ologun explained the intent of the movement.

“We all have questions about our relevance; we live in a big world and may feel

Spirit of David leaders set for Massive Project

small and isolated by our experiences. ‘Massive: The Movement’ is a gathering of seekers sharing the burden of their experiences in the quest for answers through several mediums

iREP PresentsThe HumanShelter On Saturday, October 10, iREP International Documentary Film Festival will be screening Danish film director Boris Bertram 2018 documentary film ‘The Human Shelter’at Nigerian Film Corporation, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In a statement, the organisers described the film as “a poetic and cinematic examination of what defines a home, told through personal stories from different parts of the world, reflecting both on diversity and what we all have in common.”

The film traverses different parts of the world. From the snowy white landscape of northern Norway, home of the nomadic Sami people; a refugee shelter in Iraq; the

The Human Shelter documentary film

waterfront community of the Nigerian megacity, Lagos; to an Icelandic family living near a melting glacier.

There will also be a glimpse at the life in tiny apartments in Tokyo and the vision of what a home on Mars might look and feel like.

Funded by IKEA, the documentary is a result of a two-year worldwide cin-

ematographic expedition that allowed a deep exploration and generate provoking questions on the essence of housing around the world.

Attendance is free under strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. Attendees will have the privilege of interacting with the director Bertram virtually after the screening.

The film is slated for 2 pm.

that will allow them to dial-in and connect.”

She added that the coming months will see the Club launch massive circles movement around the globe, a radio station and other safe

spaces “where no question shall be too big or forbidden.”

Similarly, the Club’s Head of Shows Tokunbo Demide throws more light about the movie project. “‘Massive: The Movie’ is not just the club’s hundredth show but an artistic venture shot in Nigeria with some of the nation’s leading producers, writers, choreographers, actors and a host of other professionals in contents featured from around the world”.

She went further to introduce members of the production team which in-

cluded the director,Adekunle Adejuyigbe; creative consultant,Debo Oluwatominu; line producer,Tolulope Akintan; and chief dance instructor of the club, Akinwale Sodade.

Spirit of David Gospel Dance Club is a vision of God to introduce dynamic and daring expressions of worship in and through dance, while redefining dance in our generation.Since its inception in 1997,the club has produced 99 shows in 11 active branches in Nigeria and others in the UK,North America,Australia and Canada. It aims to portray this in its new venture.

Fate of Alakada Offers Hope at Box Office The roaring success of Toyin Abraham’s ‘Fate of Alakada’ released on Independence Day is a ray of hope to cinema operators.

The film which was earlier scheduled for an April release but was postponed due to the global pandemic grossed over N28 million within four days of release according to distributors and co-producers of the film, FilmOne Entertainment.

This early success defied the constraints of COVID-19 that allows cinemas to operate 33 per cent in Lagos and 50 per cent in other states as part of the government’s efforts to curtail a second wave of the disease.

The film’s opening weekend’s gross places it as the

Toyin Abraham (m) in ‘Fate of Alakada

highest-grossing for the postlockdown period, displacing films such as ‘Mulan’ and ‘Tenet’, released two weeks earlier. The performance has also secured it a place on Nollywood’s Top Ten highest-grossing for a holiday weekend opening since 2018. Only a few films share similar feats and they include ‘Merry Men:The RealYoruba

Demons’,‘Chief Daddy’ and ‘Sugar Rush’.

“We are excited about the brilliant performance of the film so far, and optimistic that it would consolidate on this strong start to yield great numbers” enthused Head of Distribution at FilmOne Entertainment, Ladun Awobokun.

Four mont launched her

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

BEST Art Campaign Climaxes with Prizes An odyssey through the making of eclectic artworks was relished at the grand finale of a month-long art campaign held at the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos, writes YINKA OLATUNBOSUN An atmosphere of visual feast encircled the white-walled art space in the heart of Lekki named Nike Art Gallery. On this calm Sunday afternoon, friends of the famed art hub gathered to witness the exhibition of the works of finalists in a month-long art campaign.

Titled, “Best Art Exhibition,’’ the event was organised by Nigerbev Limited, Producers of Best Range of Products in collaboration with Nike Art Gallery to showcase the works of upcoming artists who had participated in the art campaign.

The audience were thrilled to be part of the ceremony where the top three winners selected from the ten finalists were announced.

Throughout the month of August named ‘BEST Art Month,’ the organisers launched an open call for entries online, requesting artists to post their works on the social media with the hashtag ‘BEST.’ As a result, 1442 submissions were received by the jury and out of this 111 were drawn from Facebook while 1331 were selected from Instagram. The works were assessed on their conformity with the criteria which include form and content, originality, creativity, use of material (media) as well as resonance with the brand’s association with the subject matter of celebration.

Chaired by the renowned textile artist and painter, Chief Mrs Nike Okundaye, the panel of judges include Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo, Mr Abiodun Badejo and Mr Felix Aina.

Initially, 162 works were selected through a very rigorous exercise.

This was further pruned to 80 works and then a longlist of 20 emerged. Ten artists were selected for the finals. Asides for falling short of the criteria, works capturing children were excluded from the competition that was sponsored by the alcoholic beverage brand.

At the grand finale, the Head of Marketing, Nigerbev Limited, Ololade Olumuyiwa-Biala spoke on why the company gave its support to this competition.

“The company believes in self-expression and the ability of matured minds to come together and have fun. The art campaign idea came as a result of the upheaval being experienced in the country; from COVID-19 lockdown to businesses shutting down which created a cloud of gloom. The company decided to

Talent Thrones Show

Amplifying New Voices with Talent Thrones Show Yinka Olatunbosun

Celebration by Adewale Ojo Babatunde

do something that would endear the people and bring life,’’ she revealed. She anticipated only 50 entries when the art campaign was initiated but that month, over a thousand entries were submitted.

The BEST Art Campaign is a part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. The winner of the Art Campaign with the mouthwatering cash prize of N500,000 is Adewale Ojo Babatunde. His colourful art work titled ‘Celebration’ captured ladies having fun in rainbow colours as a celebration of life using acrylic on canvas.

The first runner-up, Mr Omoniyi Gilbert went home with N250,000 cash prize. His painting rendered in acrylic on paper titled, “Pure Bliss” was a visual play on shades.

The second runner-up and the only female artist on top three, Oniyinye Ezennian walked away with a sum of N100,000.

She presented the work titled, “Suffering and Smiling’’ using coloured threads and nails. As a socially-conscious artist, her works often focus on contemporary issues revolving around women and children.

In their quest to nurture talents into greatness, the organisers of the Talent Thrones Show (TTS) are set to promote 25 credible and creatives on an annual basis. Established as a non-profit initiative, Talent Thrones Show (TTS) is created to amplify the voices of emerging creatives with its team of international volunteers drawn from Nigeria and other parts of the globe including Ukraine, UK, US and Canada. Beyond the talents, the goal is also to raise positive influencers.

Unlike any platform of its kind, the show promotes decency, professionalism and grooms participants for artistic excellence.

According to Gideon Etireri, the Executive Committee member, TTS, the core values of the Talent Thrones Show (TTS) are team work, transparency and service.

It is expected that the discovered talents would impact their society positively through contributions to the economy and as a means for social service.

The show hopes to attract contestants with varied talents in dance, singing, comedy, monologue and poetry. Though the online registration for the show kicked off on September 28, the online video submission will be received till October 11. The online audition is slated for October 24. Out of the received entries, only the first 50 video entries would be considered for each genre. The show is open to Nigerians from the age of 18 who have a form of national identification.

The panel of judges for the first

season of the show include Sir Emeka Nwokedi, Segun Lawal, Shuabu Husseini, Akeem Lasisi, AJ Dagga Tolar, Kenny Saint Brown, Koffi the Comedian, DJ Abbey, Lydian John, Ice Nweke, Henry Akubuiro and Owen Gee. On his part, Koffi expressed gratitude at being part of the show and counted as a privilege. MC Abbey said he felt it would be a deep way to connect with people of talent who have no platform to showcase talents. He said that the mentorship part of the show is unique and would help create positive influencers in the society.

While reflecting on the challenges that the organisers have encountered in the conception stage of this project, funding as well as workforce capability were listed.

This is why their activities are being driven by volunteers. They hope to use a minimalistic approach for the inaugural show with the judges, technical and digital back office personnel as volunteers.

The organisers are looking forward to sustaining a year-long mentorship programme and are working towards genuinely interested contestants to be part of this. The mentorship team is made up of professionals and academicians and the idea is to help form contestants’ positive character that would outlive the show.

On the virtual structure, one of the volunteers for the show, Mr Kunle Abisoye revealed that some state of the art equipment would be used for the pre-recorded sessions. In addition, there will be live performances that would be streamed to the audience.

Folklore, African Rhythms in Ndukwe Onuoha’s Spoken Word Yinka Olatunbosun One may liken the refreshing seaside breeze to the sweeping feeling that cut through while one listens to the bubbly words of poetry by Ndukwe Onuoha, an award-winning creative director and spoken word poet.

Though he enjoys being a wordsmith, he had groomed his turf in advertising, flying high across the Nigerian borders.

In 2019, he was in South Korea as a member of the jury for the 2019 edition of AD STARS advertising festival.

A professional who works as a copywriter, Onuoha is undeterred by daily struggles to creating rich poetic content.

Recently, he launched his latest album, “Nwa Chukwu” which is largely inspired by his Igbo identity as well as his own journey to self.

His style has been described as one that ‘fuses a unique conversational delivery with traditional and modern instrumentation to deliver poetry that is accessible, relatable and at once punchy.’

Take ‘Genesis’ for example, the style is primarily narrative, evoking the indigenous folkloric tradition.

The poet

paints the mental imagery of a tree- a family tree- representing life, growth, continuity or reproduction to project the contradictions in the various chapters of life. Additionally, he spices the poetry up with slices of personal belief in the existence of God or a supernatural being that is an embodiment of love.

Deeply emotional, the spoken word is gracefully accompanied by the soothing vocals from Maka, with afro-centric motifs as graphics for the video. Indeed, the visual is a whole art meal, with artistic dressings as well as biblical allusions well-suited for its metaphoric message.

Ndukwe

Ag

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

29

FERTILITY

L

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

MID -CYCLE SPOTTING: WHEN SHOULD I WORRY? PART 2 ast week we started the discussion on common causes of mid cycle spotting, this week we will be concluding on causes and management.

Other common causes of mid-cycle spotting

around the mid cycle.

include Sexual intercourse The cervix becomes more sensitive around the time of ovulation because it is preparing for pregnancy. Sexual intercourse at this time may cause some slight bruises to the cervix producing light bright red blood-tinged mucus.

Much more rarely, post-sex spotting may be a sign of cervical cancer. A sample of cells from cervix; the opening of the uterus, should be taken to test for STIs and abnormal precancerous or cancerous cells. A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a screening procedure for cervical cancer.

Sexually Transmitted Infections In some rare cases, bleeding after intercourse can also signal a sexuallytransmitted infection (STI), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Untreated STIs can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is another cause of mid-cycle spotting. It is advisable to do STI testing to rule out this possibility.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) causes inflammation or infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries, which can cause abnormal bleeding.

Birth Control Methods Use of Hormonal Contraceptive: Women taking hormonal contraceptives may be more likely to experience bleeding if they miss a pill, take one at a different time or switch to a new medication. Recently inserted Intrauterine Device (IUD): Some IUD such as Mirena IUD contains progesterone like hormone

called levonorgestrel. This hormone has the effect of preventing pregnancy and reduces the heaviness of period and may cause mid-cycle bleeding/ spotting in some women.

Lifestyle Excessive exercise: Regular exercise may cause changes in the hormone levels which in turn affects the buildup and shedding of the uterine lining. The body may respond to these mixed hormonal signals by randomly shedding. This is known as ‘breakthrough bleeding’. This is however not a common cause.

Poor nutrition: High fiber diets, excessive alcohol consumption, diets too low in fats and unbalanced diets can affect the production and normal functioning of hormones, thus cause irregular menstrual bleeding. Excessive exercise or a very poor diet lacking in necessary nutrients dietary disorders may be the

reason some women experience midcycle spotting Abnormalities of the Reproductive Tract Abnormal growths such as polyps and cysts, infections, inflammations can cause the cervix to bleed.

Cervical fibroids and entropion can also lead to mid-cycle bleeding The cervix is fragile and can bleed very easily. This could indicate sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea that should be treated immediately.

A scratch in the vagina will always bleed more than a scratch in the regular skin would because the vagina and the cervix are highly vascular, that is, they have lots of blood vessels.

Endometrial hyperplasia, in which the lining of the uterus grows too thick, can also cause abnormal bleeding occurring

What to do for mid-cycle spotting Spotting can mean different things at different stages of your menstrual cycle.

Unless your bleeding is excessively heavy, severe, or prolonged, it is usually not a problem.

If you are experiencing mid-cycle spotting, the best thing to do is to keep track of it. Many health apps on your smartphone make this easy.

Take note of the day in your menstrual cycle the spotting occurs, how long it lasts, the color and consistency, amount of blood, any other related symptoms.

If you are experiencing mid-cycle spotting along with irregular periods, talk to your gynecologist or fertility specialist. Blood tests will be run to determine if the imbalance in your hormone levels may be the cause of your mid-cycle bleeding.

Both fibroids and polyps can be removed surgically if your doctor deems it necessary.

In some rare cases, post-sex spotting can also be a sign of cervical cancer. A sample of cells from your cervix to test for STIs along with abnormal precancerous or cancerous cells called Pap smear will be taken for analysis.

It can be hard to tell what’s normal and what’s not, though, so it’s always best to check with your fertility specialist/gynecologist, who will ensure it is not a sign of a serious health condition. Inform the doctor about any unexpected vaginal bleeding Spotting can mean different things at different stages of the menstrual cycle If you are trying to get pregnant, the specialist will check to ascertain mid cycle does not interfere with your chances of starting or enlarging your family. t3FGFSFODFT MJGFMJOLGFSUJMJUZ DPN &NNB (VOUIFS IFMMPDMVF DPN

Lawyer Debunks N8Billion Fraud Allegation at 1004 Estate The last may not have been heard on the recent allegation of N8billion fraud levelled against the management of 1004 Estate Home Owners and Residents Association (HORA) in Lagos by the leadership of the Community Development Association (CDA) in the same Estate.

At a press conference held last Wednesday

by CDA officials led by Mr. Matthew Ibadin, it was alleged among other things that over N8billion had so far been collected by HORA exco currently led by Barrister Lara Ademola; without accountability to the residents. Cases of monumental fraud were alleged against the Estate managers.

The conference was obviously prompted by an earlier one organised by the HORA leadership during which appeal was made to President Muhammadu Buhari and other well meaning Nigerians to save them from what they described as terror unleashed by those they called electricity thieves in the Estate. The CDA chairman, Ibadin was mentioned as being the leader of the terror group allegedly aided by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Bar Beach Police State, Isah Lawal; a Chief Superintendent of Police.

Reacting to the multi billion naira fraud allegation, the HORA Acting Chairman, Ademola told journalists in an interview at the weekend that the allegation was not only unfounded but faulty in every respect as the Estate has not generated such money under her leadership nor Exco that had existed before her tenure.

Giving an account of income generation and expenditure in the Estate, Ademola said each flat resident currently pays an annual service charge of N626,000 as against N650,000 alleged by the CDA officials and the Estate currently has a total of 1074 flats.

By calculation if every apartment pays, a total of N672,324, 000 would be realised.

She however disclosed that only 85% of the residents pay the annual service charge which amounts to a little above N570million as the annual income from that source.

According to her, the remaining 15% are those who default in paying their service charge. “This group of people are the ones creating tension in the Estate and leading the pack is Matthew Ibadin, a professional photographer, who is a tenant and CDA chairman in the Estate.�

Out of the money generated annually, several companies that render services to the Estate are paid certain amounts that run into several millions monthly. From statement of account made available to the press, Alphmead which renders cleaning, gardening and security services and sundry maintenance is paid a total of N176.4million annually. The company collects N14.6million monthly.

The HORA Chairman disclosed further that apart from Alphamead, other companies provide services in the Estate such as management of water plant, electricity supply, diesel supply for generators, waste disposal, elevators, security by police and civil defence, stationery supply and staff salaries.

She explained that rendering of the services attracts a monthly expenditure that is slightly above N73million. She gave a break down of how the amount is disbursed to service providers thus: Creekwood N4.6m, Alphamead N14.6m, Mojec International N0.9m, Tygot Manpower N1.7m, Tygot Generator Repairs N3.5m, Diesel N18m, LAWMA N2.5m, Eko Distribution Company N21m, Elevators N3m, Internet/Stationery N0.035m, Civil Defence N0.450m, Police N0.240m, Staff Salary N1.7m, Legal/Professional N1m.

With the average monthly expenditure standing at N73,369,846.00 it therefore means that a total of N880,438,152.00 is expended

annually. This, according to Ademola, puts the Estate management in deficit as the income generated from service charge stands at N570million. Said she “with payment to companies that provide the aforementioned services, has the income not finished?�

Earlier in the day before the press conference last Wednesday addressed by CDA officials, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Housing were in the Estate. It was gathered that their visit was prompted by a petition written by the 1004 CDA alleging among other things that snakes and rats have infested the Estate and that water in the Estate was brown in colour.

Interestingly when the lawmakers toured round the Estate no snakes nor rats were found. More so, it was discovered that the former Managing Director of Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr. Shayo Holloway is the one managing the water plant.

Though during the visit some observations that had to do with ambiguity in the records of diesel supply at the Power Plant and this ambiguity was one of the highpoints leveraged on, in the allegation against HORA leadership as the diesel supply could be a conduit pipe for fraudulent practice.

Reacting to this, Ademola told journalists that there was nothing suspicious about diesel supply since they are dealing with four reputable companies among which are Forte Oil, Oando, Bell Point. According to her “when it comes to record keeping, every company or organization has its own method or style.

At the 1004 Estate, we adopt docketing style made possible by our state-of-the-art metering system in diesel supply. This system makes it possible for the actual quantity supplied to be recorded as captured by the metering system.�

Explaining this further, the HORA Chairman said that diesel was usually supplied in

33,000 litre trucks but in terms of payment, only what was actually recorded on delivery would be paid for. For example, if the quantity of diesel supplied in 33,000 litre truck is short by 50 litres and the metering recorded 32,950 litres as the quantity supplied, the shortfall of 50 litres would not be paid for.

Dismissing further, any insinuations about racketeering or use of relations in diesel supply, Barrister Ademola said that every supply of diesel since she took over leadership was monitored by her through the metering system connected to her office and only reputable companies are engaged in the supply. “This is apart from the physical presence of security personnel, operations staff and plant operators to ensure transparency.�

She added that prior to her assumption of office, payment for diesel supply was done on cash and carry basis, but since she took over, it has been done on 30 days credit basis. She explained that what led to the so called ambiguity when the lawmakers visited, was simply the inability of the plant staff on ground to provide duplicate copies of the dockets as key to the room where the file was kept was not readily available at the time of the law makers visit. Perhaps, they did not understand exactly what the lawmakers wanted.

The HORA chairman revealed that the shift in payment for diesel supply from cash and carry basis was because, cash availability was not regular. So it was quite difficult to take care of other expenses once the available cash was applied to payment for diesel on supply. She explained that the 30 days credit system was to enable them plan very well on resource allocation for other services as the Estate is made of a large number Nigerians and expatriates whose choice to live in the Estate was prompted by the availability of certain services from time.

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T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

Globally Raising the Bar of Excellence Tony Elumelu, one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, who was recently named by Time Magazine in the Time 100, the annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, is raising the bar of excellence across the globe, writes Maduabuchi Ubani

N

othing can stop a man whose time has come, especially, one who is diligent in his work.

And such a man will stand before kings and not mean men.

This is the story of Tony Elumelu, one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, who was on September 23, 2020, named by Time Magazine in the 2020 Time 100, the annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Elumelu who is a trained economist, is one of the only four Africans on the 2020 list, recognised for his track record of business turnaround and value creation, and economic empowerment of young Africans.

About Time 100 The list, now in its 17th year recognises the achievement of the world’s most influential people promoting science and technology, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity and even community.

To assemble the list, Time Magazine relies on their journalists around the world and also Time 100 alumni. The aim is not only to celebrate these persons but also to encourage them to keep improving their space and continue to change the narrative across the world.

Awards and Honours Over the years, Elumelu has garnered many national and international awards.

In 2003, the Federal Government of Nigeria granted Elumelu the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), a national honour. In 2006, he won the African Business Leader of The Year Award conferred by the United Kingdom-based magazine, Africa Investor. In 2009, the Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua asked him to serve on the Presidential Committee on the Global Financial Crisis. In 2012, he received Nigeria’s prestigious award of Commander of the Order of the Niger, (CON) for his service in promoting private enterprise. At the fifth edition of the annual Economic Forum of the Ivorian National Council of Employers, CGECI Academy, (CGECI) in Abidjan in April 2016, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, in 2016, he was awarded the ‘daily times, Nigerian man of the year.

The same year, Elumelu received the Daily Times, Man of the Year award. He received the Inaugural Dwight D. Eisenhower Global Entrepreneurship Award in 2017, Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) and the French President Macron ‘Tech for Good’ global coalition award in 2018.

Also in 2018, Elumelu received the Person of the Year Award from the Vanguard Newspapers, Nigeria. In 2019, he received the National Productivity Order of Merit, the Jeune Afrique ‘100 Most Influential Africans, and Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa).

Impact Elumelu has been making an exponential impact when no one was watching and applauding. He has been positioning himself as a formidable figure that upcoming generations can look up to and learn from.

He is the Chairman of leading African financial services group, the United Bank for Africa (UBA), with presence in 20 African countries, and offices in Paris, London, and New York.

UBA is the product of 2005 merger between UBA and Standard Trust Bank, which at the time was sub-Saharan Africa ex-South Africa’s largest financial services transaction. The merger and subsequent strategy were conceived and executed

by Elumelu who has the knack for excelling where others failed. Elumelu also acquired, rebranded, and restructured the failed Nigerian Crystal Bank, transforming the business into the fifth ranked bank in a 90-bank industry.

Elumelu

He is the Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings Ltd, an African propriety investment company, with interests in power, oil and gas, financial services, hospitality, real estate and healthcare, The Delta State-born internationallyacclaimed businessman sits on numerous public and social sector boards, including the global advisory board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL), USAID’s Private Capital Group Partners Forum (PCG), and is Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute’s Global Food Security Working Group.

He serves on the international boards of the Washington DC-based think tank the Wilson Centre and a member of the Global Advisory Council, Harvard Kennedy School’s Centre for Public Leadership, Harvard University, Global Advisory Council, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU), an initiative of the United Nations refocused youth agenda, Member, Global Shapers Foundation, World Economic Forum and Member, World Economic Forum Community of Chairmen.

Elumelu is known for his significant contribution to entrepreneurship in Africa. In 2010, he created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and ensuring job creation across all 54 African countries.

The foundation has committed $100m in a 10-year programme to fund, mentor and train 10,000 African entrepreneurs. The Foundation’s mission is inspired by Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the key enabler of economic and social wealth creation in Africa.

He is on the Bretton Woods Committee, which brings together senior leaders in the global banking industry, a recognition of his work on African development. Elumelu who is a Fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), is involved, through his Foundation, with the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) in a partnership to strengthen the private sector’s role in the economic transformation of select African countries. This partnership is called the Blair-Elumelu Fellowship Programme. He is co-chair of the Africa Energy Leaders’ Group (AELG).

Commendations The recognition of Elumelu by Time Magazine which came a few days to Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary was seen by many as a national victory. Apart from giving Nigeria and Nigerians a good name in the international community, Elumelu’s recognition by Time Magazine attracted commendations from prominent Nigerians.

First, it was President Muhammadu Buhari who commended Elumelu’s vision of Africapitalism and commitment to the development of African youths. In a congratulatory message the President’s spokesman Femi Adesina said, “Buhari says Elumelu’s commitment to the development of African youths, whom he has given a voice and empowerment, investing $5,000 in 1,000 young entrepreneurs per year across 54 countries, places him as a visionary, with milk of human kindness.”

Even the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives described the recognition as well deserving, given Elumelu’s selfless contributions towards human capital develop-

ment, wealth creation, economic growth as well as empowerment of young entrepreneurs across Africa.

The Caucus in a statement signed bythe Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said “Dr. Elumelu’s entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and innovativeness have again brought respect and honour to our nation in the international arena,” adding, “as lawmakers, we are proud of Dr. Elumelu, whose performance in global business competitiveness has further reinforced our individual and collective resilience to add value in our national, continental and the global quest for economic growth and better living standards.”

The former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside noted that the recognition “would bolster Elumelu’s determination to alter the course of emerging African generations for the better and place them on a pedestal of prosperity, service to humanity, and above all, provide leadership for the continent.”

The Road Ahead The reward for hard work is more work.

And in Elumelu’s case, the world has seen a man who is not resting on his oars anytime soon in creating the future he wants. We see a future filled with limitless possibilities for Elumelu and the invaluable contributions he is making globally.

As his middle name, ‘Onyemaechi’ (who knows tomorrow) suggests, nobody can really predict what tomorrow holds out for Elumelu or the next award coming his way. Surely, Elumelu will keep winning, and when he does, the world will be celebrating with him.

31

T H I S D AY ˾ ͷ˜ ͰͮͰͮ

POLSCOPE

áÓÞÒ ÎÎã ÎÓàáÜÓ ÏÎÎã˛ÙÎÓàáÜÓ̶ÞÒÓÝÎËãÖÓàÏ˛ÍÙט ͸΀͸ͽ ͻ͸; ΁ͻͽ;

A New Dawn for Teachers?

Canticles….

Who Carries the Day in Ondo?

Akeredolu and Jegede

T

he stage is set.Tomorrow will be the epic battle for the soul of Ondo State. And many have predicted that so much blood will flow such that the Owena river will literally turn red.

Don’t mind those nay sayers who are prophets of doom. There will be no bloodshed. It will be a peaceful election.

That was how they predicted that Edo will boil and heads will roll. Edo election has come and gone, It neither boiled nor did heads roll.

Ondo people are enlightened and are committed to peaceful polls

Adamu

P

erhaps, the most exciting news of the year is the news of the robust consideration of Mr President to grant teachers a special salary scale.

It was clearly the best gift from President Mohammadu Buhari to teachers on World Teachers’ Day, last Monday.

The last time teachers were this honoured and made glad was in 1974 when the Udoji Award was given. Ever since then, teachers have remained pitiable gatekeepers of vested interest.

I recall that it was with the Udoji Award that many teachers were able to build their own houses, train their children in colleges and higher institutions without tears They were also able to buy motor cycles etc.

For too long, teachers have been neglected, forsaken and relegated to the very bottom of socio-economic ladder of life. They are merely consoled with the deceptive promise that their reward is in heaven. What about those who don’t make it to heaven?

Not many reckon with teachers, not because of intellectual or skill incapacitation, but because of financial weakness.

It wasn’t always so. Times were, when teachers were prized members of the communities. Parents were eager to give out their beautiful daughters to be married by teachers.

They were respected and consulted.

Not anymore.

Essential and crucial as they are, teachers have continued to suffer neglect and relegation in the larger society. Yet, without them, we probably wont be able to read even this piece. They are given scant regard….

All because they have no financial muscle and cannot wield monetary influence in the society.

Few years ago, they were actually the butt of society’s jokes. They were literally regarded as the dregs of society. Parents became very reluctant to allow their daughters to marry teachers ostensibly because only the strong among them are able to live from hand to mouth.

In no small measure, this affected greatly the level of commitment and devotion to duty by teachers. Many teachers started devising extra means to make ends meet. So, it became commonplace experience that teachers, especially female teachers, also became traders and mini-business women; selling eggs, foodstuff, clothes, shoes, drinks and all such

petty warts, during school hours.

The consequence was that the real business of teaching and learning began to suffer significantly. And the dire consequences did not take long to surface: the standard of education In no time, like a cancerous infection, it spread even over to tertiary institutions as the universities and polytechnics began to churn out unbaked students as graduates, thus making a lie of the claim that all such graduates have been found to “be worthy in learning and character”.

The spin-off effect is that the tertiary institutions merely spewed out “unprocessed” graduates, many of whom are unemployable.

It is these fundamental defects in our educational system that gave rise to the advent of private schools where deliberate attempts have been made by the operators of such schools to redeem and restore the quality of education in the country. That explains why many parents are keen on sending their children to private schools, all the way from kindergarten cadres to even university levels, sometimes with tears.

What’s more, quite a number who have completely lost faith in the educational system of the country (be it private or public schools) resort to sending their children to foreign countries to “further” their education.

It is so bad that even neighbouring countries like Ghana and Republic of Benin have been receiving many of our Nigerian children in their tertiary institutions. Little wonder that many foreign universities, often swoop on Nigeria advertising their schools, organizing interviews and offering all such assistive services in educational pursuits.

It is in the light of the foregoing that the announcement of the Special remuneration package for teachers by President Buhari should be appraised and appreciated, as a deliberate measure to wrest the Nigerian educational system from rot and wreck.

Indeed, the presidential package for teachers, termed New National Teaching Policy, though long in coming, is quite salutary.

Some of the provisions of the new policy include a special salary scale, retirement age for teachers now to be 65, just as retirement by length of service will now be 40. There will now be allowance for rural teachers as well as Science teachers. Teachers’ children will now enjoy automatic admission and tuition free service when the children are in the same

schools where their parents teach.

In a bid to boost teacher education, the policy provides for automatic recruitment for holders of B.Ed, just as such B.Ed students will enjoy some special stipend while still in school, even as Education students in Colleges and universities will enjoy special Bursary awards.

The policy also provides that TETFUND will now be used to fund teaching practices, just as Special Teachers Pension Scheme will be established.

No doubt, these are noble and courageous provisions in a policy that is bound to revive the nation’s educational system.

But from experience, enunciating the policy appears to be the easier part of the bargain. Implementing it is where the challenge comes in.

First, those who have exercised caution in hailing the policy worry about the acceptability of the policy by the state governments. Put differently, would the sub nationals embrace this policy? This question is crucial knowing the battle the NLC fought to get the states to accept the national minimum wage of N30,000.

With many states really struggling to stay afloat financially, would they have the capacity to flow with this new policy? Or, as somebody said, would it now provide another ground for agitation and calls for strike actions by Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT)?

This would also be an opportunity for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to get more involved in the training of teacher by ensuring that the curriculum and pedagogy content in the various teacher training institutions and centres are not only regulated but adequately updated to suit the dynamic needs of society.

It is however remarkable that there is no timeline to the take-off of this policy. Nigerians hope that the usual drag of bureaucracy would not unduly delay the implementation of this policy because teachers have been veritable long sufferers.

This is a flaming opportunity that should not be allowed to burn out in wasteful red tapism.

Teachers, on their part must also rise to the occasion of reciprocating the gesture by retooling their skills and kits to, once again, make noble the teaching career.

With the new policy, not only will the integrity and social regard of the teachers be restored, society will indeed be better for it ultimately.

You talk as if you have not followed the frequent clashes between the thugs loyal to the APC candidate and sitting governor, Rotimi Akeredolu aka Aketi and those loyal to the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.

Do you know how many people have been injured and maimed, how many properties have been destroyed?

Did you forget that about a month ago, that fire burnt down the house where the card readers were kept?

You think it was an ordinary fire?

And you say they are enlightened?

Who says we can’t have enlightened thugs?

Take it from me, there will be no blood bath. From Ilaje to Akoko, Okitipupa to Imeri, the election shall go smoothly. The principal characters have al committed themselves to peace. Bishop Hassan Kukah and Gen Abdusallami Abubakar have all prayed for them. Everything shall go well.

We all want everything to go well indeed. But what causes trouble is the desperation to win. Many politicians want to win by all means, whether the electorate wants them or not.

Then that is no longer democracy.

I believe the Ondo voters should be allowed to choose between Akeredolu and Jegede.

Why are you focusing only on those two candidates? What about the remaining 15 candidates?

Akeredolu and Jegede are the frontrunners. The rest are all in the race to sweeten the competition as a contest.

They are just the also-rans. Many of them know that they don’t stand any chance. How many of them have you heard about their campaigns like the APC and PDP candidates?

What about the Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi who is the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)? Do you know the party is a major force in the state, what with the implicit support of the former governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko?

You cannot dismiss the ZLP, trust me.

Is it not the same Ajayi and Mimiko that Gov Akeredolu described as having no effect whatsoever in the politics of the state?

What did you expect him to say of

his opponents? He may have said so out of sheer political mischief? After all, he had decalred that former Gov Mimiko is his enemy for life and that nothing will ever reconcile them.

So his utterances about that party is apparently biased and springs from a bad place. But he would be shocked by what will hit him.

Are you implying that Akeredolu will not be returned?

I have not said so. Read the handwriting on the wall.You will know that his days are numbered in the Government House. Many Ondo people do not think he has done well enough to be re-elected. Many of them believe he is being influenced by external factors outside the state.

And the people seem verily averse to such godfather overshadowing image in the background .

External factors? Godfather? How and when? Did Bola Tinubu campaign for him again?

Did the Lion of Bourdillon enjoin Ondo people to also reject Eyitayo?

Which external forces are you talking about?

Put your ears to the ground and you will hear what the people are saying. Ondo people want to be completely independent, not having a governor that takes instruction from outside the state.

But Akeredolu has done major things for the people of the state, so if he is taking instructions from outside the state, it has benefitted the people of the state. If you don’t see anything else, can’t you see the legacy bridge he constructed at Ore, which has solved a lot of traffic gridlock in that transit town?

There are talks that ZLP and PDP would combine to fight their common enemy which is APC. And if that happens, then APC would be on its way out in the state.

Are you sure of your facts? Don’t forget Ajayi was until recently a top member of the APC. Do you think the APC will allow itself to suffer another defeat within one month, after the disgraceful loss in Edo? Again, put your ears on the ground. You will hear things. This is the age of digital politics.

The era of presidential intervention in elections ended with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.This Buhari is not ready to assist any political weakling. If any governor cannot fly on the basis of his own performance, then let him crash.

That is the unspoken policy. That was what saved Godwin Obaseki in Edo State. It may be the same pill that could kill Aketi politically.

I think the most we can ask for is for the best candidate among the lot to win. That is the only guaranty that Ondo State will not only be peaceful

32

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Distributes N770m Inputs, Cash to Cocoa Farmers James Sowole Ă“Ă˜ Ă•Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has commenced the distribution of inputs and cash worth N770 million to 221 cocoa farmers in 10 cocoa producing states of Nigeria.

The distribution of the items was flagged off in Akure, Ondo State capital, under the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme to members of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigerians (CFAN).

Beneficiary farmers from each of the 10 cocoa producing states were Ondo -365; Cross Rivers -74; Edo – 214; Ekiti - 38 and Osun -193.

Other beneficiary states were Kwara -43; Ogun – 118; Oyo – 156; Delta – 17; and Abia - 4.

The distribution statistics, also indicated that each farmer would get 300 sachets of Ultima Plus, 12 litres of Clear weed herbicides,

nine litres of Avesthrin insecticides six litres of Folar cocoa fertilizer and cash.

The Anchor Borrowers Scheme for Cocoa farmers is being managed by Wema Bank Plc, in which all beneficiaries, have opened account for the purpose of the loan scheme.

Speaking at the ceremony attended by representatives the cocoa farmers from the beneficiary states and stakeholders in the cocoa value chain business, the National President of CFAN, Mr. Adeola Adegoke, said the CBN assistance would lead to increase in the yield of farmers per hectre.

Adegoke, said the sum of N197,444 was being given out as loan per hectare, and three hectares are calculated for each farmer, through the Anchor Borrowers cheme.

He added that the loan attracts a nine-per cent interest

rate payable within 18 months and that it was expected that the loan, tagged: ‘Good Agricultural Practices,’ would increase beneficiaries’ productivity from about 350kg of cocoa beans per hectare to about 600kg.

While stating that this is the first Anchor Borrowing Scheme for cocoa farmers, Adegoke said the leadership of the CFAN , should be commended for the scheme. He said the scheme was not for beginners in cocoa farming, but for those, who already have their farms and want to increase their yield. Adegoke urged the federal government to assist farmers in sinking boreholes in farms for irrigation, adding that Nigeria can no longer depend on rainfall farming.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari, for initiating the Anchor Borrowers Scheme for different farm crops.

MARKET INDICATORS

Beware of Fraudulent Loan Offers, Investment Schemes, CBN Warns The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday warned members of the public against fraudulent messages and videos targeted at unsuspecting loan seekers and owners of small-scale businesses purportedly facilitated by the Bank.

The Bank in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, noted that while the CBN has several development finance intervention programmes from which different categories of businesses had benefitted (and still benefitting), “it does not do so through direct interaction with prospective applicants.�

It stressed that there are clearly

spelt out procedures for accessing CBN intervention funds, which are disbursed through Participating Financial Institutions (PFls), such as deposit money banks (DMBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFls) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs). “The Bank also does not facilitate investment schemes.

Members of the public, particularly youth and owners of small-scale businesses, are therefore advised to disregard any video or text message proposing investment schemes or charging them fees on the pretext that their organisations are endorsed by the CBN and therefore would guarantee easy access to CBN

loans. “These videos and massages are fraudulent and anyone who enters into correspondence with them does so at his or her own risk. The CBN has neither appointed nor accredited any organisation to serve as agent on its behalf for the purpose of investment or applying for intervention loans. “Prospective applicants are therefore advised to approach their respective banks, NIRSAL Micro-Finance Bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria branch nearest to them for clarification on the procedure for accessing any of the CBN-related facility,� it stated.

Lagos Unveils Logo for Ehingbeti Summit, Gets Stakeholders’ Support Nume Ekeghe The Lagos Economic Summit Group (LESG) yesterday unveiled the logo for its upcoming ‘Ehingbeti 2020’ scheduled to hold from November 10th to 12th, 2020.

The summit with the theme: ‘For a Greater Lagos: Setting the Tone for the Next Decade,’ Ehingbeti 2020 is expected to provide a robust platform for deliberations on how to optimise opportunities in Africa’s fifth largest economy and offer perspectives on how to manage the peculiar socioeconomic landscape of the state in the coming decade.

The three-day summit, which will be a hybrid of virtual and live events, will draw participation from various sectors of the

economy and across the globe.

In his address during an interactive session with members of the private sector and other stakeholders in Lagos, the Cochair of the ‘Ehingbeti 2020’ Steering Committee and former Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, said, “this new Ehingbeti logo is an embodiment of meanings and expression of the LESG ideals.

The convergence of colours in the logo connotes the essence of Ehingbeti as a participatory forum for integrating local and international stakeholders to exchange ideas and chart a path for the socio-economic development of Lagos State. “The bright star above the image of the iconic ‘Agba Meta’

is a depiction of the result of working together to deliver the stellar accomplishments that define the city state of Lagos and the pervasive atmosphere of economic stability in the State. “I am happy to let you know that the image of the ‘Agba Meta’ is a representation of the sculpted white cap chiefs built to welcome people into Lagos. The logo is to emphasise our pride in culture as we welcome participants to Ehingbeti 2002 and beyond.�

Acknowledged as the first institutionalized economic forum by any state in Nigeria, Ehingbeti is a public-private sector roundtable that started as a collaborative effort between the Lagos State Government and Business Club Ikeja.

Investment One Highlights Benefits of ‘Ziing’ Investment One has highlighted the benefits of ‘Ziing,’ its financial solution that was designed to ease investing, savings, and other financial services.

The Lagos-based firm said the solution is expected to drive financial inclusion in the economy, particularly among the millennials. It pointed out that since its introduction into the Nigerian financial market, Ziing has been growing exponentially in terms of catering to various financial needs.

“It speaks directly to a class of people who desire, understand and appreciate the ease of money management and the investment opportunities consistent with demands applicable to the era we are currently in,� the firm explained.

The Group Managing Director of Investment One, Mr. Nicholas Nyamali, disclosed that “Ziing is a tool that gives customers the opportunity to take control of their money and investments. “It is the revolutionary banking

app that goes beyond payments, and gives customers access to mutual funds, treasury bills, international money transfers, investment education, savings, investment information, and alternative investments.�

Nyamali noted that for Nigeria’s unstable economy to have any hope of getting back on its feet amidst the pandemic, millennials have a role to play, and it involves intensified interest in understanding and participating in profitable investment matters.

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

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

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

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE Ëœ Íľ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $40.45 a barrel on Wednesday, compared with $40.33 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

33

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍˇËœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

NSE All-Share Index Sheds 0.31% on Sustained Profit Taking Goddy Egene The equities market recorded another slide yesterday as profit taking persisted after a 12-day rally was halted on Wednesday.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 0.31 per cent to close at 28,546.22, while market capitalisation shed N46.1 billion to be at N14.9 trillion.

The negative performance was driven by price depreciation in

Dangote Cement Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and BUA Cement Plc. However, in terms of price gainers, more stocks appreciated as 26 stocks appreciated while 17 stocks depreciated.

Deap Capital led the price losers with 10 per cent, trailed

by Mutual Benefit Assurance Plc with 8.7 per cent. Cornerstone Insurance Plc shed 8.3 per cent, while Nigerian Breweries Plc and Conoil Plc lost 7.0 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

On the other hand, Eterna Plc led the price gainers with 10 per cent followed by Unilever Nigeria Plc with 9.7 per cent. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated added 8.5 per cent, just as AXA Mansard Insurance Plc added 7.1 per cent.

C & I Leasing Plc chalked up 5.9 per cent. Shareholders of C & I Leasing Plc are to meet soon to authorise the board to convert to convert $10 million loan stock of Neoma Africa Fund, L.L.C (formerly

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Aureos Africa Fund L.L.C.) to 987.500 million ordinary shares of the company. The shareholders will also authorise the Board of Directors to issue and allot 987.500 million shares to Neoma Africa Fund, L.L.C. It is expected that the conversion will impact positively on the operations of C & I Leasing Plc because it will boost its capital and access to funding for improved earnings.

FCMB Group Plc was also

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

among the price gainers, garnering 5.9 per cent, just as WAPIC Insurance Plc and UACN Property Development Company Plc appreciated by 5.9 per cent and 5.1 per cent in that order.

Meanwhile, activity level waned as volume and value traded fell by 31.6 per cent and 48.5 per cent to 569.4 million shares and N4.9 billion respectively. The most traded stocks by volume were Eterna Plc (112.9 million shares), Zenith

O F

Bank Plc (74.2 million shares) and Access Bank Plc (57.1 million shares) while Zenith Bank Plc (N1.5 billion), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (N578.7 million) and Access Bank Plc (N449.2 million) led by value.

Performance across sectors was mixed as three of five indices under our coverage gained. The NSE Banking Index and NSE Insurance Index gained the most, up 2.9 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively.

0 8 / 1 0 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020

34

Friday, October 9, 2020 Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index Records Gain, Up 0.9% The Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index rose 91bps in yesterday͛s trading

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ƚŽ ϭ͕ϯϬϬ͘ϵϬ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ AIRTELAFR (+2.5%), GUARANTY (+3.2%) and ZENITH (+2.8%). These stocks ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϯϰ͘ϵй ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Ticker

Current Price

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

^ƚŽĐŬƐ ^ůŝĚĞ ĂƐ WƌŽĮƚ-taking Persists... ASI down 31bps dŚĞ ^Ğůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽĐŬ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ŽŶ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƉƌŽĮƚ -taking, dragging the All-Share index lower by 31bps to 28,546.22 ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ĚƌŝǀĞŶ ďLJ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ DANGCEM (-4.8%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-7.1%) and BUACEMENT (-0.8%). As a result, investors lost േϰϲ͘ϭďŶ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ĨĞůů ƚŽ േ14.9tn while zd ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϲ͘ϯй͘ ĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ǁĂŶĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ

Price Previous Current Change Price Weightin YTD Change g

Price Change Index to Date

ROE

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

1,300.90

0.91%

-11.4%

30.1%

16.7%

3.7%

4.3x

0.6x

6.1%

15.7%

1 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

140.50

0.0%

32.8%

33.8%

28.9%

163.8%

12.2%

14.5x

20.5x

5.1%

6.9%

2 Airtel Africa PLC

410.20

2.5%

17.7%

37.2%

37.2%

9.4%

3.1%

3 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

32.00

3.2%

10.8%

7.7%

9.6%

29.4%

4.7%

4 Zenith Bank PLC

20.10

2.8%

6.4%

8.1%

7.5%

1,175.00

0.0%

3.6%

-20.1%

-20.1%

106.4%

150.50

-4.7%

4.3%

6.0%

6.0%

26.9%

7.90

4.6%

3.1%

-21.0%

-21.8%

15.3%

5 Nestle Nigeria PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Access Bank PLC

2.8% 4.7x

1.3x

8.9%

21.2%

2.8x

0.6x

13.6%

35.4%

23.1%

22.6x

29.4x

5.4%

4.4%

12.0%

12.3x

3.5x

10.6%

8.1%

1.3%

2.8x

0.4x

8.3%

35.4%

8 United Bank for Africa PLC

6.90

0.7%

2.5%

-3.5%

-4.2%

13.0%

1.2%

3.2x

0.4x

13.9%

31.1%

9 FBN Holdings Plc

6.30

1.6%

2.5%

2.4%

-3.1%

14.2%

1.4%

3.0x

0.3x

5.9%

32.9%

10 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

48.60

-7.1%

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ ETERNA

2.1%

-17.6%

-17.6%

7.8%

3.3%

46.3x

2.2x

4.1%

2.2%

11 Lafarge Africa PLC

17.00

1.2%

2.8%

11.1%

23.2%

44.7%

24.1%

11.9x

0.8x

6.0%

8.4%

(112.9m units), ZENITH (74.2m units) and ACCESS (57.1m units)

12 SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

410.00

0.0%

1.4%

-37.7%

-30.8%

2.5%

1.5%

19.4x

0.4x

9.1%

5.2%

13 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

42.50

0.0%

1.9%

3.7%

6.3%

27.7%

3.5%

5.5x

1.4x

5.4%

18.3%

14 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

0.6x

6.4%

value traded fell by 31.6% and 48.5% to 569.4m units and േ4.9bn

while ZENITH (േ1.5bn), GUARANTY (േ578.7m) and ACCESS (േ449.2m) led by value.

Mixed Sector Performance Performance across sectors was mixed as 3 of 6 indices under our coverage gained. The Banking and Insurance indices gained the

22.00

0.0%

1.0%

11.7%

11.7%

15 International Brew eries PLC

4.58

-1.5%

0.4%

-51.8%

-51.8%

-30.1%

-8.6%

16 Ecobank Transnational Inc

4.45

8.5%

0.6%

-31.5%

-32.1%

11.0%

0.7%

1.7x

0.2x

17 Fidelity Bank PLC

2.10

0.0%

0.7%

2.4%

4.0%

10.9%

1.2%

2.4x

0.2x

9.6%

41.4%

186.90

0.0%

0.8%

26.4%

26.4%

18.7%

8.5%

9.4x

1.6x

4.6%

10.7%

19 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

80.00

0.0%

0.8%

43.9%

43.9%

23.5%

15.8%

10.9x

2.4x

2.4%

9.2%

20 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

13.50

0.7%

0.5%

-0.7%

-3.6%

21.2%

11.5%

7.1x

1.3x

8.1%

14.1%

0.4x

1.6%

18 11 PLC

-59.0% 57.3%

0.62

1.6%

0.3%

-37.4%

-42.1%

22 Unilever Nigeria PLC

13.50

9.8%

GUARANTY (+3.2%), ZENITH (+2.8%) and MANSARD (+7.1%). Trail-

0.3%

-38.6%

-34.8%

-11.5%

-7.2%

1.2x

-10.7%

23 Guinness Nigeria PLC

15.00

0.0%

0.2%

-50.1%

-50.1%

-15.5%

-8.3%

0.4x

-38.3%

ing, the AFR-ICT index appreciated 1.1%, following buy interest in

24 FCMB Group Plc

2.33

5.9%

0.4%

25.9%

28.0%

9.8%

1.1%

2.3x

0.2x

6.0%

43.0%

25 Sterling Bank PLC

1.37

3.8%

0.2%

-31.2%

-27.9%

8.7%

0.8%

3.8x

0.3x

2.2%

26.1%

ŵŽƐƚ͕ ƵƉ Ϯ͘ϵй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ŝŶ

AIRTELAFR (+2.5%). Conversely, the Industrial and Consumer 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘ϳй ĂŶĚ ϭ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͕ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ sell pressures in DANGCEM (-4.8%), BUACEMENT (-0.8%) and NIGE-

21 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

0.7x

26 UAC of Nigeria PLC

6.90

0.0%

0.2%

-19.8%

-22.5%

-11.2%

-5.5%

2.8x

0.4x

1.5%

35.8%

27 Custodian and Allied Insurance

5.15

0.0%

0.2%

-14.2%

-14.2%

13.9%

4.9%

4.9x

0.7x

8.7%

20.4%

60.50

0.0%

0.3%

27.4%

27.4%

17.6%

7.6%

11.6x

1.9x

3.3%

8.7%

5.00

0.0%

0.2%

-16.7%

-17.4%

7.7%

1.0%

6.3x

0.6x

5.0%

16.0%

96.80

0.0%

0.1%

-12.7%

-12.7%

5.7%

1.1%

22.2x

1.3x

6.9%

2.29

-2.6%

0.1%

-42.6%

-42.6%

14.5%

2.6%

1.0x

0.1x

32 NASCON Allied Industries PLC

12.00

0.0%

0.1%

-7.3%

-7.3%

16.7%

5.2%

8.3x

2.5x

3.3%

12.0%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

16.90

1.5%

0.1%

1.9%

-15.1%

10.8%

1.2%

6.7x

0.7x

9.9%

14.9%

0.60

0.0%

-11.8%

8.3%

0.6%

3.2x

0.4x

6.7%

31.7%

-2.7%

0.1% 0.1%

-18.9%

12.45

-31.2%

-30.8%

-3.0%

-1.0%

28 Presco PLC 29 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

RIAN BREWERIES (-ϳ͘ϭйͿ͘ >ŝŬĞǁŝƐĞ͕ ƉƌŽĮƚ-taking in OANDO (-2.6%),

30 Total Nigeria PLC

CONOIL (-5.6%) and ARDOVA (-2.7%), dragged the Oil & Gas index

31 Oando PLC

lower by 0.5%.

34 Wema Bank PLC 35 Ardova PLC

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

36 Continental Reinsurance PLC 37 Beta Glass PLC

55.40

0.0%

0.1%

3.0%

3.0%

13.5%

9.1%

38 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-13.1%

-3.6%

ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ƌŽƐĞ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϱdž ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ Ϭ͘ϳdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ

39 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC

1.94

7.2%

0.1%

-2.0%

-2.0%

17.6%

5.0%

40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

4.00

0.0%

0.0%

-18.4%

-18.4%

-6.4%

-3.2%

session as 26 stocks gained against 17 decliners. ETERNA (+10.0%),

(-10.0%), MBENEFIT (-8.7%) and CORNERSTONE (-8.3%) led the ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ͘ tĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĞƋƵŝƟĞƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ due to strong buying interest.

1.0x

-3.3%

0.0%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬ

UNILEVER (+9.8%) and ETI (+8.5%) gained the most while DEAPCAP

4.5% 101.4%

6.1x

4.3x

0.8x

0.0x

16.5%

1.6x

-6.7%

0.7x

23.2%

0.6x

0.0x

-11.7%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s P ric e

P ric e C hg %

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

ET ER N A

3.30

10.0%

ET ER N A

112.9

10.0%

UN ILEVER

13.50

9.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

74.2

2.8%

ET I

4.45

8.5%

A C C ESS

57.1

4.6%

M A N SA R D

1.94

7.2%

FB NH

44.4

1.6%

31.8

0.0% -2.2%

T ic k er

T ic k er

C ILEA SIN G

4.45

6.0%

F ID ELIT YB K

FCM B

2.33

5.9%

LIN KA SSUR E

30.5

Transcorp Hotels Plc ŶŽƟĮĞĚ ŝƚƐ ƐŚĂƌĞŚŽůĚĞƌƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ E^ ΖƐ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů

WA P IC

0.38

5.6%

UB A

29.7

0.7%

ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJΖƐ ƌĞƋƵĞƐƚ ĞdžƚĞŶĚ ŝƚƐ ĨƌĞĞ ŇŽĂƚ ĐŽŵƉůŝĂŶĐĞ ďLJ ƚŚƌĞĞ

UA C -P R OP

0.83

5.1%

OA N D O

24.2

-2.6%

(3) years (ending October 3, 2023). This is to enable the Company to

A IIC O

0.84

5.0%

GUA R A N T Y

18.3

3.2%

A C C ESS

7.90

4.6%

WA P C O

17.1

1.2%

ŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĐƟŽŶƐ

ĐŽŵƉůLJ ǁŝƚŚ dŚĞ džĐŚĂŶŐĞ͛Ɛ ĨƌĞĞ ŇŽĂƚ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚƐ ŽĨ ϮϬй ŝƐƐƵĞĚ

T o p 10 L o s e r s

ĂŶĚ ĨƵůůLJ ƉĂŝĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů Žƌ ͍ϮϬ͘ϬďŶ ĨƌĞĞ ŇŽĂƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂͲ ƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŵƉĂŶŝĞƐ ůŝƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ŝƚƐ DĂŝŶ ŽĂƌĚ͘

Lasaco Insurance Plc ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚΖƐ ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƉͲ ƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƌ͘ ;DƌƐ͘Ϳ KůĂƚĞũƵ WŚŝůůŝƉƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJΖƐ ŶĞǁ Chairman.

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

D EA P C A P

0.27

-10.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.21

-8.7%

GUA R A N T Y

578.7

3.2%

C OR N ER ST

0.55

-8.3%

A C C ESS

449.2

4.6%

T ic k er

Value

P ric e C hg %

Z EN IT H B A N K

1507.2

2.8%

NB

48.60

-7.1%

ET ER N A

372.5

10.0%

C ON OIL

14.40

-5.6%

WA P C O

289.8

1.2%

J A P A ULOIL

0.20

-4.8%

FB NH

281.0

1.6%

D A N GC EM

150.50

-4.7%

UB A

206.4

0.7%

C UT IX

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

1.72

-2.8%

UH OM R EIT

196.7

0.0%

A R D OVA

12.45

-2.7%

M TNN

157.7

0.0%

OA N D O

2.29

-2.6%

D A N GC EM

145.8

-4.7%

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Ola Belgore | obelgore@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Florence Warikam | fwarikam@afrinvest.com

Adedayo Bakare | abakare@afrinvest.com

35

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Transcorp Hotels Gets 3-yr Extension on Free float Compliance Goddy Egene The Board of Directors of Transcorp Hotels

Plc has received the approval of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to extend its free float compliance by three

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

years to 2023.

In a notification to all stakeholders, Transcorp Hotels Plc said the extension

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 07Oct-2020, unless otherwise stated.

would enable it to comply with the NSE’s free float requirements of 20 per cent issued and fully paid share capital or N20 billion

free float market capitalisation for companies listed on its Main Board.

According to the company, it remains

strong and committed to good corporate governance and to delivering value to all its stakeholders.

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 N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A 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 N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A 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 1.32% Anchoria Equity Fund 113.36 113.76 11.44% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.34 1.34 14.93% 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 15.98 16.46 4.32% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 365.49 376.51 5.81% ARM Ethical Fund 31.82 32.78 9.42% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.14 1.15 14.62% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.09 1.10 9.75% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.95% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 109.37 110.14 13.84% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.21% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.22 2.22 20.61% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.02 2.06 27.25% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Paramount Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Women's Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.34% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 114.43 114.94 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 129.93 130.91 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 103.08 103.08 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 3.27% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.04 1.06 12.57% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.62 1.62 22.21% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund 162.15 163.38 10.44% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.88% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 120.12 120.56 3.94% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 120.15 120.58 3.45% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 126.67 128.64 -2.66% 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 3,353.51 3,397.40 10.37% Coral Income Fund 3,206.86 3,206.86 4.26% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 4.03% 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 4.03% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 122.96 123.49 14.28%

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 3.44% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.39 2.44 9.19% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.70% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 152.12 152.90 6.14% 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 N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Meristem Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.35 1.38 11.18% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.86 11.83 4.97% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 3.20% PACAM Equity Fund 1.11 1.12 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.48 111.11 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 120.67 123.32 -0.51% 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 13.14% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.50% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 10.56% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 6.34% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 13.33% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.06% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 6.53% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.21 1.21 4.27% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 109.88 109.83 5.42% 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 1.24 1.26 3.92% United Capital Bond Fund 1.86 1.86 7.57% United Capital Equity Fund 0.72 0.74 2.03% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 4.45% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.12 115.12 5.35% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.02 1.03 -2.76% 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 11.14 11.27 8.34% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.31 12.42 5.91% Zenith Income Fund 24.50 24.50 7.86% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 3.50%

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

9.71 98.43 75.47

9.81 100.55 76.86

15.99% 4.20% 0.46%

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

3.38 4.53 12.97 1.00 11.94 193.76

3.42 4.61 13.07 1.00 12.14 195.76

-0.85% -23.20% 6.72% N/A 14.75% 2.59%

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.

36

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

INTERNATIONAL

Trump Rejects Virtual Restructuring: FG Pushing Ethnic Supremacy, Says Presidential Debate, Middle Belt Forum Vows to Stay Away The Commission on Presidential Debates announced on Thursday that next week’s presidential debate will be held virtually, with the candidates participating from remote locations as President Trump continues to be treated for the coronavirus.

But in a phone interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo moments after the format change was announced, Trump said he would not take part.

“I’m not going to do a virtual debate,” he said. “I’m not going to waste my time doing a virtual

debate. That’s not what debating is all about. You sit behind a computer and do a debate, it’s ridiculous, and then they cut you off whenever they want.”

On Wednesday, the commission said the Oct. 15 town hall between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden would be held remotely in order to “protect the health and safety of all involved” amid the ongoing pandemic and Trump’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The commission said the audience participants and the moderator, C-SPAN’s Steve Scully, would be based in

Miami, with Trump and Biden in “separate remote locations.”

Trump’s comments aren’t binding, and he sometimes makes bold public statements while in negotiations, only to compromise afterward.

The president, who announced his COVID-19 diagnosis on Oct. 2, spent three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after falling ill at the White House.

He was given supplemental oxygen and an experimental antibody cocktail as well as steroids. He was released Monday.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has accused the federal government of pursuing an agenda of ethnic supremacy and suppressing other ethnic groups.

It described as “ill-mannered,” the response by the Presidency over calls on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate processes for the restructuring of Nigeria.

The MBF also faulted the recent move to register artisan miners through the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative of the federal government to “mine and refine their gold”, and sell to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), describing it as “a clear case of injustice.”

The National Publicity Secretary of

MBF, Dr. Isuwa Dogo, who expressed these views in a statement, said with the response from the Presidency on the agitation for restructuring, “it is now evidently clear that the federal government is enmeshed in pursuing an agenda that seeks to enthrone an agenda of ethnic supremacy and suppress other ethnic groups.”

He said, “Apart from the capturing of power by a vicious cabal, the same power-wielder group is deploying the same for the singular pursuit of empowering a particular ethnic group as shown by various appointments into key security positions, among others.

“With the present government in power, there seems to be deliberate

policies that subjugate and enthrone inequality in a country reeking of injustice. There is no doubt that against the backdrop of incessant bloodshed and violence being unleashed on defenseless communities by criminal elements in the name of Boko Haram and criminal Fulani herdsmen, there is no better time than now for the Federal Government to heed the calls for the nation’s restructuring.”

Dogo said as it had become the norm, Presidential Spokespersons, Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu, dismissed such calls, arguing that the Federal Government would never yield to pressures to break up the country.

… Launches Rare Attack on Loyal Umahi Meets Miyetti Allah, Bans Aides Pompeo, Barr Night Grazing in Ebonyi US President Donald Trump yesterday voiced rare criticism of two of his most steadfast aides, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General Bill Barr, less than a month before elections.

Fuming in a telephone interview with Fox Business, Trump, who has been forced off the campaign trail by a COVID-19 diagnosis, demanded that both cabinet members take action concerning the previous administration of Barack Obama.

Trump said Pompeo should find a way to release emails from Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential candidate, a longstanding cause

for Republican activists who attack her use of a private server while secretary of state.

“They’re in the State Department but Mike Pompeo has been unable to get them out, which is very sad, actually,” Trump said.

“I’m not happy about him for that reason,” Trump said. “He’s running the State Department — you get them out.”

Pompeo has until now been one of the few aides never to cross the mercurial Trump, who has ruthlessly criticized both Pompeo’s and Barr’s predecessors after firing them.

Ironically, Pompeo rose to political prominence for his fiery tone in questioning Clinton

when he was a congressman looking into the deadly attack on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya.

Trump – who is trailing in polls to former vice president Joe Biden – has been urging Barr to prosecute members of the Obama administration for investigating his campaign’s relationship with Russia.

“To be honest, Bill Barr is either going to go down as the greatest attorney general in the history of the country or he’s going to go down as a very sad situation,” Trump said.

“I mean, I’ll be honest with you, he’s got all the information he needs,” Trump said of indictments.

France Prepares for Wider COVID-19 Restrictions France was preparing Thursday for tighter coronavirus restrictions in several major cities, two days

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after a maximum alert protocol went into force in Paris that included bar closures.

The number of daily coronavirus infections came in at 18,746 in France on Wednesday, health authorities reported, a record since widespread testing began.

The rate of positive test results

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rose to 9.1 percent from around 4.5 percent a month ago.

“The virus has been spreading faster in recent weeks,” President Emmanuel Macron said late Wednesday.

“In places where it is spreading too fast, especially where it is spreading among the elderly who are most at risk, and where there are more and more intensive care beds being occupied, we must proceed to more restrictions,” he said on French TV. He said new measures would be similar to protocols put in place in and around the capital, as well as the region around Marseille in the south.

“We are not in a normal situation, and we won’t be for several months,” Macron said.

Health Minister Olivier Veran is set to hold a news briefing on the virus situation later Thursday.

Last week, Veran singled out five large cities — Lille, Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse — as possibly requiring more restrictions, saying their health situations were “very worrying”.

On Thursday, the ARS regional health authority for the Paris region told hospitals to put themselves on an emergency footing, mobilising extra doctors and postponing some surgical operations as coronavirus cases climb.

As of Wednesday, 455 intensive care beds in Paris and its suburbs were occupied by COVID patients, more than 40 percent of the total, a rate the agency expects to climb rapidly in coming weeks.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Dave Umahi yesterday met with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACABAN) and banned night grazing and cattle rearing by underage herders in the state.

The enlarged security meeting, which was attended by leaders of herdsmen, security chiefs and stakeholders in the state, also witnessed peaceful resolution of recent crises between some communities and herders, which led to destruction of farm produce and left many persons injured.

Speaking at the enlarged security

meeting, which held at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki, Umahi warned against destruction of farm produce by herders and killing of cattle by their host communities.

He said, “If you a community leader and your people kill a cow and we agree on what to pay and you refused to pay, if you are a herdsman and you destroy farm crops and we say you need to pay and you refuse to pay, such thing will not happen in Ebonyi State.

“Miyetti Allah must look into the movements of herdsmen from another state into Ebonyi State. Does it mean

that Enugu State doesn’t have pasture?

Doesn’t Abia State have pasture? It’s an act of provocation and we will not allow that. We have to fight those who are coming into the state to destroy the peaceful co-existence between us and the herdsmen, who have lived with us in this state for long.”

Also speaking at the meeting, the National Secretary of MACBAN, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, said the leadership of MACBAN would not fold their hands and watch herders unleash terror on their host communities, saying it would equally be unfair for host communities to treat herders unfairly

Obaseki Sets up Seven-man Visitation Panel for Ambrose Alli Varsity The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has set up a seven-man Special Visitation Panel to look into the affairs of Ambrose Alli University and submit its report within six weeks.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion

Ogie said the committee is to be inaugurated today (Friday) at the Exco Chambers at 10am prompt.

The Panel is chaired by Prof. I K. Omoruyi, with Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua (SAN); Mrs. ME Ohiowele and Mr. Roland Ogbebor as members.

Other members of the panel

are Dr. JO Okovido, Venerable Osaze Egbenusi and Mrs. P E. Aziegbemhin.

According to Ogie, “The Terms of Reference of the Visitation Panel include to examine the administrative structure of the university in line with the law establishing it.

NIDCOM Condemns Video of Alleged Seizure of Fake Bundle of US Dollars Adedayo Akinwale and Udora Orizu inAbuja The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned in its entirety a trending video on the seizure of fake bundle of dollars allegedly from some Nigerians in Ghana, describing it as questionable, most unfortunate and smirks of an attempt to blackmail Nigerians resident in Ghana.

NIDCOM in a statement

issued yesterday by its Head of Media and Public Relations Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, while insisting that any Nigerian who commits a crime would pay for it, however, emphasised that information such as in the video attempting to denigrate Nigeria and Nigerians is despicable and condemnable in its totality.

The commission stressed that the follow-up comments on the video by the anonymous Ghanaian security officer is denigrating a

sovereign state like Nigeria and its people, without any concrete evidence linking any Nigerian to the said event.

According to the statement, “It has come to the notice of NIDCOM a video depicting Nigerians living in Ghana as criminals by an unknown Ghanaian officer who was seen displaying bundles of fake US dollars allegedly, in his words, found on some Nigerians in Ghana while moving from one area to another in a vehicle.

Immigration Issues Travel Advisory, Warns against Repatriation from UAE Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has warned United Arab Emirates (UAE)-bound passengers from Nigeria to be in possession of confirmed return ticket and confirmed hotel reservation for the duration of their stay in the Middle East country.

NIS issues the travel advisory yesterday in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Sunday

James.

He emphasised that passengers are expected to be in possession of confirmed return ticket and confirmed hotel reservation for the duration of stay in UAE. “They must show address of residence in the UAE or address of relatives with whom he or she would stay while in the UAE,” he stated.

James added that they are also expected to provide a negative

Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within 96 hours before departure.

The statement explained that PCR is the dominant way the global healthcare systems have adopted in testing citizens for COVID-19.

Other information in the advisory includes possession of a Valid Health Insurance covering the duration of stay, and copies of trade licences in the UAE and Nigeria, if applicable.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS XTRA

COVID-19: UK to Support Basic Digital Literacy in Northern Nigeria As part of Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) vision to transform the country into a leading digital

economy that would provide quality life for all Nigerians in 10 years, the United Kingdom Government, through its Prosperity Fund Digital

APC Govs Mull Six Months Maternity Leave for Nursing Mothers Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have proposed to implement six months maternity leave as well as exclusive breastfeeding for nursing mothers in a bid to promote child nutrition.

The proposal was contained in a communique issued yesterday and signed by the Secretaries of the State Government (SSGs) of Jigawa and Plateau States, Alhaji Adamu Fanini and Prof. Danladi Atu respectively, at the end of a virtual meeting of SSGs of APC-controlled states held under the auspices of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

Co-chairman of PGF Governance Programme Steering Committee,

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, declared the meeting open, while Governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State declared it close.

The meeting, with the theme: ‘Developing Common Policy Initiatives on Maternal and Child Nutrition Promotion in APC States’, was aimed at identifying salient and common initiatives of maternal and child nutrition that can be replicated across all the APC-controlled states.

The meeting equally noted the importance of information, and how it affects the attitudes of the citizens towards issues of nutrition.

It, therefore, urged APCcontrolled states to design a special communication strategy to raise public awareness on malnutrition and its consequences.

NES Denies Saying Economy under Buhari Unstable, Directionless The Nigerian Economic Society (NES), President, Prof.

Sarah Olanrewaju Anyanwu, yesterday refuted a media report where she was quoted as saying that Nigerian economy under President Muhammadu Buhari was “unstable, and directionless.’’

The NES president was quoted as stating that the “Nigerian Economy was Unstable, Directionless Under Buhari,’’ when she led a delegation of her organisation to the Office of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, to solicit for his assistance in passing NES Bill - when it is presented before the National Assembly.

“For emphasis sake, NES disassociates itself from the report as it neither emanated from the society nor its president. The Society holds in high esteem the strong partnership between it and the government, and looks forward to a better, stronger, and closer continuous working

partnership,’’ she stated.

Denying ever granting any interview, the NES president said she was at a total loss as to the source of the ‘’erroneous information’’ attributed to her and the team.

She added, ‘’The NES president’s presentation during the courtesy visit to the Senate Minority Leader, Distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, was very clear. ‘’I said categorically that we need more economists in various teams to promote economic growth and development to avoid Nigeria going into recession and that the current recession is global because of COVID-19 pandemic.

“I further stated that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is a Medium Term Plan for 2017 – 2020. The ERGP that was put in place will expire

by December 2020 and that NES is represented in the Central Working Group of the ongoing Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).’’

NIDCOM Condemns Burning of Nigerian in Libya Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned in strong terms the recent killing of a Nigerian in Libya.

The commission Chairman, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued yesterday noted that the said Nigerian was allegedly set ablaze by three Libyan nationals who stormed a factory.

The identity of the Nigerian set on fire by petrol has not been made known as investigations and interrogations of the suspected attackers who are now in custody

are ongoing.

Dabiri-Erewa, however, described the act as dastardly, bestial and unacceptable, while calling on the Libyan authorities to apply the full weight of the law on the suspected killers.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Libyan Interior Ministry has condemned the act, insisting that it was a new wave of violence on migrants in the North Africa country.

The United Nations has also described the killing of the Nigerian as “another senseless crime against migrants in the country.”

Access Programme, has signed a resilience training agreement with Tech4Dev, to carry out Basic Digital Literacy for rural clusters in northern Nigeria to enhance pandemic resilience.

The agreement was signed on October 5, 2020, by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Nigerian non-profit organisation, Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev), and will be implemented across 10 rural clusters in 10 states across the North to demonstrate a scalable, sustainable model for digital skills development in underserved communities in Nigeria. The programme, it was learnt, would run from October

2020 to February 2021, during which 1,000 beneficiaries, who have had little or no prior digital knowledge, will undergo a rigorous 12 weeks training required to navigate the digital world.

The curriculum of the programme, it was learnt, would include computing device and internet usage; digital information handling; online communication; online safety; virtual collaboration and exchanges among others.

The targeted audience for the training would be reached by Tech4Dev through advocacy and outreach; community engagement, local community stakeholders, community town criers, local community influencers and

the traditional media in these communities.

For the digitally-excluded or underserved groups in Nigeria, this project, the promoters said, would help close the digital divide, enable inclusive digital access for all and build communities’ resilience to current and future pandemics.

Speaking on the project, the Deputy High Commissioner of UK in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones, said: “Nigeria’s economic sustainability plan as well as Nigeria’s digital economy strategy has identified the development of digital skills as key to unlocking economic prosperity for all Nigerians. With social distancing and lockdowns

to curtail the spread of COVID-19, digital literacy has become a musthave. But for millions of people who are unable to use technology, the offline world is economically and socially isolating.

“Digital literacy helps vulnerable populations to develop the capabilities needed to leverage technology for business, education and communication. Improving digital literacy helps to build a more prosperous future for all Nigerians. The UK Government is pleased to be able to support this programme to support Nigeria’s economic development and help make more people more resilient in tackling the shared challenge of COVID-19.”

TWENTY-SEVEN HEARTY CHEERS

L-R: Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Auwalu Babura; Non-Executive Director, Sule Bichi; Company Secretary, Frances Ndidi Akpomuka; Chairman, Suleiman Barau; Group Managing Director, Olusola Obabori; and Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, Victor Ukwat, all of Red Star Express Plc, during the 27th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos...yesterday

Niger Assembly Burgled, N15m Stolen Laleye Dipo in Minna Unknown criminals have burgled the Niger State House of Assembly in Minna, carting away not less than N15million.

It was learnt that the target of the thieves was the strong room of the state legislature where most of the money meant for the day-today running of the assembly was usually kept Part of the money stolen was

said to be the monthly up-keep allowance of a lawmaker, including his furniture allowance said to be about N6million.

Another legislator was reported to have lost close to N3million when the strong room was forced opened by the criminals. The burglary was discovered when a lawmaker came to office last Saturday and approached the accounts department messenger that he wanted to deposit money in the strong room for safe

keeping till last Monday.

THISDAY gathered that the messenger led the lawmaker to the department, only to find out that the door to the strong room had been forced open and investigations revealed that the only item stolen was the money kept there.

The incident was reported to the police leading to the arrest and detention of all the staff of the accounts department.

No worker of the assembly was

prepared to speak on the matter, but the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, when contacted, confirmed the incident but not the amount stolen.

“I can confirm that there was an incident of breaking and theft at state Assembly, and we are investigating the matter,” Abiodun said.

Meanwhile, additional security has been provided in the Assembly complex with everyone being thoroughly checked.

VC, Council Chairman Not at Loggerheads, Says Ambrose Alli Varsity The Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has refuted media report that its Vice Chancellor (VC) and Council Chairman were at loggerheads and trading accusations at each other.

In a statement from the university and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Edward Aihevba, the university authority said the media report misconstrued several matters and misdirected focus on issues that had since been resolved.

According to the statement, “it is necessary to state that a correspondent from THISDAY Newspapers interviewed the two eminent personalities.

However the presentation of his report has misconstrued several matters and misdirected focus on issues that have since been resolved. The University has moved on and is attaining higher heights in harmony, synergy and transformation.

The views of the two eminent personalities were

misrepresented in many areas.”

The university clarified that the Governing Council Chairman’s car was purchased with the sum of N53.5 million and not N57 million or N61 million as reported and that the car was purchased by the university and not by the Chairman, as reported.

The statement further clarified that the funds received from Tetfund and NEEDS assessments were not misappropriated as alluded.

It added that the disbursement of the fund was in accordance to the 2007 Procurement Law, insisting that other issues raised in the report have all been resolved.

According to the statement, “The Chairman of the Governing Council and the Vice Chancellor would like the reportage to focus on transformation and developmental strides, jointly achieved for the University.

Ambrose Alli University has

experienced unparalleled infrastructural development, academic transformation, digital initiatives, research breakthroughs and dramatic repositioning of the University, through the leadership and cooperation of the council and management of the university.

“In the past four years, the university, under Prof. I. A Onimawo as Vice Chancellor, and Chief Lawson Omokhodion as Chairman of Council have built from scratch and commissioned seven befitting faculty buildings; embarked on the construction of students hostels, including two by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and completed 87 other infrastructural projects that have spectacularly changed the face of Ambrose Alli University. The university has abolished cultism and social vices in the university; established computer based examinations; electronic voting by students unions and set up and perfected a digital

platform for e-examination, e-admission, e- registration, e-payments of fees, and dues and e-governance, with the cessation of the analog attitude and the enthronement of AAU as one of the first class Universities in the country.”

“The university under their leadership, has stepped up research activities with several research breakthroughs on record. We have one of the best libraries amongst Nigerian universities. Ambrose Alli University (AAU) has been totally transformed in all aspects and this should be the focus of any reporting. We have put all issues of conflict, imbroglio and disaffection behind us and all organs are jointly pressing forward for the achievement of the vision of the school. Ambrose Alli University has been recreated and repositioned as one of the ten best universities in Nigeria,” the statement further said.

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Pay for News Reuse, France’s Competition Watchdog Orders Google France’s competition authority has ordered Google to negotiate with publishers to pay for reuse of snippets of their content — such as can be displayed in its News aggregation service or surfaced via Google Search.

The country was the first of the European Union Member States to transpose the neighbouring right for news into national law, following the passing of a pan-EU copyright reform last year.

Among various controversial measures the reform included a provision to extend copyright to cover content such as the ledes of news stories which aggregators such as Google News scrape and display. The copyright reform as a whole was voted through the EU parliament in March 2019, while France’s national law for extended press publishers’ rights came into force in October 2019.

A handful of individual EU Member States, including Germany and Spain, had previously passed similar laws covering the use of news snippets — without successfully managing to extract payments from Google, as lawmakers had hoped.

In Spain, for example, which made payments to publishers mandatory, Google instead chose to pull the plug on its Google News service entirely.

But publishers who lobbied for a pan-EU reform hoped a wider push could turn the screw on the tech giant.

Nonetheless, Google has continued to talk tough over paying for this type of content.

In a September 2019 blog post the tech giant dug in, writing — without apparent irony — that: “We sell ads, not search results, and every ad on Google is clearly marked. That’s also why we don’t pay publishers when people click on their links in a search result.”

It has also since changed how Google News displays content in France, as Euractiv reported last year — switching to showing headlines and URLs only, editing out the text snippets it shows in most other markets.

However, France’s competition authority has slapped down the tactic — taking the view that Google’s unilateral withdrawal of snippets to deny payment is likely to constitute an abuse of a dominant market position, which it writes “seriously and immediately damaged the press sector.”

The company has a dominant position in Europe’s search market with more than 90 per cent marketshare.

The authority cites Google’s unilateral withdrawal of “longer display article extracts, photographs, infographics and videos within its various services (Google Search, Google News and Discover), unless the publishers give it free authorisation” as unfair behavior.

“In practice, the vast majority of press publishers have granted Google licenses for the use and display of their protected content, and this without possible negotiation and without receiving any remuneration from Google.

In addition, as part of Google’s new display policy, the licenses which have been granted to it by publishers and press agencies offer it the possibility of taking up more content than before,” it writes in French (which we’ve translated via Google Translate).

“In these conditions, in addition to their referral to the merits, the seizors requested the order of provisional measures aimed at enjoining Google to enter in good faith into negotiations for the remuneration of the resumption of their content.”

Leading Intellectual, Activist, Yima Sen is Dead A leading Nigerian intellectual and radical activist, Dr. Yima Sen, is dead.

He died on Tuesday at Garki Hospital in Abuja.

Until his death, he was a senior academic at Baze University, Abuja where he taught Mass Communications.

He will be greatly missed in the Left movement, among bourgeois politicians, his students, fellow academics, and immediate family.

Sen, who hails from Benue State, studied Mass Communications at the University of Lagos, University of California in Los Angeles,

Yima Sen

United States of America and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

In the Second Republic, he was a Communications Assistant to the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo when the later was Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the equally late President Shehu Shagari.

Sen moved to that position from Benue State where he was briefly a Director of Information in the Aper Aku administration also in the Second Republic.

He was a moving force behind the conception and operationalisation of the National Conference strategy in the resistance to military rule in the late 1980 and early 1990s.

Part of his radical involvement then included membership of the Women In Nigeria, (WIN) platform. In the June 12 crisis, he was heavily involved in the Campaign for Democracy, (CD) and the Democratic Alternative.

In the Fourth Republic, he worked as an aide to the VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar, from where he returned to academia.

Never dogmatic but taking a contingent approach to politics, he found himself in the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) too where he was the Secretary and its leading ideologue and activist.

Hence issuing an emergency order — which gives Google three months to negotiate “in good faith” with press agencies and publishers to pay for reusing bits of their content.

Abusive practices the agency says it suspects Google of at this stage of its investigation are: The imposition of unfair trading conditions; circumvention of the law; and discrimination (i.e. because of its unilateral policy of zero renumeration for all publishers) The order requires Google to display news snippets during the negotiation period, in accordance with publishers wishes, while terms agreed via the negotiation process will apply retrospectively — from the date the law came into force (i.e. last October).

Google is also required to send

in monthly reports on how it’s implementing the decision.

“This injunction requires that the negotiations actually result in a proposal for remuneration from Google,” it adds.

We reached out to Google for comment on the Autorité de la Concurrence’s action. In a statement attributed to Richard Gingras, its VP of News, the company told us: “Since the European Copyright law came into force in France last year, we have been engaging with publishers to increase our support and investment in news.

We will comply with the FCA’s order while we review it and continue those negotiations”.

A Google spokeswoman also pointed back to its blog post from last year, highlighting what she described as “the ways we already

work with news publishers for context.”

In the blog post the company discusses directing traffic to news sites; providing ad tech used by many publishers; and a funding vehicle via which it says it’s investing $300M “to help news publishers around the world develop new products and business models that fit the different publishing marketplace the Internet has enabled”.

Interim measures are an antitrust tool that Europe’s competition authorities have pulled from the back of the cupboard and started dusting off lately.

Last October EU competition chief, Margrethe Vestager used an interim order against chipmaker Broadcom to stop applying exclusivity clauses

in agreements with six of its major customers — while an investigation into its practices continues.

The commission EVP, who also heads up the bloc’s digital strategy, has suggested she will seek to make greater use of interim orders as an enforcement tool to keep up with the fast pace of developments in the digital economy, responding to concern that regulators are not able to respond effectively to curtail market abuse in the modern Internet era.

In the case of France’s competition authority’s probe of Google’s treatment of publishers content the authority writes that the interim protective measures it’s ordered will remain in force until it adopts its decision “on the merits”.

RENEWED CLAMOUR FOR TRANSPARENCY...

L-R: Media Officer, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Onyekachi Eke; Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani; and Board Member, CISLAC, Adesina Oke, at the media briefing by CISLAC and Transparency International in Lagos... yesterday ETOP UKUTT

FCT Schools to Reopen October 12 Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that all schools in the territory are to reopen on October 12, 2020, for the 2020/2021 academic session after learning activities were disrupted seven months ago by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, made the announcement yesterday at a stakeholders’ engagement attended by the FCT education secretariat, the Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) and the All

Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

He also directed boarding schools to resume on October 11, adding that all COVID-19 protocols are to be maintained by all returning students and the schools.

Bello described the reopening of schools as probably one of the most painstaking decisions that the FCT Administration had to take as a team.

According to him, “In opening the schools, we have to be very careful and conscious of the need to ensure that all our efforts in the

last few months are not in vain.

“This is based on the reality on ground as well as the inputs and advice of medical personnel, the guidelines of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTF) and releases from the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We have come to the conclusion that it is relatively safe for us to open up schools in the FCT base on certain guidelines and conditions which will be released shortly,” The FCT Administration issued a guideline which forbade private schools from demanding third term fees, while the maximum

class size should be trimmed to 25 students per class.

The guidelines were read by the Chairman of FCT Schools Resumption Committee, Dr. Fatima Abdulrahman.

She directed schools to conduct revision and examination to tidy up and end second term within two weeks after an intensive revision. The first term will then resume immediately.

Schools are mandated to have sick bays where students with high temperature would be kept under the watch of health personnel pending the arrival of their parents.

Teenager Jailed 10 Years for Rape in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The long arm of the law caught up with a rapist yesterday, as an Ado-Ekiti High Court in Ekiti State sentenced an 18 -year-old Emeka Emmanuel to 10 years imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, in his judgement, said: “The victim’s medical report; the accused confession and his request for forgiveness as

well as his direct and cogent statement corroborated the fact that the prosecution has successfully proven the element of the offence of rape.

“I find the accused guilty as charged, and is hereby sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” the Judge ruled.

The prosecutor, Mr. Wale Fapohunda, said the offence was committed on May 12 and 20, 2019, in Ado- Ekiti.

Fapohunda said the offence

contravenes Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law CAP, C7 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

He said the defendant, who was a sales boy near the victim’s mother shop, lured the girl into his boss shop and raped her on a bean’s bag.

To prove his case, the prosecutor called three witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and a medical doctor.

The defence counsel, Mr. Chris Omokhafe, who called only one witness, pleaded with the court to consider the age of the defendant, urging the Judge to be lenient in his judgment.

Exhibits tendered included the confessional statement of the accused and medical records.

The Justice Ogunmoye consequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment without any option of fine.

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FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

I N T E R N A T I O N A L F R I E N D LY

Super Eagles are Not Playing Algeria for Revenge, Says Rohr Duro Ikhazuagbe As Super Eagles take on reigning African champions Algeria this evening in Austria, Head Coach of the Nigerian senior team, Gernot Rohr has insisted that vengeance is least in his mind against the Fennecs.

Nigerian lost the semi final of last year’s Africa Cup of Nations to the North Africans who later were crowned champions of the 2019 edition held in Egypt.

Speaking in a Zoom virtual conference yesterday, Rohr insisted that rather than thinking of beating the reigning AFCON champions, “this international window is an opportunity to try out new players and also look at regulars to see how they are faring.

“These are tests for us. The results of these friendlies not important but what we can take away from them,” stress Rohr.

Super Eagles defeated the Algerians in Uyo and also went ahead to grab a draw in the final game of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

Although that last match was later awarded to the Algerians following Nigeria’s use of ineligible Shehu Abdullahi, the Fennecs have gone 18 matches unbeaten since then.

“We know this Algeria side have been unbeaten in 18 games since we defeated them in Uyo. They are really progressing. They are perhaps the strongest team in Africa right now. The match will be a real test for Nigeria,” opined the Franco-German gaffer.

Rohr who is in Austria without half of his regular starting line up have eight uncapped players to pick for the matches against the top North African teams. The fresh faces include; Cyriel Dessers (Genk), Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto), Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland), Samson Tijani (TSV Hartberg), Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim), Tobias Lawal (LASK) and Matthew Yakubu (SKF Sered).

He insisted that the Friendlies will enable him take critical look at the new boys.

“I want to see what the new players have to offer.

We already seen what the

...NFF Dismisses Four Covid-19 Cases in Eagles Camp The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports of four positive Covid-19 tests in Super Eagles camp ahead of tonight’s international friendly with African champions Algeria.

Media Officer of the Super Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye clarified yesterday that the writer of the report misinterpreted what the team’s Head Coach, Gernot Rohr said during the virtual Zoom conference.

“Please discountenance any reports that some of

our players tested positive to Covid-19 ahead of Friday’s friendly game against Algeria. It is blatant falsehood.

“The writer of the story misunderstood what coach Gernot Rohr said at the virtual press conference.

The Coach said that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, four of our players had tested positive, but were all now fully recovered from the virus and back in action,” Ibitoye restated yesterday.

Former WAFU President, Ogufere, Pays Tribute to Omokhaye Former President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) and the Association of Sports Veterans, Nigeria (ASVN), Chief Jonathan Ogufere has lamented the death of Herbert Omokhaye, a former general secretary of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

Omokhaye passed on Wednesday. He would have been 88 years old next month.

He was the scribe of the Nigerian football governing body from 1964 to 1965 and therefore may not have been well known having headed the administration of the

Nigerian football governing body in the ‘ancient past’.

At a time, it was even a subject of debate if he was ever a general secretary at the then Nigeria Football Association as his name was conspicuously missing on the board at NFF Secretariat, which listed past administrators.

Herbert Omokhaye was the secretary of the NFA from 1964 to 1965 when he was seconded to the association from the just established National Sports Council (NSC), which transformed into National Sports Commission in 1971.

can do at training sessions but that is different from true match situations,” the Eagles Manager stressed.

Rohr admitted to missing the services of his midfielders like Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Joe Aribo. Both Ndidi and Etebo are down with injuries while Aribo is just coming back from similar situation.

Nigeria’s free scoring forward, Victor Osimhen is equally absent

due to health protocol in the Italian topflight that has forced the entire Napoli squad into self-isolation after two players and some backroom staff test positive for the virus.

“Absence of (Victor) Osimhen is a void. He did so well in the last game for the team.

“However, we have to call up Paul (Onuachu), (Cyriel) Dessers and Chidera Ejuke who are all doing so well with their clubs.

We also have Kelechi Iheanacho

who has shown good quality at training and the other strikers like (Ahmed) Musa.”

If there is any area in the Super Eagles that has created so much excitement for Coach Rohr, it is in the goalkeeping section where four young lads are proving their mettle in the Austrian Camp.

In the absence of Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Rohr have in camp, Dele Alampasu,

Matthew Yakubu, Maduka Okoye and Tobias Lawal who was not initially invited.

“Tobias was man of the match in LASK last game before our camp opened.

He has played Under-20 for Austria. The only problem we have with him is that he does not have a Nigerian passport yet, meaning we cannot feature him in the friendlies yet. He has a good future with Nigeria,” Rohr stressed.

Super Eagles at training yesterday morning ahead of this evening’s international friendly with Algeria in Austria

Oshoala’s Brace Leads Barca Femeni to Copa de la Reina Final Super Falcons Captain, Asisat Oshoala, scored twice for BarcelonaFemeni as the side progressed to the Spanish Copa de la Reina final following a 6-0 win over Zenatha Coleman and Toni Payne’s Sevillaon Thursday.

Oshoala continued from where she left off in the last term when she netted 26 times in the 2019-20 season, including 20 goals in 19 league outings as her side celebrated their first title since 2015.

On their part, Nigeria’s Toni Payne joined Sevilla from the Netherlands’ Eredivisie outfit Ajaxin 2018, while Namibia’s Zenatha Coleman arrived at the club from rivals Valenciathis summer.

To reach the last four, Sevilla thrashed Levante3-0 before they beat Madrid by the same

result, while Barcelona silenced SportingHuelva 4-0 before they edged past Deportivo La Corona 1-0 in February.

After coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid, Oshoala made the starting XI of Barcelona, just as Coleman and Payne were starters for Cristian Toro after a recent 1-1 draw with Santa Teresa.

At Estadi Johan Cruyff, Goal. com reports that Barcelona started like a house on fire as expected when Oshoala opened the scoring from Patri Guijarro’s pass after just four minutes into the encounter.

14 minutes later, Alexia Putellas set up Caroline Graham Hansen for a fine finish to double the lead for the hosts before Patri Guijarro

got on the scoresheet thanks to Mapi Leon’s assist in the 21st minute.

Sevilla, however, came close to gain an equaliser for the visitors after she dribbled past her marker on the edge of the box but her effort went wide in the 37th minute.

Seven minutes from half time, Leila Ouahabi sent through a brilliant pass from the left for Oshoala to bag her second goal of the match and her side’s fourth to head into the break with a comfortable lead.

After the restart, Payne made a fine run into the hosts’ area but could not make the best of her chance for Sevilla in the 55th minute before she was replaced by Ana Franco eight minutes later.

The rampant Catalans went

on to bag their fifth of the match through Melanie Serrano in the 68th minute before Mariona Caldentey teed up Aitana Bonmati five minute later to complete the rout.

The brace saw Oshoala raise her season tally for the 2019-20 season to 28 and she featured for the duration of the match for Barcelona.

On the other hand, Nambia’s Coleman was involved from the start to finish, while Nigeria’s Payne featured for 65 minutes but they could not save Sevilla from a humiliating semi-final crash.

The result means Barcelona are through to the final and will aim to clinch the double when they square up against Logrono in the final.

Nigeria Friendlies Live on DSTv, GOtv Pay TV Channels, DSTv and GOtv have announced that Super Eagles exhilarating friendlies this evening and on next week Tuesday will be broadcast live on DStv and GOtv. Nigeria and Algeria will clash at the Jacques Lemans Arena in Austria this evening at 7:20pm on SS La Liga and SS Football in an international friendly. The contest will help prepare both sides ahead of their return to competitive action next month in the AFCON qualifiers.

The Super Eagles will be without the services of three of

their star midfielders; Napoli attacker, Victor Osimhen, Oghenekaro Etebo and holding midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi for Friday’s contest, but a strong squad still includes the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Kenneth Omeruo and Captain, Ahmed Musa.

Both parties have clashed on 20 occasions in the past with Nigerian coming up shinning with nine victories and four draws, while Algeria has seven victories. This clash has been a recurring battle in recent years as the Super Eagles got a win

and a second leg draw to qualify for the 2018 World Cup against Algeria.

Up next, Nigeria will play another friendly against Tunisia on Tuesday 13 October at 7:20pm, live on SS La Liga and SS Football, before resuming their AFCON qualification campaign at home to Sierra Leone on November 8 ahead of the reverse match eight days later.

Both international friendly matches are available for customers on DStv Confam, DStv Compact, DStv Compact

Plus & DStv Premium and GOtv Max & GOtv Jolli packages.

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MISSILE

Buhari to National Assembly “It is on record that in the past 10 years N1 trillion has been appropriated for constituency projects, yet the impact of such huge spending on the lives and welfare of ordinary Nigerians can hardly be seen” – President Muhammadu Buhari complaining about the N100bn allocated yearly for the National Assembly’s constituency projects.

OKEYIKECHUKWU Politics: The Dustbin Strikes Again EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

T

he Dustbin struck yet again, and with devastating impact, on the political fortunes of the Lagos strongman.

Reverberation of the recent elections in Edo State made that clear, as it put the lid on everything some people were banking on. People who hitherto thought that they owned the very earth itself, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, were sobered up; even if not totally humbled. Foremost among them in Edo is the now compulsorily retired former labour leader and former party Chairman, who simply got on everyone’s nerves with his bad behaviour. While Tinubu used his tenure as governor to contrive a dynasty of questionable moral standing, Oshiomole used his foray into politics to burn up his contrived image as a genuine leader.

Tinubu made a fatal mistake in 2015. Then, he refused to learn any lessons in the intervening four years after that mistake. Yes he trod on, instead of retracing his steps; like one condemned to a pre-programmed tenure of misfortunes and misery. He dug deeper into the very hole he should not have entered in the first place. Lo and behold, the very Egungun, or masquerade, be dressed up and brought to the village square has flogged him to stupor. The Dustbin of history, not its more glorious anals, has claimed its own.

And so shall a cascade of political calamies, unleashed by a reprobate elite of questionable goodwill, continue to dispatch many to the Dustbin. It will yet hit many political, and other, actors; who have hitherto considered themselves to be the Nigerian State itself. A clear-eyed analysis of the likely direction of things for certain individuals and groups, going forward, indicate, almost with infallible certainty, that the stage has long been set for some inevitabilities. Their actions and inactions shall be the levers for it. This cuts across the ranks of powerful political, religious, traditional and economic actors in Nigeria. It is all coming because of a refusal to listen, or learn, despite experiential nudgings and repeatedly offered opportunities to do so. Lessons that would ordinarily have urged restraint, caution and propriety were ignored. That is why too many cups have filled up for too many national and state actors today. That is why the dustbin of history seem to now be striking with merciless exactitude and unsettling precision.

Tinubu’s ill-advised intervention, to save a doomed Oshiomhole in Edo State, amidst other grand misfortunes that Providence had already laid out for him, constitute the terminal nail on a coffin that has a rakishly won cap sitting on it. That is why, despite dangerous rumblings and the slow movement of events of the last two years, Tinubu seems to be pressing the fast-forward button of the dustbin of history for himself. Like many before him, especially those who held sway either during the era of the most reprehensible military dictatorship, or during the worst expressions of certain aspect of the Obasanjo and Jonathan administrations, many contemporary actors will yet be swept into the dustbin of history. Despite the many books and articles paid hack writers churned out about them, notwithstanding how many prepared speeches they read, ostensibly extolling democracy and responsible leadership, the dustbin will strike. Oblivion!

It was around mid-August, 2012, that we had an intervention on this page titled “Oshiomhole As Metaphor.” The fact that President Jonathan

Tinubu of the PDP, the party that lost the elections, congratulated Oshiomhole after his resounding victory created some hope about a leadership that could birth new national values, “while not renouncing tendentious group interests and loyalties.” It was a great victory for the APC, which won the elections. It was also victory for the PDP, which accepted defeat with dignity. As said in the aforementioned article, “A man may sometimes gain more by a loss that reaffirms his humanity and buys him some slack and goodwill among those who were getting accustomed to calling him a never-do-well. The PDP has not always conducted itself with any form of dignity or grace during elections and, while it shares this ‘defect of character’ with the other parties, it was easily stigmatised because it was the ruling party at the centre.” Today it is the APC, also the ruling party at the centre, that has accepted defeat.

Oshiomhole’s emergence raised the prospect of Edo State moving “…from a restricted and restrictive political culture to consensus building and the progressive expansion of loyalties beyond geographical and political lines.” The perception, then, was that “…it is no longer sufficient to speak of political parties and expect perceptive adults to continue to insult themselves by going along with what does not make sense in the courts of natural justice equity and good conscience.” Yes, the emergence of Oshiomhole as governor of Edo

State held so much hope, especially because of his background as a “popular” labour leader and “lover of the masses.”

Today the tide has changed. September 19, 2020 recaptured what was tellingly said in that article of 2012: “It is no longer a matter of parties, but a matter of the people coming out to speak with their votes despite their avowed and widely known party loyalties. No one took to the streets, even where some felt aggrieved. No one mobilized any private terror machines for mayhem and contrived ‘ungovernability’. Thugs had an unseasonal bad market. No one would have expected that this ‘industry’ would suffer such monumental setback; when it should be booming. This means that the massive machinery for the ruination of peoples’ children, called political thuggery, may be facing an irreversible downturn in Edo State. This is good. Other sectors of the economy and empty skills centres may be getting more applications.”

As stated back then also: “A redefinition of the criteria for political relevance is emerging…The state needs rebuilding and realignment along the paths of development and reconciliation, not the atavistic distraction that comes from a contrived isolation of perceived political enemies.

It is expected that the people will learn the right lessons and begin to use party platforms to throw up those they know, trust and believe can perform; rather than use party politics to midwife a subtle political terrorism in the land.”

The specific reflections on Oshiomhole himself in the article, “Oshiomoiloe As Metaphor,” went thus: “When it became public knowledge that Oshiomhole, the diminutive labour leader of troublesome inclinations, would go into partisan politics, some observers openly laughed and said that the man was about to get his ‘baptism of fire’. The logic was that someone who had spent the better part of his life fighting the perceived enemies of the people would have got so used to complaining and grumbling that he must have lost all capacity for doing any constructive work. In fact, they expected that Oshiomhole’s experience during the election would be reminiscent of that of Gani Fawehinmi, who was thoroughly clobbered by the elections results when he ventured forth to contest for the office of president. Those who argued that an Adams will all the more likely do well in public office, because he had used opposition to understand and develop alternatives to the bad policies he was fighting, were laughed out of court. But see how wrong they were about

While it is Edo and some of its major political collaborators today, it may be dubious religious leaders, foreign exchange racketeers and the betrayers of Southwest and South-east interests tomorrow.

The dustbin is advancing. Its lid is open.

The irreversible march of Providence, of Judgment, of the transience of things and of a day of reckoning is still on

Oshiomhole.

With all his good points, the redoubtable Gani was part of public conscience and his forte was public and publicised interventions, as well as judicial expositions. He contributed more than any other Nigerian to the development of jurisprudence, especially as it concerns revisiting the validity of certain enactments that successive, and often repressive, governments were eager to pass off as laws. His many court cases ultimately led to the abrogation, or questioning, of many obnoxious laws; as well as a revalidation of the intent and purport of several constitutional provisions. Gani’s mistake was to venture into that area of public intervention for which he was one of the least prepared. Elections are won with active machineries, not by acknowledging the cheers of large crowds of no particular address.

Crowds will always disperse after an event, until the next speech.

Gani and Oshiomhole had the common objective, and even similar profiles, of always taking on people-oriented fights, but Oshiomhole had the advantage of working with organised groups. The deceptions, betrayals and internal survival politics within unions were most probably better understood by Oshiomhole, so he relied on the people while making sure that the people did not fail him. Having repeatedly mobilised strikes in the past, he knew that any mass action requires you to agree on such details as timing and logistics with team leaders across the nation.

Genuine labour leadership is, therefore, an administrator’s nightmare and Oshiomhole has the advantage of having lived with and survived several such nightmares and being in the field in a way that Gani never was.” All true. But what do we have today?

Change “PDP” to “APC” in this next quotation, which is also taken from the aforementioned article, and you have another tellingly eerie coincidence: “The only other collateral observation here, perhaps, is to say that the PDP now has all it needs in order to go back to the drawing board and organise itself. It should move beyond the quarrel over positions to actively develop an ideological wing that must take over from the hit men it had relied upon. Its youth wings should begin to sift their contents, so that the thriving culture of money-driven political loyalty, including jobless young men and women who own several four-wheel vehicles as glorified thugs, may change into something better.

The party must, at last, develop the capacity to speak intelligently on national issues, campaign coherently during elections and stand up to defend its victories, instead of always looking and sounding guilty simply because it never occurred to its leadership that there are people out there who need to be convinced about what it represents. All things considered, the Edo election puts INEC and Nigeria in a position to take more realistic steps towards sustainable party politics and national development.” Enough said!

While it is Edo and some of its major political collaborators today, it may be dubious religious leaders, foreign exchange racketeers and the betrayers of South-west and South-east interests tomorrow. The dustbin is advancing. Its lid is open. The irreversible march of Providence, of Judgment, of the transience of things and of a day of reckoning is still on. Beware, all ye that forget that everything here lasts only for some time. As our people say: “Abada wuchaa, o naa” (Every fashionable clothing, or wrapper, reigns for a while and is forgotten)!

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