TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2021 by THISDAY Newspapers Ltd

Automobiles’ Import Levy Reduction will Reduce FG’s Revenue, Report Warns Policy contradicts BPE-led committee’s recommendation Peter Uzoho The federal government’s decision to slash import levy on cars, tractors and mass transit vehicles as stated in

the Finance Act 2020, will negatively affect the domestic automobile manufacturing industry and government revenue from duties and levies, a report by the Financial

Derivatives Company (FDC) has said. FDC, in its latest Monthly Economic Update obtained by THISDAY yesterday, also said the policy contradicted the

recommendation of a federal government’s committee, led by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which in August 2020 had urged a sustained restriction by

tariff on automobiles imports that were being assembled in Nigeria in line with the National Automotive Industry Development Plan. In the Finance Act 2020, the

government provided for a reduction in the import levy on cars from 30 per cent to five per cent, import duty Continued on page 8

Buhari Pledges Nigeria's Commitment to Promotion of Good Governance... Page 5 Tuesday 19 January, 2021 Vol 26. No 9417. Price: N250

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FG Threatens Second Lockdown over Low Compliance with COVID-19 Protocols Says test not required for schools’ resumption CAN rolls out advisory on second wave of pandemic Our Correspondents The federal government yesterday warned of another lockdown if Nigerians continue to disregard nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19. It also cautioned schools against demanding COVID-19 test results as a prerequisite for allowing in students, who

resumed studies yesterday. The resumption of schools was, however, characterised by low compliance with COVID-19 protocols in many states, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed. Also, as the nation grapples with the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19, the Christian Association of Continued on page 9

Attacks on Kukah Unwarranted, Says Soyinka, Insists Christmas Homily Twisted Ejiofor Alike Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, yesterday defended Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Dr. Matthew Kukah, over his Christmas homily, saying the attacks on him by the federal government and some Islamic groups were unwarranted. Soyinka, in a statement, said he had studied the transcript as reported in the

media and found nothing in Kukah’s message that denigrated Islam as alleged by the Islamic groups. Kukah, in his Christmas homily had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of promoting northern hegemony, saying that there could have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president had done a fraction of what Buhari did. Continued on page 8

VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT... President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday emphasised the commitment of Nigeria to the enthronement of democracy and good governance in Africa.

NLNG Blames Supply Deﬁcit for Rising Price of Cooking as...Page 6

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

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

Buhari Pledges Nigeria’s Commitment to Promotion of Good Governance

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday emphasised the commitment of Nigeria to the enthronement of democracy and good governance in Africa. Speaking in Abuja at a virtual support mission and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Committee of Heads of State and Government participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum) and Nigeria on the ongoing second peer review process, the president said Nigeria has consistently supported the strengthening of democracy and good governance throughout Africa, including under the umbrella of the African Peer Review Mechanism. "We remain fully committed to promoting the good governance practice enshrined in the ideals and vision of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, which gave birth to this review mechanism. “Nigeria will continue to support Africa’s renewal and rebirth evident in the

collective commitment to this review in order to consolidate Africa’s path to healthy democracy and sustainable growth,” he stated. Buhari hailed the progress made so far in the “Africa Peer Review Mechanism as a self-monitoring tool to address governance deficit in Africa, as we conform to our shared values in the areas of democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance and socioeconomic development.” He said Nigeria had the first peer review in 2008 and since then, had covered an appreciable ground in the implementation of the National Programme of Action. He said: “Our administration has continued to vigorously pursue security, economic diversification and anti-corruption as the main thrust of national change agenda. "The totality of this strategy is premised on the promotion of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights, gender equality and by far the largest investment in social change in Nigeria’s

post-independence history.” He expressed the readiness of the federal government to submit to the review, saying that “Nigeria is keen to join the league of African Union member-states which will undergo the second peer review exercise. "This is a firm demonstration of our belief in the dividends of democracy through this unique peer review system. We have learned valuable

lessons and gained a wealth of experience in our journey to entrenching democracy and good governance in all manifestations since the restoration to democracy in 1999. We must stay the course and continue on this pathway to a peaceful, secure and more democratic Nigeria." Chairperson of the APRM National Governing Council, Senator Abba Ali, listed the benefits of the second review

to include the invigoration and the institutionalisation of the APRM process in Nigeria and entrenchment of good governance, as well as an appraisal of the extent of implementation of the national programme of action in the first review and its continued relevance to consolidate the gains of democracy. Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, African Union

Development Agency (AUDA) NEPAD/ APRM Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, had said since the adoption of NEPAD in 2001, and the establishment of the APRM as a self-monitoring tool to consolidate the gains of good governance on the continent in 2003 by African heads of state and government, the review during the Buhari administration is the second for Nigeria.

Marwa Takes over at NDLEA, Vows to Combat Drug Abuse Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), yesterday warned that Nigeria could no longer fold its hands and watch the rising cases of drug use in the country. He noted that the current unacceptable level of drug abuse in the country must stop, promising that it is the task of the agency to stop the menace. The newly-appointed NDLEA boss, in his inaugural address in Abuja, said: "I would like to warn those who engage in the dastardly trade of importation, export, cultivation, processing, manufacturing, trafficking, sale and consumption of illicit substances to stop forthwith or be prepared to contend with the NDLEA." According to him, as the lead agency in the drug war in Nigeria, "You are all too familiar with the extent of devastation that drug use has caused our nation. Drug use has eaten very deep into our social fabric as every community in Nigeria is affected. "It needs repeating that the number of drug users in Nigeria now of all ages must be well over 15 million. If we extrapolate the figures of the recent UNODC survey

of 2018 where 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15-64 were found to be drug users, at that time nearly three times the global prevalence." Marwa, who officially resumed duty at the agency's headquarters said the NDLEA will be overhaul and expanded in line with the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse (PACEDA) recommendations, existing financial constraints and the authorisation of the appropriate superior authorities. "We will put equal efforts in drug demand reduction as contained in the NDLEA Act. We will develop a strategy of work to meet our objectives, following the National Drug Control Masterplan 2021-2025 to be released soon, as our roadmap. "Discipline must remain our priority and topmost. It is the bedrock of an organisation such as ours. With my military background, you know what to expect," he added. He reassured NDLEA personnel that their welfare, including cases of stagnation in rank, training and postings will be given utmost attention. "Also, operational and logistical inadequacies in the service will be looked into. The NDLEA will safeguard the nation and our youths from the drug menace. That is a task that must be done," Marwa said.

AMBASSADORIAL PARLEY... Canadian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Simrad (left), and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, during a visit by the governor to the ambassador in Abuja…yesterday

FG Posts 52 Non-career Ambassadors to Missions Deji Elumoye in Abuja The federal government has proposed the deployment of 52 non-career ambassadors to Nigeria's foreign missions abroad. According to the one-page list sighted by THISDAY yesterday, a former Deputy Editor of THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Oma Djebah, is posted to Thailand while another top journalist and former Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Debo Adesina, will serve in Togo. The Abia State nominee, Mrs. Uzoma Emenike will serve in Washington DC as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States while a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development from Ogun State, Sharafa Ishola, is posted to the United Kingdom as High Commissioner. Also, a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Ademola Seriki, from Lagos State, is posted to Spain while Tijanni Mohammed-Bande, current Nigeria's permanent representative to the United Nations, retains his post. Females on the list of non-career envoys posted

include Folakemi Akinpelu (Oyo) to Philippines; Opunimi Akinkugbe (Ondo) to Greece; Deborah Illiya (Kaduna) to Congo Brazzaville, and Safiya Ahmed (Kano) to Romania. Other females are: Modupe Irele (Lagos) to Hungary, Ijeoma Chinegerem (Imo) Ireland; Maureen Tamuno (Rivers) Jamaica; Hajara Ibrahim (Gombe) Malaysia; Zahra Omar (Kwara) Malawi; Monique Ekpong (Cross River) Angola; and Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti) The Netherlands. The full list of the proposed distribution of missions to 52 non-career ambassadors are as follows: Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo), Manila Philippines; Mohammed Dansanta(Katstina), Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates; Faruk Malami Yaba (Sokoto), Amman Jordan; Opunimi Akinkugbe (Ondo), Athens, Greece; Adamu Mammani Hassan, (Taraba), Hanai, Vietnam; Baba Ahmed Jiddm (Borno), Beijing, China; Goni Modu Zanna (Yobe), Beirut, Lebanon; Yusuf Yugger (Bauchi), Berlin, Germany; Baba Modaga (Bauchi), Bern, Switzerland; John James (Akwa Ibom), Guinea Bissau; Ahmed

Mabarti (Kaduna), Brazil; Deborah S. Kiya (Kaduna), Congo; Philip K (Bayelsa), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Safiya Ahmed (Kano), Bucharest; Modupe Irele (Lagos), Budapest, Hungary; Ijeoma Chinogerem (Imo), Dublin, Ireland; Olorundare Aweniyi, (Kogi), Caracas, Venezuela and Hamisu Umar (Kano), Tanzania. Others are: C.O Ugwu (Enugu), Warsaw, Poland; John Henry (Nasarawa), Freetown, Sierra Leone; Oma Djebah (Delta), Bangkok, Thailand; Jazull Imarp Galadima, (Kano), Hawally, Kuwait; Abioye Bello (Kwara), Pakistan; Adesina Alege (Oyo), Kiev, Ukraine; Maureen Yamuno (Rivers), Kingston, Jamaica; Omar Sulaiman (Adamawa), Kinshasa, DRC; Hajara Ibrahim (Gombe), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Zahra Omar (Kwara), Lilongwe, Malawi; Julius Adesina (Oyo), Togo; Sarafa Tunji Isola (Ogun), London, UK; Monique Ekpeng (Cross River), Angola; Ominiyi Eze (Ebonyi), Zambia; Eniola Ajayi (Ekiti), The Netherlands; Yama Musa (Edo), Mozambique; Bello Adejare (Osun),

Mexico; Abdullahi Sheku (Plateau), Moscow, Russia; Elijah Onyeagba (Anambra), Burundi; Tijani Mohammed (Kebbi), New York, USA; Adeyinka Asekan (Ogun), Ottawa, Canada; Ademola Seriki (Lagos), Madrid, Spain; Abubakar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Trinidad and Tobago; Kevin Peter (Adamawa), Prague, Czech Republic and Haruna Mamta (Niger), Pretoria South, Africa. Others are: Al-Bishir Al-Hussain (Borno), Rabat, Morocco; Yahya Lawal (Katsina), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ali Magashi (Jigawa), South Korea; Kayode Laro (Kwara), Paris, France; Paul Oga Adikwa (Benue), the Vatican, Italy; Abubakar Marihi (Zamfara), Tokyo, Japan; Uzoma Emenike (Abia), Washington DC, USA; Tarzoor Terhemen (Benue), Windhoek, Namibia and Yusuf Yumesan (Yobe), Kenya. President Muhammadu Buhari had last year nominated the ambassadors for clearance by the Senate, a task undertaken by the upper legislative chambers, which confirmed the nominees in July 2020.

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NLNG Blames Supply Deficit for Rising Price of Cooking Gas Says it can't meet domestic demand Peter Uzoho Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has said its production alone cannot meet the country's domestic demand for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) popularly known as cooking gas. NLNG also stated that it delivered a total of 375,000 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG, comprising butane and cooking gas in 2020 out of which about 34,000MT was delivered in December 2020 alone. The General Manager, External Relations, NLNG, Mrs. Eyono Fatai-Williams, gave the details yesterday while responding to THISDAY's enquiry on the high cost of the commodity, which has seen a 12.5kg cylinder of gas rising to N4,500 from N3,600 within two months. Fatai-Williams, also debunked the allegation by marketers that the company contributes to the rising price of LPG in the country, explaining that the price of the product is dependent on market factors, including the forces of demand and supply. THISDAY had reported that excessive administrative and other sundry charges by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum Products

Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA), among others, have caused an astronomical rise in the price of cooking gas. Also, insufficient supply of LPG to local marketers by NLNG Limited, which is the major supplier of the product in-country was said to have also contributed to the scarcity of the product and the resultant increase in price lately. But Fatai-Williams said on the side of supply, NLNG has continued to play a pivotal role in deepening the domestic LPG market in line with its commitment. She said: "In 2020, NLNG delivered a record 375,000 metric tonnes of LPG (butane/cooking gas) to the domestic market, a significant increase in the previous record of 275,000 metric tones delivered in 2019. "This represents over 85 per cent of NLNG’s LPG (butane/cooking gas) production for the year. About 34,000 metric tonnes were delivered in the month of December 2020 alone. "NLNG has further increased its annual commitment to the Nigerian domestic LPG (butane/ cooking gas) market to the tune of about 100 per cent of its LPG (butane/cooking gas) production and everything is being done to realise this target, safely.”

She faulted the claim that NLNG contributes to supply shortfall and the attendant price hike. "It is instructive to note that the current domestic demand for LPG (butane/ cooking gas) is estimated at about one million metric tonnes. NLNG’s current production represents about

40 per cent of the demand. "Therefore, NLNG’s production alone cannot meet the domestic market demand. The 60 per cent domestic cooking gas demand balance is supplied by either other domestic producers or via imports," she stated. According to her, consequently, the reliance

on importation to cover the demand balance appears to put upward pressure on prices in the domestic market. She, however, said the NLNG, in the meantime, is continuing its drive in the deepening of the domestic LPG market with the planned supply of propane for both

domestic industrial uses and to support the recently launched autogas scheme of the federal government. She added that the company is optimistic that the completion of the Train 7 project will provide an opportunity to further deepen the domestic LPG market.

TENDERING THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE... L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; the Chief Judge, Justice Esther Edigin; and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, during the swearing-in of eight judges in Benin City…yesterday

APC Directs North-central to Reconcile Abdulrazaq, Mohammed, Saraki We won't favour anyone, says Bello Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed the North-central zone of the party to reconcile aggrieved party members from Kwara State. Secretary of the committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, gave the directive yesterday during a reconciliation meeting in Abuja to deescalate the crisis rocking the party in the state. The meeting, which lasted for about an hour, had in attendance the major gladiators in the crisis, including the Kwara State Governor, Mr. Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as well as Niger State Governor, Mr. Mohammed Bello. Bello, who is also a member of the caretaker committee and the Chairman of Northcentral Governors' Forum, has been tasked by the party leadership to broker peace since the state falls under his purview.

Abdulrazaq has been at loggerheads with Mohammed and the Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, over the control of the party in the state. The crisis, however, peaked last week when the three prominent party leaders split the party into two factions, with one faction backing the governor while the other faction is supporting Mohammed and Saraki. The crisis in the state chapter of the party was aggravated by the removal of the state Chairman, Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa, by the caretaker committee of the party and his replacement by his deputy, Alhaji Samari Abdullahi. The faction loyal to Mohammed and Saraki had alleged that Bolarinwa was removed based on the complaint of the governor who claimed he could no longer work with Bolarinwa. The development led to a war of words between the two warring factions, causing disaffection among

the members of the party in the state. A group of APC leaders loyal to Mohammed and Saraki had protested the removal of Bolarinwa after a meeting in Abuja with Akpanudoedehe. The group also kicked against the issuance of a letter of appointment to Abdullahi as the acting chairman of the party in the state. The spokesperson of the group, Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo, had berated the action of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and called on the NWC to reinstate Bolarinwa in order to reposition the party. But in a swift reaction, the governor’s loyalists, which identified themselves as Concerned Kwara APC Elders/Stakeholders described Mohammed and Saraki as paperweight politicians with no electoral value and also declared support for the APC national caretaker committee on the removal of Bolarinwa. The Chairman of Kwara APC Elders’ Forum, Mr. Kunle Suleiman, while fielding

questions from journalists in Abuja had said: “Those ministers and association of failed governorship aspirants can come to Abuja to say nonsense but they are just paperweight politicians. They have no influence at the grassroots. Even a professor like Oba Abdulrasheed who prides himself as a former university vice-chancellor would still have to come to the grassroots to learn.” At the end of the meeting yesterday, Mohammed, who appeared angry due to resolution at the meeting refused to grant an interview to the press. But briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Bello blamed the removal of Bolarinwa on communication gap, which he promised his committee would address. He added that it was resolved that the zone should look at the issues and report back to the national caretaker committee. "We looked at the issue surrounding APC in Kwara State and we had a brief submission from some of

the stakeholders and it was resolved that the matter should be taken back to the zone. "So, I hope that by next week, we should be able to resolve the matter at the zonal level and once that is done, we can put our recommendation to the national caretaker committee for further action. "It was a very short brief meeting that lasted maybe 30 minutes, but I think we achieved a lot. I can also say that the causes of this conflict are mostly due to communication gap, which I hope we were able to resolve. But whatever decision we will take, we will make sure that there is no bias and whatever decision we take we will make sure that it is in the interest of our great party the APC. "We have no intention to favour any person, but to look critically at the situation and to advise the national caretaker committee on the necessary steps to take I think that is our audit," he added. The Niger governor said

that his committee will work out a way that will be acceptable to both parties, if possible. He, however, clarified that whatever decision the committee arrives at, protecting the interest of the party will be paramount. Bello said: "Sometimes you have to take some steps to protect the party on some issues as a result of a conflict and sometimes it is difficult to have a resolution that is acceptable to all, but once you do it in the spirit of fairness without any bias and you are sure you took the right decision, there is nothing to worry about. "Our primary interest is to ensure the survival and strength of the party in Kwara State without having to look at anyone or anyone's face. I hope that we are able to find a solution that is acceptable to all and we, on our part at the zonal level, we will try our best to accommodate everyone so whatever it is you will see that there will be some fairness and justice."

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ABP: 300,000 MT of Maize for Release February Price of maize set to crash Nume Ekeghe About 300,000 metric tonnes of maize are to be released into the Nigerian market from strategic anchors under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) next month. Owing to this, the current price of maize N155,000 per metric tonne is expected to reduce significantly. According to a statement, the planned release followed moves made by the critical stakeholders, working with relevant government and security agencies, to put a halt to reprehensible and speculative activities of middlemen and bandits respectively. With the release of 300,000 metric tonnes in February

2021, it is expected that the prices of maize in the Nigerian market will drop significantly, thereby increasing demand for the crop and ultimately enhancing the gains of maize farmers. Prior to the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Custom Service collaboration, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of 30,000 tonnes of maize from the National Strategic Grain Reserve to support the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) at a subsidized rate. The statement quoted the National President of the Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) Alhaji Bello Abubakar, to have attributed the current shortfall in the quantity of maize available

in the market, to include insecurity around the major maize producing belt of Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and part of Kano states. Bello also identified the activities of hoarders and middlemen who engage in the hoarding of the grain. Also speaking in the same vein, a prime anchor under the maize production, Dr. Edwin Uche, noted that banditry, drought in some parts of the country in 2020 and activities of middlemen are responsible for the current high price. He, however, opined that the planned dry season farming which was first of its kind in the country, timely distribution of inputs to farmers and improved security would go a long

way to enhance production and ensure stability in price. He expressed optimism about the price crashing to N120,000 per metric tonne in the next couple of days. Another major stakeholder in maize production, Mr. Ayodeji Balogun of AFEX, attributed the hike in price to the cash-flow problem of farmers, which has compelled farmers to resort to collecting cash from buyers ahead of production and resort to side-selling, especially across the borders of neighbouring countries due to higher prices. The CBN in 2020 had provided credit facility and seed support to maize farmers, to enable them to increase their yield, particularly due to the challenge posed by the

Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. As part of the Bank’s financing framework, the CBN has facilitated the funding of maize farmers and processors through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) Commodity Association, Private/Prime Anchors, State Governments, Maize Aggregation Scheme (MAS), and the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS). Confirming the release of credit to its members by the CBN, Abubakar disclosed that over 200,000 farmers are targeted to produce more than 25 million metric tonnes of maize in the 2020/2021 planting season. According to him, the credit secured by the CBN

was being distributed to members along the maize value chain, nation-wide. He expressed confidence that the support of the CBN would boost production and ultimately ensure availability as well as stability in the price of the commodity. In spite of cases of insecurity in some parts of the country, he said farmers were committed to meeting the objective of food security. Abubakar also charged middlemen not to take advantage of the supply gap to hike the price of the grains, even as he assured that farmers would maintain a reasonable price. He equally urged the federal government to put in place mechanism to protect farmers from market triggered shocks.

Akeredolu Orders Herdsmen Out of Ondo Forests

James Sowole in Akure

To stop the rising cases of kidnapping in Ondo State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday ordered herdsmen to vacate all government forest reserves in the state within seven days. The governor gave the order during an interactive meeting with the leadership of the Hausa/Fulani and Ebira Communities in the state held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka in Akure. Akeredolu, who talked

tough on the activities of the criminal elements in the state said security reports and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases pointed in one direction traceable to some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. “We have cases of several attacks on our people by these mindless elements. You will recall the gruesome murder of one of the members of the Ondo State Traditional Council who was caught in the web of the devious plans of these workers of evil on his way back to his domain.

“While we were still grieving, other kidnap attempts were made on the lives of road users across the state, especially along our boundaries and hinterland," he said. At the meeting, which was also attended by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bolaji Salami, and the state Commandant of the Amotekun Corps, Mr. Tunji Adeleye, the governor announced a ban on night grazing in the state. He also placed a ban on the movement of cattle within cities and highways in the state, while also

outlawing under-aged grazing of cattle. Akeredolu decried the activities of the criminal elements, adding that they have turned forest reserves in the state and across the South-west into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities. "As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. “Recent security trends

attest that these times require all hands to be on the deck as the difficulties we face are dire. The challenges are quite enormous but we are determined to confront them head-on. "We decided that all the criminal elements who hide under various guises to aid the destruction of farmlands as well as perpetrate other violent crimes such as kidnapping, drug peddling and other nefarious activities must be stamped out of our dear State. However, Akeredolu said the administration in its usual magnanimity would

give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattlerearing business to register with appropriate authorities. “Our resolution to guarantee the safety of lives and property within the state shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.” The governor reassured the residents that the State Security Council, under his leadership, shall not relent in tackling these challenges as pragmatically possible saying "we shall remove all threats in no distant future."

of over N11 trillion in fixed income instruments into a market saturated with liquidity. It added that the plans will bring about balance and also spark a rise in interest rates. It noted that the government has also ruled out further borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “partly as a psychological spillover of the past and partly due to stringent conditionalities, to plug its proposed fiscal deficit of N5.7trn in 2021.” The report said: “While this is likely to ease pressures on growing external debt and exchange rate volatility, the

likely increase in domestic debt issuances will result in a crowding out of the private sector.” It also said that despite the rise of oil price to an 11-month high of $56 per barrel, owing to positive sentiment sparked by Saudi Arabia’s surprise move to add an extra one million barrel per day to the output cuts agreed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+), reinstated lockdown measures in advanced countries threatened by the second wave of COVID-19 may constrain oil demand in the first quarter of 2021.

AUTOMOBILES' IMPORT LEVY REDUCTION WILL REDUCE FG’S REVENUE, REPORT WARNS on tractors from 35 per cent to five per cent as well as reduction of imported duty on mass transit vehicles for the transportation of more than 10 persons and trucks from 35 per cent to 10 per cent. However, the FDC noted that the reduction will cause a significant drop in the price of imported brand new cars and also good news for motorists and car dealers. It explained that “the policy will weigh negatively on the domestic automobile manufacturing industry and on government revenue from duties and levies. “One of the major

objectives of an import levy, besides raising revenues for the government, is to increase the price of imported goods to a level at least as high as the domestic price. This is supposed to make the domestic price more competitive and incentivise domestic production. “So while the government is set to earn less revenue from the reduced levy, the reduction in the levy is in clear contradiction of the recommendation of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)-led committee in August 2020, urging a sustained restriction by a tariff on automobiles imports

that are being assembled in Nigeria in line with the National Automotive Industry Development Plan.” According to the report, the reductions will undermine the progress made since the launch of the national auto policy six years ago, which has encouraged firms to step up investments in local auto assembly plants. It added that the reductions on import duties will also be a major disincentive to future investment and put current investment in the industry at risk of loan defaults and bankruptcy. “The African Continental Free Trade Agreement

(AfCFTA) will lower the import cost of automobiles manufactured in Africa. South Africa exported 271,819 units of new vehicles in 2020 while Volkswagen’s car assembly plant in Ghana has a capacity of 5,000 units. The policy will trigger an influx of cheaper cars from these countries, which will further impede the fortunes of the domestic auto plants,” it noted. However, on Nigeria’s rising debt burden and the federal government’s plans to securitise its debt to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by designing “special instruments,” the report said, would lead to an injection

ATTACKS ON KUKAH UNWARRANTED, SAYS SOYINKA, INSISTS CHRISTMAS HOMILY TWISTED 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. The Muslim Solidarity Forum also joined the fray, with a call on 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, said Kukah’s Christmas homily was capable of triggering religious violence in the country.

However, Kukah had rebutted the allegations and accused the JNI SecretaryGeneral, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, of inciting violence against him. He had 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. However, in a bid to douse tensions over Kukah’s homily, the presidency had waded into the controversy again, with a caution to the Islamic group that demanded that Kukah should apologise or quit Sokoto State, to back off. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam

Garba Shehu, had cautioned the Islamic forum against issuing such an ultimatum and should, therefore, let Kukah be. The presidency had also described as wrong and unconstitutional the conditionality given to Kukah. Soyinka, in the statement titled, “The Kukah offence and ongoing offensives,” however, noted he was not among the most religion besotted inhabitants of the globe. He said: “One of the ironic features of religionists is, one is forced to conclude, a need to be offended. It is as if religion cannot exist unless it is nourished

with the broth of offence. This may be due to inbuilt insecurity, a fear that even the ascribed absolutes of faith may be founded on nothing more than idealistic human projections, not grounded in anything durable or immutable - hence the over prickliness, aggressiveness, sometimes even bullying tendencies and imperious posturing. This leads to finding enemies where there are none. In certain social climates, it degenerates into inventing enmities in order to entrench theocratic power. “In its own peculiar way, this is actually a rational proceeding. A perceived threat to a collectivity tends to rally even waverers round

the flag. The core mission of faith custodians then becomes presenting religion as being constantly under siege. It all contributes to interpreting even utterances of no hostile intent as “enemy action.” Soyinka alleged a deliberate, emotive displacement of central concern, describing it as calculated avoidance, diversionary and thus, nationally unhealthy. He urged humans not to attempt to play the ostrich. According to him, Kukah’s Christmas message, and the ensuing offensives could not be more fortuitous coming at a time “when a world powerful nation, still reeling from an

unprecedented assault on her corporate definition is now poised to set, at the very least, a symbolic seal on her commitment to the democratic ideal.” He added that some of the most extreme of the violent forces that recently assaulted the United States Capitol sprung from religious and quasi-religious affirmations. He said the condition still enabled many of them to be brainwashed into accepting literally, and uncritically, indeed as gospel truth, any pronouncement, however outrageous and improbable, that emerged from their leadership. Continued on page 9

TUESDAY, ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS FG THREATENS SECOND LOCKDOWN OVER LOW COMPLIANCE WITH COVID-19 PROTOCOLS Nigeria (CAN) has issued a health advisory to all churches in the country to check the rising infection rate. At its briefing yesterday in Abuja, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 urged Nigerians to do everything possible to avoid a second lockdown in Nigeria by ensuring strict compliance with the NPIs. The Chairman of PTF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said this can be done by complying with the protocols released by the government. He said: “Let me remind you that the pandemic is raging and all tiers of government and citizens must keep their hands on deck. “We are in a difficult situation in which a balance must continue to be struck between lives and livelihood. “We are considering all options while hoping that broad cooperation will be received. “We must do everything possible to avoid a second lockdown in Nigeria.” Mustapha raised the alarm that South Africa and Nigeria have continued to report highest daily count on the African continent, adding that South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya accounted for 76 per cent of all cases on the continent. Mustapha said one in every five persons tested last week was positive for the virus. He added that Nigeria has moved up to the third position in the highest cumulative case load while it remains second for new cases and fifth highest in cumulative deaths on the WHO African region. Also speaking at the PTF briefing, the Coordinator of PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, said the federal government was ramping up testing for COVID-19 nationwide with a directive to all the 774 local government areas of the federation to test between 400 and 500 samples within the next three weeks. Aliyu, represented by the National Incident Manager, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Mukhtar Muhammed, stated that the federal government is working with state governors to ensure that funding and logistics arrangements are put in place for the exercise. He added that though the task force has noticed substantial improvement in the level of compliance with the airport travel protocol by international travellers arriving in the country, the PFT will publish the list of another 100 persons who have defaulted by failing to book their second test. “With regard to airport

travel protocol, the PTF was forced to sanction defaulters of established protocols by placing them on a sixmonth travel restriction as a standard practice that public notices are issued by arms of government on important issues. The PTF after consultation with relevant agencies published the names of the first 100 defaulters and subsequently reached out to a large number of those affected with a view to resolving their complaints. “We have started noticing a great improvement in compliance and testing following the sanctions that have been published. We will be publishing the list of another 100 persons who have defaulted. This time, these are people who have failed to book their second tests in the laboratories,” Aliyu said. He added that the federal government has commenced activities in the maritime sector in order to have better control and containment in that area. A special Task Team on COVID-19 for the Niger Delta and the maritime sector has been inaugurated to develop a protocol for implementation in both the formal and informal waterways. The team includes all the states in the Niger Delta and the riverine areas. The membership includes Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ondo and Bayelsa States. It will be supported by government agencies including, NIMASA, NNPC, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigeria Navy Operations Delta Safe. “With the implementation of these protocols, we hope to implement more testing on the waterway corridors with a view to identifying people who are coming without PCR test and to offer them the opportunity to test and to also have isolation,” he said.

FG Targets 70% of Nigeria's Population for Vaccination The federal government has also said it will strive to procure vaccines for at least 70 per cent of Nigeria's population. The government also said it has released N10 billion to support domestic vaccine production. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed while making presentations at the media briefing by the PTF yesterday in Abuja said: "Nigeria is participating in the African Union initiative called ‘African Vaccine Availability Task Team’, which reports directly to the African Union Chairman, President Ramaphosa of South Africa, and has

secured options for 270 million doses of various types of vaccines.” According to him, the Federal Ministry of Finance has released N10 billion to support domestic vaccine production. On claims by some persons in Nigeria, to have COVID-19 vaccines for sale, Ehanire advised all citizens to disregard such claims as they are criminals. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said that it has published new guidance for state governments, public and private institutions, on the use of approved Antigen (Ag) based Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) for the pandemic. NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said following approval of the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) of two Ag RDTs, manufactured by SD Biosensor anOVID-19 testing, NCDC in collaboration with other stakeholders carried out a national validation of these RDTs.

No Test Required for Schools Resumption, Says FG The federal government has stated that on no account should schools demand COVID-19 test as a prerequisite for allowing pupils to resume their studies. It stated that only temperature checks should be carried out on pupils and any other person crossing any school gate. In a statement yesterday by the Director of Information and Public Affairs to the Ministry of Education, Mr. Ben Goong, the federal government warned school authorities to desist from asking pupils or parents to undergo a test before they are accepted in their schools. "Only temperature checks should be carried out on students and any other person crossing any school gate. School authorities should therefore refrain from asking students or parents to undergo COVID-19 test before they are accepted in their schools," the statement said.

CAN Rolls Out Health Advisory on Pandemic Following the outbreak of the second wave of the pandemic, CAN has issued a health advisory to all churches. The 11-point advisory issued yesterday by CAN General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, appealed to all churches to observe all the COVID-19 protocols.

The advisory said worshippers without face masks should not be allowed in and urged people who are sick or too old to stay at home. In addition, it advised that there should be temperature screening at every entry point to the church. The association called on churches to: "Ensure adequate ventilation in halls of worship, open windows, and doors for air to circulate in and out freely and if possible avoid the use of air conditioners. "Handwashing facilities and hand sanitisers should be provided at the point of entries and strategic points within the church premises. "Attendance should not exceed one-third of the sitting capacity of every church. Churches can make use of their educational facilities and multi-purpose halls to avoid overcrowding in the main church auditorium. "Church auditorium should be clearly marked such that people sit and maintain two metres distance from each other. "There should be no form of direct contact. Practices such as handshakes as peace signs are discouraged. Sanitisers should be made available in all the restrooms.”

Schools Reopen with Scant Observation of NPIs An investigation carried out by THISDAY yesterday in over 20 states revealed that many schools, especially government-owned, partially observed the protocols. The states visited by THISDAY were Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Plateau, Enugu, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, Kogi, Kaduna, Anambra, Ebonyi, Kano, Taraba, Sokoto, Benue, Osun, Ogun, Bayelsa, Lagos and Katsina. Some states, including Edo and Oyo, have not reopened schools. In Enugu State, the compliance was so low that the state government has threatened to close down any school that breached the protocols. The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, said the target is to ensure that there is 100 per cent compliance with the protocols. "We observed that while some schools did not allow students and visitors without masks into the premises, others did. But we have warned them not to repeat that," he said. In Sokoto State, most pupils and teachers flouted the protocols. Many of the pupils and teachers, especially in public

schools, also jettisoned the wearing of face masks and washing of hands. At Government Science Technical College, Farfaru, majority of the teachers and pupils neither wore face masks nor observed social distancing. At Col. Muazu Science School, Ahmadu Bello Way, the situation was the same as pupils and teachers were seen without face masks, while most classes were filled to capacity without observing social distancing. There was also partial compliance as pupils resumed for the second term in Delta State yesterday. While some schools made provisions for hand washing buckets, ensured social distancing and wearing of face masks, some others complied with only one or two of the requirements. The Principal of Urhobo College in Uvwie Local Government area, Mrs. Patience Dubi, also confirmed the Delta State Government made provisions for hand washing buckets to her school. She, however, said the major problem confronting the school was noncooperation of parents in providing face masks for their children. In Benue State, there was a low turnout of pupils in all the schools that were visited. But in most of the schools visited, pupils were seen wearing face masks, while hand sanitisers were placed in front of the schools. At the International Primary School, Makurdi, Mrs. Rose Ejimbi, who brought her wards said she was satisfied with the protocols adopted by the school. In Ondo State, there was partial compliance with the COVID -19 protocols. Though, managements in some of the schools visited in Akure, Ondo State capital, provided buckets at the entrances to their schools for handwashing, the large number of students, made enforcement of handwashing unachievable in many of the schools. Also speaking on the matter, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ondo State, Mr. Akin Asaeniyan, said the ministry would not allow any school that failed to enforce the protocols to get away with the lapses. Low compliance with COVID-19 protocols also characterised the resumption of academic activities in both the public and private schools in Ilorin, and other parts of Kwara State. THISDAY monitored activities at some schools in Adewole, Oko-Olowo, Ogidi Oloje, Ita Nma, Adeta, Okelele, Asa dam, Taiwo,

GRA and Gerewu, where it observed partial compliance with the protocols. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who spoke with journalists after monitoring the level of compliance, reiterated the government's commitment towards flattening the COVID-19 curve in the state. The COVID-19 protocols in schools in Akwa Ibom State were partially observed by some public and private schools. A parent of a pupil at Parent Day Spring School in Eket Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Peter Isioeyen, lamented that pupils were not provided with COVID-19 materials. "School authority is not insisting on safety measures; students are allowed at the mercy of God," he stated. But the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, assured parents and guardians of the safety of the pupils. Schools visited by THISDAY in Adamawa State observed other protocols except for social distancing. THISDAY observed that pupils were overcrowded due to inadequate classrooms. Also a tour of some of the schools in Jos, Plateau State, revealed that while some schools have put some measures in place in preparation for the resumption, others were simply not prepared. Higher institutions in the state such as the University of Jos, Plateau State University, Bokkos and Plateau State Polytechnic were yet to resume. There was minimal compliance with the COVID-19 protocol in schools in Ebonyi State. There was no physical distancing and many teachers and pupils were not wearing face masks. A school principal who spoke to THISDAY noted that they have not received any COVID-19 materials as promised by the state government. A pupil of Girls High School, Abakaliki said she was not provided with a face mask but she uses her handkerchief in the classrooms. Schools in Anambra State yesterday resumed without pupils. One of the teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We do not deal with files, our job is to impact students with knowledge. So, what are we doing here without our students?” In FCT, huge success was recorded, as pupils and teachers were seen wearing the face masks.

ATTACKS ON KUKAH UNWARRANTED, SAYS SOYINKA, INSISTS CHRISTMAS HOMILY TWISTED Soyinka said it should not come as a surprise that a section of the Islamic community, not only claims to have found offence in Kukah’s homily, adding that “what is bothersome, even unwholesome is the embedded threat to storm his ‘Capitol’ and eject him, simply for ‘speaking in tongues.’ Any pluralistic society must emphatically

declare such a response unacceptable”. “On a personal note, I have studied the transcript as reported in the media and found nothing in it that denigrates Islam but then, I must confess, I am not among the most religion besotted inhabitants of the globe. That, I have been told, disqualifies me from even commenting on the

subject and, quite frankly, I wish that was indeed the case. Life would far less be complicated,” he stated. Soyinka said that the reverse position does not seem to be adopted by religionists in a spirit of equity. According to him, they do not hesitate to intervene, and some consider themselves divinely empowered to

intervene, even dictate in secular life. Soyinka said everyone should be reminded that religion was "upheld and practised, not by robots, not by creatures from outer space, not by abstract precepts, but by human beings, full of quirks, frailties and conceits, filled with their own individual and collective worth, and

operate in the here and now of this earth." “That makes religion the business of everyone, especially when it is manipulated to instil fear, discord and separatism in social consciousness. The furore over Bishop Kukah’s statement offers us another instance of that domineering tendency, one whose consequences are

guaranteed to spill over into the world of both believers and non-believers, unless checked and firmly contained. In this nation of religious opportunism of the most destructive kind especially fuelled again and again by failure to learn from past experience, we must at least learn to nip extremist instigations in the bud,” he explained.

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

PDP Tasks Buhari on Abduction, Killing of Security Operatives Demands probe of police role in death of Ntekim-Rex Chuks OkochainAbuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the abduction and killing of security operatives by terrorists and bandits, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to end his ‘lethargic’ approach by taking urgent steps to tackle terrorism in the country. Themainoppositionpartyalsocalled for an inquest into the role played by the policeinthekillingofDavidNtekim-Rex by suspected armed robbers at Jibowu, Lagos State. The party also urges the president to listen to the voice of Nigerians, and rejig the security system. The PDP also lamented that the escalated acts of terrorism in the

country has now worsened by incessant attack on security operatives, the latest being the abduction of no fewer than 18 police operatives by bandits in Kaduna State, “further highlighted by the failures of the president to coordinate an effective fight against terrorism in the country.” g to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary of Kola Ologbondiyan, “Our party, as the voice of the people, tasks President Buhari to show concern to the plight of Nigerians who are being ravaged by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and vandals whose activities have been emboldened by the indolent and languid attitude of his administration, including

its recent dismissive statement to Nigerians to ‘wait on God’ for solution. “President Buhari should listen to Nigerians and rejig his command structure, which has become so weak that officials now rationalise acts of

terrorism to the extent of blaming victims, as was the case in the 43 farmers recently beheaded by terrorists in Borno State.” The PDP said the situation has become so bad that it took Chadian President, Idris Derby, to personally lead

his troops into Nigerian territories to rout out insurgents and free Nigerian communities and Nigeria soldiers held captive by terrorists. It further noted that it was indeed unfortunate that despite the manifest security lapses, the president has

refused to respect the consensus by Nigerians across board, as validated by the two chambers of the National Assembly to rejig his security architecture, by replacing his service chiefs with more competent hands.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Auto Mechanic Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Ekiti Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Akubo Abiye, and his mechanic, Ibrahim Afolabi, to life imprisonment for receiving stolen vehicle. Seven other persons, including one Solomon Ayodele Obamoyegun, 39; Femi Omiawe, 40; Damilola Obamoyegun 20; Bose Sade Ajayi, 30; George Lucky, 35; Chukwuma Nnamani, 22, and Sunday Ogunleye, 45, were jailed for five years each without any option of fine for kidnapping. In his judgement, Justice John Adeyeye said: “I found the two of you guilty of receiving stolen vehicle. All evidence pointed to the fact that you were aware that the car was stolen. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence.” In their testimonies, the investigating police officers said the car was tracked to the compound of ACP Abiye, who, on interrogation, confessed that he bought the Hilux van from his mechanic, who received it from the kidnappers. The offence runs contrary to sections 346(2), 1(2)a, and

section 5 of the Criminal Code Cap C16 laws of Ekiti State 2012, and robbery and firearms special provisions Act, Cap R11, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. To prove his case, the prosecutor, Felix Awoniyi, called seven witnesses while exhibit tendered included statements of the accused persons and bond to release the van to the owner. On the case of kidnapping preferred against the nine accused persons, they spoke in their own defence through their counsel, who promised to study the verdict and take necessary step. “Kidnapping people for ransom is very rampart in not only the state, but in Nigeria. The court will be failing in its duty to protect the members of the society if adequate punishment is not given to the accused persons,” he said. According to the charge sheet, the act was committed on or about May 9 to 19, 2005, at the GRA in Ado Ekiti, when the first to seventh accused persons armed with guns to kidnap one Moses Ajogri, 40, and robbed him of his Toyota Hilux van with registration no: APP 509 BK.

Buhari Names Fikpo Acting DG of NDE Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has formally approved the nomination of Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo as the Acting Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). This was contained in a letter dated January 18, 2021 written to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement issued yesterday disclosed that the President has approved the appointment of Fikpo as Acting Director General of the NDE pending the appointment of a substantive DG for the agency.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has formally conveyed to the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), his approval of the nomination of Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo as the Acting Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General for the Agency. “Last month, the President relieved the former DG of the agency, Ladan Argungu, of his appointment, and directed the minister to nominate an Acting DG to superintend over the Agency pending the appointment of a substantive DG”. Until his latest appointment, Fikpo, is the most senior Director in the NDE.

DISCUSSING STATE MATTERS...

Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari (left), and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during the Signing of MoU for the 2nd Review of the APRM held at the Council Chambers, State House, Abuja...yesterday

IG: Onikan Police Ofﬁcers’ Mess Not for Sale Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, yesterday denied reports that the Police Officers’ Mess in Onikan, Lagos State, was for sale. A Force Headquarters’ statement said contrary to insinuations, the police high command had embarked on the renovation of the property in a bid to turn it to a revenue earner for the force. Some “concerned officers” had, in a statement issued weekend, indicated that the successive IGs had planned to sell the property without success.

The group had accused the IG of plotting to sell the mess. But a statement issued yesterday by Force PRO and Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, said the police high command embarked on the renovation of the facilities, which he said had developed structural defects over the years. “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a publication in some sections of the media dated January 17, 2021 alleging plots by the Inspector-General of Police to sell-off the Nigeria Police Officers’ Mess located at Onikan, Lagos. The story is totally false!”

The statement disclosed that the Nigeria Police Officers’ Mess, Onikan, conceived decades ago, was built to cater for the welfare of police officers, provide transit accommodation for officers on transfer or on special assignments and provide a conducive social environment suitable for their relaxation. The IG noted that “over time however, the property has degenerated and shown structural defects requiring a massive renovation or outright rebuilding. “In a bid to restore its lost glory, provide a modern and befitting officers’ mess and tackle the defects

of the old structure, the IG and the management team took a decision to upgrade the existing officers’ mess to a world-class edifice”. Mba said the new project will in addition to a standard officers’ mess include the development of a world-class three-star hotel, modern office spaces for lease, and a modern and easily accessible shopping complex. He explained that the new mess would not only cater for the welfare of the officers but would also provide an alternate stream of income for its maintenance and sustenance.

JAMB Suspends Two Officials, Bans Candidates for Breach of COVID-19 Protocols The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has suspended two of its staff and banned two candidates from its processes for violating precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the weekly bulletin of the board published on JAMB’s website on Monday, “their suspension followed a surprise visit by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede to

the Professional Testing Centre”. It stated that “the four individuals ran foul of the protocols when they refused to wear protective face masks provided to curtail the spread of the virus.” The board said it had circulated series of advisories containing explicit instructions on the necessity of adhering to extant protocols. “These advisories were not only aimed at mitigating the risk of contagion for individual staff but

also to safeguard the lives of their fellow staff,” it added. The Board, in a statement, asserted that “the suspension became necessary in order to send the right signal to all staff and clients alike that it will not tolerate any act that would expose people to unnecessary risks. “The punitive action also underscored the seriousness with which the Board views adherence to COVID-19 protocols”. The statement added that “the concerned staff would face the

Board’s Disciplinary Committee. In addition, the Head of the Office under whose supervision the staff was working would also be queried for negligence and dereliction of duty for failure to adequately supervise the affected staff. “All staff nationwide that the Board would not tolerate any violation of the extant protocols on COVID-19 and those supervisory officers would also be held responsible for nonenforcement and

SOKAPU: Bandits Displaced 160,000 People in Southern Kaduna John Shiklam in Kaduna The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has declared that more than 160,000 people across 143 communities in the Southern part of Kaduna State have been displaced by bandits. The President of the SOKAPU, Mr. Jonathan Asake, who addressed a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, said that more than N900 million was paid to kidnappers as ransom from January to December, 2020,

adding that those who could not pay ransom were killed. Asake said that those who are displaced are mostly women and children, who are currently living under very harsh and dehumanising conditions. He expressed concern over the spate of insecurity that has engulfed the country, noting that Nigeria is undergoing severe security challenges as the Boko Haram terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements continued to unleash

terror on people. The incessant kidnappings, massacre and displacement of indigenous people from their homes, according to him, have continued unabated. Asake said: “Presently, in most of our communities across the 12 local governments in the Southern Kaduna, there are reported cases of daily abductions on the road, farms, homes, markets and worship centres where victims have gone through unimaginable

torture and relations forced to pay outrageous sums of money as ransom. “As I address you today, no fewer than 143 communities across our local government areas in Southern Kaduna have been completely displaced, with over 160,000 persons, mostly women and children, now living under very harsh and dehumanising conditions devoid of food, medication and other necessities of life.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

Bishop Kukah Gets New Appointment at Vatican City Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto, His Lordship, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, as a Member of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Integral Development at the Vatican City

in Rome. A statement issued yesterday by the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Christopher Omotosho, the Diocese said the appointment was contained in a letter to Bishop Kukah dated December 11, 2020, and signed

30 Bandits, NAF Personnel Killed in Zamfara Three special forces’ operatives injured Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji yesterday clashed with armed bandits at Maje Riverline near Yar Katsina in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State killing 30 bandits. A military update said one special forces operative was killed while four others were wounded during the encounter. It said the clash followed reports that scores of armed bandits along with a large number of rustled livestock were spotted heading towards Kekuwuje-Yar Kastina Road. The situation prompted troops from Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at Kekuwuje, Kwatarkwashi and Maru, comprised mostly of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Special Forces (SF) personnel, to be mobilised to the area. The troops made contact with the armed bandits along the Yar Katsina Road and overpowered them with superior firepower in the ensuing gun battle. “The troops subsequently pursued the bandits and cornered them at the Maje Riverline, neutralising 30 of them,” it said. The update signed by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, said one NAF special forces’ operative was killed. “Unfortunately, one NAF SF personnel, Aircraftman Sunday Enwa, who fought gallantly during the encounter paid the supreme price while three others who sustained gunshot wounds during the operation have been evacuated for medical treatment”,

it said. Following the development, the air force boss commiserated with families of the fallen and wounded personnel. “On behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the fallen hero and prays that the Almighty God grants his soul peaceful repose. “The CAS also urges all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, to rid the North-west of all criminal elements,” it said. Similarly, troops deployed at Maradun received information of reprisal attack by armed bandits at Janbako village in Maradun LGA of Zamfara State. Troops swiftly mobilised to the area to forestall the reprisal attack. An update issued by the Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said troops were ambushed around Janbako village where a fire-fight ensued. It said gallant troops overwhelmed the bandits and neutralised five of them while stating that troops were in pursuit of fleeing bandits. In another development, following a tip off, two suspected bandits’ collaborators named Mustapha Sani and Murtala Sani were arrested at Dungun Muazu village in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State.

Man Jailed for Defrauding American of N19.6m A graduate of Civil Engineering, Samuel Oteyowo, has bagged 14 months jail term for defrauding an American of the sum of N19.6million. Oteyowo was charged with a one-count amended charge of criminal impersonation for defrauding Warren Doht of an amount totalling the sum of N19,664,128.50 via the internet. Justice Nathaniel AyoEmmanuel of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State pronounced the 32-year-old, who claimed to be a university graduate guilty as charged. The accused person was said to have committed a crime contrary to Section 22(2) (b) (ii) of the Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc)

Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) of the same Act. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office, however, stated that the convict had, however, approached the Commission for a plea bargain agreement. The plea bargain agreement, the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “Formed the basis for the amended charge with which he was arraigned and convicted on Monday.” After pleading guilty to the amended charge, prosecution counsel, Murtala Usman, urged the court to convict him accordingly. Apart from the jail term, the court also ordered Oteyowo to restitute the N19,664,128.50 to the victim of his crime.

by the Prefect of the Dicastery, His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson. “By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the Holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development. The appointment, which is renewable is for an initial period of five years. The Council will be formally inaugurated on

a later date,” the statement said. It said that the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development was created on January 1, 2017, when four Dicasteries, namely, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Pastoral Care of Immigrants and Itinerant People and Health Care of Workers, were all merged by the Holy Father. “This appointment adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Church. He was first appointed a Consultor and later a member

of the Pontifical Council for InterReligious Dialogue, Vatican City and served under three Popes. He is currently, Chairman, Dialogue Committees of both the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)”. The statement also said that Bishop Kukah was a member of the official delegation of the Holy See that met with the Emir of Qatar when that country opened diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 2002. “In 2016, he was nominated

by the Vatican to represent Africa on the Advisory Board of the Vienna based, King Abdulazeez International Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue (KAIICID). KAIICID is the fruit of the collaboration between the governments of Saudi Arabia, Austria and the Holy See for the promotion of worldwide Dialogue between world religions. Bishop Kukah comes to the Dicastery on the Promotion of Integral Development with a lot of experience in the areas of human rights, justice and reconciliation”

CHILDREN’S WELFARE ON THEIR MINDS...

L-R : Ekiti State First Lady, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Team Leader, Action for Children, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, when Mrs. Uwais paid a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

Katsina Secures Release of Nine Kidnapped Nigeriens Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Government in collaboration with a combined team of various security operatives has secured the ‘unconditional’ release of nine kidnapped Nigeriens from captivity. The state Governor, Aminu Masari, who received the abducted Niger Republic national at the Government House inn Katsina yesterday, said the victims were abducted by the marauding

bandits in their village in Maradi region in Niger Republic and taken to yet-to-be identified place in Katsina State, Nigeria. The governor noted that the rescue of the kidnapped victims, who spent nine days in bandits’ enclaves, was in continuation of an exercise that started with the recovery of the recently abducted 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara. He debunked insinuations

making the round that state government had resumed negotiations with the bandits, saying the government was only making efforts to secure all those in captivity and tackle banditry and kidnapping in the state. According to Masari, “The last time I spoke to you (journalists), we have 144, and when I was in Abuja, additional 37 people were returned and sent to Zamfara State because they were indigenes of the state.

So today (Monday), we received nine indigenes of Niger Republic. “The military and police are still in operation. We are not dialoguing under any condition; what we are trying to do is to make sure we secure the release of those that have been kidnapped. With this opener, it’s zero payment; we are not paying anybody anything to secure the release of kidnapped victims.”

NDLEA Intercepts 21.9kg of Cocaine at Abuja Airport Kasim Sumaina in Abuja The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday disclosed that its agents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Command, Abuja, intercepted 21.9 kilogrammes of cocaine. The illicit substance concealed in two suitcases, it said, is the largest single seizure by the command. The agency in a statement

issued in Abuja by the Deputy Commander of Narcotics (DCN) and Principal Staff Officer of Public Affairs, Jonah Achema, stated that the two unaccompanied and unclaimed suitcases were discovered after the arrival of an Ethiopian Airline ET 910 in Abuja from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Achema hinted that during the inward clearance of the flight, the vigilant officers of the

command became suspicious upon noticing that the two brief cases were abandoned on the conveyor belt without any of the passengers claiming them. He said the NDLEA commander directed the officers to keep an eye on the suitcases and informed the airline and its handlers of NDLEA’s interest in the luggage. According to him, “After few days of not claiming

the luggage, the commander formally contacted the Station Manager of Ethiopian Airline and NAHCO Aviance being the handler for the airline, indicating the suspicion of the agency of the suitcases and placed a standing order that NDLEA should be invited before the luggage would be released to the owner or in the event that the luggage would be returned to the point of embarkation.

of the working of the parliament. Martins-Kuye also served Nigeria as Minister of State for Finance during which time he showed a great depth of economic knowledge and policy dexterity. “As a leader he was respected and adored by the vast majority of his people. Such was the immense respect he commanded across Yorubaland and in his Ogun home-state that he was fondly addressed as the ‘Leading Leader’. “I extend my condolences to

the people of his Ago-Iwoye Community, to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the people of Ogun State over the passing of their eminent son. “May we all have the strength and fortitude to overcome the passing of this great politician. “I also pray that Almighty Allah reward his good deeds, forgive his shortcomings and admit him into Aljanna Fridaus. Amin.”

Tinubu Mourns Martins-Kuye A former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, has expressed his deep condolences over the passing on Sunday of former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye. In a condolence message by his Media Office, Tinubu stated thus: “I commiserate with the family, friends, relations and associates of former Minister of State for Finance, Senator Jubril Martins- Kuye, over his passing. “An elder statesman and

consummate professional, MartinsKuye was an astute politician and patriotic leader. “We were Senators together in the 1992 Senate. Those were difficult days for the legislative branch in Nigeria but Senator Martins-Kuye stood out among his peers. I can attest to his vision, prudence, and dedication to the unity and development of this country. “He provided leadership and demonstrated clear understanding

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 • T H I S D AY

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COMMENT

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

BALA MOHAMMED: BETWEEN STATE AND COUNTRY Emma Agu urges the Bauchi State governor to be focused and steadfast

ast December, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and Sokoto State Governor Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal were in Bauchi State, to flag off the construction of four strategic road projects, within the Bauchi metropolis. Among the roads, the most prominent was the dualization of the 17.7 km Giwo Academy to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, along Kano Road. Prior to that event, Nyesom Wike, Governor of the oil-rich Rivers State, had also presided over the flag off, of the construction of eleven township roads in Bauchi metropolis. As if that was not enough, as 2020 was drawing to a close, David Mark, a retired army general and one-time President of the Nigerian Senate, for eight years, was guest at the flag off of the construction of the Katangam WarjiGwaram Road. That was yet another landmark project in the state-wide infrastructure delivery initiative of the Bala Mohammed Administration that cuts across the health, education, environmental and social sectors of the state. As would be expected, on such occasions, though speaking at different times and in different fora, all four guests were unanimous in commending the effort of Governor Bala Mohammed and his team. There is the temptation to assert that, the governor, being of the same political party with them, his guests had no choice but to extol the performance of their party man. That seems natural. But for anyone who knows David Mark, he would rather keep quiet than indulge in unearned adulation. Ever taciturn yet never fazed by hostile reactions to his usually candid speeches, David Mark highlighted how Bala Mohammed and other patriotic senators contributed to his (Mark’s) unparalleled success as Senate President. When one considers that Mark was Senate President for an unbroken period of eight years, the import of his commendation assumes greater significance. Mark reiterated what was already in the public domain: that Bala Mohammed stands out for unwavering loyalty, non-negotiable respect for the Constitution, patriotism, equity and justice. No one can dispute that. Forever, Bala Mohammed will be remembered for moving the historic “Doctrine of Necessity” motion that paved the way for Goodluck Jonathan, who had been glued to his seat as Vice President, to move up the ladder to assume the office of President, albeit in acting capacity. That was at a time that some hawks, in stark defiance of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were pulling out all the stops, to thwart that constitutional imperative of a Jonathan Presidency. In retrospect, what nobody today debates, is that Nigeria would have been thrown into a political crisis which end, nobody could have predicted. Now, if anyone thought that his action was a fluke, such a person needs be reminded that Bala Mohammed was, at the time, a member of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) of which Nigeria’s current President, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, was the leader. Besides, being from Bauchi State, a state reputed to have produced some of Northern Nigeria’s foremost politicians, Bala Mohammed’s bold initiative, to deepen democracy by respecting the Constitution could, in the nature of things, have spelt an abrupt end to his promising political career.

BALA MOHAMMED SHOULD BE WISE ENOUGH NOT TO LOSE FOCUS BUT TO CONTINUE WITH THE ENVIABLE PERFORMANCE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION; THAT HE SHOULD GUARD AGAINST HIS STEWARDSHIP BEING DERAILED BY PREMATURE ENDORSEMENTS BY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES

Thus, his decision, to back the Constitution and not a parochial political agenda, despite the prospect of political suicide; the choice of being a nationalist and statesman over narrow self-serving permutations, will always resonate as a political capital to be culled for greatness. That explains the fact that he is now being called upon, by a coalition of some progressive elements, to run for President in 2023. The protagonists, under the aegis of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Transparency and Good Governance (COCSOTRAGG), hinge their call on four considerations. First, they claim, correctly, that north east Nigeria, like the south east, has never produced the President. Second, Bala Mohammed is regarded by them as a detribalized bridge builder whose tenure as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), became a byword for inclusion, equitable distribution of positions and patronage as well as robust infrastructure deployment all over the city. Third, they want Bala Mohammed to export the breath-taking developmental strides that Bauchi State has witnessed, under him, to the national level as a panacea to the country’s developmental challenges. At 61, the youths say that age is on the side of Bala Mohammed hence he is expected to provide effective leadership at this critical watershed in the country’s history. Obviously, the demand of the North East youths confirms the adage that, the reward for hard work, is more work. To the youth, therefore, Bala Mohammed should be yanked off his assignment in Bauchi and grafted on to the national leadership architecture, after Buhari. While their proposition is legitimate, we cannot ignore the paradox therein: Should their dream come true, one wonders what will happen to Bala Mohammed’s “My Bauchi Agenda” which he zealously pursued since his inauguration on 29th May 2019. What will happen to the great New Bauchi initiative that is meant to transform the Bauchi city skyline and landscape into a showpiece of urban renewal? What about the novel land reform scheme of the administration or the urban renewal emphasis that has been boosted by Max Airlines’ daily flights in and out of the city? Should he abandon the massive people empowerment programme of his government that has seen 1000 youth receive tricycles and another 250 receive motor transport vehicles, among several other deliverables? Should the fact that his illustrious career that saw him attain directorate cadre in the Federal Civil Service, become a Senator and later Minister of the Federal Republic, become the albatross of the people of Bauchi State who, in 2019, trusted him to lead them from the nadir of despair, to greater heights in self-realisation and economic development? What will become the fate of the civil servants who now receive their salaries as at when due and the pensioners who, for the first time in many years, now look forward to their pension at the end of every month? The long list of democracy dividends being enjoyed in today’s Bauchi State, the new found incorporation of hitherto forgotten constituents of Bauchi State into the developmental compass of government, the changed fortunes of pensioners and government workers, etc., make the call for Bala Mohammed to join the presidential race a dilemma of grotesque proportions.

FAIR PLAY OR FOUL?

Matthew Kukah is torn between his call and his calling, writes Philemon Bulus

ne of the emerging dilemmas in Nigeria’s democracy is the serious threat it regularly confronts from utterances of people lacking experience and wisdom in politics or governance who exploit the unscrupulous exuberance of the media to ambush public attention. The indiscriminate propagation of such utterances usually sparks political outrage capable of escalating simmering contentions into public disturbances. The reality of deliberate incitement of political crises by non-political actors, frequently curtailed by the swift intervention of the DSS to take the culprits to task, is looming larger on the political arena, as the 2023 elections draw closer. Rev. Father Mathew Hassan Kukah’s extraordinary Christmas Message rattled its intended target in the Muslim North, by insinuating that no “non-northern Muslim President” could indulge in what he described as President Buhari’s “nepotism” without provoking a military coup. It was a comment that many saw as a tacit incitement of the Christian populace, delivered on a day traditionally devoted to soothing spiritual sermons promoting peace and unity. But, even in the ensuing exchange of predictable threats and rising acrimony among Christians and Muslims, the Reverend Father retorted: “Whatever I said can please or displease anyone, but that is my own opinion and doesn’t stop others from saying their own opinion. If you think my motive is wrong, say yours.” Such a defiant riposte would be typical for a politician, but not from a reverend father. Obviously, Rev. Father Kukah is torn between his call and his calling. He unknowingly manifested this conflict when he sought to rationalize his unrepentant response to the

discord he instigated with the political missile in his Xmas message by declaring “I have no problem with Muslims, Christians or adherents of any other religion but what I do not like is when someone is using religion to play politics, it is wrong”. The Reverend Father cannot distinguish between preaching religion and playing politics, so he plays politics in the mistaken belief that he is preaching the gospel on Christmas Day, thereby reversing his role from healer to spoiler of human relations by inciting when he should be reconciling. Rev. Father Kukah must nevertheless be conscious of the Biblical injunction “Give what is God’s to God and what is Caesar’s to Caesar”, a divine definition of the two most essential components of human society and existence, being that which is exclusively Almighty God’s and what is devolved as human responsibility. Only God, the Omnipresent, bestrides the entire universe but human beings should strive within their assigned roles and functions as depicted by reference to Caesar, the ruler of his people. Ultimately, harmony through peace and justice in adherence to God’s injunctions is the desired and designated purpose and objective of human intervention. What a wonderful world we would have should this be understood and adopted such that religious leaders would willingly restrict themselves to guidance and counseling of political leaders and citizens through persuasion to achieve good governance and peaceful co-existence. Political leaders and citizens would then be constantly conscious of Almighty God’s injunctions! Each of them would be performing within their areas of competence and discharging their respective assigned duties knowing that accountability is to God. Democracy would thrive with little

or no incitement, rivalry and do-or-die politics, yielding enduring dividends. It is compelling to wonder how or why 69-year-old Rev. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah got enmeshed in such unfortunate conflict of interest that contradicts his 45 years priesthood credentials and career. Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976 and attended the University of Ibadan for a diploma in Religious Studies, Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976 for a Bachelor of Divinity; University of Bradford, United Kingdom, in 1980 for a Master’s degree in Peace Studies and University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 1990 for a PhD. During his doctoral studies he produced his first book, Religion and Politics in Northern Nigeria and was a consultant to the Vatican for five years. Impressive as these theological and priesthood credentials are, it is remarkably ironic that Rev. Father Kukah did not proceed to gain fame and national recognition from the divine calling but rather focused on the politically contentious subject of his academic research, Religion and Politics in Northern Nigeria, and the “liberation” fervors simmering among his southern Kaduna people. From then on, all indications prove that the political agenda was of greater concern as he steadily wormed his way into the earthly embrace of politicians. His godfather was none other than President Obasanjo. Thus, Kukah became a regular insider at the Presidential Villa and bagged some prominent political appointments including member of the Justice Oputa Investigation Commission on Human Rights Violations, Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference, Chairman of the OgoniShell Reconciliation and member Electoral

Reform Committee. He even attended the PDP Presidential Retreat held at the International Conference, Abuja after the 2007 general elections. Rev. Father Kukah was chosen to preach the sermon at Stella Obasanjo’s interdenominational funeral service in Abeokuta in 2005 while he was Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kaduna, instead of Archbishop John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja. In the sermon he also disclosed that Stella had earlier approached him to enable her get wedded to the First Nigerian so that she can receive communion adding “it is by the grace of God that we did welcome her back into the Catholic Church just after the Political Reform Conference at a very quiet ceremony”. Kukah referred to President Obasanjo as his “friend” on several occasions. “I have come to know my friend. If you catch him in a good mood, everything will go well. But, on a bad day, it will be disaster”, he remarked. He also counted President Goodluck Jonathan as a friend and rose to his defense especially against initial indications that President Buhari’s anti-corruption moves would not spare him. However, in 2017 Kukah dismissed insinuations that he was close to former President Goodluck Jonathan for what he could get, saying “despite my friendship with Jonathan over this long period of time, we never discussed a penny, we never discussed one dollar; we never exchanged a penny, and we never exchanged a dollar.” The Catholic Bishop was also seen in a photograph alongside Sheikh Gumi, Obasanjo and then PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar when news reports said they met to reconcile the former president and vice president. r#VMVT XSPUF GSPN +PT

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EDITORIAL

SEXUAL MOLESTATION IN SCHOOLS The society must rise up to the challenge of all forms of abuse against children

he recent case of an 11-year-old student at the Uyo campus of Deeper Life High School has beamed the searchlight on the menace of sexual molestation in our schools. The JSS 1 student was reportedly starved and sexually molested in the dormitory by two senior students of the school. The horrendous torture and indignity to which the minor was subjected has been trending on the social media since it was first reported. While we urge the relevant authorities to ensure that justice is THE CHILD RIGHTS done on this particular case, ACT GUARANTEES THE there is also an PROTECTION OF CHILDREN urgent need to FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE, pay attention CHILD MARRIAGE AND to this malaise SPECIFIES THE PUNISHMENTS that threatens the future of TO BE METED TO THE ADULT our children. PARTIES INVOLVED Already, some of the suspects, including the school principal and the boarding-house master have been arraigned before the Magistrate court on charges that border on sexual molestation, maltreatment, starvation and negligence. While we hope that none of the culprits is spared after their involvement in the saga has been established, the psychological trauma, burden and social stigma arising from this experience will most likely be with the victim for a long time. He will therefore need all the support he can get. The authority of the school and officials of Akwa Ibom State should not abandon the parents to their fate. How this issue is eventually resolved will tell a lot about our country and the premium we place on children. The unfortunate episode is a sad reminder of the level of moral decay in our society. The centre where the student was taken to for medical examination said it had treated 10 sexually abused boys in the last three years. So, this is

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not an isolated incident and this form of abuse does not come from students alone. Two years ago, a teacher at the FCT School of the Blind was suspended indefinitely for habitually raping two visually impaired students. According to reports, the teacher would drug the hapless students and lure them to a hotel before committing the atrocity. Child sexual abuse is an offence under several sections of the Nigerian criminal code while the age of consent is 18. In 2015, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that one in four girls and one in 10 boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. A survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, said over 31 per cent of girls in the country said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind. According to UNICEF, six out of 10 children in Nigeria experience emotional, physical or sexual abuse before the age of 18, with half experiencing physical violence. The strategies for addressing this violence should also include provision for counselling services, engagement of parents and creating public awareness by involving all critical stakeholders in the campaign. This is because a major concern from the UNICEF study was the lack of counselling unit and professional counsellors to manage cases of violence in many of our schools across the country. Government should also begin to formulate policy guidelines for addressing the problem in many of our schools. The Child Rights Act of 2003 guarantees the protection of children from sexual violence, child marriage and specifies the punishments to be meted to the adult parties involved. The molestation at Deeper Life School should be deemed a matter of public interest and any attempt to cover up the outcome of the inquest will imperil not only the credibility of the Church but also that of Akwa Ibom State government and the police. But the society must also rise up to the challenge of all forms of abuse and violence against children in Nigeria, whether in or out of school.

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.

ENGAGING THE DIASPORA FOR DEVELOPMENT

ust after acquiring his diploma, the opportunity of “checking out” came knocking, which drew the curtain on the relationship. After over three decades, our paths mysteriously crossed again few months ago. Expectedly, it was an emotional meeting. Funsho (not real name) is now an investment banker with double master’s degrees under his belt in the U.S. It was a gruelling climb on the greasy pole to the top of his ambition. He still keeps a close tab on happenings in the country. And, contributions to the socioeconomic development of his local community through investments and humanitarian activities are impressive. The exploits of Nigerians in the diaspora are public knowledge. We have seen how their record of performances have carved out a path for them through the thick crowd to reach positions of influence and recognition in their adopted countries. If Nigeria were to be a dark firmament the diaspora population would be the constellation of stars. Some may have sullied the country’s image. However, not a few have invalidated the negative narratives and stereotypes. They have evinced a distinctive vibe and mentality. Yes, they are the embodiment of the ‘immigrant mentality’ that have drawn them from the fringes of their adopted homelands.

The population of Nigerians in the diaspora is put at 15 million according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). And, the preponderance of the population calls America home with the U.K following on its heels while the rest are spread across others countries of the world. Nigerians are flying on the wings of hard work and reverence for education in recording mind blowing achievements. For instance, it is said that you can’t throw a stone into a Nigerian family in America without hitting a member that is an engineer, doctor, professor, successful entrepreneur or master’s degree holder. Families of the community have a median household income well above the American average and above the average of many White and Asian group. As a result, emerging as one of the most successful migrant community. The size, income and economic condition in host countries of the diaspora population are significant factors that have pushed Nigeria into the group of top remittance recipient country in the world. Remittances whether cash or in kind is a tool for economic and human development. Studies have shown that remittances are expended by recipients in four basic areas; consumption, housing, land purchase and productive investment. The import of remittances is further underlined by its inclusion in the Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs) In commemorating last year’s National Diaspora Day, the President stated that “over the past three years Nigerians in the diaspora have brought 25 billion dollars annually as home remittances to the Nigerian economy through official and non- formal channels which he said was about 6% of our annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and upwards of 80% of annual budget.” The phenomenal strides made by China can be attributed in part to the involvement of its diaspora population. John Lee, a former visiting fellow at the Mercator Institute for China Studies- asserted that the diaspora Chinese made huge contributions during the reform era. He added that during the period, the diaspora investors exhibited greater persistence over the non- Chinese ostensibly due to ‘cultural and ancestral ties to offset political risk.’ Also, they were deeply involved politically. The fear of recession in the post Tiananmen years was countered by diaspora investment as international loans began drying up. According to Lee, diaspora Chinese didn’t only influence the conception and implementation of special economic zones. They provided the requisite technology and capital for the take off of the export industries. Nigeria has shown commendable inclination towards cashing in on the opportunity with

the new directives which allows recipients of remittances to receive their money in dollars in a move to improve the “receipt and transparent administration of diaspora remittances as well as stabilizing the foreign exchange market.” Also, the creation of the diaspora bond in June 2017 was warmly received. Such initiative has helped India dealt with its 1991 balance of payment crisis and also in responding to the economic sanctions imposed after nuclear testing in 1998. According to the World Bank’s Remittance Prices Worldwide Database, the global average cost of sending 200 dollars was 6.8% in the third quarter of 2020, which doubles the Sustainable Development Goal target of 3% by 2030. Therefore, government needs to work vigorously in facilitating the continued flow of remittances through easing the cost of transfers. Needless to say, the diaspora is an indispensable asset. Aside the huge remittances, the readily available skills and technology can be tapped through technology exchanges, collaboration in research projects, mentorship program in key sectors or industries as well as teaching in universities among other avenues. Therefore, conditions for leveraging the asset must be improved in realising success in this regard. r"CBDIJ 6OHCP BCBDIJ !ZBIPP DPN

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

T H I S D AY ˾ UESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

POLITICS

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

INEC Seeks Punishment for Alleged Perpetrators of Electoral Fraud Okon Bassey writes that the Independent National Electoral Commission has made good its threat to drag persons suspected to have compromised electoral laws before the courts

o checkmate future electoral malpractices in the conduct of general election in Akwa Ibom State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has gone tough in dealing with those that allegedly committed one form of fraud or the other in the 2019 national elections. Three staff of the Commission in the state have been dismissed for misconduct while four others are under investigation. Also a university lecturer, Prof. Peter Ogban has been arraigned before an Ikot Ekpene High Court over election fraud in the 2019 general election in the state. While the another university don, Prof Ignatius Uduk has been dragged to court still for electoral sins. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini said six top officials of the commission were also barred from taking part in the election because of security information that they could undermine the conduct of the election. Ogban, a Professor of Soil Science, University of Uyo, who was the Returning Officer at Ikot Ekpene was accused of trying to manipulate scores of two parties in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District election. Ogban was said to have “altered alreadydeclared results at polling units and collated ward results in Form EC8B delivered to him by Ward Collation Officers.” Igini explained that Ogban’s colleague, Professor Ignatius Uduk in the same university, ought to have been arraigned over election malpractice but that he was on the run as efforts to serve him court surmons were abortive. “He changed the outcome of the election by reducing the score of a leading candidate by a huge five thousand (5,000) votes and increasing the losing candidate’s score by the same margin without altering the overall total valid votes cast to avoid detection. “Unfortunately for him, there is no perfect crime as the early information trigger tracking system of the Electoral Operation Support Centre (EOSC), fully activated throughout the period of the election exposed him. “Professor Ignatius Uduk, declared election results collated not by him, but by undisclosed individuals who only handed them to him to announce. “He admitted to this fact in his own handwritten (not typed) statement that he earlier signed, even though he refused to come back to the Commission’s office for further debriefing to ascertain who delivered the prepared election results to him. “However, in another deposition, this time in a type-written statement on oath, Prof Uduk, driven in a dark tinted vehicle to the Election Tribunal venue, surprisingly stood as a witness against the Commission, to defend the same election results he did not collate but were given to him by undisclosed persons,” Igini explained. The INEC commissioner said the Professor would later be arraigned as all efforts to serve him court orders proved abortive. “In the 2019 elections, two of these professors out of the many that worked with us credibly, we commended them for the good job, as well as some of our staff were engaged in electoral malpractice of the gravest nature. These staff have been dismissed from the commission. “What you witnessed in court is a follow up of those who are not our staff following our own internal investigation done here, and also follow up on request by the state office to the headquarters in Abuja. “These academics were engaged because they were presumed to be individuals of

Igini

Yakubu

high integrity who would not indulge in illegal acts of deliberate electoral manipulation or falsification of election results during the process of collation,” he said. INEC. finally arraigned Professor Ignatius Uduk in court for allegedly declaring false election results. Uduk was said to have declared and published false election results during the 2019 State House of Assembly elections when he served as collation/returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency. Uduk who had threatened court action against INEC when he was asked to face the election petition tribunal set up for that purpose, was issued a bench warrant before he appeared in court. He was arraigned in State High Court 4, Uyo being presided over by Justice Archibong Archibong for allegedly declaring and publishing false election results during the 2019 State House of Assembly elections when he served as collation/returning officer at INEC office, Afaha Ikot Ebak in Essien Udim local government area. Uduk was arraigned in suit no: HU/240c/2020, on three count charge bordering on abandonment of duties and generation of false scores on form EC BE (II) on March 10, 2019 at INEC office in Afaha Ikot Ebak during the State House of Assembly elections; announcement and publication of false election result; and lying on oath at the inception of the election petition tribunal. Pleading not guilty to the charges; Counsel to the accused, Abasiodiong Ekpenyong said INEC came to the court unprepared eventhough they had issued a bench warrant for his client, adding that his client remains innocent to all charges

until proven guilty. “Today was for indefinite hearing. The prosecutors filled in their witness but before he began, the lead counsel indicated interest to substitute charges by way of amendment. He came unprepared and it was obvious when my Lord observed that his house was not in order. “I literally had to help him put his house in order from my own house. They have now sought the vacation which was the earlier date for them to now prepare and we pray he comes back on the fixed date prepared. “This was the same case the prosecution opted a bench warrant against the accused and was granted. The accused person remains innocent. He came to court early enough to defend himself. “But like we all knew what was in the other card, they came unprepared, just like they would always come unprepared,” he stated. Responding, Counsel to INEC, Kpoobari Sigalo denied that they were unprepared for the hearing. He said that the charge filed against the accused needed to be amended and in the process, it was discovered that the written statement of the witness was missing. “We came fully prepared, you can see our witness was in court, only that the written statement of the witness was not in the file. We thought that those things were intact, only for us to discover this morning that it was not. “We actually filed our charge before the court but looking at the charges we discovered that there was need for minor amendment of the charge. In the process, we discovered that the written statement of the witness was not in the charge, so

Uduk was arraigned in suit no: HU/240c/2020, on three count charge bordering on abandonment of duties and generation of false scores on form EC BE (II) on March 10, 2019 at INEC oﬃce in Afaha Ikot Ebak during the State House of Assembly elections; announcement and publication of false election result; and lying on oath at the inception of the election petition tribunal. Pleading not guilty to the charges; Counsel to the accused, Abasiodiong Ekpenyong said INEC came to the court unprepared eventhough they had issued a bench warrant for his client, adding that his client remains innocent to all charges until proven guilty

we have to go back and put our house together in preparation for the fixed date,” he stated. Counsel to INEC led by Kpoobari Sigalo who had filed a counter affidavit however objected that the defendant be granted bail as he had proved to be evasive, adding that they want an accelerated hearing. “Last time we were before this Honourable Court and the Court issued a bench warrant against the accused. I am very sure that it is because of the bench warrant that he (accused) filed application for bail. “So today he actually came to court and took his plea and his counsel has asked for his bail. We are actually opposed to that bail application. When we filed our counter affidavit in opposition to the bail as we saw in Court that the matter has been adjourned to 14 December for ruling on that very application. “The character of the accused person actually prompted us to object his application for bail. This is not the first matter we are prosecuting. The other one we did not oppose to the bail application because the accused person on his own volition came to court. “Before the last general election the Commission said it very loud and clear that whosoever that contravenes the Electoral Act of the 1999 Constitution and other guidelines of the electoral process will be severely dealt with,” he stated. Meanwhile, the Presiding Judge of the State High Court 4, Justice Archibong after listering to the argument of both parties granted bail in the sum of N500,000 to Professor Ignatius Uduk, with a surety in like sum. Justice Archibong mandated the surety to present evidence of ownership of landed property, and a letter of identification from a prominent citizen of the state who works or does business within the state. He stated that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and must present two recent passport photographs dully certified to be his true photograph. He explained that though the accused presented cogent and sufficient materials to convince the court to grant him bail, the respondent (INEC), who opposed his bail application failed to present facts sufficient or any superior argument to convince the court on why the applicant should be denied bail. “That being the case I hereby rule that the applicant is entitled to bail pending the determination of the charge against him. “Consequently I order as follows; that the applicant be admitted to bail in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in the like sum. “The above information is to be verified by the assistant director in charge of this court and confirmed by the prosecuting counsel before the applicant maybe released from custody upon fulfilment of the bail condition,” he stated, and ordered for an accelerated hearing. Speaking, Counsel to INEC, Emmanuel Eze said, “The Court has granted the applicant bail with conditions attached to it. The Court has spoken and you don’t question court decision. If you are not satisfied you can go on appeal. “If INEC says I go on and appeal, I will appeal. I am at the service of the commission. But if the Commission says no let’s continue with the trial which has been adjourned, we will come back and continue.” Responding to whether he was satisfied with the bail conditions, Counsel to the accused, Abasiediong Ekpenyong said, “The conditions in my opinion are liberal, and just in the circumstance of the case. And the accused person is ready to defend himself.”

T H I S D AY ˾ UESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

POLITICS

Disharmony All the Way in the State of Harmony The crisis rocking Kwara State All Progressives Congress has assumed another dimension as the party in the state has been factionalized, writes Adedayo Akinwale

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the Chairmanship of Bello. He further alleged that Bello was said to have recommended Bolarinwa’s removal and that he be made a Commissioner in the cabinet of Kwara State and also recommended that Abdullai Sanmari, be made acting chairman. Oyedepo said they found it difficult to believe that the leadership of a national political party like the APC would flagrantly abuse its constitution by the purported removal of our State Chairman. He insisted that It was not written anywhere in the Constitution of APC that a zone of the party like the North Central Zone, can recommend to the National Secretariat for the removal of any officer of the party in any ward, Local Government and the State.

political manipulations from outside that, the game is up,” Oyedepo added.

any opportunity to denigrate the office of the Governor. Muhammed stressed that the intervention of the national headquarters of the party was therefore timely and necessary to save the party. The Chairman of Kwara APC Elders Forum, Mr. Kunle Suleiman, while fielding questions from journalists said: “Those ministers and Association of Failed Governorship Aspirants can come to Abuja to say nonsense but they are just paperweight politicians. They have no influence at the grassroots. Even a Professor, like Oba Abdulrasheed who prides himself as a former university vice-chancellor, would still have to come to the grassroots to learn.” On his part, Sen. Suleiman Ajadi said the two ministers are presidential appointees who lack the capability to win elections. According to him, Ministers are not elected officials. President Muhammadu Buhari picked them not based on their capability to win elections. If you check the pedigree of the two ministers you will understand what I am saying that they do not have the capacity to win elections.

t the moment, there is no harmony in the State of Harmony, as Kwara State is known as crisis rocking the ruling APC in the state shows no sign of abating following the removal of the state Chairman of the party Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa by the National Caretaker Committee of the party chaired by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni. The APC came into power after the ‘O to ge’ revolution to wrestle power from Saraki dynasty. ‘O to ge’, which was a people’s revolution literarily means Enough is Enough. Not long after the APC assumed power in the state, crisis hit the party when the camp of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, as well as the Minister of State, Transport, Gbemisola Saraki believed they were schemed out of political happenings in the state.

How the crisis started The battle of supremacy between the governor’s camp, Abdulrahaman Abdulrazak, and Mohammed and Saraki continued at the state level before it was made a national issue last week. The crisis, which indicated that political waters in the state were no longer still assumed a new twist when a faction of APC stormed the Secretariat in Abuja last week in a last minute effort to get the removal of the party chairman in the state reversed. The faction, which is loyal to Mohammed and Saraki, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to save the party from the imminent destruction and deliberate journey to political perdition. The faction led by led by Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo, informed journalists that members of the Kwara APC heard it as a rumour until they came face to face with the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe on the 12th day of January 2021, when he told them that the caretaker committee had dethroned Kwara state Chairman of the party on the 11th of January 2021, by giving a letter of appointment to his Deputy, Hon. Samari Abdullahi. He recalled that Bolarinwa became the Chairman in October 2018 and he led the party to 100% victory in the 2019 general elections. He added that he along with other State Chairmen of APC in Nigeria was sworn-in as the Kwara State Chairman of the Caretaker Committee on 11th December 2020. Why Kwara APC chairman was removed Oyedepo said they were informed by Akpanudoedehe that Bolarinwa was removed on the complaint of the Governor who claimed he could not work with the former. He alleged that the complaint was sustained and made a subject of removal as a result of a connivance between Abdulrazak and his Niger State Governor, Muhammed Bello. Oyedepo claimed that the content of the complaints was not made available, neither to the critical stakeholders of the party in Kwara State nor to Bolarinwa, adding that the decision of the Caretaker Committee was said to be based on the recommendations of the North Central Zone of the Party, under

Mohammed, Saraki faction dares Buni committee Oyedepo stated: “We have resolved to reject the verdict of the National Caretaker Committee on the purported removal of Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa. It is worth nothing more than the value of the paper on which the letter given to Hon Sanmari Abdulahi is written. It certainly shall not work in Kwara State no matter who is behind it. “Though when we told the Secretary that the decision could sink the party in the state, he said they really do not care. And he repeated during the conversation more than five times that he was acting under the instructions of the Chairman, Mai Mala Buni. “We shall prove to those that aborted the peoples’ revolution foisting on our party the present situation since 2018 that Kwara is not an appendage of any outside power conspiracy. They continue to compromise our noble cause with these unacceptable decisions and we shall henceforth prove to those that are not popular at home but rather rely on

Pro-Abdurazaq Group Responds But pro-Abdurazaq under the auspices of Concerned Kwara APC Elders/Stakeholders, wasted no time in returning the fire when it described Mohammed Saraki as paper-weight politicians with no electoral value. They also also declared support for the National Caretaker Committee Chaired by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, over the removal of Bolarinwa as state party Chairman. While addressing a press conference on behalf of the group, Amb. Nurudeen Muhammed described the decision by the national leadership of the party as a life saving decision. He stated: “First, we throw our weight behind the decision of the national headquarters of our party to appoint a dogged, committed and level-headed party chieftain Alhaji Abdullahi Samari as the Acting Chairman of the party. “This indeed is a lifesaving decision for the party that had been in the vice grip of power drunk and self-conceited individuals whose only loyalists are garrulous and selfish few whose only anger with the Governor is that he did not make himself a yes-man or stooge through whom the public vault is thrown open.” Muhammed said for many months, the former chairman and ‘his co-travelers’ launched a campaign of calumny against the governor to the chagrin of Kwara public who wonder what could warrant these party chieftains from the ruling party attacking their own governor despite his glaring record of achievements in less than two years. He noted It was on record that the aggrieved members have a weekly programme to denigrate the Governor, his administration, and the House of Assembly, adding that they never missed

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Counter narrative on Why Bolarinwa was remivedy The pro-governor group explained that contrary to their claims, Bolarinwa was rightly removed as chairman of the party for his many anti-party conducts, which include but are not limited to; open condemnation and denigration of the achievements of the APC government for his own selfish objectives, among others. The group added that Bolarinwa was also removed because there was no love lost between him and majority of the state executive council members who he never consulted, and his refusal to accept the leadership status of the Governor. Kwara APC youths threaten showdown While the two factions were busy engaging in war of words in Abuja, a group under the aegies of Concerned All Progressives Congress Youth Stakeholders, in Kwara state last week threatened to disrupt the forthcoming party membership registration exercise follwing the ‘illegal removal’ of Bolarinwa as chairman of the caretaker committee of the party was not reversed with immediate effect. The spokesperson of the group, Mr. Ahmed Ishowo, while addressing a press conference in Ilorin, said the removal of Bolarinwa was a move to return the stateto dark days of political impostor. The group said, “It is disheartening that Hon. Bolarinwa was removed from office without any issuance of letter of query but was done with a connivance of a single individual based on self ambition”. “We want the national caretaker committee of APC to know that the forthcoming membership registration will not take place in Kwara state until they rescind its decision over the illegal removal of Hon Bolarinwa as the state caretaker chairman of APC.” While the ruling party has engaged in a series of reconciliatory moves within the party, which is beginning to yield results, state chapters of the party like Rivers, Taraba are still embroiled in crisis.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

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

Five Years of Bridging Maritime Security Gaps In line with its statutory mandate, the Nigerian Navy has in the past five years under the leadership of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas activated dedicated and routine operations to bridge the security gaps in the nation’s maritime domain to enable legitimate socio-economic activities to thrive despite inherent challenges, Chiemelie Ezeobi reports

The new Nigerian Navy hydrographic survey vessel, NNS LANA, launched on Thursday 24 September 2020 at Les Sables D'olonne, France

Newly acquired rigid hull inﬂatable boats

he statutory roles of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has always been defined- protecting the territorial integrity of the nation. In the past five years however, this role has been consolidated upon under the present leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. In line with this statutory mandate, the navy in the past five years has overtime activated dedicated and routine operations to bridge the security gaps in the nation’s maritime domain to enable legitimate socioeconomic activities to thrive. This has been achieved through the high premium placed on operational availability of ships, training and motivation of personnel to ensure a zero tolerant posture to criminality within the nation’s maritime domain. This dedication to ensure a safe and secure maritime domain is not in itself surprising given that Nigeria, as one of the countries in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), has a coastline of about 420nautical miles (nm) and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200nm covering about 84,000 square nm of the National Maritime Environment (NME). Also, the nation’s maritime area of interest which includes the entire GoG and is about 574,800 square nautical miles spanning a total coastline of 2,874nm from Senegal to Angola is a huge maritime space rich in numerous hydrocarbon and mineral resources and also serves as a strategic route for maritime trade. However, insecurity has over the years been a considerable source of concern as the nation’s network of oil and gas installations as well as associated shipping have been threatened by maritime crimes such as piracy, sea robbery, Crude Oil Theft (COT), illegal oil bunkering, smuggling, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, militancy and kidnapping for ransom. Policy Thrust In the past five years that Vice Admiral Ibas has held the helm of leadership, he has drawn from a compelling need to evolve new approaches to combat the spate of insecurity in the maritime environment. To achieve this, on assumption of office, he promulgated his Strategic Directive 1 and 2 (SD1 and 2). While the SD1 which focused on eight key priority areas to be achieved by the NN under his command covered-operations, fleet renewal, logistics, infrastructural development and human resource development among others, the SD 2 was later promulgated in 2016 to consolidate on the achievements of SD1. Review According to information sourced from credible sources, the achievements from 2015 when Vice Admiral Ibas assumed office till

Chief of Naval Staﬀ, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas

Newly acquired fast patrol boat, NNS OSUN 2020 include maritime operations, ship/boat procurement and constructed and renovated projects. A review of the maritime operations data showed that in the years under review, pirate attacks in the GoG were about 339 while those in Nigerian waters were 214 and sea robbery 107. Also in the period under review, 3,136,877 barrels of crude oil; 1,001,564 metric tonnes of AGO; 2,591,907 litres of PMS and 3,574,360 litres of DPK destroyed. Also, 4,229 persons were arrested; 5,099 illegal refineries destroyed; 404 vessels; 439 barges; and 531 speed boats arrested while 2,977 wooden boats were either arrested and destroyed; 140 tankers/trucks arrested; 404 arrested and impounded vehicles; 12,008 storage tanks destroyed; and a total of 77,680 bags of rice at the cost of N20,000 per bag (approximately N1.6billion) intercepted. Under ships/boats procurement, 305 small ships and Inland Patrol Crafts (below 35m); 14 houseboats; four barges/tugboats and 11 capital ships (35m and above) were procured. Meanwhile, for new construction and renovated projects- 3,638 new units were constructed across the nation while 1,613 quarters were renovated. Operational Activities Although the above statistics give a total breakdown of achievements in the past five years, a further breakdown of last year’s successes showed the NN made significant strides in its operational activities and exercises which greatly improved security within the NME. Accordingly, major successes were recorded in the number of hours at sea, anti-piracy/ sea robbery, anti-COT/illegal bunkering,

anti-smuggling operations as well as in NN contribution to joint operations in the hinterland. One of the major key priorities of the CNS SD-2 was to sustain efficient and effective operational presence at sea in order to create a secured maritime environment for national prosperity. In 2020, over 72.5 per cent of NN operational ships were at sea for an average of 27,758 hrs between January to December 20. Within the period, a total of 87 vessels, 43 barges, 57 speed boats and 393 wooden boats were arrested/deactivated. On the whole, it could be deduced that sustained NN presence at sea in the last 12 months was responsible for reduction of maritime criminal activities within the nation’s maritime domain. On the whole, from 2015 - 2020, the NN sustained presence at sea for over 135,539 hours. Anti-Piracy Operations NN anti-piracy operations have recorded several successes in the fight against pirates and sea robbers. Notwithstanding the recent spike in piracy activities in the Fourth Quarter of 2020, NN anti-piracy operations led to several arrests and raid of suspected pirate camps leading to discoveries of assorted arms and ammunitions. Although there was a slight increase in 2020 piracy attacks within NME, more than 70 per cent of the attacks were unsuccessful due to NN robust surveillance system and response capability. The successes recorded by the NN necessitated other neigbouring nations to solicit for assistance during emergency situations within their waters. For instance, MV TOMMI RITSCHER, a Portuguese flag ship was attacked in Benin waters on April

19, 2020 but was rescued by the NN. Also, FV HAILUFENG II hijacked off the Coast of Cote d’Ivoire on May 15, 2020 was rescued by the NN. Similarly, MV ELOBEY VI, boarded by pirates in Equatorial Guinea waters on March 21, 2020 as well as attempted piracy attack on MV ESL AUSTRALIA on May 20, 2020 were all neutralised following NN timely response. But despite the successes achieved in bringing the rate of piracy to the barest minimum in the year especially in the first three quarters of 2020, the spate of pirates’ attacks/abduction of ships’ crew within Nigeria’s EEZ and the GoG has witnessed an increase in recent months. This could be adduced to the clampdown on COT and illegal oil refining which made perpetrators of these acts to switch to piracy and abduction of seafarers for ransom to meet their financial obligations. To tackle this, the NHQ emplaced a robust strategy by conducting intensive clearance operations across suspected enclaves of pirates and cults gangs to deny them safe refuge and neutralize their activities and from all indications, it appears to have stemmed the activities of these pirates. Anti-COT/Illegal Oil Bunkering Operations The NN equally performed credibly well in the fight against COT and illegal oil bunkering within the year under review (2020) as a total of 982 illegal local refineries/refining sites were deactivated with about 487 suspects arrested. In the area of illegal bunkering, the NN denied crude oil thieves a total of 3,136,877bbls as well as over 7,167,831 litres of different petroleum products among others, all worth

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

FEATURES

Ongoing construction of a 500 tonnes self-propelled fuel barge at Naval Dockyard, V/I Lagos

Newly constructed NNS BEECROFT jetty

billions of naira. Sustained NN anti-COT/Illegal oil bunkering effort within the period led to increased oil production and reduction of oil loses in 2020 when compared with previous years. Notably, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing operational successes recorded by the NN were reflected in reduction of losses by NNPC and her subsidiaries. Anti-Smuggling Operations Within the 2020 period under review, the NN also made giant strides in its antismuggling operations. Although the NN has been involved in anti-smuggling ops, its effort has been redoubled due to closer collaboration with other stakeholders, sequel to the Federal Government’s launching of OP CALM WATERS and OP SWIFT RESPONSE. During the temporary closure of both land and maritime borders, smugglers adopted different strategies to evade arrest but from January to December 20, the NN confiscated a total of 25,601 bags of foreign parboiled rice and arrested over 284 smugglers. Added to seizures between 2016 - 2019 a total of 77,680 bags of foreign rice seized from smugglers from 2016 - 2020. This is estimated at N1,553,600,000 at N20,000 per bag. Within the same period, 140 tankers/ trucks and 404 vehicles involved in smuggling activities were also impounded. Sequel to the FG’s recent directive to open the nation’s borders, with stringent measures to prevent smuggling activities, the NN has directed her units and formations across the country having common maritime borders with other countries to employ more intelligence and sustain patrol effort in order to arrest perpetrators of smuggling activities and their sponsors. Arrests Various NN operations in 2020 led to the arrest of a total of 593 vessels/trucks/ barges/boats suspected of committing various infractions within the maritime domain. The breakdown include 87 vessels, 43 barges, 57 speed boats, 393 destroyed wooden boats, 13 trucks and 16 impounded vehicles. Thirteen of these vessels are already forfeited to the FG while others are handed over to various prosecuting agencies for jurisdiction. The prosecution of maritime offences received a boost in 2020 following the enactment and application of the law on piracy and suppression of violent crimes at sea. Joint Hinterland Operations In line with its constitutional mandate, the NN had over the years supported various land-based operations in accordance with the NN Total Spectrum Maritime Strategy (TSMS). In the year 2020 the NN sustained support for various joint operations such as OP SWIFT RESPONSE, LAFIYA DOLE and SAFE HAVEN. Other joint operations with strong NN participation include OP DELTA SAFE, AWATSE and SAFE CORRIDOR. To reinforce NN participation in the joint operation at the North East, the Naval Base Lake Chad (NBLC) was established in 2016 at Baga to secure the fringes of the Lake Chad in support of the collective effort of OP LAFIYA DOLE and to deny the insurgents unhindered access across the maritime islands. The NN performed this role creditably. However, due to heavy terrorist activities within the Kukawa LGA in 2018, the base was eventually dislodged in December 2018 and had to relocate back to Maiduguri Metropolis

at sea. In addition, several spares such as generators, engines and other auxiliaries were procured to extend the life span and availability of NN vessels for operations.

The new Nigerian Navy AW 139 Leonardo Helicopter acquired recently to boost Nigerian Navy air arm operations where she continued to perform other specialist roles in support of the joint operations. In particular, within the period NBLC helped to develop Riverine assets of Republic of Chad and Cameroon under the auspices MNJTF. But after a vigorous After Battle Assessment of the operational theatre, plans are in top gear to reinsert the Base back to Baga with the support of DHQ, sister services and the Government of Borno State. Fleet Renewal/Acquisition It is pertinent to state that fleet renewal is one of the critical pillars of SD 1 and 2 and the strategic objective is to develop the right mix of ships and air asset capability to effectively sustain NN presence across the spectrum of maritime area of interests. In 2020, NN made significant strides in the recapitalisation of her fleet with the support of the FG. Under capital ships and Inshore Patrol Craft, one Hydrographic Survey Ship from OCEA SA launched and is expected to be delivered by Apr 2021. In addition, five OCEA FPB were added to NN Fleet during the year under review. Furthermore, four x C-Falcon 17m Inshore Patrol Craft from OCEA SA are expected in Nigeria. The NN is also expecting four units of 17M Manta Boats by Messrs Suncraft, scheduled to arrive January 21 while MOD Emergency Procurement of two x 40m Fast Patrol Boat by Messrs DAMEN is also awaiting delivery. In addition to the capital ships, 25 units of 9.5m RHIBs and 15 units of 8.5m RHIBs Boats were constructed by Suncraft for the NN and are currently in NDL undergoing As & As before final acceptance. Also, 90 other boats are either expected for delivery or have been distributed to NN units. The NN has taken delivery of 1 X AW 139 Helicopter from Messrs Leonardo Helicopter currently waiting commissioning in Lagos. The NN is also in the process of procuring a total of 14 UAVs to enhance response capability, through Messrs Epsilon in South Africa and CACTIC in China. These are expected to be delivered within the current year. In retrospect, the NN in last six (counting 2021) years has acquired a total of 378 platforms of varying categories, including 172 RPBs, 114 RHIBs, two SDBs, 12 Manta Class/IPCs, three Whaler Boats, three Tug Boats and two

barges. Other platforms acquired included 22 Fast Attack Boats, 14 UAVs, four Helicopters, 14 River Town Class, 12 House boats and four capital ships. Infrastructural Development and Logistics Under this administration, the navy in 2020 embarked on numerous infrastructural, administrative and welfare projects. Under infrastructural projects, over 90 construction and related projects were undertaken from January to December 2020 with over 80 per cent of these projects completed and others at various stages of completion. A key infrastructural project is the reconstruction of Jetties at NSL Port Harcourt; Under Water Warfare School Ojo; NOP KOLUAMA and other FOBs which are at various stages of construction. Equally important are construction, paving and surfacing of access and internal roads in NN some NN Quarters in Abuja, Yenegoa and Calabar. The activation of JV between the NN and CSOIL for the construction of an integrated workshop at NNSY and provision of floating dock has further boosted NN infrastructural capacity to maintain her platforms. Also, in a bid to adequately motivate its personnel for improved output, efforts were doubled in 2020 to provide decent accommodation, schools and other welfare projects. Over 31 housing units were initiated across the country, 20 of which have been completed and commissioned for use while others are under construction. These include the fencing of the barracks and construction of the 163 metre drive way to ratings quarters at NNS LUGARD in Lokoja as well as the connection of the barracks to the national grid. Others include various units of accommodation for officers and ratings accommodation at Kubwa, Asokoro, Abuja and Navy Town Lagos. Befitting institutional houses were also constructed for CBMs of operational commands while contract has been awarded for the construction of a 320 capacity auditorium for Naval War College in Calabar, Cross River State. Procurement-wise, NN operations were sustained by the provision of adequate POL products and spares for the ships. Notably in 2020, over 600,000,000 million litres of AGO were procured for NN sustained presence

Human Resource Development In recognition of the requirement for fleet availability, the NN intensified specialised technical and operational manpower training. Of significance in 2020 is the sustained capacity building for personnel of Engineering, Medical and Hydrographic departments of the service. Several NN medical personnel were released and sponsored for residency training in reputable institutions within and outside the country in addition to the medical diagnostic equipment training with their respective manufacturers in Germany. The NN also invested significantly in specialised technical manpower training with various OEMs abroad in its drive to ensure local maintenance and availability of ships for operations. In anticipation of arrival and commissioning of the newly acquired NN Hydro Survey Vessel, NNS LANA, significant effort has been made in hydrographic capacity building for personnel that would man the state of the art equipment onboard the vessel. Also, the navy is in the process of procuring UAVs to enhance her response capability. In this regard, it is pertinent to state that 20 NN personnel have been screened to be trained as UAV Pilots and the successful candidates will shortly commence their training. In addition to these specialised trainings, in the year under review, 480 officers and over 1400 ratings are currently engaged in professional and academic training locally and abroad. Research and Development NN Research and Developmental efforts gained traction in 2020 with local construction and production of equipment that erstwhile are usually vendor driven and are sourced from manufacturers outside the country. In consolidation of the local shipbuilding efforts, indigenous construction of a 43m SDB III and 2 logistic supply vessels/houseboats at Naval Dockyard Limited and Naval Shipyard Limited respectively are progressing steadily. These vessels are programmed to join the service by first quarter of 2021. Importantly, about 170 riverine patrol boats were built in-country, thus complementing indigenous shipbuilding capacity, employment generation and skills acquisition. Challenges Undoubtedly, the NN recorded successes in fleet renewal, infrastructural development, training and R & D towards a secure maritime environment for enhanced national prosperity, within the period under review and these would not have been possible without the support of President Muhammadu Buhari. However, notwithstanding these achievements, the navy is still faced with some challenges which include inadequate platforms( although the FG has begun fleet recapitalisation), weak legislative and legal refines, difficult operating environment in the backwaters and inadequate funding. Notwithstanding, while all these acquisitions and operations have contributed in enhancing maritime security within the NME with attendant economic gains, it is imperative to sustain or heighten these measures in order to optimise the potentials in the maritime domain.

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

LAWYER

WEEKLY PULLOUT

19.01.2021

NIN-SIM Registration: Sacriﬁcing the Health of Hapless Nigerians

2/DASHBOARD

19.01.2021

LAWYER

WEEKLY PULLOUT

19.01.2021

Bias: Effect on Trial and Decision of the Court PAGE 4

Zimbabwe’s Sternford Moyo is New IBA President PAGE 5

NIN-SIM Registration: Sacriﬁcing the Health of Hapless Nigerians

QUOTABLES 'Covid-19 is a disaster, while the closure of schools is more disastrous.... Keeping schools closed a moment longer than is absolutely necessary, is socially intolerable, economically unsustainable and morally indefensible......’ - Chief Afe Babalola CON, OFR, SAN, Founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria 'Nigeria is not, and cannot be a Failed State....For the past two decades or so, some pseudo-analysts have been predicting the country's implosion. That has not happened....They have found a new tag line - Failing or Failed State. It is also a ruse, aimed at depicting Nigeria as being in a constant state of anarchy......’ - Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Lawyer, Minister of Information & Culture, Federal Republic of Nigeria

PALU Congratulates New IBA President PAGE 5

Review of Some of the Signiﬁcant Decisions: Labour & Employment 2020 PAGE 6

19.01.2021

Nigeria, USA: A People Dehumanised, a Country Diminished The two most repeated words in Nigeria last week were, NIN (National Identity Number), and Trump. The NIN Issue Personally, I find the NIN issue rather bizarre. It is obvious that the security and welfare of the people is of no concern to Government, nor does it seem to be a purpose of Government at all, let alone its primary purpose (Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution). If it was, whatever deadline had been set for all to obtain a NIN - inter alia, in order to make them available to the telephone operators and avoid disconnection of telephone lines; it should have been extended until further notice as soon as Nigerians started to descend on the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in their multitudes, to beat the deadline, thereby turning the registration exercise to the most fertile ground for the spread of Covid-19. Even the staff of NIMC downed tools recently, one of the reasons being that a few of their staff had been infected with the dreaded virus, and Government had put nothing in place for their protection or treatment, during the subsistence of the pandemic. Is having the NIN more important than staying alive? We are in the thick of a pandemic where many, even in Nigeria, are dying on a daily basis. While other Governments are putting restrictive measures in place to curb the spread of the virus, the Nigerian Government believes that this is the most appropriate time to enforce NIN registration, instead of encouraging all to stay home and isolate as much as possible. What is so urgent about the NIN, that it cannot wait? I perused the National Identity Management Commission Act 2007 (NIMC Act) which establishes the NIMC (Section 1 NIMC Act) to inter alia, create, manage, maintain and operate the National Identity Database (Sections 5 & 14 (1) NIMC Act). Section 15 of the NIMC Act sets out the objectives of the database, and even though Government may believe that these objectives are important, they are definitely not vital or imperative. Nigeria will not collapse, if this exercise is postponed to a more conducive time. For example, Section 15(a) of the NIMC Act provides thus: “use ﬁngerprints and other biometric information as unique and unambiguous features of identifying registrable persons; 15 (c) enable the harmonisation of existing identity card schemes in Nigeria”. Pray tell, what is so pressing about these objectives, so much so that Government has no reservation about putting the lives of the people in jeopardy? Even if such registration was a constitutional requirement, in the interest of public health’s during safety, it could be suspended (Section 45 (1)(a) of the Constitution). After all, Section 33(1) of the Constitution guarantees our right to life, which we cannot be deprived of, except in the execution of a sentence of court in respect of a criminal

US President, Donald Trump

offence which a person has been found guilty of in Nigeria. Going to any Registration Centre now, is like having a death wish or playing Russian Roulette with one's life. It is obvious that the proper thing for Government to do is, if it does not suspend the registration exercise completely for now, to extend the deadline, in order to reduce the pressure and desperation for registration. Presently, it seems that our ailing healthcare system cannot cope with the rising cases of infection, with stories of inadequate beds for the sick, lack of oxygen etc flying around. So, why is Government aggravating an already dire situation, by promoting the spread of the virus? At this juncture, one cannot but ask what Government hopes to benefit from providing a propitious environment for the spread of Covid-19, instead of curbing it. The Minister for Communications and Digital Economy in a television interview last week, blamed the rush on NIMC on the failure of the people to do their registration timeously, in view of the fact that the NIMC Act has been in existence since 2007, and the people failed to do their registration all this time, and/or the deadline had been given months ago. While this may very well be so, let us not forget that the one month lockdown in 2020, plus the skeletal services subsequently offered by government establishments, upon resumption from the lockdown, and the #EndSARS period, all disturbed the registration exercise as time was lost, since nothing could have be done during these periods. We are in the throes of a health emergency, with a highly infectious and dangerous virus spreading and killing thousands all over the world, including Nigeria; is the NIMC Act superior to Sections 33(1) & 45(1) of the Constitution? By virtue of Section 1(1) & (3) of the Constitution, the answer to the latter question, is clearly no. Government should postpone the NIMC deadline, because if more people become infected as a result of this ongoing exercise, it will be impossible for this administration to blame the PDP or anyone else but itself, for the negative outcome of the spread of Covid-19. However, Government may have started to see the folly of their directive, as it has been reported that, at least in Abuja, an attempt has been made to decentralise the registration centres and spread them to various locations. This move must be replicated all over the country. Be that as it may, it is obvious that, the deadline set by Government is not feasible for millions of Nigerians. President Trump’s Impeachment It seems as if the Nigerian Government is not alone, in its thoughtless and uncaring attitude towards its people. The same can obviously be said for President Trump, vis-a-vis the American people. Though the American Constitution only seems to have a general welfare clause stated in its preamble, and another in Article 1 Section 8 Clause 1 in relation to taxes, it goes

President Muhammadu Buhari

without saying that the main purpose of any democratically elected government, is to take care of its people. President Trump has made history, for being the only President to be impeached twice in American history. His second impeachment which occurred last week, was for "Incitement of Insurrection" - with his speech of January 6, which urged his supporters to "fight like hell" against the election which he falsely claimed and communicated to them, had been stolen from them! Even though President Trump may be able to defend himself by claiming that he did not incite his supporters to violence, since he said: ".....I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard", can it be argued against him that he certainly knew that there were people in his crowd of supporters who would be anything but peaceful, and that, in any event, even if he believed that his supporters marching to the Capitol Building for a tea party or a prayer meeting, five people subsequently died as a result of that incident? Disqualiﬁcation from Holding Public Ofﬁce The latest argument now, is that having been impeached twice, can the Senate vote to disqualify President Trump from ever holding public office again, since that process will be ongoing after he has left office, and the new administration, inaugurated tomorrow? The American Senate has rightfully rejected the argument, that they cannot disqualify Trump after he leaves office. While some argue that Article 1 Section 3 of of the American Constitution provides inter alia, for the Senate to try all cases of impeachment of the "... President, the Vice President, or other civil officer of the United States", and that technically, as of January 20, Donald Trump will no longer be President, and therefore, no longer qualifies under this provision, those on the other side of the argument, use the same provision as the basis for the continuation of the disqualification process even after Trump leaves office, especially seeing as he was impeached for the second time while he was still President, and the consequence of the double impeachment is/can be the disqualification process which is distinct from impeachment; that no constitutional provision precludes the Senate from continuing with the process. Examples to support the the position that Trump could even be impeached after he leaves office and the disqualification process continue, are the cases of Senator William Blount and Secretary of War, William Belknap who were both impeached in 1799 and 1876 respectively, after they were no longer in office. In fact, Blount was expelled, and also impeached. Legal Consequences for Trump? The Senate is not a court of law, and therefore, the burden of proof for impeachment etc in the Senate, is certainly different from that of a court of law. Another argument is that, if Trump is not disqualified from holding public office, he may go scot free if the burden of proof required to convict him in court, cannot be discharged - that he incited his supporters to violence/violence against Congress/seditious acts and so on. Legally, it must be proved that President Trump sought to persuade his supporters to commit the offences that they committed, and/or to be violent. Proving this against Trump in a court of law, may be an uphill task. Even if what he said is classified as hate speech, hate speech is protected under the First Amendment to the American Constitution. In Brandenburg v Ohio 395 U.S. 444 (1969) the Supreme Court upheld the rights of free speech of a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) white supremacist racist hate group, Clarence Brandenburg. And, even if those who actually perpetrated the criminal acts are convicted for the offences which they committed, that may not be enough to indict President Trump. Conclusion It may not be much of a punishment, for an outgoing President to be impeached a few days

“GOING TO ANY REGISTRATION CENTRE NOW, IS LIKE HAVING A DEATH WISH OR PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH ONE'S LIFE.....SO, WHY IS GOVERNMENT AGGRAVATING AN ALREADY DIRE SITUATION, BY PROMOTING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS?”

to the end of his tenure. Even if it may be disgraceful, Donald Trump is not given to feelings of shame. If the Prosecution is unable to make any criminal charges stick, Trump would only use his shallow victory for more propaganda, profession of his innocence and buttressing the allegations of an imagined witch-hunt against him. But, if Trump is prohibited from ever holding public office again, it will serve as a good punishment for him, especially if he has his eye on the office of President again, come 2024. It will also serve as a good lesson to people like him in public office, that even if these impeachment proceedings may have been used only sparingly, they can, and will be invoked when the need arises; hence, the need to tread with caution and sense! Hopefully, the disqualification will also make it clear to President Trump that, not only did he do the American people wrong, he diminished his country in the eyes of the world.

4/LAW REPORT

Bias: Effect on Trial and Decision of the Court bias is that of a reasonable man, not that of a man who has made up his mind to pull down the institution of justice in a desperate bid to rubbish the judicial process, and get off the hook by any means. Regarding the allegation of denial of fair hearing, counsel dismissed this as unfounded. He argued that refusal by the trial Judge to sign a subpoena to compel the attendance of Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.) to appear in court to testify on behalf of the Appellant, was mere exercise of judicial function and discretion. By the way, the appeal by the Appellant on this issue was successful, and the appellate court directed the trial Judge to issue the subpoena – METUH v FRN & ANOR. (2018) 3 NWLR (Pt. 1605) CA 1. He concluded that the trial Judge afforded the Appellant an opportunity to present his case, and so, he cannot be heard to complain about denial of fair hearing.

Facts The Appellant and the 2nd Respondent were arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Honourable Justice O.E. Abang. The amended seven-count Charge on which they were arraigned, relate to offences of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering. The Appellant was alleged to have received and controlled the sum of N400 million, paid into the account of the 2nd Respondent with Diamond Bank (which he is a sole signatory to), from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria, without contract award. While the 1st Respondent maintained that the Appellant ought to have known that the money was proceeds of unlawful activities of the then National Security Adviser, the Appellant posited that the money was received for political activities of the People’s Democratic Party. The Appellant, as well as the 2nd Respondent, pleaded not guilty to the counts. The matter went to trial, with the 1st Respondent calling eight witnesses. At the conclusion of the case of the prosecution, the Appellant filed a No-Case submission, which was dismissed by the trial court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Appellant therefore, opened its defence, whereat he testified for himself and called fourteen other witnesses. By its judgement, the trial court convicted the Appellant on the seven counts, and on the whole, sentenced him to seven years imprisonment, to run concurrently. In the said judgement, the trial Judge recounted how the Appellant and his counsel used a section of the press to review the earlier decisions of the court; attack and humiliated his person by portraying him as inhuman; how he would have summarily dealt with counsel for the Appellant at the trial court, but decided to be patient with him even in the face of the contemptuous application for the learned trial Judge to recuse himself; how the two senior learned counsel for the Appellant were pre-occupied with writing frivolous petitions against the court; how God had sustained him through the years of hostility from the Appellant and his team of Lawyers; et.al. The Appellant appealed the decision of the trial court. The grounds of fair hearing, bias and prejudice were raised in the Notice and Grounds of Appeal filed by the Appellant. Counsel for the 1st Respondent filed a Motion on Notice, wherein it raised a Preliminary Objection to the competence of Grounds 12 and 14 (relating to fair hearing, bias and prejudice), which they argued were not based on the ratio decidendi of the judgement of the trial court, but on obiter dictum. The Court of Appeal, however, dismissed the objection on the basis that the issues of bias and prejudice raised in the grounds are fundamental to the appeal, as the effect thereof, can vitiate the entire proceedings. Issues for Determination The Appellant and the Respondents formulated ten issues each for determination of the appeal. The court however, determined the appeal on the following two issues: 1. Whether the Appellant was given a fair trial at the court below. 2. Whether the entire trial, judgement and sentence of the Appellant was tainted with prejudice and bias on the part of the learned trial Judge as evident, amongst others, from the disparaging remarks which the learned trial Judge made about the Appellant, and learned Senior Counsel for the Appellant whom he accused of using every opportunity to humiliate the court by writing hopeless, reckless and frivolous petitions against the court, and using a section of the press to sponsor blackmail against the court – which was presented as inhuman and heartless with the Appellant going as far as falling down in the court room, just to have unmerited sympathy from the international community. Arguments Arguing issues one and two, counsel for the Appellant contended that the decision of the trial court impinged on the Appellant’s right to fair hearing, as guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). He submitted that the right to be tried by an impartial Judge is deeply embedded in the Constitution, and mere possibility of bias is enough to vitiate the entire proceeding. Counsel relied on various judicial authorities in support of his contention that any reasonable, disinterested observer, informed person viewing the matter realistically and practically, would conclude that the Appellant and counsel representing him were not treated fairly and courteously by the trial Judge – ALAKE v ABALAKA (2002) FWLR (Pt. 88) 931 at 944. He also invited the appellate court to draw an inference of bias from the remarks made by the trial Judge in the judgement, emphasising that outside the offences with which the Appellant was charged, the trial Judge went further to show his bias against the Appellant by branding him as aggressive, hardened and difficult. In support of his position that the Appellant was denied fair hearing, he cited the example of the trial Judge’s refusal of the subpoenaed witness, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd.) (the former National Security Adviser to the President) to refresh his memory. Counsel urged the court to allow the appeal. Responding to the submissions above, counsel argued for the 1st Respondent that from the inception of the case, the Appellant had, without basis, levelled allegations of bias and denial of fair hearing against the trial Judge, in order to have the case

In the Court of Appeal of Nigeria Abuja Judicial Division Holden at Abuja On Wednesday, the 16th day of December, 2020 Before Their Lordships

Stephen Jonah Adah Mohammed Mustapha Mohammed Baba Idris Justices, Court of Appeal CA/A/CR/306/2020 Between 1.

Olisa Metuh

Appellant

And 1. Federal Republic of Nigeria 2. Destra Investment Limited

Respondents

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Stephen Jonah Adah, JCA)

transferred to another Judge. He referred to the Petition written by the Appellant to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in March, 2016 to have the case transferred to another Judge, on ground of bias. Further, the Appellant filed a Motion on Notice pray-

ing the trial Judge to recuse himself and return the case file to the Chief Judge, which application was dismissed as lacking in merits – ESSEIN v ESSEIN (2009) 9 NWLR (Pt. 1146) CA 306 at 342. Counsel argued that the real test of bias or likelihood of

“THE EXHIBITION OF BIAS AS INFERRED FROM THE FACTS OF THIS CASE, IS TOO SERIOUS TO BE IGNORED. IT WILL BE A VERY DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, FOR THIS COURT TO IGNORE THIS BREACH. A TRIAL THAT MEETS THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARD IN A CIVILISED SOCIETY, IS A TRIAL THAT IS FAIR AND JUST. SUCH A TRIAL HAS NO TOLERANCE FOR BIAS AND PARTIALITY”

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the two issues together, Their Lordships noted that the issues relate to denial of fair hearing and whether the entire trial of the Appellant was tainted with prejudice and bias on the part of the trial Judge. The appellate highlighted the paragraphs relating to the comments of the trial Judge as contained in the record of appeal, to show how the trial Judge went to town in bemoaning the perceived grievances nursed against the Appellant and his counsel. The appellate court compared the passion with which the trial Judge gave the rendition of his account, as that of someone giving a valedictory speech. The Court of Appeal highlighted some comments of the trial Judge, including the failure of the Appellant to display sobriety when confronted with the statement of account of the 2nd Respondent which showed transfer of money from the said account to that of the Appellant’s wife, and thereby describing the Appellant as hardened, difficult and stubborn; the comments of the trial court on how counsel for the Appellant humiliated the court by writing hopeless, reckless and frivolous petitions against the court; among others. Their Lordships of the Court of Appeal held that from the outburst of the trial Judge in the judgement, it can be inferred that everyone in the court who watched the proceedings, could read the mind of the trial Judge. The outburst appears to be that of a person who has an axe to grind against the Appellant, and his team of Lawyers. An ordinary man in court would have concluded that, the trial Judge cannot be free to hold an even balancing scale of justice. While it may be impossible to measure or know the mind of the Judge by direct evidence, the attitude displayed by the Judge, which is apparent, may be examined to determine if he is biased – KENON v TEKAM (2001) 14 NWLR (Pt. 732) 12. The trial Judge catalogued the series of what he nursed against the Appellant and his legal team. The inference from the narrative shows that, the Judge was angered or wounded in his mind towards the Appellant and his Lawyers. This, without more, is an inference that the trial Judge was likely to be biased, and indeed, was biased against the Appellant. Justice is universally rooted in conﬁdence. When in a criminal trial a person accused sniffs the polluted air of bias in any tangible form, the responsibility of the court is to be circumspect of what gives the accused person reason to complain. This unfortunately, is not what happened in the instant case. The learned trial Judge took the complaint, it appears, to be a personal assault to his person and his court. He then began to labour to cope with the burden of hearing the case before him, and ended up reeling out what shows the colour of his bias against the Appellant in his judgement. In all this, the court was being watched by the ordinary people in the court. A straight assessment of the utterances of the learned trial Judge in this case, shows an exhibition of bias. In this instance, the inference of bias is drawn from all that the learned trial Judge said. The duty of a trial Judge, is to be completely detached from the case before him. The Judge owes a duty of fairness to the parties. This role is sacred; by virtue of his position as an impartial arbiter, a trial Judge must determine disputes between parties speedily, efficiently and in a manner that ensures evenhanded justice to both parties. Where bias is established as in this case, the decision of the trial court cannot be anything but a nullity. The appellate court, in its duty, must set the decision aside. Appeal allowed Representation Essien Andrew with Eddiong Usungurua Esq.; Chika Odoemena, Esq.; MaryFrances Orji Esq. and A.A.O. Akpan, Esq. for the Appellant. Sylvanus Tahir, Esq. with Richard Dauda, Esq. and H.M. Mohammed, Esq. for the 1st Respondent. Tobechukwu Onwugbufor, SAN with O. Francis Esq. and C. Onwugbufor, Esq. for the 2nd Respondent. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR) (An Afﬁliate of Babalakin & Co.)

19.01.2021

NEWS/5

Zimbabwe’s Sternford Moyo is New IBA President )RU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ WKH 74-year history of the International Bar Association, an African has emerged President of the global body of Lawyers. Sternford Moyo, Chairman and Senior Partner RI ODZ ÀUP 6FDQOHQ and Holderness, is the new President of the International Bar Association (IBA). Hailing from Zimbabwe, Mr Moyo is WKH ÀUVW ,%$ 3UHVLGHQW RI African descent in the history of the 74-year-old organisation. He succeeds Brazil’s Horacio Bernardes Neto with a two-year tenure through to 31 December, 2022. Mr. Moyo has held numerous senior IBA roles, including: Council Member, Management Board Member, Advisory Board Member and Chair of the African Regional Forum, Deputy Secretary-General for Southern Africa, CoChair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), Trustee of IBA-established entities, such as the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and eyeWitness to Atrocities, and member of the Task Force on Illicit Financial Flows, Poverty and Human Rights. Recognising the achievements of his predecessors

New IBA President, Sternford Moyo

and committing to buildLQJ RQ WKHLU HͿRUWV 0U 0R\R ZKRVH ÀUP LV RQH of the founder members of the pan-African network LEXAfrica and also a member of Meritas, commented: ‘It was great and visionary leadership that conceived and implemented the idea of the International Bar Association: to create relationships and exchanges among individual Lawyers, Bar Associations and Law Societies; to pursue capacity building for Bar Associations; to promote continuing professional

development in order to enhance service to the public; to protect and promote the rule of law, human rights, HͿHFWLYH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ of justice and core values of the legal profession; to promote harmonisation and uniformity in the UHVROXWLRQ RI GL΀FXOW legal problems; and to work with international juridical organisations. ‘The IBA, under the direction of my predecessors DQG LWV H[HFXWLYH R΀FHUV has been highly successful in advancing these objectives. Consequently, as I

take over as President of our Association, I am pleased to say that I stand on a platform of excellent work done by my predecessors and the employees of the Association. My role shall be to work towards GHHSHQLQJ WKH IXOÀOPHQW of the objectives of our Association and increasing diversity, eliminating all forms of discrimination in the practice of law and administration of justice. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my predecessors and employees of the Association, for the solid platform from which I

shall be working.’ Mr. Moyo recently outlined additional objectives and areas of focus for his IBA Presidency, including: GHYHORSLQJ HͿHFWLYH DQWL corruption strategies; strengthening IBA project output from constituents to provide ‘role model’ material, to improve the practical exercise of law; updating guidance and recommendations regarding the extractive industries, so that current strategies meet investor protection and developmental rights of the communities where

PALU Congratulates New IBA President The leadership of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) has congratulated the new President of the International Bar Association, Mr. Sternford Moyo. In a congratulatory message to Moyo, PALU President, Mr. Emeka Obegolu said: ‘I, and my colleagues on the Executive Committee, as well as the Secretariat leadership of PALU, are very delighted at the formal announcement of your ascension to the Presidency of the IBA! ‘We heartily congratulate you, and the entire leadership and membership of the IBA, for bestowing this

PALU President, Emeka Obegolu

singular honour upon you, and, through you, to Lawyers of African descent throughout the world. ‘Having worked with and observed you over

the years, this is a EHÀWWLQJ WULEXWH WR WKH GHFDGHV RI VHOÁHVV VHUYLFH that you have given to our profession, and that you have contributed to the rule of law, and hu-

man and peoples’ rights, in Zimbabwe, across Africa and globally, which includes – although is not limited to – almost three decades of service to and through the IBA. You are

a true embodiment of the principles, values and life of a model Lawyer. ‘As you know, we were glad to actively support and promote your candidature in the course of last year; and we will be similarly glad to actively support your Presidency and your presidential plan/ vision over the next two years. ‘We will take this opportunity to be more active, and to encourage our institutional and individual members to be more active in the IBA. We will also ensure to include you and the IBA more robustly, in our initiatives and activities.’

the investment takes place; focusing on cyber security with the aim of working towards developing best practice guidelines for a new global framework for public institutions and private companies; and using digital resources to make the knowledge generated by the IBA more readily available to developing Bar Associations, Lawyers in low-income jurisdictions, and those at entry level in high-income jurisdictions. Mr. Moyo’s professional career has seen him hold a variety of leadership positions, including having been a Bar leader in Zimbabwe and in Southern Africa, and Corporate leader in mining, manufacturing, corporate services and leadership development. In 1990, Mr Moyo was selected by the United States Information Services, to participate in a programme to familiarise young African leaders with the American legal system and its background. In 2004, he participated in a media advocacy course, run by University of Oxford. As Senior Partner in Scanlen and Holderness, a large corporate law practice established in 1894, Mr Moyo specialises in mining, corporate and commercial law. The IBA’s new Vice President is Almudena Arpón de Mendívil. Ms Arpón de Mendívil is a Partner with the Spanish ODZ ÀUP *yPH] $FHER Pombo, where she leads the Corporate Technology, Media and Telecommunications Group. A member of the IBA for more than 20 years, she joined the IBA Management Board in 2009 and has held several IBA senior leadership roles, including: IBA SecretaryGeneral, Treasurer, Chair of the Legal Practice Division, Member of the Investments Review Committee, Member of the Special Projects Fund Committee, and Member of the Rule of Law Task Force. Her tenure is for the calendar years 2021 and 2022.

19.01.2021

Review of Some of the Signiﬁcant Decisions: Labour & Employment 2020 This Review by Folabi Kuti, outlines some of the landmark decisions of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in 2020 covering quantum of damages, pharmaceutical industry employment disputes, compensatory damages relating to injury at the work place, and decisions involving the Companies and Allied Matters Act. He concludes that with the new trends set in the workplace (due to the pandemic), 2021 may see novel types of employment disputes arise Sahara Energy Resources Limited v Mrs Olawunmi Oyebola narguably, the ex cathedra decision of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria in Appeal No. CA/L/1091/2016 Sahara Energy Resources Limited v Mrs Olawunmi Oyebola, delivered on December 3, 2020, represents perhaps, the single most significant decision on the employment landscape in 2020. Here, the final court on labour and employment matters, in a significant shift from some of its previous disapproving decisions, affirmed the latitude, within set parameters, of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN/the Court) to depart from orthodoxy common law prescriptions, restricting the quantum of damages to remedy deserving wrongful termination cases. Instructive though, is the incremental approach with which the NICN, roundabout the same timeline of 2020, has also continued to apply its statutory powers to apply equity in many deserving cases. A good number of noteworthy cases will be recapped to bear this out. In Captain Benedict Olusoji Akanni v The Nigerian Army & 3 Ors, the NICN awarded N75 mill for loss of expectation and psychological trauma, as a result of the arbitrary and illegal actions of the 1st Defendant. Similarly, in Ugochukwu Edmund Okwu v Zenith Bank Plc, upon a finding that a suspension without pay for 77 months was inhumane and tantamount to unfair labour practice, the NICN, awarded the sum of N33,194,245.70 in favour of the Claimant. The rationale was hinged on arrears of salary from the date of suspension, to the day the Claimant retired. Still on NICN’s high watermark compensatory damages, in apparently deserving cases, Chukwudoro v Oiltest Well Services Limited (Unreported Suit No. NICN/EN/53/2013, judgement delivered September 28, 2020; per Hon-Justice O.O Arowosegbe) and Osazuwa v International Tobacco Company & Anor (Unreported Suit No. NICN/EN/25/2016, judgement delivered September 29, 2020; per Hon-Justice O.O Arowosegbe) are standalone seminal judgements. The NICN, inter alia, greatly expounded the broad scope of discriminatory practices that will amount to unfair labour practices; deserving of ‘penalties that must have a dissuasive effect on potential perpetrators of discrimination’.

slippery ...'. The Claimant made a case for negligence leading to a workplace injury suffered, but neither pleaded nor proved the particulars of negligence as required. The case, understandably, was dismissed. In Ukpong v CGCOC Group of Companies Ltd. (Unreported Suit No. NICN/CA/24/2019, judgement delivered January 24, 2020; per Hon-Justice M.N Esowe) the Claimant’s left hand was severely damaged as a result of an industrial accident due to the Defendant’s negligence. The Court awarded the sum of N5 million as general damages, for the loss of amenities of life. In Ojeikhoa v Nicon Luxury Services Ltd & Anor. (Unreported Suit No. NICN/ABJ/446/2016, judgement delivered June 30, 2020; per Hon-Justice R.B Haastrup) the Court rightly invoked the provisions of Section 19(d) of the National Industrial Court Act 2006 in awarding the sum of N5 million as compensation. The Claimant lost his foot, in the course of employment with the 2nd Defendant. In Adetayo v Nigeria Breweries Plc (Unreported Suit No. NICN/LA/617/2017, judgement delivered December 14, 2020; per Hon-Justice Elizabeth A. Oji, PhD) the claim was for compensation for the physical impairment allegedly suffered by the Claimant, while in the employment of the Defendant as a machine operator. The claim failed, as the Court held that the Claimant failed to place evidence establishing the exact nature of his job; predisposing him to the said physical impairment – Lumber Spondylosis R/O Back Strain.

Pharmaceutical Industry Disputes Unrelenting as the efforts of the labour court were within the 2020 timeline, it was also afforded the opportunity to deal decisively with what appears to be a disturbing trend in the pharmaceutical industry. This relates to a requirement that employees complete an exit clearance or ‘successful disengagement’ process, as condition precedent to the release of their original educational certificates; collected by the employer at the start of employment. These employment disputes involving three pharmaceutical companies, across two divisions of the NICN, returned with similar holdings of unfair labour practice. The fact patterns are strikingly similar to many which are known anecdotally throughout the world of work. Pharmacists are engaged as medical/sales representatives, and at the point of engagement, asked to submit the originals of their university certificates. The companies keep them, and these employees only become entitled to their return, upon 'successful clearance' when their contract of employment is ended; either through resignation or termination. The three cases where the court was opportune to deal with this unscrupulous practice were: Mr. Adebayo v Superior Pharmaceutical Ltd (Unreported Suit No. NICN/AK/62/2018, judgement delivered on February 17, 2020; per Hon-Justice A.A Adewemimo); Pharm. Obateru Olufemi Abidemi v Fidson Healthcare Plc (Unreported Suit No. NICN/AK/06/2018, judgement delivered on February 17, 2020; per Hon-Justice A.A Adewemimo); and Seagreen Pharmaceuticals Ltd v Adaji Gabriel (Unreported Suit No. NICN/KD/16/2017, judgement delivered on December 1, 2020; per Hon-Justice S.O Adeniyi). In all three cases, the NICN deprecated the practice of holding over these certificates, ordering their immediate release, whilst also awarding damages against the affected companies. The court had cause, in a separate case, to pronounce again on some variant of this practice; albeit in a different hue and industry. This involved the procurement of an employee’s certificate (as a qualified Mining Engineer) to enable an employer ‘hold the same out’, in compliance with a statutory precondition, needed to evince that it (employer) can carry out mining activities. The Claimant/Employee in Engr Tarfa Dzarma Garba v Ashaka Cement Plc & Anor (Unreported Suit No. NICN/BAU/13/2017, judgement delivered February 28, 2020; per Hon-Justice K.I Amadi) was so held out as a Supervising Mining Engineer, when in fact, he did not so act/work. Much less straightforward, with respect, is the ratio decidendi, to compensate this former employee, relying on Section 19(d) of the National Industrial Court Act 2006, with the sum of N2 million ‘for the period he was held out to be the supervising mining engineer during which period he did not so act’. On the facts as accepted, it appeared that the moral compass pointed unswervingly to not rewarding

President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip

either of the two wrongdoers. Compensatory Damages The Court also provided additional guidance regarding minimal thresholds for claims (and/or defence) of compensatory damages ,attending upon workplace injuries and accident. In Daniel v SevenUp Bottling Co. Ltd (Unreported Suit No. NICN/KD/13/2019, judgement delivered October 13, 2020; per Hon-Justice O.O Adeniyi), the Court dismissed a claim for compensation or damages, on the ground that the Claimant failed to ‘satisfactorily pinpoint any real or concrete injuries he suffered’. The Claimant in Bamidele v Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE (Unreported Suit No. NICN/AK/14/2018, judgement delivered January 16, 2020; per Hon-Justice A.A Adewemimo) had gone to rectify an electrical fault on a pole, when a high-tension wire fell on his head, causing him severe burns. Not only did the Defendants abandon the Claimant to his travails, but there was also a finding of breach of duty of care. The Claimant was awarded the sum of N20 million, as general damages. In Chigozie Esther v Covenant University & 2 Ors (Unreported Suit No. NICN/IB/52/2017, judgement delivered March 03, 2020; per Hon-Justice J.D Peters) the claims against the Defendants were in ''Negligence for the failure of the defendants to keep the kitchen in safe condition to prevent it from being

“...... THE SINGLE MOST SIGNIFICANT DECISION ON THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE IN 2020.....AFFIRMED THE LATITUDE, WITHIN SET PARAMETERS, OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL COURT OF NIGERIA...... TO DEPART FROM ORTHODOXY COMMON LAW PRESCRIPTIONS, RESTRICTING THE QUANTUM OF DAMAGES TO REMEDY DESERVING WRONGFUL TERMINATION CASES”

NICN & CAMA The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) is a legislation that, by jurisdictional apportionment, gets squarely interpreted at the Federal High Court, even as there are vestiges of jurisdictional power suitable for the NICN in appropriate circumstances. The Claimant in Onyejiaka v Mr Oluwakemi Balogun (Liquidator of Woolworths Retail Stores) (Unreported Suit No. NICN/ LA/200/2014, judgement delivered June 3, 2020; per Hon-Justice O.A Obaseki-Osaghae), rode roughshod over these principles, and accordingly the suit was struck out for failure to obtain leave of the Federal High Court (in accordance with Section 567[1]) to bring an action against the Liquidator of a Company. The Claimant company in Dreamworld Leisures Limited v Jude Attoh (Unreported Suit No. NICN/LA/494/2019, judgement delivered July 22, 2020; per Hon-Justice Ikechi Gerald Nweneka) sought to, inter alia, restrain the Defendant from parading himself as the Managing Director of the Claimant company; having been suspended at a board of directors’ meeting. The Court upheld the Defendant’s objection to the suit; being an action exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. Contrariwise, the NICN in Sogo v HEBN Publishers Plc (Unreported Suit No. NICN/IB/41/2018, judgement delivered March 12, 2020; per Hon-Justice J.D Peters) agreed that the purported termination of the Claimant’s employment as Managing Director (MD/CEO) of the Defendant is inconsistent with Clauses 56 and 60 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Defendant , Section 262(1) & (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, and therefore wrongful, unlawful, invalid, null and void and of no legal effect. The Court in Omotosho & Ors v Mr Seyi Akinwunmi (Receiver/Manager, Evans Medical Plc) (Unreported Suit No. NICN/LA/526/2018, judgement delivered April 27, 2020; per Hon-Justice Ikechi Gerald Nweneka) rightly upheld the general intent of Section 390[2][b] of the CAMA, as the duty to ensure, as first-line charge, the payment of salaries and allowances of employees of companies under receivership. The cases of Abe Adewunmi Babalola v. Equinox Int’l Resources Ltd (Unreported Suit No.NICN/166/2015; judgement delivered on 17th June, 2020; per Hon-Justice N.C.S Ogbuanya); and Akindele v Netconstruct Nigeria Limited (Unreported Suit No. NICN/LA/559/2017, judgement delivered September 08, 2020; per Hon-Justice N.C.S Ogbuanya) restated the principle that there is no fractional payment of salaries in periodic employment. The Court's illuminating proposition, further applied in Akindele’s, availed an employer a convenient balance of holding an employee to his bargain. The ‘four weeks’ notice period an exiting employee gave the employer, was held ineffectual and contrary to the ‘three months’ notice’ in the contract of parties. The employee was in the circumstance, held to have resigned without notice, and liable to pay a sum equivalent to one-month salary to the employer. Conclusion In 2020, unmitigated global disruption brought dramatic changes to the world of work. These changes are yet unfolding. It is the morning of a new year. As the world continues to grapple with the incessant waves, disputes, inevitably from the impact of the global public health crisis on companies’ balance sheets, will abound. To fire, or to fire? That, with all the emphasis, is not the only question. The emerging workforce trends and workplace flexibility etc, are some of the novel particularities that may form/shape the thrust of employment disputes or adjudicatory process in 2021. Time will tell. Folabi Kuti, Partner, Perchstone & Graeys LP

19.01.2021

Analysis of Insolvency-Related Revisions to BOFIA 2020 (Part 1) Introduction

another novel rescue tool. It empowers CBN to acquire shares of a failing bank, up to a level that guarantees CBN’s control of the bank. The CBN is required to dispose of such equity investment, at the earliest suitable time.

he Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 (BOFIA 2020) was assented to law on 13 November, 2020. BOFIA 2020 repealed the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act 1991 (BOFIA 1991), which had been previously amended in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002. This three-part discourse examines revisions by BOFIA 2020, to Nigeria’s bank resolution and insolvency legal framework. Restructuring, Reorganisation, Merger and Disposal of Banks In relation to reconstruction, merger, disposal of banks and related transactions/arrangements, BOFIA 2020 has revised Section 7(1)(d) of BOFIA 1991 by adding “restructuring” and “reorganisation” to reconstruction. Given that restructuring, reorganisation and reconstruction are frequently used interchangeably in resolution/insolvency circles, the utility of this revision may not be significant. Besides, Section 7 of the repealed BOFIA 1991 was titled “restructuring, reorganisation, mergers, disposal etc. of banks”. The following significant revisions have also been made to Section 7: a. Section 7(2) empowers the CBN, upon an application by a bank desiring to engage in a transaction/arrangement listed in Section 7(1), to order the summoning of separate meetings of the banks. Whilst BOFIA 1991 was silent on the consequence of non-compliance with Section 7(1) & (3), BOFIA 2020 provides that contravening transactions/arrangements are void and transfers are ineffectual, “except where such transaction is subsequently ratified in writing by the CBN.” Instructively, this “ratification” of a void transaction flies in the face of the principle that where an act is void, it cannot be validated by any subsequent valid acts: Oyeneyin v Akinkugbe (2010) LPELR-2875(SC) at pg. 20D-F; Military Administrator, Benue State v Ulegede (2001) LPELR-3184(SC) at pg. 35E-G. b. Section 7(4) provides that the CBN may only approve an arrangement/transaction under Section 7(1) if it is satisfied that (i) the arrangement/transaction is not likely to cause a restraint of competition or create a monopoly in the banking industry, (ii) significant shareholders or directors of the bank emerging from the arrangement/transaction are not those disqualified under Section 47 of BOFIA, (iii) the arrangement/transaction is consistent with public interest, and (iv) the bank emerging from the arrangement/transaction meets the prescribed capital requirements. c. Section 7(5) provides that, where CBN grants a new banking licence to a bank which emerges from an arrangement/transaction under Section 7(1), the assets and liabilities of the banks shall be transferred to the newly licensed bank. d. Section 7(6) provides that the provisions of BOFIA 2020 shall apply notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Consumer and Competition Protection (FCCP) Act. This excludes restructuring, mergers and related transactions of banks and other financial institutions from the regulatory purview of the FCCP Act and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. A contravention of Section 7(1) will attract a penalty of not less than N20,000,000, with an additional daily penalty of N500,000 for a continuing contravention: Section 7(7). Section 7(2) of BOFIA 1991 had criminalised contravention, with a fine not exceeding N1,000,000 and a daily penalty of N10,000 for continuing contravention. Revocation of Banking Licence

Registrar General, Corporate Aﬀairs Commission, Garba Abubakar

BOFIA 2020 has introduced additional grounds, for the revocation of a banking licence. One of the grounds is insolvency-related, namely; where in CBN’s opinion, a bank is critically undercapitalised with a capital adequacy ratio below the prudential minimum or such other ratio prescribed by the CBN: Section 12(1)(h). A new Section 12(2), mandates the CBN Governor (subject to CBN’s board approval) to appoint the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as liquidator of a bank whose licence is revoked on the ground of public interest. In such instance, NDIC would be deemed to have been appointed by Court, and will have powers similar to those of a Court-appointed liquidator under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020). Once appointed, NDIC is required to promptly proceed with the liquidation and payment of assured deposit liabilities pursuant to the NDIC Act: Section 12(3). Challenge of Revocation of Licence

“SECTION 12(6) OF BOFIA 2020...... LIMITS THE REMEDY OF ANY CLAIMANT/ APPLICANT AGAINST THE CBN/CBN GOVERNOR, TO MONETARY COMPENSATION. FURTHER, SUCH MONETARY COMPENSATION IS NOT TO EXCEED THE EQUIVALENT OF THE VALUE OF THE BANK’S PAIDUP CAPITAL AT THE TIME OF THE REVOCATION OF THE LICENCE”

Section 12(4) of BOFIA 2020 vests the Federal High Court (FHC) with jurisdiction to entertain any challenge of revocation of banking licence. This is a surplusage, considering that Section 251(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution already vests exclusive jurisdiction on the FHC. Section 12(4) also requires such actions and any consequent appeals to be determined on “an expedited and accelerated basis”. Section 12(5) limits the time within which an action challenging the revocation of banking licence may be commenced, to within thirty days from the date of revocation. Foreclosing a Recurrence of the Restorative Order in Savannah Bank Plc v CBN? Section 12(6) of BOFIA 2020 prohibits the making of any restorative order against the CBN/CBN Governor in an action relating to the revocation of a bank’s licence. The provision limits the remedy of any Claimant/ Applicant against the CBN/CBN Governor, to monetary compensation. Further, such monetary compensation is not to exceed the equivalent of the value of the bank’s paid-up capital at the time of the revocation of the licence. This revision appears to be aimed at foreclosing a recurrence of the restorative order in Savannah Bank Plc v CBN (2009) 6 NWLR (Pt 1137) 237. In that case, the Court of Appeal ordered the CBN to restore the banking licence of Savannah Bank Plc. Instructively, CBN had declined challenging that decision. The constitutionality of these provisions may be questioned, on the ground that they limit and/or preclude the judicial powers conferred on courts by Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution: NNPC v Fawehinmi (1998) 7 NWLR (Pt 559) 598 at 612E-F; Njikonye v MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd (2008) All FWLR (Pt 413) 1343 at 1369A-1369B. Failing Banks and Rescue Tools Four additional measures which the CBN Governor may adopt in dealing with failing banks, have been introduced under Section 34(2)(a)-(i). The CBN Governor may (i) suspend any payment or delivery obligations pursuant to any contract to which the bank is a party; (ii) require third party service providers to the bank to continue providing services to the bank for a specified period; (iii) transfer the bank or the whole or part of its banking business to private purchasers; and (iv) employ other intervention tools as the CBN may deem fit. Section 34(3) of BOFIA 2020 embodies

Limiting the Role of NDIC in Bank Resolution BOFIA 2020 has stripped the NDIC of its previous responsibilities (under BOFIA 1991) of assuming control, and managing failing banks. NDIC’s role is now limited to liquidating banks, whose licences have been revoked by CBN. First, the second “Section 34(2)” in BOFIA 2020 (apparently a typographical error) is very similar to Section 35 of BOFIA 1991. Section 35 of BOFIA 1991 empowered CBN to turn control and management of a failing bank to NDIC (on terms and conditions stipulated by CBN), if the bank’s affairs failed to improve despite CBN’s rescue measures. In contrast, the second Section 34(2) of BOFIA 2020 empowers CBN to revoke the licence of the bank, before such bank is handed to NDIC for liquidation pursuant to Section 35. Section 35 of BOFIA 2020 provides that where the licence of a bank has been revoked “pursuant to Section 39”, NDIC shall apply to the Federal High Court for a winding up of the bank’s affairs. This provision replicates Section 40 of BOFIA 1991. Unfortunately, Section 35 of BOFIA 2020 has wrongly referenced Section 39, which in BOFIA 2020 embodies provisions on moratorium and regulations during bail-in. Section 39 of BOFIA 1991 contained CBN’s power to revoke licences, hence, why Section 40 of BOFIA 1991 referenced it. Second, BOFIA 2020 has omitted Section 37 of the repealed BOFIA 1991 which contained NDIC’s power over significantly undercapitalised banks. That provision stipulated that where NDIC assumed control over a significantly under-capitalised bank whose risk weighted assets ratio was below 5% but above 2%, NDIC could (i) require the bank to submit a recapitalisation plan within a stipulated period, (ii) prohibit the bank from extending further credit and incurring additional capital expenditure without NDIC’s approval, (iii) require the bank to do or not to do anything in relation to its business, directors or officers,(iv) remove (with CBN’s approval) any director, manager, officer or employee, and (v) appoint (with CBN’s approval) any person(s) as the bank’s director(s). Third, BOFIA 2020 has omitted Section 38 of the repealed BOFIA 1991, which dealt with management of failing banks by NDIC. Section 38(1) of BOFIA 1991 mandated NDIC, upon assuming control of a failing bank, to remain in control and carry on the bank’s business in the name of the bank and on its behalf, as long as CBN considered necessary. Fourth, Section 39 of BOFIA 1991 provided that where NDIC was unable to rehabilitate a failing bank which it had assumed control, NDIC may recommend to CBN other resolution measures, including the revocation of the bank’s licence. This has been omitted in BOFIA 2020. Instructively, Section 37 of the NDIC Act 2006 empowers NDIC to financially assist troubled banks. Section 38(1) empowers NDIC, in consultation with CBN, to take any of the following steps in respect of failing banks: (i) take over management, (ii) direct specific managerial changes, (iii) arrange a merger with, or acquisition by, another bank, (iv) acquire, manage or dispose of assets, (v) take measures to secure and restructure. Given the revisions to BOFIA 2020, a speedy amendment of the NDIC Act is imperative to ensure an alignment of bank resolution provisions in the two laws. To be continued.

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NIN-SIM Registration: Sacriﬁcing

In the past one month, many Nigerians have been subjected to the harrowing experience of being made to compulsorily wait in crowded, endless queues, to capture data to register and obtain the elusive National Identification Number (NIN). The challenges for both the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the majority of Nigerians yet to be captured in this exercise, are humongous. The recent deadlines imposed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, to link all phone lines with NIN has thrown most into panic, as they scamper to meet the deadlines, and has put Nigerians at risk contracting the dreaded Covid-19. In the face of these challenges, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, Jide Ojo and Emmanuel Onwubiko suggest ways out of the conundrum “..... THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTED THAT EU STATES PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM MANDATORY SIM CARD REGISTRATION MEASURES.....THERE WAS NO BENEFIT EITHER TO ASSISTING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, OR TO THE COMMON MARKET TO HAVING A SINGLE EU APPROACH”

National Identiﬁcation Number and the Challenging Issues Involved Ikeazor Akaraiwe

n 15th December 2020, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a directive titled "Implementation of New SIM Registration Rules" to all mobile network operators, to deactivate all SIM cards which have not been linked with a valid national identity card in 14 days with effect from December 16, 2020. The consequences of non-compliance with this directive include the blocking of any SIM without National Identification Number (NIN) from the networks, and the possibility of withdrawal of operating licenses of Network Operators.

The Directive

At a meeting of key stakeholders in the communications industry including the Chief Executive Officers ("CEOs") and Management of the Nigerian Communications Commission ("NCC"), the National Information Technology Development Agency ("NITDA"), the National Identity Management Commission ("NIMC") etc., the following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators: 1.Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of NEW SIMs by all operators. 2.Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number ("NIN") to update SIM registration records. r 5IF TVCNJTTJPO PG /*/ CZ TVCTDSJCFST UP take place within two weeks (December 16, 2020 – December 30, 2020). 1.After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks. 2.A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks. 3.Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating licence. This caused no small stir among millions of Nigerians who bemoaned the insensitivity, as well as impracticability of a directive with such a short implementation period. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, others expressed concern over the dangerous health implications of massive public gatherings, such as would occur with teeming numbers struggling to either get registered with the NIN, or to link their SIMS with their NIN, aforesaid.

Mandatory SIM Registration

Mandatory SIM registration is a policy requiring users to provide personal information such as their names, national identification numbers, addresses and proof of identity credentials to register for or activate a prepaid SIM card. As a standard practice, existing users who fail to register their SIM cards within a governmentmandated period face network disconnection, resulting in loss of access to mobile services. In some circumstances, governments require Mobile Network Operators ("MNOs") to capture a photograph, fingerprints, and other biometric

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami attributes of users to complete SIM registration. As of March 2020, over 150 countries in the world including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, Chad, China, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Togo, etc., had mandatory SIM card registration laws. Some countries took the extra steps of enacting mandatory biometric SIM registration laws. These countries include Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, etc. It is noteworthy that countries including Andorra, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, do not have mandatory SIM card registration laws. In November 2015, Zimbabwe's largest mobile service provider disconnected at least one million SIM cards, because they were unregistered. The Nigerian government has decided to take the same steps, in respect of mobile phone users unable to sync their NIN with their mobile numbers within the two-week deadline given. This will certainly be detrimental to interpersonal relationships, businesses and the general wellbeing of many in the populace. Problems Associated With the Implementation of the New SIM Registration Rules Nigeria is a country with a population of over 206 million inhabitants, having over 200 million active mobile phone lines. Only 41.5 million

persons, less than a quarter, have registered for identity cards. SIM registration in Nigeria began in April 2010, after the NCC ordered mobile network subscribers to provide personal information and submit biometric scans as a precondition for registration of SIM cards. Although it has continued over the years, this sudden regulation, according to NCC, is until the completion of an assessment of users to comply with proper data regulations. In August 2020, the government mentioned that the focus of the NIMC had shifted from the production of plastic national identity cards to digital cards. Here, the identity of registered persons will be attached to their database, and can be accessed wherever they are. As relieving as this sounds, the problems associated with it abound, as it still does not take away the tormenting process of registration when people go to NIMC centres to have their information manually imputed into a computer. A directive which compels citizens to get their NINs and sync with their mobile numbers, will probably occasion hardship to the citizenry. Getting a NIN in a country with this population is ordinarily a daunting task, particularly because the registration process requires the physical presence of the citizen at the NIMC Centres. Besides, the process is time-consuming. It follows that obtaining an NIN within a two-week timeframe is bound to be herculean, and most probably, impossible for every Nigerian mobile phone user. And disruptively, citizens who lose their lines during this period will not be able to retrieve them until the ban on the suspension of registration

of new SIM cards is lifted.

Covid-19

Another problem is the massive influx of people sure to flood the NIMC and SIM registration centres, increasing the risk of the spread of the Covid-19 virus. For a country battling its second wave of the deadly virus without any vaccine in sight, this is dangerous. Although, to facilitate the process and address the health risk, the MNOs have implemented some online alternatives such as the use of the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes to link the NIN with mobile telephone numbers, it suffices to say that these alternatives may not be sufficient, due to the limited period for compliance and the limited scope of the electronic alternatives. Furthermore, as a regulator, the NCC has chosen to put themselves up for public criticism, by threatening to block millions of mobile users from having access to the internet. Although they have agreed to this, network providers will suffer financial loss and the Commission will lose in tax returns.

Privacy Concerns

The mandatory SIM card registration has sparked privacy concerns amongst many citizens, and speculations abound that it may undermine the ability of citizens to communicate anonymously and associate with others, thus, infringing upon rights to privacy, freedom of association and freedom of expression. Another fear is that these rules, through the instrument of the Lawful

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19.01.2021

the Health of Hapless Nigerians Interception of Communications Regulations 2019, may make it easier for law enforcement authorities to track and monitor people, creating an avenue for threatening vulnerable or activist persons or groups, and facilitating generalised surveillance. Already the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations 2019 empowers authorised agencies including the Office of the National Security Adviser and the State Security Services, to intercept any communication, where the interception relates to the use of a communications service provided by a licensee to persons in Nigeria, or to the use of a communications service provided by a licensee to a person outside Nigeria.

Foreigners, Visitors, Refugees and the Forcibly Displaced

Many refugees immigrate to Nigeria yearly. In 2019 only, Nigeria hosted over 51,700 Cameroonian refugees (of which over 14,800 arrived in 2019, an increase of 35% compared to 2018). Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the right to seek and be granted asylum in a foreign territory, in accordance with the legislation of the State and International Conventions. Refugees are entitled to rights which should be protected as basic human rights, which rights include non-refoulement, freedom of movement, right to moveable and immoveable property as foreign nationals. A significant barrier for forcibly displaced persons and all visitors to Nigeria, would be their inability to meet the proof of identity requirements to legally register a mobile SIM card, or to open a mobile money account in their own name. Would foreigners be required to produce the national identity documentation of their countries, or will their international passport be sufficient to get issued with a SIM Card in Nigeria? It does appear that the government has not averted its mind sufficiently, to the challenges that the ongoing linkage of national ID with the SIM card will have on people in this category.

Conclusion

In 2012, the European Commission directed that EU States provide evidence of actual or potential benefits from mandatory SIM card registration measures and, after examining the responses it received, concluded there was no benefit either to assisting criminal investigations, or to the common market to having a single EU approach. Whilst improvement of the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process, building a widespread digital identity database, and improvement of national security could be cited as possible reasons for Nigeria's mandatory registration rules, the Nigerian government has failed to provide these reasons, or indeed, any justifiable reason at all, for the mandatory registration of SIM cards within such a short time frame. The directive issued by the government would seem to reflect lack of proper coordination amongst governmental agencies, unnecessary duplication of efforts and wastage of limited resources. It is a trite rule of legal jurisprudence, that a law or legal directive must be reasonable, just and universally acceptable by the inhabitants of that society. A law must also not occasion any form of mischief, or cause untold hardship on the populace. The NCC's new directive when considered under this jurisprudential microscope, seems impracticable and unreasonable. It seems to be lacking in empathy and consideration; and seems to be the opposite of what good law should portray. It is thus, proposed on the one hand that the directive for linkage of SIM cards with the NIN be discarded upon the premises of potential infringement upon rights to privacy, freedom of association and freedom of expression. But, if it must be sustained, citizens must be given a minimum of six months to comply with constant reminders on social, electronic and print media platforms. Ikeazor Akaraiwe, former 1st Vice-President, Nigerian Bar Association

National Identiﬁcation Card

NIN-SIM Registration and Public Health Compromise Jide Ojo Introduction

Having National Identity Numbers (NIN) and linking it with Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM), is a welcome development. According to the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), “Apart from enhancing our general safety, this will help in such vital exercises like National Budgeting, Policy Planning, Social Intervention programmes and many more”. As desirable as this exercise is, is the NCC and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) going about it the right way? Is the exercise enhancing or impeding public health, particularly against the background of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic? Are there no better ways to handle this national assignment?

Order from Above

Recall that on December 15, 2020, the Federal Government declared that after December 30,

“.....THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THESE REASONS, OR INDEED, ANY JUSTIFIABLE REASON AT ALL, FOR THE MANDATORY REGISTRATION OF SIM CARDS WITHIN SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME”

2020, all SIMs that were not registered with valid NINs on the network of telecommunications companies, would be blocked. The press release signed by the Director Public Affairs of NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, stated that: “Following the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) convened an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry on Monday, December 14, 2020. The meeting had in attendance the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Management of the NCC, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the NIMC, as well as the CEOs and management staff of all service providers in the industry”. The statement read further that “At the meeting, the need to consolidate the achievements of last year’s (2019) SIM registration audit and improve the performance and sanity of the sector was exhaustively discussed, and all stakeholders agreed that urgent drastic measures have now become inevitable to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process. To this end, the following decisions were taken for immediate implementation by all Network Operators: Affirmation of the earlier directive to totally suspend registration of NEW SIMs by all operators; Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid NIN to update SIM registration records; The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (December 16, 2020 and end by 30 December, 2020); After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks; A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members, is to monitor compliance by all networks; and lastly, violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating licence”. This statement sent many Nigerians yet to register for NIN, scampering to NIMC offices across the country. Public outcry led to a threeweek extension for subscribers with NIN from December 30, 2020 to January 19, 2021, as well as six weeks extension for subscribers without NIN from December 30, 2020 to February 9, 2021. Here lies the problem. Given the fact that less than 50 million Nigerians have so far been enrolled on the NIN, how feasible is two months to accomplish this Herculean task?

JAMB’s Aborted Attempt

It can be recalled that ahead of the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) similarly insisted that all applicants must

have their NIN, before they will be allowed to write the examination. In a press release in September 2019 signed by its spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board said “The JAMB will, during the 2020 registration exercise, use the National Identity Number (NIN) generated after successful registration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This includes the capturing of biometric and other necessary details, for the registration of all prospective candidates. Candidates are enjoined to register as the board will no longer be responsible for the capturing of candidates’ biometrics ahead of the examination, as all information required will be uploaded from the data captured by the NIMC. Henceforth, the NIN will be compulsory for the UTME registration”. However, on Saturday, January 11, 2020, the registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, announced the suspension of the directive. He said the move was to provide more time for candidates to get their national identification numbers, and also to address the technical challenges experienced at some NIMC registration centres.

Let’s Remind Minister Pantami, in case he forgets In a recent interview, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy blamed Nigerians’ lackadaisical attitude, for the crowding of the NIMC offices for NIN registration. According to him, initial directive for all Nigerians to get enrolled on NIMC database was issued on February 4, 2020, and that Nigerians had 10 months within which to comply. He said this against the barrage of negative media publicity, on the insensitivity of giving Nigerians two weeks to register for NIN and link it to their SIMs. However, much as the Minister was right about the nonchalance of many Nigerians, he ought to also have borne in mind that it was that same month of February 2020 that index case of Covid-19 was discovered in Lagos, and since then, things have not been normal in Nigeria again as the country went through lockdown and shutdown, and by the time we thought the worst was over on Covid-19 there was a resurgence of the pandemic. Recall that due to the pandemic most government offices including those of NIMC across the country were shut down, with only skeletal services going on as workers on Grade Level 12 and below were asked to stay home. As at first week of this month, three NIMC staff reportedly have contracted Covid-19. This has caused a scare at the Commission, with workers now demanding for Personal Protective Equipment among other requests. cont'd on page 10

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Inadequate Registration Centres

The point is that the time given for Nigerians to enrol on NIMC database and obtain their NIN is still grossly inadequate, despite the six weeks extension. The country is battling the second wave of Covid-19, with many sectors of the country including schools, being asked not to resume until January 18, 2021.Why the clearly infeasible deadline? What is very fundamental with NIN and SIM linkage that cannot be done in years, say, in three years? As at December 2020, NIMC has licensed 173 centres and 30 State government institutions to conduct the enrolment of the National Identity Number (NIN) across the country. This number is obviously inadequate, to register the over 160 million Nigerians who are yet to be captured on the NIMC database.

Options for Consideration

If Federal Government feels registering all Nigerians in a record time of two months is non-negotiable, then let NIMC do what the Independent National Electoral Commission under Prof. Attahiru Jega did in 2010, when it wanted to have a fresh nationwide voters’ registration exercise ahead of the 2011 General Election. The Commission submitted the budget for Polling Unit based Voter Registration exercise, and got funding for about 130,000 Direct Data Capturing Machines (DDCM). With that INEC was able to do a PU level enrolment at its 119,973 Polling Units, and in about two weeks, it had registered all eligible voters. Thus, Federal Government should deploy more resources to NIMC to buy more machines, hire ad-hoc staff, train and deploy them to INEC Polling Units for NIN registration. If the budget for that will be too much, NIMC can be mobilised to do Ward Level NIN Registration. INEC has 8,809 Registration Areas, also known as Wards. Let NIMC deploy to this level, and in one month or less, all Nigerians would have been captured on its database. If this will still be too costly, let NIMC be resourced to deploy to the 774 Local Government Areas. If the aforesaid does not gel with FG or NIMC, then sufficient time should be given to Nigerians to get enrolled. I actually like the ecosystem option mentioned on Weekend File of January 9, 2021 on Nigerian Television Authority by the Director General of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu A. Aziz. He said the Commission is proposing situation where if anyone goes to Nigerian Immigration Service to renew or obtain international travel documents, he will be registered for NIN alongside registering to get his international passport. Similarly, if you go to obtain your Driving Licence, you can also register for NIN, even if you go for SIM registration at the mobile telecommunication outlets, in addition to the primary reason of going there, you can also register to obtain NIN. This is laudable! However, it is imperative that the set deadline of January 19 or February 6, needs to be lifted. People should therefore, be able to register in a seamless manner when they need certain services.

Ikeazor Akaraiwe When INEC registers citizens to enable them vote, these same details are captured, likewise when they register for their SIM cards. If this data integration ordered six years ago had been complied with, those who have not been registered on NIMC database would have been identified and issued NIN without having to undergo fresh registration. For instance, I recall that in Egypt, when I was there to observe the 2014 presidential election, the Egyptian voters used their National Identity Cards to vote, and did not have to register separately to vote.

Conclusion

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and his task force team members, must understand that the security and welfare of citizens are primary reason of Government according to Section 14(2)(b) of 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended. The implausible deadline issued for Nigerians to enrol for NIN is compromising public health and safety, as there are stampedes in many NIN registration centres across the country. Exploitation of desperate enrolees has also been widely reported in the media, even as NIMC has had to sack some of its staff for

What’s the Status of the 2015 Presidential Directive on Biometric Data Integration?

By the way, what has become of the presidential directive for data harmonisation and integration of 2015? Recall that after President Muhammadu Buhari was enrolled by NIMC and issued his NIN, a marching order was issued to all government agencies collecting demographic and biometric data of citizens and legal residents to aggregate their data into a single databank, to be domiciled with and managed by the NIMC. The directive was issued by Vice President Osinbajo at a meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Monday, December 21, 2015 and attended by data collecting agencies of Government and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS). Vice President Osinbajo also directed that a technical committee be set up, comprising the affected agencies and to be coordinated by NIMC, to define the parameters and methods to achieve the data aggregation. The committee was given until the third week in January 2016 to submit a preliminary report to the Vice President. Prof. Osinbajo explained that Government’s interest in the aggregation of citizens’ data, is basically to assist it cross certain hurdles in its quest to improve the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, particularly targeting the poorest and most vulnerable persons, as well as to issue unique identification numbers to every Nigerian and legal resident for the improvement of national security, among others. Right now, Nigerians have their biometric data with banks before being issued Bank Verification Number, better known as BVN. Similarly, to obtain an International Passport and Driving Licence, all the biometric data of the applicants including facial picture and fingerprints are captured.

“FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEPLOY MORE RESOURCES TO NIMC TO BUY MORE MACHINES, HIRE AD-HOC STAFF, TRAIN AND DEPLOY THEM TO INEC POLLING UNITS FOR NIN REGISTRATION”

Jide Ojo this corrupt practice. In order to nip all this in the bud, NIMC should lift the deadline and decentralise the registration procedures. It is better to be safe, than to be sorry.

century, many absolute regimes which were openly dictatorial began to put up appearances or popular representation, which was largely a mere façade.”

Jide Ojo, Development Consultant, Newspaper Columnist, Author, TV Show Host and Public Affairs Analyst

R.K.Sapru’s Book

NIN-SIM Registration Aggravating the Pandemic Emmanuel Onwubiko A sign that dictatorship or authoritarianism has berthed in any nation State, is when the President or the head of government formulates and implements public policies with scant regard to the public good.

Senator Shehu Sani’s Book

In his book “Civilian Dictators of Africa,” a civil Rights campaigner in Nigeria, Shehu Sani, puts it succinctly thus: “The concept of authoritarianism is used in this book to denote all those forms of government or social control which are characterised by strict obedience to the authority of a State or organisation, often maintained through the use of coercive measures and which are strongly hierarchical”. Shehu Sani who was the Senator that represented Kaduna Central in the eight session of the Senate, said further: “In addition, citizens are subject to State authority in many aspect of their lives, to the extent their civil liberties and freedom are eroded. Usually an authoritarian government is undemocratic, and has the power to govern without the consent of those governed”. He said that though authoritarianism is in degrees, and even very democratic States may have elements of authoritarianism, the concept is employed in this book to broadly denote democratic governments or which major types include: Absolutism, Aristocracy, Autocracy, Despotism, Dictatorship, Kleptocracy, Monarchism, Oligarchy, Plutocracy, Theocracy, Totalitarianism, and Tyranny. Sani said it should be noted however that, these government types are not private mutually exclusive, and most times, overlap. His words: “Absolutism is a political system in which there is no legal, customary, or moral limit on the government’s power. The term is generally applied to political systems ruled by single dictators, but can also be applied to seemingly democratic systems that grant sweeping powers to the legislative or executive”. “The major elements of absolutism, according to Encarta (2006) are: centralisation of power, close control of social groups, and absence of competing political parties. This reference however, notes that beginning with the 20th

A renowned intellectual, R.K. Sapru writing on the concept of forces in the policy-making process which is a chapter in his scholarly book titled: “Public Policy: Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation”, expertly asserts that carrying the people along in policy making process by government is a categorical imperative (if I can borrow a term developed by Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher and a central figure of the enlightenment school of thought). R. K. Sapru then explained in greater detail in the following notes: “The subject of this chapter is how policy –makers take decisions. It is thus, concerned with power, since policy-making is essentially a manifestation of power. It is therefore, important to understand exactly how power is exercised in the policy-making process”. “Power is described as, the ability to bring about some change in the behaviour of other people. In a social context it is defined as “the capacity of an individual or groups, in the manner which he desires”. Further, the researcher said: “In terms of public policy, power may relate to the choice of individual, or groups, or holders of public offices to determine policy decision. Such decisions may relate to the choice of individuals for political offices, and also to the selection of different purposive courses of action”. “In policy-making, power is exercised by different individuals and groups: the members of the Council of Ministers, members of parliament, bureaucrats, leaders of organised interest, individual citizen, for example. Each set of forces exercises certain influences which, taken together, make up policy-making process. This is to say that there is a ‘process’ through which public policy is made. The process consists of the complex interrelationships of the decisions made under the influence of powerful individual and groups.” The author of this award winning book on public policy spoke further: “The sources of power which effect change in other people’ behaviour are many. It is easier to identify the source of an individual’s power, than to determine which individuals have power in the sense of bringing about a crucial change at a significant moment. The problem becomes complicated by the fact that in politics, groups rather than individuals, affect the way the policy is made. Policy-making is thus “an extremely complex analytical and political progress to which there is no beginning or end, and the boundaries of which are most uncertain”. Unconstitutionality of Government’s Directive Flowing from the above is a quick reminder that, the policy introduced by Minister of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami towards the end of last year compelling nearly cont'd on page 11

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“..... THE POLICY

100 million telecom subscribers in Nigeria who have not yet been enrolled in the National Identity data base of the National Identity Management Commission, to so obtain the National Identity Number within two weeks or lose their telephone lines, is one such dictatorial and draconian decision that is totally unconstitutional and illegal. Besides, this directive is a direct breach of the relevant sections enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, because if the users of telecommunication services are arbitrarily denied access to their means of communication only because of an extraneous requirement that was not in existence when the lines were obtained, then government has violated all known fundamental freedoms as contained in Chapter 4 of the Constitution, and most especially, the right to freedom of information. It amounts also to an egregious breach of contractual obligations. Also, the timing of this directive and the short deadline coming amidst the rampaging second wave of Coronavirus Pandemic in Nigeria, is a breach of the Constitutional provision of 33(1) of the constitution which is right to life. This is so because, compelling people in their huge numbers to embark on stampede just so they get the NIN even at the risk of contracting Covid-19, is an attempt to deny citizens of their right to life. It has also made government the SUPER SPREADER OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA. As stated earlier, the conception, implementation and timing of this public policy is directly offensive to Civility, rule of law, and is a manifestation of the authoritarian tendency which is diametrically opposed to constitutional democracy, which stresses that the primary duty of government is the promotion of the welfare and security of the citizens. Out of the blue, the Nigerian Government ordered all telecommunication service providers to ask all subscribers to provide their National Identification Numbers (NIN). Subscribers who fail to do so within two weeks are to be blocked from using their SIM cards. This was the resolution reached at a meeting between the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, and stakeholders in the Communication industry on Monday. The resolution was disclosed by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) in a statement. Nigerians were never consulted. The major telephone networks in Nigeria are Globacom, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat. The meeting affirmed the earlier directive to totally suspend the registration of new SIM cards by all operators.

INTRODUCED BY MINISTER

“Operators to require ALL their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records. “The submission of NIN by subscribers to take place within two weeks (from today December 16, 2020 and end by 30 December, 2020). “After the deadline, ALL SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks. “A Ministerial Task Force comprising the Minister and all the CEOs (among others) as members is to monitor compliance by all networks. Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the possibility of withdrawal of operating licence. “The general public is hereby, urged to ensure that their NINs are captured in their SIM registration data. All inconveniences which might be occasioned by this directive, are deeply regretted.” At the meeting, the need to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM registration audit and improve the performance and sanity of the sector was discussed, and all stakeholders agreed that urgent drastic measures have now become inevitable to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process, the NCC said. When it became clear that the deadline could not be humanly met, the government that has so far failed to listen to the voices of reason, extended the deadline briefly, but millions of people continued to surge forward to obtain the NIN to synchronise their telephone lines, so as not to lose these essential services. Many would have contracted the Covid-19 disease, which is spreading with virulent force. Notwithstanding the danger inherent in going ahead with this toxic policy, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the extension of the period of the registration of SIMs with National Identification Number (NIN), as well as the cancellation of USSD and Verification Fees. This announcement was made in a press statement issued and signed by Engr. Aliyu Aziz, Director-General, NIMC, after the meeting held by the National Task Force on NIN and SIM Registration. It is important to note that, the information

OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL ECONOMY..... TO SO OBTAIN THE NATIONAL IDENTITY NUMBER WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR LOSE THEIR TELEPHONE LINES, IS ONE SUCH DICTATORIAL AND DRACONIAN DECISION THAT IS TOTALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL"

Emmanuel Onwubiko conveyed in the press statement include resolutions made at the meeting chaired by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, with major stakeholders in the sector including Chairman-NCC, EVC-NCC, DG-NITDA, DG-NIMC, ECTS/ECSM-NCC, Chairman ALTON, CEOs of MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Glo, Smile, and 9Mobile in attendance. At the meeting, after reviewing the recent developments at hand and the mounting issues which unravelled today owing to logistics and infrastructural hiccups experienced at the NIMC offices today, the National Task Force made a resolution that three weeks extension should be granted for subscribers with NIN, from 30th December, 2020 to 19th January, 2021. The National Task Force also granted six weeks extension to subscribers without NIN, starting from 30th December, 2020 to 9th February, 2021. Government claimed that based on the endorsement of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Task Force disclosed that: NIMC has provided strategies to enable citizens to attend the registration in full compliance with Covid-19 protocols – particularly the use of face masks which remains mandatory, and maintenance of social distancing. Also, the Ministry said the President appreciates Nigerians for their patience and commitment to update their identities; while he thanked all stakeholders for their compliance with the directives. His words: “Mr. President also commended the efforts of the Task Force, and urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the extension to link their SIM card with their NIN”. Citizen Feedback However, this policy shows that this Government does not believe in its social contractual role of listening to the people, before implementation of public policies. Some researchers who clearly may be attempting to understudy the essential elements of responsive leadership asked in their research thus: “Why should Government ask for feedback from citizens?” They answered that well, quite apart from anything else, getting feedback on your policies and approaches, and really listening to what citizens think, care about and find important (and then doing something about it!) can help prevent nasty surprises. (Is it too early to mention Brexit!). They argued that it is important that Government doesn’t just get feedback in a market research type sense - i.e. ‘wadaya think about X’, but engages in a constructive and thoughtful way with society, and responds constructively to issues and concerns. Research, they affirmed, shows that involving citizens in a collaborative way can not only

help prevent nasty surprises, but can save money, and brings with it a range of benefits and outcomes beyond just narrow cost-focused gains. The cost of not engaging also has to be taken into consideration too - for example legal challenges to ill thought through policies, can be vastly more expensive than thoughtful collaborative approaches with citizens to get to mutually agreeable solutions, they affirmed. A brilliant resource, with case studies, for anyone in government wanting to engage with citizens is a ‘toolkit’ called ‘Making the Case for Public Involvement’. It has been developed specifically for policy makers by the UK’s leading public participation charity, Involve. It is a very practical tool which helps define the purpose, potential benefits, costs and measurement of success and ‘how to’s’ on delivery with real examples. Citing Aidan Muller Digital Strategy Director ‘We are Flint (UK)’, the researchers said there is a mechanism through which governments know whether they are succeeding or not: elections. "However, democracy is about more than just elections. It is also about day-to-day participation in civic life. At the grassroots level through community initiatives, and at governmental level through a strong civil society." "There is a wealth of expertise and experience within the population, that a healthy democratic society needs to be able to call upon. This is what public consultations, for example, were intended for. But, the old model is flawed because consultations are not properly marketed to citizens; and when they are, consultation documents are not in a format which allows the population to engage with the issues (read impenetrable). Consultations have become little more than weak efforts to pay lip-service to participation, falling far short of the ideal behind their creation." Also, they said that the Social media now allows multiple people to engage with an issue in a public forum. Well thought-out digital content, allows the complex to be made comprehensible. Now the technology exists, if democracies don’t leverage it to listen to people who want to contribute to the public debate in the way that consultations were intended, citizens will become frustrated and disenchanted. We are already seeing the symptoms. This frustration has undoubtedly contributed to the malaise which we see in many western democracies, they concluded (Gabriella Capone, a consultant, public engagement). Shapiro’s Report Still exploring the dangers of carrying through public policies without consultation, we will look at a report of a two-year investigation. Pennsylvania Attorney-General, Josh Shapiro, released the findings of the Statewide Investigat-

ing Grand Jury looking into misconduct by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The report found that the DEP “did not do enough to properly protect the health, safety and welfare of the thousands of Pennsylvania citizens who were affected by this industry” and outlined a number of recommendations, including increasing the minimum distance between fracking and homes, and closing the revolving door between DEP and the industry. All of these recommendations are made in good faith, but they miss the point. People were ignored, gaslit and sent home, with no hope that their government will protect them. Our democracy is crumbling, and communities are paying the price. No bullet points or action items, can fix that. This report in USA validates the experiences of families living along fracking’s front lines who have been ignored and dismissed for more than a decade. It echoes what we have said all along: polluters are exploiting communities throughout our region and flouting the most basic health protections, while elected officials on both sides of the aisle and agencies sworn to protect us, turn a blind eye. This isn’t about the environment, it is about basic human rights. It is about access to justice. It is about democracy. Shapiro shared stories of children with uncontrollable bleeding and rashes caused by contaminated bathwater, stories that are unfortunately all too common for those living alongside petrochemical infrastructure. He explained that when people called the DEP for protection, they were threatened for filing a false complaint. They were told they were crazy, and they were abandoned when they needed help most. Those in power, the report concludes must now be held accountable for the failures outlined in this report, and must take action to rebuild the democracy they have destroyed. "To restore our commonwealth, we need more than politics as usual. We need our leaders to listen to the people, who they have ignored. They deserve more than a political stunt, and a pivot to a new direction of safe fracking. The people need to have a say in what happens next." Conclusion There is no better way to conclude this reflection, than to borrow the aforementioned conclusion of the report by that Environmental Lawyer in USA, by asking President Muhammadu Buhari to stop spreading Covid-19 disease through compulsory NIN registration. Call off this NIN insanity now. Emmanuel Onwubiko, Head, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)

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19.01.2021

Workforce Productivity, Coronavirus, and the Performance Evaluation Process

listened as he gave it to him stone-cold, “I will be bringing this up during your performance evaluation”. What is this rhetoric, that I am sometimes guilty of, meant to achieve? Is it a threat that will make Mr. Employee shape up? Or is this a temporary relief (paracetamol) that will make Mr. Supervisor feel good? Feel more in charge? Why postpone a problem to seven months into the future? You are waiting seven months, and then you forget about what happened at the beginning of the year. Is the Supervisor’s procrastination not in itself a non-performance? At best, this kind of rhetoric from a Supervisor to a junior colleague is a rant, an orotundity that has low impact and a high failure rate. And if used often enough to manage employee’s behaviour, it erodes respect for leadership. One of the highly rated skills that are essential for leaders to develop is the ability to give tough feedback in a way that motivates change, instead of making the other person feel defensive. Managers must learn to continually provide feedback with empathy, authenticity, and assertiveness. In managing workforce productivity and the performance evaluation process, Managers make some common mistakes. Those mistakes can be particularly costly, during these times of the pandemic. Like fuming at an employee and using the feedback conversation to blow off steam, rather than to coach. This is wrong. The performance evaluation process is best served objectively – without emotions. There are a lot of raw emotions flying around in these uncertain times, which have to be properly channeled. Another error is in employing the “sandwich style” – sugar coat negative feedback with positive feedback, like hiding a bitter pill in a pile of molasses. This approach, at best, is ill-advised. The “negative” feedback or the lesson in the whole process can slip by unnoticed, amidst the sweetener. And, the whole essence of coaching is lost. As an alternative, it’s essential to create conditions in which the employee can take in feedback, reflect on it, and learn from it. Another error is to shelve giving needed feedback, because we anticipate that the employee may become confrontational and refuse to accept responsibility. This delay tactic shows sheer lack of courage, or laziness on the part of the Manager. Think about it. Is the performance evaluation event in seven months, meant to solve all the employee’s infractions and the organisation’s shortcomings? Giving developmental feedback that stimulates growth is a critical skill for business leaders, because it can make the difference between an employee who contributes powerfully and positively to the organisation, and one who feels diminished by the organisation and contributes far less. A single well planned, well timed conversation can switch an employee on — or shut him down. And, a good Supervisor should seize every opportunity to have that conversation, ensuring the message is clearly communicated and well received. A true developmental leader sees the raw material for success, in every employee, and creates the conditions to let it out, even during tough times. Also, a developmental leader should develop the good sense and courage, to know when to prune or cut loose a bad apple. The jury has been out, on the counter-productivity of deferring a performance discussion to the future. – the verdict is now clear. With geographically dispersed employees and working increasingly becoming more remote as a result of the pandemic, the need for creativity in handling workforce productivity and the performance evaluation process is key. A Coronavirus Compliant Performance Evaluation Process Most of us can access the daily sobering WHO Coronavirus statistics – the last time I checked – globally we had 94,312,257 recorded cases; 2,017,844 deaths; and 24,950,067 currently infected active cases. Apart from practicing good hygiene, the health advisory to stop the spread of the virus, is less human contact – limited meetings, cut off non-essential travels, we are even advised to stop handshakes and use only non-contact greeting methods. How will all these affect productivity and the performance evaluation process? For starters, the performance indices are fast changing. Not too long ago, some firms measured productivity based on how much time employees spent in the office, at their desk, in the library, etc. Those firms always have a positive bias for staff who “sleep” in the office, or work round the clock; it somehow shows their commitment to client’s work. With Coronavirus, that has changed – it is certainly not first to clock in, and last to clock out anymore that gets the AA rating. We will review more of the changing indices. Change is hard. However, some years before Covid-19, a few organisations had taken the lead in overhauling their performance evaluation process. Moving it away from the formal, once or twice a year, traditional performance management system, to a system that is more forward looking - a continuous performance development process. Instead of an event-driven system, backward-looking system, these organisations introduced performance management systems that provides “real time” feedback tied to their business goals. There are a few interesting examples. The EY Platform: LEAD In 2015, an article from EY’s People Advisory Services group, noted that its clients were finding traditional annual-review programs costly and time-consuming, and that they were recording poor outcomes. The research paper revealed that employees wanted feedback from Managers to be more frequent, more conversational and more geared toward self-improvement. Since EY - the global

consulting and professional services firm prides itself as experts at providing innovative solutions, it is not a surprise that it thereafter, rolled out its own employee-performance platform called LEAD evaluation system. The system, reflecting what it had learned from working with clients and talking to its people in-house, is a departure from the annual performance review with numerical ratings. The EY platform is built around rapid real-time conversations. It is described as a technology enabled real-time platform, that allows employees see how their work activities contribute to the achievement of the organisation’s goals. The EY system measures employee’s performance against their peers across geographies and regions, and against what they call “gold standards,” meant to inspire higher achievement. The firm’s Americas Vice Chair, Talent, Carolyn Slaski, explained that, LEAD, “emphasises a shift from retrospective performance evaluations and detailed written assessments, to real-time feedback and better conversations that focus on individual career journeys and long-term future aspirations.” GE: PD@GE Another good example is GE. In 2016 General Electric, a company with over 300,000 employees, covering 170 countries, changed its 40-year-old performance review system to one focused on performance development - a mobile app called PD@GE to enable more frequent feedback. The new system, PD@GE, works on a system of “Insights” that can be offered to employees by managers or fellow employees. The emphasis being on performance development, not on evaluation - there are two types of “Insights” – “Consider Insights and Continue Insights.” A “Continue Insight” celebrates and encourages an employee when they do something good, while a “Consider Insight” offers constructive criticism when employee performance shows opportunities for improvement or needs guidance. GE Managers were expected to have frequent conversations – and have summary touch-points with their employees on how far they are from agreed business goals. IBM: Checkpoint Another example is IBM. The organisation uses an app-based performance review system named Checkpoint. Employees set short-term goals throughout the year on Checkpoint, and receive feedback from their Managers at least every quarter. Also, in 2018, a leading law firm installed an online portal that

“ANOTHER ERROR IS IN EMPLOYING THE “SANDWICH STYLE” – SUGAR COAT NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WITH POSITIVE FEEDBACK, LIKE HIDING A BITTER PILL IN A PILE OF MOLASSES. THIS APPROACH, AT BEST, IS ILLADVISED. THE “NEGATIVE” FEEDBACK OR THE LESSON IN THE WHOLE PROCESS CAN SLIP BY UNNOTICED, AMIDST THE SWEETENER”

enables real-time submission of performance data by employees. The portal also provides a formal coaching platform, that ensures all employees can access continuous feedback and guidance from Supervisors on identified performance gaps. The portal is a multi-tier evaluation system, based on the grade level and seniority of its Lawyers. What is common in these organisations is that they have a performance evaluation system that can be described as Covid-19 compliant – it is not event-based, and it is contactless. What is primary is that, goals are set and there is constant feedback being provided and recorded. What Performance Evaluation is Not. Performance Evaluation, is not an annual rating anymore. It is a regular, continuing mentoring discussion It is not a three-hour annual event. It is a development opportunity that occurs as required. It is not about the organisation being the centrepiece, but it is a conscious attempt to put the employee at the centre of Organisational Growth. It is not just an assessment of an individual, but of the organisation’s leadership. It is not judgement day. And, if it is, shouldn’t mentors and supervisors have their share of the verdict? It is an opportunity to open the brag book, and the manager’s responsibility to develop and release the enhanced performance of an employee – a manager’s opportunity to shine. Performance Evaluation MUST DOS It is early in the year. SET GOALS. It must begin with clear goal setting. Ample time spent with your team on goal setting is time well invested – SMART goals – “BHAG” Big hairy audacious goals -whatever the goals, they must be continuously reiterated until everyone gets it . Focus on Employee development. Prioritise Innovation. Prioritise Implementation. Agree Timelines with your teams on every project, but be flexible and provide allowance, so you remain sane. Prioritise Regular Training for Line Managers and Appraisees. Provide managers with a lot of training on getting comfortable in giving insights. Focus on how to Increase transparency around compensation, rewards and career progression in your organisation. Move the emphasis from Performance evaluation, to performance development. Show an intention to help the employee grow, rather than to show up his or her wrongs. When preparing for a feedback conversation as a manager, reflect on what you hope to achieve and on what impact you would like to have on the employee, by adequately preparing – you can even simulate a conversation before the meeting. Openness and calmness on your part as a manager, is essential to high quality connection that facilitates change. If you start off feeling uncomfortable and self-protective, your employee will match that energy, and you may both leave the conversation frustrated with each other. The process should increase, not drain, the employee’s motivation and resources for change. In this era of Covid-19, managers should use the process in providing insights and coaching geared toward clear business outcomes, not to settle scores. The process, which should be a daily priority, is about having forward-thinking, actionable conversations with employees. Employees always want to know how they are doing. Invite the employee into the problem-solving process. You can ask questions such as: What ideas do you have? What are you taking away from this conversation? What steps will you take, by when, and how will I know? The discussions should focus on priorities, knowledge sharing, career dialogue, and coaching. Though all the organisations highlighted in this article, employed technology to enable the performance evaluation process, it is important to mention that despite the huge importance of technology, it is not the ultimate objective. The main objective of the performance evaluation process, is the quality of the conversations that employees and managers are having. What drives a good conversation are trust, vulnerability, authenticity.

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BUSINESSWORLD

Group Business Editor Obinna Chima

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Quick Takes TCN Plans Another Control Centre

BOARD INAUGURATION

L -R: Chief Executive Officer, Icon Hotels Group Africa, Fred Maina; Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko; Board Chairman, Ibom Hotels & Golf Resort, Udeme Ufot; Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Orman Esin, during the inauguration of the Board of Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort at Uyo...recently

Barkindo: Worst is Over for Oil Industry Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Secretary General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi Barkindo, has said that given the very bad experience of 2020, the worst part of the crisis in the global oil market has been put behind it by the oil and gas industry. Barkindo spoke while participating via video-conference at the 11th ‘Global UAE Energy Forum, which focused on the 2021 oil and energy outlook, held under the patronage of Suhail Al-Mazro, United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Energy and Industry, and organised by Gulf Intelligence, recently. The Secretary General who took part in a question and answer session that focused

ENERGY on the current oil market situation and the prospects for the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) and world oil demand in 2021, recalled how the deal helped to return some level of stability to the market. He emphasised that the year 2020 offered many lessons and it was vital to take stock for the year ahead, saying that, “the worst is over” and that he was, “hopeful and cautiously optimistic, going forward.” The Secretary General recalled the outcome of the 13th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held in early January, emphasising that the decisions taken were balanced and reached through consensus, determination and flexibility in the interests of oil market stability.

“We had two days of intensive discussion on market developments. We came to the consensus that we should not bring back 2 mb/d.” It underscored, he added, “our step-by-step approach.” The OPEC boss also highlighted the leadership role being undertaken by Saudi Arabia with its additional 1 mb/d voluntary adjustment for February and March to help the market navigate the traditionally low demand first quarter. He noted that a number of key inter-related variables that needed to fall in line for the market to return to a sustained balance, including “vaccines, lockdowns, fiscal and monetary stimulus, DOC production adjustments, GDP growth and oil demand rebound.” He said that all these variables

needed to be monitored very closely, and it was vital that OPEC and its non-OPEC partners keep their hand on the steering wheel, to help drive the recovery in 2021. He added: “Regardless of the heroic efforts we have undertaken, stocks are still high. We look at both the OECD and non-OECD stocks, and both are high. We need to see them further reduced and the DoC was assisting the market in accelerating the stock drawdown.” On the possible re-emergence of shale oil, the Secretary General said not even producers from the United States were insulated from the current crisis. “There is no doubt that all producers of hydrocarbons have suffered from the impact of COVID-19. OPEC has established Continued on page 24

Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road Costs N155.4bn, Not N1.2tn, FG Insists The federal government has refuted some reports on social media that the contract for the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road, costs a whopping N1.2, calling for a probe of the role of the ministry of works and housing on the project. However, in response to THISDAY enquiries, the ministry noted that there was no truth in the rumours, stating that the contract sum was N155.47, out of which N86.9 billion had been paid the contractors. The online report had alleged in what it described as the, “biggest scandal in Nigeria’s history”, that the road remains the most expensive repairs in the world, saying that it was

ECONOMY not a new project and was cited on a plain landscape which made the project cost even more unreasonable. It had further alleged that a kilometre of the road costs N2.3 billion, that it has only two lanes and has no bridges or culvert, stressing that N350 had already been expended on it and won’t be completed until 2027. However, Special Adviser, Media, to the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Hakeem Bello, in reply to questions on the project, sent a breakdown of the cost of the project which he said was confirmed by the

Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). He indicated that the project cost was not anywhere near N1.2 trillion as rumoured by the largely faceless online group. In the response tagged: “Current Payment Status on Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road”, he said, “contract Sum: N155, 470,626,078.07k, Project length: 376km Dual (total 752km), Total payments to date : N86,906,440,379.32. Confirmation received from the NSIA”. Earlier , the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), had on the ministry’s official Instagram page, reiterated the commitment of the federal

government to completing the reconstruction of the dual carriageway. Fashola had said: “Mr. President is more passionate and concerned about finishing this road and many others before his constitutional term ends.” He also said the objective of the town hall meeting was to expose the realities and explain the challenges involved in the construction of the road. On why it was taking too long to complete the project, the minister explained that one of the reasons why work could not commence early on the road was as a result of the request made by some Continued on page 24

TheTransmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed plans to build a second national control Centre in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja, the nation’s capital. The Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer ofTCN, Mr.SuleAbdulaziz,madethedisclosurewhenheledsomemanagement staff of the company on a visit to Gwagwalada, for an on-the-spot assessment of the possible location of the project. He said the move became important, arising from the need to create redundancy and in anticipation of further expansion of the grid and the power sector in general. “Ourpurposehereistocheckandseeifthissitewillbesuitableforthe construction of a second national control centre like the one we have in Osogbo”, Abdulaziz said, adding that the civil engineering department ofTCN would further assess the site and make recommendations to management for final approval. He further disclosed that the contract for the execution of the project would soon be signed as the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), has already issued a Certificate of “No Objection” to TCN for the commencement of work. The MD/CEO explained that as a result of the urgency of the project, TCNtookthedecisionnottosubjecttheprojecttogeneralprocurement process but rather invited selected competent companies who took part in the bids for the contract. According to him, the new control centre project would have functional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and EnergyManagementSystem(EMS)aswellasmoderncommunication equipment compatible with international standards.

Insight Redeﬁni Appoints Director

Insight Redeﬁni Group, a member ofTroyka Holdings has deployed Sinmisola Hughes-Obisesan to the role of Group Creative Director Insight Redeﬁni, in furtherance of its Power of One initiative. Formerly playing the role of Creative Director of Leo Burnett Lagos, theredeploymentwillseeSinmisolaHughes-Obisesansteerthecreative operations of the group. Accordingtoastatement,withhervastknowledgeacrossanarrayof sectors and over 14 years’ experience on a plethora of global and local brands,shehadledteamsacrossbothagenciestodeliveraward-winning work in Nigeria and across other international markets for brands such as Pepsi, Heineken, Nivea, Amstel Malta, Cadbury, P&G, Nestlé,Tecno Mobile, AXA Mansard, FCMB, Leadway Assurance and others. Speakingonherredeployment,Hughes-Obisesansaid,“asacreative storyteller, well known for my ability to create deep experiences between brands and consumers, my goal continues to be to create clutter-breaking, impactful content that resonates with today’s digital consumer. “My driving philosophy is to win consumers, not just to sell or tell, but to build meaningful relationships” she said. In her new position, she joins the group leadership team to drive the ‘Power of One’ and ‘Humankind’ way of working and winning for Clients.

Adesina Gets Recognition

The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has been announced as a champion of Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative. The appointment was made at a recent forum held in the margins of the One Planet Summit 20201 to mobilise support for the ambitious project to plant an 8,000 km swathe of trees and other vegetation across the Sahara and Sahel regions of Africa. The green wall will act as a barrier against desertiﬁcation and aims to create over 10 million green jobs in the region. “I would also like to welcome the commitment of Dr. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, who has agreed to take on the role of resource mobilization champion and help raise, by 2030, all the necessary funds for the realization of the Great Green Wall,” French President Emmanuel Macron told participants. In the role of champion, Adesina will lead the mobilisation of political and economic support for the initiative.

“As a Nigerian, and more particularly an indigene of the Niger Delta region, I understand well our responsibilities that come with stewardship of the asset” Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu

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BUSINESSWORLD BARKINDO: WORST IS OVER FOR OIL INDUSTRY a channel of communication with the US independent producers. US producers are not insulated from this hemorrhage,” he stated. He also highlighted the importance of investment in the sector, saying that it was critical to the survival of the oil and gas industry. “Even prior to COVID-19, we were put on the defensive. Oil and gas will continue to be part of the energy basket. Investment is the lifeblood of this industry and is vital to meet future demand,” he stated. OPEC had directed its members and allies that have not fully complied with the output curbs agreed upon in April when the prices of some grades of oil in the international market became negative, to submit a compensation plan by January 15. ABUJA-KADUNA-KANO ROAD COSTS N155.4BN, NOT N1.2TN, FG INSISTS members of the national assembly to expand the road from two lanes to three lanes. “Shortly after we flagged off the road, we received a letter from the senators in the national assembly asking the federal government to expand the road from two lanes to three lanes. “That was not from us, it was from the national assembly, the senators and they wrote to the president and copied my ministry,” he explained. He stated that based on the directive from the presidency to undertake the expansion, the ministry needed to redesign an expansion to accommodate about 40 different bridges on the road to align with the lanes. “So if they are going to expand from two to three lanes, a new design needed to be created. The process for doing that required us to hire a design consultant. We had to follow the procurement process established by the national assembly,” he said He added that the procurement process is a long one which entails advertising, waiting for a period of six weeks after advertisement, reviewing of tender, picking of consultant and going to the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) among several other processes.

Group Business Editor

Obinna Chima

NEWS

Maersk Demands Military Action with Rising Pirates’ Attacks in W’Africa Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja with agency report Maersk, the world’s biggest shipping company has demanded a more effective military response to surging pirate attacks and record kidnappings off the coast of West Africa. The number of attacks on vessels globally jumped 20 per cent last year to 195, with 135 crew kidnapped, the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre said in a recent report. The Gulf of Guinea accounted for 95 per cent of hostages taken in 22 separate instances, and all three of the hijackings that occurred, the agency said. Bloomberg reported that the attacks had pushed up insurance and other costs for shippers operating off West Africa, with some resorting to hiring escort vessels manned by armed navy personnel. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, which transports about 15 per cent of the globe’s seaborne freight, said decisive action needs to be taken. “It is unacceptable in this day and age that seafarers cannot perform their jobs of ensuring a vital supply chain for this region without having to worry about the risk of piracy,” Bloomberg quoted Aslak Ross,

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Benin Electricity Distribution (BEDC) Plc has kicked against the granting of an operating licence to Asaba Distribution Limited by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Following the petition, NERC, the regulatory agency for the power sector, has fixed today

The apex surveying and mapping office of the federal government, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF), has said that it is set to commission its database centre to mainstream geospatial information acquisition and use in the country. A statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the office, Mr Michael Abu, quoted the Surveyor General

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has been applauded for attracting $40 million (about N15.2 billion) power transmission tower manufacturing industry to the state. With the aim to promote industrialisation, Delta State Government through Delta Investment Development Agency had partnered Delfrasco to house Africa’s largest Tower Manufacturing, Testing, Research, Training & Hot Dip Galvanising

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)

Africa, each comprising 20 to 50 members. Hostages are usually held for ransom in Nigeria, the regional powerhouse that has taken the lead in preventing attacks. The news medium said the Nigerian government plans to commission nearly $200 million of new equipment this year, including helicopters, drones and high-speed boats, to boost the navy’s capabilities.

for the hearing of the petition which seeks to stop the release of an independent electricity distribution network licence to the firm. In a statement confirming the matter and setting out modalities for resolution, NERC stated that the hearing was pursuant to Section 70 (2) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA). According to the commission,

it was also in line with clause 11 of the NERC Application for Licences Regulations 2010, and section 17 of NERC (Business Rules of the Commission) Regulations (Business Rules) 2006. It wasn’t clear why the power distributor specifically opposed granting the licence by NERC, but the regulator stated that the petition would be heard and determined by a panel

of three commissioners of the commission. “In compliance with Section 45 of EPSRA and Section 17 of the Business Rules, the Commission has resolved that the petition/ objection filed by BEDC against the granting of the application of ADL, shall be heard by a panel of three commissioners as stipulated in section 17 (3) of the Business Rules. “The petition shall be heard

at the commission’s Hearing Room on the 4th Floor of the NERC Headquarters Building, Plot 1387 Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, Abuja on Jan. 19, by 10a.m. “The conduct of the hearing shall be in accordance with the business rules of the commission and further procedural rules relevant to the conduct of hearings as determined by the commission,” NERC stated.

of the Federation (SGoF), Mr. Taiwo Adeniran, as having made the disclosure during a management meeting of the office in Abuja. While stating that the project was started since 2012, but will be inaugurated soon, he acknowledged the commitment of the incumbent government towards bringing it to realisation, disclosing that the geo and e-commerce portal of OSGoF

would be launched through the database. “The project would be a sort of centralised omnibus database for stakeholders in Nigeria with the aim of providing easy accessibility and streamlining of geospatial data. This would boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the country as well as her national security,” Adeniran stated. According to the Adeniran, the office would in

this year focus attention on the establishment and development of more Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS). He charged the Department of Business and Commercial Development (DBCD) to quickly incorporate the arrangement to ensure adequate generation of revenue. While reminding members of the management to ensure aligning all projects and activi-

ties of their departments and units with the priority areas of the federal government, he urged them to the creative and productive in their endeavours. As part of its support to encourage geospatial education in the country, according to Adeniran, the OSGoF would be donating some surveying and mapping equipment to universities and polytechnics offering related courses.

Okowa Applauded for Attracting $40m Manufacturing Firm to Delta

Comms/e-Business Editor Senior Correspondent

maritime zones to be jointly patrolled, but has been only partially implemented while most navies remain focused on safeguarding their own waters. Bertrand Monnet, a professor of criminal risk management at France’s EDHEC Business School who has studied piracy in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region for 15 years, estimates that a maximum of 15 bands operate offshore West

Surveyor General Plans Launch of Database to Boost IGR

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

Emma Okonji

4,000-mile-long shoreline that stretches from Senegal to Angola, it serves as the main thoroughfare for crude oil exports and imports of refined fuel and other goods. Twenty-five African governments, including all those bordering on the gulf, signed the Yaoundé Code of Conduct in 2013 to tackle piracy and aims to facilitate information sharing and established five

NERC Set to Hear BEDC’s Petition against Asaba Firm

Capital Market Editor

Goddy Egene

head of marine standards at Copenhagen-based Maersk, as saying. “The risk has reached a level where effective military capacity needs to be deployed,” he added. The Gulf of Guinea encompasses a vast tract of the Atlantic Ocean that’s traversed by more than 20,000 vessels a year, making it difficult for under-resourced governments to police. Fringed by an almost

Facility in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. Upon completion, the industry will be Nigeria’s and indeed, Africa’s first and largest multi-industries local content industrial complex, providing products and services to power, oil and gas, telecoms, agriculture and other industries. Managing Director of DAS Energy Services, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the ground breaking ceremony

by Okowa at Isselu-Uku, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, said the project would contribute positively to the industrial development of Delta State in particular and Nigeria in general. He added that the earning of foreign currency from the project would boost the socio-economic development of Nigeria. “This project is one of the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. It will encourage investment

in other facets of the society, thereby boosting employment, increasing earning and improving the socio-economic life of the people. By so doing it will reduce the criminal activities in the state to the barest minimum”, he said. Onuesoke observed that by attracting a company of such global high economic value into Delta state was a fulfillment of Okowa’s earlier promise of attracting foreign investments into the state by creating an environment that will make

the state becomes the most investor-friendly destination in Nigeria. He recalled that Okowa in a meeting with prospective Chinese investors last year made remarks about seeing to it that Delta becomes the most investor-friendly destination in Nigeria. “The meeting, held in Shenyang, China, was part of a roadshow organised by the state government to build momentum for the impending industrial park in the Kwale region of Delta State.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

All Eyes on PIB

Players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and economic policy analysts are fixated on the passage, signing and implementation of the protracted Petroleum Industry Bill this year, with the hope that the proposed legislation will eliminate the fiscal uncertainties in the industry and spur investments, writes Peter Uzoho

Buhari

he striking revelations by the duo of the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the former Secretary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, that some powerful internal and external forces with vested interests led to the long delay of the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), have heightened the apprehension in the current effort to pass the bill into law. No doubt, such timely revelations will go a long way to prepare those presently working on the passage of the bill to be wary of such forces and vested interests and ensure that nothing stalls the all-important and badly needed PIB this time. Players in the Nigerian oil and gas industry as well as industry watchers and economic analysts, are watching very closely, with keen interest, the happenings around the PIB, which is currently undergoing its passage at the National Assembly. This is because of the fact that one of the challenges facing the Nigeria oil and gas industry is the lack of a legislation that is in line with the current industry and market realities, especially as regards fiscal terms. This has been a major concerns always highlighted by industry players at various meetings and fora, which they blame for the inactivity and low investments being recorded in the sector for decades. The situation has resulted to the flight of new investments opportunities from Nigerian to neighbouring countries of Ghana, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, who have more defined laws and governance structure. Some of the international oil companies have had to sell some of their assets and found their ways into those countries where they believed they would get commensurate value for their investments. The fallout was the decline in industry activities and attendant drop in national revenue as well as unemployment as hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost. Experts estimate that the country loses approximately $15 million annually due to the dampened investor confidence in the industry. The Delayed PIB The PIB has been in the works for close to two decades, as it was first introduced in the National Assembly in 2000, thereby making it the longest stalled bill in the nation. The Nigeria oil and gas industry has for long been begging for such reform as the law guiding the industry at the moment has become obsolete and no longer relevant to the present realities having been in place since 1969. Having suffered a setback in the Seventh National Assembly, it was decided that a new approach would be adopted to facilitate its passage and signing into law. Subsequently, it was unbundled into several segments by the Eighth National Assembly, which was aimed at making it easier for the less-controversial aspects of the bill to have easy passage while the more controversial aspects were dwelt more upon. The PIB was therefore split into four parts, namely: Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB); Petroleum Industry Administrative Bill

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan (PIAB); Petroleum Host and Impacted Community Bill (PHIB); and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB). Another Failed Attempt In January 2018, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was passed by the House of Representatives. This marked a significant milestone in the journey of replacing the obsolete Petroleum Act of 1969, as the Senate had earlier passed the PIGB in May, 2017. Some of the underlying principles included: effective and capable institution, clear roles and accountabilities, and transparency and ease of doing business. Core objectives in the PIGB include: provision of a one-stop-shop regulatory authority, provision of functional commercial entities, abolition of discretional powers, engendering improved technology and innovation, ensuring clarity of roles and accountabilities and creation of efficient and effective governing institutions with clear and separate roles in the petroleum industry Others are establishment of a framework for the creation of commercially-oriented and profit-driven petroleum entities that ensure value addition and internationalisation of petroleum industry, promotion of transparency and accountability in the administration of the petroleum resources of Nigeria, and creation of conducive business environment for the petroleum industry operations. The key institutions in the PIGB are: The minister for policy formation, directing, industry co-ordination and supervision); Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission, which will succeed Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Inspectorate - to regulate, promote enabling environment for investments, issue licenses and conduct bid rounds, measurement & hydrocarbon accounting, and environmental regulation. It will also issue regulations, administer and enforce laws, to have a special investigations unit, to monitor and ensure compliance, to regulate, to ensure best practice, to promote investment and value creation, it has inbuilt accountability mechanisms, and board supervision. National Petroleum Company (for commercial operations), National Petroleum Asset, Manage-

We are hoping that ﬁnally, we will see a PIB in place, but not just a PIB for the sake of it, but a PIB that will actually enhance and help the industry to grow and attract investment and all that

Gbajabiamila ment Company (for commercial operations), Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board, Petroleum Technology Development, Petroleum Infrastructure Fund The PIAB deals with issues relating to administration in the oil and gas industry and it sets out to provide robust regulations, licensing and permits, simplicity and predictability, access to assets, and Encodes Executive Order 001. On its part, the PHIB bothers on host communities and it sets out to ensure inclusiveness, shared prosperity direct disbursement, harmonious relationships, reducing deferments. Also, the PIFB focuses on the fiscal regimes in the oil and gas industry and it sets out to achieve profitable growth, cost efficiency, increased revenues, making gas work and staying competitive. However, when the bill was transmitted to the President for assent, he declined assenting, citing some provisions he was not comfortable with, thereby prolonging the PIB to becoming a law. New Zeal for Passage The emergence of the Ninth National Assembly led by Lawan (Senate) and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila (House of Reps) which is obviously in aligned with the Buhari-led executive arm, has expressed its determination to ensure the PIB was passed and assented to. The PIB, which went through a redraft by the executive, with inputs from the legislators and industry players, has scaled through the first and second reading at both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the federal legislators have promised to get it passed in this first quarter of 2021. Among some of the provisions in the new version of the PIB are the creation of the upstream commission to be the sole regulator of the upstream segment of the industry; and the creation of the Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to be saddled with the responsibility of regulating and monitoring activities in the sectors, including issuance of licenses. Also proposed in the new PIB is the establishment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to replace the existing Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), thereby making the national oil company a commercial entity. The PIB also proposed the establishment of the Petroleum Industry Host Community Trust Fund, where oil companies are made to contribute 2.5 per cent of their Operating Expenditure (OPEX) to, for the development of oil communities in the country. Addressing Grey Areas While they are consistently yearning and calling for a new legislation that will meet current realities, experts in the industry have raised some concerns on some of the provisions in the new PIB. They said the federal government and the National Assembly should not make the mistake of producing a petroleum law in the form of PIB that would further stifle investments in the sector.

They said while it is necessary to reform the industry through the PIB, Nigeria should not miss another opportunity to reassure and encourage existing investors to continue to have faith in the country as they look forward to a PIB that will significantly raise their investment appetite in the country, while attracting more investors to relocate to the country. For instance, the Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, had stated that the uncertainty coming from the PIB does not appear to improve Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination, and would continue to stifle investment in the country. He pointed out that such fiscal provisions contribute to Nigeria’s unattractiveness to investors, adding that Nigeria had attracted only four per cent of the $70 billion committed to new upstream projects in Africa from 2015 to 2019, despite having the largest reserves on the continent. “That is why the industry is working hard with the relevant authorities and lawmakers to make the case for a win-win Petroleum Industry Bill that will attract new investment and jobs to Nigeria,” Sangster had said. The oil major had suspended the development of its Preowei field, a deepwater hydrocarbon pool located north of the Egina field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130, off Nigeria, with expected production capacity of 50,000 barrels of oil per day, at peak. Among the reasons cited by Total for the suspension of the project was the new fiscal regime in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, saying, it would recommence the development of the asset when conditions, including a win-win PIB allowed them to. In its intervention, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), also advised the National Assembly to produce a legislation that would promote effective and efficient governance, administration, host community development and fiscal framework for the petroleum industry. The chamber, in a recent statement issued by its Director General, Dr. Muda Yusuf, also advised that the new legislation should help preserve the integrity of existing projects in the industry, while encouraging future growth of production in order to make Nigeria an investment destination of choice. Yusuf, who declared the support of the chamber to the PIB, said the current bill marked a positive step toward achieving the objectives of the PIB 2020 to reform the institutional and fiscal framework and develop Nigeria’s gas sector by creating a framework to support the development of host communities, foster sustainable prosperity and attract investments to grow the country’s production capacity. He, however, observed that some of the sections in the current PIB habours some provisions that could adversely affect the growth of the industry and the overall economy, stressing that the PIB should seek to protect existing investments from value erosion as the assets and operations from these investments are the foundation upon which CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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FMDQAdmitsTotal,ValencyAgro,MixtaRealEstateCPs Goddy Egene FMDQ Securities Exchange Limited has approved the quotation of the Total Nigeria Plc N2.25 billion Series 1 and N12.75 billion Series 2 Commercial Papers (CP) under its N30.00 billion CP Issuance Programme. Also, Mixta Real Estate Plc N2.00 billion Series 32 CP under its N20.00 billion CP Issuance Programme and the registration of the Valency Agro Nigeria Limited N20.00 billion CP were

admitted on the FMDQ platform. According to FMDQ, the debut issuance of Total Nigeria Plc’s CP, following a volatile period for the oil and gas industry as disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates innovation and confidence in the Nigerian debt capital market (DCM) towards supporting the vibrancy of the sector and in turn the reactivation of the Nigerian economy. The issue attracted significant demand from a wide range of investors - resulting in a subscription level of over four times the

initial issue size - a demonstration of investor confidence in the company. Commenting on the quotation of the issue, the Managing Director of Total Nigeria, Mr. Imrane Barry, said: “The programme was set up to enable the company further broaden its sources of capital by accessing funding from the Nigerian debt capital markets, while also reducing its overall funding costs.” He thanked investors for supporting the company’s debut issue and commended the

financial advisers, Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, for ensuring the success of the Issue despite the challenging environment. Meanwhile, with double-digit inflation rates and soaring food prices compounded by the growing Nigerian population, it has become more imperative to catalyse the country’s agricultural value chain transformation in a bid to drive increased and sustainable production of agricultural products as well

as foreign earnings through exports. And Valency Agro Nigeria Limited, incorporated in Nigeria under Valency International Pte Limited, a company that deals in the sourcing, production, and trading of Agro and consumer food products is playing big in the drive to increase and sustain the production of agricultural produce food sufficiency in the country. Commenting, the Managing Director, Valency International Pte Ltd, Mr. Sunil Dhanuka,

“We are glad for the successful registration of Valency Agro’s N20.00 billion CP Issuance Programme. “We also commend FMDQ for the seamless process despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the various restrictions. In line with our vision to grow within the agricultural value chain in Nigeria, Valency Agro is committed to ensure the growth of the Agriculture sector through our deep involvement in Cashew, Sesame, Cocoa and other produce.

Firm Repositions Operations Ugo Aliogo PROSELL has concluded a repositioning exercise aimed at enabling it to focus more effectively on its core competence area which is organisational performance enhancement. In a statement by the group, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Fabian Emenyonu, was quoted to have said the strategic exercise was meant to give the firm more time to avail organisations of its experience and very unique concepts in attitude transformation and organisational performance turnaround and advancement, especially as the world pivots inexorably towards a new normal.

He said one of the company’s major strategic thrusts, going forward, would be to work with corporate leaders, using its novel TRACS concept. He further explained that the concept would create new thinking and pathways by which they could consistently increase the performance of their managers, “work-teams, departments and even their entire organisations, without any corresponding increase in resource inputs.” He believes that the TRACS concept is bound to completely transform workplace attitudes, relationships and performance in virtually all sectors, across many countries in Africa and beyond.

Sovereign Trust Insurance IATA Welcomes US Pre-departure COVID-19 Testing Order Maintains ‘A-’ Rating Chinedu Eze Ebere Nwoji Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has been rated ‘A-‘ by the Global Credit Rating (GCR) According to GCR, Sovereign Trust Insurance, has great potential for growth in the years ahead considering some of the strategies that had been put in place to propel its operations. The agency, also noted that the company, has shown a great deal of consistency in claims paying obligations to its customers spread all over the country. The agency further stated that the listing of the rights issue in 2019, helped in increasing the shareholders’ funds of the company by 33.8 per cent to

N7.8b by the end of the financial year in 2019, as against the N5.8 billion recorded in 2018. Consequently, by the third quarter of 2020, the shareholders’ funds had increased to N8.2 billion which also translated to a 31 per cent increase in the same corresponding period of 2019, with a figure of N6.3 billion. In the rating agency’s opinion, Sovereign Trust Insurance is strong in liquidity with more than adequate claims coverage that compares well to industry averages. It further noted that the capital adequacy of the underwriting firm was considered strong and, “this is underpinned by the sizeable capital base catering for the quantum of insurance and market risks assumed.”

Chappal Appoints Immanuel Managing Director Raheem Akingbolu Ufoma Joseph Immanuel has been appointed the Managing Director of Chappal Petroleum Development Company ‘Chappal’, effective January 2021. Ufoma, is also one of the founding partners of Chappal, an ESG-focused energy independent established to extract deep value from distressed brownfield Upstream opportunities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Chappal Development Company will focus on the challenges faced in the continued development of mature assets, like produced water management, evacuation logistics, gas development, capex optimisation

and infrastructure replacement. Prior to joining Chappal, Ufoma was the CFO of Energy Link Infrastructure (ELI) and instrumental in the milestone breakthrough for the organisation as the first Nigeria company to have a Terminal Establishment Order and Oil Pipeline License issued to a single entity. At ELI, after pioneering the concept of the Alternative Crude Oil Evacuation System (ACOES) for the Oil Mining Lease Number 18 (OML 18) Joint Venture (Nigerian National Petroleum Company and Eroton Exploration and Production Company), he led the financing of the project and oversaw the development.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the announcement by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it will require all travellers to the US to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test undertaken within three days prior to their departure to the country, effective 26 January. “Systematic pre-departure testing is key to giving governments confidence to reopen markets without quarantine. Testing will

ensure that at current infection levels, aviation will not become a meaningful vector of new transmissions in the US. “Furthermore, IATA traveller surveys show that passengers strongly support and are willing to undergo testing,” said IATA’s Vice President Member and External Relations, North America, Douglas Lavin. IATA said it was encouraged by the flexibility shown by CDC in this order, in terms of accepting both antigen and PCR testing and in providing passengers who have already had COVID-19 the ability to demonstrate they are

immune. “As the efficacy of testing is confirmed, we need to move quickly to next steps—lifting travel restrictions which prevent travel from Europe and other key markets and removing quarantine requirements imposed by state and local governments in the US,” said Lavin. IATA also announced that it was developing the IATA Travel Pass, a mobile app to manage information flows around requirements for COVID-19 testing and/ or vaccine/immunity information. The IATA Travel Pass will enable travellers to receive and

securely store encrypted data on their own mobile devices including verified test or vaccination results and to share this information with airlines and authorities. IATA urged the US government to make provision to accept test and immunity documents shared electronically via the IATA Travel Pass. “While this order presents operational challenges, we will continue to work with CDC to achieve a smooth implementation. It definitely is a big step in the right direction,” said Lavin.

Reality Show to Boost Nigerian Start-ups with N1bn Raheem Akingbolu The Incubator Reality has created a lifeline to enhance Nigerian start-ups, increase their capacity and access to funding via a novelty incubation program. A statement by the promoters of the initiative -ECSCORP, said the reality TV show seeks to change the start-up narrative by creating a start-up hub where best brains are incubated to encourage product exposure, partnership, and funding. “Start-ups encounter many challenges especially during the formation stage. These challenges range from seed funding, partnership and investment, business resource and mentorship. “Unfortunately, many brilliant individuals, teams, talents are out there hoping for a turnaround and better days to come where their thought-of innovation can become reality,” the statement

said. The Incubator Reality will admit 25 contestants who will work in five different teams for an incubation period of 12 weeks and graduate with the seed fund for the winning team and first runner-up totaling $1.7 million. Start-ups, coined SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) are confronted with challenges that cause their failure, sometimes before they even get started while some barely survive the first two years. There is a critical need to pay attention in this direction. Nigeria, a hub of raw talents, has what it takes to compete globally, however, the specific challenges that start-ups face make it near impossible, the organisers stated. “Our local talents are blessed with ideas and innovation that can compete with their peers in other nations of the world, but our banks have low appetites

to support these talents, their ideas and innovations. “Angel investors and seed funding, which are the first business drivers are almost nonexistent hence, the creation of The Incubator Reality. The show will focus on revolutionising the quondam challenges of start-ups,” the statement said. The Incubator’s architect further disclosed that the winner and first runner-up of the program will receive $1 million and $0.7 million respectively. “The Incubator Reality aims to address the most crucial challenges in Nigerian start-ups, which is - how to leverage on knowledge, creativity and innovation - to leapfrog ahead of or at the very least, be at par with many of the developed economies within the shortest possible time, creating mega companies, more jobs and opportunities.”

The Incubator Reality will minimise brain drain whilst fostering growth and development. Contestants will be able to showcase their brand and attract attention to their talent; their business is already a success before they graduate from the Incubator. “The viewers will be inspired as well as the partner brand having maximum exposure with a projected 40 million views, and Nigeria benefits from growth in GDP and direct investment to business growth,” the Incubator architect explained. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 40 years, and must have an entrepreneurial drive with originality, excellent communication skills (both oral and written), a good team player with sales and marketing skills, as well as good leadership and influencing skills.

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Celebrating UBA’s ‘LEO’ Oluchi Chibuzor writes on the impact of the United Bank of Africa’s chat banker – LEO – three years after its introduction into the market

Kennedy Uzoka

echnology has been a veritable gift to mankind, and over the years, it has been responsible for creating amazingly useful resources which put all the information individuals need at their ﬁngertips. The development of technology has also led to so many mind-blowing discoveries, better facilities, and better luxuries, which has in-turn helped to improve lifestyle and standard of living. For instance, through relevant technological development, the average individual has been empowered to shop online and carry out seamless transaction any time of the day or night from the comfort of his own home or business place. To this end, forward thinking companies and financial institutions with eyes in the future who have been conversant with the new trend in customer behaviour, have painstakingly designed new products and services tailor-made to meet the growing needs of customers anytime anywhere. It is bearing this in mind that Pan-African financial Institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, changed the face of e-banking in the African continent for the first time with the introduction of Leo – UBA’s Chat Banker. The idea of Leo, which was birthed in 2018, was to enable customers make use of their social media accounts to carry out key banking transactions with ease. This is the first time ever that a financial institution in Africa evolved a one-stop solution to simplify the way customers transact, a key essential in today’s fast-paced world with demands for quick-time transactions and response. With Leo’s help, customers have been able to open new accounts with ease, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, transfer funds and airtime top up. Cheque confirmation, bill payments, loan application, account freezing, request for mini statements, flight bookings, airtime and data purchases, are some other services that the chat banking BOT has been helping customers to carry out since 2018. And Leo, the Artificial Intelligent Bot which carries out seamless conversations with his customers – who he calls his friends by the way- has achieved this and more in its three-year existence; allowing users to carry out quick, fast and recurring transaction with ease from their popular social media accounts such as Facebook

Zuckerberg and Whatsapp. No wonder the bank has earned a lot of laurels and accolades in the last three years confirming Leo’s global acceptance and recognitions, as pointed out by UBA’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, some of which are: ‘Africa’s Best Digital Bank of the year’ by Euromoney; The Most; Innovative Bank of the year’ by International Finance; ‘Best Customer Engagement Tool’ by Africa Fintech; Pulse magazine rated Leo on WhatsApp as ‘The best WhatsApp Banking App’; ‘The Best Social Banking platform’ in Uganda; ‘Excellence in Automated Chatbot Initiative’ by Finnovex Awards; ‘Next Generation Class of 2019’ by CIBN; ‘Best Automated Chatbot Initiative, Application or Programme’ by The Asian Banker. The list is endless. “The formulation of this product, is consistent with UBA’s Customer 1st philosophy, where we have been doing things not the way we like, but focusing on what the customers want, where they want it, and in the exact platform they want it,” Uzoka explained. “At UBA, we have been continuously working with technology giants that have the global capacity to ensure not only seamless but also effortless banking for the millions of our customers across Africa; as all the bank’s subsidiaries in Africa have activated Leo to perform financial services for customers. Continuing, he said, “Since 2018, Leo has been helping with most transactions and to deliver any form of banking services. And this has been highlighted more especially during the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 virus, as Leo assisted all its users on all major social media platforms to carry out all their banking activities without having to physically visit a branch. “This, to us, remains an admirable feat because with Leo, the banking needs of our customers have become easy and simple - as simple as chatting”; Uzoka pointed out. “UBA remains committed to its vision of becoming the undisputed leading and dominant financial services institution in Africa. We will continue to innovate and lead in all our business segments, whilst delivering top-notch operational efficiencies and best-in-class customer service. We are beginning to realise early gains from our ongoing Transformation Program and I am indeed excited about the days ahead,” Uzoka added. Within three years of operations, UBA’s Leo

has recorded a number of milestones including opened a total of 390,756 accounts; achieving 2,169,384 subscribers; conducting a total of 9,605,703 transaction count worth a value of N81,530,918,868. Leo which has over 2.1 million unique users has also generated over 20 million conversations and over 85 million engagements; with such impressive feedback and usage and remains the only AI BoT showcased at the F8 in Mark’s Zuckerberg’s opening remarks. As a demonstration of his leadership capability, under Uzoka’s watch, UBA has expanded across the continent and beyond, meeting client’s global banking needs through its presence in London, New York and Paris. In 2019 alone, UBA launched operations in Mali and upgrade its operation in the United Kingdom. On March 1, 2019, UBA launched its full banking operations in the United Kingdom, an expansion move that further consolidates its unique positioning as the first and only Sub-Saharan African financial institution with banking operations in both the UK and the US. A techie himself, the GMD has ensured significant investment in the digitalisation of the bank’s activities and processes, particularly the LEO. “Our commitment to customer service excellence is translating to strong, operational and financial efficiency,” Uzoka said, reiterating the bank’s commitment to continue to put customers at the forefront of its activities. “We are focused on adding value to the customers as we strive to give them an excellent experience at all times. We do this by having a vivid understanding of our customers and their specific needs, and by effectively monitoring their satisfaction through the feedback mechanism, and more importantly, making valuable improvements from their feedback. I am pleased to see we are increasingly becoming the bank of choice for individuals and businesses across Africa,” he said. UBA’s Group Head, Digital Banking, Sampson Aneke, reiterated that Leo is not just a chat machine, but an artificial intelligence personality meant to address any type of banking concerns raised by customers. “Leo has been operating a secure lifestyle banking platform on Facebook messenger, WhatsApp and IOS and Andriod to assist customers with their transactions while chatting with your friends and business partners. The security with this platform has been that for

every transaction, a One Time Password (OTP) is generated to the phone number that is registered on your account,” he explained, and adding that the bank is working tirelessly to improve LEO’s services to the customers in the coming weeks. United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-one million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries. With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services. In highly challenging environment affected by COVID-19, UBA was able to record an impressive nine months results as of September 30, 2020, and stakeholders have been confident the results would be improved when the full year 2020 results are published. The pan-African financial institution reported a growth of 5.9 per cent in gross earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, despite the difficult operating environment. UBA grew its gross earnings by 5.9 per cent from N428.7 billion in the nine months of 2019 to N454.4 billion in 2020. Net interest income rose by 17 per cent to N186 billion compared with N158.9 billion. Impairment charges printed at N11.476 billion, up from N6.663 billion in 2019. The pan-African financial institution reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N90.4 billion compared to N98.2 billion recorded in 2019. Similarly, it recorded an after-tax net profit of N77.1 billion, thus putting its annualised return on average equity at 16.4 per cent. Operating income also improved by 10.4 per cent year-on-year to close at N293.7 billion, up from N265.9 billion achieved in the corresponding period of 2019. The bank continues to maintain a very strong balance sheet with total assets improving by 26 per cent to N7.1 trillion, compared to the N5.6 trillion recorded at the end of December 2019. The shareholders’ funds remained very strong at N655.3 billion rising by 9.6 per cent from N598.0 billion recorded in December 2019, thus reflecting a strong capacity for internal capital generation and growth.

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China: A Saviour for Emerging Markets or Poison Pill? Mota Mota

s the coronavirus pandemic enters its second year, developing countries around the world are struggling with stalled-out growth and loan repayments that are now outside their ability to pay, even while further ﬁnancing is needed to rebuild their economies. Caught between a rock and a hard place, emerging markets are increasingly leaning on Beijing. The only G20 country to post positive economic output in 2020, China is streamlining its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the post-COVID age and swooping in to seemingly extricate countries from their dire financial straits. Countless examples abound just from the past few weeks. After relations soured between one-time allies Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, causing Riyadh to call in a $3 billion loan, cash-strapped Islamabad was only able to make a $1 billion payment in December thanks to a Chinese bailout— leading a Pakistani foreign ministry official to gush to Reuters that “China has come to our rescue”. Shortly afterward, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi embarked on a goodwill tour of Africa, notably writing off $28 million in matured loans for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The debt forgiveness, plus another $17 million in pledged financial support, offered Kinshasa a welcome gift as it became the 45th nation to sign up to the BRI in early January. Announcing the deal, Wang dubbed China “Congo’s most reliable friend”—a turn of phrase that highlights the cost emerging economies pay for Beijing’s open pocketbooks. In fact, from Djibouti to Sri Lanka, countries heavily in hock to China have allowed their relationships with other international investors to fray, leaving them dangerously dependent on Beijing’s continued support. How many bridges will Djibouti burn to please China? Despite a near-total lack of arable land, a harsh climate, and limited natural resources, Djibouti’s strategic location on the Bab-elMandeb Strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden has prompted seven countries to set up military bases in the tiny country and has drawn foreign investors from the world over. Djibouti’s increasing coziness with Beijing, however, has threatened to derail the country’s attempts to diversify its economy through foreign investment—particularly regarding an ongoing case that has seen Djibouti expropriate private property to China’s benefit and roundly ignore international arbitration rulings. The case, which has alarmed international investors and policymakers alike, concerns the Doraleh Container Terminal, considered “the most technologically advanced port in Africa”. In 2006, Djibouti awarded a 30-year concession to Dubai-based port operator DP World to manage the container terminal, only to abruptly renege on the deal in early 2018, nationalize the facility, and sell off a significant stake to China Merchants Holding. Reports suggested that Djibouti handed

Jinping the Chinese firm the rights to manage the container terminal in exchange for an uptick in Chinese investment and loans. China certainly has splashed out cash in the nation in the Horn of Africa, holding more than 70 per cent of Djibouti’s GDP in debt. Whether other international investors will be willing to bankroll expensive projects that might be illegally seized by the Djiboutian government at a moment’s notice is less clear, with analysts noting that the abrupt cancellation of DP World’s long-term contract “threatens to undermine the country’s overall investment climate”. Djibouti’s outright refusal to recognize six separate judgments in DP World’s favor at the London Court of International Arbitration and the High Court of England and Wales hasn’t helped matters, leaving other overseas investors in grave doubts that Djibouti would respect their rights under international law. The fate of the more than half a billion dollars DP World is entitled to recover in damages from the small African country is up in the air, especially after Djibouti initiated proceedings before its high court to nullify the ruling. Sri Lanka still welcoming Chinese funding, even after port seizure If Djibouti’s government has allowed

its love affair with Chinese cash to throw a wrench in its relationship with other international investors, Sri Lanka has dug itself into an even bigger hole. Under former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan government bankrolled a wide range of unprofitable endeavors and thinly-veiled vanity projects through Chinese loans with hefty interest rates. It was just a matter of time before the country became unable to service the debt, and Colombo became an international cautionary tale about Chinese “debt trap diplomacy” in 2017 when it was forced to hand over its strategic Hambantota port to Beijing in lieu of payment. Given the outcry in Sri Lanka over the loss of the port, a vital gateway to Indian Ocean trade routes, many observers might have expected Colombo to wean itself off of Chinese funding. Instead, its reliance on Beijing seems to have grown, to the exclusion of other investors and global partners. Where once Sri Lanka mostly relied on China to fund costly infrastructure projects like the Hambantota port, it is increasingly seeking syndicated loans from China as an alternative to issuing sovereign bonds or getting help from international institutions. Desperate for cash to service $15 billion owed to foreign

creditors amidst the pandemic, Sri Lanka has repeatedly rejected IMF assistance and turned instead to the China Development Bank, while reports have surfaced in recent weeks that Colombo intends to pull out of two Japan-funded infrastructure projects in order to hand them over to the Chinese on less favorable loan terms. The consequences of this continued rapprochement with Beijing are already becoming clear: the US recently withdrew a $480 million infrastructure grant over Sri Lanka’s failure to assert its sovereignty over Chinese influence. Beijing has already stepped in to fill the funding gap, with plans to build everything from costly port cities to tire factories in Sri Lanka. Facing a record economic slump and questions over whether it can honor its debt commitments, Colombo will undoubtedly accept China’s help, like Djibouti, Pakistan and the DRC have. A repeated pattern, however, has shown how easily reliance on Chinese investment can snowball and crowd out any other investors. Beijing labels itself an emerging market’s “most reliable” partner—are countries willing to have it become their only major partner? t.PUB JT B 4FOJPS "DDPVOU .BOBHFS 3FQVUBUJPO BU &EFMNBO

ALL EYES ON PIB new projects could be built. Yusuf said: “It is, therefore, crucial that projects already underway be able to maintain the conditions under which they were designed and approved. Doing so will incentivise the launching of new projects; grow production and revenue for government and stakeholders and thereby guaranteeing long term sustainability of our oil and gas industry. “While the PIB enables companies to elect to either convert to the PIB or remain on existing terms, it does not provide clear assurances that projects whose leases will be renewed in the coming years will be able to retain the rights and benefits they have earned since the start of their operations. “In addition, the PIB provisions expect lease holders to relinquish (upon conversion or renewal) lease areas and zones, thereby potentially jeopardising future exploration/ development and long-term contractual gas supply obligations.” He argued that the bill should clarify acreage relinquishment requirements upon conversion

in order to ensure the stability of projects and enable operators to maintain the structure of gas contracts and pricing agreed between parties prior to the PIB becoming law. The LCCI director general also pointed out that the deep-water provisions in the PIB did not provide favourable environment for future investments and initiation of new projects, and suggested that the PIB should grant new deep-water oil projects a full royalty relief during their first five years of production and should remove holding tax since companies will still be subject to Companies Income Tax Administration. “The bill omitted the inclusion of a grandfathering framework to ensure that assets developed based on integrated economics complete their lifecycle. A provision for the specific exemption of associated taxes where assets are required to be segregated should also be considered,” Yusuf added. LCCI therefore, recommended that the PIB should seek to harmonise tax practices and ensure capital allowance and allowable

deductions are consistent with existing tax legislations. It added that the PIB should include an exemption for existing export gas supply contracts and obligations to avoid breach of contracts that could be triggered by the prohibition of gas export in the new bill until Nigeria attains domestic gas sufficiency. Although, there is no provision for total downstream deregulation, particularly petrol pricing, in the PIB, marketers are still looking forward to the passage and implementation of the PIB as a good step for the reformation of the entire industry. They joined their colleagues in other value chains of the industry in the call for more fiscal clarity in the industry in order to boost investments in the sector. “We are hoping that finally, we will see a PIB in place, but not just a PIB for the sake of it, but a PIB that will actually enhance and help the industry to grow and attract investment and all that,” Chairman of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Managing

Director of 11Plc (formerly Mobil Nigeria), Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, said. For the immediate-past Chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Mr. Joe Nwakwue, “We hope that most of the domestic uncertainties and challenges we face will be addressed by the passage and prompt implementation of the PIB. We need to pass and implement an investor-friendly PIB, and work on most of the ease of doing business challenges facing the sector”. An Emeritus Professor of Petroleum Economics and Policy Research, Prof. Wumi Iledare, opined that passing the PIB was critical to the removal of political uncertainty. He added that the energy transition dynamics called for Nigeria to rethink its oil development for revenue obsessions, noting that “the PIB 2020 must bring a new mentality anchored on fiscal designs for investments competitiveness, for economic output in the long run. So, the 2020 outlook is highly dependent on PIB 2020 becoming law and a low Covid-19 impact on global economic activity,” Iledare said.

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IMAGES

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L-R: Managing Director, ANAPJET, Capt. Akin George; Director of Operations, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB; Capt. Dayyabu Danraka; Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu; Chairman, League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, (LAAC), Mr. Segun Koiki and Director, Aviation Security, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Group Capt. Usman Sadiq (rtd), at the Conference on Prevention of Human Factors in Air Accident Occurrences held in Lagos...recently PHOTO: KOLAWOLE ALLI

Executive Director, Pathﬁnders Justice Initiative (PJI), Mrs Evon Benson Idahosa delivering a speech during a two-day rehabilitation training for providers serving survivors of human traﬃcking and trauma in Benin City... recently

Farmers processing cocoa beans from pods for export in Ondo State...recently

Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe (right) and others durihg a condolence visit to the members of the Kauru Emirate Council over the death of the late Emir, Alhaji Ja’afaru Abubakar in Kaduna State...recently

Scene of an over night ﬁre incident at Ijesha market in Lagos....recently

Coordinating Director, Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Funsho Adeniyi, explaining a point during the inspection of the ongoing work at Lotto on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway...recently

L-R: Special Assistant to the Imo State governor on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Mrs. Onyinye Azu; Minister of Humanitarian Aﬀairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya farouq; Focal Person, NHGSFP, Gombe State, Hajiya Dijatu Bappa and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Aﬀairs, Bashir Alkali, during the 4th Annual Review of the NHGSFP in Abuja...recently PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT NIStructE: COREN’s Delay of Enabling Guidelines Fosters Building Collapse Fadekemi Ajakaiye

he Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, NIStructE has stated that the delay by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in responding to its draft guidelines to regulate the practice of Structural Engineering in the country fosters building collapse. This was stated at the investiture of NIStructE’s 20th President, Engr. Dr Kehinde Osifala, held at the College

hall, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, recently. Engr. Osifala stated that the COREN Act of 2019 has major structural engineering components and there must be institutional guidelines in place to ensure their implementation. “NIStructE submitted a draft law to COREN with which to regulate the practice of Structural Engineering and probably reduce the rate at which buildings collapse, but, till date have received no response to the draft,” he said. He stated that if there was no

regulation to guide the practice of Structural Engineering, buildings will continue to collapse, and again called on COREN to passionately look at and also approve the proposed draft. Osifala stated that the launch of the Advocacy Project is with a view to minimising or eradicating incidences of building collapse and the attendant loss of human and material resources. “Our long term target is to get the various government organisations to courageously implement the Federal Government Executive Order 5, which

cede major engineering works to Nigerian Engineers, that is, local content in engineering design and construction,” he said. “One of our current achievements is the assistance given to the Lagos State in carrying out preliminary assessment of the buildings affected by the EndSars protest and the structural assessment of buildings affected by the explosion at Abule Ado,” he said He encouraged engineering family members and other professionals in the built environment to practice in their

areas of competence. “Anybody that practices outside his or her area of competence is a quack,” he said. “Presently, there is confusion in the engineering family as regards who should talk when a collapse occurs; the Nigerian Society of Engineering, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineering, NICE, or the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, NIStructE. All are jostling for prominence, and relevance with each claiming

authority to talk on collapse,” he said. He stated that there are three basic engineering fields viz, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical. Civil Engineering is made up of Structural; Waste and Waste water; Hydro technical, Geotechnical, Highway, Transportation and Environment. “The branch of civil Engineering that studies, deals with and is responsible for the structural behaviour, including collapse, is the structural division,” he said, adding, “Our ultimate dream is for NIStructE to be chartered.”

Eko Atlantic: Future of Smart Cities in Nigeria If you are a Nigerian born long before the late 1990s, you probably remember the excitement that met mobile telephone introduction into the market back in 2001. You probably remember that many people did not own landlines at the time, so expectations were high. But today, Nigeria has about 36% smartphone adoption rate. This is the type of trend ‘Smart Cities’ will set in the coming future. To understand how, let us review some of the trends that led to the emergence of smart cities around the world. In 2019, the UN report on World Urbanization Prospects stated that by 2050, there will be very few countries where rural dwellers are expected to be higher than urban. Some of these countries are across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Pacific Island states, and Guyana in Latin America. When you look at historical drifts, two key factors shaped the

narratives of Real Estate in this century. First is the extraordinary growth in global population followed by the unparalleled increase in the number of cities based on demands. These disruptions happen to occur at the same time with the digitization era or what is termed as the fourth industrial revolution- ‘4IR’. So, you can imagine the number of people that migrated from rural and peri-urban areas to the city in search of greener pastures. Some migrated with the hope of accessing white collar jobs, modern amenities, better opportunities while others would simply like to be called ‘city dwellers. This year alone, 56.2 per cent of the world population lives in the city, and half of these people lived in towns of less than 500,000 inhabitants. If we consider the recent report by World Economic Forum on the projected increase in population by 2050, the world population

will hit nine billion in 2050. 80 per cent of these people are expected to live in cities. With more people moving to the urban areas, not just in Nigeria but across the world, most cities will need to device means of attending to the complex demands created by massive urbanisation. Some of these demands are what almost all city dwellers in Nigeria experience every day. Issues ranging from limited access to existing resources, overcrowded and poorly maintained establishments, pollution, amongst others. To ensure that these challenges are either solved or ameliorated, the United Nations, world leaders, real estate developers, and investors offered the development of ‘Smart Cities’ as a sustainable solution. Smart Cities are the future According to Ronald Chagoury Jr, the Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic City, “Smart

Noah Ibrahim Bags LEADS African Personality, Mandate Service Awards Fadekemi Ajakaiye The Chief Executive Officer of Novarick Homes, Noah Ibrahim was yesterday bestowed with the prestigious Africa’s Patriotic Personality Award and a Development Mandate Service Award, by the League of African Development Students (LEADS Africa) – an umbrella body of democratic Students Union from different countries in Africa. The 5-member team of LEADS Africa comprised of Osisiogu Osike, SecretaryGeneral from AIT Accra, Ghana, Tankou Patrique, the regional Rep.(francophone) from L’universite de Yaounde-1, Otaru Mohammed, V.P (Partnerships) Nigeria from The Federal University of Tech, Minna, Okpegbuo Sandra, Head of Gender Nigeria from MOUA Umudike and Okuwaga Abayomi, Director of Logistics, from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. Speaking during the Awards presentation which took place at Novarick Homes Corporate office in Lagos, Nigeria, the Secretary-General of LEADS, Osisiogu Osikenyi stated, ‘‘We are here to honor Noah Ibrahim for his innovations in the real estate space par excellence Africa’s Patriotic Personality of the Year in recognition for Novarick Homes involvement

in Sustainability, proffering solutions to the challenges of affordable housing, and building eco-friendly communities. We are also presenting Novarick Homes with the prestigious Development Mandate Service Award for the corporate commitment to regional integration, nationbuilding, and economic growth in Africa. In response, Noah Ibrahim described the award as recognition, not only to himself as CEO but to the entire Novarick team. He stated “We have so much to offer at Novarick Homes and I believe two years is not enough to show all we plan to achieve. We have a

cities like Eko Atlantic are well-planned, efficiently-designed developments that use technology to make decisions and find solutions to everyday issues. Our aim is to build an eco-friendly city that is self-sufficient and sustainable. Just the way smartphones revolutionised communication, smart cities like Eko Atlantic will revolutionise the real estate sector.” However, a smart city is does not solely depend on ICT but also on more advanced technological applications like; global positioning systems; geographical information systems; and remote sensing. Smart cities are designed to address most of the impediments created by urbanisation and to build cities that are environmentally friendly and sustainable. The United Nations now came up with reliable estimates on how the property industry can help limit the rise in global temperature. From the estimate, players in the industry need to reduce the average energy intensity of buildings by at least 30 per cent.

To achieve this, they relied on new technology. Latest innovations include sensors that optimise energy consumption through smart management of heating, ventilation and other building operation processes. Also, you must have experienced the waste and noise pollution that comes from construction sites, these new technologies can make construction and development more sustainable. Through tech application, waste and noise pollution are reduced considerably. This is achieved through streamlined activities such as modular construction, where parts of the building are constructed in a controlled factory environment. The modular construction can be reused and replaced. Do Nigerian developers have the capacity and resources to build smart cities? This pertinent question has been answered by Eko Atlantic City, through its 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the ocean and protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea

wall. Gradually evolving to a technological masterpiece and a state-of-art green city, Eko Atlantic is one of the innovations of modern engineering and technology which has placed Nigeria at the world stage of smart cities. The city’s advanced urban designs are hard to miss. Strongly protected by the ‘Great Wall’, Eko Atlantic City is self-sufficient and sustainable. Designed to offer the best of life to residents and businesses, the City generates its own power, clean water, advanced telecommunications, spacious roads, and tree-lined streets. When observed closely, you will marvel at the level of dexterity and expertise that are put in place to create the city’s infrastructural designs. These infrastructures are tech-driven road works and underground surface drainage pipes which are already laid along major routes across the new city. With this strategic network, the city is positioned to manage waste drainage without clogging the waterways.

team of young and dynamic people who aim for nothing but excellence. I want to use this medium to reiterate our commitment to making Nigeria a greener place to live. At Novarick homes our focus is to create affordable and accessible homes in Nigeria by reducing the acquisition cost, providing longer-term payment options for home seekers, and in the long run contributing our quota to reducing the housing deficit in Nigeria.” He thanked the members of the LEADS team for the honour and promised to continue his works in the real estate sector. Eko Atlantic City’s landscape

Real Estate Guru, Sam Ogrih Loses Father

Noah Ibrahim award

The Chief Executive Officer of Delta Mega Trend, Prince Sam Ogrih has announced the peaceful transition to glory of their patriarch, Prince Stephen Ekpebe Ogrih (Odion Orere of Uzere Kingdom). He was 94 years old. A statement by the frontline player in Nigeria’s real estate sector said, “The royal family of Ogrih and Ediwe, both of Uzere kingdom in Isoko South

L.G.A, Delta State, hereby notify you of the peaceful transition of their beloved son, uncle husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and fatherin-law, Prince Stephen Ekpebe Ogrih (Odion Orere of Uzere kingdom) whose sad event occurred on the 31st December, 2020 at the age of 94 years. Details of the funeral arrangements will be sent to you in due course.”

Ogrih

T H I S D AY ˾ TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021

PROPERTY & ENVIRONMENT

Estate Residents Battle Anambra over Land Allotted for Recreation David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

esidents of Anambra Housing Corporation Estate, phase two, have alleged that some officials of the Anambra State government are planning to grab a parcel of land designated for building of a recreational centre in the estate. The chairman of association of residents of the estate, Prof Stanley Udedi, who spoke to journalists during a meeting of elders of the estate, recently, lamented that the land for recreational centre which has been in existence since the 18 years of the existence of the estate was being claimed by some government functionaries. “We are residents of this estate, this is where we hold our social and sporting activities,

and it is the only vacant land in the entire estate. “This piece of land has been here for 18 years now, and the land for recreational facility was part of the masterplan of the estate, but today they want to sell it off,” he lamented. Udedi said the residents of the estate have been at loggerheads with officials of the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation over the parcel of land, while insisting that the plan to sell off the land is not unassociated with the fact that the Governor Willie Obiano administration would come to an end soon. “They are just looking for ways to grab every available land because their administration would come to an end soon. “Government which should be promoting recreational activi-

ties to enhance longevity among citizens is now selling off the only land where we can relax. We will not let them. We are ready to battle them in court,” Udedi said. Meanwhile, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C Don Adinuba who reacted to the allegation of land grabbing by government agents said one cannot be said to be grabbing what belongs to him. Adinuba said, “The governor has the powers in law to take over any land for overriding public interest. “It’s infantile to accuse the government of land-grabbing on a land it owns already. The governor can revoke the land they are talking about for overriding public interest. It’s infra dig to accuse the government or its agents of land-grabbing.

“The quality of thinking of some people is becoming

so frightening. If they feel aggrieved, they should go to

court instead of engaging in scandalously childish drama.”

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Maruf Akinderu-Fatai; Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka and Permanent Secretary, Mr Wasiu Adedamola Akewusola, during a public hearing on a Bill for the Law to regulate Real Estate Transactions and for other connected purposes in Lagos State, at Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa… recently

Illegal Wildlife Trade Estimated Over $7bn Annually, Says Report Ugo Aliogo The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth between $7 billion and $23 billion annually a survey report conducted by globeScan has revealed. The report found out that 71% of participants had consumed bushmeat at some point in their lives, and 45% had consumed it in 2020. It further explained that COVID-19 was of concern to 27% of consumer who said they stopped buying bushmeat, in a country that was previously impacted by Ebola outbreak.

According to the survey, “While bushmeat is an important part of rural food security, rapid urbanisation has caused a soaring urban demand for bushmeat, despite widely available and affordable alternative protein sources. More than 50% who had consumed bushmeat within the last year cited taste as the main reason, while 30% said it was part of their culture, and 25% said that it is healthier and fresher than regular meat and fish.” The survey also remarked that between 2016 and 2019,

over half of the pangolin scales seized globally came from Nigeria, adding that wildlife species have declined dramatically over the past 50years. The report revealed that 98% of those surveyed said there were ready alternatives in form of fish, chicken and other farmed meats. “Nearly 70% of those surveyed said wildlife should be protected and 59% believe wildlife is important for their national heritage,” the survey said. The survey hinted that public knowledge of exist-

ing wildlife legislation that prohibits hunting and trade of endangered species is low, pointing out that only 31% correctly identified that only some species are legal to buy/eat. Almost nine out of 10 (88%) said that some or all bushmeat should be legal. Commenting on the survey report, the Chief Executive Officer, Wildlife Aid, Peter Knight, said Nigeria could lead the region in a new approach that recognises the incredible risks of wildlife trade with improved enforcement and greater public awareness.

He also stated that rather than an ever-growing list of endangered species that are prohibited from commercial trade, government could communicate a very short list of “safe” game species, such as grasscutter. He stated that later in the year, wildlife would launch a public awareness campaign in major cities across Nigeria to change consumer behaviour, while noting that it would also collaborate with government agencies to improve enforcement and communication of wildlife existing laws.

Reacting to the report, the Director, Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Rasak Adekola, said WildAid’s campaign against bushmeat consumption is a commendable initiative that would not only assist in ensuring that wild animals are left in the wild, but also help in the control, and keeping zoonotic diseases at bay. He added that the outcome of the survey is quite revealing and would definitely form the basis for government step-up action against bushmeat consumption.

HOMEF Partners with Ecole Urbaine de Lyon on School of Ecology Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) will be partnering with Ecole Urbaine de Lyon in hosting her first School of Ecology (SoE) for 2021. According to a statement by HOMEF, this partnership was officially announced at a virtual press conference held on Friday, 15 January 2021 to present the third edition of Ecole de l’Anthropocene (School of Anthropocene) 2021 organised by Ecole urbaine de Lyon (Lyon urban school) in France. The School of Anthropocene will run for one week, from 25th to 31st (Monday to Sunday) January 2021. The SoE which will form

one of the sections of A l’Ecole de l’Anthropocene, will be examining the roots of resource exploitation with particular focus on food, extractivism and ecology. This section will hold 26th to 28th that is, Tuesday to Thursday. Featuring in the SoE are Mariam Mayet of African Centre for Biosafety, South Africa and Mamadou Goita of IRPAD, Mali who will be speaking on “Who feeds the planet”; Firoze Manji of Daraja Press speaking on “Plantation and Extractivism” and; Ikal Angelei of Friends of Lake Turkana, Kenya, speaking on “Green Colonialism”. Nnimmo Bassey, Director of HOMEF will

be co-moderating all panels at the SoE. Speaking at the virtual press conference, Nnimmo Bassey expressed his concerns about the current geological age called the Anthropocene. He explained that humans have assumed a certain measure of exploitative control over the environment and earth’s resources. To surmount challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation and pollution which human activities are largely responsible for, terms such as sustainability have been coined. According to him, “sustainability has been on the card for decades and everyone speaks about

sustainable development. Yet the three circles of sustainability which include the economic, environment and social aspectscovering the 3Ps representing People, Planet and Profit- are not balanced in the scheme of corporate operations. Focus is mostly on the economic aspect of sustainability leading to economic systems of exploitation, destruction, dispossession and extractivism.” It has been the character of the mining and extractive industry generally to focus more on profit maximizationdiscounting the environment and labour. This character is not only displayed on the African

continent but in other countries like Canada and the United States of America. From the press conference, it was gathered that the challenge of climate change calls for a new approach. This approach according to Nnimmo Bassey is that of repairing connectionswhich have been weakened by undue competition and lack of solidarity and care, among humans. He emphasised that, “We must stay connected to reclaim the pathways that will make the universe livable. We must reconnect to ourselves and to mother Earth. We can’t continue with business as usual.”

This is part of the narrative that the School of Ecology section of the School of Anthropocene hopes to explore. HOMEF’s School of Ecology is a space for education and knowledge sharing focused on creating understanding of the problems that plague our environment. It is believed that if one cannot understand the roots of a problem, we cannot formulate a suitable solution. The School of Ecology is hinged on sharing knowledge that will lead to action. “This is what we hope to achieve in the School of Ecology/Anthropocene that is coming up,” Nnimmo Bassey said.

African Environment Ministers Commit to Support Green COVID-19 Recovery Plan Bennett Oghifo Ministers of Environment across the continent of Africa have agreed to support a comprehensive green recovery plan to boost economies and social systems aimed at building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. In a ministerial statement issued at the closing of the eighth special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), representatives of the 54 African governments reaffirmed their commitment to enhance environmental resilience as well as

to protect and sustainably use natural resources for the region’s development. In a high-level Ministerial regional conference that was held virtually under the theme “Enhancing environmental action for effective post-COVID recovery in Africa”, participants further called to accelerate the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems as part of an effort to sustainably build back African economies from the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and

Fisheries of South Africa and President of AMCEN said: “whilst this pandemic is having a profound negative impact on sustainable development and our efforts to combat environmental degradation and eradicate poverty, it also presents opportunities to set our recovery on a path of transformative sustainable development.” “The African Green Stimulus Programme seeks to address, in a sustainable manner, the devastating socio-economic and environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to, more importantly, harness

the opportunities which this approach brings for the Continent,” she added. Ministers noted the importance of policies and programmes linking public health, pollution abatement, climate action, biodiversity conservation, ecosystems integrity, socio-economic equity, and prosperity for an effective recovery from COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. While noting the impact COVID-19 pandemic has had on Africa’s socio-economic development, the ministers acknowledged it has particularly undermined efforts to achieve

sustainable development and eradicate poverty. Ministers recommended that an effective recovery strategy from COVID-19 pandemic is essential, and it can present opportunities to further mainstream environmental considerations across all facets of African economies, striving towards a more environmentally friendly, resilient, low-emissions and inclusive sustainable development. “In overcoming the pandemic, we can also avert climate catastrophe and restore our planet. I congratulate Ministers on their deliberations this week

on a green recovery programme for the continent. I call for international solidarity and for the domestic realignment of resources to fund the green recovery,” said Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. Also, in the conference, environment ministers committed to working with the global community to secure a robust, ambitious and transformative post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that aims at reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

T H I S D AY ˾ ͯͷ˜ 2021

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

AMAC Relinquishes Power to Collect Outdoor Advert Revenue Olawale Ajimotokan ÓØ ÌßÔË The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has relinquished the power to collect all revenue from outdoor advertisements on its behalf to the Department of Outdoor Advertisements and Signage (DOAS). AMAC Chairman, Abdulahi Candido, announced the concession yesterday in a joint statement with the Director DOAS, Dr. Baba-Gana Adam, on the disputes arising on the collection of taxes, levies and permits on outdoor advertisement and signage system in the FCT. The agreement has finally resolved the lingering conflict on who has the legal rights

or otherwise to collect advert revenue, signage permits including mobile, first party and third party advertisements and signage within the jurisdiction of AMAC in the FCT Candido, said though Section 7 and the fourth schedule of the 1999 Constitution vested the powers on local government areas or Area Councils as in the case of FCT, to collect advertisement permits, taxes and levies within its areas, the stakeholders resolved that in recognition of subsisting agreements and associated byelaws, DOAS should henceforth carry out the function. He added that the amicable settlement was in the interest of the general public and a bold step in the easing ways of doing business and doing things in

common. “As a responsive and responsible government, the council accepts that it is in the best interest of both parties and most especially the residents of AMAC in FCT to delegate this task to the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) in order to harmonise collections, avoid double taxation, improve the on the ease of doing business and ensure seemless tax collection in council. “Whatever mitigations you think we have, we must not go beyond our reach, so we are not accused of contempt. But anything that is given in the course of law that two partners, who have come together means the case has been resolved,” Candido said.

Vitafoam Grows Profit by 72%, Recommends N979m Dividend Goddy Egene Shareholders of diversified manufacturers of foams and other household equipment, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, will receive a dividend of N979.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2020. The dividend, which shows an increase of 64.5 per cent, above the N595.4 million paid in 2019, translates into 70 kobo per share as against 42 kobo paid in the preceding year. The board of the company recommended the higher dividend following the performance recorded in the year. Vitafoam had posted a revenue of N23.44 billion, up by five per cent from N12.281 billion in 2019. Profit before tax rose 62 per cent to N5.647 billion, from N3.496 billion, while profit after tax grew faster by 72 per cent from N2.56 billion to N4.108 billion. The higher growth in bottomline resulted from an 8.1 per cent drop in cost of sales and 11.4 per cent reduction in finance cost. Basic earnings per share

increased from N1.82 to N3.05 and net assets per share hit N7.25 in 2020, 54.3 per cent above N4.70 recorded in 2019. Commenting on the results, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, said innovation is the drive. “As a matter of corporate policy, we do continuous improvement on our products. We sell high margin products. We are highly connected with our customers. We know their different needs and as such our products always gain acceptance in the market. Our foams and other products meet specific needs. “Last year, we launched Buy Rights when our research revealed that different weights require different types of foams. We do not just sell to customers, we offer health counseling to advise on the specific foam for individual customers. This has greatly endeared us to our customers,” he said. Adeniyi explained that Vita-

foam is not just about only rigid foams, but has strong footing in furniture and other household equipment such as Sandwich panels, insulation board and spray foam. “Quality product is our second name. Our current performance was not driven by sales due to COVID-19. The margin from this is insignificant and we even donated foams to Lagos State government as our corporate support. Our investment in the subsidiaries as a growth strategy is beginning to pay off. All of them have turned profitable. We are not insulated from the tough operating environment as all the indices that should drive growth in the manufacturing sector are weak. But due to our innovative efforts, trust on the part of our customers and of course divine grace, our balance sheet today is one of the strongest in the industry. We have capacity to sustain the trajectory and we shall continue to reward our shareholders accordingly,” the MD/CEO said.

CHI Limited Foresees Bright Prospects for Nigeria in 2021 Leading fruit juice, drinking yoghurt, evaporated milk, and snacks manufacturer, CHI Limited, has extended warm wishes to all Nigerians for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021. The company urged Nigerians to rekindle their hope for a better year in their personal lives and for the country this year. According to a statement, the company encouraged Nigerians to apply their positive, can-do spirit for which they are well known, in their endeavours and to overcome any challenges they may currently face as individuals and as a country.

The company noted that 2020 was an extraordinary year for many Nigerians due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the resultant unprecedented disruptions to socio-economic routines, and the crisis in the public health sector which made the year a very difficult one for most Nigerians. Against the background of the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHI Limited charged Nigerians to remain optimistic, observe all prescribed protocols, and embrace a lifestyle that would guarantee them a healthy, produc-

tive, illness-free, and successful 2021. The company noted that the country was able to address the challenges posed by the first wave of the pandemic and is exploring varied opportunities for dealing with the resultant effects of the pandemic in various sectors of the economy. It commended the spirit of resilience, resourcefulness, and sense of determination of Nigerians have displayed thus far to get through the challenging period, and implores them to leverage these qualities to create a better 2021.

Buhari to Inaugurate National Oil, Gas Centre Thursday Peter Uzoho President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday virtually inaugurate the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) Lagos, as part of effort to boost the operations of the Nigeria oil and gas sector. The Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Sarki Auwalu, announced this yesterday in a statement signed by the Head of Public

Affairs, DPR, Mr. Paul Osu. Auwalu said the centre was structured to drive the three-prong objectives of safety, value and cost efficiency which are critical for oil and gas industry stability, growth and sustainability. He said the centre would afford the Nigerian oil and gas industry the crucial elements for competitive advantage in a changing global energy landscape. “The integrated centre

will also entrench Nigeria’s status as regional leader and position the nation for significant global impact in the provision value-added services and breakthrough solutions for the industry in years and decades to come,” he added. Auwalu also said the NOGEC complex was structured to house the various flagship centres in order to comprehensively cover key areas of the industry.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JULY 2020 Money Supply (M3)

36,822,751.47

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

3,476,121.25

Money Supply (M2)

33,346,630.22

-- Quasi Money

120,764,479.02

-- Narrow Money (M1)

12,582,151.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,002,026.89

---- Demand Deposits

10,580,124.31

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,637,137.23

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

29,185,614.24

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

39,711,115.95

---- Credit to Government (Net)

19,521,851.08

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

-130,189,264.87

--Other Assets Net

3,472,017.70

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,421,827.07

--Currency in Circulation

2,395,917.03

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

11,025,910.04 317,234.17

˾ 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 ˜ ͯͳ ͰͮͰͯ

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $54.68 a barrel on Friday, compared with $55.19 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations. The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), 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 ˾ ͯͷ˜ ͰͮͰͯ

All-Share Index Falls 0.23% as Market Opens on Negative Note Goddy Egene Profit-taking in heavy weight counters yesterday led to a negative close for the stock market on the first day of the week. Owing to this, the market, which rose 2.63 per cent last week, declined yesterday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) falling by 0.23 per cent to close at 41,082.38. Market capitlisation shed N39.6

billion to be at N21.5 trillion. In terms of price movement chart, there were more price gainers than losers. However, profit-taking in Dangote Cement Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc led to the negative close. But the decline was not unexpected because analysts had said while the market would remain mostly bullish as investors look for attractive

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dividend yields ahead of full year 2020 dividend declarations, there would be intermittent profit taking. “We expect the bulls to retain dominance in the market given positioning for FY 2020 dividends amid negative real returns in the fixed income market even as we do not rule out intermittent profit-taking. However, we advise investors to take positions in only fundamentally justified stocks as

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the weak macro environment remains a significant headwind for corporate earnings,” analysts had said. A total of 22 stocks depreciated led by Japaul Gold & Ventures Plc with a decline of 6.5 per cent. The stock has enjoyed an unprecedented rise recently as investors bought into the company in anticipation of turnaround in its fortune. The company had recorded

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

a profit after tax of N91 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, showing a recovery from a loss of N2.10 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2019. The recovery has been attributed to the company’s diversified from oil and maritime services business to the exploration, mining, processing and export of minerals, such as gold, lithium among others.

O F

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc closed the second highest price loser with 5.4 per cent, while Wema Bank Plc and Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc 5.3 per cent and 4.7 per cent respectively. The board of the pharmaceutical firm has resolved to raise additional equity to the tune of N5 billion. The proposal is to approved by the shareholders later in the month.

1 8 / 0 1 / 2 0 2 1 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS

Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals to Raise N5bn Capital Goddy Egene

of Neimeth International raise additional equity to Stock Exchange (NSE), the board meeting held on January Pharmaceuticals Plc has the tune of N5 billion. In a company explained that the 15, 2021. According to the The Board of Directors resolved that the company notification to the Nigerian resolution was reached at the company, the resolution would A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an ETF are bought by investors. Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager. investment vehicle that allows both small and Bid Price: The price at which Investors Investors with similar objectives buy units of the large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg. redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total that willl generate their desired return. investments. The assets are divided into shares that return an investor would have earned on An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. his investment. Money Market Funds report of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, Yield while others report Year- to-date Total bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, GUIDE TO DATA: Return. etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 15- NAV: Is value per share of the real estate shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the Jan-2021, unless otherwise stated. assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

be presented for approval at annual general meeting of the company to hold in March.

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 1.08 1.10 20.43% ACAP Income Funds 0.74 0.74 0.15% 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 1.02% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.59 3.73 0.70% ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 0.63% Anchoria Equity Fund 137.19 137.65 2.51% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.29 1.29 -3.10% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Eurobond Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com ; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.16 2.16 1.81% Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.25 2.30 33.16% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 0.02 0.00 2.00% Paramount Equity Fund 16.68 17.00 4.34% Women's Investment Fund 137.83 136.25 2.38% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.76% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 133.37 134.27 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 108.99 108.99 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 1.60% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.20 1.21 0.13% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.59 1.59 0.18% 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 1,378.57 1,380.15 -1.49% FBN Balanced Fund 189.64 191.08 1.04% FBN Halal Fund N/A N/A N/A FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.99% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 122.70 123.12 0.91% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 122.84 123.25 0.90% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 158.00 160.40 4.51% 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 3,866.20 3,916.91 2.94% Coral Income Fund 3,318.11 3,318.11 1.59% FSDH Treasury Bills Fund 100.00 100.00 2.15% 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 1.01% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 129.90 130.43 19.76%

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 4.50% 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 1.45 1.47 0.69% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,159.67 1,159.67 0.54% 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 7.27% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.23 12.34 8.93% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 1.50% PACAM Equity Fund 1.64 1.66 PACAM EuroBond Fund 108.59 111.08 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 134.79 137.52 9.34% 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 0.28% 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 2.06% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 210.33 210.33 0.16% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.88 0.89 2.54% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 273.87 273.95 0.20% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 154.92 156.64 1.79% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 0.28% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 7,674.15 7,756.30 0.24% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.23 1.23 0.25% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 111.27 111.27 0.17% 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 1.41 1.43 3.77% United Capital Bond Fund 1.89 1.89 0.17% United Capital Equity Fund 0.91 0.93 5.28% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.49% United Capital Eurobond Fund 117.35 117.35 0.24% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.09 1.10 1.32% 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 12.50 12.63 5.41% Zenith Ethical Fund 13.87 14.00 13.57% Zenith Income Fund 24.09 24.09 0.50% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 1.94%

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

13.34 127.99 100.45

13.44 127.99 102.65

0.90% 5.13% 1.25%

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

4.28

4.32

12.67%

Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund

6.02

6.10

5.84%

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

18.07 1.00 20.52

18.17 1.00 20.72

10.32% 0.87% 0.01%

195.66

197.66

-12.15%

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.

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

Trailblazer Kamala Harris: America’s First Woman Vice President Ugo Aliogo with agency report That Donald Trump failed to win Kamala Harris will shatter one of the highest glass ceilings Wednesday when she takes the oath of office as America’s first woman vice president, blazing a trail in the most diverse White House ever. As running mate to incoming president Joe Biden, she helped bring Donald Trump’s turbulent rule to an end, rapping him during the campaign for his chaotic handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s unrest over racial injustice and his crackdown on immigration. Harris, 56, enters the post already forging a unique path, as California’s first Black attorney general and the first woman of South Asian heritage elected to the US Senate. As vice president, she will be a heartbeat away from leading the United States. With Biden, 78, expected to serve only a single term, Harris would be favored to win the Democratic nomination in 2024, giving her a shot at more history-making - as America’s first female president. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last,” Harris said in a speech on November 7, her first after US networks projected Biden and Harris as the winners over Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump bitterly contested the results, peddling the lie that the Democrats only won due to massive election fraud. During the campaign he routinely attacked Harris, branding her a “monster” after her October vice presidential debate with Pence. When asked about it my reporters, Harris curtly dismissed the president: “I don’t comment on his childish remarks.”

While Harris pushed back fiercely during the campaign, in the past two months she rose above the fray, pivoting to plans she and Biden are unveiling to help struggling families and fix a reeling economy. “The first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration will focus on getting control of this pandemic - ensuring vaccines are distributed equitably and free for all,” she tweeted Tuesday. While the vice president’s job is often seen as ceremonial, Harris will also be thrust into the powerful role of ultimate decider in the US Senate. Thanks to two shock Democratic run-off victories this month in Georgia, the Senate will be evenly split, 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans. That means Harris may spend considerable time on Capitol Hill acting as the tie-breaking vote on legislation on anything from judicial nominees to Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan. Harris was born to immigrants to the United States - her father from Jamaica, her mother from India - and their lives and her own have in some ways embodied the American dream. She was born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California, then a hub for civil rights and anti-war activism. Her diploma from historically Black Howard University in Washington was the start of a steady rise that took her from prosecutor, to two elected terms as San Francisco’s district attorney and then California’s attorney general in 2010. However, Harris’s selfdescription as a “progressive prosecutor” has been seized upon by critics who say she fought to uphold wrongful convictions and opposed certain reforms in California, like a bill requiring that the attorney general probe

Biden Urges Unity Before Taking over Crisis-laden White House Just 48 hours before becoming president, Joe Biden pressed Monday for unity, while President Donald Trump remained secluded in the White House at the center of a capital inundated with troops and security barriers. Biden was marking the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with a trip from his home in Delaware to Philadelphia to perform community service — a gesture symbolizing his call for Americans to come together after four divisive years. “Service is a fitting way to start to heal, unite, and rebuild this country we love,” Biden said in a video marking the occasion. But the 78-year-old Democrat’s fervent appeals for optimism and healing — which are also set to dominate his inauguration ceremony at noon on Wednesday — are running up against the hard reality of multiple crises. Covid-19 is out of control, vaccine distribution is stumbling, and economic recovery remains in the balance. And after Trump refused for more than two months to accept the results of November’s presidential election the country is seething with division and anger. When Biden takes the oath of office at noon on Wednesday, he will face a city under the protection of 20,000

National Guard soldiers. Checkpoints and large zones closed to ordinary citizens mean there will be only a smattering of guests. Similar lockdowns have been imposed at state capitol buildings around the country where local authorities fear provocations from rightwing groups ahead of the inauguration. A brief security scare on Monday near Congress sparked an evacuation of the site where Biden will take the oath. Trump, who has still not congratulated Biden or invited him for the traditional tea visit in the Oval Office, has been largely out of the public eye since his supporters rampaged through Congress on January 6, triggering his historic second impeachment a week later. According to US media, one of Trump’s final actions could be announced Tuesday at the latest: scores of pardons for convicted criminals. Speculation is mounting over whether Trump will take the unprecedented and legally murky step of issuing himself and his children, who work as campaign and White House advisors, preemptive pardons. According to CNN and other outlets, Trump has a list of about 100 people he will grant clemency.

Harris shootings involving police. Yet Harris’s work was key to molding a platform and profile from which she launched a successful US Senate campaign in 2016, becoming just the second Black female senator ever. Her stint as an attorney general also helped her forge a connection with Biden’s son Beau, who held the same position in Delaware, and died of cancer in 2015. “I know how much Beau respected Kamala and her work, and that mattered a lot to me, to be honest with you, as I made this decision,” Biden said during his first appearance with Harris

as running mates. Harris oozes charisma but can quickly pivot from her broad smile to a prosecutorial persona of relentless interrogation and cutting retorts. Clips went viral of her sharp questioning in 2017 of thenattorney general Jeff Sessions during a hearing on Russia, and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh the following year. Harris also clashed with Biden during the first Democratic debate, chiding the former senator over his opposition to 1970s busing programs that forced integration of segregated schools.

“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school, and she was bused to school every day,” she said. “And that little girl was me.” That showdown did not stop him from picking Harris, who brought that feisty energy to Biden’s carefully stage-managed campaign. During her only debate against Pence, Harris raised her hand as he tried to interrupt her. “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking. I’m speaking,” she said with a glare. Harris has no children of

her own. But she claims the role of “momala” to the son and daughter of her husband Doug Emhoff. Emhoff, a lawyer, will become the first-ever US “second gentleman,” and the first Jewish spouse of a US vice president. As for her mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a scientist born in India who immigrated at 19, “maybe she didn’t quite imagine this moment,” Harris said in her November speech. “But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible.”

WHO: Rich Countries Sabotaging Equitable Access to Vaccines The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, has expressed concern over the distribution of vaccines, especially to health workers and the elderly in low-income countries. He explained that rich countries are sabotaging equitable access to drugs. He noted that more than 39 million doses of vaccines have been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries, whereas, only 25 doses have been distributed in one lowest-income country. He further disclosed that some countries and companies continue to go around the COVAX facility

in order to jump to the front of the queue by driving up prices. These actions, according to him, will lead to hoarding, a chaotic market, uncoordinated response, continued social and economic disruption, could delay the delivery of vaccines to poor countries, and prolong the pandemic. The WHO DG, therefore, urged higher-income countries and manufacturers of vaccines to work together in solidarity to ensure that within the first 100 days of this year, vaccination of health workers and older people is underway in all countries. Speaking during its 148th

session of the Executive Board, on Monday, Ghebreyesus, stated: “The recent emergence of rapidlyspreading variants makes the rapid and equitable rollout of vaccines all the more important. But we now face the real danger that even as vaccines bring hope to some, they become another brick in the wall of inequality between the world’s haves and have-nots. “It’s right that all governments want to prioritize vaccinating their own health workers and older people first. But it’s not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated before health workers

and older people in poorer countries. There will be enough vaccine for everyone. But right now, we must work together as one global family to prioritize those most at risk of severe diseases and death, in all countries. “For the past 9 months, the ACT Accelerator and the COVAX vaccines pillar have been laying the groundwork for the equitable distribution and deployment of vaccines. We have secured 2 billion doses from five producers, with options on more than 1 billion more doses, and we aim to start deliveries in February. I use this opportunity to thank Gavi and CEPI.

ECOWAS Stabilisation Fund to Get €19m German Support The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stabilization fund will be getting an additional €19 million, it was learnt. The additional fund is coming from the government of Germany. This is as the ECOWAS Commission also assured its members of access to COVID-19 vaccines. The commission made the disclosure at the ongoing 2nd Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament. Speaking at the virtually held session, the Vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Finda Koroma said an additional 19 million Euros is expected into the ECOWAS Stabilization Fund this year by the German government.

The Fund, according to her, which seeks to address the economic stabilization of member states, currently stands at 19 euros plus a contribution of 3 million units of account from ECOWAS Commission which has accrued since 2018. Mrs. Koroma said the fund would cover post-Ebola countries like Guinea and Liberia. She said the commission was pushing for a stand-alone fund just like The Gambia that has 17 million Euros, for Guinea Bissau, some Northern States in Nigeria and Sahel countries. Mrs. Koroma further explained that the Fund would look at three priority sectors with an emphasis on job creation for women and youths and that it

would be managed by fund management to be established within the ECOWAS Commission. According to her, the fund will consist of several components. “It will have four components as a private sector promotion and employment window, consisting of short term employment like labor, construction projects, maintenance of basic economic and social infrastructure as well as Mediumterm employment creation through investment in value chain especially in agriculture.” The first component includes Vocational training; entrepreneurship training and skill development, managed by GIZ while the second and is in the provision of infrastructure.

“The second component is a basic service provision and strengthening resilience. We will therefore look at construction or rehabilitation of basic social-economic infrastructures such as schools, health care facility, water, sanitation, transport and energy especially solar energy and other types”. “We will look at the investment that enhances resilience such as housing, dam and urban sewage.” The two remaining components, according to Mrs. Koroma are the promotion of social cohesion and good governance which will look at social dialogue and conflict resolution as well as strengthening local and national implementation capability.

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

After Court Victory, Director Demoted By Magu Emerges Head of EFCC Academy Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja A director with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ayo Olowonihi, has been appointed as the Commandant of the EFCC Academy. Olowonihi, who was on Grade Level 17 was suspended by the then acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in 2015 and then

demoted to Grade 16 by Magu in 2017. The aggrieved director subsequently instituted a case against the EFCC before the National Industrial Court (NIC). According to court documents, Olowonihi said Magu had on November 19, 2015, summoned him to his office accusing him of being behind some damning online

Ebonyi, Edo Get New Commissioners of Police Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki New commissioners of police (CPs) have been appointed for Ebonyi and Edo states, by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. In Ebonyi State, CP Aliyu Garba has been posted to the state police command. Garba succeeds CP Philip Maku who was recently deployed to Force Headquarters, in Abuja. In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesman, DSP Loveth Odah, the new CP hails from Kontagora local government area bof Niger State. She said: “the new

Commissioner of Police, a holder of Master of Art in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, River State. He is a graduate of the prestigious University of Sokoto with Bachelor of Arts in History. He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in the year 1990 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (Cadet ASP) at Police Academy (Annex) Kaduna State, trained for 18 months and was posted to Oyo State Command as Admin Officer. In a related development, a new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philip Aliyu Ogbadu, has also been deployed to Edo State Police Command.

publications on the activities of the commission and against the person of the chairman. He said on Magu’s directive, he was interrogated, his official computer taken away, while his two phones (MTN and GLO) were seized, adding that his office, after being thoroughly searched by a team of detectives and policemen, was sealed. The plaintiff further stated that while interrogation was still on, Magu demoted him as commandant and redeployed him. Olowonihi said while the letter was purported to have been issued by the management of the

commission, he was not aware of any management meeting where such a decision was taken, being a management staff. The EFCC director won his case in court on February 26, 2019 but the EFCC under the leadership of Magu, filed an appeal. The Court of Appeal in August 2020 affirmed the ruling of the lower court but by then, Magu had been suspended indefinitely by President Muhammadu Buhari. But the EFCC said in a statement issued yesterday by its Spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that Olowonihi had been appointed as the head of

the EFCC Academy. A statement titled, ‘Olowonihi Takes Over at EFCC Academy’, read in part, “The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mohammed Abba, has appointed Detective Commander Ayo Olowonihi as Commandant, EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja. “Olowonihi takes over from Itam Obono, a Deputy Commissioner of Police. “The appointment, which is with immediate effect was consummated with a hand-over ceremony today, Monday, January 18, 2021, attended by both Olowonihi and Obono with heads of departments and units

of the Academy in attendance.” Obono charged Staff to give Olowonihi the best cooperation, stating, “I’ll ask that, Ayo who is coming is not new; he has been here before and the work will take speed. Give him the best cooperation. The little hurdles that are there, you may be able to surmount faster than we have done.” In his response, Olowonihi appreciated Obono and wished him well at his new assignment. He pledged to take the Academy, which is the brain of the organisation, to where it should be.

Kano Police Arrest Suspected Female Kidnapper FAREWELL BID... He recalled that police had Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Police Command has disclosed that a female was among the four kidnappers arrested in Kano last Friday. The spokesman of the police in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, told THISDAY in Kano yesterday that the police have succeeded in arresting the suspected kidnappers. Kiyawa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), highlighted that three men and a female, who is also a suspected kidnapper, were arrested during the operation.

surrounded a house in Jaba village of Ungogo Local Government Area of the state, and arrested suspected kidnappers who were living there. The suspected kidnappers were indigenes of Zamfara State. Haruna added that the police command had discovered that the lady rented the house from a rental agent at the rate of N600, 000 a year. He said the lady ventured into kidnapping after her husband, who was a cattle rustler, was killed in Zamfara State.

Edo APC Urges Members to Revalidate Their Party Membership Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, has called on existing members of the party to commence the revalidation their party membership in the forthcoming exercise starting from January 25, 2021. The party state Caretaker Chairman of the party, Col David Imuse (rtd), made the request in a statement signed by the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of the state APC, Victor Ofure Osehobo, in Benin-city. The party said the call was on the heels of the inauguration of the party’s Women and Youth Sensitisation and Mobilisation Committee for the membership registration and revalidation exercise at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Imuse, who said the exercise would be carried out at all the 192 wards in the state, also called on men, women, youths, and

persons with disabilities, who are desirous of joining the APC as new members to seize the opportunity to do so. He stated that the exercise is very important especially for some party members, who left in search of the proverbial greener pastures in other parties, but were disappointed, to return home so that they can all build a stronger united APC in Edo State. Part of the statement read: “The time has come for those who left to come home, so that together we all can build a stronger united APC to move the state forward. The old has passed away; anybody joining now will be treated, accepted and integrated in line with the traditional hospitality of the APC. There is no old or new member, we are all members. “The APC in Nigeria is a branded democratic, populist, people-centred political party unlike several other parties which have no membership register of any sort.

Commander, Presidential VIP Movement, who has been posted to Cross River State as Police Commissioner, CP Sikiru Kayode Akande (left), and President Muhammadu Buhari , during farewell bid at the State House, Abuja...yesterday

Defection: Court Abridges Hearing Time in Suit Seeking Sack of Dogara Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court yesterday abridged time in the hearing of a suit seeking the sack of immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara over his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year. Dogara was in 2019 re-elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to

represent Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State at the National Assembly. He however in 2020 defected from the PDP to the APC, thereby resulting to the court action instituted against him by his former party. In the suit filed by the PDP and its Bauchi State Chairman, Hamza Akuyam, the plaintiffs are contending, among others, that by virtue of section 68(1)(g)

of the Constitution, Dogara ought to vacate the seat for defecting from the party that sponsored him to the Ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure. At the last proceeding in December last year, the court had scheduled the case for hearing for March 5, 2021. However at the resumed hearing yesterday, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Mr. Jibril Jibril prayed the court to abridge the time for the hearing of the suit

claiming that Dogara is already enjoying legislative privileges as a member of the House of Representatives. In a short ruling, the judge granted the application and fixed February 4, 2021 for hearing. Those sued alongside Dogara, include the House of Representatives Speaker, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC.

Kidnappers Abduct Travellers in Osun Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo An unspecified number of travellers were last Sunday kidnapped by suspected gunmen in Osun State. The incident, according to information gathered by THISDAY yesterday, occurred on Omoh/ Erin-Ijesha road in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of the state on Sunday night. THISDAY gathered that the

travellers were waylaid on the road by gunmen and took some of them into the nearby bush around Ori-Oke Omoh while others were left at the crime scene. One of the victims, who escaped from the kidnappers den, reported the incident at the police station. The Corps Commander of Amotekun security network, Osun State, General Bashir Adewinbi, confirmed that some travellers were abducted last Sunday.

According to him, “We did not know the numbers of people kidnapped by the suspected gunmen, but we have drafted some people to the crime scene to secure their release.” When contacted, the Police spokesperson, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the abduction. She said: “Two people were kidnapped last Sunday evening and our men have been deployed to the area to rescue them.”

Also, a security source said: ‘The state Commissioner of Police alerted the Amotekun Corps about the kidnap.” However, the police with the Amotekun Corps officers have been mobilised to the scene of the incident, as the area the travellers were kidnapped has been worrisome for a while now. Amotekun Corps members were even shot at the crime spot some time ago.

Ekiti Demolishes Dilapidated Buildings in 532 Primary Schools Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti In a bid to add aesthetic values and rid school environment of miscreants, the Ekiti State Government has begun the demolition of dilapidated structures in 532 primary schools across the state. This, according to the state

government, would allow for the beautification programme of the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi-led administration as well as efforts to boost pupils and teachers’ performances at the primary cadre. Meanwhile, the state government also warned about 1,000 new primary school teachers

employed by the Fayemi’s government to refrain from certificate and age falsifications, saying whoever is apprehended for such crime would be dismissed from service. The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), Prof Femi Akinwumi, stated this in Ado Ekiti

yesterday when he flagged off the demolition exercise at Mount Mary Nursery/Primary School at Oke Ila, Ado Ekiti. Akinwumi said the exercise was specifically conceptualised by Fayemi’s government to give way for the construction of new buildings across the primary schools in the state.

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

24 HOURS...

2023 Presidency: Ooni Tasks Tinubu Supporters on Unity Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, yesterday urged politicians promoting the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to deploy wisdom and avoid arbitrary use of power. The Ooni, who doubles as the spiritual head of the Oduduwa race worldwide, asked for caution from politicians when he received

organisers of the South West Agenda (SWAGA), a political group projecting the ambition of Tinubu. Ooni Ogunwusi, who explained that the reported ambition of the former Lagos State governor is a good sign for the Yoruba race, added that such lofty dream could only be realised through unity. According to the foremost monarch, “Asiwaju Tinubu is a great descendant of Oduduwa. He’s such a unique Yoruba son, and we are always proud of him.

He is popular and known for uprightness. “But firstly, I want to challenge all politicians here today to go and work on yourselves first; you must be united if you are indeed for the Yoruba race. It is the same people who form political parties that will also change from one party to another, among other things. “With all that is said, I want

you to know that many will rise with similar interest, and it is allowed. I implore you and your principal to deploy wisdom not power so that we will all be on the same page. “We the Yoruba people are Omoluabis, and I want you all to know that everything is not politics. With these in mind, it shall be well with us and we are good to go.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, explained that the visit was to seek the spiritual blessings of the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) in recognition of his status as the head of the Yoruba race worldwide. “Baba, this is the highest throne in Yoruba land, and Ile-Ife is

the town that gave birth to the Yoruba race. We have come here today to seek your blessings and support towards the actualisation of having a Yoruba man as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023. In this quest, we have found Asiwaju Bola Tinubu worthy, and that is why we have embarked on this assignment even without being sent.

Lagos APC Commences Stakeholders’ Sensitisation on Membership Registration Segun James The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced stakeholders’ sensitisation and membership drive for state residents to become members of the party. A chieftain of the party in the state, Chief Faoud Oki, who disclosed this to journalists, said the drive is part of reforms taking place in the party, adding that the move is aimed at the new rebirth of the party. Oki, who said the registration exercise would commence on January 26, 2021, stressed that there was the need for the party to embark on membership registration drive so that it can have a comprehensive and reliable membership register. According to him, “The party cannot boast of a reliable membership register, so there is the need to re-register members of the party. So in Lagos, we have picked up the challenge of getting members registered.” Oki, insisted that “we embarked on a membership registration because we believe that what APC is trying to do now is to revert, so that it can be called a political party in all ramification. APC is a political party that will have a very clear ideological base. Our party is noted to be the party of progressives, which should entails our ideals, unfortunately, what we have now is a party of all comers with no clear cut ideology. “That is what the reforms in

APC seek to achieve-a party which membership register is robust and enduring-it can be tested and interrogated at any time, and you will have accurate figure of membership, not what hitherto happens in Lagos where somebody rose up to say APC has five million members. My question is how do they arrive at that figure? I almost concluded that if our party has five million members, why do we need to campaign during election, if INEC registered 64 million voters in Lagos State and one party has 5 million members, it should be a done deal, but unfortunately that has not been the case.” He explained that what the party rely on in Lagos State as membership register is unreliable. “Today, if you ask of membership registration, they will tell you we have membership register that is clean and accurate. The truth is, any member who has been with the party since the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Progressives Congress (APC) will tell you he has registered in the party four times, and what happens anytime there is a new registration, that register is added to the old register. We are supposed to have a robust register, what we have is a bastardised register. I think that is why it is imperative now for us to have fresh membership registration that will indicate very clearly who the party members are.”

COVID-19: Don Decries Reopening of Schools Funmi Ogundare A Professor in the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Kemi Rotimi, yesterday described the recent reopening of schools in the country as government pandering in the business interest of private school owners, as their businesses have been on hold for a long time. Rotimi, who was a guest at The Morning Show on Arise News TV, also expressed regret that the same government that had forced the people to participate in NIN registration during the COVID-19 pandemic is now forcing students back to school. “I teach in Obafemi Awolowo University, but I do not know what is in place to encourage the return of students to school

in the university that cannot guarantee the safety of many students who will resume school when they announce the date for resumption. What do you do about social distancing? There is no room in OAU that contains less than six students. What are you going to do about that? “ He said when schools reopened before the Christmas holiday, the government had thought that because there were not too many deaths, the people were free to go back to school, alerting that the country is taking a big risk. The don expressed concern that the government’s decision to reopen schools may not augur well for the public school system, as nothing has been put in place for the safety of the students.

FLOUTING COVID-19 PROTOCOLS...

New intakes into JSS 1 checking for their names on the admission list pasted on the notice board at the Junior Secondary School, Kurudu, in Abuja... yesterday

NPHCDA: Nigeria Has Enough Storage Capacity for COVID-19Vaccines Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib has said that the federal government has developed a comprehensive vaccine deployment plan with adequate storage capacity to the keep covid-19 vaccines.

Shuaib who stated this at the yesterday’s briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja said reports of lack of storage capacity for the vaccine were false. “We have developed a comprehensive vaccine deployment and vaccination plan for the country. We have also developed an operational

manual to roll out the vaccine when it arrives,” he said. While druming support for the importance of the deployment of vaccines in the campaign against spread of covid-19 in the country, Shuaib said that from available scientific evidence the vaccines being procured by government is have guaranteed efficacy. “The requirement for the

100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines that will be coming towards the end of the month is 500 metres. So, we have more than enough storage capacity for the 100,000 doses,” he said. He dismissed reports that the country will waste the 100,000 doses of vaccines because of lack of storage facility as false.

Suspected Kidnappers’ Houses, Brothel Demolished in Calabar Four houses owned by suspected kidnappers have been demolished in Calabar by the Cross River State security outfit ‘Operation Akpakwu’. The houses were demolished yesterday at 8 Miles in the outskirts of Calabar following the arrest of the suspected kidnappers. The security team also demolished a brothel close to Flour Mill junction in Calabar for allegedly harbouring criminals

and illicit drug consumers. The State Security Adviser, Southern Senatorial District to Governor Ben Ayade, Mr. Henry Okokon, who spoke after the demolition, told journalists that the exercise was aimed at flushing criminals out of the state. Okokon stated that the state government places a premium on the security of lives and properties in the state. “This is part of the activities

of Operation Akpakwu, a special force set up by Governor Ayade to fight crime in the state, especially kidnapping. “This demolition exercise is ongoing. The governor has warned that anyone who is involved in any form of criminality, or any landlord who is found harbouring any criminal should desist from it. “These houses belong to individuals who have been caught in the act of kidnapping in the

state. The brothel was also brought down because the management of the facility was also harbouring criminals and drug addicts. “This is a warning signal to everybody. Whosoever is involved in a crime of any form should desist from it,” he said. Okokon advised business owners in the state to go about their normal businesses as the state government was doing its best to protect them from criminals.

EFCC Witness: How Ex-Air Chiefs Diverted NAF Funds Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja The trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd) continued yesterday before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi with a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) further testifying against Amosu and two others on their complicity in the alleged diversion to personal use of about N21 billion belonging to the Nigeria Air Force. An EFCC statement recalled that Amosu, alongside Air Vice Marshall Jacobs Adigun, a former NAF Chief of Accounts and

Budget, and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni, a former NAF Director of Finance and Budget, are standing trial on an amended 13-count charge. Their trial began in June 2016 before Justice Idris Mohammed but was later reassigned to Justice Aneke following the elevation of Justice Mohammed to the Court of Appeal. They were re-arraigned in November 2018 and they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Continuing with his examination-in-chief, Okechukwu Akubue, who is testifying as the first prosecution witness, narrated how public funds meant for

the NAF were traced to the defendants. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, the witness, who is an EFCC operative, identified Exhibit A3 before the Court as the bank statement of the NAF Special Emergency Operations Account. According to him, the bank statement was part of the responses to letters of investigation sent to several financial institutions by the EFCC. Identifying Adigun and Owodunni as the signatories to the account as indicated by the bank mandate, he noted that the EFCC had in 2015

received intelligence report on the alleged fraud. Narrowing down to the transaction of April 8, 2014 in the statement, Akubue noted that the entry was an inflow of N1billion from one of the NAF account domiciled in Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank). He said: “The account where the money came from is also one of the accounts under investigation. “One of the disbursements from the N1billion is the sum of N16, 980,000 on the 17th of April 2014 to a firm known as Delcon Installers Limited.

TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Obiano, Ngige Hail Anyaoku on 88th Birthday David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, have hailed the former SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, The Anambra State governor described Anyaoku as Anambra’s gift to the world. Obiano said this in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, wishing him a happy

88th birthday celebration. Speaking further through Adinuba, Obiano said: “Chief Anyaoku is a very important gift which Anambra State gave to the world. He is arguably the most famous and honoured of all Commonwealth secretary-generals ever. “During his tenure, the Commonwealth became a very important institution for the struggle for democracy, human rights and dignity of the human person. The world remembers how the organisation fought to save Ken Saro-Wiwa, the Nigerian

writer and Ogoni environmental activist, from execution by the Sani Abacha military government. “The world appreciates how the Commonwealth fought gallantly to free such eminent Nigerians such as Chief Moshood Abiola, who presumably won the June 12, 1993, presidential election which was inexplicably voided by the then military regime.” The governor praised Anyaoku, saying even though he is a global citizen, he choose to pay attention to happenings in his country, Nigeria, and his state, Anambra. Ngige has also described

Anyaoku as a colossus whose character, profundity of thoughts, well-heeled international attainments and friendship have propelled to the status of a huge national asset. In a congratulatory message, Ngige said “Anyaoku is an institution who generations of Nigerians will look back in history to study as an enigma in exemplary citizenship and diplomacy. Generations will study him to become better citizens.” Recalling his unrivaled record of achievements, Ngige said, “till date , he is the only African to

serve the Commonwealth as the Secretary General. He is an international pathfinder and a valuable fulcrum of national leadership, whose contributions at various times rank very high in illuminating the dark alleys of our national history.” Ngige added “Anyaoku’s eloquence, flowery and flawless oratory is an exemplar of elocutional capitals, a benchmark of quality self-development and an accompaniment of global citizenship. He further extolled his exemplary statesmanship,

patriotism, dedication and loyalty to the Nigerian nation, as exemplified in his years in active diplomatic service and thereafter. “As the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, he contributed immensely to the dismantling of the apartheid regime and the enthronement of democracy in South-Africa. He played crucial roles in the resolution of political crises in many commonwealth states, brokering peace between the leaders and opposition in countries,” Ngige explained.

FUTA Confirms Death of Deputy Registrar James Sowole in Akure The Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA), yesterday confirmed that one of its deputy registrars, Dr. Amos Arijesuyo, who was the Head, Guidance and Counseling Unit, Students Affairs Division, died of injuries from the gunshots wound he suffered when his private vehicle was attacked along the Ilesa-Akure road in the evening of Saturday, January 16, 2021. The Deputy Director, Corporate Communications of FUTA, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, disclosed the incident in a statement, made available to journalists. According to Adebanjo, Arijesuyo was returning to Akure from a trip to Ibadan when his vehicle ran into an ambush laid by unknown gunmen who were operating on the road around 5.30 pm. He said: “The bandits shot

sporadically at the vehicle targeting the five occupants. “Unfortunately some of the bullets hit Dr. Arijesuyo and the driver. The driver managed to drive the vehicle away from the scene of the attack and concerted efforts were made to seek immediate medical help. “However, Dr. Arijesuyo succumbed to the fatal injuries from the gunshots he suffered during the hellish encounter while the driver is recuperating at a hospital. “The university condemns in the strongest terms this senseless attack that has led to the untimely death of an erudite university administrator and counsellor per excellence. “Dr Arijesuyo’s death is a big loss to FUTA , the academic community in Nigeria and beyond. It is a death that should not have happened in the first place.

PFN Tasks Christian Leaders on Bad Governance Sylvester Idowu in Warri The Vice President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in South-south region, Bishop Simeon Okah, has challenged Christian leaders to rise against bad governance by always speaking up against it whenever necessary. The cleric, in an interview with journalists in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, assured stakeholders that the PFN is behind the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, despite attacks against him for expressing his view about governance in the country. “Pentecostal Follow of

Nigeria (PFN) is solidly behind the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Kukah, despite attacks against him from some quarters,” he said. Speaking on the rising cases of insecurity in the country, the PFN boss described the surge in criminality particularly in Edo and Delta States as alarming. He, therefore, urged the federal government to focus more attention on the two states and bring the rising tide of crimes to check. The cleric prayed for peace and unity in the country, and also for the Christians and youth leaders in the country.

Bayero University Trains 120 Youths on Leadership Skills Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Department of Gender Studies (DGS), of the Bayero University Kano, has trained 120 youths in Kano State on qualitative leadership among the younger generations. The Director of the DGS, Professor Hassana Sani Darma, disclosed yesterday that the objective of the programme is to bring together youths from diverse backgrounds, especially from universities and other tertiary institutions to discuss issues affecting them. Darma said that the programmes of the DGS are supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (RLF).

She said the DGS is focused on youth’s enlightenment and mobilisation of the youths for active participation in leadership, adding that the centre has trained youth on de-radicalisation and introduced series of roundtable programs that would enhance the creation of a better society. ALecturer in the Department of Sociology, Dr. Maikano Madaki, said that the essence of the training was to see how the leadership skills of the youths could be developed by identifying and addressing the areas where they have problems and challenges in terms of developing leadership potentials and skills.

STATE OF THE NATION…

L-R: Member, Nigeria First Initiative (NFI), Mr. Francis Danjuma; member, NFI, Mr. Bango Thomas; President of NFI, Mr. Philip Agbese; member, NFI, Mr. Tony Odey; and another NFI member, Mr. Simon Ayefu, during press briefing on the state of the nation in Abuja … yesterday

Breach COVID-19 Protocols and Face Arrest, Uzodimma Tells Imo Residents Deji ElumoyeinAbuja The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has warned that failure to wear face mask in compliance with the protocols on COVID-19 would lead to the arrest and prosecution in the state. Uzodimma, who spoke with reporters yesterday after a closed-door session with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said that the state government has introduced sanctions for those who

refused to wear face masks. He added that a Task Force on COVID-19 has been set up in the state while measures are being taken to reduce the spread of the disease and ensure the safety of all citizens. “Few days ago, I issued an Executive Order to make not wearing face mask a crime in Imo State. So, any moment from now, we will begin to arrest people refusing to wear mask, I have given a 14-day ultimatum for all coming into Imo State to wear their face mask and

comply with NCDC protocol or be arrested and tried. I have created six mobile courts to handle that. We don’t joke. It is better we offend people than to allow this disease to continue to spread in Imo State. “I have in place a Task Force on COVID-19 chaired by Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of INEC and they have done well. We have in place four isolation centres, fully equipped and the government partnering with the private sector has also equipped an additional

isolation centre at the University Teaching Hospital, Orlu. “But the number is growing daily and those testing positive are also on the increase so I think we need to prepare more grounds; build more isolation centres, get more medications, get oxygen and also try to have respiratory support equipment for those who have difficulty in breathing after they have been infected,” the governor said.

Bayelsa Community, Chevron Disagree over Source of Funiwa Oil Spill Onungwe Obe in Yenagoa Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) and the communities impacted by the crude oil spill from Funiwa oil fields in Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have been sharply divided over where the crude oil leakage noticed over the weekend was coming from. The crude oil spill suspected to be from Funiwa oil fields was been

reported by fishermen operating near the Atlantic Ocean coastline last Sunday. While the fishermen from CNL host community, Koluama, claim the leak is from Chevron oil fields, Chevron denied the claim. The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, at Chevron, Esimaje Brikinn, said there was no oil leakage from its operations in Bayelsa State. According to him, “Chevron

Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and CNL (the NNPC/CNL JV), confirms that there has been no oil spill incident at any of its facilities in Bayelsa State.” However, a community leader in Koluama 1, Chief Young Fabby, told journalists in Yenagoa that the denial by Chevron was a ploy to evade liability for the leak and

associated pollution. He said Chevron had deployed several helicopters to apply chemical dispersants to dissolve and breakdown the crude oil deposits on the water surface in a bid to cover up the spill. Fabby said: “The oil company equally used the navy and other security personnel to ward off fishermenwhotriedtotakephotographs and video of the exercise being carried out by the helicopters.

COVID-19: KanInvest Secures N10bn CBN Fund to Revive Industries in Kano IbrahimShuaibuinKano The KanInvest and Diaspora, in partnership with the Links, a UK-based company and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has secured N10 billion intervention fund from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its bid to revive industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic disease in Kano State. The intervention fund targets at least

50 companies that had been affected by the pandemic under the state’s Turnaround Project. TheDirectorGeneraloftheKanInvest and Diaspora, Ms. Hama Ali Ware, said yesterday during a sensitisation meeting on the KanoStateTurnaround Project at Government House that the aim of the programme is to facilitate the revivaloftheaffectedcompaniesinorder to sustain the prosperity of the state. Ware also added that the CBN

has agreed to support the project with additional funds if the need arises in the future, adding that the agency would interface with the affected companies on one-by-one basis to get information about the problem they are facing and how to support them. Ware said: “We will sit down and discuss with the companies, one by one, not crowd. Through that way, we will gather information about the problem of a company and

see the way to support it. “The KanInvest and Diaspora, in collaboration with the MAN and the Links decided to come up with this initiative in order to support our affected industries because it is a worrisome situation that industries affected by COVID-19 and other problems are not functioning in Kano, which is known as the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria.”

˜ ͹΁˜ ͺ͸ͺ͹ ˾ T H I S D AY

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

SUPER CUP FIASCO

Messi Faces Possible 12-match Ban over First Red Card Lionel Messi could be slapped with a ban of up to 12 games after he was sent off in the last minute of Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup final defeat on Sunday night. The Argentine received the first red card of his Barcelona career in the last minute of extra time for striking Athletic Bilbao forward Asier Villalibre around the head off the ball. And if the Spanish FA deem that the incident was ‘aggressive’ when they review the incident, Messi faces a suspension of anything between four and 12 matches. That would rule the Barca captain out of a significant portion of the domestic season, with Ronald Koeman’s side third in the table and already seven

points back of leaders Atletico Madrid - who have two games in hand. If the Spanish FA conclude that it was not an ‘aggressive’ move, then Messi’s ban will be between just one and three games. Messi lost his head as Koeman’s men hurtled towards another damaging defeat in their first final under the Dutchman’s leadership. Barca had been leading until the final minute of normal time before Villalibre forced an extra half-an-hour. The winner came three minutes into extra time when Iker Muniain’s pass reached Inaki Williams and he wrapped his right foot around the ball, curling it past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Koeman backed his star man

on Sunday night, saying Messi’s frustration at being repeatedly fouled throughout the game unsurprisingly boiled over. “I can understand what Messi did,” the Dutchman said after the match. “I don’t know how many times they fouled him, and it’s normal to react when they

keep trying to foul you as a player who is looking to dribble with the ball, but I need to see it again properly.” Questions were asked about whether Messi should even have started in the cup final, as he had missed the semi-final victory over Real Sociedad earlier in the week through injury.

Koeman, however, let Messi make the final decision on his fitness, and stood by his call. “I think after so many years at the top level, he knows when he can play and when he can’t,” Koeman said. “I spoke with him and he said he was fit enough to start the game.”

NPFL Akwa Utd 1-1 Wikki CHAN 2021 Morocco 1-0 Togo Rwanda 0-0 Uganda WAFU B U-17 Nigeria 2-3 I’Coast PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle

NFF Sets up Special Covid-19 Task Force The Term of Reference of the

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

In its determination to ensure full compliance with Covid-19 protocols in all Nigerian football club activities at all levels in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has empanneled a special Covid-19 task force. A statement issued by the Director of Communications of NFF, Ademola Olajire, named Chairman of the Federation’s Security Committee and Member of the Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as head of the task force, which has eminent medical practitioners like Dr Kweku Tandoh, Dr Nekwu Okolugbo, Dr Rotimi Ogungbe and Dr Babatunde Akinbinu as members. Chairman of the Rivers State Football Association and former Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Barrister Chris Green, is also a member of the task force that will as well recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying COVID-19 test reports submitted by all football clubs and officials at League venues. Membership of the Task Force:Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Chairman); Barrister Chris Green (Member); Dr Kweku Tandoh (Member); Dr Rotimi Ogungbe (Member); Dr Nekwu Okolugbo (Member); Dr Babatunde Akinbinu (Member); Mohammed Mala Zanna (Member); Bello Abubakar Sokoto (Member); Hassan Abdullahi Garo (Member); Mr Sunday Longbap (Member); Sir E. C. Chukwuemeka (Member); Mrs Catherine Opara (Member); Alhaji Salihu Abubakar (Member); Ms Modupe Shabi (Member); Mallam Mohammed Ameenu (Secretary).

task force include; 1. To ensure all football clubs in all the various leagues have received the Covid-19 Protocols and Guidelines for the re-opening of contact sports developed by the FMYSD in collaboration with the PTF on Covid-19 and the NCDC. 2. To work with the various League Bodies, to monitor compliance with the Covid-19 Protocols by all the football clubs at all levels of the Leagues. 3. To put in place an effective monitoring system to ensure compliance with Covid-19 Protocols at all League match venues. 4. To recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying Covid-19 Test reports submitted by all the football clubs and officials at all the leagues venues. 5. To recommend ways of ensuring the safety and well-being of players, officials and spectators at all match venues in line with the Covid-19 Protocols. 6. To come up with various ways and means that the NFF and the League Bodies can support the football clubs in ensuring compliance with the Covid-19 Protocols. 7. To recommend to the NFF, punitive actions to be taken against football clubs and/ or individuals found to have contravened the Covid-19 Protocols. 8. To regularly monitor the Covid-19 situation in the country and advise the NFF accordingly with regards to further necessary action. “The Committee will provide a report every two weeks to the NFF Football Committee and the NFF Medical Committee through the Office of the NFF General Secretary,” a statement from NFF concluded yesterday.

NPFL: Akwa Utd, Wikki Share Points in Uyo Wikki Tourists’ Chinedu Udeagha’s 40th minute goal denied Akwa United maximum points that would have lifted them to Sixth on the NPFL standing yesterday evening.

Fifteen minutes earlier, Ndifreke Effiong had taken advantage of the poor clearance by Wikki Tourists’ Stanley Nwabali to put the hosts ahead.

Lionel Messi (3rd left) received his ﬁrst red card as Barcelona player on Sunday night

Rangers’ Israel Abia Targets Mfon Udoh’s NPFL Goals Record Fred Edoreh Rangers attacking rave of the moment, Israel Abia, has insisted that his target in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is to surpass Mfon Udoh’s all-time top scorer record of 23 goals. Abia believes he can achieve it in open play and fair officiating being enjoyed in the NPFL. Abia who was leading the chart with 12 goals before the 2019/2020 season was suspended due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic last March, warned teams not to count on any home advantage to win games because it no longer

exists in the competition. The stocky forward spoke to NPFL.comafter Rangers’ 1-1 draw away to MFM in their Match Day 5 encounter in Lagos on Sunday in which he came in the second half to keep the pressure on the hosts. “Last year was tough for everyone because we had to stop play in view of the pandemic. This season, I believe will be a better one. Every team in the NPFL is a good team and there is no home, no away. Any team can win or pick a point away like we did away to Kaduna and as we have just done here against MFM in Lagos.” On his goals target, Abia declared: “The Nigerian league has improved and this

season is coming on well. Like I said there is no home and away, so I believe I can always come out tops. I am not promising any number but as long as I break Mfon Udoh’s record I am fine.” Mfon Udoh set a new record of 23 goals in the 2013/2014 season and 39 goals in two successive seasons to overtake Emem Eduok’s 22, Jude Aneke’s 20 and Super Eagles Captain Ahmed Musa’s 18. The performance earned him the 2014 NPFL Golden Boot, the NPFL Player of the Year and League Bloggers Player of the Year awards. He also emerged the top scorer in the 2016 CAF Champions League with nine goals, featuring for

Enyimba FC of Aba which unfortunately did not make it past the group stage.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021

‘No Special Treatment’ for Tennis Players in Melbourne Players living under strict quarantine rules after arriving for the Australian Open will get “no special treatment”, Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced yesterday. Seventy-two players are confined to their hotel rooms in Melbourne for 14 days after

positive coronavirus test results on flights bound for the event. At least nine infected people - including one player - are in quarantine,officials said. “The virus doesn’t treat you specially, so neither do we,” Andrews said. Some players have complained

the harder 14-day quarantine was unnecessary. With the Grand Slam tournament set to start on 8 February, players are resorting to hitting balls against the walls and windows of their rooms to stay sharp. “I know there’s been a bit of

chatter from a number of players about the rules,” Andrews said. “The rules apply to them as they apply to everybody else and they were all briefed on that before they came and that was the condition on which they came. “So there’s no special treatment here.”

WA F U B U - 1 7 F I N A L

Baby Elephants Trample on Golden Eagles Again Femi Solaja The Baby Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire, yet again proved their superiority in the subregional WAFU B Under-17 tournament final as Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets fell 2-3 last night in Lome, Togo. Although both teams

confirmed their qualifications for the Under-17 AFCON final scheduled for Morocco later this year, the young Ivorien proved the better of the two teams when they raced to three unreplied goals in the match. Sindou puts the Baby Elephants in the lead in the 15th minute off a corner kick

just as Abdrumane Konate doubled the lead in the 59th minute with substitute Seydou Traore consolidating with the third goal in the 84th minute. However, two late goals from Eaglets’ Ahmed Abdulahi in the 90th and in the added time earned Nigeria a respectable 2-3

scoreline defeat. The Ivoriens had gifted Nigeria passage to the semi final after defeating Ghana 3-1 for Eaglets to pull through. Both countries along with six others will compete for the three tickets on offer in the final qualifying event in Morocco in March.

Tuesday January 19, 2021

UT H

& RE A S O

Price: N250

MISSILE Soyinka to Muslim Groups “One of the ironic features of religionists is, one is forced to conclude, a need to be oﬀended. It is as if religion cannot exist unless it is nourished with the broth of oﬀence” – Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, insisting that the message delivered by the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Kukah, did not denigrate Islam.

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI abati1990@gmail.com

Trump and Wole Soyinka’s Green Card

n November 2, 2016, a week before the US Presidential elections of Nov. 8, 2016, Wole Soyinka, Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in Literature told a group of students at Oxford University’s Eretgun House that if Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, he would leave the United States and cut his green card into pieces. The Green Card is a permanent residence permit that allows you to live and work in the United States. For more than 20 years, Professor Wole Soyinka had lived in the United States teaching in many universities including Harvard, and the New York University’s Institute of African American Affairs where he was a scholar-in-residence at the time of the 2016 Presidential election. “The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” he announced. He called this, “Wolexit”, a pun on “Brexit”. Nobody has any evidence whether the Nobel Laureate actually wielded a pair of scissors and physically sheared his green card, but it was confirmed that he rendered it “inoperable.” Soyinka said he “felt disaster in my marrow”. He added: “I had a horror of what is to come with Trump…I threw away the card and I have relocated and I am back to where I have always been.” Nigeria, that is. Soyinka was 82 at the time. He was further quoted as saying: “Trump’s wall is already under construction…Walls are built in the mind, and Trump has erected walls, not only across the mental landscape of America, but across the global landscape.” Soyinka in 2016 decried what he called the rise of “ultra-nationalism” and its inherent dangers. He kept his promise. He gave Trump’s America a wide berth, and in the four years that Donald J. Trump served as America’s 45thPresident, Professor Wole Soyinka was proven right up till the very last moments of the nightmare that was the Trump Presidency. The “horror of what is to come” that Soyinka spoke about, the nightmare that he foresaw, will end at noon EST tomorrow, January 20, as Donald Trump exits the White House. He will be doing so after four years of pulling down bridges, and erecting walls of division within America and between America and the world. In four years, the Trump Presidency became a “thing around the neck” of the United States, and a fish-bone in the throat of the world. As he leaves the White House tomorrow, rather reluctantly, with a terribly low approval rating of 29%, the 74 million Americans who voted for him, in the November 3, 2020 Presidential election, the pro-Trump coalition, the ultra-right Trumpers that he pumped up with the oxygen of hate, the insurrectionists who bought into his politics of delusion meant to delegitimize the victory of Joseph R. Biden, that is - those who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, may feel pain that their era has ended, at least for now, but for the rest of the world, Trump’s exit is a big relief, the end of horror and a terrible nightmare. It may be too early to make a final statement on the legacy of the Trump administration, legacy being a function of actual performance in office, post-office realities and a number of other factors, but for Trump, it can be confidently said that he was a bad President, or that he will end up as one of the worst Presidents ever in the history of the United States. He was the architect of his own undoing. Trump broke down the norms and traditions of the

Soyinka American Presidency and sought to reconstruct the office in his own image. He tried to govern through Twitter. From that platform, he rained personal insults on perceived enemies or opponents, curses as well, and tons of mistruths and outright lies. He promoted conspiracies, hate, right-wing extremism and racial wars. No institution was too strong for him to denigrate. No individual was considered deserving of respect. He insulted and attacked members of his own cabinet. His administration had the highest turnover of staff in the history of America’s Presidency. He wanted to bend the entire American institution to his own will, and whoever raised a voice of objection was immediately tagged an enemy and fired. Foreign leaders were not spared either, not to talk of leaders of American institutions. The only thing that mattered was Trump’s opinion and ego. He ran a narcissistic Presidency that confounded even the historians. They had never seen anything like that before. Trump’s politics was hidden under the cloak of American exceptionalism or America First. Pretending to be defending the interests of the United States, he embarked on a twin policy of isolationism and unilateralism in international relations. He reversed the gains of the Barack Obama era, internally and internationally. Every major agreement was not good enough for him: be it with Iran or America’s North American neighbours, the Paris Climate Accord, trade with Europe or any existing multilateral obligations. Trump blocked the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution mechanism and sought to impose his own will on the multilateral organization. He reversed the US policy on the Middle East situation, even if he claims credit for the normalization of ties between Israel and some of its Arab neighbours. He built walls against immigrants from Latin America, Muslim countries and those countries he labelled “shithole countries” which included Nigeria, by the way. He separated children from their mothers and was never reluctant to violate the rule of law or the course of justice. The critics of his critics argue that he is not given enough credit for what they regard as his accomplishments. Trump’s base is the Christian evangelical community in the United States and other parts of the world including Nigeria, the extremist, conservative wing of global ideology for whom any form

of liberalism is a scriptural sin. His other base is the ultra-right, ultra-nationalistic band of racial haters, for whom his slogan “Make America Great Again” simply means “Make America White Again”, the neo-fascists, the Ku Klux Klan, the so-called Proud Boys who under Trump’s watch reversed the gains of the racial justice movement in the United States. Trump claimed that he created more jobs for African Americans and other minorities, and that he stood up against China and America’s enemies like Iran and North Korea. He also claims credit for economic growth and tax reforms. But the damages that he brought about dwarf whatever he achieved. It will take a while to repair the damage. It will take years for the United States to recover from the Trump nightmare. It may take even much longer for the Republican Party, the Grand Old Party, the party which he now leaves behind, divided and shell-shocked with the prospect of uncertain mid-term election prospects. Trump’s real undoing was in the last year of his Presidency. It was in the last year that the cookies crumbled and he had to pay the price for all the lies and deception of the first three years. First, COVID-19 happened. It was Trump’s nemesis. His failure to properly respond to the pandemic exposed the underbelly of his Presidency. Trump was blinded by his own ego. He became more of a scientist than the scientists themselves whose informed views he openly derided and contradicted. He even prescribed his own drugs for the virus, cutting many lives short in the process. He launched Operation Warp Speed but that anti-COVID response could not achieve its objectives because Trump stood in its way most of the time. He even politicized the wearing of masks. By the time his Presidency entered its last week, 23 million Americans had been infected, over 400,000 Americans had died. The vaccine reserve that his administration had promised Americans turned out to be a lie at the critical moment. Those who argue that if there had been no COVID-19, perhaps Trump would have won a second term may well be right, but then leadership is the sum total of what those in positions of authority elect to do. Second, there was the mishandling of racial justice following the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans, victims of police brutality and criminal injustice in the United States who became the catalysts for the unveiling of the racism and fascism at the heart of the Trump Presidency. Every Black vote for Biden in the red states that turned blue, and in the swing states, was a vote in protest against the wanton dehumanization of minorities and the rise of extremism under Trump’s watch, a vote as it were, for the Black Lives Matter movement. Third, Trump burnt his fingers with the desperate attempt to push the narrative that the Presidential election was fraudulent and that he, Trump won the election. He cut a pathetic figure pursuing recounts which changed nothing and litigations which only further affirmed Joseph R. Biden as the rightful winner of the election. He was humiliated on November 3, the day of the election. He lost the popular vote by 7 million votes, the first American President to lose the popular vote twice. On December 14, he was again humiliated when the electoral college confirmed Joe Biden as winner. He was further disgraced on January 5, in the two Senate run-off elections in the state of Georgia which the Republicans lost

giving the Democrats a narrow majority of 50 -51 in the US Senate. No other American President has been so consistently humiliated. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was on January 6, 2021, when President Trump ordered his supporters to storm Capitol Hill to stop those who wanted “to steal the votes” by ratifying the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States. This incitement of domestic terrorists against the seat of American democracy was an attempted coup, appropriately classified as high misdemeanour and a crime against the state by the House of Representatives which has since impeached Trump. He is the first American President to be impeached twice, first in 2019 and now in 2021. He faces the prospect of a trial and a conviction by the US Senate and the likelihood of his being barred for life from ever holding another public office in the United States. Trump leaves office tomorrow as a one-term President, a tragic figure done in by his own hubris. Corporate America has since abandoned him. His Twitter account, the platform from where he held court for four years has been banned permanently. He faces a barrage of criminal and civil suits after office. He remains stubborn nonetheless. On the eve of his departure, he insists on exercising Presidential powers by announcing an expansive list of presidential pardons. It is hoped that he would not take the extra-ordinary step of including himself or his family members in the list, for that would raise Constitutional issues and amount to an express admission of guilt. He has also chosen to break with tradition. He has refused to reach out to the Bidens. He has not invited them to the White House. He is not even likely to leave a farewell note for his successor on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. He wants it on record that he is not happy he lost the election. He is such a sore loser, isn’t he? He won’t even attend the Inauguration on January 20. He is the first American President in modern history to shun the inauguration of his successor. But he is not the first in American history and he probably would not be the last. In 1801, John Adams, America’s second President was so angry he took the 4.30 am coach for Baltimore out of Washington DC, on the day his friend and successor, Thomas Jefferson was being sworn in. His son, John Quincy Adams, the sixth US President, similarly shunned the swearing in of his successor, Andrew Jackson in 1829. He went horse-riding on the day of inauguration. The contempt was mutual. Andrew Jackson blamed John Quincy Adams for the death of his wife! In 1869, Andrew Johnson, Abraham Lincoln’s successor, also did not attend the swearing in of Ulysses S. Grant as President. Johnson was in the cabinet room signing some bills and chatting with friends as another President assumed office. In 1974, Richard Nixon missed Gerald Ford’s swearing in. He had just resigned, so he left Washington immediately. Tomorrow, Trump intends to leave Washington early morning for Palm Beach, Florida, about 1, 000 miles away. He will still have in his possession the nuclear briefcase and the nuclear codes called the “biscuit”. But that would not matter. The nuclear codes will be changed at noon EST. Trump can then keep the empty briefcase in his possession as a memento! The nightmare is thus over. It is a new dawn in the United States. But will Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka restore his Green Card and embrace Biden’s America? Just asking.

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