THURSDAY 20TH JANUARY 2022

Upstream Commission Rakes in N175bn from Sale of Marginal Fields 31 oil assets fully paid for as litigations stall two Targets N3.38trn in revenues in 2022 Laments 115,000bpd loss to oil theft, technical deficiencies Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Petroleum Commission (NURPC) yesterday disclosed that the 2020

marginal field bid round which was concluded last year so far has yielded about N174.944 billion, with owners of 30 fields having partially paid and two fields stalled

by court cases.

The new commission further stated that 20 companies which won the bids had partially paid up, among those who won the

57 oilfields.

In May 2021, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) which transmuted into NURPC with the enactment of the Petroleum

Industry Act (PIA), concluded the 2020 marginal oilfield bid round, the first successful exercise since 2003, when 24 assets were put on offer.

The process which culminated in the presentation of letters to the bid winners in Abuja, by Continued on page 10

INEC Disputes Tinubu’s Claim, Says Previously Issued PVCs Not Expired, Valid for Voting... Page 12 Thursday 20 January, 2022 Vol 26. No 9781. Price: N250

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Buhari Urges Senate to Expedite Actions on Anti-corruption Bills... Page 8

APC: We’re Yet to Zone Party Positions Ahead of Convention Releases convention timetable, beefs up security at secretariat Chieftain condemns alleged zoning of chairmanship to N’west as Shinkafi joins race Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has denied

reports that it had zoned some party positions ahead of its national convention slated for February 26.

The National Secretary of the

Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator James Akpanudoedehe, who described the report in some

sections of the media (not THISDAY) as untrue, said the committee has yet to take a position on zoning.

But the party leadership has,

however, released the convention timetable and programme of activities, even as it has beefed up security around the party’s secretariat.

In the same breath, the immediate past National Secretary of the Continued on page 12

Electoral Bill: Govs Meet, Challenge House to Concur with Senate Commend senate for okaying direct, indirect, consensus modes of primaries To engage NLC, TUC over proposed increase in fuel price Hold secret parley with EFCC boss over security votes

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Sunday Aborisade and Udora Orizu in Abuja The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF), met late last night, over National Assembly’s recommitment to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and challenged the House of Representatives, to concur with the specific amendments of the Senate, in order to make the job of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot easier ahead of the next set of elections.

The governors, who commended the Senate for the quick passage of the bill and allowing different options as modes of primary elections, which they reckoned would enable INEC prepare on time for the forthcoming elections, also announced plans to engage with the Nigerian Continued on page 10

LAGOS RED LINE COMING SOON...

L-R: President & CEO, Talgo Incorporated USA, Antonio Perez; Acting Mayor of Milwaukee, Cavalier Johnson; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo, and Vice President, Public Affairs & Business Development, Talgo, Nora Friend, during a factory tour of Talgo Incorporated Company for the acquisition of two sets of brand new 10-car Metro Trains for Lagos Rail project, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA…Tuesday

Milwaukee’s Loss, Lagos’ Gain as Sanwo-Olu Acquires New Sets of 10-Cars Intra-city Trains... Page 5

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

INSIDE THE NEWLY ACQUIRED TRAIN...

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs. Abimbola Akinajo; President & CEO, Talgo Incorporated USA, Antonio Perez; member, Lagos House of Assembly, Hon. Temitope Adewale and other stakeholders in the transport sector, during a factory tour of Talgo Incorporated Company for the acquisition of two sets of brand new 10-car Metro Trains for Lagos Rail project, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA… Tuesday

Milwaukee’s Loss, Lagos’ Gain as Sanwo-Olu Acquires New Sets of 10-Cars Intra-city Trains for Red Line Rail Project In line with his administration's commitment to traffic management and transportation, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has acquired two sets of 10 cars new Talgo 330kmph speed trains for the Lagos Red Line rail project.

THISDAY reliably learnt that, the State government had wanted to purchase three set that had been lying unused Milwaukee for 11 years but got there to find that Egypt had acquired one of the trains.

The trains originally intended for a high-speed rail line to connect Madison and Milwaukee were enmeshed in complicated political issues before Lagos state government decided to acquire them.

A statement yesterday, explained that Sanwo-Olu completed the acquisition deal of the trains at a public event inside the Milwaukee facilities of Spanish train manufacturer Talgo Incorporated in the United States, on Tuesday.

The trains would be heading to Lagos, Nigeria for the Red Line, a 37 km track rail project started

by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The red line would have 11 stations and when completed and would be the first operational metro system in West Africa, the statement

explained.

Lagos State Government had last November announced traffic diversion at Kayode Ogunmokun road in Mushin for a period of six weeks in continuation of the first phase of the Lagos Red Line Rail Mass Transit project from Oyingbo to Agbado.

Speaking at the event, who was accompanied by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde; Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Engr.

Aramide Adeyoye and Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, said the state government was excited to complete the purchase of the two brand new trains. He said they were in Milwaukee to see things for themselves in respect of the purchase of the trains, adding that they had inspected the trains, seen their configuration and were satisfied that they fit into the tracks of the Red line in Lagos.

“A train is not something you can just go on the shelf and pick up.

We are very lucky to get brand new trains. We have seen our beautiful white and red trains.

“Coincidentally, the rail line is

Obaseki: Ossiomo Power to Supply 24-hour Electricity to Benin Airport, NAF Base The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed plan to supply 24-hour electricity to the Benin Airport and the Nigerian Air Force Base in the Benin metropolis from the government’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, Ossiomo Power.

The governor, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said the government was committed to strengthening the relationship with security agencies in the state and to ensure that Edo was safe for investors to come in. He noted that his administration was already working to connect the Benin Airport and the NAF base with the Independent Power Plant (IPP), noting that power connection to the NAF Base will be done in two phases.

The CCETC-Ossiomo Power

Plant is an Independent Power Project (IPP), which is providing electricity to government offices and streetlights in Benin metropolis; Emotan Gardens Estate; Edo Tech Park, Edo Modular Refinery; the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy and Edo Creative Hub, among others.

The Ossiomo Power had announced that its new 40MW plant, dedicated to providing power to the Benin Industrial and Enterprise Park, became operational on December 29 and had already connected and powering Ologbo and Obayantor communities in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the State.

The new plant increases the generation capacity of Ossiomo Power to 95MW, as a 55MW plant has been operational since 2020.

called Red Line and you can see they have given us the colour. We are just going to brand it and put up our seal there.

“We hope that this (purchase of the trains) will be the beginning of a mutually beneficial business relationship. Providing source of livelihood for our citizens is all about providing jobs for our people and that is what we are doing. It is about ensuring that we can build our economy; people can move from one location to another and businesses can grow.

“Part of what we have done in the last two and half years is to have what we call Integrated Urban Mass transportation system, where we will be using road infrastructure, waterway infrastructure and rail infrastructure so that we can move

over 20 million Lagosians within and around the city,” he said.

The acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who received Sanwo-Olu and other government officials in the city, said: "It is a little bittersweet. I am sending my congratulations to the Governor of Lagos State in Nigeria, but also a little disappointed that we missed out on the opportunity to have those train sets operating here in Milwaukee and in Wisconsin."

Also speaking the CEO and President, Talgo USA Antonio Perez, said “For us, it is important that our trains are utilised. It doesn’t make any good for the trains that we built to be stored and kept without passengers riding them.”

Sanwo-Olu accompanied by the Lagos State delegation during the

visit inspected the interior design of the newly acquired Talgo 330kmph intra-city metropolitan trains.

“Since the commencement of his administration on May 29, 2019, Governor Sanwo-Olu has maintained his administration’s commitment to bringing the Red Line project to fruition during the lifetime of his government.

“The governor has specifically promised Lagosians that the first phase of the Red Line will begin by the last quarter of 2022 or first quarter of 2023, with a capacity of 500,000 passengers daily,” the statement added.

In 2009, Wisconsin's thenGovernor, Jim Doyle, a Democrat, had announced a deal with Talgo for two new trains to be built in the state and used for a high-speed

rail line between Milwaukee and Madison.

In the same year, Wisconsin was awarded $810 million for the project in a federal stimulus bill.

But the plan died off after Republican Scott Walker became governor. But by 2012, Talgo had built the trains, and sent an invoice to the state and later that year, Talgo terminated the contract and sued the state, kicking off a court dispute that lasted almost three years.

However, some concerned Lagos residents are querying the whereabout of the Toronto subway cars that the government reportedly purchased 10 years ago for rail line in the state. The trains were then reported to have left Canada for Lagos, but nothing was heard about it thereafter.

Fuel Subsidy Removal: I Will Get Clarity from Relevant Agencies on FG’s Position, Says Lai Mohammed Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said he would need to consult with relevant agencies to know the exact position of government on whether or not fuel subsidy would be stopped this year.

Mohammed, who spoke with newsmen after the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, explained that he was going to initiate a fact-finding process to determine the state of things on the removal of petroleum subsidy following Tuesday’s announcement by Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, that President Muhammadu Buhari had not told anyone to remove fuel subsidy.

When asked to clarify the issue since the 2022 budget had no subsidy provision beyond June, 2022, the minister said he needed to consult with the relevant government agencies to determine the exact position of the subsidy removal question.

“As for the removal of fuel subsidy, I think you will give me time to consult with relevant departments and ministries and I will get back to you,” the minister.

Last October, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, had announced that the federal government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022 as the government looked towards a complete deregulation of the sector.

She had said: “In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidy for the first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving

foreign exchange and potentially earning more from the oil and gas industry."

Reacting to Ahmed's position after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, Lawan had told newsmen that Buhari had not directed anyone in his government to implement the removal of petroleum subsidy, But he had also conceded that subsidy was a big burden, noting that a solution had to be found to it.

He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I've come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things. Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.”

AFCON: Buhari Lauds Super Eagles For Keeping Hope Alive Winning All Group Stage Matches Says ultimate is winning the cup Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the Super Eagles of Nigeria for keeping hope alive in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon by winning all their group matches and advancing to the second round of the tournament in grand style.

The President, in a statement issued yesterday evening by his

Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, urged the Austin Eguavoen-led team to maintain and even surpass the terrific form that made them leaders in the group stage, as Nigeria hopefully looks forward to a total of seven emphatic wins in this competition.

According to him, the positive reputation of good sportsmanship the traveling fans, sportswriters and the football team have demonstrated in Cameroon will

continue to enliven the importance of sports, particularly football, as an enabler of development, peace, tolerance, friendship and cooperation.

The President, therefore, wished the Super Eagles the very best, pledging that his administration would continue to support the efforts of international, regional and national football organisations to use the sport as a tool to build a better and peaceful world.

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WOMEN FOR OSINBAJO 2023...

L-R: Member of the National Coalition of Women for Osinbajo, Mrs. Gloria Olapade; Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Coalition, Rabi Dauda, and a member of the Coalition, Hassan Saminu Turaki, during a press conference calling on Osinbajo to run for the President of Nigeria in 2023, held in Abuja...yesterday

Osinbajo Lacks Greedy Acquisitive Tendencies Like Others, Says Support Group Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja A group, the National Coalition of Women for Osinbajo has said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is one of the very few Nigerian political aspirants who will not turn electoral victory into an opportunity for wealth accumulation.

The group also called on the Caretaker Extraordinary/ Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that delegates to its national convention are not hijacked by those who have allegedly participated in looting

state or federal resources in the past.

The leader of the coalition, Hajia Rabi Dauda stated this yesterday, while addressing a press conference in Abuja.

The coalition demanded the emergence of truly people-focused leadership at the forthcoming convention of the party slated for February 26.

The coalition urged the, "APC Caretaker and Convention Committee to strictly ensure that delegates to its national convention are not hijacked by those who have participated in looting state or federal resources in the past.

"Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

is one of the very few Nigerian political aspirants who will not turn electoral victory into an opportunity for wealth accumulation and Nigerian women will give him resolute backing for the 2003 presidential elections."

She stressed that various parameters used for assessing genuine leadership put Osinbajo ahead of other presidential aspirants According to her, “The 2023 general election will be a very decisive juncture in the history of

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the House of Representatives, urging the lawmakers to consider and pass the proceeds of crime bill, whistle blower bill and witness protection bill pending before the lawmakers.

Buhari in the letter read by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila at the plenary, yesterday, said the bills when passed would strengthen the country's efforts in the fight against corruption.

He recalled that Nigeria participated in the conference of states’ parties to the United Nations

“Without any iota of doubt, we believe that the emergence of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as the 2023 presidential flag-bearer of the APC will give Nigeria the opportunity to realize these lofty collective progressive aspirations."

PSC Workers Protest Alleged Hijack of Recruitment Exercise by Police Authorities Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

of 10,000 police constables by the police.

A recent Court of Appeal judgement had affirmed the constitutional mandate of the Commission to effect the recruitment of police constables.

The police, however, appeared to have approached the Supreme

Convention against corruption held from December 13 to 17, 2021, at the International Conference Centre in Egypt where the country was commended for its fight against corruption.

The letter read in part, "At the session, the international community expressed appreciation for Nigeria's efforts in the fight against corruption, reaffirming Nigeria's rating as a leader in Africa in the

area of developing structure for the recovery and repatriation of proceeds of crime.

“In the light of this and the need to continue to strengthen our global profile, I hereby request that the National Assembly kindly consider and possibly pass a best possible version of the following bills (a) the proceeds of crime bill, (b) the whistle blower bill and (c) the witness protection bill."

Court for a final determination of the matter.

The workers threatened to down tools if the management of the Commission failed to take over the 2022 recruitment of constables from the Nigeria Police which recently called for applications and later invited successful applicants to resume training in the police colleges across the country.

The workers, who protested the hijack of the recruitment exercise by the police authorities, prevented the Chairman of the Commission and former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Musiliu Smith and other board members from holding their plenary meeting.

Smith and the commissioners were stopped from entering the conference hall for the meeting as the workers insisted on holding impromptu deliberation with the management team.

Addressing the PSC Chairman and other board members, the

Chinedu Eze

this test should seriously be looked into and reviewed downward. This happens all over the world even in the UK. “There have been complaints from passengers of the challenges they have to grapple with in accessing the international travel portal to get their travel permit, their QR code, to enable them travel,” she said.

The NANTA President also stated that many travel agents have complained that a lot of their clients always have issue with the payment system.

“Sometimes we help our clients in doing this thing as an added value especially during the last quarter of last year, there was a lot of complaints. I do it for some of them and some of them do it by themselves, I see the complaints and I hear them.

“At this point, it has to do with the technology company that is powering that site because today the site is up, the next day it is

down; knowing fully well that people cannot be boarded without the form being filled online then, paying for their repeat tests coming back into the country and getting a QR code,” she said.

The NANTA president therefore called on the government to seriously look into this, especially the technology company powering that site because it is not doing a good job at all.

“The complaints are too much and it is not right. You cannot pay so much for a service and yet you can’t get into a simple online platform where you fill a form and get a QR code.

“The government needs to get all these complaints and look at that website, if the people managing it can’t do it, they should change and get somebody else that can power the travel portal properly,” Akporiaye said.

But the former President of NANTA, Mr. Bankole Bernard, said it was high time the PCR

The last may not have been heard of the festering rift between the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Nigeria Police as the staff of the commission yesterday protested the hijack of the 2022 recruitment

Buhari Writes House, Seeks Passage of Proceeds of Crime, Whistle Blower, Witness Protection Bills Udora Orizu in Abuja

Nigeria and our great party, APC has an epoch-making responsibility to move the nation forward by deepening democracy, considering affirmative action for 35 percent representation for women and accelerating general development.

Chairman, Joint Union Congress, PSC Chapter, Mr. Adoyi Adoyi, said the workers would embark on a three-day warning strike if the management failed to address the takeover of the constables' recruitment exercise by the police, conclude the promotion of staff and carry out the annual training of workers.

He accused the Commission of surrendering its mandate to the force, adding that the union may be compelled to petition the President if the commission's leadership failed to address their grievances.

"We are disappointed that the commission has surrendered to the police its mandate which was affirmed by the court. The commission is suffering and posterity will judge the leadership if the PSC dies in your hands.

“The commission is fast becoming a conduit for corruption and the accounting department is a poster boy for graft, ” he said.

test was scrapped because some people were allegedly feeding fat from it, while travellers were subjected to excruciating hardship with the inefficiency in the payment portal, insisting that, “there should be enough exploitation of the citizens at the benefits of a few.”

But the travel expert and organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko said it was still early to scrap the test but emphasised that the cost should be reviewed downwards.

He observed that while Nigeria charges $100 for the test, Ghana charges $50, while Ethiopia charges $30.

“I don’t agree with scrapping it, but the cost should be reduced.

Nigeria can reduce the cost because it is unnecessarily expensive,” he said.

UK has already hinted that it would scrap the PCR test and it is expected that other countries in Europe and other parts of the world would do the same.

President Arrives Kaduna on 2-day Official Visit Travel Agents Demand Reduction in Cost of COVID-19 Test John Shiklam in Kaduna President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Kaduna yesterday for a two-day working visit.

Spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, had earlier disclosed in a statement yesterday in Kaduna that the president would arrive today.

Adekeye said, during the visit, the president, “will commission several important projects during the two-day visit from today to tomorrow.”

According to the statement, Buhari would also visit the three major towns of Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan, and would also be shown round road projects across the state, executed by the El-Rufai administration.

Adekeye said the projects to be commissioned by the president include the remodeled Murtala Muhammed Square, which is located in Kaduna city, the Infectious Disease Hospital, located

at Mando, the Dangote Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited along Kaduna-Abuja expressway, and the Sabon Gari market in Zaria.

The statement further stated that Buhari would also commission the reconstructed Kawo flyover which has three grand rotaries and access roads, the dualised WAFF Road as well as road projects in Kafanchan and Zaria.

It pointed out that already the state government was putting finishing touches to preparations to receive the president.

Major streets and roundabouts in some strategic locations have been cleaned or renovated in anticipation of the President’s visit.

Security agencies are also said to be mobilising their personnel to ensure a hitch free visit by the President.

Kaduna is one of the northwest states facing serious security challenges. Almost on a daily basis, people are being killed or abducted by dare devil bandits in their homes and on the highways.

The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has called for a downward review in the cost of COVID-19 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for international travellers at the nation’s airports.

President of NANTA, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye said feedback from passengers indicated that they grapple with many challenges, including high cost of the test and the payment system, which according to her was characterised by hiccups.

She regretted that the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had not been able to resolve the challenges encountered by travellers.

“I believe strongly that it is high time the government looked into the cost of the test. The test is not something strange anymore, everybody has got their hands on it, for it to be coming out in three, six hours now, means there is no big deal about it anymore. The cost for

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NEWS

ANOTHER TERM FOR BARROW...

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari; President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, and The Gambian President, Adama Barrow during Barrow’s inauguration for second term in office held at the Independence PHOTO: Sunday Aghaeze Stadium in Banjul... yesterday

Defection to APC: Court Decides Umahi, Deputy's Fate March 8 Alex Enumah in Abuja Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, come March 8, and 14, 2022,respectively, would decide whether Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, could continue to remain in office after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress ( APC).

Justice Ekwo, yesterday, announced that judgment had been fixed for the two dates shortly after lawyers to parties in the suits adopted and argued their brief of arguments for and against the suits.

The plaintiffs in the two suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 920/21 and FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1041/21, were seeking the removal of Umahi and his deputy from office for defecting from the PDP,which brought them into office to the ruling APC. The plaintiff, (PDP), in an

originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021, asked the court to make a declaration that by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State, to the APC, a political party that did not win the election, they have resigned or deemed to have resigned from office.

It is the argument of the PDP that Umahi and his deputy lost the majority votes scored at the election won under its platform, the moment they defected from the PDP to the APC and consequently should be ordered by the court to vacate their respective offices as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State.

Other defendants in the suit were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Responding, the governor and

his deputy, through their lawyer, Chief Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, urged the court to declined jurisdiction and transfer the case to Ebonyi State.

According to Ume, since Umahi was sworn in by the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State and not by the Chief Judge

of the Federal High Court, his removal from office can only be pursued through the State House of Assembly and the State High Court.

To that extent, Umahi and his deputy had filed a notice of preliminary objection challenging the suit by the PDP, wherein,

they argued that Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended has provided immunity to them from the Plaintiff’s Suit and that votes cast during the said elections were by the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and recent Supreme Court

Buhari Urges Senate to Expedite Actions on Anti-corruption Bills Sunday Aborisade in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, asked the Senate to speedily consider three bills before the red chamber, aimed at further curbing corruption in Nigeria.

Buhari, in a letter dated January 14, 2022, and read at plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the proposed legislations were meant to develop structures to recover proceeds of corruption and repatriate those outside the shores of the country.

The bills are proceeds of crimes bill, whistle blower bill, and the witness protection bill.

According to the president, “I write to inform you that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria participated in the 9th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) held from 13th-17th December, 2021 at the International Congress Center, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

“At the session, the International

Community expressed appreciation for Nigeria's effort in the fight against corruption re-affirming Nigeria's rating as a leader in Africa in the areas of developing structures for recovery, repatriation, and disposal of proceeds of crime.

“In light of this and the need to continue to increase Nigeria's Global profile, I, hereby, request that the National Assembly kindly consider and eventually pass the best possible version of the following bills: Proceeds of Crime Bill; Whistle-Blower Bill; and Witness

2023: USVows to Support Free, Fair Elections in Nigeria Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Spokesperson for the United States Mission in Nigeria, Jeanne Clark, has said the US has taken bold steps to defend free and fair elections ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general election in Nigeria.

Clark spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors held in Kano, saying, fighting corruption, defending free and fair elections are central to the United States government's year of action plan.

She said the US was taking bold action in five key areas, namely, supporting free and independent media, fighting corruption, bolstering democratic reformers, advancing technology for democracy and political process.

The spokesperson also observed that getting things

done in a Democratic setting was not always easy as democracy was messy and hard, that no one would get a hundred per cent of what he wants.

The mission explained that the US government was taking bold action in bolstering democracy, defending human rights, free and independent media.

"Let's be clear. Getting things done in a democracy is not always easy. Democracy is messy.

Democracy is hard. Democracy requires compromise and that means that no one is ever going to get hundred 100 per cent of what they want.

"Now, that doesn't mean we compromise on every core value things like protecting the equal human rights of every individual, but it does mean that we have to engage with people we disagree with," she said.

She urged people to to utilise

pronouncements, belonged to them and not the plaintiff.

They further contested that being Ebonyi State governor and deputy governor sworn into Offices by the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, they could not be removed from their offices by a Federal High Court.

modern technology to push for transparency and accountability while restoring the trust that people once had in the media.

Clark lamented on how public trust in the public institutions and the media has eroded "in Nigeria, just as in my country.

The public trust in the media and in governmental institutions has eroded" She commended the Nigeria media, saying "we have long appreciated high quality Nigerian journalism, which can be found in every corner of Nigeria. We applaud efforts like the open contract reporting project of international center for investigative reporting, which provide essential tools, strategy and mentorship to journalists," she added.

In his address, President Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isah, asked: how well has the media in the

country played this role? This Town Meeting is expected to assess our performance and suggest ways for improvement.

All aspects of good governance are facilitated by a strong and independent media."

According to him, a free and critical press was essential for the growth and development of any democracy, adding that the media as a watchdog of society owed it as a duty to monitor governance and hold public office holders accountable to the people, who elected them.

Kano State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muhammad Garba, who represented Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urged journalists to always be professional and uphold the ethics of the profession, while conducting their noble work.

He also urged media organisations to ensure good

welfare for their staff. This will make them discharge their service as a good watchdog of the society.

Earlier, the General Secretary, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said guild of editors, late last year, announced its plans to hold town hall meetings across the six geo-political zones, kicking off that of the South West zone in November last year, in Lagos.

He said the town hall meeting With a theme: “Agenda Setting for Sustainable Democratic Culture”, the main objective of the meeting, which is being supported by the United States Embassy in Nigeria, was to assess the media performance in consolidating Nigeria’s democracy – citizens’ verdict and outlining media agenda for the future.

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, also graced the occasion.

Protection Bill.

“While anticipating the senate's expeditious consideration of these submissions, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

At the same time, Lawan, yesterday, forwarded two executive communications from the President for the confirmation of Nnamonso Ekanem (Akwa-Ibom, South-South) and Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (Niger, North-Central) as Members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

Also referred was the nomination of Professor Mansur Auwalu Bindawa for appointment as New Non-Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the Committee on Communications.

Both Committees were given two weeks to screen the nominees and report back to the Senate in plenary.

In addition, two bills seeking to establish the Federal University of Medical Sciences and Biomedical Technology in six Geo-political zones and for the Regulation of Health Education Practitioners scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bills were sponsored by Senators Patrick Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central) and Yahaya Ibrahim Oloriegbe (Kwara Central), respectively.

The bills, after consideration, were referred by the senate president to the committee on Health for further legislative inputs, and given four weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

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TEN ELECTORAL BILL: GOVS MEET, CHALLENGE HOUSE TO CONCUR WITH SENATE Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the proposed increase in the price of fuel.

At the same time, the governors, whose meeting lasted till the early hours of this morning, secretly held a crucial meeting with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, and some officials of the EFCC, over the management of security votes by the governors.

Chairman of the governors’ forum and Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who briefed the press at exactly 12:50am today, said the senators were statesmen by their decision and therefore wanted the House to concur with the position of the Senate for the ease of INEC’s job Fayemi hinted that the governors discussed among others, the planned increase in the price of fuel, explained that they would engage the NLC and the TUC on how to address the implications of the planned fuel increase and resolve the matter peacefully.

Outcome of their discussions on the planned fuel increase to between N300 to N350 per litre would be tabled during today's National Economic Council (NEC) to be chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The Ekiti governor also said the governors deliberated the omicron variant of covid-19 and how to reduce the effect as well as seeking more funding for the states.

According to him, the governors had received briefings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and others that would aid the states.

The NGF chairman, who said they received briefings on the ease of doing business in the states, also confirmed their meeting with the chairman of EFCC over what he described as normal discussions.

But the meeting, which held at the instance of the NGF, was deemed crucial and sensitive by the governors, so much that they sent out all their support staff at the NGF secretariat before it commenced.

The EFCC team, led by its chairman, THISDAY gathered, considered the issue of security votes and how some governors withdrew huge sum of money in the name of security votes for their respective states without accountability Apart from Fayemi, others at the meeting were the Governors of Anambra, Willie Obiano; Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje; Nasarawa, Abdullai Sule; Osun, Gboyega Oyetola and Oyo, Seyi Makinde.

Also in attendance were 10 deputy governors and the World Bank representative.

Head, Media and Public Affairs at the NGF Secretariat, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, had in a statement at the weekend said the meeting was at the instance of Fayemi, “where pressing national concerns will be discussed.

“To also feature prominently are the interventions programmes like the regular updates from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum SFTAS team and another on CARES, as well as a few presentations.

The Governors are expected to address a press conference at the end of the meeting,” the statement stated.

The National Assembly had moved expeditiously, yesterday, following its resumption from the Christmas break on Tuesday and kept its promise to immediately revisit the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021, which President Muhammadu Buhari declined to assent to, last month.

And in keeping faith with the mood of the nation, the National Assembly, yesterday, re-amended the proposed legislation that was passed by both chambers on November 18, 2021.

While both the Senate and the House re-amended Clause 84(2) and expunged the contentious imposition of compulsory direct primaries on parties as procedure for nomination of candidates to stand elections, they differed on the inclusion of consensus option.

The Senate, on its part, loosened the process and procedure to include direct, indirect and consensus options, the House of Representatives, which also amended Clause 84(2) in the bill only approved direct and indirect primaries as procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions.

With these, the option of consensus candidate, which both chambers had a differing opinion on, meant a conference committee would now be set up to harmonise both positions.

Already, some civil society organisations (CSOs) have rejected the consensus option introduced by the Senate in the amended Electoral Bill.

In a joint statement, the CSOs which included Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC), CISLAC, Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD), Albino Foundation CLEEN Foundation, Institute for Media and Society (IMS) Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), among others, said the Consensus mode was antithetical to democratic principles and wouldresult in the subversion of popular will.

Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, told journalists after plenary that the bill would be transmitted to the president next week.

Gaya said, "We expect the conference committee to meet this week. We will expect their report at plenary next Tuesday.

The National Assembly will transmit the clean copy to the President before the end of next week."

Accordingly, the Senate also approved the recommended Clause 84(3) that, “a political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure outlined below: (a) In the case of Presidential Primaries, all registered members of the party are to vote for aspirants of their choice at a designated centre at each ward of the federation.”

It provides further that, “similar procedure as in (a) above, shall be adopted for Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies.”

The Senate added that, “Special Conventions should be held to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centers at the National, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies.”

Clause 84(4) further provides that, “a political party that adopts the system of indirect primaries for the choice of its candidate shall adopt the procedure outlined below; (a) In the case of nominations to the position of Presidential candidate, a political party shall, (i) hold special presidential convention at a designated centre in the Federal Capital Territory or any other place within the Federation that is agreed to by the National Executive Committee of the party.”

It provides further in subparagraph two (ii) that, “the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting, shall be declared the winner of the Presidential primaries of the political party and the aspirant name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.”

The amendment followed a motion for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. The motion was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).

In his presentation, the Senate Leader, recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, had signified withholding his assent on the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2021.

Senator Abdullahi noted that the rationale for withholding assent bordered on his observation in Clause 84.

President Buhari in the letter dated December 13, 2021, and address to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had explained that his decision to withhold assent to the electoral bill was informed by advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government after a thorough review.

According to the president, signing the bill into law would have serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences on the country, particularly, in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities.

He added that it would also impact negatively on the rights of citizens to participate in government as constitutionally ensured.

Senator Abdullahi, however, explained that the motion for re-committal of the bill to the Committee on the Whole was against the backdrop of the, “need to address the observation by Mr. President C-in-C and make necessary amendment in accordance with Order 87(c) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (as amended); and relying on order 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 ( as amended).”

Accordingly, the chamber rescinded its decision on the affected Clause of the Bill as passed and recommit same to the Committee of the Whole for consideration and passage.

Speaking after the bill had been passed, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, pledged that the red chamber would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to achieve free, fair and credible elections.

Lawan, therefore, urged the electoral umpire to take advantage of the proposed legislation, when assented to, and give Nigerians, an election that they would be proud of.

He said, "This is one bill that Nigerians particularly, are so interested in because it is one sure way of enhancing our electoral processes and producing leaders at various levels of governance.

What we have done today is to respond to the observation of Mr. President and because of our constituents and other stakeholders on the need for us to expedite action on addressing those observations made by Mr. President and we have done that vert patriotically.

"Today, as the bill stands, there is provision for all possible options for selection of candidates from presidency to the councillorship. The available options we have are: the direct primaries, indirect primaries, and consensus candidature. What this means is that political parties are now, once this becomes law, challenged to ensure that they choose what is appropriate, what is suitable for them, when it comes to the processes of producing their candidates.

"I will urge that we should practice all these three so that we are able to develop them.

Because there is advantage in each just as there could be disadvantage in all of them.

Ours is to ensure proper and appropriate application of these models, if we don't, as practicing politicians, if the parties don't, and try to go round the circles and maybe cutting corners, these processes will continue to be disadvantaged at all times.

"With this, we also hope that INEC will take advantage of all the available amendments, including what they suggested to the committees, will be amendments that will enhance their activities, performance. We are very optimistic that once the clean copy of this bill is sent to the president, he will assent to the bill and that will mark a very important moment for the politics, democracy in this country.

"We will still be around to ensure that INEC receives every possible support from the national assembly for INEC to conduct the 2023 elections successfully, transparently and with

the integrity that Nigerians will all be proud of when it comes to either off-season elections or the general election in 2023. Laws alone will not be enough. We may have the best laws, if we don't operate them properly, they may not mean much. I urge practitioners, politicians and INEC to ensure that we obey and operate the laws as provided in the electoral act."

On its part, the House of Representatives didn't include the consensus option as adopted by the Senate.

The amendments followed a substantive motion of recommittal and reconsideration moved by the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Hassan Fulata.

Before suspending its rules to work on the bill, the lawmakers went into a closed-door session.

Proceedings were stalled for about 15 minutes, as the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, shortly after reading a letter from President Buhari, seeking passage of three bills, was seen discussing in hushed tones with his Deputy, Hon. Idris Wase, and some other lawmakers.

As the discussion stretched, the Speaker called on the Majority Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa to move that the House goes into executive session.

Reconvening about 25 minutes later, the lawmakers were seen bickering over what might not be unconnected to the issue.

After calm was restored by the presiding officer, he called on Hon. Fulata to move the motion for amendments on the Bill.

Moving the motion, Fulata recalled that the National Assembly amended Section 87(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as Clause 84(2) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to read thus: "The procedure for nomination of Candidates

by Political Parties for various elective positions shall be by direct primaries”.

He, therefore, said cognisant of the need to allow political parties choose the procedure for nomination of candidates for elective positions, the House would commit Section 84(2) of

the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration in accordance with Order 12, Rule 20 (1-3) of the Standing Orders of the House.

Dissolving into the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration, Gbajabiamila put to a voice vote, the clause 84(2), which now read thus: "That a political party seeking to nominate candidates for election under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions. The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries," and the amendments were adopted by majority of the lawmakers.

However, raising a point of order, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante Dagomie (PDP, Rivers),said there were errors in other clauses in the bill, which was sent back to them, hence, the lawmakers should take their time to look at these clauses one after the other so that members could make inputs.

Making reference to one of the clauses, He said, "In the case of nomination of presidential candidate, a political party shall hold special convention in each of the 36 states of the federation and FCT, where delegates shall vote for each of the aspirants at the designated centers on specified dates.

“If you go further a National convention shall be held for the ratification, so you don’t elect at the convention. The election of the Presidential candidate will remain at the various state level.”

Responding, Gbajabiamila said, "As a seasoned legislator, I have read the rules of the House to you and you know that we are confined to the observation made

by Mr. President; we have a near perfect document."

Briefing journalists shortly after plenary, the House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, reacting to a question on why the House didn't include the consensus option like the Senate, said the president in his official letter to the House never mentioned consensus Continued on page 42

UPSTREAM COMMISSION RAKES IN N175BN FROM SALE OF MARGINAL FIELDS the industry regulator, started in June 2020, with 57 marginal fields spanning land, swamp and offshore put up for lease by the federal government.

Marginal fields are smaller oil blocks typically developed by indigenous companies and have remained unproduced for a period of over 10 years.

Some of the companies which emerged winners at the time included: Matrix Energy, AA Rano, Andova Plc, Duport Midstream, Genesis Technical, Twin Summit, Bono Energy, Deep Offshore Integrated, Oodua Oil, MRS and Petrogas.

A few others that succeeded in crossing the hurdle and had fully satisfied all conditions were: North Oils and Gas, Pierport, Metropole, Pioneer Global, Shepherd Hill, Akata, NIPCO, Aida, YY Connect, Accord Oil, Pathway Oil, Tempo Oil, Virgin Forest among others.

At the time, it was also a big win for local oil and gas companies in the country, which had a good outing during the ceremony as 100 per cent of the beneficiaries of the exercise were indigenous entities.

Nigeria last conducted marginal field bid rounds in 2003, with 16 of the fields contributing just two per cent to the national oil and gas reserves.

The commission also stated that its target revenue for 2022 remained N3.38 trillion, substantially exceeding its 2021 revenue projection of N3 trillion and that of 2020 which was pegged at N1.746 trillion.

In a presentation it made to the Senate Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, led by Senator Bassey

Akpan, during an oversight meeting at its headquarters in Abuja, the commission led by Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, explained that it hit N1.99 trillion revenue in 2020, surpassing its forecast of N1.746 trillion by about 13.98 per cent.

But in 2021, with a revenue target of N3.066 trillion, the commission which was then known as DPR pointed out that it generated N2.711 trillion, achieving 88.45 per cent of its revenue forecast which is usually paid into the federal government coffers.

It stated that in spite of the reduced fiscal provision in the PIA, the commission was set to achieve its desired revenue target for 2022.

Furthermore, the commission lamented that with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota of 1.683 million bpd in January and 1.701 million bpd in February, it is only able to pump 1.396 million bpd currently, leading to a loss of at least 115,926 million bpd on a daily basis, put at roughly $300 million monthly.

“We are losing about 115, 926 barrels per day, so that literally translates to roughly about $300 million and that’s a huge loss to a nation that actually requires these funds,” he stated.

The commission’s chief executive, Komolafe, attributed the underperformance to mostly oil theft, sabotage, vandalism as well as technical issues, including ruptures associated with the assets.

“But the larger percentage is due to crude oil theft and as a commission we know the impact of this and recognising our regulatory role, we have been able to reach

out to other operators as to what we can do about this.

“We are trying to put in place an industry-wide initiative to ameliorate the situation and we are expecting to go live in terms of implementation in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the other stakeholders,” he added.

However, he stated that despite the encumbrances, it would continue to promote an enabling environment for investment in the upstream petroleum sector, establish, monitor and regulate as well as enforce environmental measures and optimise government’s take from the country’s hydrocarbon resources.

In addition, the commission vowed to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of leases and licences granted, enforce all laws relating to upstream operations as well as maintain a petroleum industry data bank.

Komolafe, responding to issues raised by the senators on the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, stated that there are provisions in the PIA which provide for remediation.

He stated that the commission recognises that the job was enormous and had set up an internal committee to liaise with the senate steering committee to work on regulations for the industry.

The commission’s chief executive stated that if fully implemented, the PIA would take care of issues connected with the environment, adding that while some pollutions are attributable to normal oil operations, others could be credited to sabotage by other parties.

In other issues, the commission

revealed that it expects its new office to be completed in January 2023, while the total handing over will be done in the first quarter of 2024.

In his comments, leader of the senate delegation, Akpan, along with his deputy, Ifeanyi Uba, and other members of the team, who spoke, urged the commission to expedite action on regulations concerning the community trust fund.

In addition, the senators urged the upstream commission to deploy technology in taming oil theft as well as work towards reducing the cost of production per barrel of crude oil.

Akpan vowed that the committee will continue to put all stakeholders on their toes, including the commission, explaining that by now the commission should have finished with preparing some regulations in line with the timelines provided by the PIA. “As a regulator, you should have timelines,” he stated.

The senate committee, upstream, explained that the PIA remains work in progress, stating that all grey areas in the law will be ironed out in the next set of amendments.

The committee urged Komolafe to relate closely with it if there is any pressure from any quarters, stating that the Minister of State , Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva, had told it that the agencies were given a free hand to operate.

“We are going to put you on your toes. Nobody will pity you.

We will come here even twice a month. So, let us know what you are doing because this is a very serious mandate given to you

by Mr President,” Akpan noted.

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BUHARI ARRIVES KADUNA...

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Managing Director Nigeria Port Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, as President arrived in Kaduna for an official PHOTO: Sunday Aghaeze visit to inaugurate landmark projects ... yesterday

INEC Disputes Tinubu’s Claim, Says Previously Issued PVCs Not Expired, Valid for Voting Former Lagos gov urges people to go and register Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, disputed claims by a former governor of Lagos State and presidential hopeful, Bola Tinubu, that previously issued voters card had expired, saying the claim was false and that the PVCs remained valid for voting in the 2023 general election or any other poll.

Tinubu had, yesterday, called on members of the party to participate in the ongoing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter registration, because their current

PVC has already expired, saying party members and voters alike might not be informed on time.

Tinubu stated this on Tuesday night, when a group of political women paid him a courtesy visit, in Abuja, the capital city.

In a video seen by THISDAY, Tinubu, who had already declared his intention to contest 2023 presidency, called on the women to go back home and educate their people on the need to participate in the ongoing voter registration so as to have valid voter card.

He said it was mandatory for them to register to be able to vote and also achieve their aspirations.

Afenifere Tackles Buhari over Nation’s Worsening Insecurity Emameh Gabriel in Abuja A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation (Afenifere), yesterday, tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening security challenges facing the nation, saying it had never been this bad in the history of the country.

The group, therefore, called for the decentralisation of the operations of the security apparatus of the state, even within the existing legal framework.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere explained that the move became necessary in the face of the disturbing spate of insecurity in the land, to ensure the input of local operators in state and local governments in policing and security.

Ajayi stated that the kidnapping of seven people around Isara Remo on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Sunday, January 17, 2022, was another evidence that governments in Nigeria have failed in their primary duties of providing security and welfare for the people.

He also recalled how some people were on January, 8, 2022, reportedly kidnapped at Onigaari Village on the same Lagos/Ibadan Expressway just as some travellers, including a popular actress, narrowly escaped being kidnapped on the same road last Saturday.

According to Afenifere, there had been reports that some displaced terrorists in the northern part of the country led by one Belo Turji, were making incursion into Yorubaland in the western part of Nigeria.

"We recall the incessant kidnap-

ping of, and attacks on, innocent people in Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States. We also recall the sacking of certain villages in Imeko area of Ogun State last week,” it said.

The group noted that the "lamentations by Governors of Niger, Zamfara, Benue, Nassarawa, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina States on how terrorists seem to be dictating the pace in their areas ought to serve as a wake-up call for the governments and the security agencies. Unfortunately, responses to the lamentations have not shown that the federal authorities appreciate the enormity of the challenge."

Afenifere acknowledged that President Muhammadu Buhari seemed to be aware of the security situation going by his recent expressions on the issue.

For instance, the President, it said, ordered a 'robust' military intervention in the wake of terrorists' take-over' of some local government areas in Niger State just as he asked Nigerians to put their prayers for security before God. The latter, Afenifere said, was in a message delivered on his behalf when Governor Ganduje of Kano State hosted the head of Tijanniyah organisation world-wide in Kano last week.

According to the group, several 'orders' have been given by Mr President in the recent past just as Nigerians never stopped praying.

"This clearly shown that the appropriate panacea is not being applied to the scourge. And until this is done, the situation may be getting worse each passing day," it said.

"Tell one family member, two family members, knock on all doors and make sure that new registration, because they might not announce to you on time that the PVC you have has expired. You need to spread it round various local government, wards, no matter how difficult it is.

"To me, I look at it closely and look at other elections held, you see that it is diminishing, because those cards have expired and it is mandatory that you go and register to be able to vote and achieve your aspirations," he said.

But Prof. Bolade Eyinla, the Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, said, “Nigerians, who already have their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) do not need to register again.

“In fact, double registration is an offence under our laws. Eligible Nigerians are entitled to register

only once. Once a name appears on the National Register of Voters, it stays there permanently. Nigerians are, therefore, advised not to attempt to register anew if they already have a Permanent Voters Card," he clarified.

According to Eyinla “This information is not correct. The PVCs issued to all previously registered voters remain valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once, thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations.”

Eyinla also urged the media to “Please use your various mediums to help prevent this development.”

Also, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, confirmed that “Nigerians who already have their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) do not need to register again.”

Oyekanmi added: “One of the

very few instances where a name could be removed from the Register is if there’s a strong and verifiable proof that the person bearing the name has died.”

Meanwhile, the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday solicited the support of civil society groups to encourage more Nigerians to come out to register or transfer their voters card to where they prefer to cast their votes during subsequent elections.

He spoke at the first quarterly meeting with Civil Society groups at the INEC office.

"The Commission looks forward to the support of civil society organisations to encourage voters, who wish to transfer from their present Polling Units to new ones created as part of the Commission’s expansion of access polling units across the country.

"After all, the support of civil

APC: WE’RE YET TO ZONE PARTY POSITIONS AHEAD OF CONVENTION All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Sani Shinkafi, has also joined the APC chairmanship race of the party.

However, the secretary, while giving an update on the state of the party, said, "We are also here to rebuff the fake news going round the social media that we have zoned party offices; we are yet to meet on the issue of zoning."

The Caretaker Committee at its 19th regular meeting yesterday considered and adopted the timetable/schedule of activities for the convention.

The party said sales of forms to all aspirants vying for national offices would commence on February 14th, while submission of completed forms and accompanying documents at party secretariat was slated on or before February 19.

The APC scheduled the publication of sub-committees for February 19th, while screening of all aspirants vying for national offices would take place between February 20th and 22nd.

Also, the party said the sitting of appeal panels to hear and resolve complaints arising from the screening exercise has been slated for February 23, while accreditation of all statutory and elected delegates to the National Convention was scheduled for February 24th and 25th.

It concluded that the national convention to elect national officers to the National Executive Committee (NEC) would take place on the 26th,

while the National Convention Appeal was scheduled for February 28.

Against this backdrop, the APC leadership has beefed up security at the party secretariat in Abuja as the meeting of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (APC) entered the second day.

The Caretaker committee could not reach a logical conclusion on the venue, and modalities of the convention of the party slated for February 26. The increased security presence at party's headquarters might not be unconnected to the continued power play that forced the committee to fix February 26 for the party's convention.

Men of the Nigerian Police Fire were stationed at strategic locations along the Blantyre Street of the secretariat.

A party source hinted that the increase security presence was more like a routine exercise, adding that most times, the party also took action based on intels, and that there would be several meetings on the composition of sub-committees for the national convention, hence the need to ensure safety of everyone.

Meanwhile, member of the party from Bayelsa State, Mr. Ambrosini Sambo, has described the alleged zoning of the APC chairmanship to the North West as a plot to destroy the party.

Sambo, who spoke with journalists yesterday in Abuja, said there

were plans to impose a chairman on the party through the rumoured zoning to the North-west.

“This spells doom for the party.

The decision to impose this candidate from the North-West on the party as the chairman will destabilise the party. Every well-meaning party member should not support this.

“This is the plan of the enemies APC to destroy the party which we fought so hard to build, we will resist this move. The party Chairman is open to other zones to contest," he said.

He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in what he described as injustice to the party before it would be too late.

On his party, Shinkafi, who just joined the APC chairmanship race, is believed to being sponsored by the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.

He, however, said the state was not ready to lose the slot considering the fact that a former governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari, who had indicated interest to contest for the position was technically not a member of the ruling party at the moment.

He insisted that during the recent revalidation and registration exercise conducted in the state, Yari and some other party stakeholders in the state refused to participate.

The chairmanship aspirant argued that contrary to perception, he was not in the race to whittle down the influence and chances of Yari,

society organisations was crucial to the success of the recent expansion of voter access to polling units for the first time in 25 years since the initial delimitation in 1996.

"As at Monday 17th January 2022, a total of 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians commenced the online pre-registration; completed the registration physically; applied for transfer to new voting locations; requested for replacement of their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs); and updated their voter information records."

On the February 12 FCT election, Prof. Yakubu said, "I want to draw your attention to the distribution of voters to Polling Units in the FCT, particularly, the fact that 593 out of 2,822 (or 21%) of the total, do not have voters. This is because voters failed to take advantage of the expansion of access to transfer to these new Polling Units."

but explained that Yari’s decision to boycott the revalidation and registeration exercise has already disqualified him from the race.

"To me Abdulaziz Yari knows who I am. He's one of my best friends in those days before he became governor and turned himself into a mini-god. Before me and Matawalle became friends, I have been friends with Yari.

"As far as the national record of APC is concerned, in my text of press briefing, I have made more emphasis on the credible and verifiable membership register.

I challenge you and I challenge everyone here to go and meet Abdulazeez Yari and ask him, let him show you his authentic and revalidated membership card as a card carrying member of APC. “As far as we are concerned, he is already automatically disqualified from this race and based on that I don't want our state to take risk of not participating, or not taking slot in our great party and I have decided to join the race. You can go and verify from his ward, his name is not on the register and he doesn't have authentic membership card," Shinkafi stated.

He said if and when elected as national chairman of the party, he would reposition and reorganise the party based on its philosophy of social democracy, which basically meant people-oriented, membership mobilisation and recruitment and mass based political organisation.

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COMMENT

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

ACCESS BANK: 20 YEARS ON

For Access Bank, it has been two decades of remarkable achievements, writes Etim Etim

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his March marks 20 years since two young Nigerian bankers – Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe – bought a small, nondescript bank and turned it into one of the biggest lenders in the country with subsidiaries across Africa, Europe and Asia. It was on March 22, 2002 that the two, both aged 37, walked into Plot 1669 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos which was then the corporate headquarters of the bank to assume duty and full control as the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director. The acquisition process had taken about two years and entailed rigorous negotiations, sleepless hours of paper work and long meetings. It was one of the most audacious takeovers in the history of the nation’s financial industry. The phenomenal growth of Access Bank in the last two decades has become a very inspiring success story. Aig-Imoukhuede has since written a book on the transaction, and I will like to, once again, recommend it to our young entrepreneurs for the useful lessons therein.

I’m not sure if the bank will roll out the drums to celebrate this anniversary. Although the mood of the nation now does not call for elaborate commemorations and lavish festivities, it would be impossible not to mark it. I recall that in 2012 we only had a thanksgiving church service to mark the tenth anniversary. We were excited at the bank’s transformation and rapid growth. Aigboje and Herbert have always been careful not to flaunt their accomplishments.

Soon after the takeover, the bank embarked on a five-year transformation agenda, and two years into the plan, the CBN announced the N25 billion capitalization deadline set for end of December 2005. The bank’s management went to work, and as Aig-Imoukhuede writes in his book, Leaving the Tarmac, “Not only were we in a position to raise the money we needed, we had also been given permission to look at possible mergers and acquisitions’’. The bank mobilized its workforce and quickly raised N15 billion in a public offer, acquired two other small banks, Capital and Marina, and convinced FMO, the Netherland development finance company, to become an institutional investor through the conversion of a $15 million term loan it earlier gave to the bank. With the N25 billion capitalization met, the race to the top became a matter of compulsion to the new owners. They then embarked on aggressive drive to raise money both from local and foreign capital markets.

Between 2006 and 2007, the bank raised a local bond issue of N11.9 billion; and in 2007 it raised N136 billion in public offerings, including a highly successful and oversubscribed GDR (Global Depository Receipt) and established Access Bank UK. I joined the bank in June 2008, the beginning of the second five-year transformation plan. Every action was geared at taking the institution to the top. Between 2009 and 2011, the bank passed CBN’s Special Audit on Governance, Liquidity and Capital Adequacy conducted under the tough-talking Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Three major achievements were also recorded. The bank was awarded IFC Sustainable Bank of the Year; it acquired Intercontinental Bank and was ranked the fourth largest bank in Nigeria as a result of the acquisition.

With these successes, a huge surge of confidence and can-do spirit have by now swept through the entire workforce.

LAST MONTH, THE BANK ANNOUNCED ITS PLAN TO RESTRUCTURE INTO A HOLDING COMPANY, INDICATING A STRATEGIC DIVERSIFICATION INTO GROWTH AREAS LIKE THE FINTECH BUSINESS. THE NEXT 20 YEARS WILL BE VERY EXCITING FOR ACCESS BANK

Staffers went through a rigorous process of reorientation and change of the bank’s vision and mission; and with business combination with Intercontinental completed in 2012, management staff assumed bigger roles and responsibilities.

Access Bank became one of the favourite places to work for bankers from other institutions. We were enjoying the pulsating work pace and dynamic work environment, enthralled in seeing the dream of being in the top five becoming a reality year after year.

That same 2012 and spanning 2013, the bank raised $350 million Eurobond in the International Market and divested from non-banking subsidiaries. It was also designated as a significant important financial institution (SiFi) by the CBN, one of the very few in the industry. This means a recognition of its huge footprint in the economy, the integrity and respect of its leaders and the fact that the bank could not be allowed to fail under any circumstance. It is for this reason that the CBN recently intervened in the Board and management composition of one bank. Another huge milestone came in 2014 when Access Bank issued $400 million subordinated note (tier 2 bond) and transited into a large diversified banking institution.

It was in January 2014 that Herbert Wigwe assumed duty as the Group Managing Director & Chief Executive after the retirement of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede late 2013. The change in the executive suite was smooth and rancor-free, unlike what we see in some other places. With enormous goodwill and attractive brand equity, the bank continues to outpace its contemporaries. In 2017, it further shored up its capital by raising N42 billion through Rights Issue and issued another $300 million subordinated note.

But it was its merger with Diamond Bank in 2018 that catapulted Access Bank to the number one slot in at least some parameters: assets and retail business with 646 branches. It also recorded the biggest channel touchpoints: 38 million cards; 3,000 ATMs and 34,000 POS terminals. In 2019, the bank issued the first Green Bond in Nigeria. In 2020, it expanded its African business into Kenya and Mozambique and became the first Nigerian bank to set up shop in South Africa. A few weeks ago, the South African ambassador to Nigeria was on TV commending the bank for establishing a branch in his country.

Last month, the bank announced its plan to restructure into a holding company, indicating a strategic diversification into growth areas like the fintech business. The next 20 years will be very exciting for Access Bank. I see it landing in New York, Paris and many other places in the Northern Hemisphere. I congratulate the Board, management and staff on these achievements. It is my wish that the bank continues to support the underprivileged members of the society in its CSR programs and the aspirations of the government in making our economy more diversified and productive. Let me conclude by paying my tribute to former staff of the bank who believed in the vision and the visioners. They worked hard; were loyal, committed and dedicated. Let me also commend Aig and Herbert for their discipline, hard work, integrity and professionalism. Their determination to fulfill the dream has been very inspiring.

Etim, a former staff of Access Bank, wrote from Abuja

LUMUMBA’S COMMAND TO AFRICA Okello Oculi memorialises Patrice Lumumba, former prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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n 17th January, 1961 Belgian officials and military officers hacked Patrice Lumumba’s body into little pieces and dropped their total harvest into a barrel full of sulphuric acid. One military officer cut off Lumumba’s index finger as a trophy to keep in his family home back in Belgium. Belgian Government officials are reported to be offering to return it to Lumumba’s children for an official burial.

In a letter to his wife Lumumba told her not to weep for him. Her tears couldn’t match that of Congolese patriots and nationalists all across Africa. Moreover, his blood would irrigate Africa’s quest for freedom. He had cursed and damned King Bedouin of Belgium at Congo’s independence ceremony by recounting the genocidal record of King Leopold cutting off hands of over ten million Congolese; of farmers who whipped workers with rhino hide, and companies that dug out copper, diamond, gold and other precious minerals from under Congo’s land.

His blood and curses at Euro-American colonialism roused rage in warriors in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, South Africa and Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. But the tool of assassination that oozed out

of hearts and minds of Belgian defenders of the economic greed of Belgium was a trait limited not to their tribe. Portugal’s secret police, the PIDE, would later assassinate Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique. South Africa’s racist government would use a crash of a Russian presidential aircraft to terminate Samora Machel and his top advisers and cabinet members. PIDE would strike again by assassinating Amilcar Cabral.

The defence of access to minerals by Euro-American companies had incited President Eisenhower to direct the CIA to ‘’neutralise’’ Lumumba if he was ‘’mad’’ enough to invite the Soviet Union to send him war planes to end the protection

by Belgian troops of secession by Katanga. Oil companies with geological data on oil deposits in the Niger Delta would have shared with South Africa’s racist leaders wishes to terminate Abubakar Tafawa Balewa whose political dexterity had severely weakened opposition to his northern behemoth, and would hinder oil exploitation on the cheap.

Lumumba’s legendary powers as a user of words to rouse the political emotions of crowds had been captured in poetic drama by Martinique’s writer Aime Cesaire. Liberation movements had combined that skill with putting guns in hands of villagers and created military storms which drove

Portuguese colonial power out of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, Angola and Mozambique. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF mobilised their Shona people into shaving Ian Smith’s head, and shove from his tongue the boast that European immigrants would rule Zimbabwe for one thousand years.

The French writer Regis Debray once wrote that ‘’the revolution revolutionises the counter-revolution’’. His wit was adopted by the 83 multinational corporations which a United Nations Committee accused of supplying weapons to militias that kill, maim and burn homes and food storage granaries and barns to drive them out of areas rich in vital minerals. Dr. Dennis Mukwege, the Congolese Nobel Laureate whose surgery repairs and heals women victims of sex as a weapon of war, urged European users of cell phones to hear screams of women victims from areas with coltran deposits.

Lumumba’s rousing voice to build political power from within a tortured people, continues to be drowned by staccatos of guns of murderous agents of exploiters of Congo’s rich minerals.

Their counter-revolution kills silence with harassed screams of hacked villagers.

But Lumumba was a man of action, of struggle for freedom and development of human dignity. It has been suggested that his admirers in East Africa may have injected their goodwill in the election

campaign of Felix Tshisekedi; and are following it with negotiating his country into membership of a political and economic community shared by Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan. It is said that it was Mohammed Babu, a Zanzibar Marxist, who fished out Patrice Lumumba from a slum in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), and took to attend Kwame Nkrumah’s 1958 all-Africa conference. That conference was a vital arena of political education for Lumumba. A boomerang is at play here.

Nkrumah created a Pan-African educational institution known as the ‘’Young Pioneers’’. It drew youths from other African countries to train as builders of a United States of Africa. Successive governments killed it. The current Pan-African Parliament is not made of former Young Pioneers.

They are bred inside ‘state sovereignty’ as political prison spaces.

Lumumba would approve of rebuilding the PAN-AFRICAN NEWS AGENCE, PANA, to exploit the power of the word to promote the germination and fruiting warriors of knowledge and grand vision for Africa. The Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow should build campuses in each region of Africa and breed true Lumumbist architects of ‘Another Africa’ beyond pygmy sovereignties.

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EDITORIAL WHEN MARKETS GO UP IN FLAMES All stakeholders should do more to reduce fire incidents

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e have had more than enough fire tragedies that ought to have provided lessons on how to minimise occurrences.

Sadly, things continue to get worse by the day to the extent that loss of lives and property to fire outbreaks is becoming a way of life. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company substation in Minna, Niger State was recently gutted by fire, the second time in two months. On new year day, over 250 shops were gutted by fire in Nnewi, Anambra State. Only recently, Next Cash and Carry supermarket in Abuja, one of the largest in the country, was also razed by fire. Hardly a day passes without reports of fire outbreak, especially in markets.

Indeed, across FIRE INCIDENTS ARE the country, fire GETTING FRIGHTENINGLY incidents are COMMON WITH HUNDREDS getting frightenOF BILLIONS OF NAIRA LOST ingly common with ANNUALLY TO THIS MENACE. hundreds of billions THE LOSS IN HUMAN TOLL IS of naira lost annually to this menace.

ALSO HUGE The loss in human toll is also huge.

Most irksome is that some of the incidents culminating in these tragedies were caused by the careless attitudes of individuals. Majority of the fire cases are avoidable if only a sense of caution had been applied. From Lagos to Onitsha, Kano, and Port Harcourt, we have had cases of fire outbreak from some people putting fuel into an already powered generator, resulting in explosions.

Some other causes of frequent fire incidents include electric surges, illegal connection of electricity, burning refuse close to the markets, and careless petrol storage.

We have also had cases of wilful sabotage, like the fire incident that consumed the Ebeano Supermarket in

Letters to the Editor

Abuja.

From a six-storey building loaded with goods at Oluwole Market in Lagos which went up in flames last December to a shopping mall in the Surulere area of the state recently razed, the losses incurred through fire are enormous, particularly since most of the property is uninsured. Memories of the two shocking Kano market fire incidents which razed over 70 and 35 shops within a period of one week are still fresh in the mind.

Last October alone, according to the Kano State Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Saminu Yusuf, no fewer than 10 persons lost their lives to fire incidents in the state.

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T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com

pparently worried by the rate at which markets go up in flames across the country, the Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) president, Jamilu Abbas, recently urged marketers to take necessary precautions, especially during the harmattan season that we are in. “Fires can be regarded as natural disaster. But it could be man-made too. That is why we need to take necessary measures to prevent the ones within our reach,” said Abbas. “Traders should be sensitised on the need to be fire conscious, including observance of no smoking. Cooking by restaurants and bukkas should be closely monitored.”

Indeed, as we are in a season where little sparks often lead to big conflagration, there is need to be extra careful. We call on the federal, state, and local governments to come up with effective mechanisms to protect important places, buildings, markets, and institutions from fire incidents. We also challenge various governments to as a matter of urgency, revamp and mobilise their fire service departments to perform optimally.

Stringent measures should be put in place to punish any individual or group which carry out any activity resulting in inferno. Until this is done, fire incidents will continue to bring irreparable and incalculable losses to the society.

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

THE SEARCH FOR AN AVANT GARDE LEADER

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he phrase “jump the gun” came into being in early 20th Century during track and field races arising from the unhealthy activities of some athletes. Expectedly, at the beginning of a race, a starting pistol is fired. The sound of the shot indicates that the race should commence.

Interestingly, in some situations, some athletes will embark on the race before the gun shot is heard. This action prompted the expression, “jump the gun.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is yet to officially announce the commencement date of campaigns for the 2023 general elections. The INEC’s position notwithstanding, politicians have commenced aggressive political activities cum subtle campaigns, preparatory to the elections. This unwholesome behaviour exhibited by politicians is resoundingly similar to the aforementioned action of some athletes during track and field races. Accordingly, it would not be out of place to describe this unethical activity of politicians as “jumping the gun.”

Evidently much, politicians have started building base of support and embarking on massive constituencies building. On a daily basis, the tempo of political activities have spiked exponentially but yet to reach its crescendo.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), have had their internal squabbles and bickering. The battle for the soul of the party culminated into the eventual stepping down from the race for re-election after his first term, by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun. Consequently, the way was paved for immediate past Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to emerge as the APC National Chairman.

Comrade Oshiomhole’s tenure was punctuated by calls for his resignation. He finally succumbed to intrigues and centripetal tendencies

within the party in 2020.

In the same token, the PDP have had its own share of internal wranglings. Following these internal crises, stakeholders in the party called for the removal of Prince Uche Secondus as the Chairman of the party. It will interest you to know that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike was one of the most vociferous voices in the call for his resignation.

Increasingly, however, a vast majority of Nigerians, more than ever before, are no longer enthusiastic about politics and are disenchanted with the level of governance in the country. The elections cycles have been largely marked by fanfare and pageantry. Politicians have always come to dazzle and placate the masses with promises during elections.

The former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo is noted for his phrase about politicians “Campaigning in poetry, but governing in prose”. Mario Cuomo’s assertion has continually remained relevant and concrete exemplification of our governance culture. Little wonder, we have been bedeviled by security, social cum economic challenges over the years. Quite unfortunately, our economy is in dire straits.

Nigeria cannot be allowed to be relegated to the second or third division in scheme of things in Africa. There is the urgent need to effect a narrative shift.

Amidst these challenges and unsavoury trajectory, Nigerians are confident that our present predicament could be redeemed and Nigeria repositioned to emerge as a globally admirable country. This is achievable when we deliberately tackle holistically our leadership challenges. We strongly crave a leader poised to unleashing the full potential of the country. Nigerians are clamoring for a transformational leader as against that which predominantly had been transactional.

The former elevates governance to enviable heights, whilst the latter breeds mediocrity. It is in recognition of these dimensions of leadership

that the search for an “Avant garde Leader” becomes imperative as we prepare towards the 2023 election.

An Avant garde leader who would break away from the conventional and traditional way of getting things done and addressing the critical issues of governance. A leader that challenges the status quo by taking tough and far-reaching decisions, whilst abiding by democratic tenets and the rule of law. His dosage of will power must be astounding.

Equally Important, we desire a leader that distinguished himself as an entrepreneur. He must have proved his mettle beyond mere rhetoric in running an organisation. No doubt, the experiences garnered over the years would be brought to bear as cutting edge to the dearth of leadership challenges. It is strongly believed that any candidates desirous of leading the country must be that with a clear understanding of economy and have a sufficiently robust entrepreneurial background.

Another expectation from any candidates desirous of governing this country should be that of a bridge builder. Any leader that emerges must make frantic efforts to treat all the ethnic nationalities equally and each given a seat at the table. Let us create and sustain a paradigm of diversity and inclusion. The country today is sharply divided along ethnic, religious and political considerations. The president should be committed to building bridges of trust, love and harmony amongst the various ethnic divides in the country. There is mutual fear and suspicion amongst the various ethnic nationalities in the country.

It will gladden the hearts of Nigerians to high heavens when the incoming president in 2023, tackles the lingering challenges of insecurity, which has mutated to other variants like banditry, youth restiveness and kidnapping, etc.

Kennedy Oikerhe, CEO, Pydenneks Offshore Services Ltd, Lagos

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2022

POLITICS

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

Mustapha: My Campaign for APC National Chairmanship Has Taken a Life of Its Own One of the top contenders for the office of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Saliu Mustapha, tells Nseobong Okon-Ekong that he has the refreshing qualities that the party needs to regenerate itself for the task ahead

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ome people don’t think that your party, the APC will hold its convention in the advertised month of February because right now there is nothing to show that there is preparation in the National secretariat I have a contrary view to your concern. February is still weeks away even in the month of February you have four weeks. There may be affirmation in form of concensus. There is room for all these things to still happen. The important thing is getting it right and in getting it right, you must exhaust all possible options. I am a party man. I have been in party administration, at one time or the other. I know there is always anxiety over party convention.

I remember the PDP convention before it held, I saw the headlines- this will make or mar PDP; will it happen? Will it not happen? The APC convention will come and go in a very peaceful way. The most important thing is that those at the helm of affairs now understand too well what the stakes are. They will do their best which I always encourage them. We should give them the benefit the doubt to come up with the best possible option for us. Nobody will want to have a cup of milk in his hand and deliberately throw it away, when you know that there are people who are struggling to have it. I want us to give them the benefit of the doubt. I am very sure the convention will come and go. There is a specific date now. I am sure the APC governors and the Presodent will come up with a zoning formula before we go to the convention. I am sure such a meeting will address the questions and anxieties over the convention.

One thing I must point out is that my aspiration is not about coming to own a title. I want to serve. I am not in this contest for the title. I am in it because I want to add value. That is why my campaign has taken a life of its own. I am enjoying enormous goodwill from people who see that quality in me. In most cases, the burden of me spending anything has been taken by many of these people who believe we have some kind of ideological pathway together. I am enjoying something others are not. I have prepared myself for February. I am hopeful that the secretariat will come up with an acceptable zoning formula that will give us victory at the general election.

How big is your support base across the country to give you the confidence to aspire?

Definitely, my support base is good. I am enjoying the support of average Nigerians, average members of the party who want that change, who want to see someone that will do things differently. I might not have the kind of money some of them have to mount billboards.

A billboard will cost me about N5milluon, if I print posters with that, it will produce a good number of posters and it will go round the country. It is about your style and approach.

That brings me to kind of leadership I want to run. My style of leadership is different . I want to carry people along. I want to be a team player. I am not coming in as an individual or as a one-man squad. It is about how you send your message, the targeted audience. Recently, I was privileged to host former federal and state legislators who are statutory delegates.

They have their association. They see in me someone they believe they can work with. They were here to pledge solidarity to me. They see in me somebody they can relate with who can give them a listening ear. They see in me a bridge builder. There is a global trend where the younger generation are asking that they should be involved, they want to be carried along. I am saying I am here. I want to participate and be given the opportunity to serve. It is not a contest of titles or billboards. It is a contest of convincing the people. Do they see in you, what they believe in? Do they see in you the

Why do you think we no longer have political parties with clear-cut ideologies?

The legacy parties that came together to form the APC where able to bring up a manifesto. I always tell people it is work in progress. The present administration has done very well, it is now for us if given the opportunity to continue from where the President will stop. One of the things I want to promote is adhering to our party manifesto . If we are able to do that then people will see us as a platform that came and marketed something and stood by it. That is when you can see the dividends more. That is what will translate to the kind of ideological party they believe in. Given the opportunity I want to lead a team that will fulfil electoral promises, not a party where the person in State A is doing one thing and another person on the same platform in State B is doing a totally different thing. I want to help bring about that ideology by making sure people are held accountable to our electoral promises.

Would you say the APC has an ideology?

Yes. It is embedded in our manifesto. It is a progressive party. We are more of a social democratic party

Mustapha

true leader; a team player? Politics is all about giving people a sense of belonging and carrying them along. Giving people a free and fair atmosphere, so that internal democracy and popular candidates can emerge. That is what most of them see in me. There are a lot of promises that my aspiration brings to the table that will further solidify the party and give us general victory. The victory APC needs is not to win the primary within the house and you are not able to transfer it to the general election where you can appeal to the larger society. We have a country of about 200 million people. By the time you go for general election, it is not the APC members that will vote you in. It is the public; and what do they want to see? They want to see how they can buy into that vision, dream or manifesto you are selling to them. In Nigeria, the younger people who are clamouring for participation have between 75 and 80 million votes to support any party or candidate to win an election and many

of the younger generation see me as that bridge builder; as that semblance of what they stand for. The APC stands to benefit these number of votes.

As bad as the PDP is, the party was able to vote a 25 year old man as its National Youth Leader. Today, all you see them do is brandish that National Yourh Leader to attract the younger generation. APC can do better, not be bringing a 20 year old man, but by bringing somebody who the younger generation can see as their own. Somebody who reflects or represents their ideal; who can be a bridge builder between them and the older generation.

I believe that I stand a better chance than anybody Even those those that I am contesting against, I have not not limited my consultation. I am also meeting and trying to convince them that it shouldn’t be a contest. I am looking for how they can endorse me so that I can help to make this journey easier for us all.

The victory APC needs is not to win the primary within the house and you are not able to transfer it to the general election where you can appeal to the larger society. We have a country of about 200 million people. By the time you go for general election, it is not the APC members that will vote you in. It is the public; and what do they want to see? They want to see how they can buy into that vision, dream or manifesto you are selling to them. In Nigeria, the younger people who are clamouring for participation have between 75 and 80 million votes to support any party or candidate to win an election and many of the younger generation see me as that bridge builder; as that semblance of what they stand for

The overwhelming perception is that the APC has not delivered on its promises since 2015, won’t that make your job difficult if you become the national chairman of the party?

I disagree with you. Nigerians are living better than when we took over. It idepends on the perspective from which you judge us. People tend to forget what Nigeria was going through in the last days of former President Goodluck Jonathan. We were going into a serious recession that Venezuela would have been better than us. We were going to hopelessness, but this government reversed that. People tend to forget that the damage of nearly 20 years cannot be repaired overnight.. But it is easy to destroy.

It is easy for them to condemn us, but they fail to see what we have been able to achieve in the face of global challenges. There is terrorism.

It is not just the case of Nigeria, it is a global issue. There is the pandemic. There is global hunger all over. People should not judge today with the way yesterday was. Of course, there is room for improvement and we hope to do better. It is work in progress. This government is doing its best and will continue until it is given the opportunity again that APC is allowed to produce the next government so that we can consolidate on some of the achievements and build on some of the foundations the Buhari government is laying already.

Do you think the APC will survive after President Buhari?

It is true that his person and character is one things we have used as a marketing tool-his anti-corruption stance. APC wants to rid the country of corruption. He is famous for saying, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. That is why you see the APC is focused on helping the downtrodden-how to create more jobs, how to empower the downtrodden that is why you see we have policy where we are assisting people through the TraderMoni, school feeding programme, these are masses oriented policies that will always help the downtrodden to give them a little bit of push from the abject poverty they find themselves. APC will stand as a united family even after President has finished his tenure so that we can sustain his legacy. It is when APC has been able to have another administrative circle, that is when people will start seeing a lot of good things and foundation that the previous government has put in place.

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

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POLITICS

Enoidem: PDP Had 122 Cases in High Courts, 44 in Courts of Appeal , 27 at the Supreme Court, We Won 90% Okon Bassey holds a conversation with the immediate past National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP National Legal Adviser and National Chairman of Maintain Peace Movement, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem

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n his achievements as PDP National Legal Adviser We thank God for the four years that spanned between December 10, 2017 and December 9, 2021, which is the period I served as a National Legal Adviser of PDP. It was a very challenging moment but at the end of the day, when we look back we can thank God for all the things He has enabled us to achieved.

Without being boastful, I didn’t meet a place that can be properly called a legal department of any organization for that matter. I didn’t meet a single copy of any book on law. I didn’t meet an office space that was habitable but by the grace of God, by the time I left, I left a place that can be called a Law Chamber, a properly, so called law department.

I went and did a fantastic renovation of the office space that was given to us and bought relevant office equipment and furniture out of my pocket. I’m not talking of what I got money from the party to do and we got some law books to furnishe the Chambers to make the office a legal department and of course, there was no single lawyer on employment in the department but by the time I left, I left two lawyers that we recruited. The two of them are more than 10 years old at the bar who are now permanent staff of the legal department for the first time in the history of the legal department.

In terms of litigation, we went round the country, I think this is the first time, and I am not being boastful here, this is the first time that the legal department has been able to prosecute up to 122 cases in the different High Courts in the country, 44 cases in the different Courts of Appeal in the country and 27 cases at the Supreme Court for the first time directly from the legal department.

Before we went there, most of the cases were given out to different lawyers in the country.

For instance, we inherited a debt of more than N4 billion out of which more than N3 billion came from the legal department alone, from different lawyers from all over the country.

But as at the time I left, I did not leave one kobo in debt for the legal department, not a Kobo was incurred under my watch for any legal fees from any lawyer anywhere in the country. It’s not just about the number of cases I am talking about here, a number of wins were also made.

Of all the 122 cases in the different High

Enoidem

Courts in the country, 88 of those cases were done to completion, and then of the 44 cases in the Courts of Appeal, all of them were done to completion. Of the 27 cases in the Supreme Court, all of them were done to completion. The only one that remains in the Supreme Court is one case that is awaiting judgement.

We have taken the brief, we have adopted the brief and the case was adjourned to the January 21, 2022 for judgement.

Then of course we won all the 27 cases we had in the Supreme Court, except one. Then we won 42 out of 44 cases in the Courts of Appeal and lost only 2; and then out of 2 we lost, we won one of them at the Supreme Court remaining the one I said we lost. And of the 88 that we completed at the various High Courts, we won 78 of them, and those we lost we won at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court except one. In other words, we had like 90% litigation success in all the courts across the country.

For me, this is a record that stands challengeable, I want somebody to go there and challenge those

records.

Apart from all of these, we also were able to raise the moral of the staff in the department because some of them that did not have promotion, we were able to secure promotion for them which also raised their moral and made them more committed to work for the department. Some may ask what was the process, what did you do to be able to leave the department in a zero free debt.

Another strategy I adopted apart from massive litigation through increase the capacity in the department was whenever we had a case from far flung areas or states that we cannot go, maybe because of insecurity, we’ll call a leader in that state and ask him to fund the case for the party. And I thank God all the leaders, everyone we’ve ever called responded positively and also took up those cases and nominated lawyers for us that is good by their own account and then we appoint the lawyer for that case and then they will fund it.

Most of the states that we couldn’t go and we have to resort to this procedure and they cooperated with us. It was by the grace of God. These were the things we adopted to ensure that the legal department performed optimally and we can look back and say we are very happy for what happened.

On Akwa Ibom State not having an officer in the new PDP NWC What happened was that the Governor in his wisdom thinks that since Akwa Ibom State is already very strong as a PDP state since 1998 till today, winning all the elections all the way, we are already very familiar with the environment, the terrain, the party is a household name in Akwa Ibom State, there is need to strengthen other states that are not PDP states by allowing them to get nomination into the national offices.

For me, it was an unimpeachable wisdom even though I would have loved to have somebody at the national level but for me that reason was very impersonal and it’s also very strong for the party. It’s unimpeachable, something you cannot fault. So that’s the justification for not having someone at the national level this time around.

On PDP losing the 2015 presidential election after 16 years in power.

I don’t like crying over spilled milk. But I believe that as a political party we (PDP)

made some mistakes and one of the foremost mistakes we made was to renege on our zonal arrangement in the sense that in 2015 power was supposed to return to the North by our zoning arrangement but the party in fielding Jonathan which was not a very popular decision and apart from just fielding Jonathan, the party also did not take into consideration the sentiment of the North.

And it is not a rumour that there was a gentleman’s agreement by Jonathan that he will serve one term when Yaradua died, it’s not a rumour, it is a common place knowledge that Jonathan had promised that he will do one term but he reneged on those promises by insisting that he wants to go for a second term.

Those were the weak points that contributed to the loss.

Then of course, another reason was that the managers of the process of the election also gave out the works of the party during the election to what they called TAN and that was the major mistake of the party because party politics is better run by the managers of the political party at all time. But what happened was that the entirety of the structure and procedures of the campaign was given out to TAN and TAN began to be as if it was an alternate platform, having offices all over the country, in all the states.

For me, that was a very demoralizing decision, it was a major mistake in the prosecution of the 2015 general election and that made us to have the outcome we had. We laid the foundation for it. It wasn’t because Nigerians did not love PDP. It wasn’t at all but it was because PDP made a lot of mistakes. And the third point I will make here is that PDP also did not recognize internal democracy which would have been promotional of local interest, promotional of the best person for any office in the country was not also respected. We behaved as if we were Lords and masters unto ourselves and we are not running democracy.

We’ll go and upturn primary election results in some states even if it was clear that this person won and in those days Ghana-must-go bags were flying about in the national secretariat of the PDP. These were some of the things that contributed to the failure of PDP at the national election and I stand to be corrected.

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

Why former Lagos Council Chairmen Are Drumming Suport for Tinubu Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that another support group to advertise the aspiration of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become President of Nigeria has surfaced

F

ormer council chairmen in Lagos State have begun mobilisation for the presidential aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The former helmsmen under the aegis of ‘Grassroots Network for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (GNAT),’ described the eminent politician as a great benefactor, who has built many political actors, including Governor Kayode Fayemi, Muiz Banire(SAN), Lai Mohammed, Rauf Aregbesola and Babatunde Fashola.

GNAT comprises serving and former local government chairmen, councillors, supervisors, secretaries to the local government, secretaries to education, special advisers, special assistants and other political appointees at the local government level across the country.

GNAT leader Abiodun Mafe, who spoke at the launch of the group in Lagos, said the footsoldiers cannot afford to be ingrate to the former Lagos governor, who played a great role in their rise to prominence.

Former Bariga Council chairman Omoyele Suleiman, who launched the organisation, said:”We will travel round the nooks and cranies of Nigeria to mobilise for Asiwaju to realise his dream of a greater Nigeria that works.”

A party chieftain from Kano State, Abdullahi

Tinubu

Tanko Yakassai, said Tinubu is the answer to the myriad of problems confronting the country.

He advised members of the group to go back to the grassroots to mobilise and secure the commitment of the people towards Tinubu’s bid for the presidency.

Former All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship aspirant in Anambra State Rommy Okoli described Tinubu as a gift to Nigeria, whose benevolence cuts across the six geo-political zones.

He praised the presidential aspirant for his courage, investment in pro-democracy crusade, achievements in Lagos as governor, political mentoring and belief in national unity, assuring that he will bring development to Nigeria, if elected.

Hailing Tinubu for entering the race, party chieftain Queen Ajagbe said the former governor who made Lagos a model will also make Nigeria a reference point in the comity of nations.

At the ceremony held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Seye Oladejo, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Ayodele Adewale, Wale Odunlami, Kamal Bayewu, Samuel Adedayo, Hon. Bamgbose, Hon. Labinjo and other former local government chairmen.

Mafe justified Tinubu’s bid, saying that he is a credible, reliable, tested, trusted and accomplished Nigerian.

He said he will consolidate on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He described Tinubu as a true defender of the right of states as component units of the federation to perform their constitutional

obligations as enshrined in the constitution without interference, oppressive subjugation and autocratic garrulity of a president that violates the spirit and letters of the constitution.

Mafe recalled that Tinubu tried to unlock the gridlock by creating additional 37 additional local governments in 2003.

He said:”We would be ingrates to forget so soon that Asiwaju courageously and innovatively kept the local governments running for years while the federal government seized the legitimate earnings of Lagos State.

“Asiwaju sacrificed and flogged himself night and day to keep the 37 babies that were born from dying. He refused to commit their abortion. For that demonstration of sacrifice and courage, the entire political appointees and civil servants in the local government system in Lagos State and our comrades and allies across Nigeria believe the occasion of Asiwaju’s declaration to run for the presidency of Nigeria is payback time for the local government operatives in Nigeria.”

He added: “We are happy to announce that there now exists a nationwide grassroots movement of local government operatives determined to ensure that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu picks the ticket of the All Progressives Congress and proceeds to win the February 18 2023 presidential election.”

22

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

FEATURES Dr. Uzoma Emenike and Her Special Love for Children

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

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo writes that Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Uzoma Ikechi Emenike has a special place for children in her heart, a love she portrays through the Emenike Foundation

Ambassador Emenike Ambassador Emenike leading a child to dancing chair competition

Kid preacher, Samuel with an interpreter

N

igeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Uzoma Ikechi Emenike, loves children.

And not one to sprout out empty platitudes, she has made sure this love is tangible enough.

For the past 17 years, she has kept faith with this love in official capacity. Through her Emenike Foundation, she has reached out to kids in her community in different capacities.

Towards the end of every year, the Ambassador would take time off her busy schedule to party with the children. It usually takes place during the yuletide season.

The Christmas party has been a regular event over the past 17 years under the auspices of the Emenike Foundation. Children from communities in Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North Local Government Area and nearby communities in Abia State always looked forward to it and they came in thousands to enjoy the fun-filled event.

The 18th edition held on December 28, 2021 lived up to the expectation of the joyful kids. In fact the children had been eagerly awaiting the 2021 Christmas party and when the date and time was announced they just couldn't wait.

The party was billed to commence at 3p.m. but before noon the children had already gathered at the gate of the Ambassador's family home, Umukabia Okpuala, waiting to be ushered into the compound.

There was no need to keep them waiting

Participants in the dancing chair game as time appeared to be moving slowly for their liking. The gate was thrown open for them. Over 3,000 children poured into the compound and occupied every available seat in the arena prepared for the event.

Toddlers were seen being led to the event by their mothers, older sisters or brothers.

No child would be happy to miss out.

That could explain the reason a heavily pregnant woman, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyebuchi, brought her three children to join in the fun. Even some nursing mothers brought their babies to be part of the celebration.

A popular kid preacher, Master Samuel kick-started the event with prayer and then went on to share the word of God with his fellow youngsters. He talked about the love that God has for mankind, which was the reason Jesus Christ was born to save humanity. He preached, quoting bible verses to buttress his points and moving round the venue with such confidence that

surprised many.

The child preacher held his listeners, including adults, spellbound as he talked about the saviour, Jesus Christ, whose birth over 2,000 years ago is the reason for Christmas celebration. The children cheered in appreciation of the boldness and knowledge exhibited by one of their kind doing what is usually the preserve of adult preachers. In concluding his sermon, Samuel made several declarations, invoking peace to reign in Abia and Nigeria in general.

The fun continued with music and dancing. The children really enjoyed themselves as they displayed all kinds of dancing skills, swaying and gyrating with total absorption. No dull moments crept into the event. There was also plenty to eat and drink.

The Ambassador, who was evidently enjoying the fun with her young guests, glowed with satisfaction. She only addressed

"The fun continued with music and dancing.

The children really enjoyed themselves as they displayed all kinds of dancing skills, swaying and gyrating with total absorption.

No dull moments crept into the event"

the children briefly, assuring them that the usual gift packs that come with the Christmas party were not omitted despite the economic situation occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

Emenike explained that last year’s event was done in low key due to the COVID-19 challenges, and that the party would also tow the same pattern this year. But with the pandemic still very much around and even manifesting in different variants, there was need to be very vigilant and stick to advice of medical experts.

To add to the fun galore the Ambassador organised a game of chair dance in which the children danced round chairs arranged in circular form. A dancer who failed to find a chair to sit on each time the music was stopped abruptly was eliminated. Finally, winners emerged at the end of the game and were rewarded with different gift items, including cash.

The children were fully entertained. They went home with joy and happiness at the end of the event. Little Chiemela, who clutched the toys she received very close to her chest, quipped "I am very happy". She added that she would show her parents the gifts she got at the party.

Master Chukwudi Ndukwe was equally glad he was at the party. "I danced and danced," he said. The seven-year-old boy thanked the Ambassador for hosting the children. He prayed that God "should bless her and provide for her to call us again for another party."

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

23

#THISISNIGERIA –Temilade Salami

THE CITY OF PORT HARCOURT AND “THE HANGING BLACK CLOUD”

Source: Stears Business

I

magine yourself on the day of a long awaited interview, dressed in a well-ironed white and sky blue shirt on a beautiful Monday morning. Your appointment time is 10am and you had left home anxious, eager and happy at 9:00 am only to arrive at the interview centre at 9:40am to a barrage of strange questions bordering on your dressing from the gateman.

Still in wonderment at his questions and the intention behind it, you tried to turn and look and boom, there you go, you are stained or rather covered by a dust-like black fume or particle which can be likened to a strange black soot.

Can you imagine the worry, the anger, the fury, the frustration and the cluelessness that you are bound to experience at that very moment? Well, that mixed emotion has been the lot of many residents of Port Harcourt, Nigeria since 2016.

The city of Port Harcourt, which is the capital of Rivers State is popularly known as The Garden City because of its green and open space with nicely-patterned houses built in well-planned layouts. However, this beautiful, serene city that once had a peaceful mien is now a pitiful cynosure of environmental pollution.

While the rest of Nigeria commemorates Christmas, there has been a literal black cloud hanging over the city. From office spaces to worship centres, from schools to fast food restaurants, from hospitals to markets, from public transport systems to even private ones, almost every living and non-living thing within the city has engaged with the strange black soot at one point or the other. People’s clothes are covered in soot, streets are covered in soot, even residents’ bedsheets are covered in soot. And records show that it has gone on for years.

“You’re wiping your face with a handkerchief and everything is black. You’re trying to clean your car and everything is black. Or you look at the soles of your feet and it is just pitch black,” said Canon, a resident and environmentalist in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His words summarises the severity and magnitude of threat that the situation poses to public health, livelihood and the ecosystem at large.

Air pollution, as defined by World Bank, "is the presence of one or more contaminants such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke, or vapour

in quantity, in the outdoor atmosphere which are actually or potentially injurious to human, plant or animal life, or property, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property."

The big questions remain: What causes this strange soot that has gone on for years?

What is its possible impact on the health of Port Harcourt residents? How long before the government finds a lasting solution to this menace?

Soot is the byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels. This includes burning coal for electricity or industrial fuel, manufacturing, oil refining, and motor vehicles. Soot enters the environment either as a solid particle or as a gas which turns into a particle after it has been released. These particles can end up very far away from their site of origin.

Aside from common effects of air pollution which include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, black soot has been associated with upper respiratory infections such as asthma, pneumonia, coronary artery disease, bronchitis and some other respiratory illnesses. Carbon emissions are detrimental to human health as they take part in gas exchange during each breath. The black soot particularly has a severe level of toxicity and is capable of causing cancer which may lead to premature death.

Environmentalists say the soot has been found to contain sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which cause acid rain when combined with moisture. As far back as 2018, AFP reported that doctors in Port Harcourt say they are seeing the health effects of the soot already, with an increase in consultations for breathing difficulties, including asthma.

The settling of black soot on water bodies causes turbidity and also affects the health status of the water body. Experts say air pollutants can trigger an immune response in mothers, which produces antibodies that reduce the amount of folic acid that travels through their placentas to their fetuses. Lack of folic acid can lead to birth defects. In all, common reactions to soot range from watery eyes and a runny nose to a persistent cough.

Individuals with existing health issues are at

the greatest risk from toxic soot compounds.

Compromised immune systems, respiratory problems and heart conditions can all be impacted by exposure to soot.

The cause of the soot has been something of a mystery. While some residents hold the general belief that the refineries that are operational in Port Harcourt are responsible, others have blamed the dilemma on the illegal oil activities undertaken by bunkers and vandals; abattoirs burning tyres; heating of asphalt and also the burning of stolen petroleum products by security agencies. The blame trade has left no one in exception.

In the midst of all these speculations, the question is: What has been done since it started?

While there have been citizen-led advocacy actions and even protests on and off social media, the soot pollution in Port Harcourt is still a huge environmental concern with no solution in sight despite its threat to life and livelihood.

In February 2017, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment declared the soot an “emergency situation”. In the same month, Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers State, established a committee to probe the cause of the soot and suggest ways forward. The committee's report suggested that the soot emerged as a result of the destruction of Illegal refineries by security agencies. Their findings were hinged on the narrative that the police and military identify and destroy illegal refineries in the region, with the resulting fume forming a dark cloud over the city. Based on these findings, Nyesom Wike opined that there is nothing his administration can do regarding the soot, as tackling security agencies is not within the purview of the state government!

While this environmental degradation persists, there are different measures that can be adopted for safe living before the situation is abated.

r 8JOEPXT BOE EPPST TIPVME CF TIVU BT often as possible in order to prevent the soot from entering homes and work spaces. r $POUBDU XJUI PQFO TQBDFT TIPVME CF SFEVDFE in order to keep your hands from touching the soot. r .JME EFUFSHFOUT TIPVME CF VTFE UP DMFBO surfaces daily in order to avoid the accumulation of soot. This would reduce the amount of black soot gathered around the house and offices. Air vents should also be dusted from time to time. r 5IF JNQPSUBODF PG XBTIJOH ZPVS IBOET frequently, especially having been outdoors, can’t be overemphasised. While this sounds like basic advice, it is imperative to note that it reduces the possibility of inhaling or ingesting the toxic substance. r *U JT BEWJTBCMF GPS SFTJEFOUT UP UBLF TIPXFST at least three times daily. By having multiple baths daily, the soot will not last on the skin to cause injuries or hazards. r "U UIJT QFSJPE XIFO UIF DJUZ JT DPWFSFE with the black soot, protective clothing will help many residents. Wearing long sleeve shirts and long trousers or skirts are good options pending permanent solution to the pollution. r $POTVNBCMFT QVSDIBTFE JO UIF PQFO market should be thoroughly washed before use, especially fresh fruits and vegetables which can easily be contaminated.

r 5IFSF JT BO VSHFOU OFFE UP NPVOU DPSF BOE active awareness programmes calling people’s attention to the inherent dangers of being exposed to the soot and how best it can be avoided.

It is however important to note that these are temporary measures. The government of Rivers State must find a comprehensive solution to this menace before it spirals to a full blown Surviving the black soot menace r 8FBSJOH B OPTF NBTL JO UIJT QFSJPE JT environmental and health disaster. one of the best preventive measures as it will t5FNJMBEF 4BMBNJ JT BO FOWJSPONFOUBM prevent you from inhaling the contaminated air. It will also prevent the soot from getting BDUJWJTU BOE BEWPDBUF B TFBTPOFE QPFU BOE B HSFFO FDPOPNZ QPMJDZ FOUIVTJBTU into the nose.

24

THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2022 •T H I S D AY

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

25

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J A N U A R Y

S & P INDEX

1 2 , 2 0 2 2

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4%

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6%

1-DAY

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YEAR TO DATE

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3-MONTH

10%

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0.41%

Telcos Insist Market Forces Will Determine 5G Spread, Allay Perceived Fears of Interference on Aviation

Emma Okonji Ahead of 5G network rollout in Nigeria this year, subscribers are already calling on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce the cost of 5G devices in order to encourage massive deployment and adoption of 5G network across the country.

The subscribers made the call based on the sudden surge in the demand for 5G devices in China in 2021, as a result of the drop in

prices of 5G devices. China is one of the few countries of the world that has deployed 5G network.

Reacting to the call, telecoms operators (Telcos) in Nigeria, insisted that only market forces will determine wide spread rollout and adoption of 5G services in Nigeria, and not necessarily the reduction in the prices of 5G devices.

In China, government figures reportedly showed that shipments of 5G-compatible smartphones, rose to 266 million in 2021, significantly

surpassing the global average as falling prices boosted demand in the country.

Xinhua News Agency of China, reported that the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), released data showing that shipments of 5G devices increased 63.5 per cent over 2020, as users were encouraged to take advantage of the drop in prices of average handset, falling below CNY1,000 ($157.41).

The authority’s data indicated

the total number of smartphone subscribers for China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, reached 1.6 billion, of which 497 million were connected to 5G networks, up by 298 million compared with 2020 figure.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, however said reduction in the cost of 5G devices would not necessarily boost the wide spread of 5G rollout and adoption in Nigeria, since acceptance and adoption of 5G services would be

based on the needs of the subscribers.

He told THISDAY that market forces would rather determine the wide spread and adoption of 5G services across Nigeria.

According to him, “When the volume of 5G devices is high, the unit cost will definitely reduce.

In Nigeria, it will be too early for subscribers to call for reduction in the unit cost of 5G devices, when 5G services have not been commercially introduced, unlike China. Again most of the current smartphones

are 5G ready, and these devices are 3G and 4G enabled. So as market forces prevail, OEMs will begin to add cheaper chips to their devices that will be compatible with 3G, 4G and 5G networks.”

Adebayo who cited the early days of the rollout of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in 2001 in Nigeria, said cost of devices and even cost of GSM services were very expensive initially, but later Continued on page 26

Consumption Patterns Face Threat as Nigerians Battle Inflation, Unemployment Raheem Akingbolu With Nigerians still battling high unemployment rate, poverty and quick inflation, a Nigerian Banker and Coach at Akinjnr Leadership Academy, Mr. Akin Oluwadare has expressed concern that Nigerian consumers may experience an unstable consumption pattern in 2022.

Speaking to THISDAY on the consumer outlook for the new year, Oluwadare, who argued that consumer spending may nosedive

again, urged governments at various levels to quickly arrest the imbalance in the wealth distribution by coming out with economic and financial structural reforms that would yield significant results.

According to him, “The unemployment and inflation trends have been going on for a few years now and it’s getting worse with each passing day. The Nigerian labour market is characterised by high rate of unemployment, low wages and poor working conditions, which also

brought about other problems such as increase in crime rate, reduction in investment and retardation of economic development. Perhaps the ultimate is lower standard of living brought about by poor income levels, high poverty rates and inequality gaps and rising prices. If adequate measures are not put in place to proffer solutions to these problems, I fear Nigerian consumers may experience unstable consumption patterns this year.”

Speaking further, the Banker pointed out that the effect of the

COVID-19 and lockdown is yet to subside, arguing that consumers increased their purchases of durable goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As admitted by many experts, the pandemic may have lifted the demand for durable goods directly, by shifting consumer preferences away from services toward a variety of durable goods. It may also have stimulated spending on durable goods indirectly, by prompting a strong fiscal policy response that raised disposable income. With other factors threatening

consumers, most people may go after cheap commodities this year for survival rather than considering other factors,” Oluwadare stated.

Another Economic analyst, Oluwatoyin Ogunjuyigbe in a piece titled, “Consumer trends to look out for in 2022,” also predicted that the need for cheaper alternatives will threaten brand loyalty in 2022.

He argued that consumer spending in Nigeria has been on a downward trend since 2015 as a result of several factors, including inflation and reduced

income.

He said, “It also signals a decline in consumer interest — Nigerians are reducing the amount of money they spend in Nigeria. According to a report by the World Bank, 50 per cent of Nigerian youths want to emigrate permanently. The report also states that Nigerians were the largest group of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa that entered Europe in 2016 and 2017 — the same period consumer Continued on page 26

ATA AASS AT AT WWEEDDNNEESSDDAY, AY, JAAUNGUUASRTY 1112, , 22002212 MMAARRKKEETT DDATA ONNDDSS FFGGNN BBO DESCRIPTION 11.668 FGNSB 12.75 27-APR15-AUG-2021 2023 10.301 FGNSB 14.20 14-MAR16-AUG-2021 2024 11.150 FGNSB 13.53 23-MAR11-SEP-2021 2025 12.364 FGNSB 12.50 22-JAN12-SEP-2021 2026 12.175 FGNSB 16.2884 1710-OCT-2021 MAR-2027

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9.02 9.35

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0.00 0.00

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0.00 -0.11

10.20 16.58

10.25 17.64 0.00 -0.19

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS UNVEILING THE KING’S HORSEMAN…

L-R: Chief Information Officer, MTN Liberia,Mrs. Titi Fakuade; Lead Character, Death and the King’s Horseman, Olarotimi Fakunle; Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Director, Death and the King’s Horseman, Bolanle Austen-Peters, and Cast, Death and the King’s Horseman, Lanre Adediwura, during MTN Stakeholders meeting and closing performance of the stage play Death and the King’s Horseman, sponsored by MTN Foundation, in Lagos… recently

FG Applauds NCC’s Commitment to Digital Skills Development among Youths Emma Okonji The federal government has applauded the commitment and dedication of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), towards enhancing digital skills development among youths.

NCC has been involved with the implementation of various Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills acquisition programmes that benefited several Nigerians.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, gave the commendation during the inauguration of a Digital Nigeria Centre (DNC), a project executed by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, at the Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State recently.

Representing President Muhamadu Buhari at the event, Aregbesola commended the NCC for timely and thorough implementation of the project, saying he was confident that the project will

promote the connection of public secondary schools to broadband internet in Ilesa community and ultimately equip beneficiaries with 21st century skills.

“I would like to thank the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, for assenting to our request to have the first of this remodeled project in Osun State sited in Ilesa. I will also like to thank the

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta and the entire management and staff of NCC and the USPF, as well as their technical partners for a timely and successful completion of this laudable project,” he said.

Osun State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Babatunde Olawale, who represented the state governor, Gbenga Oyetola expressed the

gratitude of the state government to the federal government, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission, for the initiative and particularly for inaugurating the pioneer remodeled DNC project in Osun State.

Oyetola also informed the gathering that Osun State government was willing and ready to collaborate with NCC to replicate the project

in other parts of the state.

Speaking in the same vein, Pantami, who was represented at the event by the Chairman, Board of Commissioners of NCC, Prof.

Adeolu Akande, also commended the NCC and USPF on the delivery of the DNC project on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Pantami stated that the federal government was focused on promoting digital economy across the

Konga’s Contribution to E-Commerce Growth Immense, Says Awosika Emma Okonji Former Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Plc., Mrs. Ibukun Awosika has extolled Konga for its contributions towards the growth of e-commerce in Nigeria, having surmounted huge challenges in recent times.

Awosika who made the assertion during Konga Group’s retreat held in Lagos said Konga positively disrupted the face of e-commerce in Nigeria since 2018.

Awosika, who was one of the special guests at the half-year business review retreat organised

by Konga, heaped praises on the e-commerce giant for bouncing back from a potential exit in 2018 after acquisition by the Zinox Group and restoring hopes among millions of Nigerians in the viability of the e-commerce industry.

According to Awosika, “This has proven that we have globally experienced entrepreneurs with capacity to alter our economic

destinies. In your journey in life, there are many who would say you cannot do it. But do not pay heed to them. Konga has proved this axiom by showing that nothing is impossible when you set your mind to it. Today, many of us are witnesses to the impressive strides recorded by the company in the e-commerce industry, coming from a near-exit in 2018 to eventually turning profitable.”

While assessing the resilience, huge strength and adaptability

that has seen Konga thrive in a difficult terrain, as well as the huge ambition driving the brand, Awosika drew fitting analogies with quality fabric which often recover to its starting point after being stretched – a process used by garment and furniture makers in working out the stretch factor of individual fabric.

Addressing Management and staff at the session, she said: “In my opinion, Konga is a stretch factor and a great ambassador for

Firm Closes $28m Financing Round Emma Okonji Poa Internet and Africa50 has announced the completion of Africa50’s equity investment into Poa, a funding that is part of the $28 million financing round led

by Africa50.

The fund will be used to support

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Aviation Editor Chinedu Eze Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Senior Correspondent Raheem Akingbolu (Advertising) Correspondents James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Chineme Okafo (Energy) Emmanuel Addeh (Energy) Reporters Nosa Alekhuogie (ICT) Peter Uzoho (Energy) Ugo Aliogo (Development)

country and that this had informed the renaming of the Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

The Principal of Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ramota Ilesanmi, thanked the President Buhari-led federal government for the project, saying that it will go a long way in meeting the ICT needs of students and residents of the city.

the company’s future growth plans across Kenya, and to further launch the business into other African markets.

Also participating in the first closing is Novastar Ventures, which is making its third investment into the company and a number of other existing shareholders. Since starting operations in 2016, Poa has continuously improved its operations and market position and currently has over 12,000 home internet customers, as well as tens of thousands of street Wi-Fi customers.

This additional funding demonstrates investors’ confidence in Poa’s ongoing strategy and underscores the need for African Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that focus on bridging the digital divide across the African continent.

Poa Internet’s CEO, Andy Halsall, said: “Poa is all about connecting the unconnected of Africa to create opportunities for growth, learning and economic stimulus through digitisation.

We have a young, energetic and committed team, that are working tirelessly to make our vision

a reality. Now with Africa50’s investment, we can ramp up our roll-out plans and provide value to even more communities across Kenya.”

Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure Investments at Africa50, Raza Hasnani, said: “We are delighted to partner with Poa Internet on its mission to provide unlimited broadband internet to underserved communities.”

According to Hasnani, “Poa has been instrumental in bridging the needs of last-mile connectivity, and their ultra-low-cost solutions

can be used to address the significant connectivity gaps in Kenya and across the African continent as a whole. This is particularly important at a time when societies and economic activities are increasingly becoming digitized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increasing access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity is strongly aligned with the key pillars of Africa50’s strategy, and we are excited to be part of this high impact journey and to support Poa’s growth in Africa.”

Nigerian e-commerce. I urge you all to remember that as employees, you are the face of the brand and must carry this with mandate with responsibility everywhere you go.”

The Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr. Funso Akere, who was also in attendance, equally identified Konga as a potential leader of African e-commerce, in view of its high ethical standing, current growth trajectory and perception among interested investors. ‘‘There is a huge opportunity for Konga to assume leadership of the African e-commerce space and sustain it comfortably from what I have experienced. You have a brand that is highly respected, known for its zero-tolerance for unethical practices and one that is growing at a fast pace. There are four things investors look at. First is, the opportunity. The second is the ambition – how big it is. Third is the skills – what are the human resources or assets available and the fourth is the execution or what you would call the process. Under process, you talk about governance and control.”

Konga has done very well in these areas and it is no surprise that some of the biggest investors in the world are interested in the business,’’ Akers said.

TELCOS INSIST MARKET FORCES WILL DETERMINE 5G SPREAD, ALLAY PERCEIVED FEARS OF INTERFERENCE ON AVIATION drooped based on market forces and not necessarily because of the reduction in the unit cost of mobile phone devices.

Adebayo also allayed the perceived fears that 5G network would interfere with aviation operations in the country.

Reacting to the recent restriction notice issued by the US Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA), restricting the use of radio altimeters in some locations, for the planned deployment of 5G network in C-Band spectrum, Adebayo said even in Europe where 5G has been rolled out, telecoms operators were allowed to deploy 5G services around airports.

“In Nigeria, there has not been any

industry position on the perceived interference of 5G network on aviation operations. Studies are on-going and I do not think it is something that we should worry about in Nigeria, the reason being that mobile devices are built with certain intelligence to protect any form of interference on aviation operations. The kind of firewalls

on aviation facilities that protect aviation signals are so high, just the way it is with any mission-critical sectors of the Nigerian economy,” Adebayo said.

In the US, restrictions were part of a series of FAA directives, which could also see some flights blocked completely, as the regulator and US aviation industry are at loggerheads

regarding potential interference from 5G services in the C-Band.

Radio altimeters use spectrum in the 4.2GHz to 4.4GHz band, and telecoms operators in the US are on the brink of initial launches in the 3.7GHz to 3.98GHz range, after being delayed twice, due to concerns over interference with the altimeters.

CONSUMPTION PATTERNS FACE THREAT AS NIGERIANS BATTLE INFLATION, UNEMPLOYMENT spending was declining. In 2020, the pandemic restricted travelling.

As a result, business was slow for airlines and travel agencies. But with travel restrictions lifted, the market is open for brands that innovate ways to make travelling easier.”

Ogunjuyigbe also observed that

demand for multipurpose products may increase in 2022 because of inflation.

“The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector is known for quick adaptation to consumer behaviour. In Africa, these companies have to keep adjusting their products

that suit countries with a shrinking middle class. Sales of products in small sachets have increased in high-inflation countries such as Nigeria. But consumers are looking for more short-term ways to cope with the loss of purchasing power.

“The growth of the liquid soap

market in Nigeria proves that consumers now want products with multiple functions. Hypo grew its market share by marketing its bleach, an already cheaper alternative, as a toilet cleaner.

Volatile exchange rates and inflation are fuels for this preference. In

2020, Nigeria recorded one of the highest inflation rates in the world. This year, brands that innovate products to serve multiple needs will have a market edge.

Telecom brands are adopting this by providing financial services to their customers,”he added.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

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BUSINESSWORLD

DEVELOPMENT

How Shelter Afrique is Changing Africa’s Housing Narrative

The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shelter Afrique, Mr Andrew Chimphondah has propelled the company back on the path of profitability, writes Gilbert Ekugbe

A

s Pan-African development financier Shelter Afrique hits 40 years of existence, it continues to demonstrate resilience and endurance by steadily spreading its footprint across the African continent against all odds.

Recently, the company was named Africa’s Best Real Estate Finance Company, 2021 by London-based Capital Finance International.

The award was in recognition of the company’s dedication to funding affordable housing developments throughout Africa.

The journey has not always been smooth sailing.

It was only three years ago, under the leadership of the current Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Andrew Chimphondah, that Shelter Afrique was propelled back on the path of profitability. Before his tenure, it had recorded continuous losses for more than four years.

Andrew Chimphondah joined Shelter Afrique in 2018 at a pivotal time for the organisation, which was going through some turmoil at the time. The company’s executives were battling to keep the financial institution afloat. “I was fully aware of the situation when I joined,” he said. “At the time, you could draw parallels between the company’s challenges and the industry’s struggles. However, Shelter Afrique has a 40-year history of redefining itself to adapt to any climate in which it finds itself.

With the unambiguous backing of the board and the excellent management team, we were able to return the institution to profitability and set it back on the path of doing what it does best, which is furthering and facilitating affordable housing across Africa.”

Before he was appointed CEO of Shelter Afrique, Chimphondah was the CEO of Housing Investment Partners, a fund management organisation in South Africa that specialises in fundraising for affordable housing. With him at the helm, the company raised at least R1 billion every year in funding while also boasting R1 billion in assets under management, expanding at a rate of R1 billion each year.

NIGERIA IN HIS SIGHTS

The United Nations has reported that Nigeria could face a housing deficit of 22 million homes by 2030 if

Chimphondah its government does not take strategic measures.

Chimphondah believes Shelter Afrique is in a prime position to tackle the crisis in Nigeria head-on, declaring that every African deserves an affordable home.

“Nigeria has Africa’s greatest population by far, and Nigeria’s population is expected to reach over 400 million people by the year 2050, according to the United Nations. This is the situation of things. Right now, we believe the housing deficit in Nigeria is 17 million homes. This is a massive number, and it’s part of the reason why we have chosen to pay special attention to Nigeria.”

Nigeria’s homeownership rate remains at 25 per cent, the lowest among other African nations such as Kenya, which has a rate of 75 per cent, and South Africa, which has a rate of 56%. This housing deficit is particularly visible in major Nigerian cities such as Kano, Lagos, and Ibadan,

where housing demand is spiralling at 20 per cent per year.

Chimphondah has expressed his belief in both the capital market and public-private partnerships as avenues in the quest to solve Nigeria’s housing challenge. The impact of government policy is also not lost on the man at the helm of Shelter Afrique.

He said, “We have found that the capital markets are an underutilised source of money.

This is why as part of our process, we also use our contacts and networks to crowd-fund affordable housing projects. Some of the multilateral entities we collaborate with include the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the World Bank.

“We actively explore public-private partnerships because working with government bodies, we can streamline the entire process of erecting housing structures. Governments can subsidise infrastructure and provide financial incentives such as tax cuts. They can also enact policies that make the environment more conducive for developers to work freely.”

The affordable housing trailblazer has collaborated with an impressive number of organisations and countries across the continent and beyond. In its 40-year existence, Shelter Afrique has amassed an impressive footprint across various African markets including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Mauritius, Madagascar, Somalia, and Burundi.

In July 2021, Shelter Afrique inked its most extensive partnership with an organised body.

The Pan-African housing financier and REDAN (Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 29 July 2021. The cooperation with REDAN will result in the construction of 12,000 affordable housing units across the six geographical zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

While commenting on this collaboration, Chimphondah stated, “We’re excited about our partnership with REDAN, especially because it allows us to have an impact on a group we

believe are best positioned to drive these projects, the developers. With this endeavour, we are helping developers across Nigeria build capacity.

“It also follows our annual general meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where we became the first organisation to bring together 44 housing ministers and 44 finance ministers to discuss how to address Africa’s 56 million housing shortfall. We came up with the historic Yaoundé Declaration, in which African governments, housing and finance ministers, and policymakers all vowed to improve sustainable housing delivery in Africa.”

The need for residential real estate in major Nigerian cities is predicted to rise due to shifting work formats brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic, as remote work becomes a key driver of space demand. The rise in warehousing demand and an e-commerce and online trade expansion are propelling rapid growth in the industrial sub-sector.

SHELTER AFRIQUE’S GROWTH IN NUMBERS

The company’s total comprehensive income grew to USD 1.85 million in 2020, up from a total comprehensive loss of US$1.26 million in 2019, marking a 247 % year-on-year rise – despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s arrival in the first quarter of 2020.

Despite the challenging economic environment in 2020, the company was successful in concluding its long-awaited Debt Restructuring Agreement (DRA) with six Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and two commercial banks, namely the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, Agence Française de Développement, The KfW, West African Development Bank (BOAD), Islamic Development Bank, NCBA Bank Kenya, and Ghana International BV. Shelter Afrique seeks to resolve Africa’s housing difficulties by developing public-private partnerships to turn slums into acceptable dwellings, sponsoring programs to rebuild homes devastated by conflict, and advocating for truly sustainable housing initiatives.

It has set aside upwards of $1billion in its 2019-2023 strategic plan to support new housing developments, intending to raise $20million in annual equity capital from new and existing members.

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T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

BANKING

The Need for Open Banking Ugo Aliogo in this report writes on how open banking will drive innovations in the financial space for fintechs and banks

O

pen banking is a banking practice that provides third-party financial service providers open access to consumer banking, transaction, and other financial data from banks and non-bank financial institutions through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs). Open banking will allow the networking of accounts and data across institutions for use by consumers, financial institutions, and third-party service providers. Open banking is becoming a major source of innovation that is poised to reshape the banking industry. Open banking, banks allow access and control of customers personal and financial data to third-party service providers, which are typically tech startups and online financial service vendors. Customers are normally required to grant some kind of consent to let the bank allow such access, such as checking a box on a terms-of-service screen in an online app. Third-party providers APIs can then use the customer’s shared data (and data about the customer’s financial counterparties). Uses might include comparing the customer’s accounts and transaction history to a range of financial service options, aggregating data across participating financial institutions and customers to create marketing profiles, or making new transactions and account changes on the customer’s behalf.

It has been argued that open banking would be a driving force of innovation in the banking industry, therefore by relying on networks instead of centralization, open banking can help financial services customers to securely share their financial data with other financial institutions. For example, open banking APIs can facilitate the sometimes-onerous process of switching from using one bank’s checking account service to another banks.

The API can also look at consumers’ transaction data to identify the best financial products and services for them, such as a new savings account that would earn a higher interest rate than the current savings account or a different credit card with a lower interest rate.

Through the use of networked accounts, open banking could help lenders get a more accurate picture of a consumer’s financial situation and risk level in order to offer more profitable loan terms. It could also help consumers get a more accurate picture of their own finances before taking on debt. An open banking app for customers who want to buy a home could automatically calculate what customers can afford based on all the information in their accounts, perhaps providing a more reliable picture than mortgage lending guidelines currently provide. Another app might help visually impaired customers better understand their finances through voice commands. Open banking can also help small businesses save time through online accounting and help fraud detection companies better monitor customer accounts and identify problems sooner.

The United Kingdom has taken the lead in open banking initiatives, in producing an open banking framework that could enable the open banking standard in the UK. This has also prompted the CMA to draft the recommendations in its final report released in 2016.

According to the report, large banks are to adopt and maintain a common standard for open APIs, to address the lack of innovative and competitive products in the financial market.

In Europe, the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),

which have been designed to regulate financial innovation, are driving Europe towards an open banking standard.

Other markets such as the US, Latin America and Asia have been experimenting with open banking in pockets and have expressed strong interest in pursuing technological advancements in the financial services industry.

CBN AND OPEN BANKING

In furtherance of its mandate for the stability of the financial system and pursuant to its role in deepening the financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) developed the regulatory framework on open banking in Nigeria. Having observed the growing integration of banks and other financial institutions with innovators in the financial services space and the increasing adoption of Application Programming Interface (API) based integrations in the industry, it has become expedient for the Bank to provide appropriate framework to regulate the practice.

According to the CBN, the opportunities presented by open banking for enhancing financial inclusion, improving competition in the financial services space and promoting efficient services are compelling cases for the implementation of open banking in Nigeria. The Bank is committed to adopting beneficial international standard practice in the Nigerian Banking Industry with due cognisance given to risk management and applicability in the Nigerian environment.

The Apex bank issues the regulatory framework for open banking in Nigeria to foster the sharing and leveraging of customer-permissioned data by banks with third party firms to build solutions and services that provide efficiency, greater financial transparency and options for account holders and to enhance access to financial services in Nigeria.

Speaking on open banking regulatory framework, the Director, Payment System Management, Central Bank of Nigeria, Musa Jimoh, said the framework establishes the principles for data sharing across the banking and payment ecosystem, noting that it would also drive innovation, and broaden the range of financial products and services and deepen financial inclusion.

He also stated that the framework provides among other things data and Application Programme Interface (API), access requirements, principles for API, data, technical designs, and information security specifications.

He said the directive was in line with the apex bank’s five-year vision and open banking regime policy that would require more collaborative data sharing within the industry to bring more people into the financial system.

He described Fintechs as technology-enabled innovation in financial services that could result in new business models, applications, processes or products with material effect on the provision of financial services.

Jimoh said: “Eventually, when we embark on a full open banking regime, we will take care of the main concerns of customers. One of the main aspects of the open banking regime is the registry.

“The current framework has already indicated that the bank will be engaging the industry stakeholders to come up with defined guidelines on how a number of the positions of the framework will be translated into operations. The open banking registry which will ensure transparency and ensure that customers can look up and know who they are dealing with.”

The issue of open banking was once again brought to the front burner of discourse at the First Bank of Nigeria Limited, virtual meeting on the bank’s FinTech Summit 5.0 event with the theme: Open Banking and it’s derivatives Opportunities in the Financial Ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has reiterated the commitment of the bank to continue supporting start-ups and innovators in the Fintech space by providing relevant data and infrastructure to enable them scale appropriately.

He said that the summit was organised to create a global platform for conversations around the future of innovation in the financial services sector and specifically in the financial technologies space.

Adeduntan said that the objective was to contribute to the rapid evolution in the banking and financial services delivery angle of the economy.

According to him, “The summit gives us a very good platform to hear from leading experts in the space; because open data, cloud technology, artificial intelligence and the way they operate together to create the right environment for innovation or evolution is becoming important.

“For us, Open Banking demonstrates the practical fusion of these variables presenting potentials that can redefine product development, customer experience and overall value creation within the financial services system.

“With significant multiplier effect, not just for players but also for consumers of financial services products. The regulatory framework for open banking in Nigeria, as issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the rules and regulations which financial services can take place across the system.”

The former First Bank Boss hinted that NITDA and the data protection regulations are indications of regulation around open banking.

He added: “We believe there is enough space for continuous innovation and for us as an economy to rapidly embrace this in the view to materially upgrading the quality of financial services in Nigeria.

As an institution that is over 127 years old, our bank has series of industry transformation and would continue to play a leading role in forging the conversations on refining regulatory frameworks and shaping the industry not just for open banking but for all contemporary issues to back our industry.

“We will also continue to demonstrate our support for start-ups and innovators in the Fintech space by providing them with relevant data, support and infrastructure to enable them scale appropriately, through our SMEConnect platform.”

Lead, Tekedia Institute, Prof. Ndubisi Ekekwe, said the key to innovations in the financial industry is for banks to build better data system to help us

understand the numbers, adding that across market ordinances and segments companies fix frictions which exists between customers.

He also noted that the knowledge systems that can be acquired through open banking ordinance would only affect the financial services, it would have capability to improve the mortgage system and real estate business, “in order to drive this effort, we need to have people who would be ready to build the APIs of the future.”

Ekekwe revealed that the agriculture sector needs an element of open banking, adding that there is a need to know the customers because it is only the customers are known that they can be offered credit services.

According to him, “Our API system remains extremely primitive because we don’t understand the people we serve. The banking system has innovated for decades.

The banking system pioneered the Banking Verification Number (BVN) system, which enables us to know the real details of individuals, and government depends on the BVN to run the system. Without the investments of the bank into the education, healthcare and other sector, we will not have the Financial Technology (FINTECH) sector.

“So, it is very critical for us to find out how to use new technology ordinances. Through open banking, we can unify the major sectors in our economy, and bring them into the constructs of the banking system, so that the innovators of the sectors can have access to that data. Open banking makes it possible to share customer data as a bank with trusted third party through APIs. APIs are technology systems that you can share someone’s data without any form of violation of privacy or risk. So, for retail customers, APIs gives you the opportunity that your data can be aggregated, and with analytics systems, you can have a better insight of what is happening within your banking experience.

“There is never going to be a catalyst evolution in the economy without a credit system. A credit system is urgent needed for us to have the opportunity to expand our economy. I believe open banking through data aggregation and analytic system can also bring a national credit architecture, which will make it possible to drive growth. We need the Nigeria banking ordinance to have a credit architecture, which will be tied to people’s BVN so that you don’t need to make efforts, so it becomes natural way of doing things. If we are able to do that within five years, we will see people have credit systems that enable them to rise in the economic system. Moreover, the Small Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) would benefit from the credit system. There would be available of integrated tax and accounting systems, because you can have more visibility about what is happening your business, and you can have a better understanding of your cash flow and deposit.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer, Dochase, a fintech company, Chibuike Goodnews, said open banking enables technology companies to leverage API of banks to offer a number of banking services, adding that it has made it possible for fintech to provide last mile financial services, “to unbanked and underbanked consumers who are small for traditional banks.”

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

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

29

BUSINESSWORLD

BRANDS

Ahead 50% Revenue Surge, Marcom Practitioners Advocate Adequate Regulation, Accountability As players in the Marketing Communications industry prepare for a boom in 2022, they have advised political office holders and politicians to use the year to tell their stories through registered local professionals ahead of the 2023 elections, Raheem Akingbolu reports

T

he Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Dr. Lekan Fadolapo has predicted that 2022 would be a year of business boom for marketing communications practitioners across board because of its relevance to the 2023 general election. Contributing to THISDAY special report on the Outlook for 2022 in the Marketing industry, Fadolapo said it’s expected that the advertising and campaign by politicians and political parties will start in the 3rd quarter of the year and lead to revenue increase for the industry. He however advocated strong legislation to ensure quacks don’t take over the businesses.

“As a preceding year to 2023, I am confident that the year would usher in something good in terms of business volume for practitioners in the marketing industry but we need strong legislation to enforce compliance, ”he said.

SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) and Chief Strategist at Chain Reactions Nigeria, Jaiye Opayemi, who also spoke on the same issue admitted that 2022 is going to be a momentous year for marketing communications professionals but urged politicians to give local practitioners preference while sourcing for communications experts.

“I predict it is going to be a year of recovery for the marketing communications sector. But APCON, NIPR, AAAN, PRCAN, EXMAN and other sectoral groups will need to set up a joint advocacy for the leading political parties and their candidates to look inward and work with Nigerian professionals in framing their electioneering campaigns. There is no International expertise any candidate or party needs today that practitioners at Chain Reactions, XRM Ideas, Insight, Noah’s Ark, Integrated Indigo, CMC Connect can’t access from any part of the world for any political party or candidate. The clients will even get value for money because we get a better deal from your external talents than the politicians can negotiate.

It is our trade. We understand our nuances and the politicians don’t.

“It will be a win-win for all the parties and indeed the electorate. For the parties and their candidates, their campaign messages can be better framed and creativity brought in than what we are even witnessing now. For the electorate, they are better positioned to make informed decision,” According to Opayemi, if this is done, the Advertising, PR and Experiential sub-sectors will all bounce back in one single year. “Many of the agencies that have laid off their staff will recall them. In Chain Reactions Nigeria for instance, political communications is one of our top practices and I know there are many agencies that are also good at offering such services. It is also a year of social accountability for government at the Federal, State and Local Government levels.

Government will need to report to the citizens as to what they have done since they were elected,

INCREASE IN AD SPEND

INNOVATION-DRIVEN While predicting that the election cycle will CAMPAIGNS

boost Ad revenue, the Managing Consultant at Precise (Reputation Design), Bolaji Okusaga pointedly stated that the 2023 election will increase ad spend in 2022 by at least 40 to 50 percent. He however zeroed his conversation down to the categorization of the businesses and how each platform will likely perform in the year.

“The Marcoms sector that will gain the most is the outdoor, followed by Online, Radio and Television Adverts in that order.

Truth is communications is central to reaching the electorate and to get things to move in the desired direction Ad. spend will go up.

The question however remains the structure of the industry and if legal operators will access the businesses as opposed to fringe players who are close to political players,” Okusaga stated.

POLITICAL MARKETING

This was also the position of the President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Steve Babaeko, who maintained that the year before an election year usually comes with a flurry of political activities which inevitably leads to upswing in spend in the media and advertising space.

He said, “Let me also say that historically the political class in Nigeria has an inexplicable appetite for patronising foreign agencies to handle their political campaigns. Advertising is deeply rooted in the local social/cultural milieu; therefore it’s rather baffling to see our politicians hiring agencies with no knowledge of our cultural nuances to be the arrowhead of their communication. In the UK political campaigns are handled by local agencies, I hope this year will be the year our politicians will turn a new leaf.

“Truth is; there are lots of world class Nigerian agencies to pick and choose from.

I think APCON should push harder in the direction of creating the opportunity for Nigerian agencies to participate in the process.

This is a make or mar election for our great country, therefore all hands must be on deck to ensure that the best candidates win.”

While calling on players in the political space to always considering professionalism, the Managing Director of Noah’s Ark Limited, Lanre Adisa said, “If the experience of the last elections is anything to go by, there will be spending but only a fraction of that will benefit agencies. It was a free-for-all affair.

Professionalism was pushed to the bank seat.

As a result of this, the campaigns were rather transactional and bland. If we see a repeat of this scenario, there will be a lot of money in circulation but not necessarily to the benefit of our industry as it used to be in the past.”

Though he also agreed that 2022 will be characterised by political activities, the Executive Chairman of TPT International, Tokunbo Modupe was of the view that marketing communication industry in 2022 will be dominated by innovation-driven agencies.

“Understanding the business environment, socio-cultural alterations and the political mood will determine how much of business will come to an agency. For example, 2022 will be characterised by political activities, personality projection for elective positions and political party conversation management in a distressed economy. It’s a year of big spend but Nigerian agencies must be prepared to lead the way rather than allow foreign agencies with little or no knowledge of the political environment to appropriate the big briefs.

“I expect PR companies with the right thought process to play a major role in the business and political contentions that are imminent in 2022. Equally, it is important to know that while COVID has come to stay with possible more variants, businesses are adjusting to the reality and I expect more energetic marketing activities as against the tempered approach in 2020/2021. However, briefs will come more tasking as the client now requires more than predictable marketing solutions. Innovatively weak agencies will struggle, while proactively and innovative agencies will thrive. Politics and political activities will influence the socio-economic mood, which will determine how conversations will be determined, ”Modupe stated.

Publisher of Marketing Edge, John Ajayi, who also corroborated the fact that political campaigns would boost the industry in 2022, stated further that politics in 2022 will be driven by promotions, propaganda and advertising across all relevant media channels.

“Usually, we expect political actors and gladiators whether veterans in the trade or rookies who would need to sell themselves and manifestoes to the Nigerian electorates to key in and patronize registered practitioners.

It’s always the season to await as service providers in the entire gamut of integrated marketing communications are quite aware of a turnaround fortune in businesses, “he added.

VALUES AND COLLABORATION

The high expectation in 2022 notwithstanding, the President of the Experiential Marketing Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Tunji Adeyinka said mush as he agreed that the year 2022 would be a year of business growth, it would

also be a year for deepening value, deepening collaboration and deepening intimacy.

“Value is as regards the exchange of services between players (agencies and clients especially), Collaboration is as regards the relationship between the different parties in the industry to foster mutual respect and shared prosperity.

Intimacy is as it regards the understanding of the customer and consumption, ”he stated.

Another PRCAN chief and Lead Consultant at Leap Communications, Muyiwa Akintunde said 2022 would be hyperactive in political communication with all arms of marketing communications having much of their campaigns from it but he expressed concern about the manner in which registered firms are often sidelined when it comes to political communication.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might have fixed the next general election for 2023, but in reality, 2022 is when all deals must be sealed, or the candidates for major elective positions are doomed. So 2022 will be. Ironically, only a handful of firms in the industry play significant roles in political communication, going by past experiences when the gladiators would either shop for consultants offshore or allow local practitioners a bit part role.

“This year however, there are indications that the locals will have the upper hand over foreign consultants. Factors that may necessitate this include high rates of foreign exchange and liquidity squeeze. With the plan on stream to completely remove petrol price subsidy, the economy is expected to go through bad weather. Brand campaigns may therefore witness prudent spending. The mantra may be: spend less, achieve much more,” he stated.

However, in his projection for the year which was hinged on increased economic activity, the Managing Director of Idea House, an experiential marketing firm, Mr. Kehinde Salami pointed out that traditionally Marcom industry players across all disciplines do well during election year as patronage from political gladiators hits the fray.

He added, “During a year like this, there is always a boom in the business. Besides, increased government spending means higher propensity to spend on FMCG products as disposable income improves. State governments also mostly pay up pension arrears and salary backlog in a bid to woo citizens. Experiential agencies will surely benefit one-way or the other. I’ve witnessed this across the last four political cycles,” To this end, Salami urged players in the industry to build and improve the agency’s culture, resilience, invest appropriately and develop talent, arguing that after the election year, agencies would still have businesses to run.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

Appraising the Edible Oil Market Raheem Akingbolu writes on edible oil and the need for consumers to always pause and ask questions about the quality and health benefits of their favourite brands

T

here are plenty of choices and varieties of edible oil available in the market, the most common being Palm oil, Vegetable oil, Soyabean oil, Groundnut oil, Olive oil and coconut oils. While each of them may look the same, scientifically, they are all very different from one another when it comes to their fundamental construct and health benefits.

Scientifically, all edible oils are 100 per cent Fatty acids – This is true for all types of oils! However, what makes them different are the type of fats they contain that makes them good or bad for you. The fatty acids of all edible oils belong to one of the following – Saturated Fatty acids (SFA), Mono-unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) or Poly-Unsaturated Fatty acids (PUFA), depending upon the saturation of the chemical bonds inside them.

All edible oils essentially contain a different proportion of the above 3 fatty acids and these fatty acids aren’t built alike! There are scientific literatures available for the understanding of these Fatty acids and their impact on the human body.

According to experts, saturated Fatty acids (SFA), sometimes called solid fats have been suggested to be Bad Fats – they have been associated with increased levels of bad (LDL) Cholesterol

in people. LDL Cholesterol is associated with increased risk of heart diseases and stroke.

Many experts have argued that they may increase health risks if a person consumes too much over a long period. Many health authorities, such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the British Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, the British National Health Service, amongst others advise that saturated fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and their consumption should be minimized.

On the other hand, unsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature and may be either monounsaturated Fatty acids (MUFA) or Polyunsaturated Fatty acids (PUFA). They are defined by the un-saturation in their chemical structure.

Contrary to Saturated Fats, unsaturated Fatty acids have been associated with lowered risks on hearts - many careful studies have found that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or strokes.

These studies prompted many medical organisations and public health departments, including the World Health Organization to officially issue that advice. The un-saturated fats help protect your heart by maintaining levels of “good”

Glo Presents 13th Car under Extravaganza Promo Emma Okonji A 37-year-old insurance executive, Kafayat Adewale, has emerged the 13th car winner in the ongoing Globacom’s Joy Unlimited Extravaganza promo.

The car Key was presented at the winner in Lagos, while other prizes were also presented to winners in Lagos recently.

The car winner who was accompanied by friends and relatives to the prize-presentation event held in Cele-Okota, Lagos, described the prize as “a unique way to start year 2022.”

According to he, “For the past five days, I have not been myself. It’s not that I don’t have a car but if anyone had predicted in December that I will have a brand new car in January, I wouldn’t have believed. Initially, I was skeptical when I got a call from Glo but by the time the second call came in and they all sounded very professional coupled with the fact that I visited the Gloworld near Cele Bus Stop where I did the verification and I saw the car parked there, I became convinced.

I have received the car key and I am now a Glo ambassador. I will continue to convince all Nigerians to join the Glo network. God bless Glo.” At the event, 66 other Glo subscribers went home with different prizes including 23 television sets, 20 refrigerators and 23 generators. The winners who received their prizes with gratitude to Globacom for introducing the promo, collectively agreed that the promo, “has brought joy to us at the beginning of the New Year, thus giving us hope for a better year ahead.”

Allen Onyige, a television production executive based in Berger area of Lagos who won a generator said, “I was actually trusting God for

a new generator for my production work since last year, only for me to receive a call from Glo this January that I won a brand new generator.

To God be the glory, this is a New Year gift from Glo. Now, I can go to work. More blessings to Globacom”, while a refrigerator winner, Kafilat Rasaq, a 30-year-old business woman from Oyo State who said the prize is going straight home added that “My family will enjoy the new fridge at home; I thank Glo and God for making my family happy”.

Also a television winner, Odunayo Balekan, a 42-year-old Engineer with Dangote Cement in Ibeshe, Ogun State, said, “I will enjoy both my football games and nollywood movies with my family on the new television set. I appreciate Glo and will make it my permanent network henceforth”.

Regional Manager, Sales, Globacom, Abdulrasaq Ande, expressed the appreciation of the board and management of the company to all Nigerians, particularly Glo subscribers for their support and loyalty over the years.

He said, “You remain our pillar of strength and we will continue to give more value to our subscribers as they use their Glo lines”, adding that 12 brand new Kia Rio cars have been won so far in addition to hundreds of thousands of subscribers who have won home appliances including television, refrigerators and generators as well as data plans and other Glo freebies.

Zonal coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mrs. Prisicilla Onuzulu, who also spoke at the event, congratulated Globacom for always delivering on its promises. She said: “Glo is a big brand and they have been compliant since the commencement of the promo. So far Globacom has done very well”.

HDL cholesterol while reducing levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. PUFA are mainly of 2 types – Omega 3 or Omega 6, the benefits of which are well documented. The more un-saturated fats an oil has, is better for consumption.

As evident, the type of fat in the diet is important - They have an impact on growth and development, heart and body functions, brain functions and general wellbeing. .

Also, the World Health Organization estimates that every year trans-fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease. “Trans fats increases

levels of LDL-cholesterol, a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk, and decreases levels of HDLcholesterol, which carry away cholesterol from arteries and transport it to the liver, that secretes it into the bile, ”it stated.

It is common to find vegetable oil brands made from refined Palm Olein marketed as Vegetable oil in the Nigerian market. To put it in perspective, the refined Palm Olein sold openly, is crude palm oil that has undergone physical refining or chemical refining and fractionation. The various brands of vegetable oils made from Palm Olein all say

that it is healthy but is Palm oil really healthy?

Palm Olein is said to be rich in saturated fatty acids and is often considered as being atherogenic (food High in saturated) nutritionally.

According to a report by the Nutrition Information Centre, Stellenboch, Vegetable oils contain about 10% polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), 48% monounsaturated fat (MUFA) and upto a whopping 52% Saturated fat (SFA)); Compare that with Soyabean oil – another commonly available oil in Nigerian market which has 61% polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), 24% monounsaturated fat (MUFA)

and only 15% saturated fat (SFA). This simple comparison makes it amply clear of which oil is healthier and should be adopted by Nigerian consumers for their overall and their Heart well being.

A healthy body is needed to drive all of life aspirations; healthy oil consumption habit starts with a step in the direction of Golden Terra Soya Oil. Golden Terra Soya oil has recently emerged to be the leading Soya Bean oil in Nigerian market with its increasing presence across Nigeria. It is said to be 100 per cent pure Soya oil, sourced and manufactured in Nigeria.

T H I S D AY ˾ THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS

NCC Alerts Nigerians on New Ransomware Attacking Networks Emma Okonji The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has alerted members of the public about how a cybercrime group has perfected a New Year scheme to deliver ransomware to targeted organisational networks.

The new ransomware uncovered by security experts has been categorised by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team’s (ngCERT) advisory as high-risk and critical.

NCC explained in a statement that the ngCERT advisory, in its receb5 release, said the criminal group had been mailing out USB thumb drives to many organisations in the hope that recipients will plug them into their PCs and install the ransomware on their networks. While businesses are being targeted, criminals could soon begin sending infected USB drives to individuals.

Describing how the cybercrime group runs the ransomware, the

ngCERT advisory said the USB drives contain so-called ‘BadUSB’ attacks. The BadUSB exploits the USB standards versatility and allows an attacker to reprogram a USB drive to emulate a keyboard to create keystrokes and commands on a computer. It then installs malware prior to the operating system booting, or spoofs a network card to redirect traffic.

Numerous attack tools are also installed in the process that allows for exploitation of personal computers (PCs), lateral movement across a network, and installation of additional malware. The tools were used to deploy multiple ransomware strains, including BlackBatter and REvil.

According to ngCERT, the attack has been seen in the US where the USB drives were sent in the mail through the Postal Service and Parcel Service. One type contained a message impersonating the US Department of Health and Human Services and claimed to be a COVID-19 warning. Other

Nigerian Youths Urged to Emulate Older Generation to Make Impact Oluchi Chibuzor and Deborah Orefale As the call for the younger generation to assume more responsibility in nation building, an expert has reiterated the imperative for them to leverage the older demographic to make an impact in the country.

Youths were advised to turn the huge diversity in the country into an asset within their neighbourhood, community and local environment.

Chairman, Board Member Trustees at Dola Bamgboye Foundation, Mrs. Vivienne Bamgboye, who gave the advice in Lagos recently, said the youths must not allow themselves to be disconnected from the older generations by politicians in the country.

Explaining a model that has worked for the foundation, Bamgboye said since inception they have adopted a cluster method in building networks that can be utilized by young people in national development.

She maintained that as part of their programme to empower the youth in the informal sector, the foundation has trained over 50 youths who have a mandate to form 150 cluster networks of people.

She further explained that for her the most important thing is that

the youth need to understand their demographic is not a singular cohort and so youths have different ways of looking at things.

According to her, “So, just because you are young, all of you have to vote for the same person. The most important thing to do at this point is to act to make your connection across the generations.

“So, the whole idea of saying one generation is too old and they do not serve your purpose; I personally feel that is a misconception, yes certain people are too old to run for an office, but they still have something to contribute to the collective wisdom that will help to move the country forward.

“Youths should not allow politicians to break the link across the generations, so like now there are four generations of people in the world right now.

The fact that somebody is 80 who is too old to run but has something to contribute either from experience, knowledge or finance.”

She added: “Some might be looking for young people who they can invest the money on to do the job. For me it is about collective responsibility and making decisions so that you remain connected within and outside your community. As a country we have diversity, but these should be our assets and should not separate us or disconnected from each other.”

NYSC, Bowen University Honour Akano for Youth Empowerment Nosa Alekhuogie The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State have honoured New Horizons Nigeria, the largest private sector information technology and e-business training company and its chief executive, Mr. Tim Akano.

They were honoured with awards for supporting private universities and contributing to youth empowerment.

The Bowen University award plaque, which was signed by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Joshua Ogunwole and its registrar, Mr. Babatunde Adetona, was in recognition of New Horizons support to the Committee of Vice-chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities of Nigeria (CVCRPUN).

The CEO of New Horizons, received NYSC’s award of the ‘Icon of Youth Empowerment’ for his relentless commitment and unparalleled passion for youths empowerment while the company was designated by NYSC

as, ‘A Critical Partner in Youth Empowerment’.

The Director-General, NYSC, Brigadier Shuaibu Ibrahim, while conferring the awards said, “NYSC Management wishes to place on record that New Horizons Systems Ltd under your able leadership as Managing Director/CEO, is unwavering in its commitment and support for the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme (SAED) of the NYSC. “This is evident in the cost-free ICT skill/digital training from which hundreds of corps member and many NYSC SAED officers are currently benefiting. In view of the forgoing, the NYSC Management honours you with the award of ‘Icon of Youth Empowerment’,” he said.

CEO of the training institute, Mr. Tim Akano, said the honours

by NYSC and Bowen University, were testament of the company’s efforts to build future generations that would make Nigeria a global economic powerhouse.

malicious USBs were sent in the post with a gift card claiming to be from Amazon.

However, ngCERT has offered recommendations that will enable

corporate and individual networks to mitigate the impact of this new cyber-attack and be protected from the ransomware.

These recommendations

include a call on individuals and organisations not to insert USB drives from unknown sources, even if they’re addressed to you or your organization. In addition, if the USB

drive comes from a company or a person one is not familiar with and trusts, it is recommended that one contacts the source to confirm they actually sent the USB drive.

Usoro: Nigeria Ready to Maximise Potential of Marine Resources President of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro has described the newly inaugurated expanded partnership committee on blue economy as a bold step

by Nigeria to fully harvest multiple benefits from the marine environment Usoro who is a member of the committee Inaugurated by the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, said it will help in optimizing the opportunities in the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA and strength Nigeria’s

position in many areas of local and international trade According to her ,Nigeria should not only be viewed as the largest market to be exploited by our trade partners but should as well evolve into the logistics hub for the continent.

Usoro, a maritime lawyer with experience in environmental consultancies expressed pleasure that the the Vice President reminded members of the wide spectrum of the Blue Economy.

She said Nigeria is set to join the rest of the world in sustainable

exploration of the new and emerging ocean activities such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, marine biotechnology and bioprospecting, mining and underwater tourism in addition to rethinking the way we exploit the traditional ocean industries like fisheries, oil and gas and marine transport.

All of these activities have logistics and transport components which in point of fact is what gives economic value to those products and activities and the CILT will also contribute in

that regard.

The described the approach of government involving as much as ten state governors, eight ministers and many other agencies as a masterstroke that will yield bountifully under the coordination of the VP Usoro a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) advised various state governments involved in the project to stay consistent as the present cohesion initiated by the federal government for the project is unprecedented

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T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 20, 2022

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE Low Bed Space: A Burden Still Unaddressed in Lagos Hospitals

ÜÙßÚ ÏËÞßÜÏÝ ÎÓÞÙÜ˝ Chiemelie Ezeobi ×ËÓÖ chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com, Tel: 07010510430

Ayodeji Ake writes that after many years of advocacy and campaign against low bed space in Nigerian health facilities, most especially in a mega city like Lagos state, the anomaly is a burden yet to be fully addressed though the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital said the government and major stakeholders have been working tirelessly to ameliorate it

“W

e had traversed five Lagos hospitals in seven anxious hours. Sadly, we got the same cold, lethal refrain: “THERE IS NO SPACE”. Her health had reached a frightful state already, I admit. But it wasn’t irredeemable, perhaps.”

The above words were that of Lagos-based academician, Dr. Dele Omojuyigbe, who narrated his horrible experience in five different hospitals in Lagos trying to rescue his wife from the cold hands of death.

“My son had called me about 5am to say that the doctor would like to speak with me.

My heart had skipped. I was told madam is not responding to treatment again, the doctor had said. But the doctor assured me a day before that the situation was under control.

He told me her system changed suddenly.

He further explained to me there is an issue with the urea and the pancreas has packed up,” he continued.

“In no time, I arrived at the hospital with an official driver. I met my wife on oxygen.

I was terrified. She was croaking. The entire room vibrated. Even the ante-room shook. It was terrific. I stared at her for five minutes and bowed in grief. I mourned. The nurses appealed to me to hold myself together for the sake of my children waiting at the reception.

The children weren’t aware of the development.

I tidied up my face and went to see the doctor.

“The doctor replied quietly that he would refer my wife to the Emergency Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja. He told me there is an Intensive Care Unit there that she needed. I asked him if there is any hope. He was hesitant and told me the chance is about 20/80. I looked into space, struggled with myself for a few seconds and vowed, even if there remains one percent chance, I will fight with it.

“Immediately, I sent my daughter home and asked her brother to stay with me. We called a driver accustomed to emergency driving, and we moved. From the private hospital in Igando area to LASUTH Ikeja. We were on a flight. We reached LASUTH but LASUTH failed. “THERE IS NO SPACE”, I was told.

What should I do? Try Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute Metta, the doctor said.

He withheld the referral note I brought and gave me a fresh one.

“I checked my wife in the Sienna car carrying us; she was breathing silently. I was afraid. I told the driver that we were moving again.

Where sir? FMC. We got to FMC after much traffic and stress, being a Friday. The same lamentation: ‘THERE IS NO SPACE’. I cajoled and pleaded. But truly, they had no space. I called one of the doctors aside and sought his advice. I was advised to try Military Hospital, Yaba because they usually have space.

“We moved again, agonisingly. I asked the driver to keep moving wherever I told him; we would renegotiate his fare. We got to Military Hospital, we were told they shouldn’t have referred us there, that they don’t have an Intensive Care Unit. The doctor who attended to me said to go to LUTH, Idi-Araba”.

“Again, we moved. At that point, my son couldn’t control himself anymore. His eyes had become red and swollen with tears. I was left with small hope and little faith. We got to LUTH. I was glad to notice that two female doctors would attend to her. They got to her in the car, actually, and examined her. “ They wrote a small report which wasn’t frightening. My son and I read it, looked at each other and had relief. But the doctors averred, ‘THERE IS NO SPACE’. One of the doctors told us to try the spill over in the next building. It is run by a private organisation that she will be attended to if we are lucky to find a space.

“My pocket had become lean then but I ran there still, ‘THERE IS NO SPACE’, the lady in charge told me. I ran back to the doctor and begged her to attend to my wife in the car.

She told me it is contrary to medical ethics.

The driver saw my plight and had pity. He

Chief Medical Director, Adetokunbo Fabamwo suggested that we move to a private hospital on LASU-Iba expressway if I wouldn’t mind the cost.

“He called a doctor there who, in turn, called the medical director. We snapped the referral note and sent it to the medical director on request through WhatsApp. He studied the note and summoned us immediately. So, we moved from LUTH at breakneck speed.

“Reaching Ile-Zik, Ikeja, my wife stopped breathing. She died. I checked the time; it was 5.01pm from 9.30am. That is my country; my wife’s country, NIGERIA. I asked the driver to take us straight to Igando General Hospital for verification, since we were going in that direction already. There, she was confirmed, (BID).

“She had a good life. She was caring and loving and was on top of her profession.

A Grade Level 17 officer and a school principal in Lagos, she retired statutorily in September 2020. She got punctuality awards in three different schools where she taught and was among the few principals invited for recognition at Alausa, on two occasions, for good performance (Just for mention – nothing was added). She made me proud” he narrated.

Omojuyigbe would not have lost his wife to the cold hands of death if the burden of low bed space had been addressed.

Maybe his wife would still be alive if there were enough bed space in all five health facilities they went seeking timely health intervention.

Ending the Anomaly of Low Bed Space Last year, in a conversation with the Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, Prof.

Adetokunbo O. Fabamwo, he admitted the issue of low bed space has been a serious burden that both the hospital, government and major stakeholders have been working tirelessly on.

Fabamwo emphasised that the facility with just 750 bed space is overwhelmed already with about 50,000 patients quarterly, which makes it very impossible to admit patients in most cases.

He further noted that the tertiary health in the situation is overwhelmed with health cases as a result of patients not making

effective use of the primary and secondary health facilities. He added that there are some cases that can be well attended to in primary healthcare centres but presented in tertiary healthcare centres instead of referral which increases the incidents of low bed space.

“We want to assure citizens that LASUTH management is listening and active. We are also listening and when we find out we need to amend our way, we do so.

The state government has injected a lot of money. And LASUTH has about 150 consultants in various specialties. We have consultants that perform major surgeries and we want to extend such services to our people.

“We have heard complaints about bed space, we want to address it and some of the advanced things we are currently working on. We want our stories to not be told in an advertorial style but awareness.

“We have about 750 bed spaces in the hospital and we get an inflow of about 50, 000 patients quarterly. In ensuring that we meet the demands of care as a hospital, we have streamlined our admission process by employing bed managers who constantly monitor available bedspaces and also the admission processes, reporting to appropriate quarters.

“They also monitor stabilised patients at the emergency rooms to ensure they are transferred to the wards on time, that way more spaces are created for more patients. In addition to this, the hospital has embarked on a building project with 120 beds which is another strategy to solve the issue of limited bed space.

“The automated feedback is one thing we are also proud about. We get computerised reports on a daily basis from our clients.

Gone are those days we had suggestion boxes and complaints boxes but this is automated,” he said.

However, he canvassed for Public Private Partnership (PPP) to improve the health sector and to serve Nigerians better in providing quality healthcare services.

CMD Fabamwo also said the health institution is trying all possible means to interrupt health tourism of other countries by providing some health services which

are more expensive in other countries.

“We are the only public teaching hospital performing regular open-heart surgeries and our team of surgeons provide training for other hospitals around the country. They have just returned from a training performed at Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

“LASUTH is one of the three hospitals in Nigeria that performs Cochlear Implant and has done more than any other centres so far.

Our hospital remains the only centre in Nigeria that performs microvascular surgeries in our Maxillofacial Unit and our team of surgeons are involved in training of their colleagues around the country, including LUTH. “We have one of the most sophisticated diagnostic units in the country with imaging facilities including MRI. LASUTH performs kidney transplantation. We also perform Interventional radiology and our interventional radiologist provides services for other institutions around. We have fully sub-specialised eye care including glaucoma services.

“Our Urology Unit performs endo-urology in addition to our well acclaimed radical prostatectomy procedures. We are one of the few centres performing this procedure in Nigeria and we are involved in training doctors from other centres, including Abuja and other places. Our CATH LAB is almost completed and when it is, LASUTH will become the only public hospital in Nigeria that offers services to patients who suffer heart attacks and we will also be providing invasive intervention to those who have pulmonary embolism.

“We also have a Gastroenterology Unit that performs both upper and lower GI endoscopy and when our CATH lab is completed, LASUTH will be one of the few places where ERCP can be accessed.

LASUTH also provides GI endoscopy for Pediatrics patients.

“Our critical care unit provides services for public and private hospitals. LASUTH is the only hospital in Nigeria that has a holding bay/Isolation unit; a major contribution in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

LASUTH serves as the main centre for autopsy services in Nigeria, this centre is used to train experts in autopsy and our team of forensic experts provide services to federal and state government” he said.

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 20, 2022

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NEWS

Matrix Energy Flags off Six-day Free Medical Eye Treatment in Delta Sylvester Idowu ÓØ ËÜÜÓ Nigeria’s oil and gas leading DPNQBOZ .BUSJY &OFSHZ (SPVQ Ltd, has flagged off a six-day free eye medical outreach for five of its host communities in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Over 1,000 residents are expected to benefit from the outreach from Ubeji, Ijala*LFSFO *àFLQPSP "KB &UBO BOE &HCPLPEP *UTFLJSJ DPNNVOJUJFT the Local Government Area.

The free eye treatment which is first of its kind by any oil servicing company operating in the BSFB BDDPSEJOH UP .BUSJY &OFSHZ is aimed to address identified impaired visual challenges by residents of the benefitting communities.

The launch of the exercise which took place at Ogiame *LFOXPMJ )PTQJUBM JO 6CFKJ BSFB PG 8BSSJ XJMM SVO GSPN .POEBZ +BOVBSZ UISPVHI 4BUVSEBZ 2022. The programme which is in partnership with Ogiame *LFOXPMJ )PTQJUBM B NPEFSO hospital built and furnished by .BUSJY &OFSHZ XJMM BMTP PGGFS GSFF medical glasses, refractor tests

and drugs beneficiaries.

Speaking at the flag-off of UIF PVUSFBDI PO .POEBZ UIF Chief of Operating Officer of .BUSJY &OFSHZ -UE .S -PRNBO Salam-Alada, said the gesture is part of his organizational’s social corporate responsibilities to their hosts.

Salam-Alada, represented by .BUSJY T (SPVQ )FBE )44& 'SFE Olomuro, said the company identified high rate of impairment on vision among residents of its host communities thus the reason for the free medical outreach. )F TBJE OP GFXFS UIBO persons with eye medical problems from the five host communities are expected to benefit from the programme. i5PEBZ .BUSJY &OFSHZ -UE in partnership with Ogiame *LFOXPMJ )PTQJUBM JT áBHHJOH off free eye medical outreach for members of our host communities who have challenges with their vision. It will begin today .POEBZ BOE FOET PO 4BUVSEBZ +BOVBSZ OE 8F TDIFEVMFE FBDI community for a day and on Saturday is for everybody.

“Our intention is to see how we can support people who have

vision issues because there’s high rate of people with sight DIBMMFOHFT JO UIJT BSFB .BUSJY &OFSHZ JT KVTU USZJOH UP àMM VQ UIBU gap and support the government in ensuring that our people have good sights.

“In course of the outreach, there will be free test, free consultation, free lenses and drugs. We are covering all five host communities and beyond. Today is for Ubeji, tomorrow is for Ifiekporo and so on”, Salam-Alada stated.

Salam-Alada further added that .BUSJY &OFSHZ IBT CFFO FOKPZJOH peaceful and unhindered operation with her host communities, promising to embark on projects that will directly impact the people of the area.

The Ubeji Community Trust chairman, Ambassador Godwin .POF DPNNFOEFE .BUSJY &OFSHZ GPS UIF HFTUVSF TBZJOH that such initiative would help deepened the already existing cordial relationship between the firm and their host. .POF IPXFWFS DIBSHFE PUIFS depot owners and oil companies operating in the area to emulate .BUSJY &OFSHZ GPS UIF EFWFMPQment of the area.

Gynaecologist Advises Women on Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer

Participants undergoing practical session in the Coastal/Junic Gynaecologic Uitrasound Training Programme in Warri Sylvester Idowu iØ ËÜÜÓ An Australian trained Obstetrician and GynaecoloHJTU %S 6DIF .FOBLBZB IBT BEWJTFE XPNFO XJUI ovarian cancer complication to consult trained specialist early enough. .FOBLBZB HBWF UIF BEWJDF XIJMF TQFBLJOH XJUI newsmen on the sideline of the continuation of UIF EBZ A$PBTUBM +VOJD (ZOBFDPMPHJD 6MUSBTPVOE 5BJOJOH 1SPHSBNNF IPMEJOH JO 8BSSJ %FMUB The Australian-based Nigerian gynaecologist who is one of the key facilitators of the training said the life span of an ovarian cancer patient could increased by about 70 or 80 per cent when it was diagnosed early. )F BEEFE UIBU FBSMZ EFUFDUJPO XPVME IBWF B better clinical outcome and urged women with the symptoms to quickly go for an ultrasound.

“Women should have access to properly trained specialist that can make early diagnosis. i&BSMZ EJBHOPTJT JODSFBTF UIF MJGF TQBO PG PWBSJBO cancer. The woman that identify cancer early has 70 to 80 per cent chances of survival and those with late cancer identification has 30 per cent chances of survival. i&BSMZ EFUFDUJPO XJMM IBWF CFUUFS PVUDPNF DMJOJDBMMZ and better chances of survival. If you have any symptom, go quickly for ultrasound where the specialist is properly trained.

“Women should begin to understand that these services are available and certain diseases are easier to treat when detected early without

affecting the quality of their lives “The problem is that when those diseases advanced, it becomes very difficult,” he said. .FOBLBZB TBJE UIBU UIFSF XBT OFFE GPS BO improved advocacy on why women should always go for ultrasound. )F VSHFE HPWFSONFOU BU BMM MFWFMT UP JOWFTU JO ultrasound services by way of providing equipment to address the needs of the people.

“There should be regulatory framework to guide the use of ultrasound in Nigeria. i'PS JOTUBODF JO UIF EFWFMPQFE DPVOUSJFT BOZ ultrasound made, the image will not be released until eight years after to protect the right of the woman but in Nigeria, it is not so,” he said The gynaecologist urged government to provide training opportunities where ultrasound would be introduced in a structured way to improve on the skills of the medical doctors.

Speaking on the training, the medical expert urged the participants to always ask for the clinical history of their patients.

According to him such clinical history may include: their age, menstrual circle and number of children while conducting the ultrasound adding that it would enable them to know more about the patient.

Several instructors in the medical field including %S ,JOHTMFZ "HIPMPS 1SPG #VLBS .PIBNNFE %S +BOFU "LJONPMBEVO BNPOH PUIFST UPPL UIF participants through the intensive theoritical and practically inclined training programme.

FERTILITY

With Dr. Kemi AILOJE drkemi@lifelinkfertility.com www.lifelinkfertility.com +2348033083580

Gonorrhea and Infertility (Part 1)

S

exually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Sexually Transmitted Infectious (STIs) is generally acquired through sexual contact.

The organisms (bacteria, virus or parasites) that cause sexually transmitted diseases can be passed from one person to another via vaginal, anal or oral sex. Some STIs can also be spread through non-sexual means such as blood transfusions, shared needles or from mother to infant during pregnancy or childbirth.

Over thirty different viruses, parasites, and bacteria are thought to be transferred by sexual contact, some of which are associated to sexually transmitted diseases. Some are curable, while others are incurable but can be modified or reduced with treatment.

There are different types of sexually transmitted diseases, last year we started with Chlamydia and its effects on fertility, this week, we would focus on Gonorrhea and its effects on infertility.

What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is one of the most contagious sexually transmitted infections that affect both males and females. Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhea and if not treated on time may damage the urinary tract, lead to heart disease, arthritis (pain or swelling of one or more joints), meningitis (swelling of the tissue covering the brain leading to stiff neck, headache and fever) and even infertility. The bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea was previously known as “the clap”.

Neisseria gonorrhea is mostly present in vaginal fluid and discharge from the penis.

The surface of gonorrhea bacteria have proteins that can easily attach to cells in the cervix or urethra. When these bacteria attach to cells in a region, they invade and spread to other regions of the body, making it difficult for the body to fight the bacteria and therefore, destroying the cells and tissue of the body. Gonorrhea spreads easily in moist areas of the reproductive tract, in the mouth, throat, eyes and anus. Gonorrhea is most commonly transferred during vaginal, oral or anal sex without a condom.

Gonorrhea may lead to infertility in women by spreading into the cervix and damaging the fallopian tubes. In males, it damages the epididymis, thereby leading to infertility. Babies can also be infected with gonorrhea by infected mothers during childbirth and this bacterium mostly lead to blindness and sores on the scalp of the infant.

Who is at risk? r 4FYVBMMZ BDUJWF JOEJWJEVBMT r )BWJOH NVMUJQMF TFY QBSUOFST r )BE QBSUOFST XJUI TFYVBMMZ USBOTNJUUFE infection. r 1SBDUJDJOH VOQSPUFDUFE TFY r 4IBSJOH TFY UPZT r 7BHJOBM PS BOBM TFY XJUI BO JOGFDUFE person. r *OGFDUFE NPUIFST UP UIFJS CBCJFT EVSJOH childbirth. r :PVOH UFFOBHFST XJUIJO UIF BHFT PG 15 – 25 who are sexually active. r .FO XIP IBWF TFY XJUI NFO BSF BU increased risk of getting gonorrhea.

Gonorrhea is spread easily between people through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex, as well as exchanging vibrators or other sex devices that haven’t been washed or covered with a new condom after each use. The bacteria can damage the cervix (entrance to the womb), urethra (tube that passes urine out of the body), the rectum, the throat or eyes.

The infection can also be transferred from a mother to her unborn child. It is important to get tested and treated for gonorrhea if you are pregnant and suspect you have it. In a newborn baby, gonorrhea can cause permanent blindness if not treated.

NjǐƽLJDŽƾǃǀƼLJǏǃ DŽLjƼǂǀǎ Sharing bath, toilet seats, towels, cutleries, cups, plates, swimming pools, holding hands or hugging do not spread gonorrhea because the bacteria cannot survive outside of the human body for long periods of time.

4*(/4 "/% 4:.150.4 0' (0/033)&" Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea usually appear within 2 to 14 days after exposure to the bacteria. )PXFWFS OPU FWFSZ DBSSJFS PG HPOPSSIFB XJMM IBWF a noticeable symptoms, this type of carriers are called asymptomatic carriers. An infected person with no signs or symptoms is more likely to leave the disease untreated thereby leading to long term damages.

Signs and Symptoms in men Signs and symptoms of gonorrhea in men include the following: r #VSOJOH TFOTBUJPO XIFO VSJOBUJOH r 'SFRVFOU VSJOBUJPO r 8IJUF ZFMMPX PS HSFFO EJTDIBSHF GSPN the tip of the penis. r 4XPMMFO UFTUJDMFT r *SSJUBUJPO BU UIF BOVT r $POUJOVPVT TPSF UISPBU )PXFWFS TPNF NFO XJUI HPOPSSIFB NBZ TIPX no symptoms at all.

Signs and Symptoms in women .PTU XPNFO XJUI HPOPSSIFB BSF BTZNQUPNBUJD &WFO XIFO B XPNBO IBT TZNQUPNT UIFZ BSF OPU easily noticeable and may be mistaken for minor vaginal infection. Women with gonorrhea are at high risk of developing long term complications such as infertility from the infection even when they show no symptoms of gonorrhea. Some of these noticeable symptoms of gonorrhea include: r *ODSFBTFE WBHJOBM EJTDIBSHF r #MFFEJOH BGUFS JOUFSDPVSTF r 1BJOGVM VSJOBUJPO r "CEPNJOBM PS QFMWJD QBJO r 1BJO EVSJOH TFYVBM JOUFSDPVSTF r )FBWZ CMFFEJOH Symptoms at other sites in the body Gonorrhea can also affect some parts of the body such as: r 5IF &ZFT 4FOTJUJWJUZ UP MJHIU QVT MJLF discharge from one or both eyes and pains in the eyes. r 5ISPBU 4PSF UISPBU BOE TXPMMFO OFDL r +PJOUT 4XPMMFO KPJOUT TUJGGOFTT BOE painful movement. r 3FDUVN "OBM JUDIJOH QBJOGVM CPXFM movement, pus-like discharge, soreness and bleeding. &OEFBWPVS UP NBLF BO FGGPSU UP HFU UFTUFE GPS gonorrhea and other STDs at least once a year.

The sooner gonorrhea is detected and treated; the less likely it is for the infection to cause severe complications that may lead to infertility TO BE CONTINUED

34

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 20, 2022

NEWS

Pharmacists Commend RxAll for Introducing RxScanner Rebecca Ejifoma

Sunday Ehigiator being presented the Cleft Awareness Media Award (CAMA), by Smile Train’s Program Manager for West Africa, Victoria Awazie, recently at Sandralia Hotel, in the Jabi area of Abuja

THISDAY Reporter Wins CAMA Award Ayodeji Ake A reporter with THISDAY Newspaper, Sunday Ehigiator has won the maiden edition of Cleft Awareness Media award (CAMA) Nigeria 2021, organised by the world’s largest cleft charity organisation, Smile Train.

At the award presentation, held recently at Sandralia Hotel, in the Jabi area of Abuja, Smile Train’s Program Manager for West Africa, Victoria Awazie, said Ehigiator’s win clearly reflects his passion, commitment, and the time spent in advocating the cause of people living with cleft lip and/or palate in Nigeria.

According to her, “This is in line with Smile Train’s mission;

‘to support families worldwide by creating, connecting, and sharing resources about cleft care’.

“You are truly deserving of this award, and I sincerely hope this recognition will sustain your commitment to ensuring that everyone born and living a cleft lip and/or palate has access to the care they deserve and live a full and normal productive life, congratulations once again.”

The award which also came with a cash prize and other promotional items was presented to Ehigiator, alongside two other journalists from other media houses. In his acceptance speech, Ehigiator appreciated Smile Train for deeming it fit to recognize his efforts towards creating awareness

of cleft and palate issues among Nigerian children.

“I want to, first of all, say thank you to Smile Train for all they are doing for children born with a cleft in Nigeria. This is a condition that we barely see any organisation show interest in due to the cost of caring for a child with cleft/palate.

“And you didn’t only do it at free surgeries, but you equally go further to provide all-round care for these children. This is rare, and I must continue to say thank you for this.

“For the award, I became passionate about reporting on cleft and palate issues after my first encounter with Smile Train, where they trained journalists

about reporting cleft lip/palate.

Of a truth, I knew little or nothing about cleft before that training.

“However, what aroused my passion towards reporting about cleft lip/palate was the immediate facial transformation experienced by these children after their surgery, and their lovely smile of gratitude. These are priceless. And it means a lot to the children’s future, especially in boosting their confidence.

“I am grateful for this recognition, and humbly accept this award.

I look up to a bigger 2022 filled with awareness reportage on cleft conditions. As this is the only way I think I can, I can support these children in getting the necessary help they so need.”

Nigerian Breweries Donates N48m Worth Equipment to UBTH Neo-Natal Unit Rebecca Ejifoma The Nigerian Breweries Plc through the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation has donated various equipment worth N48 million to the neo-natal unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

The equipment include one Ventilator Humidifier, five Neonatal Tubing Ventilators, one Bubble CPAP with stand, five Nasal Masks, five Nasal Prongs, five Infant head bonnets, five Flexi-trunk, five CPAP circuit, one Incubator.

Others are: one Infusion Pump, one Resuscitaire/ warmer, one Phototherapy, one Neopuff, one Syringe Drive,

one Suction Machine, and one Portable Oxygen Concentrator.

At the handing over, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs. Sade Morgan, said that the investment in health care forms part of the company’s contribution towards reducing infant mortality, thus complementing the efforts of the Federal Government.

Morgan, represented by the Corporate Affairs Manager West, Danjuma John-Ekele, further noted that the provision of incubators and other facilities was to complement the efforts of FG in addressing one out of the myriad of challenges faced by the health sector.

In his remarks, the Provost UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, commended HAF and NB Plc for the donations.

He emphasised that the partnership would undoubtedly contribute to the nationwide target of reducing infant mortality rate in the South-South region by 90 per cent.

“The idea of having a Foundation that looks into healthcare is something that needs to be emulated by other organisations.

“It is not just about profitmaking but about supporting communities where they operate. We commend HAF because we know that many lives will be saved with this

equipment”, says Obaseki.

Some of the projects funded by the HEINEKEN Africa Foundation in Nigeria include the Jaundice in Babies Awareness Campaign, the donation of a female orthopedic ward in Kaduna in 2010, the gift of a CT scan (2013), and an ultrasound scanning machine (2015) at the St. Gerald’s Hospital.

Recently, the Foundation invested 622, 000 euros in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria to install over 1,000 handwashing stations in healthcare facilities and other public places as its contribution to the nationwide effort against COVID-19.

Nasarawa First Lady Assures US of Support to Fight Malaria Igbawase Ukumba ÓØ ËʨË The First Lady of Nasarawa State, Hajiya Silifat Sule, has assured the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) of her unflinching support to their fight against malaria in the state.

Silifat gave the assurance when she hosted a delegation

from the USAID and US PMI in her office in the Government House, Lafia recently, emphasising the need for people of the state to always sleep under Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs).

The first lady, therefore, commended the USAID and the US PMI for their doggedness in the fight against the malaria scourge in Nasarawa State.

This was even as she promised the delegation of

her readiness to use her office to get support from the Nasarawa State government towards the elimination of malaria in the state.

She concluded by calling on people of the state, particularly nursing mothers and pregnant women, to make adequate use of the treated mosquito nets for their healthy living.

Earlier, leader of the delega-

tion and the state Commissioner for Health, Ahmed Baba Yahaya, informed the first lady that USAID and US PMI would soon commence distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets across the state.

Yahaya concluded by disclosing that the USAID and US PMI were partnering the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health in the fight against Malaria in the state.

Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have commended RxAll, a health tech company, for introducing RxScanner into the country’s market.

The organisation made this known during the unveiling of the product at the PSN 2021 conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

Pharmacist Olusola Porter, University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, said the technology would positively impact the counterfeit drug market in Africa, especially Nigeria.

For Pharmacist Uchechukwu Eloere of EBY-Care Pharmacy in Abia state, he wanted an innovation that could give information about drugs that is scanned even if the specific drug is not in the database. “And RxScanner did just that in the demo”.

Pharmacist Charles Ronari of PSN Bayelsa, who expressed excitement about the innovation requested a special presentation of the Demo in Bayelsa state.

A representative of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) requested to know how many drugs are in the database was met with a response from Oluseyi Olarerin that RxScanner is regularly updating to ensure that daily the number of drugs are in line with what is available in the market.

Oluseyi added that RxAll is in partnership with various regulators across the globe to ensure that the updates of drugs are done appropriately, thus numbers will continue to grow as manufacturers enlist drugs as approved by various regulators across the globe.

Healthlane Launches Preventive Healthcare App for Longer, Healthier Lives Rebecca Ejifoma Healthlane, a global preventive healthcare provider, has launched the Healthlane App, a preventive healthcare technology that fosters comprehensive world-class medical care for longer and healthier lives.

The App, which can be accessed on smartphones and Androids, allows users to book doctors appointments, view medical tests results and records, see health score, access care plan, and nutrition tips.

Speaking at the recent launch of its Lagos facility, the CEO of Healthlane, Mr. Alain Nteff, said its mission is to simplify how individuals understand, track and improve their health.

This, he emphasised, is to enable longer and healthier lives whilst reducing the dependence on an overburdened primary health care system.

For Nteff, healthcare has been mistaken to mean sick care.

While he clarified that the former is consulting a physician after feeling sick and experiencing symptoms, the latter (healthcare) is about nutrition, exercise, supplements, lifestyle and check-ups.

“Healthlane’s focus is preventing people from falling sick and enabling people to live longer and healthier lives,” he hinted.

Seeing how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitisation of different sectors, the CEO admitted, “Today, people are now comfortable accessing their medical records on their smartphones.

“They are more concerned about protecting themselves so they don’t fall prey to certain diseases. We all know that if you are diabetic or hypertensive, you are more affected if you contract COVID-19 compared to someone who is relatively healthy.”

He, however, highlighted that there is a growing trend of services being deployed through technology and that is where Healthlane has positioned itself.

Pharmaceuticals Call on Soludo to Look into Drug Supply in Health Centres Members of the St. Toby Pharmaceutical Ltd and the CCS Voluntary Support Group have congratulated Prof. Charles Soludo for emerging winner of the Anambra Gubernatorial elections, while calling on his attention on drug supply and distribution in health centres in the state.

The groups noted this in a media statement issued recently by its representative, Pharm. Onyebuchi Tochukwu.

The statement read in part, “We deliberately waited for this time to be sure the rush is over to send this our heartfelt congratulations to you.”

The groups described the outcome of the elections as peaceful, free, fair, and credible. “We rejoice with you because your welldeserved victory is the choice of Anambrarians who have now put a round peg in a round hole in the governance of the state.”

As major stakeholders in the affairs of Igboland, the firms noted that they have high expectations from Soludo.

“We expect to see a quantum leap in the economic transformation of the state as a template for the Southeast.

“We expect to see the development of human capital especially in the productive sector of the economy.”

And as members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), they also requested that he looked into the health sector in the state, especially the revolving drug supply and distribution to the primary healthcares of the State.

St. Toby Pharmaceutical Ltd is an indigenous registered pharmaceutical company that imports, supplies, and distributes all kinds of drugs and medical consumables.

35

T H I S D AY ˾ , JANUARY 20, 2022

FEATURES

Collaboratively Boosting Global COVID-19 Response Chiemelie Ezeobi reports that Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome recently pledged US$300 Million to Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations while calling on world leaders to help end the COVID-19 crisis, prepare for future pandemics, and address epidemic threats

T

o boost COVID-19 response globally, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and Wellcome each pledged US$150 million for a total of US$300 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

CEPI is a global partnership launched five years ago this week by the governments of Norway and India, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the World Economic Forum.

According to information made available to THISDAY, the pledges come ahead of a global replenishment conference in March to support CEPI’s visionary five-year plan to better prepare for, prevent, and equitably respond to future epidemics and pandemics.

“As the world responds to the challenge of a rapidly evolving virus, the need to deliver new, lifesaving tools has never been more urgent,” said Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation.

“Our work over the past 20 years has taught us that early investment in research and development can save lives and prevent worst-case scenarios.

Five years ago, following the Ebola and Zika epidemics, our foundation helped launch CEPI. “Today, we’re increasing our commitment and pledging an additional $150 million to help CEPI accelerate the development of safe and effective vaccines against emerging variants of the coronavirus and to prepare for, and possibly even prevent, the next pandemic.”

Since its inception, CEPI has played a central scientific role in curbing epidemics around the world, overseeing a number of scientific breakthroughs and putting pandemic preparedness at the center of the global health R&D agenda, the press statement said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, CEPI responded immediately, building one of the world’s largest and most diverse portfolios of COVID-19 vaccine candidates—14 in all, including six of which continue to receive funding,and three of which have been granted emergency use listing by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

CEPI made early investments in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is now saving lives around the world.

Last month, Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine—funded largely by CEPI—received WHO emergency use listing and is poised to help efforts to control the pandemic globally.

More than 1 billion doses of the Novavax vaccine are now available to COVAX, the global initiative co-led by CEPI that aims to deliver equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

CEPI also continues to work on nextgeneration COVID-19 vaccines, including “variant-proof” COVID-19 vaccines and shots that could protect against all coronaviruses, potentially removing the threat of future coronavirus pandemics.

“The overriding lesson from this pandemic is the need for effective organisations and systems to be in place and ready before a crisis, as well as acting rapidly based on well-established science when such crises inevitably occur,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of Wellcome.

“Wellcome proudly founded CEPI in 2017 along with partners from Norway, India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Economic Forum following the devastating 2014–16 Ebola epidemic. “ We learned the importance of conducting high-quality research during a crisis. Since then, CEPI has worked tirelessly, and by fostering global collaboration, it has played a truly integral role in the global pandemic response from early January 2020 onwards.”

“Our new commitment of $150 million recognizes the enormous potential CEPI has to protect lives against emerging infectious diseases,” Dr. Farrar continued.

“The effects of COVID-19 have been sobering.

We urge leaders to provide their support and ensure that CEPI reaches its funding target. It is in the world’s collective interest to avoid repeating mistakes and to help future generations prevent epidemics.”

Beyond COVID-19, CEPI has filled a vital gap in supporting vaccine equity alongside R&D. CEPI is currently supporting the research and development of accessible vaccines against other infectious diseases, including the first-ever vaccines to reach clinical trials against the deadly Nipah and Lassa viruses.

Bill and Melinda Gates The organisation has also played a critical role in efforts to end Ebola, including supporting the development of a second Ebola vaccine by Janssen.

In addition to advancing the science underlying vaccine development and new vaccine platforms, CEPI is focused on dramatically reducing the time it takes to develop lifesaving vaccines against any new viral threat (referred to as “Disease X”)—to within 100 days of a pathogen being sequenced.

This represents a combination of scale and speed that could save millions of lives and trillions of dollars.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how inequitable access to vaccines can put the entire planet at risk and disrupt decades of global health progress,” said

NJNJǂLJǀ Awa Marie Coll Seck, minister of state to the president of the Republic of Senegal.

“Innovative global partnerships like CEPI play a critical role in advancing the R&D needed to prevent future pandemics.

Importantly, those investments in vaccine technology, particularly in Africa, can also help accelerate progress against other diseases—like HIV, TB, and malaria—that still affect the world’s most vulnerable populations.”

The pandemic has rebounded in waves around the world, highlighting the important role of international organisations like CEPI that put equitable access at the core of their mission.

Recent data from Northeastern University show that had the availability of vaccines in lower-income countries like Kenya been

“Innovative global partnerships like CEPI play a critical role in advancing the R&D needed to prevent future pandemics. Importantly, those investments in vaccine technology, particularly in Africa, can also help accelerate progress against other diseases—like HIV, TB, and malaria—that still affect the world’s most vulnerable populations”

akin to that in high-income countries like the UK or the U.S., 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths to date would have been averted.

“The world must do better at protecting everyone, everywhere against the greatest health threats—from COVID-19 and beyond,” said Melinda French Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation. “CEPI’s investments in groundbreaking R&D, commitments to equitable access, and cooperation across the public and private sectors are vital in this effort. We call on global leaders to help CEPI reach its funding target of $3.5 billion.”

The United Kingdom will host CEPI’s replenishment conference on March 8, 2022, in London. The fundraising event will convene governments, philanthropists, and other donors to support CEPI’s five-year plan to tackle the risk of pandemics and epidemics, potentially preventing millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.

In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led

by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates.

36

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ JANUARY 20, 2022

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Abia Tasks Market Leaders on Increased Revenue Inflow to Shore Up IGR

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo ÓØ ×ßËÒÓË

With the 2022 fiscal policy already being implemented, the Abia State Government has fixed its eyes on raking in more revenues from the various markets across the state to enhance its internally generated revenue (IGR).

To optimize the revenue potentials of the markets the newly inaugurated market leaders are expected to ensure that revenues collected from the markets were not exposed to leakages.

The Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, John Okiyi Kalu, harped on government’s revenue expectations from the markets while inaugurating the new leadership committees for the various markets at the state secretariat, Umuahia.

He advised the committees

appointed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to fully key into the electronic revenue collection system in the state to plug all points of leakages.

He warned against multiple taxation and imposition of unapproved levies on traders, adding that such illegalities were inimical to the growth of commerce and must be stopped forthwith.

The trade and investments commissioner noted that Abia has comparative advantage in trade and commerce hence the need for market leaders to make the state economically viable.

“Market leaders must key into the developmental agenda of Governor Ikpeazu who is determined to totally re-write the story of Abia State using trade and invetsment as a major pillar of his administration,” he said.

According to him, Governor

Ikpeazu has continued to rehabilitate many roads that are of socioeconomic importance to the state “simply because he cares about the welfare of our traders (though) he owns no shop anywhere in the world”.

He called on the market leaders to partner with the state government in delivering more dividends of democracy to the traders warning that whoever is found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties will be promptly removed and replaced.

“Governor Ikpeazu is not relenting in his quest to continue to deliver better life to our people across board, hence, his determination to remodel some key markets in the state. It is either you are ready to partner with him to promote the welfare of our people or be ready to be shipped out,” he said.

FCMB’s FastCash Offers N200,000 Support For School Fees, Emergency Needs In a bid to help Nigerians deal with financial challenges and meet urgent needs without hassles, customers, and non-customers of First City Monument Bank Plc can now access a higher loan amount of up to N200,000 through FastCash - the bank’s quick loan product.

They also have the additional benefit to spread the loan repayment for up to three months.

This, the bank said in a statement, means that customers can now pay back lower amounts each month while accessing higher borrowings than before.

“FastCash is a personal instant loan product that is convenient, paperless, and available to existing customers and non-customers. It requires no collateral and is open to

both salaried and non-salaried customers. Customers can conveniently access the loan through the FCMB New Mobile App or by simply dialling the bank’s *329*11# USSD code via a registered mobile phone number. After a successful application, it takes less than five minutes to get credited.

“FastCash is like other innovative loan products from the bank, such as Salary Plus.

The Salary Plus Loan is a consumer credit scheme available to salary account holders.

Through this scheme, qualified FCMB customers can access short or medium-term funding before salaries to meet urgent needs, such as school fees payment for their children. Existing customers on Salary Plus can also top up

their loans when they require additional financial support, “the statement said.

Divisional Head, Personal Banking of FCMB, Mr Shamsideen Fashola, in the statement said: “We realise the financial challenges confronting our customers and indeed Nigerians at this critical period. As a caring and responsive bank, we are committed to giving them all the support required to overcome. We have digitised the application process for many of our loans to make it more convenient for customers to get loans instantly. We expect to significantly impact the lives of our customers and Nigerians at large by giving them the financial support they need when it matters most.”

Wema Bank Kicks Off Campus Programme Kayode Tokede As part of its efforts to promote financial literacy among young Nigerians, ALAT, Wema Bank, has organised a one-week campus activation programme at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. The campus storm, which coincides with the school’s orientation week for new students is one of the bank’s efforts towards helping young people build a healthy savings culture and make better financial decisions.

Side attraction to the sensitization exercises include activities such as sports, games, dance, and music competitions.

The week-long activation which

began on Monday, January 10, 2022, culminates in the live 5 for 5 promo draw on Friday, January 14, 2021.

During the activation at the Wema Bank branch in UNILAG, students will get the chance to win exciting prizes by participating in games at both the venue and on ALAT’s social media pages. Students also stand a chance to win cash prizes through the raffle draw on Friday.

Speaking on the thrust of the campus event, the Head, Marketing Communications & Investor Relations at Wema Bank Plc, Funmilayo Falola, says the activation is one of the many ways the bank will focus on

direct customer engagement and showcase its digital products and options to an increasingly digital audience.

Falola said, “This year we aim to increase our efforts on direct customer engagement. With our in-depth understanding of our customers, their peculiarities, and their financial needs, we will provide tailor-made solutions that can better suit their lifestyles. As a lifestyle bank, ALAT focuses on the entire well-being of its customers beyond their financial needs.

“To further position the bank’s youth focus, the company has continued in building its student ambassador network who are part of the - ALAT Trybe.” This

PayedIn Launches Electronic Payment Solution in Nigeria Nume Ekeghe A Fintech company empowering the offline to online transitioning for organisations, businesses, and entrepreneurs, PayedIn Technology has launched a simple to use payment solution in Nigeria.

In a statement, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, PayedIn Debo Shopade states: “We have developed a payment platform that is easy-to-use and secure without the need for hardware, intermediaries or systems integration. To get started, recipients

only need to go through a simple sign-up process.

“In support of digitalisation of the economy, all organisations, businesses, and entrepreneurs should have access to a secure and easy-to-use electronic payment solution. The current crop of payment solutions available in the country are complex and often require complicated hardware, payment intermediaries or complex systems integration.

What this means is that only the top 20% of organisations, businesses and entrepreneurs with the requisite skills, capabilities, and

resources are enjoying cashless payments.”

Also commenting on the launch, Co-Founder and CTO, PayedIn Aditya Padhi said: “ PayedIn is secure by design with state-of-the-art security features including email and phone number verification, two-factor authentication and biometric security to keep transactions secure. Our Payment solutions is available for all major sectors of the economy including utility, services, transportation, education, e-commerce, charity, and religious sectors.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, BIOPATH Medical Laboratory Ltd, Dr. Raymond Osho; Director, Mr. Femi Olatide; and Group Managing Director, ICS Outsourcing Ltd, Dr. Peter Akindeju, during the official opening ceremony of BIOPATH in Lagos ...recently ˝

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ 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 ˜ ͵

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).

37

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

CIS Leverages onTechnology to Commence Remote Certification Kayode Tokede The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has announced that it has fully globalized its certification processes as candidates across the world can now write the Institute’s examinations remotely.

CIS also announced that Mountain Top University has commenced Bachelor’s Degree in Securities and Investment Market.

Besides, the Institute in its 2022 Economic Review, made workable

recommendations to the federal government on how the Nigerian economy can withstand the global challenges and bounce back.

Addressing stakeholders during the Institute’s Webinar on 2021 Performance Scorecard and Vision for 2022, the President, CIS, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe announced that the processes of remote examination had been consummated and would henceforth run concurrently with the existing Online model.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R

DEALS

According to him, the Institute shall continue to leverage technology for enhanced seamless operations to sustain its global competitiveness. “In line with our resolve to maximally utilize technology to improve our services, the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, has commenced the holding of remote examinations to cater for our students resident in various countries across the world. This is also to ensure that the required talents are attracted

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

and recruited into our market globally without hindrance.

Several students resident in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America, successfully participated in the CIS’ Professional Stockbroking Examinations, ”Amolegbe said.

He listed many notable achievements of the Institute in the review period, including the approval by the National University Commission (NUC) of the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

(BMAS) for the Curriculum of Securities and Investment Market.

He commended the Board and Management of Mountain Top University for commencement of Bachelor’s Degree in the professional course.

In a paper entitled “The Nigerian Economic Review 2021 and Outlook for 2022, the Institute’s Chairman, Research and Technical, Mr Akeem Oyewale identified the key drivers of the Nigerian Capital Market in 2021, the factors

O F

that will shape the economy this year and recommendations to put the economy on sound footing.

Oyewale who made a comprehensive review of the financial market, noted that events such as the demutualisation of The Nigerian Stock Exchange to NGX Group and its listing on the market, 575 Million Ordinary Shares Offer for sale of MTN Nigeria and regulatory action on FBN Holding, among others drove the market in the review period.

1 9 / 1 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

38

THURSDAY, ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

Thursday, January 20, 2022

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƵƉ ϯϭďƉƐ

dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĨĞůů ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ

dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϯϳϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ϭ͕ϵϬϴ͘ϵϱ

dŚĞ dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ďƵLJͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ /Zd > & ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ͕

Ăƚ ϭ͕ϲϳϰ͘ϴϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ŽŶ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͕

ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϰϱ͘ϵй ŽĨ

t W K ;Ͳϭ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ h ;ͲϬ͘ϳйͿ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĐƵŵƵůĂͲ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ ƵůůƐ 'ĂŝŶ 'ƌŽƵŶĚ͘​͘​͘ ^/ ƵƉ ϭ͘ϳй

Previous Price Current Price Change Weighting Change YTD

Ticker

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

1,908.95

3.74%

2.9%

90.9%

15.0%

3.5%

1,155.50

10.0%

37.0%

21.0%

21.0%

14.7%

5.2%

190.00

0.0%

7.9%

-3.6%

-3.6%

179.2%

14.1%

71.40

0.0%

7.2%

6.5%

6.5%

19.1%

11.2%

25.45

-0.2%

6.4%

-2.1%

-2.1%

24.8%

3.9%

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƉƵƐŚĞĚ ƚŚĞ E'yͲ ^/ ϭ͘ϳй ŚŝŐŚĞƌ ƚŽ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ

^/ ƵƉ ϭϭďƉƐ ĂƐ E' D 'ĂŝŶƐ ϯ͘ϯй

ϰϱ͕ϰϯϬ͘ϭϰ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͕ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚ ďLJ /Zd > & ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ ^ W> d ;нϰ͘ϰйͿ͕

WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬ ĂŶĚ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ zd ŝŶ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ,KEz&>KhZ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ϲ͘ϰй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ƚŽ േϮϰ͘ϱƚŶ͘ ďŽůͲ sŽůͲ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ േϰϭϳ͘ϮďŶ & E, ;нϬ͘ϳйͿ ƵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϳ͘ϱй ĂŶĚ ϯϲϱ͘ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ƚŽ ϮϱϮ͘ϵŵ

ƐƚĞƌĞĚ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůůͲ

ƵŶŝƚƐ ĂŶĚ േϴ͘ϵďŶ͘ 'd K ;Ϯϱ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ E' D ;Ϯϰ͘ϱŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ

^ŚĂƌĞ

ŝŶĚĞdž

ƌŽƐĞ

ďLJ

& E, ;Ϯϯ͘ϭŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁŚŝůĞ E' D ;േϲ͘ϱďŶͿ͕

ϭϭďƉƐ ƚŽ ϯϵ͕ϱϱϬ͘ϯϲ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ 'd K ;േϲϰϵ͘ϰŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, ;േϮϳϳ͘ϮŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ ͘

zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ

ƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ Ͳϭ͘ϴй ǁŚŝůĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

ƵůůŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ ǀĂůƵĞ

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ďƵůůŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ ŵŽƐƚ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕ ϭ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ dŚĞ ŝŶĚĞdž ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC 3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC 5 Zenith Bank PLC

ĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŶŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞdž͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŚĂŶĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ

ĞĂƌŝƐŚ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ƐŚĞĚ ϮďƉƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲŽīƐ ŝŶ , DW/KE ;Ͳϭ͘ϮйͿ ĂŶĚ

P/BV

5.2x

Divindend Earnings Yield Yield

0.8x

5.4%

ot Applicable

1.6%

16.6%

13.7x

20.8x

5.5%

7.3%

34.3x

6.5x

3.9x

1.0x

11.7%

26.0% 28.6%

2.9%

0.4%

6.1%

2.6%

2.6%

20.9%

2.8%

3.5x

0.7x

11.6%

4.6%

5.1%

5.1%

40.4%

16.7%

13.4x

5.2x

5.9%

7.5%

1,435.00

0.0%

3.2%

-7.8%

-7.8%

106.8%

15.6%

27.8x

32.8x

4.2%

3.6%

12.00

0.0%

3.6%

5.3%

5.3%

8.4%

0.8%

7.1x

0.6x

3.7%

14.1%

25.50

0.0%

3.5%

6.5%

6.5%

11.6%

8.4%

9.5x

1.1x

3.9%

10.5%

10 Access Bank PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC

9.75

0.5%

2.8%

4.8%

4.8%

17.0%

1.4%

2.7x

0.4x

8.7%

36.6%

8.15

0.0%

2.2%

1.2%

1.2%

19.5%

1.8%

2.0x

0.4x

6.7%

48.8%

12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

37.00

0.0%

1.7%

2.8%

2.8%

15.4%

2.0%

8.5x

1.4x

11.4%

11.8%

47.30

0.0%

1.5%

-5.4%

-5.4%

5.3%

1.9%

43.6x

2.3x

2.3%

2.3%

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

720.10

4.4%

1.8%

10.8%

10.8%

3.4%

1.9%

16.5x

0.6x

5.7%

6.1%

8.95

-0.6%

1.4%

2.9%

2.9%

14.8%

0.9%

2.4x

4.95

0.0%

1.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-10.3%

-3.9%

142.00

0.0%

1.1%

0.0%

0.0%

38.8%

25.2%

9.7x

3.4x

5.2%

10.3%

28.30

0.0%

1.0%

-0.2%

-0.2%

16.4%

5.1%

4.4x

0.7x

5.8%

22.9%

2.70

0.0%

0.7%

5.9%

5.9%

12.0%

1.1%

2.4x

0.3x

8.1%

41.9%

2.35

1.7%

0.6%

1.3%

1.3%

9.7%

3.0%

6.3x

0.7x

9.4%

15.9%

18.25

0.0%

0.5%

4.9%

4.9%

15.3%

6.3%

12.0x

1.8x

8.3%

8.4%

3.00

-1.6%

0.5%

0.3%

0.3%

10.0%

1.0%

0.3x

5.0%

8 FBN Holdings Plc 9 Lafarge Africa PLC

ƉŝĐŬĞĚ /Zd > & ƚŚĞ ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ Kŝů Θ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ K E K ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͘ ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d>

;нϭ͘ϳйͿ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ E/d, ;нϬ͘ϰйͿ ĂŶĚ ^^ ;нϬ͘ϱйͿ ĚƌŽǀĞ Ă Ϭ͘ϱй ŝŶͲ

P/E

0.0%

18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC

E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ROA

25.80

ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ǁĞƌĞ dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞƌƐ͕ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ƐƵƌŐĞĚ ϱ͘Ϭй ĂƐ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ;ϭϭ͘ϭŵ ĐŚĞƌƌLJͲ

ƉƌŝĐĞ ƵƉƟĐŬƐ ŝŶ ^ W> d ;нϰ͘ϰйͿ͕ KZE Z^d ;нϲ͘ϬйͿ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z

ROE

270.00

6 Dangote Cement PLC 7 Nestle Nigeria PLC

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC

'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ƌŽƐĞ Ϯ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϲй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ

Price Change Index to Date

Current Price

20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria

40.9% -11.5%

11.05

-0.9%

0.4%

11.6%

11.6%

2.5x

6.3%

42.20

0.0%

0.4%

8.2%

8.2%

8.1%

3.8%

15.0x

1.2x

1.1%

6.7%

1.03

-2.8%

0.3%

7.3%

7.3%

11.1%

2.3%

5.5x

0.6x

1.0%

18.3%

35.6%

18.5%

3.7x

1.0x

4.9%

27.1%

2.1x

1.2% 3.0%

3.70

1.9%

0.3%

-17.8%

-17.8%

87.80

0.0%

0.3%

0.0%

0.0%

28 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 29 AIICO Insurance PLC

13.10

0.0%

0.3%

-0.8%

-0.8%

21.3%

6.9%

12.3x

2.5x

0.80

0.0%

0.3%

14.3%

14.3%

7.2%

1.1%

444.4x

0.8x

30 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 31 Custodian and Allied Insurance

221.90

0.0%

0.2%

0.0%

0.0%

46.2%

9.3%

5.0x

2.0x

1.8%

19.8%

7.25

0.0%

0.2%

-8.2%

-8.2%

24.7%

7.5%

3.6x

0.9x

7.6%

28.0%

32 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 33 Unilever Nigeria PLC

21.00

0.0%

0.2%

-6.7%

-6.7%

36.8%

14.7%

6.1x

2.1x

7.1%

16.5%

13.20

0.0%

0.2%

-9.0%

-9.0%

-1.3%

-0.8%

22.80

0.0%

0.2%

2.0%

2.0%

20.7%

2.5%

4.0x

0.7x

1.7%

25.2%

;ϭϲͿ͘ /Zd > & ;нϭϬ͘ϬйͿ͕ KZE Z^d ;нϱ͘ϯйͿ ϵ͘ϭйͿ͕ hE/> s Z ;Ͳϯ͘ϱйͿ͕ ;нϲ͘ϬйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ KhZds/>> >/E< ^^hZ ;Ͳϲ͘ϰйͿ͕

34 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 35 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.85

4.5%

0.1%

-0.8%

-0.8%

7.1%

0.8%

6.6x

0.7x

4.3%

15.2%

ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ ǁŚŝůĞ &dE K K ;Ͳϳ͘ϳйͿ͕ ,/W> ;Ͳϳ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ Z ' >/E^ ;Ͳ ĂŶĚ D E^ Z ;ͲϮ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

36 Oando PLC 37 Wema Bank PLC

4.75

0.0%

0.0%

7.5%

7.5%

14.5%

2.6%

2.0x

0.3x

0.86

-1.1%

0.1%

19.4%

19.4%

13.7%

0.8%

4.1x

0.5x

4.8%

38 Sterling Bank PLC 39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

1.57

0.0%

0.1%

4.0%

4.0%

10.1%

0.9%

3.4x

0.3x

3.2%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-41.3%

-9.2%

5.38

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

ĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ƵŶĚĞƌ ,KEz&>KhZ ;ͲϬ͘ϲйͿ͘

ŽƵƌ ĐŽǀĞƌĂŐĞ͕ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ǁĂƐ

ďĞĂƌŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ͕ ϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &ZͲ/ d ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ŽŶƐƵŵͲ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ tĂŶĞƐ

Ğƌ 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ͕ ĚŽǁŶ ϰ͘ϲй ĂŶĚ

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ

ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚͲƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> ;Ͳ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐŽŌĞŶĞĚ ƚŽ Ϭ͘ϵdž ĨƌŽŵ Ϯ͘Ϭdž ĂƐ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ;ϭϳͿ ŽƵƚƉĂĐĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ

ϲ͘ϳйͿ ůĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞƌƐ͘ /Ŷ ƚŽĚĂLJΖƐ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ

ŝŶŐ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ĨĞůů ďLJ Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůůͲ

ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ůŝŶŐĞƌ͘

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K ;ͲϬ͘ϴйͿ͕ E/d, ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;ͲϬ͘ϮйͿ͘

26 NEM Insurance PLC 27 Presco PLC

0.3x 0.9x

ŽŶǀĞƌƐĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ Ğƌ͕

ƵƉ

ϭ͘ϴй

ĚƌŝǀĞŶ

ďLJ

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂͲ

ƟŽŶ ŝŶ E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͘

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ /ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ ;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ ϭ͘ϲdž ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ

1.2x

-1.1%

48.9%

2.3x 0.9x

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

1155.50

10.0%

GT C O

25.5

-0.2%

0.53

6.0%

D A N GC EM

24.5

0.0%

C OUR T VILLE

0.40

5.3%

FB NH

23.1

0.0%

UB N

5.85

4.5%

F ID ELIT YB K

21.1

0.0%

720.10

4.4%

FCM B

12.9

-1.6%

LIN KA SSUR E

0.53

3.9%

A C C ESS

12.2

0.5%

NP FM CRFB K

1.94

2.1%

T R A N SC OR P

11.5

-2.8%

10.5

-4.5%

SEP LA T

29.3% -20.3%

C OR N ER ST

A IR T ELA F R I

24.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a in e r s T ic k er

8.1% 0.2%

N EM

3.70

1.9%

J A IZ B A N K

M A N SA R D

2.35

1.7%

WEM A B A N K

8.8

-1.1%

M A YB A KER

4.35

1.2%

UB A

7.5

0.0%

ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϭϱ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ͘ DZ^ ;нϵ͘ϵйͿ͕ D zͲ T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

< Z ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ,KEz&>KhZ ;нϵ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ŐĂŝŶĞƌƐ P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

F T N C OC OA

0.36

-7.7%

D A N GC EM

6481.4

0.0%

C H IP LC

0.64

-7.2%

GT C O

649.4

-0.2%

R EGA LIN S

0.42

-6.7%

FB NH

277.2

0.0%

202.7

0.0%

T ic k er

ǁŚŝůĞ dZ E^ ;Ͳϴ͘ϯйͿ͕ > ^ K ;Ͳϲ͘ϳйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ >/s Ͳ ^dK < ;Ͳϰ͘ϴйͿ ůĞĚ ůŽƐĞƌƐ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĚĂLJ͕ ǁĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐƐ ƐĞĂƐŽŶ ŐƌĂĚƵĂůůLJ ǁŝŶĚƐ ƵƉ͘

J A P A ULGOLD

0.40

-4.8%

NB

J A IZ B A N K

0.63

-4.5%

A IR T ELA F R I

196.6

10.0%

-3.1%

Z EN IT H B A N K

161.7

0.4%

-2.8%

SEP LA T

149.8

4.4%

119.1

0.5%

N GXGR OUP T R A N SC OR P

19.05 1.03

UN IT YB N K

0.48

-2.0%

A C C ESS

FCM B

3.00

-1.6%

N GXGR OUP

94.1

-3.1%

-1.4%

UB A

61.8

0.0%

LIVEST OC K

AfrinvesƦ WesƦ AfricŚ LimiteŪ

P ric e C hg %

2.12

BrokeréĈŬ

AsseƦ MénéĈemenƦ

InvestmenƦ Reseércź

úþúġőčƍ ėėþƍ Ր ééėėþƍՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

HġôþĮƦ ;ěġĶĹĜúŬ Ր džġěġĶĹĜúŬՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

ôčġúĹƍ 0þĮčīŬ Ր 0þĮčīŬՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

Oéčŋƒ ;ĈĹĜúčīŬ Ր ĶġĈĹĜúčīŬՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

ċĮčıĶġīċþƝ ;ěġź Ր õġěġźՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

éěčėéĮŬ ıčěčőƫՐ úéıčěčőƫՈéćĮčĜŊþıƦԁõġƌ

39

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 18Jan-2022, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 167.82 170.56 1.05% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 9.03% Nigeria International Debt Fund 322.70 322.70 3.45% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 97.44 97.44 -3.52% 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 9.85% AIICO Balanced Fund 3.39 3.46 -4.13% 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 7.26% Anchoria Equity Fund 139.53 141.28 0.69% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 1.58% info@anchoriaam.com 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 20.51 21.12 1.09% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 458.09 471.90 1.53% ARM Ethical Fund 39.60 40.80 1.66% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.06 1.07 -1.47% ARM Fixed Income Fund 1.01 1.02 0.13% ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.57% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 108.3 108.3 0.33% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,073.28 1,073.28 0.53% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 135.85 136.80 7.66% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.06% CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund 2.06 2.06 7.01% Capital Express Balanced Fund (Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) 2.22 2.26 38.67% CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com ; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.05 1.05 0.48% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.66% Paramount Equity Fund 16.95 17.26 0.74% Women's Investment Fund 139.80 141.40 0.54% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 9.25% Cordros Milestone Fund 134.02 134.88 1.38% 110.73 110.73 0.26% Cordros Dollar Fund ($) 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 8.16% Coronation Balanced Fund 1.26 1.28 1.18% Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.41 1.41 -1.24% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 7.43% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 8.06% EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund 1,153.85 1,155.78 -1.39% assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.74% Emerging Africa Bond Fund 1.05 1.05 2.95% Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund 1.12 1.12 -0.12% Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund 104.73 104.73 0.12% 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 Bond Fund 1,401.05 11.13%

FBN Balanced Fund 177.09 0.35%

FBN Halal Fund 116.13 9.16%

FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 8.94%

FBN Dollar Fund (Retail) FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Legacy Money Market Fund Legacy Debt Fund Legacy Equity Fund Legacy USD Bond Fund FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

122.46 150.70

122.46 3.81% 152.51 0.35% fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com

Bid Price 1.00 3.99 1.75 1.21

Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn 1.00 7.54% 3.99 -0.41% 1.79 0.88% 1.21 0.22% coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn 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 8.23% Vantage Balanced Fund 2.87 2.93 0.33% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 4.50% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 141.95 142.00 -8.78% Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End 1.26 1.30 0.18% Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End 1.07 1.07 4.10% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.90 12.01 1.03% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 9.96% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) N/A N/A N/A Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) 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 1.58 1.60 13.20% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.69 11.67 17.27% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 7.68% PACAM Equity Fund 1.45 1.47 16.58% PACAM EuroBond Fund 114.30 116.58 1.64% 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 N/A N/A N/A 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 1.08 1.08 10.03% 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 3,415.97 3,452.06 -0.81% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 236.08 236.08 0.15% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.27 1.29 -1.54% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 314.08 314.08 0.24% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 238.57 242.14 -1.45% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 7.44% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 10,955.52 11,109.54 -1.38% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.30 1.30 0.19% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 117.13 117.13 0.14% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 106.84 106.84 UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.94 0.96 1.07% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.37 1.39 0.46% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.11 1.12 1.76% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.08 1.08 0.39% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.96 1.96 0.33% United Capital Eurobond Fund 122.64 122.64 0.25% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 8.92% 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 Balanced Strategy Fund 13.25 13.37 0.46% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 14.86 15.02 1.69% Zenith Income Fund 24.93 24.93 0.20% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 7.24%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

124.98 54.65

10.62% 8.10%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

13.80 129.95 103.08 18.31 21.68

13.90 133.20 105.34 18.41 21.78

-1.19% -1.26% -0.53% 0.00% 0.00%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Money Market Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

4.11 5.59 17.93 1.00 21.10 159.35

4.21 5.69 18.13 1.00 21.30 161.35

9.19% 9.67% 4.37% 7.68% 8.80% 0.99%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.28

10.80%

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.

40

THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2022 •T H I S D AY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

41

FOREIGN DESK

COMPILED BY BAYO AKINLOYE

NATO Countries Urged to Supply More Weapons to Ukraine

Germany is under mounting pressure from European allies to drop its long-standing refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine to help defend itself from a Russian attack.

Britain flew short-range anti-tank missiles to Ukraine on Monday, avoiding German airspace. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace indicated to lawmakers that more military aid and extra security assistance would likely be forthcoming in light of Russia’s “increasingly threatening behaviour” on Ukraine’s borders, where the Kremlin has amassed more than 100,000 troops.

Wallace said there is a “legitimate and real cause for concern” that Russia is planning an invasion. Russian officials have denied they have any such plans, but US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Wednesday, ahead of talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that the “sense of the threat to Ukraine is unprecedented.”

Ukraine has become increasingly frustrated with Germany on the issue of military supplies.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov complained last month that Berlin had vetoed the purchase of anti-drone rifles and antisniper systems from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, calling the action “very unfair.”

Afghan PM Urges World to Recognise Taliban The Taliban’s acting prime minister asked the global community Wednesday to grant legitimacy to Afghanistan’s new government, insisting it has met all conditions required for official recognition.

Mohammad Hassan Akhund spoke at a conference in Kabul where his interim administration convened to discuss massive economic upheavals facing the country since the Taliban seized power last August. United Nations officials also attended the event.

“I call especially on Islamic countries to not wait for others and take the lead in officially recognising our Islamic Emirate,” Akhund said.

This would help expedite efforts to address dire economic and humanitarian problems facing Afghanistan, he argued.

No country has yet recognised the new government, which the Taliban officially refers to as Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate.

Foreign governments are watching to see how the ultra-conservative group will govern the country this time around.

Akhund blamed the current economic crisis on international sanctions and the freezing of roughly $9.5 billion in Afghanistan’s foreign cash reserves by Western nations led by the United States.

Six Dead, 17 Injured in Spain Nursing Home Fire Fire officials in Spain say six nursing home residents died, and at least 17 were injured in a fire at a retirement home in a suburb of Valencia early Wednesday.

The Valencia regional fire department said the fire started late Tuesday at a publicly-owned senior residence in the town of Moncada, about 12 kilometres north of Valencia. The fire department said on Twitter it took two hours to bring the fire under control. Several area fire departments responded.

Valencia fire chief Jose Bassett told Spanish media flames, and smoke affected an entire wing of the residence. He said officials believe the fire has started in a room on the first floor, where two residents were found dead.

Firefighters say about 25 of the at least 70 residents of the facility had to be rescued.

Regional health officials say five of the victims died at the scene and a sixth died at the hospital. They say at last 17 residents were hospitalised with injuries, two of them in serious condition.

Police Investigating Bodies Dumped in Kenya River Kenyan police say they are sending investigators to the Yala River in western Kenya, where locals have been finding bodies tied up in sacks.

The Yala River in western Kenya has become the center of attention for human rights workers and families of missing persons.

Local residents say five bodies have been

found in the river this month alone, including one discovered Wednesday.

Nicholas Okero is among the divers who have retrieved bodies from the river.

“The bodies are tied up tightly, like a parcel, in a sack. And since July, we’ve got nobody from our area who has reported a missing person,” he said. “Just the other day, I retrieved the bodies of two Somali men again and those people do not reside here. I don’t know where they were killed.”

Okero said he identified the two bodies as Somali based on their physical features.

Authorities have yet to determine the identities of any of the people found.

In a statement, local police said the five bodies are among 19 discovered in the river over the last two years. Police say no one has come forward to claim the bodies.

Salome Nduta is the director of Haki Africa, an organisation working to promote human rights and justice in Kenya. Her organisation visited River Yala and the Yala hospital mortuary Monday.

Indonesian Militant Gets 15 Years in Jail over Bali Attacks An Islamic militant who eluded capture for 18 years was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday after an Indonesian court found him guilty of hiding information about the 2002 Bali bombings from authorities and harbouring other suspects.

Prosecutors previously demanded a life sentence for Aris Sumarsono, 58, whose real name is Arif Sunarso but is better known as Zulkarnaen, for his role in the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, including 88 Australians and seven Americans.

However, the panel of three judges in East Jakarta District Court said they ignored the prosecutors’ first charge because the prosecution period had expired, and they sentenced Zulkarnaen to 15 years in jail for harbouring other suspects, including bomb-maker Upik Lawanga, and for hiding information from authorities about the deadly attacks.

Indonesia’s Criminal Code stipulates that prosecuting criminals is abolished after 18 years.

UN Appeals for $1.6bn to Help Palestinian Refugees The United Nations Relief and Works Agency is appealing for $1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance for more than five million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and countries across the Middle East.

The request covers the increased needs of Palestinian refugees in the face of skyrocketing unemployment and poverty.

UN officials say an estimated 2.3 million

refugees across the Middle East are living in poverty, with many struggling to survive on less than $2 a day.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic is posing serious health risks and worsening the economic hardships.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said the agency’s humanitarian operations are a lifeline for the most destitute.

“UNRWA prevents them from falling deeper into poverty and from resorting to negative coping mechanisms, such as child labour, early marriage, migration through dangerous routes or, at times, radicalisation,” he said. “It is also an investment in regional stability.”

Yemeni Civilians Bear Brunt of Suffering in Escalating Conflict As the fighting in Yemen heats up, the UN human rights office warns Yemen’s warring parties that wanton attacks against civilians and civilian targets could amount to war crimes.

Reciprocal attacks by Yemen’s warring parties have been escalating this month.

They have intensified since Iranian-backed Houthi rebels carried out missile and bombladen drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates Monday, killing three people.

In retaliation for those attacks, the government-backed Saudi-led coalition bombed targets in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, reportedly killing at least five civilians from the same family. The UN human rights office says it fears more civilian casualties as wanton attacks continue to spiral in the nearly seven-year-long conflict.

Britain to Drop COVID-19 Restrictions Britain is ending COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates, working from home and vaccine passports, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Wednesday.

The measures had been introduced to slow the spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant of the virus.

“Many nations across Europe have endured further winter lockdowns ... but this government took a different path,” Johnson told lawmakers, citing a decreasing number of people being admitted to intensive care because of the virus.

“Our scientists believe it is likely that the omicron wave has now peaked nationally ... because of the extraordinary booster campaign,” Johnson said, adding that restrictions also had slowed the spread.

Some scientists disagree with the move.

Former US Hostage in Iran to Begin Hunger Strike to Press for Prisoner Deal A former US hostage in Iran is set to begin a hunger strike in Vienna on Wednesday

to press the US and Iranian officials to agree to the release of Americans and other Westerners of Iranian origin jailed

by Tehran. He hopes the move will help to break a months-long stalemate in indirect prisoner talks between the two sides.

In a Tuesday interview with VOA Persian, Barry Rosen said he would try to raise the prisoner issue in any meetings with US and Iranian diplomats in the Austrian capital. The two sides have engaged in separate indirect talks there about reviving a 2015 deal for Iran to constrain its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States and other world powers. Rosen said he would stage his hunger strike in front of Vienna’s Palais Coburg hotel, the main venue for the talks about the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. He said he intends to head to the hotel after arriving in Vienna on Wednesday at 8 a.m. local time on a flight from New York.

Rosen, 77, was among 52 Americans taken hostage in Tehran by Islamists who seized the US embassy in 1979 when an Islamic Revolution overthrew a US-backed monarchy.

French Actor Gaspard Ulliel Dies after Ski Accident French actor Gaspard Ulliel, known for appearing in Chanel perfume ads as well as film and television roles, died Wednesday after a skiing accident in the Alps, according to his agent’s office. He was 37.

Ulliel portrayed the young Hannibal Lecter in 2007’s “Hannibal Rising” and fashion mogul Yves Saint Laurent in the 2014 biopic “Saint Laurent.” He is also in the upcoming Marvel series “Moon Knight,” and was the advertising face of the Chanel men’s fragrance Bleu de Chanel.

Ulliel was hospitalised Tuesday after the accident in the Savoie region’s Rosiere ski area, the Savoie prosecutor’s office said.

The office of the actor’s agent said Ulliel died on Wednesday. It provided no details.

Local broadcaster France Bleu said Ulliel was hospitalised with a skull injury and that he apparently collided with another skier at a crossing point on the slopes. The other skier was not hospitalised, according to France Bleu. Police and prosecutors would not discuss details of the accident.

Ulliel started in television while still in middle school and went on to win two of France’s top cinema awards, the Cesar.

The accident conjured up memories of when Formula One great Michael Schumacher hit his head in a ski accident in 2013 in the French ski resort of Meribel, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from where Ulliel was skiing. Both were treated at Grenoble University Hospital.

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POLO CLUB'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT...

L-R: Commander Aminu Mai; Lieutenant Commander Ajibola Ogunsola; Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo; Commodore Olugbenga Oladipo, and Commander Arma’yau Yusuf, during the presentation of the TY Danjuma Polo Trophy won by the Nigerian Navy Polo Team at the Port Harcourt Polo Club 50th Anniversary Tournament to the CNS…yesterday

Senate Okays Bill Establishing National Rice Development Council Observes one minute silence for late Olubadan Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate, yesterday, passed a bill seeking to establish the National Rice Development Council.

The bill was meant to ensure that Nigeria saved about $2bn on rice importation and improve the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

Also, yesterday, the Senate mourned the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji, the late Olubadan of Ibadan land, who passed away on 2nd January, 2022 and observed a minute since for him at plenary.

The Senate, however, approved the establishment of the Council following the consideration of a report by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Chairman of the Committee, Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), in his presentation, said the bill sought to establish a Council that would lead to a comprehensive development of the rice sector.

He also said it would reorganise rice stakeholders to enhance local production of rice in Nigeria.

According to him, the establishment of the council would transform the activities of rice farmers, rice processors, millers, researchers, marketers and other important stakeholders across the entire rice value chain, adding that clusters of smallholder rice farmers and small scale millers spread all over the country, would also benefit.

"With our natural comparative

advantage in the area of rice production as a country, Nigeria should consider the need to put in place a National Rice Development Council and a fail-safe comprehensive national rice development roadmap.

"This will guide us not only into a regime of self-sufficiency in production, but also for export purposes, employment generation for our teaming youth and growth

of our economy.The Nigerian rice industry exists in abstract as there appears to be no form of coordination in the absence of a properly structured rallying point.

“Today, we have Paddy Rice Dealers Association of Nigeria (PRIDAN), Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN), Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN)

and many more.

“This Bill seeks to establish that rallying point and a comprehensive National operational and governance structure for a complete rice value chain process. This Bill on its own merit will improve government efforts for efficient policy and regulatory framework for the Nigerian Rice Industry,” he said.

Block Escape Routes of Fleeing Terrorists, Senate Tasks Military Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate, yesterday, urged the military and security agencies in the country to closely monitor and block the escape routes being used by fleeing terrorists.

It said doing so would forestall their relocation to safe havens in other parts of Niger State and the country.

The red chamber also urged the National Emergency Management Agency to provide food and other supports to affected villages as well

as the internally displaced persons in Mariga, Mashegu, Kontagora and Borgu local government areas in Niger North Senatorial District.

The resolutions were reached by the Senate following a motion on “Renewed kidnappings and Banditry Attacks on Communities in Mariga, Mashegu, Kontagora and Borgu local government areas of Niger North Senatorial District.”

Deputy Whip of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, moved the motion, and bemoaned the disturbing trend of renewed

kidnappings and banditry in communities of Mariga, Mashegu and Kontagora local government areas of Niger State.

“Following the massive onslaught against criminal elements and bandits operating in eastern parts of Sokoto State and Zamfara, there was massive movement of these escaping bandits and their criminal elements into Niger State and specifically, into Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

"The bandits continuously

attacked communities in Mariga LGA leading to massive internal displacement of many communities. Currently, Villagers have moved out of MaÚndu, Alabani, Sappaji in Berri Ward; over twenty villages are now empty in Galma/Wamba ward and scanty residents in Ukuru, Igoma, Maruba and Ruka villages in Bobbi Ward.

“Communities that border Kaduna, Zamfara and Kebbi States located in Mariga LGA namely Galma, Makici, Makogi

ELECTORAL BILL: GOVS MEET, CHALLENGE HOUSE TO CONCUR WITH SENATE option, rather,he specifically said the mode of nomination should be direct or indirect.

He explained that there was no accommodation in the House rules, which allowed such, adding that they could not import what was not in the President's letter.

On the lawmakers rescinding from their earlier decision to override the president, he explained that while the constitution empowered the parliament to override the President's veto, it could only be done if they had two-thirds majority vote.

PDP Commends National Assembly

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has commended the leadership of the National Assembly for listening to the views of Nigerians by removing the controversial clause

Meanwhile, the senate, yesterday, observed a minute silence in his honour, following a point of order raised by Senator Teslim Folarin (Oyo Central).

Folarin, who drew the attention of the Senate to the demise of Olubadan, reeled off his profile and concluded that his sixyear reign witnessed immense economic growth, peace, stability and prosperity.

of direct primary elections by political parties and changing it with indirect primary and consensus options.

The party, therefore, called on the two chambers of the National Assembly to ensure that the amended version of the electoral bill got to President Muhammadu Buhari within the next 48 hours It also called on the president to assent to the bill within the next 72 hours and not wait for another 30 days before assenting the bill into law.

This, the PDP said, was to enable INEC commence preparations for the 2023 general election.

In an interview with THISDAY on the passage and removal of the controversial direct primary clause from the electoral bill, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said

with the quick amendments of the bill to reflect the views of the Nigerian electorate, "they have put self behind the aspirations of Nigerians that political parties should be allowed to determine how the parties manage their internal affairs "They have affirmed that there should be as in the constitution, the freedom to associate and speak freely as Nigerians. This is what the constitution that we practice and operate as our grundnorm posits,” he added.

CSOs Reject Senate's Consensus Option

In a joint statement, the CSOs called on the Senate to, in line with the popular will of Nigerians, adopt the position of the House of Representatives, which now recognises direct and indirect primaries as procedure

for nomination of candidates.

The statement read: "At today’s plenary, the Senate and House of Representatives recommitted the Electoral Bill 2021, with proposed amendment to Clause 84 dealing with nomination of candidates.

We reject the decision of the Senate to introduce a completely new mode of ‘consensus’ as a procedure for candidates’ nomination.

“Furthermore, it violates the rights of aspirants to equal participation in party primaries and limits the choice of voters to candidates, who did not emerge from democratic primary elections. Judging from experience, consensus has occasioned a litany of litigations in Nigeria’s electoral process.

“We call on the Senate to, in line with the popular will of Nigerians, adopt the position of

the House of Representatives, which now recognises direct and indirect primaries as procedure for nomination of candidates.

"With this development, a harmonisation committee will now have to be constituted by the leadership of the National Assembly to harmonise the divergent positions of both chambers, thereby delaying the speedy conclusion of the process.

“We, therefore, call for the immediate withdrawal of this new introduction, which is alien to the original Electoral Bill 2021, to speed up the work of the harmonisation committee and conclusion of the amendment process on or before the 21 January 2022 deadline. As indicated in our earlier statement, any further delay will undermine public confidence in the reform process and therefore, unacceptable."

Na Maforo, Nassarawa, and Kwanan Duci are constantly being attacked by bandits and over 15 persons killed in Bobbi ward of Mariga LGA. “Some notorious bandits in their numbers operated for hours in five villages on Friday, 14 January 2022, where several cattle were rustled as villagers fled their homes. The bandits first attacked Tungan-Ruá village in the morning, later moved to Tungan Maje and also rustled cattle.

“The same day they attacked Kawo Mashegu, where two people were killed, four persons abducted and proceeded to attack Tungan Magaji village, where several cattle were also taken away.

“After several operations, 17 persons were abducted including two persons delivering ransom.

The same day Farin Shinge village, a few kilometres away from Kontagora town, was also attacked and two persons kidnapped.

"The bandits are in the habit of burning down villages, burning farms with agricultural produce unharvested, stealing the home stored foods of villages they attack with the danger of those who brave the odds to go to their farms for harvest being killed or kidnapped.

Many villagers are now IDPS in places like Bangi, Mangoro and other safer locations with no food or amenities for their livelihoods.”

The Senate, however, resolved to observe a one-minute silence for those who lost their lives.

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BAMGBOYE MARKS THREE SCORES...

L-R: Celebrant, Dr Ebun Bamgboye; his wife, Mrs. Funmi Bamgboye and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun at the 60th birthday of Dr. Ebun Bamgboye at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos... yesterday

Wike Laments FG’s Failure to End Soot in Rivers Orders LGA chairmen to destroy illegal refineries ERA/FoEN applauds Rivers governor

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has regretted the failure of the federal government to take any action to end the incidence of soot in the oil producing states.

Soot is a deep black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.

It constitutes health hazard and pollutes the environment. It’s caused by the prevalence of illegal refineries in the state.

The governor said his administration cannot fold its arms and watch deviant persons destroy the environment and health of the citizens.

This as the governor has ordered all the 23 Local Government Area chairmen to hire bulldozers and destroy every identified illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery sites in Rivers State.

Wike gave the order yesterday, during a meeting with the 23 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen, the State Commissioner of Police

and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

He also asked the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Eboka Friday, to provide adequate security for the LGA chairmen as they embark on the mass destruction of illegal refinery sites across the state.

Wike recently issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the LGA chairmen to provide him a comprehensive list of all illegal refinery sites and their operators within their respective jurisdictions.

Wike said with the receipt of the list of identified illegal refinery sites, the state government would provide financial support to the LGA chairmen to hire bulldozers and swamp buggies for the purpose of destroying all the sites.

“I will not relent in this fight. And all of you should hire bulldozers.

All those areas where the illegal refinery sites are in the bush, in the creek, clear the place. Government will give you some money to go and hire bulldozers to go and clear the sites so that they will know we are serious," he said.

60% of Nigerians Don’t Have Access to Electricity, Says Expert Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto An energy expert has expressed concern over the shortage of electricity supply in Nigeria, saying over 60 per cent of Nigerians lack access to electricity.

The former Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, stated this at the third public lecture held at the Sokoto State University yesterday.

Speaking on the theme: "Harnessing Local Renewable Energy Sources: A Panacea for Tackling Global Energy Crisis in 21st Century."

Sambo said the challenge of the energy sector in the country could be as a result of inconsistent policy formation and implementation.

"You know in this country there is no sustainability of policy , when a new government comes into power it will abandon previous policies by his predecessors either good or bad and this does not augur well for us he stated,” he added.

Sambo who was the former Director General of National Energy Commission of Nigeria (NECON) and also former Vice Chancellor Kaduna State University, added

that while the impact of lack of electricity could be felt by all, noting that no one suffers more than the entrepreneurs as running business on generator are capital extensive.

He further lamented that Nigeria was endowed with resources that could generate electricity for its populace.

He advocated for the generation of electricity via solar and other renewable means where Nigeria have comparative advantage.

"We explore our abundant solar energy to generate electricity like other developing and developed countries of the world,” he added.

He called on relevant stakeholders in the energy sector to look into alternative energy at the local, state and federal levels and at the same time encourage research activities based on Nigeria local resources and challenges.

He further stated that if energy researchers don’t rise up to the challenges, Nigeria would remain a purchaser or recipient of energy from foreign countries who he said Nigeria had comparative advantage over.

"As you all know Nigeria is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources,” he stated.

He urged the Commissioner of Police to give the LGA chairmen adequate security personnel to destroy all illegal refineries.

According to the governor, the government would not allow those engaged in illegitimate business to operate in Rivers State.

“One thing I want to say and which is very clear, and like everybody knows, I am not against anybody making money. But, we cannot allow people to make money, while others are dying,” he insisted.

The governor, however, warned that he would personally visit the Inspector General of Police, the Commandant General of the NSCDC and the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja, to report any of their personnel implicated in illegal crude oil bunkering and artisanal refinery activities in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has applauded the current action of Wike towards addressing the vexed issues of oil theft and refining of stolen crude oil and the consequent release of soot into the environment.

The ERA/FoEN which stated this in a statement in Benin City, by its Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uti Ojo, noted that it was gratifying that four years after protests on the streets of Port Harcourt to Government House and the

NNPC office by local communities, civic groups, and youths against government’s refusal to act, the government of Rivers State finally decided to take the first tentative steps on the road to dealing with this hydra-headed monster called illegal refinery.

The group noted that hospitals across Rivers state were reporting a marked uptick in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses especially young children whose lungs were unable to withstand the constant poisoning from air pollution.

The body also said there had been reports of increase in patients suffering severe burns from explosions resulting from utilising improperly refined kerosene from artisanal refining processes.

According to Uyi Ojo said: "Although the current action of Governor Wike is a welcomed respite for the people of the state, more still needed to be done," adding that governments of other Niger Delta states need to take similar actions by identifying and properly decommission all artisanal stolen crude oil refining sites in their states to halt this self-inflicted destruction of the environment and unnecessary loss of lives.

He also called for the development of a holistic framework to address both the supply of artisanal products and the high

demands for these products in the Niger Delta communities which included rising cost of living, unemployment, and severe impact from hydrocarbon pollution on rural livelihoods.

"There is the need to provide alternative income generation sources for these youths to discourage them from the illegal act, hence government at all levels must as a matter of necessity diversify our economy from oil and gas dependence and towards a transition to renewable energy sources such as solar mini-grid and off-grid systems.

“Recent report by the federal government confirms that over 200 million barrels of crude oil worth about $3.5 billion was stolen in 2021.

“Considering the heavy reliance on borrowings to fund government activities, the federal government and its regulatory institutions should be at the forefront of the fight against oil theft and artisanal oil refining," he declared.

Meanwhile, ERA/FoEN Director of Programmes, Mike Karikpo, has alleged the involvement of security agencies in the Niger Delta region of aiding, influencing and providing protection for oil thieves and artisanal oil refining activities, describing the matter as a national security concerns which President Muhammadu Buhari

needs to wield the big stick and cleanse the Augean stables that had become the security architecture in the Niger Delta region.

ERA/FoEN further called on the federal government and state governments in the Niger Delta region to as a matter of urgency convene a national dialogue to discuss and agree on practical steps to take in the short, medium, and long term to holistically deal with the menace of oil theft and artisanal oil refining as well as the supply and demand for these dangerous products.

In the short-term, ERA/Form called on all state governments in the Niger Delta region to immediately identify and properly decommission all artisanal refining sites in their states, ensuring that the process of decommissioning does not contribute to further release of soot into the atmosphere.

It further noted that, "a 2016 World Health Organisation (WHO) fact sheet on ambient air pollution, states that air pollution around the world is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths globally every year.

“The report further states that exposure to air pollution is also responsible for increasing rates of stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.”

Magodo: House Moves to Probe Malami, Others’ Involvement Juliet Akoje in Abuja The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Justice, Public Petition and Police to investigate the involvement of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, in the attempt to destabilise the peace of Lagos State, scuttle the ongoing settlement process, enforce an illegality and recommend appropriate sanction for any officer found culpable in the illegal enforcement and breakdown of law and order.

This resolution followed the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent national importance raised

by Hon. Ademorin Kuye and Hon. Rotimi Agunsoye, titled urgent need to investigate the invasion of Magodo GRA Phase II, by the Nigerian police under the direction of the IG and Malami.

Kuye, while presenting the motion, explained that the residents in Magodo GRA Phase II,Shangisha, Lagos, woke up on the morning of

December 5, 2021, to the sight of hundreds of arm-wielding thugs, stern-looking and fully armed policemen and members of the Shangisha Landlords Association, purportedly to execute a judgment.

"The judgment that was supposedly being enforced was delivered in 2012 by the Supreme Court in Military Governors of Lagos State & Ors Vs Adebayo Adeyiga & Ors in Appeal No SC/112/2002, wherein the Apex Court affirmed the joudgmenr of the Court of Appeal, and the High Court delivered on the 31st of December 1993 in suit No ID/795/88," he said.

He noted that the declaratory judgment of the Supreme Court only recognised the Judgment Creditors as being entitled to the allocation and reallocation of 549 plots of land in Shangisha Village, not possession of any land.

According to him, several attempts had been made by the Lagos State Government from 2012-2015, to settle the matter amicably, making different engagements with the Judgment Creditors and presenting

a proposal for reallocation in the Magotho Residential Scheme within the Badagry area of the state, which some of them accepted.

"Informed that the Lagos State Government again in 2016 initiated a settlement to reallocate Ibeju Lekki Coastal Scheme located in the Ibeju Lekki Area but this was rejected by the lead plaintiff Chief Adebayo Adeyiga, as government continued to dialogue with majority of the Judgment Creditors to reach a concession towards implementing the judgment," he explained.

He further explained that despite the ongoing settlement efforts and the pendency of an interlocutory injunction dated Dec 1st 2020, before the Court of Appeal, seeking an order restraining him and his agents, Chief Adeyiga, purportedly encouraged by the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police, stormed the estate with unknown bailiffs and armed security operatives to execute a judgment that was purportedly delivered by Lagos High Court.

"The execution being presently

executed through the office of the AGF with the connivance of the IGP is illegal as only the Lagos State Deputy Sheriff can execute same and not thugs aided by Police men.

"The highhandedness and reckless show of force on the 5th of December, 2021 and the 4th day of January 2022, in Magodo by Chief Adeyiga and his cohorts in blatant disregard to Order 8 Rule 17 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 and Section 37 of the Enforcement of Judgment and Order Part III of the Sherriff and Civil Process Act, LFN 2004, can lead to loss of lives and properties and ultimately, breakdown of law and order.

"The Attorney General of the Federation is destabilising Lagos State by using his office to back this illegality as a meddlesome interloper and the instrumentality of state – the Nigerian Police Force and their illegal Court Bailiffs, to scuttle ongoing settlement between the Lagos State Government, Magodo GRA 2 Residents and the Judgement Creditors," he added.

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NEWS

Bandits Kill Three Security Personnel, 19 Others in Kebbi

Ismail Adebayo in Kebbi

Police has said no fewer than 16 locals, two soldiers and one police officer were killed in Dankade, Danko Wadagu, Zuru Emirate in Kebbi South, Kebbi State as bandits invaded the community at the weekend.

According to the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, the police and military personnel drafted to the area engaged the bandits and forced them to flee the community.

He said the bandits, through another route, invaded Dankade community where they killed at least 16 people, including one policeman, two soldiers and abducted some residents of the community whose number

are yet to be ascertained.

He added that the bandits also set several houses and shops ablaze during the attack.

The police PRO said: “The Kebbi State Police Commissioner ( CP) Musa Baba has since mobilised armed officers and men to the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment of the damages and restore normalcy in the affected community.”

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, accompanied by top government officials yesterday embarked on the spot assessment tour of the affected community in Southern part of the state to ascertain the level of damage done by the bandits and to as well commiserate with people of the area.

PUSHING FOR WOMEN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION…

L-R: National Women Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Stella Okotete, and First Lady, Aisha Buhari at the Progressive Women Conference Abuja…recently

PDP Constitutes Appeal Committee CSO Alleges 1,500 Killed in S’East, 4,800 Arrested, N40bn Property Destroyed by Security Forces on Ekiti Governorship Primary least 1000 unarmed civilians; December, 2021, while 1000 Nwosu.

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja arrested alive and unarmed and The petition signed by were missing even as 100 Ward Congress A Civil Society Organisation communities were invaded the Head of Intersociety, taken into security custodies

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday constituted the Ward Congresses Electoral Appeal Committee to consider appeals arising from the conduct of three-man ad-hoc Ward Congresses ahead of the June 18, 2022 Ekiti governorship election.

In a statement by the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Umar M. Bature, the party named Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo as Chairman of the Appeal Committee.

Other members of committee are: Dr. Ibrahim H. Dankwambo; Dr. Mrs. Kema Chikwe; Dr. Esther Uduehi; Kingsley Chukwu and Musa Elayo who will serve as member and secretary of the

committee The appeal committee is expected for inauguration today , January 20, 2022 at the NWC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The statement said that all petitions and concerns are to be submitted at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja ahead of the exercise.

It also said that all governorship aspirants, leaders and critical stakeholders of the PDP in Ekiti state should please take note.

Meanwhile, the PDP has postponed the screening of its gubernatorial aspirants in the forthcoming Osun state election.

The exercise was early scheduled for yesrerday, January 19, 2022.

Jos Community Cautions Govt against Meddling into Varsity Seriki Adinoyi inJos Vwang Community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State hosting Karl Kumm University (KKU) has urged Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), the proprietor of the university to honour the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with the community before land was donated for the building of the institution.

It has also cautioned the state government to be wary of meddling into the crisis bedeviling

the new university since it was not a party to the MoU signed

by COCIN and host community of the University.

Addressing a press conference in Jos yesterday , President of Vwang Development Association (VDA), Mr. Jonah Gworu, said the community had donated land worth N1.5 billion, avalanche computers and trailer loads of cement for building of the institution with an understanding that a position of Principal Officer of the university will be ceded to the community.

APC Women Seek Adoption of Conference Demands

Arising from their two-day conference in Abuja yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) women from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have stated that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive review of the constitution of the Party to give a backing to the demands and resolutions unanimously adopted at the conference as a clear roadmap for action towards galvanizing women

in the Party.

This was contained in the communique read by the Minister of State, FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijani Aliyu on behalf of the women, adopted by the Deputy Chief Whip of the Federal house of Representatives, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Senator Florence Ita Giwa, with a call to all stakeholders of the Party to support the implementation of the resolutions.

(CSO), the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), yesterday, claimed that no fewer than 1,500 people were allegedly killed in the South-east by security forces in 14 months.

In a report titled: “Massacre in Eastern Nigeria: A Special Investigative Report”, the group also claimed 4,800 civilians were arrested between October, 2020 and

and N40 billion worth of property were destroyed.

This is as the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to sanction police officers involved in the invasion and disruption of an Anglican Church service in Imo State in a bid to arrest a former Secretary to the Imo State government, Mr Uche

Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, among others, said the killings represented monthly average of 85 deaths and daily average of three and could be monthly average of 155 and daily average of 5.5 deaths if the presumed dead 1000 missing citizens were added.

The group alleged that “the security forces also abducted and disappeared till date in the same past 14 months at

outside the knowledge of their families or lawyers, from where they have gone missing till date.

“Soldiers of the Nigerian Army are found to be responsible for at least 70% of the abduction and disappearances while DSS, NPF, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force are separately and jointly responsible for the remaining 30%.”

Tinubu Promises Free Education if Elected President in 2023 Emma Okonji and Nosa Alekhuogie Supporters of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have said Tinubu is promising Nigerians free education from primary to university level, including free health services, if voted into power in the 2023 presidential election.

Co- founder, Grassroots Network for Asiwaju Tinubu, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, who spoke yesterday on the Morning Show of ARISE News Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, said Tinubu remained the best candidate to rule the nation, given his educational background and being someone who has worked in many corporate establishments

in the United States of America before coming back to Nigeria to work in Exxon Mobil.

He also said it was worthy to note that when he was the governor of Lagos State, the state generated nearly N600 million monthly and that he left the state with over N15 billion after serving out his tenure.

Speaking on the National Chairman’s strategy in winning

the election, Adewale said their aim is to make sure he wins the primaries, presidential general elections and become the president of the country so that he can implement his laudable programmes that would benefit all Nigerians.

He listed some of the programmes to include free education to the university level and free health services to Nigerians.

Good Governance Key to Sustainable Devt, Says Oyetola Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State has said good governance is key to sustainable socio-economic development in every given polity.

Oyetola said this during an engagement programme organised by the State’s Civic Engagement Centre yesterday in Eti-Oni Asalu, Oriade South LCDA.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the governor said every responsible government at all levels must be committed to the sanctity of good and productive governance in the country.

Oyetola noted that his administration would continue to uphold the pace of good governance in both ideas and principles, especially in the area of infrastructural and human

capital development.

The governor said that the importance of good governance, consistency of policies, reforms and sustainable economic growth could not be overemphasized in achieving a virile polity to positively impacts the masses.

According him, this is why his administration has not reneged on executing series of programs and policies initiated by his administration.

He said: “The current administration has equally recorded a plethora of giant strides and achievements in critical sectors such as infrastructure, health, security, education, social welfarism among others.”

The essence of this quest is not only to position the state on the path of viable socioeconomic prosperity but also improving people’s standard of living and wellbeing.

Woman Arrested for Demanding N700,000 from Nursing Exam Candidate in Delta Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba A woman has been arrested by police in Delta State for allegedly demanding and obtaining the sum of N700,000 from a Year One student in one of the schools of nursing in the state under false pretences.

The suspect had reportedly collected the sum of N400,000

from the student she had promised to “pass”, who is said to be one of those preparing for the forthcoming Preliminary Training Studies (PTS) in the state before police detectives pounced on her following a tip-off.

The suspected fraudster, identified as Glory Fidelis Eteku, who preliminary investigation by the police showed was not even a staff member of any of the three

recognized state schools of nursing, had demanded N700,000 from the student of which the parent coughed out N400,000 with a promise to pay the balance of N300,000 before the end of the month.

The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, in a statement in Asaba yesterday said that the suspect, who was

arrested in Agbor by security agents, “has been transferred to the State Police Command headquarters in Asaba where she has given useful information to aid investigation”, saying that she would be arraigned in court soon.

The Delta State Police spokesman, Mr. Bright Edafe (a DSP), confirmed the arrest of the woman via the telephone.

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THURSDAY JANUARY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSXTRA

We Don’t Have Camp in Anambra, IPOB Replies Army Says Army killed innocent people

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked ownership of a camp in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where soldiers reveled last Tuesday that it killed suspected operatives of the group.

The Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Brigadier General Nwachukwu, had in a statement issued last Tuesday said it dislodged a notorious stronghold of IPOB and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the area in a joint operation.

Denying it, the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement said the group had no camp in the area.

Powerful accused the army of criminal misrepresentation of facts against IPOB and ESN by claiming that the arrested criminals were ESN members.

The statement read in part: “We wish to reiterate that IPOB

and ESN operatives have no camp in Lilu in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State.

“We are not militants or criminals, and don’t need any camp in Ihiala LGA. We are identifiable and we are all over Biafra land and IPOB branches in the Diaspora.

“Nigeria security agencies are using the hatred they have for the people of Biafra, particularly IPOB and ESN members, to unleash cruelty on the people living in these communities where they suspect that criminals are taking refuge.

“If criminals take refuge in any community in Biafra land, that doesn’t make them IPOB members or ESN operatives.

We have also not said there are no more criminal gangs in Biafra land just like every other country even in the advanced Western nations. But we won’t accept the tagging of every criminal element found in Biafra as IPOB member or ESN operative.

REDUCING HOUSING DEFICIT…

L-R: Managing Partner, Brookstone Property, Emmanuel Atureta; Special Adviser on Housing to the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Toke Benson; His Royal Majesty, Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and Managing Partner, Brookstone Property, Joe Orji, during the official inauguration of The Okotie-Eboh Overlook Condominium in Lagos...recently

Gunmen Kill Two Persons, Kanu Denies Fresh 15-Count Terrorism Charge Abduct One in Enugu Alex Enumah in Abuja

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

Tragedy struck in Enugu on Tuesday after gunmen attacked a meeting being held by members of Enugu South Local Government’s chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and killed its State Youth Leader, Mr. Kelvin Ezeoha and another member of the party.

It is yet to be ascertained whether the killings were politically motivated or carried out by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which had declared Tuesday a sit-at-home in solidarity with its leader Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing

trial on treasonable felony.

The trial, which was formally scheduled for Tuesday, January 18, was adjourned till Wednesday (yesterday) by the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, due to the late service of the amended charges on the Kanu’s legal team.

The federal government had on Monday, January 17, served an amended 15-count charge on Kanu’s legal team.

The IPOB’s leader, who is being tried on an initial seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, was expected to take a fresh plea to a 15-count amended charge on January 17, 2022.

PDP BoT Chairman Inaugurates N330m General Hospital in Bauchi

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin has inaugurated the over N330 million Dambam General Hospital constructed by the Governor Bala Mohammed led-PDP administration in Bauchi State.

The BOT chairman also urged the governor to publicly declare his interest for the 2023 politics.

While inaugurating the hospital yesterday, Senator Jibril commended Governor Mohammed for a job well done by completing the project and equipping it within 12 months .

Accompanied by the former Senate President, who is Secretary of the PDP BoT , Senator Adolphus Wabara, Jibril said that the developmental projects been executed across the state by the Governor is a replica of his performance when he served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Senator Jibrin, who described the governor as one of the great pillars of the PDP, noted that Mohammed has been keeping his state very peaceful.

He expressed happiness that very important and useful projects are been executed

by Governor Mohammed’s administration since its inception.

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to all 15 count terrorism charges preferred against him by the federal government.

Kanu had on Tuesday filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the new charge as well as the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

According to the defendant,

the fresh charge preferred against him were baseless, worthless, defective and could not stand the test of the law hence, should be dismissed.

Kanu made the submission through his lead lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, shortly after his re-arraignment and his not guilty plea.

The prosecution lawyer, Mr Shuaib Labaran, then moved to commence trial, stating that the prosecution had two witnesses and preponderance of evidence already in court to prove their

case against Kanu.

Labaran cited section 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015,which stipulated that trial should begin after arraignment, and that the court could take on any issue at any time along with the substantive matters.

Ozekhome, however, argued that trial could not commence until the defendant’s application seeking to quash the charge was heard and determined.

“We are further asking that the Defendant should be

discharged and acquitted as there is nothing in this charge. It has no basis at all. We also have a motion requesting the court to grant bail to the Defendant,” Ozekhome said.

But Labaran too objected to Ozekhome’s request for deferment of trial for hearing of preliminary objection motion, stating that Kanu’s applications were not ripe for hearing.

He further claimed that he would require time to go through the applications in order for him to respond accordingly.

Student, Parent Hire Thugs to Attack Teachers in Ogun School James Sowole in Abeokuta

In spite of efforts by the Ogun State Government to curb truancy and attacks on teachers in secondary schools, a student of Toyon High School, Ere, Ado-Odo, in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Joshua Joseph, and his mother, Elizabeth on Tuesday, reportedly hired thugs and brutalised three teachers in the school.

The attackers also vandalised

the rear windscreen of a Toyota Corolla car belonging to one of the teachers.

The attack on the teachers came barely two weeks after students of secondary schools in the state signed undertaking to be of good behaviour while their parents also countersigned the form.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the arrest of the boy’s father, Oyedele Joseph and his wife, Elizabeth.

It was gathered that the attack on the teachers was sequel to the barring of the student from entering the school premises by a teacher, Kabir Azeez, due to his hairstyle.

Rather than heeding the directive of the teacher and cut his hair, the student was said to have returned to the school with his mum and thugs, who descended on the teachers.

A reliable source said: “Three teachers were beaten – Messrs

Abel Thomas, Kabir Azeez and Adegun Adekunle. The car that was destroyed belongs to Mr. Jolayemi Jeromu.

One of the thugs, Posu Baale, was the one who smashed the car’s rear windscreen.”

Narrating the incident, the Vice Principal of the school, Mrs. Mariam Onilogbo, said: “On Monday, we asked the student to go and cut his hair because the style was not acceptable in the school.

Ekiti Condemns Attacks on Fire Service Men

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Government has cautioned residents of the state against attacking officials and operational vehicles of men of the Fire Service as well as other public servants in the cause of carrying out their official duties.

Speaking at a press conference in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery and Overseer

of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof.

Mobolaji Aluko, said incessant attacks on public officials under the guise of protesting against lateness would no longer be tolerated by the state government.

He spoke against the background of last weekend attack on officers of the State and Federal Fire Services and equipment in Moferere area of Ado Ekiti, while attending to a fire incident.

Aluko, who was in company of the Special Adviser, Governor’s Office and Overseer of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Evang Foluso Daramola, frowned at the dastardly act by the residents of the area, saying those arrested in connection with the act would be prosecuted.

He noted that the officials were recruited to save lives and property in times of emergency, adding that continued threats

to their lives discourage them from putting in their best as well as shunning distress calls.

Aluko used the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Fire Service that the attack by a few residents of the area was not an attack against the federal government, imploring them to continue to provide the necessary and desired services to the people, adding that the state government would henceforth ensure their safety.

high level of arms getting into the country.

The House, after calling on the Nigerian military to further fortify the areas with their increased presence, also urged the Nigerian Air Force to deploy more fighter jets to Zanfara State to adequately suppress the attacks.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion under matters of urgent national importance raised yesterday

by Hon. Suleiman Gumi on the

need to curb the frequency of attacks by bandits in and around Zamfara State.

Gumi, while explaining the gruesome and confident ways the bandits attack and extort ransoms from citizens in the northern states despite the presence of security personnel in the affected states, pointed out that the forest in the region and the porous Nigerian border with the Republic of Niger have become a refuge for fleeing

bandits.

The House, after observing a minute silence for those who lost their lives during the attacks, also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to augment the efforts of the state government to meet the needs of the displaced citizens caused by the attacks

IG Lauds A’Ibom Police over Crime Detection, Prevention, Fight against Criminalities Zamfara Killings: House urges Police to Investigate Alleged Threats of Invasion Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday commended the Akwa Ibom State Police Command for crime detection, prevention, and the general fight against criminalities in the state.

The IG hailed the Command while addressing its officers and men during his familiarisation visit to state Police Command.

Baba was also in the

state to inaugurate a special protection base built by the state government for the Command, Base 27, in Onna Local Government Areas of the state.

According to him, “Since I took over as the IG, Akwa Ibom State Police Command is one of the Commands I am proud of. It has never given me headache or sleepless night, and it had never left me in shame.

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Police to investigate threats of invasion by bandits and the alleged levies imposed on citizens of Zanfara State with the aim of curtailing the threats and possible attacks.

It also urged the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to intensify border control measures in order to reduce the

THURSDAY, ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

46

THURSDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Sadiq, Ekong on Target as Eagles Top Group D on Nine Points

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Super Eagles brilliant run at the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations continued last night as Nigeria defeated Guinea Bissau 2-0 to top Group D on maximum nine points.

Despite making eight changes to the side that beat Sudan to seal their last-16, Augustine Eguavoen’s wards maintained 100 per cent win record to equal the same record set by the former Nigerian international as Head Coach of the team in the 2006 edition in Egypt.

Sadiq Umar opened the scoring shortly after the break

RESULTS Egypt 1-0 Sudan G’Bissau 0-2 Nigeria

(THURS Jan 20) I’Coast v Algeria (5pm) S’Leone v E’Guinea (5pm) Gambia v Tunisia (8pm) Mali v Mauritania (8pm)

in the 56th minute following a cross from striker partner Kelechi Iheanacho while Captain William Troost-Ekong sealed the win in the 75th after tapping past Guinea Bissau goalkeeper Maurice Gomis. Credit for the goal goes to fine work by Moses Simon.

Egypt’s Pharaohs picked the Group D other qualification ticket on six points after they defeated Sudan 1-0 in The Nile Derby in Yaounde.

That second goal took almost eternity to come as game officials spent minutes to verify if the Nigerian Captain was on offside before VAR overturned the referee’s decision to chalk off the effort.

Nigeria took the game to Guinea Bissau in the first-ever meeting at full international level between these two West African countries.

However, it was Guinea Bissau who got the chance to take the lead as early as the 10th minute, when Mama Balde went through on goal but brave goalkeeping by Francis Uzoho

A F R I CA C U P O F N AT I O N S denied him the glory.

Semi Ajayi headed off target in the 15th minute from a corner

by Kelechi Nwakali, before Sadiq Umar threw away the

best chance of the first half in the 24th minute, when he came face-to-face with the Guinea Bissau goalkeeper, but poor decision making meant he

failed to pull the trigger.

The Eagles continued to create the better chances as Iheanacho’s shot from inside the box was held firmly by the Guinea Bissau goalkeeper.

On the stroke of halftime, Jorginho shot off a defensive

clearance by Nigeria defence was wide off the target.

In the final moments a blistering counter attack between Peter Olayinka and Moses Simon split open the Guinean defence, but somehow the final ball crashed against the sidenetting.

GROUP D Team.

Nigeria Egypt Sudan G’Bissau

P. 3.

3.

3.

3.

W 3.

2.

0.

0.

D 0.

0.

1.

1.

L 0.

1.

2.

2.

GF 6.

2.

1.

0.

GA 1.

1.

4.

3.

GD 5.

1.

-3.

-3.

PTS 9 6 1.

1.

TITBITS (MATCH DAY 12) *History-chasing Eguavoen at AFCON Super Eagles Coach, Augustine Eguavoen is not carried away by the general high ratings pundits are giving to his team. He made that known before the dead-rubber tie against Guinea Bissau yesterday.

But should the Eguavoen-led team wins the tournament (which is possible), he will not only join the rank of Egyptian El-Gohary and Late Stephen Keshi as player and manager to do so but he would be the only fellow to have won all shades of medals at the tournament both as a player and manager- Third-placed as a coach in 2006; runners-up as a player in 1988; and on-field captain as cup winner in 1994.

*Adventurous Comoros Want a Giant Leap into World Cup The 16 players who contributed to Comoros' shock Africa Cup of Nations win over Ghana will forever enter the island nation's history books, said goalscorer Ahmed Mogni.

Comoros, rated 132nd in the world, are the third lowest-ranked side of the 24 teams in Cameroon for the tournament as the former French colony only joined world governing body FIFA in 2005.

Nonetheless, their triumph now has made their coach to start dreaming of another major upset - reaching a first World Cup finals - which could become easier when the tournament expands to 48 teams from 2026 onwards.

*COVID-19 Ravaged Tunisia Seek Group qualification A total of 11 players may be unavailable for Tunisia in their last group match today. Sitting third on the log in Group F, Tunisia are Super Eagles’ potential opponents in Sunday’s Round of 16 match at the Roumdé Adjia Stadium,

Garoua.

But for that fixture to be valid, Tunisia will have to scrape at least a point in today’s last group match with unlikely group leaders, The Gambia.

Going by form book, the game could easily be ‘awarded’ to Tunisia.

But in a tournament that has seen form books being turn into shreds, nothing is impossible.

*Warriors End 16-year Wait for AFCON Match Win The Warriors of Zimbabwe secured a massive 2-1 win over highly favoured Syli Stars of Guinea in the last Group match on Tuesday. Although the team finished last on the log, it however set a record in Cameroon. Just like it happened at the 2006 edition in Egypt when they finished last in the group having Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana.

Zimbabwe claimed their first Nations Cup win since 2006 by the same 2-1 margin.

*In Group F, Its Fight to Finish!

While the two initial big teams, Ivory Coast and Algeria take one another in last Group F match, the other simultaneous tie involving the minnows Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea seems to have attracted more attention as both sides aim to qualify. Sierra Leone have only one victory from their seven matches at the AFCON though they’d scored as many goals in their last match (two vs Ivory Coast), as they had done in their previous six combined in the competition (2).

While Equatorial Guinea have only lost two of their eight group stage games at the tournament (W4 D2), keeping a clean sheet in three of their last four such matches, including last time out versus Algeria.

-Compiled by Femi Solaja

Kelechi Iheanacho (left) celebrating with Sadiq Umar as the later scored Nigeria’s opening goal in the 2-0 defeat of Guinea PHOTO: CAFonline.com Bissau...yesterday.

NCAC Mobilises 10m Online Supporters for Eagles Odegbami, Bako, Oladipo, Elegbeleye, Igho laud initiative Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has launched 10 million online supporters for the Super Eagles to enable Nigerians who can’t cheer the national team at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Cameroon due to COVID-19 travel restrictions to do so via online platforms.

The Director General NCAC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, unveiled the platform yesterday.

He described the initiative as a concept which other African countries will take a cue from in a not too distant future.

Runsewe said 10 million online supporters for the Eagles will ensure mass support, boost the morale and galvanise the efforts of the national team towards winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

"I am happy we have made history. We have even gotten 20 million supporters. Already in one hour of launching, 54 onlines connecting to the project. Other Africans will take a cue from us," Runsewe said.

The initiative was ratified by some key stakeholders notable among who are former national team captain, Chief Segun Odegbami; former DG National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Dr Danladi Bako; former DG National Sports Commission Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye; President General Worldwide, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu

Oladipo; and veteran broadcaster, Dr Peter Igho.

Speaking through virtual links, Odegbami described the concept as a brilliant idea noting that the Super Eagles are presently excelling at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Out of so many things that are going wrong in our society, our football appears to be one bright, shinning star. Mobilising Nigerians to support the national team would lift the spirit of all Nigerians and start to give us hope that gradually something great can come out of the country,” Odegbami said.

On his part, Igho said the Nigerian public is proud of the Eagles, describing them as a confident and exciting team to watch.

He said he is supporting the

project because he is a proud Nigerian while football is a unifying force in the country.

Bako, who covered eight editions of Africa Cup of Nations and six FIFA World Cup finals and visited 44 countries covering the national team in a career as a broadcaster, described himself as a close fan and an admirer of the Super Eagles.

He reminded the team that the nation is watching their campaign in Cameroon, adding Nigerians have a unique way of celebrating their super stars whenever they emerge successful.

“I think the coach and the players have done well. I am looking forward to them getting to the final and I wish them the best.

They are looking very, very strong,

composed and organized. They fight for the ball and are in good spirit. I want to thank Otunba Runsewe for putting this together.

Nothing can be better than this kind of move for the Super Eagles that require motivation, partnership, sponsorship and everything you need in a competition like this,” Bako said.

In his remarks, Elegbeleye described the online mass mobilization of Nigerians for the players as an idea that should be permanent embedded as it will let the players feel appreciated.

Oladipo, who led hundreds of supporters that travelled for 18 hours from Abuja through Bauchi down to Garoua in Cameroon, asked Nigerians to support the cause of the Super Eagles.

RevolutionPlus Pledges Land in Choice Locations, Cash if Eagles Win Trophy RevolutionPlus Property, the official real estate partner of the NFF will be giving out free land in choice locations within its estates to the Super Eagles if the team wins the ongoing AFCON trophy.

According to the company’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, Bamidele Onalaja, the land will be available in choice locations in Lagos, Abuja FCT, Nasarawa, Abeokuta, Shimawa and Mowe in Ogun

State, Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

Onalaja who spoke in Lagos on the eve of Nigeria's final group match against Guinea Bissau in the ongoing AFCON, said the gesture is aimed at giving the team a boost in its quest to win the continental cup for Nigeria a fourth time and make Nigerians proud again.

In appreciation of the team’s performance in the competition so far and the need to encourage the players to do more for

fatherland, Onalaja said “now that the Super Eagles have qualified for the knockout stages of AFCON, RevolutionPlus Group will pay N1m for each goal scored by the team at every knockout stages of the competition.”

Onalaja also reaffirmed his earlier pledge of N4m to the team during the World Cup qualifiers and urged them to bring AFCON glory to Nigeria once again.

47

THURSDAY, ͺ͸˜ ͺ͸ͺͺ ˾ T H I S D AY

SPORTS

Egypt Edge Sudan to Reach AFCON 2021 Last 16 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Egypt edged past Sudan to finish second in Group D and qualify for the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohamed Abdelmonem scored the game's only goal, heading home Abdallah El Said's corner for the Pharaohs in the 35th minute.

Sudan offered little with Egypt going close to a second through a Mohamed Salah effort well-saved by keeper Mohamed Mustafa in the

second half.

Egypt will face the winners of Group E on Wednesday, 26 January.

They finished three points behind Group D winners Nigeria who beat GuineaBissau 2-0.

Sudan, champions in 1970 and playing in their first major tournament since 2012, finished third in the table, collecting one point and scoring just one goal.

Tunisia Looking to Deny The Gambia Top Spot in Group F Africa Cup of Nations debutants The Gambia will be looking to secure top spot in Group F when they take on Tunisia at the Limbe Stadium tonight.

Tom Saintfiet's side are in pole position and tied with Mali going into their final group match after picking up four points from their opening two outings at the showpiece event.

The Scorpions kicked off their campaign in Cameroon with a 1-0 victory over Mauritania on 12 January courtesy of a sensation strike by Ablie Jallow before a late penalty from Musa Barrow clinched a 1-1 draw with Mali four days later.

They will be targeting another stellar performance against the Eagles of Carthage as their West African rivals are expected to take all three points from their clash with the already-eliminated Lions of Chinguetti.

Barrow has one goal and one assist at the tournament and was named man of the match against the Mauritanians. The Bologna midfielder is keen to kick on and help his country make more history at the 33rd edition of Afcon.

"I am prepared and focus to continue from where I left off the last game," he told CAFOnline.

"This shows that teamwork matters, we qualified to this tournament because we played and defended as a team, we try to play fast transitions when we recover the ball.

"When we play, we always try to help and push one another on the pitch; we play as a team and try to improve game by game.

"We always learn from each game, playing as a team and continue to be humble and stay focus and Insh'Allah (God willing) results will come."

The 2004 African champions are third in the group on three points, having began their bid for a second title with a 1-0 defeat to the Eagles a week ago followed by a 4-0 hammering of Mauritania on Sunday.

A point could be enough to see Mondher Kebaier's men qualify for the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, but they will be gunning for victory against Africa's 46th-ranked nation.

"We must have this hatred of defeat, vary our game, correct the transmissions to try to beat Gambia in the next match," Kebaier said after Sunday's win.

In their only previous meeting back in January 2010, Gambia emerged 1-0 victors in a friendly in Tunis.

Nadal Stroll into Third Round in Melbourne Rafael Nadal eased past qualifier Yannick Hanfmann yesterday to reach the third round of the Australian Open.

Sixth seed Nadal, bidding for a men's record 21st Grand Slam title, beat Germany's Hanfmann 6-2 6-3 6-4.

Hanfmann saved four match points, including two on the Spaniard's serve, before the 2009 champion secured victory on Rod Laver Arena.

Alexander Zverev also reached the third round after beating Australia's John Millman in straight sets.

Despite a spirited performance from the Australian, the German third seed won 6-4 6-4 6-0 to set up a meeting with Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot, who beat wildcard Aleksandar Vukic 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

"I feel good, I won, I could really feel you guys have been in lockdown for two years," said Zverev.

"It was an amazing atmosphere,

AUSTRALIAN OPEN and hopefully it will stay the same and get even louder for the next matches."

The 24-year-old says he was prepared to be the villain when facing a home favourite, but is enjoying having fans present in Melbourne.

"I am prepared everyone will hate me after the match," he added.

"I have always said in the past two years since Covid started, sport needs the atmosphere and the people. whether you are for me or against me - I enjoy the noise, enjoy being on court, spectators bring the emotion."

Nadal will face 28th seed Karen Khachanov next after the Russian beat France's Benjamin Bonzi 6-4 6-0 7-5.

Nadal, a five-time finalist in Melbourne, is the only former champion remaining in the men's draw.

Egyptian players celebrating defeating Sudan 1-0 to reach the last 16 of the AFCON in Cameroon...yesterday. PHOTO: Reuters

After Disastrous Party with Black Stars, Partey Back to Arsenal AFCON FALLOUT Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey could return for tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool.

Partey is an option because his Ghana side have been knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations - but Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Martin Odegaard are all doubtful.

Liverpool will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the forward suffered an ankle injury against Brentford.

Midfielder Thiago Alcantara and striker Divock Origi are out until February.

The first leg at Anfield finished goalless despite Arsenal being reduced to 10 men in the first half following the dismissal of Granit Xhaka.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said that Ghana's surprise Cup of Nations exit had been a personal setback for Partey.

He said: "It was a huge disappointment for Thomas obviously because he was representing his country and in this period he had big aims towards the competition.

"He is out now so he will be fully focused and involved with Arsenal as soon as possible."

Egyptian players celebrating defeating Sudan 1-0 to reach the last 16 of the AFCON in Cameroon...yesterday.

PHOTO: Reuters

Ghana’s Sports Minister Summons GFA over Poor Performance Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has summoned the leadership of the Ghana Football Associationfor an emergency meeting scheduled for tomorrow, January 21, 2022 over the disgraceful exit of the Black Starsat the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

In a statement issued by the ministry yesterday, Ussif said his ministry “is committed to taking steps to restore the Black Stars to the status of symbol of national pride of every Ghanaian and a powerhouse

in African football.”

The minister expressed disappointment over the performance of the Black stars and stated the Ministry would want to meet officials of the FA on Friday to discuss the way forward.

“The entire country is extremely disappointed by the abysmal performance and early exit of the Black Stars from the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports shares in the nation’s sentiment.

“With the government providing

the team all the needed logistical and financial support, including resources for preparations and participation in the qualifier stage to the tournament and eventually a pre-tournament camping in Qatar, the ministry is particularly disappointed with the team’s performance,” stressed the statement from the ministry.

The Black Stars were eliminated from the competition after they were defeated 3-2 by minnows Comoros and failed to win a single match at the group stage.

Under Pressure Algeria in Make or Mar Clash with Ivory Coast Under pressure Algeria are well aware only a victory will ensure their progress at the Africa Cup of Nations and want to do the talking on the field, captain Riyad Mahrez said yesterday.

The defending champions suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of tiny Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and must now beat the Ivory Coast in Douala in their last Group E match today to stand any chance of advancing to the last 16.

Algeria, whose 35-match unbeaten record went up in smoke amid one of the tournament’s great upsets, are bottom of the group with a solitary point.

That came from another disappointing performance, at the start of the 24-team tournament in Cameroon, when they were held by lowly-ranked Sierra Leone, making their return for the first time since the 1996 finals.

"The message is simple: we have

to win. We lacked efficiency and we must be more spontaneous in our attacking," Mahrez told a news conference.

"When your back is against the wall, you shouldn't talk too much.

Everyone knows what they have to do."

Algeria could follow the way of fellow heavyweight contenders Ghana, who were knocked out on Tuesday in another shock result as they went down to the Comoros

Islands, but coach Djamel Belmadi said he was confident of a positive response from his team.

"We absolutely have to win if we want to continue. It's a big challenge but we have the ability to respond," he added.

Algeria have only beaten the Ivorians twice in eight previous meetings at the finals, but got past them on penalties at the last edition in Egypt in 2019, before going onto take the trophy.

Thursday, January 20, 2022

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Price: N250

MISSILE

Quadri Olaleye to Federal Govt

“How can we trust the government and be certain that they will actually remove it this time around, because in the past, they claimed to have removed the so-called ‘subsidy’. How can what has been removed be removed again?”—Trade Union Congress (TUC) National President, querying the rationale behind removal of fuel subsidy which the federal government last year claimed had been removed.

OLUSEGUNADENIYI THE VERDICT

olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

Season of Presidential Circus I

n the buildup to the last general election, before President Muhammadu Buhari publicly announced that he would seek a second term, a number of politicians were busy selling the idea of a ‘clamour’ for him to return. It is a familiar prank patented under the late General Sani Abacha in the nineties and perfected under President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002. In my 12th April 2018, ‘Buhari, 2019 and the Persuaders’, I condemned this idea of a proxy campaign for someone who had not told Nigerians he wanted their mandate. In passing, I mentioned the role then being played by “Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, whose corruption charges have been given one of those famous All Progressives Congress (APC) deodorant treatment, gallivanting all over the country on a presidential campaign of which he is not a candidate.”

That happened to be my only reference to the former Abia State Governor and current Senate Chief Whip in the column. But it was enough for media hirelings to go after me in several syndicated articles. Not satisfied, Kalu himself took the back page of the Sun newspaper to author a piece titled ‘Adeniyi’s Misguided Attack’ where he alleged, among other claims, that I targeted him because I was aware “Buhari’s re-election in 2019 will pave the way for president of Igbo extraction in 2023.”

I refused to join issues with Kalu because I surmised that time would bear both of us out. Since Buhari eventually won his re-election and Kalu was rewarded with a plum office in the Senate, we can conclude that the end justified the means. But we are now in the next phase which has to do with the fulfilment of the ‘prophecy’ concerning Buhari’s preference for a president of Igbo extraction in 2023. I sincerely hope that Kalu is right on that score as well.

Meanwhile, I have always found it interesting that the politics of Nigeria has been reduced to a tripodal construct that assumes we have only three ethnic groups: Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo. That ‘WaZoBia’ construct not only ignores the minorities within the spheres in which we classify these hegemons, it also discounts the minorities in other spaces across the country.

But that is not the point I want to make today.

In any case, I align myself with the argument of equity in the distribution of opportunities in a plural society such as ours. All factors considered, Igbos do have a serious claim to the presidency of Nigeria in 2023. Beyond giving emotional satisfaction and sense of belonging, as I have consistently argued on this page, equity is good for social capital, national cohesion and the overall development of the country.

However, of particular interest to me is the return of those who have made a career of ‘begging’ ambitious politicians to declare their run for president. Ironically, the principal persuader of yesterday is now a ‘persuadee’. In a viral video on social media, one man dressed in babanriga stood before Kalu, who was clad in a sportswear. In a made-for-Nollywood clip, they man said: “Please, my name is Alhaji Muhammed Murtala. I am a grassroots politician. I am here to beg you to come out and contest for the president of Nigeria in

Orji Kalu 2023, because it is the turn of Southeast to produce the next president. The Southwest have take (sic) their slot, the northerners have take (sic) their slot, the South-south have taken theirs also. So, it is the turn of an Igbo man to take it. And we need somebody like you; because you are very energetic. You can travel from here to anywhere. If there is trouble in Maiduguri now, you will be in Maiduguri in less than an hour. You are an action man, we know, we have your record. Thank you, your excellency. Please we are appealing to you, Sir. Help us and come out. Nagode Sir.” We will see more of these political comics in the coming weeks. In most countries, the months preceding a crucial election are designated for debate on critical issues of governance. In Nigeria, we have reduced electioneering to a circus. One man on Twitter promised to sue a prominent politician if he does not declare a bid for presidency. I am waiting for the ‘suicide team’—those who will pledge to kill themselves if certain aspirants do not join the race. That is an integral part of the manual for this season, despite the enormous challenges at hand. And since we live in a nation where people start their career from the top, it is understandable that everybody wants to be president. As Dr Chidi Amuta reminded me yesterday, almost every Nigerian Pastor wants to be the General Overseer (or an omniscient Mummy G.O.) of a church!

However, the real concern is the cynical disrespect of the Nigerian voters. Do those desperate for power need to be ‘begged’ before they publicly declare their intention?

That perhaps explains why with just one year to the presidential election, we still don’t know the real contenders in the two political parties. While Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ebonyi Governor David Umahi may have visited Aso Rock and informed President Buhari about their aspiration to seek the APC ticket, they have not formally told

Nigerians that they want to be our president.

Maybe they have concluded that since their ‘persuaders’ are already all over the place, that is enough for us.

This same idea underpins the aspiration of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Several groups are springing up almost every day, with lavish and expensive campaigns to ‘persuade’ him to run. But as the Yoruba people would say, there is no magic in putting a lump of meat in the mouth and making it disappear. Osinbajo wants to run for president, and it is within his prerogative to do so. In fact, it is the natural progression for any vice president.

Osinbajo is also eminently qualified for the job. But he cannot continue to hide behind one finger!

We are a nation badly wounded on many fronts. The economy is a mess. Debts are mounting. Many of our middle-class professionals are losing both hope and faith in the country and relocating abroad with their families. The polity is so fractured that Nigerians look back to a not-so-glorious past as an anchor for the future. The gravity of the security situation was underscored on Tuesday by Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who visited the president. Between 1st January and Tuesday (17th), according to Bello, 165 civilians, 25 security personnel and 30 local vigilantes were killed by bandits in the state. That is 220 people killed in one state within 17 days! So, we need a president not only with the requisite capacity to address these challenges but also one who can lead with courage and conviction. We do not need those who believe they are at the mercy of extraneous circumstances or too timid to declare their intention.

Let me be clear. I am not making a case for any candidate. What I am saying is that nobody is begging anybody to run in the 2023 presidential election. And we are tired of glossy posters, billboards and materials packaged by consultants. The times in which we find ourselves demand that we examine

those who seek to preside over our affairs.

We can only do that when they come out to tell us why we should vote for them. Right now, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is the only presidential contender who makes no pretence that he is being ‘begged’ to run for the office as he offers himself boldly. At the appropriate time, we will examine his credentials for the job alongside that of others, both in his party and in the ruling APC. Since it is from either of these two parties that the next president of Nigeria will most likely emerge, I intend to focus my attention there.

I am quite aware that the circus of electioneering in Nigeria involves many actors, so I understand what is going on.

We are in a season when Christian/Islamic clerics and marabouts must first do their job in what is also a very lucrative enterprise.

There is an interesting aside here. As president of the Nigeria Red Cross Society in 2008, former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, hosted an event where the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was a guest.

In his introductory remarks, Okorocha said that when he was contesting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries against Yar’Adua in 2006, he had been assured by some prophets that he was destined to be president. In his characteristic humour, Okorocha said, “Mr President, when those prophets spoke that I would be president, I believed them. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was only going to be president of Red Cross!”

There are many political clowns in the field who have likely been assured by spiritual merchants that they would be president in 2023. I hope some of them will go back to ask, ‘president of what?’ before they end up like Okorocha. But for now, the circus of ‘begging’ must end. Let whoever wants to be president of Nigeria next year declare their intention so that we can begin to examine their suitability for the job at hand. We have had enough of this circus!

Where Credit is Due

I

n the past one year, I have been working on research for a book tentatively titled, ‘Till Debt Do Us Part’. I hope it will be ready by next year. The book focuses on the rising indebtedness of several African countries (including Nigeria) to China. I am looking at the quantum of loans, projects being financed, repayment plans (where they exist), local sentiment and the implications of the humongous debts for the future of the continent. While I intend to visit a number of African countries when this Covid-19 pandemic makes travelling more convenient, I have learnt a lot in recent days from Gregory Smith’s most revealing book, ‘Where Credit is Due: How Africa’s Debt Can Be a Benefit, Not a Burden’. I thank Adedotun Eyinade, the young man promoting book culture in Nigeria with his bookshop, Roving Heights, for the gift delivered to my office last week.

Smith, a former senior economist at the

World Bank who has worked in Zambia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Ghana, Gabon, China, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone, brings experience to bear in the book. Borrowing, according to Smith who advocates urgent action by both lenders and borrowers, is a crucial source of financing for governments all over the world. “If they get it wrong, then debt crises can bring progress to a halt. But if it’s done right, investment happens, and conditions improve.”

President Olusegun Obasanjo contributed one of the blurbs and wrote, “Just as debt used wisely is an essential tool for African development, this book is invaluable to understanding its pitfalls and Africa’s policy choices.” It is an apt summation of a book that I will gladly recommend to our economic managers and those who seek to better understand the threats and opportunities of our current circumstance in Nigeria.

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