WEDNESDAY 13TH JANUARY 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Lawan Guarantees Passage of Petroleum Industry Bill Urges leaders to unite to tackle Nigeria’s challenges Deji Elumoye in Abuja President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, yesterday committed the National Assembly to an expeditious

passage of the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Lawan, at a programme in Abuja to mark his 62nd birthday, assured Nigerians that the passage of the PIB

will form the priority of the National Assembly when it resumes plenary on January 26. He also rallied Nigerian leaders to come together to address all challenges facing

the nation as well as the citizenry. Lawan added that the legislature will give expeditious attention to the passage of PIB, which before now both local

and multinational firms had worked to frustrate its passage. He spoke on how both local and foreign interests had coalesced to frustrate the passage of the PIB.

Lawan, who didn't identify those frustrating the passage of PIB, equated the bill to a demon that has defied every Continued on page 9

FG Commissions Researchers to Assess Eﬃcacy of Treating COVID-19 with Ivermectin... Page 8 Wednesday 13 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9411. Price: N250

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No Provision Yet for COVID-19 Vaccines in 2021 Budget, Says Finance Minister Finance Act exempts N30,000 minimum wage earners from income tax New law extends Procurement Act to N'Assembly, judiciary Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has said that there is no provision in the 2021 Budget to fund the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines. The minister, during a virtual presentation of the 2021

Budget in Abuja, however, explained that the federal government is working on the type and quantity of COVID-19 vaccines to procure, while her ministry and the Ministry of Health will meet to finalise an amount to be allocated to Continued on page 9

Peugeot Forecasts Nigeria Importing N3tn Used Vehicles, Motorcycles in 2021 Abiodun Eromosele in Lagos and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Wadada Aliyu, yesterday forecasted that Nigeria will import used cars and motorcycles worth N3 trillion in 2021. He also described the recent tariff reduction on automobiles as a policy somersault from

the recommendations of the Automobile Standing Committee set up by the federal government through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to examine factors hindering the growth of the automotive sector. Ahmed, during a media parley on, "The tariff regime for automobile assembly plant in the 2020 Finance Bill," yesterday in Abuja, also Continued on page 9

PAYING TRIBUTES TO OKUMAGBA... L-R: Mrs. Emilia Okumagba, widow of CEO of BGL Securities Limited, the late Albert Okumagba; the son, Michael Okumagba; daughter, Rukevwe Okumagba and the late Okumagba's brother, Francis Okumagba, during the Night of Tributes for the deceased, in Lagos.... yesterday sunday adigun

CAN Kicks as Islamic Group Tells Kukah to Apologise or Leave Sokoto...Page 5

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NEWS CAN Kicks as Islamic Group Tells Kukah to Apologise or Leave Sokoto

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike

Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Says Bishop didn’t violate the law Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has kicked against the call by the Muslim Solidarity Forum on the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, to apologise for his alleged attack on Islam and Muslims or leave the Caliphate. The forum, which labelled itself as an umbrella body for Islamic organisations, scholars and clerics, yesterday asked Kukah to apologise or leave the state, insisting that his Christmas message was capable of triggering religious violence in the country. Kukah, in his Christmas homily, had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of promoting northern hegemony. He had said that there could have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president had done a fraction of what Buhari did. His homily drew censures from the federal government and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, which attacked the bishop for allegedly denigrating Islam and Muslims. However, Kukah, on Monday, rebutted the allegations and accused the JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, of inciting violence against him. He also challenged the JNI to “as a matter of honour” show where he attacked Islam or Muslims in the statement, adding that he is “more than happy to apologise” for such. But at a press conference yesterday in Sokoto, the Acting Chairman of the forum, Sokoto chapter, Prof. Isa Muhammad Maishanu, said the message of the cleric was a direct attack on Islam.

According to him, this is not the first time Kukah is attacking Islam and Muslims, especially those from the northern part of the country. He faulted the message of Kukah in which he said if a fraction of the nepotism committed by Buhari, a Muslim and a Northerner, were committed by "any non-northern president, " there would have been a coup in the country." He said the statement was uncharitable and capable of causing violence. He stated that their intention as a forum is not to hold brief for the president, stressing that their concern is the image and reputation of Muslims, which Kukah allegedly likes to attack. Maishanu said Kukah has a penchant to speak in parable and innuendo, adding that accusing Muslims of possessing a character of violence is provocative. He said 90 per cent of victims of killings, especially in the North, are Muslims. He expressed concern that Kukah, who lives in the heart of Sokoto caliphate, can make such a statement because of his perceived hatred for Islam and Muslims even when he called himself apostle of peace. According to him, those familiar with Kukah's antics know that he utilises every opportunity during public lectures, homilies, media interviews to attack Islam and Muslims, especially those of northern extraction. He noted it is on record that KuKah was in forefront of antagonising Shariah law implementation in some northern states even though it is the constitutional right of Muslims, and not applicable to Christians. Maishanu accused KuKah of peddling falsehood and propaganda that Christians

are denied places of worship and are persecuted in some parts of the North despite the proliferation of churches in Muslim- dominated areas. "As part of his antics in February 2020, he shamelessly staged a demonstration in the heart of Sokoto over the killing of a single Christian priest in far away Adamawa State, presumably by the Boko Haram insurgency but did not consider hundreds of Muslim Fulani herders that were mercilessly killed by Christian militias in the neighbouring Taraba State," he added. He stated that if Muslims in Sokoto responded to Kukah’s alleged incessant provocative attacks on them and their religion, peace could elude the country.

He cited alleged instances in Kafachan, Tafawa Balewa, Plateau and Taraba States where Muslims were attacked whenever there is misunderstanding but yet they restrained themselves from retaliation. He called on Kukah to apologise to Islam and Muslims for his alleged vituperation against them or leave Sokoto. "These callous statements are becoming of someone who parades himself a secretary to the National Peace Committee and a member of Nigeria Interreligious Council. As such, we call on Kukah to immediately stop his malicious vituperation against Islam and Muslims and tender unreserved apology to the Muslim Ummah or

else quickly quietly leave the seat of Caliphate, as he is trying to break the age- long peaceful coexistence between the predominantly Muslim population and their Christian guests,” he said. But in a swift response, CAN described the call on Kukah to apologise as unwarranted. The General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Joseph Daramola, told THISDAY yesterday that what the bishop did was well within his fundamental right of freedom of speech as provided in the country's constitution. He said: "Let them go and read his message. What do they want to do to him? Are they going to prosecute him? Are they suing him to court? Why would he apologise? Do they have the monopoly of

right? How can they ask a whole consecrated Catholic bishop for that matter to come apologise for airing his opinion? “Why do we have Section 4 of the Constitution that provides for freedom of expression? If what he said is against the law, then arrest him. They are asking him to apologise for what? Because they would flog him or what?" When THISDAY contacted the spokesman of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Monsignor Enang, for his reaction, he declined comment. Also the priest in charge of Communications at Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Christopher Omotosho, said the church would not want to take issue with the group.

62 HEARTY CHEERS... L-R: Chief of Staﬀ to the Senate President, Prof. Babagana Aji and the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, at the celebration of Lawan's 62nd birthday, in Abuja...yesterday

Court Stops FG over Implementation of Abacha Loot Pact Davidson Iriekpen in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday restrained the federal government from taking further steps in the appointment of consultants to monitor projects being funded with the repatriated $300 million Abacha loot. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, directed that the order on the implementation of the Abacha loot tripartite agreement between Nigeria, the United States and Bailiwick of Jersey, will subsist pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed by PPP Advisories Consortium. PPP Advisories Consortium, in a suit instituted on November 3, 2020, is challenging the selection process in which four firms out of 17 emerged winners of bids to monitor the project.

The suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/1449/2020 was filed on behalf of the claimants by their lawyer, Mr. Daniel Bwala and has as defendants the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chairman Ministerial Tenders Board, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN and the Bureau of Public Procurement. However, Justice Ekwo directed all parties in the suit to maintain status quo ante bellum and not take any steps whatsoever to affect the subject matter of disputes before his court. At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Bwala had urged the court to hear the motion on notice for injunction to restrain the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from taking any steps in the appointment of a

consultant for the monitoring of the implementation of the tripartite agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria, the United States of America and the Bailiwick of Jersey. At the hearing, the first defendant, the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, failed to appear despite being served with the summons as well as the hearing notice twice. The counsel to the third defendant, BPP, who was present in court, urged the court for adjournment to file their defence. Bwala on behalf of the claimant, informed the court that unless the court makes an order for status quo to be maintained, the federal government may proceed and award the consultancy contract to Cleen Foundation, which scored the lowest combined technical and

financial score among the four prequalified consultants. This action, he said, if allowed to take place, will most likely dent the image and name of Nigeria in the eyes of the international community and make a mockery of the requirements of competitiveness and transparency required in all federal government’s procurements as outlined by the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, 2007. The $300 million repatriated to Nigeria is to be used as part of the funding for the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, the AbujaKano dualisation and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The court, consequently made an order for all parties in the action to maintain status quo and not take any steps towards implementing the subject matter of the dispute pending the hearing

of the motion on notice slated for January 21, 2021. The federal government, the United States Government and the Bailiwick of Jersey had entered into the tripartite agreement for the implementation of the $300 million Abacha loot on the condition that the funds would be used for the purpose of the three major road projects aforementioned. The federal government sent out an invitation for consultants to submit proposals to the Federal Ministry of Justice, whereupon, PPP Advisories Consortium was among the four prequalified firms among the 17 firms that responded to the request for prequalification. PPP Advisories Consortium said after the evaluation of the financial proposals of the four prequalified consultants, it secured the highest combined

technical and financial score and therefore ought to have been awarded the contract instead of Cleen Foundation, which got the least combined technical and financial score among the four prequalified consultants. The procurement panel of the federal government arbitrarily disqualified the claimant and recommended the firm that came fourth (Cleen Foundation) as the preferred bidder to be awarded the contract. This, it said, it found both curious and unacceptable. The claimant filed an action in court challenging the legality or otherwise of the federal government's decision on the tripartite agreement and Nigeria’s extant procurement laws, processes and procedures. The case has been adjourned till January 21 for hearing.

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NEWS

FG Commissions Researchers to Assess Efficacy of Treating COVID-19 with Ivermectin Lecturers can’t enforce social distancing in schools, ASUU insists Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has commissioned some Nigerian scientists and scholars to investigate the efficacy of using Ivermectin drug in the treatment of COVID-19 infections.

This is coming as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has insisted that it cannot guarantee social distancing in crowded classes and congested hostels. The research team, which is composed of Nigerian scholars

At Last, Buhari Approves Posting of 95 Ambassadors

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally approved the posting of new ambassadors-designate to Nigerian Missions abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the president had ordered that a total of 95 ambassadors, including the 42 non-career ones whose nomination the Senate ratified in July 2020, be posted out. However, the statement, signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, was silent on the details of the posting. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the posting of ambassadors-designate to Nigerian Missions abroad. “The list includes 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors. “With this development, the process of requesting agreement from the prospective host countries have commenced. “The ministry also wishes to inform that there will be an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses, which will hold on a date to be announced shortly to prepare and facilitate movement of the envoys to their respective missions.” Among the non-career ambassadors that the Senate cleared on July 22, 2020 were a former THISDAY Editor, Mr. Oma Djebah (Delta) and a former Editor of The Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina (Oyo). Other non-career ambassadors-designate confirmed by the Senate were Umar Suleiman (Adamawa), Kelvin Peter (Adamawa), Chief

Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra), Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River), Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi), Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo), Maj. Gen. C. O. Ugwu (Enugu), Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe), Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina), Ademola Seriki (Lagos), Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun), Adejare Bello (Osun), John Usanga (Akwa Ibom), Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano), Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Hon. Tarzcor Terhemen (Benue), Al-Bishir Ibrahim Al-Hussain (Borno), Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo), Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa) and Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna). Others were Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa), Sadiya Ahmad Nuhu (Kano), Adeshina Alege (Oyo), Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau), Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto), Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara), Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba), Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi), Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), Jazuli Imam Galadanci (Kano), Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi), Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara), Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara), Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (Ondo) and Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo). The president, in May 2020, had also sent a list of 42 career ambassadors-designate to the Senate for ratification. The nominees were O Nwachukwu (Abia), A. Kefas (Adamawa), R.U Brown (Akwa Ibom), G.A Odidibo (Anambra), O.C Onowu (Anambra), Y.S Sulieman (Bauchi), E.S Agbana (Bayelsa), B.B.M Okoyen (Bayelsa), G.M Okoko (Benue), A.M Garba (Borno), M.I Bashir (Borno), M.O Abang (Cross River) and A.E Alote (Cross River).

at home and abroad, has also submitted a report on the usefulness of the drug to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has appointed a peer review expert from the United Kingdom. Speaking while being briefed on the report by a team of scientists led by the Principal Investigator, Prof. Femi Babalola and the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, expressed excitement that Nigeria and Nigerians "are at the cutting edge of scientific research into the COVID-19 treatment." He said: "We have an opportunity here and I am so fascinated to hear this drug has been used in the treatment of River Blindness in this country." While commending the efforts of the team, Osinbajo added that with the report, Nigeria is at an advantage both in knowledge and availability of the drug, especially since Ivermectin has been found useful not only in the treatment of COVID-19, but also as a prophylactic medication. He stated that the federal government will explore further ways to support the research while also advancing the effective funding of scientific research in the country. Earlier in their presentation,

Babalola and Bode had commended the presidency for encouraging the research and thanked the vice president for his personal role and support. The report is titled, “A randomised controlled trial for the repurposing of Ivermectin in the management of COVID-19," and the research, carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), was undertaken following the report of a 5,000-fold reduction in viral load by Australian workers with in-vitro use of Ivermectin on COVID-19 in culture. The PI has worked extensively with Ivermectin on the Onchocerciasis-River Blindness control programme, through which many Nigerians have used Ivermectin. The study revealed that the mechanism of action of Ivermectin, include “Inhibiting viral entry into cells nucleus; and “direct suppression of viral RNA load of SARS CoV 2,” among others. Ivermectin is orally absorbed with higher absorption as a solution better than tablets, and "The Mean Residence Time" (MRT) is 3.4 days. This informs the suggested frequency of dosing, i.e. twice a week." Members of the group named IVERCOVID Research Group apart from Babalola and Bode

are the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council at LUTH, Prof. Lanre Adeyemo; a US-based Clinical Pharmacologist, Prof. Adesuyi Ajayi; two project virologists: Prof. S.A Omilabu and Dr. Olumuyiwa Salu; and the Project Coordinator, Dr. Felix Alakaloko. Lecturers can’t enforce social distancing in schools, ASUU insists. Meanwhile, ASUU has said it cannot guarantee social distancing in crowded classes and congested hostels. The union also said the government is yet to put safety measures in place at learning centres in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic. Speaking on a live TV programme yesterday, ASUU’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the safety of university lecturers and students is a priority. He stated that the union is worried that university professors are dying of COVID-19. “We have not seen government and university authorities taking concrete steps to access the level of safety for our members and for our students. “Inasmuch as we are ready to go back, we are ready to put in extra efforts but it appears

that government is not doing enough to address the two emergencies that we have – the emergency in the health sector as well as the emergency in the educational sector. “Take for instance, how can we ensure or assure social distancing in crowded classes and congested hostels? Our hostels, are they fumigated? The classrooms, what flexible arrangements should be in place? I’m not sure universities can cope,” he added. In line with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 directive that schools to resume on January 18, 2021, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has asked universities to comply with the directive. However, the ASUU president said the NUC and the government are yet to enforce all guidelines in the universities. Ogunyemi added that lecturers are working on an alternative mode of learning, noting that some lecturers will blend virtual and physical classes to avoid overcrowding and maintain social distancing at universities. “But the universities don’t have functional ICT (Information Communications Technology) infrastructure and you need some huge funds to do this,” he stated.

HOMAGE TO IBB... L-R: Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu and former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), during Moghalu’s visit to the former military leader, in Minna ...yesterday

Varsity Workers Begin Three-day Protests over IPPIS, Allowances Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano, Hammed Shittu in Ilorin and Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja University workers under the auspices of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Educational and Associated Institutions and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) yesterday protested nationwide to press the federal government to address their grievances. The workers said they were protesting against maltreatment and the injustice meted out on them by the federal government. Among the grievances listed by the unions are irregularities in the implementation of the Integrated

Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), disbursement of the earned allowances and nonpayment of arrears of minimum wage, non-payment of arrears of pension and gratuities. At a protest held at the entrance gate of the University of Abuja, SSANU and NASU demanded that the government should pay them their minimum wage as promised and in conformity with what have been paid to other ministries since 2019. Addressing the workers, NASU President, Hassan Mokolu, lamented the inability of the federal government to listen and consider the demands of the unions. He also accused the

government of refusing to carry the union along in the decisions over the issues in contention. He said: "Ordinarily, as you are aware, as NASU and SSANU, we can lock this gate without allowing anybody in, but I want us to be civil this time around just to communicate to the government that we are law-abiding members of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "The union members must be carried along; up till this time, no government functionary has called us into any meeting and painfully enough, we were invited by the Accountant General of the Federation into a meeting; we prepared and went for that meeting and the man never showed up. And there was no

apology to that effect. "Again we are looking at what we called earn allowance, everybody in the system is entitled to that allowance and government gave us N30 billion. "Who and who are responsible? And they said all the unions on campus are qualified to enjoy it and we agreed and said all the unions must be called upon to see how the sharing formula will be done. "And all of a sudden government then again added N10 billion and before you know it they said 75 per cent will go to one union while 25 per cent to the other three unions. "This thing was done with impunity and we feel that we have to do protest for three days

and we are going to appraise it and after the three days, and if nothing happens, we will decide the line of action". While speaking at the rally, branch Treasurer of NASU in the University of Abuja, Sadiat Hassan, said they would embark on a strike if the federal government does not address their grievances. She said: “We are protesting against the irregularities in IPPIS payment and demanding the renegotiation of our 2009 agreement, which has been long overdue. “We are also protesting against the non-payment of our earned allowances and injustice that was done by the federal government in the distribution of the earned

allowances because they gave a particular union 75 per cent and the other unions 25 per cent. “This is against the agreement held in October (last year) that the money was for all the unions. So, we expect them to do justice to everybody because these are earned allowances. “We earn our allowances just like every other union. So, we want justice. We also want the government to pay us our minimum wage as promised as they have paid other ministries since 2019." On the alleged discrimination in payment of allowances, she said government should realise that universities or tertiary institutions in Nigeria do not comprise only the teaching staff alone.

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PAGE NINE LAWAN GUARANTEES PASSAGE OF PETROLEUM INDUSTRY BILL effort to deal with it in the past 20 years. He said: "I think we are proud of ourselves as members of the National Assembly that we have done something worthwhile for our country. "That is what we intend to do with the PIB. We will pass the PIB that will ensure that businesses here get a very competitive environment; that they are able to make profit and stay and even invest more. "We are not going to be selfish that only Nigeria should have, yes, because the resources are here, we must get the benefits of the resources here. The businesses,

the IOCs which are here, will also benefit from their investments. In fact, oil is everywhere now so we have to have a legislation that will create a very competitive environment that we can get investors in oil and gas from Ghana, from Angola, from Algeria, all to move to Nigeria. We promised Nigerians that we are going to achieve that by the grace of God in the year 2021." He also recalled how some people begged for the deep offshore production sharing formula not to be amended with a threat to leave the country if the amendment is carried out. "When in 2019 we said we

will pass the amendment to the Deep Offshore Production Sharing Contract here in this house, we have been spending nights; sometimes we close 2am, 3am, just working to amend that Act. People didn't want it to happen because they stopped it from happening for 20 years. You bring it, they will come and do something and then the thing will disappear. "So when we say we will do it, some of them came to me and said Senate President, you see, you don't have to do this thing now. It's not going to work. I said we will try. So we started. "The second day they

came and said, if you do this thing, we will leave this country because that will be against some interests. I said for once, they should allow us do something for our country. "And I laughed and said, you are not going anywhere. The kind of thing you do in this country, where else in the world will you be allowed to do them? So we are going to do this amendment. "In a week, they thought it was a joke. In a week, we finished the amendment because the House (of Representatives) was on recesses. The day they returned, they concurred. Mr. President knew how

important that amendment was. He was in London and that bill was flown to him and he signed it on a Sunday just to give that amendment the validity that was needed. "That we lost billions of naira where we are supposed to be given $2 billion every year from the last 20 years, they were giving us $216 million. But from last year, after the amendment, it is now $2 billion." On tackling Nigerian challenges, Lawan said: "It is absolutely necessary and incumbent on all of us leaders, today to apply ourselves fully to address the various challenges facing Nigerians. "It is not easy and

sometimes, when you are outside the system, you think two plus two is four. Until you get in, then you will discover it's beyond that arithmetic. But there should be no excuses to deliver on the promises to the generality of the people." Appreciating his people for exposing him to public office through the National Assembly, the Senate president assured them that he will never betray them. Lawan, who repeatedly vowed not to disappoint his Yobe North constituents, stated that he would prefer to quit his seat instead of working against their best interests.

PEUGEOT FORECASTS NIGERIA IMPORTING N3TN USED VEHICLES, MOTORCYCLES IN 2021 accused the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), of succumbing to the lobby of vehicle dealers with no matching investments in local vehicle assembly. But in a swift response, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) dismissed the allegation, saying that Nigerians are happy with the new policy. Aliyu, however, expressed concern that the new policy will affect PAN Kaduna Limited, which has already secured a financing of $150 million over the next three

years for its operations. He added that the tariff reduction would mean the imminent closure of PAN and other auto assembly plants. "The tariff portion of the Finance Bill was stepped down, but to our dismay, it was smuggled again into the Finance Bill and subsequently approved," he stated. He accused the Customs boss of abusing the direct access that he has to the presidency. He said: "The Nigeria Ports Authority revealed in December 2020 that 13 vessels off-loaded used vehicles at the

terminals. In 2020, the country imported used vehicles and motor cycles valued at N1.28 trillion. "It means in 2021, Nigeria is likely to go berserk and triple the amount to N3 trillion. Forty per cent of the budget on importation of all manners of used cars is a direct consequence of the tariff reduction. "The Comptroller General intends to flood Nigeria with ‘Tokunboh’ vehicles and ensure the closure of all assembly plants whereas the assembly plants have put in place a car financing scheme

for Nigerians to own brand new vehicles at affordable rates. "We strongly believe the Comptroller General succumbed to the lobby of ‘Tokunboh’ dealers who are glorified car dealers with no matching investments in local vehicle assembly, and without linkages and value chain components that can precipitate long term industrial growth of Nigerian economy. "PAN Kaduna Limited has just been acquired and has already secured a financing of $150 million

over the next three years, and the implication of this review means the imminent closure of PAN and other auto assembly plants due to misguided recommendations by the Comptroller General. "We categorically state that this tariff review will become more detrimental to the long term competitiveness that the automotive industry must achieve if it is to play any dominant role in Africa continental free trade area."' In his response, the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, told THISDAY yesterday that the

position of the NCS is well known on the matter, adding that Nigerians are happy with the reduction of tariff on imported vehicles. "I hope you are not asking me to join issues with anyone. Our position is well known and Nigerians are happy. Anyone can criticise our position. What you then ask yourself is on which grounds. I am not a businessman, but when people criticise based on their interests, I don’t know what you want me to say. Our position is well known and anyone can criticise us," he stated.

GOEs. At N3.32 trillion, the provision for debt service for 2021 is 24.5 per cent of total expenditure and 12.6 per cent higher than 2020 revised budget. The minister also put the provision to retire maturing bonds to local contractors / suppliers at N200 billion. In his contribution, the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation (BoF), Mr. Ben Akabueze, said the country was expecting donations of COVID-19 vaccines to cover 20 per cent of its population while 50 per cent would be acquired to achieve herd immunity. Akabueze said: ""To have herd immunity, 70 per cent of the population has to be vaccinated. Already, vaccine for 20 per cent of the population will be donated while the balance of 50 per cent will be paid for by the government." Reacting to the 2021 budget provisions, the President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria and former Commissioner for Finance in Imo State, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, said while other parameters underpinning the budget are realistic, those of the exchange rate and GDP are not. In an interview with THISDAY, he said: "I think the assumptions and budget parameters are realistic except for the exchange rate of N379 to the dollar that may not hold due to the ongoing process of unifying exchange rates across all forex windows by the CBN, consistent with the IMF prescription. "I also think the real GDP growth rate projected at 3 per cent is a little ambitious in view of the impact of COVID-19 on the economy expected to linger for sometime, especially against the backdrop of a second wave. This is why the recent

World Bank report on Nigeria projects a GDP growth rate of 1.1 per cent while Fitch projected 1.3 per cent for the country in 2021. "If estimates by global energy agencies are anything to go by, crude oil price will stay above the budget reference price on the average in 2021. So, $40 per barrel appears realistic." Also, an economist and founder/ presidential candidate of Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Mr. Tope Fasua, said the 2021 Budget has no marked departure from the previous ones. Fasua who is also the founder and CEO of Global Analytics Consulting Limited, an international consulting firm, noted that a budget of N13. 5 trillion is lean for a country the size of Nigeria. According to him, the fiscal document does not advance the nation’s economic prospects because there is no remarkable difference from the nation's traditional approach to budgeting.

NO PROVISION YET FOR COVID-19 VACCINES IN 2021 BUDGET, SAYS FINANCE MINISTER vaccine procurement within the next two weeks. Also, the 2020 Finance Act recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari has exempted workers within the minimum wage bracket of N30, 000 from personal income tax. The Act, which amended no fewer than 14 different fiscal laws, now extends the implementation of the Public Procurement Act to the National Assembly and the judiciary. Nigeria is expected to receive about 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech approved COVID-19 vaccines by the end of January. In addition, the country, under phase two of its COVID-19 vaccination scheme, will get 42 million extra doses of vaccines through the COVAX facility. The federal government is targeting to vaccinate about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s population in 2021. Ahmed expressed the commitment of the National Assembly to provide a supplementary budget for additional spending on COVID-19 vaccines, if needed. She said: "We agreed that the effort needed to be done so that we have clarity as to whether the provisions in the budget will be adequate or we have to make additional provisions by way of a special supplementary budget to make more provisions for COVID-19 vaccinations." Responding to a question on whether there was a provision for fuel subsidy in the 2021 budget, Ahmed stated that no such provision was made for it. She also foreclosed subsidy on electricity due to the recent suspension of the hike in electricity tariff. The minister, however, added that the Finance Act, among others, exempts workers within the N30,000

minimum wage bracket and below from personal income tax deductions. According to her, another key provision in the Act is the exemption of all micro and small companies earning N25 million or less as annual turnover from paying the Tertiary Education Tax. In addition, the Act excluded commercial airline tickets, commercial aircraft spare parts and components; interests in land and buildings; animal feed and hire, rental or lease of agriculture equipment for agricultural purposes from 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) charge. She said: "The key guiding principle of the Finance Act 2020 is to ensure that there is a balance between broader macroeconomic strategies to attract investment, grow the economy, create jobs as well as provide immediate fiscal strategies for accelerated domestic revenue mobilisation, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the domestic / global economic downturn. "Specifically, the Finance Act 2020 adopts counter-cyclical fiscal policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing fiscal relief for taxpayers; reforms fiscal incentive policies to prioritise job creation and accelerate economic recovery and growth; and fosters closer coordination of monetary, trade and fiscal policies." Ahmed added that the 2020 Finance Act also provided for the establishment of a N500 billion crisis Intervention Fund as well as other sources approved by the National Assembly to fund the federal government’s expenditures. Proceeds from unclaimed dividends of listed companies and unutilised amounts in dormant bank accounts outstanding for six years or more will also be channelled to the fund.

The unclaimed dividends and bank balances are subject to a perpetual trust to be managed by the Debt Management Office (DMO), with governing council to be chaired by the finance minister and co-chaired by a nominee from the organised private sector who is of impeccable integrity and reputation. Ahmed, however, added that genuine beneficiaries will be able to claim their funds back from the federal government at any time. Speaking on the performance of the revised 2020 Budget, the minister said the federal government expended a total of N1.8 trillion on the execution of capital projects. According to her, the N1.8 trillion represents about 89 per cent of the total provision for capital projects. She explained that out of the amount spent, N118.37 billion was released for COVID-19-related capital expenditure. Ahmed said while the federal government projected N9.97 trillion expenditure for 2020, it spent about N10.08 trillion, representing 101 per cent performance. Debt service, she also stated, gulped N3.27 trillion while personnel cost, including salaries and pensions, accounted for N3.19 trillion. On the key assumptions of the 2021 Budget, the minister said the parameters were arrived at after a careful analysis of external domestic trends. She noted that the crude oil price benchmark was retained at $40 per barrel although the World Bank forecasts $44 per barrel average crude oil price in 2021. She added that crude oil production is projected to increase from 1.80 million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2020 to 1.86mbpd in 2021, as economies recover from

recession, and moderated by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota agreements. Ahmed stated that the aggregate revenue available to fund the N13.5 trillion 2021 budget is projected at N7.99 trillion (36.9 per cent higher than the 2020 projection of N5.84 trillion). To promote fiscal transparency, accountability and comprehensiveness, she said the budgets of 60 Government-owned Enterprises (GOEs) are integrated in the federal government’s 2021 Budget proposal. "In aggregate, 30% of projected revenues is to come from oil-related sources while 70% is to be earned from non-oil sources. Overall, the size of the budget has been constrained by our relatively low revenues," she added. According to her, the 2021 aggregate federal government expenditure (inclusive of GOEs and project-tied loans) is projected to be N13.59 trillion, which is 25.7 per cent higher than the revised 2020 Budget. Also, the recurrent (nondebt) spending is estimated to amount to N5.99 trillion, representing 44.1 per cent of total expenditure, and 13.3 per cent higher than the 2020 revised estimates (mainly reflecting increases in salaries and pensions). The minister also explained that the deficit of N5.6 trillion will be funded via domestic and external borrowings of N2.34 trillion apiece. She said N2.5 billion is also expected as privatisation proceeds. The budget also has an aggregate capital expenditure of N4.37 trillion or 32.2 per cent of total expenditure, which is 62.9 per cent higher than the 2020 Revised Budget, inclusive of capital component of statutory transfers and

TOP GAINERS NGN NGN NIGERINSURE 0.02 0.22 OMATEK 0.02 0.22 MBENEFIT 0.03 0.33 NASCON 1.45 15.95 ARDOVA 1.75 19.70 TOP LOSERS NGN OANDO 0.20 3.50 UPDC 0.04 0.80 DEAPCAPITAL 0.01 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.01 0.22 WEMABANK 0.03 0.70 HPE Nestle Nig Plc ₦1,505.00 Volume: 1,17 billion shares Value: N7.97 billion Deals: 5,591 As at yesterday 12/1/2021 See details on Page 41

% 10 10 10 10 9.7 % 5.4 4.7 4.7 4.3 4.1

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Soldier to Face Firing Squad for Killing Officer Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri A soldier, Private Azunna MmaduAbuchi, has been sentenced by the Nigerian Army court martial to death by firing squad for shooting his superior officer to the death. The soldier was arraigned before the 7 Division General Court Martial sitting in Maiduguri for killing an officer, Lt. Babakaka Ngorgi. He was found guilty of the offence and subsequently sentenced to death. Delivering judgment yesterday, the President of the Court, Brig. Gen. Arikpo Ekubi, said the prosecutor has proven his case beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused intentionally shot and killed Ngorgi, who was the Adjutant of 212 Battalion, Bama. He said: “You intentionally opened fire and emptied your magazine of nine rounds of ammunition on the deceased

officer, Lt. BS Ngorgi, who was the Adjutant of 212 Battalion, Bama, which led to his instant death. “You betrayed the trust and confidence reposed on you by the Nigerian Army to ensure dignity and respect for human life. “Your action is therefore viewed with displeasure and as affront to efforts of the present leadership of the Nigerian Army, which emphasised the protection of human rights and professionalism in the discharge of its constitutional roles. “While condemning your action of unlawfully killing the deceased officer in a gruesome manner, this court considers the plea in mitigation punishment by your counsel, the General Court Martial takes cognisance of all your counsel has said and the fact that you are involved in the Theatre of Operation. “However, the gravity of the crime that you have committed

against the innocent officer, which by application is a crime against humanity and an attempt to drag the good name of Nigerian Army into mud, must be sanctioned appropriately. “The punishment for the offence of murder as provided by Section

106 of the Armed Forces Act is death. This sentence is to be carried out by firing squad.” Ekubi also convicted four soldiers for manslaughter for their involvement in torturing a civilian, one Peter Apogu to death over a missing car battery.

He said based on their nature of involvement in the act, Sgt. Sani Ishaya who is the leader of the team is sentenced to four years in prison; Lance Corporal Fabiyi Bidemi is to serve two years while Private Adamu Abdulrashid and Private Musa

Bala are to serve for one year each. The court also sentenced one Private Mohammed Kuru to three years in prison for accidental discharge at a civilian wedding ceremony that killed a 12-year-old boy.

Akwa Ibom DPO Alleges Threats to His Life The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Itu Police Station in Akwa Ibom State, CSP Joseph Udourioh, yesterday told the Judicial Panel on police brutality in the state that his life is under threats. He disclosed that his phone has not rested since he spent over N2.8 million to treat a robbery suspect he maimed. He told the panel that he maimed one Mr. Victor Otu, a suspected armed robber, when he was a DPO in Okobo Local Government Area with his pistol while the victim was trying to escape from police custody. The DPO, however insisted that he did not intend to harm the victim. He explained that Otu, whom he trusted, turned out to be the leader of an armed robbery gang involved in stealing facilities in one of the hospitals in Okobo, and raping nurses there.

“I maimed one Victor Out while he was trying to escape from my custody the day I arrested him, after realising that he was the leader of the armed robbers. “I maimed him with my pistol; I didn’t plan to do this but I did it basically for the purpose of righting the wrong in our society. After maiming him, I took him to the hospital where I spent about N2.8 million for his treatment “Since then I have been receiving threats from cultists. My office and many of my property have been burnt. During the cause of these threats, cultists have visited me several times partly at Okobo and partly at Itu,” he stated. Counsel to the claimant, Clifford Thomas, however, kicked against the injury done to his client, Victor Otu, alleging that the DPO tried to bribe him with N1. 3 million to end the case, but he returned the money to his client.

One Killed as Cult Groups Clash in Badagry The police in Badagry in Lagos State, yesterday confirmed the death of a man alleged to have been killed during a clash between rival cult groups. The Divisional Police Officer in Badagry, Gbesu Peters, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the corpse of the victim had been deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s Mortuary. Peters said an investigation was underway to establish the motive behind the killing, adding that efforts were on to apprehend those involved in the incident. “The police got information about a corpse along Aradagun Badagry road today and we went to pick it up. “It was established that the victim died as a result of machete cuts in his body and we have deposited the corpse at the General Hospital morgue in Badagry. “We are yet to know if it is due to the clash between cult groups or commercial motorcyclists known as Okada riders. “We have started an investigation to establish the

motive behind the killing,” he said. Multiple witnesses in the area identified the victim as Samuel Fiyon. “On January 11, at about 2a.m., at Gbethrome Community in Badagry West Local Council Development Area, there was a clash between Eiye and Aiye confraternities,’’ they said. The witnesses claimed that the victim was trailed to an undisclosed hotel before he was fatally attacked. “Fiyon, who managed to escape, was later pursued and macheted by the roadside at about 5 a.m., around Aradagun area, Badagry. “As of the morning hours of Tuesday, he was found struggling in the pool of his blood. “The residents took him to Salvation Army Hospital, but eventually he gave up the ghost before reaching the hospital. “The residents brought his corpse back and alerted the security operatives on the incident,” the witnesses said.

SOLDIERS’ WELFARE ON THEIR MINDS….

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (left), and Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, during the inauguration of some projects at 1 Division Headquarters in Kaduna…yesterday

IG Approves Posting, Redeployment of CPs Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday ordered the posting and redeployment of Commissioners of Police in nine states. A statement issued last night by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Aremu Adeniran, said the affected commissioners were moved to state police commands and formations.

Those affected in the shake-up are CP Adeleke Adeyinka Bode, Kebbi State; CP Philip Maku, SPU, FHQ, Abuja; CP Ali Ganja Ali, Sokoto State. Others are: CP Ohikere S. Idris, Armament, FHQ, Abuja; Commandant, Police College, Ikeja, CP Daniel Sokari-Pedro, and CP John O. Amadi, for Port Authority Police (PAP), Western, Lagos. Others include CP Ngozi Onadeko, Oyo State; Mohammed

Ndatsu Aliyu, Enugu State; Border Patrol, FHQ, Abuja, CP Haladu Musa Rosamson; CP Sikiru Akande, Crossriver State; CP Aliyu Garba, Ebonyi State. Others affected in the redeployment exercise include CP Abubakar Umar Bature, Airports Command; CP Yusuf Ahmed, Department of Operations, FHQ; CP Aliyu Adamu Alhaji, Adamawa State; CP Babaita Ishola, Training Department; CP Nasiru Mohammed, Imo State,

CP Alexander Nengi Wannang; CMDT Police Detective College Enugu. Others include: CP Ari Mohammed Ali, Delta State; Counter Terrorism Unit, FHQ, Abuja, CP Olofu Tony Adejoh; Peacekeeping, FHQ, Abuja; CP Sadiq Idris Abubakar and CP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer. The statement said the postings/ redeployments are with immediate effect.

APC will Continue to Win Every Election in Nigeria, Yahaya Bello Boasts Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will continue to win every election in the country. He also added that by the time the party is done with the registration of new members and revalidation of existing members in the country, it would not just be the largest in Africa, but would call on developed nations to come and learn from it. Bello disclosed this yesterday during the inauguration of the Women and Youth Sensitisation and Mobilisation Committee for the forthcoming membership registration and revalidation exercise, held at the party’s Secretariat in Abuja. The committee chaired by the Kogi governor, also has the

Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun as the Vice Chairman, while the party’s Director of Organisation, Prof. Ussiju Medaner, will serve as Secretary. Bello commended the Governor of Yobe State and Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni for taking up this onerous task of rebuilding the party from bottom up, and for restoring peace, sanity, unity and togetherness to the party. He stated: “We have always been saddled with the responsibility of carrying one assignment or the other for the party and we have always delivered on our mandate. “This is yet another one and by the grace of God, with the cooperation, understanding and the support of members of the

party and Nigerians, we are very confident that we are going deliver resoundingly once again. “We have taken up this responsibility. It’s a sacrifice, it’s out of patriotism, it’s a national assignment. We are going to deliver resoundingly. The APC will continue to win every election in this country. By the time we are done and all the registration of new members and revalidation of existing members are done in the country, APC will not just be the largest in Africa but we’re going to call on even the developed nations to come and learn from APC in Nigeria. “We shall even teach some of our brothers who have just concluded elections that were rancorous. I will not mention names but we’re going to be an institution of political and

politics in Nigeria.” Earlier, Buni said the party under the caretaker committee was undertaking some strategic measures to properly reposition the party. He stressed that this was being done in addition to the reconciliation exercise, which has continued to yield tremendous results for the party. The Yobe governor stated that the sensitisation and mobilisation committee had a crucial and critical role to play in the membership registration and revalidation exercise which will commence soon. “You are expected to mount rigorous sensitization programme to effectively mobilise every member of the party especially women and youth to either revalidate their membership or register afresh,” he explained.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

South-east Govs Set to Unveil Vehicles, Uniforms for Regional Security Outfit Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki The South-east Governors Forum has said they are ready to unveil the vehicles and uniforms for the regional security outfit. Briefing journalists yesterday after a special security council meeting in Abakaliki, the chairman of the forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. David Umahi noted that no name has been chosen for the regional security outfit. He, however added that the governors of the zone would meet to decide a name for the outfit.

“The South East Governors have had series of meetings on security. We are presently circulating samples of uniforms, which are going to be common for the entire South East. We are also on display of vehicles, which will also be common for the entire South East zone”. “We have arranged for training and retraining of all the security outfit of the zone. In the few weeks to come, we are going to roll out these uniforms and vehicles to further deepen our efforts and security architecture in the entire South East,” he explained.

Umahi who expressed optimism that the South-east zone remained the most peaceful zone in the country, lamented that the pockets of security challenge in his state were politically motivated. He, however assured that those causing security breaches in the state, no matter their political leanings, would be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the land. “Whether PDP, APC, APGA anybody that is causing problem must be arrested and dealt with.” He maintained that the Fulani herdsmen and Ebonyi people have been leaving in peace for

a long time, adding that any act intended to cause disaffection between both parties was aimed at discrediting him and the people of Ebonyi State. “There is growing concern of security in the state and it had a lot of political undertone. The idea is to discredit the governor of the state. If not properly handled, it will lead to attack on our brothers and sisters. We have been leaving peacefully with the Fulani herdsmen in the state. “We have an agreement with the Fulani herdsmen for peaceful coexistence. The issue of IPOB and Fulani herdsmen is a very sensitive. It will ignite crisis for

the whole of this country if not properly handled. “We have over 11 million Igbo in the North and also three million in the West. This issue of igniting crisis against the Fulani should be condemned by all. It will consume everybody. The issue of security is very serious. “There is orchestrated plan to portray Ebonyi State and the governor in a negative light. I don’t know why searchlight is turned on me. What is going on is beyond politics and capable of causing national crisis. “We had meeting with founding fathers of the State-

Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. There should be cease-fire. Government officials should not attack dignitaries in the state. I have accepted the decision of the founding fathers. “Let’s us face our party and governance. South East Governors had a meeting on security. We are going to unveil uniforms and vehicles peculiar to South East, for adequate protection of lives and property. “I congratulate the new Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. They should bring back aggrieved persons who were affected in the course of the election”.

DHQ: Military Killed 10 Katsina Bandits, Lost One Soldier Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Defence Headquarters has said that troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, deployed to tackle banditry in the North-west, have killed 10 bandits and lost one soldier during a gun duel with the hoodlums in Garin Inu and Maigora villages of Batsari and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state. The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Benard Onyeuko, in a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Katsina, said five bandits were neutralised in Garin Inu, while five other dead bodies of the hoodlums were later discovered along their withdrawal route in Maigora after a fierce gun duel. He said further exploitation of Garin Inu village by the troops led to the capture of three AK-47 rifles and two AK-47 rifle magazines loaded with 18 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition. He explained that one soldier lost his life in the course of duty while two others sustained injuries, saying the wounded soldiers were responding to treatment in an undisclosed military health facility.

Onyeuko, in the statement, said: “On January 2, 2021, based on credible human intelligence about movement of armed bandits sighted crossing Garin Inu in Batsari LGA heading towards Bugaje in Jibiya LGA both in Katsina State, troops deployed at Batsari swiftly mobilised and laid ambush along the bandit’s route at Garin Garus. “While at the ambush position, the gallant troops made contact with the marauding armed bandits and engaged them with overwhelming fire power thereby neutralising five bandits while others escaped with varying degrees of injuries as indicated by traces of blood along their escape routes. “Further exploitation of the area by the gallant troops led to the capture of three AK-47 rifles and two AK- 47 rifle magazines loaded with 18 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition”. He added,“inanotherdevelopment, onJanuary 10, 2021, troops deployed at Sabon Layi while clearing bandits enclaves around Maigora general area in Faskari LGA of Katsina State, came in contact with armed bandits at Unguwar Rimi leading to a fierce gun battle.

Election in Kano Like War, Says KANSIEC Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Ahead of the upcoming local government election slated for January 16, 2021, the Chairman of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Garba Ibrahim Sheka, has likened elections in the state to war. Sheka made the statement yesterday at the opening of a one-day training for Civil Society Election Observers of the 2021 local government elections, which was held at Mambayya House in the state. According to him, election in Kano State requires adequate security “because it’s always like the world is coming to an end.” The KANSIEC chairman said he witnessed elections in Kogi, Gombe and Borno States, where they were conducted peacefully, and people moved around as if there was no election taking place. However, Sheka stated that: “but in Kano State, elections are

always rowdy. It is always like the world is coming to an end during election.” The chairman, however, stated that part of the preparation for the Saturday’s election was a prayer to Almighty God to make the exercise peaceful and violence-free. He disclosed that election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, are ready, adding that the non-sensitive ones are already being distributed to various local government areas. Sheka added that the election body had delayed the distribution of sensitive materials till Friday, adding that adequate security had been provided to accompany the materials to their various destinations. He further stated that all security agencies had promised to give maximum cooperation during the exercise, disclosing that the police AIG in Zone 1 had pledged to deploy additional police officers to provide security during the election.

STRENGTHENING THE RULING PARTY…

L-R: Member of the National Caretaker Committee of APC, Mr. Ahmed Ismail; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello; Senator representing Kogi East, Jibrin Echocho; Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi; and Senator representing Kogi Central, Yakubu Oseni, during the inauguration of APC’s Women and Youth Mobilisation Committee for the forthcoming registration and revalidation exercise by the party in Abuja… yesterday ENOCK REUBEN

Army to Deploy New Recruits to Sambisa Forest The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has charged new recruits to be ready to defend the country against external aggression and other security threats, stressing that they will be deployed to the Sambisa Forest. He gave the charge during the final screening for 80 regular recruits held at Falgore forest in Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State. He also charged the recruits

to be prepared for a move to Sambisa Forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist sect in Borno State. He said those who are not disciplined and loyal to the cause are free to find their own way. “You must make up your mind that you are ready to serve your country as a soldier and you should be ready,” he said. “All of you will go to Sambisa at the end of your depot training.

If you are not ready to move to Sambisa and other parts of the country, and of course, our border areas to defend our country from any act of aggression, then you have not started. “It is not yet late, if you have any doubt, then you can stand up and go. There is no room for laziness and indiscipline in the Army and no room for malingering.” Burutai said that henceforth,

the recruitment and selection would be conducted in Falgore Forest, pointing out that all recruits would be subjected to a similar process. “This is where we will select those that will become cadets and be trained as officers as well because, at the end of all the training, the officers and soldiers will operate together under the same condition,” he said.

FG: Nigeria’s Rice Production Gap Now 500,000MT The federal government has put the rice production gap in Nigeria at 500,000 metric tonnes. It, however, stated that the country would soon close the gap and meet the seven million metric tonnes production capacity required to attain self-sufficiency. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Deputy Director, Information, Eno Olotu. The statement quoted the

Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Karima Babaginda, to have said this while receiving inputs on behalf of the FMARD from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. JICA provided the inputs to support rice smallholders in nine states of the federation in its first phase support to Nigeria. Babaginda said the support for rice farmers would scale up rice production in Nigeria, adding that it would enhance the harvest of the produce in this year’s farming

season. According to her, with the support of JICA and other donor agencies, Nigeria would not only be self-sufficient in rice production but would soon be a major exporter, being the largest producer of rice in Africa currently. Chief Representative of JICA in Nigeria, Nakagawa Takayuki, stated that JICA was providing agricultural inputs to 1,500 small scale rice farmers in Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Bauchi, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa and Kebbi

states for the dry season rice farming. “We also plan to provide the inputs to 1,000 small scale farmers in 10 states, namely, Borno, Gombe, Kogi, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Taraba and Oyo for the wet season farming,” he said. Takayuki pledged JICA’s support to sustain its collaborative efforts with the ministry in supporting extension service providers and small scale farmers through capacity and infrastructural development.

Amotekun Set to Begin Operation in Ogun The Ogun State Government has said that the South West Security Outfit, codenamed Amotekun, is set to begin operation, saying the full operation of the security outfit will ensure that lives and property in the state, particularly in remote areas, are secured. The Chief of Staff to Governor

Dapo Abiodun, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, said this yesterday when he featured in a live television programme in Abeokuta, the state capital. Salisu said the Amotekun corps will fortify the existing security architecture in the state against criminals.

He said the state would not fold its arms and watch criminals operate freely, saying ‘’the days of criminals are numbered.” The Chief of Staff announced the appointment of former Commissioner of Police, David Ajibola Akinremi, as the Commandant of the security outfit

in the state. Speaking further, Salisu said the state had procured 100 patrol vehicles, 200 motorcycles and communication gadgets to enhance its operations, adding that Amotekun will have formations in all the 20 local government areas of the state.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Appeal Court Upholds Final Forfeiture of N2.5bn Recovered from Air Force Chiefs Davidson Iriekpen The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal filed by former military chief, Air Vice Marshall, Jacob Adigun, challenging the final forfeiture by a Federal High Court in Lagos, of the aggregate sum of N2, 536,328,978 billion discovered in his account; that of a firm linked to him, Solomon

Enterprises and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court upheld the lower court’s decision on the matter and declared that the appellant failed to prove that the monies were not proceeds of unlawful activities. The EFCC had filed an action

Oyo Police Didn’t Reject Suspects Arrested By Amotekun, Says CP The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Nwachukwu Enwonwu, has debunked the allegation that the state police command rejected suspects delivered to it by Amotekun operatives as false. The Command’s spokesman, CSP Olugbenga Fadeyi, quoted the commissioner in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday as saying that the allegation was an attempt to portray the police as uncooperative. The statement said, “The attention of the Police Command has been drawn to the news making the rounds about the refused admittance of robbery suspects brought into Mokola and Iyaganku Divisional detention facilities by Amotekun operatives. “The message was to create to the public imagery that the police was uncooperative towards jointly combating crime with Amotekun. “As a disciple in the school of community policing, I have made it clear on many occasions that both organisations are striving towards the same goal of combating crime with adequate development of human and material resources. “However, a fusion at its early stage could be fractious due to differences in policies and Modus Operandi, which when carefully evaluated is the cause of the wrong information. “The Nigeria Police Force as an organisation is jurisdiction-sensitive

and structured in such a way that offences committed in a particular Area of Responsibility (AOR) cannot be treated in another. “This is done for efficiency and accountability’s sake. The original site of the robbery as gathered by the officers on duty as at the time of the case transfer is Iwo road area under the responsibility of Agodi Division. “Investigation also revealed that no case of armed robbery has been reported in the Division or its environs as at or prior to that time; this is a course to look into, and to do so, the enforcement of jurisdictional policing must be observed. “The Amotekun operatives had earlier visited Mokola Division where they were advised by the receiving officers that the Division with the AOR to best handle the case is Iyaganku Division. “Upon getting to Iyaganku Division, the officers there, after critically analysing the story and taking its origin into consideration, did not reject the suspects, but directed that the suspects be taken to Agodi Division, a directive that was disregarded, which led to the misconception making the rounds.’’ The CP reiterated that the state police command was more than ever committed to partnering with sister agencies and local security outfits towards bringing the level of crime to the barest minimum.

Edo Election Tribunal Summons INEC Chairman, Yakubu Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, will on Friday appear before the Edo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Benin to testify, based on subpoena in a petition by Action Peoples Party (APP). Yakubu’s appearance was sequel to a subpoena signed by the tribunal, which was brought by the Counsel to the APP, Mr. Segun Fiji, to compel the INEC boss to appear before it on Friday. Consequently, the lead counsel to APP at yesterday’s hearing, hailed the judges of the tribunal for yesterday’s signing of the subpoena that he applied for on December 10 last year, which would be served on INEC’s chairman in Abuja, to compel his appearance in Benin.

He subsequently applied for adjournment. The lead counsel to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Ken Mozia (SAN); and the lead counsel to INEC, O. Osazee, did not object to the application for adjournment. However, the lead counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), raised objection to the application. Meanwhile, apart from the APP petition, the Justice Yunusa Musa-led tribunal also heard the petitions of the governorship candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Tracy Agol; and Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The tribunal will also today (Wednesday) commence hearing on the petition by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Iboi Emmanuel.

against the appellant at the Federal High Court in Lagos, under Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences (AFFRO) Act 2006, praying the court to order the final forfeiture of the funds to the federal government for being proceeds of crime. The EFCC premised the application on reasonable suspicion that the monies sought to be attached were proceeds from an unlawful activity diverted from the

federal government. The application was supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit and some exhibits. The appellant and the 2nd respondent in the appeal, Air Marshal Amosu, filed a counter affidavit to the motion and also a motion on notice, seeking to set aside or discharge the interim order as well as affidavit to show cause and further affidavits. But Justice C.M.A Olatoregun after taking the applications and

the arguments of counsel in the suit, delivered a judgment on January 16, 2019 and ordered the final forfeiture of the monies to the federal government. Dissatisfied with the decision, the appellant filed four grounds of appeal challenging the judgment. Part of his argument was that he is undergoing criminal trial in respect of the same monies. The appellant asked the court to determine whether an action for forfeiture of assets under section 17

of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act can lie against res, which is the subject matter of an ongoing suit and whose owners are undergoing criminal trial over the same thereby rendering the final order of forfeiture justifiable in the face of the criminal proceedings presently pending before Justice C. Aneke of the Federal High Court? The appellant also argued that the monies were proceeds of lawful activities.

HEALTH IS WEALTH...

L-R: Chairman, ALGON, Ekiti State, Mr. Kolade Amire; UNICEF state representative, Dr. Oloriegebe; Permanent Secretary, Hospital Management Board, Dr. Williams Afolabi; Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care,Mrs. Bisi Arogundade; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mr. Bisi Egbeyemi; and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; during the commissioning of the Solar Direct Drive (SDD) refrigeration equipment at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti…yesterday

Ondo Court Remands Man in Custody for Impregnating Daughter A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ore, Ondo State, yesterday remanded one Peter Moses, in prison custody for allegedly impregnating his 17-year-old daughter. The 36-year-old man was said to have committed the offence between November 2020 and January 2021 at Asewele Korede town in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state. The defendant was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge bothering on unlawful sexual intercourse. He pleaded guilty to the two charges levelled against him.

He, however, urged the court to temper justice with mercy. The charge sheet reads, “That you Peter Moses, on the between November 2020 and January 2021 at Asewele Korede camp via Ore in the Ore Magisterial District did unlawfully have sexual intercourse with one Peter Patience, aged 17 years and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 31 subsection (1) and punishable under section 31 sub-section (2) of Part 3 of Child’s Right Acts of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2003. “That you Peter Moses, during

the same period, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did sexually abuse your daughter by having sexual intercourse with her and gave her four months old pregnancy, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 32 sub-section (2) and punishable under section 32 sub-section (2) of Part 3 of Child’s Right Acts of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2003.” The Police Prosecutor, Jimoh Amuda who told the court that the accused person had committed a punishable offence, that the police

had just commenced investigations into the matter, asked the court for an adjournment to enable the police complete investigations and seek legal advice from the state Ministry of Justice. The magistrate, Mr F.O. Omofolarin, ordered the defendant to be remanded in the National Correctional Service Centre, pending the outcome of the DPP legal advice. She adjourned the case to February 21 for mention to enable police complete investigation.

COVID-19: Public Attitude will Determine Fresh Lockdown, Says PTF The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, yesterday said Nigerians will determine the imposition of a fresh lockdown with their compliance or noncompliance to COVID-19 protocols amid the second wave of the pandemic. PTF National Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, stated this

while featuring on a television programme. According to him, no decision has been taken on a fresh lockdown yet but public attitude will determine whether or not the task force would impose a fresh lockdown. Aliyu said, “A lockdown is not going to be decided by the

PTF but it is going to be decided by the behaviour of the public when it comes to these rules. We have countries abroad that have very strict non-pharmaceutical intervention measures and everybody follows it. The flights are coming in, schools are open, churches are open and they don’t have Covid

problem because everybody observes the rules. “We definitely don’t want a lockdown and because we don’t want to lockdown, we need to make sure we do everything we can to prevent ourselves from reaching that state where the government will have to take action.”

Kano Police Arrest 17 Suspects for Robbery, Others The Police Command in Kano State has arrested 12 suspects for alleged robbery and seven others for various crimes in the state. The spokesman of the Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, in a statement issued yesterday in Kano, said the suspects were arrested by men of the Operation Puff Adder under the Command. Haruna said that the 12 robbery suspects (name withheld) were arrested at Sabon Gari, Sharada

and Sauna areas of Kano metropolis. He added that the suspects specialise in phone snatching and terrorising people in the affected areas. He said the police has recovered dangerous weapons from the suspects. The police, he said, also apprehended four drug dealers who were supplying narcotic substances to the gang. The spokesman further stated that the command arrested a 19-yearold swindler for defrauding two

businessmen, Auwalu Abdulmalik and Buhari Yusuf of N330,000. “A team of detectives trailed the suspect to Kano, Abuja and Lagos before he was arrested at Kankia in Katsina State,’’ he said. According to him, the command also arrested six fraudsters, who specialise in stealing money from their victims’ personal bank accounts. “On October 3, 2020, at about 1700hrs, one Abdulsalam Isah of Gwagwarwa Quarters in Kano,

reported that an unknown person stole his Samsung Galaxy T5 pro handset valued at N180,000.00. “On October 5, 2020, the suspect used the SIM card of the stolen phone and withdrew N330,000 from his account. “A team of Operation Puff Adder arrested the suspects, and recovered the stolen phone from the suspect while an investigation is still ongoing,’’ he said.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

COMMENT

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

THE ENUGU-ONITSHA HIGHWAY Sonnie Ekwowusi argues the urgent need to fix the busy expressway

part from being a veritable eye-sore, the Enugu-Onitsha highway is an albatross of national magnitude. The highway, for me, is a metaphor for the monumental ruin that has overtaken Igbo land since the end of the Nigerian civil war. It beats the imagination why over the years this highway has been allowed to deteriorate so badly that is now impassable. The Enugu-Onitsha expressway is not one small road tucked away somewhere in Igbo land: it is a major federal highway connecting the South-West through River Niger to the South-East, South-South, and Northern Nigeria through Benue and Kogi States. It is an important artery of commerce, culture and race. But unfortunately, as important as the Enugu-Onitsha highway is to the economic viability, cultural integration and national planning of Nigeria, the highway has virtually ceased to exist. It is now encumbered by deep gullies, pot-holes, torn-bushes, thistles and craters which have now rendered the expressway impassable. Far from undermining Igbo ingenuity, industry and courage; far from denying Igbo marginalization (the worst witnessed in the present Buhari government) but I agree with the out-going Ohaneze Ndi Igbo President General Chief John Nnia Nwodo that Ndigbo should stop seeking alibi in Igbo marginalization. Of course Nwodo does not deny Igbo marginalization. What he appears to be saying could be likened to what Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu said many years ago that “the challenge of disadvantages should be the Igbo man’s gold mine”. In other words, Igbo ingenuity thrives in adverse circumstances. It is still a mystery how the Igbos survived the Nigerian civil war after the starvation and seizure of the monies in their respective bank accounts. So, Igbos can survive under any harsh situation or circumstance. Therefore it serves no useful purpose bemoaning Igbo marginalization. Ndigbo should put their ingenuity and courage to work to secure what is their due in Nigeria. In the First Republic, the Vice-President and Speaker of the House of Representatives were of Igbo extraction. From the Second Republic to date, Igbos had served as the Senate President, Deputy-Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the federal government, etc. At least Enugu State has produced the Senate President and Deputy-Senate President. The pertinent question: why were the Igbos who occupied the aforesaid top political positions unable to attract enough federal presence to Igbo land? Femi Gbajabiamila, who had barely spent a few months as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has been able to attract sufficient federal presence to Lagos State. For example, he has been able to get the federal government to reconstruct virtually all the small streets and alleyways in Surulere, Lagos. Visit Surulere, Lagos and see for yourself. Now, why can’t the

NDIGBO SHOULD PUT THEIR INGENUITY AND COURAGE TO WORK TO SECURE WHAT IS THEIR DUE IN NIGERIA

few Igbo political office holders in this Buhari government emulate the good example of Femi Gbajabiamila? But come to think of it, does the federal government need to be reminded about the infrastructural deficit in the South-East? Is it not true that 51 years after the Nigerian civil war many parts of Igbo land still look like conquered territories despite Yakubu Gowon’s post-war catch-phrase “no victor, no vanquished”? Besides, the federal government has been dragged to court several times over Igbo marginalization. Go to Owerri, Aba, Okigwe, Umuahia and other South-East big cities and see the dilapidated public infrastructures and public utilities there depicting the cities as glorified villages. The problem is that the government is not sincerely committed to the reconstruction of the said dilapidated infrastructure. For example, oftentimes caterpillars are mounted on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway to give the impression that reconstruction work had commenced whereas there is nothing to that effect. Of course rumours are constantly making their rounds that monies budgeted for the reconstruction of the highway had been routinely embezzled by some Igbo politicians. Now the Buhari government has confirmed that the highway is under reconstruction and will be fully reconstructed in 2021. Going by the old lies and deceptions on the reconstruction of the highway, it is doubtful if reconstruction work will be completed this year. Mind you, the Lagos-Ibadan rail line has been commissioned and now fully operational. When will they approve the Enugu-Onitsha rail line, if any, let alone construct and commission it? Our greatest undoing in Nigeria is that we always fail to get our priorities right otherwise why should an important expressway such as the Enugu-Onitsha highway be left in a permanent state of disrepair for years? You see, when the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu was under reconstruction most Igbo politicians and big men were pressurizing the federal government to urgently finish the reconstruction. Why? Because they travel by air and make use of the Airport. But they forget that their parents, uncles, siblings, town folks, friends, associates and acquaintances are risking their lives plying the dreaded EnuguOnitsha highway. Little things that make life livable simply do not work. After 61 year, we have not managed to get our priorities right. Imagine a country as big as Nigeria still without constant electricity supply in the 21st Century. Insecurity of lives and property had worsened. Government institutions may appear beautiful from outside but are littered inside with dead men’s bones. The much-vaunted decay in the education sector appears to have no remedy, at least, in the foreseeable. I think our biggest challenge now is to create a new work culture and serviceable public ethics that encourage hard work, honesty, diligence and meritocracy in our public institutions.

AS EMEFIELE FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY The CBN and other strategic players must cooperate to sustain economic progress, writes Jackson Ugbechie

r. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has his job cut out in 2021. With an economy steeped in recession courtesy of Covid-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests, which was turned to a vehicle for destruction by hoodlums, what is needed now is the courage to act. Emefiele must take certain actions to rescue the economy. But his efforts alone, no matter how gallant and brilliant, are not enough. He and the CBN will need the cooperation of other strategic players in the economy in both public and private sectors to birth and sustain the process of recovery. There are obvious headwinds stirring turbulence in the economic horizon, but the good news is that Emefiele is not short of courage. He has managed the nation’s reserve bank at the most critical moments occasioned largely by global factors beyond the control of national cum regional economies. He has innovated programmes that have produced manifest results including creating opportunities, boosting local production and creating jobs. The Anchor Borrowers’ programme which gave birth to the rice revolution is a handy example and a good reason to trust the CBN that a recovery from recession to prosperity is possible. Feelers from CBN suggest that Emefiele and his team are not sleeping on the job. An ambitious recovery plan to grow the economy by up to 5 percent is afoot. Other targets include a concerted focus on cutting down interest rate, inflation and exchange rates. He wants to work towards ensuring that the economy grows more than the population by at least 3 percent. The CBN governor will be counting on his industry experience to achieve significant banking stability and ramp up the initiatives to boost small and medium scale enterprises. Going forward, the CBN wants to push further the frontiers of growth in agriculture.

These are very ambitious, forward-looking targets. They tell the mind-set of Emefiele on how to scale-up the fundamentals that would conduce to quicker recovery from the recession and build a fresh trajectory for economic growth. Nigeria is going through financial turbulence, but this has nothing to do with Emefiele and the CBN. Global economy has been dealt a deadly blow by the Covid-19 pandemic. Shuttered factories, deserted workplaces, furloughed staff, massive job cuts and losses, a locked down leisure industry including a grounded aviation sector and crash in global oil prices defined the world economy since March, last year. It crippled many economies including economies of advanced nations. Many advanced economies plunged into recession last year, courtesy of Covid-19 pandemic. By the last quarter of 2020, Britain was in her worst recession and the worst in the world, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some other countries around the world, both developed and developing economies, were shoved into the pit of recession as a direct consequence of the pandemic. The list tells the story: France, Italy, Canada, Germany, US and Japan all suffered huge losses. The GDP of France, for instance, contracted by 13.8 percent. In Italy the contraction was 12.4 percent while Canada was 12 percent. For Germany, the economy shrank by 10.1 percent. The US and Japan both follow with 7.6 percent. Comparatively, Nigeria, a far more importdependent economy could be said to have fared better than these countries. Analysts believe that CBN’s shrewd management of the external reserve helped to mitigate the damage of the pandemic on the economy. Since dipping into recession, these nations have rolled out economic plans intended to spring them out of the woods. This is why the Emefiele economic recovery plan is not only germane but imperative. Growing the economy by 5 percent seems rather

ambitious especially for a consumption-led economy. But it’s possible to transit the national economy from consumption-led to investment-led. This has been the heart’s cry of Emefiele: how to migrate the nation’s economy to becoming a production-driven economy. To achieve this would require both audacity and presidential support. The type of support he got when the CBN under his watch on June 23, 2015 placed a restriction on forex-funding of the importation of over 40 items. Before the ban, Nigeria was losing billions of dollars to the importation of items that the nation has capacity to produce. Items like cement, rice, margarine, meat and processed meat products, chicken, eggs, turkey among other basic commodities were prominent on the list. The ban did not only save the nation billions of dollars, it also boosted local production of these items. Think of the plethora of locally-produced rice across the country, then you would imagine the quantum of jobs created by this masterstroke from the nation’s Federal Reserve czar. Dangote, Lafarge and other local cement producers have Emefiele to thank for the upsurge in the demand for their products. Same goes for farmers whose fortunes have been positively impacted by the forex restriction on poultry products, rice, tomatoes/tomato paste, palm kernel/ palm oil produce/vegetable oil, etc. By hindsight, Emefiele made the smartest decision not to fund importation of the 41 items. Whilst the policy came into force in 2015, by 2016, Nigeria slid into recession. Growth slowed within the period and pressure mounted on the CBN to draw down from the nation’s reserve. There was also choreographed pressure mounted by countries who have turned Nigeria to a ready and willing market to dump their products. These nations deployed coercion, blackmail and the international media to pressure Emefiele to back down on the forex-restriction list. But the CBN chief, buoyed by patriotism, stuck to his gun. That brave policy on forex restriction for

the importation of the items saved Nigeria some billions of dollars and necessitated the nation’s quick recovery from the 2016 recession. To fully appreciate the import of the CBN forex-restriction list, let’s look at the statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics. By December 2018, the annual food import bill shrank to $1.9bn as against $7.9bn in 2015. That’s a massive relief on the nation’s external reserve. The World Bank in its January 2021 Global Economic Prospects did not give much chance to Nigeria’s economic recovery. It projected that the global economy would rebound by 4% in 2021, while Nigeria’s economy was expected to resume at 1.1%. Global lender, IMF, was more generous. It expects Nigeria’s economy to rebound by 2.6% in 2021.The United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in its report titled: “Innovative finance for private sector development in Africa,” was also forward-looking. It predicted that Africa’s economy will rebound by 5% in 2021 after declining by 4.1% in 2020 due to the effects of the pandemic. In all this, there appears a strand of hope and it gives further impetus to the feasibility of the CBN economic recovery target of 5%. Emefiele has weathered the storm countless times. He has absorbed and resisted pressure from global bodies to subject the naira to unguarded and unguided devaluation which would have resulted in its free fall. He and his team have innovated homegrown remedies to save the naira. This is why Nigerians should have hope. The same global bodies that predicted mass Covid-19 deaths for Africa but got disappointed at the continent’s resilience and resistance to the disease may be in for another shocker. This time, their unforeseen quicker rebound of African economies in 2021. Nigeria will lead that charge, hopefully. r6HCFDIJF B QVCMJD QPMJDZ BOBMZTU XSPUF GSPN -BHPT

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

EDITORIAL

BANE OF UNCONTROLLED POPULATION Policymakers should adopt measures to check the population size

igeria is today rated among the fastest growing countries of the world in terms of population. Ordinarily this should be a plus, but with the way things are, it is not. Experts therefore warn of the dire consequences of the uncontrolled population growth. The prognosis is that there may come a time when it would be difficult for the country to make necessary provisions for the ever-increasing number of people. With early marriages, high birth rates and lack of family planning IT IS A SIMPLE ECONOMIC programme as major contributors FACT THAT POPULATION to the uncontrolled GROWTH THAT IS population NOT MATCHED WITH growth, Nigeria COMMENSURATE SOCIOremains the most ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT populous country in Africa. Going by CAN ONLY BREED CHAOS the United Nations projection, the overall population of the country is also expected to hit the 400 million mark by the end of the year 2050. If the trend is sustained till the end of the century (in 2100), the population of our country is projected to be well above 700 million. These are danger signals that should worry critical stakeholders, especially the government at all levels. Meanwhile, as the population continues to bulge exponentially, Nigerians continue to be ranked among the poorest people in the world due to high incidence of unemployment, predominant production of primary goods over finished products, aging public infrastructure, the insurgency in a section of the country and opaque system of governance. The high rate of out-of-school children and poor output in the education sector also contribute negatively to deepening this problem as the nation churns out a crop of uncompetitive youth in a new world driven by technology, skills

Letters to the Editor

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and knowledge. Against the background that uncontrolled population growth is already stretching to the limits the few infrastructure facilities in the country and contributing in large measure to the poor standards of living, there is indeed an urgent need to address the dire consequences of this planlessness. Of course, we are not unmindful of the fact that some people may dismiss the latest projections as mere Western propaganda aimed at keeping developing countries from having large population. They could also point to China and India as countries with huge populations harvesting their ‘demographic dividends’. Yet, the fact being ignored is that China, for decades, managed its population with its one-child per couple policy while the Indian state encourages some form of family planning. In any case, an idle (and largely illiterate population) such as we breed in Nigeria today can only be a disaster waiting to happen. We are not oblivious to religious practices and beliefs that frown at any talk of over population and therefore regard any suggestion that hints at birth control as heresy. But it is a simple economic fact that population growth that is not matched with commensurate socio-economic development can only breed chaos. On a positive note, however, we also understand that at a time when the population of many countries in Europe and Asia is ageing, Nigeria’s young population could be a demographic advantage but only if the policymakers can design appropriate policies that will improve the productive capacities of our people and put our people to work. To the extent that there is no such thing, then there is the need to worry. There is no doubt that a sustainable society is the one with moderate population growth that enables its members to achieve a high quality of life in ways that are ecologically sustainable. Unless policymakers begin now to focus their attention on how to avert this ticking time bomb the consequences could be devastating and very difficult to reverse.

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

THE SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19

he second wave of COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, no doubt, is spreading fast, killing faster and easily transmittable compared to the first wave. The rate at which many Nigerians are contracting the virus is beyond imagination as numbers of affected persons have increased drastically within a short period. This indicates that people need to continue to take necessary precautions by observing the laid down guidelines to curtail the virus. Statistics from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as of December 17th 2020 had total confirmed cases of 76,206, 67,110 discharged and 1201 deaths, but as of 11th January, 2021, statistics showed that 101, 331 persons have been confirmed, 80, 491 discharged, while the number of deaths has increased to 1361. This means about 30% new cases have been confirmed since the outbreak of the second wave and about 12% confirmed dead. Lagos State in particular has recorded a spike in the number of people testing positive to the virus and this brings the number of cases

in the state to 32, 720. So there is need for people to be more cautious in the way they live, interact and socialise with colleagues, families and friends. Many would agree with me that this second wave comes with severe symptoms and if care is not taken, there is tendency to have high number of cases and deaths this period. It’s very disheartening that the resurgence of COVID-19 has claimed lives within the shortest period, including the younger brother of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, immediate past Registrar of Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUBEB), Duro Ajeyalemi, whose death came less than 72 hours after a former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe died due to the COVID-19 complications. The global pandemic is really ravaging our societies but before it goes beyond control, our government needs to apply strict sanctions to defaulters of COVID-19 protocols of regular hand washing, use of face masks and hand sanitizer and maintaining social distancing in order to curtail the spread of the virus .in

the states and country at large. Meanwhile, the rate at which the virus is spreading, government might resolve to declare another lockdown which many Nigerians might not find too comfortable as many are still trying to get over the effect of first experience. The first lockdown had adverse effects on many citizens especially the less-privileged, the vulnerable, and the unemployed youths. Countries like United States of America, Uganda, UK, South Africa, amongst others distributed foods and beverages to their citizens, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria. The palliatives distributed to the aged and vulnerable did not go round. However, if going for the vaccines is the best way to curb the spread of the virus in the country and the world, there is need for government to be careful and examine the vaccines before administering it on citizens so as not to cause unnecessary havoc. Health practitioners should also be well equipped with personal protective materials for prevention. r5BZMPS 5FNJUBZP 0LF NPTBO "CFPLVUB

DUMB IS GOOD

here has been so much sad and bad news lately that any change would be appreciated even dumb news and not just the Giuliani four seasons landscaping press conference. Fortunately, a local newspaper provides just such a story suggesting that students who spend four or more hours every night online or playing games do not do as well in tests. As a retired teacher I can confirm that subjectively but not objectively and that is the problem with this investigation. There are many items in the news that may appear sensible or accurate but without evidence or confirmable quotes they probably should not be published. This does not apply to celebrity magazines that seem very creative and avoid the truth, mainly because it is boring. Given the difficult times we are going through, for almost a year already, we need reliable, accurate reporting although the occasional dumb story does help get through the day. r%FOOJT 'JU[HFSBME .FMCPVSOF "VTUSBMJB

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Jegede Faults Akeredolu’s Nomination at Election Tribunal James Sowole in Akure The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2020 election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, yesterday

insisted that the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, was not validly nominated by his party as candidate for the election. Akeredolu was declared the winner of the October 10

Varsity Reopening: NANS to Set up COVID-19 Task Force The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the federal government and members of theAcademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume academic activities at the nation’s public universities. The students’ body also ordered its chapters in all tertiary institutions to set up COVID-19 task force teams to enforce all guidelines outlined by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and ensure safe reopening of schools. NANS President, Sunday Asefon, stated this in a statement issued yesterday. He said: “Rather than postpone schools’ resumption, it has become imperative to address the alarming spread of COVID-19 and rising cases of deaths from a position of environmental strategy and human

coordination since the lockdown mechanism can no longer be a mitigating option in the face of our economic reality. “The federal government is immediately urged to rethink its approach and take only actions that can get more Nigerians into coordinated and regulated systems, like schools and offices, where hours of wearing face masks and complying with COVID Safety protocols can be guaranteed to curb the spread. “Consequently, the National Association of Nigerian Students is undertaking to prevail on students union bodies to set up Students Task Force Against COVID-19 in every school, while asking the Federal Government to rejig its basic COVID guidelines for schools resumption.”

School Resumption Date Remains January 18, Says PTF The National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, has said the date for school resumption remains January 18. Speaking during a television programme yesterday, Aliyu said the date has not been changed pending further directives. On Monday, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said the federal government is considering shifting the January 18 resumption date over rising COVID-19 cases. He said there were concerns about the scheduled date, adding that the federal government might review it. But Aliyu said no decision had

been taken on the date, saying January 18, 2021 remains intact. “As regards schools, I just want to make a clarification. What the minister said yesterday was that they were going to review; he didn’t say that they were going to change the date. He said they will review the situation and let the nation know,” Aliyu said. “So, for the moment, it is still January 18 until the Ministry of Education comes back either with an alternative date or re-confirm that.” Nigeria has recorded a total number of 101,331 confirmed cases with 80,491 patients discharged while 1,361 have died.”

Tinubu Congratulates Senate President, Lawan at 62 Former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, on his 62nd birthday. Tinubu commended him for providing collegial leadership in the Senate and fostering a harmonious relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive. In a statement by his Media Office, which was signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said: “I join the family, friends, colleagues, and associates of the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, in congratulating him on his 62nd birthday. “We thank God for the gift of life and for giving him the health and vigour to witness another birthday. “Dr. Ahmed Lawan has helped the cause of national governance by providing consistent, collegial leadership

in the Senate. This comes as no surprise given his academic background and legislative experience. “As President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, he has helped foster a harmonious relationship between the Legislature and Executive. This cooperative relationship has facilitated the passage of important legislation for the benefit of the nation. “I commend Senate President Lawan for his efforts to improve the legislative performance of the Senate and to forge a productive relationship with the Executive branch. May he continue along this proper and vital path. “As he turns 62, our prayers are with him as we ask Beneficent and Munificent Almighty Allah to grant him even greater wisdom, vitality, and many more years to live a good and full life and continue in the service of our beloved country.

governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having scored the highest number of votes with the required geographical spread. Not satisfied with the declaration, Jegede filed a petition at the Election Petition Tribunal, praying the tribunal to invalidate the victory of Akeredolu, and declare him the winner of the election. He alleged that there were irregularities in the nomination of Akeredolu by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While testifying at the resumed sitting of the tribunal in Akure, the state capital, Jegede stated that the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, could not function as the caretaker chairman of the APC. He said the nomination of Akeredolu was contrary to the APC constitution and the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. Attempts by Jegede to tender the election result, nomination form and the results of the election across the 18 local government areas of

the state were rejected by counsel to the defendants, Lateef Fagbemi and Akin Olujimi. However, the three-man panel headed by Justice Justice Umar Abubakar admitted all the exhibits tendered by Jegede. During cross examination, counsel to the defendants, Fagbemi and Olujimi, noted that Jegede, not being a member of APC, should not interfere in the internal affairs of the APC. dosanmwan, said Jegede’s petition was basically about

APC’s primary and emergence of Akeredolu as its candidate, when he is not a member of the APC. Jegede responded that he has every right to question the process that produced Akeredolu as the candidate in the election which he participated. Justice Umar, however, adjourned the sitting of the tribunal till today, saying the panel would sit every day except on public holidays, from 8a.m. to 5p.m.

ROAD PROJECT INAUGURATION…

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji; Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Godfrey Okoye University (GO Uni), Prof. Bartho Okolo; Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Christian Anieke; Chairman, Enugu East LGA, Hon. Alex Ugwu; Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Gbuji, during the inauguration of the Ugwuomu Nike-Godfrey Okoye University Road, in Enugu East LGA… yesterday

Oshiomhole, Agba Mourn Ex-labour Leader, Didi Adodo Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomole and the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, yesterday mourned the death of Didi Adodo. Adodo was one of the commissioners who served under Oshiomhole as governor of Edo State. Oshiomole in a statement said he felt sad and a personal sense of loss hearing the news of the

demise. “I received with sadness and a deep sense of personal loss, the passing of Comrade Didi Adodo in the early hours of today. Didi has been a dear friend of mine for decades, a comrade who walked side by side with me in the trenches during my struggles for Nigerian workers and only recently, Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties under my administration as governor of Edo State. “When I got information that he was hospitalised, I immediately

called him on Sunday 10th January 2021, conversed with him about his condition and wished him quick recovery. Little did I know that it would be my last conversation with this great but humble personality. On his part, Agba expressed shock and sadness over the sudden death of Adodo. In a condolence message yesterday, Agba described Adodo as “a dear friend” and one of the brightest minds in the cabinet of former Governor Oshiomhole in

which he (Agba) also served. In the message contained in a press statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Sufuyan Ojeifo, the minister said with the death of Adodo, Nigeria had lost a great pathfinder who had an “incredibly positive impact on the labour movement as well as citizens of our state.” The press statement quoted Agba to have said: “I received with sadness the death today (Tuesday) of Comrade Didi Adodo in Benin City, Edo State after a brief illness.

Moderna: Our COVID-19Vaccine Provides One-year Immunity Moderna has revealed that its COVID-19 vaccine will provide immunity from the disease for at least one year after vaccination. According to Reuters, the company added that it is “on track” to deliver at least 600 million doses of the vaccine in 2021. Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference held on Monday, Moderna’s CEO, Stéphane Bancel, said immunity from the company’s COVID-19

vaccine, one of just two approved for emergency use in the United States, should last for at least a year. Bancel stated that while clinical trials showed the vaccine to be highly effective at preventing disease, they do not show precisely how long this immunity will last. He added that it is possible that a new vaccine would be required on a regular basis to boost the immune system after this year-long period has passed.

“New variants of the virus can also learn to evade the protection offered by vaccines, and Moderna said it is well placed to respond to new variants of coronavirus, such as highly infectious variants currently spreading through South Africa and the United Kingdom owing to the adaptable mRNA technology used to develop the vaccine. Bancel’s comments echo earlier statements from manufacturers at Pfizer and BioNTech, who pointed

out the relative ease with which the vaccine’s core components can be edited to adapt to new variants. In addition to discussing the duration of the Moderna vaccine’s immunity, Bancel said the company is “very comfortable” with its track record at producing vaccines, adding that it is on track to deliver between 600 million and 1 billion doses by the end of the year.

Lawan: Why I Lost to Saraki in 2015 The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan yesterday disclosed that he did not occupy the country’s number three position in 2015 because it was not God’s time. Speaking with reporters during his 62nd birthday anniversary in Abuja yesterday, Lawan said despite not holding the office, he worked with Bukola Saraki, former senate president, for the good of Nigerians. The Cable reported that in 2015, Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, former majority leader of the house of

representatives, were tipped at the last minute by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for positions of senate president and speaker respectively. However, Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, a lawmaker from Bauchi, defied the party and emerged number three and four citizens respectively. The development led to a frosty relationship between the legislature and the executive led by President Muhammadu Buhari. “In 2015, you will recall when

I wanted to be senate president, and God in his wisdom decided, No. You are not going to be. Someone else will be. Then of course senator Saraki became the president of the senate,” Lawan said. “We believe in God. We worked together in the senate for the benefit of our people and when in 2019, God said it is time, guess what? 109 senators have the same mindset, the same attitudinal disposition to making Nigeria better, to working with the executive arm

of government for the betterment of our country.” The number three citizen said the senate under his leadership and national assembly at large have discharged “our responsibilities very well.” “This is an opportunity for me to commend very distinguished senators for being very patriotic all through to ensure that the last one and half years of our activities in the senate, the senate has introduced so much good things into the system,” he said.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021

MIDWEEKPOLITICS

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

In Kwara, APC Remains on Tenterhooks Hammed Shittu writes that intra-party rivalry among diﬀerent groups within the All Progressives Congress in Kwara State may threaten its capacity to hold on to power

AbdulRazaq

Bolarinwa

Oyedepo

Ajadi

members of the state executive council and special advisers, without consulting other stakeholders, like the Legacy Group. Since then, the state leadership of the party has been factionliased into two camps. The two camps in the state executive committee of the party hold different opinions on the number of key executives loyal to each camp. The Hon.Bolarinwa group was said to have laid claim to be in the majority of the state executive committee of the party, while AA group in the state executive committee of the party also claims to be in the majority. Recently, the crisis was renewed between the two camps over who will be the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party in the state following the dissolution of the party structures nationwide. The Governor according to THISDAY checks was said not to be disposed to the continued retention of Hon.Bolarinwa as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party and decided to make a move so as to ensure his replacement with one of his supporters, Chief Sunday Fagbemi. It was gathered that, the Governor said that Hon Bolarinwa was a product of caretaker committee and therefore he should not be reappointed for the position claiming that, there was no congress in the party that produced him as the chairman of the party in the state. Sources close to the party in the state told journalists in Ilorin that, the governor was said to have tried all means to ensure Hon. Bolarinwa’s replacement but at the end of the day he lost out. But, some members of the Legacy Group who are in support of Hon.Bolarinwa at a news conference in Ilorin expressed disappointment over the move by the governor to seek Hon.Bolarinwa’s replacement. The spokesperson of the group, Hon. Iyiola Oyedepo said that, the alleged move by the governor was illegal, illogical and unacceptable. Oyedepo said that, “we would not allow the governor to change the winning team

of the party structures that produced him as the executive governor and other elected representatives of the party in the state.” Oyedepo who was flanked by the representatives of Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki,the state legal adviser of the party, Barrister Oladimeji Mustapha, that of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Mnister of Information and Culture ,Mr Ayo Obisesan stated that,”We will not allow any individual to achieve what is not possible in the political administration of party to draw the APC back in Kwara state.” Among the factions in the fractured APC, only the representative of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRasaq was absent at the press conference. Akogun Oyedepo at the time of press conference expressed concern that Governor AbdulRazaq has not invited Hon Bashir Bolarinwa for the swearing in ceremony that will take place in Abuja. He said, “The information at our disposal is that Governor AbdulRazaq has gone to the national headquarters of the party to urge the national care taker committee to exempt Bolarinwa from the swearing in ceremony on the ground that Kwara executive of 2018 was not a product of a congress. Oyedepo who said members of other groups in the party were not carried along by the governor in his current decision despite the ongoing peace parley among them said, “the state executive committee of the party established in 2018 under Bolarinwa chairmanship was duly constituted by members of the party including the governor. “And when that executive was challenged by Alhaji Balogun Fulani, the erstwhile chairman of the party who later defected to PDP, he failed up to the Supreme Court of Nigeria which decision was given on 19th April 2019. “That decision has put to rest the illegality claim on the composition of the state executive committee of the party in Kwara State. “Based on the said Supreme Court decision, it will be illegal, illogical and certainly unac-

ceptable to base exclusion of Kwara State on the national policy of the of the party now. He noted that,”the efficiency of our structure and high tolerance of party members accounted for APC 100%score in the general election of 2019.We therefore urge all powers in APC not to tamper with the smooth operation of a winning team” Moreover, as the intrigue continues over who will take over the chairmanship of the party in the state, the Legacy Group at the end of the day won the leadership of the party in the state as Hon.Bolarinwa was sworn in as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party recently in Abuja thereby putting an end to the horse trade over who takes over the mantle of leadership of the party in the state. As the news of the swearing- in of Hon. Bolarinwa by the national working committee of the party in Abuja broke, the members of the party in the state were in jubilation over the victory of Hon. Bolarinwa as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party in the state. The development however prompted some party elders who are mainly of “AA Support Group” in the party to express reservation at the emergence of Hon. Bolarinwa, saying that a Caretaker committee cannot succeed another one. The party’s elder caucus are Rev Bunmi Olusona,Senator Oyewo,Senator Ahmed Ahmed,Hon Ayinla Folorunsho and Senator Makanjuola Ajadi among others According to the spokesman of the caucus, Rev Olusona, the elders also condemned in strong terms,the deliberate dragging of the name of the governor, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq into the crisis by some members of the party ,”to please their sponsors in Abuja.” He said,”We are aware of all the various inglorious moves by those who are only loyal to their personal interests and ambition than the survival of the party, these crop of party supporters want to take us back to the era of slavery, that we all collectively said ‘O to ge’. We refused to be enslaved again. “ The elders caucus stressed, “for the avoidance of any doubt, our great party’s NEC resolution for dissolved exco to transform to caretaker automatically should be binding on substantive party executives produced by congress only, kwara state party exco was a caretaker committee and can’t be dissolved and swear in again as a care taker exco. “We hereby call for fresh constitution of Kwara Caretaker committee that will put in place through Congress, a proper state party executive that will reflect true democracy and guarantee continuous support to APC by Kwarans. “The national caretaker should also appoint men of honour that will not contest, as caretaker committee members for Kwara State. “The party elders caucus said.

s things currently stand, the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state remains unabated. The crisis continues to divide stakeholders of the party in the state. The latest development is the supremacy battle between the two warring camps over the group that will lead the party ahead of 2023 polls following the recent dissolution of the party structures across the 36 states of the federation and FCT Abuja and the directive to appoint caretaker chairmen for the party in the states, zonal, local and ward levels nationwide. This new move has ignited another feud between the two main camps in the party amd they all came out with their arsenals to get the control of the party. The move according to political pundits in the state was to show which camp will take over the control of the party ahead of the 2023 general election. The two camps are the Legacy Group controlled by three leaders in the state, the Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of State for Transportation, Senato Gbemisola Rukayah Saraki and a legal practitioner, Hon. Iyiola Oyedepo. The other group which is called “AA” Support Group is led by some APC leaders like Senator Suleiman Ajadi, Chief Sunday Fagbemi, Senator Ahmed Ahmed among others with the support of the state Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Although, the “AA” Support Group in the APC has made severral moves to remove the state chairman of the party,, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa but these failed. Recently, a stakeholders meeting called by Governor AbdulRazaq to brief them on the state affairs of the state ended in chaos over the bid to remove Hon.Bolarinwa as the chairman of the party. The move failed at the end of the day as the Governor had to leave the Kwara Hotels, Ilorin venue in a hurry for fear of being assulted at the meeting when the plan to remove Hon. Bolarinwa failed. Prior to that move, the AA Support Group in the party had raised several allegations against Hon. Bolarinwa that bothered on financial impropriety over the last general elections in the state but at the end of the day, the AA Support Group was the loser thereby making the state chairman, Hon.Bolarinwa to remain in office as all the allegations raised against him were null and void and lacked merits as claimed by some executives of the party. The APC in Kwara State has been enmeshed in shimmering crisis shortly after the electoral victory of the party in the state in 2019. During the period, the state Governor, Alhaji AbdulRazaq allegedly decided to shun some stakeholders of the party that worked tirelessly for the electoral victory of the party in the state. All the moves made to let the governor realise the neglect of the stakeholders of the party was said to have been turned down as he went ahead solely to appoint all the

The intrigue continues over who will take over the chairmanship of the party in the state, the Legacy Group at the end of the day won the leadership of the party in the state as Hon.Bolarinwa was sworn in as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party recently in Abuja thereby putting an end to the horse trade over who takes over the mantle of leadership of the party in the state. As the news of the swearing- in of Hon. Bolarinwa by the national working committee of the party in Abuja broke, members of the party in the state were in jubilation over the victory

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

T H I S D AY ˾ WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021

POLITICS

Nasarawa Takes a Stand on Local Government Administration

GOVERNANCE IN PHOTOS

Igbawase Ukumba writes that Governor Abdullahi Sule is reviving the third tier of governance in Nasarawa State

Sule

t is no longer news that the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State could not pay salaries of their workers, pensions and gratuities of their retired personnel following the implementation of the financial autonomy granted to local governments in the country by the federal government. Consequently, it was reported that officials of the council areas in the state wished the financial autonomy earlier granted to the third tier of government in the country by the Federal Government be broken by Governor Abdullahi Sule in Nasarawa State. The scenario played out at Mararaba Gongon Village of Wamba Local Government Area of the state when the governor flagged off remodeling of an over 50-year old LGEA Primary School, Mararaba Gongon in Wamba Local Government Area of the state, executed by the Nasarawa State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While flagging-off the remodeling of the Mararaba Gongon primary school, Governor Sule said: “When I was coming to Wamba, I received battalion of messages that: please when I get there I should pay local government workers’ salaries. When federal government decided that there should be independent of the local government and should receive their allocation directly, I was in support.” Sule maintained that the situation where governors dominate finances of the local governments in the country was uncalled for, therefore people must elect local government officials that are competent to come out with initiatives, ideas that would generate revenues to supplement what they get from the federation account. “Nasarawa State is rich and capable of generating its own revenues without going to the federal government. The idea is to get people who have the initiative, the capacity, the patriotism that would turn around the fortune of the state,” the governor reechoed. Despite expressing dissatisfaction with governance at the third tier of government in the state, Governor Sule did not hesitate to support local government areas in the state pay, at least, one month pension arrears to the pensioners. He gave the support recently during a meeting with chairmen of the 13 local government areas, Director General of Nasarawa State Pension Board, as well as leaders of the local government pension union at the Government House, Lafia. Accordingly, Governor Sule said at the meeting that he was ready to redeem his earlier pledge to assist the LGAs from the second trench of SIFTAS Funds so that the council areas could pay one month pension arrears to their retirees. He continued that the meeting was to map out modalities for the payment of the one month pension arrears for the local government pensioners. This was even as Sule explained that his meeting with the council chairmen became

necessary in order to deliberate on the way forward regarding the scheduled council election of the state. The governor then used the opportunity to assure the council chairmen that he was not against them, stressing that his call for the ruling party to ensure only competent persons secure the ticket of the party in the forthcoming council poll was only predicated on the sincere desire to move the state ahead and to be less dependent on monthly subvention. According to the governor, “the local government election is expected to hold by February 2021, but there is need for me to meet with the council chairmen regarding the issue of funds to be used in conducting the election.” As the state gears towards conducting local government election by February this year, Governor Sule has continued with his sensitisation campaign to people of the state to ensure they elect only competent individuals to provide necessary leadership at the local government level of the state. He reechoed the need to elect only competent hands to manage affairs of the third tier of governance in the state while hosting members of the Mada South Unity Forum at his private residence in Lafia recently. “I will prefer to see the people elect chairmen who have the experience and capacity to exploit and harness resources found in each of the councils, rather than depending on monthly subvention just to pay salaries,” the governor maintained. While stressing that his administration will be transparent and fair in the conduct of the forthcoming council election, the Governor however appealed to people of the state to ensure that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fields only competent candidates that will assist the administration by exploiting and harnessing abundant natural and human resources at the council areas. He concluded: “I therefore urge the people of Akwanga Local Government Area to select a chairmanship candidate who is competent enough to harness and exploit the abundant natural resources found in the area for the collective benefit of the people.” Suffice to notice that people of Nasarawa State have been looking forward to the conduct of local government election by the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) this year with reservations. But chairman of the NASIEC, Ayuba Wande Usman, assured that the state electoral body has been planning to have local government election of the state conducted this year. Speaking to THISDAY recently, Wande said: “Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission is planning to hold the next local government election in February, because the tenure of the present elected local government council officials will expire by May 2021.” “We had some allocation to this commission in the last budget, and we are still awaiting the release of this fund from the state government because some segments of the preparation of the local government election is going to take place this year. We have also proposed some amount in the 2021 budget. But full force will be coming out in the 2021.” He continued that NASIEC had N300 million meant for the local election captured in the 2020 budget, and also had N600 million captured in the 2021 budget. “For us as a commission, we have a budget of N879 million for the conduct of the entire election. Legally from our law, there are only two factors that can make us either call off an election or postpone an election. The first one is insecurity and the second one is lack of fund,” Wande explained. NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Governor Dapo Abiodun (left) sharing thoughts with Otunba Bola Adegunwa, chairman of Rites Foods during a recent visit to the multi-billion naira factory of the latter at Ososa in Odogbolu local government area of the state

L - R: Mr. Ini James Ikie, Mrs. Grace Paulinus Jimmy, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa IbomState, Mrs. Esther Aniekan Inyang, Mrs. Abasiekeme Victor Essein and Dr. Ini Jackson Etukudo at the recent swearing-in of ﬁve new Permanent Secretaries into the state civil service at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (right) with former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, when the Governor paid a condolence visit to the Senator over the death of his father, Alhaji Musa Kwankwaso, in Abuja

Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo (middle) being decorated with an remblem during the recent fund launch for the Armed Forces Rememberance Day celebration in Uyo

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FEATURES

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

Making Childbirth Less Arduous for Pregnant Women Rebecca Ejifoma, who visited the Iyana-Era in Ojo area of Lagos State, reports that the goal of healthcare workers, especially those in involved in the process of childbirth in Primary Health Centres, should be to make the journey less arduous for pregnant women, which in the long run reduces maternal mortality

or pregnant women in Iyana-Era, Ojo area of Lagos State, they clamour for better health care services from the Primary Health Centres (PHC) in their community. Given the choice, these women would gladly grasp PHCs in the community if it would employ educative, entertaining, and more professional services to save mother and child. According to them, one of the ways to achieve this is during the process antenatal care (ANC) by engaging pregnant women in some dancing, safe exercises, educative information on maternal and child health, interactive sessions with doctors, and professional services from health workers. Without these activities, a handful of women have said, pregnancy would be boring and stressful. Corroborating, Rose Ogbu who resides in Era, a rural community in Ojo Local Government Area (LGAs) near the Badagry axis of state, said this was one of the several worries that need dire attention. Ogbu had gone for ANC but left “after pregnant women like me were stranded for hours that Tuesday. There was no activity, information or enlightenment on what to do and not to do”. Interestingly, for this first-time pregnant woman, two things snatched her attention from Era PHC she had long dreamed of visiting after two years of childlessness – it was the lack of education and entertainment associated with pregnancy. Just like the other pregnant women she met at the PHC, their taste bud called for some dancing, safe exercises, educative information on maternal and child health, interactive sessions with doctors, and professional services from health workers during ANC, but they didn’t get that. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), ANC is an important aspect of maternal health as it covers a wide range of activities with huge potential benefits for positive pregnancy outcomes. The organisation further recommends that every pregnant woman visits a health centre for ANC at least four times. It was to relish those benefits she could not find in the PHC that Ogbu went to a private clinic, Ilogbo Central Hospital, still in Ojo. “Although I had my child through C-section, which almost claimed my life, I’m happy my baby and I are fine”, she added. Maternal Death Sadly, maternal death has remained one lingering issue that Lagos State and the nation at large are yet to defeat. Annually, pregnant women die during childbirth in several rural and urban communities, thus contributing to the maternal death rate of the nation. Every year, Nigeria loses 512 pregnant women out of every 100,000 of them during childbirth, an estimate by the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2018. This is a significant decrease compared to 917 maternal deaths the previous year. While Nigeria recorded such an alarming rate in 2017, Chad recorded 1,140 death of mothers during childbirth while Sierra Leone had

Antenatal class by the Wellbeing Foundation

A typical antenatal class

1,120 maternal deaths. Although this statistic by the NDHS shows a decline in maternal deaths in Nigeria, for every 512 pregnant women lost during childbirth, about 512 husbands become widowers and possibly single fathers. This loss could have huge negative impact on the families, the communities, the states, and the economy. Shoddy Experience at PHC Indeed, since Ogbu did not want to be among the often-cited statistic, she stressed how she needed such information among others to keep her and her then unborn baby alive. “When other pregnant women

and I discussed earlier at the ANC, they said women used to come in a large number before, but many pulled out because of the attitude of the workers; lateness, dull moments and lack of activities to keep their sanity in check. “Even my husband grew tired of waiting; he had to leave for work. What if I wanted to have my baby? Is that how I would have waited? When the matron finally came, She just touched my tummy when it was my turn; she told me to pay N2,500 for registration. I even paid N600 for drugs, and N2,500 for test”. According to the first-time expectant mother, after buying the

drugs, she said the matron asked an unkempt boy to attend to her. He instructed me to come with my urine on every antenatal on Tuesdays. That discouraged me. The worst of it was when we opened the medicine. It was doused in mucous and powdery substance like it was stale. It was expired medicine,” she exclaimed. By the next Tuesday, Ogbu found herself at the Ilogbo Central Hospital where she began the process of registration from scratch. “I paid N1,000 for card, and N500 for every antenatal on Tuesdays.” At every ANC, the excited Rosy said over 20 pregnant women including her were given medicine and snacks;

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FEATURES

Mrs. Rose Ogbu

the nurses engaged them in dance exercise to massaging music, too. “I felt livelier. The doctors checked us well at every visit; they lectured and enlightened us about pregnancy, changes in the body, and danger signs. That lecture was the most important for me because I knew nothing about pregnancy. It helped me know the signs of labour when I was due that night.” Although she found a private centre about 20 minutes drive from home, she wouldn’t mind it closer home. “If that PHC in my place will do all these activities, why not? It’s five minutes’ walk from my home.” While Ogbu sought enlightenment, and safe exercises, Mrs. Luciana C, another expectant mother sought for comfort and guidance. Although she already has three children, her third child is less than four months old. “I don’t use Era Health Centre to give birth. I use a nurse at house. I’m comfortable there. I only go to health centre to immunise my baby,” says the nursing mum. Indeed, for the two women, knowledge on their health and that of her unborn babit’s, nutrition, and exercises are more crucial than buying baby items. While Ogbu went to another hospital, Luciana noted that she will simply keep patronising a nurse in her living room for comfort. Role of Awareness To curb the alarming rate of maternal deaths, this is where awareness comes to play during ANC. The standard should be educative talks and practicals for expectant mothers at each ANC, thereby making them better informed about their maternal choices. According to a Reproductive Health Coordinator, who wouldn’t authorise her name to be used, those ANC activities like exercises and talks are essential. She listed the benefits to THISDAY. “It helps women know the danger signs in pregnancy; birth

preparedness/complication readiness; exclusive breastfeeding; 10 steps to safe delivery and healthy baby and feeding; nutrition in pregnancy; and importance of family planning after delivery.” In her perspective, PHCs do general health talks, which is apt. “There are different topics every week they come. They are taught to eat right, sleep, rest, avoid alcohol and smoking, feed for your baby, the number of times to come for antenatal sessions, drugs they are supposed to take, and do's and don'ts.” Reacting to Ogbu’s case of a PHC void of such activities, the expert described it as unheard of. “The only change we may have right now is because of COVID-19. We have altered our practices a bit. We don't want too many people in the health centres. As soon as you come in, you see the doctor; you leave.” Consequences of Inadequate Information at ANCs It is gainsaying that there are consequences of zero information at ANCs. According to the Reproductive Health Coordinator, If expectant mothers do not get such educative teachings, it could affect them. “You see danger signs – when they complain of dizziness, seeing blood, and headache, those are warning signs for eclampsia and pre-eclampsia, one of the major causes of maternal mortality”, she said, stressing that expectant mothers should be made aware of such signs and more at ANCs. Sadly, there are eight main factors contributing steadily to maternal deaths. Eclampsia, as the health coordinator said, is one of them. Therefore, to avoid such complications that could endanger mother and child, she recommended, “That is why you teach them these things to avoid complicated cases. Eat right, limit salt intake and watch your weight to avoid complications

during delivery. We also check blood pressure”. UNICEF’s Take When THISDAY contacted the Health Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Lagos, Dr. Charles Nwosisi, he echoed the words of the female expert. “I mean education of pregnant women or health education for any person that visits the health system including a pregnant woman is like the key part of the package of services provided. “If we go back to primary health care where a lot of our PHCs are supposed to be practising health education of everybody that comes in to access any service, it is like a major part of what they should be doing.” Nwosisi also harped on the importance of health education for pregnant women and parents who go for other services like immunisation in the PHCs. “The health education is usually focused on for instance in pregnant women; they could talk on things like nutrition; importance of having a balanced diet; what to eat.” For the health specialist, the PHCs should also be talking about exercising. “There are exercises pregnant women can do that are safe, and that will contribute to ensuring that the woman stays healthy during the course of her pregnancy.” According to Nwosisi, there is another bit of health education that also focuses on the important to-do things during pregnancy and even prior to delivery. Such to-do things, he outlined, are: talks on, for instance, tetanus vaccination. “The only thing is some women don't get it before pregnancies; they only get it during or when they are pregnant”. For Nwosisi, it is very important to protect the woman and the child from tetanus infection, too. While noting that there is education

on how to prepare for the delivery – in terms of things you could buy to ensure you are prepared to receive a baby – the expert mentioned that guidance and talk among others go a long way to contribute to a good outcome for both mother and baby. Another suggestion the UNICEF specialist listed is accessing quality health services, which goes a long way. “Quality of service in terms of the way the patient is managed based on the proven scientific way that such a pregnant woman should be cared for, so for instance WHO recommends eight visits for a pregnant woman and each visit certain things should be done.” Giving the consequences of zero information and safe physical exercises, Nwosisi cited that knowledge is power. The specialist noted that when individuals have the right knowledge they are equipped to make the right decision. “So for instance for a first time pregnant woman if she hasn't been properly educated on contractions, and she continues to have contractions and she stays at home, you know it is a poor decision she has made and also based on poor knowledge that she has,” Nwosisi emphasised. He, however, reemphasised that quality services are important for a woman to have an enjoyable experience accessing ANC and delivery. From the reactions of the medical experts, it is obvious that educative activities and safe exercises are apt for improved health of mother and child to aid safe delivery. Therefore, if the government will ensure that PHCs across Lagos State uphold these activities for pregnant women and equip them with the right information, then pregnant women like Ogbu and Luciana will return to these centres and in the long run reduce avoidable maternal and child death to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 •T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OVERNIGHT OBB

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

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EXCHANGE RATE N379/1US DOLLAR* ̩

Quick Takes Angola Gets Debt Relief

RUBBING MINDS

Managing Director/Chief Executive Oﬃcer of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr Ahmed Kuru (right) and Head, Corporate Communications Department, Jude Nwauzor, at an event in Abuja…recently

Report Shows Rise in Female Owned Businesses in Nigeria, Others The 2020 Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) has once again ranked Uganda (39.6%), Botswana (38.5%) and Ghana (36.5%) as the world’s three leading economies having the most women business owners. Through a unique methodology – drawing on publicly available data from leading international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Organisation – MIWE 2020 includes a global ranking of the advancement of women in business in pre-pandemic conditions across 58 economies representing almost 80 per cent of the global female labor force. This includes eight countries across Sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa

ECONOMY and Uganda). The Index’s benchmark indicator is calculated as a percentage of total businesses owners, and Botswana, Uganda and Ghana have grown their percentages since 2019. Now in its fourth year, the MIWE highlights the vast socio-economic contribution of women entrepreneurs around the world, as well as provides insights on the factors driving and inhibiting their advancement. All but one (Botswana) of the Sub-Saharan African countries captured in the report showed improved MIWE scores since the last edition. South Africa displayed the biggest growth with a seven per cent increase from [60.2 score to 64.4]. Botswana however has also

grown the number of women entrepreneurs since last year (36% in 2019 to 38.5% in 2020), earning the country the second spot globally and displacing Ghana who now comes in third. The results also pointed to a strong representation of women business owners in Malawi, Angola and Nigeria, despite the economic and social challenges facing their entrepreneurial ecosystems. According to the report, the high scores were spurred by a low fear of business failure, an absence of alternative income sources, and an eager commitment to contribute to their communities. Furthermore, the report demonstrated that a high regard for risk taking, innovativeness, individuality and creativeness in entrepreneurship is prevalent in Uganda, Nigeria and Angola.

It also noted the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women entrepreneurs around the world, with 87 per cent saying they have been adversely affected. Overrepresentation in sectors hardest hit by the economic downturn, the pronounced digital gender gap in an increasingly virtual world, and the mounting pressures of childcare responsibilities were few factors that have left women particularly vulnerable. In Ghana, for instance, a sectoral breakdown reveals that a large proportion of womenowned businesses (85.1%) operate in highly impacted sectors compared to 50.5 per cent for men. In Uganda, 61 per cent of women-led small businesses failed to generate income even as lockdown measures were eased, Continued on page 24

‘No Nation Can Develop Without Proper Census’ Okon Bassey in Uyo As the National Population Commission of Nigeria prepares to embark on its Enumeration Area Demarcation exercise, the Commission has been urged to see the exercise as the fundamental bedrock of any credible national head count. The Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Mr. Moses Ekpo stated this while addressing officers of the National Population Commission at the Phase Eleven Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) camp, at Abak local government of the state. He noted that no nation would make any meaningful development without a proper and reliable census figure. Underscoring the importance

CAPITAL MAKET of the EAD exercise, Ekpo, a former Federal Commissioner with the National Population Commission was emphatic that given the challenge of the nation’s population and the need for accurate data for planning, the present exercise has become very germane to the issue of development in Nigeria. He said during his time, the Commission sworn to produce a credible figure of the number of people in Nigeria, rather than depend on estimates from international organisations, in order to fastrack development. He regretted that for a very long time after the British census, no census in Nigeria had ever

been accepted even by Nigerians. Ekpo, stated categorically that, “the success, the credibility of any census for any country largely depends on the pains you have taken to ensure the Enumeration Area Demarcation is absolutely correct and right.” He pointed out that no nation could develop by guess-work or estimates as government has to depend on accurate census figures to plan for the development of the country or state. He, therefore, commended the NPC officials for making a sizeable contribution to Nigeria’s development by paying attention to the details. “You cannot develop with guess work, you plan with actual numbers,” he stated. The Deputy Governor said

unless there was proper EAD, those doing the real census would find it difficult to count, adding that the work of the EAD Officials was absolutely of great importance for the good of the nation. “We are tired of being given estimates and I believe that the next census would provide a credible and reliable census for Nigeria,” he stressed. The deputy governor urged the Enumeration Area Demarcation Officials to be diligent with their work as it could “make or unmake Nigeria”. He reassured that the Akwa Ibom State government was keen in the success of the exercise in the state. “We are not living any stone Continued on page 24

Angola has secured three years of payment relief from Chinese creditorsandexpectstogetmorethan$700millioninitsnexttranche of International Monetary Fund (IMF) ﬁnancing in the coming days, its ﬁnance minister said on Monday. Africa’s second-largest oil exporter has been seeking payment relief asitstrivestoovercomethehitfromthecoronaviruspandemic,heavy debt service requirements and volatility in the oil sector. AccordingtoReuters,Angolaowesmorethan$20billiontoanumber of Chinese entities, including $14.5 billion to the China Development Bank and nearly $5 billion to the Export-Import Bank of China. It has also borrowed from China’s largest lender, ICBC, according to analysts’ calculations. “We’ve got three years of breathing space and we will take the best advantage of that,” Vera Daves de Sousa said in an interview for the Reuters Next conference. Angola had been transparent with the IMF on its negotiations with the Chinese, she said.The IMF’s executive board will meet on Monday to decide on the latest review of Angola’s programme with the Fund. Angola has so far received about $2.5 billion from the IMF as part of its largest funding programme in sub-Saharan Africa. “We are expecting more than $700 million,” Daves de Sousa said. It forms part of a $3.7 billion programme under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility approved in December 2018. In the future, she said Angola wanted to continue its relationship with China and all its “partners”, but with a priority on attracting foreign direct investment. “We want to do more with China and all our partners but to see some money coming in and staying to create value, create jobs,” said Daves de Sousa.

Amazon to Remove QAnon from Platform

Amazon.com Inc. on Monday said it was working to remove some QAnon products from its online marketplace, citing policies that prohibit offensive items or other inappropriate content. The world’s largest online retailer drew scrutiny for having apparel with QAnon insignia and related books up for sale days after QAnon followers joined last week’s siege of the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead. Reuters reported that QAnon backers have pushed conspiracies on social media based on web postings from the anonymous “Q,” citing insider knowledge of U.S. President DonaldTrump’s administration. These include the baseless claim that Trump secretly is fighting a cabal of child-sex predators, among them prominent Democrats and figures in Hollywood. The action by Amazon followed a decision to stop hosting the web contentofParler,asocialnetworkusedbysomesupportersofTrump. The company alleged that Parler had violated the terms of service of its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), for failing to deal with an increase in violent social media. Parler sued AWS on Monday in response. Amazon previously has come under fire for - and removed the listings of - products promoting extremist views, such as books denying the Holocaust.

Ebi’s Late Mother for Burial Jan. 29

The Matriarch of the Ebi family; Ezinne Maria Eriaba Ebi will on Friday January 29, 2021 be laid to rest at Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State. The late Ebi, who is mother to former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former Chairman of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Ernest Ebi, died on November 15, 2020 at the age of 91. According to a statement from the family, the burial activities will begin onThursday January 28, 2021 with service of songs at the Ebi’s family compound by 5pm at Urualla, while the funeral mass holds on Friday, January 29, 2021 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in the same town by 11am. She was a devout Catholic and community leader in her lifetime. She lived an exemplary Christian life and was renowned for humility, kindness, and generosity which earned her the sobriquet “Nne Muru Oha” – Mother of All.

“At the FIRS, we are paying greater attention to tax audit in general and transfer pricing audit in particular in order to improve the level of tax compliance in the country”

Executive Chairman, FIRS,

Mr. Muhammad Nami

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

BUSINESSWORLD REPORT SHOWS RISE IN FEMALE OWNED BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA, OTHERS it stated. “Our findings beckon us to consider the cost of untapped potential in women as contributors, not just in business and society, but on the national and global scale, as we chart the path of post Covid-19 recovery across Africa. “This is especially important as more women owned businesses will likely be impacted by the pandemic making the support through incentives, necessary tools, mentorship and digital inclusion platforms even more urgent. At Mastercard, we continue to partner with leading organisations across Africa and around the world to create safe and accessible digitized payment solutions for female owned small businesses across Africa,” Director, Marketing and Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mastercard, Ifeoma Dozie said. ‘NO NATION CAN DEVELOP WITHOUT PROPER CENSUS’

unturned,we will not stop supporting the Commission to succeed”, he stated. Ekpo, also noted that Akwa Ibom has been under-counted for years and drew attention to the industrial revolution in the state as well as the free education policy of the State Government which he explained has attracted many foreigners to the state. The Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Benedict Ukpong, announced that 10 phases of the EAD excersise have so far been successfully executed in the State covering eleven Local Government Areas with enourmous support from the state government. Ukpong said the Commission at the National level has taken adequate steps to carry out the demarcation exercise in preparation for the next Population and Housing Census in the country. The Commissioner however appealed for support from the State government and other stakeholders to successfully carry out the Phase 11 of the exercise covering Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Local Government Areas.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

Comms/e-Business Editor

Emma Okonji

Senior Correspondent

NEWS

AfDB to Mobilise $6.5bn for Great Green Wall Initiative The Sahel region’s Great Green Wall Initiative received a major boost from the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Monday. During a forum hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Bank pledged to assist in mobilising up to $6.5 billion over five years, to advance the landmark initiative. According to a statement from the AfDB, the resources will be made available through a range of programmes in support of the Great Green Wall by drawing on internal as well as external sources of funding, such as the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), among others. Multilateral development partners joined the Bank in pledging funding for the African-led initiative that aims to rejuvenate life in Africa’s current desert landscapes, providing food security, jobs and a reason for millions of Africans from Senegal to Djibouti to stay in the Sahel region. The forum took place in the margins of the One Planet Summit. According to Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, “As we rebuild from the coronavirus and its impacts on our world, we must recalibrate growth. We must prioritise growth that protects the environment and biodiversity, and we must de-prioritise growth that compromises our common goals.” Addressing the summit virtually from Abidjan, Adesina informed delegates that, “The Great Green Wall is part of Africa’s environmental defence system - A shield against the onslaughts of desertification and degradation. The future of the Sahel region depends on the Great Green Wall. Without the Great Green Wall, the Sahel region as we know it may

disappear.” Climate change has led to extreme temperatures, fluctuating rainfall and drought in the Sahel, a region that is home to 250 million people living in ten countries. Millions of livelihoods and hard-won development progress are threatened. The Great Green Wall’s plan is to plant an 8,000 km long and 15 km wide mosaic of trees, grasslands, vegetation and plants across the Sahara and Sahel that can restore the degraded lands and help the region’s inhabitants produce adequate food, create jobs and promote peace in the region. “The Great Green Wall is a wall worth building. A wall that brings people together, not one that pulls them apart. A wall that insulates, not one that isolates. A wall that protects our collective existence. A wall

for the environment—a wall for the planet,” Adesina said. A lack of finance has been the project’s major constraint to realising its goal of creating 10 million jobs, sequestering 250 million tonnes of carbon and restoring 100 million hectares of degraded land in the 11 countries of the Sahel-Sahara region. The Bank has made the Sahel region a top priority for investment and mobilising new sources of finance to advance Africa’s climate opportunities. One example is the African Development Bank’s Desertto-Power programme to build the largest solar zone power in the world. The programme will provide electricity to 250 million people in 11 Sahel countries and help protect the Great Green Wall. Over the next five years, Desertto-Power aims to make available

$2 billion for identified project opportunities for the Great Green Wall Initiative. A lack of resources to adapt economies to the consequences of climate change is also one of the main constraints on the Sahel region’s development. The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), hosted by the African Development Bank, aims to address this by mobilising resources and brokering solutions that boost progress in adapting to climate change. “The establishment of GCA Africa marks a critical step in our endeavour to accelerate and strengthen our efforts to address the triple challenge of biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change adaptation on the continent. We will develop and implement joint programs that will mobilise resources at scale to support the Great Green Wall,”

Bank Vice-President President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Kevin Kariuki said. Another Bank initiative key to transforming the Sahel into a land of opportunities and inclusive green growth is Technologies for African Transformation (TAAT). The initiative aims to raise food output in Africa by 100 million tonnes and lift 40 million people out of poverty by 2025 by harnessing high-impact, proven technologies to raise productivity, mitigate risks and promote diversification and processing. TAAT, for example, has provided Sudanese farmers access to heat tolerant maize. In a major announcement, President Macron named Adesina a Great Green Wall Champion. Adesina was recognised for his personal commitment to addressing climate change in Africa.

Tolaram Group Wins ADVAN Award Raheem Akingbolu The Tolaram Group, promoters of Indomie Noodles, Power Oil, Hypo, Kelloggs, Dano, Colgate, and other household brands in Nigeria, has received the Community Hero Award at the Advertising Association of Nigeria Awards for Excellence 2020, popularly known as the ADVAN Awards. Tolaram Group received the award following its intervention initiatives across the country during the first phase of the COVID-19 global pandemic in the year 2020. According to the organisers of the award, the ADVAN Awards for Marketing

Excellence is aimed at acknowledging and rewarding marketing professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. The ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence West Africa is a significant event that appreciates and commends the meticulous effort of marketing professionals towards the success and growth of the marketing industry in the West African sub-region. However, this year, in response to the current global realities, ADVAN is presenting awards in only one special category, which is the ‘ADVAN Community Heroes Award’. “The positive impact of

advertisers via support activities ranging from monetary and product donations to education and enlightenment programmes was one of the most welcome and celebrated initiatives during the heart of the pandemic onslaught. “This is why the 2020 Edition of the ADVAN Awards for Marketing Excellence will be dedicated to celebrating organisations that have made significant and lasting contributions to individuals, families, and communities’ wellbeing in the pandemic times,” the organisers revealed. Receiving the award on behalf of Tolaram Group, Group Public Relations and

Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Temitope Ashiwaju said the company had always been driven towards creating value. “We are most delighted to receive this prestigious award in recognition of our efforts in the fight against COVID-19. In response to the pandemic, Tolaram Group had come forward with a donation of the sum of N1 billion worth of cash and products to the Nigerian government. “The donation was made to curtail the spread of COVID-19 as well as for the treatment of diagnosed individuals in Nigeria. “We believed that no amount

of support was too much during the trying global challenge. We also believed our contribution would go a long way to expand the health capabilities on ground, especially testing, isolation, provision of treatment facilities, and humanitarian palliative measures which are essential to curb the spread of the virus and support Nigerians in its aftermath.” The donation was in addition to thousands of cartons of food products and Hypo disinfectants previously donated to multiple state governments, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in the country.

ËÒÏÏ× ÕÓØÑÌÙÖß (Advertising) Correspondents

ÒÓØÏÎß äÏ (Aviation) ÜÙ×ÙÝÏÖÏ ÌÓÙÎßØ (Maritime) Ë×ÏÝ ×ÏÔÙ (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafor (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters

ß×Ï ÕÏÑÒÏ (Money Market) ÙÝË ÖÏÕÒßÙÑÓÏ (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Deutsche Bank Will Not Do Future Business with Trump Deutsche Bank will not do business in the future with United States President, Donald Trump or his companies in the wake of his supporters’ deadly January 6 assault on the US Capitol, the New York Times reported. Deutsche Bank is Trump’s

most important lender, with about $340 million in loans outstanding to the Trump Organisation, the president’s umbrella group that is currently overseen by his two sons. Reuters quoted NYT to have cited a person familiar with the bank’s thinking.

A spokesman for Deutsche Bank declined to comment on Tuesday. The Trump Organisation did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside normal business hours, and the White House press office did not answer the phone.

Head of the bank’s US operations, Christiana Riley, condemned last week’s violence in a post on LinkedIn. “We are proud of our Constitution and stand by those who seek to uphold it to ensure that the will of the people is upheld and a

peaceful transition of power takes place,” she wrote. Reuters reported in November that Deutsche was looking for ways to end its relationship with Trump after the U.S. elections, as it tires of the negative publicity stemming from the ties.

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How Not to Dampen Investors’ Confidence The move by the federal government to borrow unclaimed dividends as provided in the Finance Act of 2020, is capable of dampening the rising investors’ confidence in the capital market, writes Goddy Egene

Trading ﬂoor

he Nigerian stock market recorded a historic performance last year when its rose by 50.03 per cent after a decline the previous year. That growth was the best global performance among the 93 markets tracked by Bloomberg. Unlike in the past when foreign investors used to drive the activities in the market, the local investors took the lead last year, contributing significantly to the gain recorded. For instance, domestic investors accounted for 65.2 per cent or N1.239 trillion out of the total N1.899 trillion invested in equities as at end of November 2020, while foreign investors staked N659 billion or 34.7 per cent. This is a positive development considering the fact over the years, domestic investors’ participation has been very low and stakeholders have been looking for ways to improve the patronage. Therefore, it is highly encouraging that more domestic investors are now showing interest in the market. However, the increasing interest by local investors is being threatened by move by the federal government to borrow unclaimed dividends in the capital market and dormant account balances in banks. One of the major reasons investors stake their money on stocks is to get returns in form of dividends. These dividends have sustained many investors over the years. However, some of the dividends have been left unclaimed. Although efforts are being made by regulators and other stakeholders to ensure owners of the unclaimed dividends receive them, the federal government is about to have access to dividends through the Finance Act 2020, which President Muhammadu Buhari recently signed into laws. Part of act provides that “Any unclaimed dividend of a public limited liability company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and any unutilised amounts in a dormant bank account maintained in or by a deposit money bank which has remained unclaimed or unutilised for a period of not less than six years from the date of declaring the dividend or domiciling the funds in a bank account shall be transferred immediately to the trust fund.” The act states that the monies transferred to the trust fund will be a “special debt owed by the federal government to shareholders and dormant bank account holders.” However, the law exempts official bank accounts owned by the federal government,

state government or local governments or any of their ministries, departments or agencies. It provided that the operation of the trust fund will be supervised by the Debt Management Office (DMO) and governed by a governing council chaired by the finance minister and a co-chairperson from the private sector appointed by the president. Other members of the governing council shall include the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), managing director of the National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a representative of the registrars of companies, two representatives of the shareholders’ association, a representative of the Bankers’ Committee and the directorgeneral of the Debt Management Office as the secretary of the trust fund. But before the act was passed by the law makers and signed by President Buhari, there has been opposition by shareholders and other members of the capital market community. According to them, the government lacks powers to manage funds belonging to private sector investors. And more stakeholders, including politicians and rights activists, have raised their voices against the move, urging the government not to go ahead with the plan. Stockbrokers said the move was unnecessary because capital market regulators and operators had leveraged technology to put

Stockbrokers said the move was unnecessary because capital market regulators and operators had leveraged technology to put in place many initiatives that are already addressing the issue of unclaimed dividends

in place many initiatives that are already addressing the issue of unclaimed dividends. For instance, the Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, said initiatives such as dematerialisation of shares which entails upload of quoted companies’ shares in the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) for ease of reconciliation, adoption of E-Dividend and E-Mandate, consolidation of multiple accounts, identity management engagements, introduction of electronic Initial Public offering (e-IPO) are already having a positive impact on the management of unclaimed dividends in the market. Other initiatives are: the adoption of Minimum Operating Standards (MOS) for operators to enhance efficiency; intensified investor education, continuous stakeholders’ engagements, process reform and streamlining and know your customer (KYC) update on clients’ accounts among others. “Generally, the incentives for savers and capital providers in the capital market is the expectation of dividends and capital appreciation. It is therefore, our considered view that the proposed legislation, if passed, will be a great disincentive to savings, long-term capital mobilisation and serious disruption of the Nigerian economy since it will take away the only expectation of investors in the market,” Ezeagu said. Also speaking, the President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, described the law as objectionable at this stage of the market. According to him, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would always ensure that unclaimed dividend is transferred to capital reserves of the company for restricted utilisation such as capital expansion and issuance of bonus shares to the company’s shareholders. The President of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR) and Chief Executive of Coronation Registrars Limited, Mr. Seyi Owoturo, the federal government should come up with a holistic legislation on unclaimed financial assets across the economy with the viewing to managing them for the benefit of all stakeholders. Owoturo said: “We did a study about four year ago that estimated the value of on unclaimed financial assets to be more than

N1 trillion. The problem that I see is that the government shouldn’t be using the Finance Bill to takeover unclaimed assets. “It should go to the National Assembly and do an unclaimed assets law. Let us face unclaimed assets generally. There are unclaimed (banker’s) cheques that are issued by companies. In Britain these cheques will go to the Crown while in the United States of America (USA) they will go to the state of the intended beneficiary’s last known address. “There are also unclaimed insurance benefits and dormant bank accounts that were estimated at over a trillion Naira four years ago. The unclaimed dividend is only about N150 billion. Really if there is a problem, it certainly is not unclaimed dividends. The real problem here is that they abound all over the place.” He explained that the enactment of a holistic unclaimed assets law would also resolve the potential conflict that would arise from the finance act which stipulated that the unclaimed assets would revert to the government after 12 years while the amended Company and Allied Matter Act 2020 stated that unclaimed dividend should revert to the company. “Where will the money go? All over the world, countries seek to institute discipline and transparency around unclaimed assets by letting them go to either the sovereign or the state governments. But what the bill is saying is that after 12 years it would not revert to the company as stated by CAMA but to the government,” he said. In the opinion of the Registrar/CEO of Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR), Mr. Jonathan Eborah, unclaimed dividends represent the least unclaimed funds across all jurisdictions. “There are only two countries whose unclaimed benefits fall below the Trillion Naira threshold and they are Nigeria’s unclaimed dividends at N158.44billion and the US’ unclaimed pension benefits of N114 billion. This indicates that there are unclaimed dividends in Nigeria and unclaimed pension benefits in the US, but they are comparatively insignificant to what obtains in their respective classes in other nations and in other classes. For Nigeria, with total dividend payout of 94.84 per cent between 2009 and October 2019, it appears that the effort by the stakeholders CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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HOW NOT TO DAMPEN INVESTORS’ CONFIDENCE to reduce unclaimed dividends is yielding results,” he said. Eborah suggested the way to handle and reduce the unclaimed dividends instead of moves by the government to take over its management. According to him, there must be an understanding that unclaimed dividends (like other unclaimed funds) is a global phenomenon. “The multiple subscription initiative by the capital market community should be sustained to reduce unclaimed shares which will ultimately further reduce unclaimed dividends. The SEC should insist that every new entrant to the capital market must be fully known and provide all that is required for electronic payment. ICMR should establish a Special Depository licensed by the SEC with the responsibility to locate owners of unclaimed accounts or their next of kin and encourage them to activate their claim, take up insurance cover over the funds, and manage the funds which shall remain with the registrars,” Eborah said. He said this would will become a Nigerian model which may be adopted by other countries, stressing that ICMR (The special Depository), will have a role in addressing the issue of unclaimed dividend funds by collecting data from registrars, building and maintaining infrastructure frameworks that will help reconnect members with their unclaimed funds so as to solve, or lessen the issue of unclaimed dividend/funds on a continuous basis. “There should be a continuation of public enlightenment by the SEC, the special Depository and other stakeholders. Finally, banks should encourage and assist their customers to embrace the electronic dividend registration,” he said. On their parts, shareholders said dividends are private wealth of investors, either individuals or corporate entities and the idea of converting such private wealth to Federal Government’s revenue negates the relevant provisions of the rights to own property and asset as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended. In a statement signed by National Coordinator, Mr. Anthony Omojola and Founder, Sir Sunday Nwosu of Independent Shareholders of Nigeria (ISAN), the shareholders noted that to the extent of its inconsistency with the 1999 constitution, the act is null and void as the law expressly states that there shall be no forceful takeover of any private moveable or immovable property of any Nigerian without due and appropriate compensation and or valid court order. “It is nothing short of expropriation which the constitution forbids. Dividends, including unclaimed dividends, are fund generated by private companies and made available to its shareholders in line with the provisions of Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and the Company Memart. That these funds are available only after the company has paid a host of taxes, including Companies Income

Tax Act (CITA), Educational Trust Fund (ETF) and tax of about 32 per cent of gross profit is paid to the federal government and 10 per cent withholding tax on the shareholders for every dividend declared,” ISAN stated. According to them, it was clearly overreaching and unacceptable for government to seek to expropriate the unclaimed dividends under the subterfuge of any revenue, noting that companies and individuals have a right to private properties and assets of which unclaimed dividends funds falls into. They said the the philosophy behind the decision to appropriate unclaimed dividends is wrong, as returns on investments cannot be time barred by any progressive government. They noted that the thinking that the cancellation of rights after 12 years is unconstitutional and the notion that expropriation is to cure an alleged unconstitutional wrong is also wrong, describing this as an inverse legal thinking that will lead to another unconstitutional mess. “The unclaimed dividends belong to shareholders of companies and there is adequate provision that in the event of failure to claim; that such fund should revert back to the operations of the company. There are good structures around this position. Further, recovery by shareholders has thus been seamless. Rather than try to expropriate, government should enhance the structures,” ISAN said. Also condemning the move by the government, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), said the act does not ensure full respect for Nigerians’ right to property. In a letter dated January 9, 2021, signed by its Deputy Director, SERAP, Kolawole

Oluwadare, said: “The right to property is a sacred and fundamental right. Borrowing unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts amount to an illegal expropriation and would hurt poor and vulnerable Nigerians who continue to suffer under reduced public services and ultimately lead to unsustainable levels of public debt. “The right to property extends to all forms of property, including unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts. Borrowing these dividends and funds without due process of law, and the explicit consent of the owners is arbitrary, and as such, legally and morally unjustifiable.” The letter, read in part “The borrowing is neither proportionate nor necessary, especially given the unwillingness or inability of the government to stop systemic corruption in ministries, departments and agencies [MDAs], cut waste, and stop all leakages in public expenditures. The borrowing is also clearly not in pursuit of public or social interest. “The security of property, next to personal security against the exertions of government, is of the essence of liberty. It is next in degree to the protection of personal liberty and freedom from undue interference or molestation. Our constitutional jurisprudence rests largely upon its sanctity.” SERAP said that rather than pushing to borrow unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts, the government ought to move swiftly to cut the cost of governance, ensure review of jumbo salaries and allowances of all high-ranking political office holders, and address the systemic corruption in MDAs, as well as improve transparency and accountability

in public spending. “The borrowing also seems to be discriminatory, as it excludes government’s owned official bank accounts and may exclude the bank accounts of high-ranking government officials and politicians, thereby violating the constitutional and international prohibition of discrimination against vulnerable groups, to allow everyone to fully enjoy their right to property and associated rights on equal terms. “SERAP is concerned that the government has also repeatedly failed and/or refused to ensure transparency and accountability in the spending of recovered stolen assets, and the loans so far obtained, which according to the Debt Management Office, currently stands at $31.98 billion. “SERAP notes growing allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of these loans and recovered stolen assets. “We would be grateful if your government would drop the decision to borrow unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts, and to indicate the measures being taken to send back the Finance Act to the National Assembly to repeal the legislation and remove its unconstitutional and unlawful provisions, including Sections 60 and 77, within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.” “If we have not heard from you by then as to the steps being taken in this direction, the Registered Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to implement these recommendations in the public interest, and to promote transparency and accountability in public spending,” it stated.

CBN Meeting and NSE in Focus Lukman Otunuga

few backs back. On the bright side, oil prices are trading to levels not seen since February 2018 amid signs of tightening global supply. For emerging market oil producers like Nigeria, this is a welcome development and could boost optimism over the growth outlook for 2021. While prices could push higher in the near term, surging coronavirus cases and lockdowns across the globe may fuel fears around weak oil demand. Oil is up almost 10 per cent since the start of the year with the commodity’s near-term outlook likely to be influenced by the pending OPEC monthly market report on Thursday. Away from Nigeria, things are set to heat up in Washington after Democrats introduced a resolution to impeach U.S President Donald Trump for a second time, setting the stage for a vote on Wednesday. The idea of Democrats pushing for the removal of Trump who has less than two weeks left in his term is likely to fuel risk aversion and spur demand for safe-haven assets. If this becomes reality, the move would mark a first in history as no president has ever been impeached twice.

igerian stocks struggled for direction on Tuesday as investors adopted a guarded approach ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s interest rate decision

this week. After claiming the title as the world’s best-performing stock market in 2020, equity bulls in Nigeria seem to be missing with the NSE All-Share Index down only 0.36 per cent year-to-date. While appetite towards the local stocks was fuelled by a sense of optimism over Nigeria’s economic outlook, the primary driver behind such gains last year revolved around the bond markets. It must be kept in mind that investors were hunting for gains at a time where the country’s fixed income markets offered negative real yields. Given how this has drained demand for naira bonds, they may remain unloved and depressed over the coming months. The Central Bank of Nigeria is unlikely to change its monetary policy stance with interest rates expected to remain unchanged at 11.5 per cent. While central banks across the globe have embraced looser monetary policy and lower interest rates, the CBN may

not have the breathing space. Inflation which has accelerated to a 34 month high of 14.9 per cent in November is likely

to push higher amid dollar shortages. On top of this, the country is still battling with COVID-19 with a new variant emerging a

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Abubakar: We Will Enforce Compliance with Technology Barely one year after assuming office on January 7, 2020, as Registrar-General/Chief Executive, Corporate Affairs Commission, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, has recorded a major milestone for the commission by actualising a major vision of an end-to-end electronic solution for the registry.Apart from settling over N6 billion of inherited liabilities in staff pension and taxes as well as improving the agency’s revenue profile, he told James Emejo in this interview that the CAC under his leadership will among other things ensure that the controversial Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 is enforced with far-reaching penalties where applicable. Excerpts: Can you give an update on the implementation of the amended Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), particularly considering the uproar it generated last year? Yes, thank you very much for the question. If you remember, the CAMA 2020 was assented to by Mr. President in August 2020. After the presidential assent in line with the provisions of the Authentication Act, the law had to be gazetted and the responsibility for the gazetting has been vested in the clerk of the National Assembly. Finally, the official gazette was transmitted to us by the clerk of the National Assembly in November 2020. The law has come with a lot of innovations, a lot of changes in some of the old provisions of the CAMA 1990 and so we needed to change the way and manner we are registering companies to bring them up to date and consistent with the new law. And as you may be aware, CAC is one of the few agencies of government that operates a self-service portal. Most of our transactions are done electronically - the registration process since 2014 was being done electronically and so we needed to make necessary changes to the registration software to accommodate the reforms introduced by the new law. That took some time and in addition to changing the software, we also require a regulation that will drive the implementation because as I said, there are new provisions, new penalties which were not specified in the law: the responsibility for specifying the penalties was vested in the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment. And even the disclosure requirements - the forms that were to be used to collect information, the form of returns should be filed by registered entities - all these things had to be done afresh to bring them in line with the new law. So all those things were done - the Minister approved the companies regulation 2021 towards the end of December and we had already announced to Nigerians that the implementation will start on the first working day of 2021. In fact, the approval of the minister says January 1, 2021. So, already, the implementation has started, we have a new registration software, an upgraded version that allows you to register your company electronically unlike before where the certificate was being printed by us and we are sending the certificates to customers through designated courier companies as well as certified true copies of documents. The new system allows for end to end electronic solutions. When you give, you get your certificate electronically and for the first time, post incorporation filing are also being done electronically. In the past, all post incorporation processes were manually done. So the upgrade has introduced a new interface that allows for post registration. When you register your company, you can change your directors without having to come to the CAC or having to send any documents to CAC. So this is a new system and sensitisation has started. And this is one of the best innovations you can have anywhere. The system we have built is comparable to any other system you have in other registries of the world. In fact, our own is even different in so many areas because as at today there’s no registry that uses QR code for validation but we are the first to introduce that. And the public search is also available. You can search any company once you can enter the name or address of the company, it gives you the information about that company - at least you will be able to see the name, the date of registration and the registration number

Abubakar for free. But if you want to view the details of that company, there’s a section for paid services and you only pay N1000 to view the status and details about its directors, secretaries and everything that had been filed in respect of that company. But that will not come with a certified extract, authenticated by the commission you pay N5000. But if you want to view only you pay N1000. So this is the stage we are in as I have said but you know typical of everything new because the portal started working on January 3, there may be isolated glitches but as we discover them we fixed it but it has so far stabilised and customers are using it and are getting results as well electronically. And that would actually reduce the cost of doing business because customers don’t have to pay the cost of any courier service - from the comfort of your home or using your

When you register your company, you can change your directors without having to come to the CAC or having to send any documents to CAC. So this is a new system and sensitisation has started. And this is one of the best innovations you can have anywhere

own phone you can do your registration at the CAC. Now that you have studied the new law, what would be your agenda for 2021 in terms of its actual implementation? This year we would intensify our enforcement and compliance of the provisions of the law because most companies and other registered entities have not been filing returns as required by law. You have a situation where a company is registered for 10 - 15 years and does not file returns. It’s now easier for them to file because they don’t need to go through any lawyer and accountant or chartered secretary. With the new portal, a company can decide to have its own electronic account that would allow it to make all its filings directly and they’ll pay the basic fee. And the new portal also shows at a glance, the status of that company whether it is active, whether it is dormant, whether it’s receivership or whether it’s in liquidation. So moving forward, any company that is not up to date with its filings would actually reclassify its status to read dormant and I don’t think anyone will agree to deal with that company of it is classified as dormant. Secondly, the process of striking out - although the law now provides for 10 years of inactivity before the commission could strike off the name but it doesn’t stop us from reclassifying and the law has now also provided for voluntary striking off and so the company at its own instance - where a company is registered and it has not commenced business and to not have any existing obligations to third parties - the company may apply to be struck off from the registry. The easy path for them - if you

register a company and after registration you fill you don’t have any need for that company; instead to allow the company to remain on the register, you can apply to have it struck off. So we will intensify our compliance and with technology now it’s very easy to know those that have complied and those that have not complied. And another thing is that we are going to have the financial year end of every entity such that before the financial year end, we would prompt them reminding them that they are supposed to file their annual returns after the financial year end. And if after that period they do not file, then we would begin to calculate necessary penalties against them. So, the process has become more transparent, and you can easily know who owns what now with the consent of Persons with Significant Control (PSC). That is one register that is very important because of the various anti-corruption initiatives of the federal government. Now that we have a national register with the CAC, new companies are disclosing their PSCs at the point of registration. Existing companies will begin to do that when they are filing their annual returns. So every company at the point of filing their annual returns moving forward disclose persons with significant control as required by law. So our agenda this year is to ensure full compliance by every entity in terms of annual returns and I’m terms of all their statutory duties to the commission and if they fail to do that we will wield the big stick by reclassifying their status to read dormant because once that is done nobody will agree to deal with you. And we are going to colCONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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ABUBAKAR: WE WILL ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH TECHNOLOGY

laborate more with other agencies because we are the national register of companies: other agencies rely on the information we maintain in their dealings with some of these registered entities. We’ve given access to most government organisations and foreign missions in Nigeria to confirm to confirm status of companies and we will continue to do that such that before they deal with any registered company, they’ll verify to see whether that company is actually an active company and whether information provided by that company is consistent with the records we have in the CAC because by law any change in shareholding or the directorship of the company or the secretaryship must be filed with the commission. And companies that are not small companies are required by law to file their audited financial statements with the commission. So these are necessary avenues for government agencies to verify because some times when you are doing procurement, companies are required to submit three years audited financial statements - in most cases, these financial statements may be doctored because they prepare something that would sway the agency to give them that contract. But the entity is required to file this information with the commission. So, moving forward, we are going to encourage these agencies to verify these financial information with the CAC. If the information is not consistent with what the company filed with the CAC, then there’s no need dealing with that company. So this is the way to go and these are some of the things we intend to do in 2021. We are going to have zero tolerance for non-compliance and we are going to make these companies to be up to date in their obligations to the commission. The amended Act gives you far-reaching leverage to generate more revenue for government, could you share with us your revenue performance for last year as well as projections for 2021? As for revenue, 2020 was one of our best year in terms of revenue generation. We had challenges of service delivery because of the various restrictions that limited the number of staff that were allowed to come to the office. We couldn’t meet our service timelines almost for a greater part of the year because of those restrictions. But thank God with the new system, everything is now electronic end to end and like I said, staff can approve from even outside this premises. In terms of revenue, we recorded a surge in registration activities, there were more registrations last year compared to previous years and we recorded more revenue. We had a revenue target of N18.2 billion but closed the year with over N19 billion. So in terms of revenue, the year was actually good for us. And for the first time in the last 10 - 12 years, we were able to give more money to the federal government in terms of operating surplus. We are hoping that our target for 2021 which is N20 billion will equally be surpassed; with electronic systems, transactions are easily carried out, payments are made electronically and you don’t need any paper - although the new regulation has come with some fee reductions - some of the activities have been consolidated to make things easier for our customers but even with that we believe there will be greater compliance and the more the compliance level the more the revenue. So we will intensify on that so we will give more revenue to government. The challenge we had last year was that I took over with a lot of liabilities of over N6 billion on staff pensions and taxes - so we had to clear most of these liabilities - we have cleared over 80 per cent of these liabilities. If not for that we would have given operating surplus of about N6 billion to N7 billion to the federal government in 2020. So we expect that 2021 will be better and we would be able to give more money to the federal government to support government in its various developmental drive. Your predecessors had considered writing off the indebtedness of registered entities which had not filed returns for a number of years to enable them

The good things about the new law is that it has actually eased a lot of things for the SMEs in terms of disclosure. There’s this requirement about having to have a secretary, an auditor but all these things have been dispensed of and we have not increased the cost of registration. In fact, the cost has even come down by N5, 000 because you’re no longer required to pay for certified true copies of document; you just pay the basic registration fee and you get your results and you get your results electronically now. They can deal with the commission directly because one major component of the cost is actually the cost of professional services - if you’re going through lawyers, accountants and chartered secretaries. With the new law, the law has dispensed with these requirements that you must go through these accountants and secretaries. You can do it yourself but if you have enough resources to engage a lawyer - fine, but you can do it yourself. All these things will actually help small and medium enterprises.

Abubakar start on a clean slate. Do you subscribe to this idea? Thank you. On amnesty for annual returns, yes we are planning something on that because we recognised that the processing of filing before now was very difficult, whereas, the old fees for small companies was N2,000 - if you want to file, you have to go through a lawyer, an accountant or chartered secretary and at the end of the day you will end up paying N50,000, and that has made it difficult. However, with the electronic format, it is very easy Now for anybody to file his returns - you just pay the basic fees without hassles. So we are reviewing the situations and very soon we will come up with a pronouncement on the kind of amnesty we are going to give registered entities as far as annual returns is concerned because it’s also good for us as it will help us to actually update the record of these companies. Some of them have not been filing anything, some of them have made some changes but the practice in CAC had been that any company that doesn’t have its annual returns up to date will not be allowed to do any post incorporation filing. But sometimes, if you calculate the costs of the returns, for those that have so many years of outstanding, it will even cost more than registering a new company. But if you give amnesty, it

If the information is not consistent with what the company ﬁled with the CAC, then there’s no need dealing with that company. So this is the way to go and these are some of the things we intend to do in 2021

would be easier - not for all the years but for some reasonable number of years. We are actually looking into that and as I have said, very soon before the end of the first quarter. Because what we’ve done is that for post incorporation, we are allowing the two systems to run concurrently because we had some pending applications before the new application was deployed. If we now insist that everybody must go back and do it electronically, it will be burdensome - we would run the two concurrently up to the end of March; we would still receive paper application for post incorporation but after March 31, every transaction must be done electronically. So may be before that time, we would make a pronouncement on the kind of amnesty we are going to give to registered entities and not just companies but business names and incorporated trustees. And another thing I have not mentioned is the law has now provided for two new legal entity - limited partnership and limited liability partnership - Nigerians would ask why are we not registering these - you need the electronic solution to do that and so we are building the solution, a new software is being developed that would allow for registration. As you migrate your registry online, what arrangements have you put in place to limit incessant downtime or breakdown in infrastructure which had elicited protests from clients in the recent past? You see, one thing with technology is that there is no perfect technology anywhere in the world. What you do is to use your best endeavours to mitigate incidence of downtime. At the time we had those challenges in the past, we had issues with the hosting company, we had infrastructure failure Anthe hosting site but the arrangement we have made now is that we have three active sites so that if one site is not available, the second site will be available and the third site will be available. So at any point in time, customers will be able to transact with us. You would agree that MSMEs are catalysts to economic diversification agenda of the current administration; but there are concerns over registration bottlenecks particularly with the emergence of the new CAMA. What is the commission doing about this?

What is your vision for the CAC? On the vision, thank God that barely one year after I assumed office, one of my critical visions has been realised - that is to have an end to end electronic system - this has already been achieved. What we will focus on now is to stabilise the portal and make sure we meet the needs of our customers. So for the first time in Nigeria, you can sit from anywhere in the world, register your company and get your certificate electronically without having to visit Nigeria or having to visit the CAC. This is happening now - it started on January 4 and it’s on. That’s actually my first vision as registrar general bad we were able to achieve this within one year. So,with the support of my staff and other stakeholders we were able to achieve this. The other issue had to do with availability of information about registered entities - up to date information. We’ve intensified the process of updating, because of the manual or semi-regular automated system, some processes were manually carried out. So sometimes, filings were made but the database was not updated to reflect these filings. So moving forward, this is what we are going to be doing so that the electronic information on our portal will be up to date and give a true reflection of the company. This will help for business decisions. If you want to deal with any company you have up to date information about the company or who the directors are, the shareholders and even the financial statements that would tell you the profit and loss in the last five years from the comfort of your home and so this is our focus and hopefully, God willing, we would realise this before my second anniversary. What are the challenges limiting your operations so far? Well, you know any government institutions will have challenges. But we are surmounting these challenges - the first is the server downtime that we recorded and secondly now is the restriction arising from the second wave of COVID-19. Not all staff are coming to the office and without the full compliment or all staff - and not every staff has a device to work from home and this is another challenge but we are praying that the restrictions will soon be over so that we would have full compliment or our staff for us to render services in line with our service timelines in a very efficient manner. Now that the CAC establishment Act has finally been amended, how fulfilled are you in the discharge of your mandate? Well, it’s a journey we just started. The level of compliance with the new law will determine the success or otherwise. And our ability to enforce these laws because law is meant to be respected. If you have laws in your books and these laws are not respected, people are doing things with impunity then the purpose of the law will be defeated. So it is our responsibility to enforce this law and we are going to enforce it to the fullest.

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Funding Youth Entrepreneurship Obinna Chima writes about the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) recently launched by the federal government, which aims to financially empower youths in the country and generate at least 500,000 jobs before 2023

igeria’s unemployment rate as of the second quarter of 2020 stood at 27.1 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This meant that more than 22 million Nigerians are presently unemployed. This is even more worrying seeing that the NBS figures also showed that as of the second quarter 2020, unemployment rate among young people (15-34years) was 34.9 per cent, higher than the 29.7 per cent it was as of the third quarter of 2018. This showed that there is need for more attention to be given to the menace of youth unemployment in order to save the country from potential danger. Clearly, the rising cases of social vices in the country would reduce significantly if a lot of the able bodied young men in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Owerri, Ado-Ekiti, and other cities in the country are able to get jobs or are engaged in various forms of vocational jobs. Indeed, not being able to get job month after month, year after year, destroys the self-worth of an individual. Some have also argued that for Nigeria, its high rate of youth unemployment is a major threat to its national security. Effects on National Security Afolabi Oluwaseun, in a scholarly paper titled: “The Rate of Youth Unemployment and Its Effects on National Security,” argued that because of the level of unemployment, a lot of unemployed youth in the country have become instrument of evil in the hands of the politicians in perpetuating their hidden agenda before, during and after the election. He cited an example with the 2011 presidential election, where over 500 lives were lost including nine youth corp members and thousands of lives and properties were displaced mostly in the northern part of the country. In addition, many ethno-religious crises were perpetuated by the youth. Therefore, the high level of crime rate weakens the national security of the country which poses threat to lives and properties, he noted. Oluwaseun, pointed out that the Arab Spring was carried out by restive youths who were frustrated by the way their countries were governed. “What is the likelihood that such revolution cannot be carried out by the teeming youth of the country? In addition, we need to recall the role of the restive youth in the Niger/Delta region before the declaration of amnesty by the federal government. “These youths constituted a menace in the society by terrorising and kidnapping oil workers and foreigners to demand for huge ransoms. “Many lives and property were lost during the period of their restiveness. Currently, kidnapping is the latest self-employment unemployed youth are engaged in. “Several politicians, actors/actresses, young ones, aged etc. have been victims in the hand of kidnappers. Despite several arrests carried out by the police, the business of kidnapping keeps flourishing every day.” He noted further than many youth have turned themselves to “area boys” engaging in nefarious activities and a ready evil instrument for the politicians during political activities. In addition, the rise of insurgent groups as well as frequent cases of ethno-religious crisis was also attributed to high youth unemployment in the country. “Nigeria is the second largest economy in Africa yet the effect of unemployment tells on the economic growth. “The youth that are supposed to be productive agents of the economy and be the greatest assets in terms of human resources are still dependent on their parents, relatives or friends. “Hence, the high rate of youth unemployment renders economic security ineffective. The security implication of over 20 million unemployed youths is unimaginable. “Therefore, the government needs to devise policies that will stimulate economic growth that would increase human capital development and productivity output.”

Buhari Tackling the Menace Some experts have advised the federal and state governments to implement policies that would address the unfortunate situation. To the Founder, Foundation for Economic Research and Training, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, stressed the need for policies to address youth unemployment. “I have been saying for years that our massive youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. When you have such a national crisis of unemployment, it is the government that can address it and not the private sector. “But the government has over the years been paying lip service to it. In order to address the looming danger, the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last October released the guidelines for the N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (N-YIF), with a take-off seed capital of N12.5 billion. NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB) is the eligible participating financial institution for the scheme. The Scheme The scheme seeks to improve access to finance for youth and youth-owned enterprises for national development; generate much-needed employment opportunities to curb youth restiveness and boost the managerial capacity of the youth and develop their potentials to become the future large corporate organisations. According to the central bank, the target of the N-YIF is to financially empower youths to generate at least 500,000 jobs between 2020 and 2023. According to the Framework for the Operation of the NIRSAL Microfinance Bank Window of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (N-YIF) posted

The framework stated that repayment of loans shall be made on instalment basis by the beneﬁciaries to the NMFB according to the nature of enterprise and the repayment schedule/work plan provided and agreed at the application processing stage

Emeﬁele on the CBN website, individual (unregistered business) shall be determined based on activity/nature of project subject to the maximum of N250,000 credit. On the other hand, registered businesses (business name, limited liability, cooperative, commodity association shall be determined by activity/nature of project subject to the maximum of N3 million (including working capital). The CBN, however, added that immovable assets acquired with the loan must be registered with the National Collateral Registry (NCR). Tenor for loans shall be maximum of five years depending on the nature of the business and the assets acquired, adding that moratorium of up to one year may be allowed depending on the nature of the business and the assets acquired. The CBN stated that interest rate under the intervention shall be at not more than five per cent per annum (all inclusive). It said the MYSD will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify potential training for training/mentoring. The guidelines stipulated that the youths that are duly screened (and undergo the mandatory training where applicable) shall be advised to log on to the portal provided by the NMFB to apply for the facility. The CBN added that the NMFB will leverage on the General Standing Instruction (GSI) as collateral while corporate guarantees will be acceptable where applicable. It added that upon satisfactory appraisal of applications, NMFB shall apply for release of funds in respect of approved individuals/enterprises from the NYIF and CBN, adding that NMFB shall conduct credit checks on applicants and those with unsatisfactory credit reports will be rejected. The framework stated that repayment of loans shall be made on instalment basis by the beneficiaries to the NMFB according to the nature of enterprise and the repayment schedule/work plan provided and agreed at the application processing stage. It added that to ensure equitable participation and even access to finance by the youth across the country, applications will be batched according to state and Local Government Areas (LGA) of applicants. The CBN assured applicants that it will promote gender parity and encouraged female entrepreneurs to apply. It explained that the Project Management Office shall be established by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, which will work with NIRSAL MFB on applicant screening, project monitoring and reporting, among others. The Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan was developed by the Federal Ministry of Youth

and Sports Development (FMYSD) as a built-in strategy to respond effectively to the youth employment challenge in Nigeria. The major objectives of the plan are to address fragmentation of youth initiatives that prevent assessment of impact and to provide Nigerian youths with investment inputs required to build successful businesses that can become sustainable employers of labour and contributors to Nigeria’s development. The plan targets young people between the ages of 18-35 years and details the needed actions required to support business establishment, expansion and consequent employment creation for youth in critical economic and social sectors. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on the July 22, 2020 approved N75 billion for the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund for the period of 2020 – 2023 dedicated to investing in the innovative ideas, skills and talents of Nigerian youths and to provide them with a special window for accessing funds, business management skills and other inputs critical for sustainable enterprise development. Disbursement The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has successfully completed its pilot disbursement of loans totaling N165,700,000 to 239 beneficiaries ahead of the processing of the over three million applications so far received under the fund. Application data showed that a total of 3,120,107 have registered for the NYIF Pre-Assessment/ Training to benefit from the N75 billion three-year financing for youth owned businesses and ideas. Of the about 1000 processed as part of the pilot disbursement, a total of 94 were disqualified from the NYIF loan after training, as a result of existing COVID 19 or AGSMEIS loan that they have benefitted from. A total of 500 applicants have been invited by NIRSAL MFB to apply for the NYIF loan after training and successful due process check while loan application by the applicants is at various times and the application is open until the applicants are able to provide all the requirements and complete the process. Out of the 500 invited for the loan application, only a total of 393 have completed the loan application process and applied for the loan out of which a total of 293 applied early and their loan was processed and sent to CBN for approval at a total sum of N191, 700,000. On approval by CBN, a total of 239 have been successfully disbursed at a total sum of N165,700,000. It is expected that in the coming days the fund will be disbursed to more applicants so as to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit among young Nigerians and ensure that they are engaged.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 •T H I S D AY

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 • T H I S D AY

IMAGES

The Armoured Shield Isolation Centre commissioned by Governor Sanwo-Olu in Lagos...recently

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Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun (left) sharing thoughts with Otunba Bola Adegunwa, chairman of Rites Foods during a visit to the multi-billion naira factory of the latter at Ososa in Odogbolu local government area of the state... recently

L-R: Centre Operations Supervisor, Margret Ene Idoko; Manager, Contact Centre & Customer Experience, Joseph Anozie; CEO,Cars45, Soumobroto ‘Sunny’ Ganguly; Centre Operations Supervisor, Blessing Onoh and Quality Assurance Lead, Damilola Ojurongbe; at the Cars45 Middle Manager Fast Track Programme Graduation Ceremony held in Lagos...recently

L-R; Chief of Staﬀ to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari; SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha; President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Humanitarian Aﬀairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, and Chairman of Kpanpando Foundation, Senator Osita Izunaso, during a meeting of National Commission for Person with Disabilities held at the Council Chambers State House Abuja...recently

L-R: Director, Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs Commission,(CAC), Mr.Duke Ukaga; Registrar General, CAC, Garba Abubakar and Director, Compliance, CAC, Abdulhakeem Mohammed, during the press briefing by the Registrar on the Upgraded Companies Registration Portal (CRP) held at CAC headquarters in Abuja...recently PHOTO: AYO AJAYI

The President of Ilupeju Diamond Lions Club, Lion Dr. Adesola Falaiye (middle) ﬂanked by the Directors, Members of the club with the pupils and staﬀ of Wesley School for Hearing Impaired, during the donation of food items to the school by the club in Lagos...recently

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L-R: Executive Secretary Edo State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr. Erhabor Julie; representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mrs Aigbojie Winifred; and Assistant State Immunisation Oﬃcer, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mrs Ihenyen Martha; at the sensitization meeting with stakeholders on Covid-19, in Benin City,..recently

Chief of Staﬀ to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari(left) and Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi after a close door meeting with President Buhari at the State House Abuja....recently

L-R: Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Economic Empowerment, Abba mujjadadi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, Bashir Nuhu; Beneficiary of the Grant, Lere Mohammed and Jigawa State Focal Person, Bala Chamo, during the flag off of the Federal Government Cash Grant to Rural Women in Jigawa State...recently

Kugbo furniture market was raised by ﬁre at Kugbo, Abuja...recently

L-R: Coordinator of Network of Young Catholic Carers for the Environment in Nigeria(NYCCEN). Dame Marie Fatayi -Williams; Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins; Director Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu; and Ag.Editor of The Catholic Herald, Lady Neta Nwosu, at the 2021 World Day of Peace Celebration and Presentation of the Catholic Herald in Lagos...recently

L-R: Vice Chancellor,Lagos State University( LASU), Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun; LASU’s Best Master’s Degree student 2018/2019, Olusola Olabanjo; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Registrar, Mr. Amuni Mohammed Olayinka .during the presentation of Cheques to the institution’s best graduating students by the Governor in Lagos...recently

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige leading Anambra delegates to vote for Ambassador George Obiozor during the Ohanaeze Ndigbo general election where Obiozor won convincingly in Owerri...recently

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EDUCATION PAMO Takes Medical Education to New Heights With the full accreditation of courses and programmes in PAMO University of Medical Sciences by the National Universities Commission and other professional bodies recently, and the ongoing upgrade of its teaching hospital, all within three years of its establishment, the management of the institution is determined to take medical education in the country to the peak, Ugo Aliogo writes

ith the directive by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to universities in the country to resume on January 18, 2021, one university where students are anxiously looking forward to resume the 2020-2021 academic session is PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS). For them and their parents, the good news is that the institution is resuming few months after the NUC fully accredited their courses and programmes to their delight and that of the management of the institution. By law, the NUC is empowered to lay down Minimum Academic Standards (MAS) for universities in the country and to accredit their degree programmes. This leads to the preparation, with the use of experts, of the MAS for the 13 disciplines taught in Nigerian universities in 1989. The disciplines are; Administration, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine and Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sciences, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. Accreditation of degree programmes by the NUC is a system of evaluating academic programmes in Nigerian universities to ensure that they meet the provisions of the MAS documents. The objectives of the exercise are to: ensure that the provisions of the MAS are attained, maintained and enhanced. For PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Nigeria’s first private institution devoted wholly to the medical sciences, NUC accrediting its courses and progammes within three years is remarkable. The good news to the students, management and stakeholders of the institution is that with the full accreditation of courses and programmes, the students can be assured that they are running genuine programmes. So it is with their parents who are responsible for their welfare. The cheering news is that the accreditation would make the young university a destination for admission seekers, as parents and guardians would want their children and wards to attend PAMO. After the NUC accreditation, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria also accredited the university’s Department of Nursing Science, while the accreditation by the Medical Laboratory Council came before the NUC’s. Meaning that the university now has all its courses and programmes fully accredicted. Currently, the institution has courses such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacology and Physiology in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, as well as Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and Nursing in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. PUMS is Nigeria’s first private medical university solely committed to pursing courses and programmes in the medical and allied field. It is well-equipped to world standards and situated in a serene environment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The university management said its objective is to take medical education to the peak in the country. The Special Adviser to the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo, who broke the news of the series of accreditations to THISDAY, said the institution which is the first to be granted licence within one year of planning, is also the first to obtain full accreditation of all its courses and programmes at the first visit, and first to have its admission quota for medicine increased or doubled even before

PAMO gate graduating the first set of medical students. “NUC has granted full accreditation status to six of the seven programmes, the seventh programme, MBBS, has not been visited because it’s not due yet, since it’s a six-year programme, so the visit will be towards the end of next year. “Nursing and Midwifery Council has also granted full accreditation to the programme and increased admission quota of students, same with Medical Laboratory Science, which has been granted full accreditation also. “The one granted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is for pre-clinical because their accreditation takes three stages: first is pre-clinical, second is basic clinical sciences and the third and final is for the clinical sciences. A university has to scale one before it gets to the next stage. “We have scaled the first and ordinarily, this takes a number of years. For us, it’s a monumental achievement because some universities spend between five to six years to get it. PAMO University was able to get it at the very first visit and then the increase in the admission quota,” Sambo said. He noted that apart from the MBBS, Bachelor of Nursing Science, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor in Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, the university is planning to add more courses during the next academic session. THISDAY also gathered that with the accreditation, which would also lead to admission of more students, the university has begun massive expansion of its structures, including classrooms, halls, hostels, laboratories and library facilities. “We have got a large chunk of land behind the university which we have acquired and more hostels are being built, academic blocks are being added and then library auditorium,” Sambo said. One of the greatest strengths of the university is that it already has an existing teaching hospital established by its founder who is a renowned medical doctor established in the 1980s, called PAMO Clinics and Hospitals Group. The hospital has been at the forefront of

the provision of high-class medical care and services to residents and visitors to Port Harcourt and Rivers State for nearly 40 years. It also has over the years, provided high-quality medical treatment and health promotion services spanning Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics to individuals, families and corporate organisations across sectors such as energy, oil and gas, power, agriculture and construction. This means that from takeoff, the hospital will aid students right from early stages in order to have a full medical knowledge and experience. This is unlike other universities where students are not exposed to hospital experience until they are in 400 level. Sambo furthered revealed that the management of PAMO is currently expanding the hospital in order to upgrade it to the teaching hospital arm of the university. “We are also about expanding the teaching hospital. We are expanding to upgrade it to the teaching hospital arm of the university. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Rivers State governent and State University Teaching Hospital and PUMS, where students of PUMS will be visiting the State University Teaching Hospital for clinical training before the completion of the building of the PAMO Teaching Hospital. “We are the first university to be granted licence within one year of planning, first university to obtain full accreditation of all its programmes at the first visit and first to have its admission quota for medicine increased or doubled even before graduating the first set of medical students. “This was a record, getting a licence under a year. Others spend five to 15 years planning for this and PAMO is the first and only private university in Nigeria that was able to get the licence within a year of commencement of planning and first to start academic activities a few months after.” The special adviser explained that part of the idea behind the establishment of the university is to inculcate the culture of teamwork in all the students who will graduate from the institution, stating that

the seeming discordance among medical professionals in the country today is not good for the system. He reiterated that aside tackling the obvious manpower problems in the health sector, the idea behind the establishment of the university is also to reform the mindset of students towards healthcare delivery in the country. According to him, the institution was set up to correct the attitude of medical practitioners towards their patients and foster inter-professional relations, which have tended to go sour among the different professionals within the health system. “We want our graduates to see themselves as members of a team ab-initio, right from training to the point of graduation and subsequent professional practice. Then looking at the south-south in general and Rivers State in particular, there isn’t any private university in Rivers per say. “So, it’s not just the first private medical university in the country, but also the first private university in Rivers State. The concept of the university started in December 2016 and the first meeting of the committee was in February 2017 and by December 19 of the same 2017, the university had got its operational licence from the NUC. “It’s also the first to have a former head of state as its chancellor and chairman, board of trustees,” he said. Sambo added that since its establishment, PUMS has become a choice of study for many Nigerians filling their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms. He noted that the level of discipline and quality of learning in the institution has become unrivaled, as its projection remains to become one of the best universities in the country. “Those who are filling PAMO University in their JAMB forms have surpassed the space we have for students. This shows that many students want to come to the school for their academic pursuit. Our plan is to ensure that graduates from this institution are exceptional in the course of offering healthcare services to Nigerians. And for that to happen, they must be certified worthy in character and learning, which is what we are pursuing,” he said.

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EDUCATION

Senator Orji, SDGs Office Partner to Boost Education in Abia Central Charles Ajunwa writes that the partnership between the SDGs Office in the Presidency and Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central Senatorial District, has helped to boost education in the state

or an enduring and sustainable educational system, both teachers and students require a conducive learning environment for knowledge to be imparted. Dictionary.com defines education as the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. To this end, Senator Theodore Orji, representing Abia Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, as part of his constituency project, recently partnered the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the construction of ultra-modern 12-classrooms block each in Umuahia North Local Government Area and Isiala Ngwa South Local

Government Area. The SDGs established in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly were intended to be achieved by 2030. Nigeria in 2017, was among 44 member countries of the United Nations that presented its Voluntary National Review (VNR) on implementation of the SDGs at High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. In 2020, Nigeria was ranked 160 on the 2020 world’s SDGs Index. The government affirmed that Nigeria’s current development priorities and objectives are focused on achieving the SDGs. Nigeria’s 2020 VNR on SDGs focuses on the key issues of poverty (SDG-1) and an inclusive economy (SDG-8), health and well-being (SDG-3), education (SDG-4), gender equality (SDG5), and the enabling environment of peace and security (SDG-16),

UNIABUJA to Pioneer Diabetes Studies in Africa Funmi Ogundare in Lagos and Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The University of Abuja has entered into a partnership with Diabetes Africa, a network of health professionals to establish a top-class educational programme on Diabetes Education, aimed at improving the quality of care offered to diabetes patients across Africa. The partnership which will also address the dearth of diabetologists and other health care professionals who play a critical role in the study and management of diabetes, would lead to the award of Master’s degree in Diabetes Education by the University of Abuja with support from Diabetes Africa in the form of experience, expertise and fundraising. The virtual signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which held simultaneously in the United Kingdom and University of Abuja, Nigeria, was also witnessed online by the Eastern African Diabetes Study Group from Kenya. The Vice-Chancellor, UNIABUJA, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, while speaking during the signing of the memorandum, commended the initiative, saying that the university will be a pacesetter in the programme. “I express total support for this collaboration. I hope it is going to be a mark in the training in this area of professionalism, better knowledge management and treatment in Africa.” He added that the institution would ensure that the collaboration brings about the strengthening of health services especially with regard to treatment of diabetes in the country. The facilitator of the partnership and Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor Felicia Anumah, said the burden of the complications of diabetes in Nigeria was high because of the poor-quality care and the unaffordability of medications

and blood glucose monitoring devices by many patients. She said it had been the dream of the College of Health Sciences of the university to make impact in this area by starting a programme in diabetes. Anumah said the programme in diabetes education which would also have international faculties, would be run on a dual mode with virtual lectures and then clinicals which will take place in some identified centres across the country. “I am very grateful to Diabetes Africa for being interested in this and being ready to support us in this venture. It is a day that I feel partly fulfilled; thank you very much,” Anumah said. In a brief remark, the Chairman of the Eastern African Diabetes Study Group, Professor Silver Bahendeka said diabetes education cannot be under-rated given the alarming rate of the disease and its complications, adding that it is heartwarming to see that the university has taken the lead in establishing the programme and looking forward to seeing the involvement of other institutions across Africa as Diabetes Africa rolls out programmes. “We have been looking forward to someone to take the lead and now that the University of Abuja has done it, congratulations,” Bahendeka said. Commending the commitment of the University of Abuja to the venture, the CEO of Diabetes Africa, Dr. Greg Tracz noted that COVID-19 had shown the whole world that the dichotomy between non-communicable and communicable diseases needed to be surmounted. He said people living with diabetes are at high risk of contracting a range of communicable diseases and so “we believe strongly in tackling diabetes in all possible ways and the most impactful way to tackle diabetes as early as possible is through education.”

and partnerships (SDG-17). This focus is based on Nigeria’s current development priorities and the development objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Nigeria’s 2017 VNR outlined the institutional dimensions for creating an enabling policy environment for the implementation of the SDGs through its Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP’s focus on economic, social and environmental dimensions of development makes it consistent with the aspirations of the SDGs. A key challenge confronting the country has to do with out-of-school children, a demographic challenge that relates to interplay between employment (SDG-8), education (SDG4), poverty (SDG-1) and the digital economy (SDG-17). With a population of approximately 200 million people, regional disparities are significant, with 78 per cent of south-western children able to read full or part sentences, while only 17 per cent of north-eastern children can. With only 1.6 per cent of DGP devoted to education, the country needs to increase the resources to provide quality education. It is estimated that 25.3 million students at all levels of education are out-of-school in the country, and with 11.4 million out-ofschool children, Nigeria has the highest out-of-school children in the world. Senator Orji, who has a

clear vision of how to tackle the out-of-school problem is leading from the front not from the back. On January 2, 2021, he inaugurated the two completed constituency projects: 12-classrooms block at Community Primary School, Okwuta in Umuahia North Local Government Area and 12-classrooms block at Ikem Nvosi Primary School in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area. The federal lawmaker and former Governor of Abia State, who said he was touched to complete the projects because he wanted the children to study under a comfortable environment, also commended the contractor of the projects for completing the projects within record time and prayed that the projects will be for the good of the students, teachers and state. Orji, who is making the interventions for his love of his people which flowed from when he was governor, promised to replicate the same in other schools pressed for classrooms within his senatorial zone. A representative of the SDGs Office in Abuja, Patrick Iroegbu, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done, assured Abia Central Zone of more projects through their representative, Orji. The SDGs office, according to Iroegbu, is happy that the senator Orji is doing a lot to transform the state through the execution of constituency

projects that impact the lives of his constituents. The Special Adviser on Special Projects to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Chimdi Nwokeukwu, said Abia Central District is lucky to have a representative that brings home SDGs projects from Abuja, adding that the state has benefited a lot from the former governor. The President General of Okwuta Community, Chief Chima Onukwubiri, who was supported at the event by various women groups, youths and chiefs, thanked Orji for attracting the school projects to his community. He said the community will jealously guide and protect the educational facilities from being tampered with, adding that their children would be enrolled in the school to enable them get quality education. The Head Teacher, Mrs. Nnennaya Okereke, who could not hide her joy, thanked the senator for giving a facelift to the school. She promised to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that the children get sound education from the ultra- modern classrooms. The Chairman of Umuahia North, Ugochukwu Njikonye, expressed joy on the completion of the modern classroom blocks built with conveniences in his local council, describing it as a big New Year gift, which the council would protect jealously. The quality of work done in Umuahia North was the same

at Ikem Nvosi Primary School in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, where Senator Orji partnered the SDGs office in Abuja to complete another ultra modern 12-classroom block. The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Gabriel Onyendilefu, in his welcome speech, assured Orji of their support, while commending him for his fatherly love and care for the people of Isiala Ngwa South. He said he was one of the beneficiaries of Orji’s heart of gold. In their separate speeches, the Chairman of Isiala Ngwa South, Chief Ike Anyatonwu and member representing Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, thanked and commended Orji for completing and inaugurating the ultra- modern classroom blocks within record time. Through his annual scholarship scheme, over 450 undergraduates from Abia Central Senatorial District have in the past five years benefited from the education scheme. He is renovating Osokwa Primary School in Osisioma Ngwa LGA, carrying out fencing and renovation works at Michael Primary School, Umuahia and Methodist Primary School, Ossah in Umuahia North LGA, including other completed projects across the six local government areas in Abia Central Senatorial District waiting for inauguration.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mr. Nwachukwu Agomoh; Programme Manager, Abia State Agricultural Development Programme, Chief Israel Amanze; Chairman, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Chief Ike Anyatonwu; Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Theodore Orji (cutting the tape); member representing Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha; and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Aﬀairs, Sir G.C Onyendilefu, during the inauguration of 12-classrooms block at Ikem Nvosi Primary School in Isiala South LGA, completed by Orji through the SDGs Oﬃce Abuja...recently

LASU Senate Appoints Oke Acting VC Funmi Ogundare The Senate of Lagos State University (LASU), at an emergency session on Monday, elected Professor Oyedamola Oke acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution. Professor Oke, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, polled 61 votes to defeat the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Wahab Elias who polled 51 votes. Oke takes over in acting capacity from Professor Olanrewaju

Fagbohun, whose tenure ended on January 10, 2021. Oke is a Professor of Plant Pathology and former Dean, Faculty of Science. He joined the university as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Botany in 1984, and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2004. While handing over to the new acting VC at a brief programme held at the Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building, Main Campus, Ojo, the immediate-

past Vice-Chancellor, Fagbohun, congratulated Oke saying, “I know your track record and the fact that you have come from way back in the management of this institution. “I do know that having you on that seat will not in any way diminish the achievements we have had in the university in the last five years. I congratulate you on your election. “I also congratulate the DVC academics too that the election went well and it shows the

statesmanship that exist among you. The two of you were partners in the achievement of our institutional goals. I thank both of you.” The handover was witnessed by the Bursar Mr. Babatunde Olayinka; University Librarian, Dr. Emmanuel Adebayo; DR, VCO, Mrs. Anat Adesunkanmi; Special Assistant to the ViceChancellor, Mr. Wale Anthony; and Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ademola Adekoya.

T H I S D AY ˾ JANUARY 13, 2021

EDUCATION

We Commit over N10bn Annually to Teacher Professional Devt, Says UBEC Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi has appealed to stakeholders to partner the federal government in ensuring that the quality of teaching and learning at the basic education level is strengthened for graduates of the system to be globally competitive. Bobboyi, who spoke in Abuja, said though 2020 was challenging as a result of COVID-19 pandemic that led to lockdown of the country, including closure of schools for the most part, the commission worked hard in many areas, including support for the provision of e-learning and other response to the pandemic. He said the commission, in realisation of the importance of teacher in the provision of quality education, designated 10 per cent of the entire amount received from the Consolidated Revenue Fund

for teacher professional development through the States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB). “That is something that is very important for us to realise that we pump in a minimum of N10 billion every year for teacher professional development in this country.” He said the commission feels this has to be done because it is essential for teachers to be trained professionally, adding that the quality of teaching given in the class is dependent on the quality of teachers that are available. He however said one of the major challenges is getting qualified teachers to teach the children in the country, which he noted that the Federal Ministry of Education is trying to address, but for now every parent wants his or her child to study Medicine, Law, Economics, Engineering, among others. He added that a situation

where as a teacher, one has to rely on support from other members of the family in almost everything, be it marriage, child education among others has to be corrected. According to the 2018 National Personnel Audit (NPA) report on Public and Private Basic Education Schools in Nigeria, the country has shortage of 277,537 teachers. The personnel audit conducted by UBEC further indicated that while 73 per cent of those teaching in public schools are qualified teachers, only 53 per cent of teachers in private schools are qualified to teach; that is those that have the minimum requirement of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and above. Bobboyi said: “Our hope is that with the current reforms that are being put in place where you attract the best candidates into the teaching profession and compensate them adequately,

the narrative will change. In many countries and I was in Singapore and they told me that you are better off as a teacher than a medical doctor if it is about money. It is the same thing in Finland.” He added that teaching in other countries is competitive where a teacher is at least making a decent living and being supported by the state. Even in Nigeria, he said during the earlier days, teachers were not necessarily receiving huge salaries per se, but there were a lot of fringe benefits accruing to them- house, car and respectability in family and society. On instructional materials, the executive secretary said the quality of resources to teach play a vital role in achieving quality education. He said UBEC has voted 15 per cent of the entire amount received from the Consolidated Revenue Fund annually to the purchase of instructional materials distributed to schools.

L-R: Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) (Academics and Research), University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwole Familoni; DVC (Management Services), Professor Ben Oghojafor; the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe; General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Ministries, Dr. Daniel Olukoya; wife of the Vice-Chancellor, Oluwaseun Ogundipe; and DVC (Development Services), Professor Folasade Ogunsola, at the inauguration of the remodeled foyer of the Senate Building, sponsored by Olukoya... recently

KEHINDE OMORU www.kayomoru.com

CURRENT ECONOMIC RECESSION AND THE WANTS OF TEACHERS The objective of most school teachers is to impact knowledge, which is adjudged globally as a veritable source of power in a seamless manner. This is especially to ensure that students live and work successfully in any state that they find themselves in our globalized world. This ought to be the norm and/or custom, but with the current economic recession and the rampaging COVID-19 cum its variant most teachers in our schools now find it very hard to concentrate and often times now sleep off spasmodically in class. What is majorly responsible for this is insomnia that is occasioned by fatigue. This is as a result of too much thinking now usually associated with the economic reality in our dear country. Our teachers are worse hit and this now affects their total concentration. This hardship foisted by the present realities necessitated some of them taking to social media lately to openly beg for arms to survive! Insomnia is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so. People with insomnia can feel dissatisfied with their sleep and experience usually symptoms such as low energy, difficulty in concentrating, decreased performance in school and general fatigue. What would make a teacher constantly drop his/her head on the table, in the staff room and sleep off? Worse still what would make you doze off during staff meetings, whilst important matters are being discussed.Why are you not addressing the constant embarrassment you suffer, when your students catch you sleeping or dozing in class? A common culprit in this matter is the issue of this insomnia which is a recurrent experiences of inadequate sleep. Sleep is an essential part of good health and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep helps you feel good, look healthy, work effectively and think clearly. Sleep impacts positively on your mind, body and soul. Your body’s organs and systems are at work, conducting healing and tissue repairs, whilst you are asleep. Your brain and mind re-calibrate whilst you are sleeping and body growths occur whilst you are asleep. Sleep however is not always easy to come by. If you sometimes or always have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you are not alone especially now that the economic situation in our country is dire! Daytime drowsiness is often indicative of a sleep problem that is potentially dangerous to your health, if not treated urgently. This is why government should critically look into this present economic crisis as it affects teachers in our schools.The efforts of our teachers should be appreciated at all times more so, when they are the ones responsible for the training of our politicians no matter the angle you look at this unassailable fact! Indeed, our leaders, whom we remember in our prayers on daily basis to lead us right should remember these teachers and come up with possible enactments that will cushion the hardship that they currently face. Remember that our teachers are our idols irrespective on how your look at the statement.

Omoru is a freelance writer, education, health and social care advocate

Bauchi Insists on January 100 Indigent Students Get Ochendo Scholarship 18 School Resumption

as Scheme Expands Emmanuel Ugwu in Umahia The Ochendo Scholarship Scheme has increased the number of beneficiaries to 100, as more indigent students in tertiary institutions cry for help to enable them complete their education. The scholarship scheme, which was initiated by the Senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji, has consistently awarded scholarships to 60 beneficiaries annually over the past four years. But at the fourth edition, 40 indigent students were added to the number thereby recording a 67 per cent increase over the previous years. The recipients were drawn from the six local government areas that make up Abia Central Senatorial District.

Orji, who is serving his second term in the senate, promised to continue to increase the number of recipients of the scholarship, adding that education is the engine of industrial revolution hence the need to make it accessible and affordable. The former Abia State Governor stressed that education remains the most enduring gift one can give to anybody hence his decision to help youths in his constituency to acquire tertiary education. According to him, the scholars would on graduation, not only be useful to themselves, but also to their families, their constituency, the state and the entire nation. In his remarks, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended his predecessor for the scholarship scheme, describing it

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi as a testimony of the good things Orji has been doing for the state over the years. The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, said “no gift is bigger than the gift of education” to young persons as it would enable them achieve their ambitions of becoming notable persons in life. He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity offered them through the Ochendo Scholarship Scheme, adding that the only way to appreciate their benefactor is to focus their minds on what they were sent to do in the tertiary institutions of learning. The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Kizito Kali appealed to implored Orji to consider bringing the

scholarship scheme down to primary and secondary levels. “There are many indigent parents who cannot afford school fees for their children at the primary and secondary schools,” he said, adding that offer of scholarships would be a lifeline for such indigent persons. Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Ochendo Scholarship Scheme, Sir Frank Ibe said in addition to increasing the number of recipients, Orji would continue to sustain the programme. In appreciation of Senator Orji’s gesture, the Executive Director of Help the Youths Initiative, Mr. Wilson Eze announced that he would train 30 youths from Abia Central Senatorial Zone in various skills.

The Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde has said schools in the state would reopen on Monday, January 18, irrespective of any review made by the federal government. The commissioner was reacting to the announcement made on Monday by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu at the Presidential Task Force briefing that the federal Government was reviewing the January 18 school resumption. The commissioner in a statement said the state is insisting on the Monday resumption because “to date, not a single case of COVID-19 infection is reported in our schools. Therefore, regardless of any review that may take place in some quarters,

Bauchi State Ministry of Education is determined to reopen schools in the state on January 18, unfailingly, as earlier decided by the State Executive Council.” According to him, “the 2020/2021 school calendar starts that day. Unless we stand resolute on our school plan for the year, the session will be mutilated by fear of COVID-19 as was 2019/2021.” He urged parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders to prepare for the year ’s academic session. He promised that the state would avoid COVID-19 by using its familiar protocol of face masks, social distancing, sanitation and testing in schools “as it is elsewhere- not with further closures- except under a resoundingly imminent emergency.”

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

Community Relations Agenda for the Incoming LASAU VC Tunde Akanni

till wondering on the idea which LASU’s current and potential stakeholders, as well as visitors may be consensual about? It’s the spiraling, seemingly insurmountable failure of community support for the university. Such is this challenge unmistakable that you may simply conclude that it doesn’t seem like LASU is anyone’s pride. Ubuquitous LASU Radio blaring benefits to the adjoining communities notwithstanding. So contrastingly sharp against the new LASUITES’ popular lines: “We are LASU/ We are proud”. To conclude that this is disorienting is an understatement How can you convince anyone you treasure what you cannot showcase? It’s practically impossible to showcase LASU to potential or new admirers. The physical address of LASU is incontrovertibly best signposted by Badagry Expressway. What manner of a signpost, even with its supposed international status? Not a few of the university staff have been dispossessed of their cars and other forms of transportation means after years of intractable degeneracy that has also contributed to failing health of many. Only last year we lost the most senior plumber for the university, Mr. Idowu, due to the bad road which undermined quick access to health facility when he neede to be rushed to one. Indeed one death that took many LASUITES a long time to overcome was that of the son of one of our selfless colleagues. The deceased was dashing young lawyer with a most inspiring profile. He was returning home after the day’s hustle. With the road being almost impassable that day for vehicles, our promising boy was compelled to take a ride on “okada”. It turned out to be his last. The bike rider suddenly lost grip of the machine amidst the confusion of other rough riders including trucks… No effort was spared to revive our dear son but we were not anywhere near doing enough. We lost him. Before our brother ’s untimely demise, LASU appeared to have resigned to the fate wrought on it by

the bad road. I don’t know of any LASU stakeholder who can recall the last time the main gate of Lagos State’s only university by Badagry Expressway was opened the normal way. One side of it had for long been consigned to disuse for years. The hope of a new lease of life for the university was anxiously anticipated as VC Fagbohun was about to assume his office. We got flickers of assurance as the Ambode-led government promptly supported the new VC in his burning desire to rev up development in LASU. The International Bar Association-renowned environmental law expert seemed to have prioritized the environment. Promptly, the state government embarked on the paving of the intracampus roads. All the roads were paved. The newly paved roads duly enhanced the greening of the environment. Thus followed all related physical developments especially routine cleaning including unprecedented horticultural practice. Ambode reasonably built on the initiatives of Governor Fashola. For the duration of the Fagbohun tenure therefore, LASU got unprecedented physical development. The height of it all manifested in Fagbohun finishing strong. Fagbohun upped the stake foever. He led LASU to the seemingly unattainable height of the nation’s second best university. But even the joy Fagbohun ushered in, to echo Ola Rotimi, seems to have a slender body. There’s an urgent need not only to preserve the glory of the present but to save the future. Will Sanwo-Olu save LASU? Will he find supporters in the relevant local government authorities? There are no clear signals, unfortunately. This is the gap the new VC has to fill immediately. In despair, a colleague in LASU couldn’t hold back her hopelessness. She spoke out on Facebook wondering if traffic related laws promulgated by the Sanwo-Olu government were applicable in Alimosho and the adjoining areas. Simply put: the only road to LASU is a dead end. It looks so hopeless. You begin to wonder if shortly after LASU’s recent attainment of national

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Lanre Fagbohun, handing over to the new acting VC, Professor Oyedamola Oke, in his oﬃce... recently

leader, its fate will act out the submission of poet Kalu Uka, that “the happiest moment is the saddest encounter.” The access road from Egbeda through the increasingly impossible Igando both in Alimosho Local Government presents unmistakable, killer spectacle, hard to come by in no other southwest state of Nigeria. Sure! The traffic wardens on roads leading to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife are always at alert. Their counterparts for University of Ibadan are never found wanting always freeing the roads for traffic in spite of the proximity of the historic Bodijaa Market. In case you’re tempted to dismiss the incomparability of OAU and UI with LASU on the basis of vehicular traffic, be it known too that the stated road to LASU is the only one left after the Badagry Expressway has been abandoned by everyone. The situation has since become worse now that Seme Border has

been reopened. All vehicles destined for the city and beyond from the border now travel via Igando. Between Egbeda and Igando, there is no known formally established market to warrant impenetrable road. Let’s traverse that route together here: Coming from Iyana-Ipaja to Egbeda, there’s a layby for commercial buses to make for free flow of traffic. They don’t use it and it seemed to have become an agreed normal between law enforcers and commercial motorists. More threateningly, you are on your way to LASU from the nation’s premier and largest international airport via Dopemu to the same Egbeda on your way to LASU, right at Egbeda, comercial motorists routinely throw caution to the wind. They make u-turn from the two sides of the dual carriage road by GTBank making mess of that junction. Yet, less than 50 metres away by Ilaka Junction, they turn the road into some garage

leaving other road users, pedestrians and cyclists, at their hard to come by mercy. As you survive Egbeda and head on to Idimu, the bus drivers constantly disrupt your free drive as they disregard the provided layby points to pick passengers arbitrarily. You can’t avoid sudden intermittent stops, which cause accidents often. The most annoying point perhaps is the Idimu Junction right in front of an LCDA secretariat. Bus drivers converge right at the gate of the secretariat to pick passengers even as a properly constructed layby is only one-minute drive beyond it. You wonder, what the CDA officials benefit form this anomie. The apogee of the traffic congestion these days is at Igando, where, ironically, there is a distinctly visible bus terminus. Bus drivers shy away from the terminus and instead constrict the road to the barest minimum leaving long stretch of traffic on the road, all day. So, you can’t have any such ambition

of hurrying to LASU or returning either. The roads have been mended by the SanwoOlu administration in its short period of inception but the gains are being thwarted. Going to and returning from LASU is hellish, I can confirm. But LASU’s patronage is yet to be optimized going by Gov SanwoOlu’s projection of the collaboration with Cornell University in the United States. The governor volunteered this dream already. Are the local government bosses in the concerned neighbourhood ready to support the Governor ’s ambition? To what extent? I believe LASU can midwife solutionist cooperation taking advantage of the current endearing Olympian height. It will be too soon to lower our guard after the second best excellence attainment. Welcome, new VC. -Akanni, PhD, media scholar and development consultant is based at the LASU School of Communication

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CITYSTRINGS

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A Rallying Point for Nkpologwu Community The Acharaugo Foundation recently organised the first edition of a special festival of carols and nine lessons in Nkpologwu, a community under Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, which turned to a rallying point for the people of the kingdom, Mary Ovie reports

lthough the year has been ravaged by COVID-19 pandemic, the Christmas season evokes excitement whether for children or adults. Often characterised by abundance of food, snacks, drinks and, of course, gifts the Yuletide is indeed a season to make merry and also a time of sharing. It is also a time to reunite and rally round the community. Giving wings to this, the Acharaugo Foundation recently organised the first edition of a special festival of carols and nine lessons. By 2pm on Christmas Eve, all paths and roads led to the expansive playground of the Community Primary School in Nkpologwu, where the locals had converged for the first edition of a special festival of carols and nine lessons. Dressed in resplendent attires to reflect the joyful season, celebrants – men, women, old and young – had come from far and wide, including sons and daughters of Nkpologwu in the diasporas, to witness the special event. The festival of carols was advertised to be a memorable event and, as massive turnout suggested, it indeed lived up to people’s expectations. It was facilitated by Acharaugo Foundation to provide an opportunity for reunion and a rallying point for the people of the kingdom to enjoy probably their most colourful Christmas together. In order not to leave anything to chances, Obi Ogonna and other officials of Acharaugo Foundation had joined hands with church leaders and choir members in the three major churches in the peaceful town, working all day to put finishing touches to preparations so as to make the event truly a memorable one. And the turnout was massive as expected, as the playground in the primary school was filled to capacity – with the people outside the expansive tents and canopies almost doubling those under the tents. By the time the convoy of Nze Chidi Duru, former two-time member of the House of Representatives, who is the founder of Acharaugo Foundation, stormed the dusty playground where his kith and kin had gathered, the Community Primary School in Nkpologwu erupted into action. In the midst of ecstatic as crowd were dignitaries such as Reverend Canon Clinton Osinachi Ogbonna, parish priest of Immanuel Church; Reverend Paul Dimude, parish priest of St Michael Church; His Royal Highness Moses Obijikwa Okpalankwa, Obi of Nkpologwu; Ichie Emma Okenyeka, Onowu of Nkpologwu; Prof Romanus Ezeokonkwo, president general of Nkpologwu Progressive Union (NPU); Dr. Ferdinand Ezeiruaku, vice president of NPU; Bhon Enneth Igweneme and Ogonna, chairman and secretary, respectively, Acharaugo Foundation intervention committee. Declaring the special festival of carols open, Reverend Ogbonna preached fervently about the necessity for peace, love and unity in the church and in the state as a whole. In his intercessory prayers, Ogbonna, who also presided over the various sessions, beseeched God for prosperity and protection of all indigenes of the kingdom as they moved into the New Year, urging the people to always use the life of Jesus Christ as a compass to guide them in how they run their affairs. “Beloved in Christ, at this Christmas-tide, let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels and in heart and mind, to go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass and the Baby lying in a manger. “Therefore, let us read and mark, in Holy Scripture, the tale of the loving purposes of God from the first days of our disobedience unto the glorious redemption brought us by the Holy child. Let us pray for the needy in the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people, for unity and brotherhood within the church he came to build, and especially in his this our country

Obi of Nkpologwu, His Royal Highness Moses Obijikwa Okpalankwa (in white), coordinating the sharing of palliative items while Duru looks on during special festival Nigeria and, particularly our state Anambra. “Let us remember, in His name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those that mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children, all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love not or who by sin, have grieved His heart of love. Lastly, let us remember before God, all those who rejoice with us especially those in other parts of the world, whose hope is in the Word made flesh and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one forever more.” What followed immediately were carols sung in turn by all the congregants, select individuals, and choirs from the three dominant churches who mounted musical instruments in strategic locations at the venue. And in-between the carols, nine lessons (excerpts from the Bible) were read. Like the carols, each of the nine lessons was also assigned to different individuals to read, all sessions interspersed with prayers. The day’s celebrations culminated in sharing of palliative items, as hundreds of people went home with gifts and other cash donations facilitated by Acharaugo Foundation. Duru, who promised that the special festival would be made permanent as a yearly event, drew a deafening applause when he made cash donation to the three choirs to augment their musical instruments. In the past, tales had it that choirs from the three leading churches in Nkpologwu used to visit people’s compounds one by one to sing the carols and savour the merriments, which became more difficult and unsustainable as the once bucolic town has grown in leaps and bounds as a result of developments that have boosted its urbanisation pace. Then, it was practically impossible for any household to play host to the visiting choir members and church leaders for more than five minutes, thus denying them the ample time to sing the carols together on Christmas Eve. On December 23, members of Acharaugo Foundation in Aguata local government area had converged on Duru’s country home to share merriments and party together. Thanks to organisational ability of Acharaugo forum’s 27-man leadership structure that spans entire 20 wards in Aguata local government area, many indigenes also smiled home with cash and other empowerment cum palliative items. This, the foundation’s intervention committee said, is another way to give vent to the late Duru’s pastime: impacting his

people’s lives in positive ways. A day before Acharaugo Foundation delighted the locals with gift and cash items, it was also the turn of the maidens – many of them in their seventies and eighties – to converge in Duru’s family house to felicitate with one another as it was the wont when the late patriarch was alive. And for many that attended the two meetings, it was also a moment of great reunions, especially for some who had not seen one another since the restriction occasioned by advent of COVID-19 and those that used the opportunity of the yuletide to travel down to their roots. While explaining the rationale behind distribution of palliative items during yuletide season, Duru said it was in response to the feelers from Acharaugo caregivers in the local government area, which showed that the severe disruptions brought about by the raging COVID-19 pandemic affected his people’s businesses and other means of livelihood. According to the lawyer and entrepreneur, Acharaugo Foundation was founded when his late father, an astute businessman, philanthropist and respected community leader who demised in 2005, was still alive to serve as a canopy for addressing issues verging on community development and people’s welfare. It was birthed in 2001 to provide itself as an empowerment instrument in Nkpologwu and beyond - as a platform for continuing the selfless services of the industrialist long after his demise. Over the years, it is to the credit of the foundation’s scholarships and other generous grants that many people in Aguata local government area and environs are able to actualise their talents, learn skills, establish businesses, and realise their ambition to go to school, find jobs, and solve lingering problems. “Growing up, my father ensured we understood why he was doing it (philanthropy). My father, a community leader and entrepreneur in his time, would always say that the wealth that he had and the resources that were available to him were not because he was the smartest or the most hardworking or the fittest. He believed that it was because God, in His wisdom, had chosen to bless him. He therefore made himself an instrument to extend the blessings not just to people in Nkpologwu community but also neighbouring towns and Aba (Abia State) where he formerly resided.” But it was not all festivities and merri-

ments alone, as activities climaxed with a tinge of politics. During the festivities, the former federal lawmaker, who was chaired the Privatisation and Commercialisation committee during his time in the House of Representatives, was dragged into the Anambra South All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting, which held in Ekwulobia, Aguata local government area. The meeting, which was called to mend internal wrangling and have zonal cohesion as the state glides into governorship elections later in 2021, resolved to form a formidable front across interest groups in the party towards restoring the party’s fortunes in the zone and to also interface with both Anambra North and South senatorial districts in pursuit of the Anambra South interest towards achieving the turn of Anambra South to produce the next Governor of the state. The meeting had in attendance Chief Engr Bart Nwibe (Ugo Igbo), High Chief Engr Johnbosco Onunkwo (Akaekpuchionwa), Hon Sir Azuka Okwuosa (Chinyelugo), Duru, Dr. George Moghalu (Ohamdike), Dr. Chisozie Nwankwo, Chief Paul Orajiaka (Kpakpando), Chief Ben Etiaba, Hon Nestor Okoro, Hon Mrs. Nkechi Nnoli, Hon Theo Nnorom, Chief Hygers Igwebuike, Chief Innocent Obi (Chairman, APC Elders Forum), Chief Zokas Aniazoka, Hon Mrs. Constance Iloh, Prof Orajiaka, Hon Barr Okonkwo Okom, Chief Onyi Uzochukwu (Avenger), Chief Uwaejina Igbokwe (Agbalanze Umuchu), Chief Amobi Nwafor, seven local government chairmen from the zone, state officers from the zone and many other stakeholders from the zone. And in what seemed to be an endorsement of Duru’s leadership credentials, the zonal meeting chose him to lead a high-powered committee to interface with the various groups within the party and the state towards forming a united front against the divisive positions that ruined the party’s chances at the polls in the past elections. “I feel honoured to have been deemed fit by elders and leaders of my party, the APC, to chair the committee to reach out to the two senatorial districts to remind them of the commitment to allow Anambra South senatorial district to produce the next governor of the state. This is to make the whole process less acrimonious. We will bring out a candidate that can win the gubernatorial election so that APC can form the next government in Anambra State,” he said.

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CRIME&SECURITY

Lagos CP Decorates Promoted Spokesman, Anthony DPO, Others

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu, decorating the state Police Spokesperson, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi

CP Odumosu and new CP Delta State Command, Ali Mohammed decorating Anthony Divisional Police Oﬃcer, CSP Patricia Amadin

Dr. Ona Ekhomu

the rank of an SP. Thanking IG Mohammed Abubakar Adamu for his concern about the welfare of the police and the leadership of the Police Service Commission (PSC) for considering the recommendations of the IG on the promotion, he charged the promoted officers to give more. During the decoration, Odumosu charged them to be more committed

he Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu, recently decorated some promoted senior officers in the com-

mand. The officers, who were promoted to the enviable ranks of Chief Su-

perintendent of Police (CSP) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), include the state Police Spokesperson, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi and Anthony Divisional Police Officer, Patricia Amadin. Among those promoted were 43 Superintendent of Police (SP) who were promoted to the rank of CSPs while two DSPs were promoted to

to their duties while displaying a high level of professionalism at work. He said: “To whom much is given, much is expected, as the command and the Nigeria Police Force expect much from you with your new rank. I urge you to harness all legitimate resources, both human and material, within your reach to improve Policing in Lagos and Nigeria at large.”

Family Charges FG to Intervene in Death Sentence against Son in Saudi Arabia

The Olufemi family at NIDCOM Abayomi Akinyele

One, two, three… eighteen years gone since Sulaimon Olufemi, a Nigerian national, has been in detention over his alleged involvement in a mob action that claimed the life of a Saudi Arabian police officer. The incident happened at the car park where Sulaimon worked as a car cleaner in Saudi Arabia in 2002. He was arrested with 12 other Nigerians, but others have been released while some deported after completing their jail terms. Yet, Sulaimon has been in prison since May 2005 after his death sentence by the highest court. Then the Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission, the country’s official human rights institution wrote to confirm that the death sentence had been upheld earlier by the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council in April 2007, meaning he has no recourse to further appeal. To counter this verdict, his family recently stormed the Lagos office of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa.

Sulaimon Olufemi

After tabling their concerns, she said “Though efforts are on by the federal government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get him released, the visit of the Olufemi family at this particular time is a right thing in the right direction”. She therefore assured the family members that all efforts are on towards Sulaimon’s release through ‘plea for clemency’. Suliamon Olufemi is a Nigerian national, born in Lagos on April 20, 1978. He was the youngest among other Nigerians tortured during the interrogation. Allegedly under duress and trying to avoid death, Sulaimon thumb printed what was unknown to him to be a confessional statement that could affect his trial because he did not understand the contents since it was prepared in Arabic. It was at the court that he realised the gravity of the statement he had fingerprinted which implicated him when a Sudanese translator at the trial asked in English, if it was true he had pointed a gun at the head of the dead police officer. Based on Shari’a law in Saudi Arabia,

if a crime of this nature is punishable under the rule of qisas (retribution), then the relatives of the murdered person have the right to decide if the offender should be executed or pardoned. Analysing the circumstances surrounded the arrest of Sulaimon, Dabiri-Arewa said, “There were people arrested, but unfortunately he was the only sentenced to death while others were released”. She stated further that “the pending issue now is that of police that was killed had a daughter of about two years when the incident happened. The child is 18years presently, and she can decide if to forgive Sulaimon or not. and I hope when the authority sees the aged parents of Sulaimon in tears, they will reconsider their stand and temper justice with mercy.” The visit of the family served as renewal appeal for the release of Sulaimon and this was rekindled in the emotion-laden event when the patriarch of the family, Pa Yavinaku Olufemi joined the appeal for clemency. Tears blurring his eyes, the octogenarian father of Sulaimon, pleaded with the Saudi Authority to release his son to him by letting go. In his words, “As I am aging, I want to see Sulaimon

before answering God’s call. I could not continue with my former work because he has been an important boy to me”. He stated further that “whatever might be the nature of his involvement in the case the Saudi Authority should please pardon and release him”. Also his aged mother, Kikelomo Olufemi, with tears welling up in her eyes lamented and said “whenever I think of Sulaimon, I feel his absence and I feel sad because he is part of me”. His brother‘ wife added, “Sulaimon was known to be a gentleman and peacemaker. We are missing him since he left Nigeria. Life generally is more the same, so we are pleading with the government to pardon him”. Earlier, the eldest son of the family, Olabode Olufemi, explained how his brother went to Saudi Arabia with umrah visa in 2002 to work and the incident happened a little time after he had arrived atSaudi Arabia. He further clarified, “Sulaimon has been on death row for over 18years on the case he knew nothing about’. He therefore begged the authority in Saudi to please forgive and release him, because he is not a trouble maker and the family feels his absence.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

ABCON Seeks Exchange Rates Unification Obinna Chima The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has stressed that the unification of exchange rates is necessary to maximise the economic benefits of increased remittances inflow into the economy. While commending the recent policy measures introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to improve inflow of remittances, by allowing beneficiaries to collect proceeds in foreign currency, ABCON noted that, “the fundamental problem is not the payment of foreign currency to beneficiaries, but a fallout of multiple exchange rates in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.” The association stated this in its quarterly economic review for the Fourth Quarter of last year (Q4’2020), stressing that without the unification of the multiple exchange rates across the forex market, the increased inflow of

remittances may be vulnerable to capital flight and hence make limited impact on the economy. The association added: “A survey carried out by ABCON quarterly revealed that a large percentage of beneficiaries require Naira for domestic commitments in Nigeria. “Upon collection of foreign currency cash or drawing from their domiciliary accounts as the policy provided, they do the conversion usually unofficially where the exchange rates are higher. “Though the authorities are able to capture figures of the inflows from the data of the International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) for statistical purposes, utilisation of the foreign exchange may still flow into the unofficial/ informal sector for capital flight and other uses not marginally expedient for the growth of the forex market. “Thus, a major policy trust should focus on unification of

exchange rates and diversification of the operational base to achieve a competitive outlook,” it added. In the same vein, ABCON also called on BDC operators to pursue full automation of their operations for greater transparency and participation in the remittances market. It stated: “BDC sub-sector needs to undertake a total structural re-engineering of operations through improved technical training of operators to be able to cope with the emerging realities of the foreign exchange markets in developing economies. “The process should encompass full automation of operations to be able to operate migrant remittance activities. Total review and repositioning of models of operations to reflect greater transparency, efficiency and inbuilt aggregate economic development goals should be drawn and presented to the authorities for consideration.”

MARKET INDICATORS

Union Bank’s Employees Undertake CSR Initiative Mary Nnah Employees of Union Bank have established communal water boreholes in six underserved communities across Nigeria, directly impacting over 15,000 people. According to a statement, the donations, which provided boreholes to each of the six geopolitical regions of the country, formed part of activities to mark Union Bank’s 2020 Employee Volunteer Day (EVDay). “Introduced in 2019, EVDay reinforces Union Bank’s commitment to building a workforce that is conscious about giving back to the communities where they live and work. “This year, the Gift of Water project was selected to provide more Nigerians in underserved communities with access to potable water supply, improving their quality of life

and enabling them maintain the proper hand-washing routine advised by World Health Organisation (WHO) Covid-19 guidelines,” the statement added. It noted that although Nigeria is rich in water resources, access to clean potable water is one of the challenges facing several rural communities. According to WHO, “About 63 million Nigerians do not have access to improved drinking water sources, and only 42% of households in rural areas have access to safe drinking water.” The communal boreholes were established in Ubulu Uku in Delta State; Gidan Dagachi Kureken Sani in Kano State; Kpebi-Sarki in Abuja; Ohubo Village, Ama Nkanu Community in Enugu State; Sari Iganmu, Orile in Lagos State and Abujan Amare, Gashua in Yobe State.

Commenting on the donations, the Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa, was quoted in the statement to have said, “Union Bank is proud to lead the charge for social impact. Initiatives such as this present the opportunity to give back to the society and support the average Nigerian. We are pleased by this clear demonstration of the Union Bank culture of community service and corporate citizenship.” Also commending the level of employee engagement, the Bank’s Head of Corporate Communication and Marketing, Ogochukwu Ekezie-Ekaidem, said – “Union Bank is pleased about this opportunity to impact over 15,000 lives through this project. ‘Community’ is one of our core values as a Bank, and it is rewarding to see our efforts create true impact”.

Access Bank Unveils Revised Customer Complaint Channels Access Bank Plc has announced an extension of its customer education and complaint management activities. The bank explained in a statement that the move was driven by its promise to deliver unrivalled customer service to all its customers, “Over the years, Access Bank has strived to reach all audience tiers and communities, communicating and simplifying information on how customerrelated bottlenecks can be

resolved,” it added. According to the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Access Bank Plc, Ogor Chukudebelu, the institution’s efforts were borne out of the desire to, “heighten the public’s consciousness and radically improve awareness of the vast array of resources available to them as we strive to improve their banking experiences.” “In today’s fast-paced society, there is an increased demand for information. Information that not only helps draw the institution

closer to its customers but also makes banking convenient for customers. “As a customer-centric bank, we appreciate feedback from our customers to help us resolve any issues they have. The feedback also serves to improve and enhance their banking experience. Therefore, we have various platforms where customers can lodge their complaints or give suggestions. We will continue to avail all customers with the option of using their preferred complaint lodgment medium.”

Wema Bank Rated High in Customer Service, Digital Banking Wema Bank Plc said it was ranked top in two recent independent surveys on the banking industry. The bank revealed that in its 2020 Digital Channel scorecard, KPMG Nigeria named it as a leader in Payments and Transactions for digital banking. Also, in its recently released Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey, the consulting firm confirmed that Wema Bank climbed 10 places to second position in the retail category. Following a qualitative study

of 17 Nigerian commercial banks focusing strongly on retail banking operations, KPMG Nigeria’s Digital scorecard tested customer experience across five areas - Digital Onboarding, Digital Payments & Transfers, Digital Lending, Self Service and Customer Care. It categorised banks into four distinct categories - Leaders, Challengers, Followers and Late Starters. “Wema Bank emerged a leader in the Mobile and Internet

banking (payments/transfers) and the Self-Service categories,” the statement added. The assessment also revealed ALAT By Wema, the bank’s digital banking platform, as the best digital banking channel in Nigeria. According to the report, ALAT By Wema stands out because, “the user interface is simple, and only relevant information is visible on the screen, thus keeping design minimal, user friendly, and removing the possibilities for user errors or confusion”.

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

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

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

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE ˜ ͯͯ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $54.76 a barrel on Monday, compared with $54.39 the previous Friday, 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), Zaﬁro (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

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͱ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

All-Share Index Rises 0.36% as Market Extends Gains Goddy Egene The stock market extended its positive performance yesterday as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) rose 0.36 per cent. The positive trend was buoyed by gains recorded by Dangote Cement Plc, NASCON Allied Industries Plc and AXA Mansard Insurance Plc. Although there were 27 price

gainers, the 20 price losers paraded bellwethers such as MTN Nigeria Plc, BUA Cement Plc, Zenith Bank, GTBank Plc. However, the price gain of 2.2 per cent recorded by Dangote Cement Plc led to the positive close for the market. Market analysts said more investors are attracted to Dangote Cement following the completion of first tranche of its share buyback programme.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

The company said the was done between Wednesday, 30 and Thursday, 31 December 2020, on the open market of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. According to the company it purchased 40,200,000 ordinary shares of the company at an average price of N243.02, representing 0.24 per cent of the issued and fully paid ordinary shares. “Following the conclusion of Tranche I, the total number of

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

residual issued and fully paid outstanding shares of Dangote Cement Plc amounts to 17,000,307,404. However, the completion of the share buyback programme of the company does not portend any material impact on the company’s financial position, and the operation of the company as a going concern,” it said. The price gainers was led by Niger Insurance Plc, Omatek

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Ventures Plc, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc and NASCON Allied Industries Plc with 10 per cent apiece. Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc chalked up 9.8 per cent, while AXA Mansard Insurance Plc and Japaul Gold Ventures Plc garnered 9.5 per cent and 9.4 per cent respectively. Conversely, Oando Plc led the price losers with 5.4 per cent, trailed by UACN Property

O F

Development Company Plc and Deap Capital Management and Trust Plc with 4.7 per cent each. Courtville Business Solutions Plc , Wema Bank Plc and Cornerstone Insurance Plc shed 4.3 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, activity level strengthened as volume and value traded surged 247.5 per cent and 220.1 per cent respectively to 1.2 billion shares and N8.0 billion.

1 2 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS Goddy Egene

UBA Board Meets to Recommend Final Dividend, Others

The Board of Directors of

United Bank for Africa Plc will meet on Tuesday 26, 2021 to discuss the audited

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return. An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

financial statements and report for the year ended December 31, 2020 as well

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 11Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated.

as the proposal for the final dividend. In a notification to the

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), UBA said the results would only be published after

relevant regulatory approval. UBA had paid an interim dividend of 17 kobo already.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors. Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return. NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Plutus Fund N/A N/A N/A Nigeria International Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Afrinvest Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ACAP Income Funds N/A N/A N/A AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.47% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.56 3.70 -0.08% 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 0.85% Anchoria Equity Fund 133.98 134.47 0.18% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.33 1.33 0.00% 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 ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 128.79 129.70 2.08% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 1.70% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.21 2.26 -29.03% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 2.11% Paramount Equity Fund 16.58 16.27 1.77% Women's Investment Fund 135.84 134.30 0.91% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.81% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 131.88 132.76 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 131.88 132.76 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 1.32% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.16 1.17 0.16% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.60 1.60 0.88% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Halal Fund 111.58 111.62 0.04% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 1.02% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 122.65 123.08 0.87% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 122.80 123.22 0.87% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 154.11 156.44 1.94% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Debt Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A Legacy USD Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 3,796.79 3,844.23 1.06% Coral Income Fund 3,316.20 3,316.20 1.54% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 1.81% 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 1.00% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 127.97 128.50 18.70%

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 1.08% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.90 2.96 32.49% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 7.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 157.02 157.98 9.61% 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 1.43 1.45 -0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,156.56 1,156.56 0.27% 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 1.65 1.68 6.99% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.21 12.32 8.75% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.55 1.57 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.46 110.93 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 132.31 134.60 8.40% 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 1.00 1.00 0.22% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,521.35 2,532.80 0.61% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.10% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 0.00% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.13% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 -0.31% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 -1.00% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.16% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.21 111.21 0.12% 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 1.39 1.42 1.85% United Capital Bond Fund 1.89 1.89 0.13% United Capital Equity Fund 0.88 0.91 2.08% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.47% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.29 117.29 0.18% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.09 0.17% 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 12.36 12.48 4.20% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.68 13.80 12.01% Zenith Income Fund 24.09 24.09 -2.90% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.95%

REITS NAV Per Share

Fund Name SFS Skye Shelter Fund

Yield / T-Rtn

120.87

0.11%

52.46

0.11%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.00 123.81 97.61

13.10 123.81 99.73

-1.65% 1.70% -1.63%

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

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.18

4.22

10.26%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

5.87

5.95

3.12%

Vetiva Grifﬁn 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund

17.62 1.00 19.95

17.72 1.00 20.15

7.65% 0.87% -2.76%

201.40

203.40

-9.78%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.71

13.11%

Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund

Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

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.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

EU Gets Vaccine Boost as WHO Dampens Hope of Herd Immunity The European Union started the approval process for its third vaccine on Tuesday after WHO scientists warned that herd immunity from coronavirus was unlikely this year even with mass inoculation schemes. The 27-nation EU — under fire for lengthy approval processes and slow national rollouts of drugs — promised an “accelerated timeline” after

confirming drug company AstraZeneca had applied for approval for the jab it developed with Oxford University. The EU’s medicines agency said a decision would still not come before January 29, even though the drug is already being used in countries including Britain. And even with mass vaccinations, World Health

Greece Urges EU To Adopt Vaccine Certiﬁcate For Travel Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday urged the EU to adopt a “standardised” vaccination certificate to boost travel this year, his office said. “Persons who have been vaccinated should be free to travel,” Mitsotakis wrote to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in a letter released by his office. “It is urgent to adopt a common understanding on how a vaccination certificate should be structured so as to be accepted in all member states,” the Greek PM said, calling for a “standardised certificate, which will prove that a person has been successfully

vaccinated”. Greece’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism, took a major blow this year from the coronavirus pandemic, even after reopening all its airports to foreign travellers in July. The budget sees the Greek economy slumping by 10.5 percent in 2020, worse than the 8.2 percent predicted in October. After weathering the first wave of the pandemic better than most European countries, Greece in early November reimposed a nationwide lockdown that has weighed on activity and is now set to last until January 18.

Organization scientists warned that coverage would still not be wide enough for population-level immunity this year. “We are not going to achieve any levels of population immunity or herd immunity in 2021,” said WHO’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan of a disease that has already infected more than 90 million people worldwide and killed almost two million. The United States remains the worst affected country, posting daily death tolls in multiple thousands, but European hospitals are increasingly warning of stretched resources and Asian countries are also facing upsurges. Malaysia declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as fears grow that its health system is

close to being overwhelmed, after China and Japan took measures against localised clusters. China added a city of five million to a growing lockdown area near Beijing on Tuesday, as WHO experts arrive in the central city of Wuhan to probe the origins of the disease. With recriminations already flying over America’s longer-term handling of the virus, lawmakers voiced fury on Tuesday over the actions of some of their peers during last week’s ructions in Washington DC. Congress members were forced to hunker down in secure rooms as supporters of President Donald Trump marauded through the corridors of the Capitol building, and some have now tested

positive for coronavirus and squarely blamed their colleagues. “Many Republicans still refused to take the bare minimum COVID-19 precaution and simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room during a pandemic — creating a superspreader event on top of a domestic terrorist attack,” said Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who has since tested positive. US President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to devote all available resources to fight the pandemic, received his second vaccine dose on Monday of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab — the first to be approved in Western countries. German firm BioNTech said it could produce millions more doses than originally expected this

year, but warned that Covid-19 was likely become an endemic disease and vaccines would be needed to fight new variants. The sporting world provided some respite from the continuing cycle of glum news, with England beginning a cricket Test match in Sri Lanka on Thursday, 10 months after a tour was called off. It was bitter-sweet for one England fan, who has been waiting in Sri Lanka for 10 months for the match to start, only to miss out on the live action because it will be played behind closed doors. “I’ve been in Sri Lanka the whole time on blind faith, on a wing and a prayer,” Rob Lewis, who has been working remotely as a web designer and DJ-ing at a local bar in Colombo, told AFP.

Former Ghanaian President, Rawlings for Burial January 27 The funeral of Ghana’s former President, Jerry Rawlings, has been rescheduled for 27 January, according to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the international community and diplomatic missions. Media reports on Tuesday said Rawlings, who died on November 12, 2020, will lie in state from 24-26 January at the Foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre from 0900

to 1700 GMT daily. There will be a funeral mass on 26 January at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra and a burial service on 27 January at the Independence Square in Accra. The funeral had initially been announced for December 20, 2020, before it was postponed indefinitely after concerns raised by his maternal family and elders.

COVID-19: South Africa Shuts Land Borders South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday extended recently imposed coronavirus restrictions and placed curbs on land border traffic, as the country grapples with an unprecedented surge in cases fuelled by a new virus strain. The continent’s most industrialised economy and worst Covid-hit country went back into partial lockdown last month to stem flaring infections. Alcohol sales were banned to ease pressure on emergency wards, large gatherings prohibited, parks shut and a 9 pm curfew imposed to limit exposure. Ramaphosa on Monday said those measures would be extended until further notice. “Cabinet has decided to maintain the country on adjusted alert level 3,” the president announced in an address to the nation. “Most of the measures that were announced on 28 December 2020 will therefore remain in place.” In addition, Ramaphosa said

travel across South Africa’s 20 land points of entry would be restricted until mid-February. Cross-border transport of fuel, cargo and goods will still be allowed, however, and several other exceptions were made including travel for school and medical reasons. The land border measures were decided after thousands of people tried to cross into the country to escape a new lockdown in neighbouring Zimbabwe last week. The rush caused backlogs at the Beitbridge border post, South Africa’s second-busiest entry port. Over 100 travellers reportedly caught coronavirus as they queued for passport controls and coronavirus tests at the site. Ramaphosa urged South Africans to remain cautious and limit social interactions. “Research… has shown that the massive increase in infections is largely driven by a variant of the virus,” he said. “We know that this new variant… spreads much faster.”

DIPLOMATIC VISIT...

L-R: Director, Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Mej Bassey; Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Nigeria, Mrs. Poplawska-Lilumbi; Ambassador of Republic of Poland to Nigeria, Mrs. Joanna Tarnawska; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi; and Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Edet Akpan, during the courtesy visit by the Ambassador of Poland to the minister in Abuja…yesterday

UN Seeks $35m in Emergency Aid for Madagascar The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) appealed on Tuesday for emergency aid of $35 million to fight hunger in southern Madagascar, hit by the coronavirus pandemic and a third consecutive year of drought. “Some 1.35 million people are projected to be food insecure — 35 percent of the region’s population,” the WFP said in a statement.

“With severe malnutrition rates continuing to spiral and many children forced to beg in order to help their families eat, urgent action is required to prevent a humanitarian crisis.” The economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has amplified the hit from a longterm drought, it said. Seasonal employment has dried up, affecting rural families who saved this income to help

them through the lean season, which peaks between January and April. “To survive, families are eating tamarind fruit mixed with clay,” the statement quoted Moumini Ouedraogo, WFP’s Madagascar representative, as saying. “We can’t face another year like this. With no rain and a poor harvest, people will face starvation. No one should have to live like this.”

The WFP currently provides food aid for almost half a million people in the nine hardest-hit districts in the south of the island, and intends to ramp this up to nearly 900,000 by June. It is seeking $35 million (29 million euros) for emergency food and malnutrition programmes, including an initiative to feed schoolchildren so that they can stay in class rather than leave to seek work or beg.

Uganda Shuts down Social Media Ahead of Election Uganda’s communications regulator has ordered the shutdown of social media and messaging applications, ahead of a highly-charged election on Thursday. The vote will come after one of the bloodiest campaigns in years, as veteran leader Yoweri Museveni seeks a sixth term against popstar-turned-MP Bobi Wine, who has managed to fire up a youthful population that has mostly known only one president. Wine, who has spent most of the campaign in a bulletproof vest and combat helmet facing teargas, bullets and numerous arrests, on Tuesday urged his supporters to “protect” the election from rigging. Despite the 38-year-old’s popularity, few observers believe

he can pull off a victory against Museveni, a 76-year-old former rebel leader who has ruled since 1986 and effectively crushed any opposition. Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were down in the East African nation on Tuesday, after the communications regulator ordered a social media shutdown. In a letter seen by AFP, Uganda Communications Commission executive director Irene Sewankambo ordered telecommunications companies to “immediately suspend any access and use” of social media and online messaging platforms. An industry insider who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said that the order was first communicated in “nasty and aggressive” phone

calls to the telecommunications companies on Tuesday morning. The calls made it clear the order was retaliation for Facebook deleting progovernment accounts for seeking to manipulate public debate ahead of the election. Facebook said Monday that the accounts were linked to the ministry of information and technology. UCC spokesman Ibrahim Bbosa told AFP, “I am not aware of a directive to switch off internet or social media platforms.” “There has been slow connectivity on the platforms which can be partly due to heavy traffic as a result of the forthcoming elections,” he said. Some 18 million voters are registered for the presidential

and parliamentary ballot, which takes place after a chaotic campaign. Journalists covering opposition rallies have been attacked, government critics locked up, and election monitors prosecuted, raising concerns over the transparency of the electoral process. Two days of protests in November left 54 people dead. European Union High Representative Josep Borrell said in a statement calling for a credible vote that “the excessive use of force by law enforcement and security agencies has seriously tarnished this electoral process.” Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, told journalists his home had been raided and his staff beaten by security forces on Tuesday morning.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Falana-led Coalition Urges Nigerians to Reject Planned Commercialisation of COVID-19 Vaccines The Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), a coalition led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, has urged Nigerians to resist any attempt by health

workers to commercialise COVID-19 vaccines being expected in the country. The Deputy Chairman of the coalition, Sina Odugbemi, who stated this yesterday while featuring on a live TV

Fayemi, Ekiti CP Task 256 Constabulary Ofﬁcers on Professionalism, Discipline Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command has charged the newly commissioned 256 Special Constabulary officers on professionalism, discipline and patriotism, to be able to collaborate with conventional security agencies to rid the country of insecurity. Addressing the new special constabularies in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Babatunde Mobayo, congratulated the new recruits, urging them to meticulously follow the rules of engagement as enshrined in the Special Constabulary Police Manual and the Nigerian Police Acts. He said: “I enjoin you to be disciplined, professional, pay attention to your various communities, find out their needs and proffer appropriate solutions to them. “You should ensure that they

contribute their quota to your various communities security-wise.” Meanwhile, the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security Matters,EbenezerOgundana,described the recruitment as apt, considering the current security challenges facing the country, which he said needed to be tackled effectively. The governor further enjoined them to always respect and uphold the tenets of their callings; do their best to make their families, the Nigeria Police and the country at large, proud. “I sympathise with the families of the police officers and all those who lost their loved ones during the #EndSARS protest, which was hijacked by hoodlums. “I also plead with the new recruits to adhere strictly to all the rules guiding the protection of human rights while performing their duties,” the governor advised.

programme, also kicked against preference treatment for the “high and mighty.” “When it (vaccine) comes in, people may want to trade with it and there may be preference for the high and mighty. We should anticipate these things and put in place machineries to ensure that we scale the hurdle because the Nigerian factor will come into

play when the vaccines come in. “There will be special preference. In fact, health officers like we have witnessed may want to find a way of commercialising one thing or the other. But then, once this monster stirs its head, it is the duty of all of us – civil societies, religious organisations and individuals – to ensure that we turn ourselves to self-monitoring groups. All hands

must be on the deck,” Odugbemi explained. The federal government had said that the first batch of the vaccines would arrive in the country between the end of January and February 2021. It has also promised that the vaccines to be used in the country would be safe and effective. It also said the 100,000 doses

of the vaccine being expected in the first batch were for 50,000 Nigerians as the vaccines would be taken twice by each person at intervals of 21 days. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, also said the country would spend N400bn to procure vaccines for the 70 per cent of Nigerians it planned to vaccinate.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT...

L-R: Representative of Acting Director General of the National Directorate of Employment , Mr. Duke Edem; Ogun State, Coordinator, NDE, Mr. Oladele Tajudeen; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite; and Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Noimot Salako, during the the flag-off of the Special Public Works Programme in Abeokuta... yesterday

Varsity Workers in Bauchi Join Nationwide Protests

Olujimi Cautions Ekiti PDP Members against Division over Power Shift

Segun AwofadejiinBauchi

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi Branch, have joined the three days national protest against the federal government to press the unions’ demands for improved workers’ welfare. The JAC Chairman, Mr. Sulisma Jatau, who spoke to journalists yesterday, said that the two unions decided to embark on the three days protest to press home their eight demands. Jatau said that nothing has happened to their demands even though they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal

government on these issues since October 20, 2020. According to him, the contending issues between the two unions and the federal government include inconsistencies in the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) payment, Non-payment of earned allowances, non-payment of arrears of minimum wage, delay in renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreements and non-payment of retirement benefits of its members that have left the service. Jatau also pointed out that issues to be resolved also include usurpation of the headship of non- teaching units by teaching staff in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures.

Kogi Appoints New Acting Chief Judge Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Kogi State Government has approved the appointment of Justice Sunday Otu as the acting Chief Judge of the state following the retirement of Justice Henry Olusiyi as the Chief Judge of state last Monday. Justice Otu was therefore sworn in by the state Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, yesterday at the Government House in Lokoja, on behalf of the state government. In his charge to the new acting Chief Judge, the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya

Bello, enjoined Justice Otu to stand by the words of the National Anthem by serving with faithfulness, loyalty and honesty. He told the new head of the state judiciary to take the job of the judiciary to the next level by being dedicated to his job and assist the state in its efforts to make a swift administration of justice a top priority. The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Onoja, congratulated the new acting Chief Judge, reiterating his administration huge expectations on the new Chief Judge.

The Senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, Mrs. Biodun Olujimi, has advised the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state not to divide the party through agitations for power shift to the Southern senatorial district in the state in the 2022 governorship election. This was contained in a statement signed by her media aide, Sanya Atofarati, and made

available to journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday. Olujimi said her attention has been drawn to an agitation, wherein some PDP stakeholders expressed their support for the turn of the South senatorial district, compelling her to take a plunge into the race. She said: “We appreciate all the agitators, who have acted in line with their fundamental human rights to self-agitation and determination, for their objective concern and sincere support for

our performing senator, whom they have considered worthy as the most viable alternative for the revered governorship position of Ekiti State. “It is, however, imperative to know that members of the Senator Biodun Olujimi team share the same ideology that for the sake of equity and fair play, the South senatorial district be given the privilege to represent the state in the next governorship race having been marginalised since the creation of Ekiti State

25 years ago. “However, we should be cautious of being driven by emotions or sentiments, capable of distracting us from our collective pursuit as one indivisible and formidable entity which is the repositioning of our great party, PDP, in which every member would be proud of.” Olujimi said she remained an advocate of ‘Ekiti First’ project, and as such, will not indulge in any act capable of dividing the party than uniting it.

FCTA Demolishes Five Wrestling Theatres, Arrests 25 for Violating COVID-19 Protocol Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pulled down five local wrestling and drama theatres popularly called ‘Gidan Drama’ and ‘Gidan Dembe’ for allegedly continuously violating the COVID-19 safety regulations. It carried out the demolition exercise yesterday at Dakibiyu, Gwarimpa 1 and Sector Centre

districts, with the support of armed officers of the Nigerian Police, State Security Services (SSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The Head of Media, Public Enlightenment and Advocacy of the FCT Ministerial Enforcement Taskforce, Mr. Ikharo Attah, who addressed journalists during the exercise, which lasted for over three hours, said the removal

of the structures was inevitable following repeated warnings to the owners and operators of the Gidan Drama and Gidan Dembe to stop operations because they were prohibited to so do under the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines. He said: “Many persons gather in these local entertainment centres to watch artistes and wrestlers perform. In one of the centres, we observed during surveillance that thousands of

people gather to watch nude dancers. Facemasks, physical distancing and sanitization of the hands do not exist there (in the centres).” Attah, however, appealed to Kannywood actors and actresses, who sometimes make appearances in these centres, to desist from coming there, saying they would be arrested and charged to court regardless of their fame and status in the society.

NDLEA Airport Command Seizes 3,413kg of Illicit Drugs Oluchi Chibuzor TheMurtalaMohammedInternational AirportCommandoftheNationalDrug Law EnforcementAgency (NDLEA), has revealed that it arrested 60 suspects and made a total seizure of 3413.463 kilograms of illicit drugs with Khat leaves, tramadol, cocaine topping the chart in its 2020 year-in-review. The command also said that it has

made several arrests and seized 13kg, 7.8kg and 117grams of illicit drugs in 2021. The Commandant of the NDLEA Airport Command, Mr. Ahmadu Garba, also disclosed to journalists that the agency’s partnership with the UK border force, the British National Crime Agency, paved the way for the creation of Joint Border Task Force Project (JBTF). Garba said: “During the year

2020, the command made a total seizure of 3413.463 kilograms (kgs) of illicit drugs comprising of cocaine, methamphetamine,cannabissativa,khat leaves,ephedrineaswellaspsychotropic substances. A total number of sixty (60) suspects were arrested. After due investigation, these suspects were charged to the Federal High Court andarraignedforprosecution,forty-four (44) were convicted.”

Also annual summary of the drug seizes in 2020 showed that khat leaves with 2993.350kg, tramadol 158.632kg, cannabis Sativa 103.84kg, cocaine 51.404kg, methamphetamine 19.935kg, which represented 87.70 percent, 4.65 percent, 3.04 percent, 1.51 percent, 0.58 percent of the seizures respectively. Others includes; ephedrine 19.811kg, diazepam 42kg and nitrazepam 24.491kg,

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, 2021˾ T H I S D AY

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Sacked Ekiti Workers Protest against State Lawmakers, Seek Reinstatement Victims were illegally recruited, govt insists

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti The organised labour and the 21 workers allegedly sacked by the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday protested against the state lawmakers over their “unjust dismissal” from the service of the state Assembly. The protest, led by labour leaders, was held within the premises of the state Assembly complex, where they rendered series of derisive songs to castigate the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission over the action. Addressing the dismissed

workers, the Secretary of the Ekiti State Joint Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo, said it was wrong for the commission to have speedily sent the names of the affected workers to the state accountant-general to stop their salaries while negotiation lasted. He said: “We are here to express our rejection of the summary dismissal of these 21 staff members of the House of Assembly Commission. Though the commission denied ever sacking anyone, it was not true. “We learnt from good authority that they have forwarded their names to the state accountant-

general to stop their salaries, as they were also denied access to the Assembly complex despite being employed and put on the payroll for 10 years. “We are not saying that the commission cannot audit its staff, but it has to be with human face. We are going to fight to the end. We are not afraid of victimisation. All the workers in the civil service will join them in solidarity. We are building careers here, and we won’t allow any politician to destroy us.” Also speaking, the Secretaries of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lawrence Kuloogun, and that of the Nigerian Labour Congress

(NLC), Taiwo Akinyemi, said the sacking of those workers was not only inhuman, but embarrassing to the state workforce. They said: “This is an injustice, harassment and an embarrassment to our workers. In Ekiti State University, we buried scores of our workers. The same happened at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. This was because of the sack, but here in the state Assembly, we are not ready to bury anyone (worker). “The commission must reverse to status quo. They should not distribute any letter anymore, and they must retrieve the ones already served for our workers

to live good and worthy lives.” But a statement issued by the Chairman of the commission, Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun, yesterday said the just released report of the staff audit was part of the efforts to reorganise the legislative service commission for effective and quality service delivery in line with the scheme of service. Olatunbosun added that the audit, which started last year on assumption of office of the present commission members, they engaged the services of auditors over complaints, agitations and petitions from members of staff on allegations of irregular advancement, absenteeism,

arbitrary promotion and placement of officers above colleagues without regards to scheme of service. “The audit discovered some irregularities ranging from hiding, alteration and mutilation of files, advancement of staffers without due process, appointees illegally retained in the system after expiration of tenure, arbitrary transfer of service without cognate experience, overage staff members, irregular appointments/promotion of staff without approval, cases of forgeries, arbitrary placement of officers with utter disregard to scheme of service.

COVID-19: Anambra Postpones Reopening of Schools, Threatens to Close Markets Following the surge in COVID-19 cases in Anambra State, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has postponed the reopening of schools in the state by two weeks. Obiano stated this yesterday in his broadcast to the people of the state. He also banned any gathering exceeding 50 people in the state, while threatening to close any market that would violate COVID-19 protocol. He said the decisions had become necessary following the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that was “sweeping across the world”. “Sadly, it appears that our warnings fell on deaf ears. Our people allowed themselves to be carried away by the joys of the Yuletide and failed to maintain the COVID-19 protocols.” Obiano added that the state had been faced with a clear and present danger, adding that between December 7, 2020, and January 11, 2021, the state had recorded 110 new cases of COVID-19. The governor’s address read in part, “My administration has taken a string of hard decisions

to stamp out the renewed spread of this pandemic before it gains a serious advantage over us. “All government offices must observe the standard COVID-19 protocols – washing of hands at the entrance, wearing of facemasks, regular use of hand sanitizers, and strict observance of social distancing. Nobody will be allowed into any government premises without properly wearing a face mask. “No one should step outside their homes without wearing a facemask. ” The ban on nightclubs is still firmly in place. Hotels are directed to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols. “There should not be more than 50 people in any public gathering. “The COVID-19 Action Teams in all our 61 markets must ensure full compliance with the standard COVID-19 protocols. “All markets in Anambra State are given one week to set-up the necessary safety standards and ensure proper compliance. Any market found violating the standards after one week shall be quickly shut down.

Nasarawa Eyes N780m in FG’s Special Public Works Programme Igbawase Ukumba in Laﬁa The 774,000 special public work of the federal government is expected to inject N780 million into the economy of Nasarawa State in the next three months of its duration. The state Chairman of the Special Public Works programme of the federal government, Kasim Mohammed Kasim, disclosed this yesterday in Lafia during the flag-off of the 774,000 Extended Special Public Works programme in the state. According to the state chairman of the programme, at the end of three months duration of the programme in the state, each of the 13 local government areas of the state is to be injected with the sum of N60 million, even as

he added that N20 million would be injected into the economy of the council areas monthly. Kasim concluded that each of the 13,000 artisans recruited for the programme in the state would earn a monthly allowance of N20,000 during the duration of the exercise. Flagging off the programme for the state, the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for coming up with the programme, which he said is aimed at alleviating the rate of unemployment among the youths in Nigeria. He added that his administration has rolled out various complementary empowerment programmes for the benefits of youths in the state.

PROTEST AGAINST NAVY BRUTALITY ...

Fuel tankers used by youths of Rumolumine to block the Iwofe Rumuolumeni Road in Obi/Akpo LGA of Rivers State, during their protest for the release of their Community Development Association’s chairman by the Navy in Port Harcourt, Rivers State....yesterday

2023: Nigeria Needs Competent Leader to Revive Ailing Economy, Says Group Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja Ahead of the 2023 general election, a Coalition of Civil Society on Good Governance (CCSG) has posited that Nigeria needs a competent hand (leadership) to revive the ailing economy. The group lamented that the country has been drawn backward by leadership and economic quagmire, “which emanated from lack of capacity and knowledge of political and economic affairs.” It noted that insecurity has marred the country’s progress

in terms of investment, “while recession is now a recurring song, as corruption has returned to the centre stage and the once flourishing tourist sites have become moribund monuments of ghosts.” The Convener of the group, Mr. Jacob Okpanachi, stated this while addressing a press conference on ‘Project #The Next President’ yesterday in Abuja, saying the initiative was launched to generate a discourse with a view to providing the needed direction towards electing the next president in 2023. He clarified that the focus of

the initiative was not about the zone that would produce the next president in 2023, but on the competence, capacity and the ability of the next president to deliver Nigeria from the current economic crises. Okpanachi said: “The most important thing is not the region, but can whoever that the next president would be, be able to deliver Nigeria from where we are now? However, region may come in but not now. What we are seeking to achieve is to get someone that is competent to run Nigeria and bring it back to its glory days.

“It is imperative at this point to note that Nigeria have been drawn backwards by leadership and economic quagmire which emanate from lack of capacity and knowledge of political and economic affairs, a case that have returned Nigeria from glory days of best in many aspect of endeavours to almost a failed economy. “Competence has a large part to play in running an economy. You may have integrity, but may not be able to deliver on economy, so of what importance is that to the citizens?”

Soldiers, Local Security Outﬁt Repel Bandits’ Attack on Niger Community Laleye Dipo in Minna A combined team of soldiers and local vigilante outfit yesterday repelled a bandits attack on Erena, a town in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. In the fierce battle, which an eyewitness said lasted for close to four hours, the bandits reportedly lost four of their men but no casualty was reported on the part of the soldiers and the local security men. However, a truck belonging to the soldiers was said to have been set on fire by the bandits as they fled the battle field.

The bandits in their numbers, who were riding on motorcycles, according to the eyewitness, attempted to storm the town at about 4a.m. but the soldiers and the vigilance group, who were in the Government Day Secondary School buildings in Erena, were not caught unawares. The spokesman for the Shiroro Youths Forum, Mallam Bello Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation, said: “Yes I can confirm to you that in the early hours of today (yesterday), terrorists in their large numbers stormed Erena town in an

attempt to unleash terror on our defenceless, peaceful and unsuspecting people. “The terrorists, however, met a vehemently resistant Security Joint Task Force, comprising conventional security and local vigilantes, stationed at the Government Day Secondary School in Erena. “They engaged them in a fierce gun battle, which lasted for hours and consequently, the criminals couldn’t gain access into the town. There were sporadic gunshots which could be heard all over the area.” Ibrahim further confirmed that “a vehicle belonging to the gallant security men was seen to have

been burnt,” but explained that the attack was, however, repelled by the security agents. Neither the police nor the army authorities could be reached to confirm the incident. Meanwhile, it was not known when the military base was returned to Erena town, but in the wake of weekly attacks on the town and neighbouring communities, the Senator representing the district, Alhaji Sani Musa, had pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a military base in the area for quick response to distress call by the villagers.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 13, ͺ͸ͺ͹˾ T H I S D AY

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WA F U B U 1 7 TO U R N A M E N T

Côte d’Ivoire Gives Golden Eaglets Lifeline into Semi final Duro Ikhazuagbe Côte d’Ivoire did Nigeria a huge favour yesterday as the Baby Elephants defeated Ghana’s Black Starlets 3-1 to pave way for the Golden Eaglets to progress to the semi finals of the WAFU B Under-17 Tournament in Lomé, Togo. After Eaglets were defeated 1-0 in their opening game and were held 1-1 by Ghana, Nigeria’s dream of qualifying for the last four

stage became dimmed. Nigeria therefore needed the Ivorians to defeat Ghana by 2-0 to give Eaglets the lifeline to semis. The Baby Elephants did just that in style inside the Stade Municipal in Lomé, sending the Ghanaians home with a 3-1 final scoreline. Hope of what to come started early in the match yesterday as Baby Elephants raced into the lead after only nine

minutes and consolidated at 2-0as the match wore on. But the Starlets, themselves two-time champions of the world, pegged back their neighbours to leave Nigeria’s chances on the wire. Both Eaglets and their Ghanaian counterparts had scored through penalty kicks on Saturday. It was the time for the Ivorians to

benefit, as they netted from six yards with 20 minutes to go to make it a commanding 3-1 win. Five-time world champions Nigeria will now take on Burkina Faso, another youth football powerhouse, in the semi finals slated for Friday at Togo’s main stadium, Stade Kegue. Hosts Togo were thrown

out of the tournament on Sunday after two of their players failed the mandatory MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) tests conducted by the tournament’s medical team. With Togo’s results in the tournament annulled, Burkina Faso soared to the top of Group A to face Nigeria.

Same night, Group B winners Cote d’Ivoire will take on Niger Republic as from 8pmTogo time (9pmNigeria time). The winners of the semi finals will battle for the diadem on Wednesday next weekat the Stade Kegue, and also qualify for the CAF U17 Cup of Nations billed for 13th-31st Marchin Morocco.

NPFL: Akwa Utd in Ilorin for Serious Business, Says Boboye Following Akwa United’s 2-1 victory over Abia Warriors at the weekend, Head Coach, Kennedy Boboye, has hinted that his boys are charged up to record their second win of the season when they engage Kwara United in a midweek NPFL clash this afternoon in Ilorin. Coach Boboye who heaped praises on his players after their first win of the season explained that the victory over his former team was a divine turnaround that his team needed to kick start their campaign. Boboye told the club’s website www.akwaunitedfc. comyesterday that his team is on course for more victories. “Our victory over Abia Warriors is a big motivation for us and it’s coming at the right time. We are determined to build on that win as we continue to push for more victories. “The celebration of that victory ended after the match and our concentration and focus is now on Wednesday’s match against Kwara United. “Last season, Kwara United came to Uyo and picked all three points. Due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic we didn’t have the opportunity of playing

the return fixture, that is why this game is very important and trust me, we are on a special mission to Ilorin. The Promise Keepers are 11th on the NPFL table with four points. In the last eight meetings between the two sides, Akwa United and Kwara United have recorded three wins apiece while two of those encounters ended in stalemate. Elsewhere, Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United arrived Bauchi yesterday afternoon ahead of their midweek fixture with Wikki Tourists. The “Pride of Rivers” will battle the Giant Elephant at the Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium and will aim to reproduce the kind of performance that earned them a 1-0 win in their last away tie against Abia Warriors in Aba. MIDWEEK FIXTURES Adamawa v Nasarawa Kano Pillars v Plateau Utd Heartland v Enyimba Wikki v Rivers Utd Kwara Utd v Akwa Utd Abia Warriors v Jigawa Rangers v IfeanyiUbah Dakkada v MFM FC Sunshine v Lobi Warri Wolves v Katsina

Golden Eaglets....back in the hunt for ticket to U-17 AFCON in Morocco

Niger Tornadoes Set for New Season, Recruit 18 New Players Laleye Dipo in Minna Niger Tornadoes Football Club of Minna are set for the new football season with the recruitment of 18 players to fortify the team thereby bringing the number of players registered to 40. The Niger State owned team will be competing in the Nigeria National League (NNL) scheduled to commence on January 16 having been relegated from the NPFL. Amongst the new players in the fold are two imports from Benin Republic.

Others were poached from 36 Lions of Lagos and Bukola Babes of Ilorin Kwara State. Chiarman of the club’s Management Committee, Adamu Aliyu, told THISDAY that: “We have done everything necessary to kick off the new season with hope of returning to the topflight. “All our pre-season preparations have been completed. We have started by reforming the three important segments of the club; we have established a home-grown technical department; we have developed a mechanism for prudent management of

resources as well as done the recruitment that can make us compete favourably in the NNL,” Adamu Aliyu hinted. In addition, he said the management has put the necessary machinery in motion to get sponsorship for the team because “We are aware that resources of government is very lean and we cannot get all that we want from government”. This notwithstanding, the Tornadoes helmsman said assurance of better funding has been received from the state government. “We are getting money

from government but not as we wanted”. Aliyu however said the management was able to retain most of it’s old players because “ we paid them their salaries during the Covid 19 period that is why they have remained with us”. He assured stakeholders that with the calibre of players and the support of government the team will gain promotion back to the elite league at the end of the season, “That is the marching order we have been given by our state governor,” he concluded.

Real Madrid’s Super Cup Defence Live on StarTimes

Ndifreke Eﬃong....scored brace last weekend against Abia Warriors

Real Madrid are to begin the defence of the Spanish Super Cup trophy they won last term tomorrow. The Super Cup is to be beamed live on StarTimes’ World Football and Premium Sports channels. The capital city team will face Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad in a competition that features a four-team line-up for the second time. Following the successful staging of the ‘new-look’ Supercopa de España last season, this year ’s

competition again features four teams. Real Madrid and Barcelona – as first and second in the La Liga respectively – as well as the two finalists from last season’s Copa del Rey, Real Sociedad and Athletic Bil b a o , q u a l i f i e d f o r the mini-competition, which will be played t h i s w e e k o v e r t h re e stadiums in Andalusia. Today, Real Sociedad will face FC Barcelona at 9pm; while Real Madrid will battle Athletic Club on

Thursday at 9pm. The winners will meet on Sunday at 9 pm to decide the new Spanish Super Cup Champion. Real Madrid are the defending champions, having won the competition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last year – the first time the tournament was held with four clubs. Other exciting football competitions to look forward to on StarTimes this week include the German Bundesliga, Coppa Italia airing from Tuesday, Copa Del Rey

from Saturday and CAF CHAN 2020 also starting on Saturday. Others this January include The Emirates FA Cup which started January 8 and the PS5 Supercoppa Italia on January 20. For Coppa Italia round of 16, Wednesday’s fixtures will see Fiorentina vs Inter Milan at 3pm, Napoli vs Empoli at 5:45pm and Juventus vs Genoa at 8:45pm. Matches will be broadcast live and in HD on StarTimes Sports channels.

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English League Chief Warns Another Football Lockdown Imminent Football risks another suspension if clubs “continue to flout the rules” in place to limit the spread of coronavirus, Trevor Birch, the chief executive of the English Football League (EFL) has warned. Elite sport has been allowed to continue despite a fresh national lockdown designed to slow down the rate of Covid-19 infections. However, a number of on and off-field incidents, along with an increase in positive test rates among players, means the professional game is under intense scrutiny from the government and the public. EFL chief Trevor Birch, in a letter to clubs, said football had provided hope for people during the pandemic but would come “under extreme governmental pressure if we continue to flout the rules and guidance in place”. There were high-profile

instances of virus protocols being breached by EFL clubs -- those in the second, third and fourth tiers of the English game -- over the FA Cup third-round weekend. Championship side QPR admitted they should not have allowed former player Eberechi Eze to attend their tie against Fulham, while fourth-tier Crawley’s exuberant celebrations after their win against Premier League side Leeds broke socialdistancing rules. “As a result of the emergence of a more virulent strain of the virus, it is more important than ever that all club staff vigilantly follow the processes we have worked hard to develop to keep our competitions on track and avoid a suspension similar to the one encountered in March 2020,” Birch said in his letter. He warned if the EFL felt clubs had not taken appropriate action

Man Utd Leapfrog Liverpool to Top of Premier League Iwobi on scorers’ sheet as Everton beat Wolves Paul Pogba’s well-drilled volley gave Manchester United 1-0 victory at Burnley to take them top of the Premier League. The Frenchman’s secondhalf strike proved decisive in another game high on video assistant referee (VAR) drama. Harry Maguire had a goal disallowed for United in a first half dominated by VAR reviews, with Burnley’s Robbie Brady and United’s Luke Shaw appearing fortunate to escape earlier red cards. Burnley made United work hard, but Pogba’s moment of quality decided it. Elsewhere, Alex Iwobi scored the opener as Everton maintained their challenge for a Champions League spot with 2-1 victory at Wolves MichaelKeane drilled the winning goal inthe 77th to push Everton to the fourth spot on the log.

The Toffees’ sixth away win in the league this season lifted them level on points with third-place Leicester and only four off the lead held by Manchester United They got off to a brilliant start when Iwobi fired home in the fifth minute for his first goal in 38 Premier League appearances. Wolves, seeking only their second win in eight games, hit back in the 14th minute through Ruben Neves. The Portuguese midfielder ended his own barren run against Brighton at the start of January, and made it two goals in two league matches with a sublime sidefoot finish following brilliant movement from Rayan Ait-Nouri. The home side looked more likely to edge the contest until Keane rose highest in the area to convert Andre Gomes’ teasing cross from the left.

Sunusi Ibrahim Joins MLS’ Montreal Impact Nigeria’s U23 international, Sunusi Ibrahim, has signed a three-year contract with option for an additional year with Major League Soccer (MLS) side Montreal Impact. The Canadian club announced the transfer on their official website, adding the deal will be sealed upon receipt of his ITC and he passing a routine medical. Montreal Impact reported the forward was signed from Nigerian club 36 Lion of Lagos. “The Club is very happy to have completed the transfer of this young player, who is already part of his country’s U23

squad despite his young age,” said sporting director Olivier Renard. “It’s a great addition to the squad, especially considering several European clubs were very interested in him as well. “Sunusi Ibrahim is a fast and powerful striker who can also play on the wings. “ In 2019, with Nasarawa United, Ibrahim was the leading scorer in the Nigerian professional football league NPFL with 10 goals in 22 games. With Nigeria’s U23 squad, he played three qualifying matches for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring against Zambia.

over breaches, it could impose its own sanctions. From this week, players and staff at EFL clubs will be tested twice a week.

The EFL announced on Tuesday Brentford’s next two Championship matches had been postponed due to recent positive Covid-19 tests, including

for manager Thomas Frank. The Premier League has encountered its own problems with fixtures being postponed, while some top-

flight players were heavily criticised for attending or hosting gatherings over the Christmas and New Year period.

Manchester United’s players celebrating Paul Pogba’s well-drilled lone goal that moved the Red Devil’s to the top of the Premier League... yesterday

Polo: Listing El-Amin in Guinness Book of Records Excites Babangida There were lots of sunshine, windy evenings, spectacular atmosphere, and epic finals of the 2020 Kaduna International Polo Tournament that reaffirmed ELAmin’s invincibility as Georgian Cup kings. It was a fitting silver Jubilee anniversary celebration for the all-time champions. Unlike other Kaduna tournaments, this last one was special in many ways. First, it was the first time that heralded the Guinness Book of Record recognition of Georgian Cup and First Bank as the longest run sport sponsorship in the world and the 101 edition of the prestigious event. Unarguably Nigeria’s most accomplished team ever, EL-Amin polo organization made history on their Silver Jubilee celebration, defeating title holders, Abuja Rubicon for a record 15th title of the highly revered Georgian trophy. Secondly, the 2020 Kaduna polo extravaganza provided a platform for EL-Amin to book their recognition by the global institution, the Guinness Book of Record as the first Nigerian team to ever win one of the oldest polo trophies a record 15 times. It was on this very ground that they achieved their high-goal status, earning their first Georgian title in 1999. Ironically, it was at the same legendary Murtala Square in Kaduna that they lost their treasured crown thrice to Abuja Rubicon. That accounts for their only defeats in 11 years of high-goal polo campaign, before sweeping past Jos Malcomines and defeating title holders Rubicon 7-6 in a tense final, to reaffirm their supremacy as kings of Nigerian polo. “Winning the Georgian Trophy on our Silver Jubilee anniversary means everything to me. I feel like it’s my first win,” team patron and defender, Mohammed Babangida, declared after that victory. “We are happy we participated in the tournament, we are happier we won back the Georgian Cup

for the 15th time which is the longest winning run by any team in the history of the Georgian Cup series,” he added in a chat recently. “Interestingly, the team has been together for 25 years now with the same players, myself, Ibrahim Mohammed and Bello Buba. We have contested for the Georgian Cup 20 times and having won it 15 times, EL-Amin remains the only team to have now won all high goal cups across the country.” Founded in 1995, that, in truth, doesn’t confer the club with a long history yet. But their trailblazing achievements, as the kings of the noble game, has been nothing but phenomenal. Today, thanks to their self-belief and consistency, Babangida and his Big Boys are proud winners in top polo laurels within and outside the country, with multiple victories in Nigeria’s high goal competitions. Notably the IBB Cup, Majekodunmi Cup , Emir of Katsina Cup, Nigerian Cup, General Hassan Cup among other medium, and intermediate titles, many of which they have won

on multiple occasions. “When we started, the first four years were tough. We were trying to get a strong team, good horses and good support base, so we sat back and reassessed the whole situation.” “This was the period between 1995 and 1998,” Team Patron, Mohammed Babangida pointed out. In 2009, the EL –Amin team, with Bello Buba, Aminu Abubakar Alhaji, Ibrahim Mohammed and their Patron, Babangida, participated in the Al-Habtoor Cup Challenge in Dubai. The team also remains the first and the only African team to play in the prestigious Dubai Gold Cup series. Babangida as national team captain, Bello Buba and Ibrahim Mohammed, Hamisu Buba as well as Abdulmalik Badamasi, Baba Dawule competed in the Federation of International Polo (FIP) World Cup tournament in Malaysia in June, 2011. But the game of kings and victories are not the only passion that EL-Amin is known for, as the polo organization is also making

a name for itself in the area of philanthropy. For Mohammed, real sporting success is about affecting the lives of people positively, and EL- Amin Foundation is already a leading name in giving back to society. Earlier this year, the foundation was one of the first private organizations to support the ongoing fight against Covid-19 Pandemic, in the well acknowledged donation of a well-equipped Isolation Centre in Minna. “For me, success is about impacting the life of others positively and that’s why we created the foundation. If I could better the life of one person, I have achieved a lot,” he added. He continued, “as we are all aware that sports can help in bridging the cultural, ethnic, religious and political divides, promote tolerance, peace; create jobs and advocate a healthy lifestyle, I want to touch the lives of the less privileged through sport,” concludes Mohammed.

El-Amin led by Mohammed Babangida (1st left) celebrating their 15th Georgian Cup title at the 2020 Kaduna Polo Tournament

Wednesday January 13, 2021

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“If we should critically examine the security situation in every part of Nigeria, the outcome, as usual, will be a sad tale due to our weakened security architecture. The honest expectation of the Nigerian people is that Mr. President should be able to seek help” – African Democratic Party asking President Muhammadu Buhari to reach out to the private sector to support the country’s ﬁght against insecurity.

PATUTOMI Is Our Democracy Working? I GUEST COLUMNIST

f one lesson comes clear from 2020 it is that democracy is in deep crisis in Nigeria where questions abound about the state of the social compact between the people and those who lead and personify the state. Impunity seems so rife the youth mounted peaceful protests on police brutality and were greeted with bullets from the army; people feel the benefits of good governance are eluding them, with poverty so pervasive and insecurity so threatening; and anxiety prevails as Nigeria enters a second recession in five years. What is the state of our democracy and how can we redeem it? Of the many definitions of Democracy the one that has gained the most widespread usage is that offered by Abraham Lincoln. That definition sees it as a government of the people, for the people, by the people. This definition clearly lays out the agency role of public officials, elected or appointed. In the role of a person in public life, as an agent, his or her duty is to carry out the will of the people. Just like with Corporate Governance, in company life, the agent has a duty of utmost care, a fiduciary obligation to advance the best interest of those for whom they serve as agents. With so many voices being raised, complaining about government performance on these and many other issues, with little response from the Presidency in the direction suggested, or even in show of empathy for traumatized people, is the social contract broken here? This fundamental idea that people have agreed to give up some of their freedom in exchange for assurance of security of life and property and the provision of common services, like infrastructure, have come to define the modern era. In contemporary western democracy the need to be responsive to the will of the people has resulted tin politicians who almost have to look at the opinión polls to act. Tony Blair, as Prime Minister of Britain, and Bill Clinton as President of the US seem to have become archetypal of this form. At a point some experts expressed worry that poll gazing was removing leadership from politics. The leader who knows better than the followers, they argue, should act for their good, the perceived common good, when the people do not know enough to act in their own best self interest. Abraham Lincoln himself was given as example of a transforming leader who acted almost against popular will, at the time, and better advanced the interest of the people. It is thus with the benefit of hindsight that Lincoln is now globally acknowledged as the great example of a transformational leader. James McGregor Burns in his grand tome on Leadership etched that into Holy Grail. In contemporary Nigerian experience the Federal Government repeatedly seems to act almost with contempt against publicly expressed views of major stakeholders and the currents of public opinion. Is this the new super transforming leadership or is this the antithesis of the public opinion pollsensitive Clinton/Blair style democracy? Where ignoring public opinion is driven by a higher ideal than the people calling for a different cause have seen, the leadership with this more noble position usually engages the people and tries to persuade towards the more noble track. But there is no more taciturn Federal Government than the incumbent, in recent memory, the sound and fury of its information managers, which generates more irritation and opprobrium than meaning and sense, notwithstanding. In contemporary Nigeria and extant federal Administration, the agency function suffers disregard for reasons yet to be explained. Feelings that the Trump era, in triggering warfare between moral tribes in America, is threatening

Brexit. He had his preferred way but turned to a referendum to determine the will of the people . Nigeria needs a few referendums at this time. If government is accountable to the people it ought to consider this now.

The States and our Failing state

Buhari democracy, is widespread. It is already seen as inclining political culture toward subverting democracy and has resulted in books from Professors at Cambridge in the UK and Harvard with titles like This is how Democracy Dies; How Democracies End... what lessons do we find in our current challenge? Are we headed towards fascism as a few noted commentators have lamented on television? How should we read the dismissal of views of the National Assembly, Northern Elders Forum, the Sultan of Sokoto and many other eminent persons on the Service Chiefs and the State of Security in the country. Or of disregard of invitation to the President to address the National Assembly on Security. Or the government’s failure to pay attention to the calls for restructuring the federation from Pastor Adeboye, leaders of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Prof Atahiru Jega, Northern Elders Forum etc. One view is that to understand the disposition of the government is to understand state capture. State capture which is the systemic and systematic political corruption in which the apparatus of government is deployed to orient public choice to advance the personal material and power interest of those with a strangle hold on state apparatus , has crippled many societies. A perspective on state capture is that it blinds you to what may be the common good and results in contempt for the will of the people as exemplified by Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania. The South Africans seeing its grave danger have set up the Zondo Commission to free their country from its evil even though it is hardly as entrenched there as in Nigeria. Economic development is usually very slow with this form of governmental system as the interest of the few beneficiaries tend to trump the common good objectives in government decision making. Understanding what our current realities are is critical if we are to resolve a myriad of existential crises facing Nigeria at this time. So why did government perennially ignore public opinion, snub the outcomes of rational public conversation and often unleash social media avatars to ridicule people who help to articulate the voice of the people, which traditional wisdom sees as the voice of God; vox populi vox dei. Explanations may be helpful to gauge the barometer of our democracy. Where does the legitimacy of the government come from if it does not consider the voice of the people as being of consequence. What lessons should we learn from former UK Prime Minister David Cameron in the handling of

When last week we raised issues indicating impediments with our Democracy which were making it dysfunctional and preventing it from doing what it has done for Industrial democracies of the West, since World War II, providing the longest period of sustained prosperity in Human history, we focused mainly on the Federal Government. But we were acutely aware that as much, if not more damage, was being done to nation building , security of life and property, and economic growth, by the failure of democracy at the sub national level. In this, the Part 11, we approach the crisis of democracy and development in Nigeria from the window of State governments and Local Governments, the sub national Governments. Our goal is to suggest necessary changes to the culture and practice with a view to boosting governance and make the country work for the good of all. In a Nigeria whose prospects were defined, at the dawn of self government, by entrepreneurial, competitive, and more accountable governments of the Regions, the imperative of examining why subnationals are frequently cited for anti democratic ways that negatively impact the ease of doing business, the quality of live of citizens and peace with security, jumped at us as a matter that cannot be overstated. So we try here to identify the source of the trouble with democracy at the sub national level and suggest how to overcome them through institutional arrangements, structures and culture. We had suggested in Part 1 that State capture, the systemic and systematic political corruption which results in goal displacement in which common good goals are sub planted with personal material and power interests of individuals is central to ineffectiveness of governing in Nigeria. One product of this capture is pervasive corruption. If this capture is debilitating of governance at the centre it is more destructive at State level where Governors sometimes operate like they were presiding over fiefdoms. This personalization of authority often flows from access to Security Vote that is not accounted for which is drawn from to buy loyalty, offer patronage and fund Party structures and meetings. The governors do more damage than they realize through abusing property rights, violating the rule of law, and shrinking the space for democratic participation in governance.

Property Rights A lot of the effort at enhancing the ease of doing business at the centre is daily shredded by the conduct of Governors in their violation of property rights through revocation of Certificates of Occupancy signed by their predecessors, failure to pay contractors for work done and unilateral termination of PPP agreements with foreign an local partners and demolition of buildings of opponents using the excuse of the law of eminent domain, that is, ostensibly, for greater public interest.

Erection of Criminal Political Dynasties The use and abuse of security votes and the power of patronage by Governors generally results in the desire by Governors who accumulate the most public resources into their private pockets to continue to exercise control over the affairs

and resources of the state long after term limits keep them away from direct exercise of authority. They thus deploy looted public resources to the maintenance of structures of voter intimidation, and coercion and corruptly cause laws to be made to benefit themselves and cronies that help foster the strangle hold on public authority. In the end more genius is deployed in maintaining these networks of machine politics than in putting in place infrastructure, institutions and the peace and security necessary for a better life for the citizens.

Assault on Freedom of Expression The response of this federal government to social media which they themselves use aggressively against real and imagined opponents may be indicative of current state of freedom of expression in the country These issues add to the trust deficit between the people and those who govern, with grave consequences for effectiveness in policy implementation.

Urgent Reforms Among urgently needed reforms at the sub national level is the setting up of Separation of Powers and Good Governance Commissions to be constituted from civil society, dominant political parties in that state, private sector leaders, with a traditional ruler, youth leader and gender champion in the mix. It’s duties would be to gauge the state of separation of powers and the autonomy of action of the realms of the state, and good governance in the state, issuing periodical reports at town hall meetings The States should also have a high security clearance committee of the House of Assembly, that must include a member of an opposition party, in an oversight committee on the Security Vote. It should receive a quarterly Internal Audit report on the security vote disbursement, in Camera. States should also be compelled to use Town Hall meetings in the Budget process from the point of establishing priorities to implementation monitoring. Strict separation between the government in power and the party is critical . INEC , as civil society also should, needs to monitor closely the funding of the Parties to ensure state funds do not enter party coffers, from state treasury, illegally or without the full disclosure. We know this is part of INECs mandate but it has lacked the capacity and the will to do so. As Concerned Professionals we are concerned that most of these problems could have been avoided if professionals and professional bodies exercise peer pressure and hold there colleagues and members accountable for the ethics of their conduct and quality of their output in positions of public trust. Criteria need to be set up for participation in local government administration. There is a huge pool of retiring senior civil servants, business executives, academics and even clergy thatch LG administration can draw from instead of thoughs and Tea boys of powerful politicians. Training programmes in Governance Effectiveness, Ethics and Servicom, need also be deployed to achieve mindset change. r'PS UIF /FX 'BCJBO 4PDJFUZ PG UIF 'SPOU #FODI PG 5IF $PODFSOFE 1SPGFTTJPOBMT 1SPG 1BU 6UPNJ 1SPG "OUIPOZ ,JMB 'FNJ 'BMBOB 4"/ %S .VJ[ #BOJSF 4"/ 1SPG &CFSF 0OXVEJXF EFDFBTFE 0MVUPMB .PCPMVSJO %S *TBXB %PHP BOE %S 6TNBO #VHBHF

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