THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 2020

Buhari Dissolves UNILAG Council; VC Has Case to Answer, Panel Chair Insists Uchechukwu Nnaike, Funmilayo Ogundare in Lagos and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Visitor to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the report of the Special Visitation Panel

to the university, which recommended among other things, the reinstatement of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the ViceChancellor.

He also approved the dissolution of the university's governing council, headed

by Dr. Wale Babalakin, who

had earlier resigned his chairmanship in September.

Buhari’s approval of the panel's recommendations was contained in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben-Bem Goong.

However, THISDAY learnt

that the Chairman of the panel, Prof. Hamman Tukur Saad of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was convinced that Ogundipe has a case to answer.

He also expressed concern about the way the crisis in the university was resolved, saying the implementation of the

White Paper will undermine university management in Nigeria.

Besides, Saad, in a letter dated October 7, 2020 to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, considered it a breach of the understanding he had with the minister that the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji

Abubakar el-Kanemi, who is the chancellor of the university, should be allowed to resolve the crisis, in line with the crisis management protocol of the university.

According to the statement by the ministry, the panel's Continued on page 8

Balarabe Musa Buried amidst Tributes from Buhari, Jonathan, Tinubu, Others... Page 5 Thursday 12 November, 2020 Vol 25. No 9348. Price: N250

www.thisdaylive.com TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

US-led Coalition Offers Nigeria, Other W’African Nations Help to Rout Terrorism Army declares 86 B’Haram leaders, fighters wanted Buratai absorbs civilian JTF, hunters into military operations Senate opposes reintegration of reformed terrorists into society Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja, Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto A global alliance, championed by the United States, has committed itself to assisting Nigeria and other West African countries to combat terrorism.

The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS resolved to apply lessons learnt from the fight

against ISIS in Iraq and Syria to defeat Boko Haram and other terror groups in West Africa.

The US Department of State, in a statement yesterday, said the resolution was taken at a virtual meeting with members of the coalition and representatives of West African states and relevant regional organisations convened by Continued on page 8

LCCI, NACCIMA Applaud as Nigeria Joins AfCTA Agreement kicks off January, 2021 Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos Members of the organised private sector of the Nigerian economy yesterday welcomed the decision of the federal government to ratify Nigeria's

membership of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) as well as the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Continued on page 10

CONSULTING TOWARDS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...

L-R: Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja... yesterday

FG Explains Push for Multi-modal Accident Investigation Bureau... Page 6

2

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

3

4

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

5

THURSDAY, ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

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

Balarabe Musa Buried amidst Tributes from Buhari, Jonathan, Tinubu, Others

Omololu Ogunmade, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, John Shiklam and George Okoh in Makurdi The remains of Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, were interred yesterday in Kadua as tributes poured in for the late politician.

The late Musa, a left-wing politician, died earlier yesterday at the age of 84.

President Muhammadu Buhari, his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, governors and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among others, paid tribute to Musa who governed Kaduna State from October 1979 until he was impeached on June 23, 1981.

The former governor was buried according to Islamic rites after prayers at the Sultan Bello Mosque at the Anguwan Sarki Cemetery, Kaduna.

Thousands of sympathisers trooped out to pay him their last respects.

Governors Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State; Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State; former Senate President, Senator David Mark and Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola also expressed sadness over the death of the former governor.

Musa’s death was announced by his political associate and former senator, Shehu Sani. “Alhaji Balarabe Musa has died. May Allah forgive his souls and grant him Aljanna firdausi. Amin,� Sani tweeted.

Reacting to Musa's death, Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, condoled with the government and people of Kaduna State.

He said the deceased would be sorely missed by all Nigerians who followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.

Buhari stated that Musa reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which he steadily translated into activism for a return to democracy at the height of military interregnum.

According to him, the deceased remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance and he has left bold footprints on Nigeria’s democratic landscape.

He added that Musa's role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.

Jonathan also expressed sadness over the death of the Second Republic governor.

In a condolence message to the government and people of the state, the former president described Musa as a sincere politician who protected the interest of the people.

He noted that the late Musa was a highly principled politician who avoided convenient politics and pursued his beliefs, even at the risk of suffering personal losses.

Jonathan said: “Alhaji Balarabe Musa was a sincere and committed patriot and statesman who held fast to people-oriented progressive ideals throughout his political life. “As a democrat, Musa avoided convenient politics and was passionate and courageous about his views. He was a highly principled man who relentlessly pursued his beliefs, even at the

risk of suffering personal and career setbacks."

Tinubu also mourned the former governor, describing him as a principled and committed progressive politician.

In a condolence message by his Media Office and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said the deceased would be missed

by Nigerians, particularly the downtrodden whom he fought for all his life.

The APC leader said: “The passing on Wednesday of the first civilian governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, is saddening. His demise is a blow to the progressives and all those committed to the socio-political development of the country. “He provided leadership for the political class. As the Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Musa led the parties to demand positive change in the political space. Although he lived to an advanced age of 84, he would be sorely missed by the political class, indeed by the entire country for his consistent struggle and commitment to social and economic change.�

El-Rufai, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, also said Musa would be remembered as a progressive politician who tried to expand the horizons of opportunity for ordinary people.�

He added that as governor, the late Musa made notable contributions towards industrialising Kaduna State.

Fayemi also commiserated with the government and people of Kaduna State on the death of Musa.

Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described the late former governor as an icon of democracy in Nigeria and a champion of the downtrodden.

Fayemi, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said the late Musa was a politician who gave his all to the people he served without expecting anything in return.

He noted that the late Musa was a highly-principled politician who saw public service as a sacrifice and not an opportunity to acquire wealth as he lived a simple life throughout his lifetime.

Fayemi described the late governor as a father figure of opposition politics who spoke truth to the government without fear or favour.

He also described the late Musa as a rallying point of progressive politics in the North and a respected voice in the quest for a better Nigeria.

On his part, Ganduje, described the death of Musa as a great loss to the country, particularly to democracy.

Ganduje, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Abba Anwar, extended his condolences to the deceased’s family, the government of Kaduna State as well as friends and well-wishers.

On his part, Ortom said the death of the elder statesman was a loss to the country.

Ortom described the deceased as a true patriot who made his views known on national issues in an unbiased manner and contributed in other ways to nation building.

The governor made this known through a press statement by his media aide, Mr Terver Akase, in Makurdi.

Also, Mark described the

The late Musa demise of Musa as a big blow to the struggle for the emancipation of the oppressed in the country.

In his condolence message, Aregbesola said Musa’s death caught him totally unaware. “I was with the son, Kassim, until 2000 hours of yesterday, November 10, 2020. There was no hint of sickness or death. ‘It is therefore a huge shock and surprise that our leader and pillar in the struggle to build a just, humane and progressive society in Nigeria has returned

to his maker; never again to be part of those patriotic efforts to make Nigeria very great and leader in the African renaissance,� he said.

Aregbesola described the former governor as “a patriot, democrat, socialist, consummate defender of the poor, advocate of social and economic justice, promoter of human rights, liberty and dignity and, above all, a very good man.� “He was a man of steely resolve on principles, yet soft to the core in relations with people.�

In its condolence message, the PDP said it was grieved by the death of the elder statesman.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, described Musa’s death as a huge national loss given his steadfastness, patriotic contributions and zeal in fighting for the unity, stability and development of our nation.

"Alhaji Musa was a forthright leader, an embodiment of ideals, who spent better part of his life championing the entrenchment of justice, equity, fairness and

rule of law in every sector of our national life, despite the challenges he faced.

"Our party commiserates with the Balarabe Musa family, the government and people of Kaduna state, as well as his friends and associates even as we pray that the Almighty God grants eternal repose to his soul and fortitude to the family and the nation at large, to bear this irreparable loss," the party stated.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the late Musa devoted his life to the struggle to improve the condition of the masses.

The ACF, in a statement by Emmanuel Yawe, its spokesman, said the late Musa would be remembered as the last man that stood against corruption, exploitation and dictatorship.

On his part, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said the late Musa was a governor for everybody. “As governor, he came with the idea of industrialising Kaduna State. He established

cottage industries across local governments in the old Kaduna State," he added.

The late Musa was considered a progressive and worked with people of like minds to mobilise against the military junta of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

He was born on August 21, 1936, in Kaya, Kaduna State.

He attended Zaria Middle School from 1947 to 1952 and was at the Institute of Administration, Zaria, from 1952 to 1953.

As governor, Musa, elected on the platform of the defunct People's Redemption Party (PRP), was prevented from constituting a cabinet by the state House of Assembly, dominated by the opposition National Party of Nigeria (NPN) members.

Eventually, the lawmakers sacked him in June 1981, making him the first Nigerian state governor to be removed from office.

On August 31, 2010, he quit active politics due to health issues and announced his immediate resignation as chairman of the PRP, which he resuscitated after the rebirth of democracy in 1999.

EXTENDING THE FRONTIERS OF COOPERATION...

L-R: Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his host, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during his visit to his colleague, in Lagos... yesterday

Obaseki Dissolves Cabinet Ahead of Today’s Inauguration for Second Term Ejiofor Alike The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday dissolved the state executive council ahead of his inauguration today for a second term in office.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the Edo governor, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the September 10 governorship election in the state.

Obaseki had polled 307,955 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 223,619 votes.

Obaseki ran against Ize-Iyamu and 13 others.

In a statement yesterday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the inauguration would hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, adding that

all necessary arrangements for the ceremony have been concluded.

He said: “The inauguration/ swearing-in ceremony of Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, will hold on Thursday, November 12, between 11am and 1pm prompt at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

"Due to the prevailing realities of the coronavirus pandemic, we would be having only 750 invited guests at the venue. “The inauguration is strictly by invitation as crowd control measures have been adopted in line with government’s guidelines to check the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). However, parties are to be held across the 18 local government areas of the state to celebrate the event. Party members are also expected to meet at the ward level to commemorate the event.�

He advised guests expected

at the event to adhere to the guidelines regarding crowd control.

Osagie also said provision has been made for virtual participation by Edo citizens and other supporters of the governor.

The governor, however, announced yesterday the dissolution of the cabinet at a valedictory executive council session in Benin City. He thanked the outgoing council members for their selfless service to the state.

Obaseki said: “Since I became governor, I didn’t sack any commissioner, but rather they sacked me by resigning from my cabinet. What is important in government are the core values of truth, justice, and fairness. “When elected to serve the people, let us truly serve the people, as we will give account to God. I can’t claim success alone, what I did was to create

the opportunity for you to serve.�

Obaseki urged former members of his cabinet to continue to work and support his administration, adding that “you are all part of this administration and architects of the new design for the growth and development of the state.�

In his remarks, Shaibu commended the governor for his leadership style, adding that all former members of the cabinet learnt from his political ideology. “You have shown that you are a good leader. I appeal to you to continue with the good works. God has put you as the governor to lead Edo to a greater height and we all will continue to support you,� he added.

Outgoing Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, commended the governor for his leadership style, adding that it prompted the cabinet members to be efficient and effective in service delivery.

6

THURSDAY, ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

NEWS

FG Explains Push for Multi-modal Accident Investigation Bureau Chinedu Eze The federal government has said it is pushing for the amendment of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Act in order to merge accident investigation in maritime, railway and aviation sectors.

This is aimed at improving the safety in air, rail and water transport and also to raise the standard of accident investigation in the two other sectors as it is currently with air transport.

The Commissioner and CEO OF AIB, Akin Olateru, told THISDAY in a telephone interview yesterday that the objective of the multi-modal accident investigation bureau was to reduce the number of deaths in the transportation system in rail and water transportation system, just as it has been reduced in air transport.

Olateru likened accident investigation personnel to undertakers who carry out post-mortem after an accident or death has occurred and prescribe ways more deaths could be prevented in the transport system. “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is like a doctor who tells you what to do so that you will not get sick and die, but when you die we come in and find out the cause of death and recommend actions that should be taken in order to prevent more deaths,� he stated.

Olateru said the merger would also enhance data collection, noting that while AIB has records of the number of deaths and accidents in air transport, nobody knows the number of people who die through water transportation.

"So, it would help to gather data and statistics because if you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it. “We know how many people that have died in the last five years in air transport but we do not have any data on those who died while travelling by boat on the waters in the country.

"So having such investigation body for multimodal transportation system gives people the confidence to travel, knowing that things are being monitored and this would boost patronage to service providers and in turn increase the GDP from the sector. “From August last year to January this year, about 2,700 died on road accident.

No action has been taken on how to prevent such high number of deaths on our roads, but if there a body that monitors and investigates these deaths, it would, for example, recommend ways to prevent such deaths. Besides, having such a body shows that Nigeria is a serious country and it will earn respect in the comity of nations,� Olateru added.

Olateru had last week made a presentation on the proposal before the Senate Committee on Aviation He had told the committee that the amended Act would provide benefits to Nigeria, which include an effective legal and institutional framework for the regulation and administration of safety of transportation occurrences in Nigeria, as appropriate. “The bill will cause prompt and quick investigation of accidents in the proposed transport sectors; improve efficiency of all the service providers; create a much safer environment.

"There will be reduction in number of deaths, injuries and material losses; effective management system; facilitation of collaboration and cooperation; comprehensive planning and human capacity development.

"There will also be cost reduction and management.

There will be improvement on infrastructure, facilities and equipment; creation of job opportunities; and enhancement of mutual beneficial relationship between the various agencies,� Olateru had said.

According to him, it

is widely accepted that multimodality is the future of transport accident investigation and the transition has always been made from the extant air accident investigation agency and in Nigeria, it is the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N). “It has therefore become expedient that the provision of Section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act (CAA) be reviewed to establish the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NISB) in a separate Act to bring up on speed with contemporary global best practice in the industry, to create a multi modal bureau for investigation of air, rail way and maritime accidents. “To ensure transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in this pursuit, there is a need to create a unified body which is completely independent (in

its organisation, operation and decision making processes) from the transport operators, policy makers, regulators and other parties whose interests may conflict with the tasks which organisation is entrusted with.

"As a global standard, every jurisdiction is tuning to having its respective modes of transportation have three key aspects – the regulator, service provider and investigators.

"The purpose of the NSIB is to enable the segregation of investigative activities and promote safety through the conduct of transparent, independent and objective investigations in all cases of accidents and incidents involving any of the current modes of transportation in Nigeria,� he said.

Olateru explained that the primary purpose of accident

investigation is to discover the cause of the accident, remarking that once identified, the cause can be addressed, eliminated or controlled in a bid to forestall a reoccurrence.

"Improvement in quality of care follows a comprehensive accident investigation that reveals the root cause and yields recommendation for improvements," he stated.

The commissioner said during the investigation process, all facts are collected, analysed and written down in a public report, adding that the most important part of the report is the safety recommendations.

If the measures suggested in the safety recommendations are carried out, similar accidents can be avoided in the future, or at least their consequences can be minimised, he said.

“In Nigeria, the main modes of transportation are road and air. However, recent developments have shown the development of (and return to) railways, and an increase in the use of our inland waterways, as alternate methods of transportation.

"Air transportation is the only mode of transportation in Nigeria, which benefits from totally independent and internationally accredited accident investigations, conducted through the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB-N).

"Presently, NIMASA (the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) are respectively responsible for regulating and investigating their occurrences (accident/ incident),� Olateru said.

NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the state leader of the Police OďŹƒcers' Wives Association (POWA) and wife of the state Commissioner of Police, Hajia Aisha Inuwa, during a courtesy call on the governor, in Asaba... yesterday

Tinubu Rallies Support for Sanwo-Olu’s Bid to Scrap Pension for Ex-govs, Deputies No plan to stop ex-govs’ pension, says Okowa Ejiofor Alike The National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, has thrown his weight behind the decision of the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to repeal a law that empowers the state government to pay pension and provide other benefits to former governors of the state and their deputies.

However, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that his administration has no plans to stop pensions of past governors and their

deputies.

Tinubu tweeted yesterday that he supported Sanwo-Olu’s push and urged all APC loyalists to rally round the governor. “Congratulations to Governor Sanwo-Olu over the Y2021 budget which he appropriately christened�

Budget of Rekindled Hope. “This audacious and enterprising budget will empower our people and begin to rebuild Lagos State. “In particular, I would also like to commend the fovernor for the plan to commence the repeal of the pension law giving

pension packages to former governors and their deputies. “This is a bold and courageous move by Mr. Governor and I wholeheartedly support him. I encourage all APC loyalists to do the same,�

Tinubu tweeted.

Sanwo-Olu had unfolded a plan to stop the payment of pension to his predecessors and former deputy governors at the presentation of the state budget on Tuesday.

He had told the House of Assembly that he would soon send an executive bill to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law

2007) that empowers the state government to pay pension and provide other welfare benefits, including houses in Lagos and Abuja, vehicles and other accoutrements of comfort to the former governors and their deputies. “Mr. Speaker and honourable members of the House, in light of keeping the cost of governance low and to signal selflessness in public service, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House imminently for the repeal of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for

payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies. “It is our firm belief that with dwindling revenues and the appurtenant inflationary growth rates, that we need to come up with innovative ways of keeping the cost of governance at a minimum while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service,� he said.

But Okowa said yesterday that his administration had no plans to stop pensions of past governors and their deputies.

Okowa, said in Asaba that the Lagos State Government

might have reasons to repeal its pension law. “There is an existing law in Delta State on what accrued to the governors and their deputies, that I don’t want to touch. “We are not thinking in that direction; my counterpart in Lagos may have reasons why he wants the law repealed but we in Delta don’t want to go into that. “I don’t want to comment on the decision of Lagos State governor. Each state has the power to make a decision concerning its governance,� he added.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

7

8

THURSDAY, ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

PAGE EIGHT US-LED COALITION OFFERS NIGERIA, OTHER W’AFRICAN NATIONS HELP TO ROUT TERRORISM them. seeks to apply lessons learned Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Reformed Terror "If you give Internally from the fight against ISIS in alongside Borno State Governor, Suspects into Society

the United States and Nigeria, which held on Tuesday.

Also, as part of further measures to combat insurgency in Nigeria, the Nigerian Army yesterday declared another batch of 86 Boko Haram terrorists and other insurgents wanted for various crimes.

However, the Senate has rejected the federal government's programme of deradicalising repentant Boko Haram insurgents preparatory to their reintegration into the society.

Tuesday's meeting by the coalition was convened to discuss the threat of ISIS in West Africa and ways the coalition can contribute to collective efforts to ensure ISIS’s enduring defeat in the region.

The statement said the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Ambassador Nathan Sales, marking his first meeting as the newlydesignated Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, outlined the coalition’s increasing focus on defeating ISIS’s global branches and affiliates.

Sales also thanked the Nigerian delegation, led by the Coordinator for the Counter Terrorism Centre in Nigeria’s Office of the National Security Adviser, Rear Admiral Yaminu Musa, for co-hosting the event.

It stated: "With this focus on West Africa, the coalition also announced Mauritania’s accession into the coalition as the 83rd member. Since January 2017, the coalition has welcomed 14 new members from Africa and Asia and continues to expand its reach and cooperation against ISIS branches and affiliates.

"Today’s (Tuesday) meeting included sessions on understanding and countering the threat, moderated by the U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Ambassador J. Peter Pham. Representatives from Global Coalition members Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, and co-host Nigeria provided key insights on troubling developments of ISIS affiliate activity in West Africa and suggested ways the coalition could enhance efforts to counter these trends.

"As the Global Coalition

Iraq and Syria to other locations, participants reviewed potential lines of effort, including the use of battlefield evidence and border security measures that could be applied in West Africa."

The meeting affirmed the coalition’s commitment to countering the threat of ISIS and its branches worldwide, including in West Africa and to supporting ongoing international efforts in the region.

The meeting also outlined the ISIS threat in West Africa and focus on ways the coalition can strengthen its collective approach in specific areas such as battlefield evidence and border security.

The United States and the 82-member global coalition also restated that they were fully committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS and its branches, which is critical to the US national security and that of its partners and allies.

US Will Assist to Dislodge Terrorists, Says Pompeo The United States Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo, has pledged Washington's readiness to use all tools at its disposal in the fight against terrorists in Nigeria and West Africa.

Pompeo, after the virtual meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, co-hosted by Nigeria, said “great progress� was made at the meeting.

He tweeted: “Great progress was made at yesterday’s virtual Global @Coalition to Defeat ISIS meeting on West Africa.

We will use all tools at our disposal to counter ISIS and its affiliates anywhere in the world. My thanks to Nigeria for co-hosting the event.�

Army Declares 86 B’Haram Leaders, Fighters Wanted The Nigerian Army yesterday declared another batch of 86 Boko Haram leaders and fighters wanted for various crimes relating to insurgency.

The latest list was launched yesterday by the Chief of Army

Prof. Babagana Zulum, at the Nigerian Army Super Camp, Chabbal in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.

The ceremony also witnessed the absorption of Civilan JTF, hunters and vigilantes into the operations of the Nigerian Army Super Camp.

Buratai said the two events were part of activities designed for the final push to end insurgency in the North-east region.

He added that the induction of Civilian JTF into the operation will help in containing the activities of Boko Haram because of their knowledge of the terrain and ability to identify Boko Haram members.

Zulum commended the Nigerian Army for initiating the operation.

He also called on the terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals to give peace a chance.

Theatre Commander, Operation ‘Lafiya Dole’, Major General Farouq Yahaya, said adequate arrangement had been made for the welfare of Civilian JTF that would participate in the operation.

Unveiling the list of the wanted terrorists, Yahaya noted that it is not the first time the list will be unveiled but it is reviewed periodically.

Prominent on the list is the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, who had been previously declared dead on some occasions.

Others are: Abu Musa Al Barnawi, Modu Sulum, Mallam Umar, Mallam Bello Husba, Abu Musab Barnawi, Abu Imma, Ibrahim Abu Maryam, Baka Kwasari, Mallam Yan Kolo, Bana Gonna, Mohammed Abu Maryam, Abu Dardda, Umaru Tela, Iman Balge, Abu Umma, Mallam Bako (Hisbah), and many others. “We are here to witness the launching of four batches of wanted Boko Haram terrorists.

As you know, this is not the first time, so we will launch the third batch of wanted terrorists shortly,� Yahaya explained.

Senate Opposes Reintegration of

The Senate yesterday opposed the federal government's programme of deradicalising repentant Boko Haram members towards their reintegration into the society.

In addition, it called on the federal government to unmask and prosecute sponsors of terrorism.

The Senate, however, called on the presidency to increase the annual budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army in view of the military operations, including fighting insurgency, which require procurement of sophisticated equipment, arms and ammunition.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, said when the Nigerian Army appeared before the committee to defend its 2021 budget estimate, the repentant Boko Haram members should be brought to book rather than being reintegrated into the society.

He said: "We are still calling on the Nigerian government that those that are directly or indirectly involved in Boko Haram activities should be brought to book and used as an example. I think we have not been up and doing on that.

"We are in disagreement with the government on the issue of deradicalising and reintegrating (Boko Haram repentants). We still maintain that. You can't be resettling people, pampering them while the war is on. The committee is on the same page and I believe many Nigerians are on the same page with this."

He recalled that not too long ago, 75 Muslims above age 60 were killed by Boko Haram insurgents in his village in Borno State.

"In my village, mallams that are Muslims, not ordinary Muslims, but mallams (clerics), elders above 60, quote me, 75 of them were taken to an abattoir and slaughtered by Boko Haram.

"Can you imagine that the Nigerian Army or the Nigerian government is saying that because these people have gone to repent, or they say they have their hands up, you bring them back and pamper

Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno N150, 000 as pack as they give them (Boko Haram repentants) we have 10,000 of them there.... they are displaced, suffering. They know these people that killed their people, it is wrong," he added.

Ndume stressed the need to increase the yearly budgetary allocation to the army to enable the officers and men perform optimally, adding that the allocation should henceforth be front rolled.

"In a period of war where the country is borrowing and is planning to spend N13 trillion, government is budgeting less than N30 billion as capital for the Nigerian Army. The committee's position is that as a matter of urgency the budget of the Nigerian Army should be increased.

"Not only that, we are advocating they should be front rolled, that means if they sign the budget, you give them their vote so that they can start their procurement process because unlike other procurement that you can buy here, buy there, the Nigerian Army's have to be processed. Before you even finish the process, it takes a long time," he stated.

While confirming that the Senate has the power to increase the budgetary allocation to the Army, Ndume, however, stated that there are procedures, adding that consultation is already on with stakeholders to do so.

He said: "We have engaged the Nigerian Army and we are going to engage the executive to make them understand that based on what we oversight, what they budgeted, they need to increase the budget of the Nigerian army. “So far, we are on the same page with the executive. We are going to work together and make them understand that there is need to increase allocation to the army. Some of them do these things and present it to Mr. President without him knowing the implications."

Sultan Demands Bluntness in Terrorism Fight

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday urged Nigerians to be frank and open towards tackling security challenges threatening the country. “We need to be blunt and open to enable us forge ahead with better ideas, options and measures based on quality decisions against the issue of insecurity in the state and country,� he said in Sokoto at a roundtable on the security challenges of Sokoto State and its neighbours. The Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Sokoto chapter, organised the event.

The monarch said the NIPSS, as an academy and security entity, has the responsibility of shaping the society against all odds by making citizens and the country better.

According to him, religious leaders are an important nucleus in driving positive courses, hence they have to be carried along on national security issues.

Abubakar stressed the need for Sokoto State to study the composition of the multinational force and come up with similar idea to address the security challenges in the axis. “We need to build a strong relationship with neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, Cameroun and other nations in the Sahel such as Mali and Sudan, to strengthen our focus against insecurity,� he added.

The monarch also cautioned against regulating the social media, saying that the focus should be on identifying who is doing what.

He lamented the high level of impunity in the country, noting that “the media need not to inform people negatively and wrongly but positively and rightly on happenings for harmonious co-existence.�

In his opening remarks , the Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, said the state and its neighbours were partnering on common issues bordering on security, health, education, among others for the overall benefit of their people.

BUHARI DISSOLVES UNILAG COUNCIL; VC HAS CASE TO ANSWER, PANEL CHAIR INSISTS findings showed that the removal of Ogundipe at a meeting of the governing council, presided over by Babalakin, did not follow due process.

It added that the vice chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based.

The report recommended that he should accordingly be re-instated.

The panel also recommended that all allegations against Ogundipe and the management of the university before and after the constitution of the panel should be referred to a regular visitation panel for investigation and recommendations.

It said the process adopted by the governing council in the appointment of Professor Omololu Soyombo as acting vice chancellor of the university was inconsistent with the provisions of the law relating to the appointment of an acting vice chancellor.

It also recommended that the governing council should

be dissolved.

"Mr. President, after a careful review of the report, has approved all the recommendations of the panel. "Accordingly, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe is hereby reinstated as the vice chancellor of the University of Lagos; the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, chaired by Dr. B.O. Babalakin, is hereby dissolved.

Mr. President hopes these steps will bring peace, stability, focus and direction to the university," the statement explained.

In his reaction, the Chairman of the institution's chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Dele Ashiru, thanked Buhari “through the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, for standing on the side of the truth and ending an era of tyranny, authoritarianism and dictatorship in UNILAG.�

"We wish to put on record that this intervention by the federal government has restored the autonomy of the university and has insulated the university system from

authoritarian and dictatorial pro-chancellors like Dr. Wale Babalakin. We pray that the type of Wale Babalakin will never come the way of the University of Lagos anymore," Ashiru said.

The Babalakin-led governing council had on August 12, 2020, at an emergency meeting in Abuja, removed Ogundipe from office with immediate effect.

It based its decision on the council’s investigation of serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office against Ogundipe.

The council also announced the appointment of Soyombo as the acting vice chancellor.

Ogundipe had headed to court to challenge his removal while the various staff unions in the university had opposed the council's decisions.

The ensuing crisis led to the intervention of the federal government, which suspended Babalakin and Ogundipe and directed the removal of Soyombo.

The university Senate was then asked to elect another

person.

The president also constituted a visitation panel to look into the crisis in the university and recommend solutions.

The panel was given two weeks to submit its report.

Other members of the panel are Mr. Victor Onuoha, Prof.

Ikenna Oyindo, Prof. Ekanem Braide, Prof. Adamu Usman, Chief Jimoh Bankole, and Ms. Grace Ekanem, who is the secretary.

The university Senate had on August 24 elected Prof.

Folasade Ogunsola as the new acting vice chancellor, making her the first female in that capacity.

The move was said to have restored calm to the 58-year-old institution.

VC Has Case to Answer, Says Panel Chair THISDAY checks, however, showed that Saad, a former vice chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, insisted that the recommendations of the panel

were not fair to all the parties.

He also said Ogundipe had a case to answer on his management of the university.

Saad, in the October 7 letter to the minister, a copy of which THISDAY obtained yesterday, said the panel members' hands were tied the way the terms of reference of the committee were framed.

In the letter titled: 'RE: SUBMISSION OF REPORT OF THE VISITATION PANEL ON UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS CRISIS TO HONOURABLE MINISTER,' Saad said: "Having submitted the report to you and listened to your reaction in private to the panel after the public ceremony, I really got disturbed, especially your honourable comment on the intervention of the Chancellor at the late hour.

On the whole the terms of reference of the panel were framed in such a way as to fish out culpable parties and dish out punishment to them.

This I believe is the mind set of legal practitioners who may have been involved in framing the ToRs.

However, the omnibus ToR 5 provided an opportunity for us to explore other channels of resolving the conflict and saving us the bitterness that Continued on page 10

TOP GAINERS FIDSON GUINNESS NEIMETH STERLBANK GSK TOP LOSERS LEARNAFRICA C & I LEASING STANBICIBTC

NGN NGN 0.45 4.95 1.90 20.90 0.22 2.42 0.20 2.20 0.65 7.25 NGN 0.05 1.00 0.20 4.10 2.00 46.00 LINKASSURE 0.02 0.47 REDSTAR 0.13 3.40 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,400.70 Volume: 858.157 million shares Value: N9.063 billion Deals: 8,142 As at yesterday 11/11/2020 See details on Page 37

% 10 10 10 10 9.8 % 4.7 4.6 4.1 4.0 3.6

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

9

10

NEWS

THURSDAY, ͹ͺ˜ ͺ͸ͺ͸ ˾ T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

11

12

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

13

14

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

COMMENT

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

AFRICA AND AMERICA IN ELECTION DRAMA Okello Oculi writes that the recent America election was, in some way, a poor imitation of African politics

A

merica’s ‘ELECTION 2020’’caught a virulent ‘’AFRICO POLITICUS VIRUS’’ which makes Africa’s politicians lose elections only if rigged out. Donald Trump cheated when he abused Africa as a giant pit latrine while snatching this political weapon. The militant lawyers around him probably know Nigerian SANS. Some protesting Trump supporters carry rifles. They were yet to match Cote d’Ivoire where party supporters had killed rivals. In States of Texas and North Dakota, African-American or Native American votes were ‘’supressed’’ by locating ballot boxes far away from those either too old to walk or too poor to pay for bus rides, to mail their votes. Packets of rice and Black-Eye beans/peas may have bought votes.

There is the admirable location of sovereignty over elections in individual States; cutting out an Election Emperor. Each State has built vital trust and credibility in counting votes, thereby, making Trump’s case patently absurd in Nevada where the Attorney General is also a Republican and unlikely to rig in Joe Biden.

Proponents for ‘’Restructuring Nigeria’’ may have here a flag to borrow.

Donald Trump blessed America with several moments of rude talk. He accused Democrats of ignoring material interests of African-Americans while routinely harvesting their votes. He was being strategically cynical in posing as their new saviour. His racist supporters saluted police killing Black men; their violence against Black women hidden under a deep shadow. The killing of George Floyd with a police knee was quickly punctured by thugs among his supporters smashing shop-windows and inciting looting by poor Black youths.

Black football players adopted the gesture of kneeling down in protest gestures. Trump mocked and hinted that they are not Americans; at best unpatriotic.

He mocked the sense of common humanity with African-Americans dying from COVID-19; giving free food to those made destitute through loss of jobs or closing their shops. His attitude fanned negative passions among his supporters. However, it also aroused its anti-thesis manifested in a multi-racial ‘’Black Lives Matter’’ protesters against the ‘’hatred and casual racism’’ he relentlessly promoted.

President-elect Biden called on Americans to ‘’listen to each other’’. In 1972, Professor Ira Sharkansky told northern politicians to listen to the lack of flush toilet; house telephones; lack of access to education; poor Black communities dying from cancer caused by chemicals stored by oil companies in Texas; raw poverty - which are now at the root of support for Trumpian

SOME PROTESTING TRUMP SUPPORTERS CARRY RIFLES. THEY WERE YET TO MATCH COTE D’IVOIRE WHERE PARTY SUPPORTERS HAD KILLED RIVALS

‘’populism’’. He has given voice to the backwardness of the Southern States.

In his post-victory speech Biden acknowledged that it was Black voters who boosted his campaign: they ‘’had his back’’ and he is going to ‘’have their back’’.

The BBC showed a clip of him as a younger Senator angrily condemning racist oppression of Blacks in South Africa. Having backs of Blacks is not new for him.

Kamala Harris described as ‘’audacity’’ his selection of a Black woman as his running mate. She stood on steel bars of 242 years of woman seeking space in politics and on newly smelted choler bones of those young women who started the ‘’Black Lives Matter’’ protests whose multi-racial flames burned for over one hundred days in Portland, Oregon.

She envisioned television images of her victory planted inside eyes and tender egos of little girls all across the globe.

A flawed ‘’Democracy’’ denied America’s leaders the benefit of sharing the vigorous social imagination which African politicians had injected into conducting elections. In 1965, Julius Nyerere, for example, created a Commission which proposed competitive elections within a popular One-Party system. Nyerere argued that African masses were united by poverty and colonial exclusion from political power. To build a healthy post-colonial nation, it was crucial to block former colonizers from manipulating religious beliefs, ethnic and racial identities, and monetary inducements to inflame conflict during elections.

General Babangida’s ‘’A 4’’ model started presidential primaries from Each Ward in Nigeria thereby planting aspiration for presidential post in all children.

Despite their expansion of their country, the Americans supported military coups and assassinations against Kwame Nkrumah, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello for working, in their different ways, to build united states of Africa.

Nkrumah’s union with Sekou Toure (in Guinea) and Modibbo Keita (in Mali) as a replica of America’s own original 13 Colonies anchored her expansionist union of states. Balewa and Bello had hosted Nyerere and Obote as official visitors from East Africa; Dauda Jawara from The Gambia and Ahmadu Ahidjo from Cameroun were visitors with Fulani ethnic bloodlines.

Their expansionist territorial visions raised the alarms.

Obama and Biden bombed into infinity Muamar Gaddafi’s dream of becoming King of Africa. Deposed Nkrumah and Uganda’s Obote had shown cheeky interest in agitating political assertion by African Americans. Perhaps Joe Biden will see free Africa again.

EMEFIELE AND NIGERIAN YOUTHS

EmeďŹ ele’s CBN remains one of the best youth-friendly institutions in Nigeria, argues Jackson Ugbechie

C

entral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has come under attack recently. Reason? The CBN applied and obtained court order to freeze the accounts of 19 individuals and a corporate entity in the wake of the recent #EndSARS protests across the nation. Many Nigerians had commended the youths for their peaceful disposition during the protests and for their organisational skill until it was hijacked by some hoodlums who turned it into a wave of fury and violence.

The likes of Emefiele and other highly placed Nigerians including President Muhammadu Buhari hailed the youths for exercising their fundamental rights to engage in peaceful protest. But the same Nigerians including the lawabiding youths also rose to condemn acts of violence and brigandage introduced in the protest by a few highly vicious persons. The introduction of violence, whether by omission or commission, took so much virtue from the protest and tarred it with a veneer of destruction.

For the period the protests lasted, there was movement of money including trans-border transfers. Such is expected during a national movement of the magnitude of the legitimate #EndSARS protests. While acknowledging the right of the youths to protest peacefully under the law, we must also acknowledge the unlawfulness on the part of those who resorted to violence, robbery, arson and wide-ranging destructive acts. Much more so, the illegality on the part of those who shot and killed fellow Nigerians (civilians and security personnel). The act of

killing is condemnable no matter who is involved.

Yet in all of this, it is also unfair not to acknowledge the right of the CBN and indeed any of the relevant financial crimes agencies to undertake investigations into the behaviour of the bank accounts of any person, entity or group suspected to have experienced unusual financial transactions (inflow and outflow). This is the law. Indeed, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, BOFIA, the CBN Act and even the act setting up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), confer on these institutions the power to red-flag any account. In banking parlance, it’s called post-no-debit-order.

In plain language, it means a temporary freezing of an account.

The EFCC Act, for instance, empowers the anti-graft commission to issue a directive to any bank to freeze the account of any of its customers who is under investigation. What is key is that such directive must be made only after the EFCC has obtained an order of court to that effect. Again, the act provides that this order can be obtained ex-parte, that is, without informing the affected party. In the instant case of CBN vs the 20 #EndSARS entities, a court order was duly obtained by CBN from a court of competent jurisdiction. The freezing was for a period not extending beyond what the law permits, and it was only to enable the apex bank and relevant agencies undertake investigation. The CBN has only acted within the ambit of the law. Nobody has called anybody a money launderer. The #EndSARS protest was not only a rage against police brutality; it was a symbolic expression of angst against the misgovernance of

the nation over the years.

One of the planks of the argument against misrule in the nation is the absence of the rule of law; the inability of the ruling elite and their cronies to submit to the law. As youths who want to show our failed leaders the path to nobility and good governance, we must not be seen to be above the law. What CBN has done is the norm everywhere in the world including in the advanced nations that we often cite as examples where good governance is entrenched.

Everybody operates under the rule of law. The latest report that six Nigerians were convicted in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, for their roles in financing Boko Haram terror group, came as a consequence of investigation of their bank account transactions starting with freezing of such account. So far, the CBN has not acted outside the law. We can only begin to blame the apex bank if after 180 days it is still holding down the accounts of the involved parties without any justifiable reason.

But I wager that CBN under Emefiele cannot willingly stand in the way of Nigerian youths. On the contrary, Emefiele’s CBN remains one of the best, if not the best, youth-friendly institution in Nigeria. Aside its many youth empowerment initiatives and capacity building programmes cutting across all frontiers, its AnchorBorrowers’ programme has refocused many youths to embrace farming with all its value-chain economics.

Add to that the recently launched CBN-financed Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). This is an ambitious and progressive N75 billion youth-targeted project designed by the Ministry of Youths and Sports Develop-

ment and financed by the CBN. The NYIF is a carefully designed initiative to improve access to finance for youths and youth-owned enterprises.

The target is to financially empower Nigerian youths within the age bracket of 18-35 years to generate at least 500,000 jobs in the country between 2020 and 2023. This year alone, a chunky N12.5 billion take-off seed fund would be made available. The Emefiele era at CBN represents the best moment for Nigerian youths. And this is not on paper. It’s evidential with measurable and identifiable results.

It’s therefore most unfair to label Emefiele anti-youths. He has been pro-youths far more than any CBN Governor in living memory. Lawyers and activists who have criticized the freezing of accounts of the affected parties condemn the resort to ex-parte motion which they argue negates the natural course of justice of “hearing from the other party�. Yet, that’s what the law says, to wit, that the CBN does not need to inform the affected party.

Therefore, rather than rail at CBN under Emefiele for acting in a manner we consider ultra vires, even draconian, we should attack the law; not the institution that only obeyed such law.

This has been the argument of some of us, that some of our laws, including the constitution, need a thorough rejig.

We should mind the root cause of the sickness, not the symptoms.

But no matter, when this whole storm fades away, history will judge Emefiele as the best youth-friendly Governor of CBN. It’s a case of res ipsa loquitor (the fact speaks for itself). r6HCFDIJF XSPUF GSPN "CVKB

15

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

EDITORIAL

THE URGENCY OF POLICE REFORM The police must be adequately provided for

F

ollowing the protests provoked by abuse of power by men and officers of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), victims and relations of victims are now appearing before the judicial commissions in the states to demand justice. Some of the testimonies at the hearing bear the hallmark of horrors and treatment best reserved for the medieval era. Okoye Agu, one of the witnesses who testified before the Lagos State Panel of Inquiry headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi recounted how he was tortured in 2014 and had two of his teeth extracted by the disbanded SARS. Agu who claimed to have been detained at the instance of his boss said his mother and wife were also THE CONSEQUENCES assaulted in his presence at the OF EXECUTING police station.

DEFICIENT POLICIES In several other FOR DECADES IN KEY states across the AREAS OF RECRUITMENT, country, families seeking closure WELFARE, TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT ARE EVIDENT for their loved ones have also EVERYWHERE been coming forward to state how the experience has changed their lives. Allegations of suspects being detained for several days without facing court charges are rife.

And in some cases, they are beaten and killed without their corpses returned to their families for burial rites. A woman narrated how all her three sons were killed by SARS operatives.

Indeed, it is worrying that before the youths decided to hit the streets to protest and call for disbandment of SARS, policemen involved in torture, extra-judicial killings and other abuses were never punished and held to account for the atrocities they committed.

In truth, the challenges hampering the police from effectively discharging its constitutional responsibility to the public will continue to inhibit it until they are addressed. Key of all

Letters to the Editor

T H I S DAY EDITOR

DEPUTY EDITOR

˜

˜ MANAGING DIRECTOR

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL

MANAGING EDITOR

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN

GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ˜

˜

˜ ˜

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS

˜ ˜

DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR

SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

˜ CONTROLLERS

˜

˜

DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION

HEAD, COMPUTER DEPARTMENT

Ě“

TO SEND EMAIL: ďŹ rst name.surname@thisdaylive.com

the considerations is the proper vetting of prospective recruits, in ensuring that criminals are not enlisted into the police service. The police force is not an institution for dropouts and societal misfit. There should be a central database to ensure that criminals are screened out.

Another encumbrance is the lack of independence for the Police Service Commission that plays oversight role over personnel.

Besides, the over centralised structure of the police is one of the reasons why policing is ineffective. There is an urgent need to review this structural weakness. But over and above all, policemen should be properly equipped and motivated to meet the obligations that go with modern policing. The country is in need of an ethical police that respects and protects civil rights. This requires proper training and adequate funding as well as improving the living condition of police personnel.

The consequences of executing deficient policies for decades in key areas of recruitment, welfare, training and equipment are evident everywhere. When in April last year the federal government mooted the idea of recruiting part-time special constables, we admonished thoroughness in the crucial stages of conceptualisation, implementation and sustenance. The duties of these constables were to be restricted to administrative matters, crowd control, alternative dispute resolution, emergency management, and other less risky or sensitive services. More than one and half years after, nothing has been done to implement the idea.

We hope this will not be the same with the proposed reform.

Meanwhile, we sympathise with the police over the loss of no fewer than 23 personnel to the recent EndSARS protests that were hijacked by hoodlums. It is all the more depressing that aside the dead, more than 200 police stations were razed. We condole with the families of the deceased with the hope that they will be well compensated. We also hope that appropriate lessons have been learnt by all concerned.

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.

THE MALTREATMENT OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS

STRANGE CIVIC DISOBEDIENCE

N

Y

igeria, as they say, is our motherland.

However, the mother, despite being the richest in Africa and most populous black nation in the world, has not been treating its students fairly.

Taking education as an example, Nigeria has not done much in fighting illiteracy. And less privileged Nigerians are always the victims of the neglect in our schools. It is a known fact that a greater percentage of the children of the poor study in primary and secondary schools that are poorly funded, weakened infrastructure, insufficient study materials and shortage of teachers.

After undergoing the aforementioned challenges, the children of the poor still find it difficult to gain admission into tertiary institutions. It is irritating that some aspirants do seek admission for five to seven times before gaining it. This is not because they are not qualified but due to the

limited number of universities we have in Nigeria and the godfatherism that mar the system.

After gaining admission into the university, one would think that is all. However, series of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s strikes, have been threatening not only students but the entire educational system.

Come to think of it, how could a student spend eight months without going to class? Is Nigeria a motherland to its students? Does that mean no one from the public university will graduate this year?

I would like to make it clear that this piece is not supporting or condemning the federal government or ASUU. The fact is that Nigeria as a country has failed its students. Unfortunately, those who supposed to work towards the end of the strike are doing nothing to write home about.

It is surprising that they had an opportunity to study under a conducive environment during their days but decided to kill education for the present generation. This, to

me, is connected to the fact that most of their children are studying at private universities either here in Nigeria or abroad. How would they feel if their children were at home for eight months due to a strike? Is it that their children are more Nigerians than the children of the poor?

Now that idleness has eaten deep into our youths, is Nigeria safe? EndSARS protesters destroying some states, banditry and insurgency in the north, robbery, kidnapping and rape everywhere in the country. Are these what Nigerians deserve to get from the present administration?

I conclude by calling on all the concerned bodies to as a matter of urgency end the maltreatment of students in the name of strike.

Let’s get our students back to class. They are Nigerians too.

Treat them like the way you treat your kids. r#JMZBNJOV (BNCP ,POH LPM .BTT $PNNVOJDBUJPO %FQBSU NFOU #BZFSP 6OJWFSTJUZ ,BOP

esterday I went to the library to pick up a book, the John Bolton book “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir�. The library has been open since Monday as the COVID restrictions are eased but this was the first appointment time that I could get, for a 20-minute visit as only 10 are allowed in at any given time. I had to wear a mask and provide proof of who I was, and hand sanitize before I got in. This may seem a bit extreme but our state of five million people has had no new cases or deaths for 12 days so it may be worth it.

I was annoyed to see a person trying to bypass this restriction, not really a capital crime and yet not wearing a mask could lead to people dying.

There are also more people just carrying their mask rather than wearing it and a number of anti COVID restriction people who refuse to wear them and then complain when they are fined. For some it is just laziness but for some it is a conspiracy-driven rebellion.

Like most I find the masks annoying but wear them as they are compulsory by law. In Victoria with five million people and masks being worn no new cases for almost two weeks. In America with over 300 million people and masks often not being worn over 100,000 new cases a day.

I know it is a world of fake news, but this is simple - wear a mask and save lives - please. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

16

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 • T H I S D AY

17

18

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12 2020

POLITICS

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

‘A Law Must Have Adequate Provision to Punish Those who go Against It’

The Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu discusses a wide range of issues including the review of the 1999 constituition and the much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill with with Udora Orizu

N

orthern governors recently declared support for FG’s move to regulate social media. What’s the position of the House on this? Will the lawmakers pass or reject the bill when it’s re-introduced?

The Federal Government has the right to introduce executive bill to the parliament, but not every executive bill from the presidency gets passed. It’s not the decision of the parliament to pass bills, it’s the decision of the constituents, citizens who this bill seeks to serve. And they make this decision through their representatives.

Before a bill becomes an Act, there’s a part reserved for the public, it’s called the public hearing.

That certain group of people put themselves together in support of executive bill doesn’t mean that, will be the position of the National Assembly. The position of Nigerians should be the position of the National Assembly and this is reflected in their contributions during public hearing , so when such bills comes , it will go to public hearing when all stakeholders views will be collected and a decision will be made thereafter.

How many members are in the constitution review committee, we know in the Senate there are 58 members, but for House we only know the Committee Chairman.

Also, will the Committee likely decision be in tandem with the Senate and complete everything by June 2021?

Constitution Review Committee is always constituted in this manner, one member per state, including the Federal Capital Territory. But beyond that the Speaker has his own discretion to add more members to the committee, in this

Kalu instance, he has picked up few members among the young parliamentarians, and also included few women on the grounds of gender balance.

Young parliamentarians in the sense that these are the ones who are going to be in Nigeria for a longer period of time, so they know the kind of things they expect this country to be, the kind of laws that will help them advance this country’s development, democracy. The Speaker in his magnanimity has included young parliamentarians in addition to that one one per state. If you want to compute the number, that’s the formula you’re going to use. I’m one of the people the Speaker nominated to be in that committee. On the timeline, the committee met recently, and they are working on the programme of action, which I can tell you that the committee is under a serious minded, well experienced chairman, that’s the deputy speaker,

Hon. Idris Wase. If you know him very well, you know that he operates with the speed of light when he’s handling responsibilities. If you sit under him during consideration of reports or bills, because of his wealth of knowledge, a thing that’s suppose to take four hours will take two hours. So I can assure you that he’s the right person for this all important committee. He has the leadership skills to be able to advance the constitution review expectations of Nigerians.

So June or July, whatever it is, it’s going to be fast, as fast as possible. But content is not going to be compromised by speed, what Nigerians are looking for is not how fast you conduct the constitution review but how well and thorough and all embracing, how you’re able to harness the ambitions and desires of Nigerians. On claims that paucity of funds is stalling the exercise, like you know, paucity of funds has always been the problem of National Assembly, expectation is high, but I’m sure that because of the political will, the 9th Assembly is placing the constitution review on the front burner, certain adjustments will be made to prioritize this particular objective and adjustment will be made to the expenses of the National Assembly to make sure that the objective is met. Because It’s top on our legislative agenda, Nigerians are looking forward to that and we will put our money where our mouth is in funding this.

On EndSARS, what’s the House doing in regards to it, there have been promises by the government, the leadership met with the executive, what has been the outcome, are they implementing the five point demands of the protesters. What is the way forward?

The House is doing it’s best in handling this,

we will be presenting a bill on Police Reform and other related matters, within two weeks, this is in line with the resolution we raised in October, we also hope to use the Budget to support Mr President in actualizing some of these 5-point demands. We’re using this budget to make sure that the youth element is captured in it. It may not have been so rosy for the youths in the country, but let’s also give credit that Not too Young to Run Bill was passed by this administration in its first term in office. What we’re trying to do now is to see how we can energize and enable these youths to be positioned to even enjoy the benefits of this Bill. Because most of them don’t have the will to push in and enjoy, by incorporating and positioning them, creating economic opportunities for them, integrating them into governance, they will become active participants on how things are done in this country. We will make sure the budget for youths in this particular budget is increased from what it was. Also we’re going to look beyond the Ministry of Youths and we’re going to look at every other budget that’s coming before us to see how much of youth elements is in that budget, if not we will question it. For example we’re going to look at the law of Federal Character Commission, to see the integration of youths, when you say equitable distribution of opportunities it must be done in percentages, so that we don’t just leave it open ended. We should also break it further down by incorporating how much of this will go to youths, women, that formula will be accommodating the interest of the youths.

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

‘In Six Months, Ihedioha Grew IGR in Imo by Over 200 Percent’ Former Executive Chairman of Imo Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Charles Onwunali reveals to Amby Uneze how the Supreme Court judgment that truncated Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s administration reversed the gains of the Rebuild Imo agenda

Y

ou were a banker, local government chairman and executive chairman of Imo State Internal Revenue Service, how did you get to those heights?

It’ll be foolhardy for any reasonable person to arrogate any modest achievement or attainment made by him to state of preparedness or his intrinsic qualities to the exclusion of the role of providence. I went through National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme from September 1985 to July 1986 after which I sought and secured employment in the banking industry despite the contractionary effect on employment in the country of the economic stabilization measures in place at the period, occasioned by the General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida foisted Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). I survived the high staff turnover rate of the banking industry of that era (1980s to about 2000) that was characterized by poor capitalization and still held out strongly to 2008, for a cumulative period of over 21 years, that indeed was significant. I had the desire to serve my state in whatever capacity possible that could avail me the opportunity to showcase service and character and leave legacy, after I had quit the banking industry. Resolute to learn the ropes of nuances of politics, I set out to consult with all notable political chieftains in my Local Government Area. Consequently, I aspired and successfully too, to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer and eventually contested the general Local Government Council election that held in 2010. I emerged eventually as the Executive Chairman of Aboh Mbaise LGA. The tenure was short-lived but as daunting as my experiences were then, I wasn’t deterred, I remained tenacious as a faithful party member for the eight years PDP was

Onwunali in opposition in the state. It is perhaps, the show of character and consistency coupled with background in finance that might have helped my appointment by His Excellency, Rt. Hon Chukwuemeka Ihedioha as the Executive Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service.

Your last appointment was brief and resounding, what were the imprints you consider novel during your short stay at IIRS? On assumption of office as the Executive Chairman on 8th July, 2019, I met a nascent Revenue law No. 23 of the state which needed to be interpreted to guide studied implementation of processes and procedures that will firmly establish the independence or autonomy of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from the Ministry of Finance, essentially from the civil service structure as was envisioned by the enactors

of the law. The Rebuild Imo administration of Ihedioha was in a hurry to deliver phenomenal democracy dividends (benefits) to the Imo populace, hence there was no time to waste. Having to successfully effect name change from Imo Board of Internal Revenue (IBIR) to Imo Internal Revenue Service IIRS reflective of the shift in orientation from the Public Sector bureaucracy to private sector best known practices to boost efficiency. Secondly, automating the gamut of revenue generation processes from data collection, processing, assessment, Demand Notice, collection and Compliance through an Integrated Tax Management System (ITMS) with full automation; the Central Billing System, CBS were such remarkable milestones. The name change was critical to underscore the importance of attitudinal change and orientation in the way business need to be conducted henceforth. The bottlenecks experienced in revenue generation in the state were largely traceable to structural rigidity or inflexibility which inevitably compromised efficiency. I had to take the bull by the horn to steadily implement necessary steps towards autonomy of operations of the State Internal Revenue Service away from the hitherto public service structure. That was a feat. The direct payment platform is not an alternative to integrated revenue management system and cannot possibly vitiate the later in any state that is serious about harnessing her revenue potentials optimally.

The name change was inevitable as I had earlier said to align with the imperatives of the autonomy granted by the nascent revenue administration law No. 23 of 2019, being implemented. The objective of the autonomy is to foster efficiency in the way and manner the business of revenue generation and collection are being handled as opposed to the

bureaucratic processes involved in assessment and collection under the civil service structure.

The emphasis now is on service and efficiency.

The name Imo Internal Revenue Services, IIRS underscores the shift in orientation of the State Internal Revenue Office in dealing with revenue assessment and collection in the state. The Imo Board of Internal Revenue, IBIR, was associated with civil service rules and practices which tended to sacrifice speed of delivery on the altar of conventions – a culture that we set out to correct in the new dispensation and succeeded appreciably, before we were truncated.

It was under your purview that the state introduced the TSA system, how did it impact on the IGR? Make no mistake, the political will of the Governor of any state, or the lack of it, makes the difference in the direction of revenue generation in the state. Ihedioha was deliberate, on assumption of office to do everything necessary to boost generation and accountability of IGR in the state to complement the dwindling monthly FAAC as his Rebuild Imo programmes must be funded. Introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) regime was one of such measures to ramp-up IGR in the state as it surely blocks leakages and curbs existence of idle balances with many different banks in the state. You may recollect that I was a member of the Imo State Government Financial Advisory Committee, FAC headed by Dr. Abraham Nwankwo and the four months stint I had, prior to being appointed to lead the SIRS afforded me invaluable insight into the IGR of the state.

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

19

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12 2020

POLITICS

‘Power is not Politically Driven, It is Technical and Economic’

Olice Kemenanabo, Manager Director, Bayelsa Electricity Company holds a conversation with Nseobong Okon-Ekong on the politics of power generation and distribution and its effect on governance in Bayelsa State

W

hy do you think qualifies you for the present task that the Bayelsa State Governor has given to you?

I was born in Ghana; I went to primary school in Ghana and later completed my primary education in Nigeria. I went to Government Secondary School Odi where I left with West Africa School Certificate. I attended University of Port Harcourt as an Electrical Engineering student. I graduated 1984. In my youth service year, I was engaged as a teacher.

Then the Rivers state Utility Board found me worthy and engaged me where I rose to a Senior Electrical Engineer before I went on to work with the Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission as a Principal Engineer and Project Manager in charge of various electricity projects because of my background. Thereafter I was spotted by the then deputy governor of Bayelsa state who incidentally was my work mate and later became the President of this country. I was asked to deliver a lecture in one of their transition committees on Power and I left there not wanting to be a part of the development programme of any place.

I just wanted to be a freelancer but the late Governor Alamieseigha caught me one day surprisingly and asked me of my full names and all he did was to announce my name that I am the General Manager Bayelsa State Electricity Board. I questioned him and he said the announcement was sacrosanct that I should resume duty immediately. That’s how my journey as an electrical engineer started and ever since then I think I have made various strides at the national level, I have been one time distinguished electrical and electronics engineer, engineers’ annual lecturer 2012 the twelfth person. So in the annals of the history

of engineering I am the 12th person that is in the hall of fame of engineering in this country.

agreement but because we were not able to meet up the monthly gaseous agreement, Shell tracked us until it got to when we need to do some turn around mentainance and they requested that the plant be shut down. When they shut down the gas plant and we were to come back on stream, we requested for gas to be brought and they said until we pay all the previous debts including the one that we signed with them that they are not going to give us gas and that is why we ended Kolo Creek.

It was not as if technically the machine is not supposed to be running and now when you go to ask, why don’t you want to give us gas because the gas was coming from our soil? And they asked you question, do you take petrol free from any of the NNPC filling stations because the crude oil is from your soil?

The answer is no. So they shut down the power station because we were not able to provide the necessary funds for payment for gas tariffs.

What are the constitutional limitations of a state in running an independent power plant?

There are economic and technical limitations because every state has the capacity to do its own independent power system but you must meet up your technical and commercial obligations.

The first technical obligation you need to meet is to provide the power system but the most difficult aspect is the commercial obligation and particularly in Bayelsa state there is this entitlement syndrome that we own the gas so why should we pay for the gas. As a matter of fact let me give you the Kolo Creek scenario, as the immediate past administration came in, we rehabilitated the power station running smoothly eventually we agreed with SPDC to pay for gas and we entered into a gaseous

Why is it that oil companies successfully run their own power plant and they are doing very well?

Why they do very well is simply because they have a sustainability plan. Part of the sustainability plan is the commercial part of it. The oil companies do the gas for themselves and they have domestic obligations. So they take as part of the domestic obligation and yet pay back to NNPC as part of their domestic obligations. so if you think that you own gas in your ground and then you want to use the gas and you don’t want to pay the man that produce the gas he has every reason to shut you down, so that is the simple reason. And again, I like to put it this way as well, power is not politically driven rather it is driven technically and economically. The other aspect that we

Kemenanabo

appendage to ensure that the system functions is the political aspect. A man must have the political will to say that this is what I want to do but if you mention it to the world that I want to provide free power to the people then you must also be able to provide the necessary ingredient for that free power. The first ingredient is commercial viability. I can tell you and it’s no shame to say this, very recently, I accepted to come to this programme because I believe very strongly that we are walking with somebody who wants to learn and who is also learning, a person who wants to listen and who will also want to impart that knowledge to another person which is the person of the Governor of Bayelsa state, Senator Douye Diri.

We had a NIPP power plant in Gbarain 225 megawatt power plant, 2015 was when that power plant was commissioned but not even a single megawatt of electricity is thrown into the Bayelsa state network why, because NIPP felt that embedding that power into Bayelsa will mean that they are not going to make money so they decided to take the entire power to the grid so we now have to buy from the market operator back into our own system in spite of the fact that we have a NIPP power plant that is existing in this place. The reason being that the community around that place said their host communities should be entitled to free power supply. So once you get to that level the man who wants to give electricity, even if he wants to give free, he will be thinking that the day I am not able to provide the electricity I will be antagonized that is the basic reason why power is actually a problem in this country.

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

‘Abia has been Unfortunate with Leadership’ An industrialist and chieftain of All Progressive Congress in Abia state, Chief Ndukwe Ikoh tells Chinedu Eze that Abia state has remained underdeveloped because of bad leadership. Ikoh who was in the House of Representatives in 2015, believes greed and lack of accountability have put the state in dire straits

T

here have been protests against police brutality in Nigeria and these protests have been spearheaded by young people who are calling for total reforms of the force. What is your impression on how these issues have been handled?

I must begin by declaring my unalloyed solidarity with the Nigerian youths on the matter and manner of this protest.

The people have completely lost fate and hope in almost all the structures and essence of governance in this country hence the spontaneous solidarity in this protest with police brutality and inhumane treatment to clearly innocent citizens as the opium pushing this civil revolt.

The reaction is another case of failed opportunity to provide responsive leadership and it is a shame to say the least. I also agree with his critics on his speed in approach to quenching a burning fire.

What kind of reforms would you like to see in the police force?

Nigeria as a whole needs foundational restructuring and everyone knows about this and has said it time and time again, including my humble self.

It is an impossible task to restructure or attempt to carry out any meaningful structural changes in the Nigerian police force without first and foremost overhauling and changing our entire structure of governance.

Remember the function of the police (which is to secure life and property, maintain law and order and enforce law). The force derives its power to function from other arms of government. So the fountain of authority must be sanitized before you can think of a new police.

It’s common sense.

policing in the south, especially Southeast and Southsouth is very different from what obtains in the northern Nigeria.

For instance, driving or traveling through the roads in the Southeast and Southsouth, you will find out the difference very clearly.

Here, Police and SARS position themselves in spaced distances of not more than 100 meters apart doing the innocuous business of extortion from motorists and travellers alike in full broad daylight sometimes with a lot of inhumane treatment.

That doesn’t happen in the North. We are saying that we cannot continue with this disparity in the system of things. It is not political; it is not ethnical or tribal. It is called equity, justice and fairness.

Ikoh Given that insecurity, among which is banditry, kidnaping and terrorism are on the increase in the north without any solution, even with Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) then in place, why do you think Northern governors oppose the disbandment of SARS? Everyone is not happy with the modus operandi of especially the now defunct SARS arm of the Nigerian police force. They were brutal, extra judicial, inhumane and corrupt in their conduct, which is the reason we are where we are today.

Northern governors opposed the disbandment? Well they know why but the Nigerian youths support the disbandment and that is more important to me and for all.

Maybe with SARS they were doing better with the insecurity situation in the north and if that is the case then, SARS should remain in the north.

Again, all must note that the system of

So many Nigerians believe that SWAT is going to be just the same thing as SARS with only the name change. Do you share the popular believe that the IGP was too hasty in replacing the dissolved SARS with Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)?

No matter the color or name change, what works in any system is good operational methodology. Training, paradigm alignment, motivation and institutional ethics will strive with good authority. We need to overhaul our institutions to meet the present secular needs. That is restructuring.

It pains me when I think about Aba and the way it is neglected by succeeding governments in the state. Do you think that Aba’s problem of bad roads, poor waste management is intractable; or do you think poor leadership is responsible for the chronic neglect of that city, which can multiply revenue for the state?

Abia state and the city, Aba have remained

largely a state and, of course, a city passing as bad example for a place that is devoid of good governance and that is due to malfeasance of the people in power.

We have been very unlucky to have people in government who went in as poor people but became billionaires while in power and these include themselves, family and friends.

Naturally, corrupt and greedy minds don’t have space to think anything good for others.

That has been the bane of Abia, especially since around 2009.

Given the opportunity to lead Abia state, what do you think you can do to make the state economically viable and make Umuahia a true metropolis?

I will surely do something greatly different if I have the opportunity to correct the mess in Abia. Corruption will be driven far and governance and government must be done as a business. Our revenue base shall be expanded and of course we shall have a better GDP. As a technocrat, my self and other skilled and experienced Abians shall work together to bring in a performance that will make Abia envy of other states in the federation.

Abia State economy, development and mode of governance shall be the best in Africa.

Is Igbo Presidency in 2023 a feasible project?

Let us watch and pray. All things are possible to them who believe and work!

The #ENDSARS protests turned violent, hijacked by hoodlums in several cities. What would should the protesting, despondent youths have done differently?

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

20

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

FEATURES

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

Positioned to Break Boundaries The passion for education, national development and healthcare is clearly positioning 16-year-old Anna Akwukwuma as one who will break boundaries and spur others to live impactful lives, irrespective of age and location. Rebecca Ejifoma writes

I

n this time and age, many teenagers are faced with challenges that others before them did not by any chance face. If it’s not the next challenge on Tik Tok, then it is the next trending issue on platforms like Instagram, Twitter and others powered by the internet.

Of course the world is building regulations on how young people can explore the opportunities online and make the best of their lives, but then again, there are concerns if they can actively key into the tools and resources around them, and leave the world better than they met it.

As you already know, not every teenager out there is caught in the web of distraction seeking for their attention.

There is always a goldfish to look out for in every generation. One of them is Anna Akwukwuma; a young aspiring medical doctor whose words are punctuated with well-mannered smiles and intelligence. She is one of such rare teenagers adding a positive twist to the narrative.

Indeed, Akwukwuma is only 16 but sounds 25. She is quick on the uptake and has unpolitical visions spelled out with precision. Interestingly, she is a two-time Head Girl both at British International School and Corona Schools in Lagos State and clinched an academic scholarship. She speaks German and French to a lesser degree, currently learning Mandarin with an interest to pick up Spanish too.

While we communicated from Nigeria to abroad on a Monday evening in October, we took a long stroll down memory lane, as pleasant memories gushed in.

She quickly talks about her imposing curriculum vitae. “I received my elementary education in a number of places. For years one and two, I went to Corona School Lekki, Agungi from 2008 to 2010.

For year three, I attended the International School of Geneva in Switzerland from 2011 to 2012, and for year four to six, I attended Corona School, Ikoyi from 2012 to 2015.�

Head Girl Moments As for secondary school, I attended the British International School (BIS) at Oniru from 2015 to 2020. I was Head Girl both at Corona, Ikoyi and BIS. Because of my performance at the BIS entry exam, I was offered an academic scholarship which was sustained throughout my stay in the school.

On leaving BIS, Akwukwuma was given the Memorial Medal of HRH Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru. The school's board said this was a recognition for 'a combination of academic excellence, significant contribution to the community, outstanding leadership and exemplary conduct’.

Truly, young Akwukwuma is a true Nigeria despite her polished accent and life in the US. She hails from Delta State, but born in Edo. She lived in Lagos, but is now abroad to further her education. “I am currently doing my A-Levels in Concord College in West Virginia, USA,� she revealed.

On how life was at secondary school with fellow students, teachers and the learning environment, she expounded that indeed it wasn't perfect.

She expressed, “Actually, it was tumultuous.

But what secondary school experience isn't? The experiences I had and the people I had around me helped shape me into the person I am today Quest for More Her naked love for 'reading' comes from her love of learning and her inherent desire to know how and why things are. “I think it is safe to say from this perspective, I've always been a bookworm (for as long as I can remember that is),� she chips in enthusing that, “I've always questioned why things are and have always been interested in finding out new things and discovering how they work�.

Consistency Just like secrets to a tasty meal, Akwukwuma penned some secrets that earned her an enviable grand slide. “Consistency and putting your best in everything you do. Not letting failure or temporary set backs

Akwukwuma

inhibit your progress. Comparing yourself to yourself.

Use your failures as fuel and always set out to do better than your last best,� the two-time head girl said.

Time Management On how teenagers can manage their time efficiently Akwukwuma is concise. “Simple. Time management and the ability to prioritise. Yes, this required some painful sacrifices at times, but in the long run it worked out in my favour. I structured my time in such a way that I always had time for studying as well as play.�

Roles of Parents Not many might relate to this. As a teenager, Akwukwuma adores her tight-knit relationship with her parents. She says it helped her academic pursuit and boosted her sought-after lifestyle. “Honestly, I communicate with both of them equally. Whatever I tell one, I tell the other,� she said with emphasis, “A huge role; they never pressured me into getting good grades. But the values they had instilled in me from a young age helped me cultivate the ethics and lifestyle I have now.�

For most teenagers, their minds make the best of them, hence, the need for parental help. Like young Akwukwuma, both her parents pitched in and helped. “My parents are huge inspirations to me and they make it easy for me to talk to them about any issues I may have. No matter how minuscule they may be. It's the conversations I have with them that shape certain perspectives that I have comparing myself to myself,� she chuckles.

The well-informed teenager however urged parents to eschew making their children feel inferior. “A lot of parents intentionally or unintentionally compare their children to other people's children. My parents never do that. It was the other way around. I used to compare my grades or myself to other people and get upset at how much better they were (or rather how much better I thought they were).�

But thanks to her parents, that inferiority complex became history. “My parents nipped that bud of self-pity and made me realise that the only person I can compare myself to is myself. And that shapes much of who I am and what I do today.�

Pushing Boundaries Just like health experts and other stakeholders in and outside the country, Akwukwuma is worried about the state of the health care system in her country. “After my A levels, I plan to study medicine and then go into Biomedical Engineering. My motivation for this comes from witnessing the current public healthcare system in Nigeria. People that are less privileged don't even get the bare minimum when it comes to basic healthcare and the only places where standard health care can be obtained are private hospitals (which can be horrendously expensive),� she said.

Interestingly, Akwukwuma has more dreams. “I want to study and practise medicine first so that I can have a first hand experience of proper health care delivery systems. I want to then go into biomedical engineering to devise new medical devices and systems that will push the boundaries of medical science and improve healthcare delivery, making it more efficient and cheaper than what we have today.� “At some point,� she hopes, “I will like to come back to Nigeria and contribute directly to our country's advancement in these areas�.

And in the laudable words of this charming teenager, everybody deserves access to proper health care, even Nigeria, her motherland. “There are still so many unsolved problems that need soothing solutions. So, I think the world would benefit from having one more medical doctor, who thinks both logically and creatively,� she swiftly puts.

On where she would like to practice, “my plan is to gain as much experience as I can, to work in a variety of places to observe how health systems in different countries work, and how they operate and hopefully to look at the pros and cons of these health systems and figure out ways to increase the pros and then bring back everything I've learned and the experience I've gained to Nigeria, to see what I can do to improve the public health care system,� she outlined.

Hurdles According to Akwukwuma, some of the most common issues people of her age face include struggles with body image.

In her words, “Pressure from peers, parents, and society (in the form of social media) to conform to conflicting expectations (whether these expectations be body image, academics, finance etc.)

“I pulled through because of the relationship I began cultivating with God. He helped me come to the realisation that indeed, I am fearfully and wonderfully made and there is no single definition of beauty, but that there is beauty in individuality – in being your authentic self with no physical or emotional filters,� she expressed.

Role Model Of course, having role models in one’s life is very important, and having good role models is more important.

The upcoming medical doctor has got a good one with reasons. “My maternal grandma. I'm always in awe of how grateful she is for the smallest of things. Her strength and her perspective on life in general inspires me,� she says firmly.

Hobbies Really, Akwukwuma’s life has not been all about studying without a break. She enjoys playing musical instruments, and learning foreign languages, too. “I play the piano well, and recently started to play the guitar. I speak German well, and French to a lesser degree. I am currently also learning Mandarin and I have an interest in picking up Spanish too,� the Edo State-born teenager shares.

In addition, Akwukwuma loves listening to soulful music, reads novels, exercises and spend time with her friends and family.

Social Media She lent her voice to her fellow teenagers, “Images and information you see on social media are just the surface. You are rarely shown the road to people's apparent success. Sure, you can find people inspiring but don't compare yourself to them. Use yourself as a yardstick.� “Don't be too concerned with people's opinions of you. In real, everyday life people are too occupied with their own lives to worry about what you're wearing or doing,� she implores.

Continuing, the Delta State indigene harps on, “Take a break from social media if you feel like it is taking up most of your time. Spend time with your family. All in all, be yourself, not the self you think people want you to be, but yourself. Your authentic self.� It is needless to say, having listened raptly to her smart goals, that young Akwukwuma may be the next generation model for youths and teens.

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

21

#THISISNIGERIA –Salewa Akomolafe

ENDSARS: A TURNING POINT FOR CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA? A personal account of the youth-led protests and the violent response in Lagos, Nigeria.

A

t 6.43 pm on Tuesday 20th October 2020, my family and I watched helplessly from our balcony onto the Lekki tollgate as we heard the ringing of gunshots and screaming in the dark. Little did I know that when I travelled to Nigeria – my birth country – in March to complete my dissertation on protests in contemporary Nigeria that I would witness such a significant protest movement rise up.

Prior to the Lekki tollgate shooting, I had spent nearly two weeks listening with pride each morning to the sounds of the protesters through megaphones and music sound systems. Originally protesting to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), known for extortion, rape and extrajudicial killings of innocent Nigerian youth, whom they disproportionately target –accusing youth with mobile phones, laptops or even dreadlocks of cybercrime – the protests were now about wider issues of police brutality.

Nigeria’s History of protests In my dissertation, Civic Activism: On the Nature and Scale of Protests in Contemporary Nigeria (2010 – 2020), I analysed over 3,000 reported Nigerian protest events, from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset.

I supplemented this with my own dataset of 80 mapped events and interviews with protest leaders and others to gain a greater understanding of protest movements in the country.

Nigeria, a country with no shortage of grievances, is no stranger to protests. Its long history of civic activism can be dissected into three distinct waves. The first wave sought to bring an end to colonial rule.

The second wave called for democracy and struggled against military rule. The third wave is on-going with the number of protests rising in recent years, on issues related to the quality of governance, economic justice and austerity, and human rights – in particular the government’s poor response to insecurity.

Yet most of these protests remained relatively small and were neither sustained nor went to scale, with the notable exception of Occupy Nigeria.

The #EndSARS Protests The 2020 #EndSARS protests felt different and were able to gain momentum and scale for several reasons. First, these youth-led protests were highly decentralised, with neither the usual trade unions nor civil society organisations at the helm. Using online tactics to mobilise offline events, there were no clear, identifiable leaders, yet the protests rapidly spread across the country. Secondly, the protests did not initially pose an immediate threat to the government. The protests focused on police brutality, whereas protests that challenge the government more directly such as #RevolutionNow have regularly been dispersed or suppressed. Arguably, the pent-up anger of police harassment during the COVID-lockdown also played a role.

I joined the protesters with my sister at Lekki tollgate as our family too like so many others, had had a life stolen as a result of police brutality in Nigeria. My

Uncle, Modebayo Awosika, was murdered by police on 1st October 2008 leaving behind my Aunt, and their two daughters at the time aged 8 and 4 years old.

2020 was not the first time Nigerians had protested against SARS. The InspectorGeneral of Police responded to protests in 2017, 2018, 2019 and finally again in 2020 by either curbing SARS’ responsibilities or rebranding the unit. However, each time SARS regressed to their criminal activities of extortion, rape and extrajudicial killings.

It was this repetitive history that made the protesters hold their ground this time until all demands encapsulated by the hashtag #5for5 were met.

Despite no identified leader(s), the protests were very organised. Women emerged with prominence, such as Aisha Yesufu and The Feminist Coalition. The Feminist Coalition successfully raised nearly 148 million Naira in two-weeks, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria blocking their accounts, claiming funds were used for terrorist activities. The group instead received Bitcoin donations as endorsed by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, and in a country known for its corruption, they gave daily reports of how the funds had been spent. Various individuals mobilised free legal aid and medical care for protesters, and even free mobile phone charging points at the protest sites.

The unexpected 4pm curfew was announced at 12pm on Tuesday 20th, then

extended to 9pm to allow people time to get home. Most people respected it, but some protesters remained. At 5pm I looked over at the tollgate to see the numbers had swollen from earlier in the day. Announcements were made for women to head home if they did not feel they could last until the following morning. Around 6.40pm, the streetlights and billboard above the tollgate which are always on had been turned off, it was pitch black. The tone of the crowd changed, I heard someone on the megaphone instructing the crowd to remain calm, not to run and stay seated. I assume this is the time the soldiers approached them. Then the shots began.

DJ Switch has also emerged with prominence through the protests, following her documentation of the events through her Instagram Live feed. Over 122,000 people watched on as she struggled to save people with little concern for her own safety. It appears all that could be done at that moment was to tag various international organisations to ensure that the world saw what happened and hope lives were not lost in vain.

A new dawn The next morning, I woke up to silence.

There was no music, no megaphone, no singing of the national anthem that I had become accustomed to over the last two weeks. Instead, a different group of youths rampaged through the city, unrestricted

by the absence of security forces on the streets, carrying out arson attacks and lootings. These events were not in the name of the #ENDSARS movement and bore no resemblance to the peaceful protests that had persevered until that fateful day, now known as Black Tuesday.

In the aftermath, a new symbolic Nigerian flag had been born. The white which stood for peace is replaced by red, representing the blood of the fallen. In a country often divided by religion or ethnicity, we have seen that unity is possible; the country will never be the same. Where does Nigeria go from here? One of my dissertation arguments was the limited ability in Africa to protest through the ballot box – due to challenges of election rigging, clientelism and voter registration – this constraint contributes to the increased number of protests. Youth groups have now been incentivised to take the energy of the #ENDSARS protests to start strategising for the 2023 elections, whilst continuing to ensure the #5for5 demands are met.

This shows the youth are not discouraged and will work to make Nigeria great – for country and for all. rSalewa Akomolafe has recently completed her Masters in Governance, Development and Public Policy at the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK

22

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 •T H I S D AY

23

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

BUSINESSWORLD

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

ʹ ˜ Ͱ ͎ Ͱ ͎ MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

REPO ͳ˛;͎ Ϲ ʹ˛Ͳ͎ Ϲ

CALL 1-MONTH

͹ Ϲ Ͳ Ϲ

S & P INDEX INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY

S&P ;Ͳʹ˛ͰͰ Ϲ ͎̋˛͎͎ Ϲ

1/4 TO DATE YEAR TO DATE

EXCHANGE RATE ͯ͡˛͎; Ϲ ͳͳ˛͎͡ Ϲ

͹;͡˚ͯ ̊ ̊

Quick Takes 9mobile Oers Data Plans on Facebook

ÍˇĂ—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă? ÙʼĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă? ÎËÞË ĂŽĂ“ĂœĂ?Ă?ÞÖã Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ëœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă•Ë› Ă’Ă? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜Ă™ĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? ÞÙ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ? ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŁ ÎËÞË åÓÞÒÙĂ&#x;Ăž Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă•Ă?Ă?Ăš ÞÒĂ?Ă— Ă“Ă˜ ÞÙĂ&#x;Ă?Ă’ åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ?Ă“Ăœ ÖÙà Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă‹Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă?Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ–ĂŽËœ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă–Ă?Ù˛ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? Ù××Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă“Ă‹Ă– ĘŠĂ?Ă?ĂœËœ ÍˇĂ—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă?Ëœ ÞÔĂ?ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ ÎÙà ÓĂ?Ă“Ă?Ëœ ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă–ĂŽ Ă˜Ă™ĂĄ ĂšĂ&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ăž ÎËÞË ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă•Ë› ËŤ Ăž ÍˇĂ—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă?Ù××ÓʾĂ?ĂŽ ÞÙ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?Ăœ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă–ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă Ă?Ă?Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ÞÙ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă‹ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ?Ă‘Ă“Ă? ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš åÓÞÒ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă?ĂŽĂ“Ă‹ Ă‘Ă“Ă‹Ă˜Ăž ÞÙ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ ÎËÞË Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă“ĂŒĂ–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ?Ă—Ë› ËŤ Ă—Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă? ĂœĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă˜Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? ÎËÞË ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă–Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă—ĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ‹Ă˜Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă˜Ă‘Ă?Ăœ Ă™Ăœ Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă‹ ÚÙĂ?Þ˛ Ă–Ă– ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x; Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŽĂ™ Ă“Ă? ÞÙ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŁ ĂŁĂ™Ă&#x;Ăœ ÎËÞË Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă?ĂœĂ™Ă— ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă?Ă?ĂŒĂ™Ă™Ă• ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ë› Ă? Ă‹ĂœĂ? Ă‹ĂŒĂ™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă–Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă?ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?ÞÙ×Ă?ĂœĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă“Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁĂ? ĂĄĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ? Ă“ĂžËœËŹ ÎÙà ÓĂ?Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ă˜ Ă—Ă‹ĂœĂ•Ă?Ăž Ă—Ă™ĂœĂ? ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜ Ă‹ ĂŽĂ?Ă?Ă‹ĂŽĂ? Ă‹Ă‘Ă™Ëœ ÍˇĂ—Ă™ĂŒĂ“Ă–Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă–Ă“Ă Ă?Ă? åÓÞÒ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă–Ě‹Ă™Ă&#x;Ăž Ă™Ă? Ă‘ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂŽĚ‹ĂŒĂœĂ?Ă‹Ă•Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ë›

GBB Bags Public Sector Award

INVESTMENT BANKING AWARD

L-R: Director of Treasury, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN), Mr. Samuel Chidoka; Director of Finance, Mrs. Oyinda Akinyemi; Immediate past President, Mr. Chuka Eseka; New President/Group Managing Director, Afrinvest, Ike Chioke; Director of Administration, Egie Akpata; Director of Publicity, Babatunde Obaniyi and Managing Director, FCMB, Capital Market, Abimbola Kasim at AIHN’s 2020 Investment Banking Award held in Lagos‌recently

Report Predicts More Cyber-attacks in 2021 Stories by Emma Okonji The recent cyber security report released by Check Point Software Technologies Limited, a provider of cyber-security solutions, has predicted more COVID-19 related attacks, cyber wars and new threats to 5G and the Internet of Things (IoTs) in 2021.

The Check Point cybersecurity predictions detailed the key security challenges that organizations will face over the next year.

The report stated that the effects of the changes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic would continue to be a key focus for organisations’ IT and security teams.

According to the report, 81 per cent of enterprises have

TELECOM adopted mass remote working for their employees, with 74 per cent planning to enable it permanently. The report also warned of emerging ransomware and botnet threats, and the challenges of securing new 5G networks and the explosion in connected devices it will power.

Analysing the threats, Check Point’s Regional Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Pankaj Bhula, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic derailed business-as-usual for virtually every organisation, forcing them to set aside their existing business and strategic plans, and quickly pivot to delivering secure remote connectivity at massive scale

for their workforces. Security teams also had to deal with escalating threats to their new cloud deployments, as hackers sought to take advantage of the pandemic’s disruption. 71 per cent of security professionals reported an increase in cyberthreats since lockdowns started. “One of the few predictable things about cyber-security is that threat actors will always seek to take advantage of major events or changes – such as COVID-19, or the introduction of 5G – for their own gain. To stay ahead of threats, organisations must be proactive and leave no part of their attack surface unprotected or unmonitored, or they risk becoming the next victim of sophisticated targeted attacks.�

Check Point’s cyber-security

predictions for 2021, focused on three categories: COVID-19 related developments; Malware, privacy and cyber-conflicts; and Emerging 5G and IoT platforms.

For the pandemic-related developments, the report explained that in 2021, Covid-19 would still be impacting on people’s lives, businesses and societies, and that those impacts would change as the year progresses.

Check Point therefore advised organisations to be ready for a series of ‘next normal’ as we respond to those changes. “Following the rush to remote working, organisations need to better secure their new distributed networks and cloud deployments to keep their apContinued on page 24

NCC Releases Draft Consultation Document for 5G Deployment The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released the draft consultation document for deployment of fifth generation (5G) mobile technology in Nigeria.

This is coming on the heels of the successful three months trial test of 5G network in key cities across the country last year.

The draft document defines the implementation plan for the deployment of 5G in Nigeria.

It provides a background into the benefits of 5G technology and outlines the Commission’s plans and strategies for a successful implementation of 5G in Nigeria. It presents guidelines for the relevant areas of the technology and the expectations of the Commission from the operators. The plan takes

TELECOM into account the expectations of all the stakeholders in the communications industry in Nigeria.

The draft document for 5G rollout in Nigeria, envisaged a two-stage deployment approach with the phase one based on the Non-Standalone approach and the Phase two based on the Stand-alone system.

With the assurance that there are no health challenges related to 5G, NCC said the phase one is planned to commence in 2021 and the phase two deployment, which will rely on new spectrum allocations is planned to commence in 2022, and by 2025, the technology is expected to have to covered major urban

areas in the country.

The Commission revealed that already there are about 92 commercial launches of 5G networks in 38 countries across the world spread across all regions as at July 2020. The countries, which include Netherlands, USA, UK, China, Canada, Romania, South Africa, Qatar, Australia, have all unveiled commercial 5G technology deployment.

NCC said there would be a clear ambition to ensure that the Digital Economy Policy of the Federal Government is accomplished and one of the instruments for the realization of this Policy is the availability of a robust information and communication network in the country.

The Commission said having

identified the unique benefits and the role 5G can play in accomplishing the objectives of the digital economy, it needed to outlined a plan that will facilitate the deployment of 5G technology in Nigeria.

NCC explained that the 5G communication technology remained the next evolution of the mobile communications technology, which is capable of creating new opportunities for growth in the economy by enabling new and dynamic business models and opening up new opportunities and markets.

It also provides tremendous improvements in interpersonal communications with several innovations and services.

Continued on page 24

Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă”Ă&#x;Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ě™ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽĚšËœ ËÖËâã Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă? Ě™ ĚšËœ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă‹ĂœĂ?ĂŽ Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂœĂ‹Ă?ĂžĂœĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂ&#x;ĂœĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹Ăœ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă’Ă?Ă“Ă‘Ă’Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ̋ͯ͡ ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă—Ă“Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂšĂ?ĂœĂ?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă– ÞÒËÞ Ă?Ă˜Ă‹ĂŒĂ–Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?×ÙÙÞÒ ÙÚĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? ÑÙà Ă?ĂœĂ˜Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă?âÞĂ?Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜Ëœ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœË› Ăž ÞÒĂ? Ă–Ă‹Ă?Ăž Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹Ă– âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă– Ě™ Ěš Ă’Ă‹ĂŽ Ă“ĂžĂ? Í°Í°Ă˜ĂŽ Ă“ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă‹Ă– Ă—Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă™Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ę¨Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽËœ Ă—Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă&#x;ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ëœ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜ĂŁ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË›

Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă˘ĂšĂ–Ă‹Ă“Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ËÖËâã Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă? ÚÖËãĂ?ĂŽ Ă‹ Ă?ĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă?Ă‹Ă– ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă? Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă?Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ĂžĂœĂ‹Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă‹ĂŽĂ™ĂšĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? ×ÙÎĂ?ĂœĂ˜ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘Ă“Ă?Ă? ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ Ă?Ă’Ă™ĂœĂž ÞÓ×Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?Ă“Ă‹Ă–Ă–ĂŁ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;ĂœĂžĂ’Ă?Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂœĂ?Ă˜Ă‘ĂžĂ’Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ÑÙËÖ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËŞĂ? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă™Ă—ĂŁ ĂŽĂœĂ“Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜ĂŽĂ‹Ë›

Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽËœ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËš Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? Ă™Ă? ËÖËâã Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ™Ă?Ë› Ă&#x;Ă’Ă‹Ă—Ă—Ă‹ĂŽ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă•Ă‹ĂœËœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÓĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÙ ËÖËâã Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ë› ËŤ Ă˜ ĂŒĂ?Ă’Ă‹Ă–Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă—Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞËʼ Ă™Ă? ËÖËâã Ă‹Ă?Ă•ĂŒĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ëœ ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă–Ă“Ă•Ă? ÞÙ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜Ă• Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ Ěš Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒÓĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽË› Ă? ĂĄĂ“Ă–Ă– Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă&#x;Ă? ÞÙ Ă–Ă“Ă Ă? Ă&#x;Ăš ÞÙ Ă™Ă&#x;Ăœ Ă˜Ă‹Ă—Ă? Ă‹Ă? ÞÒĂ? ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ— Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?ĂžĂĄĂ™ĂœĂ• Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ËŞĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™ĂœËœËŹ ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ‹Ă•Ă‹Ăœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽË› Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ùà Ă?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ÍŻÍą Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂŽĂ?ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ åÓÞÒ Ă“ĂžĂ? Ă™ĂĄĂ˜ Ę¨ĂŒĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă Ă“ĂžĂŁËœ ĂĄĂ’Ă“Ă?Ă’ Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă‘Ă“Ă Ă?Ă˜ ÞÒÙĂ?Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă™ĂšĂšĂ™ĂœĂžĂ&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ÞÙ Ă?âÚĂ?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă˜Ă?Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă‘Ă’ Ă?ĂšĂ?Ă?ĂŽ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă˜Ă?Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞã Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë›

inq.Digital Nigeria Wins Awards

Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă“Ă—Ă“ĂžĂ?ĂŽ Ă’Ă‹Ă? ĂŽĂ“Ă?Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ Ă“Ăž ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă“Ă Ă?ĂŽ ËŠ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù× Ă&#x;Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŞ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ĂŒĂ?Ă?Ăž ËŠ Ă˜Ă“Ę¨Ă?ĂŽ Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? ĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?Ăœ Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă‹ĂœËŞ Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă–Ă&#x;ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ă?Ă?Ă’ Ă˜Ă˜Ă™Ă Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù×Ă? ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?Ë› Ă’Ă? Ă?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ÚÙåĂ?ĂœĂ?ĂŽ ĂŒĂŁ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă? Ëœ Ă“Ă˜ ĂšĂ‹ĂœĂžĂ˜Ă?ĂœĂ?Ă’Ă“Ăš åÓÞÒ Ă?Ă?Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă?Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă™Ă—ĂšĂ‹Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ Ě™ ̚˛ Ă’Ă“Ă?Ă? âĂ?Ă?Ă&#x;ÞÓà Ă? ĘŠĂ?Ă?ĂœËœ Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă?Ăž Ă‹Ă Ă?Ëœ Ă•Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹ĂšĂ’ĂžĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă?Ă‹Ă“ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?ÒÙÓĂ?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂĄĂ‹Ă? ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă™Ă˜ ÚÙÚĂ&#x;Ă–Ă‹Ăœ à ÙÞĂ?Ă? ĂŒĂŁ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂ&#x;ĂŒĂ–Ă“Ă? Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Ă—Ă?Ă—ĂŒĂ?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă?Ù××Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“ĂžĂŁ ĂĄĂ’Ă™ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ&#x;ĂžĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ ĂĄĂ“ĂžĂ’Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁË› Ă?Ă?Ă™ĂœĂŽĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÙ Ă‹ĂšĂ’ĂžĂ‹Ă–Ëœ Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹ËŞĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂžĂšĂœĂ“Ă˜Ăž Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁ Ă“Ă? Ă?ĂŁĂ˜Ă™Ă˜ĂŁĂ—Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? åÓÞÒ ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž åÓÞÒ Ă‹ Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ÚÙĂ?ÓÞÓà Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? ĂŽĂ?Ă Ă?ÖÙÚ×Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ ÞÒĂ? ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă&#x;Ă˜Ă“Ă›Ă&#x;Ă? Ă?Ă–Ă™Ă&#x;ĂŽ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă?ÙÖĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ă? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ Ă“Ă?Ă?Ă?Ë›

Ă˜ ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂšĂ™Ă˜Ă?Ă? ÞÙ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜Ă‹Ă‘Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“ĂœĂ?Ă?ĂžĂ™Ăœ Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă‘Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă‹Ëœ Ă‹Ă–Ă?Ă˜ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă? Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă?Ëœ ĂžĂ’Ă‹Ă˜Ă•Ă?ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă¤Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă?Ă™Ăœ ĂœĂ?Ă?Ă™Ă‘Ă˜Ă“Ă?Ă“Ă˜Ă‘ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă?ĂœĂ“Ă?Ă? Ă™Ă? Ă‹Ă?ÞÓà ÓÞÓĂ?Ă?Ëœ ĂœĂ™Ă–Ă?Ă?Ëœ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă˜ĂžĂœĂ“ĂŒĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă™Ă? Ă“Ă˜Ă›Ë› ÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? Ă?Ă™Ă&#x;Ă˜ĂžĂœĂŁËŞĂ? Ă?ÙÔÙĂ&#x;ĂœĂ˜ Ă“Ă˜ ÞÒĂ? ĂžĂ?Ă?Ă’Ă˜Ă™Ă–Ă™Ă‘ĂŁ Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ ÎÓÑÓÞËÖ Ă?ÚËĂ?Ă?Ë› Ă’Ă“Ă—Ă? Ă?ÞËÞĂ?ĂŽ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă™ĂœĂ‘Ă‹Ă˜Ă“Ă¤Ă?ĂœĂ? Ă™Ă? ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽĂ? Ă’Ă‹Ă Ă? Ă?Ă™Ă˜Ă?Ă“Ă?ĂžĂ?Ă˜ĂžĂ–ĂŁ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă Ă“ĂŽĂ?ĂŽ Ă›Ă&#x;ËÖÓÞã Ă“Ă˜Ă?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă‹ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Ă?Ă™Ăœ ÞÒĂ? Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă?ĂžĂœĂŁ ĂžĂ’ĂœĂ™Ă&#x;Ă‘Ă’ Ă Ă‹ĂœĂ“Ă™Ă&#x;Ă? ÚÖËÞĂ?Ă™ĂœĂ—Ă? Ă?Ă&#x;Ă?Ă’ ÞÒËÞ ÞÒĂ? Ă‹ĂĄĂ‹ĂœĂŽ ĂšĂœĂ™Ă‘ĂœĂ‹Ă—Ă—Ă? Ă’Ă‹Ă? Ă?à ÙÖà Ă?ĂŽ ÞÙ ĂŒĂ? Ă‹Ă˜ Ă“Ă˜ĂŽĂ?ĂšĂ?Ă˜ĂŽĂ?Ă˜Ăž ĂœĂ‹ĂžĂ“Ă˜Ă‘ Ă“Ă˜Ă?ÞÓÞĂ&#x;ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜Ë›

“The COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged global economy, compelled nations to adopt and deploy digital technology, which is a clear sign that Nigeria among other nations, must also embrace digital technology to promote our indigenous content�

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy,

Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami

T H I S D AY Ëž NOVEMBER 12, 2020

24

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

REPORT PREDICTS MORE CYBERATTACKS IN 2021

Don’t Leave Ghana, Minister Appeals to Nigerian Traders

plications and data protected.

This means enforcing and automating threat prevention at all points of the network – from employees’ mobiles and endpoints, to IoT devices, to clouds – to stop advanced attacks spreading rapidly across organisations, and exploiting weaknesses to breach sensitive data. Automating prevention will be critical, as 78 per cent of organisations say they have a cyber-skills shortage,� the report stated.

For malware, privacy, and cyber-war, the report predicted that cyber-attacks would continue to grow because hackers have developed many malware families into botnets, to build armies of infected computers with which to launch attacks.

It said cyber-attacks by nation states would continue to grow, for espionage or to influence events in other countries.

Check Point cited Microsoft’s earlier report, which stated that 89 per cent of nation-state hacking incidents over the past year were launched by threat actors from just three countries.

Raheem Akingbolu

NCC RELEASES DRAFT CONSULTATION DOCUMENT FOR 5G DEPLOYMENT NCC assured that the Federal Government would provide an enabling environment for 5G deployment, but however, said the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) would determine their own deployment strategies subject to alignment to the approved polices and other regulatory instruments in force.

According to the draft document, “However, the obvious strategy at this time would involve a phased approach.

Indications suggest that majority of operators in different markets will opt for a phased strategy, involving a Non-Stand Alone (NSA) approach for the early stage, a hybrid approach mid-term, and a Stand-Alone approach long term. This phase approach will accommodate device availability. “For the early stage of Nigerian 5G deployment strategy (2020 – 2021), a Non Stand-Alone approach will involve deployment of 5G equipment on some existing sites, supported by densified networks of small cells.�

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has restated that the challenges facing the Nigeria business community in Ghana will soon be resolved.

To this end, the minister called on Nigerian traders who are facing tough times in the West Africa country not to leave the country, but rather to be patient with the government of Nigeria as it continues to engage the Ghanaian authorities and other relevant stakeholders with a view to addressing their challenges.

He gave the advice recently in Abuja, when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Traders Association in Ghana, an Affiliate of the Nigerian Traders Association, led by its National President, Dr. Ken Ukaoha.

According to a statement issued after the meeting by the Director, Press and Public Relations, for the Minister, Mohammed Manga, Aregbesola assured that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration will continue to engage Ghanaian authorities to ensure that the challenges faced by Nigerians are amicably resolved.

The minister was quoted as stating that the Nigerian government was pained by the condition under which Nigerian traders in Ghana have been made to operate in recent

times and thus, assured that government will not abandon them. “Your pains cannot endure, we will not abandon you, no stone is being left unturned to remove the pains you are passing through in Ghana,�

Aregbesola said.

The Minister stressed that the Nigerian government was not resting on the matter, but that is doing everything possible to make life better for its citizens in Ghana and other countries

of the world.

He urged the traders not to leave Ghana but rather contribute their own quota to the political development of that country, as the Nigerian Government will continue to engage relevant authorities to arrest the situation.

Earlier, Ukaoha expressed what he referred to as the agony, humiliation and torture of Nigerian traders in Ghana, emanating from the Ghanaian government’s decision to raise

the capital base of any foreign trader doing business in the country to $1million, and the subsequent locking up of many Nigerian traders’ shops since 2019.

He added that in spite of various interventions by representatives of the Nigerian Government, nothing significant had been done by the Ghanaian Government to reverse the trend.

Ukaoha who further expressed the frustrations of

many Nigerians, who are doing business in Ghana, noted that about 753 citizens of Nigeria are ready to leave Ghana. “If we react proportionately to the way we have been treated in Ghana, it might lead to a serious crisis,� he stressed.

To this end, Ukaoha appealed to the federal government and ECOWAS to take urgent steps against the Ghanaian Government to assuage the sufferings of the Nigerian Traders in that country.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Managing Director/Chief Executive of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar (left), receiving the Public Sector Connectivity Services award from the President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, during the NTITA award held in Abuja...recently

Minister Drums Support for Arravo over Local Content Devt Stories by Emma Okonji The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has said the federal government will continue to support Arravo, a technology solution provider, on its local content development drive, which he added, would enhance digital transformation across the country.

Pantami who gave the commitment during the recent launch of Arravo’s new brand identity in Lagos, said the switch from BCX Nigeria, which hitherto had foreign stakeholders, to Arravo, which is a complete ownership by Nigerians, would enable the new owners to grow the company, using full local content that will benefit Nigerians.

According to the Minister,

“FG is determined to advance our indigenous content in ICT within Nigeria, particular as it relates to our national digital economy policy for our digital Nigeria. Any effort that will promote digital economy and indigenous content in ICT, will be welcomed by government.

Digital economy is currently dominating the world economy.

According to Oxford Economist, four years ago, digital economy was valued at $11.5 trillion and at that time, it was up to 15.5 per cent of the entire world economy. Digital Economy in United States of America, in 2017, created up to 5.1 million jobs. “The COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged global economy, compelled nations to adopt and deploy digital technology, which is a clear sign that Nigeria

among other nations, must also embrace digital technology to promote our indigenous content.�

Our digital economy journey started October 24, 2019, when President Mohammadu Buhari consented to our request to upgrade the Nigerian ministry from Federal Ministry of Communications to Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Pantami said.

He added, “From that time, we were mandated to develop national digital economy policy for our digital Nigeria, which we have already done and it was launched by President Buhari on November 28, 2019 in Abuja.

Since the launch, we have been working hard to provide the enabling environment on which digital economy will thrive in the country.

“We came up with eight pillars, which include: developmental regulation, digital skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services, software infrastructure, digital society and emerging technologies, and indigenous content development and promotion. “Arravo’s vision for local content development is in line with the 8th pillar of government to promote indigenous content, and government will support Arravo to achieve this.

We encourage all stakeholders to promote local content and produce what we need, while government will ensure that we consume what we produce locally,� Pantami said.

Managing Director/CEO of Arravo, Mr. Ayo Adegboye, said the parent company from South Africa decided to diverse their

stake outside Africa and a few of us came together as investors to acquire the stake from BCX South Africa and BCX Nigeria.

The bold step we took to acquire the multi-million dollar stake, has actually brought us to where we are today, with Arravo as the new brand identity. “With the rebranding, we are on our way to becoming the industry giant and we are not going to achieve this all alone.

We will be collaborating with industry players to achieve our goal of becoming the industry giant.

Our emphasis will be on embracing partnerships and we will try not just to be excellent, but to be exceptional, in order to engage, disrupt and deliver the best of technology solutions for business resilience,� Adegboye said.

‘TAS Will Support Anti-corruption Fight’ Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

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 Okafo (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)

The National e-Government Strategies Ltd (NeGSt) has said the Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (TAS) software solution, which it launched this week will help all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government, including the private sector organisations, to curb corruption.

The Executive Vice Chairman, National eGovernment Strategies Ltd, Dr. Felix Obada, said the TAS solution, which has a complete local content, was developed by Nigerians who have attained global IT certifications, for the purpose of blocking financial loopholes, put a stop to capital flights and end corruption in the country.

According to Obada, the pres-

ent government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, has good intentions to fight corruption, but does not have the supporting technology tools that will block financial loopholes, which he said, TAS was developed to achieve.

Project Manager, NeGSt Ltd, Mr. Ufot Abasiono, who presented the keynote paper at the virtual conference, titled: ‘How Nigeria Moved Government Business from Analogue to Digital Technology’, said shortly after Independence in 1960, corruption was not noticed in government and in the private sector, and the value of naira was still strong, a situation that attracted bilateral relationships between Nigeria and the rest of

the world. He, however, said corruption gradually crept into the system and spread beyond the control of government.

He further explained that corruption persisted and lingered for too long, because successive governments have not found the right technology solution, adding that TAS, which has undergone a successful pilot test, was designed to help government and the private organisations, eliminate financial corrupt practices among Nigerians. “With Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa and with the largest population of young people in the world, the country is well positioned to develop a formidable digital economy estimated to yield approximately

$1.0 trillion, but corruption has however remained an albatross on the neck of Nigerians,�

Obada said. “Having achieved great success with the pilot project, NeGSt is set to boldly fulfill her mandate and help Nigeria address her issues of endemic corruption and inefficiency in the delivery of government services with the launch of TAS. “Working with the present generation of young, energetic and talented Nigerians, NeGSt is ready to replicate the template of the highly successful pilot project and help government and the people of Nigeria to do away with corruption and inefficiency in government businesses across

the board,� Obada added.

Giving details of the solution, Obada said TAS is a technology tool that will assist government agencies to synchronize their software applications with other existing software applications. “Government agencies and most private organisations deploy solutions that are in silos and cannot synchronize with other solutions, which gave rise to corruption because applications were running in silos. But with TAS as a software solution, it can conveniently align and connect with other solutions within and outside of the agency and organisation. If this is put in place, it will end financial leakages and other corrupt practices.

25

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Afe: Innovative Products Have Potential to Change Lives Managing Director, HP Nigeria, Ifeyinwa Afe, speaks with Emma Okonji on how organisations have been compelled to redefine their strategies due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the company has helped businesses to cope with the new normal through innovative products. Excerpts:

W

hat effect, if any, has the COVID-19 pandemic have on HP’s business growth in Nigeria?

This pandemic has been a surprise for everyone and governments all over the world have had to make very difficult decisions. In terms of our business, we have experienced a greater demand for devices for work and study, and even to stay connected with our loved ones. Globally, many people have the access to work from home with resources like fibre, notebooks, desktops, and smartphones.

According to the International Labour Organisation(ILO), the informal economy in sub-Saharan Africa makes up nearly 86 per cent of all employment, which means that many people could not work from home.

Navigating this situation has been very tricky because of the vast differences in consumer demands.

In order to support remote learning we have introduced BeOnline - a learning platform that focuses on learning strategy and digital pedagogy for teachers who faced severe disruption with schools and universities in most countries being partially or fully closed for an extended period. I remain confident in our brand because of the way we have been able to assist not only those who need to work from home, but also entrepreneurs, learners, and teachers. Throughout the pandemic HP has remained innovative and dedicated to our customers. At HP, we pride ourselves on delivering much more than innovative products, it is about what we do differently – education, diversity, equality – and how those projects have the potential to change billions of lives around the world.

How do you intend to resolve some of the issues arising from the new normal?

COVID-19 has reshaped the way we think, do business, learn, and create. At HP, we have several innovations that have assisted in all these aspects of the new world we find ourselves in, including education and healthcare. The significant role 3D printing has played in the COVID-19 crisis has been a watershed moment for the industry. HP and its global network of partners and customers have been leaders in designing and producing parts to fill urgent needs and convening new ecosystems to enable local manufacturing and distribution.

Around the globe more than 3.3 million 3D printed parts have been delivered to local hospitals by HP, and more parts are being produced by our customers.

HP is associated with 3D printing. What are its beneďŹ ts?

The benefits of 3D printing and digital manufacturing have shone through, bridging supply chain gaps, increasing speed of design-to-part, and distributed manufacturing to produce what you need where you need it. HP has also pledged to enable better learning outcomes for 100 million people by 2025, as well as adding one million users to HP LIFE between 2016-2025. HP LIFE is a global program that provides business and IT skills training free of charge to people all over the world. The online community and 32 self-paced courses are designed to help users develop business and IT skills in their own time and at their own pace.

Despite the global disruptions, HP has continued to unveil new products and solutions for Nigerians, including new multi-functional printing devices and hardware for gamers. How is the uptake of these products?

At HP, we are not scared to be disruptive and to keep pushing and reinventing ourselves. Artificial Intelligence, Internet

Danbatta

of things, Blockchain, and 3D printing are going to revolutionise the world. We have 30 years of experience in the printing market, and today our customers have easy access to home printers which make it much easier to work and educate from home. The same can also be said for laptops: these machines are light, fast, easy and have all the technology needed to make adjusting to the new normal comfortable and seamless. Over the past year, the PC has become as essential item – it is no longer just nice to have. It is a device you need to continue learning, working, entertaining, creating from home.

Gaming has really taken off during the pandemic as people have been spending more time at home: HP’s unparalleled design and engineering are delivering differentiated hardware and software for gamers to play to progress and connect to the community.

Piracy/counterfeiting is an issue HP has had to face in Nigeria and indeed across sub-Saharan Africa. How are you addressing this battle?

Over the last five years, HP has supported local law enforcement authorities to seize around 12.5 million items, including counterfeit cartridges, hardware products, and components.

Most recently, between October 2019 and March 2020, HP, together with local authorities in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania, have successfully obstructed a number of counterfeit trading programmes and removed close to 200,000 illicit products from the African region, including fake HP printer cartridges and components to assemble further counterfeits.

Customer Delivery Inspections, which are a free and effective feature of HP’s AntiCounterfeit and Fraud (ACF) programme, offer customers a reliable way to confirm the authenticity of their stock. They involve on-site checks of suspicious large or mid-sized cartridge deliveries in response to reports initiated by HP customers. If dubious deliveries are found, the HP ACF team are proactively alerted, and can follow up with appropriate action.

Amid the COVID-19 disruption, HP has also offered photo-based CDIs if circumstances do not allow for an on-site visit. HP is dedicated to empowering channel partners, customers,

and enforcement authority representatives with the knowledge to identify fraudulent supplies and protect business. In EMEA, close to 7,000 stakeholders have attended HP’s dedicate Education and Prevention activities.

The company also cooperates closely with local and global law enforcement authorities to detect and dismantle illegal operations that produce counterfeit HP printing components.

HP also recently unveiled Amplify, a ďŹ rst-of-its-kind global channel partner program. Is it available in Nigeria too, and how can partners access it?

Yes, HP Amplify is a global channel partner program optimized to drive dynamic partner growth and deliver consistent, insights-driven customer experiences. At its core, HP Amplify creates the competitive advantage partners are looking for as digital transformation and customer purchasing behaviors continue to rapidly evolve. By consolidating HP’s best partner products, tools, and trainings into one intuitive, cohesive program, HP Amplify removes complexity, making it easier for partners to take advantage of its many benefits and engage customers on a deeper level. The streamlined two-track program eliminates complexity in navigating partner compensation and benefits. The majority of our current programme partners will have the ability to engage in HP’s new program. The synergy and power tracks allow partners to incrementally determine their willingness to invest in the capabilities and enable the collaboration we believe is necessary to succeed in today’s market.

Either track offers partners a specialized HP platform to engage with at a level partners are comfortable with.

Some consumers in Nigeria complain about HP not having service centres to ďŹ x their devices. Why is it so and how are you resolving this issue?

We do have service centres in Nigeria.

In Lagos we have service centres in Ikeja, Lekki Peninsula, as well as in Abuja and Port Harcourt. Nigeria is a very important market for us, and we have always treated it as one.

HP Service Centres in Nigeria have been in operation since 2001. With the HP Service Centre you count on exclusive access to local HP parts store and an exclusive onsite support for HP Call Centre cases. In addition to the HP Service Centre, we also have Channel Service Delivery Partners who operate service centres across various locations in Nigeria.

The HP Service Centre supports all HP equipment nationwide, providing onsite and offsite support options to customers.

Would you say HP’s operations in Nigeria have been worthwhile? What are some of the challenges that you have faced in the market?

Nigeria is a very important market for HP, and we remain committed to providing our customers in this market with our latest innovative products and offerings. Nigeria is a huge market, no doubt, with a lot of potential and opportunities for businesses.

The problem of counterfeiting products is an issue for us, though this is not limited to Nigeria. This is why we have invested so much time and resources in fighting this issue; investing in new technologies to help our customers identify the real from the fake, as well as partnering governments around the world to deal with the issue. Another challenge is the widespread purchases of HP products from unauthorized trade partners which inadvertently denies the brand fair returns, and the customers deserving after-sales entitlements. A lot of people purchase HP products from ‘’Computer Village’’ instead of buying from authorised trade partners.

Unknown to the customers, this is detrimental to them as it deprives them of some of the beautiful packages HP offers its customers.

Essentially, when you buy from the grey market, you lose out on warranty and some product accessories.

Another major challenge for us is the lack of knowledge about product range and positioning. HP has a wide range of computer and printer products that are designed and positioned to serve the needs of our key target groups such as high-middle end, gamers and creators, and entry level.

HP has been a household name for printers and consumables in Nigeria. How has HP been able to maintain consumer trust in the face of market competition?

Choosing any device is a security decision and as the connected devices universe grows exponentially, so does the sophistication and volume of cyber-attacks and data breaches.

The most targeted weakest link is often users and endpoints, and this refers to PCs and printers. Cybercrime is forecasted to be a $6 trillion global problem by 2021 and so far, 1/3 of all companies have been breached and this is at an average cost of $9.5 million per attack. Security is an intrinsic part of our product development process at HP – from first design stage through to final delivery. We protect devices, data, identities, and documents, while building detection and recovery. Our device security is truly resilient, embedded both below and above the Operating System (OS) and our built-in security features include: HP Sure Sense (deep learning AI to enable real-time malware protection for PCs); HP SureRun, HP Sure Recover, HP Connection Inspector and Runtime Intrusion Detection. HP has the world’s most secure PCs and printers.

We deliver the only PCs and printers with self-healing - designed from the hardware-up (e.g. HP Sure Start). Software and network security are not enough. Organizations need to trust and control endpoint devices, and then recover and regain control when attacks happen.

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

26

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Global Cloud Solutions Provider Hosts Platform at Rack Centre Stories by Emma Okonji Heficed, a global technology company providing bare metal and cloud services that foster true long-term relationships with its customers across several industries, has announced the hosting of its infrastructure in Rack Centre premises the Lagos.

Rack Centre is a Nigeriabased Tier III carrier neutral state of the art data centre offering colocation, content distribution, interconnect and cloud services company.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Heficed, Mr. Vincentas Grinius, said: “There is huge demand potential in Nigeria for the kind of services we

render, with the highest GDP in Africa, accelerating broadband penetration, young population and 45 million SMEs - a full-suite infrastructure platform that enables growing businesses to effortlessly scale through one platform to meet compliance, security concerns, digital transformation need, and achieve business efficiency.

The improving ease-of-doingbusiness is encouraging for success.�

Founded in 2008, Heficed was carefully built to create high value infrastructure solutions and to change the way companies and government organisations order, lease, deploy IP addresses.

According to Grinius,

“Launching a new server location in Lagos as another location in our global architecture in a leading carrier neutral data centre is essential to ensure top quality performance and value to the major business areas in Africa and the globe. “The comprehensive connectivity and geophysical location of Rack Centre enables the provision of our high quality services to realise the market potential not just in Nigeria, but the West African region.�

Rack Centre recently set

aside a $100 million, out of the $250 million that Actis, the United Kingdom based equity firm, which took a controlling stake in the data centre, had earmarked for its data centre funding in Africa, for an expansion programme that will significantly increase its capacity and bring an unprecedented and the largest carrier neutral state of the art data centre to West Africa.

Managing Director of Rack Centre, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, who welcomed Heficed to the company’s breadth and depth of quality clients,

said: “We are confident that Heficed and its customers will continue to enjoy the excellent range of carrier neutral services that Rack Centre offers. We will be providing Heficed Tier III Constructed Facility Certified quality with a direct connection to the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, over 40 of the major carriers and ISPs and all five undersea cables serving the South Atlantic coast of Africa. With every country on the Atlantic coast of Africa directly connected, we offer Heficed and its

customers, unequalled low latency connectivity and performance in the region.

We are cloud neutral and will reinforce Heficed’s success, not compete with it.�

Rack Centre’s carrier neutrality allows customers to manage traffic to get better value, lower latency and higher resilience, and creates an open market for partnerships between customers, networks, cloud and content providers, the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria and managed service providers.

Airtel Begins Renovation of Infectious Disease Centre at LUTH Airtel Nigeria has commenced the refurbishing and equipping of a four-storey infectious disease centre and admission facility for the use of Specialist Units in the Department of Medicine at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba.

Airtel Nigeria had announced in July that as part of activities marking a decade of doing successful business in Nigeria, it would be spending N300 million to support the fight against COVID-19, being the final part of the N1.9 billion it promised last April at the early stages of the pandemic.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, said N200 million would be invested in refurbishing and equipping the infectious disease center at LUTH; N50 million to Lagos State Government to procure personal protective equipment (PPEs) for Lagos State health workers and N50 million for the procurement of a molecular laboratory to be provided by 54 Gene with the capacity for 300 tests per day for Ogun State.

Responding to Airtel’s move in fulfilling its pledge to LUTH, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Professor Chris Bode, expressed gratitude to the telecoms company for its kind gesture, citing it as a significant contribution from the private sector to bolster efforts to curtail the spread of infectious disease such as Coronavirus in the country. “Airtel has further demonstrated its altruistic nature through this commitment, as this will not only help us combat the virus effectively but also give us a cuttingedge medical infrastructure post COVID-19. “The ward that Airtel is currently renovating was commissioned 58 years ago under the directive of the Federal Government of Nigeria and this marks a momentous occasion in the hospital’s history. I would like to say a huge thank you to the management of Airtel and its stakeholders for this

laudable project. I’m positive this will significantly reinforce Nigeria’s efforts in tackling the pandemic and ultimately defeating it,� Bode said.

Also acknowledging Airtel’s contribution towards the provision of PPEs for health workers in Lagos, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed appreciation to Airtel Nigeria for standing to be counted during this uncertain and critical period just as he reiterated his administration’s commitment to fighting the pandemic as well as mitigating the impact on the people of Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu recalled that Airtel Nigeria employees were the first employee group to make a donation of N20 million from their personal contributions which, to him, was a highly thoughtful and commendable gesture worthy of emulation.

Commending Airtel for its support to Ogun State, the Governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said: “I wish to express our profound appreciation to your organization for magnanimously offering to support the efforts of Ogun State Government to contain the spread of COVID-19 with the procurement of a Stateowned Molecular Laboratory. “It is widely believed that the war against Coronavirus could only be fought and won by aggressive testing, hence, your support will go a long way in ensuring that the State can provide continued testing for her citizenry while also building our capacity for a sustainable testing regime.�

On the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria, the Airtel Nigeria CEO stated that the company had already committed various amounts and support in kind covering donations to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and Port Health Authority as well as free Short Message Service (SMS) to its customers, a media awareness campaign, toll-free lines and zero-rated access to important health and educational sites.

100 Nominees Listed for Inaugural CIO Awards Stories by Nosa Alekhuogie No fewer than 100 nominees have emerged as the maiden edition of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) Awards in Nigeria draws closer.

Enterprise governance and business consultancy firm, Edniesal Consulting Limited, made the disclosure in a recent statement, ahead of the awards, scheduled for the 26th of November 2020. According to the CEO, Edniesal Consulting Limited, Abiola Laseinde, over 100 nominees are gearing up for various recognitions in the upcoming CIO Awards. “We received a lot of entries and it is heartwarming to discover that individuals and organisation are showcasing increased appreciation, more than ever, for the role of CIOs in Nigeria. We are also excited about the long list of industry

leaders, lined up to grace the event. The outstanding CIOs to be recognised have overtime been responsible for delivering top-of-the-line innovation and business value within their organisations while also being at the forefront of decision making and strategic change. “It is our commitment to continually recognise the individuals and enterprise excellence in innovation and technology across different sectors and we hope to create a sustainable platform to celebrate these individuals and talented teams behind business transformations across different sectors in Nigeria starting with the CIO Awards 2020.�

Laseinde said.

The inaugural CIO Awards is open to the top technology leaders within an organisation who have the overall responsibility and control of

the IT vision and direction of the company. As part of activities slated for the 2020 edition, the CIO Club Africa will be unveiled. This will be a platform where decisions makers in Information Technology (IT) can share their expertise, exchange ideas and improve their skills in diverse ways. It is envisaged to be an interactive senior level IT professionals’ platform where partners, government, media, the CIOs and their entire ecosystem can exchange best practices, share knowledge and experience, explore business solutions, and derive strategies to address major IT management challenges in Africa.

The CIO Awards 2020 will be held as a hybrid event where live streaming will be available via Microsoft Teams, YouTube alongside the CIO Awards’ social media handles.

Commending the Jurors ahead of the awards ceremony, Laseinde said the Jurors ably led by the Chairman, Mr. Ade Bajomo, reviewed the entries in line with global best practices. ‘We commend the professionalism of the team of independent Jurors who, despite being selected across diverse sectors, showed thorough expertise and integrity during the review process in line with global best practices. We also thank our technical partners, the firm of PWC for the overall supervisory role played during the review process� she said.

Each year, The CIO Awards will recognise outstanding professionals and organizations, who have during the year under review, delivered business value to their organization and the industry at large, through the innovative use of technology.

Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award Opens The Deji Alli ARM Young Talent Award (DAAYTA) is calling for entries from all Nigerians into next year’s awards, which seek to support business ideas that intentionally create positive societal impact, while generating a financial return.

DAAYTA is an ARM initiative in partnership with TechnoVision’s TVC Labs that aims at providing young Nigerians with an opportunity to develop innovative start-up ventures that add economic value to Nigeria.

The DAAYTA 2021 initiative is in line with ARM’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with the aim of building a generation of change leaders, working together to build a better future.

Due to the current global pandemic, the DAAYTA 2021 final event will be held virtually and applications are welcomed from all parts of Nigeria.

Speaking about the eligibility for entries, the organisers said to be eligible for the award, the

applicant must: be a citizen of Nigeria be between 18 and 30 years of age; submit their application which must be their original work; have a minimum viable product(MVP) that customers that can fund his/ her/team travel expenses and other associated costs if required; be available (with co-founders/ team where they exist) for the two-day pitch workshop and final pitch event scheduled for February and March 2021; understand the business of

ARM, what we stand for; and be ready to represent ARM as an Ambassador contribution to working capital participation in an entrepreneurial education programme at the Pan Atlantic University’s Enterprise Development Centre in Lagos, Nigeria; receive a 5-month acceleration support services for the development of their venture by TVC Labs Prizes.

The organisers put the deadline for submission of application on Monday, December 7, 2020.

27

T H I S D AY ˾ NOVEMBER 12, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

PERSPECTIVE

Secrets to Organising Successful Strategy Sessions Juliet Ibili

W

ith the year coming to an end, a lot of organisations are planning their strategy review sessions to strategise for the coming year. There is need to discuss the subject, so I am airing my thoughts based on my experience over the years.

Dictionary.com defines Strategy as “a method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem”. Strategy has to do with setting goals and defining actions to be taken to achieve the goals.

A strategy review session should therefore focus on what the goals are and what to do to bring about the achievement of such goals. In arriving at the goals, the organisation’s mission and vision is key.

The goals must align with the organisation’s mission and vision.

Many ‘strategy’ meetings turn out to be boring because most of the time, these meetings are hardly about strategy. A lot of them are organised just to mark the fact that they had one. People attend only to fall asleep halfway through, a strategy meeting should not be boring, it should be lively and highly interactive. I have attended strategy sessions where the whole sessions were a waste of time and resources.

Most of such meetings agenda are filled with presentation of empty and unreliable information, setting of unrealistic targets, filling of disconnected templates probably just discovered somewhere or some other misrepresentation that only serves to waste time.

Strategy is about making the difficult choices around how you’re going to run your organization and how you’re going to make a difference. Just having a good strategy is not enough. It is how you execute the strategy that separates successful organizations and organizations that just drag along from year to year or fail enormously.

Winston Churchill said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”

And that is what an effective strategy review meeting is all about, seeing how you’re doing on the strategy and making the changes necessary to set things right where necessary.

Effective Strategy Review Session Firstly, note that your strategy should drive the agenda. The focus of the meeting should be your strategy, and nothing else. Cover the issues that are critical and

acknowledge those that are on track. Stay focused on strategy and don’t let the meeting get derailed by operational issues.

The flow should be where are we compared to where we want to be, why are we not where we want to be, what should we do differently? All should be on a strategic level. It should not be a time for anyone to raise a non-strategic matter just because top management is present and they want to use the opportunity to talk about it.

Secondly, send out the agenda, templates and guidelines ahead of the session. For you to have a good meeting, you have to plan it. Establish the objectives of the meeting and send the information out before the meeting happens and make sure people have time to review it and prepare for the meeting.

A lot of time is wasted making corrections in most strategy meetings where people come ill-prepared or with wrong output.

Once the notice and agenda is distributed with enough time for preparation, there should be no room for excuses on why people should come unprepared to the meeting. If Possible ask for submission of presentations before the meeting date, so the submissions can be reviewed for appropriateness.

Thirdly, appoint an experienced facilitator. To achieve result at strategy sessions, you need to have an experienced and firm facilitator to ensure everybody is on track

and there is no digression. The facilitator can be internal or external. If internal, he or she should be high enough in the ranks to be respected or obeyed at the session.

It should not be one that is afraid or can be intimidated. The facilitator should have the power to stop anybody that is going off-track, unnecessary arguments and time wasting discussions. If people have put aside everything else to come for the session, then there should be focus to ensure the objective of the session is achieved. If the meeting gets off track and the issue is important, record it and schedule another meeting if necessary to discuss that issue or at best set it as the last item after everything else, if there is time.

Fourthly, Involve Everyone. A major error experienced in strategy setting and review is the fact that most strategy session contents come from top managers, who put together presentations to make at the review session. Also after the session, they just come back and dish out orders without carrying the team along. There is need at the department level to involve the entire team, get their contribution and let them be part of the process. After the session, also let them know the resolution and why you do what you do. Getting the Heads to involve their team will lead to more participation and enthusiasm to make sure the strategy succeeds.

Fifthly, document your resolutions. All that is discussed must be documented.

Apart from the general minutes, there should be a record of what was discussed and what decisions were made. Also note who is responsible for what and when the action item is supposed to be completed.

At the end of the meeting read through or distribute all the decisions made to all in attendance, or those with responsibilities.

Lastly, but very importantly, follow up on all decisions made. In some organizations every strategy session is the same, almost the same agenda, just copy and paste then add one or two items. All the resolutions made at the last session is totally forgotten, a lot of them not done because after each session everybody goes back to doing exactly what they were doing before the session. There is need to make the strategy unit or someone responsible to monitor and report the achievement or otherwise of agreed items.

This should form part of the report and a starting point for the next session.

If we start putting strategy and strategy maps at the center of our strategy session, we will see a transformation of the sessions moving from just formality to a session where forward moving decisions are made and everyone goes back fired up to do their part in ensuring the achievement of set goals.

-Ibili is the Managing Director, Divinef Hallmark Limited (Management Consulting)

Osubi Airport to Commence Operations This Month, Says Keyamo Stories by Sylvester Idowu in Warri

T

he Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has disclosed that the Osubi Airport would come alive in two weeks’

time.

The Minister, who dropped the news, said President Buhari has already directed the NNPC to take over the airport which is located in Uvwie Local Government area of Delta State.

Keyamo’s disclosure was in response to demands of Ovwie Kingdom, HRM.

Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1 during a visit to his palace as part of the tour of his constituency to solicit for support for the present government aftermath the #ENDSars crisis.

The Monarch had demanded the reopening of Osubi Airport, re-construction of Warri-Benin Road, and appealed to President Buhari to direct NNPC to convert to permanent staff, the casual/ support staff of the host and neighbouring communities with immediate effect.

Keyamo assured that the Osubi Airport would come alive in two weeks’ time as

President Buhari has already directed the NNPC to take it over.

On the NNPC casual/support staff issue, he said it was a labour issue that a petition should be launched with his ministry.

The Minister appealed for cooperation with security agencies to arrest the current situation saying that the federal government was proud of Uvwie people for maintaining the peace during the #endsars protest and assured them that nothing would bypass them that they were entitled to.

He, further appealed to leaders to carry

President Buhari’s message of peace to all parts of the country as Nigeria is one indivisible country Responding, the monarch of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Dr. Emmanuel E. Sideso, Abe 1 JP. OON, expressed appreciation of the effort by President Buhari to bring his message of peace to the grassroots.

“Please let the President be aware of our collective assurance to continue to sustain the peace in our Kingdom and to work assiduously for the corporate existence of our country, Nigeria,” the Uvwie monarch said.

Halt Gas Flaring in N’Delta Now, Environmentalist Urges FG

A

n Environmentalist and Rights Activist, Mr. Mulade Sheriff has urged the federal government to urgently put a stop to gas flaring in the country, particularly in the Niger Delta region.

He warned of severe consequences of continued gas flaring in the region and demanded that the time has come for the federal government to do something to stop it.

Mulade, who made the call during

a visit areas around the Warri River, expressed worry and disappointment on the continued exposure of people to health hazards resulting from gas flaring.

He noted that gas flaring which involves the release of greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide (Co2) biochemical smog and their particular matter derivatives such as sulphates and nitrates contributes immensely to climate change, which has serious ecological impacts on the Niger Delta Environment.

Beyond this, he said, it has been scientifically proven that gas flaring causes visibility problems, environmental degradation, harm to public health and gives rise to atmospheric contaminants which acidify and deplete soil nutrients, resulting in low crop yield.

Mulade expressed worries that the high level for gas flaring in the Niger Delta has negative economic and environmental consequences since the process of doing it is simultaneously polluting the air, water

and soil in the region.

He said, those living in the region and exposed to the drinking of polluted water or consumption of contaminated food have suffered from unexplainable diseases.

The Niger Delta based Environmentalist warned that, the heavy metals released into the atmosphere are metallic chemical elements which have relatively high density and low concentration of toxic or poisonous substances.

28

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Planning for the Future Raheem Akingbolu writes on how United Capital Trustees Limited is redefining wealth management with its Private Trust Service, pointing out how its timely intervention at a time the country is at crossroads, would help many individuals enhance their future

A

s a result of the damming effect of the ravaging COVID-19, the lockdown, and the #EndSARS protests, many Nigerians are already describing the year 2020, as nothing, but unfortunate. Just when business owners were concluding taking stock of their losses, the unrest that occurred across the country recently, led to further financial hiccups.

Despite these challenges, the management of United Capital Plc, a financial and investment services Group, (of which UCTL is a member), are assuring Nigerians and those in the Diaspora that their interests could be protected by a trusted third-party service. The Group through their Private Trust service, under the Trustees services ensures that the interests of willing customers are protected and professionally managed against unforeseen circumstances while yielding competitive returns. “Our Private Trust service is designed to provide long-term wealth preservation, professional wealth management and investor services. We also provide personalised and highly confidential administration and disposition of assets in line with your express wishes,� the MD/CEO Tokunbo Ajayi recently stated.

Why private trust fund?

Perhaps the best time to answer the question of why is now. It is believed that during a period like the COVID-19 pandemic that has continued to ravage the whole world, the need for Trust services, especially estate planning, can help people manage their affairs if they are suddenly unable to do so. Individuals and corporate entities can set up living trusts and name a trustee who will manage it on their behalf against inadvertent occurrences. Under such an arrangement, the trustee can take over managing, not only the person’s affairs but also those of any beneficiaries he or she has been providing for.

The UCTL’s private trust service also includes the Heritage trust; a service that can cover the educational expenses of the person’s children/ wards. Regardless of the number of children or wards, this service offers flexibility in how and when money is disbursed for educational expenses. The flexibility the Trusts offers refers to how assets are distributed, which allows the subscriber to explicitly state in detail how his or her estate is to be distributed to beneficiaries.

Equally as important is the Nigerian Diaspora Trust, which the company conceptualized to take care of the increasing number of Nigerians Living in the diaspora, who want to start and grow investments back home. At its launch last year, the UCTL noted that the service was part of its response towards introducing innovative investment solutions to the Nigerian economy.

It is a specialised product designed to meet the needs of Nigerians living abroad, affording them the opportunity to transfer responsibilities and assets to a reliable trustee who in turn represents and protects their interest while ensuring that their desires and objectives are

achieved.

Estate Planning Among other offerings, the business also provides a range of Estate Planning products and services designed to assist in making effective and enduring estate planning arrangements for families.

Of course, estate is all about the property owned by an individual, excluding liabilities. It is the net worth of the person or the value of their earthly possessions that can be disposed of or given away. However, there is more to estate than ownership; it requires planning and maintenance. By a layman’s definition, this is a written expression of how a person wants his/her asset owned, managed, and preserved during his/her lifetime and upon demise.

In the last few months, UCTL has consistently played up the features of its estate planning offering, which is centered around confidentiality, stress free, cost effectiveness and assets disposition arrangements.

All these are said to have been put in place to insulate the subscribers of the product, and their families from undue publicity, rancor, family disputes, and delays that are characteristic of poorly planned estates. “Our Estate Planning services are set up by a Settlor for the administration of named assets for the benefit of another or others called beneficiaries,� the company stated.

The service brings to memory a book by Leo Okafor, ‘Living Trust’, where he stated that “Estate Planning is like a tree that grows from a tiny seed; the day you execute an estate planning instrument is the day you sow a seed from which the future and comfort of your loved

ones begin to grow and their future becomes assured. The sooner you plant the seed, the sooner shall the tree grow‌.�.

Estate Planning involves the financial plan method used to effectively accumulate and protect one’s property, money, investment, and assets during one’s lifetime. It involves how the estate can be distributed efficiently upon one’s demise as stated earlier before their demise.

According to an expert, Biodun Adegbokun, Estate planning can be likened to budgeting that helps control the future during and after your lifetime. This is an attribute of a prudent person.

He said, “What drives estate planning is the certainty and availability of current resources today, your ability to harness it and the uncertainty that occurs when you no longer have the capacity or you are gone, then what is left of your dependents and beneficiaries,�

The expert pointed out that estate planning is vital for everyone, regardless of the level of income or net worth. “Whoever dies without making provision for how his estate is to be distributed or administered will subject his asset to the law of intestacy which is imposed on him by law or custom,� he stated.

Estate planning made simple As part of the measures put in place to properly manage the estate in its care, United Capital Trustees has cleverly designed some tools to give estate owners succour.

The Living Trust, for instance, is designed to take effect during the lifetime of the Settlor.

This type of trust is often used by individuals with large estates to reduce estate taxes and avoid probate. Meanwhile, Blind Trust,

another important tool, is usually used to avoid conflict of interest particularly by those in public service. In effect, the settlor gives up the right to information regarding the status of the asset.

In the case of Family Trust, it was developed to oversee family investment management, tax planning, succession, insurance, philanthropy, and a myriad of other needs particular to the family. This protects liquidity, cash flow and ensures the longevity of wealth over generations to come.

Under Wills and Executorship, the client’s wishes, and desires, as reflected in a will, are protected, and executed efficiently after his or her death after processing a Grant of Probate.

However, if a person dies intestate, i.e. without a will, the company as Trustees will assist to apply for Letters of Administration (LA) to be able to administer the affairs of the Estate.

United Capital Trustees has also indicated that it offers custodial services to individual and corporate clients. “We act as Custodians of important legal/title documents, share certificates, and other valued articles belonging to our clients. Benefits include safekeeping of assets and adherence to the client’s wishes as stipulated in the Custody Agreement,�

Another important tool the company often deplored is the Dollar Denominated Trust, which is a variant of its Private Trust products that caters to all trusts and Investments in US Dollars.

For its Endowment of Foundations tool, it is an arrangement designed to accumulate, preserve, manage, and utilize wealth over time for public and charitable purposes over a lengthy period or even in perpetuity.

Uniport Student Wins N1m in Nigerian Content Essay Competition Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A

second-year student of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mr. Abasiekeme Edet has won N1 million at the 4th edition of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) annual national undergraduate essay competition.

The prize-giving ceremony was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and the essay by the 18-year-old was adjudged the best amongst over 6,000 entries submitted by undergraduates who are in their first or second years in the university.

The topic for this year’s essay contest was “Research & Development as a key lever for Local Content Implementation in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.�

Miss. Oluwadamilola Oluwafela, a 200-level

Medical student, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State emerged the first runner-up and won a cash prize of N500,000, while Mr. Somtochukwu Eze, a 100-level Medicine and Surgery student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State placed third and won a cash prize of N300,000.

A statement by the NCDMB stated that other finalists received HP laptops as consolation prizes.

In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote disclosed that the competition was geared towards developing human and material capacities, which is one of the key mandates of the board.

He explained that the board sponsored the contest to create local content awareness among the vibrant youths and make them advocates of Nigerian content, which is critical to sustainable development of our local economy, job creation and national security.

Wabote, who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Patrick Obah, commended the choice of the topic for this year’s competition, hinting that research and development is pivotal to national development and the bedrock of sustainable local content.

Obah indicated that the board developed a 10-year R&D roadmap to help promote the culture of research and innovation in Nigeria and support local content development in the oil and gas industry.

He identified some key initiatives under the R&D roadmap to include the establishment of a US$50 million Nigerian Content R&D Fund, sponsorship of research prototypes, commercialisation of research findings and setting up of R&D Centres of Excellence (CoE) in five Nigerian Universities.

While congratulating the finalists for their hard work and dedication, he expressed

excitement with the increase in the level of participation in the essay contest from undergraduates in various tertiary institutions across the country.

In his remarks, the General Manager, Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Dr. Ginah Ginah mentioned that the competition is one of the board’s interventions to improve the standard of education in Nigeria.

He added that it aims to promote proficiency in writing, increase the participants’ awareness of local content and engender citizen engagement from undergraduate level.

Ginah, who was represented by the Manager, Corporate Communication, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh stated that the contest is also intended to promote analytical and critical thinking among Nigerian youth which is vital for enrich problem-solving and for effective citizen engagement.

29

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020

BUSINESSWORLD

INTERVIEW

Derefaka: Gas Will Provide Much-needed Alternative to Petrol, Firewood The Technical Adviser on Gas Business and Policy Implementation to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Justice Derefaka, in this interview explains roles envisioned for gas in Nigeria’s deregulated downstream oil sector. Chineme Okafor brings the excerpts:

F

It will contribute towards Mr. President’s promise to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the current decade. The NGEP has the capacity to reduce poverty by making locally available, produced, affordable and accessible fuel to mostly under-served communities in the country.

Autogas in Nigeria is a wealth of untapped potential.

or a while now, the government has had a lot of buzz around gas, what’s the status of its intentions?

The National Gas Policy (NGP) was approved by the federal government in 2017, and it foresees Nigeria as an attractive gas-based industrial nation, centered on satisfying local gas demand requirements, and developing a significant presence in international markets. The policy seeks to define and set the framework necessary to move Nigeria from being a crude oil export-based economy to becoming an attractive oil and gas-based economy.

Through the ministry of petroleum resources, the government is working on the policy goals, strategies and plan for establishing a framework that will drive the institutional and commercial reforms necessary for attracting investment into the gas sector and this is with a view to achieving what our abundant gas resources could offer as a strong option for Nigeria’s economy. As part of the strategy to reposition the oil and gas industry, the ministry commenced the implementation of carefully conceived initiatives to foster efficiency and attract investments along the gas value chain as embedded in the policy and these include rapid growth of the LPG/CNG/LNG market, development of supporting infrastructure, investment and domestic growth. The policy also seeks the promotion of natural gas usage in Nigeria thereby creating alternative fuel choices for Nigerians. It is expected that this will stimulate economic growth, further improve our energy mix, drive investments and provide jobs in Nigeria.

What kind of incentives would Nigeria need to open up its gas market?

In terms of the right kind of incentives, note that the NGEP also seeks to achieve gas-based industrialisation via low-cost gas resources that have been identified and dedicated to the Nigerian domestic market. We used the portfolio management methodologies for prioritisation of the development of low-cost gas with the proportion of that dedicated to domestic markets.

The policy also seeks to liberalise and incentivise entry into the midstream to enable private sector investors develop gas infrastructure. In that regard, the government has made available a finance scheme of N250 billion for gas penetration in the form of stimulus and intervention facility. The objective of the facility include improved assess to finance for private sector investments in the domestic gas value chain, stimulation of investments in the development of infrastructure to optimise the domestic gas resources for economic development, fast-tracking the adoption of Autogas as the fuel of choice for transportation and power generation, as well as LPG as the fuel of choice for domestic cooking, transportation, and captive power.

Derefaka

Can you tell me more about this; making gas an alternative for petrol?

The policy on Autogas includes AutoLPG, AutoCNG and AutoLNG, and it is encapsulated in the NGP. Nigeria currently holds circa 203 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in proven gas reserves, ranking among the top 10 in the world. Despite its huge reserves, current per capita consumption of gas in Nigeria is one of the lowest within the sub region, and until recently, significant sums were spent subsidising petroleum products. The current policy of government is to promote the utilisation of gas in Nigeria. It is expected that gas will provide the much-needed alternative to petrol and firewood. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva is bent on ensuring this comes to fruition with the declaration of year 2020 as “The Year of Gas”. Building on that, he in January inaugurated the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) as the mechanism to boost domestic utilisation of gas in the short and medium term. The NGEP will achieve the objectives, reinforce and expand gas supply as well as stimulate demand in the country through efficient mobilisation and utilisation of all available assets, resources and infrastructure. It will serve as a catalyst for adding value to the vast natural gas reserves Nigeria is endowed with.

Does this mean that gas has a role in the deregulated downstream oil sector?

It is good you’re aware of the government’s decision to deregulate the downstream petroleum industry; complete deregulation of the downstream sector is an enabler for private sector investment and government lost billions of naira every day to subsidy payment which could have been used in improving the wellbeing of ordinary Nigerians and rebuilding the economy to generate more employment. Gas as alternative fuel is regarded as a bridging fuel in the transition to a clean, affordable and sustainable transport system; Autogas vehicles can operate in dual-fuel mode

with switches for alternating between fuels.

There are various technologies available for the use of gas as engine fuel. It can be used as single fuel in mono fuel engines, as single fuel in bi-fuel engines that can switch between gasoline and LPG, or as a mix with diesel in dual fuel engines. In addition, it can be used in various forms of hybrid powertrain technologies. The choice depends on application, availability of technology for the specific application, as well as regulatory framework, costs and other regional factors. So, as you can see the overall economic multiplier implication is enormous. This ministry is also running a scheme by the NGEP in collaboration with NNPC and other stakeholders with their technical and financing partners, to introduce Autogas as an alternative fuel for automobiles and other prime movers in Nigeria. The scheme shall be self-financing and self-sustainable. It will generate over two million jobs per annum and reduce carbon emissions significantly.

How realistic and cost-efficient will gas as an alternative to fuel be in Nigeria?

So, here is why the NGEP Autogas scheme is seen as an alternative fuel; shifting from PMS to Autogas gas provides increased flexibility for an oil-dependent transportation system, economic development, highly economical to run and saves running cost by up to 40 to 45 per cent than that of petrol.

The total cost of the conversion can be

recovered easily between five and seven months maximum, there is no spilling when filling the tank and no possibility of theft or pilfering, complete adulteration free fuel as compared to petrol or diesel, lower engine noise assures smooth and environment friendly drive and unlike other fuels, no additives are required to guarantee high quality.

This also ensures that we reduce dependence on foreign exports and create a more stable energy market less susceptible to supply and price volatility. Additionally, the Autogas scheme allows drivers and fleet managers to reduce PMS use, minimise emissions, decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduced fuel costs in the long run.

On the implications to the overall economy, it helps with the diversification of the nation’s fuel portfolio, and greater use of domestically produced energy resources strengthens national security.

How will this happen in an economy steeped in PMS usage?

Reforming and implementing the promotion of a market structure in a manner that will ensure the utilisation of gas infrastructure, assets and facilities on a common carrier and co-sharing basis.

The NGEP will formulate strategies that will promote cost effective distribution of the various gas streams by marine, rail and road for achieving a most affordable, available, acceptable and accessible gas to Nigerians.

The NGEP will formulate strategies that will promote cost effective distribution of the various gas streams by marine, rail and road for achieving a most affordable, available, acceptable and accessible gas to Nigerians

Is that all that there is in the N250 billion CBN facility?

There is also the incentive to fast-track the development of gas-based industries particularly petrochemicals – fertilizer and methanol, to support large industries such as agriculture, textile, and related industries.

And provision for additional private sector investments in the domestic gas market.

The activities that are eligible under the N250 billion intervention range from establishment of gas processing plants and small scale petrochemical plants to establishment of gas cylinder manufacturing plants, L-CNG regasification modular systems, Autogas conversion kits or components manufacturing plants, CNG primary and secondary compression stations and manufacturing of LPG retail skid tanks and refilling equipment, amongst others.

All these will obviously steer the ship towards making Nigeria a gas hub just as using natural gas is already helping to reduce carbon dioxide and improve air quality where it replaces coal or diesel.

Aren’t these going to be impeded without the PIB? The NGEP is geared towards harnessing Nigeria’s vast gas resources by removing the barriers affecting investment and development in the gas sector and driving the institutional reforms and regulatory changes necessary to evolve into a gas-based industrialised nation.

Above all, there is light at the end of the tunnel; the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) presently at the National Assembly according to the minister, would ensure that the nation’s abundant natural gas resources are used to promote national development and that it will unlock several midstream gas opportunities to further enhance domestic gas utilisation. The proposed PIB will also provide a wide variety of features to ensure that natural gas makes the optimal contribution to sustainable industry and national development in the medium to long term.

30

IMAGES

L-R; Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Abubakar Badugu; APC Chairman Caretaker Committee/Governor of Yobe State, Mala Mai Buni; President Muhammadu Buhari and Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abu,bakar Baderu during the Presentation of the Party’s News letter to the president at the State House., Abuja...recently State House

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

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

L-R: Representative of Minister of Health, Dr. Dakum Benji; Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corp, Dr. Amauche Nwaka and Chairperson Board of Trustee, Greenlight Initiative, Prof. Sylvia Okonkwo, during the Safety training for truck and ambulance drivers organized by Greenlight Initiative in Abuja...recently .ENOCK REUBEN

Executive OďŹƒcer, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Akin Olateru (left) and Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Isa Nuhu, , during the AIB Nigeria Aviation workshop symposium in Abuja...recently

L-R: Representative of the Minister of Budget and National Plaining, Mr Abdulrahman Rajab; Representative of Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Mr Ngwaogu Michael; and Executive Director/Founder, Baba-Rabi Foundation, Community Development Initiative, Mrs Nana Mede, during a seminar on eradication of drug abuse and illicit drug among youths in Nigeria in Abuja..recently

R-L; President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, Executive  Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority  (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne and Abia State Governor, Chief Okezie Ikpeazu during the ag-o of the National Young Farmer Scheme (NYFE) organised by National Agricultural Land Development Authority  (NALDA) held at the Council Chambers,  State House, Abuja... recently state house

L-R: Executive Director Business Development Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Abdulmumini Jibrin, Managing Director FHA, Senator, Gbenga Ashafa, Managing Director/Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Sujimoto, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele; and Executive Director Finance FHA ,Mr. Maurice Ekpenyong, during a meeting between FHA and sijimoto in Abuja‌recently

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (middle); Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations ,Hajia Amina Mohammed (left)and Minister of Finance, Budget and miational Planning , Hajia Zainab Ahmed during the Nigeria UN Plus Oer for Socio -Economic Recovery 2020 -2022)at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...recently GODWIN OMOIGUI

L-R; NYSC Lagos PRO, Madaki Joyce; Director of Production, KAS Consult Ltd, Mr. Ajayi Olasunkanmi; and the Coordinator, National Youth Service Corp Lagos State, Mr. Eddy Megwa, during the arrival of prospective Youth Service Corp Members, at the 2020 Batch ‘B’, Stream 1A, National Youth Service Corp Members Camp, near Iyana-Ipaja in Lagos...recently

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

31

L-R: Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri; General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka and his Wife, Pastor Joy Muoka, at the Church’s International crusade tagged ‘And the Enemies Submitted held in Lagos...recently ETOP UKUTT.

L-R:: Director-General, Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang; Chief of Party Creative Associates, Nigeria Early Recovery Initiatives (NERI), Olivier Giraro; and Deputy Chief of Party, NERI, Pam Mangs, during the oďŹƒcial signing of a Memorandun of Understanding between the Agency and NERI, for a rapid response assessment in Mangu and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau, in Jos...recently

L-R Past President,Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria(AAAN) and Lead Consultant/ CEO of Ladybird Ltd, Mrs Bunmi Oke after presenting Outstanding Product Launch of the Year award won by Sunvita Cereal to the Category Manager, Culinary,Promasidor Nigeria LTD, Miss Sophiat Bello at the MARKETING EDGE BRANDS & ADVERTISING AWARDS of Excellence held in Lagos...recently

L-R: Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. David Umahi, during an interactive meeting between Ndigbo in Rivers State, government of Rivers State and delegation of Ndigbo in Portharcourt....recently

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN delivers keynote remarks at the virtual 8th German - Nigerian Business Forum...recently

Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola (representing Lagos West Senatorial District) with some beneďŹ ciaries of his educational empowerment programme for his constituents in Lagos...recently

L-R: Public Proseccutor of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Justice, A O Shaibu; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Soliocitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Justice,Dayo Apata during their appearance before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Right and Legal Matters for the 2021 Budget Defence for the Federal Ministry of Justice held in Abuja. ..recently Julius Atoi

L-R: Acting Director, Public Aairs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Aisha Larai-Musa; Special Senior Assistance to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Representative of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mrs Hadiza Gama-Zubairu; and Secretary of Program, SDGs, Mr Danjuma Dauda, during the visit of EFCC delegation to SDGs in Abuja...recently

32

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 12, 2020

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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

COVID-19 : Providing Relief Intervention for Vulnerable Population The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt taken a toll on the world’s economy but one of the hardest hit are the vulnerable, especially those living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and the continent who suffered interruptions in their anti-retroviral therapy. To provide relief intervention for such persons, the United Nations in conjunction with the European Union, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Conjunction and National Agency for the Control of AIDS, recently supported the National COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Pandemic Response, writes Onyebuchi Ezigbo

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt taken its toll on the world’s economy. The situation has hugely disrupted economic activities in Nigeria, thereby causing loss of jobs among citizens, most especially the vulnerable segment of the population in Nigeria.

Among the hardest hit were those living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and the African continent.

Interruptions in Anti-retroviral Therapy The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) said some 430,000 HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa may have died over the past six months owing to interruptions in treatment due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

Citing statistics from UNAIDS, Director General of NACA, Gambo Gumel Aliyu, said the rise in deaths of HIV/AIDS patients was due to a decline in antiretroviral therapy during the virus lockdown. At a news conference in Abuja, Aliyu said there are currently 1.8 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS also warned that a six-month disruption in antiretroviral therapy could lead to more than 500,000 extra deaths in the region from AIDS-related illnesses.The global agencies urged countries to take action to mitigate treatment interruptions, adding that failure to do so could raise AIDS-related deaths up to the level seen in 2008, when more than 950,000 died in the region.

WHO and UNAIDS said the disruption could lead to an annual death rate of 40 per cent over the next half a decade.

Nigeria’s Effort in Containing COVID-19 Nigeria has done fairly well in the effort to contain the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic in the face of obvious challenges of abysmally weak healthcare infrastructure. The immediate response of the federal and state government when the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the country in February was swift.

It mounted an offensive to check the spread of the virus infection in the country by designating hospitals, isolation centres and treatment centres.

To a large extent, the various medical Interventions undertaken by the authorities paid off despite the obvious weak healthcare infrastructure. There was some measure of effective coordination by Presidential Taskforce headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha in driving the health protocols needed to curtail the COVID-19 infection.

Lapses in Economic, Social Impact But the same could not be said of the response to the accompanying economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The response to help mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable segment of society was to say, a massive failure.

For instance, the distribution of government’s palliative was done in a half-hazard manner, mostly not well targeted to get to the actual needy persons.

The implementation was riddled with the usual corrupt practices associated with similar social empowerment programmes in the past. The mind boggling discovery of large quantities of food items stashed away in warehouses across the country during the recent EndSARS protests showed how slow and perhaps ineffective the distribution of relief packages had been.

Multi-Sectoral Response It is for this reason that the move by United

L-R: Director- General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Gambo Aliyu; Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Ifeoma Anyawutaku; and the United Nations Women Representative, Ms Comfort Lamptey during the flag-off ceremony on the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Project, Under UN Basket Fund Support to the National COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Pandemic Response in Nigeria held in Abuja

Nations to provide a Basket Fund in conjunction with the European Union (EU), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Conjunction and National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to support the National COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral pandemic response was viewed as a welcome development.

The key institutions involved in the implementation of the project are the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and NACA with technical support of UN Women, UNAIDS under the EU supported UN Joint Basket Fund for COVID- 19.

The team recently unveiled what was tagged, ‘Risk Communication and Community Engagement project’. The project is set up to help mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable household and women living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Speaking at the official flag-off the project, the Director General of NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu lamented that COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on all aspects of human life including social, economic, religious and psychological wellbeing.

Aliyu said: “The devastating effects on other comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and HIV/AIDS is a major health concern. Hence, it requires an integrated, multi–sectoral approach from government and civil society actors for an effective response.

“It is on this note that Nigeria has identified prevention interventions to limit the spread of the virus by involving the community in the fight against the spread of the virus through improving risk communication, social mobilisation and community engagement.

“The preventive interventions seeks to protect the most vulnerable – women including those living with HIV from the effects of COVID-19 such as loss of income due to loss of jobs and livelihood, increasing gender based violence, insecurity amongst others”.

According to Aliyu, the National COVID-19 Multi-sectoral Pandemic Response Plan is the federal

government’s framework for a robust response to the pandemic. It consists of ten functional areas - one of which is Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).

He explained that a three-pronged approach would be deployed to support the implementation of the RCCE which includes, a broader risk communication and community engagement and sensitisation for social and behavioral change, participation of women, adolescent, youth and PLHIV constituencies in monitoring the overall pandemic response and its appropriateness for their communities, and alleviating the economic impact for the most vulnerable women and girls and their households.

The intervention programme is to be carried out in selected states and local government areas in the country.

Minister for Women Affairs and Co-Chair of the project, Dame Mrs. Pauline Tallen said key stakeholders are working towards a common goal of reaching the downtrodden vulnerable women and households in 15 selected high burden COVID-19 states of Lagos, FCT, Kano, Sokoto, Oyo, Edo, Rivers, Ogun, Kaduna, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Akwa-ibom, Delta and Ebonyi states.

“The Ministry of Women Affairs will work with UN Women, the State Ministries of Women Affairs and selected NGO’s including other implementing partners to ensure the cash palliatives reach various indigent’s women in the targeted communities in addition to monitoring of its utilisation by beneficiaries,” said Mrs.Tallen.

It is gathered that the project will in these 15 selected states, support the two worst hit local government areas by COVID-19 pandemic, rape/ sexual and other forms of violence, HIV/AIDS and women living with disabilities.

Overview Presenting the overview of the project, the Head Gender and Human Right Unit of NACA, Dr. Yinka Falola-Anoemwah, said that “the goal is

to support the national multi-sectoral COVID-19 pandemic response through risk communication, social mobilisation and communication engagement”.

One aspect of the preventive interventions seeks to protect the most vulnerable women including those living with HIV/AIDS from the effects of COVID-19 such as loss of income due to loss of jobs and livelihood, increasing gender based violence, insecurity amongst others.

Tallen further explained that the project will provide relief assistance - cash and hygiene materials (face masks, sanitizers, soaps) to 18,000 women, girls and young people worst affected by the knock-on effects of the covid 19 crisis.

With the effective implementation of the project, most vulnerable households: poor households which include those headed by widows, children, elderly women, women suffering from chronic sickness, women and girls living with disabilities, HIV/ AIDS, survivors of SGBV and early marriage, genital mutilation.

The collaboration of government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and community structure is an innovative and valuable strategy to respond pragmatically to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will facilitate social mobilisation for community engagement in containing the pandemic as being demonstrated in the global and national HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria especially among the indigent and vulnerable populations.

It is expected that the interventions would lead to increased risk awareness about COVID-19, mitigate economic impact of COVID-19, mobilise people to adopt appropriate hygiene habits and engage the community to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of these interventions.

At the end of the project implementation by April 2021, it is also expected that increased women’s awareness of sexual violence and COVID-19 will be achieved as well as improved women’s livelihood to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 amongst others.

T H I S D AY Ëž , NOVEMBER 12, 2020

33

NEWS

Diabetic Patients Can Avert Blindness through Early Detection, Says Expert Rebecca Ejifoma Vitreo Retina Surgeon at 4LJQQFS &ZF 2 4VQFSTQFDJBMJUZ &ZF )PTQJUBMT %S ;FFOBU 4IBI has said early detection and treatment can lower the risk of blindness by 95 per cent in sufferers of diabetes.

Speaking during the com NFNPSBUJPO PG %JBCFUJD &ZF %JTFBTF "XBSFOFTT .POUI Shah said the longer a person has diabetes, the greater risk of developing a diabetic eye disease.

Dr Zeenat “But the good news is that early detection and treatment be successful. The best results can lower the risk of blindness. occur when sight is still normal.�

"DDPSEJOHMZ UIF FYQFSU BG Managing diabetes with diet, exercise, and medication is firmed that in photocoagulation, the best way for people with the eye care professional makes diabetes to lowering the risk of tiny burns on the retina with a special laser, adding that these vision loss,� she added.

"DDPSEJOH UP UIF FYQFSU JU JT burns seal the blood vessels and estimated that about 10 per cent stop them from growing and of people with diabetes aged 40 leaking.

Shah explained that when the years or below in Nigeria may IBWF TJHIU UISFBUFOJOH EJBCFUJD retina has already detached or a lot of blood has leaked into retinopathy.

She however, emphasised the eye, photocoagulation is no that treatments such as longer useful. “The next option is vit scatter photocoagulation, focal photocoagulation, and rectomy, which is surgery vitrectomy prevent blindness to remove scar tissue and cloudy fluid from inside the in most people.

Shah hinted: “The sooner eye. The earlier the operation retinopathy is diagnosed, the occurs, the more likely it is more likely these treatments will to be successful,� she noted.

The surgeon listed the two types of treatment for macular edema: focal laser therapy that slows the leakage of fluid, and medications that can be injected into the eye that slows the growth of new blood vessels and reduces the leakage of fluid into the macula.

She outlined that several fac tors influence whether people get retinopathy or not, “blood sugar control, blood pressure levels, how long you have had diabetes or genes. “The longer you have had diabetes, the more likely you are to have retinopathy.

"MNPTU FWFSZPOF XJUI UZQF diabetes will eventually have nonproliferative retinopathy.

"OE NPTU QFPQMF XJUI UZQF 2 diabetes will also get it. But the retinopathy that destroys vision, proliferative retinopathy, is far less common. “Your retina can be badly damaged before you notice any change in vision. Most people with nonproliferative retinopa thy have no symptoms.�

4IF BEEFE i&WFO XJUI proliferative retinopathy, the more dangerous form, people sometimes have no symptoms until it is too late to treat them.

For this reason, you should have your eyes examined regularly by an eye care professional.�

Stakeholders Call for Dietary Diversification in Nigeria Ëž ĂŽĂ Ă™Ă?Ă‹ĂžĂ?Ă? Ă?Ă™Ăœ Ă?Ă™Ă™ĂŽĚ‹ĂŒĂ‹Ă?Ă?ĂŽ Ă‹ĂšĂšĂœĂ™Ă‹Ă?Ă’ Ă‹Ă? Ă?Ă’Ă?Ă‹ĂšĂ?Ă?Ăž ĂĄĂ‹ĂŁ ÞÙ ĂšĂœĂ?Ă Ă?Ă˜Ăž Ă—Ă‹Ă–Ă˜Ă&#x;ĂžĂœĂ“ĂžĂ“Ă™Ă˜ Stakeholders in the health and nutrition sector have called for dietary diversification in Nigeria, to reduce the rate of malnutrition and curtail protein deficiency in the nation.

1SPGFTTJPOBMT JO UIF OVUSJUJPO and healthcare industry have BHSFFE UIBU VTJOH UIF GPPE CBTFE approach is one of the most DPTU FGGFDUJWF XBZT UP QSFWFOU malnutrition.

This, they explained, begins with adequate nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life and adequate maternal and adolescent nutrition.

The call was made during a SFDFOU 1SPUFJO $IBMMFOHF XFCJOBS UIFNFE i1SPUFJO EFà DJFODZ Bridging the knowledge gap�.

Speaking at the session, 1SPGFTTPS )FOSJFUUB /LFDIJ &OF 0CPOH /VUSJUJPOJTU BOE 1SPGFTTPS PG )VNBO /VUSJUJPO and Dietetics, University of $BMBCBS TUBUFE UIBU BEFRVBUF knowledge and information must be disseminated to the public to inform them about the MPDBMMZ BWBJMBCMF QSPUFJO SJDI GPPE sources and how to diversify the family diet.

She revealed that protein deficiency has lingered on due to the low dietary diversity, monotonous diets and poor GFFEJOH IBCJUT "DDPSEJOH UP her, “Diet diversity refers to the variety of food nutrients packed in a plate at any given time. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, many individuals just eat rice, swallows, carbohydrates and other unhealthy foods every day, without utilizing healthy indigenous food sources around them.� She added that Nigerians need to pay attention to ethnic differences in food habits and choices, as these food habits affect the nutrition of infants, children

and adolescents.

1SPGFTTPS &OF 0CPOH FYQMBJOFE that “babies and children are the most impacted by malnutrition, along with people with more physiological requirements, like pregnant and lactating mothers, who need more proteins in their diets. When they are not fed nutritious foods, the consequences BSF GBS SFBDIJOH u She said available reports indicated that Nigeria has a high number of children affected by malnutrition and protein deficiency, citing the Nigeria Demographic and Health 4VSWFZ /%)4 BT XFMM BT 5IF /JHFSJBO 1SPUFJO %FĂ DJFODZ Report 2019.

She stated that to reduce the incidence of protein deficiency, people must naturally increase protein intake, noting that protein quality is important as proteins are the building blocks of the body.

The professor noted that protein quality from food sources is dependent on the balance of essential amino acids contained in the food. She said: “animal source GPPET " 4 ' BSF HPPE TPVSDFT PG complete proteins, while plant TPVSDF GPPET 1 4 ' IBWF MPXFS complete proteins. However, certain plant source foods like soybeans are exceptions, because they contain complete proteins, with an abundant amount of essential amino acids.�

"OPUIFS QBOFMJTU BU UIF XFCJOBS %S *GFPNB "VHVTUJOB "LFSFEPMV a member of the Nutrition Society PG /JHFSJB BOE $IJFG -FDUVSFS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, YabaTech, noted that UIF GPPE CBTFE EJFUBSZ HVJEFMJOFT in Nigeria are all outdated and urgently need to be updated.

She advocated for the

food dietary guidelines to be thoroughly reviewed and updated, according to the Food BOE "HSJDVMUVSF 0SHBOJTBUJPOT ' " 0 TUBOEBSE 5IF HVJEFMJOFT would help Nigerians focus on nutrient density and diet diversity to tackle malnutrition in all its forms. %S "LFSFEPMV QPTJUFE UIBU BT more and more people follow UIF TUBOEBSE GPPE CBTFE EJFUBSZ guidelines, the country would make progress in curtailing protein deficiency.

Dr. Bimbo Oyedokun, a medical expert and Managing 1BSUOFS 2VF1MVT )FBMUI 4FSWJDFT was also present as a panelist at the webinar. He highlighted the various signs and symptoms of protein deficiency, stating that QSPUFJO EFà DJFOU JOEJWJEVBMT experience fatigue, hair loss, reddish skin and brittle dentition. )F OPUFE iJNNVOP DPNQSP mised adults and other members of society need to increase their protein intake, to reduce the risk PG CFJOH QSPUFJO EFà DJFOU "MTP the consumption of protein foods can fortify the immune system from diseases and infections.�

Dr. Oyedokun stated that nutrition education must be given top priority, to equip individuals with proper knowledge about nutrients and healthy lifestyles.

In his closing remarks, he appealed to Nigerians to use preventive measures to resolve malnutrition issues. He said: “prevention of protein deficiency, VTJOH UIF GPPE CBTFE BQQSPBDI has been recognized as the most DPTU FGGFDUJWF TUSBUFHZ JO EFBMJOH with this health disorder.

"MTP /JHFSJBOT OFFE UP embrace local food sources to completely eradicate malnutri tion.�

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Website: lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

Managing Emotions In Infertility (Part 1)

T

rying to conceive over a long period of time can create one of the most upsetting life crises for couples. To have your own family is a universal dream, and the thought of not being able to have one can make you and your partner feel that something is wrong. Most couples assume that they are fertile and expect to conceive soon after they stop using birth control or having unprotected sex. Struggles with conception can cause deep feelings of loss. Dealing with the multitude of medical decisions and the uncertainties that infertility brings can create great emotional disruption for many couples. So, if you find yourself feeling anxious, depressed, out of control, or isolated, you are not alone. It is normal to experience a wide variety of emotions in the process of pursuing infertility treatment.

However, if your experience includes any of the following symptoms over a prolonged period of time, you could benefit greatly from spending time with a mental health professional or a fertility counsellor.

The symptoms may include: r $POTUBOU EFQSFTTJPO r -BDL PG GPDVT BOE JOBCJMJUZ UP DPNQMFUF UBTLT r $POUJOVBM UIPVHIUT PO ZPVS JOGFSUJMJUZ r 4USBJOFE JOUFSQFSTPOBM SFMBUJPOTIJQT XJUI partner, family, friends, or colleagues) r )JHI MFWFMT PG QFSUVSCBUJPO BOE XPSSZ r *OTPNOJB PS DIBOHF JO TMFFQ QBUUFSOT EJGà DVMUZ falling asleep or staying asleep, early morning awakening, sleeping more than usual). r &BTJMZ JSSJUBUFE r -PTT PS JODSFBTFE BQQFUJUF r &YDFTTJWF XFJHIU HBJO r *ODSFBTFE VTF PG ESVHT PS BMDPIPM r 1FSTJTUFOU GFFMJOHT PG QFTTJNJTN HVJMU PS worthlessness. r 1FSTJTUFOU GFFMJOHT PG CJUUFSOFTT PS BOHFS r -PTT PG JOUFSFTU JO OPSNBM BDUJWJUJFT r 4PDJBM JTPMBUJPO r )BWJOH TVJDJEBM UIPVHIUT What to do Infertility is always a challenging journey for most couples, some can cope all right on their own while others can’t. However, if you realize that infertility is taking over your life, you might consider counselling. There are certain points during infertility treatment when discussion with a mental health professional or fertility counsellor can help clarify thoughts and help with decision making.

Managing stress may seem like a huge obstacle when you are trying to conceive without success.

The sad cruel fact is that stress management is crucial to help your body conceive. You don’t need to put your life on hold while facing fertility struggles. Though the desire to start or expand your family may be in the forefront of your mind, building yourself up can help you cope with your emotions. $POTVMUBUJPO XJUI B NFOUBM IFBMUI QSPGFTTJPOBM or a fertility counsellor may be helpful to you and your partner if you are:

r "U B USFBUNFOU DSPTTSPBE IBWJOH EJGĂ DVMUZ communicating or if you are in conflict with others about what direction to take. r 5SZJOH UP EFDJEF CFUXFFO BMUFSOBUJWF treatment possibilities. r &YQMPSJOH PUIFS GBNJMZ CVJMEJOH PQUJPOT r $POTJEFSJOH UIJSE QBSUZ BTTJTUBODF HBNFUF donation i.e. use of donor egg or sperm, surrogacy etc).

STEPS IN MANAGING EMOTIONS IN INFERTILITY. 1. DISCUSS YOUR FEELINGS ARIGHT. When you are experiencing infertility, com municating with family and friends can be difficult and challenging but the key to knowing what step to take is to have a healthy, open, and hon est conversation when ready. Often, we neglect communicating our positive feelings to our partner, and all he or she may get are negative expressions. Infertility may consume your life and engulf all your conversations and so it may be necessary to put limits on the time you talk about infertility to designated periods so that it does not overtake all your thought. You might try “The Timed Rule,� which forces you to limit the amount of time you talk about infertility in a given discussion.

2. AVOID BLAMEGAME. "MMPXJOH ZPV FYQFSJFODF HSJFG JT BO JNQPSUBOU QBSU PG DPQJOH XJUI JOGFSUJMJUZ &WFO XIJMF QVSTVJOH fertility treatments, facing the reality that becom ing pregnant may not be possible can have a heavy emotional impact. Sometimes the cause of infertility can’t be determined but finding out infertility issues stem from you can lead to EFDSFBTFE TFMG FTUFFN EFQSFTTJPO BOE BOYJFUZ If your partner is the one who is infertile, you may feel frustrated and may struggle to keep from accusing that it’s their fault, not yours. It’s important to experience your feelings as they come, but it is advisable also to avoid blaming ZPVSTFMG PS ZPVS QBSUOFS #MBNF TFMG EJSFDUFE PS otherwise, can trap you in a painful cycle that leads to more distress. It is recommended that you talk to your partner about how you feel, openly and honestly but this might be difficult when you BSF PWFSXIFMNFE &WFO JG ZPV SF BOHSZ IVSU PS ashamed, it’s usually better to talk about your emotions calmly, rather than waiting until they burst out during an argument or stressful moment.

You may decide not to share your struggles with family and friends, but commit to being honest with each other.

3. STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE SITUATION. Find out as much as you can about your fertility issue. Speak to your doctor and ask questions.

"MTP UBML UP PUIFS QFPQMF JO ZPVS TJUVBUJPO 4UBZJOH educated is especially important when you’re dealing with a fertility challenge because the technologies behind the treatments are complicated and may change quickly. This will enable you make informed choices‌‌

t5P CF DPOUJOVFE OFYU XFFL

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 12, 2020

HEALTH

How LASUTH is Curbing Capital Flight in Medical Tourism Annually, a huge number of Nigerians travel abroad for medical tourism, especially Cardiothoracic surgeries,thus encouraging capital flight. To change that narrative, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital has been carrying out such surgeries at an even cheaper rate. Rebecca Ejifoma, who chronicled some of the success stories writes

F

or years, thousands of Nigerians have relentlessly travelled abroad for medical interventions, an act that portrays the nation’s healthcare as inferior. In the light of this, curbing the alarming trend of medical tourism in Nigeria may take a while even though COVID-19 brought it to a screeching halt this year.

Annually, estimates show that over 500 Nigerians travel abroad – India, US, UK, Turkey, France, and other countries, with a whooping $1 billion spent.

Some of the medical interventions that have lured Nigerians abroad are child delivery, kidney transplant, cancer treatment, bone surgery, brain surgery, open-heart surgeries, neurosurgeries, plastic surgeries, renal transplant, orthopedic surgeries, and eye surgery, among a host of others.

Their reasons for patronising medical systems abroad are not unconnected with the fact that the nation’s health system is poorly if not one of the least funded, attitude of health workers, poor infrastructure and lack of manpower among others.

Sadly today, as seen on new and mainstream media, some Nigerians go to the extent of appealing to public for funds or sponsorship to go for surgeries abroad.

This year, however, Nigerians have taken to social media to laud the Cardiothoracic team at LASUTH for performing successful open-heart surgeries among others.

One of such successes recorded this year is that of Abiodun Omotayo, who would have topped the number of medical tourists abroad but for the timely intervention of LASUTH. The 22-year old graduate of International Relations from Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was billed for a surgery abroad for N50million but later got it done for N3million at LASUTH. In a video which has gone viral on social media, the 22-year-old gave reasons Nigerians should trust its medical experts and shun medical tourism after he was diagnosed of pneumatic heart disease in Nigeria.

“I just finished my NYSC this May 2020. I fell sick early this year. I was admitted in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The doctor discovered I had pneumatic heart disease which had damaged the valve in my heart and I needed to undergo a surgery to replace the valve,” he said.

In the words of the International Relations graduate, the doctors had told him the surgery would cost N50million to go abroad. “But the Manager of the Kanu Heart Foundation, Dr. Anyanwu, introduced me to Dr. Bode Falase, a Senior Consultant and Senior Lecturer in LASUTH, who said he would carry out the surgery for a lesser price, which would not be more than N3million”.

And Falase’s words were backed with actions that turned out successful. “To God be the glory, he performed the surgery with his cardiology team on September 28, this year”, Abiodun revealed.

While recognising God’s hand in the successful surgery, Abiodun also thanked the doctor, Falase and his team for a job well-done. “I want to thank Dr. Falase and his team, the Lagos State

Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo

Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State government too. LASUTH is a place to be.

It has good facility and equipment. The doctors and nurses are friendly; they are pleasant and accommodating. Now I’m fully recovered and I’m back home. I’m still looking for a job”.

Adding her voice, Abiodun’s mother, Mrs. Omotayo, appreciated God and the doctors on her son’s behalf.

She said, “I want to appreciate Lagos State government for equipping LASUTH, Dr. Falase and his team for a job well-done on my son. I want to appreciate all the workers in LASUTH. Thank you.”

On Twitter, eulogies were showered on LASUTH for gradually changing the narrative with successful surgeries done. Corroborating, a mother and daughter have chorused Abiodun’s words.

The patient, 19 years old Joe-Imhanwa had a successful open-heart surgery, after she was diagnosed with a hole in the heart at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Surulere, last November.

Joe-Imhanwa said, “The doctors would come and see me everyday even when I was moved to the general ward; the treatment did not reduce.

Even when I left, the doctors were still encouraging me even when I did not feel like getting up.”

She, therefore, urged Nigerians, “Do not be discouraged. Do come to Lasuth. The facilities are amazing and the people there will make your feel you are walking in the air,” she chuckled.

Following the successful operation on October 20 this year, the mother, Mrs. Harriet Iziehi, took to Twitter to narrate her boundless joy. “We celebrate your love for humanity, Dr. Falase and the staff.”

The elated mother further urged Nigerians to patronise LASUTH, adding that with the facilities there now all hope is not lost in the country’s health sector.

A Twitter user, Ayanfe Eledumare, who showered encouraging words on the hospital said: “A beacon of hope and good news in the midst of the chaos.

I believe in the Nigerian dream and I know God loves us and that things will get better. God will bless all those who want the best for Nigeria.

LASUTH surgeons, God bless you and more grace to do more grace to do more for humanity.”

While others like Oreoluwa and Lilly hailed LASUTH with “Up LASUTH” expressions in their tweets, another Twitter user, Black Chili Pepper and Pancake Plug, described LASUTH as great.

“That’s why most facilities refer to LASUTH.” Again, another Nigerian, Mr. Kachy Ben Nnagha, took to Twitter to lend his voice. “Falase, great personality, excellent surgeon. I always wondered

what his drive was. I wish we could celebrate more of our distinguished professionals who’re defying the odds to do great things.”

Another tweet said, “LASUTH Cardiothoracic Unit headed by Dr. Falase comes highly recommended for the excellent work it is doing with 100 per cent local resource Open Heart Surgery.”

Reacting to the video of the successful openheart surgery that had since gone viral, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, said, this is not the first time that they are doing open-heart surgery.

He explained, “This video that has gone viral caught us unawares. This was not the first case of open-heart surgery we have been carrying out in LASUTH.” According to the CMD, the Cardiothoracic team lead by Prof. Falase has been carrying out open-heart surgery without any external assistance or expatriates or people in the diaspora for about a year now.

“So, even though we are happy that a satisfied and fulfilled mother came out to tell the good story of what is going on in LASUTH, it’s not new. The story of open-heart surgery dates back to so many years when we used to have missions coming in from the US, the UK work with our people on few cases and go back,” he recalled.

In Fabamwo’s perspective, “When we assumed office it was clear to us that that could not go on.

I was not comfortable with too much with people coming in and going. I believed that we had to make open-heart surgery locally sourced. Our surgeons and nurses and others who involved in open-heart surgery will have enough credit if you were to do it all alone.”

Following his decision, the CMD ensured that the missioners who came made a deliberate effort to teach their surgeons and nurses unlike before when they would just come, do their thing and go.

He added, “This time we made sure our staff learnt from them. We have been on our own for quite a while now. We have done quite a number of open heart surgery cases successfully.”

Fabamwo said they also encouraged collaborations with one or two establishments that carry out open-heart surgery. LASUTH collaborates with groups in Babcock University, Reddington Hospital, and also First Cardiology clinic.

This has changed the story of LASUTH. “With that, we have been able to ensure that staff acquire skills to be able to stand on their own,” he hinted.

Today, both Abiodun’s and Joe-Imhanwa’s success stories are coming on the heels of the Lagos State government’s decision to renovate and upgrade surgical emergency facility among others in 2018.

This has been one of the reasons medical experts have clamoured that if Nigeria should have a robust health system with standard equipment then her citizens may not look for treatment abroad, which even breaks their banks compared to the amount if done in the country.

In this regard, LASUTH is beginning to reverse medical tourism with its newly equipped facility and the professional services of its surgeons.

YEDI Empowers 1000 Lagosians with Health Palliatives, Food Rebecca Ejifoma Over 1000 residents of Lagos in Isolo, Oshodi area of the state received food items and health palliative from the Youth Empowerment Development Initiative (YEDI) to alleviate the negative impact of COVID-19.

The empowerment programme was bent on creating awareness about COVID-19 and how people can keep safe at this particular time, then also to give people health packs that they can use.

The first 750 beneficiaries received nose masks, hand sanitisers, vitamin C, as well as medicated soap among others.

The other set of 250 people

received food items to support themselves in this torrid time.

The Director of Programmes, YEDI, Tomisin Adeoye, explained that during the lockdown especially, people did not have access to their work.

While people are trying to stabilise, YEDI is supporting communities. Adeoye said, “We aim at supporting disadvantaged people”.

With a target to reach 6000 disadvantaged families in Nigeria with health packs, the organisation will be giving out food items to 2000 people.

“In the next few weeks, we will be reaching residents in Mushin. We will be holding this in 10 communities in the

country,” Adeoye added. With its presence in Lagos, Ogun, Akwa-Ibom states and Abuja, the director implored residents to continue keeping safe.

Adeoye cautioned: “COVID-19 is still very much around despite the easing of the lockdown, everybody should still keep on wearing their facemasks, washing their hands, and keep the social distancing.

“Yesterday, we had a community mobile outreach where we walked with health educators in oshodi isolo, with him we went round the community telling people the need for them to still keep safe despite the fact that the lockdown is being eased.”

Although YEDI is an

adolescent focus and nonprofit organisation that works on areas of adolescent health, sexuality, sexual protective health, malaria prevention, HIV/ AIDS prevention, it is helping communities now based on the adverse effects of COVID-19 on young people.

Its Executive Director, Oje Ivagba, said, “We are running this programme across communities and local governments in Lagos to help reinforce and support the messages of government regarding prevention and safety practices for COVID-19.”

He hinted that the central message of the programme was about health, how to stay away from COVID-19, how to

protect themselves, and correct the misinformation about the virus.

Ivagba added: “So we have been having mobile campaigns round Oshodi driving buses round. We have been stationed here, observing safety protocols for COVID-19 and giving out relief items and protective wears to community members.”

In his reaction, the Executive Vice Chairman of the OshodiIsolo Local Government, Daisi Oso expressed that “this is a time that you need a lot of collaboration, support from private sectors, NGOs. “For YEDI to have thought of it at this time when the effect of COVID-19 is actually tearing

people’s economies, homes, and so many things apart, one cannot but say a big thank you to the organisers and this organisation.”

He noted that some people do not even have as much to get facemask, much less hand sanitisers. “I want to say that the local government, having given them the necessary support and logistics to achieve this, I think like Oliver Twist, we are looking forward to the nearest future when they can also come and support us.

“And let me use this opportunity to also talk to other meaningful organisations who are there a lot of people are in there. Government can’t do it all alone”.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , NOVEMBER 12, 2020

HEALTH

122m Nigerians Risk Contracting 12 Out of 20 NTDs Infection Kuni Tyessi in Abuja It has been estimated that not less than 122 million Nigerians stand at the risk of contracting 12 out of 20 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), while 119 million, equivalent to two out of three persons suffer from at least one or more NTDs. Already, 20 per cent of preschoolers, 28 per cent of school age children within the ages of 5-14 and 52 percent of adults from 15 years and above

are susceptible to the infections, as already, the 36 states of the federation are endemic to one or more of the diseases.

NTDs are a group of 20 disease conditions that are common in tropical or subtropical regions, and are closely associated with poverty, poor sanitation, lack of safe water resources, sub standard housing conditions and deficient healthcare access.

Also, the spate of poverty and the determination to take

millions out of it through poverty alleviation programmes and grants amongst others will record low progress without adequate funding to eradicate the diseases as compared to HIV/AIDS and malaria.

This was revealed last Monday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital by the National NTDs coordinator, Dr. Anyaike Chukwuma during a two- day media dialogue on Neglected Tropical Diseases Control which was organised by the

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In his paper titled “Overview of NTDs in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects” said the effects of the diseases which are strong enough to encourage poverty cycle include: organic damages due to chronic infections, poor health among women resulting to anemia and low productivity among others. Stressing that it is not a crime to be poor or to live in rural settings or urban slums, Dr. Chukwuma

said NTDs are preventable and treatable and can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa and recent statistics reveals that 40 percent of sufferers live in Africa. According to him: “Sustainable economic development cannot be addressed without targeting NTDs. Already, all the 36 states including the federal capital territory are endemic for one or two or more of the NTDs. “It is estimated that 122 million persons are at the risk of

contracting NTDs. 20 per cent are preschooled age children, 28 per cent are school age children within the ages of 5-14, and 52 per cent are adults from 15 years and above.

“Poor nutrition statistics especially in children, poor educational outcome as children cannot go to school and perform well, promotion of poverty and poor health among women, depression and mental imbalance ate some of the effects of the NTDs.”

Group Cautions on Use of Pesticides as Preservatives, Suicide League Against Pesticide Consumption (LAPC), a concerned group campaigning against the consumption of pesticides in Nigeria, has condemned the use of dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate, commonly abbreviated as an DDVP (and referred to as pesticides) for the preservation of raw foodstuff and other edibles by traders and stockists.

Emphasising that the practice is harmful and injurious to the health of citizens, the group’s statement released in Lagos came on the heels of the warning by Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to members of the public against the use of DDVP in the preservation raw food items.

In the statement signed by Ms Olatunde Odebiyi, public relations adviser to the group, “Pesticides are chemical compounds that are used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, fungi and unwanted plants (weeds). “ LAPC recognises the important role of food preservation in the value chain as the method of treating and handling to slow down spoilage and prevent food borne diseases but recommends the use of appropriate and standard preservatives with

no harmful side effects.

“Such will maintain the nutritional value, texture and flavour as against Dichlorvos (DDVP).”

According to the group, it has also observed the alarming frequency with which some distressed members of the public resort to the consumption of pesticides.

It therefore advised that pesticides are not for ingestion by human beings saying “they are harmful to the body, could lead to several health problems and also death if a consumer is not given immediate medical attention”.

The group buttressed its point by revealing that the global figure has it that 20 per cent of global suicide is through ingestion of poisonous substances, while 78.6 per cent of Nigerians who die by suicide is through the ingestion of poisonous substances such as pesticides, electrolytes (battery water) and bleach.

Odebiyi’s statement concluded that food stuff traders and stockists in Nigeria should not throw caution to the wind in the food preservation process while consumers must be more observant, sensitive and health conscious in their consumption patterns and habits.

Medical Experts Warn against Obesity, Others as Susceptible to COVID-19 ˾ ËÖÖ ÚÒãÝÓÙÞÒÏÜËÚÓÝÞÝ ÞÙ ÔÙÓØ ʨÑÒÞ ËÑËÓØÝÞ ÓØÐÏÍÞÓÙßÝ ÎÓÝÏËÝÏÝ

Rebecca Ejifoma Medical experts and members of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) have warned against obesity among others, as susceptible to COVID-19 pandemic.

This was the submission at the six days Eko2020 60th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting, which held both virtually and physiaclly from November 1 to 6.

Themed, ‘The 2020 Pandemic, A Critical Juncture for Reversing Health Tourism’, the conference was held at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Babatubde Ogundunmade, who described obesity as a danger in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the earlier Nigeria sits and face the current challenges, the better for the nation.

“The percentage that is affected are people that have poor morbidity who are more susceptible to it – like high blood pressure, obesity and cholesterol – combined effect,

not a single effect, is going to make them more susceptible to it,” Ogundunmade said.

According to the specialist, “the issue is that, whichever one it is, we need to sit down on our own side of divide and tackle obesity in our country. If we tackle it, we will make people less susceptible to pandemic any time it occurs, even though we are not praying for such.

“We should ensure protection of our populace in terms of weight check. Make sure that they don’t get to obesity. Most especially to obesity class four, it’s dangerous, and it puts them at high risk of the problem.”

On strategies to help the nation’s health system, Ogundunmade emphasised that the health system should be well funded. “We should embrace the private sector as a co-significant contributor to the health delivery in our country.”

As a Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Specialist, Ogundunmade said the pandemic has multifaceted effects on our lives beyond earth.9

Mrs. Bola Okolie, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Mrs. Titi Adenuga and Dr. Adeyemi Bero

Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation Awards 40 Couples IVF Grants Rebecca Ejifoma Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF), through its Project 40at40 in accordance with the wishes of the late founder, Mrs. Ibidunni Ighodalo, has awarded 40 couples In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) grants.

The 40 couples were presented their certificates of grants at a breakfast held in Victoria Island, Lagos, last Friday.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the Chairman of the foundation, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, said with the over 1,500 applications received during submission, it confirms the urgent need for intervention in this regard.

He explained: “This is what prompted Ibidunni to set up this foundation; the large number of people going through fertilityrelated challenges, and the fact that treatments are usually in the millions, which many cannot afford.”

Part of the criteria for the beneficiaries the chairman listed are, “You have to be married for about five years and have no child. We were looking for indigent people but also people

who could afford to look after a baby if the baby was born. We tried to select by age. Slightly more older people were given a bit more consideration. Coming down to 40 was very tough.”

While stating that it is an annual project that may subsequently do between 10 and 12, Ighodalo noted that the late Ibidunni had other projects like Baby’s Day Out - where they look for indigent mothers and their babies to provide for them; visit hospitals to bless the new babies that are born especially in the New Year.

“I’m hoping that by God’s grace we will open a mother and child centre in Ibidunni’s name,” said the chairman.

According to the pastor, the benefitting couples are from, “I’m sure there are people here from Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Ogun states among others. We expect that we will go through about N100 million in doing this because the average treatment we are doing here is about N1.4m.

“If they need an egg donor, then it goes up to about N1.8m.

Aside from that, there are others

tests they need to do that we need to support them with, that’s spending about N2m on each couple. We already spent almost N10m on them in getting the test done.”

While thanking all wellmeaning Nigerians and corporate bodies that donated towards this cause, Ighodalo on behalf of the foundation beckoned on others to keep the donation coming in order to help bring the dreams of couples to life.

Speaking also, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ms. Adedayo Richards, acknowledged the patience of the awardees through the selection process, thanking them for applying and thereby making the founder’s dream come alive.

“The 40 couples selected will now begin their process of assisted reproduction, IVF and other fertility treatments, sponsored by the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation,” she announced.

One of the benefiting couples, Mr. and Mrs. Abiodun Samuel Omodunmiju, who have been married for five years without a child, expressed gratitude to

God and the foundation.

“It hasn’t been really funny being without a child. Pressure here and there, but thank God. I am very much excited about this day. It’s a privilege. It’s such a great grace out of over 1,500 couples that applied we were shortlisted after the medical test and interviews and all other considerations. It’s just a great testimony.”

Adding her voice, his wife – Abiodun – exclaimed, “Wow! I thank God for making it possible. It’s good to have a supportive husband. Once he is supportive, you don’t think or look at what other people are saying.”

The Omodunmijus are one of the couples benefiting from the 40at40 project of IIF, a non-profit organisation created to raise awareness on issues pertaining to infertility. It aims to provide grants for couples that require fertility treatments such as IVF and intrauterine insemination.

They also provide the necessary psychological and spiritual support that couples require to deal with the pressures faced during the journey to conception.

NMA Seeks Assistance for Local Drug Manufacturers Hammed Shittu ÓØ ÖÙÜÓØ Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the federal government to expedite action towards giving an enabling environment to the nation’s local drug manufacturing companies in order to reduce the high cost of drugs in the country.

Speaking at the 2020 Press Week organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kwara state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin last Tuesday, the NMA State Deputy Chairman, Dr. Aderibigbe Ayodele, said there

is the need for stakeholders to demand government’s speedy action in this direction.

“Nigeria cannot make drugs.

The vaccine we gave those children in government hospitals was donated to Nigeria for free. That is why they say in hospital they don’t charge you for vaccine but they still charge you for cotton wool and spirit. Can’t Nigeria manufacture these drugs?

“Unless Nigerian government engages pharmaceutical companies to produce those drugs in Nigeria, the drugs will be expensive because those drugs are imported.

“It depends on exchange rate. It depends on Dollars. It depends on global oil prices.

Those are some of the factors that account for the high cost of drugs, especially, drugs for non-communicable diseases.”

Ayodele said the problem is beyond the scope of what NMA can address, hence the need for everyone to continue to appeal to the government for help.

Ayodele, who said that pharmaceutical companies would produce drugs at more affordable prices when government created enabling environment for drug manufacturers, added that

government must also strengthen regulatory bodies to ensure that drugs manufactured in Nigeria meets required specification.

“Most of the drugs you see in Nigeria apart from being fake, they are substandard. You go to hospital, they give you 500mg paracetamol. But take it to the laboratory and you will find out that it does not contain 500mg. “ It contains only 200mg but they wrote 500mg on it. How can it work? How will the person get better despite paying money for it? The ones produced in Nigeria are not produced properly they are fake.

36

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ 2020

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

FG to Monitor Impact of Survival Fund on MSMEs James Emejo Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË The Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs, Mr. Tola Johnson, yesterday said the federal government has installed monitoring mechanisms to assess the impact of the N75 billion Survival Fund Scheme, designed to provide a lifeline to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during an empowerment programme for beneficiaries in Abuja, he urged the successful applicants to take advantage of the scheme to better their lives, pointing out that, “not all that applied would be paid the money.�

He said: “This is a nationwide programme. So we came here today knowing that some have gotten and others are yet to get. “Members of the artisans who have been captured will get the

money, even though it might not get to every one of them.�

According to the presidential aide, the essence of the event was to among other things track the success recorded in the disbursement and associated impact on beneficiaries.

The scheme, is part of the N2.3 trillion stimulus package of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) made up of N60 billion MSMEs Survival Fund and N15 billion Guaranteed Off-take Schemes.

Though the government had indicated that it doesn’t not intend to pursue any recovery from beneficiaries, it is however committed to ensuring fairness and equity in the operation of the interventions. He, however, said the FCT had a total of 9,000 applicants, comprising of 4,500 artisans and 4,500 transporters.

Johnson said: “In FCT we

have 4,500 artisans and 4,500 beneficiaries in the transport sector. So we are reaching out to them through their associations. “After this, we will roll out the another program called the MSME grant which will deliver N50, 000 to businesses owners. “So we call on Nigerians to be patient with us, this is just the first batch in the fund distribution, we will do more.�

On his part, the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, the agency would track the impact of the scheme on individuals and economy in general. He said: “We are here to find out the impact of the fund distributed, to know the number of people that have received the money and those that are yet to. We will do more to ensure that the fund meet its purpose.�

Katagum

NDIC Pledges to Insure Fintech Depositors Nume Ekeghe Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Oluchi Chibuzor in Kaduna The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) said it is working to enhance its framework towards protecting depositors from dangers that could arise from emerging fintech solutions.

The Managing Director, NDIC, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, said this yesterday, in a speech he delivered at the opening ceremony of a workshop for members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Kaduna, where various facilitators deliberated on ‘COVID-19 & FinTech Disruption: Opportunities and Challenges for Banking System Stability and Deposit Insurance’.

He said he believes that fintech solutions are a catalyst to improving financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“The emergence of fintech is relatively new in this environment and the Central Bank of Nigeria has produced a policy guideline for the registration, licensing and supervision of fintechs. “We are also involved in that and we also partner with other regulatory authorities such as Securities and Exchange Commission and well as the NCC. “That is because each and every one of us have a role to play in the licensing and supervision and regulation of fintech. “We would continue to develop and improve your knowledge and skills so that you are up to date in what is happening globally and locally in terms of financial system so that you can help disseminate information and educate the generality of the public so that the public remains aware and

protected,� he said.

Speaking further, the NDIC boss said: “There are a lot of issues around consumer protections. As you know even, without the emergence of complicated products and services and channels of financial intermediation such biotech, even to day-to-day ordinary transactions between customers and banks.�

He added that the corporation had in recent times gotten numerous complaints and this has prompted them to further enhance their understanding of the fintech sector. “We do have hundreds if not thousands of complaints every now and then, either about ATM- related frauds or PoS-related frauds or excessive bank charges or excessive interest charges, e.t.c.

MOMAN Assures of Steady Products Supply Despite Fire Incident Peter Uzoho The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), an umbrella body of the biggest petroleum products marketing companies in the country, has assured Nigerians that there will be no disruption in the supply of products resulting from the fire incident that occurred at OVH Energy’s terminal in Apapa, Lagos.

MOMAN in a statement by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Clement Isong, said the fire incident which happened last Thursday, at

one of the OVH’s terminals has since been extinguished.

He said MOMAN, in collaboration with the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the marketing arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have taken steps to ensure continuous supply of product to Lagos, its environs and across the country. “We wish to assure members of the public that there shall be no product supply disruptions because of this event,� Isong said.

He said one of the major reasons MOMAN advocates for

the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector was to ensure adequate margins to finance depot safety upgrades. He said nonetheless, MOMAN as an association, insists on internationally accepted safety standards and shared best practices in their self-regulation drive and cross-inspect members’ facilities and installations to meet these standards.

According to Isong, MOMAN members have therefore continued to invest in and upgrade safe practices, firefighting and other equipment to meet the country and these jointly set standards.

OVH Energy Restates Commitment to Operational Safety Peter Uzoho OVH Energy Marketing has restated its commitment to ensuring the safety of life and property of all stakeholders in its area of operation.

The Chief Executive Officer of OVH Energy, Mr. Huub Stokman, stated this in a statement, following the fire incident that occurred at the company’s terminal in Apapa, Lagos, recently. “As a responsible corporate citizen our priority is the safety of life and property of all stakeholders. We are committed to a goal of zero health and safety

incident, so we have commenced immediate investigation of the cause of the fire,� Stokman said.

Informing members of the public and the residents of Apapa that the fire had been put out, he appreciated all stakeholders for their collaborative efforts in managing the incident.

According to Stokman, “OVH Energy, owners of the Apapa petroleum products storage facility, the subject of the ongoing fire incident, hereby inform the Apapa residents and general public that the fire was put off at 04:43 am on Saturday, 7th November.

“We wish to express our sincerest appreciation to all stakeholders and individuals who contributed to the timely management and extinguishing of the fire incident at OVH Energy terminal 1, at Apapa, Lagos�.

He commended the invaluable efforts and support of several agencies and organisations whose collboration helped to put the situation under control.

They included the Federal Fire Service; Adova Plc; the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Lagos State Fire Service; 11 Plc; MRS; and United Bank for Africa (UBA).

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

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 ÍŻÍŽ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $41.72 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $39.97 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

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

37

T H I S D AY Ëž ÍŻÍ°Ëœ Í°ÍŽÍ°ÍŽ

Mutual Benefits Assurance Seeks Shareholders’Approval to Raise N4.8bn Goddy Egene Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc is to raise additional capital of N4.8 billion through a private placement. And preparatory to the capital raising, shareholders of the company are to hold an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) on December 3, 2020 to give approval.

In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company said at the EGM it

would be resolved that pursuant to Article 35 of the Articles of Association, the authorised share capital of the company be and is hereby increased from N10 billion to N10.050billion by the creation of 100 million additional ordinary shares of 50 kobo each ranking parri-passu in all respect with the existing ordinary shares of the company.

The company added that the directors would be authorised to raise additional capital viathe

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

issue of debt or equity or a combination of both including redeemable convertible bonds, loan stock, bonds with options, whether by way of private placement or otherwise or by way of an offer for subscription, upon such terms and conditions to be determined at the discretion of the Directors and subject to any requisite regulatory approvals.

Also, the Memorandum and articles of Association would be

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

amended as follows: “Clause 6 of the Memorandum and Clause 5 of the Articles of Association be altered by deleting the words “the Share Capital of the company is N10billion divided into 20 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each and substituting with “the Share Capital of the Company is N10.050 billion divided into 20.100 billion ordinary sharesof 50 kobo each.�

Meanwhile, the stock market

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

continued with its gaining streak yesterday as the NSE AllShare Index appreciated by 1.9 per cent to close at 33,268.36.

Similarly, market capitalisation added N324.6 billion to be at N17.4 trillion. The growth was propelled by gains recorded by bellwethers such as MTN Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc and BUA Cement Plc. In all, 51 counters appreciated in price while one seven depreciated.

Activity level also surged

O F

as volume and value traded increased by 48.3 per cent and 17 percent to 858.2 million shares and N9.1 billion respectively. The most traded stocks by volume were FBN Holdings Plc (145.1 million shares), Transcorp Plc (126.3 million shares) and Zenith Bank Plc (60.8 million shares) while Zenith Bank Plc (N1.5 billion), Guaranty Trust Bank (N1.2 billion) and Dangote Cement Plc (N1.1billion) led by value.

1 0 / 1 1 / 2 0 2 0 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

R.T Briscoe Shareholders to Meet on November 26 in Lagos Goddy Egene

Plc will meet on November 26, ended December 31, 2019 and The shareholders will also re-elect R.T Briscoe reduced its loss after 2020, in Lagos to receive the the reports of the directors, directors and elect members of tax for year ended December 2019 t00 N1.277 billion, from N2.189 Shareholders of R.T Briscoe Nigeria financial statement for the year auditors and Audit Committee. the Audit Committee.

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors.

Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: Al fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 10- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Nov-2020, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

billion recorded in 2018. The company grew its revenue by 34 per cent to N6.939 billion in 2019.

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 1.04 1.05 15.37% ACAP Income Funds 0.85 0.85 11.21% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.51% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.71 3.83 51.46% 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 0.78% Anchoria Equity Fund 128.14 128.60 20.45% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.47 1.47 22.45% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.31 2.31 23.19% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.26 2.30 52.13% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 3.61% Paramount Equity Fund 15.17 15.45 21.22% Women's Investment Fund 129.84 131.24 17.71% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.16% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 126.41 127.02 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 141.55 142.71 Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 107.07 107.07 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 1.83% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.11 1.13 19.89% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.75 1.75 31.56% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 1.63% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1.44% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,188.79 1,205.12 7.30% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,487.49 1,489.01 25.19% FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund 109.80 109.81 9.80% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.01% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional N/A N/A N/A FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail N/A N/A N/A FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 148.12 150.46 13.82% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.36% Legacy Debt Fund 3.85 3.85 5.33% Legacy Equity Fund 1.43 1.46 26.40% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.13 1.13 4.33% 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 3,543.03 3,583.31 16.29% Coral Income Fund 3,217.37 3,217.37 4.82% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 3.45% 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 2.61% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.29 127.82 18.29%

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 2.43% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.67 2.73 22.22% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 154.49 155.36 7.82% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.36 1.38 20.68% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,141.46 1,141.46 9.76% 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 1.54 1.57 25.02% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.04 12.13 6.92% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 2.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.41 1.42 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.87 111.18 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 133.89 136.59 8.32% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.01 8.23% 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 25.40% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 5.98% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 25.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 7.10% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 28.80% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.85% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 21.31% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.22 1.22 4.82% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 110.39 110.39 5.93% 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 1.38 1.40 15.53% United Capital Bond Fund 1.87 1.87 8.24% United Capital Equity Fund 0.84 0.87 19.83% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.31% United Capital Eurobond Fund 115.72 115.72 5.89% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.07 1.07 1.43% 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 12.05 12.20 17.28% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.37 13.51 15.09% Zenith Income Fund 24.83 24.83 9.27% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 2.41%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

119.50

6.47%

53.51

2.80%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

11.04 117.56 86.52

11.14 117.56 88.12

31.26% 23.13% 15.17%

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

4.22 5.59 15.40 1.00 14.35 232.25

4.26 5.67 15.50 1.00 14.55 234.25

22.56% -5.36% 26.25% 2.16% 37.75% 21.60%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

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.

39

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Winners and Losers in US Elections The United States of America held elections last week. The build-up to the election, contest and aftermath have been quite dramatic and revelatory. Chika Mordi assesses of the winners and losers.

WINNERS President-elect Biden By the time votes are fully counted Biden will be more than six million votes ahead of outgoing President Trump. The largest winning margin over an incumbent in 84 years. Yet a thorny part remains to actually get through the electoral college as the incumbent actively tries to disrupt the process.

COVID 19 The US federal government leadership appears distracted by the elections in its declaratory war against the virus. There is evident inertia in the build up to the elections, and its aftermath.

Infection levels continue to break records. Ominously, lagging indicators like hospitalization and deaths are on the rise.

American Electorate The 2020 elections recorded the highest level of engagement in history. One critical metric, an estimated 66.5% of registered voters voted. The highest since the 19th century. A total of approx 160 million votes were cast. The largest in history.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) The activist movement riveted Americans, enjoyed popular support from an hitherto higher disapproval level. It also transformed anger at police killings of unarmed Blacks to votes. BLM support was critical in PresidentElect Biden flipping Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania. BLM

potentiated voter registration efforts in large cities.

Congressional Republicans The GOP is poised to retain the Senate against polls and pundit expectations (this author predicted GOP retention). Republicans also gained seats in the House albeit insufficient to flip control.

Stacy Abrams.

The Georgian rising star was instrumental in building registration and turnout infrastructure in the state of Georgia and in black-majority cities in purple states. Her currency continues to rise.

LOSERS Donald Trump The incumbent president undertook a heroic campaign effort. He increased his 2016 number of voters by over 11 million. Yet he lost. Unfortunately, he is currently seeking to stay in office by overturning his electoral loss at the electoral college. Given the arcane electoral college rules, and anachronistic U.S. constitution provisions, his pernicious strategy is legally possible. At the moment, it looks unpropitious if not improbable.

QAnon The infamous right wing conspiracy theorists predicted a Trump victory to their faithful. In the aftermath of Biden’s decisive victory, the group is unusually reticent. Leaving their disoriented followers to question their other prognostications.

Trump Progressive Socialism The progressive wing of the Dmeocratic party suffered electoral losses. Worse still the “socialist” toga and “defund the police” slogan led to electoral losses for moderate Democratic candidates in purple/red districts. Biden’s victory reinforces the notion that America is still a moderate nation.

Pollsters & Pundits Most polls and all poll aggregates, predicted a large Biden victory.

A Democratic takeover of the Senate, and more seats in the House. Pundits and polls predicted

Biden Biden victories in North Carolina & Florida - he lost both. Wrongly predicted tight races in Iowa, Ohio and Texas. Even after adjusting for margins of error, the polls were off. Noteworthy, that I predicted a very tight race with a marginal Biden victory.

October Surprise The dreaded October surprise was a poorly kept secret.

Despite the best efforts of Messr Bill Barr, Rudy Guliani and Ron Johnson, the Hunter Biden story failed to sway the electorate.

The Durham investigation,

Senate investigation and media “leaks” on Biden family “corruption” only resonated with the converted.

A media inured to President Trump’s skulduggery, made an editorial decision to ignore the story.

PENDING The Judiciary The fate of the elections lies in the hands of Judges in state and federal courts. The integrity of America’s democracy is under the microscope.

US Democracy The world’s oldest and most imitated democracy faces a stern test. There are abstruse if not dubious legal means by which Trump can be “re-elected” without winning the popular vote. Some will argue with merit that this should be in the losers column.

However, the events of the next 70 days will either affirm the efficacy of the system or eviscerate the moral standing of the United States on the global stage. *ProfessorMordioftheJohnsHopkins School of International Studies

US Lawmakers Urge Trump France: Several Wounded in Explosion at Saudi to Stop Deportation of Cemetery Multiple people were wounded The stabbing was carried out by France has urged its citizens television broadcast from outside African Asylum-seekers on Wednesday when an explosive a Saudi man, who was arrested. in Saudi Arabia and other the cemetery and acknowledged Some members of the United States Congress have called on the Donald Trump administration to halt the deportation of some African asylum-seekers scheduled to begin today.

Six Democratic lawmakers, in a joint statement yesterday, said the country’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was coercing the African asylumseekers to sign a voluntary deportation order, an act they described as a gross violation of human rights.

Some of the asylum-seekers are activists who fled their respective countries to escape arrest or extra-judicial killings from government forces.

Raising their suspicion of foul play by the immigration office and fear of imminent death awaiting some of the asylum seekers in their countries, the lawmakers called on the administration to halt the deportation flight scheduled for Wednesday, until the new administration is sworn in and reviews the claims.

“Our offices have been alerted that African asylumseekers from Cameroon and other African countries, many of whom were allegedly improperly coerced

by ICE to sign voluntary deportation orders, will be deported as early as tomorrow morning. Upon their arrival to their designated countries, many will be at imminent risk of death. Their deportation should be put on hold until the new administration is sworn in and able to carefully review these claims.

“Anything otherwise is outrageous and unacceptable.

We plan to introduce a measure this week to condemn this deportation should it take place. The United States should uphold its commitment under international treaties related to refugees and asylumseekers and halt this unjust deportation,” the lawmakers led by Karen Bass, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, jointly wrote.

Mr Trump introduced harsh policies against immigrants and asylum seekers such as work restrictions and delay of authorisation of work permit to one year after application from the usual 150 days.

Other lawmakers that signed the joint statement were Bennie Thompson, Shelia Jackson-Lee, Judy Chu, Joaquin Castro, and Jamie Raskin.

device hit an international ceremony commemorating the end of World War I at a cemetery in the Saudi city of Jiddah, according to French government officials.

Several countries had representatives at the ceremony, held at a cemetery for non-Muslim dead, the officials from the French Foreign Ministry said. The identities of the victims were unclear.

Wednesday’s attack follows on the heels of a stabbing on Oct. 29 that slightly wounded a guard at the French Consulate in Jiddah.

His motives remain unclear.

France has suffered two deadly attacks by foreign-born Muslims in the past month. A teacher was beheaded outside Paris for showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his class for a debate on free expression, and three people were later killed in a church in the southern city of Nice.

The depictions of the prophet sparked protests and calls for boycotts of French products among some Muslims in the Middle East and South Asia.

Muslim-majority countries to be “on maximum alert” amid the heightened tensions.

Wednesday marks the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and is commemorated in several European countries. The French officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, condemned the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion and Saudi officials have not commented on the attack.

A few hours later, Saudi state

that an attack involving an explosive device took place, but stressed that things were under control and the security situation was now “stable.” The report said an official statement about the cause and casualty details was sketchy.

Jiddah, the Red Sea port city, saw its Ottoman troops surrender to the local troops backed by the British in 1916 amid the war.

That sparked the start of the Kingdom of Hejaz, which later became part of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

2012 Coup: ECOWAS Court Orders Release of 12 Ex-Malian Soldiers The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the immediate release of 12 former soldiers belonging to the National Committee for the Recovery of Democracy and the Restoration of the State of Mali linked to the 2012 coup d’état in the Republic of Mali.

A statement by the court’s press unit on Wednesday stated that the court also ordered the payment of 20 million CFA francs to each of the 12 soldiers as compensation for the violation of the fundamental human rights

by the Malian government.

Judge rapporteur Gberi-Be Ouattara, who was said to have delivered the judgment on Tuesday, held that the respondent, the Republic of Mali, was liable for violating the rights of Captain Issa Tangara, and 11 others including General Amadou Sanogo.

The court was said to have specifically held that their right to fair trial, be tried within reasonable time, presumption of innocence, liberty and freedom from arbitrary detention,

were violated by the Malian government.

It also ordered the government to stop the violations and submit a report on the implementation/ execution of the judgment to the court within six months.

The court equally ordered the Republic of Mali to bear all costs.

However, the court rejected the applicants’ claim for the violation of their right to human dignity and held that the claim was unfounded.

The applicants’ lawyers, Issa Coulibaly and Mariam Diawara,

had in the suit marked, ECW/ CCJ/CCJ/20/19 and filed on May 3, 2019, claimed that the applicants were victims of rights violations.

They sued the Malian government for 500 million CFA francs as individual damages for the prejudice suffered.

They noted that their clients were indicted for various offences including kidnapping, assassination and complicity in 2013, but maintained that their pre-trial process was marred by irregularities amounting to the violations.

40

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

End Repressive Actions against EndSARS Protesters, Southern, M’Belt Leaders Urge Buhari Akeredolu wants promoters to explain sources of funds Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu inAbuja The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to halt all forms of divisive and repressive steps the federal government has taken so far against the EndSARS protesters.

But Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the South-west Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has urged the #EndSARS promoters whose bank accounts were frozen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to approach the court to explain the sources and use of funds in their accounts.

The Southern and Middle Belt leaders, in a joint statement issued yesterday and entitled, ‘You can’t kill EndSARS with terror,’ condemned the restrictions on the protesters’ accounts by the apex bank and the demonisation of the protesters by the government and its sympathisers.

The statement was signed

by Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south); Yinka Odumakin (South-west); Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-east) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).

It said the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who labelled the protesters as ‘terrorists’, should have a proper definition of terrorism, as he is serving a government that was once accused of paying 3 million Euros to Boko Haram by WSJ and whose governors pose every now and then with bandits they are cuddling.

The SMBLF lamented that if the country is properly governed, what should be happening now is proper healing and ensuring the country does not have to go through another unrest again.

The forum, while demanding the release of all those arrested or their being charged to court without delay, said the Buhari administration is sowing another seed that could trigger a bigger crisis.

It also demanded a halt of the inquisition going on, adding that it is an ill-wind that can blow no good. ‘’We did not miss the projection when we interpreted President Muhammadu Buhari’s regrets of his accepting the #ENDSARS demands quickly as being seen as a sign of weakness in his last broadcast as a declaration that he would bare his fangs and ruthlessly

deal with the protesters after the unwarranted and wicked killings of some of them at Lekki Tollgate and other places. ‘’Let us state clearly first that we are not in any way impressed by the belated and after-thought measure of sending some Kaduna delegates like the Chief of Staff and the IG round the non-Arewa sections of the country with a script to manipulate support for the ruthless killings of our young people and the barbaric desire to clamp down on social media as we have seen in the communiqués of the safaris to the South-east and South-west. We see the denial by Oyo Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, that the South-west did not canvass the clampdown on social media as a signal that the foot soldiers of the regime are deceiving themselves to colour the good points our people made at those sessions with the stinking propaganda of deluded colonial lords in Abuja. ‘’There have been reports of preventing leaders and supporters of the protest from travelling and alleged seizures of their travelling documents and freezing of their bank accounts without court process at a time the Attorney-General of the Federation is asking UAE authorities to give him the records of trials of six Nigerian Boko Haram funders convicted in that country by the highest court so he can certify whether justice was done or not,” the group said.

Speaking on a live television programme, Akeredolu said the issue of the freezing of the accounts was discussed last Sunday at the meeting of governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the South-west.

“The issue of the accounts that were frozen was discussed, but nobody said in the communiqué that we appreciated the government for freezing the accounts.

“We know that there are ways to get a few things done without putting it in the public glare and start contestation on the pages of newspapers. So, we know what we decided and we know what we want to do about that.

“The issue, when it was raised, generated debate. But it was so clear that some people were getting to fund this for reasons other than #EndSARS. So, if we know money moved from some accounts that were suspicious, do you say the

Two Suspected Robbers Set Ablaze in Delta Sylvester Idowu in Warri Angry mob in Delta State yesterday killed and set two suspected armed robbers ablaze at Refinery Junction in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.

However, one of the suspects managed to escape from the scene, according to an eyewitness.

The hoodlums, it was gathered, allegedly shot and wounded a teacher working with the Army Day Secondary School, Effurun.

They allegedly snatched and carted away hand bags containing about N200,000 from the teacher Opposite Jowil by Okoloba junction.

The wounded teacher, security

sources disclosed, is currently receiving medical treatments at the Central Hospital in Warri.

The robbers, who took advantage of the absence of policemen on the roads, allegedly operated in a tricycle popularly known as “keke” also headed to a drinking spot near the Ekpan Police Station, where they again dispossessed another set of people of their mobile phones and other personal effects.

“It is from there, they were chased to the refinery junction where they were apprehended and seriously beaten before they were set ablaze by angry mob,” the source said.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the incident.

government should keep quiet? It is something we are looking into,” he added.

Akeredolu also urged the youth representatives on the Lagos State Commission of Judiciary Inquiry probing cases of police brutality and the Lekki shootings to resume

sitting while they challenge the CBN action in court.

He said: “If I were counsel to those people, I will not advise them not to appear at that panel.

“Accounts are frozen, is that the first time it is done? If your account was frozen, you justify

why the money was there. You explain what use you have used the money. If it is, okay, we paid this caterer to give food to these boys when they were there. We spent money before the hoodlums took over. It will be explained. People will know and the accounts will be de-frozen.

“If for instance, my account was frozen, all I will do is to go to court and explain. Politicians’ accounts have been frozen and all they do is to go to court to explain and the court will say, leave the accounts and the accounts will be de-frozen and they get their money.”

STRENGTHENING COLLABORATION…

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde (left), and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the Chief of Air Staff’s visit to the Governor’s Office Secretariat, Ibadan…yesterday

FG Victimising Sponsors of Protests, Say Utomi, Falana, Banire, Others Lai Mohammed mum over freezing of accounts Ejiofor Alike A group identified simply as Concerned Professionals yesterday accused the federal government victimising the sponsors of the #EndSARS protests.

This is coming as the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed yesterday said he cannot answer any question on why the accounts of key #EndSARS promoters and protesters were frozen.

The group’s allegation was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Muiz Banire, Dr. Isuwa Dogo, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Olutola Mobolurin, and Professor Pat Utomi.

In the statement titled “Wrong Approach by the Federal Government,’ the group alleged that the current administration is seizing the protesters’ passports, arresting and detaining them sometimes with no or on spurious charges, and freezing the accounts of the said sponsors.

“It is unfortunate that rather than developing trust in the

youths that their complaints would be convincingly addressed as promised when the protests were on, the government has embarked on victimization and witch-hunting of the sponsors of the protests by seizing their passports, arresting and detaining them sometimes with no or on spurious charges and freezing the accounts of the said sponsors,” the statement partly read.

While blaming the recent protests by the youths on lack of trust, the group said the government’s action further undermined the citizens’ trust in the current administration.

The Concerned Professionals called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to “stop the adoption of undemocratic and inhuman methods in dealing with the aftermath of the EndSARS protests. The protest is a constitutional and democratic right which cannot earn the kind of victimisation going on.

“We, therefore, urge the government to implement the five-for-five accepted demands of the youths and engage them

genuinely. No amount of intimidation or harassment will work as it will only exacerbate tensions in an otherwise fragile polity.”

“We also urge the traditional rulers and progressive politicians to avoid them being used to sanctioning these acts by conflating the EndSARS protests with the criminal arson and looting that followed the protests.

“These rounds of regional meetings of traditional rulers and political leaders smack of manipulation to create a pseudonational consensus on the continuing and planned violation of the rights of citizens. Fundamental human rights are universally cherished rights.

“The country especially in its current economic straights should avoid becoming a pariah state as its youths are forced into exile as in the NADECO days.

“The news of the appearance of one of the activists of EndSARS in Canada is ominous. Our youths must not be made exiles just for speaking up. Neither must they come to harm in the country.

We cannot turn our youths into Zombies,” the group explained.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mohammed yesterday said he cannot answer any question on why the accounts of key #EndSARS promoters and protesters were frozen.

Mohammed was accosted by journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja.

He was asked the rationale behind blocking the bank accounts of some key #EndSARS protesters and what the government seeks to gain from the peace meetings.

The minister said he does not need to comment about the issue because the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up to investigate police brutality and extra-judicial killings have started their work across the country.

Mohammed said any response from him will preempt the findings from the panels of inquiry across the country.

10 Policemen Dismissed for Murder, Corruption, Others in Lagos Ejiofor Alike The Lagos State Police Command has announced the dismissal of 10 personnel for offences ranging from murder, discreditable conduct, excessive use of power, corrupt practices, and negligence.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a press statement issued yesterday.

The statement was titled ‘Lagos command kicks against

indiscipline, dismisses 10 personnel’.

It noted that some of the affected personnel were attached to Lagos State Police Command while others were serving at various police formations within Lagos State.

Part of the statement read, “In its bid to promote discipline and core values of policing in Lagos State, the Police Command has tried 81 personnel for various criminal and disciplinary offences

that were committed between October 2019 and October 2020, ranging from murder, discreditable conducts, excessive use of power, corrupt practices and negligence.

“Ten personnel were dismissed.

In addition, 18 of the men were reduced in ranks and 29) were awarded #10 naira major entries and warning letters accordingly.

Others were awarded extra fatigue while 16 of the men were discharged and acquitted for want of evidence.

“The personnel tried in the orderly room proceedings conducted at various locations in Lagos State included 45 Inspectors. Similarly, some senior officers of the command have been queried for various disciplinary offences and the queries are being processed at the Force Headquarters Abuja for necessary action and punishments.

“The trials were instituted based on a series of complaints/allegations leveled against them.”

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

NEWSEXTRA

Attacks on Lagos, Injury to All, Says Ikpeazu South-east leaders, South-south indigenes stand with Sanwo-Olu Ejiofor Alike Abia State State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said hoodlums, who carried out the coordinated attacks on public assets and private businesses in Lagos State orchestrated the violence to hurt the whole country.

This is coming as indigenes of South-east and South-south zones living in Lagos have also paid solidarity visit to Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Alausa.

The Igbo leaders, who were led by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, restated their commitment to the growth of Lagos, while aligning with the move to rebuild the destroyed assets.

Ikpeazu condemned the arson, stressing that Lagos remains a home for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, language or religion.

Ikpeazu spoke yesterday during his visit to Lagos to commiserate with Sanwo-Olu over the attacks.

The Abia governor particularly thanked his Lagos State counterpart for protecting the businesses and property owned by Igbo during the violence.

Ikpeazu said: “I am here to commiserate and show my concern to my brother, Governor of Lagos, over

the event that happened some two weeks ago. I’m particularly touched by the level of destruction, which will hurt all Nigerians living in Lagos.

This is because Lagos is home to all; as commercial city, it is a place where everyone speaks the same language.

“I want to particularly thank Governor Sanwo-Olu for giving protection to our brothers from the South-east during the crisis. This is an indication that our people and their businesses are safe in Lagos.

We will continue to live as a united country. With all of us working together, we can keep flourishing.”

Ikpeazu urged Igbo people living in Lagos to continue to abide by the laws of the state and eschew actions that may cause mistrust between them and members of their host communities.

On his part, Sanwo-Olu thanked the Abia governor for taking the pain to travel down to Lagos from the Southe-ast to identify with the residents over the violence.

He promised that Lagos State Government would continue to support business aspirations of the Igbo and protect their rights to live in Lagos.

Also, indigenes of South-east and South-south living in Lagos

paid solidarity visit to Sanwo-Olu. Igbokwe, who led the Igbo leaders, said a true Igbo son could not have been part of the those who set fire on the public assets, stressing that Igbo people are known as builders.

He said: “The attacks are unimaginable in terms of cost and worth. There is nothing that can make a true son of Igbo to participate in destruction of the land where our businesses have been most successful.

“There is an adage that says you cannot go and pass faeces where they put your food. We pledge our loyalty and stand by the Government and the people of Lagos.”

Leader of the South-south indigenes in Lagos, Otunba Isaac Emiyade, said he had lived in the state since 1977 and had never witnessed public protests in which public assets were destroyed at such level.

Emiyade praised Sanwo-Olu for promoting cohesion among all ethnic nationalities cohabiting in Lagos, pledging that people of South-south residing in the State would continue to support move to strengthen peace and progress of Lagos.

Court Grants Six FCT #EndSARS Protesters Bail Alex Enumah in Abuja Six Abuja residents arrested for participating in the #Endsars protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yesterday admitted to bail by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in the Wuse Area of Abuja.

Magistrate Musa Eneye granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 each to the six defendants, while delivering ruling in their bail application.

The six defendants were arraigned last Friday by the FCT Commissioner of Police on a one-count charge bordering on alleged public disturbance.

They include; Olutosin Adeniji, Yasidu Bashiru, Abdulsalam Zubairu, Kabiru Garzali, Paul Akinwumi and Devour Chomo.

They were arrested on November 6, while on a #endsars protest at the entrance of the National Assembly.

According to the First Information Report, the defendants were wearing T-shirts and other inscription of #RevolutionNow. They pleaded not guilty to the charge read against.

However, move by their lawyer, Mr. Tope Akiyode, to orally argue their bail application was rejected with the judge ordering their remand at the Suleja Correctional Center, pending the hearing of their formal bail application fixed for November 11, 2020.

Arguing the bail application of the defendants yesterday, Akiyode told the court that the defendants have been in

custody since their arrest on November 6.

He further submitted that the offence the defendants were charged with is bail-able, adding that the defendants are entitled to bail.

The defendants’ lawyer therefore urged the court to release the defendants on bail on the most liberal terms, adding that they will not jump bail and will be available for their trial.

Although the bail applications with the affidavit evidence were served on the legal department of the FCT Police Command, there was however no legal representation for the complainant when the matter was called and neither was any excuse offered for the absence.

South-South United for Restructuring, Others, Says Okowa Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday said the states in the South-south region were united in the quest for restructuring of the country.

Okowa stated this during his yesterday quarterly interaction with journalists in Asaba, the state capital.

He said that there was need to restructure the country to pave the way for the devolution of more powers to states and local governments.

According to Okowa, who is the Chairman, South-south Governors’ Forum, Nigeria is not making progress as it ought to because the issues of restructuring and resource control are yet to be addressed.

He disclosed that restructuring and resource control as well as security would form a major plank of the discussion at a meeting

between a Presidential delegation and leaders of the South-south billed for Port Harcourt on Friday.

“The South-south Governors have been in the forefront for the devolution of power to states and local governments.

“Restructuring, resource control and security of the country, especially in the Niger Delta will be a major topic of discussion at the Presidential parley coming up in Port Harcourt,” he said.

Responding to a question on the Gold deposit in Zamfara and the decision by the state government to control the resource, the governor said that there were Acts of the National Assembly that dealt with oil production and solid minerals.

“We cannot apply laws in such a manner that it becomes discriminatory because you cannot

mine solid minerals somewhere in Zamfara and you can’t allow Niger Delta to manage their oil,’’ he said.

On complaints from oil producing communities, he said that there was an ongoing process to ensure that what got to the communities became statutory and enshrined in the Constitution or in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Okowa said that governors in the South-South were doing well in managing the 13 per cent derivation fund to their states. ``The kind of money we spend, especially on road construction in the Niger Delta is very huge compared to what other states spend and we also spend lots of money securing oil facilities and keeping peace in the region.

42

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

Again, NBC Cautions TV Stations against Unverified Information Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has repeatedly warned broadcast stations in the

country to independently verify the authenticity of information sourced on social media before disseminating it to the public.

NBC had fined Channels Television, Arise News channel

WHO Probes Suspected Yellow Fever Outbreaks in Delta, Enugu OnyebuchiEzigboinAbuja

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has joined the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and DeltaandEnuguStateGovernmentsto investigate and respond to the recently reported deaths from unknown cause in some communities in the two states.

Speaking on the disease outbreak, WHO said investigations have revealed that parents, who bring their children for immunisation in the affected states, have always refused to receive yellow fever vaccination when offered by health workers.

“From the outset of the current outbreak, epidemiologists and other health professionals in WHO, NCDC and NPHCDAare working in support of the state public health teams or Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) that have been organised and trained in each of the affected states,” it said.

WHO stated that the outbreak investigation is ongoing in each

state through the RRTs under the coordination of respective state Ministries of Health. Hospitals have been identified in each state and capacitated to manage patients who develop symptoms and complications.

In a statement issued by Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo of the WHO, he said Nigeria is one of the countries implementing Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy.

He said the strategy is being steered by WHO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to protect at-risk populations, prevent international spread and contain outbreaks rapidly.

“As part of EYE strategy, Nigeria has developed a 10-year strategic plan for the elimination of yellow fever epidemics. Through this strategy, the country plans to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the targeted population in all the states by 2026,” Mulombo said.

Kidnappers Release Abducted Edo Deputy Gov’s Brother Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city Abductors of the brother of the Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, Mr. Fredrick Shaibu, have reportedly freed him.

A family source disclosed that the victim, who was kidnapped last Monday morning while taking his children to school, was released yesterday evening.

When further inquiry was made if the family paid any ransom, the family source said: “I can tell you authoritatively that Frederick has been released to the family, and he is in good health. The family is happy to have him back and he is also excited to rejoin his family after his ordeal in the

hands of his abductors.”

Fredrick was kidnapped by gunmen while driving his kids to school in Irhiri, Benin-city, the Edo State capital, last Monday.

The kidnap incident took place at Aruogba area, Irhiri in Oredo Local Government Area of the state capital, at 7 a.m. when he was driving his children to school.

The children were left by the gunmen while their father was taken away.

It is believed that the kidnappers came through the Ogba River because the people who witnessed the incident said they went through the bushes that lead to the riverside.

Obasanjo Mourns Balarabe Musa Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has joined other prominent leaders to mourn the demise of former Kaduna state governor, the late Alhaji Balarabe Musa.

Obasanjo described Balarabe as a patriot whose death was received with deep shock.

In a communique signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, the expresident said the late former governor of Kaduna State had an unwavering belief in a greater Nigeria.

“He accordingly gave the best of his remarkable talent and ability in pursuit of this goal,” Obasanjo said.

The late politician emerged the first civilian Governor of Kaduna

State on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979 and re-affirmed himself as one of Nigeria’s most articulate Governors at the time.

“Despite his latter impeachment as the Governor of Kaduna State in 1981, he contested an elective office for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) where he ran as Presidential Candidate in the 2003 election which unfortunately he lost.

“The late Alhaji Balarabe Musa will be remembered for his invaluable contribution to Nigeria’s political evolution.

“He brought renewed activism, verve and resourcefulness to bear on the nation’s polity,” Obasanjo concluded.

and Africa Independent Television (AIT) N3 million each for what it termed: ‘unprofessional coverage’ of the recent nationwide protest against police brutality.

In a reaction to the public criticisms over the fine for broadcasting live footages during the #EndSARS protest across the country, the acting Director-General of NBC, Prof.

Armstrong Idachaba, said the NBC

engaged and consulted widely before imposing the N3 million fine on each of the broadcasting organisations.

Idachaba stated this yesterday on the Morning Show of Arise News channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

According to him, “We had to impose the fine because we discovered that many broadcasters became reckless in the coverage

of the #EndSARS protest. At the beginning of the protest, there were fairness in the coverage and broadcasting; there was professionalism reasonably, but there was a dramatic turnaround in the coverage and broadcast the moment the protest became violent. At that point, there were deliberate distortions of what was broadcast to the public; there were manipulated story

lines, fake narratives and false graphic presentations on television screens emanating from the broadcast stations. So, rather than help in addressing the already violent situation and aggravate the situation we already had at hand then, the broadcast stations were clearly misrepresenting facts, which were in clear violations of the provision of the broadcasting code.”

TIME TO END IMPUNITY...

L-R: Member of Cross River Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality and Restitution, Justice Tanko Ashang; Chairman, Justice Michael Edem; and member, Justice Eno Ebri, during the inaugural sitting of the panel in Calabar...yesterday

Take Responsibility for EndSARSViolence, PDP Tells Presidency Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged the Muhammadu Buhari presidency to stop playing the ostrich, rather, it should take responsibility for the violence and looting by hoodlums deployed to discredit the peaceful protest by Nigerians against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) in various

parts of the country.

The party said it was shameful that instead of owning up and apologising for its alleged role in the deployment of hoodlums and security operatives to attack and kill peaceful protesters, the Buhari presidency is rather unleashing its spokespersons, as spin doctors on national television, to politicise the issues, distort facts, threaten Nigerians and point fingers.

According to the National

Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the action of the Buhari presidency in rushing to the media to distort fact and threaten Nigerians, appears to be in desperation to blackmail the various enquiry panels, cow witnesses and scuttle efforts to unravel the truth.

It said this further explains the desperation to gag Nigerians on social media as well as escalated clampdown on broadcast stations

in the country.

The party said the Buhari administration must bear the blame for the evident hijacking of the peaceful protest by armed thugs who were seen on video being conveyed in vehicles belonging to security agencies, and openly coordinated to unleash violence in the streets, leading to maiming, looting, arson and wanton destruction of property in the country.

French Ship Builder Delivers PatrolVessel, C-Falcon Interceptor to Nigerian Navy Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja French Ship builder, Ocea, has announced the delivery of a patrol vessel, C-Falcon, to the Nigerian Navy.

It said the first of four C-Falcon interceptors was delivered to the Nigerian navy after sea trials were conducted.

The company said the delivery of three more vessels would follow suit.

Ocea said the C-Falcon Interceptor is designed for escort,

patrol and offensive missions, including boarding operations and personnel insertion.

The C-Falcon is 14.6 metres long and 3.6 metres wide, and can reach a top speed of 45 to 55 knots with a range of 260 miles at 25 knots. It has a crew of four.

According to Mer et Marine, Nigeria’s vessels would be 17 metres long and equipped with two hydrojets.

They would be able to carry 16 commandos under the bridge.

A ramp at the front would allow

for beach landings, Defence Web reports.

Ocea in October 2020 said the C-Falcon delivery followed the supply of numerous vessels to Nigeria over the last eight years, including one FPB 98 Mk I patrol vessel, eight FPB 72 Mk II and two FPB 110 Mk II patrol vessels.

It also won three tenders for two additional FPB 110 boats, one OSV 190 SC-WB and four C-Falcon vessels, adding that two additional 35 metres FPB 110 boats would be delivered by year-end.

The C-Falcon can be fitted with a remotely operated machinegun turret Ocea on September 24, 2020, launched the 60 metres OSV 190 hydrographic survey vessel for the Nigerian navy, the Lana, two years after the contract was placed.

The new vessel was conceived as a replacement for the Nigerian navy survey vessel, NNS Lana, which was decommissioned about 10 years ago.

Construction began in 2018, with the Lana expected to join the Nigerian navy fleet in 2021.

Book on Comprehensive Private Equity for Launch A book titled: ‘The Law and Practice of Private Equity’ will be launched next week.

The book, which is authored by Professor Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), offers an invaluable, timely guide to the law and practice of private equity.

The book, which will be unveiled at a virtual book presentation on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, examines the concept of private equity and highlights its significance as an alternative financing model that helps to bridge the funding

gaps for businesses and companies.

According to a statement by Prof. Ajogwu’s law firm, Kenna Partners, a good number of start-ups and entrepreneurs who do not have the requisite capital to see ideas to fruition and must rely on outside financiers or external funding options, will see the book as a good companion to explore business opportunities.

It stated that Ajogwu was inspired to write the book given his desire to share practical knowledge and as

private equity funding is a reliable financing option for businesses in emerging markets including Nigeria.

The book which was published

by Thomson Reuters is available in both hardback and e-book versions.

Notable confirmed speakers include: Mr Derrick Roper, CEO of Novare Holdings and Novare Equity Partners, a private equity firm investing exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa; Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Group Managing Director/

Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc; Mrs Tariye Gbadegesin, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Fund Managers; Mr Anthony Ogbechie, Chief Financial Officer, Capital Alliance Nigeria Limited; Mr Yinka Sanni, Regional Chief Executive, West African Region, Standard Bank; and Professor E n a s e O k o n e d o , Dean of Lagos Business School.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

43

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

Nigerian Traders in Ghana Write FG, Demand Immediate Evacuation Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Nigeria Traders in Ghana under the auspices of Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) yesterday presented a ‘Save-our-Soul (SoS)’ letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria, demanding immediate evacuation from Ghana.

The shops of Nigeria traders

in Ghana had been shut for almost a year in a retaliatory move against the decision of the Nigerian Government to close its land boarders to curb smuggling.

The delegation led by the President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), Dr. Ken Ukoaha, along with the president of NUTAG and other members of the association,

presented the letter to the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja yesterday.

Their request, among others, is to ensure a peaceful and secure evacuation of Nigerians in Ghana back to Nigeria.

In a statement issued yesterday

by Mr. Gabriel Odu of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit

of NIDCOM, it was revealed that the letter contained a list of 753 members who signed it to be supported to return home.

According to the statement, “They explained that the evacuation has become necessary because of the constant and consistent harassment, intimidation, torture and threat to life, as well as a total lockdown of their means of livelihood, as

their shops have been locked for almost one year by the Ghanaian Government.

“More so, since all diplomatic niceties at the highest level between Nigeria and Ghana have not yielded positive results, they need to be evacuated to Nigeria.

“Now, landlords are coming to ask us for rent. How do we pay with our shops locked up for so long? We are dying here.”

However, Dabiri-Erewa has called for peace, stressing that all relevant stakeholders would continually be engaged.

She said it was indeed sad that their shops have not been reopened for almost one year, citing draconian conditions against ECOWAS Protocols of free trade and movement of goods and services.

BUA Cement Donates Transformers,Vehicles to Edo Community BUA Cement has donated six units of 500KVA transformers to boost access to electricity in Okpella community of Edo State, as part of his commitment to improve lives in its host community.

The cement manufacturing giant also provided two security patrol vehicles to the security agencies within the community.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Managing Director/CEO of BUA Cement Plc, Mr. Yusuf Binji, stated that the company’s social responsibility was a critical part of its DNA and as a result, it was committed to the development of host communities wherever it operates.

He said the six units of 500KVA transformers would ease the burden of access to electricity currently being experienced in Okeplla and promised that BUA would also install the transformers on the community’s behalf.

On the security vehicles, Binji noted that it would help boost the capacity of the security agencies within the community to secure the environment for the residents and businesses in Okpella.

“Our commitment to sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable business practices will remain critical to our business at BUA Cement,” he added.

Labour Leader, Aremu, Mourns Balarabe Musa Peter Uzoho Labour leader, Mr. Issa Aremu, yesterday joined numerous Nigerians to mourn the late first civilian Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, amid glowing eulogies.

The late Musa died last Monday and was buried the same day according to Islamic rites.

Aremu, in a tribute yesterday to late Musa, said Nigeria, Africa and the progressive world have lost an audacious, principled, and selfless man.

According to him, “I bear posthumous witness that Nigeria, Africa and the progressive world have lost an audacious, principled, and selfless statesman. He commendably stood for good principles in governance.

“He never cheaply fell for corruption. On the contrary, he stood for all that was good-integrity

and service to the downtrodden-the talakawa in public service.

“Balarabe Musa never sermonised against corruption, he lived on incorruptibility and integrity. His house was ever wide open to all. He was also an educated philosopher, a statesman, an avid reader and intellectual debater.”

Aremu said Musa’s weakness was too much of principles and not political opportunism.

The Labour leader said he had been privileged to engage with Musa for over 40 years as a student, journalist and trade union activist, adding that: “He was my political mentor as a budding progressive politician with amazing memory and recollections.”

He added that the late Kaduna State governor was the first to endorse his candidature as the Labour Party candidate for Kwara State governorship election in 2019.

Two to Die by Hanging in Ekiti for Robbery Victor OgunjeinAdoEkiti An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, presided over Justice Lucas Ogundana has sentenced two accused persons, Lanre Kayode, 34, and Olanrewaju Aremu, 35, to death by hanging.

The two condemned persons were arraigned in court for conspiracy and robbery of a resident of Ado Ekiti, Jimoh Folajoke Oluremi.

In his judgment yesterday, Justice Ogundana said: “The law has prescribed mandatory punishment for the offence committed by the accused persons.

“The court can nevertheless pass a less sentence having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case.

“Accordingly, the two accused persons are hereby sentenced to death by hanging until they breathe the last, while on charges of conspiracy and burglary, you are sentenced to life imprisonment.”

As contained in the charge sheet, the convicts were charged for conspiracy, armed robbery and burglary contrary to sections 403 (A),402(2)(a) and 411(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.

The act was committed on July 14, 2017, around 2 a.m. at Oke Ila area of Ado Ekiti when they were armed with guns and cutlasses to rob one Jimoh Folajoke Oluremi of her laptops, phones and Toyota Camry car.

IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH…

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, Director Veterinary Services, Dr. Rasheed Marculay; and Chairman/CEO Lion Unisco Enterprises, Mr. Niniola Olayiwola, during commissioner’s inspection of the facilities at the new abattoir in Ilaje Bariga, Lagos … yesterday SUNDAY ADIGUN

Industrial Disputes May Worsen as SSANU, NASU Propose Payment Platforms Deji Elumoye in Abuja The end to the over eight-month old strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may not be in sight as the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have kicked against the proposed University Transparency Account System (UTAS) presented by ASUU as alternative to Integrated Payroll

and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, made this known yesterday while speaking with reporters at the end of budget defence session his Ministry had with the Senate Committee on Labour.

According to him, it is not proper to be using different payment platforms in the Nigerian Universities adding that the ministry had already forwarded the UTAS

to NITDA for assessment.

“We have forwarded their system to NITDA for assessment; they have to come back from strike to know what we can do in the interim. They have to come to hear that there are other systems in the university that they have their own system of payment and they are going to go with UTAS. “Bodies such as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academics Staff Union of Universities (NASUU),

NationalAssociation of Technologists in Universities, (NATU), are also proposing separate payments platforms if ASUU succeeded with its own .

“If we ignore them and what they are saying even if ASUU comes back, they will close the lecture halls, they will close the laboratories.

We don’t want that to happen. That’s why we are taking measures to carry everybody along.”

House Uncovers over N6bn Unspent Funds in EFCC The House of Representatives yesterday uncovered about N6 billion unspent funds in the coffers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying the commission may have gotten too many budgetary releases to the detriment of other agencies.

The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Mohammed Umar, had told members of the

House Committee on Financial Crimes that, out of about N32 billion budgeted for the commission for the 2020 fiscal year, about N24.99 billion was released by the government, while about N18.23 billion of the released amount has been fully utilised.

Umar however told the committee that his commission was not aware of the provision

in the 2020 appropriation which granted them five percent of all monies collected by the commission from recoveries for administrative purposes.

Umar said “total releases as at September 2020 was N24.99 billion representing 70.8 percent of the total appropriation. The release for personnel cost is N21.98 billion, overhead cost, N2.100 billion and capital of N1.36 billion. Out of

the total releases, N18.23 billion representing 74.88 percent has been fully utilised.

“A breakdown of the 2020 performance report shows that N24.99 billion was appropriated as personnel cost for the commission, out of which the sum of N21.397 billion has been released for the payment of salaries and allowances of staff between January and

House Summons SGF, Others over Non-audit of 801 MDAs, 110 Foreign Missions Udora Orizu in Abuja The House of Representatives has expressed concerns over the inability of the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (AuGF) to carry out the audit of 801 federal agencies and parastatals as well as Nigerian foreign missions across the world since 2017.

The lawmakers, during the investigative hearing held by the House Committee on Public

Accounts chaired by Hon. Wole Oke, resolved to summon the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed; Director-General of Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze; Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris; Head of Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan and the chairman of the

Federal Civil Service Commission.

The lawmakers also frowned at the non-provision of required funds for the recruitment of 611 new staff members needed to bridge the manpower shortfall in the office of the Auditor General of the Federation despite obtaining waiver from the Head of Service of the Federation since 2017.

The Chairman of the committee, Oke, said: “A very critical professional body is being under-

funded. Even in fund allocation for the budget, the director-general of the budget office has intentionally and deliberately underfunded the office of the Auditor General so that he won’t be able to discharge its duties and uncover all the illegal criminal activities and lootings going on in the country. On what basis would you be funding agencies that have no value to the economy at the detriment of the AuditorGeneral’s office?

44

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2020 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

24 HOURS...

THISDAY Deputy MD Tasks Financial Journalists on Authoritative Reporting Nume Ekeghe andOluchi Chibuzor The Deputy Managing Director of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, has tasked financial journalists on the need to be vast with necessary technicalities of their beat in order to authoritatively interpret the trends in the industry.

This, according to him, is because

financial journalism is one of the most specialised beats in the newsroom, whether physical or virtual.

Komolafe stated this at the 2020 Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation(NDIC) workshop organised for business editors and members of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), with the theme: ‘COVID-19 and Fintech Disruption:

INEC Seeks Improved Synergy with Media Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has called for improved synergy with the media as a way of enhancing peaceful and credible elections in Nigeria.

The Acting Chairman of INEC, AVM Ahmed Mu’azu (rtd), made the call on yesterday in Abuja, at the commission’s virtual meeting with the media.

Mu’azu commended the positive impacts of the media on the nation’s electoral process and its democracy, as demonstrated during the recent Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

He said: “On the Edo and Ondo elections, the commission must

An Osun Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo yesterday remanded two female in Ilesha Correctional Facility for alleged attempt to murder Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State.

The two identified as Suliyat Tajudeen (20years) and Ayomide Abdulazeez (20years) were charged for conspiracy, attempted murder, malicious damage and burglary.

The police prosecutor, John Idoko, informed the court that Suliyat, Ayomide and others at large on October 17 2020, at about 4:30pm did conspire among themselves to attempt killing Oyetola by firing

guns and throwing stones at him.

He added they unlawfully damaged seventeen vehicles in the governor’s convoy.

They burgled Justrite Mall to steal laptops, mobile phones and phone accessories valued at N3,568,000 million belonging to Ashiru Ibrahim Olayemi.

However, the two accused person pleaded not guilty to the five- count preferred against them by the police.

Their counsel, Nurudeen Kareem, made an oral bail application for his clients assuring the magistrate to provide reliable sureties.

AAAN Unveils FirstVirtual LAIF Awards The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has concluded arrangements to hold its first virtual Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) Awards.

This was announced in a statement signed by AAAN Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Temitope Jemerigbr.

The webinar, which will hold on December 11, will have two sessions.

The first, with “Place of identity and how it can help us distinguish our work in the world” as topic, will have celebrated filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, as keynote speaker.

The second, with the topic, “Ascendancy of Digital and the Shape of Our Industry Going Forward,” will have Yash Deb, Executive Creative

financial sector should hone their skills in critical reading and authoritative interpretation of the trends of things in the industry. As a matter of duty, the financial journalist should be an interlocutor in the emerging trends and issues within the industry.

“In this regard, the financial journalists should be morally, intellectually and technically equipped to perform the crucial role in the interest of the public.

“Financial journalists should keep abreast of the publications of the various financial institutions they report. They should subscribe to

journals and read books published on issues and development in the industry.

“In effect, the financial sector is not immune to the new normal, which pervades the economy and society. As scientists continue to seek a deeper understanding of the virus, financial experts are globally drawing lessons from its consequences. They are examining the implications on banking competitions, interest rates, technological trends, contending forces of globalisation and antiglobalisation, regulations among

others,” Komolafe explained.

He argued that a newspaper is respected as a serious content provider when the finance and economy section is rich in factual news and informed analyses, insisting that the media (financial journalist) has the constitutional role of holding the government and other decision-makers in the Speaking on equipping the financial correspondent to play its role effectively, the THISDAY DMD stressed that it was the media that could make the voices of the experts ‘louder’.

place on record, the tireless and sustained campaign by the media against electoral violence, before, during and after the elections.

“That level of campaign was unprecedented in our recent electoral history.

“The media not only kept the imperative of peaceful election in the ‘front burner’ but also kept the spotlight on all political parties and their candidates throughout these elections.

“The commission acknowledges this positive contribution and looks forward to improved partnership and support, as we continue our collective strides towards the consolidation of credible elections and our democracy.

Court Remands Two for Attempted Murder of Oyetola Yinka Kolawole inOsogbo

Opportunities and Challenges for Banking System and Depositors Insurance,’ held in Kaduna.

While delivering a paper virtually on ‘The Role of the Media in Promoting Financial Systems Stability in COVID-19 Era and Beyond,’ he said no quality medium, whether newspaper, television network or a blog, that desires the attention of decision-makers in the public or private sector can afford to ignore the primacy of financial news and analysis in its content.

“In a period of enormous disruptions, journalists reporting the

Director, Ogilvy Africa, as keynote speaker.

Chairman of LAIF Management Board, Mr. Lanre Adisa, stated that the organisers of the award have created an online portal where all activities for the awards will be carried out. Submission of entries will be done using the online portal. Also, the jurors, who will be working remotely, will judge each category online through the portal.

“We are pleased to be able to reward creative excellence within the industry. Every year, we recognise advertising creatives. This year, we will also be rewarding creative ideas of individuals within and outside the industry who are willing to participate in this year’s awards,” said Adisa

TOUCHING LIVES…

L-R: Chairman of All Land Chiefs, Chief Benjamin Oluka; Manager, West African Exploration and Production Company Limited (WAEP), Mr. Ayo Adebosin; Social Performance Adviser, Mr. Uzochukwu Nduka; Oneh of Onne, King JD Osaronu; community leaders, Chief JT Ogoru, Chief Obarijima Osaronu; and beneficiary, Mrs. Ufuoma Ehimiaghe, during the presentation of COVID-19 palliatives by WAEP to Onne community in Port Harcourt …recently

Ohakim Arraigned over False Information, Granted N10m Bail Alex Enumah in Abuja A former Governor of Imo State, Mr. Ikedi Ohakim, was yesterday arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on a three-count charge bordering on criminal defamation filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police.

According to the police, in May 2019, Ohakim allegedly “gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa that she threatened you with gun knowing it to be false and thereby committed an

offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of the Northern Nigeria.”

“That you Ikedi Ohakim, on or about the 23rd day of May 2019, at Asokoro, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did unlawfully gave false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, that you have a plot of land for sale at Lagos state, knowing it to be false…,” count two of the charge read.

In the third count, the former governor was accused of unlawfully using the name

of the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as the owner of the purported land situated at Ikeja, Lagos State.

But Ohakim pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Moving an application for bail, his counsel, Mr. Ken Njemanze, prayed for an order admitting his client to bail.

In the affidavit attached, the defendant promised to make himself available for trial at all times.

In opposition, Mr. Stanley Nwodo, police counsel, urged the court not to grant bail.

“Bail should not be granted, my lord. Even though the offences before this court is bailable, caution should be applied,” he said.

“The justice we seek is a two-way traffic - Justice for the state, justice for the nominal complainant and justice for the defendant himself.

“Also, the defendant has the capacity to interfere with the case.

Responding, Ohakim’s lawyer said: “He is not in government; he does not have the capacity to interfere with the case. He is just a simple citizen of Nigeria.”

FG to Unveil Techno Oil’s LPG Terminal The federal government’s drive to stimulate job creation has started yielding dividends as the Techno Lagos Oil Limited is set to inaugurate an automated Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal that would generate 2000 jobs at Kirikiri in Apapa, Lagos.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Timipre Sylva, is expected to unveil the facility on November 18.

The building of the terminal,

which holds 8,400 metric tonnes of cooking gas, commenced in 2016.

The facility becomes the fifth of such a terminal to be built in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub and home to leading private oil and gas companies in the country.

The Techno Oil’s terminal was described as a major contribution to Nigeria’s quest to unlock its187 trillion cubic feet gas

reserve, which has remained largely untapped.

It was built by CAKASA Nigeria Ltd. in collaboration with a foreign technical partner that signed a deal for the building of the terminal on November, 2016.

The project was financed by a consortium of banks. However, the management of Techno Oil did not put a cost to the project.

The Managing Director of Techno Gas and Power,

Mr. Collins Onyeama, told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the facility would boost the realisation of the LPG Expansion Project of the federal government. ``The terminal will generate revenue for all tiers of government through taxes and levies and more importantly generate over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs for the teeming Nigerian populace,” he said.

Google, IFC Estimate $180bn Growth in Africa’s Internet Economy by 2025 Emma Okonji A new report, known as e-Conomy Africa 2020 Report, released yesterday by Google and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has estimated that Africa’s internet economy has the potential to reach 5.2 per cent of

the continent gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, contributing nearly $180 billion to its economy.

The projected potential contribution could reach $712 billion by 2050, the report added.

According to the report, which was launched at a virtual conference across African countries, including

Nigeria, “Driving this growth is a combination of increased access to faster and better quality internet connectivity, a rapidly expanding urban population, a growing tech talent pool, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and Africa’s commitment to creating the world’s largest single market under the African

Continental Free Trade Area.”

Currently, Africa is home to 700,000 developers, and venture capital funding for startups have increased year-on-year for the past five years with a record of $2.02 billion in equity funding raised in 2019, according to Partech Ventures Africa.

45

THURSDAY, ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

PERSPECTIVE

How Abacha, Abiola Died, By Susan Rice Olusegun Adeniyi ‘To this day, many people in Nigeria think I killed him.’ That was the opening line in the riveting account of the last hour of the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as told by Ambassador Susan Rice. She was one of the visiting American diplomats in whose presence the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election died on 7th July 1998. More significantly, Rice was the one who served Abiola the famous last tea.

For the past 22 years, the former National Security Adviser to President Barack Obama has refrained from speaking on what exactly happened that day. But in her memoir, “TOUGH LOVE: My story of the things worth fighting for�, Rice recounts not only how Abiola died but also confirmed the street gossip about the last hour of the late General Sani Abacha.

In the memoir, Rice also recounts how she was conceived in Lagos during the two years her parents spent in Nigeria at a time her father was helping in the establishment of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after independence. As the American diplomat with Africa as her brief, Rice also recalls many of the crises on the continent, especially the one that eventually led to the death of Col Muammar Ghadafi in Libya and the encounters she had at different times with African leaders, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo who on one occasion was “nonchalantly hurling well-picked chicken bones—much to our amusement—backward over his shoulders across the presidential suite.�

Now, let’s begin with the story of one of the most momentous periods in Nigeria’s political history from Rice, a former US Ambassador to the United Nations: The death of Abacha and Abiola. ============================== In early July 1998, I traveled to Nigeria with Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Pickering, who was then among the most senior career Foreign Service Officers. As assistant secretary of state for African Affairs, I had gotten to know Pickering, my immediate boss, as a wise, fast-talking, and deeply knowledgeable diplomat.

Having served as ambassador to six major countries and the United Nations, Pickering had seen and heard almost everything. The purpose of our trip to Nigeria was to encourage a responsible political transition. The nasty former dictator, Sani Abacha, had died a month earlier in the company of prostitutes.

Viagra was reportedly involved. His interim successor was a moderate leader, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who hoped to shepherd Nigeria through a democratic election to select its new leader.

A primary objective of our visit was to meet the wrongfully imprisoned opposition leader, Moshood Abiola. He was the presumed winner of Nigeria’s 1993 election, but the results were annulled, and he was later arrested. We hoped to negotiate his freedom so that he could participate in the upcoming election.

Along with Pickering and U.S ambassador to Nigeria Bill Twadell, I met Mr. Abiola in an austere government guesthouse on the vast presidential complex in the capital, Abuja. A large and imposing man, Abiola came with his minder shortly after we arrived.

Pickering, a former ambassador to Nigeria, knew Abiola from years past and greeted him warmly. Abiola, robust and happy to see us, sat on the couch and began to tell us how poorly he had been treated during his four years in prison. He was wearing sandals and multilayered traditional Nigerian dress.

I noted that his ankles were swollen.

About five minutes into the conversation, Abiola started to cough, at first mildly and intermittently, and then wrackingly

Abacha

with consistency. He said he was hot, so I asked his dutiful minder, “Please turn up the air-conditioning.� Noticing a tea service on the table between us, I offered Abiola, “Would you like some tea to help calm your cough?� “Yes,� he said, with appreciation, and I poured him a cup. He sipped it, but continued coughing. Increasingly uncomfortable, Abiola removed his outer layer, leaving one layer on top. I shot Pickering a worried glance.

The coughing became dramatic. I told the assembled men, “I think we better call for a doctor.� No one argued. The minder immediately placed the call.

Abiola asked to be excused and went into the bathroom of our meeting room.

When he emerged, he was bare-chested and sweating profusely, barely able to talk. He lay down on the couch writhing and then rolled facedown onto the floor.

The doctor arrived promptly, took a quick look at him, and declared that Abiola was having a heart attack and must be transported to the hospital immediately. The men labored to lift the heavy Abiola into a small car, and we rushed to the nearby, rudimentary presidential hospital. I grabbed his eyeglasses off of a side table where he left them, his only belonging, thinking of his daughter Hafsat in the U.S whom I’d met before we left. The doctors worked on him, furiously, but within an hour they pronounced him dead.

We braced for violence. Abiola’s sudden and mysterious death would hit like a bombshell in Nigeria’s political tinderbox. Conspiracy theories would spread like metastatic cancer. Serious unrest throughout Nigeria was possible.

Washington would hyperventilate, since it’s not every day a major figure drops dead with senior U.S officials. His family would need to be told. And, urgently, Nigeria’s acting president would have to hear directly from us, even though his minister was present at the hospital and knew how it went down.

Ambassador Twadell panicked and urged me and Pickering to rush to the airport and leave the country immediately. “Hell no,� we said.

Abiola

This delicate situation required deft management, not a hurried exit in a cloud of suspicion.

Right away, I called National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, my former boss, briefed him, and dictated a White House press release. Then we went to the Nigerian presidential palace to relay the entire drama to the acting president. We urged him to issue a careful statement to announce the establishment of an autopsy by international experts, in order to quell rife speculation and limit the potential violence. The acting president did both.

Next, Pickering, Twadell, and I went with former Nigerian Foreign Minister Baba Kingibe to see Abiola’s wives and daughters. All of us walked in together, but soon I realized that I was effectively alone in the room with these distraught women. The men had hung far back and left the job to me—just like the pouring of the tea. I proceeded to explain that their husband/father was dead. He had died of an apparent heart attack that began in our meeting. The doctors did all they could to save him but could not. The ladies’ wailing was so intense, it haunts me to this day.

We briefed the press, and I returned to the U.S embassy to write the official cable to report what had happened. As a senior official, I almost never wrote up cables summarizing meetings but in this case there was no more efficient way to ensure we got this very important history straight.

As I was typing, I heard in the distance on the CNN a familiar voice of indignation. It was none other than the Reverend Jesse Jackson, then serving as President Clinton’s special envoy for the promotion of democracy in Africa.

Reverend Jackson served capably in this role, and with good intentions, but on this occasion, I could have throttled him. He was riffling about how Abiola died under suspicious circumstances in a meeting with U.S. officials. I could not believe my ears—our own guy implying we were killers! Immediately, I placed a call to his longtime aide Yuri and asked them to shut the Reverend down.

“Please, just get him off the set.� That happened, even as I was still watching the segment.

We stayed overnight in Nigeria to try to calm things, offer any needed assistance to the government, and make an orderly departure. Fortunately, despite deep public upset, no significant violence occurred. The autopsy eventually confirmed the cause of death as a heart attack. Nonetheless, it was Nigeria where conspiracy theories abound. The most popular, which still has currency over twenty years later, is that I killed Abiola by pouring him poisoned tea.

From that experience, I found that being a woman policymaker comes with unique hazards. The men would not have offered, much less thought, to pour the tea. They may have swiftly called for a doctor. They may not have been able to break the bad news to the wives. Not for the first time, it was I, not they, who took the public fall for a crime nobody committed.

NOTE: Rice also wrote a brief on her Nigerian connection: Almost immediately after their wedding, my parents moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where Dad had been sent by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a research advisor to help establish the Central Bank of Nigeria in the wake of the country’s independence. Mom took leave from the College Board and worked for the Ford Foundation as an educational specialist for West Africa. Their two years in Nigeria, punctuated by travel around West Africa and Europe, were, by all accounts, enjoyable. They amassed an impressive collection of Nigerian art, including valuable sculptures that were a visual fixture of my upbringing.

I was conceived in Nigeria. Toward the end of their stay, Mom became pregnant with me, and I have long amused myself with the hypothesis that my origins in Nigeria, combined with my Irish and Jamaican ancestors, explain a lot both about my temperament and attraction to all things international.

46

Ëœ ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

AFCON 2022 QUALIFIERS

Super Eagles Players, OfďŹ cials Undergo Covid-19 Test Rohr insists his wards targeting all six points at stake

Duro Ikhazuagbe Ahead of the AFCON 2022 qualifier against Sierra Leone on Friday in Benin City, all Super Eagles’ players and officials in camp were made to undertake mandatory Covid-19 tests yesterday.

The results of the test expected to be released today will determine those who are free to play the visitors from Freetown.

Chidera Ejuke, Samuel Chukwueze and Paul Onuachu were the last set of foreign-based stars to join Eagles’ Eterna Hotel and Suite camp as all invited 23 players featured in training yesterday.

Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr, who superintended Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals with a match to spare from a hard-as-nails pool that included Cameroon,

Algeria and Zambia, and also led the Eagles to earn a 2019 AFCON ticket ahead of the final day of the qualifiers, said on Wednesday that he is expecting his wards to conform to style and taste. “We do not in any way under-rate the Sierra Leoneans that we play over two legs within these four days, but we have our focus and objective for the matches. “We want to win both games so we can have the ticket and be able to be little more relaxed for the final games. You know that next year, we also have the World Cup qualifiers to focus on. It is better to get the AFCON job behind us now,� observed the Franco-German gaffer to NFF media yesterday.

Rohr is particularly in high spirit because of the camaraderie and good nature spirit of the foreignbased players in the Benin

camp. “I am excited by the spirit of the players and their sense of dedication and commitment. We have not played a competitive match in a year, but they look very ready and good to go. Our mission is the six points in these two matches,� revealed the coach who is on his second term contract with Nigeria.

With the maximum six points from their first two matches of the campaign, three ahead of second-placed Benin Republic who square up to Lesotho, the Eagles will be sure of a spot in the Draw for the finals in Cameroon if they earn all the points at stake against the Leone Stars in the double header matches.

A year ago, at the Godswill

Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the Eagles survived a scare as the Squirrels from Benin Republic scored to take the lead inside five minutes of kick off. Victor Osimhen levelled from the spot just before half time and winger Samuel Kalu slotted in the winner off a solo effort in the second period.

Days later, the Eagles again fell behind against Lesotho’s

Crocodiles in Maseru, before goals by Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, and a brace by Osimhen put daylight between the Eagles and t h e i r h o s t s .

A f t e r F r i d a y ’ s e n c o u n t e r, t h e Super Eagles will fly to Freetown on Monday for Tuesday’s clash with the Leone Stars at the Siaka Stevens Stadium.

Ambitious Leone Stars Land in Nigeria for Eagles Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ opponents in the resumed 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, Leone Stars of Sierra Leone have landed in Nigeria for the Match-day 3 fixture scheduled to hold at the recently upgraded Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Friday.

Sierra Leone’s 43-man contingent flew into Lagos yesterday aboard an ASKY airline flight from Frreetown.

They were later in the day lifted by a chartered flight into the Edo State capital for Friday match.

The Leone Stars’ delegation is staying at the Lushville Hotel.

After losing one and drawing the other in their first two matches of the qualification series, Coach John Keister and wards will look to make life difficult for the Super Eagles

on Friday evening.

But the Leone Stars have not had the upper hand against Nigeria since beating the Eagles in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Freetown 19 years ago.

Meanwhile, the officials for the clash between Nigeria and Sierra Leone have arrived town for the encounter.

Kenyan official Peter Waweru Kamaku will be the centre referee with his compatriots Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (assistant referee 1), Tony Mudanyi Kidiya (assistant referee 2) and Anthony Juma Ogwayo (fourth official) also on duty.

Solomon Gebreselassie Abebe from Ethiopia is the match commissioner CAF appointed for the game while Attama Ibrahim Boureima from Niger Republic will be referee assessor.

Euro Friendlies, Qualifiers, UEFA Nations League Live on StarTimes Football fans have started enjoying live transmission of all the actions of UEFA Nations League, European friendly and qualifying matches which kicked off yesterday in HD on StarTimes football channels.

All the European friendly matches played on Wednesday was aired and the four qualifying matches today will be aired live to viewers while Nations League resumes on Saturday.

A statement from StarTimes said active subscribers can stream the matches and other choice content on four devices simultaneously at no extra cost by pairing their decoder with StarTimes ON app on three different mobile

phones.

In the UEFA Nations League, Portugal will take on France while Belgium host England and Spain battle Germany in the games involving five of the top six teams in the world.

In Group A2, the world’s top-ranked team, Belgium, are at home to England, knowing well that a victory in Leuven on Sunday, will all but guarantee Roberto Martínez’s side a place in the final tournament, which only the four group winners of the A-league qualify for.

The tournament’s joint top scorer, Romelu Lukaku, who is also Belgium’s top scorer with 55 goals, despite being only 27, opened for his side in London in the first leg.

L-R: Super Eagles players Paul Onuachu, Alex Iwobi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Kevin Akpoguma at training at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City...last night

WIKE PRE-SEASON:

MFM FC, Abia Warriors in Crunchy Decider Today in Port Harcourt It is going to be a winner-takes-all game in the match between MFM FC of Lagos and Abia Warriors at the ongoing Governor Wike PreSeason Football Championships in Port Harcourt today.

MFM currently top the group with seven points from three games, same points as Bayelsa United in second position but with a better goal difference and a game at hand.

Abia Warriors however will need to get the total three points to be able to topple Bayelsa United in the group as anything less than a win will eliminate

them from the competition.

On Wednesday, Bayelsa United walked-over Ndala FC as the non-league side failed to turn up for the early morning fixture.

MFM will need to work on their discipline as they have received a red card in each of their three games played so far in the competition.

Also on Wednesday, amateur side, Ottasolo FC of Lagos defeated Cynosure FC 1-0 to secured their first win of the tournament.

Apart from MFM game against Abia Warriors today,

Cynosure FC will be looking forward to get something out of their game against host team, Rivers United while the final game of the day will see Akwa United take on Ottasolo FC. Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, exinternationals, Tijani Babangida and Coach Kadiri Ikhana were amongst top football personalities that graced yesterday’s matches at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

Also, the organisers of the Championships, fulfilled their promise of bringing scouts for

the tournament with Olympic Marseille of France’s Chief Scout, Omar Sciolla, VP Landmark Sports Promotions Ltd, Chinedu Amadi, among some of those on the look out for possible prospects for some European teams.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Rivers State, Honour Sirawoo, has applauded the tournament as a good preparation for teams, especially Rivers United, who will be representing the country in continental competitions.

Imeh, Sylvester Advance to CBN Tennis Q’finals Last year’s semi-finalist of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship and this year’s tournament Number 2 seed, Joseph Imeh yesterday defeated number 15 seed, Clifford Enosoregbe 6-2, 3-0 rtd to zoom into the quarter-fnals.

Also through to the quarter-fnals is the men’s singles defending champion, Emmanuel Sylvester who eased past Michael Chima, 6-3, 6-3 while Musa Mohammed booked his place in the quarter-finals

with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Sylvanus Abang.

In the men’s doubles category, top seed Emmanuel Sylvester paired Clifford Enosoregbe to defeat the duo of Philip Abayomi and Tochukwu Ezeh, 7-5,3-6, 10-4.

In the wheelchair tennis category which served off yesterday, Wasiu Yusuf defeated Kingsley Kelvin, 4-0, 4-0 to move on.

More results were recorded in the men and women’s events of the

2020 CBN Senior Tennis Championchip where the duo of Joseph Imeh and Albert Bikom beat the pair of Adebisi Ayorinde and Michael Okechukwu 6-1, 6-3 while Sunday Emmanuel paired Nonso Madueke to snatch a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Friday Gabriel and Abdulmalik Kabiru.

Also victorious was number 14 seed, Christian Paul who combined effectively with Musa Mohammed to stop the duo of Leo Emmanuel and Kushimo Usman.

Same victory was recorded

by Emmanuel Idoko as he paired Ochei Adelu to beat Wilson Igbinovia and Ayoola Michael to stroke into the second round of the men’s doubles event.

CBN Women’s top seed, Oyinlomo Quadre had an effective combination with her singles first round victim, Serena Teluwo to beat their much older opponents, Omotayo Osewa and Toyin Osogba, 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the second round.

47

Ëœ ÍšÍşËœ ͺ͸ͺ͸ Ëž T H I S D AY

THURSDAYSPORTS AFCON 2022 QUALIFIERS

Sadio Mane Inspires Senegal to Unassailable Lead in Dakar Liverpool’s Sadio Mane was the highlight of the opening day of Match-day three of the 2022 AFCON qualifiers on

Wednesday evening. Mane He took advantage of some Elsewhere, Guinea go ahead of the rest of the created one and scored one pretty poor Guinea-Bissau sustained their first half teams, a point better than in Senegal’s 2-0 defeat of defending and sets up Opa lone goal lead against Chad Morocco, who host Central Guinea-Bissau.

Nguette with a crisp pass and grabbed all to go three African Republic on Friday. for the second goal. points clear at the summit The Harambe Stars of With Mane netting a on seven points.

Kenya forced Comoros penalty in the first half, that Mali on four points will Island to a 1-1 draw and goal put this game beyond attempt to go back level on moved to second spot on the reach of Senegal’s next points with Guinea when they three points. door neighbour host Namibia on Friday.

Comoros will remain That victory puts the In Group E, Burundi on top of the table while AFCON 2019 runners up scored their first goal of awaiting Egypt’s fixture comfortable at the top of the group phase, which at home against Togo on Group I on maximum nine enabled them force a Saturday. points. deadlock 1-1 against The Pharaohs are three Despite the coronavirus The other teams in the Mauritania and earned points shy of the Comoros, crisis forcing Europe’s top group, Congo and Eswatini their first point. who also have a goal clubs to scale back amid are playing this evening.

Mauritania meanwhile advantage. financial problems, Leonardo insisted the Ligue 1 champions still have the ‘capacity’ to plan ahead. “Last year we lost between 15 and 20 per cent and this year it will be more,� he detailed. “But honestly, at PSG, there is the capacity and the means to overcome the crisis. “The other clubs will perhaps have more difficulty to overcome the crisis. But the ambition here is always enormous.�

Meanwhile, Juve boss Andrea Pirlo confirmed Ronaldo picked up an injury which forced him off during the draw with Lazio in Rome.

The No 7 went off with an ankle knock and was seen having his foot strapped with an ice pack during the closing stages of the match.

It still remains to be seen whether he will link up Senegal’s Sadio Mane scored the ďŹ rst and set up the second goal against Guinea Bissau with Portugal during the international break.

Juventus currently sit fifth in Serie A, four points off early leaders AC Milan.

Transfer: PSG May Snap Ronaldo from Juve Next Summer Cristiano Ronaldo could be set for a stunning move to PSGnext summer if Juventusdecide to put their star man up for sale.

The 35-year-old, who joined the Serie Achampions from Real Madrid in 2018, currently earns £28million per year in Turin, five times more than his highest-paid team-mate Paulo Dybala, and Juve are reportedlykeen to get Ronaldo’s wages off their books.

When asked about Ronaldo’s potential availability, PSG Sporting Director Leonardo refused to dismiss a move out of hand, instead noting that ‘something unforeseen can happen’. “Today in football we do not know what will happen,� he told PSGTV. “Maybe tomorrow Cristiano Ronaldo wakes up and says I want to go play elsewhere. “Who can buy him? It’s a closed circle. PSG enters this circle. Usually it is about opportunities, situations. “The transfer window, we have to prepare for it and that’s what we do. We have our priorities, our lists, but something unforeseen can happen.�

Maradona Moved to Rehab to Recover from Alcohol Abuse Argentina legend Diego Maradona who was discharged from hospital yesterday has been taken to a recovery clinic to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Maradona, who led his country to World Cup triumph in 1986, had a successful operationfor possible bleeding on his brain earlier in November.

However, withdrawal symptoms kept him in hospital for longer. “The good thing is that Diego

is together, Diego is solid,� his lawyer, Matias Morla, said.

Maradona was admitted to the Ipensa clinic in Buenos Aires last week with anaemia and dehydration.

Only a few close friends will be allowed to visit the 60-yearold at the rehabilitation clinic. “Diego has gone through maybe the most difficult moment of his life and I think it was a miracle that they found this bleeding in his brain that could have cost him his life,� his lawyer added.

Barcelona to Sue Neymar over $12m Overpayments Barcelona will sue Neymar for 10.2 million euros ($12 million) that they believe they overpaid the Brazilian during his time at the club, according to a report in El Mundo on Wednesday.

Neymar enjoyed a successful spell at Barca between 2013 and 2017 before joining Paris SaintGermain for 222 million euros, a world record fee.

But according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, an inspection from the tax office in Spain showed Barcelona “did not make the appropriate reductions when paying Neymar’s taxes, according to an inspection carried out on Barcelona which lasted until 2015�.

The tax office in Spain calculates Neymar benefitted from “unfair enrichment�, the report added. A Barcelona source confirmed to AFP the club will now seek to reclaim the amount they are owed.

Neymar has more unpaid tax with the Spanish authorities than any other person, with debts of 34.6 million euros, according to an official document released in September.

Spain’s fiscal authorities are also reportedly investigating two of Neymar’s transfers, including his arrival at Camp Nou from Brazilian team Santos in 2013 and his historic switch to PSG four years later.

RESULTS Guinea 1-0 Chad Mauritania 1-1 Burundi Kenya 1-1 Comoros Isl. Senegal 2-0 G’Bissau TODAY Uganda v S’Sudan B’Faso v Malawi Ghana v Sudan Gabon v Gambia Cameroon v Moz’bique Cape Verde v Rwanda Zambia v Botswana Algeria v Zimbabwe Congo v Eswatini I’Coast v Madagascar

Liverpool’s Gomez Joins Van Dijk, Others on Injured List Liverpool central defender Joe Gomez has been injured on international duty with England and is to have scan to determine the extent of the injury.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury during the build-up to the game against the Republic of Ireland this evening. “I can’t tell you how serious it is as he’s yet to have scans,� said England manager Gareth Southgate last night. “What was upsetting was to see he was in a fair bit of pain. We’re hopeful for him that it’s not what it might be but it’s not a good situation.�

A Liverpool statement said: “The defender will undergo further diagnosis on the issue with Liverpool’s medical team.�

Liverpool already have Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Van Dijk has had surgery on a knee ligament injury picked up against Everton in a 2-2 draw on 17 October.

The Premier League champions have also been without Fabinho, who had been deputising in defence for Van Dijk, because of a hamstring injury.

Additionally, Liverpool

have an injury concern over right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who

was taken off during a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday

Joe Gomez ...scan to determine extent of his injury

99 Golfers for Maiden DStv Premium Golf Day A total of 99 golfers are expected to take part at the inaugural DStv Premium Golf Day scheduled to be held at the Ikeja Golf Club, Lagos, on Saturday, organisers have disclosed.

The 99 were selected from over 500 golfers, who registered for the event, which will follow the stroke play format.

According to the organisers, Flykite Productions, the number of participants was pruned in accordance with the COVID-19 safety protocols.Also, in line with the safety protocols, the best 50 golfers will be

hosted to a cocktail at the end of the event.

Ikeja Golf Club captain, Mr. Oladimeji Durojaiye, expressed delight at the huge interest shown by golfers and commended the sponsors, DStv, for partnering with club.

Other prominent members of the club involved in the organization of the event include Messrs.

Akin Areola, Chairman, Managing Committee; Jide Oreagba, Tournament Director; Biyi Fetuga and Omini Ofem, who are in charge of registration.

The first prize at the event is a business class

ticket to Dubai for a weekend stay at a five-star hotel, while the second prize is a business class ticket to Rwanda for a weekend stay at five-star hotel. The third prize is a weekend stay at a fivestar hotel in Lagos, with the prize for the longest drive a 55-inch television set.Giving reasons for DStv’s sponsorship of the event, Martin Mabutho, Chief Costumer Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, said the sport is one that enjoys considerable followership by DStv Premium subscribers, who have access to

the most prestigious golf tournaments via a dedicated channel. “This is an exciting opportunity for us because we understand that golf tournaments are some of the most important games for our DStv Premium subscribers, hence this sponsorship. So, we’re excited to be a part of this, with Ikeja Golf Club, and are hopeful that this will further consolidate our rel a t i o n s h i p w i t h our Premium subscribers and those that play and enjoy the game,� said Mabutho.

Thursday, November 12, 2020

TR

UT H

& RE A S O

N

Price: N250

MISSILE Ojikutu to Lagosians “You know Pa Lateef Jakande, he just was not bothered. But both myself and (the late) Chief Rafiu Jafojo fought for our rights and we were not successful.

They cut off Jakande and Otedola. Can you imagine that?”

– Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Sinatu Ojikutu on the selective application of the controversial Lagos State pension law for former governors now being abrogated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

From EndSARS to Clampdown I nitial election returns seemed to be going Donald Trump’s way until absentee ballots were being counted.

And nobody was sure how he would respond to the change of fortune that put his vote tally behind that of former Vice President Joe Biden in key battleground states. So, when the president scheduled a press conference for prime time last Thursday evening, Americans were glued to their television sets. A few seconds into his rant, the anchor of MSNBC interrupted the broadcast. Other major networks except CNN and Fox News did the same. Nicole Carrol, USA TODAY editor-in-chief would later explain: “President Trump, without evidence, claimed the presidential election was corrupt and fraudulent. We stopped the live stream of his remarks early and have removed the video from all our platforms. Our job is to spread truth—not unfounded conspiracies.”

For CNBC, another major network that similarly cut off the US president midstream, it was former Fox News anchor and Trump supporter, Shepard Smith who took the decision. “Never in my 30-year career have I ever interrupted a president of the United States”, said Shepard, “We’ve held back from doing so over and over and over while others have. But if any other human being were using our platform of influence to lie to our viewers, we would stop them. And frankly, enough’s enough.”

The clear message from that episode is the responsibility the media has not only to hold people in power accountable but also to serve as a check on their excesses. But were such to happen in Nigeria under the present circumstances, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that could penalize media houses for covering street protests would likely contemplate their permanent closure for “unprofessional coverage” of a presidential broadcast. That is the only way to explain the unfortunate actions already taken by the federal government and others being considered in the wake of the EndSARS protests that was hijacked by hoodlums.

I understand where the federal government is coming from. The 51-page pictorial report of the destruction in Lagos is frightening. It will take the state several years to recover from the devastation that must run into hundreds of billions of Naira. Many other states have also been counting human and material losses. This level of criminality and choice of targets could only have been premeditated and well planned. That is why the security agencies should be meticulous in their investigations. If the attempt is to seek justice, they will get to the root of that violence. But it would seem that what some seek is to exact vengeance, evidenced by the ongoing clampdown on EndSARS protesters.

It is unfortunate that a protest over genuine grievances not dealt with for years ended the way it did. But that is not enough to scapegoat or trample on

Mohammed

the rights of innocent citizens. I am even more disturbed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be dabbling into an arena of politics by freezing bank accounts of protesters. Let’s be clear. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) can raise a suspicious transaction report (STR) on inflow into any bank account if there are grounds that the money is tainted. From my understanding, a post no debit (PND) can even be placed on such account for 72 hours by the NFIU without a court order. But in all these, I am yet to see the role assigned to a regulator which the CBN is to the banking sector.

To protest in a democracy cannot be a crime. It is indeed a measure of how tolerant Nigerians are that the EndSARS protests took so many years in coming.

Testimonies from state judicial panels are heart rending. A woman had her three sons killed by SARS operatives.

A man had his tooth brutally removed with scissors. A woman had the nozzle of a gun inserted into her private parts.

It is obvious that many of the personnel in this notorious unit learnt their tricks from Luca Brasi, personal enforcer of Vito Corleone, the central character in Mario Puzo’s classic, ‘The Godfather’. But now you hear of passports of young Nigerians who protested against these brutalities being seized and denied their rights to travel while others are being arrested.

On top of all this is the crude attempt to gag the media.

The move against the media is of course not a new gambit. But fallout from the EndSARS protests has provided a perfect excuse for such an anti-democratic stance.

Since 2017, Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has been obsessed with the idea of regulating or banning social media from the Nigerian landscape. He has only just added television stations to his brief with his NBC henchman running an embarrassing campaign of calumny and teaching journalists how to do their job. “When we

went to China, we could not get Google, Facebook, and Instagram. You could not even use your email in China because they made sure it is censored and well regulated,” Mohammed said last week while rationalizing the federal government decision to ‘regulate’ social media.

Before I deal with the substantive issue, here are facts about the strict internet restrictions in China that the minister may not be aware of. In China, there are indigenous companies such as Alibaba for e-commerce (i.e. Amazon), Baidu for search engine (i.e. Google), Weibo for microblogging (i.e.Twitter) while WeChat is their own response to WhatsApp. To counter YouTube, China has Tudou and Youku. And in case the Information Minister does not know, TikTok with which young people all over the world send short-form videos originates from Beijing. So, beyond the issue of ‘national security’, there are hundreds of billions of dollars in financial gains and millions of local jobs accruing to China for its decision on Western social media. China knows what it is doing. On the contrary, to shut out these apps in Nigeria (assuming we have the capacity) will send hundreds of thousands of our young people out of jobs and deny them the creativity that sets our country apart on the continent.

And to contemplate that in a post-covid world will be suicidal.

Beginning from October 2000 when I covered the first Sino-African conference in Beijing, I have been to China eight times and on no occasion was I unable to access emails. Besides, while China may have ‘banned’ Western social media platforms, they are not inaccessible in the country. So, if the idea is to spend billions of Naira to acquire obsolete gadgets to jam social media in Nigeria, it will be a waste of time and money. The generation of Nigerians that the Information Minister is dealing with are decades ahead of him.

Perhaps the country he has in mind is North Korea which by the way I also had the privilege of once visiting. But since he is focused on China, let me break that down: Through the use of a virtual private network (VPN) that is available for free download, anyone can bypass the Chinese ‘Great Firewall’ and the same will happen in Nigeria. VPN not only masks internet protocol (IP) address making online actions virtually untraceable, it configures phones to show a different location. It is therefore an open secret (and the authorities in the country are quite aware) that Twitter, WhatsApp and the likes are easily accessible and are accessed by smart people, even in China! Next time the Honourable Minister is going to Beijing he should consult me.

I have already written about my disappointment and sadness over the violence that followed the highjacked EndSARS protests. I also made my position clear regarding mistakes made by our young people for which abuse and name calling came in torrents. But while

we should deplore polarizing rhetoric which pushes our plural society towards its delicate fault-lines, we must also come to terms with the fact that the youths of Nigeria have not had a fair deal. Though I must add that this predates the current administration and is a problem that has always been with us.

In 2009, there was a report on Nigeria that the authorities never paid attention to and is now coming back to bite us.

Sponsored by the British Council and coordinated by David Bloom, Harvard Professor of Economics and Demography on the diversity of our population, the report predicted that by 2030 Nigeria would be one of the few countries in the world with an abundance of young people at a period most others would be left with aging populations. With the right policies, the report concludes, Nigeria could easily become one of the world’s leading economies; and with wrong choices, our young citizens would “become an increasingly disruptive force”.

The signs that we are not prepared to reap this demographic dividend are staring us in the face. Our public universities have been closed for eight months. We make no investment in education or health. The population of jobless graduates keeps growing. Out-of-school children in Nigeria are almost twice the entire population of Togo. It is therefore not too difficult to understand the pressures that fuel unrest at a time the economy is in a mess and we borrow to stay afloat.

These are challenges we must grapple with and should be the priority of those in government. But I understand the frustration of the Information Minister.

Just six years ago as spokesman for the then opposition party, he effectively deployed these same social media tools to assail then President Goodluck Jonathan almost on a daily basis. “Now that the ‘Change’ exponents have moved from the passenger’s side to the driver’s seat of government and their ammunition of ‘blame Jonathan’ propaganda is exhausted as an excuse for every challenge, Alhaji Lai Mohammed contends that social media is the problem. He may need to look at himself in the mirror”, I wrote last year.

What the current situation in our country demands is not draconian policies. This is the time to rally everybody in the task of rebuilding our country. What we see on social media is a reflection of what Nigeria has become. When a nation under enormous economic pressures is divided along partisan, sectarian, geo-political and ethnic lines as we are and frustrations by its young citizens grow by the day, social media only makes it easier for a thousand lies to multiply. Arresting young people and freezing their accounts for participating in protests while gagging the media is not the right way to go.

I hope it is not too late for the federal government to change course and embrace a more productive approach to tackling a problem that will not easily go away.

Printed and Published in Lagos by THISDAY Newspapers Limited. Lagos: 35 Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos. Abuja: Plot 1, Sector Centre B, Jabi Business District, Solomon Lar Way, Jabi North East, Abuja .

All Correspondence to POBox 54749, Ikoyi, Lagos. EMAIL: editor@thisdaylive.com, info@thisdaylive.com. TELEPHONE Lagos: 0802 2924721-2, 08022924485. Abuja: Tel: 08155555292, 08155555929 24/7 ADVERTISING HOT LINES: 0811 181 3085, 0811 181 3086, 0811 181 3087, 0811 181 3088, 0811 181 3089, 0811 181 3090. ENQUIRIES & BOOKING: adsbooking@thisdaylive.com